Antibiotic exposure associated with nighttime sleep duration and daytime sleepiness in newlyweds

Few studies have explored the relationship between antibiotic exposure and sleep in newlyweds. We applied the actor-partner interdependence moderation model to estimate the relationships of antibiotic exposure with nighttime sleep duration (weekday, weekend, and average sleep durations) and daytime sleepiness in newlyweds. We found that 99.0% of the 2698 enrolled individuals were exposed to at least one antibiotic. Among the newlyweds, exposure to florfenicol (β, - 0.077; 95% confidence interval [CI], - 0.143, - 0.011), exposure to chloramphenicols (- 0.086 [- 0.160, - 0.011]), and exposure to veterinary antibiotics (VAs) (- 0.106 [- 0.201, - 0.010]) were negatively associated with weekday sleep duration. Florfenicol, chloramphenicols, and VAs were also inversely related to average sleep duration in the newlyweds. Ciprofloxacin and cyadox exposure was significantly associated with an increase of 0.264 (0.030, 0.497) and (0.375 [0.088, 0.663]) Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores in the newlyweds, respectively. Gender moderated the actor-partner effects of erythromycin and tetracyclines on the newlyweds' weekday sleep duration and ESS scores. Overall, exposure to florfenicol, chloramphenicols, and VAs shortened weekday and average sleep durations of newlyweds. Exposure to ciprofloxacin and cyadox promoted daytime sleepiness. Gender moderated the actor-partner effects of specific antibiotics on the weekday sleep duration and ESS scores of the newlyweds.

Preliminary assessment of antimicrobial activity and acute toxicity of norfloxacin chlorination by-product mixture

Among drugs and personal care products, antibiotics arouse interest since they are widely used in human and veterinary medicine and can lead to the development of bacterial resistance. Usually, sewage treatment does not remove most of these compounds. So, these drugs can reach water treatment plants (WTP), where disinfection with chlorine compounds is common. This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and preliminary toxicity of the mix of by-products forming due to the chlorination of norfloxacin. This is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic indicated for the treatment of urinary infection and gonorrhea, with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). The drug was subjected to chlorination tests, on a bench scale, with several reaction times (from 5 min to 24 h). Analyses of high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) were performed for the characterization of the by-products. The MS results showed five peaks attributed to the by-products' formation, of which four were identified. The antibiogram results indicated that the solution that contained the mixture of the by-products lost antibacterial activity against the E. coli strain studied. The acute toxicity tests for the Artemia salina microcrustacean showed that the blend of the by-products exhibited higher toxicity than pure norfloxacin.

Severe acute malnutrition and infection

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with increased severity of common infectious diseases, and death amongst children with SAM is almost always as a result of infection. The diagnosis and management of infection are often different in malnourished versus well-nourished children. The objectives of this brief are to outline the evidence underpinning important practical questions relating to the management of infectious diseases in children with SAM and to highlight research gaps. Overall, the evidence base for many aspects covered in this brief is very poor. The brief addresses antimicrobials; antipyretics; tuberculosis; HIV; malaria; pneumonia; diarrhoea; sepsis; measles; urinary tract infection; nosocomial Infections; soil transmitted helminths; skin infections and pharmacology in the context of SAM. The brief is structured into sets of clinical questions, which we hope will maximise the relevance to contemporary practice.

Prescription of antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic costs by paediatricians in two hospitals in Greece

Our aim was to study the antibiotic prescription practices and the knowledge about antibiotic costs, brand and generic drugs of paediatricians working in two hospitals in Greece. The 2007 national guidelines were used as the gold standard for antibiotic prescription. A total of 126 paediatricians participated in the study (50.4% response rate). The mean compliance rate with the guidelines was 50.1% (range per infection: 10.6-84.7%). The mean scores of knowledge about antibiotic costs and about brand name and generic drugs were 35.6 and 60.3%, respectively. Linear regression analysis found a significant association between the mean compliance rate with the national guidelines and the paediatricians' age (mean compliance rates were 49.1, 53.0, and 43.0% in the ≤ 30, 31-40, and > 40 years age-groups, respectively; P  =  0.003). In conclusion, five years after the first national guidelines were issued in Greece only half of the paediatricians working in hospitals comply fully with them.

Is 1H NMR metabolomics becoming the promising early biomarker for neonatal sepsis and for monitoring the antibiotic toxicity?

Metabolomics, the latest of omics disciplines, has been successfully used in various fields of basic research such as pharmacology and toxicology. Recently, this new science has gained an important role in the translational research of diagnostics. In this regard, the challenge for neonatologists and medical laboratories is to diagnose neonatal sepsis, a disease with high mortality and morbidity due to the difficulty in diagnosing it. Metabolomics, through its ability to identify perturbations caused by this condition, aims at recognizing metabolites that characterize neonatal sepsis with high specificity and sensitivity. The purpose of this review is to highlight the ability of metabolomics to find early biomarkers for this condition, as well as to predict the toxic effects caused by antibiotics.