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The cockroaches have become the most common domestic insect pest of public health and epidemiological importance. Their presence raises safety concerns, especially as carriers of food-borne pathogens and foodspoilage organisms. Hence, this study aimed to document the bacteria isolated from the body surface and gut of cockroaches at Federal University Wukari, Nigeria. Using a swab bacteriological technique, investigations were carried out on the body surface and gut of cockroaches picked from sewers, kitchens, and bathrooms from student's hostels and opened fields of the institution. Nutrient and MacConkey agar were used as media. Students t-test was used to statistically compare the bacterial load recorded on samples retrieved from open field vis-à-vis the hostels. From the two sampled sites, the gut had higher colony forming unit (Cfu/ml) of (1.5 ×106±33435.80) vis-à-vis the body surface (6.9×104±13388.88). Marginally higher bacterial isolates were observed on cockroaches retrieved from the open field (25 bacterial isolates) than from students' hostels (23 bacterial isolates). In this study, Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominantly isolated bacterial species from both locations followed by Escherichia coli. Species with lower frequencies were Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Control and preventive strategies for cockroaches are paramount in suppressing the contamination of food by microbes associated with cockroaches. Additionally, optimum hygiene practices should be instituted in the hostels, food canteens, and clinics/hospitals of the University; and indeed, the host community to avoid the build-up of breeding sites of cockroaches which are known to carry and spread pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the biology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucial to unlocking insights for new targets in our fight against this antimicrobial resistant priority pathogen. Although proteomics and metabolomic profiling offer the potential to elucidating such biological markers, reports of methodological approaches for carrying this out in S. aureus isolates remain limited. We describe the use of a dual-functionality methanol extraction method for the concurrent extraction of protein and metabolites from S. aureus and report on the comparative analysis of the proteomic and metabolomic profiles of MRSA versus methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Methods: Bacterial reference strains MRSA ATCC43300 and MSSA ATCC25923 were used. The conventional urea methodology was used for protein extraction and a methanol based method was used for concurrent proteins and metabolites extraction. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling was carried out using TimsTOF mass spectrometry. Data processing was carried out using the MaxQuant version 2.1.4.0. Results: This study represents the first report on the utilization of the methanol extraction method for concurrent protein and metabolite extraction in Gram positive bacteria. Our findings demonstrate good performance of the method for the dual extraction of proteins and metabolites from S. aureus with demonstration of reproducibility. Comparison of MRSA and MSSA strains revealed 407 proteins with significantly different expression levels. Enrichment analysis of those proteins revealed distinct pathways involved in fatty acid degradation, metabolism and beta-lactam resistance. Penicillin-binding protein PBP2a, the key determinant of MRSA resistance, exhibited distinct expression patterns in MRSA isolates. Metabolomic analysis identified 146 metabolites with only one exclusive to the MRSA. The enriched pathways identified were related to arginine metabolism and biosynthesis. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the methanol-based dual-extraction method, providing simultaneous insights into the proteomic and metabolomic landscapes of S. aureus strains. These findings demonstrate the utility of proteomic and metabolomic profiling for elucidating the biological basis of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionImplant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) is the predominant breast reconstruction technique post-mastectomy, with bacterial infections being a significant complication affecting patient recovery and quality of life. The following study aimed to determine the microbiological features of the causative agents responsible for breast implant infections, with more attention paid to the comparative analysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their presentation.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 214 patients who presented with periprosthetic infection and underwent implant removal following implant-based breast reconstruction at Humanitas Research Hospital and Istituto Europeo di Oncologia between January 2018 and March 2024.ResultsThe study revealed that Gram-positive bacteria were more prevalent, with Staphylococcus species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, being the most isolated pathogen in both institutions (∼39.96%). In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria were less frequent, with a higher proportion of these pathogens being multi-resistant strains. A significant difference was observed (p = 0.007), indicating that individuals with normal BMI have a higher prevalence of Gram-positive infections (88.46%), whereas obese and overweight patients had higher proportions of Gram-negative infections (23.53% and 28.89%, respectively). In addition, smoking status was also significantly associated with pathogen distribution (p = 0.032), with active and past smokers being related to higher percentages of polymicrobial infections. Furthermore, positive prophylactic MSSA/MRSA swabs were significantly more associated with Staphylococcus aureus infections compared to those with negative results (p =

BackgroundUnderstanding the biology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucial to unlocking insights for new targets in our fight against this antimicrobial resistant priority pathogen. Although proteomics and metabolomic profiling offer the potential to elucidating such biological markers, reports of methodological approaches for carrying this out in S. aureus isolates remain limited. We describe the use of a dual-functionality methanol extraction method for the concurrent extraction of protein and metabolites from S. aureus and report on the comparative analysis of the proteomic and metabolomic profiles of MRSA versus methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA).MethodsBacterial reference strains MRSA ATCC43300 and MSSA ATCC25923 were used. The conventional urea methodology was used for protein extraction and a methanol based method was used for concurrent proteins and metabolites extraction. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling was carried out using TimsTOF mass spectrometry. Data processing was carried out using the MaxQuant version 2.1.4.0.ResultsThis study represents the first report on the utilization of the methanol extraction method for concurrent protein and metabolite extraction in Gram positive bacteria. Our findings demonstrate good performance of the method for the dual extraction of proteins and metabolites from S. aureus with demonstration of reproducibility. Comparison of MRSA and MSSA strains revealed 407 proteins with significantly different expression levels. Enrichment analysis of those proteins revealed distinct pathways involved in fatty acid degradation, metabolism and beta-lactam resistance. Penicillin-binding protein PBP2a, the key determinant of MRSA resistance, exhibited distinct expression patterns in MRSA isolates. Metabolomic analysis identified 146 metabolites with only one exclusive to the MRSA. The enriched pathways identified were related to arginine metabolism and biosynthesis.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the methanol-based dual-extraction method, providing simultaneous insights into the proteomic and metabolomic landscapes of S. aureus strains. These findings demonstrate the utility of proteomic and metabolomic profiling for elucidating the biological basis of antimicrobial resistance.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that utilises many surface-associated and secreted proteins to form biofilms and cause disease. However, our understanding of these processes is limited by challenges of using fluores-cent protein reporters in their native environment, because they must be ex-ported and fold correctly to become fluorescent. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of using the monomeric superfolder GFP (msfGFP) exported from S. aureus. By fusing msfGFP to signal peptides for the Secretory (Sec) and Twin Arginine Translocation (Tat) pathways, the two major secretion pathways in S. aureus, we quantified msfGFP fluorescence in bacterial cultures and cell-free supernatant from the cultures. When fused to a Tat signal peptide, we detect-ed msfGFP fluorescence inside but not outside bacterial cells, indicating a fail-ure to export msfGFP. However, when fused to a Sec signal peptide, msfGFP fluorescence was present outside cells, indicating successful export of the msfGFP in the unfolded state, followed by extracellular folding and maturation to the photoactive state. We applied this strategy to study coagulase (Coa), a secreted protein and a major contributor to the formation of a fibrin network in S. aureus biofilms that protects bacteria from the host immune system and increases attachment to host surfaces. We confirmed that a genomically inte-grated C-terminal fusion of Coa to msfGFP does not impair the activity of Coa or its localisation within the biofilm matrix. Our findings demonstrate that msfGFP is a good candidate fluorescent reporter to consider when studying proteins secreted by the Sec pathway in S. aureus.

Objective To investigate the antibacterial activity of contezolid and linezolid against common Gram-positive bacteria and to preliminarily analyze the mechanism of their inhibition of biofilm. Methods Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) were taken as the research objects. We used the broth dilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of contezolid and linezolid against S. aureus and E. faecalis. The growth curve was used to detect the growth of bacteria under different drug concentrations, and the formation of bacterial biofilm and the survival rate of bacteria in the biofilm were observed by crystal violet staining under the drug concentration that did not inhibit the growth of bacteria. Proteomics was used to screen the differentially expressed proteins in the biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria under the action of contezolid and linezolid. Functional annotation of gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encylopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein interaction network (PPI) was used to observe the interaction between proteins. Results Contezolid and linezolid showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. faecalis, and their MICs were both less than 4 µg/mL. The growth curve showed that contezolid and linezolid at 1/2 × MIC had no effect on bacterial growth. The result of crystal violet staining and the count of viable bacteria in biofilm showed that both drugs could inhibit the formation of S. aureus and E. faecalis biofilm at sub-inhibitory concentration. There were 290 and 222 differentially expressed proteins in the biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria under the action of contezolid and linezolid. The differential proteins mainly involved Rpm, rplE, SasG, Luxs, ald 1, D-alanine aminotransferase, etc. GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly related to pyruvate metabolism and amino acid metabolism under the action of contezolid. The differential expression of proteins under linezolid mainly involved pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, etc. KEGG analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins treated with contezolid mainly involved in naphthalene degradation, pyrimidine metabolism, glycolysis, and ribosome excision and repair. The differentially expressed proteins treated with linezolid mainly involved amino acid degradation, fatty acid degradation, purine metabolism, pentose, and glucose phosphate conversion. PPI analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins under the action of two antibiotics were mainly related to ribosomes. Conclusions Contezolid and linezolid show broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition against Grampositive bacteria. These two drugs may inhibit the formation of biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria by inhibiting quorum sensing system, primary metabolism and biofilm formation related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose a major threat worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop effective strategies to solve this problem. The antibacterial activity of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently been determined against various bacterial isolates. New approaches, such as Toll-like receptor activation, were used to enhance their antibacterial potency. This study examines the antibacterial activity of TLR agonist (TLR2/TLR1 and/or TLR2/TLR6) activated adipose-derived canine MSCs (AD-MSCs) on multidrug resistant isolates including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa regarding bacterial growth, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. Effects on bacterial morphology were assessed by electron microscopy. Our results showed that the AD-MSCs conditioned medium primed with different TLR agonists inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, but it had a decreased effect on E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Despite this, AD-MSCs conditioned medium prepared with the combination of TLR agonists exhibited antibacterial activity against all isolates. These findings were in parallel with MIC levels of conditioned media. We conclude that adipose-derived canine MSCs primed with TLR agonists (TLR2/TLR1 and TLR2/TLR6 combination) possess antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Further studies for testing in in vivo models are being planned to assess the potential application of AD-MSCs as an adjunct treatment modality for multi drug resistant infections.

Chitosan holds net ionic positive charges, which contribute its ability to chemically bind with negatively charged fats, lipids, metal ions, proteins, and microorganisms. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are important inorganic materials with a wide band-gap used in many applications such as catalysts, antibacterial and medical products. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Chitosan (CHT) hydrogel loaded MgO nanoparticles on the bacterial growth. CHT/ poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)/ poly ethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel was blended with various amounts of MgO nanoparticles. The surface morphology of the obtained blends was investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). Evidently, surfaces with appropriate roughness were obtained for most of the prepared hydrogels. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX) were also included in this paper. Thermal properties of all samples was studied by DSC-TGA curves. The antibacterial activity of the prepared hybrids CHT/PVA/PEG/MgO nanoparticles have performed against gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Streptococcus, as well as gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E.coli). In this study, MgO nanoparticles various proportions presented high efficiency towards gram positive microorganisms. High resistance of gram negative bacteria against the final products was extremely detected according to measured inhibition zones which were between (0-9) mm.

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose a major threat worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop effective strategies to solve this problem. The antibacterial activity of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently been determined against various bacterial isolates. New approaches, such as Toll-like receptor activation, were used to enhance their antibacterial potency. This study examines the antibacterial activity of TLR agonist (TLR2/TLR1 and/or TLR2/TLR6) activated adipose-derived canine MSCs (AD-MSCs) on multi)drug resistant isolates including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa regarding bacterial growth, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. Effects on bacterial morphology were assessed by electron microscopy. Our results showed that the AD-MSCs conditioned medium primed with different TLR agonists inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, but it had a decreased effect on E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Despite this, AD-MSCs conditioned medium prepared with the combination of TLR agonists exhibited antibacterial activity against all isolates. These findings were in parallel with MIC levels of conditioned media. We conclude that adipose-derived canine MSCs primed with TLR agonists (TLR2/TLR1 and TLR2/TLR6 combination) possess antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Further studies for testing in in vivo models are being planned to assess the potential application of AD-MSCs as an adjunct treatment modality for multi drug resistant infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics, there is an urgent necessity to search for new antibiotics produced by Bacillus spp., which are characterized by their capability to produce secondary metabolites with high efficacy against numerous types of pathogenic bacteria. A total of 40 Bacillus isolates were isolated from the mouths of 150 volunteers from the Dental Health Center in Babylon and diagnosed based on phenotypic characteristics and biochemical and physiological reaction tests with a colorimetric reagent card using the VITEK2 analyzer. The active compounds were extracted from Bacillus megaterium L2 and their antibacterial activity was tested against a group of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was estimated, whereas 16 isolates showed high effectiveness against pathogenic bacteria, with the zone of inhibition ranging from 8-22 mm and the MIC ranging from 0.25-6.25 mg/ml. The active compounds were extracted, purified, and detected by Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The cytotoxic activity of the extracts was studied using the MCF7 cell line. This showed that cytoto xicity effects on valid object count, nuclear morphology, and total nuclear intensity ranged from 17.245-441.24 and the cytotoxic effect on cell membrane permeability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome C ranged from 49.04 -601.79 Among the isolates, Bacillus megaterium L2(B9) was the best isolated strain of bacteria that was the most effective against anti -pathogenic bacterial strains- Gram positive (Staphylococcus pyogenes NCTC 8198 and St. aureus ATCC 29213) and gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa RW109, Escherichia coli O157, and Salmonella typhi Ty2) and was non-toxic to human cells (MCF7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green route of nanomaterials synthesis is increasing in demand due to ecofriendly to the environment. In this research, objective is to biosynthesize and evaluate the antibacterial performance of pure ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites using Camellia sinensis leaf extracts. Pure ZnO nanoparticles and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized using Camellia sinensis leaf extract. The antibacterial effectiveness against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria were examined and compared with 1 % Chlorox as a commercial disinfectant by well diffusion method based on the zone of inhibition. Pure ZnO nanoparticles and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites had hexagonal shape ZnO nanoparticles and rectangular shape Ag nanoparticles in Ag/ZnO nanocomposites with a particle crystal size between 20 - 30 nm with carboxylic and phenolic functional group attached on it. Ag/ZnO nanocomposites exhibited antibacterial effectiveness against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, while pure ZnO nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial effectiveness against only gram-positive bacteria. Conversely, 1 % Chlorox and 1 % DMSO showed no significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Camellia sinensis mediated ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanoparticles showed antibacterial potential against S. aureus and E. coli suggesting that green route to synthesis of antibacterial nanoparticles can be an excellent strategy to develop eco-friendly disinfectant products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Curative misuse of medicinal plants are worrisome with the paucity of histological information. This led to the investigation of Ipomoea asarifolia in Swiss albino rats infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Extraction was done using the cold maceration method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined using the micro-dilution method. Swiss albino rats of 6 sub-groups with 6 animals each (36 animals/organism) were administered with 0.3 ml single oral dose of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus respectively. The animals received treatment for 5 days as follows: 0.5 ml of 5% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (negative control), 250 mg/kg of amoxicillin (positive control), 2 mg/kg of whole plant extract, 4 mg/kg of whole plant extract, 2 mg/kg of leaf extract, and 4 mg/kg of leaf extract, respectively. The packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood count (WBC) of the animals were determined before and after treatment with histology examination of vital organs. Results: MIC for S. aureus was 2 mg/mL; the mortality in S. aureus group at 2 mg/kg was 66.7%. The PCV values (50.5±0.5, 45.0±1.0, and 50.5±1.5) decreased after infection, and a corresponding increase in the PCV was observed after treatment with the extracts. Also, a significant increase in the WBC values (3.40±0.35, 4.10±0.15, and 3.30±0.40) following infection and a corresponding decrease after treatment were observed. Congestion of vessels in the kidney was also observed. Conclusion: I. asarifolia has a dose-dependent antibacterial and curative activity, and could enhance innate immunity.

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by the exotoxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a gram positive bacteria. It has propensity to affect mainly cardiac muscle and nervous system. To study the percentage, spectrum of patients with various neurological complications and the pattern of recovery in followed up confirmed cases of diphtheria. Single centre prospective analysis of neurological complications in diphtheria patients from June 2019 to September 2020 at SMS Medical College and hospital,Jaipur. In this study, 60 cases were included. Immunised cases were 60% (36 out of 60 cases) whereas unimmunised constituted the rest 40% (24 out of 60 cases). Neurological complications were observed in 15% of the cases (9 out of 60). Isolated palatal palsy was the most common complication (4 out of 9 cases, 44.44%), succeeded by lower limb LMN palsies (2 out of 9 cases, 22.22%) with unilateral facial nerve palsy, bilateral abductor palsy and paralytic ileus constituting the rest (1 out of 9 cases each, 11.11% each). Onset of complications ranged from 10 to 36 days whereas recovery was complete and without any residual sequelae between 60 to 240 days. Our study concluded that neurological complications form a sizeable portion of post diptheritic complications and carries good prognosis, hence timely diagnosis and differentiation from other neuropathies is a pre requisite for rational management and contact tracing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape pomace is a winery industry residue of skins, seeds and stems of grapes used in agriculture for animal feed and production of food with biological activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial activity of Vitis vinifera L. pomace extract on growth of microscopic fungi and bacteria. The four strains of bacteria (two Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus CCM 2461, Bacillus cereus CCM 2010; two Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli CCM 3988, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 1959) and four yeasts strains (Candida albicans CCM 8186, Candida glabrata CCM 8270, Candida krusei CCM 8271 and Candida tropicalis CCM 8223) were studies. For detection of antimicrobial activity, the grape pomace extracts of white variety Pálava and red variety Dornfelder were used. Pálava pomace extracts were less efficient against the microorganisms tested and Dornfelder extracts were more active against Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

Pitted keratolysis, a skin condition that damages the stratum corneum of the arch of the foot, is caused by gram positive bacteria. Responsible agents include Dermatophiluscongolensis, Corynebacterium sp., and Micrococcus sedentarius. These microbes all cause the epithelial tissue to develop tiny burrows [1]. Erythrasma, trichomycosisaxillaris, and pitted keratolysis each have been documented as concomitant corynebacterial illnesses, indicating that corynebacterium is a significant causative factor in all three conditions [2]. As per Ayurvedic texts, kustha illness refers to all skin conditions. Pitted keratolysis is a form of kustha disorder and can be categorised as Vipadika. It is successfully managed through adequate foot hygiene, antibiotic ointments, and bactericidals. This manuscript presents a 50-year-old male military employee, who visited the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Department of Kayachiktsa with chief complaints of small punched-out lesions and itching on the plantar surface of bilateral feet for 2-3 months. The patient suffered from severe itching on sole of bilateral feet and having mild pain at the sole region while walking, which was associated with gradual peeling of the surface of skin. No such lesions were there elsewhere in the body. There was no relevant family history of the patient. There was no any significant medical history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus or any other allergic illness. On physical examination, small punch out lesions on the plantar surface of bilateral feet were observed. As in [Table/Fig-1], pitted keratolysis was diagnosed from the clinical appearance. Palmoplantar keratoderma, keratoderma, punctate palmoplantar, palmoplantar hypokeratoses, and verucae, are among the primary differential diagnoses [3]. In this case, for one month, the medicinal cleansing therapy and the ayurvedic palliative care were administered. Dhavan (proper wash) with Triphala patra kwath and Nimba patra kwath twice a day was advised as the medicinal cleansing therapy and Sarivadyasav in a dosage of 20 mL twice a day after meals with equal quantity of water, Mahatikta Ghrita in the dosage of 10 mL in the morning on empty stomach with lukewarm water was administered to the patient. For the preventive measure, proper maintenance of hygiene, always keeping the feet dry and altering socks and shoes frequently, along with rotating or letting out shoes was strictly advised to the patient. Triphala and Nimba possess antimicrobial action and so proper wash of bilateral feet with their decoction yields good results. Sarivadyasav is considered to be having Rakta shodhak action, which means, it helps in purifying the impure blood. Mahatikta Ghrita is described as Kushtaghna and helps in treating many kinds of skin diseases [4]. After the completion of the treatment, it was found that the punched out lesions associated with itching in bilateral feet healed significantly. Following a one month follow-up, significant recovery was seen. A good prognosis was seen and the lesions healed within three to four weeks [Table/Fig-2].

Nocardia belongs to the order Actinomycetales suborder Corynebacteriaceae, family Nocardiaceae. It causes infections mostly in immunocompromised individuals. It primarily causes pulmonary infections, followed by central nervous system infections, cutaneous and disseminated infections. Cutaneous infections are reported in immunocompetent individuals also. Because of the growth characteristics, it is difficult to recover the organisms in culture. The recent advanced molecular technology has made identification of the organism to species level possible. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) due to Nocardia spp is rarely reported. Here, authors report a case of CSOM caused by Nocardia farcinica in a 47-year-old female. The patient was on steroid therapy for bronchial asthma. Culture of ear discharge isolated Nocardia spp, identified as Nocardia farcinica by mass spectrometry. Appropriate antibiotic treatment was administered and good treatment response was obtained. Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment is critical for nocardial infections. Difficulty in recovering and identifying the organism, with delay in initiating appropriate treatment can result in poor prognosis and treatment failure.

Background: Sepsis following traumatic and surgical intervention increases morbidity, mortality, cost and length of patient stay in hospital. The aim of this study was to identify the major pathogens associated with wounds infection and to review their antimicrobial reactions. Methods: A 5-year review of nosocomial wound infection and colonization in patients admitted to the intensive care unit of tertiary care Hospital southern region of Saudi Arabia from January 2013 to August 2017. Patients of all ages and gender who required ICU attention at some point and defined as nosocomial infection using standard CDC criteria and presented with various degrees of wound and bed sore infections were included in the study. Data on bacterial isolates (n= 536) and reactions to antimicrobials (n= 51) were analyzed. Results: There were 379 episodes of wound and 157episodes of bedsore infections. The most common organisms Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.8%) followed by Proteus mirabilis (15.1%); Acinetobacter baumannii (12.7%); Escherichia coli (10.8%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%); Morganella morgani (7.6%); Providencia stuartii (3.4%); Staphylococcus aureus (3.0%); Enterobacter aerogenes (1.5%) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (1.3%) figure 1. The percentage sensitivity of the 536 organisms to the 51 antimicrobial agents was 39.2%; intermediate sensitivity was 3.3% and resistant was 57.5% figure 2. Conclusion: Data from this and other studies supports the hypothesis that high incidence of gram negative bacilli (91.4%) in particular Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Acinetobacter baumannii are more common in tropical regions compared to gram positive bacteria. This requires strong infection control actions to enhance patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus thuringiensis  is a gram-positive bacterium used in agriculture, with rare human infections that typically occur in immunocompromised individuals through environmental exposure. This report discusses the case of a 30-year-old intravenous drug user and polysubstance abuser who developed bacteremia due to Bacillus thuringiensis . The patient originally presented with fever and leg ulcers from injection sites, and he was successfully treated with vancomycin. This case underscores the importance of recognizing atypical pathogens like Bacillus thuringiensis in intravenous drug users, particularly when contaminated drug paraphernalia is involved. Although generally low in virulence, this bacterium can cause systemic infections under certain conditions. Prompt identification and treatment are crucial to prevent complications, highlighting the need for increased clinical awareness and appropriate microbiological investigations in this vulnerable population., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Barakat et al.)

Introduction: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) is the predominant breast reconstruction technique post-mastectomy, with bacterial infections being a significant complication affecting patient recovery and quality of life. The following study aimed to determine the microbiological features of the causative agents responsible for breast implant infections, with more attention paid to the comparative analysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their presentation., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 214 patients who presented with periprosthetic infection and underwent implant removal following implant-based breast reconstruction at Humanitas Research Hospital and Istituto Europeo di Oncologia between January 2018 and March 2024., Results: The study revealed that Gram-positive bacteria were more prevalent, with Staphylococcus species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus , being the most isolated pathogen in both institutions (∼39.96%). In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria were less frequent, with a higher proportion of these pathogens being multi-resistant strains. A significant difference was observed ( p  = 0.007), indicating that individuals with normal BMI have a higher prevalence of Gram-positive infections (88.46%), whereas obese and overweight patients had higher proportions of Gram-negative infections (23.53% and 28.89%, respectively). In addition, smoking status was also significantly associated with pathogen distribution ( p  = 0.032), with active and past smokers being related to higher percentages of polymicrobial infections. Furthermore, positive prophylactic MSSA/MRSA swabs were significantly more associated with Staphylococcus aureus infections compared to those with negative results ( p  = <0.001)., Conclusions: Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus species, dominate the microbiological landscape of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) infections. Our findings provide insights into this critical issue, facilitating a more precise choice of empiric antibiotic treatment and prevention strategies. This analysis underscores the necessity for prophylactic protocols and therapeutic approaches tailored to the predominant bacterial groups. Further research is needed to explore long-term trends and resistance mechanisms to improve patient management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Lisa, Zeneli, Mazzucco, Barbieri, Rietjens, Lissidini, Vinci, Bartoletti, Belati and Bavaro.)

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication in individuals with liver cirrhosis and ascites. In this case report, we present an unusual cause of SBP in loculated ascites caused by an uncommon bacterium, Clostridium perfringens . Although SBP is typically associated with certain common pathogens, it is important to recognize that less frequent organisms can also trigger it. C. perfringens is typically associated with other environmental sources, but in this instance, the infection's origin was suspected to be either nosocomial, from prior paracentesis, or due to a microscopic bowel perforation that was undetectable on imaging. Remarkably, the patient responded well with an improvement of symptoms, and the ascitic fluid bacterial growth resolved on subsequent cultures., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Canahuati Escobar et al.)

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis and septic shock are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with a wide diversity of bacteria prevalent in the community. Local data about antimicrobial resistance in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients should be available for proper initiation of empirical therapy. Our aim is to evaluate the spectrum of pathogens causing sepsis and septic shock and their profiles of antimicrobial resistance on a series of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study with 495 participants was conducted targeting the diabetic and non-diabetic patients admitted with sepsis or septic shock in intensive care unit (ICU). Antibiotic sensitivity test was done on each of the isolates and the results of the antibiogram were compared between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The statistical analysis was done by Chi-Square test, Fisher’s exact test using statistical product and service solutions known as statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), 17.0 version (Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The most common isolated organism was Klebsiella followed by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter and Enterococcus in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Highest sensitivity was seen for tigecycline and colistin whereas highest resistance was seen for cephalosporin, fluoroquinolones and carbapenems in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Statistically significant results were seen for sensitivity for Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for Acinetobacter and Escherichia coli. Statistically significant results for carbapenem, beta Lactam + beta Lactamase Inhibitor, cefepime were observed for Klebsiella and for teicoplanin and vancomycin was observed for Enterococcus. CONCLUSIONS: This study helps to understand the diversity of bacteria prevalent in community and formulate a better empirical antibiotic usage policy with proper implementation of antibiotic stewardship in a better way. Empirical antibiotic therapy should be prescribed only after performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing in order to obtain a better outcome.

In this study, the reaction of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-benzoimidazoles and 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-indazoles with benzofuran and benzothiophen derivatives has led to formation of some new 3H-benzobenzofuro[2,3-b]imidazo[4,5-f]quinolines, 3H-benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-b]imidazo[4,5-f]quinolines, 3H-benzofuro[2,3-b]pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinolones, and 3H-benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinolines in good yields. Structures of the new compounds have been confirmed by spectral and analytical data. Antibacterial activity of the new compounds has been tested against a panel of strains of gram negative and gram positive bacteria species. According to antimicrobial tests most of the title compounds are highly efficient against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and their MIC values are comparable with those of well known antibacterial agents ampicillin, penicillin G and sulfamethoxazole. Structure–activity relationship of the title compounds has been considered revealing imidazole core as a pharmacophore in antimicrobial tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a pathogenic microbe to develop a resistance to the effects of an antimicrobial medication. AMR is one of the most concerning issues in medicine today, impacting morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence and the phenotypic methods of detection of antibiotic sensitivity of grampositive bacteria in clinical isolates collected from inpatients at the Sohag University Hospital during one year. Patients and methods: Fresh samples (blood, urine, sputum, pus and cerebrospinal fluid) were collected of 69 patients and cultured on nutrient agar, blood and MacConkey agar, at 37°C and incubated for 24 - 48 hours. The pH was adjusted to 7.4 and all media were sterilized by autoclaving at 121°C for 20 minutes. VITEK2 Compact identification kits was used to confirm the identification of the isolates and for antibiotic susceptibility test Results: S. aureus were isolated in (43.48%) of isolated organisms and 31.88 % of the cases (n=22) were distributed between other staphylococcus species. S. pneumoniae in 10 cases (14.49%) and 10.15% of the cases (n=7) were distributed between other streptococcus species. All S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin but all S. aureus isolates were sensitive to quinupristin/dalfopristin, vancomycin, tigecycline, nitrofurantoin, rifampicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. S. pneumonia showed high rate of resistance to benzylpenicillin (100%) and oxacillin (100%) but the association trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole showed moderate rate of resistance (50%) to S. pneumonia. Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotic resistance to gram positive bacteria continues to increase and is associated with significant mortality. The most prevalent organisms within gram positive bacteria were staphylococcus aureus followed by S. pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zdravotnicke listy is the property of Alexander Dubcek University in Trencin, Faculty of Nursing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pathogenic microorganisms are serious threats in schools, where contact with many microorganisms occur frequently throughout the school day. Classrooms are considered an optimal place for contact between microorganisms and young children. The aim of the current study was to study the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from different sites in primary schools and to show whether schools are sanitized and clean for children or it is just the core reason for their illness. The study was done in a highly standard private school and a public school in order to study the effect of variance in the social classes on the cleanliness of the schools. Different colonies were separated and identified by staining techniques and biochemical tests. Thirteen different types of bacteria with different amounts were isolated from 176 samples collected from different surfaces. It was found that the number of bacteria in public school is higher than that of the private school. The distribution of bacterial strains isolated from the two schools averaged 37.1% for Staphylococcus sp. followed by 11.3% for Enterobacter sp. and then 7.3%, 7.1% and 6.3% for Yersinia sp. Streptococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. respectively. Other strains ranged between 5.9% to 1.5%. Bacterial isolates were tested for their susceptibility by well diffusion test against three commercial disinfectants commonly used for surface and hand cleaning in schools, namely; Clorox, Renol and Dettol. The highest percentage of resistance was seen against Renol (50%) followed by Dettol (38%) and was identified to be Escherichia coli, while least resistance occurring among all isolates was noticed against Clorox (18%). Children in private and public schools are at high risk of catching serious bacterial infections and they are surrounded by a cram of microorganisms. The current research shows that new ways must be developed to improve our schools’ hygiene to make it a healthier and safer place to learn in.

Vaginal microbiota dominated by lactobacilli protects women from sexually transmitted infection, in particular HIV-1. This protection is, in part, mediated by Lactobacillus -released extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here, we investigated whether EVs derived from other Gram-positive bacteria also present in healthy vaginas, in particular Staphylococcus aureus , Gardnerella vaginalis , Enterococcus faecium , and Enterococcus faecalis , can affect vaginal HIV-1 infection. We found that EVs released by these bacteria protect human cervico-vaginal tissues ex vivo and isolated cells from HIV-1 infection by inhibiting HIV-1-cell receptor interactions. This inhibition was associated with a diminished exposure of viral Env by steric hindrance of gp120 or gp120 modification evidenced by the failure of EV-treated virions to bind to nanoparticle-coupled anti-Env antibodies. Furthermore, we found that protein components associated with EV's outer surface are critical for EV-mediated protection from HIV-1 infection since treatment of bacteria-released EVs with proteinase K abolished their anti-HIV-1 effect. We identified numerous EV-associated proteins that may be involved in this protection. The identification of EVs with specific proteins that suppress HIV-1 may lead to the development of novel strategies for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new antimicrobial materials has arisen in response to the need to prevent and control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms without the use of antibiotics. The Silver (Ag) nanoparticles attached r-GO (rGO/Ag) nanocomposite was synthesised in the present work using a one-pot in-situ chemical reduction approach and studied for antibacterial property. We developed a rapid preparation of graphene from graphite using modified Hummers method and reduced by A. malabarica leaf extract. UV-Vis spectroscopy and FT-IR were used to characterize the synthesized GO and rGO-Ag nanocomposite. The antibacterial properties of the synthesized GO and rGo-Ag nanocomposite were evaluated against human pathogenic organisms like Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method. At 50µl concentrations, synthesised GO inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 mm) and rGO-Ag nanocomposite inhibited Staphylococcusaureus (28 mm). Antibacterial properties of the nanocomposites were found to be efficient against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Thus, green synthesized RGO-supported Silver nanoparticles play an important role in the medical disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaginal microbiota dominated by lactobacilli protects women from sexually transmitted infection, in particular HIV-1. This protection is, in part, mediated by Lactobacillus-released extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here, we investigated whether EVs derived from other Gram-positive bacteria also present in healthy vaginas, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, Gardnerella vaginalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis, can affect vaginal HIV-1 infection. We found that EVs released by these bacteria protect human cervico-vaginal tissues ex vivo and isolated cells from HIV-1 infection by inhibiting HIV-1-cell receptor interactions. This inhibition was associated with a diminished exposure of viral Env by steric hindrance of gp120 or gp120 modification evidenced by the failure of EV-treated virions to bind to nanoparticle-coupled anti-Env antibodies. Furthermore, we found that protein components associated with EV’s outer surface are critical for EV-mediated protection from HIV-1 infection since treatment of bacteria-released EVs with proteinase K abolished their anti-HIV-1 effect. We identified numerous EV-associated proteins that may be involved in this protection. The identification of EVs with specific proteins that suppress HIV-1 may lead to the development of novel strategies for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission.

Bacillus licheniformis ( B. licheniformis ) is an aerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming rod typically found in soil, decaying organic matter, vegetables, and water, and occasionally part of normal gut flora. This report highlights a case of unusual repeated peritonitis caused by  B. licheniformis , with three episodes occurring over six months, all of which were sensitive to vancomycin yet presented an unclear cause for recurrence. Peritonitis represents a significant cause of mortality, hospitalization, and failure of peritoneal dialysis catheters, leading to forced transitions to hemodialysis. The rarity of  B. licheniformis  as a pathogen in human infections emphasizes the critical need for precise microbial identification and customized therapeutic strategies., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Ali et al.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dalbavancin as sequential therapy in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) due to gram positive bacteria (GPB) in a real-life heterogenous cohort with comorbid patients., Methods: A single center retrospective cohort study including all patients with definite IE treated with dalbavancin between January 2017 and February 2022 was developed. A 6-month follow-up was performed. The main outcomes were clinical cure rate, clinical and microbiological relapse, 6-month mortality, and adverse effects (AEs) rate., Results: The study included 61 IE episodes. The median age was 78.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 63.2-85.2), 78.7% were male, with a median Charlson comorbidity index of 7 (IQR 4-9) points. Overall, 49.2% suffered native valve IE. The most common microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus (26.3%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (21.3%). The median duration of initial antimicrobial therapy and dalbavancin therapy were 27 (IQR 20-34) and 14 days (IQR 14-28) respectively. The total reduction of hospitalization was 1090 days. The most frequent dosage was 1500mg of dalbavancin every 14 days (96.7%). An AE was detected in 8.2% of patients, only one (1.6%) was attributed to dalbavancin (infusion reaction). Clinical cure was achieved in 86.9% of patients. One patient (1.6%) with Enterococcus faecalis IE suffered relapse. The 6-month mortality was 11.5%, with only one IE-related death (1.6%)., Conclusion: This study shows a high efficacy of dalbavancin in a heterogeneous real-world cohort of IE patients, with an excellent safety profile. Dalbavancin allowed a substantial reduction of in-hospital length of stay., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Plants have been used as natural medicines since the dawn of human kind. This research was focused on phytochemical analysis of Punica granatum peel extract consist of ethanol: chloroform (99:1) as solvent and its constituents were molecularly characterized by GCMS analysis and its ability as an antioxidant, anticancer against K562 cell and antibacterial against 5 gram-positive and 3-gram-negative bacteria. The phytochemical analysis was performed biochemically and results reveal the presence of secondary metabolites such as Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, etc. However, no glycosides are found. Cotton fabric was treated with Punica granatum peel extract and tested against both grampositive and gram-negative bacteria by agar well diffusion method. The streptococcus faecalis has shown highest susceptibility against the extract. It's antioxidant potential was quantitatively determined by DPPH assay and results showed high range of antioxidant present in the extract with IC50 as 504.9 µg/ml. The cytotoxicity assay was performed with peel extract of different concentration against K562 cancer lines which is a myelogenous leukemia cell line. However, the cytotoxicity is less when compared with cell viability and its effects weremild against the cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of gram negative and gram positive bacteria in addition to the investigation of antibiotic resistance rates in 2021 at a military hospital in Riyadh Region. Materials and Methods: This observational study included the retrospective review of bacterial isolates from 1st of January 2021 to 30th of June 2021. Results: Most of the infections were caused by gram negative bacteria (64.52%). The most common gram negative bacteria were Escherichia coli (43.63%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.52%). The most common gram positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus isolates (71.74%). The study also showed that Acinetobacter baumannii was a pandrug-resistant bacterium and Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii, and Enterococcus faecalis bacteria were multidrug resistant. Conclusion: There was a high resistance for some bacteria to numerous antibiotics. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is an essential guide for physicians to help them in the selection of the suitable antibiotic for bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine frequency, molecular characterization and sensitivity of bacterial isolates against commonly used antibiotics in neonatal sepsis. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pathology Sahara Medical College Narowal. Period: October 2019 to March 2020. Material & Methods: Neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of study institution having signs and symptoms of neonatal symptoms such as fever, irritability, seizures, anorexia and lethargy, were included in the study using consecutive sampling technique. Blood sample from all study patients taken and sent for culture to determine bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity against commonly used antibiotics for neonatal sepsis. Bacterial isolates identification was done using standard bacteriological technique performed by modified Kirby & Bauer disc diffuse method as per Clinical and Laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Total 200 cases were studied having neonatal sepsis and admitted in NICU including 58% female and 42% male children. Bacterial growth occurred in 10.5% samples and in 89.5% samples no bacterial growth seen. There were 1% samples with gram positive and 9.5% samples with gram negative bacterial isolates. Klebsiella was the commonest organism isolated in 38.1% cases out of total positive isolates. There were 72.5% neonates having age 1-14 days and 27.5% neonates having age 15-28 days. Conclusion: Gram negative bacteria are common cause of neonatal sepsis, out of which Klebsiella is the commonest organism. Antimicrobial drug resistance in different infections is a serious emerging issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mentha piperita is a hybrid mint, a crossbreed between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species. This study has been undertaken to apply Mentha piperita bio extract on woven cotton textiles for antibacterial finish. With a view to understand the effect of various functional groups present in the herb, molecular characterisation was done using FTIR. Chemical groups responsible for antibacterial behaviour and the chemical structure of this plant were investigated through GCMS. Mentha piperita treated fabric has greater colour depth (K/S) in comparison to original fabric and it increases with increase in concentration. The mordanted fabrics were immersed in the 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% concentration of ethanolic extracted Mentha piperita for five minutes and padded individually in the presence of citric acid. The fabric was then dried at 80 °C for 3 min and cured at 110 °C for 2 min.The fabrics were evaluated for antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria (Escherichia.coli) and gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) by Agar Well Diffusion method. Zone of inhibition of 7 mm to 21 mm was measured for the different treated fabrics against gram negative bacteria (Escherichia.coli) when compared with 5 mm to 18 mm for gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus).Zone of inhibition in treated fabrics reveal that the antibacterial effect is more potent against gram negative bacteria. There is zone of inhibition for both gram negative and gram positive bacteria after 20 washing cycles. However, Mentha piperita treated fabric can retain 42.8–71.4% of its initial antibacterial property even after 20 washing cycles. Cotton fabrics also generate fragrance after treatment. Fragrance intensity ratings of 200 respondents have been documented and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the extraction of juice from Citrus limetta, huge amount of by-products especially peel is generated. The peel contains good amount of phytochemical having many health benefits. The presence of bitter compound in peel limits its application in human foods. This study has been undertaken to apply peel of Citrus limetta bio extract on woven cotton textiles for antibacterial finish. With a view to understand the effect of various functional groups present in the plant, molecular characterisation was done using FTIR. Chemical groups responsible for antibacterial behaviour and the chemical structure of this plant were investigated through GCMS. Citrus limetta treated fabric has greater colour depth (K/S value) at higher concentration in comparison to fabrics treated with lower concentrations. Zone of inhibition in Citrus limetta treated fabrics reveal that it has excellent antibacterial effect against Escherichia.coli and Listeria monocytogeneus bacteria. Cotton fabrics also generate fragrance after treatment with Citrus limetta. Fragrance intensity ratings of 200 respondents have been evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taher Azimi,1,2 Saied Maham,1 Fatemeh Fallah,1 Leila Azimi,1 Zari Gholinejad11Pediatric Infections Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackground: This study evaluates the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profile of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) isolated from clinical specimens in children admitted to Mofid Children’s Hospital.Methods: This was a retrospective study of the patients’ clinical specimens collected from January 2013 until the end of December 2018. All specimens were evaluated to determine the presence of infection-causing agents using a BACTEC 9120 blood culture. Isolation and identification of bacterial strains were performed using conventional biochemical tests. Antibiotic resistance was determined using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Results were interpreted according to CLSI and EUCAST.Results: A total of 1130 different pathogenic bacteria were detected from 14,690 different clinical specimens and the overall detection rate was 7.7% (1130/14,690). Among bacterial pathogen isolated from clinical specimens, 55% (n=622) were GNB and 45% (n=508) were GPB. The predominant GNB isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., respectively. Among GPB, CoNS was the most frequent and Enterococcus spp. was found to have low levels of resistance to linezolid. In GNB, most A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa were ceftriaxone resistant. P. aeruginosa was found to have low levels of resistance to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin.Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the resistance rate among GNB and GPB associated with different infections in children is very high. These results suggest a constant screening and follow-up programs for the detection of antibiotic resistance, and it also suggests to develop antimicrobial stewardship programs in Tehran, Iran.Keywords: Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive , bacteria, bacterial, infection, antimicrobial, resistance, children, Iran

Introduction: Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is a significant human pathogen, involved in both hospital and community associated settings. MSSA, being more susceptible to antibiotics compared to Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is found to acquire Multidrug Resistance (MDR) and with the presence of virulence factors can pose difficulty in patient treatment. Aim: To study the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of MSSA from community and hospital associated infections. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in tertiary care hospital in Mangalore, Karnataka, India from January 2015 to February 2017. Three hundred and five Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from various clinical specimens and tested for methicillin susceptibility using cefoxitin disc. Antibiotic resistance profiles against 23 antibiotics were determined by disc diffusion method. The difference was compared for antibiotic sensitivity with respect to Community Associated Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MSSA) and Hospital Associated Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MSSA) and Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of 305 MSSA isolated, 219 (71.8%) were CA-MSSA and 86 (28.2%) were HA-MSSA. S. aureus was isolated mostly from Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTI, 61.3%). Resistance was observed against ciprofloxacin (64.6%), erythromycin (43.9%), ofloxacin (42.3%), clindamycin (20.7%), ampicillin (100%) and penicillin (90.5%). There was a significant difference (p

The primary purpose of the recent experiment was to scrutinize the dissimilarity between single and multiple exposures by electrotherapeutic modalities to determine the development of Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria spectrum. Bacterial strains employed in this study were Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonae and Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Fluence for Low level laser therapy (LLLT) (810 nm) was 40 J/cm2 for 80 s, for microwave (MWD) a dosage of 100-Watt with duration of 5 min and for magnetic field therapy (MT) duration of 30 min with 100% intensity was used. Repeated Measures of analysis of variances (RANOVA) for within-subject effects was used to detect a global significant change within the means at dissimilar time points. The experiments of within-subjects revealed a significant difference within groups, df of (3, 40), F value of 39.38 and a p value less than 0.001, representing a significant variation between the three groups between pre and post exposures. There was a significant variation between single exposure and multiple exposures in the experimental sample's pre-post between the four groups with df (1, 40) f value of 2943.69 and p value less than 0.001. Scanning and Transmission electron microscopy images were also taken into account to determine the extent of damage caused to the bacterial cells surface topography in Gram negative and Gram positive spectrums. The study demonstrated that single high exposure with the LLLT appears to have the most emphatic effect followed by exposure by MWD and MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibiscus rosa sinensis, known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, rose mallow and shoeblackplant, is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae tribe of the family Malvaceae. The flowers and other parts of the plant are used to make medicine. This paper describes the application of Hibiscus rosa sinensis bio extract on woven cotton textiles for antibacterial finish. With a view to understand the effect of various functional groups present in the plant, molecular characterisation was done using FTIR. Chemical groups responsible for antibacterial behaviour and the chemical structure of this plant were investigated through GCMS. Hibiscus rosa sinensis treated fabric has greater colour depth (K/S value) at higher concentration in comparison to fabrics treated with lower concentrations. Zone of inhibition in treated fabrics reveal that the antibacterial effect is more potent against gram positive bacteria. Cotton fabrics also generate fragrance after treatment with Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Fragrance intensity ratings of 200 respondents have been documented and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global healthcare challenge in the management of bacterial infections, which is frequently attributed to rapid bacterial adaptations. This study aims to develop an antibiogram for a tertiary care hospital, providing comprehensive antibiotic sensitivity profiles for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It informs healthcare providers of antibiotic resistance trends, enabling informed treatment decisions and enhanced infection control measures. Methods We conducted a six-month prospective observational study, during which we gathered and analyzed data from the microbiology laboratory to identify patterns of antimicrobial sensitivity. Subsequently, the data underwent analysis and interpretation using the respected WHONET software, a readily available tool designed for this specific task. Our methodology adhered to the guidelines established by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute for the standardization of antibiogram generation procedures, and these guidelines are easily integrated into the WHONET software for analytical purposes. Results There were a total of 357 isolates across various hospital departments, comprising 13 distinct bacterial species. Among them, nine were identified as Gram-negative bacteria, accounting for 262 (73.3%) isolates. Escherichia coli accounted for 131 (36.6%) isolates, while Klebsiella accounted for 62 (17.3%), emerging as the predominant species among them. The remaining four bacterial species were identified as Gram-positive bacteria, totaling 95 (26.6%) isolates, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most frequently isolated species at 51 (14.2%), followed by Enterococcus at 26 (7.2%). Subsequent analysis using the WHONET software facilitated the creation of an antibiogram. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli displayed high sensitivity (100%) to aztreonam and clindamycin, followed by nitrofurantoin (98%), imipenem (94%), and meropenem (95%). However, it exhibited decreased sensitivity to ampicillin (25%), cefuroxime (34%), and ceftriaxone (39%). Conversely, among the Gram-positive bacteria, S. aureus demonstrated 100% sensitivity to ampicillin, amoxiclav, cefazolin, teicoplanin, linezolid, rifampicin, nitrofurantoin, and cefotaxime. However, it exhibited zero sensitivity to vancomycin and only 6% sensitivity to cotrimoxazole. Conclusion This study advances the understanding of antibiotic susceptibility in a tertiary care setting and provides an invaluable tool for optimizing treatment strategies, enhancing infection control measures, and combating antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, R et al.)

Background The pattern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) changes with time and varies in countries and between hospitals within the same country. Physicians might thus benefit from information on regional resistance patterns of clinically significant bacterial isolates when deciding on the best empirical treatment. Numerous nosocomial infections are caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, notably methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, which are also linked to higher morbidity and death. Aim Evaluation of AMR profile in intensive care unit (ICU) patients of multiple tertiary care centers across India. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective study based on electronic laboratory records of microbial isolates from clinical specimens from ICUs analyzed at microbiology laboratories of identified hospitals. Data of invasive sample records was collected from Microbiology labs of the identified hospitals within India and were aligned to WHO 5 Net standard reporting and as per Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI-2014) Guidelines for assessment. Data from 21556 samples were collected retrospectively from December 2021 to January 2010. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by using both the Kirby Baur disk diffusion method and the automated method (using the Vitek 2 compact system) as per CLSI (2014) guidelines. Results Of 21,556 enrolled patients, the majority (54.12%) were males and adults (62.07%). The median age was 58 years. Of 815 gram-positive bacteria reports, the commonest were S. aureus (552, 67.73%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (107, 13.13%), and Enterococcus spp. (105, 12.88%). For Coagulase-negative Staphylococci-positive samples, resistance was to penicillin (79, 73.83%), and erythromycin (73, 68.22%); and for S. aureus was to ciprofloxacin (361, 65.4%), and erythromycin (315,57.07%). Enterococcus spp. showed maximum resistance to erythromycin (73, 69.52%), followed by ampicillin, ciprofloxacin (68,64.76% each). Of 4,183 gram-negative bacteria reports, the commonest were Klebsiella pneumoniae (1,531, 36.6%), Escherichia coli (1,269, 30.34%), and Acinetobacter spp. (589, 14.08%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (438, 14.08%), other Klebsiella spp. (174, 4.16%) and Enterobacter spp. (161, 3.85%). K. pneumoniae showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (1,001, 65.38%). E. coli showed resistance to ampicillin (918, 72.34%), and ciprofloxacin (798,62.88%); and Acinetobacter spp. to ceftazidime (525, 89.13%), and ciprofloxacin (507, 86.08%), while P. aeruginosa showed resistance to imipenem (234, 53.42%). Enterobacter spp. showed resistance to cefotaxime (129, 80.12%). MRSA samples showed resistance to phenoxymethylpenicillin (188, 35.54%) and benzylpenicillin (178, 33.46%). Conclusion Gram-negative bacteria were more common than gram-positive bacteria in causing antibiotic-resistant infections in ICU, with beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and cephalosporins showing varied percentages of resistance. Fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and penicillin were noted to be highly resistant against gram-positive species. This indicates that evaluation based on MDR and antibiotic consumption patterns is imperative., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Verma et al.)

Pathogenic microorganisms are serious threats in schools, where contact with many microorganisms occur frequently throughout the school day. Classrooms are considered an optimal place for contact between microorganisms and young children. The aim of the current study was to study the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from different sites in primary schools and to show whether schools are sanitized and clean for children or it is just the core reason for their illness. The study was done in a highly standard private school and a public school in order to study the effect of variance in the social classes on the cleanliness of the schools. Different colonies were separated and identified by staining techniques and biochemical tests. Thirteen different types of bacteria with different amounts were isolated from 176 samples collected from different surfaces. It was found that the number of bacteria in public school is higher than that of the private school. The distribution of bacterial strains isolated from the two schools averaged 37.1% for Staphylococcus sp. followed by 11.3% for Enterobacter sp. and then 7.3%, 7.1% and 6.3% for Yersinia sp. Streptococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. respectively. Other strains ranged between 5.9% to 1.5%. Bacterial isolates were tested for their susceptibility by well diffusion test against three commercial disinfectants commonly used for surface and hand cleaning in schools, namely; Clorox, Renol and Dettol. The highest percentage of resistance was seen against Renol (50%) followed by Dettol (38%) and was identified to be Escherichia coli, while least resistance occurring among all isolates was noticed against Clorox (18%). Children in private and public schools are at high risk of catching serious bacterial infections and they are surrounded by a cram of microorganisms. The current research shows that new ways must be developed to improve our schools' hygiene to make it a healthier and safer place to learn in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction: An upper respiratory tract infection which can be either due to increased airway bacterial load or emergence of new bacterial strain is the most common cause of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD). Other factors responsible for exacerbation include viral infections, pollution and other unidentified pathogens. Aim: To evaluate the local pattern of bacterial and fungal isolates from patients diagnosed with AECOPD and forming an antibiogram of the hospital. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 clinically diagnosed cases of AECOPD of age ≥40 years were included in the study. Sputum sample was obtained from the patients and processed according to standard lab procedures. Statistical analysis was done by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-20. The test applied in the current study was modified chi-square used for comparison of proportion to analyse statistical significance for antibiotic sensitivity. The p-value

Background: Group B Streptococcus(GBS) is an encapsulated Gram-positive coccus that is an important cause of infections in adults with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, and neonates. GBS causes a range of clinical syndromes, from asymptomatic colonization to deep-seated invasive and highly lethal infections. Macrophages are important sentinels of innate immunity, protecting host tissues from infection when bacteria advance beyond cutaneous or mucosal barriers. We hypothesized that the capacity for macrophages to phagocytose unopsonized GBS would vary across distinct clinical strains, and such differences would reflect serotype diversity. Methods: A high-throughput screen using the phorbol ester-differentiated THP-1 macrophage-like human cell line was used to quantify phagocytosis of a diverse group of 35 different human clinical isolates of GBS representing a wide variety of capsular serotypes. Validation studies were conducted using human primary phagocytes. Results: Phagocytosis of GBS differed widely across clinical isolates but this was not related to capsular serotype, genetic sequence type, pilus type, or clinical source of the GBS isolate (colonizing or invasive strain). Conclusions: Structural and/or biochemical differences among diverse GBS strains are reflected in a diverse capacity for macrophages to ingest them through non-opsonic phagocytosis. Mechanisms explaining these differences are not clear. Keywords: Neonatal sepsis; innate immunity; macrophages; Gram-positive bacteria; diabetes

Evellyn Claudia Wietzikoski Lovato,1 Patrícia Amaral Gurgel Velasquez,1 Cristiana dos Santos Oliveira,1 Camila Baruffi,1 Thais Anghinoni,1 Raquel Costa Machado,1 Francislaine Aparecida dos Reis Lívero,2 Samantha Wietzikoski Sato,1 Lisiane de Almeida Martins1 1Laboratory of Microbiology of Natural Products, Paranaense University, Umuarama, Brazil; 2Laboratory of Preclinical Research of Natural Products, Paranaense University, Umuarama, Brazil Background: The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has caused bacteria to develop mechanisms of resistance to antibacterial agents, limiting treatment options. Therefore, there is a great need for alternative methods to control infections, especially those related to skin. One of the alternative methods is the high frequency equipment (HFE), which is used on skin conditions as an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, and mainly to accelerate cicatricial processes and have a bactericidal effect through the formation of ozone. This research investigated the antibacterial effect of HFE on standard cultures of bacteria.Materials and methods: Dilutions (104 colony forming unit mL−1) were performed for Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus with 24-hour growth bacteria. Then, 1 μL of each dilution was pipetted into suitable medium and the HFE flashing technique was used at intensities of 6, 8 and 10 mA for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 seconds. The control group received no treatment. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and then read.Results: The spark at intensity of 6 mA had no bactericidal effect on the E. aerogenes; however, a significant bacterial growth reduction occurred at intensity of 8 mA after 120 and 180 seconds, and at 10 mA, reduction in bacterial growth could already be verified at 30 seconds and total bacterial growth inhibition occurred in 180 seconds. For S. aureus, there was a strong bacterial growth inhibition at all intensities used; however, at 6 mA, absence of bacterium growth after 120 and 180 seconds was observed. By increasing the flashing intensity to 8 and 10 mA, it was observed that the bacterium growth was inhibited after only 30 seconds of irradiation.Conclusion: The HFE has time-dependent antibacterial effects against E. aerogenes and S. aureus bacteria that have several resistance mechanisms. Keywords: bactericidal, bacterial viability, gram negative bacteria, gram positive bacteria, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus