Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile Research Articles

Clinical characteristics and outcomes among older nursing home residents hospitalized with pneumonia

Background: Due to population aging, the number of cases of pneumonia in nursing homes in South Korea has been increasing. This study investigated the characteristics and clinical outcomes in nursing home residents with pneumonia admitted to a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients transferred to the tertiary hospital from nursing homes between August 2009 and October 2016. The in-hospital mortality, Pneumonia Severity Index, bacterial pathogens in sputum cultures, and antibiotic sensitivity profile were assessed. Results: The analysis included a total of 174 patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Their median age was 78 years, and 109 patients (62.6%) were male. 108 patients (62.1%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.6% (22/174). Culture of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen was an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 3.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–11.89). Male sex and a history of antibiotic use within the previous 3 months were independent risk factors for MDR pathogen isolation (OR: 3.32, 95% CI, 1.38–7.98 and OR: 3.93, 95% CI: 1.82–8.49, respectively). Conclusions: Detection of an MDR pathogen, rather than host factors such as old age, bedridden status, and comorbidities, was the most important risk factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with nursing home pneumonia. Patients with a history of antibiotic use within the previous 3 months had a higher probability of MDR pathogen identification. Identifying MDR pathogens is important in treating older nursing home residents with pneumonia.

Intraoperative bile culture helps choosing antibiotics in pancreaticoduodenectomy: Mechanistic profiling study of complex rink between bacterobilia and postoperative complications.

Postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still a major concern. The aim of this study was to propose how to choose antibiotics, based on bacterial sensitivity profiling involved in postoperative complications after PD. Two hundred and thirty patients underwent PD between 2008 and 2018 at Kumamoto University Hospital. We enrolled 121 patients who had both intraoperative bile culture and drain culture on postoperative day (POD) 3. The clinical impact of the bacterial profile on postoperative outcome was retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that intraperitoneal contamination on POD3 was independently associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio 2.62, P=.02). The bacteria in intraperitoneal drain on POD3 showed 94.9% similarity with those in bile collected during surgery. The major species were Enterococcus (44.6%) and Enterobacter (38.5%). Enterobacter species caused a higher rate of postoperative complications than others (83% vs 54%, P=.04). Three out of five Enterococcus faecium were resistant to carbapenems that were active against all Gram-negative rods. Intraperitoneal contamination on POD3, which had similar bacterial species as bile collected during surgery, was correlated with postoperative complications. The bacterial antibiotic sensitivity profile may help selecting optimal antibiotics against infectious postoperative complications in PD.

Antibiotic sensitivity profile of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital of Kipé in Conakry (Guinea)

Antibiotic sensitivity profile of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital of Kipé in Conakry (Guinea)

Antibiotic sensitivity profile of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital of Kipé in Conakry (Guinea)

Introduction: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the main bacterial species associated with urinary tract infections. Nowadays, this bacterium is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic sensitivity profiles of all strains of E. coli isolated from urine during the period from September 1st, 2018 to March 13th, 2019 at the Biomedical Laboratory of the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital of Kipé in Conakry. Materiel and Methods: Cultures were done on different agar media. Bacterial identification, antibiograms and determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were performed on the Vitek 2 Compact 15 automated system. Results: A total of 66 strains of E. coli have been isolated from patients of both sexes. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.43. The mean age of the patients was 50.83 years. The majority of strains were sensitive to imipenem (96.96%), amikacin (96.96%), ertapenem (94.73%), gentamicin (69.23%), tobramycin (60, 60%), cefoxitin (64.28%), cefotaxime (62.50%), piperacillin/tazobactam (77.4%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (50.00%) and nitrofurantoin (87%). In contrast, the majority of strains were resistant to ampicillin (81.81%), cefalotin (62.02%), ticarcillin (88.00%), nalidixic acid (82.75%), ciprofloxacin (56.06%), ofloxacin (56.00%) and combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (83.60%), sometimes with high MICs. Conclusion: Our results show that urinary tract infections due to E. coli are more frequently observed in females than in males. Some of these strains studied exhibited multidrug resistance profiles to antibiotics. Among the classes of antibiotics tested, carbapenemes, nitrofurans, aminoglycosides, appear to be more active on E. coli uropathogenes in Guinea.

Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern in Tubotympanic Variety of CSOM in Northern Part of West Bengal.

The principal treatment for active tubotympanic CSOM is meticulous aural toilet and instillation of a topical antimicrobial agent. The aim of the study is to evaluate the current bacteriological profile of active tubotympanic CSOM and the sensitivity pattern to most of the currently available antibiotics. We conducted a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital in the northern part of West Bengal. Patients presenting with active tubotympanic CSOM who did not receive antimicrobial therapy in the last 21days were included in the study. Middle ear discharge was collected by an ENT specialist under strict aseptic precautions. The isolates were grown on blood agar and identified according to standard microbiological and biochemical methods. The antibiotic sensitivity profile of the isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. Out of total 198 samples the commonest micro-organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (35.86%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.19%). Staphylococcus aureus was highly sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin followed by ciprofloxacin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly sensitive to polymyxin B followed by meropenem, cefoperazone plus sulbactam, and ciprofloxacin. The present study indicates that there can be a variation in the bacterial aetiologies of CSOM and their sensitivity pattern due to widespread use of antibiotics. Hence it is prudent to conduct periodic evaluation of microbiological pattern and antibiotic sensitivity of CSOM.

In vitro Studies on Antimicrobial Sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus from Prosopis juliflora, Cassia occidentalis and Tephrosia purpurea

Background:The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to commonly used antibiotics is linked to their ability to acquire and disseminate antimicrobial-resistant determinants in nature. This study determined the antibiotic sensitivity profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk samples of mastitic and healthy dairy cattle. Isolation and Identification of S. aureus was done by Marphological and Biochemical characters.Methods:The primary purpose of this study was to determine Antibiotic Sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus by using extracts of Prosopis juliflora, Cassia occidentalis and Tephrosia purpurea. Antimicrobial properties of plant extracts were analyzed by determining Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Antibiogram pattern of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be Susceptible, Intermediate and Slight resistant by Prosopis juliflora, Tephrosia purpurea and Cassia occidentalis respectively.Result:From the results, it has been indicated that the extracts of Tephrosia purpurea, Prosopis juliflora and Cassia occidentalis are having potential to use in the management of Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusion:Further phytochemical analysis is required to identify the active components of plant extracts showing antimicrobial activity.

Characterization of Vibrio spp. in environmental water samples collected from flood prone areas of Bangladesh and their antibiotic resistance profile.

Last cholera epidemic has been recorded in Bangladesh between 1992–1993, while few sporadic localized outbreaks have been reported as recent as 2005. Serotype O1 of Vibrio cholera is considered as the principal causative agent which transmits through contaminated drinking water resulting that epidemic. Therefore, the objective of this research was to isolate V. cholera in 3 different water sources; River, pond and tube-well, in 5 different locations of Gazipur, Bangladesh, and to analyze their antibiogram study. A total of 45 water samples were randomly collected for the isolation and identification of Vibrio spp. Samples are then serially diluted in alkaline peptone water and streak on Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salt Sucrose-TCBS agar for quantification of V. spp. For V. cholera isolation water samples were first enriched in nutrient broth at 37 °C for 16 hours followed by cultivation in selective media; TCBS agar at 37 °C for 24 hours. Yellow colonies on TCBS agar were screed as V. cholera and was confirmed by analyzing their biochemical characteristics like Catalase, Oxidase, MR, VP, Indole, Sugar fermentation. Following isolation antibiotic sensitivity test was performed on each V. cholera isolates to determine their antibiotic sensitivity profile. The results showed, out of 45 samples 12 contained V. cholera. Tube-well water has significantly lower concentration (log CFU/mL) of V. spp. than river and pond water (P < 0.05). Bacterial concentration doesn't deviate (P > 0.05) significantly in 5 different location the sample was collected from. All the 12 isolates were sensitive to Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin (100%), while Chloramphenicol (91.67%), Sulfamethoxazole (91.67%), Azithromycin (66.67%) showed high sensitivity. Isolates showed marginal sensitivity towards Tetracycline (33.33%), and Cephalexin (16.67%) and 100% resistance against antibiotics like Vancomycin, Penicillin, Erythromycin, and Nalidixic Acid. Based on these data we recommend using tube-well water instead of river and pond water for drinking purposes. Furthermore, we suggest selective use of sensitive antimicrobials listed here for therapeutics of cholera outbreak.

The Evolving Antibiotic Profile of Paediatric Urinary Tract Infections at a Tertiary Hospital in Cape Town

Abstract Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common problem in infants presenting to hospitals with fever. International data reports that uropathogens and their associated antibiotic susceptibility is evolving. This study describes the organism profile and the respective antibiotic resistance patterns in a paediatric unit at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective study on urine samples sent to the National Health Laboratory Service from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013 was performed. UTI was defined as a single organism growth &gt;105 cfu/ml and leukocytes &gt;1000 cells/ml. The organisms and antibiotic sensitivities were described and stratified into either community, hospital-associated or hospital-acquired infections. Results: Two hundred and eighty-two samples met the study definitions for inclusion in the study. Escherichia coli was cultured most frequently (50.7%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.7%) and Proteus mirabilis (4.6%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms accounted for 26.6% of identified UTI; K. pneumoniae accounted for 54/75 (72%) of those infections. Of ESBL-producing organisms, 6.7% of E. coli were sensitive to piperacillin–tazobactam and 33.3% to amikacin. K. pneumoniae displayed 18.5% and 68.5% sensitivity to piperacillin–tazobactam and amikacin, respectively. E. coli isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin/ampicillin (90.8%). K. pneumoniae demonstrated high rates of resistance to co-amoxiclavulanate acid (88.7%) and cefotaxime/ceftriaxone (98.2%). Conclusion: The organism population and antibiotic sensitivity profile is evolving in-line with published data. These antibiograms support current hospital policy to treat hospital-associated and acquired infections with piperacillin–tazobactam and amikacin empirically thereby limiting carbapenem drug pressure. Predictors for uropathogen antibiotic resistance require further investigation.

Clinical and Microbiological Profile of Tracheal Aspirates in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a chronic inflammatory state, which inturn suppresses the immune system. CKD patients are hence at more risk for nosocomial infections. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is one of the major nosocomial infections. If not treated early and appropriately, it increases hospital stay and expenses in turn increasing morbidity and mortality. In recent times, due to irrational and rampant use of antibiotics, there is an emergence of multidrug resistant strains of organisms which are difficult to treat. Aim: To study the clinical and microbiological profile of tracheal aspirate samples in CKD patients. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective cross sectional study conducted in the renal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Tertiary Care Centre, Institute of Nephrourology, Bengaluru over a period of two years from July 2018 to July 2020. Clinical and demographic data of patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was recorded. Tracheal aspirates were obtained by convenient sampling technique. The samples were cultured on Blood Agar (BA), chocolate agar, MacConkey agar and Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA). Antibiotic sensitivity profiling was done by using Mueller Hinton agar. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package For The Social Sciences (SPSS) V23.0 software. Results: Sixty-nine samples were analysed over a period of two years. Males (66.66%) were in majority. Diabetes Mellitus (64%) was the most common associated risk factor. Among the total samples obtained, around 70% showed bacterial growth. Gram negative bacteria (92.4%) were the most commonly isolated microorganism. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumanni (45.3%) was the most common followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Majority of the gram negative organisms were sensitive to Polymyxin B, colistin, tigecycline. Acinetobacter and Klebsiella showed resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: There is emergence of extremely drug resistant gram negative organisms as the cause for VAP. They are dangerous and difficult to treat. They thus increase the hospital expenses by prolonging the hospital stay. Hence, the need of the hour is to formulate an appropriate antibiotic policy based on the population being treated and to follow strict infection control practices in ICU setup.

Impact of an Evidence-Based Antibiotic Protocol on Common Gram-Negative Bacteria's Antibiotic Resistance in a Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Background Based on the analysis of infections and antibiotic usage in the years 2013 and 2014, an evidence-based antibiotic protocol was developed and implemented in our cardiac surgical intensive care unit (CSICU). This study intends to study the impact of this new protocol on the sensitivity profiles of common gram-negative bacteria in our CSICU. Methods The medical records of patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our center, between January 2017 and December 2018, were reviewed and the incidence of different hospital-acquired bacteria and their antibiotic sensitivity profiles were recorded. The antibiotic-sensitivity profiles of common gram-negative bacteria, for the years 2017 and 2018, were compared with the published data of 2013 and 2014 from our department. Results There was a significant decrease in the incidence of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to carbapenems during 2017 and 2018. The incidence of colistin-resistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa also decreased significantly in 2017 and 2018. A significant increase in the proportion of amikacin resistant A. baumannii and E. coli and A. baumannii resistant to B lactam/B lactamase inhibitors also occurred. Conclusion Antibiotic stewardship can reverse the antibiotic resistance of common gram-negative bacteria in the ICU.

Subinhibitory concentrations of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate on the adaptative and cross-resistance to antibiotics on bovine mastitis pathogens

ABSTRACT: Biocides and/or antibiotics used in subinhibitory concentrations can promote the development of adaptive resistance or even cross-resistance in microorganisms. However, studies on these responses following silver treatments are scarce in the literature. Silver-based compounds, including silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), can be an alternative in the prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis. Thus, this research evaluated the effect of subinhibitory dosages of Ag-NPs and Ag+ ions from silver nitrate (AgNO3) on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from milk of cows with mastitis. Ag-NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction using AgNO3 and sodium citrate and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Ag-NPs and Ag+ ions on the mastitis pathogens were determined. Isolates were exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of Ag-NPs or AgNO3 for 10 consecutive days to verify the development of adaptive resistance evaluated by changes in the MIC values. The development of cross-resistance with antibiotics was also studied, being verified by comparing the sensitivity profile of treated cells with non-treated cells. AgNO3 was more effective against all isolates. There was no change in the MIC values or in the antibiotic sensitivity profile for both bacteria following consecutive exposure to subinhibitory dosages of Ag-NPs or AgNO3, indicating that silver was not able to select adaptive resistance or cross resistance to the tested antibiotics. The potential of silver presented by these results is favorable to the continuity of studies aiming to elaborate silver-based therapies for the treatment of bovine mastitis.

Molecular characterisation and antibiotic sensitivity profile of Pasteurella multocida isolated from poultry farms in Malaysia

Fowl cholera has caused significant economic losses in many poultry producing countries worldwide. In Malaysia, outbreaks of fowl cholera are frequently reported and encountered in different types of poultry productions. The objective of this study was to characterise 13 avian Pasteurella multocida, isolated from fowl cholera outbreaks in Central Peninsular Malaysia in the period between 2000 and 2018. The isolates were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for capsular serotyping, disc diffusion method for antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and molecular genotyping using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The capsular serotyping showed all 13 Pasteurella multocida isolates belonging to capsular serotype A. The antimicrobial susceptibility showed several multidrug resistance strains among the P. multocida isolates. All the isolates were resistant to erythromycin (100%), streptomycin (68%), tetracycline (37%), enrofloxacin (37%), florfenicol (23%), penicillin G (14%), gentamicin (14%), and amoxicillin (14%). The PFGE analysis clustered the isolates into three clones. Group A included isolates with a similarity of 87% from the year 2000, 2013, and 2018. Three sequence types were identified using MLST typing namely, ST129, ST231, and ST355. The ST355 was assigned for the first time in the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) database. Besides, ST129 has been reported in India, China, and Sri Lanka, which highlights the possibility of transmission between Asian countries. This study provides an insight into epidemiological information of Pasteurella multocida that causes fowl cholera outbreaks in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Molecular Diversity of NDM-1, NDM-5, NDM-6, and NDM-7 Variants of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamases and Their Impact on Drug Resistance.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a serious healthcare problem worldwide. In this study, 192 clinical specimens collected from a tertiary hospital in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia were processed in order to isolate gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial isolation was performed using standard microbiological techniques and the MicroScan WalkAway Plus automated analyzer. Phenotypic methods and PCR were done to characterize bacterial strains, and DNA sequencing was used for the molecular characterization of new Delhi metallo-β-lactamases NDM genes. This study reports the presence of the blaNDM gene in 95 gram-negative bacterial isolates. Among the iso-lates, 71 (74%) carried blaNDM-1 and 24 (25%) carried blaNDM gene variants. Different specimen analyses revealed that the samples from the intensive care unit (ICU) showed the highest percentage (38%) of NDM-1 positive isolates. Molecular identification revealed 87% belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The species profiling showed that 41% of the clinical isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, 25.3% of isolates were E. coli, and 9.5% were Enterobacter cloacae. Thirteen percent of the gram-negative isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, belonged to the Pseudomonadaceae family and Gammaproteobacteria family, respectively. The antibiotic sensitivity profile of the 95 isolates revealed that all the isolates harboring the NDM gene showed resistance against ampicillin. Among the NDM-harboring isolates, the highest resistance was found against cefuroxime and co-amoxiclav antibiotics. The isolates were the most sensitive to tigecycline and amikacin. However, the ability of some NDM-harboring gram-negative isolates to grow in the presence of amikacin and tigecycline suggests that these NDM-producing strains carry an additional drug-resistance mechanism. The prevalence of NDM-harboring gram-negative bacterial isolates in hospital settings is an alarming situation. The Enterobacteriaceae family was found to be the most common carrier of the NDM gene, which indicates a need for more stringent use of antibiotics and better control in hospitals to minimize the risk of cross contamination and spread of NDM-positive strains.

Epidemiology of Nosocomial Bacteremia Due to Bacteria from the “&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Burkholderia cepacia&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Complex” at Libreville University Hospital Center

Introduction: Burkholderia cepacia is a non-fermenting emergent bacterium common in nosocomial infections and can cause life-threatening infections whose multidrug resistance makes them a serious threat in hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of B. cepacia infections during nosocomial infections at Libreville University teaching hospital. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, lasting 19 months, 412 blood cultures were analyzed. The BacT/ALERT 3D (Biomerieux, France) was used to detect the positivity of blood culture flasks and the Viteck 2 compact (Biomerieux, France) for the identification of germs and the study of their susceptibility to antibiotics. Results: Our study population consisted of 412 patients. The sex-ratio M/F was 1.06 in favor of the male gender (n = 201, 51%). The age of the patients varied between 0 and 82 years. The bacteremia of B. cepacia mainly affected children under 15 years of age with a prevalence of 7% (n = 28). The pediatric ward was more represented with a frequency of 36% (n = 10). The antibiotic sensitivity profile showed high resistance of 100% for aminoglycosides (amikacin, tobramycin, and gentamycin), tetracycline, beta-lactams (Amoxicillin, Imipenem, Ticarcillin, Cefoxitin and Cefotaxime), and ciprofloxacin. However, four molecules were active on B. cepacia (Levofloxacin 100%, Trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole 92.3%, ceftazidime 80% and cefepime 35%). Conclusion: Ultimately, infection and multi-resistance due to Burkholderia cepacia calls for a review of hospital hygiene in the pediatric ward and a review of antibiotic therapy in young children.

Prevalence and Antibiogram of Salmonella Species Isolated from Snail (Archachatina marginata) Sold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Increase in microbial population especially Salmonella species in food due to improper handling, storage and exposure to contaminants can raise public health concerns when consumed without adequate processing. This study evaluates the prevalence and antibiogram of Salmonella species associated with the giant land Snail (Archachatina marginata) sold in markets around Port Harcourt metropolis. A total number of seventy two (72) samples of land snail were collected from three markets; Creek Road, Mile one and Rumuokoro. The samples were labelled and transported in an ice packed coolers to the laboratory for analyses. Standard microbiological protocols were employed to determine the microbial load and species of the various parts (intestine, meat and fluid) of the snail samples after shucking. Antibiotics sensitivity profile testing of the isolated and identified Salmonella species were carried out as recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) and statistical analyses using one way ANOVA and all pairs Turkey-Kramer. Results from the study showed that the highest total heterotrophic bacteria count (THBC) of 8.6x106CFU/g was obtained in the snail intestine sourced from Creek road market while THBCs of 8.2x106 CFU/g and 7.3x106 CFU/g were from Mile one and Rumuokoro markets respectively. THBCs of meat from the markets ranged from 4.3-5.4x106 CFU/g and 3.7-4.9x106CFU/ml in fluid with Rumuokoro having the least occurrence respectively. Mean Salmonella counts (MSCs) ranged from 0.4-3.6 x103 CFU/g, with least count obtained from Rumuokoro and Mile 1 markets. Similarly, least MSCs in fluid and intestine were obtained from Rumuokoro and Mile 1 whereas Creek road Market had the highest respectively. Three species of Salmonella; S. arizonae, S. gallinarum and S. typhi were predominant in addition to other species such as Vibrio spp,, Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Shigella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., E. coli, Micrococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. and Listeria spp identified using both conventional and molecular method. Antibiogram profile revealed that all the identified Salmonella species were susceptible to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin but strongly resistance to Cetazidime and Gentamicin. The diversity and elevated microbial load observed from this study calls for caution in handling and processing of snails since most of these bacteria may become aetiologic agents of several food-borne diseases and other pathological conditions. As a necessity, good quality control measures and proper chemotherapy should be administered to patients with signs and symptoms of food borne illness emanating from consumption of snail.

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of multidrug resistant gram negative bacilli in lower respiratory tract Infections in a tertiary care hospital of Tripura

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections with multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria are hard to treat and cause high morbidity and mortality. This study gives an account of isolation of multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens causing Lower respiratory tract infections and their antibiogram, in this geographical area of North East India. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 samples were collected and processed following the standard protocol. Antibiotic susceptibility test were performed by disc diffusion method, from which multidrug resistant strains were detected as per the criteria. Results: Out of 190 Gram Negative Bacilli isolated, 76 (40%) strains were confirmed to be multidrug resistant. Klebsiella pneumoniae (45.61%) was the predominant multidrug resistant Gram Negative Bacilli isolated, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (36.48%), Acinetobacter spp (33.33%) and Citrobacter spp (28.57%). The multidrug resistant strains exhibited considerable susceptibility to Amikacin (65.78%), Gentamicin (68.42%) and Levofloxacin (68.42%). The Carbapenems, Beta-lactams and Beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations exhibited significant resistance in the present study. Conclusion: Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be stated as the major causative agents of LRTI in this region. The present data represents the effective antibiotic agents against the MDR pathogens causing LRTI to be Amikacin, Gentamicin and Levofloxacin. Since none of the MDR strains attained a significant level of sensitivity against the tested antibiotics, specific treatment in our centre need to be decided based upon the antibiotic sensitivity profile of the isolate. Keywords: Lower respiratory tract infections, Gram negative bacilli, Multidrug resistant strains, Antibiotic susceptibility.

Urinary E.coli isolates in tertiary care centre of south Kerala: Antibiogram and ESBL detection by phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion testing

Gram negative bacterial infections are the most important cause of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in India. E.coli being the most common isolate and has been resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Materials and Methods: This study was done to assess the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of uropathogenic E.coli and to detect Extended-spectrum ? lactamase E coli isolated from samples collected in patients with urinary tract infections. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern was assessed using CLSI 2017 guidelines. ESBL detection was carried out using phenotypic Confirmatory Disc Diffusion Test Results: 87 E.coli isolates were collected from urinary samples during the study period. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles showed that uropathogenic E.coli were sensitive to Amikacin, Gentamicin, Piperacillin-Tazobactum, Tetracyclines, Nitrofurantoin & Carbapenams. E.coli exhibited resistance to cephalosprins and Fluroquinolones. 50 strains among the 87 isolates showed ESBL production by Phenotypic Confirmation Disc Diffusion Test (PCDDT) Discussion: E.coli has established itself as a strong uropathogen. E.coli infections are more common in females due to anatomical factors. Most of the uncomplicated urinary tract infections happen in females of child bearing age group. There is an urgent need for the formulation of antibiotic policy for initiation of presumptive treatment. The way forward to handle antibiotic resistance is implementation of safe hands policy with handwashing, well informed usage of antibiotics for an appropriate duration along with implementation of universally accepted infection control protocols. Keywords: Antibiotic policy Antibiotic resistance, PCDDT, Uropathogenic E.coli, Urinary Tract Infection.

Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns and Plasmid Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Some Swimming Pools in Akure, Nigeria

Aims: To evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity profile of bacteria isolated from swimming pools in Akure, Nigeria.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure Ondo state Nigeria between May and July, 2018.&#x0D; Methodology: Water samples were collected in the morning and evening periods including weekends, from ten (10) swimming pools in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The temperature and the pH of the water samples were measured and recorded at the time of collection. The types and loads of bacteria at different times of each day were determined for each of the swimming pools. Characterization and Identification of the various bacterial isolates were based on Gram-staining techniques and biochemical tests. Antibacterial susceptibility profile of the isolates was evaluated using standard methods. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus being resistant to multiple antibiotics were subjected to plasmid analysis.&#x0D; Results: Bacteria isolated include; E. coli which had the highest occurrence rate (25%), S. aureus (18.75%), Shigella flexneri (14.50%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.50%), Proteus mirabilis (9.37%), Citrobacter freundii (6.25%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.25%) Enterobacter faecalis (3.13%) and Salmonella bongori (3.13%). Ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin and tarivid recorded remarkable zones of inhibition against the isolates. The isolates were notably resistant towards chloramphenicol and septrin. The isolates were further examined for the presence of conjugative plasmids. The results showed that their resistance was chromosomal mediated.&#x0D; Conclusion: Despite the fact that these pools meet the World Health Organization minimum requirement, Microbiological examination of the swimming pools revealed that most of them are contaminated with various pathogenic microorganisms which are potentially harmful.

A Robust Symbiotic Relationship Between the Ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum and the Bacterium Ca. Trichorickettsia Mobilis.

Close reciprocal interactions in symbiotic systems have suggested the holobiont concept, in which the host and its microbiota are considered as a single entity. Ciliates are known for their ability to form symbiotic associations with prokaryotes. Relationships between the partners in such systems vary from mutualism to parasitism and differ significantly in their robustness. We assessed the viability of the ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum and its ability to maintain its intranuclear endosymbiont Ca. Trichorickettsia mobilis (Rickettsiaceae) after treatment with antibiotics characterized by different mode of action, such as ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline. The presence of endosymbionts in the host cell was determined by means of living cell observations made using differential interference contrast or fluorescence in situ hybridization with the species-specific oligonucleotide probe (FISH). Administration of antibiotics traditionally used in treatments of rickettsioses, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, depending on the concentration used and the ciliate strain treated, either caused death of both, infected and control cells, or did not affect the ability of the host to maintain the intranuclear endosymbiont. The surviving cells always manifested motile bacteria in the macronucleus. Streptomycin treatment never led to the loss of endosymbionts in any of the four infected strains, and nearly all ciliates remained viable. Ampicillin treatment never caused host cell death, but resulted in formation of filamentous and immobile oval bacterial forms. Under repeated ampicillin treatments, a part of endosymbionts was registered in the host cytoplasm, as evidenced both by FISH and transmission electron microscopy. Endosymbionts located in the host cytoplasm were enclosed in vacuoles, apparently, corresponding to autophagosomes. Nevertheless, the bacteria seemed to persist in this compartment and might cause relapse of the infection. Although the antibiotic sensitivity profile of Trichorickettsia seems to resemble that of other representatives of Rickettsiaceae, causative agents of severe diseases in humans, neither of the antibiotic treatments used in this study resulted in an aposymbiotic cell line, apparently, due to the protists’ sensitivity to tetracyclines, the drugs of preference in rickettsiosis treatment. The observed robustness of this symbiotic system makes it a good model for further elaboration of the holobiont concept.

Molecular studies on antibiotic resistant Bacillus cereus isolated from meat products and human in Kaliobia, Egypt

The current study was conducted on 210 random samples of meat products (beef burger, kofta, luncheon, minced meat, sausage) and diarrheic human stool of patients suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea (35 for each). The meat products were collected from different shops and hospitals at Kaliobia Governorate, Egypt, for detection of B. cereus strains, and their phenotypic characterization as well as antibiotic resistant genes. Bacteriological examination of the collected samples indicated the identification of 51 (24.3%) isolates of B. cereus from 210 samples as 11/31.4% from kofta 13/37.1% from minced meat; 9/25.7% from sausage; 7/20.0% from beef burger; 6 /17.1% from luncheon samples; and 5/14.3% from human stool specimens. Most of 51 isolated B. cereus strains had the ability for biofilm production. The antibiotic sensitivity profiles revealed that, the isolated B. cereus were highly resistant for Penicillin-G followed by methicillin; ampicillin; oxytetracycline; sulfa-trimethoprim and cefotaxime. Meanwhile, they were highly sensitive to to gentamycin and norfloxacin followed by ciprofloxacin; meropenem and florphenicol. Further, PCR declared that bla; tetA and erm genes were amplified in 9; 7; 6 out of 10 studied B. cereus isolates giving products of 680 bp.; 502 bp. and 645 bp. respectively. Therefore, one can conclude that; B. cereus especially antibiotic resistances ones are meat-borne pathogens of public health importance and they may be the causative agents in patients suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.