Search

In recent years, some studies have found that acute uncomplicated appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics alone. Because of the lack of relevant research on treating acute appendicitis in Taiwan, this study investigated the microbiological characteristics of acute appendicitis to permit accurate empirical antibiotic use for uncomplicated appendicitis. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, patients listed in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database with a discharge diagnosis of acute appendicitis were identified. Data for bacterial specimens and antibiotic susceptibility tests among patients treated at Tri-Service General Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were analyzed. Among 2805 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, 167 (6%) were <18 years old. The culture positivity rates among children and adults were 33% and 18%, respectively. In total, 367 aerobes and 207 anaerobes were isolated. The predominant aerobic gram-positive coccus was viridans group streptococci (8.9%), the most common aerobic gram-negative bacillus was Escherichia coli (27.9%), and the most common anaerobic microorganism was Bacteroides spp. (27.7%). The results of antibiotic susceptibility testing of the predominant microorganisms revealed that 86.3% of gram-positive aerobes were susceptible to ampicillin, 76.3% of gram-negative aerobes were susceptible to gentamicin, and all anaerobic isolates were susceptible to metronidazole. Triple first-line antibiotic combination therapy, including ampicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole, remains highly effective against the pathogens that cause acute appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract infections [UTIs] are considered the third most known risk of infection in human health around the world. There is increasing appreciation for the pathogenicity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains in UTIs, aside from fungal infection, as they have numerous virulence factors. Materials and Methods: In this study, fifty urine samples were collected from patients suffering from UTI. Among the isolates of UTI microbes, six isolates were described as MDR isolates after an antibiotic susceptibility test carried out using ten different antibiotics. An alternative treatment for microbial elimination involved the use of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from Solanum lycopersicum [S. cumin]. Results: The sizes and shapes of AgNPs were characterized through TEM imaging, which showed spherical particles in a size range of 35–80 nm, of which the average size was 53 nm. Additionally, the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) demonstrated inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (OR648079), exhibiting a 31 mm zone of inhibition at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 8 mg/mL. This was followed by Aspergillus niger (OR648075), which showed a 30 mm inhibition zone at an MIC of 16 mg/mL and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 32 mg/mL. Then, Enterococcus faecalis (OR648078), Klebsiella pneumoniae (OR648081), and Acinetobacter baumannii (OR648080) each displayed a 29 mm zone of inhibition at an MIC of 8 mg/mL and an MBC of 16 mg/mL. The least inhibition was observed against Candida auris (OR648076), with a 25 mm inhibition zone at an MIC of 16 mg/mL and an MFC of 32 mg/mL. Furthermore, AgNPs at different concentrations removed DPPH and H2O2 at an IC50 value of 13.54 μg/mL. Also, AgNPs at 3 mg/mL showed remarkable DNA fragmentation in all bacterial strains except Enterococcus faecalis. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of different active organic components in the plant extract, which concluded that rutin was 88.3 mg/g, garlic acid was 70.4 mg/g, and tannic acid was 23.7 mg/g. Finally, AgNPs concentrations in the range of 3–6 mg/mL showed decreased expression of two of the fundamental genes necessary for biofilm formation within Staphylococcus aureus, fnbA (6 folds), and Cna (12.5 folds) when compared with the RecA gene, which decreased by one-fold when compared with the control sample. These two genes were submitted with NCBI accession numbers [OR682119] and [OR682118], respectively. Conclusions: The findings from this study indicate that biosynthesized AgNPs from Solanum lycopersicum exhibit promising antimicrobial and antioxidant properties against UTI pathogens, including strains resistant to multiple antibiotics. This suggests their potential as an effective alternative treatment for UTIs. Further research is warranted to fully understand the mechanisms of action and to explore the therapeutic applications of these nanoparticles in combating UTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are defined by the presence of viable bacteria or fungi, accompanied by systemic signs of infection. Choosing empirical therapy based solely on patient risk factors and prior antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) may lead to either ineffective treatment or unnecessarily broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure. In general, Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute guideline-approved ASTs have a turnaround time of 48–72 h from sample to answer, a period that may result in a critical delay in the appropriate selection of therapy. Therefore, reducing the time required for AST is highly advantageous. We have previously shown that our novel rapid AST method, MAPt (Micro-Agar-PCR-test), accurately identifies susceptibility profiles for spiked bioterrorism agents like Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis directly from whole-blood and blood culture samples, even at low bacterial levels (500 CFU/mL). This study evaluated the performance of MAPt on routine bloodstream infection (BSI), focusing on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from clinical cultures, including resistant strains to some of the six tested antibiotics. Notably, MAPt yielded results exceeding 95% agreement with the standard hospital method within a significantly shorter timeframe of 6 h. These findings suggest significant potential for MAPt as a rapid and reliable BSI management tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shewanella is an important opportunistic pathogen distributed in marine environments that has caused an increasing number of clinical infections. However, there are few reports on the distribution and characteristics of Shewanella in the diarrheal pathogen spectrum. In this study, we have systematically described the prevalence of Shewanella infections in diarrhea patients in Beijing, China 2017-2019, and genome characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of Shewanella isolates. Methods: Stool samples were collected from diarrhea patients in a surveillance project from 2017 to 2019. Shewanella strains were isolated, and identified using VITEKR 2 COMPACT and MALDI-TOF MS. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), phylogenetic analysis, virulence-associated genes and antimicrobial resistance genes analysis were used for genome characteristics description. The antibiotic susceptibility test was performed with microbroth dilution method. Results: 1104 fecal samples were collected, and the Shewanella detection rate was 2.36% (26/1104). The main manifestations of infection caused by Shewanella spp. were diarrhea (100%, 26/26), abdominal pain (65.38%, 17/26), and vomiting (38.46%, 10/26). The 26 isolates were classified into 3 species (S. algae (n = 18), S. indica (n = 5), and S. chilikensis (n = 3)) and 22 sequence types. Core genome single nucleotide polymorphism-based evolutionary tree identified three clone groups corresponding to three infection events in the same months in 2017 and 2019. The putative virulence-associated gene pool consisted of 56 potential virulence genes, including 19 virulence gene factors. The resistance rates of the 26 isolates to 17 antibiotics from high to low were as follows: polymyxin E (76.92%), cefotaxime (57.69%), ampicillin (50%), ampicillin-sulbactam (34.62%), nalidixic acid (15.38%), ciprofloxacin (11.54%), selectrin (3.846%,1/26), and tetracycline (3.846%, 1/26). The rate of multidrug resistance was 38.46% (10/26). Discussion: Monitoring for Shewanella spp. should be added to the routine surveillance of infectious diarrhea during the epidemic season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms, mostly lactic acid bacteria (LAB), that offer health benefits to the host when consumed in adequate amounts. This study assessed the probiotic efficacy and safety of LAB strains isolated from Laban, a traditional fermented milk product. Seven primarily selected Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming isolates were examined for their antimicrobial activity against the bacterial pathogens Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio cholera, and the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Two isolates, identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus L1 and Streptococcus thermophilus L3, which showed antimicrobial activity against all pathogens, were further evaluated for their probiotic competence. The selected isolates demonstrated strong resistance to low pH, bile salts, and phenol, indicating their potential for gastric endurance. They also exhibited high cell surface hydrophobicity to various hydrocarbons, autoaggregation, and coaggregation properties, demonstrating strong adhesion abilities. In addition, both isolates showed strong antioxidant activity and were non-hemolytic. Although the isolates had some resistance to certain antibiotics, they were generally susceptible to commonly used antibiotics. The two LAB strains also exhibited promising technological properties, such as milk coagulation and exopolysaccharide production, indicating their potential to enhance the quality of dairy products. The results suggest that the LAB strains isolated from Laban have strong potential as probiotics, and due to their food origin, they are highly likely to exhibit maximal efficacy in food and pharmaceutical products for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The definition of neonatal Septicemia is "a syndrome characterized by systematic signs and symptoms due to generalized bacterial Infection with a positive blood culture, in the first 28 days of life after birth. Objective: to correlate Blood culture results with the Sepsis Screen to form an idea about the usefulness of investigations in early diagnosis and treatment of Neonatal Septicemia. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Meenakshi Medical College & Research Institute, Kanchipuram from February 2022 to March 2023. Blood samples were collected from 125 clinically suspected cases of Neonatal Septicemia admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit in the Department of Pediatrics.. Results: Of the 64 culture positive cases, early onset septicemia was seen in75% of cases and late onset septicemia in 25% of cases. Septicemia was seen among 64% of Preterms, 40.6% of very low birth weight neonates, 79.7% of neonates with spontaneous vaginal delivery and 62.5% of hospital inborn neonates. Unclean per vaginal examination prior to delivery, prematurity, low birth weight and birth asphyxia were the common risk factors seen in the culture positive cases. Majority of the culture positive cases i.e. 42.2% belonged to the high risk sepsis score group, followed by 40.6% in the moderate risk group and 17.2% of the cases in the low risk group. Gram negative organisms were the predominant causative agents of septicemia in 56.3% of cases compared to Gram positive organisms in 43.7% of cases. Conclusion: In view of the ever changing spectrum of the causative agents of neonatal septicemia and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns from time to time and from one institute to another, a positive blood culture and the antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates are the best guide to the antimicrobial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial susceptibility among bacterial isolates varies from center to center. Mupirocin is a topical antibacterial antibiotic used to treat wound infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted to know the prevalence of high and low levels of mupirocin resistance along with antimicrobial susceptibility in MRSA isolates from skin and soft-tissue infection in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: A total of 97 nonrepetitive isolates of MRSA from various pus samples over a period of 1 year were included in this study. These strains were identified as per standard laboratory protocols given by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. High- and low-level mupirocin resistance of the isolates was tested by using mupirocin discs of 200 μg and 5 μg, respectively. Mupirocin strips of 256 μg and 512 μg were used for the E-test to detect low-level and high-level mupirocin resistance, respectively. The isolates were reported as sensitive to mupirocin, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of <4 mg/L. Results: Overall, 9.27% of mupirocin resistance was found, of which 2.06% of isolates were high-level resistant to mupirocin, while 7.21% had low-level resistance. All MRSA strains were susceptible to vancomycin, followed by linezolid (94.84%), teicoplanin (91.75%), and fusidic acid (88.65%). Conclusion: Regular monitoring, good infection control practices, and proper awareness about utilizing mupirocin therapeutically and prophylactically may help prevent the emergence of mupirocin resistance in health-care facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarrhea is one of the most significant illnesses affecting young foals and may be manifested in more than half of foals up to 3 months of age. Numerous infectious causes have been involved but bacterial pathogens are concerned. This study aimed to assess and identify the prime Gram-negative bacteriological etiology of Arabian horse foals' diarrhea in Egypt and to designate the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolated microorganisms. Rectal swabs and internal organs were obtained from 216 foals (89 diarrheic and 127 apparently healthy), aged 1 week to 1 year old, reared in Arabian horse farms in Great Cairo, Egypt during a period extended from March 2022 to December 2022. Conventional bacteriological examination was performed using selective media persuaded by routine and advanced biochemical tests. The isolation displayed 648 bacterial isolates; 452 (68.6%) were Gram-negative with the mixed isolation representing about 28%. Escherichia coli constituted the most prevalent; 110 / 452 (24.34%); 65 in apparently healthy foals and 45 among diarrheic ones. The second was Klebsiella pneumoniae (72, 15.92%) at which 50, (15.67%) were found to expose the highest causative agent recovered from diarrheic foals. Imipenem, quinolones, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were the most effective versus Gram-negative species isolated from diarrheic foals while ampicillin and tetracycline were of no effect. The phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility test revealed a picture of multidrug resistance (MDR) as 111 isolates (28.71%) showed resistance to three or more antibiotics belonging to different groups. The results demonstrated that Klebsiella pneumonia was the highest MDR species (54.16%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli isolates by 43.9, 32.1 and 30.9 % respectively. In conclusion, Gram-negative bacteria constituted the major causative agents of diarrhea in the Arabian foals. The most effective antibacterial drugs were imipenem, quinolones, and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole. The issue of the existence of multidrug resistance isolates should be considered for proper therapy of foal diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotypic identification of bacteria by staining technique and biochemical tests. This practical was carried out to identify Proteus vulgaris using biochemical test, this test includes, citrate utilization, indole, carbohydrate fermentation, methyl red, voges Proskauer, motility, production of hydrogen sulphide, catalase, and oxidase tests. Results obtained shows that Proteus vulgaris was positive to indole, motility, methyl red and urease. Proteus vulgaris was unable to utilize citrate for carbon and energy, and does not synthesis the enzyme amylase to break down starch. The bacteria fermented glucose to produce acid and gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate bacterial isolates from corneal stromal ulcerations in dogs and cats in the Netherlands, review their antibiotic susceptibility, determine whether recent topical treatment affected bacterial culture results, and investigate whether (multi‐drug) resistance patterns changed over time. Animals studied: Client‐owned dogs and cats were diagnosed with corneal stromal ulceration at the Utrecht University Clinic for Companion Animals between 2012 and 2019. Procedures: Retrospective analysis. Results: In total, 163 samples were collected from 122 dogs (130 samples) and 33 cats. Positive cultures were obtained from 76 canine and 13 feline samples (59% and 39%, respectively) and included Staphylococcus (42 in dogs, 8 in cats), Streptococcus (22 in dogs, 2 in cats), and Pseudomonas (9 in dogs, 1 in cats) species. Significantly fewer positive cultures were found in dogs and cats previously treated with topical antibiotics (χ2 = 6.52, p =.011 and χ2 = 4.27, p =.039, respectively). Bacterial resistance to chloramphenicol was more common in dogs previously treated with chloramphenicol (χ2 = 5.24, p =.022). The incidence of acquired antibiotic resistance did not increase significantly over time. In dogs, the incidence of multi‐drug‐resistant isolates increased significantly between 2012–2015 and 2016–2019 (9.4% vs. 38.6%, p =.0032). Conclusions: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas species were the most common bacteria associated with canine and feline corneal stromal ulcerations. Previous treatment with antibiotics affected bacterial culture results and antibiotic sensitivity. Although the overall incidence of acquired antibiotic resistance did not change over time, the incidence of multi‐drug‐resistant isolates in dogs increased over an 8‐year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The demand for mammaplasty has increased in recent years, and infection remains one of the common and serious post‐operative complications. In this study, we analyzed the pathogen distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of breast plastic surgery infections, and compared the differences in pathogenic species between surgical procedures. Methods: The number of each species was counted in the microbial samples of breast plastic surgery infections in Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2011 to December 2021. The in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing data were analyzed using WHONET 5.6 software. The surgical techniques, the period of infection, and other details were gathered in accordance with the clinical data. Results: There were a total of 42 cases included, and 43 different types of pathogenic bacteria, mostly gram‐positive bacteria, were found. CoNS (13/43) and Staphylococcus aureus (22/43) made up the majority. The most prevalent of the five Gram‐negative bacteria was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results of drug sensitivity tests indicate that S. aureus is highly sensitive to vancomycin, cotrimoxazole, and linezolid, whereas CoNS is highly sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, and chloramphenicol. Both of these bacteria show high resistance to erythromycin and penicillin. Breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, and breast reduction surgery were the most frequently associated breast surgery procedures in this study with infections, with the highest number of infections occurring following breast augmentation with fat grafting, breast reduction surgery, and breast reconstruction with autologous tissue. Various breast plastic surgery procedures have different common pathogens of infection, but the most prevalent are CoNS and S. aureus. Additionally, the majority of the infections in this study were in the early stages. Conclusions: Gram‐positive bacteria were the predominant cause of breast plastic surgery infections, and the types of infection strains, the period of infection onset, and the antibiotic susceptibility of prevalent strains varied between breast plastic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NCCB100539 isolated from an artisanal raw ewe's milk cheese was evaluated as a potential starter culture in white-brined cheese. As a safety criteria, the cytotoxicity of the viable and heat-killed cells and CFE of this strain were determined on Caco-2 cell line by MTT assay. The antibiotic sensitivity of the strain to nine different antibiotics was also investigated. Cheeses produced using this strain were compared with control cheese in terms of physicochemical, microbiological, sensory properties as well as the peptide and volatile profiles during the 90-days of ripening period. Experimental cheeses had more extensive proteolysis as well as higher sensory scores. Incorporated L. lactis also led to an improvement in the microbial cheese quality. Neither living nor the dead cells and CFE of the strain showed cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. Therefore, L. lactis NCCB100539 strain could be a good starter candidate for the industrial white-brined cheeses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes (LM), the etiological agent of listeriosis, can cause foodborne zoonosis. In this study, we characterized 23 strains that caused human severe listeriosis in Palermo (Sicily, Italy) during the period of 2018–2020. In addition, we assessed the phenotypic susceptibility of clinical isolates to antibiotics in accordance with EUCAST guidelines. The serogroup was determined through the use of PCR, while MLST and MVLST were identified through the sequencing of housekeeping genes. Finally, susceptibility to antibiotics was assessed by means of the Phoenix automatic system. Patients hospitalized with listeriosis were predominantly males (56% vs. 44% of females). The cases not associated with pregnancy included patients >65 years of age (60%), two of whom were affected by cancer, while cases associated with pregnancy included two pregnant women and three preterm infants. The data collected showed that the main pathologies shown by patients were meningitis (60.9%) and bacteremia (39.1%). The LM strains were isolated from the blood (52%), cerebrospinal fluid (26%), cerebrospinal fluid + blood (13%), blood + a nasal swab (4%), and ascitic fluid (4%). The predominant serogroup was IVb (96%), whereas only one strain belonged to serogroup IIa (4%). Among the strains with serotypes 4b, 4d, and 4e, ST2/VT21 (92%) and ST6/VT19 (4%) were determined, while only isolates with serotypes 1/2a and3a show ST155/VT45 (CC155). This study reveals the widespread circulation of a clinical strain (ST2/VT21) associated with suspected food contamination, demonstrating the importance of carrying out molecular epidemiological surveillance. Our clinical isolates were susceptible to the beta-lactams assayed, in agreement with the literature data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, molecular identification, and antibiotic susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw meats of retail sale in Balikesir, Türkiye. Materials and Methods: A total of 250 raw meat samples (beef n=100, chicken n=100, and turkey n=50) were collected from various supermarkets. Mueller-Hinton Broth medium containing 6.5% NaCl was used for pre-enrichment and Baird Parker Agar (BPA) was used as a selective medium. Polymerase Chain Reaction technique was used to confirm the suspected colonies with the nuc gene for S. aureus and the mecA gene for MRSA. Kirby-Bauer standard disc diffusion method was applied for antibiotic susceptibility of MRSA. Results: Of the 250 investigated raw meat samples, 21.2% were positive for S. aureus, which comprised 31% beef, 14% chicken, and 16 %turkey samples. Of the 250 investigated raw meat samples, 4% were positive for MRSA, which comprised 6% beef, 3% chicken, and 2% turkey samples. All MRSA isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, cefoxitin, and oxacillin, but they were susceptible to vancomycin. Conclusion: In recent years, MRSA has been called a zoonotic pathogen that poses a serious risk for food safety and public health. Therefore, we believe that this study will shed light on new studies on the prevalence of MRSA in various animal-originated foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant opportunistic pathogen responsible for various nosocomial infections in humans. The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains poses a significant challenge in clinical settings, necessitating a deeper understanding of factors influencing antimicrobial resistance. Objective: This research aimed to investigate the impact of pH variation on the resistance patterns of multi-resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from Iraqi patients with urinary tract infections and wound infections against different antibiotics. Methods: Forty K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from urine samples and wound swabs, and their identification was confirmed using the VITEK ® 2 compact system and molecular identification of the rpoB housekeeping gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method under varying pH conditions (pH 5, 7, 9, and 11) at 37°C for 18 to 24 hours. Results: The study findings indicated that K. pneumoniae isolates exhibited differential susceptibility to antibiotics based on pH conditions. Cefotaxime demonstrated increased efficacy under alkaline pH, while tetracycline showed optimal efficacy under acidic conditions. However, ciprofloxacin displayed resistant phenotypes at acidic pH 5 and either resistant or intermediate phenotypes at alkaline pH 9. Conclusions: The results suggest a potential influence of pH on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of K. pneumoniae isolates. Understanding the role of pH in antimicrobial resistance can inform strategies for better managing infections caused by multi-resistant pathogens. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and implications for clinical practice.

Within cystic fibrosis microbiology, there is often mismatch between the antibiotic susceptibility result of an isolated bacterial pathogen and the clinical outcome, when the patient is treated with the same antibiotic. The reasoning for this remains largely elusive. Antibiotic susceptibility to four antibiotics (ceftazidime, meropenem, minocycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) was determined in consecutive isolates (n = 11) from an adult cystic fibrosis patient, over a 63 month period. Each isolate displayed its own unique resistotype. The first isolate was sensitive to all four antibiotics, in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methodology and interpretative criteria. Resistance was first detected at four months, showing resistance to ceftazidime and meropenen and intermediate resistance to minocycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Pan resistance was first detected at 18 months (resistotype IV), with three resistotypes (I, II and III) preceding this complete resistotype. The bacterium continued to display further antibiotic susceptibility heterogeneity for the next 45 months, with the description of an additional seven resistotypes (resistotypes V–XI). The Relative Resistance Index of this bacterium over the 63 month period showed no relationship between the development of antibiotic resistance and time. Adoption of mathematical modelling employing multinomial distribution demonstrated that large numbers of individual colony picks (>40/sputum), would be required to be 78% confident of capturing all 11 resistotypes present. Such a requirement for large numbers of colony picks combined with antibiotic susceptibility-related methodological problems creates a conundrum in biomedical science practice, in providing a robust assay that will capture antibiotic susceptibility variation, be pragmatic and cost-effective to deliver as a pathology service, but have the reliability to help clinicians select appropriate antibiotics for their patients. This study represents an advance in biomedical science as it demonstrates potential variability in antibiotic susceptibility testing with Burkholderia cenocepacia. Respiratory physicians and paediatricians need to be made aware of such variation by biomedical scientists at the bench, so that clinicians can contextualise the significance of the reported susceptibility result, when selecting appropriate antibiotics for their cystic fibrosis patient. Furthermore, consideration needs to be given in providing additional guidance on the laboratory report to highlight this heterogeneity to emphasise the potential for misalignment between susceptibility result and clinical outcome.

Background and Objectives: This study assesses the antibiotic susceptibility of vaginal Lactobacillus strains and provides data for determining the prevalence of certain antibiotic resistance genes in the new strains of lactobacilli serving as probiotics and selected from healthy women in northern Iran. Materials and Methods: One hundred premenopausal non-pregnant women in the reproductive age range of 22-50 years participated in this study. The potential probiotic vaginal lactobacilli used in the study included Lactobacillus crispatus (34.2%), Lactobacillus gasseri (26.3%), Lactobacillus johnsonii (10.5%), Lactobacillus acidophilus (15.7%) and Lactobacillus jensenii (13.1%). The phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility of the strains was determined by E test and DNA extraction and PCR were performed to examine the antibiotic resistance genes. Results: 38 potential probiotic vaginal lactobacilli were isolated. All the strains of lactobacilli were resistant to metronidazole and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and all of the strains were susceptible to ampicillin and chloramphenicol antibiotics. The results showed that ermB, ermC, and ermA genes were observed in the strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Metronidazole resistance (nim) gene was also found in one strain of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus johnsonii. The aminoglycoside resistance (aac6'-aph2") gene was observed in 8% of the strains. Also, tetM, tetK and tetW genes were found in more than 80% of the Lactobacillus strains. Conclusion: The antimicrobial susceptibility of vaginal lactobacilli is an important criterion for establishing whether or not the organism is a probiotic. A high level of resistance to clinical antibiotics, such as metronidazole and aminoglycosides, was demonstrated. Antibiotic resistant genes also appeared widely in vaginal lactobacilli.

The presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in biofilms on the surface of medical devices may affect the opportunistic pathogens that are common inhabitants of such biofilms. This study assessed the effect of Mycolicibacterium iranicum cell-free supernatants on biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis differing in the anti-hemoglobin activity level. The cell-free supernatants have been shown to stimulate biofilm formation and also help reduce susceptibility of opportunistic pathogens to a number of antibiotics.

ObjectiveTo analyze the molecular characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella isolates and investigate the contamination of Salmonella in pre-packed cooked meat products during food processing.MethodsAccording to the sampling requirements of the national “Manual for Monitoring the Production and Processing of Cooked Meat Products （Pre-packed）”， 460 environmental and cooked meat samples were collected from a pre-packed cooked meat product factory in Dezhou from 2015 to 2017. Salmonella isolation and identification were performed per the currently effective GB 4789.4—2016 protocol. Salmonella serotypes were determined based on serum agglutination. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis （PFGE） and multilocus sequence typing （MLST） were employed to determine the molecular types of Salmonella isolates. Resistance tests for 15 antibiotics were performed using the broth microdilution susceptibility test.ResultsThe detection rate of Salmonella in 460 samples was 5.65% （26/460）. The detection rate in 2016 was the highest （7.65%， 14/183）， and the difference among samples from different years was not statistically significant （χ2=2.82， P>0.05）. The detection rate in intermediate products was the highest， and the difference among samples from different samples was statistically significant （χ2=64.16， P

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Mycoplasma hominis, an opportunistic pathogen of the human lower urogenital tract, can survive and replicate within the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, establishing an endosymbiotic relationship. The intracellular location may provide a means for the bacteria to evade the immune system and protection from antimicrobial activities. Our aim was to investigate the influence of the endosymbiotic association of M. hominis with trichomonad cells on bacterial antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: We evaluated antibiotic resistance patterns in a group of M. hominis isolated from T. vaginalis clinical specimens as well as in M. hominis isolated from patients without trichomoniasis. Using an experimental model system, we compared the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and lethal concentration (MLC) of tetracycline on M. hominis endosymbionts of T. vaginalis and extracellular bacteria. Results: The incidence rate of M. hominis strains resistant to C14 and C15 macrolide antibiotics was higher in intracellular strains associated with T. vaginalis compared with extracellular bacteria isolated from women not affected by trichomoniasis. However, sensitivity to tetracycline and quinolones was similar in both groups. In vitro experiments demonstrated that M. hominis strains, when isolated as endosymbionts from T. vaginalis, exhibited reduced sensitivity to tetracycline when cultured extracellularly for at least eight weeks. Conclusion: The intracellular localization of bacteria within trichomonad cells may affect antibiotic susceptibility.

AbstractObjective To evaluate the serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance in pneumococcal infections in adults and to provide a perspective regarding serotype coverage of both current and future pneumococcal vaccines.Patients and methods This passive surveillance study was conducted with the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from the specimens of patients with pneumonia (materials isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage), bacteraemia, meningitis, pleuritis and peritonitis between 2015 and 2018. Serogrouping and serotyping were performed by latex particle agglutination and by conventional Quellung reaction using commercial type-specific antisera, respectively. The strains were analysed for penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin and moxifloxacin susceptibilities by E-test.Results In the whole study group (410 samples from adults aged ≥18 years), the most frequent serotypes were 3 (14.1%), 19 F (12%) and 1 (9.3%). The vaccine coverage for PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPV23 was 63.9%, 66.6%, 74.1% and 75.9%, respectively, in all isolates. Penicillin non-susceptibility in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was 70.8% and 57.1% in the patients aged

Abstract Background Abnormal vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women of reproductive age, affecting about one- third of all women. In resource-limited settings where access to laboratory services is limited, treatment is usually syndromic. This approach may result in ineffective treatment, with high recurrence rates and a potential of developing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to determine the bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility among women with an abnormal vaginal discharge attending the gynecology clinic at a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Uganda. Methods We conducted a hospital based cross-sectional study among 361 women aged 15–49 years, presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge at the gynecology clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital from December 2020 to June 2021. Demographic characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. We collected cervical and vaginal sterile swabs and subjected them to wet preparation and gram stain. The specimens were cultured for bacterial isolates. Susceptibility testing was performed on samples with bacterial isolates using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, on the commonly prescribed antibiotics in this setting. We summarized and described the bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility patterns as frequencies and percentages. Results We enrolled 361 women with abnormal vaginal discharge. Bacteria were isolated in 29.6% (107/361) of the women, and the commonest isolates included; Staphylococcus aureus 48.6% (52/107), Klebsiella pneumoniae 29.9% (32/107) and Enterococcus faecalis 15% (16/107). Yeast cells were found in 17.7% (64/361) of the women with abnormal vaginal discharge. Cefuroxime (90.7%) and Ciprofloxacin (81.3%) had a high level of sensitivity while high levels of resistance were observed for Doxycycline (86.0%) and Azithromycin (67.0%). Conclusion The common bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. The isolated bacteria were most sensitive to Cefuroxime and Ciprofloxacin but resistant to Doxycycline and Azithromycin. There is need for routine culture and susceptibility testing of women with abnormal vaginal discharge so as to guide treatment, minimize inappropriate antibiotic use and consequently reduce antibiotic resistance.

Abstract Objective Campylobacter species are major causes of foodborne illnesses, with unpasteurized milk being a significant carrier of these bacteria, posing a public health risk. One of the challenges in managing Campylobacter infections is the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. We conducted a study in Qazvin, Iran, testing 84 raw cow’s milk samples to determine the frequency of C. jejuni and C. coli using culture-based and multiplex PCR methods. Additionally, the disk diffusion and RAPD-PCR approaches were utilized to evaluate the phenotypic antibiotic resistance profile and genetic diversity of Campylobacter strains. Results The findings indicated that Campylobacter spp. was present in 19.05% of the samples, with C. coli being the predominant isolate. We tested eight antibiotic agents, and the resistance levels of the isolates were as follows: erythromycin 100%, tetracycline 75%, doxycycline 56.25%, ceftriaxone 43.75%, chloramphenicol 37.5%, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 25%, nalidixic acid 12.5%, and azithromycin 6.25%. Genetic diversity analysis categorized Campylobacter isolates into 39 clusters, indicating a wide diversity among strains. However, no significant correlation was observed between antibiotic resistance and cluster patterns. These findings underscore the role of raw milk as a reservoir for Campylobacter spp. and highlight the substantial antibiotic resistance and genetic diversity within the species population.

Abstract We report a 36-year-old male patient died of V. vulnificus-induced septicaemia and multiple organ failure syndrome after oyster consumption at a restaurant. We isolated and identified V. vulnificus vv16015 from the patient’s blood sample and antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated sensitivity to all 21 antibiotics. Oyster samples were subsequently collected from the restaurant’s supplier and three strains of V. vulnificus were isolated. Whole genome sequencing and analysis revealed vv16015 to be distantly related to these strains and confirmed that V. vulnificus contamination was present in the seafood of the restaurant and supplier. Using a Galleria mellonella larvae infection model, the virulence of vv16015 was determined to be higher than that of comparison strains isolated from a surviving patient (vv15018) and an oyster (vv220015). The human and environment distribution of V. vulnificus in Shenzhen is sporadic and heterogeneous, and vv16015 is highly virulent compared to other strains.

The fruit and vegetable industry in post-harvest processing plants is characterized by a substantial consumption of water resources. Wash waters may serve as an environment for the periodic or permanent habitation of microorganisms, particularly if biofilm forms on the inner walls of tanks and flushing channels. Despite the implementation of integrated food safety monitoring systems in numerous countries, foodborne pathogens remain a global public health and food safety concern, particularly for minimally processed food products such as vegetables and fruits. This necessitates the importance of studies that will explore wash water quality to safeguard minimally processed food against foodborne pathogen contamination. Therefore, the current study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria contaminating the wash waters of four fresh-cut processing plants (Poland) and to evaluate the phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiles in selected species. Bacteria were isolated using membrane filtration and identified through mass spectrometry, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing according to EUCAST guidelines. The results revealed that the level of contamination with total aerobic bacteria in the water ranged from 1.30 × 106 cfu/mL to 2.54 × 108 cfu/mL. Among the isolates, opportunistic pathogens including Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus vulgaris strains were identified. An especially noteworthy result was the identification of cefepime-resistant K. oxytoca isolates. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring the microbial microflora in minimally processed foods and the need for appropriate sanitary control procedures to minimize the risk of pathogen contamination, ensuring that products remain safe and of high quality throughout the supply chain.

Due to the increasing resistance of aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative rods, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam have been launched in the market in the last few years. In this study, we analyzed the susceptibility pattern of the major aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative rods in Hong Kong for ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam, four other broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used in Hong Kong and colistin. For 300 isolates collected from January to December 2021, non-ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were highly susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam (all 100%) and ceftolozane-tazobactam (98.7%, 99.7% and 94.3%). For 32 archived ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected between January 2014 and March 2023, all were susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam. For 101 archived carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, their susceptibilities to ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam varied depending on the type of carbapenemase produced. Both had high activities against OXA-producing strains (97.1% and 76.5%, respectively) but were 100% resistant for NDM-producing and NDM+OXA-producing strains. All KPC-producing strains were susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam but resistant to ceftolozane-tazobactam. Ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam are good alternatives for the management of infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacterales and selective strains of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Hong Kong.

Background: Acute Infectious Diarrhea (AID) and the short- and long-term complications associated with it are major causes of hospitalization worldwide. In Italy, due to a lack of robust surveillance programs, only limited data has been collected on their prevalence and circulation. This study aims to evaluate the resistance pattern of enteric pathogens and their epidemiological trends over a six-year period. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2023. Stool samples were analyzed during routine diagnosis with culture methods, syndromic molecular tests, and enzyme immunoassay. Results: Bacteria were the most isolated enteric pathogens (62.2%), followed by fungi (29.0%), viruses (8.2%), and parasites (0.6%). Most bacteria were isolated from outpatients (29.5%) and from patients in the Oncology ward (26.2%). The most prevalent target was EPEC (11.1%), followed by C. difficile toxin A/B-producing strains (8.3%), C. jejuni (2.5%), and S. enterica, (1%.). Norovirus and Candida spp. were the most prevalent in pediatric patients (6.5% and 39.6%, respectively). In the last years, enteric pathogens have been a frequent cause of infections characterized by a problematic resistance to common antimicrobials. In our study, S. enterica showed resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, ampicillin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. C. jejuni was susceptible to all tested drugs. Conclusion: Timely notification of gastroenteric infections is crucial in identifying potential outbreak sources and ensuring strict adherence to food safety and hygiene practices, so as to protect the most vulnerable populations. The present study offers insights into the epidemiological characteristics and the antibiotic susceptibility of the main enteric AID pathogens in order to implement infection control measures in health care settings.

Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis is a severe vision-threatening disease. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, antibiotic susceptibility, and risk factors for poor final visual acuity (VA) and enucleation or evisceration (ENEV) outcomes of B. cereus endophthalmitis patients. We retrospectively reviewed 52 cases (52 eyes) of culture-proven B. cereus endophthalmitis at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2013 to December 2023. The mean age of the patients was 38.1 ± 20.1 years, and males composed the majority (90.4%) of the sample size; laborers (32.7%) and farmers (19.2%) were the primary occupations of the patients. All cases were caused by ocular trauma. Forty-one of 51 eyes (80.4%) had a final VA worse than the ability to count fingers (CFs), and 15 of the 52 total eyes (28.8%) underwent ENEV. Binary logistic forward (LR) regression analysis demonstrated that red eye (odds ratio [OR], 13.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58–108.80; p = 0.017), eye pain (OR, 22.87; 95% CI, 1.00–522.72; p = 0.050), and corneal edema/ulcer (OR, 13.13; 95% CI, 1.58–108.80; p = 0.017) were significant risk factors for poor VA outcomes. Conjunctival sac purulent discharge (OR, 10.08; 95% CI, 2.11–48.12, p = 0.004) and white blood cell (WBC) count (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.72, p = 0.016) were significant risk factors for ENEV outcomes. B. cereus showed susceptibility rates of 100.0% to vancomycin and ofloxacin; 98.0% to levofloxacin; 93.3% to ciprofloxacin; 87.5% to imipenem; and 78.9% to tobramycin. The susceptibility to azithromycin and clindamycin was 66.7% and 50.0%, respectively. In contrast, B. cereus was resistant to penicillin (susceptibility at 3.8%), cefuroxime (5.6%), and cefoxitin (37.1%).

The present study was carried out between 2016 and 2020 in Makour Hamou Public Hospital, Ain Defla district, North Centre of Algeria. The study aimed to characterise the antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance in bacteria isolated from 620 patients with purulent skin wounds. Out of the 428 bacterial isolates, 283 were Gram-positive (66.12 ± 4.48%) (P

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a typical pathogenic agent causes several morbidities and mortalities which variable largely following the severity of bacteria and activity of host immunity. Aim: Isolation of S. aureus from different cattle infections, molecular detection of nuc gene in positive S. aureus isolates and identification the effectiveness of phagocytic activity. Methods: Totally, 100 cattle with various infections (25 wounds, 25 abscesses, 25 nasal discharge, and 25 ear swaps) were selected and subjected for collection of swabs under controlled conditions. All collected samples were cultured on Mannitol salt agar (MSA) and assessed by the biochemical tests. Targeting the nuc gene, all study MSA positive isolates were examined molecularly by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then subjected for antibiotic susceptibility test. Jugular venous blood was collected from all infected animals in addition to 20 healthy cattle that selected as a control group to estimate the phagocytic activity of S. aureus isolates. Results: The findings of MSA culture revealed a totally 80 positive samples to S. aureus as 23, 21, 20, and 16 positive isolates for nasal discharge, abscess, wound and ear swab, respectively; based on its morphology, cultural trait, and biochemical test. Subsequently, PCR assaying of MSA positive isolates was demonstrated an overall 59 positive samples as 14, 16, 12 and 17 positive isolates for nasal discharge, abscess, wound and ear swab, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of S. aureus positive PCR isolates reported a significant high sensitivity to chloramphenicol and vancomycin, and a high resistance to penicillin. Finally, there was a considerable decline in phagocytic activity in particular 2 weeks post infection as a result of bacterial invasion. Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of S. aureus in cattle infections, and protocol includes regular screening of cattle infection and suitable therapy based on antibacterial susceptibility test is of great importance in long-term control of pathogen. However, additional molecular studies targeting other genes of S. aureus and the role of immune markers in different infections should be aimed [Open Vet J 2023; 13(8.000): 1021-1026]

Chia-Hung Tsai,1,&ast; Yu-Chin Chen,2,&ast; Po-Yu Chen,3 Chih-Cheng Lai,4,5 Hung-Jen Tang,1 Yin-Ching Chuang,6 Chi-Chung Chen,6,7 Chung-Han Ho,6,8 Wei-Yun Hsu,9,&ast; Tu-Hsuan Chang9,&ast; 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; 2Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Chiali, Tainan, Taiwan; 3Department of Nursing, Min-Hwei College of Health Care Management, Tainan, Taiwan; 4Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; 5School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 6Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; 7Department of Food Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan; 8Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan; 9Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tu-Hsuan Chang; Wei-Yun Hsu, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, Tel +886-2-281-2811 Ext 57109, Fax +886-6-220-3706, Email a755115@yahoo.com.tw; wyhsu17@gmail.comPurpose: To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates in patients diagnosed with intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) in the Asia-Pacific region.Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at 50 medical hospitals across 9 countries/regions as part of the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) surveillance program from 2014 to 2018. Nonduplicate isolates of aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli were collected and processed for further antimicrobial susceptibility testing.Results: A total of 10,709 isolates were collected, with E. coli (n=4737, 44.2%) being the leading pathogen causing IAIs, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=2429, 22.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=931, 8.7%). Community-associated (CA) E. coli isolates generally exhibited higher susceptibility rates for most antibiotics than hospital-associated (HA) isolates. In countries/regions other than Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore, HA isolates displayed lower susceptibility rates for multiple classes (≥ 4) of antibiotics. Among the commonly used antibiotics in IAIs, the overall susceptibility rate for ciprofloxacin was low, with an average of 41.3%. Ceftriaxone susceptibility rates in all selected countries were below 80% starting in 2018, ranging from 23.3% to 75.8%. The cefepime susceptibility rates varied across regions, with consistently reduced susceptibility ranging from 45.5% to 57.8% in India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Piperacillin/tazobactam demonstrated effectiveness against E. coli isolates in almost all countries except India, with a downward trend observed in the Philippines and Taiwan. Carbapenems remained effective against more than 90% of E. coli isolates, except in India.Conclusion: Prudent use of fluoroquinolones and ceftriaxone is advised when treating both CA and HA IAIs in the Asia-Pacific region. The low susceptibility rate of cefepime in India, Thailand, and Vietnam needs careful consideration in its administration. Moreover, the increase in nonsusceptibility to piperacillin/tazobactam in the Philippines and Taiwan poses a potential risk that should be closely monitored.Keywords: intra-abdominal infection, E. coli, antibiotic susceptibility, Asia-Pacific

Abstract Background Small ruminants are the most numerous of man's domestic livestock. Although sheep represent a great resource for Ethiopia, the net rate of productivity per animal is very low due to many factors including respiratory disorders. Objectives The objectives of this work were to isolate and identify M. haemolytica and P. multocida as well as to assess the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these isolates. Nasal swab samples were collected aseptically by using 70% alcohol as a disinfectant. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted in three selected districts of the north Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Results From 148 samples collected in 94 (63.5%) asymptomatic and 54 (35.5%) symptomatic sheep, a total of 23 were isolated successfully based on cultural, staining, and biochemical characteristics. Of these isolates, 18 (78.3%) and 5 (21.7%) were M. haeimolytica and P. multocida, respectively. Compared with the total animals examined, the proportion of M. haeimolytica and P. multocida were 12.16 % (n = 18) and 3.38% (n = 5), respectively. All of the isolates were subjected to a panel of 8 antibiotic discs for sensitivity testing. Of the tested antibiotics, chloramphenicol (100%), gentamicin, and tetracycline (82.6%) each and co‐trimoxazole (60.8%) were found to be the most effective drugs whereas, both species were completely resistant to vancomycin and showed a very low degree of susceptibility for the rest drugs. Conclusions In conclusion, M. haemolytica was found to be the predominant isolate in all host‐related factors and most of the antibiotics were not fully effective against the isolates. Hence, treatment and/or vaccination of ovine pneumonic pasteurellosis should be emphasised to M. haeimolytica using the most effective drugs along with appropriate herd management practices.

Shuyun Wang,1 Yan Song,1 Nan Shi,1,2 Donghong Yin,1 Jianbang Kang,1 Wanni Cai,2 Jinju Duan1 1Department of Pharmacy, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jinju Duan, Department of Pharmacy, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Wuyi Road, Xinghualing District, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13834653172, Email duanjinju@163.comPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the current epidemiology, its changes during the study years, and inflammatory biomarkers of bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies. We assessed mortality risk factors and multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative BSI predictors.Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from January 2015 to December 2021, which included adult neutropenic oncohematological patients with confirmed BSIs. We used univariable and multivariable analyses to analyze the risk factors. Each index’s reliability for bacterial BSI diagnosis was assessed using the receiver-operating characteristic curve and area under the curve.Results: A total of 514 isolates were obtained from the 452 patients. The average mortality was 17.71%. Gram-negative organisms were the predominant causes of BSI. Escherichia coli was the most common microorganism (49.90%). The overall variation trend of the isolation rate of MDR and carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria increased. Multivariate analysis indicated that: 1) neutropenia that lasted for more than 7 days, patients ≥ 60 years of age, septic shock, hospitalization for > 20 days, BSI with a carbapenem-resistant strain, and treatment with linezolid or vancomycin in infections lasting less than 30 days were independent mortality risk factors; 2) severe neutropenia exceeding 7 days, unreasonable empirical therapy, and receipt of aminoglycosides or 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporins in infections lasting less than 30 days were independent risk factors of MDR gram-negative bacteria. Procalcitonin, absolute neutrophil count, and white blood cell indicate higher diagnostic accuracy for BSIs. Moreover, bacteria time to detection was better at differentiating Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections.Conclusion: We analyzed the risk factors for BSI neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies, the distribution of bacteria, antibiotic resistance, and the changes in clinical parameters. This single-center retrospective study may provide clinicians with novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of BSI to improve future clinical outcomes.Keywords: bloodstream infection, neutropenia, hematological malignancy, pathogens distribution, antibiotic susceptibility, risk factors

Abdu Aldarhami,1 Abdulrahman S Bazaid,2,3 Husam Qanash,2,3 Iqbal Ahmad,4 Fahad H Alshammari,2,3 Abdulrahman M Alshammari,2,3 Abdulrahman H Alshammari,2,3 Fahad M Aljanfawe,3 Bushra Aldamiri,5 Esraa Aldawood,6 Mashail A Alghamdi,7 Naif K Binsaleh,2,3 Nizar H Saeedi,8 Mejdi Snoussi3,9,10 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Qunfudah Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Qunfudah, 21961, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail, 55476, Saudi Arabia; 3Medical and Diagnostic Research Center, University of Ha’il, Hail, 55473, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India; 5Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia; 6Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia; 7Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, Hail, 81451, Saudi Arabia; 10Laboratory of Genetics, Biodiversity and Valorization of Bio-Resources, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, 5000, TunisiaCorrespondence: Abdulrahman S Bazaid; Husam Qanash, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail, 55476, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 16 5358200 ext. 1713, Email ar.bazaid@uoh.edu.sa; h.qanash@uoh.edu.saIntroduction: Although Sumra and Sidr Saudi honey is widely used in traditional medicine due to its potent activity, it is unknown whether its prolonged usage has impact upon bacterial virulence or leading to reduced antibiotic sensitivity. Thus, the study aims to investigate the effect of prolonged (repeated) in-vitro exposure to Saudi honey on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles and biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria.Methods: Several bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii, were in-vitro exposed ten times [passaged (P10)]to Sumra and Sider honey individually to introduce adapted bacteria (P10). Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of untreated (P0) and adapted (P10) bacteria were assessed using disc diffusion and microdilution assays. The tendency regarding biofilm formation following in-vitro exposure to honey (P10) was assessed using the Crystal violet staining method.Results: Adapted (P10) bacteria to both Sumra and Sidr honey showed an increased sensitivity to gentamicin, ceftazidime, ampicillin, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, and ceftriaxone, when compared with the parent strains (P0). In addition, A. baumannii (P10) that was adapted to Sidr honey displayed a 4-fold increase in the minimal inhibitory concentration of the same honey following in-vitro exposure. 3-fold reduction in the tendency toward biofilm formation was observed for the Sumra-adapted (P10) methicillin resistant S. aureus strain, although there was a lower rate of reduction (1.5-fold) in biofilm formation by both the Sumra- and Sidr-adapted A. baumannii (P10) strains.Conclusion: The data highlight the positive impact of prolonged in-vitro exposure to Saudi honey (Sumra and Sider) for wound-associated bacteria since they displayed a significant increase in their sensitivity profiles to the tested antibiotic and a reduction in their ability to form biofilm. The increased bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics and a limited tendency toward biofilm formation would suggest the great potential therapeutic use of this Saudi honey (Sumra and Sidr) to treat wound infections.Keywords: Sider and Sumra honey, Saudi honey, resistance, biofilm formation, antibiotic susceptibility

IntroductionThe emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is an urgent and alarming One Health problem. This study aimed to investigate duplications of plasmid-encoded ESBL genes and their impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes in clinical and screening isolates.MethodsMulti-drug-resistant bacteria from hospitalized patients were collected during routine clinical surveillance from January 2022 to June 2023, and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined. Genotypes were extracted from long-read whole-genome sequencing data. Furthermore, plasmids and other mobile genetic elements associated with ESBL genes were characterized, and the ESBL genes were correlated to ceftazidime minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).ResultsIn total, we identified four cases of plasmid-encoded ESBL gene duplications that match four genetically similar plasmids during the 18-month surveillance period: five Escherichia coli and three Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. As the ESBL genes were part of transposable elements, the surrounding sequence regions were duplicated as well. In-depth analysis revealed insertion sequence (IS)-mediated transposition mechanisms. Isolates with duplicated ESBL genes exhibited a higher MIC for ceftazidime in comparison to isolates with a single gene copy (3–256 vs. 1.5–32 mg/L, respectively).ConclusionESBL gene duplications led to an increased phenotypic resistance against ceftazidime. Our data suggest that ESBL gene duplications by an IS-mediated transposition are a relevant mechanism for how AMR develops in the clinical setting and is part of the microevolution of plasmids.

Vagococcus, a bacterium generally isolated from fish and domestic animals, is a rarely reported human pathogen whose clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility remain uncertain. In this case report we describe a 19-year-old active-duty military sailor who suffered a blast injury to the left foot from a firework explosion. The injury was complicated by a polymicrobial wound infection that included Vagococcus fluvialis. Vagococcus spp. infections in humans are often associated with skin and soft tissue infection, including those resulting from trauma or blast injuries. This case serves to highlight this pathogen’s role in causing invasive infections and as well as the importance of recognizing its clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance profiles.

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the Gram negative, facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. This disease has multiple clinical presentations according to the route of infection, the virulence of the infecting bacterial strain, and the underlying medical condition of infected persons. Systemic infections (e.g., pneumonic and typhoidal form) and complications are rare but may be life threatening. Most people suffer from local infection (e.g., skin ulcer, conjunctivitis, or pharyngitis) with regional lymphadenopathy, which evolve to suppuration in about 30% of patients and a chronic course of infection. Current treatment recommendations have been established to manage acute infections in the context of a biological threat and do not consider the great variability of clinical situations. This review summarizes literature data on antibiotic efficacy against F. tularensis in vitro, in animal models, and in humans. Empirical treatment with beta-lactams, most macrolides, or anti-tuberculosis agents is usually ineffective. The aminoglycosides gentamicin and streptomycin remain the gold standard for severe infections, and the fluoroquinolones and doxycycline for infections of mild severity, although current data indicate the former are usually more effective. However, the antibiotic treatments reported in the literature are highly variable in their composition and duration depending on the clinical manifestations, the age and health status of the patient, the presence of complications, and the evolution of the disease. Many patients received several antibiotics in combination or successively. Whatever the antibiotic treatment administered, variable but high rates of treatment failures and relapses are still observed, especially in patients treated more then 2–3 weeks after disease onset. In these patients, surgical treatment is often necessary for cure, including drainage or removal of suppurative lymph nodes or other infectious foci. It is currently difficult to establish therapeutic recommendations, particularly due to lack of comparative randomized studies. However, we have attempted to summarize current knowledge through proposals for improving tularemia treatment which will have to be discussed by a group of experts. A major factor in improving the prognosis of patients with tularemia is the early administration of appropriate treatment, which requires better medical knowledge and diagnostic strategy of this disease.

ABSTRACT The antibacterial activity of rifamycins specifically relies on the inhibition of transcription by directly binding to the β-subunit of bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP). However, its killing efficacy is substantially diminished in most gram-negative bacteria. To systematically reveal the cellular functions that counteract rifamycin-mediated killing in the gram-negative model organism Escherichia coli, we performed a genome-wide Tn5 transposon-mediated screen to identify mutants with altered susceptibility to rifampicin. Combined with targeted gene knockouts, our results showed that the β-barrel assembly machinery plays a crucial role in restricting rifampicin from entering the cell, whereas mutants deficient in other cellular permeability barriers, such as lipopolysaccharide and enterobacterial common antigen, had no such effect. At bactericidal concentrations, the killing efficacy of rifampicin was strongly influenced by cellular functions, including iron acquisition, DNA repair, aerobic respiration, and carbon metabolism. Although iron acquisition de facto has a strong impact or dependence on cellular redox, our results suggest that their effects on rifampicin efficacy do not rely on hydroxyl radical formation. We provide evidence that maintenance of DNA replication and transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair protects E. coli cells against rifampicin killing. Moreover, our results showed that sustained aerobic respiration and carbon catabolism diminish rifampicin’s killing efficacy, and this effect relies on the inhibition of transcription but not on translation. These findings suggest that the killing efficacy of rifamycins is largely determined by cellular responses upon the inhibition of RNAP and may expand our knowledge of the action mechanisms of rifamycins. IMPORTANCE Rifamycins are a group of antibiotics with a wide antibacterial spectrum. Although the binding target of rifamycin has been well characterized, the mechanisms underlying the discrepant killing efficacy between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria remain poorly understood. Using a high-throughput screen combined with targeted gene knockouts in the gram-negative model organism Escherichia coli, we established that rifampicin efficacy is strongly dependent on several cellular pathways, including iron acquisition, DNA repair, aerobic respiration, and carbon metabolism. In addition, we provide evidence that these pathways modulate rifampicin efficacy in a manner distinct from redox-related killing. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism of rifamycin efficacy and may aid in the development of new antimicrobial adjuvants.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a virulent organism resistant to most of the conventionally available antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common cause of nosocomial infections. One of the reasons is because of its capability to produce biofilms. The increasing drug resistance along with methicillin resistance and biofilm production among the strains of Staphylococcus aureus presents a serious problem to the treatment of the infections caused by S. aureus. Objectives- To detect methicillin resistance by antibiotic susceptibility test in Staphylococcus aureus and to detect biofilm formation in the isolates and assess its correlation with methicillin resistance Material and methods- In this prospective study conducted in Tertiary care Institute, Gwalior a total of 300 isolates of S. aureus were screened for Methicillin resistance using Cefoxitin disc by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. For detection of Biofilm formation, two phenotypic tests were done - Tube method (TM) and Tissue culture plate method (TCP). Results - Out of 300 isolates, 78% were MRSA and 22% were MSSA. A total of 47% isolates were Biofilm producers and 53% were non biofilm producers. Among the biofilm producers, 89.5% were MRSA and only 10.5% were MSSA, thus depicting the higher prevalence of biofilm formation among MRSA. Conclusion- This study demonstrates the high prevalence of MRSA isolates producing biofilms in clinical staphylococcal samples. Since both are interdependent, detection of biofilm expression in clinical isolates would be beneficial in treatment decisions if done routinely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pyogenic liver abscess is a life-threatening disease with high morbidity and mortality. The aim was to investigate the common pathogens and discern the clinical features and microbiological characteristics of PLA more broadly, as well as to identify the most suitable antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of PLA. Materials and Methods: The present retrospective observational study consisted of 80 male patients diagnosed with pyogenic liver abscesses. The study was evaluated based on history-taking and clinical examination. The medical and microbiological records of all the PLA patients who were hospitalized and treated at NMCH, Patna, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data and medical information were also retrospectively collected. Results: Males were more commonly affected than females. The mean age of the study patient was 46±16.50 years, and the P value was 0.02 (significant). The mean length of hospital stay was 14.27 ± 4.61 days, and the P value was <0.001 (significant). In our current study, K. pneumoniae and E. coli were the most common pathogens causing pyogenic liver abscess, affecting 65% and 15% of patients, respectively. The most common lobe affected in liver abscesses was the right hepatic lobe (76.25%). Both gender and size of liver abscess between 5 and 10 cm were common. Conclusion: Needle aspiration under USG is done for small abscesses (=200 ml), whereas percutaneous drainage with pigtail catheter placement was done for large abscesses (>200 ml) under USG guidance were most effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cronobacter is an emerging bacterial pathogen associated with infections such as necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and meningitis in neonates and infants, related to the consumption of powdered infant formula. In addition, this bacterium can also cause infections in adults by the ingestion of other foods. Thus, this review article aims to report the occurrence and prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in foods of plant origin, as well as the possible sources and routes of contamination in these products, and the presence of pathogenic strains in these foods. Cronobacter was present in a wide variety of cereal-based foods, vegetables, herbs, spices, ready-to-eat foods, and foods from other categories. This pathogen was also found in cultivation environments, such as soils, compost, animal feces, rice and vegetable crops, as well as food processing industries, and domestic environments, thus demonstrating possible contamination routes. Furthermore, sequence types (ST) involved in clinical cases and isolates resistant to antibiotics were found in Cronobacter strains isolated from food of plant origin. The identification of Cronobacter spp. in plant-based foods is of great importance to better elucidate the vehicles and routes of contamination in the primary production chain and processing facility, until the final consumption of the food, to prevent infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infectious diseases at the community level and particularly in developing countries, overwhelmed with healthcare and economic constraints. Urinary tract infection can be called pyelonephritis (kidney infection), or cystitis (bladder infection). UTI bacteria include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Citrobacter species, Enterobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Staphylococcus species. Aims & Objectives 1. To describe the bacteriological profile. 2. To identify the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern. 3. To find the demographic characteristics associated with the presence of bacterial growth and multidrug resistance (MDR) in adult urine samples undergoing culture and drug susceptibility testing. Method of study: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study using routine laboratory records. The susceptibility of antibiotics and resistance pattern of bacteria responsible for UTI at a Tertiary care institution, MGM Hospital Warangal, Telangana, India, were examined from 2020 to 2023 in order to determine the adequacy of empirical therapy. Using a checklist, three years of urine culture findings, biochemical test results, and antibiotic susceptibility test results of isolates were acquired from the medical microbiology laboratory registration. Infection reports from people of all ages and genders were considered. SPSS version 23 was used to examine, input, and analyse data. We provided our findings in the form of descriptive tables and graphs. Results: With a prevalence rate of 72%, Escherichia coli was the most common uropathogen, followed by Klebsiella spp. (20%) and Pseudomonas spp. (8%). Penicillin was the least effective against UTI-causing E. coli, with fourth generation cephalosporins showing the greatest vulnerability. Klebsiella spp., another common uropathogen, was most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, followed by aminoglycosides and third generation cephalosporin. The infection incidence was approximately same in both sexes, but was greatest in those over the age of 60. Conclusion: In our hospital, the antibiotic resistance trend of two major UTI pathogens, E. coli and Klebsiella spp., appears to be comparable to that reported in other regions of the country. Broad-spectrum penicillin resistance was discovered to be greater than 50%. In South India, fourth generation cephalosporins and macrolides appear to be the drugs of choice for treating UTIs. Furthermore, enhanced infection incidence log keeping is required in hospitals to permit frequent tracking of the occurrence of antibiotic resistance patterns, as such levels vary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study the proportion of non-typhoidal salmonellae & their antimicrobial susceptibility in children presenting with acute gastroenteritis. Materials and methods: It is a cross-sectional observational study with a sample size of 100 over a period of 12 months. Children under 6 years of age suffering with acute gastroenteritis or dysentery admitted to the wards or presenting at the outpatient unit were included in the study. Stool specimens were collected by the microbiology lab attached to a tertiary care hospital. Results: Among the 100 cases, 57 are males and 43 are female children. Identification of NTS was based on colony morphology on selective media and a battery of biochemical tests. One NTS was isolated. Prevalence being 1%. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles were obtained against 12 antibiotics. NTS isolate was sensitive to all the drugs tested. The serotyping result of the NTS isolate is Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis 1,9,12, g,m,- Conclusions: Outbreaks of NTS have been reported in neonatal units, paediatric wards and childcare facilities. However, despite the frequency of asymptomatic NTS excretion following acute infection, the risk of transmission from asymptomatic health care workers to patients appears to be small when strict adherence to hand hygiene is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a typical pathogenic agent that causes several morbidities and mortalities which variable largely following the severity of bacteria and activity of host immunity. Aim: Isolation of S. aureus from different cattle infections, molecular detection of nuc gene in positive S. aureus isolates, and identification of the effectiveness of the phagocytic activity. Methods: Totally, 100 cattle with various infections (25 wounds, 25 abscesses, 25 nasal discharges, and 25 ear swaps) were selected and subjected to collection of swabs under controlled conditions. All collected samples were cultured on mannitol salt agar (MSA) and assessed by biochemical tests. Targeting the nuc gene, all study MSA positive isolates were examined molecularly by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test. Jugular venous blood was collected from all infected animals in addition to 20 healthy cattle that were selected as a control group to estimate the phagocytic activity of S. aureus isolates. Results: The findings of MSA culture revealed a total of 80 positive samples of S. aureus as 23, 21, 20, and 16 positive isolates for nasal discharge, abscess, wound, and ear swab, respectively; based on its morphology, cultural trait, and biochemical test. Subsequently, PCR assaying of MSA-positive isolates demonstrated an overall 59 positive samples as 14, 16, 12, and 17 positive isolates for nasal discharge, abscess, wound, and ear swabs, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of S. aureus-positive PCR isolates reported a significantly high sensitivity to chloramphenicol and vancomycin, and a high resistance to penicillin. Finally, there was a considerable decline in phagocytic activity in particular 2 weeks post-infection as a result of bacterial invasion. Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of S. aureus in cattle infections, and the protocol includes a regular screening of cattle infection and suitable therapy based on antibacterial susceptibility test is of great importance in the long-term control of the pathogen. However, additional molecular studies targeting other genes of S. aureus and the role of immune markers in different infections should be aimed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a clinical emergency that requires sound evaluation supported by accurate laboratory analysis and timely clinical intervention for its management. This study, therefore, was conducted to identify bacteria causing neonatal sepsis and their susceptibility to the commonly prescribed antibiotic at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary health care facility in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: Neonatal biodata were collected from patient folders, after which identification, isolation, and susceptibility of isolated bacteria to prescribed anti-bacterial (Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method) were carried out on single venipuncture blood samples aseptically drawn from 275 neonates clinically diagnosed with sepsis. Results: 275 neonates took part in the study, of which 218 (79.3%) presented with early-onset sepsis (EOS) and 57 (20.7%) with late-onset sepsis (LOS). The laboratory results confirmed a septicemia prevalence of 70.3% among neonates clinically diagnosed with sepsis. Preterm delivery (P =.01), hypothermia (P =.001), and delivery at the tertiary healthcare facility were significantly associated with EOS (P <.000), while low birth weight (P =.012), duration of hospital stay (P =.001), and delivery at the tertiary healthcare facility (P <.000) were found to be significantly associated with LOS. Gram-positive cocci constituted 54.9% (107), with Gram-negative constituting 45.1% (88) of all the bacteria isolates. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) 70.1% (75) and Klebsiella species 39.8% (35) were the dominant Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates, respectively. 57.8% and 55.8% of CoNS isolates were susceptible to ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, respectively. 93.5% of CoNS and all the isolated Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species were susceptible to amikacin. Conclusions: Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) and Klebsiella species were the predominant Gram-positive and negative sepsis-causing agents at the NICU, respectively. Amikacin exhibited the highest sensitivity to Gram-positive and negative causative agents, making it a strong candidate for consideration in the facility's empirical treatment of neonatal sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, serotype distribution, phenotypical antibiogram, and molecular resistance gene characteristics of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in Denmark from 2014 to 2022. Additionally, the potential impact of outdoor temperature and COVID-19 restrictions on the epidemiology of H. influenzae was assessed. Materials and methods: Invasive H. influenzae isolates were received from patients with positive culture results from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, or other sterile sites. Sample data were obtained from the Danish laboratory surveillance system/MiBa database, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on the isolates. The incidence rates and distribution of H. influenzae cases were analyzed, and antibiotic susceptibility were assessed. Results: A total of 1,007 invasive H. influenzae cases were identified, with serotyping conducted for 752 (74.7%) isolates. The median incidence per year of H. influenzae was 2.0 cases per 100,000, with the highest incidence in 2014 and the lowest in 2020. The majority of H. influenzae isolates were non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi), while the most prominent serotypes were serotype f followed by serotype b. Bacteremia cases accounted for the majority (88.6%) of occurrences, although meningitis cases showed an increasing trend during the time period. The age group 85+ exhibited the highest incidence. The implementation of COVID-19 preventive interventions in 2020 resulted in a significant reduction in H. influenzae incidence, which returned to pre-COVID levels in 2021. A negative correlation was observed between monthly H. influenzae cases and outdoor temperature. An overall level of genetic beta-lactamase resistance of 26.3% was observed divided into 10.6% beta-lactamase-positive ampicillin-resistant (gBLPAR), 13.6% beta-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (gBLNAR) and 2.1% beta-lactamase-positive amoxicillin clavulanate-resistant (gBLPACR). Other non-beta-lactam resistance traits were detected in 7.6% of isolates (primarily aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes). Conclusion: The overall incidence of H. influenzae in Denmark returned to stable levels after the COVID-19 epidemic, with NTHi strains dominating. The COVID-19 preventive interventions led to a major reduction in incidence. A significant negative correlation between the incidence of H. influenzae and temperature was observed. The study revealed an overall genetic beta-lactam resistance rate of 26.3%, and the concordance between genotypic and phenotypic beta-lactam resistance was high (98.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are needed to meet the increasing consumer demand for probiotics. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the probiotic properties of three LAB strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 4F, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 4JC, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 3MI3 using several in vitro probiotic tests. Results revealed that all strains showed high survival rate (≥60%) under extreme conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (lysozyme, pepsin, and bile). They were also able to auto-aggregate and co-aggregate with different pathogens. Moreover, all strains exhibited high antioxidant activity and antimicrobial ability against nine pathogens (Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Penicilium brasilianum, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum). HPLC and GC-MS analysis revealed the involvement of various organic and fatty acids in the observed antibacterial and antifungal activities. Lactic acid was the main produced compound with a significant concentration of 17.11 g/L. The biosafety assessment indicated that these strains were susceptible to most tested antibiotics, with no hemolytic and DNase activities. These findings reveal that the three studied strains of lactic acid bacteria have the potential to serve as novel probiotics in the development of functional products that promote health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in biofilms on the surface of medical devices may affect the opportunistic pathogens that are common inhabitants of such biofilms. This study assessed the effect of Mycolicibacterium iranicum cell-free supernatants on biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis differing in the anti-hemoglobin activity level. The cell-free supernatants have been shown to stimulate biofilm formation and also help reduce susceptibility of opportunistic pathogens to a number of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]