Antibiotic-resistant Bacterial Strains Research Articles

Antimicrobial Resistance and ARGs Detection in Treated Final Effluent from STPs: An Upcoming Challenge to the Environment

Aim: The present study analysed the presence of antimicrobial resistance organisms and genes in the final effluent from STPs of hospitals. Study Area and Sampling: Samples for microbiological analysis were collected from two different hospitals in Trivandrum City and carried out further microbiological analysis. Methodology: In this study, MDRB (Multi Drug Resiatant Bacteria) were detected from the hospital effluent samples collected from two hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility analysis showed that the 90% screened organisms was resistant to different antibiotics -Tetracycline (30µg), Amikacin (30µg), Gentamycin (10µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Colistin (10µg) and Amoxicillin (30µg)). Metagenomic surveillance of effluent helped to assess the efficacy of STPs, at the same time assessing the local clinical antibiotic resistance condition by detection of the presence of antimicrobial resistance towards antibiotics and their genes (ARGs) in the hospital effluent. Results: In this study, a total of 3 antibiotic resistant bacterial strains obtained from hospital STP effluent were identified by16S rRNA sequence analysis. The sequences of E.coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter were submitted in Genbank with accession number MT784125, OM978270 andMN437586 respectively.The final effluent from Hospital 1 showed100% resistance to Tetracycline and 86% resistance to Amoxicillin followed by sensitivity 28%, 22%, 18% and 10% respectively to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin, Amikacin and Colistin. The bacterial strains isolated from final effluent of Hospital 2 showed highest resistance to Amikacin and Colistin which is 100% and 86% and 82% resistance to Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin. The gene primers used for the respective genes above have been amplified in the sample with a higher efficiency of 16 SrRNA, ermB and ampC primers showing a lower Cq value. Thus, these three genes were detected in the samples at high amount which showed the prominent use of the consecutive antibiotics in the clinical field

Unmasking Bacterial Identities: Exploiting Silver Nanoparticle 'Masks' for Enhanced Raman Scattering in the Rapid Discrimination of Diverse Bacterial Species and Antibiotic-Resistant Strains.

Unraveling bacterial identity through Raman scattering techniques has been persistently challenging due to homogeneously amplified Raman signals across a wide variety of bacterial molecules, predominantly protein- or nucleic acid-mediated. In this study, we present an approach involving the use of silver nanoparticles to completely and uniformly "mask" adsorption on the surface of bacterial molecules through sodium borohydride and sodium chloride. This approach enables the acquisition of enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals from all components on the bacterial surface, facilitating rapid, specific, and label-free bacterial identification. For the first time, we have characterized the identity of a bacterium, including its DNA, metabolites, and cell walls, enabling the accurate differentiation of various bacterial strains, even within the same species. In addition, we embarked on an exploration of the origin and variability patterns of the main characteristic peaks of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Significantly, the SERS peak ratio was found to determine the inflection point of accelerated bacterial death upon treatment with antimicrobials. We further applied this platform to identify 15 unique clinical antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, including five Escherichia coli strains in human urine, a first for Raman technology. This work has profound implications for prompt and accurate identification of bacteria, particularly antibiotic-resistant strains, thereby significantly enhancing clinical diagnostics and antimicrobial treatment strategies.

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY OF STUDENT HOSTELS AND CANTEENS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: RISKS ON STUDENTS’ HEALTH

Microbial air contaminants affect the quality of air we breathe and these microbial air contaminants can settle on body parts, clothes, food etc. which poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the level of bacterial contamination in various in-door air of the students’ hostels and canteens of Kaduna State University (KASU) and their antibiotics susceptibility patterns was studied. A total of 44 samples were collected from the rooms (18), toilets (18) of the students hostels and canteen (8) of KASU; using the settle plate method. Gram staining and standard biochemical methods were used to identify the bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility testing was determined by disc diffusion method. The bacteria load was between 1.2 x 103 to 6.7 x 103 cfu/ml3. A total of 30 bacteria isolates were identified, Staphylococcus aureus had the highest (9, 30%) occurrence, followed by Streptococcus spp (6, 20%), Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium spp had similar (4, 13.2%) occurrence, The antibiotic susceptibility testing carried out revealed that the Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria isolates were more susceptible to vancomycin (75%, 43.5%), tetracycline (75%, 47.8%) and gentamicin (50%, 43.5%) while high resistance was observed with chloramphenicol (100%, 73.9%), ceftriaxone (100%, 100%), cefoxitin (100%, 73.9%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (100%, 87%), and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (100%, 78%). All the indoor samples were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and there was high level of multidrug resistance. This is very dangerous to the students’ health because it can be a source of transmission infections and antibiotic resistant bacterial strains.

Unleashing the promise of emerging nanomaterials as a sustainable platform to mitigate antimicrobial resistance.

The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacterial strains and biofilm-associated diseases have heightened concerns about exploring alternative bactericidal methods. The WHO estimates that at least 700 000 deaths yearly are attributable to antimicrobial resistance, and that number could increase to 10 million annual deaths by 2050 if appropriate measures are not taken. Therefore, the increasing threat of AR bacteria and biofilm-related infections has created an urgent demand for scientific research to identify novel antimicrobial therapies. Nanomaterials (NMs) have emerged as a promising alternative due to their unique physicochemical properties, and ongoing research holds great promise for developing effective NMs-based treatments for bacterial and viral infections. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of NMs based mechanisms combat bacterial infections, particularly those caused by acquired antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, this review examines NMs design features and attributes that can be optimized to enhance their efficacy as antimicrobial agents. In addition, plant-based NMs have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections due to their reduced toxicity compared to other NMs. The potential of plant mediated NMs for preventing AR is also discussed. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of understanding the properties and mechanisms of NMs for the development of effective strategies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Expression of Syo_1.56 SARP Regulator Unveils Potent Elasnin Derivatives with Antibacterial Activity.

Actinomycetes are prolific producers of natural products, particularly antibiotics. However, a significant proportion of its biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) remain silent under typical laboratory conditions. This limits the effectiveness of conventional isolation methods for the discovery of novel natural products. Genetic interventions targeting the activation of silent gene clusters are necessary to address this challenge. Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARPs) act as cluster-specific activators and can be used to target silent BGCs for the discovery of new antibiotics. In this study, the expression of a previously uncharacterized SARP protein, Syo_1.56, in Streptomyces sp. RK18-A0406 significantly enhanced the production of known antimycins and led to the discovery of 12 elasnins (1-12), 10 of which were novel. The absolute stereochemistry of elasnin A1 was assigned for the first time to be 6S. Unexpectedly, Syo_1.56 seems to function as a pleiotropic rather than cluster-specific SARP regulator, with the capability of co-regulating two distinct biosynthetic pathways, simultaneously. All isolated elasnins were active against wild-type and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with IC50 values of 0.5-20 μg/mL, some of which (elasnins A1, B2, and C1 and proelasnins A1, and C1) demonstrated moderate to strong antimalarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. Elasnins A1, B3, and C1 also showed in vitro inhibition of the metallo-β-lactamase responsible for the development of highly antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.

Synthesis of a tetralone derivative of ampicillin to control ampicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus

Due to the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistant new bacterial strains and new infections, there is an urgent need for novel or newly modified and efficient alternatives of treatment. However, conventional antibiotics are still used in therapeutic settings but their efficacy is uncertain due to the rapid evolution of drug resistance. In the present study, we have synthesized a new derivative of conventional antibiotic ampicillin using SN2-type substitution reaction. NMR and mass analysis of the newly synthesized derivative of ampicillin confirmed it as ampicillin-bromo-methoxy-tetralone (ABMT). Importantly, ABMT is revealed to have efficient activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with a MIC value of 32 μg ml−1 while ampicillin was not effective, even at 64 μg ml−1 of concentration. Electron microscopy results confirmed the membrane-specific killing of S. aureus at 1 h of treatment. Additionally, molecular docking analysis revealed a strong binding affinity of ABMT with β-lactamase via the formation of a closed compact bridge. Our findings, avail a new derivative of ampicillin that could be a potential alternative to fight ampicillin-resistant bacteria possibly by neutralizing the β-lactamase action.

Bacteriophage therapy: An introduction and revitalized therapy for <i>Klebsiella spp</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> infections

We are living in a microbial world and microbes like bacteria are affecting our lives in positive and also negative ways they are commensals in our bodies they play key roles in sustaining our environments and they are causing diseases. Bacteriophage therapy once considered a promising alternative to antibiotics is now being revitalized as a potential treatment for infections caused by Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In recent years the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a major concern in healthcare settings. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains have emerged as a result of antibiotic abuse making it more and more difficult to treat illnesses. Bacteriophages that specifically target and infect bacteria offer a potential solution to combat these drug-resistant infections. This review article provides an introduction to bacteriophage therapy and highlights its potential use in treating infections caused by Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The article addresses the urgent need for alternative strategies to antibiotics and explores the use of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents.

Florfenicol removal from veterinary pharmaceutical effluents: Tri-metallic zeolite 5A° for electrochemical oxidation and catalytic ceramic membrane separation

Contaminants of emerging concern, including pharmaceuticals, are commonly found in wastewater from households, farms, and healthcare facilities. When active pharmaceutical ingredients enter water sources, they contaminate the waterways and cause potential hazard effects on the aquatic environment and human populations. This concern is especially critical with antibiotics, due to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. However, Florfenicol, a bacteriostatic antibiotic widely used in veterinary medicine, poses a significant risk of water pollution when discharged into waterways. In the present study and its practical application, removal of targeted pollutant namely antibiotic florfenicol by ozonation was investigated by measuring chemical oxidation demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and turbidity for pharmaceutical wastewater in the batch reactor, while optimizing feeding electro flocculation voltage, O3 flow rate, O3 dosage and ceramic membrane filtration. Due to the production of hydroxyl radicals with strong oxidation properties, pollutants in wastewater can be effectively degraded via heterogeneous catalytic ozonation. It was examined whether the regenerated catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity after three cycles of washing with Milli-Q water and ethanol. The results show that the effluent concentration of antibiotic Florfenicol is about 99% alongside residual values for 91%, 79%, and 89% for COD, BOD, and turbidity, respectively (Time: 30 min, pH: 7.5). Meanwhile, the wastewater's degradability capacity (BOD5/COD ratio) increased from 0.37 to 0.53, rendering it more readily biodegradable for further treatment. These results indicate that the process of hybrid electro flocculation and catalytic ozonation with ceramic membrane has a high treatment efficiency for veterinary antibiotics, and a continuous-flow reactor can be utilized more practically for a full-scale industrial application.

Synergistic antibacterial activity and inhibition of TiO2 nanotube arrays and loaded antibiotics against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria

Introduction: Implantable medical devices continue to be vulnerable to bacterial infections. The unrelenting formation of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains not only exacerbates these infections but also renders the current treatment strategies impotent. The need is greater than ever for innovative and effective approaches to counteract drug-resistant bacteria. This study examines the innate antibacterial properties of TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) and their ability to locally deliver antibiotics to inactivate gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, in vitro.Methods: Using a two-step electrochemical anodization process, TNAs with a diameter of ∼100 nm and a length of ∼5 µm were grown on titanium substrates.Results and Discussion: After 24 h of incubation, as-fabricated TNAs showed 100% clearance of Escherichia coli, and 97% clearance of Staphylococcus aureus growth. The antibiotic-loaded TNAs demonstrated sustained slow-release of cefotaxime and imipenem measured over 14 days. In vitro bacterial studies revealed the capability of cefotaxime- and imipenem-loaded TNAs in completely inhibiting the growth with 100% clearance of Klebsiella pneumoniae after 24 and 48 h of incubation. Bacterial inhibition assay revealed a significantly enlarged inhibition zone difference of 18 mm around the imipenem-loaded TNAs against K. pneumoniae compared to the as-fabricated TNAs which was maintained for 7 days with ∼10 μgmL−1 of antibiotic released from the TNAs which was found to be lower than the dose required to completely eradicate multidrug resistant bacteria when used in conjunction with the antibacterial TNAs. The results of our study highlight the potential of TNAs as a versatile platform for addressing treatment strategies related to bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance in implantable medical devices.

Dual Role Of Streptomyces Strains: Reduction of Aeromonas Counts In Both Culture Water And The Intestine, And Growth Enhancement of Discus Fish (Symphysodon sp.)

Discus fish (Symphysodon sp.) brings the largest export turnover to the ornamental fish industry in Vietnam. The intensive farming of discus fish to meet export market demand leads to a higher risk of bacterial disease, with Aeromonas being the main infectious agent. Continuous antibiotic use exerts selective pressure, fostering the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains capable of causing diseases in fish. Streptomyces sp. considered as probiotics with the role of replacing antibiotics in applications such as promoting growth, improving survival rates, and controlling pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture. The primary objective of this study was to assess the influence of Streptomyces sp. on the growth performance, and Aeromonas density in intestine of discus fish and in culture water. Discus fish fed diets containing Streptomyces sp. TM1, TM7, and TM22 showed significantly higher growth parameters (45.24 - 58.72% of final body weight - FBW, 14.8 - 16.66% of final body length -FBL, 16.03 – 20.87 % of specific growth rate of weight – SGRW, 10.79 - 12.05 % of specific growth rate of length – SGRL, and 41.48 – 46.54 % of feed conversion ratio – FCR) compared to the control. Additionally, total Aeromonas densities of the fish treated with TM1, TM7, and TM22 showed a notable decrease compared to the control treatment in the rearing water with log CFU/ml values of 4.517 (Control), 2.554 (TM1), 2.571 (TM7), 2.222 (TM22) and in the intestines of fish with log CFU/g values of 5.597 (Control), 3.828 (TM1), 3.806 (TM7), 3.648 (TM22). Streptomyces sp. TM1, TM7, and TM22 could decreased total Aeromonas count in the gut of discus fish and in the rearing water, and boost the growth performance of discus fish (Symphysodon sp.).

Triple threat: how diabetes results in worsened bacterial infections.

Diabetes mellitus, characterized by impaired insulin signaling, is associated with increased incidence and severity of infections. Various diabetes-related complications contribute to exacerbated bacterial infections, including hyperglycemia, innate immune cell dysfunction, and infection with antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. One defining symptom of diabetes is hyperglycemia, resulting in elevated blood and tissue glucose concentrations. Glucose is the preferred carbon source of several bacterial pathogens, and hyperglycemia escalates bacterial growth and virulence. Hyperglycemia promotes specific mechanisms of bacterial virulence known to contribute to infection chronicity, including tissue adherence and biofilm formation. Foot infections are a significant source of morbidity in individuals with diabetes and consist of biofilm-associated polymicrobial communities. Bacteria perform complex interspecies behaviors conducive to their growth and virulence within biofilms, including metabolic cross-feeding and altered phenotypes more tolerant to antibiotic therapeutics. Moreover, the metabolic dysfunction caused by diabetes compromises immune cell function, resulting in immune suppression. Impaired insulin signaling induces aberrations in phagocytic cells, which are crucial mediators for controlling and resolving bacterial infections. These aberrancies encompass altered cytokine profiles, the migratory and chemotactic mechanisms of neutrophils, and the metabolic reprogramming required for the oxidative burst and subsequent generation of bactericidal free radicals. Furthermore, the immune suppression caused by diabetes and the polymicrobial nature of the diabetic infection microenvironment may promote the emergence of novel strains of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. This review focuses on the "triple threat" linked to worsened bacterial infections in individuals with diabetes: (i) altered nutritional availability in diabetic tissues, (ii) diabetes-associated immune suppression, and (iii) antibiotic treatment failure.

Anti-biofilm properties of laser-synthesized, ultrapure silver–gold-alloy nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated infections are a common complication in modern medicine. Due to inherent resilience of biofilms to antibiotics and the rising number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, new treatment options are required. For this purpose, ultrapure, spherical silver–gold-alloy nanoparticles with homogenous elemental distribution were synthesized by laser ablation in liquids and analyzed for their antibacterial activity on different stages of S. aureus biofilm formation as well as for different viability parameters. First, the effect of nanoparticles against planktonic bacteria was tested with metabolic activity measurements. Next, nanoparticles were incubated with differently matured S. aureus biofilms, which were then analyzed by metabolic activity measurements and three dimensional live/dead fluorescent staining to determine biofilm volume and membrane integrity. It could be shown that AgAu NPs exhibit antibacterial properties against planktonic bacteria but also against early-stage and even mature biofilms, with a complete diffusion through the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, AgAu NPs primarily targeted metabolic activity, to a smaller extend membrane integrity, but not the biofilm volume. Additional molecular analyses using qRT-PCR confirmed the influence on different metabolic pathways, like glycolysis, stress response and biofilm formation. As this shows clear similarities to the mechanism of pure silver ions, the results strengthen silver ions to be the major antibacterial agent of the synthesized nanoparticles. In summary, the results of this study provide initial evidence of promising anti-biofilm characteristics of silver–gold-alloy nanoparticles and support the importance of further translation-oriented analyses in the future.

Latamoxef dosing regimen adjustments and pharmaceutical care in pediatrics.

Latamoxef is a semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum oxacephem antibiotic used primarily to treat infectious diseases, but the adverse drug reactions, such as the risk of fatal bleeding, once caused physicians to use it less frequently. However, with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, latamoxef is being used again to treat infectious diseases, especially in pediatrics. The pharmacokinetic parameters of latamoxef are highly variable, given the changes in body composition, organ maturation, and development that occurs in pediatrics. Therefore, an appropriate dosing regimen is essential. Latamoxef dosing optimization in pediatrics should adequately account for current body weight, postnatal age, postmenstrual age, and different minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. In addition, attention should also be paid to some of the adverse reactions associated with latamoxef, such as coagulation disorders and bleeding risks, disulfiram-like reactions, as well as hypersensitivity and anaphylactic shock. This review summarizes the dosing regimens and some key points of pharmaceutical care for latamoxef in pediatrics in order to provide a better reference for its application in clinical practice.

Development of Gliadin@AgNPs hybrid nanoparticles as building blocks for constructing antimicrobial protein-based porous materials

The accelerated rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains presents a significant challenge to both global health and the economy. Although silver-based materials have already been successfully developed in dealing with the infections of drug-resistant bacteria, there has been much controversy over the applications of them because the waste silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are potentially harmful to humanity and the environment. To address this issue, gliadin@AgNPs hybrid nanoparticles with ultralow minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were designed via growing AgNPs on amphiphilic gliadin molecule, followed by co-assembly-induced nanoencapsulation of AgNPs. The highly monodispersed gliadin nanoparticles (∼120 nm) infused with ultrasmall AgNPs (2–3 nm) were synthesized successfully. This strategy protected AgNPs from aggregation and fast oxidation, exerted programmed release profiles. In vitro antibacterial experiments demonstrate the hybrids could kill a broad-spectrum bacteria at an ultralow Ag equivalent, with MBCs of 0.0312 and 0.125 μg/mL for E. coli and MRSA, respectively. More importantly, its MBC against E. coli below the safety threshold established by the WHO for drinking water (0.1 ppm). Using the hybrid nanostructure as building blocks, we fabricated unprecedented protein-based antimicrobial porous materials for the first time through Pickering HIPEs templates, which was characterized by the formation of gliadin@AgNPs-decorated nanostructures on the pore wall of porous materials. They have a complex interlaced tubular porous structure with over 96 % porosity, presenting programmed release behavior of Ag+, and were able to inhibit the growth of tested bacteria at concentrations that did not affect the viability of HaCaT human cells, confirming that hierarchical nanomaterials possess valid antibacterial activity within the cellular viability concentration range. Particularly, the antimicrobial protein porous material promoted HaCaT cell adhesion and proliferation within its hierarchical nanostructure. This work provides new insights into the rational design of advanced gliadin@AgNPs as a potent antibacterial nanoplatform with a much smaller environmental impact and health concerns and a building block for constructing protein-based porous materials with outstanding antimicrobial performance and biocompatibility for emerging applications in catalysis, tissue engineering, and environmental engineering.

PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND STUDY OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF 5-CHLORO-8-QUINOLINOL DERIVATIVES AND ITS COORDINATION WITH THE NICKEL (II) AND DIPHOSPHINES

Nickel complexes are effective catalysts for cross-coupling reactions between alkyl Grignard reagents and alkenyl–S and alkenyl–Se compounds. In this study, various organic compounds were prepared. Ethylnyl 2-((5-chloro-8-quinolinol)oxy) acetate compound (designated as A1) was synthesized by adding potassium carbonate to quinoline and ethyl chloroacetate. The second compound 2-((5-chloro-8- quinolinol)oxy) acetohydrazide (A2) were obtained by reacting A1with hydrazide. Complex compound A3 were obtained by reacting equimolar amounts of compound A2 with the nickel salt solution, using ethanol as the solvent. Phosphinate complexes were prepared by reacting equal moles of the A3 with the various phosphines and using ethanol as a solvent. The synthesized compounds and complexes were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including (FT-IR) spectroscopy, (31P-{ 1H}- 13C-NMR) spectroscopy, and C.H.N. analysis. Additionally, their melting points, purity, molar conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility were determined. The impact of some prepared compounds and complexes on the growth of two antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, namely the Gram-negative Staphylococcus and the Gram-positive Escherichia coli, was studied. Amoxicillin was used as control antibiotics. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the tested bacterial strains. The A2 compound readily forms complexes, especially with nickel, manganese, and copper salts. The prepared compounds and complexes exhibited high stability and strength, maintaining their structure, color, and melting point even under varying laboratory temperatures between winter and summer

Reduce antibacterial activity against ceftriaxone resist Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections by modification of ceftriaxone

This study focused on clarifying the problem of antibiotic resistance in harmful bacteria and proposed a solution by utilizing the advantages of schiff base synthesis. Seventy-five urine samples were procured from a Baghdad, Iraq medical facility, forming the study's basis. Through a chemical reaction involving ceftriaxone and specific aldehydes, namely 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde, two novel Schiff base derivatives, labeled as compounds A and B, were synthesized and subsequently characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Intriguingly, conventional aldehyde derivatives and ceftriaxone exhibited limited efficacy in inhibiting Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth, as evidenced by reduced inhibition zones. In contrast, the newly synthesized Schiff base derivatives demonstrated enhanced antimicrobial activity, significantly inhibiting bacterial growth with zones measuring 21 mm for compound A and 18 mm for compound B. These findings underscore the potential of Schiff base synthesis as a promising avenue for developing effective strategies against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, highlighting the importance of innovative approaches in combating microbial resistance.

Non-surgical management of a large facial antibioma with photobiomodulation as a therapeutic adjunct: A case report

The injudicious overuse of antibiotics has led to a worldwide rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Apart from antibiotic resistance and misuse of resources, inappropriate use of antibiotics also increases the possibility of potentially fatal anaphylactic reactions and makes patients vulnerable to unwarranted side effects. Sometimes, prolonged and unnecessary use of these antibiotics, either by the treating dentist or by the patient, combined with improper drainage of the pulpal canal, may lead to the formation of a tough fibrous swelling known as antibioma. The most commonly reported treatment modality for antibioma is surgical excision and extraction of the tooth involved. However, the present case reports a non-surgical management of a large facial antibioma using photobiomodulation (PBM) (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, 1064 nm) for management of an antibioma developed in relation to a long-standing chronic apical periodontitis in mandibular molar.

Adaptive Phage Therapy for the Prevention of Recurrent Nosocomial Pneumonia: Novel Protocol Description and Case Series.

Nowadays there is a growing interest worldwide in using bacteriophages for therapeutic purposes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, driven by the increasing ineffectiveness of drugs against bacterial infections. Despite this fact, no novel commercially available therapeutic phage products have been developed in the last two decades, as it is extremely difficult to register them under the current legal regulations. This paper presents a description of the interaction between a bacteriophage manufacturer and a clinical institution, the specificity of which is the selection of bacteriophages not for an individual patient, but for the entire spectrum of bacteria circulating in the intensive care unit with continuous clinical and microbiological monitoring of efficacy. The study presents the description of three clinical cases of patients who received bacteriophage complex via inhalation for 28 days according to the protocol without antibiotic use throughout the period. No adverse effects were observed and the elimination of multidrug-resistant microorganisms from the bronchoalveolar lavage contents was detected in all patients. A decrease in such inflammatory markers as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin was also noted. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of an adaptive phage therapy protocol in intensive care units for reducing the amount of antibiotics used and preserving their efficacy.

Two-Pronged Dormant Photosensitizer-Antibiotic Bacterial Inactivation: Mechanism, Dosage, and Cellular Evolution Visualized at the Single-Cell Level.

Innovative therapeutic approaches are required to battle the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Tapping on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in bacteria induced by bactericidal antibiotics, here we report a two-pronged strategy for bacterial inactivation relying on the synergistic combination of a bactericidal antibiotic and newly designed dormant photosensitizers (DoPSs) that activate in the presence of ROS. Intramolecular quenching renders DoPS inert in the presence of light. ROS trapping by DoPS aborts the quenching mechanism unmasking, in equal proportions, singlet oxygen (1O2) sensitization and fluorescence emission. Juxtaposed antioxidant-prooxidant activity built within our DoPS enables (i) initial activation of a few molecules by ROS and (ii) subsequent rapid activation of all DoPS in a bacterium via a domino effect mediated by photogenerated 1O2. Bulk colony forming unit studies employing the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic illustrate rapid and selective inactivation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa only in the presence of light, antibiotic, and DoPS. Single-cell, real-time imaging studies on E. coli reveal an autocatalytic progression of DoPS activation from focal points, providing a unique amplification system for sensing. Single-cell analysis further illustrates the impact of DoPS cellular loading on the rate of DoPS activation and cell death times and on the 1O2 dosing necessary for cell death to occur. Our two-pronged therapy discriminates based on cell metabolites and has the potential to result in lower toxicity, pave the way to reduced drug resistance, and provide insightful mechanistic information about bacterial membrane response to 1O2.

Monitoring of microflora in case of infectious pathology in dogs and cats

Infectious agents in the environment, favorable conditions, transmission factors, and a weakened animal body lead to an infectious process. Infectious diseases can affect humans and animals equally, so preventing and eliminating pathogenic agents is essential. Moreover, there is a threat of resistance development among pathogens and their spread. This problem is caused by the irrational use of antibacterial drugs for therapeutic purposes, the duration of treatment, and their frequent use. Given that an animal can be a source of infection for humans, there is a risk of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains from animal to human. In order to prevent the resistance of microorganisms to antibacterial agents, there is a pharmacodynamic justification for drug dosage regimens and microbiological studies to control the spread of infectious diseases and pathogens that cause disease. The purpose of our research was to monitor infectious pathologies in dogs and cats in the city of Bila Tserkva, to isolate and identify isolates from samples from three veterinary clinics (“Veterinary assistance”, 44 Shalom-Aleichem St.; “Interdepartmental Clinic of Small Pets of the Bila Tserkva NAU”, 126 Stavyshchanska St.; “Veterinary assistance”, 38 Korolenko St.). The test material was sent to the Educational and Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics of Bila Tserkva NAU. According to the VebForce system statistics, the most common diseases in companion animals among the clinic's patients were plyometrics, otitis media, abscesses, and wounds (of various origins). The results of microbiological monitoring for the period from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2023, show that the study of infected material in purulent and inflammatory processes revealed a wide variety of isolates. The pyometrics in cats were predominantly used: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In bitches, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus canis were mainly isolated. The following isolates were found in the study of wound microflora (of different origin): in cats – Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus; in dogs – Staphylococcus spp., S. pseudintermedius, Streptococcus spp. In the study of animals with otitis media – Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were mainly found in cats, and Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were mainly isolated from dog abscesses: Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus epidermidis, in dogs – S. epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Today, infectious pathologies are an urgent problem often found in companion animals.