Anti-Infective Agents - Volume 24, Issue 2, 2026

Verigene^® is a molecular rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) that identifies certain organisms and resistance markers within 2.5 hours of blood culture positivity and can potentially aid in reducing the time to appropriate antibiotic therapy, thus improving patient outcomes. However, Verigene^® is not calibrated to detect all organisms and resistance markers.

To assess outcomes of patients with bacteremia in whom Verigene^® identified organisms (BOI) and compare them to patients with bacteremia in whom Verigene^® did not identify an organism (BON).

Single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluating inpatients admitted between May 2020 to June 2021. The primary outcome was to compare the inpatient mortality rates of patients with BOI with patients with BON. Secondary outcomes include 30-day readmission rate, reason for readmission, appropriateness of antibiotic therapy at time of final blood culture result, time to appropriate antibiotic therapy, and length of stay (LOS).

100 and 79 patients were included in the BOI and BON groups, respectively. Mortality was significantly higher in the BON group compared to the BOI group (31.6% vs 14%, respectively, p < 0.01). A significantly shorter time to appropriate antibiotics was observed in the BOI group compared to the BON group (0.6 + 1.1 days vs 0.9 + 1.1 days, respectively, p= 0.04). This observation was larger in the critically ill population.

In conclusion, our study found a significant difference in mortality and time to appropriate antibiotics between groups when Verigene^® could and could not identify the organism.

Plumbago europaea, commonly known as European Dentellary, has been traditionally used across various cultures to treat numerous ailments. This study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant, focusing on its chemical composition and biomedical applications.

The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the hexane extract from the roots of Plumbago europaea and evaluate its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic activities.

The chemical profile of the hexane root extract of Plumbago europaea was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and micro-well dilution methods. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated through the egg albumin denaturation assay. Hemolytic activity was measured by assessing erythrocyte lysis in human blood samples.

Chemical analysis of the hexane extract identified nine compounds, with plumbagin (58.4%) being the most abundant, followed by nonanal (16.6%). The antimicrobial assay demonstrated significant growth inhibition against several bacterial strains, including Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and the yeast Candida albicans. The anti-inflammatory tests indicated that the hexane extract exhibited potent activity, with an IC50 of 12.3 μg/mL, surpassing diclofenac (IC50: 35.2 μg/mL). Hemolysis tests revealed minimal erythrocyte damage, with a hemolytic rate of only 12.86%, even at higher concentrations.

The hexane extract from Plumbago europaea roots demonstrates promising antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities with minimal toxicity to human erythrocytes. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the plant's potential for pharmaceutical development.

An antibiotic is described as a material that is either manufactured or generated by a single microbe and, at low quantities, may either kill or hinder the development of other organisms. They are still used worldwide to treat and prevent illnesses in clinical and veterinary care. The antibiotic waste can include any dosage form that has been used, unused, stored, etc. Antibiotic abuse and improper waste disposal have an impact on both the environment and people.

The understanding of antibiotics, typical waste management techniques, and raising awareness of accessible trash treatment facilities and disposal techniques among the general public in various Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India, locations formed the basis of this survey.

A comprehensive analysis, including various regions of Yamunanagar (a city in Haryana) is conducted. Quantitative research results from the systematic examination that yielded the numerical data were collected, analyzed, and reported in this study.

The current survey highlights the key trends of antibiotics usage, their waste management disposal habits, and awareness among respondents of Yamuna Nagar. Almost 80% of respondents completed their antibiotic course within the last 6 months while 60% have unused medications at home due to non-completion of the course or keeping them for future use. More than 50% shared, or thought of sharing antibiotics with others. Further, only 6.3% of respondents always seek advice from healthcare professionals before taking antibiotics. Only 12%-24.3% reported receiving proper education regarding the storage and disposal of antibiotics from healthcare professionals. 34.3% of respondents have information regarding the disposal of antibiotic waste management. Further data revealed that people have awareness regarding the potential of improper antibiotic waste disposal to the environment but lack knowledge regarding proper disposal techniques. Further, this study also tends to spread awareness of which impact on the environment, different methods of disposal, along with most closest Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) were chosen by the respondents.

Despite having awareness regarding the negative impacts of incorrect antibiotic waste disposal on the environment and public health, the majority of respondents keep them in their homes and dispose in ordinary household trash. There is a lack of appropriate medication disposal practices and attitudes. The majority of respondents agreed that there is a need for greater awareness regarding the safe disposal of medications. Some strategies that have been proposed include training healthcare professionals to advise patients about proper disposal while prescribing, using social media advertisements, utilizing QR codes on medication packaging, labeling medications with instructions on how to dispose of them, etc.

BGR-34, a polyherbal formulation, has garnered attention for its antimicrobial properties, attributed to its diverse composition of primary and secondary metabolites.

The objective of the study was to generate good scientific data regarding BGR-34.

This study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical screening, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis used Quercetin as a standard, and antimicrobial efficacy of BGR-34 against significant human pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, and Xanthomonas oryzae.

The findings revealed a dose-dependent antimicrobial effect, with optimal activity observed at 100 mg/mL, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of various primary and secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, proteins, terpenoids, etc. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of quercetin (2.2974 ug/mL), which is responsible for various pharmacological activities. Antimicrobial potential showed activity of BGR-34 against various microbes that are responsible for various diseases. The bioactive compounds in BGR-34, such as phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids, exhibit mechanisms like biofilm disruption and microbial membrane interference, underscoring its broad-spectrum efficacy. Furthermore, its potential role in addressing infections related to biofilm-forming pathogens and resistant strains establishes its clinical significance.

These results support the continued exploration of BGR-34 as a viable option in combating microbial infections, with implications for managing resistant pathogens, and reducing the burden of infectious diseases.

The bioactive constituents found in herbal medicines play a crucial role in their therapeutic effects. Crataeva nurvala is a well-known medicinal plant, traditionally used for the treatment of kidney and bladder-related ailments. In Ayurveda, its bark has been employed for over 3,000 years as a natural remedy for various kidney disorders.

In this research article, the ethanolic bark extract of Crataeva nurvala was characterized through physical evaluation, preliminary phytochemical screening, LC-MS, FT-IR, and HPTLC analyses, along with assessments of its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

The extraction process was performed using petroleum ether, and 150 g of weighed Crataeva nurvala powdered bark was carried out in a Soxhlet apparatus for 36 hours. The extraction was completed by putting one drop from a thimble onto a filter paper that exhibited no oil spots. The bark marcs were removed and allowed to dry before being individually exposed to a 24-hour hot extraction process using 90% ethanol in a soxhlet apparatus. The solvent was vaporized and concentrated to produce a dry residue after the extraction.

LC-MS analysis identified several major phytoconstituents in the ethanolic extract, including scoulerin, formononetin, L-carnosine, resveratrol, flavanone, quercetin, kaempferide, rhamnetin, daidzein, and isorhamnetin. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed characteristic peaks corresponding to various functional groups present in the extract. HPTLC studies confirmed the presence of active compounds, such as lupeol and gallic acid. Phytochemical screening of Crataeva nurvala bark extract further detected saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and tannins. This study also demonstrated notable antioxidant and antimicrobial activities associated with the plant extract.

It can be concluded that Crataeva nurvala bark contains numerous bioactive compounds, making it a valuable plant for phytopharmaceutical applications. The ethanolic extracts of Crataeva nurvala bark demonstrated significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. For the first time, LC-MS and HPTLC analyses revealed high contents of L-anserine nitrate, resveratrol, flavanone, chlorogenic acid hemihydrate, quercetin, kaempferide, isorhamnetin, rhamnetin, gallic acid, and lupeol, which likely contribute to these biological effects. Additionally, the study suggests that the ethanolic extract may possess antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-obesity properties due to the presence of 16 phytochemical compounds identified by LC-MS. Fluorescent analysis of the bark powder showed characteristic coloration upon exposure to various chemical reagents, supporting the presence of diverse phytochemicals. Preliminary phytochemical screening further confirmed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, glycosides, and tannins in the ethanolic bark extract.

Patients with indwelling medical devices and those with impaired immune systems are the primary targets of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), a common infection linked to healthcare. Its gram-positive nature and ability to develop biofilms make it the causative agent of more than 30% of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) infections.

This narrative review provides an overview of the epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, clinical significance, and emerging treatment strategies for MRSE, with a particular focus on recent advancements in infection prevention and control.

A comprehensive narrative review of literature published between 2010 and 2024 was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. MeSH terms and free text keywords that would be relevant to the study have been used accordingly to identify studies of MRSE epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, infection control, and therapeutic interventions.

With outbreaks connected to clonal complexes CC5 and CC8, the incidence of MRSE has risen by about 25% in North America and Europe and by 35% in Asia over the last ten years. Incident rates are close to 40% among high-risk groups, especially those receiving immunosuppressive treatment or extended hospital stays. Methicillin resistance is caused by the mecA gene, which makes treatment more difficult. Dalbavancin and oritavancin are two examples of novel antimicrobials that have demonstrated clinical efficacy, lowering infection rates by as much as 20%. In high-risk environments, the use of improved infection control techniques has reduced transmission by about 15%. Antimicrobial peptides and bacteriophage-based treatments are two promising research directions.

Infection control in hospital settings is severely hampered by the increasing frequency and antibiotic resistance of MRSE. To lessen its clinical impact and enhance therapeutic results, more research and the application of strong infection control procedures are necessary.