Dominant Pathogen Research Articles

Analysis of comprehensive surveillance results of respiratory tract infectious diseases in Taizhou, 2012-2019

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases in Taizhou, so as to provide a basis for scientific prevention and control strategies. Methods The basic information of ILI and SARI cases and throat swab specimens were collected from the sentinel hospital and 13 respiratory pathogens were detected by RT-PCR method.χ2 test was used as statistical analysis method. Results From April 2012 to December 2019, with epidemic peaks in autumn and winter, the percentages of ILI visits (ILI%) and SARI visits (SARI%) were 7.27% and 2.44%, respectively. Finally, 956 ILI case specimens and 557 SARI case specimens were detected. The positive detection rates of the two types of cases were 50.84% (486/956) and 39.14% (218/557), separately. Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), influenza virus (Flu), Haemophilus influenzae (HI) and Human rhinovirus (HRV) were the dominant pathogens in Taizhou city from April 2012 to December 2019, and their detection rates were 14.81%, 9.25%, 9.39% and 7.73%, respectively. The total mixed infection rate was 30.11% (212/704), which was mainly caused by SP complicated with other pathogenic infections. The positive rate of pathogen detection in the low-age group was higher than that in the high-age group, and the detection rate of children under 5 years old was 34.83% (χ2=54.47, P Conclusions The incidence of comprehensive respiratory tract surveillance in sentinel hospitals in Taizhou City showed that the peak of the epidemic was in autumn and winter, and SP, Flu, HI, and HRV were main pathogens in this area. In the age group under 15 years old, the detection rate was higher. Comprehensive respiratory disease prevention and control measures should be taken for key populations.

Spatial Heterogeneity of Sympatric Tick Species and Tick-Borne Pathogens Emphasizes the Need for Surveillance for Effective Tick Control.

Three tick species that can transmit pathogen causing disease are commonly found parasitizing people and animals in the mid-Atlantic United States: the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis [Say]), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum [L.]) (Acari: Ixodidae). The potential risk of pathogen transmission from tick bites acquired at schools in tick-endemic areas is a concern, as school-aged children are a high-risk group for tick-borne disease. Integrated pest management (IPM) is often required in school districts, and continued tick range expansion and population growth will likely necessitate IPM strategies to manage ticks on school grounds. However, an often-overlooked step of tick management is monitoring and assessment of local tick species assemblages to inform the selection of control methodologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tick species presence, abundance, and distribution and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in both questing ticks and those removed from rodent hosts on six school properties in Maryland. Overall, there was extensive heterogeneity in tick species dominance, abundance, and evenness across the field sites. A. americanum and I. scapularis were found on all sites in all years. Overall, A. americanum was the dominant tick species. D. variabilis was collected in limited numbers. Several pathogens were found in both questing ticks and those removed from rodent hosts, although prevalence of infection was not consistent between years. Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Ehrlichia "Panola Mountain" were identified in questing ticks, and B. burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi were detected in trapped Peromyscus spp. mice. B. burgdorferi was the dominant pathogen detected. The impact of tick diversity on IPM of ticks is discussed.

General Characteristics of Children with Single- and Co-Infections and Febrile Seizures with a Main Focus on Respiratory Pathogens: Preliminary Results.

Febrile seizures (FS) affect up to 5% of children. The pathogen etiology in regard of viral loads has never been investigated. In a prospective cohort study we investigated the correlation between virus type and quantity in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) and the clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with a FS. From January 2014 to April 2016, 184 children with a FS were prospectively enrolled. The mean age of all included children was 26.7 ± 18.3 months with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. Males with an acute disease and a short duration or absence of prior symptoms had a higher risk for complex FS. The majority of patients with FS presented with a generalized convulsion (180; 98%) and was admitted to hospital (178; 97%). Overall, 79 (43%) single and in 59 (32%) co-infections were detected. Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6), influenza, adenovirus (AV) and rhinovirus (RV) were the dominant pathogens, all detected with clinically significant high viral loads. HHV6 positive cases were significantly younger and less likely to have a positive family/personal history for FS. Influenza positives showed a higher rate of complex seizures, lower leukocyte and higher monocyte counts. AV positive cases were more likely to have a positive family history for FS and showed higher C-reactive protein values. In conclusion, a high viral load may contribute to the development of a FS in respiratory tract infections.

Analysis of saponins detoxification genes in Ilyonectria mors-panacis G3B inducing root rot of Panax notoginseng by RNA-Seq

Saponins are kinds of antifungal compounds produced by Panax notoginseng to resist invasion by pathogens. Ilyonectria mors-panacis G3B was the dominant pathogen inducing root rot of P. notoginseng, and the abilities to detoxify saponins were the key to infect P. notoginseng successfully. To research the molecular mechanisms of detoxifying saponins in I. mors-panacis G3B, we used high-throughput RNA-Seq to identify 557 and 1519 differential expression genes (DEGs) in I. mors-panacis G3B with saponins treatments for 4H (Hours) and 12H (Hours) compared with no saponins treatments, respectively. Among these DEGs, we found 93 genes which were simultaneously highly expressed in I. mors-panacis G3B with saponins treatments for 4H and 12H, they mainly belong to genes encoding transporters, glycoside hydrolases, oxidation–reduction enzymes, transcription factors and so on. In addition, there were 21 putative PHI (Pathogen–Host Interaction) genes out of those 93 up-regulated genes. In this report, we analyzed virulence-associated genes in I. mors-panacis G3B which may be related to detoxifying saponins to infect P. notoginseng successfully. They provided an excellent starting point for in-depth study on pathogenicity of I. mors-panacis G3B and developed appropriate root rot disease management strategies in the future.

Clinical and microbiological profile of urinary tract infection in children less than twelve years of the age and their antibiotics resistant pattern at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kanpur, India

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection which is seen in childhood population, which starts from the calyces of the kidney to the urethra. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children mostly in the first 2 years of life. The Gram negative enteric bacilli, especially Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. the dominant pathogens. The objective of the study was to analyze the causative microorganism and their Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in UTI in childhood population between 0-12years of the age. Methods: This one year prospective and observational study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology; Rama Medical College Hospital & Research Centre Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, on 100 pediatric patients (aged 0-12 years). All the pediatric age group (0-12 years) with suspected UTI and, whose urine culture showed one or two pathogen with colony counts greater than or equal to 105 colony forming units (CFU)/ml was included for the study. Clinical data was obtained from OPD and IPD Patients. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done for positive urine culture by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The data was expressed in terms of frequency and percentage.

Microbial contamination profile change over a 4-year period in nonoperated cleft soft palate.

Surgical site infection is a major concern in cleft soft palate. Knowledge of the type, number and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens present preoperatively contribute to treatment success. The aim of this study is to determine whether or not the microbial contamination (diversity) preoperatively has changed since 2015. Swabs were taken from the surgical site in 103 consecutive patients who presented for primary repair of the soft palate cleft. These were sent for microscopy, culture and sensitivity testing. Swabs were taken before disinfecting the site. Results were tabled and compared with two previous studies from the same facility. Out of 103 patients, 100 patients showed positive cultures with 42 different pathogenic micro-organisms identified. Most dominant pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae, 45.6%, increased by 28% from the previous two studies, with 93.6% of these pathogens resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Most of the other identified pathogens showed an alarming increase in occurrence, with a wide resistance to antimicrobials. The increase in number and diversity of microbial contamination as well as their resistance to antimicrobials is a real concern. Ways of preventing postoperative infection in a natural way need to be explored. Surgeons need to be aware of constant changes in micro-organisms.

Polymicrobial Interactions in the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Microbiome Impact the Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most dominant pathogens in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease and contributes to significant inflammation, airway damage, and poorer disease outcomes. The CF airway is now known to be host to a complex community of microorganisms, and polymicrobial interactions have been shown to play an important role in shaping P. aeruginosa pathogenicity and resistance. P. aeruginosa can cause chronic infections that once established are almost impossible to eradicate with antibiotics. CF patients that develop chronic P. aeruginosa infection have poorer lung function, higher morbidity, and a reduced life expectancy. P. aeruginosa adapts to the CF airway and quickly develops resistance to several antibiotics. A perplexing phenomenon is the disparity between in vitro antimicrobial sensitivity testing and clinical response. Considering the CF airway is host to a diverse community of microorganisms or ‘microbiome’ and that these microorganisms are known to interact, the antimicrobial resistance and progression of P. aeruginosa infection is likely influenced by these microbial relationships. This review combines the literature to date on interactions between P. aeruginosa and other airway microorganisms and the influence of these interactions on P. aeruginosa tolerance to antimicrobials.

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Biofilm Formation of Bacterial Isolates Derived from Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis from Tehran, Iran.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Children with CF commonly suffer from recurrent and persistent pulmonary tract infections caused by diverse bacterial pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation of bacterial isolates in pediatric patients with CF. The study population of this cross-sectional study included 8,908 children suspected to have CF by clinical manifestations from March 2015 to August 2017 who were referred to the Tehran Pediatric Central Hospital, Iran. The tests carried out for each participant included screening sweat test, sputum culture, antibiotic susceptibility test using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and biofilm formation in microtiter plates method. Based onclinical examination and screening sweat test, 183 (2.05 %( out of 8,908 children, were positive for CF. The mean age of children was estimated at 2.93 years, and the majority of them were male (n=103, 56.2%). No gender-specific difference was observed in CF disease in this study (P>0.05). In addition, the results of sputum culture showed that 153 (83.6%) microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were collected from CF patients. Normal flora was isolated in 30 (16.4%) patients and more than one bacterial species were isolated in 7.2% of patients. The obtained results indicated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most prevalent isolated bacteria followed by Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Based on the antibiotic susceptibility test results, P. aeruginosa and piperacillin/tazobactam had the highest (11.7%) and the lowest (2.3%) resistance rate against gentamicin, respectively. However, all K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to Cefotaxime. Among S. aureus isolates, 83.4% and 16.6% were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Concerning biofilm formation, 76%, 67%, and 72.5% of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae isolates were biofilm producers, respectively. Based on the study results, P. aeruginosa was the dominant pathogen in pediatric patients with CF from Tehran, Iran, and most of the pathogens were biofilm producers. No severe antibiotic resistance was observed in the isolates; however, the anti-microbial resistance profile should be carefully checked in CF patients on a regular basis.

Minimizing transrectal prostate biopsy-related infections; A prospective randomized trial of povidone-iodine intrarectal cleaning versus formalin needle disinfection.

Introduction:Transrectal prostate biopsies are associated with post biopsy infection and sepsis. We compared the efficacy of povidone-iodine rectal disinfection versus formalin needle disinfection in preventing post biopsy infection among patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.Methods:Patients scheduled to undergo ultrasound-guided transrectal prostate biopsy (n = 621) over 20 months were randomized into 2 groups to receive either povidone-iodine intrarectal disinfection or formalin disinfection of needle after each core. These were compared to assess which methodology better prevented postprocedure infection. Statistical analysis were used to identify independent factors promoting infections.Results:Two hundred and ninety-eight patients from povidone-iodine intrarectal disinfection were compared with 300 from formalin needle disinfection group. Formalin needle disinfection was associated with significantly more infections (P = 0.02). Escherichia coli was the dominant pathogen, with >50% of cases being quinolone resistant. Type of disinfection (P = 0.002), BMI (P = 0.001), chronic prostatitis (P = 0.002), and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01) were independent predictors of infections. BMI at 28.95 kg/m2 provided the best predictive cut-off point for infections, irrespective of method of disinfection. Area under the curve for all these parameters together was 0.91.Conclusions:We conclude that along with oral cephalosporin prophylaxis, povidone-iodine intrarectal disinfection is a superior to formalin needle disinfection alone in preventing post biopsy infection. Patients with BMI >28.95 kg/m2 should be considered at a higher risk for infections.

Next-Generation Sequencing for Pathogen Identification in Infected Foot Ulcers.

Background:Accurate identification of primary pathogens in foot infections remains challenging due to the diverse microbiome. Conventional culture may show false-positive or false-negative growth, leading to ineffective postoperative antibiotic treatment. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been explored as an alternative to standard culture in orthopedic infections. NGS is highly sensitive and can detect an entire bacterial genome along with genes conferring antibiotic resistance in a given sample. We investigated the potential use of NGS for accurate identification and quantification of microbes in infected diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). We hypothesize that NGS will aid identification of dominant pathogen and provide a more complete profile of microorganisms in infected DFUs compared to the standard culture method.Methods:Data were prospectively collected from 30 infected DFU patients who underwent operative treatment by a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon from October 2018 to September 2019. The average age of the patient was 60.4 years. Operative procedures performed were irrigation and debridement (12), toe or ray amputation (13), calcanectomies (4), and below-the-knee amputation (1). Infected bone specimens were obtained intraoperatively and processed for standard culture and NGS. Concordance between the standard culture and NGS was assessed.Results:In 29 of 30 patients, pathogens were identified by both NGS and culture, with a concordance rate of 70%. In standard culture, Staphylococcus aureus (58.6%) was the most common pathogen, followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (24.1%), Corynebacterium striatum (17.2%), and Enterococcus faecalis (17.2%). In NGS, Finegoldia magna (44.8%) was the most common microorganism followed by S. aureus (41.4%), and Anaerococcus vaginalis (24.1%). On average, NGS revealed 5.1 (range, 1-11) pathogens in a given sample, whereas culture revealed 2.6 (range, 1-6) pathogens.Conclusion:NGS is an emerging molecular diagnostic method of microbial identification in orthopedic infection. It frequently provides different profiles of microorganisms along with antibiotic-resistant gene information compared to conventional culture in polymicrobial foot infection. Clinical use of NGS for management of foot and ankle infections warrants further investigation.Level of Evidence:Level II, diagnostic study.

A Comparative Study of Physiological and Physical Parameters Between Married Females Residing at The Qushtapa Refugee Camp and in The City of Erbil in Kurdistan-Iraq

Refugees are under a high-risk factor of being suffering from many different diseases due to the uncontrolled accommodations environment of the camps. This study aimed to test whether the camp's habitat affecting the physical activities of the married females as a biomarker of the adverse effects on the health management issues. 60 married females (30 refugees and 30 city residents) were recruited. Blood samples of all participants were analyzed for blood glucose, blood triglycerides, blood cholesterol, blood hemoglobin (HGb), blood heamatocrite percentage (HCT %) and other physical parameters estimated like body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP). Additionally, participants were screened for bacterial UTIs. Refugees married females showed a significant decrease in the blood hemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) compared with the city females (P= 0.014) and blood heamatocrite percentage (HCT %) (P= 0.0074). Also, no significant differences were observed for the other parameters between refugees married females and city married females. The UTI bacterial infection in refugees married females (21, 65.6%) was significantly higher than the infection among city resident married females (11, 34.4%) (P=0.0096). The higher incidence percentage of UTIs were caused by Gram-negative bacteria (87.5%). The most dominant pathogen which established UTIs was Escherichia coli (57%). A high-stress level of camp environment and nutritional malformation may affect the refugees married females more than the city females. Therefore, it is the international community responsibility to protect and provide life-saving assistance to all refugee women and to those that have been subjected to such situations.

Diversity and prevalence of entomopathogenic fungi (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) in epidemic populations of bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in spruce forests of the Tatra National Park in Slovakia

Bark beetles are serious forest pests in Slovakia. Their outbreaks may have significant ecological and economic impacts on spruce forests. There is a variety of natural enemies that activate themselves during population outbreaks of insects and entomopathogenic fungi belong to important antagonists with a potential to regulate populations of their hosts. In 2014–2016, species richness and prevalence of entomopathogenic fungi were evaluated during the bark beetle outbreaks in spruce forests affected by windstorms in the Tatra National Park in Slovakia. Three Beauveria species, B. bassiana, B. caledonica and B. pseudobassiana, with Metapochonia bulbillosa were identified from 271 specimens of three bark beetle species, Ips typographus, Ips amitinus and Pityogenes chalcographus. Beauveria bassiana was the dominant pathogen and infected all three bark beetle species. Phylogenetic analysis identified three phylogenetic groups of B. bassiana in the evaluated host populations. M. bulbillosa was reported for the first time from bark beetle hosts and Slovakia. The prevalence of fungal infection in natural populations of I. typographus was low, varied between 0.07 and 0.72%, and have little influence on the bark beetle abundance.

Subtypes, resistance and virulence platforms in extended-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Romanian isolates

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged worldwide as a dominant pathogen in a broad range of severe infections, raising an acute need for efficient antibacterials. This is the first report on the resistome and virulome of 33 extended drug-resistant and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (XDR CRAB) strains isolated from hospitalized and ambulatory patients in Bucharest, Romania. A total of 33 isolates were collected and analyzed using phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility and conjugation assays, PCR, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST). All isolates were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), being susceptible only to colistin. The carbapenem resistance was attributed by PCR mainly to blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-23 genes. PFGE followed by MLST analysis demonstrated the presence of nine pulsotypes and six sequence types. WGS of seven XDR CRAB isolates from healthcare-associated infections demonstrated the high diversity of resistance genes repertoire, as well as of mobile genetic elements, carrying ARGs for aminoglycosides, sulphonamides and macrolides. Our data will facilitate the understanding of resistance, virulence and transmission features of XDR AB isolates from Romanian patients and might be able to contribute to the implementation of appropriate infection control measures and to develop new molecules with innovative mechanisms of action, able to fight effectively against these bugs, for limiting the spread and decreasing the infection rate and mortality.

Prevalence and Antibiotics Susceptibility Pattern of Urine Bacterial Isolates from Tripoli Medical Center (TMC), Tripoli, Libya

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common human bacterial infections encountered by physicians. The risk of resistant microbes is emerging as a result of the overuse of antibiotics treatments. The presence of pathogens with increased resistance to antimicrobial agents makes UTIs difficult to treat. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of the pathogens that cause UTIs, as well as the antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates. Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted from February 2020 to April 2020; a total number of 200 urine samples were collected from patients who daily attended TMC Libya. Bacterial pathogens were determined by bacteriological culture methods and Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by using the disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 200 samples, 110 cases had a positive culture. The dominant bacterial pathogens were Gram-negative that being with Escherichia coli (49, 55.68%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (18, 20.46%), Pseudomona aeruginosa (9, 10.23%), Proteus mirabilis (8, 9.09%), Enterobacter aerogenes (2, 2.27%), Citrobacter freundii (2, 2.27%). Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus 20 (90.91%) followed by S. saprophyticus (2, 9.01%) of the isolate’s strains. The isolated uropathogen showed increased levels of resistance to antibiotics. Where the Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus indicated the highest antibiotic resistance to Nitrofurantoin, Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole and also revealed the most sensitivity to Cefixime followed by doxycycline and ceftriaxone. Conclusions: The obtained results emphasized the emergence of highly resistant bacteria to most of the tested antimicrobials and propose the need for physicians to change their treatment pattern depending on antimicrobial susceptibility results.

Antagonistic and Plant Growth-Promoting Effects of Bacillus velezensis BS1 Isolated from Rhizosphere Soil in a Pepper Field.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important agricultural crop worldwide. Recently, Colletotrichum scovillei, a member of the C. acutatum species complex, was reported to be the dominant pathogen causing pepper anthracnose disease in South Korea. In the present study, we isolated bacterial strains from rhizosphere soil in a pepper field in Gangwon Province, Korea, and assessed their antifungal ability against C. scovillei strain KC05. Among these strains, a strain named BS1 significantly inhibited mycelial growth, appressorium formation, and disease development of C. scovillei. By combined sequence analysis using 16S rRNA and partial gyrA sequences, strain BS1 was identified as Bacillus velezensis, a member of the B. subtilis species complex. BS1 produced hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase and protease) and iron-chelating siderophores. It also promoted chili pepper (cv. Nockwang) seedling growth compared with untreated plants. The study concluded that B. velezensis BS1 has good potential as a biocontrol agent of anthracnose disease in chili pepper caused by C. scovillei.

Current-proven neonatal sepsis in Indonesian tertiary neonatal intensive care unit: a hematological and microbiological profile.

Background and Objectives:Neonatal sepsis is the third leading cause of neonatal death in the world. The patterns of pathogens causing neonatal sepsis varies in many countries. This study was aimed to identify hematological and microbiological profile of culture-proven neonatal sepsis in Indonesian tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Materials and Methods:Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in all inborn neonates that were suspected sepsis neonatal over a period of six months from April to September 2019. Complete blood count, c-reactive protein (CRP) and blood culture were examined before antibiotic administration. Statistical analysis were calculated based on Chi-Square’s Test and Mann-Whitney U test and p <0.05 considered significant.Results:One hundred four inborn neonates admitted to NICU and diagnosed with suspected neonatal sepsis were recruited. Culture-proven neonatal sepsis were confirmed in 52 (50%) neonates, 13 (25%) in early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) and 39 (75%) in late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS). The most common abnormal hematological profile were anemia and thrombocytopenia, with amount of 61.5% and 75%, respectively. High CRP only detected in 36.4% and only 18.5% experienced leukopenia. Gram negative bacteria responsible in 75% from total isolated pathogens. Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 48.1% followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) for 17.3% and Enterobacter cloacae for 11.5%.Conclusion:Anemia and thrombocytopenia were the top two hematological profile of culture-proven neonatal sepsis. Most causes of culture-proven neonatal sepsis were Gram negative bacteria and the dominant pathogen was K. pneumoniae.

Late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight preterm infants: 7 years' experience at a tertiary hospital in China

Studies about the epidemiology and risk factors of late onset of sepsis (LOS) in preterm very low birth weight (PVLBW) infants of developing countries are limited and variable. The objective of this study was to explore the epidemiology, risk factors and pathogens of LOS in VLBW infants in a Chinese tertiary hospital. Data concerning demographies, pathogens, risk factors and outcomes of LOS were collected in a cohort of 710 VLBW infants discharged from January 2012 to December 2018. Chi-square, t-test and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors. The overall incidence of LOS was 24.08% and blood culture-proven sepsis was 19.58%. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 57.93%, and 32.41% of the isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae. LOS led to a longer hospital stay, higher hospitalization cost and higher mortality compared to infants without LOS. Mortality in Gram-negative or fungi LOS was higher than in Gram-positive LOS. The factor of PVLBW infants with registered permanent residence (PR) was associated with 80% lower likelihood of LOS compared to those without registered PR (P=0.000, 95% CI 0.096-0.420). Infants with thrombocytopenia had 2.5 times LOS of control (P=0.014, CI 1.210-5.132). Duration of parenteral nutrition was a risk of LOS (P=0.009, CI 1.010-1.069). Gram-negative bacteria, especially Klebsiella pneumonia, were the dominant pathogens in this study. Social factors might be a risk of LOS in PVLBW infants in developing countries. Taking measures to reduce the duration of parenteral nutrition may be helpful in decreasing the incidence of LOS. Awareness of thrombocytopenia may help to recognized diagnosis of LOS.

A new insight to characterize immunomodulation based on hepatopancreatic transcriptome and humoral immune factor analysis of the Cherax quadricarinatus infected with Aeromonas veronii

Cherax quadricarinatus is a type of large freshwater crayfish that is characterized by rapid growth and formidable adaptability. It has also been widely cultured and studied as a model organism. Aeromonas veronii is the dominant pathogen in aquatic environments and the primary threat to aquaculture’s economic stability. To better understand the interactions between C. quadricarinatus and A. veronii, high-throughput RNA sequencing of the C. quadricarinatus hepatopancreas was carried out on a control group, susceptible group (6 h after infection), and resistant group (48 h after infection). A total of 65,850,929 genes were obtained. Compared with the control group, 2616 genes were up-regulated and 1551 genes were down-regulated in the susceptible group; while 1488 genes were up-regulated and 1712 genes were down-regulated in the resistant group. GO and KEGG analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with multiple immune pathways, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), antigen processing and presentation, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, phagosome, lysosome, JAK-STAT signaling pathway. qRT-PCR showed that infection by A. veronii changed the expression pattern of the serine proteinase inhibitor (SPI), crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), and extracellular copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), all of which were significantly higher than in the control group up to 48 h after infection. In addition, detection of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lysozyme (LZM), and phenoloxidase (PO) activity, as well as ceruloplasmin (CP) concentration at different times after infection showed diverse trends. Furthermore, pathological sections obtained 24 h after infection show lesions on the hepatopancreas and intestinal tissues caused by A. veronii. The results of this study provide a foundation for analyzing the immune mechanism of C. quadricarinatus infected with A. veronii at the transcriptional level and a theoretical basis for screening disease-resistant individuals to ensure healthy economic development of the aquatic industry.

Tunisian Pistachio Hull Extracts: Phytochemical Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Foodborne Pathogen Inhibition

The present study aimed to discriminate pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hulls belonging to three different Tunisian geographical origins and extracted separately by hexane, acetone, acetonitrile, and water in terms of phytochemicals and antioxidant and antibacterial activities using multivariate analysis. Significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in the phytochemical content, antioxidant, and antifoodborne bacterial activities were detected among the pistachio hulls populations. Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and heat map were used to distinguish the relationship between the different regions on the basis of the biological activities. It was found that the twelve (4 extracts × 3 geographical sources) pistachio hulls extracts could be classified geographically into four distinct groups. To explore the mode of action of the aqueous pistachio hull extract against L. monocytogenes and S. enterica, polymyxin acriflavine lithium chloride ceftazidime aesculin mannitol (PALCAM) and xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) broth media were artificially contaminated at 104 CFU/mL. Using linear and general linear models, aqueous pistachio hull extract was demonstrated to control the two dominant food-borne pathogens by suppressing the bacterial growth.

Deciphering of microbial diversity and antibiotic resistome of bioaerosols in swine confinement buildings

Cumulative evidence has revealed that particulate matter from swine confinement buildings (SCBs) is a reservoir of zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from feces, which have been associated with the growth stage of pigs. SCB bioaerosols can spread over long distances to the external environment, posing a significant risk to public health. However, the bacterial microbiome and resistome profiles of SCB bioaerosols and their relationship with the growth stages of pigs are not well understood. In this study, 24 bioaerosol samples from buildings separately housing weaning piglets (WP), growing-finishing pigs (FP), gestation sows (GS), and farrowing sows (FS) were used to determine the bacterial microbiome and resistome of the indoor air of SCBs using next-generation high-throughput sequencing approaches. The results indicated that FP bioaerosols exhibited the highest alpha diversity and ARG abundance. The composition of the bacterial microbiome and resistome of SCB bioaerosols varied according to the growth stage of the pigs. The most abundant phyla and ARG types were Proteobacteria and aminoglycosides, respectively, across the four types of SCBs. Three potential pathogens and 18 possible ARG host genera were found to occur in the SCB bioaerosols. The highest abundances of dominant potential pathogens (Acinetobacter) and ARG subtypes (aph(3‴)-III) were observed in the FP bioaerosols. Moreover, there is a strong correlation between the bacterial microbiome and the resistome in bioaerosols from the SCBs. It can be concluded that the growth stage of pigs exerted a significant effect on the bacterial microbiome and resistome profiles of the indoor air of SCBs.