Effective Antibiotics Research Articles

Antibacterial efficacy of novel bismuth-silver nanoparticles synthesis on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli infection models.

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria is one of the main concerns in the health sector worldwide. The conventional strategies for treatment and prophylaxis against microbial infections include the use of antibiotics. However, these drugs are failing due to the increasing antimicrobial resistance. The unavailability of effective antibiotics highlights the need to discover effective alternatives to combat bacterial infections. One option is the use of metallic nanoparticles, which are toxic to some microorganisms due to their nanometric size. In this study we (1) synthesize and characterize bismuth and silver nanoparticles, (2) evaluate the antibacterial activity of NPs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in several infection models (in vivo models: infected wound and sepsis and in vitro model: mastitis), and we (3) determine the cytotoxic effect on several cell lines representative of the skin tissue. We obtained bimetallic nanoparticles of bismuth and silver in a stable aqueous solution from a single reaction by chemical synthesis. These nanoparticles show antibacterial activity on S. aureus and E. coli in vitro without cytotoxic effects on fibroblast, endothelial vascular, and mammary epithelium cell lines. In an infected-wound mice model, antibacterial effect was observed, without effect on in vitro mastitis and sepsis models.

Cryo-EM Structure of Porphyromonas gingivalis RNA Polymerase

Porphyromonas gingivalis, an anaerobic CFB (Cytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides) group bacterium, is the keystone pathogen of periodontitis and has been implicated in various systemic diseases. Increased antibiotic resistance and lack of effective antibiotics necessitate a search for new intervention strategies. Here we report a 3.5 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of P. gingivalis RNA polymerase (RNAP). The structure displays new structural features in its ω subunit and multiple domains in β and β' subunits, which differ from their counterparts in other bacterial RNAPs. Superimpositions with E. coli RNAP holoenzyme and initiation complex further suggest that its ω subunit may contact the σ4 domain, thereby possibly contributing to the assembly and stabilization of initiation complexes. In addition to revealing the unique features of P. gingivalis RNAP, our work offers a framework for future studies of transcription regulation in this important pathogen, as well as for structure-based drug development.

Isolation and Identification of Vibrio Species from Different Types of Water Sources Along with Their Drug Susceptible Pattern

Abstract Background: Human activities are almost usually the cause of contaminated water supplies and places with large population densities and intensive land usage are particularly prone to pollution of drinking water sources. It is challenging to detoxify polluted water sources. Cholera is an acute form of diarrheal disease that plagued human civilization over the centuries. Vibrio spp., commonly found in aquatic environments, are the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world, those may spread to humans through the ingestion of contaminated drinking water or exposure to seawater. Methods: In the present study, a total of 12 samples were collected from four types of water sources for the isolation of Vibrio spp. along with their drug-resistant pattern through conventional, biochemical, and antibiotic disc diffusion methods. Results: The samples were enriched into alkaline peptone water and then inoculated into culture media such as nutrient agar, MacConkey, and TCBs agar medium. After incubation for 24 h at 37°C on TCBS agar, yellow and green colonies were screened out for biochemical identification. Nonsucrose-fermenting Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio mimicus, and Vibrio vulnificus showed green colonies, and sucrose-fermenting Vibrio cholera and Vibrio alginolyticus showed yellow colonies on TCBS. The antibiotics ERY (15 μg), PCN (10 μg), CEX (30 μg), and VAN (30 μg) were completely resistant while the more effective antibiotics against Vibrio spp. were SXT (25 μg), CHL (30 μg), and GEN (30 μg). However, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin showed moderate efficacy. Conclusion: To expand current knowledge on the occurrence, ecological niche, and persistence of potential human pathogenic Vibrio spp. in aquatic environments, the extensive laboratory experiment is required. To sum up, this kind of information is crucial for bringing attention to the existence of Vibrio spp. and enabling prompt implementation of preventive measures.

Molecular Detection of Psts Antibiotic-Resistant Gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

Abstract Background: Otitis media is a very common infection among people of different age groups. Objective: The goal of the current work was to determine the existence of PstS gene among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from otitis media cases in Iraqi patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 ear swabs were collected from patients suffering from otitis media attending the ENT outpatient clinic at Baghdad Teaching Hospital from July 2022 to the end of December 2022. The age range was 18-75 years. Detection of morphology and biochemical testing by Vitek 2 system. The antibiotic sensitivity test of the bacteria spp. was the detection of 18 antibiotics for different types using Vitek2 system. Identify the genes for antibiotic resistance mechanisms. DNA was extracted from samples, and resistance genes PstS were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: This study showed 80 out of 100 swabs revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and 71 (89%) isolates out of these 80 exhibited PstS genes. Age groups of the patients were 38-47, 48-57, and 58-67 years with percentages of 22.5%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. The highest resistance percentages of strains to tested antibiotics were for Ceftoriaxone, Cefpodoxime (100%), and the lowest resistant percentage was 22.5% for colistin, which determined the relationship between the presence of Psts and resistance to 18 antibiotics for different types. Colistin was the most effective antibiotic and can be considered as the drug of choice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusions: Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from patients suffering otitis media show the prevalence rate appears to be higher among the elderly and high virulence and antibiotic resistance due to the presence of PstS antibiotic resistance gene and ability to form biofilms, thus aggressive antimicrobial therapy is highly recommended in such conditions.

Bacterial Infections and Inflammatory Markers in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Assessing the Roles of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Interleukin-6

Abstract Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are severe complications of diabetes, leading to osteomyelitis, gangrene, and limb amputation. These outcomes increase mortality risk and bacterial resistance in surviving patients. The selection of the most effective antibiotics for DFUs remains a growing challenge. Objectives: The study aimed to identify risk factors, bacterial pathogens, and drug resistance in DFU patients, and explore the correlation between interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, and DFUs. Materials and Methods: Sixty isolates of bacteria were isolated aerobically from 100 samples of DFU (30 isolates from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 30 isolates from Staphylococcus aureus). All isolates were identified by biochemical tests, then confirmation diagnosis was done by using VITEK-2. Determination multiple drug resistance isolates by susceptibility tests, then estimation of the activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antibacterial with different concentrations were done. VEGF and IL-6 levels were determined by using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: The study revealed that many bacteria-resistant antibiotics, but AgNPs significantly inhibit multi-drug resistant bacteria, suggesting their potential as an alternative treatment. VEGF and IL-6 levels were significantly higher (P-value < 0.001) in DFU patients, with IL-6 negatively correlating with VEGF. Conclusion: Diabetic foot infections, caused by various bacteria, require understanding of antibiotic sensitivity for effective treatment. AgNPs showed strong antimicrobial effects against common bacteria, suggesting potential as an alternative treatment. The study also found elevated VEGF and IL-6 levels in DFU patients, with IL-6 potentially inhibiting VEGF, thus impairing healing.

Scrub Typhus During Pregnancy: A Study from Northeast India

Introduction: Scrub typhus is a crucial underrecognized cause of undifferentiated febrile illness in Northeastern India. Scrub typhus in pregnancy is an uncommon entity. In such cases, not initiating effective and safe antibiotics leads to maternal and fetal complications. To reduce complications, it is a must to keep a high index of clinical suspicion. Methodology: The present study was conducted to find the various disease manifestations of scrub typhus during pregnancy from January 2014 to December 2018. It was a retrospective study that included hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of scrub typhus during pregnancy. The scrub typhus was diagnosed based on the clinical presentation and serological test with Weil-Felix test titer for OXK more or equal to 1:160 or immunochromatographic test positive for scrub typhus IgM antibody. Result: During the study period, complete data were obtained from nine patients. The mean age of the patient was 26.5 years. A maximum of five patients presented in the third trimester, and two presented each in the first and second trimesters. Adverse fetal outcome was found in 33.3% of cases. Two patients had multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, and hepatitis was found to be a common occurrence. Conclusion: Scrub typhus during pregnancy presents a unique problem that is associated with high fetal loss and maternal complications. Keeping a high index of suspicion for diagnosis in endemic regions is essential, as prompt initiation of safe and effective antibiotics can prevent complications.

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae amongst residents of Obong Ntak in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Streptococcus pneumonia is among the major causative agents of respiratory tract infections and colonizes the nasopharyngeal cells of asymptomatically healthy individuals. Prevalence and antibiotics sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumonia amongst residents in a rural setting was evaluated. A total of 250 nasal swab samples (125 males and 125 females) were collected using sterile swab sticks. Administration of open-ended questionnaires, culture of the samples, identification of isolates, antimicrobial sensitivity test and determination of prevalence rate were all done using standard protocols. Out of the 250 samples collected, 35 were positive for S. pneumonia giving an overall prevalence of 14%. Based on sex, the prevalence rates were 15% and 20% for males and females, respectively. Prevalence rates of 12.5%, 13.7%, 12.7% and 25% were recorded for age groups of 10-20, 21-40, 41-60 and >60 years, respectively. The presence of S. pneumoniae based on the health status of the participants showed that the prevalence rates were 20% and 11.70% for clinically ill and clinically healthy individuals, respectively. The resistance profile to the test antibiotics were 22.9%, 22.9%, 11.4%, 100%, 100%, 34.3%, 34.3%, 100%, 54.3% and 77.1% respectively to perfloxacin, septrin, ciprofloxacin, amoxacilin, zinacef, gentamicin, erythromycin, ampliclox, streptomycin and rocephin. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic followed by perfloxacin and septrin. Our isolates showed 100% multi-drug resistance and is a cause for concern.

A Retrospective Analysis of Systemic Bartonella henselae Infection in Children.

Systemic Bartonella henselae infection, also known as cat-scratch disease (CSD), presents a diagnostic challenge due to the variability of clinical manifestations and the potential for serological cross-reactivity with other organisms. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with systemic B. henselae infection, to improve understanding and facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. We conducted a 10-year retrospective study at the "Louis Turcanu" Children's Emergency Hospital and private clinics in Timisoara, Romania, reviewing records for confirmed cases of B. henselae infection from January 2014 to January 2024. The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board. Diagnostic criteria included contact with animals, prolonged fever, hematological and/or hepatosplenic manifestations, and positive serological tests for B. henselae. Nineteen pediatric patients were identified with a median age of 8.1 years. The majority were exposed to felines (94.7%), reflecting the disease's epidemiological profile. Clinical findings highlighted fever (47.4%), lymphadenopathy (78.9%), and less frequently, abdominal pain and headache (both 10.5%). Laboratory analyses revealed a mean hemoglobin of 12.6 mg/dL, WBC count of 13.1 × 103 cells/microliter, and platelet count of 340.6 × 103 per microliter. Significant findings included elevation in ESR and CRP in 47.4% and 21.1% of patients, respectively, and high seropositivity rates for B. henselae IgM (63.2%) and IgG (94.7%). Imaging studies demonstrated widespread lymphadenopathy and occasional splenomegaly and hepatic microabscesses. All patients received antibiotic therapy, with azithromycin being the most commonly used (94.7%). Co-infections with Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii were documented, indicating the complex infectious status of the patients. Systemic B. henselae infection in children predominantly manifests with fever and lymphadenopathy, with a significant history of exposure to felines. Laboratory and imaging findings support the diagnosis, which is further complicated by potential co-infections. Effective antibiotic therapy, primarily with azithromycin, underscores the need for comprehensive diagnostic and treatment strategies. This study emphasizes the importance of considering systemic B. henselae infection in pediatric patients with prolonged fever and contact with cats, to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.

Confronting a New Challenge in Plastic Surgery: MDR Infections in Patients with Chronic Wounds.

The presence of a wound can be anywhere from non-problematic to life-threatening on a severity spectrum, with bacterial infection and resistance playing a major role in the development of chronicity, delaying wound healing. Wound colonization with multiple organisms and the limited number of effective antibiotics place a heavy burden on the healthcare system, with patients going through multiple surgeries during a prolonged hospitalization time. By analyzing the resistance patterns of pluri-bacterial populations and the approach used in managing complex cases, we aim to improve the protocols applied in caring for chronic wounds in our practice and share our experiences and observations. We designed a retrospective study on 212 diabetic and non-diabetic patients, aiming to evaluate the course of chronic wound treatment in our practice. We focused on the impact that MDR bacteria and diabetes have on surgical outcomes and their role in the healing process. Patients who received empiric antibiotic therapy before being admitted eventually presented with multiple MDR bacteria compared to those who did not receive antibiotics (p = 0.014). The presence of at least one MDR bacteria in the wound bed was associated with ulcers reaching bone (p = 0.02) and was positively correlated with the number of surgeries performed (p < 0.001). Diabetes played a significant role in surgery-related complications (p = 0.02) and hospitalization time (p < 0.001). Proper management of chronic wounds requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach and a thorough understanding of antibiotic usage. To address this need, we have developed and implemented a chronic wound treatment protocol in our clinic, with the goal of discharging patients once their ulcers have been treated and closed. A key summary of the protocol presented is to reduce the incidence of MDR bacteria and improve the patient's quality of life.

Rapid Phenotypic Antibiotics Susceptibility Analysis by a 3D Printed Prototype.

One of the most important public health concerns is the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens and corresponding treatment of associated infections. Addressing this challenge requires more efficient use of antibiotics, achievable by the use of evidence-based, effective antibiotics identified by antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). However, the current standard method of phenotypic AST used for this purpose requires 48 h or more from sample collection to result. Until results are available, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to avoid delaying treatment. The turnaround time must therefore be shortened in order for the results to be available before the second administration of antibiotics. The phenotypic electrochemical AST method presented here identifies effective antibiotics within 5-10 h after sampling. Spiked serum samples, including polymicrobial samples, with clinically relevant pathogens and respective concentrations commonly found in bloodstream infections (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are used. Direct loading of the test with diluted serum eliminates the need for a pre-culture, as required by existing methods. Furthermore, by combining several electrochemical measurement procedures with computational analysis, allowing the method to be used both online and offline, the AST achieves a sensitivity of 94.44% and a specificity of 95.83% considering each replicate individually.

Degradation of trimethoprim by advanced oxidation process using UV/TiO2 and H2O2: Kinetic and economic aspects

AbstractTrimethoprim (TMP) is an effective antibiotic for treating many different infections, but it can lead to water pollution and pose a threat of generating antibiotic‐resistant bacteria through waste in the drug manufacturing process, use, and excretion of humans as well as animals. Due to its strong and non‐selective oxidizing ability, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing UV/TiO2 and H2O2 are more efficient in removing them than conventional wastewater treatment. This work investigates TMP degradation in different water substrates by AOPs using UV/TiO2 and H2O2. The results show that the apparent reaction rate constant to the TMP's degradation in the de‐ion water matrix is 0.0379; 0.1937; and 0.209 min−1 for UV/TiO2, UV/H2O2, and UV/TiO2/H2O2 processes. The rate of degradation of TMP in hospital wastewater is lower than that of lake water and de‐ion water. The major intermediate products obtained from the degradation of TMP in de‐ion water by UV/TiO2/H2O2 process were recognized as C14H19O4N4 (m/z: 307), C5H7ON4 (m/z: 139), and C5H6O2N4 (m/z: 155). Finally, the cost of TMP treatment in de‐ion water by several AOPs using photocatalyst and hydrogen peroxide was calculated, it is 0.88 $/m3 for UV/H2O2; 33.01 $/m3 for UV/TiO2 process, and 18.77 $/m3 for UV/TiO2/H2O2 process.

Allergia agli antibiotici beta-lattamici: i miti da sfatare e le azioni pratiche da adottare

The penicillins (amoxicillin) are among the most effective and safe antibiotics for many common bacterial respiratory infections in paediatric age and should be avoided only when a true allergy is highly suspected. Severe true antibiotic allergies are rare and allergies are often overestimated. In high-income countries, 5-15% of patients report a penicillin allergy. However, in most cases (&gt; 95%), these patients do not have a true immunologically mediated allergy and they may very likely tolerate the antibiotic upon a new exposure. All patients defined as allergic should be carefully evaluated and their levels of antibiotic allergy risk determined. In cases of suspected penicillin allergy (e.g. those with cutaneous manifestations), skin tests are not necessary before prescribing a beta-lactam antibiotic (amoxicillin) and direct oral administration can be performed in low-risk phenotypes carefully selected according to simple protocols that do not always require a specialist evaluation. The article, based on the recommendations of the WHO Aware Manual, provides current evidence and practical guidance, and fosters a correct interpretation and management of an overestimated problem that does not promote an optimal and judicious antibiotic use.

Multidrug-resistant conjugative plasmid carrying mphA confers increased antimicrobial resistance in Shigella

Shigellosis remains a common gastrointestinal disease mostly in children < 5 years of age in developing countries. Azithromycin (AZM), a macrolide, is currently the first-line treatment for shigellosis in Bangladesh; ciprofloxacin (CIP) and ceftriaxone (CRO) are also used frequently. We aimed to evaluate the current epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and mechanism(s) of increasing macrolide resistance in Shigella in Bangladesh. A total of 2407 clinical isolates of Shigella from 2009 to 2016 were studied. Over the study period, Shigella sonnei was gradually increasing and become predominant (55%) over Shigella flexneri (36%) by 2016. We used CLSI-guided epidemiological cut-off value (ECV) for AZM in Shigella to set resistance breakpoints (zone-diameter ≤ 15 mm for S. flexneri and ≤ 11 mm for S. sonnei). Between 2009 and 2016, AZM resistance increased from 22% to approximately 60%, CIP resistance increased by 40%, and CRO resistance increased from zero to 15%. The mphA gene was the key macrolide resistance factor in Shigella; a 63MDa conjugative middle-range plasmid was harboring AZM and CRO resistance factors. Our findings show that, especially after 2014, there has been a rapid increase in resistance to the three most effective antibiotics. The rapid spread of macrolide (AZM) resistance genes among Shigella are driven by horizontal gene transfer rather than direct lineage.

Out-of-pocket expenditure among patients with diabetic foot ulcer in a tertiary care hospital of south India: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetic foot ulcer is a debilitating complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus. Patients lose their earning potential, face repeated hospitalizations, and are forced to bear heavy treatment costs. This places an enormous financial burden on the patients and their families. This study seeks to ascertain the out-of-pocket expenditure among these patients and correlate it with their risk factor profile. In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, a total of 154 patients with diabetic foot ulcers or amputations have been studied with an elaborate patient questionnaire and relevant clinical examinations. The costs incurred and the risk factors of the patients were analyzed for statistical association. The median total annual out-of-pocket expenditure for the management of diabetic foot ulcers among the study participants was found to be ₹29 775 (₹9650-₹81 120) ($378.14 [$122.56-$1030.22]). Out of the total expenditure, 58.49% went towards direct medical costs, 5.64% towards direct non-medical costs, and 35.88% for indirect costs. Medications, ulcer dressing and periodic debridement have accounted for 79.26% of direct medical costs. Transportation (61.37%) and patient's loss of income (89.45%) account for the major costs under the direct non-medical and indirect cost categories, respectively. A high ulcer grade and area, long ulcer duration, and past history of ulcers have higher expenditure. Patients seeking treatment from private establishments and those engaged in professional/skilled occupations have higher expenses. Adequate dressing of foot ulcers and proper footwear are associated with lower treatment expenditure. 68.8% of the participants have faced catastrophic expenditure due to treatment costs of diabetic foot ulcers. Adequate glycaemic control and proper foot care are necessary. Patients must seek medical care at the earliest in case of foot ulceration. Clinicians must provide proper wound care, institute effective antibiotics, and manage the complications. Government and insurance schemes are required to alleviate the patients' financial burden.

Mechanistic insight into the degradation of sulfadiazine by electro-Fenton system: Role of different reactive species

Sulfadiazine (SDZ), a widely used effective antibiotic, is resistant to conventional biological treatment, which is concerning since untreated SDZ discharge can pose a significant environmental risk. Electro-Fenton (EF) technology is a promising advanced oxidation technology for efficiently removing SDZ. However, due to the limitations of traditional experimental methods, there is a lack of in-depth study on the mechanism of ·OH-dominated SDZ degradation in EF process. In this study, an EF system was established for SDZ degradation and the transformation products (TPs) were detected by mass spectrometry. Dynamic thermodynamic, kinetic and wave function analysis of reactants, transition states and intermediates were proposed by density functional theory calculations, which was applied to elucidate the underlying mechanism of SDZ degradation. Experimental results showed that amino, benzene, and pyrimidine sites in SDZ were oxidized by ·OH, producing TPs through hydrogen abstraction and addition reactions. ·OH was kinetically more likely to attack SDZ- than SDZ. Fe(IV) dominated the single-electron transfer oxidation reaction of SDZ, and the formed organic radicals can spontaneously generate the de-SO2 product via Smiles rearrangement. Toxicity experiments showed the toxicity of SDZ and TPs can be greatly reduced. The results of this study promote the understanding of SDZ degradation mechanism in-depth. Environmental ImplicationSulfadiazine (SDZ) is one of the antibiotics widely used around the world. However, it has posed a significant environmental risk due to its overuse and cannot be efficiently removed by traditional treatment methods. The lack of in-depth study on SDZ degradation mechanism under reactive species limits the improvement of SDZ degradation efficiency. Therefore, this work focused on SDZ degradation mechanism in-depth under electro-Fenton system through reactive species investigation, mass spectrometry analysis, and theoretical calculation. The results in this study can provide a theoretical basis for improving the SDZ degradation efficiency which will contribute to solving SDZ pollution problems.

Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter species isolated from commercially sold steak (beef) and raw cow milk in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract. Agumah NB, Effendi MH, Witaningrum AM, Tyasningsih W, Ugbo EN, Nwagwu CS, Ugbo IA. 2024. Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter species isolated from commercially sold steak (beef) and raw cow milk in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Biodiversitas 25: 950-956. This study aimed to ascertain antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter species isolated from commercially sold steak (Beef) and raw cow milk in Abakaliki. Pools of milk samples and steak were bought at various outlets and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that two species of Campylobacter, namely Campylobacter coli, were isolated from the samples. In raw cow milk, Campylobacter coli had a frequency of 65% higher than Campylobacter jejuni (20%). While in steak, C. coli was 34.53% higher than C. jejuni (19.10%). The antibiotic susceptibility profile for C. coli isolated from raw cow milk ranged from 61.54% to 100%, especially for trimethoprim and cephalexin. Resistance ranged from 0.00 to 38.46%. The highest resistance was recorded for tetracycline. The antibiotic susceptibility profile for C. coli isolated from steak recorded susceptibility values ranging from 60.53% to 86.84%. Cephalexin had the highest effect on C. coli isolates from steak. Resistance values ranging from 13.16% to 42.11% were recorded with Nalidixic acid as the least effective antibiotic. C. jejuni isolated from cow raw milk, susceptibility ranging from 0.00% to 100% was recorded, especially for Cefotaxime, Imipenem, Cephalexin, and Nalidixic acid. Resistance ranged from 0.00% to 100%, especially for Chloramphenicol and Kanamycin. For C. jejuni, susceptibility values ranged from 26.57% to 85.71%, with imipenem presenting the highest effect. Resistance values ranged from 23.81% to 71.43%. Gentamycin had the least effect. Adequate sanitation, personal hygiene, and appropriate use of antibiotics are highly recommended for food handlers and farmers to safeguard human health by reducing AMR challenges, even in milk and meat/meat products.

Accurate and rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing using a machine learning-assisted nanomotion technology platform.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat, reducing treatment options for infected patients. AMR is promoted by a lack of access to rapid antibiotic susceptibility tests (ASTs). Accelerated ASTs can identify effective antibiotics for treatment in a timely and informed manner. We describe a rapid growth-independent phenotypic AST that uses a nanomotion technology platform to measure bacterial vibrations. Machine learning techniques are applied to analyze a large dataset encompassing 2762 individual nanomotion recordings from 1180 spiked positive blood culture samples covering 364 Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates exposed to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. The training performances of the different classification models achieve between 90.5 and 100% accuracy. Independent testing of the AST on 223 strains, including in clinical setting, correctly predict susceptibility and resistance with accuracies between 89.5% and 98.9%. The study shows the potential of this nanomotion platform for future bacterial phenotype delineation.

Scientific Rationale and Clinical Basis for Clindamycin Use in the Treatment of Dermatologic Disease.

Clindamycin is a highly effective antibiotic of the lincosamide class. It has been widely used for decades to treat a range of skin and soft tissue infections in dermatology and medicine. Clindamycin is commonly prescribed for acne vulgaris, with current practice standards utilizing fixed-combination topicals containing clindamycin that prevent Cutibacterium acnes growth and reduce inflammation associated with acne lesion formation. Certain clinical presentations of folliculitis, rosacea, staphylococcal infections, and hidradenitis suppurativa are also responsive to clindamycin, demonstrating its suitability and versatility as a treatment option. This review describes the use of clindamycin in dermatological practice, the mechanism of protein synthesis inhibition by clindamycin at the level of the bacterial ribosome, and clindamycin's anti-inflammatory properties with a focus on its ability to ameliorate inflammation in acne. A comparison of the dermatologic indications for similarly utilized antibiotics, like the tetracycline class antibiotics, is also presented. Finally, this review addresses both the trends and mechanisms for clindamycin and antibiotic resistance, as well as the current clinical evidence in support of the continued, targeted use of clindamycin in dermatology.

Effects of microencapsulated essential oils and organic acids preparation on growth performance, slaughter characteristics, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microenvironment of broiler chickens

To develop effective antibiotics alternatives is getting more and more important to poultry healthy production. The study investigated the effects of a microencapsulated essential oils and organic acids preparation (EOA) on growth performance, slaughter performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microenvironment of broilers. A total of 624 1-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into 6 groups including the control group (T1) fed with basal diet, the antibiotic group (T2) supplemented with basal diet with 45 mg/kg bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), and four inclusion levels of EOA-treated groups (T3, T4, T5, T6 groups) chickens given basal diet with 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg EOA/kg of diet, respectively. Results showed that compared with the control, the 200 mg/kg EOA group increased average daily gain (ADG) and average body weight (ABW) during the early stage (P < 0.05). EOA addition decreased crypt depth of the ileum (P < 0.05), but villus height to crypt depth ratio was increased by EOA addition at 200 and 400 mg/kg at d 21 (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, dietary addition EOA at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg increased the lipase activity in the duodenum at d 21 (P < 0.05). Increased lactic acid bacteria population was found in cecal digesta of the 400 mg/kg EOA group at d 21 (P < 0.05), and higher concentration of butyric acid level was observed in cecal digesta at d 21 and d 42 in the 200 mg/kg EOA group compared with the control (P < 0.05). RT-PCR analysis found that dietary EOA addition decreased the gene expression of IL-1β, COX-2 and TGF-β4 in the ileum at d 21 (P < 0.05), while only the 200 mg/kg EOA increased the gene expression of IL-10, TGF-β4, Claudin-1, ZO-1, CATH-1, CATH-3, AvBD-1, AvBD-9 and AvBD-12 in the ileum at d 42 (P < 0.05) compared with the control. In summary, adding 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the EOA to the diet could improve the growth performance and intestinal microenvironment through improving intestinal morphology, increasing digestive enzymes activity and cecal lactic acid bacteria abundance and butyric acid content, improving intestinal barrier function as well as maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis. The improving effect induced by EOA addition in the early growth stage was better than that in the later growth stage. Overall, the EOA product might be an effective antibiotic alternative for broiler industry.

Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Rebound of Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection: A Descriptive Study.

The rebound characteristics of respiratory infections after lifting pandemic control measures were uncertain. From January to November 2023, patients presenting at a teaching hospital were tested for common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae using a combination of antigen, nucleic acid amplification, and targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) tests. The number and rate of positive tests per month, clinical and microbiological characteristics were analyzed. A rapid rebound of SARS-CoV-2 was followed by a slower rebound of M. pneumoniae, with an interval of 5 months between their peaks. The hospitalization rate was higher, with infections caused by respiratory viruses compared to M. pneumoniae. Though the pediatric hospitalization rate of respiratory viruses (66.1%) was higher than that of M. pneumoniae (34.0%), the 4094 cases of M. pneumoniae within 6 months posed a huge burden on healthcare services. Multivariate analysis revealed that M. pneumoniae-infected adults had more fatigue, comorbidities, and higher serum C-reactive protein, whereas children had a higher incidence of other respiratory pathogens detected by tNGS or pathogen-specific PCR, fever, and were more likely to be female. A total of 85% of M. pneumoniae-positive specimens had mutations detected at the 23rRNA gene, with 99.7% showing A2063G mutation. Days to defervescence were longer in those not treated by effective antibiotics and those requiring a change in antibiotic treatment. A delayed but significant rebound of M. pneumoniae was observed after the complete relaxation of pandemic control measures. No unusual, unexplained, or unresponsive cases of respiratory infections which warrant further investigation were identified.