Search

Background and Objective: Antibacterial resistance is one of the top global public health problems. The use of natural substances, which can enhance the antibacterial activity of currently used medications, is a promising alternative to oppose antibacterial resistance. The pharmacological activities of lupinifolin, a prenylated flavanone isolated from stems of Derris reticulata Craib., against growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus have been previously documented. Nonetheless, interactions between lupinifolin and other antibacterial agents have not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lupinifolin in combinations with some antibacterial agents, specifically ampicillin, cloxacillin or vancomycin, against S. mutans, Methicillin-Sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Materials and Methods: The checkerboard assay was performed to determine the antibacterial activity of lupinifolin plus the testing antibacterial agents. The Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) was calculated to indicate the interaction between lupinifolin and the antibacterial agent tested. Results: Lupinifolin exerted the synergistic activity when using in combination with ampicillin or cloxacillin against MSSA with the FICIs of 0.5. The potential synergistic effect was also observed with lupinifolin plus ampicillin or cloxacillin against MRSA. However, the combination of lupinifolin plus vancomycin resulted in no interaction against MRSA. The combined effects of lupinifolin and ampicillin or cloxacillin against S. mutans were somewhat ambiguous with the borderline values of FICI of 0.5156 and 0.5625, respectively. Conclusion: Lupinifolin potentially plays a role as an antibacterial intensifier against some pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, particularly MSSA and MRSA. Nonetheless, further experiments are required to explain the precise mechanism of synergy.

Mastitis is a global challenge for the dairy industry and mastitogenic bacteria play a critical role among other causes. Many mastitogenic bacteria are becoming resistant to single or combination antibiotic therapy, making mastitis cases difficult to cure. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence on the occurrence and antibiotic resistance patterns of mastitogenic bacteria in commercial dairy and communal farms in the Midland Province of Zimbabwe that might support a holistic approach to mastitis mitigation. A cross-sectional study aimed to isolate and evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of mastitogenic bacteria from cattle with clinical mastitis was conducted. A total of 164 milk samples were analyzed, of which 36.6% (60) samples were collected from commercial farmers, and 63.4% (104) came from communal farmers. The samples were cultured on standard media and sensitivity patterns of the identified bacteria were tested against 14 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. All milk samples from communal farms were positive for mastitogenic bacteria compared to 88% (53) of mastitogenic positive milk samples from commercial farms. The most common microorganisms from all the 157-mastitogenic positive milk samples were Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%) and Escherichia coli (23.3%). The highest resistance was observed against Penicillin, Erythromycin, Ampicillin, and Lincomycin, whereas most isolates were susceptible to Sulphamethoxazole, gentamycin, neomycin, kanamycin, cloxacillin, ertapenem, ceftriaxone, Amp-Ampicillin, amikacin, vancomycin, and tetracycline. Futher research to investigate the significance of resistant mastogenic bacteria in terms of Veterinary costs, production losses and potential public health transmission of antibiotic resistant mastogenic bacteria is recommended

Background: Asymptomatic urinary tract infections (AUTI) are common in apparently healthy populations and are detectable in the laboratory as 'significant bacteriuria’. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess the asymptomatic bacteriuria among the university students and to examine the student's practices and risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of asymptomatic bacteriuria. Subject and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study included 184 student selected by stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using self-administered online questionnaires that included a personal data, history of UTI, health-related hygienic practices and dietary preference has and habits. Urine investigation was done for the participated students. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation were used for data analysis. Results: The finding showed that nearly one-third of the study participants reported had a previous history of urinary tract infection. The most repeated complaint was urgency (31%) and side pain (26.6%). Results revealed that (40.2%) were positive for significant bacteriuria. There was a negative association in the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria with respect to age. (40.2%). Escherichia Coli was the most predominant organism followed closely by Staphylococcus aureus. Ciprofloxacin to be the most effective antibiotic followed by Amikacin and Nitrofurantoin. Ampicillin, Cloxacillin, and Erythromycin were highly resistant to the isolates. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of raising students’ awareness and habitual practices as a primary prevention of the urinary tract infection. Recommendation: Routine urine culture test should be carried out periodically to early detect asymptomatic bacteriuria

This article was discussed the problems biodiversity of cow mastitis. The purpose of the work was to conduct a statistical analysis of microbiological data milk samples from cows with mastitis in order to ensure the targeted use of antibiotics on Ukrainian farms. Also, the article reveals the problems of the aseptic sampling technique for analysis, which complicates their identification. The obtained milk samples from 20 farm of Ukraine were examined using microbiology methods. As a result, 41% of all isolated bacteria were contagious mastitis agents: 15% of Staphylococcus aureus and 26% of Streptococcus agalactiae, and 59% were environmental mastitis agents. The most bacteria refer to Gram (+) microflora, namely streptococci (22.5% - Streptococcus spp. (S.agalactiae not include) and coagulase-negative stain (CNS) of staphylococci (14% - Staphylococcus spp. CNS). 18.5% of all isolated isolates are identified as Gram (-) microflora: for by Gram (-) microflora: 11% - E.coli, 6% -Pasteurella spp., 1.5% - Proteus spp. Mastitis caused by fungi (yeast), accounted for 1.5% of all diagnosed mastitis. Most of the isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and gentamicin -93, 5%. The smallest number of isolates were sensitive to tylosin- 20,9% and streptomycin- 48,3%. A significant percentage (83.8% -54.8%) of obtained isolates were sensitive to rifampicin, amoxicillin, bacitracin, cloxacillin, trimethoprim, florfenicol, ampicillin, lincomycin, cephalexin, enrofloxacin, neomycin, penicillin.

Background. Newborn infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates in low-income countries. Clinical diagnosis for omphalitis in such settings is possible but this does not depict the microbiological characteristics of the involved organisms, and clinicians have often prescribed empirical antibiotics in neonates with omphalitis, despite an increasing burden of antibiotic resistance. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the bacteriology and antibiotic susceptibility patterns among neonates diagnosed with omphalitis at the special care baby unit (SCBU) of Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH), western Uganda from March to June 2019. Sixty-five (65) neonates with a clinical diagnosis of omphalitis were consecutively recruited in the study. Cord swabs were taken under sterile (aseptic) precautions from all neonates, and antibiotic susceptibility tests performed using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique with commercially available antibiotics disks of ampicillin, cloxacillin, gentamicin, amikacin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and imipenem on Mueller Hinton agar plates. The data was analyzed using STATA version 13.0, frequencies and proportions used to describe the variables. Results. Fifty-five, 55 (84.6%), neonates with suspected omphalitis had positive cord swab culture. Staphylococcal aureus (58.2%) was the commonest cause of omphalitis followed by Neisseria spp (16.4%), E. coli 6 (10.9%), Proteus spp (5.5%), Klebsiella spp (3.6%), Citrobacter spp (3.6%), and Haemophilus spp (1.8%) in decreasing frequency. Isolates were resistant to ampicillin (87.7%), gentamicin (54.4%), and cloxacillin (34.4%), the drugs recommended for use in neonates with suspected omphalitis. Conclusions. Staphylococcal aureus is still the predominant cause of omphalitis among neonates. There was high resistance to the commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of omphalitis among newborns. This study reemphasizes that clinicians should do cord swabbing for both culture and susceptibility tests among newborns with suspected omphalitis before initiation of antibiotics.

Background: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) remains a great burden to mothers and their unborn children all over the world with several adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aimed at determining common bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility patterns in women with PROM at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the months of September 2019 to November 2019. A total of 334 pregnant mothers above 28 weeks of pregnancy admitted in maternity ward of KIU-TH were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer administered questionnaires and laboratory forms were used to collect data. Endocervical swabs were obtained from those with PROM and taken to the laboratory for culture and susceptibility tests. Descriptive statistics were used using STATA 14.2. Results: 46 (13.8%) mothers had PROM. Of these, the most common bacterial pathogens identified were S. aureus (29.6%), E. coli (25.9%) and N. gonorrhoeae (25.9%). Antibacterial susceptibility tests revealed highest sensitivity to imipenem (100%), nitrofurantoin (92.6%), cloxacillin (85.2%) and azithromycin (81.5%). Total resistance to amoxacillin, ceftriaxone and ampicillin was found. Conclusion: Women with PROM predominatly have Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Imipenem, nitrofurantoin, cloxacillin and azithromycin are the most effective antibiotics among patients with PROM.

The global evolution of antibiotic resistance has threatened the efficacy of available treatment options with ravaging impacts observed in developing countries. As a result, investigations into the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the role of plasmids are crucial. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of blaTEM and gyrA genes, plasmid profiles, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella strains isolated from raw meat and stool sources across Niger State, Nigeria. Ninety-eight samples, comprising 72 raw meat and 26 stool samples, were screened for Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents was determined using the Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method. Isolates were further analyzed for plasmids, in addition to PCR amplification of beta-lactamase (blaTEM) and gyrA genes. A total of 31 Salmonella spp. were isolated, with 22 from raw meat (70.97%) and 9 from stool (29.03%). Salmonella spp. with multiple resistance patterns to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, and gentamicin were detected. Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were found to be the most effective among the antibiotics tested, with 67.7% and 93.5% susceptible isolates, respectively. Nine (29.03%) isolates harbored plasmids with molecular sizes ranging between 6557 bp and 23137 bp. PCR amplification of gyrA was detected in 1 (3.23%) of the 31 isolates while 28 isolates (90.32%) were positive for blaTEM. This study shows the incidence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolates and the possible role of plasmids; it also highlights the prevalence of ampicillin resistance in this local population.

This study aims to evaluate two commercial antibiotics for drying off. Ninety-five Friesian cows and 380 quarters were included. The cows were classified as Control or Subclinical Mastitis based on somatic cell count. The California Mastitis Test and the teat end score were performed. Quarters were randomly treated with Cloxacillin and Ampicillin (TA) or Cephalexin (TB). The effect of the therapy (TA vs. TB) was estimated by X2 analysis based on the Wald test. The preservative and therapeutic actions of TA vs. TB were evaluated by the Kruskall-Wallis test. TB showed a statistically significant therapeutic effect in the control group, that might be related to the pharmacological activity of the two antibiotics. Also, the subclinical mastitis group most commonly presented more quarters affected compared to the control group, leading to worse improvement despite proper therapy. In conclusion, in abrupt drying off, the California mastitis test, teat end score and somatic cell count evaluation, as well as microbial herd data, might represent key concepts for an efficient drying off standard protocol on a dairy farm. In line with the herd bacterial population, both TA and TB may be employed for drying off therapy., Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je procijeniti učinke dva komercijalna antibiotika za zasušivanje koji se primjenjuju pri zasušivanju mliječnih krava. Uključeno je 95 krava frizijske pasmine i 380 četvrti vimena. Na temelju broja somatskih stanica krave su podijeljene u kontrolnu skupinu i skupinu sa supkliničkim mastitisom. Primijenjeni su Kalifornijski test za mastitis ocjena vrha sisa. Četvrti vimena su nasumično tretirane kloksacilinom i ampicilinom (TA) ili cefaleksinom (TB). Učinak terapije (TA u odnosu na TB) procijenjen je hi-kvadrat testom temeljenim na Wald-ovoj procjeni. Zaštitni i terapijski učinci TA-a u odnosu na TB procijenjeni su Kruskall-Wallisovim testom. TB je pokazao statistički znakovit terapijski učinak u kontrolnoj skupini, koji bi mogao biti povezan s farmakološkom aktivnošću dvaju antibiotika. Također, skupina sa supkliničkim mastitisom najčešće je imala više zahvaćenih četvrtina vimena u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom, što je vodilo pogoršanju unatoč terapiji. Zaključeno je da bi naglo zasušivanje, te korištenje Kalifornijskog testa za mastitis, ocjena vrha sisa, procjena broja somatskih stanica i podataka o mikrobnom statusu stada mogli biti ključni za učinkovit standardni protokol zasušenja na farmama mliječnih krava. S obzirom na populacije bakterija u stadu I korištenja TA i TB mogu se uključiti u protokol zasušivanja krava.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an important widespread cause of severe infection in both humans and animals, is a significant pathogen of public health concern. This study examined the presence of MRSA in 400 samples comprising 200 raw milks (145 from goat and 55 from sheep) and 200 nasal swabs (145 from goats and 55 from sheep) collected from ten different locations in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Samples were examined using standard bacteriological methods for the isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus and culture on oxacillin (6 μg/ml) and cefoxitin (2 μg/ml) selective media for the detection of MRSA. Suspected MRSA isolates were confirmed by latex agglutination test for the detection of penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 72 (18%) of 400 samples of which 52 (13%) were confirmed as MRSA. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was detected in raw milk (37 of 200; 18.5%) and nasal swab (15 of 200; 7.5%). There was no significance difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of MRSA in sheep (37.7%) and goat (23.4%). The MRSA isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (100%), cloxacillin (100%), sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (100%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (84.6%), ceftriaxone (75%), cefuroxime (69.2%), erythromycin (65.4%), streptomycin (38.5%), ciprofloxacin (23.1%), pefloxacin (21.2%) and gentamicin (17.3%). The presence of multidrug-resistant MRSA in small ruminants reared in Abeokuta metropolis may be due to regular use of antibiotics and unhygienic practices by farmers. This in turn constitutes a potential public health risk to the owners, consumers of small ruminant products and the general populace.

Purpose: To determine the diversity and distribution of bacteria contaminants on washroom fomites in a public university and their resistance to common antibiotics. Methodology: A sanitation audit was conducted on 21 selected washrooms on seven different blocks in a university. Swabs were collected from 68 washroom fomites for bacterial isolation and biochemical identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 22 Gram positive and 41 Gram negative bacteria species. Findings: Of 21 washrooms none had toiletries, 71% did not have flowing water and 90% were in the category of generally unclean. Of 169 bacteria isolated Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the predominant species. Of 68 fomites all had bacterial contaminants with 83.8% having 2 to 3 co-occurring species. Gram positive bacteria isolated were resistant to augmentin (100%), meropenem (94%), penicillin (91%), cefuroxime (86%), vancomycin (86%), erythromycin (67%), cloxacillin (64%), tetracyclin (64%), ciprofloxacin (59%), cotrimoxazole (59%), ampicillin (50%) and gentamicin (36%). Gram negative bacteria isolated were resistant to meropenem (97%), ceftriaxone (95%), ampicillin (93%), cefuroxime (91%), cefotaxime (84%), vancomycin (82%), tetracyclin (80%), cotrimoxazole (78%), chloramphenicol (50%), ciprofloxacin (71%), amikacin (40%) and gentamicin (24%). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Previous studies on bacteria on fomites in Ghana have focused on healthcare settings. This study focused on a university campus which is a non-healthcare setting with a high human presence and pressure on existing washroom facilities leading to contamination. The diversity of bacteria on the fomites are representative of clinically significant antibiotic resistant human enteric and skin flora carried by a seemingly healthy population and provide an indication of the potential antibiotic resistance burden in the user community.

Testing milk for antibiotics before acceptance into dairies is required by the U.S. Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. Technological advances in tests have reduced screening times and improved detection accuracy. This work describes the validation of the Charm Rapid One Step Assay Beta-Lactam 30 Second Test according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine protocol for raw commingled milk. Milk is added to the lateral flow test strip in an incubator/reader to deliver a 30 second result. Independent laboratory validation followed sensitivity, interference, and incurred residue protocols. Sensitivity, in parts per billion (ppb = µg/kg), using a probit curve determined 90% percent detection with 95% confidence, which met National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) specifications. Six U.S. approved beta-lactam drugs were detected below, but within 50% of, target/tolerance levels for penicillin G 2.9 ppb, ampicillin 5.9 ppb, amoxicillin 5.8 ppb, cephapirin 13 ppb, cloxacillin 8.1 ppb, and ceftiofur metabolites 73 ppb. No interferences were observed from 33 animal drugs at 100 ppb, somatic cells at 1.2 million/mL, or bacterial levels of >300 000 CFU/mL. Incurred residue detection levels were similar to levels determined with the spiked parent compound. The data support NCIMS that the BL30SEC method met U.S. criteria for testing milk for beta-lactams.

Background: Rational prescribing is essential to prevent medication errors, antibiotic resistance, and treatment failure. Assessment of prescribing practices helps monitor the utilization of medicines. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern and utilization of antibiotics for children attending outpatient units. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of outpatient pediatric prescriptions received at the pharmacy of a Nigerian teaching hospital, using the World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators and Index of Rational Drug Prescribing (IRDP). Prescription information for a 2-year period was collected on a standardized prescribing form. Computer data entry was made into Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 20(IBM, Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results were compared with the WHO core prescribing indicators and presented as means, frequencies, proportions, contingency tables, and charts comparing with published standards. Results: There were 3445 eligible prescriptions, with mean child age of 3.2 (±2.9) years. An average of 2.4 (±1.6) drugs were prescribed per encounter, with 48.2% written in generic names. Prescriptions containing oral antibiotics and antibiotic injections constituted 50.2% and 41.2%, respectively. Medicines prescribed were available in the essential medicines list in 95.5% of cases. The IRDP was 2.98 against the ideal of 5. Majority (71.3%) of antibiotic-containing prescriptions had one antibiotic prescribed while β-lactam penicillins and cephalosporins were the most prescribed, with ampicillin/cloxacillin being the most common combination. Conclusion: Irrational prescribing and inappropriate antibiotic use were prevalent in this tertiary hospital. Similar studies are needed to describe the trends in all Nigerian tertiary hospitals, along with retraining on rational prescribing.

We surveyed Staphylococcus aureus contamination in 110 pork samples from 12 fresh meat markets in Nongchok district, Bangkok, Thailand, and performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing with the disk diffusion method. The prevalence of S. aureus was 28.18%, and 52 strains were isolated. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disk diffusion method revealed that 80.77% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline and 76.92% to ampicillin. All strains were 100% susceptible to cloxacillin, cefoxitin, gentamicin, and cefazolin. The high percentage of antibiotic resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin was attributed to their use in treating infections in farmed animals and their addition to animal food for disease prevention. Interestingly, the present study revealed the intermediate resistance of S. aureus (13.46% of S. aureus-positive pork samples) to vancomycin which is a common medicine for treating severe infection in humans, suggesting that the trend of resistance might increase and becoming a serious problem of public health for both humans and animals.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading causes of bovine mastitis worldwide and is a common indication for use of antimicrobials on dairy farms. This study aims to investigate the association between on-farm antimicrobial usage and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of mastitis-causing S. aureus. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 57 S. aureus isolates derived from cows with either clinical or subclinical mastitis from 17 dairy herds in New Zealand. The genetic relatedness between isolates was examined using the core single nucleotide polymorphism alignment whilst AMR and virulence genes were identified in-silico. The association between gene presence-absence and sequence type (ST), antimicrobial susceptibility and dry cow therapy treatment was investigated using Scoary. Altogether, eight STs were identified with 61.4% (35/57) belonging to ST-1. Furthermore, 14 AMR-associated genes and 76 virulence-associated genes were identified, with little genetic diversity between isolates belonging to the same ST. Several genes including merR1 which is thought to play a role in ciprofloxacin-resistance were found to be significantly overrepresented in isolates sampled from herds using ampicillin/cloxacillin dry cow therapy. Overall, the presence of resistance genes remains low and current antimicrobial usage patterns do not appear to be driving AMR in S. aureus associated with bovine mastitis.

Aim This observational study investigated the microbiology of blood culture positive sepsis episodes and susceptibility to empiric antibiotics in early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in a level four neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2010-2019. Methods It was based on patient records and data that Oslo University Hospital, Norway, routinely submitted to the Norwegian Neonatal Network database. Clinical data were merged with blood culture results, including antibiotic susceptibility. Results We studied 5,249 infants admitted to the NICU 6,321 times and identified 324 positive blood cultures from 287 infants, with 30 EOS and 305 LOS episodes. Frequent causative agents for EOS were group B streptococci (33.3%), Escherichia coli (20.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%). All were susceptible to empiric ampicillin and gentamicin. LOS was most frequently caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) (73.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.7%) and Enterococci (6.9%). CONS, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter represented 91.9% of LOS episodes and were susceptible to vancomycin and cefotaxime (96.1%), vancomycin and gentamicin (97.0%) and cloxacillin and gentamicin (38.1%). Conclusion Empiric treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin was adequate for EOS. Combining vancomycin and gentamicin may be a safer alternative to cefotaxime for LOS, as this reduces exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is the most prevalent bacterial infection in developing countries. UTI is sometimes asymptomatic. The occurrence of UTI in pregnancy can result in complications such as premature or low-birth-weight babies. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of UTI followed by Staphylococci species. However, E.coli associated UTI has been well studied while there is paucity of data on the virulence and resistance of Staphylococci-associated UTIs in women. This study aimed to characterize the virulence and resistance genes in Staphylococci species isolated from the urine of pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Lagos State, Nigeria. Clean catch midstream urine specimens were collected from the women and cultured on appropriate agar. Bacteria were identified using both biochemical and molecular methods and evaluated for resistance to antibiotics. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mecA and blaZ resistance genes and the PVL and TSST virulence genes. Results: Staphylococci species were isolated from 21 (26.25%) of the 80 urine samples of which 7 (29%) were Staphylococcus aureus and 17 (71%) coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS). S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus were the most commonly isolated CoNS. All the isolates tested were resistant to cotrimoxazole, cloxacillin, erythromycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and tetracycline. Both blaZ and the mecA genes were detected in the isolates that were phenotypically susceptible to methicillin and cefoxitin. There was an occurrence of the mecA, blaZ and PVL genes in S. saprophyticus in patients who were co-infected with S. aureus. Conclusion: UTI caused by Staphylococci is common among pregnant women. There is a need to consider staphylococcal associated UTI screening in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of UTI in pregnant women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the transfer of cephalexin, penicillin-G, and ampicillin & cloxacillin from cow's milk to cheese and whey. For this purpose, raw milk was artificially contaminated to different antibiotic levels and then heat-treated to prepare fresh cheese from it. Antibiotic levels of the milk, whey and cheese were measured with LC-MS/MS. The extent of heat degradation was not sufficient to remove the antibiotic residues from milk. Antibiotic concentrations in whey and fresh cheese were in good accordance with the concentration of the same compound in milk suggesting that contamination of the milk will result in contamination of the product. The investigated antibiotics were transferred less into the cheese curd (1.6-12.5% of the original amount), than into the whey (33.2-74.1%). For penicillin-G even 100% (complete removal) was experienced.

lt;bgt;Background and Objective:lt;/bgt; Antibacterial resistance is one of the top global public health problems. The use of natural substances, which can enhance the antibacterial activity of currently used medications, is a promising alternative to oppose antibacterial resistance. The pharmacological activities of lupinifolin, a prenylated flavanone isolated from stems oflt;igt;Derris reticulatalt;/igt; Craib., against growth and biofilm formation oflt;igt;Streptococcus mutanslt;/igt; andlt;igt;Staphylococcus aureuslt;/igt; have been previously documented. Nonetheless, interactions between lupinifolin and other antibacterial agents have not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lupinifolin in combinations with some antibacterial agents, specifically ampicillin, cloxacillin or vancomycin, againstlt;igt;S. mutanslt;/igt;, Methicillin-Sensitivelt;igt;S. aureuslt;/igt; (MSSA) and Methicillin-Resistantlt;igt;S. aureuslt;/igt; (MRSA).lt;bgt;Materials and Methods:lt;/bgt; The checkerboard assay was performed to determine the antibacterial activity of lupinifolin plus the testing antibacterial agents. The Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) was calculated to indicate the interaction between lupinifolin and the antibacterial agent tested.lt;bgt;Results:lt;/bgt; Lupinifolin exerted the synergistic activity when using in combination with ampicillin or cloxacillin against MSSA with the FICIs oflt;ugt;lt;/ugt;0.5. The potential synergistic effect was also observed with lupinifolin plus ampicillin or cloxacillin against MRSA. However, the combination of lupinifolin plus vancomycin resulted in no interaction against MRSA. The combined effects of lupinifolin and ampicillin or cloxacillin againstlt;igt;S. mutanslt;/igt; were somewhat ambiguous with the borderline values of FICI of 0.5156 and 0.5625, respectively.lt;bgt;Conclusion:lt;/bgt; Lupinifolin potentially plays a role as an antibacterial intensifier against some pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, particularly MSSA and MRSA. Nonetheless, further experiments are required to explain the precise mechanism of synergy.