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Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in a neonate. Pantoea species (Pantoea spp < /em>) has attracted considerable attention as an emerging neonatal pathogen and has been associated with life-threatening septic arthritis, occupational respiratory infections, and bloodstream infections in neonates and infants globally. Methods: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Pantoea spp from neonatal sepsis cases, and the sources of its infection. Pantoea spp isolates were isolated and identificatied by conventional methods then, they were confirmed by VITEK 2 and conventional PCR. Furthermore, we evaluated the antimicrobial profile of Pantoea spp < /em>. Also we studied the antimicrobial effect of anise oil and peppermint oil by using the MIC method, and hibiscus and lactoferrin by using the cup diffusion method. Results: we reported three cases (6%) of neonatal sepsis caused by the emerging life-threatening pathogen Pantoea spp < /em> in the NICU of Assuit University. The organism was also detected in contaminated powder infant formula (PIF) and parentral nutrition (PN) in 16% and 2%, respectively which may be sources of infection for neonates. Conclusion: PIF and PN may by source of Pantoea spp < /em> infection. Anise oil , peppermint oil , hibiscus and lactoferrin have antimicrobial effect against Pantoea spp.

Background: Alterations of intestinal microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Dysbiosis may cause disruption of the intestinal barrier, which contributes to immune activation by translocation of microbial antigens and metabolites. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) serves as a biomarker of enterocyte damage. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentration of I-FABP in patients with psoriasis. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study on fifty psoriatic patients and thirty-five age and sex-matched healthy volunteers as a control group were enrolled in the study, serum I-FABP concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Concentration of serum I-FABP was higher in patients compared to controls (P = 0.04). The serum level of I-FABP was higher in patients with skin phototype IV than in those with skin phototype III (P = 0.040). There were significant positive statistical correlations between I-FABP with age and disease duration. Conclusion: I-FABP, a biomarker for gut permeability, is increased in psoriasis and correlates with disease duration and age. Further investigations are needed to determine whether reinforcing intestinal barrier may be a new therapeutic target in psoriasis.

Background The ability to forecast the progression and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease is critical for effective management. Objective To determine whether hematological parameters can predict severe COVID-19 at the time of hospital admission. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 298 admitted COVID-19 patients. They were categorized into severe or nonsevere groups. Blood picture was done with analysis of red-cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), RDW-to-platelet ratio, and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Other investigations like D-dimer, ferritin, C-reactive protein, kidney, and liver functions were assessed and compared between the groups. Results Males were predominant in the severe group (65.7%). Compared with the nonsevere group, the severe group had a higher median age (59 vs. 37 years). The severe group showed significantly lower counts for lymphocytes and platelets (P=0.000), while the total leukocytic count and neutrophils were significantly higher compared with the nonsevere group. Also, the severe group showed significantly higher ratios regarding NLR and PLR (P=0.021 and 0.000, respectively). RDW and RDW-to-platelet ratio values were not significantly different between both groups. While assessing the risk factors for severe COVID-19, the highest odds ratio was observed for NLR, odds ratio: 1.954 (confidence interval: 1.404–2.718). A cut-off point of NLR more than 1.67 had high sensitivity 81.3 and 60.2% specificity with high accuracy; area under the curve=0.780. PLR at a cutoff more than 176 showed 70.5% sensitivity and 62% specificity with high accuracy area under the curve=0.760. Conclusion NLR and PLR could be used as simple, readily available, and cost-effective biomarkers predicting the severity of cases of COVID-19. Hematologic parameter values mostly alter amid the course of the illness.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) management and prevention of further spread is crucially based on early and prompt diagnosis. Even though conventional methods are the gold standard for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), they are time consuming and do not detect nontuberculous mycobacteria in most cases. The present study evaluated Anyplex MTB/NTM real-time (RT)-PCR assay (Seegene) for TB diagnosis in pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases in comparison with culture on Lowenstein–Jensen as a gold standard for diagnosis of MTB. Patients and methods The study included 100 patients with suspected TB: pulmonary TB represented 68 patients and extrapulmonary TB represented 32 patients. All pathological samples were stained by Ziehl–Neelsen staining (ZNS), cultured on Lowenstein–Jensen media and processed for PCR by the Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR. Results Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 65.5%, respectively, when compared with the sensitivity and specificity of ZNS, which were 87.2 and 79.3%, respectively, in the clinically suspected pulmonary TB group. However, in the clinically suspected extrapulmonary TB group, Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR had sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 79.2%, respectively, when compared with those of ZNS, which were 75 and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The use of Seegene Anyplex MTB/NTM assay for detection and differentiation of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in our area is more convenient and accurate compared with ZNS.

Background and AimCronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) has attracted considerable attention as an emerging neonatal pathogen and has been associated with outbreaks of life-threatening septicemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and meningitis in neonates and infants globally. No data about the role of C. sakazakii as a cause of neonatal sepsis in North Africa is availale. Herein, we aimed to study the incidence of C. sakazakii in cases of neonatal sepsis, its distribution in different food samples in Egypt, antimicrobial profile, and the ability of the strains to form biofilms.MethodsA total of 100 positive blood cultures from cases of neonatal sepsis admitted to the neonatal ICU at Assiut University Children’s Hospital, Egypt, were analyzed. In addition, 1,100 food samples, including 400 powdered infant formula (PIF), 500 herbs, and 200 water samples were screened for the presence of C. sakazakii. We evaluated the antimicrobial profile and the ability of the strains to form biofilms.ResultsCronobacter sakazakii was detected in 12 out of 100 cases of neonatal sepsis. The organism was also isolated from PIF, herbs, and water in percentages of 17.5, 9.2, and 7.5%, respectively. Regarding the antimicrobial sensitivity, all strains were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, clindamycin, cephalothin, and cephalexin. In addition, C. sakazakii strains showed the ability to form biofilms, but with variable degrees of cell density.ConclusionWe reported, for the first time, cases of neonatal sepsis caused by the emerging life-threatening pathogen C. sakazakii in Egypt. The organism was also detected in contaminated PIF, herbs, and water, which may be sources of infection for neonates, especially in countries where natural herbs are widely used as an alternative medicine. Finally, collective efforts by the parents, manufacturers of PIF, and healthcare personnel are essential to prevent serious infections caused by C. sakazakii, particularly in infants.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative coccobacillus responsible for severe hospital-acquired infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). The current study was designed to characterize the virulence traits of biofilm-forming carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii causing pneumonia in ICU patients using a Galleria mellonella model. Two hundred and thirty patients with hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia were included in our study. Among the total isolates, A. baumannii was the most frequently isolated etiological agent in ICU patients with pneumonia (54/165, 32.7%). All A. baumannii isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations of imipenem and colistin were estimated using the broth microdilution technique. The biofilm formation activity of the isolates was tested using the microtiter plate technique. Biofilm quantification showed that 61.1% (33/54) of the isolates were strong biofilm producers, while 27.7% (15/54) and 11.1% (6/54) showed moderate or weak biofilm production. By studying the prevalence of carbapenemases-encoding genes among isolates, blaOXA-23-like was positive in 88.9% of the isolates (48/54). The BlaNDM gene was found in 27.7% of the isolates (15/54 isolates). BlaOXA-23-like and blaNDM genes coexisted in 25.9% (14/54 isolates). Bap and blaPER-1 genes, the biofilm-associated genes, coexisted in 5.6% (3/54) of the isolates. For in vivo assessment of A. baumannii pathogenicity, a Galleria mellonella survival assay was used. G. mellonella survival was statistically different between moderate and poor biofilm producers (p < 0.0001). The killing effect of the strong biofilm-producing group was significantly higher than that of the moderate and poor biofilm producers (p < 0.0001 for each comparison). These findings highlight the role of biofilm formation as a powerful virulence factor for carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii that causes pneumonia in the ICU.

Este proyecto utiliza la automatización de procesos como una alternativa para el desarrollo de prácticas de Mecánica de fluidos, utilizando el Tubo de Ventu-ri, dispositivo dotado de sensores electrónicos, tarjeta de adquisición, un acondicionamiento mecánico y un software de procesamiento de datos que almacena los registros de manera persistente en una base de datos.Con esta herramienta tecnológica los estudiantes y docentes de la Universidad Mariana pueden realizar un procesamiento de información adecuado y acorde con los contenidos analí­ticos de los espacios académi-cos correspondientes a estas temáticas, permitiendo apreciar que la Ingenierí­a de Sistemas se integra con otras áreas como la Fí­sica y la Electrónica, facilitando la comprobación de principios como la Ecuación de Continuidad y el Teorema de Bernoulli.

Background and aim: Bloodstream infection (BSI) causes significant patient morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with hematological malignancies. This study evaluates the role of BioFire in the rapid detection of bloodstream pathogens in hematological malignancies and identifies the bacterial and fungal species causing BSI. In addition, it evaluates the effect of prophylactic antimicrobials on developing multidrug-resistant bacteria and identifies common carbapenem-resistant genes using lateral flow assay. Patients and methods: This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study included 261 patients, who were admitted to the Clinical Hematology Department from January 2020 to February 2022. All study group patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations. Blood cultures were inoculated into BACT/ALERT culture bottles. Identification of the isolated organism was done by VITEK2, BioFire FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel, and conventional identification. Results: The result revealed that the incidence of BSIs among the studied population was 20.7% of the total 261 cases. Gram-negative bacteria were the main organisms responsible for the BSIs, which account for 57.6%, while Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 35.2% and fungi accounted for 7.4%. The results of the BioFire FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel in comparison to VITEK2 and conventional identification of pathogen show fairly accepted sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of common BSIs. Conclusion: BSI is fairly common in patients with hematological malignancies. Early identification and prompt intervention may affect patient's outcome. As regards high cost of the test, rapid diagnostic techniques have a clinical impact if the reporting is coupled with antimicrobial stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]