Antibiotic Group Research Articles

Determination of Staphylococcus aureus isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility in raw milk

Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk poses a potential risk to public health due to its toxin-producing strains and high levels of antibiotic resistance. In this study, the presence of S. aureus in raw milk and the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolated strains were examined. A total of 100 raw milk samples were analyzed, and S. aureus contamination was detected in 47 samples at various levels. The contamination levels ranged from 2.00 to 4.99 log cfu/ml and 45.9% of the contaminated samples were found to be in 3-4 log cfu/ml range. The minimum inhibitory concentration values for the antibiotics cefoxitin, methicillin, tetracycline, tylosin, florphenicol, neomycin, ciprofloxacin, lincomycin, and polymyxin B were determined using the broth microdilution method to examine the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolated strains. It was determined that 13 (27.6%) of the S. aureus isolates were resistant to all the tested antibiotic groups. Additionally, all isolates were resistant to cefoxitin, methicillin, tylosin, and lincomycin, followed by resistance rates of 95.8% to florphenicol, 89.4% to neomycin, and 87.3% to polymyxin B. Furthermore, all isolates were observed to be multidrug-resistant (MDR). This study indicates that the contamination of raw milk with S. aureus and the antibiotic resistance profile pose a significant public health risk. The fact that all isolates were MDR limits treatment options and complicates infection control. These findings show that the need for stricter hygiene practices in milk production processes and careful management of antibiotic use.

Postoperative prophylactic antibiotics were not associated with decreased surgical site infections following hemilaminectomy in dogs: a retrospective study.

To compare hemilaminectomy surgical site infection (SSI) rates in dogs treated with or without postoperative prophylactic antibiotics. Medical records of 275 client-owned dogs from 1 tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively reviewed for dogs treated with thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disk herniation between 2018 and 2023. Dogs were grouped according to whether they were treated with prophylactic postoperative antibiotics (group A) or not (group B). Relevant case details including dog signalment, duration of anesthetic procedure, method of incision closure, perioperative and prophylactic postoperative antibiotic prescription, and diagnosis of postoperative SSI (as defined by the CDC) were recorded. Wilson binomial CIs were calculated for SSI rates. Surgical site infection rates between dogs given or not given antibiotics were analyzed with a Fisher exact test. The overall SSI rate was 3% (8 of 275; 95% CI, 1% to 6%). The SSI rate in group A was 3% (5 of 147; 95% CI, 1% to 8%), which was not statistically different from the 2% SSI rate (3 of 128; 95% CI, 1% to 7%) in group B (P = .728). There was not a statistical difference in SSI rates between closure methods (intradermal absorbable, 1% [1 of 79]; cutaneous staples, 4% [7 of 184]; cutaneous nylon, 0% [0 of 12]; P = .611). Overall hemilaminectomy SSI rates in this study were low, and prescription of prophylactic antibiotics was not associated with a decreased SSI rate. Practicing antimicrobial stewardship through avoidance of antimicrobial prophylaxis in clean surgical procedures may not be clinically detrimental to outcomes in hemilaminectomy dogs.

More inputs of antibiotics into groundwater but less into rivers as a result of manure management in China

Antibiotics are extensively used in livestock production to prevent and treat diseases, but their environmental impact through contamination of rivers and groundwater is a growing concern. The specific antibiotics involved, their sources, and their geographic distribution remain inadequately documented, hindering effective mitigation strategies for river and groundwater pollution control caused by livestock production. Here we developed and evaluated the spatially explicit MARINA-Antibiotics (China-1.0) model to estimate the flows of 24 antibiotics from seven livestock species into rivers and leaching into groundwater across 395 sub-basins in China, and examine changes between 2010 and 2020. We find that 8364 tonnes and 3436 tonnes of antibiotics entered rivers and groundwater nationwide in 2010 and 2020, respectively. Approximately 50–90% of these amounts originated from about 40% of the basin areas. Antibiotic inputs to rivers decreased by 59% from 2010 to 2020, largely due to reduced manure point sources. Conversely, antibiotic leaching into groundwater increased by 15%, primarily because of enhanced manure recycling practices. Pollution varied by antibiotic groups and livestock species: fluoroquinolones contributed approximately 55% to river pollution, mainly from pig, cattle, and chicken manure; sulfonamides accounted for over 90% of antibiotics in groundwater, predominantly from pig and sheep manure. While our findings support existing policies promoting manure recycling to mitigate river pollution in China, they highlight the need for greater attention to groundwater pollution. This aspect is essential to consider in developing and designing future reduction strategies for antibiotic pollution from livestock production.

Antimicrobial resistance, virulence profiling, and drug repurposing analysis of Staphylococcus aureus from camel mastitis.

Camel mastitis especially caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), is a major risk to animal health and milk production. The current investigation evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors of S. aureus isolates from subclinical mastitis in camels. A total of 384 milk samples were collected and submitted to isolate S. aureus. The S. aureus isolates exhibiting resistance to Penicillin and Cefoxitin disc on Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method were considered as β-lactam resistant S. aureus (BRSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) which were further confirmed by PCR targeting blaZ and mecA genes, respectively. The results showed that S. aureus was found in 57.06% of subclinical (SCM) positive camel milk samples. A high molecular prevalence of BRSA and MRSA were found to be 48.51% and 46.53% respectively depicting that treating these infections is challenging due to their high resistance levels. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a significant resemblance of the study isolates with each other and with already reported sequences from different countries which shows the potential for the spread of pathogen. Virulence profiling of antibiotic resistance strains showed the presence of virulence markers (nuc and coag genes), intercellular adhesion genes (icaA, icaD), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl) gene, and enterotoxin-producing genes including sea, seb, sec, and sed. In-vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that the most resistant antibiotic group was penicillin followed by aminoglycosides and cephalosporins. Drug repurposing analysis of different non-antibiotics for combination therapies with resistant antibiotics was done to combat the S. aureus isolates harboring the mecA and blaZ genes. The results revealed the synergistic effect of amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, and doxycycline with ketoprofen, amikacin with flunixin meglumine, and gentamicin with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against study isolates. The current investigation provides the status of antibiotic-resistant strains and virulence factors of S. aureus in the udder of dromedary camels. The combinational therapy of resistant antibiotics with non-antibiotics provides a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of resistant strains.

Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Gastroenteritis Outcomes in Immunocompetent Children

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes in children older than 3 months with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) gastroenteritis treated with or without empirical antibiotics. Material and Methods: Medical records of all patients aged 3 months to 15 years having experienced their first episode of NTS and treated at Songklanagarind Hospital from January 2007 until December 2021 were reviewed. Results: NTS infections occurred in 18 (8.0%) of 224 patients, with NTS gastroenteritis. Antibiotics were empirically prescribed to 159 (70.9%) patients. The antibiotics group included a significantly higher proportion of patients with a general sick appearance (20.1% vs. 6.3%), bloody diarrhea (56.6% vs. 33.3%), and abdominal pain (12.9% vs. 1.9%) than that in the no-antibiotics group. The antibiotics group seemed to have a shorter median (interquartile range [IQR]) duration of bloody diarrhea (3.0 [1.3–4.8] vs. 4.5 (3.0–6.5) days, p-value=0.051), but similar duration for fever (3.0 [1.0–4.0] vs. 3.0 [1.3–5.0] days, p-value=0.566) compared to that for the no-antibiotics group. In multivariate analysis, children with underlying diseases (extravascular hemolytic anemia and/or abnormal kidney and urinary bladder system), fever duration >5 days by the first visit, and white blood cell (WBC) count >15,000 cells/mm3 were at risk of iNTS infections, with an odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 7.96 (1.70, 37.30), 7.75 (1.74, 34.46), and 8.69 (2.39, 31.55), respectively. Conclusion: Patients aged 3-36 months with NTS gastroenteritis having an underlying disease, fever duration >5 days, and/or WBC count >15,000 cells/mm3 should be treated with empirical antibiotics while waiting for hemoculture.

Antibiotic use at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Zone d'Abomey Calavi/Sô-Ava (CHUZ/AS) in Benin: a point prevalence survey.

Antimicrobial stewardship promotes the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the use of antibiotics using a point prevalence survey at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Zone d'Abomey Calavi/Sô-Ava (CHUZ/AS) in Benin. This cross-sectional study utilized the WHO point prevalence survey methodology for monitoring antibiotic use among inpatients in hospitals. The survey was conducted from 11 January 2022 to 19 January 2022 among hospitalized patients before 8:00 a.m. on the day of the survey. Of the 111 inpatient medical files reviewed, the prevalence of antibiotic use was 82.9%. The number of antibiotics received per patient ranged from 1 to 5, with a mean of 2.45 ± 1.11 and a median of 2. The most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics was beta-lactams (46.7%), aminoglycosides (20.6%) and nitroimidazoles (19.7%). According to the WHO AWaRe classification, 30.4% of inpatients received the Access group of antibiotics and 44% received a combination of Access and Watch group antibiotics; treatment was empiric in 94.5% of encounters. Only 22.7% of patients were treated based on microbiological examination/culture and sensitivity testing. This study found a high prevalence of antibiotic use among inpatients at the CHUZ/AS Tertiary Care Hospital in Benin. The most prescribed antibiotics were ampicillin, metronidazole and ceftriaxone. Consequently, the study found a low use of culture and sensitivity testing to guide treatment, particularly in the paediatric and surgical population, and the preference for broad-spectrum antibiotics suggests that antibiotic use at the CHUZ/AS Tertiary Care is not optimal. Therefore, antimicrobial stewardship programmes, policies and guidelines must be instigated and strengthened to address these gaps and promote rational use of antibiotics.

Biochemical and molecular genetic identification of the bacterial pathogen - Aeromonas bestiarum from a diseased Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The article presents the results of isolation and identification of the bacterium Aeromonas bestiarum from diseased individuals of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) reared in recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). As a result of biochemical studies, the isolated strain A. bestiarum AB002 is characterized as: a Gram-negative, non-motile oxidase-positive bacillus capable of growing in a wide temperature range from 13 to 42 ºC. In addition, strain AB002 is characterized by the hydrolysis of gelatin and esculin, forming H2S and indole, and exhibits arginine dihydrolase activity. The analysis of bacterial resistance to antibiotics revealed that strain AB002 is resistant to multiple groups of antibiotics, including Penicillins (Oxacillin, Penicillin G, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin); Cephalosporins (Cefazolin); Macrolides (Erythromycin); Lincomycins (Lincomycin); Rifamycins (Rifampicin); Coumarins (Novobiocin). The analysis of virulence factors revealed that the pathogenic strain A. bestiarum AB002 is characterized by the presence of 6 virulence genes out of 10 studied, among which lipase (pla), cytotonic enterotoxin (alt), serine protease (ahe2), DNAase (nucl), cholesterol acyltransferase (gcaT), aerolysin (aerA) were identified.

Reevaluating the Need for Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Adult Upper Extremity Surgery With Hardware.

Although it is well established that antibiotic prophylaxis is not needed in soft tissue upper extremity cases, there is still no definitive consensus when hardware implantation is involved. We hypothesize that antibiotic prophylaxis is not necessary and there is no difference in postoperative surgical site infection rates regardless of preoperative antibiotic administration. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on upper extremity surgical cases with hardware implantation performed at a single institution amongst 5 hand surgeons between November 2021 and November 2023. Implants included plates, screws, Kirschner wires, and suture anchors. Primary outcome measures were diagnosis of surgical site infection by 14 and 30 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the type of management used to treat infection. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher exact test, and continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A total of 232 patients were included for analysis-152 received antibiotic prophylaxis and 80 did not. There were no differences between the 2 groups in terms of demographic factors, comorbidities, or smoking status. There was no difference in infection rates between the group who received antibiotic prophylaxis and the group who did not. Infection rate in the antibiotic prophylaxis group was 4.6% and in the sans antibiotics group was 2.5%. All infections were treated with antibiotics, and there were no differences in the rates of operative washout and hardware removal between the 2 groups. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not necessary in upper extremity surgical cases even when implantation of hardware is involved.

Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Among the WHO's AWaRe Classified Antibiotics Used to Treat Urinary Tract Infections in Diabetic Women.

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women, often leading to recurrent antibiotic treatments. Frequent antibiotic use for UTIs can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical public health threat that increases treatment failure. This study investigated the prevalence of AMR and its associated factors among women with UTIs, comparing those with and without diabetes. Results: The study population had a mean age of 52 years (SD = 23) for the women without diabetes and 68 years (SD = 14) for those with diabetes. Resistance was highest for cefazolin and levofloxacin in the Access and Watch antibiotic groups, while ciprofloxacin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. AMR prevalence was 35.7% among the women with diabetes and 21.3% among those without. After adjustment, AMR was significantly associated with both uncomplicated diabetes (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.21) and complicated diabetes (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.45-1.64), as well as with higher numbers of prescribed antibiotics (OR 277.39, 95% CI 253.79-303.17). Methods: Using a cross-sectional cohort from the Physionet database, we analyzed data on 116,902 female participants treated for UTIs, including their antibiotic exposure, diabetes status, comorbidities, and hospital admission details. Antimicrobials were classified per the WHO's AWaRe criteria. The primary outcome was AMR identified in urine cultures, and the association with diabetes status was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for focused antimicrobial stewardship in women with diabetes to reduce the AMR rates in this vulnerable group.

High Prevalence of Transferable Integron-Associated Drug Resistance in Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Blood Cultures in a University Hospital in xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the the presence of transferable integron-associated drug resistance in Escherichia coli strains isolated from the blood cultures of patients with various infections at the Research and Application Center (………Hospital) of …………….., …………….., ……………... Methods: The presence of integrons was determined by integron-specific polymerase chain reactions, and the amplicons were analyzed by DNA sequencing. Plasmid transfer assays were carried out by the broth mating method. The clonal relationship of integron-containing strains was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: Resistance rates to the antibiotic groups used were between 0.9% to 63%. Thirty-eight (34,2%) strains contained class 1 integrons carrying dfrA7, dfr17-aadA5, dfrV, dfrA1-aadA1, and dfrA12-aadA2 gene cassette arrays. Seven (6,3%) strains contained class 2 integrons having dfrA1-sat2-aadA1 and dfrA1-sat2-aadA30 gene cassette arrays. Twenty-two conjugative resistance plasmids were harbored in integron-carrying isolates, and three of them were found to be in the IncN group. Four strains carrying class 1 integrons which were isolated from different clinics showed clonally similar patterns in PFGE analysis. Conclusion: We conclude that about 50% E. coli isolates in our hospital carry integron-associated transferable drug resistance, and may play a crucial role in horizontal dissemination. Further molecular epidemiological investigations are required in regard to explaining the relationship between the carriage of integrons in E. coli strains of blood origin in this hospital as well as countrywide.

Efficacy of adjunctive systemic or local antibiotic therapy in peri-implantitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis considered the results of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of systemic or local antibiotic therapy in peri-implantitis. Two independent authors screened publications from three electronic databases to include RCTs meeting all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the weighted mean differences in survival rate (SR) and changes in pocket probing depth (PPD), bone level (BL), and clinical attachment level (CAL). The study cohorts were defined as antibiotic and control groups with subgroups for analysis. Seven studies including 309 patients (390 implants) were considered. Within the limitations of this review, patients in the antibiotic groups exhibited significant improvements in PPD. Subgroup analysis indicated that the administration of systemic antibiotics or the use of antibiotics in non-surgical treatments did not result in a significant alteration in BL. It was established that the addition of antibiotics can ameliorate PPD and SR in the treatment of peri-implantitis, whether through surgical or non-surgical approaches, and also shows moderate performance regarding BL and CAL. Considering the lack of application of new technologies in the control group and the hardship of assessing the potential risks of antibiotics, careful clinical judgment is still necessary.

What is the science underpinning the prescription of antibiotics in dentistry?

A critical review on the use of antimicrobials in dentistry. To provide a general overview of the use of antimicrobials in dentistry. The paper was divided into different topics, starting with an approach to understanding both commensal and pathogenic oral microbiota. Subsequently, emphasis was placed on the main categories of antibiotics used in dentistry (β-lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, nitroimidazoles and quinolones), and the basis for their prescription. Finally, the implications between systemic diseases and the use of orally-administered antibiotics are presented. The study suggests that an adequate medical history can minimize the risk of systemic adverse effects, unwanted drug interactions, and allergies related to the use of antibiotics. In this regard, when facing a potential history of allergy to a particular group of antibiotics, the prescription of a different group is mandatory. In most indications, β-lactam antibiotics represent the first-choice in dentistry. Moreover, a short-term prescription of antibiotics when treating acute oral infections is recommended. The use should be extended for 2 to 3 days following the resolution of the infection, with an average duration of 6 days in order to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. Oral infections should be managed with interventions aiming at the elimination/reduction of the associated pathogens. Furthermore, inadequate prescription of antibiotics can lead to potential risks to the patient such as allergy, adverse effects, and development of microbial resistance.

Evaluation of antibiotic consumption using WHO -antimicrobial consumption tool and AWaRe classification.

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern with global ramifications. Antibiotic misuse and overuse, are rampant in our country but more alarming is the data on the use of antibiotics primarily because of lack of access is another threat. A majority of the data on drug sales and consumption in India comes from the private sector and is typically gathered from private commercial organization. Because data on antibiotic usage in India is rarely reported, the study's objectives were to estimate antibiotic consumption in ICU patients and also to assess antibiotic usage trends using the WHO AWaRE classification. A prospective observational study was carried out in the ICU department for six months after obtaining institutional ethics committee approval (P14/2021/14). In-patient records and details on antibiotic prescriptions were collected from the day of admission until they were discharged from the intensive care unit. Data on antibiotic consumption were retrieved from the hospital pharmacy. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and means were used to summarize the data. Microsoft Excel 2016 was used for all statistical analyses. The results of the study showed that female patients (54%), made up a significant majority of those receiving antimicrobial treatment. The age group between 40-49 years (21.68%) was the most common for those receiving antimicrobial treatment. Surgical prophylaxis (37.34%) emerged as the most common indication. Among the different antimicrobials studied, ceftriaxone 1 gm (108.5 DDD) emerged as the most prescribed antimicrobial. The access group of antibiotics accounted for 55% of the total usage. Appropriate use of antibiotics is important to minimize the risk of adverse events and antimicrobial resistance.

Analysis of spontaneous reports from a pediatric population: Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by antibacterial drugs

Relevance. Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions that can be induced by drugs and are particularly severe in children.Objective. To study the structure of antibacterial drugs (ABs) involved in the development of SJS and TEN in pediatric populations.Methods. Retrospective pharmacoepidemiologic study of spontaneous reports (SRs) entered into the Russian National Pharmacovigilance database during the period 01.04.2019 – 31.12.2023.Results. The majority of suspected drugs were β-lactams (76.0%), with penicillin accounting for 47.4% and cephalosporins — for 52.6%. Amphenicols (12.0%), macrolides (8.0%), and fluoroquinolones (4.0%) were less frequently reported.Conclusion. The most common group of ABs that induce SJS and TEN in children is the group of β-lactam antibiotics.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of administration of intravenous antimicrobial medicines among intensive care nurses: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Background. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has become integral to healthcare. In the case of antimicrobial medicines, nurses are responsible for preparing medication, and ensuring its correct and safe administration. Objective. To describe intensive care nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of intravenous antimicrobial infusion administration in the context of access to AMS teaching. Method. Convenience sampling was conducted of all 161 bedside nurses working in three general intensive care units. The nursing unit manager from each unit was requested to provide information detailing unit demographics and AMS activity within the unit (e.g. existence of AMS; nurse inclusion on the AMS team; frequency of AMS rounds; availability of AMS policies, protocols or guidelines; and training on the administration of intravenous antimicrobial medicines). Results. Intensive care nursing management reported cessation of AMS programmes in all three units during COVID-19, with minimal activity in one intensive care unit even before the onset of the pandemic. Responses from bedside nurses emphasised the unavailability of in-service AMS teaching in the units (46.4%). Questions on antibiotic groups scored poorly (55.7%). Respondents (63.8%) indicated that the hospital intravenous antibiotic policy was useful but 21.7% reported that they had never seen this policy in their unit. Opportunities for training on intravenous administration of antimicrobial medications were provided on induction to the hospital (14.5%), or in-service (30.4%) by the clinical facilitators (34.8%), or by doctors (24.6%). Fifty-one percent of respondents reported administering antibiotics through a dedicated antibiotic infusion line. Forty-five percent of respondents used a non-dedicated line, and 56.5% of respondents flushed the line between doses. Conclusion. Results suggest inadequate training. This, coupled with the evident poor access to policies and protocols, may adversely affect nurse knowledge of principles to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Efficacy of Antibiotic Therapy Alone Versus Antibiotics With Percutaneous Drainage in Periappendiceal Abscess: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Simple appendicitis can be a complicated periappendiceal abscess. Despite the fact that there are several treatment options for periappendiceal abscesses, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment method; some surgeons prefer appendectomy, while others prefer relying on non-operative approaches using antibiotic therapy with or without percutaneous drainage. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of antibiotics-only therapy to antibiotics plus percutaneous drainage in the management of periappendicular abscess.An electronic database and clinical trial register search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane libraries. After the removal of duplicate records, the studies went through a screening process to determine their eligibility. A meta-analysis was performed for the length of hospital stay and treatment success rate for the comparison groups (antibiotics-only and antibiotics plus percutaneous drainage), in which the mean difference with a 95% confidence interval, and odds ratio using the Mantel-Haenszel method were calculated. The heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 value. Four studies were included in the review and the meta-analysis. Most of the included studies had a retrospective design with the exception of one study, which was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 1,422 patients were included in the four studies; the majority of them (1192, 83.8%) received antibiotics only for the treatment of periappendiceal abscesses, while the rest (230, 16.2%) had percutaneous drainage plus antibiotic therapy. Patients in the antibiotics-only grouphad a statistically significant mean difference of 2.77 (confidence interval (CI): 3.99-1.55) days of hospital stay less than the percutaneous drainage plus antibiotics group, with a P-value of <0.001. Moreover, they had an average odds ratio of 0.51 (CI: 0.08-3.27) of having more treatment success than the percutaneous drainage plus antibiotics group. However, this was not statistically significant, with a P-value of 0.47. In conclusion, antibiotics-only therapy had a slightly higher odds ratio in terms of treatment success, but this was not statistically significant. In addition, patients in the antibiotics-only group had a decreased length of hospital stay. On the other hand, patients in the antibiotics plus percutaneous drainage group had lower rates of recurrence and required fewer interval appendectomies. More well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to further solidify the evidence.

Dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoter on live performance, carcass traits, physical meat quality, and health status of broiler chickens

This study investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (MLE) in broiler diets on growth performance, carcase characteristics, physical meat quality, haematological parameters, and caecal bacterial counts. A total of 144 Arbour Acres broilers were randomly assigned into 3 experimental groups (eight replicates having six chicks), naming control (received a basal diet with fresh drinking water), antibiotic (75 mg chlortetracycline/L of drinking water), and MLE (50 ml Moringa oleifera leaf extracts/L of drinking water). The MLE group had the highest average daily gain, final body weight, and lower feed conversion ratio than both control and antibiotic groups. Overall, the MLE treatment significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the broiler’s feed consumption. Although, MLE lowered abdominal fat, other visceral organ and carcase traits showed no variations. The pH value of the breast muscle at 24 h in the MLE group was higher compared to the control and antibiotic groups. Additionally, the cooking loss % and drip loss % at 24 h and on day 7 were the lowest in the MLE group. The haemoglobin and red blood cell levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05), and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the MLE group than the control and antibiotic groups. Broilers in the MLE group had lower E. coli as well as total aerobic counts compared to the control-fed group. In conclusion, MLE at 50 mL/L of drinking water can be a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters for enhancing broilers’ growth, health and meat quality.

A phenotypic study of the resistome in a peri-urban ecosystem

Since the discovery of antibiotics, the dispersion of resistance genes has increased exponentially, leading to the current state in which it has become increasingly difficult to achieve an effective treatment for infectious diseases. The enormous capacity for genetic exchange between microorganisms is causing resistance genes to be able to reach all environments, even those where there is no anthropogenic impact or exposure to these drugs. In this work, a phenotypic study of the resistome has been conducted in a peri-urban ecosystem (Granada, Spain), wherein the resistance to 32 antibiotics of 710 bacterial strains isolated from 70 samples from different ecological niches with varying levels of exposure to antibiotics and anthropic action has been determined. The study of resistances using phenotypic procedures constitutes a very useful and complementary alternative to genomic methods. The obtained results show a high percentage of resistance in all the subsystems analysed, stating high multi-resistance profiles. Vancomycin and erythromycin were the antibiotics to which the highest levels of resistance were observed, whereas the lowest levels were obtained in chloramphenicol. Regarding the environments studied, the highest percentages of resistance were found in wastewater, farms and food. It should be noted that in natural soil samples (not exposed to antibiotics or anthropogenic activities), worrying levels of resistance to practically all the groups of antibiotics analysed were detected. These results support the generally accepted conclusion that an appropriate control and management of wastewater and solid waste that may contain antibiotics or resistant bacteria is really important to prevent the wide propagation of the resistome in the environment.

Effects of dietary Brassica rapa L. polysaccharide on growth performance, immune and antioxidant functions and intestinal flora of yellow-feathered quail

This study aimed to explore the impact of Brassica rapa L. polysaccharides (BRP) on the growth, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered quails. A total of 250 one-day-old yellow-feathered quails, evenly divided by sex, were randomly assigned to five groups, with each group comprising ten replicates of five quails each. The control group (CON) received a basic diet, while the antibiotic control group (CTC) was fed a basic diet supplemented with chlortetracycline (0.05 g/kg). BRP was administered at concentrations of 0.25 g/kg (Low dose BRP, LBRP), 0.5 g/kg (Medium dose BRP, MBRP), and 1 g/kg (High dose BRP, HBRP). The duration of the experiment was 42 days. The results indicated that, compared to the CON group, the final body weight of quails in the MBRP group significantly increased (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in body weight between the LBRP group and the CTC group (P < 0.05). At 21 days of age, the average weights of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius in the MBRP group were significantly greater than those in the CON group (P < 0.05), with no significant difference observed when compared to the CTC group (P > 0.05); at 42 days of age, the average weight of the thymus in the MBRP group was significantly greater than that in the CON group (P < 0.05), with no significant difference observed compared to the CTC group (P > 0.05). At 21 days of age, the levels of IgA and IgG in the MBRP group were significantly elevated compared to the CON group (P < 0.05), with no significant difference noted compared to the CTC group (P > 0.05). Additionally, the MBRP group showed significant increases in CAT, T-SOD, and GSH-Px levels (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group; the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the level of IL-10 was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that BRP supplementation increased the populations of beneficial cecal bacteria such as Lactococcus, Weissella, Parabacteroides, and norank_f_Ruminococcaceae, and decreased the population of the harmful bacterium Campylobacter, indicating that BRP modulates the microbial community structure in the cecum of yellow-feathered quails. In summary, BRP enhanced the growth performance, serum immunoglobulin levels, antioxidant functions, and improved the intestinal microbiota in yellow-feathered quails.

Unusual Antibacterial Property and Selectivity Enabled by Tuning Nanozyme Activities of L-Arginine Derived Carbon Dots.

Functional integration of antimicrobial activity and cell proliferation promotion at low concentrations is important for the clinical application of carbon dots (CDs). In this study, the precursor, L-arginine, and dopant, copper salt, are used to prepare copper-doped CDs (Cu-CDs). Owing to their excellent synergistic enzyme-like activities, Cu-CDs can rapidly increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) to lethal levels, preferentially in bacteria, and exhibit potent antibacterial ability, which can mainly be attributed to the membrane disruption effect. Concurrently, the cell proliferation-promoting activity of arginine-derived CDs is inherited. The Cu-CDs achieve perfect integration of dual functions at low concentrations, especially advantageous for applications. With as little as 100µgmL-1 of Cu-CDs, the infected wound heals obviously faster than 2mgmL-1 of antibiotic, although the traditional antibiotic group shows slightly better antibacterial efficiency, suggesting its effect in simultaneously scavenging bacteria and promoting tissue repair effect in vivo. The super selective mechanism probably originates from the endocytosis of Cu-CDs by mammalian cells, while superoxide dismutase down-regulates ROS levels in cells to act as a mitotic signaling agent for promoting cell growth. This strategy provides an efficient, convenient, and safe solution to combat bacterial infections, and suggests a novel approach for modifying antimicrobial biomaterials.