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The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial strains isolated from tracheal specimens obtained from pediatric patients admitted to a major children hospital in Tehran, in 2007. Tracheal specimens were cultured on the appropriate bacteriological media. Bacterial isolates were identified by standard biochemical and serological tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Pseudomonas spp. was identified as the most prevalent bacterial isolate (32%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (27.6%). Thirty strains (16%) were identified as Klebsiella spp., 18 (9.6%) as Enterobacter spp. and the rest belonged to coagolase negative Staphylococci, Streptococcus viridans, Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli and Neisseria spp. All Pseudomonas spp. were resistant to ampicllin, kanamycin and ceftizoxime. Staphylococcus and Klebsiella spp. showed high degree of resistance to 40% of examined antibiotics.

This study was carried out to evaluate the nested PCR for specific detection of different strains of B. burgdorferi. Five strains of B. burgdorferi including ACA-1, B-31, 2B45, 3B45, 7B49 obtained from different countries were used in this study. The strains of B. hermsii, Escherichia. coli and T. pallidum were also included as control strains. Two pairs of nested PCR primers were used to amplify the gene encoding the Osp-A protein of B. burgdorfer under standard PCR condition. In a two stage procedure, nested PCR yielded a positive reaction for five tested strains of B. burgdorferi. None the strains including B. hermsii, E. coli and T. pallidum showed positive reaction when used as control strains in PCR. In conclusion, nested PCR showed acceptable specificity for rapid detection ofB. burgdorferi.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of cagA and cagE genes in H. pylori strains isolated from different patient groups with Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia (NUD), Duodenal Ulcer (DU), Gastric Ulcer (GU) and Gastric Cancer (GC). The patients admitted to the gastroenterology unit at Sharyati hospital in Tehran in 2006 were included in this study. Gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from the antrum of the stomach from each patient then cultured for detection of H. pylori. Identification of H. pylori was performed according to the standard bacteriological methods. Genomic DNA was extracted using a commercially available Qia gene kit. PCR was done using primers cagA-F, cagA-R and cagE-F, cagE-R to detect the target genes cagA and cagE, respectively. Amplified products of target genes were confirmed by sequencing. The cagA and cagE were detected among 85 and 86% of H. pylori isolates, respectively. Prevalence of cagA and cagE genes in the patients with NUD, DU, GU and GC were 22 (64.7%), 28 (100%), 18 (90%), 10 (100%) and 25 (73.5%), 27 (96.4%), 19 (95%), 7 (70%), respectively. The current study demonstrated a significant correlation between peptic ulceration and the presence of H. pylori isolates carrying cagE and cagA genes in Iranian patients.

Antibacterial activity of Sage extract at concentrations of 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, 0.00625, 0.003125, 0.00156, 0.0005 and 0.00025 g dL(-1) against Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, ETEC Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated. Susceptibility testing of bacterial strains against 18 antibiotics was also performed for comparison. The results showed that P. aeruginosa and ETEC E. coli were completely resistant to Sage extract even at concentration of 0.1 g dL(-1). Its antibacterial activity (0.1 g dL(-1)) against P. vulgaris, S. flexneri and S. sonnei was the same as nitrofurantoin and ampicilline respectively. Sage extract (0.1 and 0.05 g dL(-1)) exhibited the same effects as ampicilline and streptomycin against S. typhi. Its antibacterial activity (0.1, 0.05 and 0.25 g dL(-1)) against S. aureus was the same as ceftazidim, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, neomycin and nitrofurantoin and was more significant compared to streptomycin and vancomycin. The results suggest Sage can be considered as an alternative herbal in the treatment of infections caused by the above-mentioned bacteria.

Congenital palatal defects are common in animals but there is only one report of water buffalo has been recorded in Iran. One died male water buffalo calf was examined after hysterotomy operation. At necropsy findings, brachygnathia, palate cleft and small lungs were diagnosed. It is the second report of water buffalo cleft palate in Iran.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of secondary bacterial infections in the patients with cutaneous lesions. The patients admitted to leishmaniasis laboratory of faculty of health, Tehran university of medical sciences from October 2004 to June 2005 were subjected in this study. Clinical samples were analyzed using standard bacteriological and parasitological methods. One hundred seventy three patients were subjected to this study and leishmania was found in 84 (48.5%) cases. According to bacteriological experiments, 47 cases (55.9%) had been also infected by bacterial infections. The most prevalent bacterial isolates included group D Streptococcus (19.1%), Enterococcus spp. (19.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.7%). The findings of current study indicated that the bacterial infections are still an important problem in the patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis and should be considered in treating these patients.

The purpose of this study is to review of spinal tuberculosis in three hospitals in Isfahan of Iran. We carried out a cross sectional study of 630 patients with tuberculosis and identified 100 patients with spinal involvement in the three hospitals. Tuberculosis was diagnosed based on one of a compatible clinical picture. A radiographic study of the spine with suspicious signs and skin tested were performed for each patient. Demographic data, sign, symptoms and site of spinal involvement were recorded. In all patients, a chest X ray and sputum smear and culture was performed for rouling out of pulmonary tuberculosis. Out of the 100 patients with spinal tuberculosis, 58% were male and 42% were female. Main symptoms were spinal deformity, local tenderness and neurologic deficits. Fever and constitutional symptoms were in 80% of cases. Only 68% had a positive tuberculin skin test. Three percent involvement were the upper thoracic spine, 23% the lower thoracic spine, 69% also the lower thoracic, T12 and upper lumbar spines, (thoracolumbar) and 5% the cervical spine. 40 cases underwent bone biopsy that 25% had a positive smear, whereas 62.5% had a positive culture. Histologic findings suggestive of tuberculosis involvement of the bone were found in 37 of the 40 biopsies. The most common age for spinal involvement were 20-40 years (p < 0.05). Spinal tuberculosis may be missed in patients with no evidence of pulmonary. No pathognomonic imaging signs allow tuberculosis to be readily distinguished from other conditions. In this here, we discuss about clinical and histopathological findings in patients with spinal tuberculosis.

Aim of this study was to investigate the presence of plasmids among the strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from clinically diagnosed cases in Tehran in 2006. A total of 38 strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated. With the exception of one isolate, all P. aeruginosa strains harbored at least one plasmid band. The electrophoretic analysis of plasmid DNAs showed different number of plasmid bands among the strains tested. The DNA band of 1.4 kbp was evident in 84.2% of the strains. Approximately 71 and 21% of the isolates harbored concomitantly two and three plasmids, respectively. Isolation of strains with diverse types of plasmids suggests the different cluster of P. aeruginosa might be disseminated during the current study period.

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of serotypes and antibiotic resistance in Shigella spp. isolated from patients admitted to Bouali hospital, Tehran, Iran during 1999 to 2001. All cases of shigellosis that were diagnosed according to their clinical pictures and microbial cultures were included in current study. Patients' age ranged from 12 to 89 years. Overall, 52 patients (56%) and 41(44%) were males and female, respectively. From a total of 90 Shigella isolates, 40 strains were identified as S. sonnei (45%), 26 as S. flexneri (27.9%), 3 as S. boydii (3%) and 21 as S. dysenteriae (24%). More than 95% of the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and ceftizoxim, 70% to nalidixic acid and less than 50% to co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, ampicillin and fourazolodon.

Aim of this study was to determine the causative agent and source of a large gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in a national financial center (CBIRI) in July 2003. A patient definition was defined staff were interviewed in the clinic of the Bank and their information were collected by means of a standardized questionnaire. A total of 110 fecal specimens were collected within 48 h of symptom onset from 100 patients with symptoms of gastroenteritis and 10 restaurant staff. The specimens were processed within 12 h to detect ova and parasites by direct microscopy and common bacteria by standard methods. The outbreak started on 22 July 2003 lasted 4 days. From a total of 1300 staff. 535 persons experienced a severe gastrointestinal illness. None but one of tested fecal samples were positive for bacterial enteric pathogens. S. paratyphi B was isolated from the positive case. Definitive association between illness and isolated S. paratyphi B remained to be determined since it was isolated only from one case. There is a need, however, for increased awareness among both professionals and the public to implement appropriate prevention measures and monitoring of food and water.