Microbial Cause Research Articles

Endogenous Endophthalmitis in the Setting of Kidney Disease: A Case Series

Blood stream infections (BSI) are common in patients with kidney disease. Metastatic foci of infections are one of the known complications of BSI. Endophthalmitis which is defined as infection and inflammation of the inner coats of the eye ball and intraocular fluids (aqueous and vitreous), is one such focus. We discuss the clinical profile of five patients who had endogenous endophthalmitis in the setting of kidney disease and their management and outcome. All five had diabetes mellitus; the source was central venous catheter in two and urinary tract infection in two. Microbial cause was Staphylococcus aureus in two, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one, Klebsiella pneumoniae in one and Candida albicans in one. All five required dialysis. Recovery of vision was poor with partial recovery only in two patients. A vision-threatening emergency, this condition requires early identification and management for better recovery of vision.

Atypical presentation of herpes simplex virus 2 primary infection: a case report

BackgroundCervicitis, an infectious or noninfectious inflammation of the cervix, encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions, from asymptomatic infections to severe lesions, making its diagnosis difficult. Acute cervicitis may develop into pelvic inflammatory disease. In patients with cervicitis, current guidelines recommend testing for herpes simplex virus when external genital lesions are present. Here, we present the case of a patient with an atypical primary herpes simplex virus 2 infection manifesting as cervicitis without genital lesions.Case presentationA 29-year-old Caucasian woman was hospitalized for pelvic inflammatory disease. The patient complained of severe suprapubic pain, fever, and heavy vaginal discharge. The external genitalia were unremarkable, so empirical antibiotic treatment was initiated. Despite 48 hours of well-administered antibiotic therapy, her complaints persisted. Polymerase chain reaction for possible microbial causes was negative for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There was no bacterial vaginosis. Repeat gynecological examinations with endovaginal ultrasound revealed an enlarged cervix, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging supported a diagnosis of cervicitis. At this point, additional screening for other sexually transmitted infections and infectious disease-related etiologies of cervicitis was performed, and the polymerase chain reaction analysis of newly isolated samples was positive for herpes simplex virus 2. No antiviral treatment was initiated given the delay in diagnosing herpes simplex virus 2 infection and the slow but spontaneous abatement of symptoms.ConclusionHerpes simplex virus infection should be considered as a possible cause of cervicitis, even in the absence of typical genital lesions. Early detection of herpes simplex virus allows early treatment, helping to reduce the duration and severity of symptoms and therefore potentially reducing recurrences and improving disease control. These data and data from future cases might spur changes in the guidelines on cervicitis testing and treatment.

Metagenomic profiling of nasopharyngeal samples from adults with acute respiratory infection.

Diagnosis of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) is challenging due to the broad diversity of potential microbial causes. We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to analyze the nasopharyngeal virome of ARI patients, who had undergone testing with a clinical multiplex PCR panel (Amplisens ARVI-screen-FRT). We collected nasopharyngeal swabs from 49 outpatient adults, 32 of whom had ARI symptoms and were PCR-positive, and 4 asymptomatic controls in Kazakhstan during Spring 2021. We assessed the biodiversity of the mNGS-derived virome and concordance with PCR results. PCR identified common ARI viruses in 65% of the symptomatic cases. mNGS revealed viral taxa consisting of human, non-human eukaryotic and bacteriophage groups, comprising 15, 11 and 28 genera, respectively. Notable ARI-associated human viruses included rhinovirus (16.3%), betaherpesvirus 7 (14.3%) and Epstein-Barr virus (8.16%). The primary phage hosts were Streptococcus spp. (32.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.5%) and Burkholderia spp. (20.4%). In total, 47% of ARIs were linked solely to bacterial pathogens, a third to viral-bacterial co-infections, and less than 10% to only viral infections by mNGS. PCR showed low concordance with mNGS, except for rhinovirus. These results underscore the importance of broad diagnostic methods and question the effectiveness of commonly used PCR panels in ARI diagnosis.

Leuconostoc gelidum Is the Major Species Responsible for the Spoilage of Cooked Sausage Packaged in a Modified Atmosphere, and Hop Extract Is the Best Inhibitor Tested.

Cooked sausages packaged in a modified atmosphere (MAP: 20% CO2, 70% N2, <0.2% O2) with evident yellow stains were analyzed. The aims of this work were to study the microbial cause of the spoilage and to evaluate different antimicrobial compounds to prevent it. Leuconostoc gelidum was identified as the primary cause of the yellow coating in spoiled cooked sausage, as confirmed by its intentional inoculation on slices of unspoiled sausage. Leuconostoc gelidum was the main bacteria responsible for the yellow coating in spoiled cooked sausage, as confirmed by its intentional inoculation on slices of unspoiled sausage. The yellow color was also evident during growth in the model system containing cooked sausage extract, but the colonies on MRS agar appeared white, demonstrating that the food substrate stimulated the production of the yellow pigment. The spoilage was also characterized by different volatile compounds, including ketones, ethanol, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate, found in the spoiled cooked sausage packages. These compounds explained the activity of Leuc. gelidum because they are typical of heterofermentative LAB, cultivated either on food substrates or in artificial broths. Leuc. gelidum also produced slight swelling in the spoiled packages. The efficacy of different antimicrobials was assessed in model systems composed of cooked sausage extract with the antimicrobials added at food product concentrations. The data showed that sodium lactate, sodium acetate, and a combination of sodium lactate and sodium diacetate could only slow the growth of the spoiler-they could not stop it from occurring. Conversely, hop extract inhibited Leuc. gelidum, showing a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of approximately 0.008 mg CAE/mL in synthetic broth and 4 mg CAE/kg in cooked sausage slices. Adding hop extract at the MIC did not allow Leuc. gelidum growth and did not change the sensorial characteristics of the cooked sausages. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antimicrobial activities of hop extracts against Leuc. gelidum either in vitro or in vivo.

#2276 Blood stream infections in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis—a Danish nationwide study

Abstract Background and Aims Infection due to the immunosuppressive treatment, is among the most frequent causes of hospitalization and death in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Information on prevailing causal microbial aetiologies is crucial for improving treatment and prevention of such events. Here we examined causal bacteriology, incidence, and risk of blood stream infections (BSIs) in incident and prevalent AAV patients, as compared to the general population. Method All data were retrieved from the Danish nationwide registries and the Danish Microbiology Database. Prevalent patients between 1998-2010 were all included at the same index date 1.1.2010; Incident patients diagnosed after 2010 were included with index being the day of diagnosis. Both groups were followed until first time BSI, death, or a maximum of 12 months. Background controls were matched 1:4 on age and sex. Cumulative incidence was assessed by the Aalen-Johansen estimator, and cox analyses adjusted for age, sex, kidney involvement, hypertension, diabetes, dialysis, and plasma exchange (PLEX), were used to model survival time. Results A total 19 (2.3%) BSIs were identified in 818 prevalent patients, and 55 (5.9%) BSIs in 939 incident patients (P &amp;lt; 0.001). As in the background control group, primary causal microbial agents among prevalent patients were E. coli (26.3%) and S. aureus (21.1%), with an overall Gram-negative predominance (58.8%). E. coli (17.5%) remained the most frequent microbial cause of BSIs in incident patients, however with a relatively higher frequency of gram-positive bacteria (50.9%) dominated by Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (12.3%), Enterococci (14%), and Streptococci (14%). Difference in bacteriology between prevalent and incident patients disappeared when patients on dialysis were excluded, whereas the difference in BSI frequency remained significant (p &amp;lt; 0.001). One-year HR of first-time BSI was significantly higher in patients with AAV as compared to controls (prevalent AAV: HR 3.17 [95% CI 1.63-6.18], p &amp;lt; 0.0001; Incident AAV; HR 8.64 [95% CI 4.88-15.31], p &amp;lt; 0.0001), with significant difference between incident and prevalent patients (HR 2.73 [95% CI 1.39-5.35], p = 0.003). Dialysis (HR 3.15 [95% CI 1.86-5.31], p &amp;lt; 0.0001) and PLEX (HR 1.87 [95% CI 1.05-3.33], p &amp;lt; 0.033) were solitary risk factors of BSI as well as higher age, hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease (Figure). Risk of BSI remained significantly increased for both prevalent and incident patients as compared to matched background controls when patients on dialysis were excluded. Conclusion E. coli and S. aureus were predominant causal isolates in prevalent AAV patients and controls, and the gram-positive predominance seen with incident AAV was primarily caused by patients on dialysis. Risk of BSI was higher in incident AAV as compared to prevalent AAV, and the AAV diagnosis was associated with increased risk of BSI at all times, with highest risk initially after first diagnosis. Interventions requiring a central venous catheter were solitary risk factors of BSI.

Multidrug-resistant pathogens and ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients: a prospective observational monocentric comparative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among critically ill patients. However, a comparison of VAP incidence in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cohorts, particularly in a context with a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, is lacking.Material and MethodsWe conducted a single-center, mixed prospective and retrospective cohort study comparing COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the “Città della Salute e della Scienza” University Hospital in Turin, Italy, between March 2020 and December 2021 (COVID-19 group), with a historical cohort of ICU patients admitted between June 2016 and March 2018 (NON-COVID-19 group). The primary objective was to define the incidence of VAP in both cohorts. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the microbial cause, resistance patters, risk factors and impact on 28 days, ICU and in-hospital mortality, duration of ICU stay, and duration of hospitalization).ResultsWe found a significantly higher incidence of VAP (51.9% - n = 125) among the 241 COVID-19 patients compared to that observed (31.2% - n = 78) among the 252 NON-COVID-19 patients. The median SOFA score was significantly lower in the COVID-19 group (9, Interquartile range, IQR: 7–11 vs. 10, IQR: 8–13, p < 0.001). The COVID-19 group had a higher prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria-related VAP (30% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of difficult-to-treat (DTR) or MDR bacteria. ICU and in-hospital mortality in the COVID-19 and NON-COVID-19 groups were 71% and 74%, vs. 33% and 43%, respectively. The presence of COVID-19 was significantly associated with an increased risk of 28-day all-cause hospital mortality (Hazard ratio, HR: 7.95, 95% Confidence Intervals, 95% CI: 3.10-20.36, p < 0.001). Tracheostomy and a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation were protective against 28-day mortality, while dialysis and a high SOFA score were associated with a higher risk of 28-day mortality.ConclusionCOVID-19 patients with VAP appear to have a significantly higher ICU and in-hospital mortality risk regardless of the presence of MDR and DTR pathogens. Tracheostomy and a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation appear to be associated with better outcomes.

Alveolitis as a result of dust chlorine exposure

Hypersensitivity pneumonia of the lung, also called "extrinsic allergic alveolitis" or "hypersensitivity pneumonitis", is a condition in which the lung tissue becomes inflamed for reasons other than microbial causes. There may be many different reasons. Among the most common reasons were bird feeding, agricultural works and air conditioners. There are acute, subacute or chronic (slowly progressing) forms. Acute and subacute forms may recur, while the chronic form progresses and causes permanent and irreversible damage such as fibrosis and emphysema. Bird proteins, mammalian proteins, fungi, bacterial proteins and small molecular weight chemicals are generally blamed for the formation of the disease. Sometimes the causative agent may not be identified. In this case, we aimed to present a patient who applied to our clinic due to complaints of sudden respiratory distress, rapid fatigue and cough as a result of dust chlorine exposure, and was diagnosed with alveolitis, hospitalized and followed up.

HYPERACUTE CUTIBACTERIUM ACNES ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY.

Postoperative endophthalmitis is a relatively uncommon, but potentially visually devastating, complication associated with cataract surgery. Specific microbial causes of endophthalmitis are characteristically associated with particular disease time courses. Although Cutibacterium acnes is typically associated with an indolent course of inflammation, we report a case of C. acnes endophthalmitis with onset on postoperative day (POD) 1 and a positive culture from POD 2. This is a case report. A 56-year-old man underwent cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens placement in his left eye. On POD 1, he presented with severe discomfort, reduced visual acuity, and significant inflammation. On POD 2, his anterior chamber was tapped and injected with broad-spectrum antibiotics and steroids. The inflammation ultimately resolved, and his visual acuity improved to 20/20. C. acnes is a rare cause of hyperacute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis. Maintaining a high clinical suspicion and initiating prompt treatment can help to optimize long-term visual outcomes.

Bacterial Community Shifts during Polyp Bail-Out Induction in Pocillopora Corals.

Polyp bail-out constitutes both a stress response and an asexual reproductive strategy that potentially facilitates dispersal of some scleractinian corals, including several dominant reef-building taxa in the family Pocilloporidae. Recent studies have proposed that microorganisms may be involved in onset and progression of polyp bail-out. However, changes in the coral microbiome during polyp bail-out have not been investigated. In this study, we induced polyp bail-out in Pocillopora corals using hypersaline and hyperthermal methods. Bacterial community dynamics during bail-out induction were examined using the V5-V6 region of the 16S-rRNA gene. From 70 16S-rRNA gene libraries constructed from coral tissues, 1,980 OTUs were identified. Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria consistently constituted the dominant bacterial taxa in all coral tissue samples. Onset of polyp bail-out was characterized by increased relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and decreased abundance of Gammaproteobacteria in both induction experiments, with the shift being more prominent in response to elevated temperature than to elevated salinity. Four OTUs, affiliated with Thalassospira, Marisediminitalea, Rhodobacteraceae, and Myxococcales, showed concurrent abundance increases at the onset of polyp bail-out in both experiments, suggesting potential microbial causes of this coral stress response. IMPORTANCE Polyp bail-out represents both a stress response and an asexual reproductive strategy with significant implications for reshaping tropical coral reefs in response to global climate change. Although earlier studies have suggested that coral-associated microbiomes likely contribute to initiation of polyp bail-out in scleractinian corals, there have been no studies of coral microbiome shifts during polyp bail-out. In this study, we present the first investigation of changes in bacterial symbionts during two experiments in which polyp bail-out was induced by different environmental stressors. These results provide a background of coral microbiome dynamics during polyp bail-out development. Increases in abundance of Thalassospira, Marisediminitalea, Rhodobacteraceae, and Myxococcales that occurred in both experiments suggest that these bacteria are potential microbial causes of polyp bail-out, shedding light on the proximal triggering mechanism of this coral stress response.

Linking microbial contamination to food spoilage and food waste: the role of smart packaging, spoilage risk assessments, and date labeling.

Ensuring a safe and adequate food supply is a cornerstone of human health and food security. However, a significant portion of the food produced for human consumption is wasted annually on a global scale. Reducing harvest and postharvest food waste, waste during food processing, as well as food waste at the consumer level, have been key objectives of improving and maintaining sustainability. These issues can range from damage during processing, handling, and transport, to the use of inappropriate or outdated systems, and storage and packaging-related issues. Microbial growth and (cross)contamination during harvest, processing, and packaging, which causes spoilage and safety issues in both fresh and packaged foods, is an overarching issue contributing to food waste. Microbial causes of food spoilage are typically bacterial or fungal in nature and can impact fresh, processed, and packaged foods. Moreover, spoilage can be influenced by the intrinsic factors of the food (water activity, pH), initial load of the microorganism and its interaction with the surrounding microflora, and external factors such as temperature abuse and food acidity, among others. Considering this multifaceted nature of the food system and the factors driving microbial spoilage, there is an immediate need for the use of novel approaches to predict and potentially prevent the occurrence of such spoilage to minimize food waste at the harvest, post-harvest, processing, and consumer levels. Quantitative microbial spoilage risk assessment (QMSRA) is a predictive framework that analyzes information on microbial behavior under the various conditions encountered within the food ecosystem, while employing a probabilistic approach to account for uncertainty and variability. Widespread adoption of the QMSRA approach could help in predicting and preventing the occurrence of spoilage along the food chain. Alternatively, the use of advanced packaging technologies would serve as a direct prevention strategy, potentially minimizing (cross)contamination and assuring the safe handling of foods, in order to reduce food waste at the post-harvest and retail stages. Finally, increasing transparency and consumer knowledge regarding food date labels, which typically are indicators of food quality rather than food safety, could also contribute to reduced food waste at the consumer level. The objective of this review is to highlight the impact of microbial spoilage and (cross)contamination events on food loss and waste. The review also discusses some novel methods to mitigate food spoilage and food loss and waste, and ensure the quality and safety of our food supply.

Effect of Organic and Mineral Soil Additives on Asparagus Growth and Productivity in Replant Soils

The repeated cultivation of asparagus in the same field can severely reduce yield. A complex of predominantly microbial causes is suspected. Limited plant development, establishment problems, and yield loss may occur, particularly in light sandy soils. In order to address this replant problem and evaluate alternative cultivation conditions, two asparagus fields were treated with different supplements and were cultivated for 5 years to investigate their impact on yield. The results from the pot trials using soils from these fields are presented, along with the field trial findings. The trials included the incorporation of mushroom substrate (champost), Fimonit (clay mineral), mustard meal (biofumigation), and Micosat F Uno (including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma viride, and rhizosphere bacteria species). In the pot trials, the sterilised soil exhibited a growth benefit over the original soil. However, the tested additives had no significant effects in the short period of 8 weeks. At one of the tested field sites, the marketable asparagus yields following champost, Fimonit, biofumigation, and Micosat treatments were 14, 6, 16 and 12% higher than that of the control soil, respectively, but no significant differences in treatment effect were observed in the second test field. Biofumigation using mustard meal and champost was most successful in reducing the impact of replanting on yields.

Prevalence and Microbial Detection of Denture Induced Stomatitis among Individuals Attending Dental Clinics in Duhok City

Background &amp; Objectives: Denture stomatitis is an inflammatory change in the mucosa of the oral cavity in denture bearing areas mostly in upper residual ridge characterized by erythema and many microbial causes are behind of the diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of denture induced stomatitis among population and detection of microbial profile causing denture stomatitis among persons wearing upper removable prosthesis in Duhok province. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed on patients with Denture induced stomatitis. The data was collected during one year from February 2020 to February 2021.The study involved 46 patients had denture induced stomatitis (26 male and 20 females). The prevalence rate of dentures stomatitis and the associated factors were analyzed . Results: Denture stomatitis showed as type I (58.70%), type II (36.96%) and type III (4.35%). Type I rate was the highest and followed by type II and type III denture stomatitis. Yeasts such as Candida albicans 14 (30.43%) was predominant followed by Cryptococcus glabrata 4 (8.7%), Cryptococcus laurentii 4 (8.7%) and Candida famata 1 (2.17%) in cases with denture stomatitis. The predominant bacterial microorganisms were gram positive in accordance to oxygen requirements mostly was facultative aerobes. Conclusion: The study revealed three types of denture stomatitis; type I, type II and type III stomatitis; Regarding microbial detection; Candida albicans was the most identified yeast and facultative aerobic Gram positive bacterial accounted mostly compared with, aerobic and anaerobic.

Changes in the epidemiology of pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-institution study.

Focal intracranial infections (epidural abscesses, subdural empyemas, and intraparenchymal abscesses) are uncommon complications of sinusitis and otitis media but can be associated with significant morbidity. Treatment typically requires neurosurgical and otolaryngological interventions in combination with antibiotic treatment. Historically, children have presented to the authors' pediatric referral center with sinusitis- or otitis media-related intracranial infections in low numbers. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of intracranial pyogenic complications has increased at this center. The objective of this study was to compare the epidemiology, severity, microbial causes, and management of pediatric sinusitis- and otitis-related intracranial infections in the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. All patients 21 years of age or younger who presented with an intracranial infection in the setting of sinusitis or otitis media and who underwent neurosurgical treatment at Connecticut Children's from January 2012 to December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were systematically collated, and variables before and during COVID-19 were compared statistically. Overall, 18 patients were treated for sinusitis-related (n = 16) or otitis media-related (n = 2) intracranial infections during the study period. Ten patients (56%) presented from January 2012 to February 2020, none from March 2020 to June 2021, and 8 (44%) from July 2021 to December 2022. There were no significant demographic differences between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 cohorts. The 10 patients in the pre-COVID-19 cohort underwent a total of 15 neurosurgical and 10 otolaryngological procedures, while the 8 patients in the COVID-19 cohort underwent a total of 12 neurosurgical and 10 otolaryngological procedures. Surgically obtained wound cultures yielded a variety of organisms; Streptococcus constellatus/S. anginosus/S. intermedius were more prevalent in the COVID-19 cohort (87.5% vs 0%, p < 0.001) as was Parvimonas micra (62.5% vs 0%, p = 0.007). At an institutional level, there has been an approximately threefold increase in cases of sinusitis- and otitis media-related intracranial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multicenter studies are needed to confirm this observation and to investigate whether the mechanisms of infection are related directly to SARS-CoV-2, changes in the respiratory flora, or delayed care. The next steps will include expansion of this study to other pediatric centers throughout the United States and Canada.

MICROBIAL PROFILE OF ULCERATIVE KERATITIS AT TERTIARY LEVEL HOSPITAL

Background: Keratitis is the term applied for inammations of the cornea. Ulcerative keratitis is a common potentially sight threatening ocular infection that may be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites. Corneal ulcer is an ocular emergency that requires prompt management to ensure the best visual outcome for the patient. Otherwise, it can result in scarring and blindness. Aim and objectives: To study Microbial causes and to identify risk factors, and corelation of clinical features of ulcerative keratitis with etiological agents Materials and methods: Total 325 corneal ulcer cases were studied. Corneal scrapings were collected and subjected for examination by Gram's stain, 10% KOH, bacterial and fungal culture. Antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial pathogens was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines with various groups of antibiotics. MIC for vancomycin were determined for study isolates by Epsilometer test. Results: Totally 325 infectious corneal ulcers were studied in detail. Aetiological agents were isolated in 115 (35.38%) cases. Majority of the isolates were fungal agents (44.18%), belonging to the Aspergillus (21.05%), Fusarium (14.47%). Bacterial corneal ulcer was less common (25.49%). The predominant bacterial pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. no Acanthamoeba were identied. The sensitivity of potassium hydroxide staining was almost 100% in culture-proven fungal cases. Trauma is the leading cause for the corneal ulcers. Majority of the bacterial isolates were susceptible to amikacin. Conclusion: Ulcerative keratitis being a sight threatening disorder, early suspicion, rational use of laboratory diagnostic procedures, identication of the causative organisms and timely institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on the prevailing sensitivity pattern of the isolates could save the eye from this preventable cause of blindness

Isolations and Identification of bacteria present in the fluids Save contact lenses used by some students girls of the Tikrit University

The number of people who wear contact lenses (CLS) has been especially increased in the past decade as an alternative to glasses, but many of them do not realize the extent of the hazards involved, and these risks Keratitis associated with microbial causes, so this study included isolation and identification the bacteria in fluids save to lenses with 42 users of contact lenses of students in inner section in the Tikrit University. The study showed the presence of different bacterial groups in the fluids keeping contact lenses which included Staph. epidermis with percentage 30.30% and Staph. Aureuswith percentage 21.21% and the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia precentage 18.18% and also was diagnosed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and with 9.09%, while the intestinal bacteria Serratia odorfera where it was obtained with 6.06%. As for the sensitivity of the bacterial isolates to antibiotics, the study proved that more antibiotic effect on gram positive and negative bacteria is erythromycin followed by chloramphenicol while more antibiotic resistance by bacteria is ezithromycin, due to the erroneous and excessive use of these drugs by people.

Isolation and Identification Some of microbial causes for dental caries

This study was conducted for the isolation of some microbial cause tooth decay and determine the risk factors related to caries. 91 sample collected from teeth (plaques or swabs from dental caries), (41) sample from children (6-14) years and (50) sample from adult (15-70) years, subdivided into (30) sample associated with risk factors and (20) sample without risk factors. A total of 61 isolates were identified in which 38 isolates (41.75%) were S. aureus, 16 isolates (17.58%) were Streptococcus spp. and 7 isolates (7.69%) were identified as Candida albicans.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis and History of Hypothyroidism: Intervening Data of a Prospective Multicenter Trial and Meta-Analysis of the Existing Literature

Background: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign breast disease that mostly occurs in reproductive ages in parous women. Hormonal, autoimmune, and microbial causes have been implicated as causes. We carried out this prospective study to investigate the reproductive factors and underlying disease states in IGM. Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, we evaluated the reproductive factors, anthropometric parameters and past medical histories of participants of an ongoing multicentric clinical trial. In the second phase, we performed an extensive review of the literature for studies that had considered patients with a histologic-proven diagnosis of IGM without date limitations, and extracted the data about parity, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive pill use and past medical histories. We then carried out a meta-analysis. Results: Data of 123 patients were included. The mean age was 35.11±7.07 years, and the mean body mass index was 27.41±4.74. Overall, %93.8, 90.27% and 28.7% of patients were parous, had breastfed, and had used OCP, respectively. Hypothyroidism represented the most common (18.94%) previous medical disease. We included 89 studies in our search. Considering these studies and ours, the pooled prevalence of rates of parity, breastfeeding and oral contraceptive pill consumption were 96%, 89%, and 29%; and the pooled prevalence of hypothyroidism, diabetes and hypertension were 9%, 5% and 5%, respectively. Although not exactly comparable, these rates of hypothyroidism were higher than those reported in women in the general population (4.2% in one large study in Iran). Conclusion: Our study suggests a possible relation between a past history of hypothyroidism and IGM. We propose a study that investigates the occurrence of IGM in some large cohorts of healthy women, and the retrospective assessment of thyroid tests in the primary serum samples.

Technologies to decontaminate bacterial biofilm on hospital surfaces: a potential new role for cold plasma?

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major challenge and the near patient surface is important in harbouring causes such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile. Current approaches to decontamination are sub-optimal and many studies have demonstrated that microbial causes of HCAIs may persist with onward transmission. This may be due to the capacity of these microbes to survive in biofilms on surfaces. New technologies to enhance hospital decontamination may have a role in addressing this challenge. We have reviewed current technologies such as UV light and hydrogen peroxide and also assessed the potential use of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) in surface decontamination. The antimicrobial mechanisms of CAPP are not fully understood but the production of reactive oxygen and other species is believed to be important. CAPP systems have been shown to partially or completely remove a variety of biofilms including those caused by Candida albicans, and multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. There are some studies that suggest promise for CAPP in the challenge of surface decontamination in the healthcare setting. However, further work is required to define better the mechanism of action. We need to know what surfaces are most amenable to treatment, how microbial components and the maturity of biofilms may affect successful treatment, and how would CAPP be used in the clinical setting.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumors from heavy alcohol consumers are associated with higher levels of TLR9 and a particular immunophenotype: Impact on patient survival.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent types of oral cancer in developing countries and its burden correlates with exposure to tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are major sensors of inflammatory stimuli, from both microbial and sterile causes and as such, they have been related to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we evaluated the expression of TLR2, 4 and 9 as well as CD3+, CD8+ and Granzyme B+ cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry in oral samples of 30 patients with OSCC, classified according to their consumption of alcohol. Our findings indicate that there is a significant association between heavy alcohol consumption and tumors with higher expression levels of TLR9. Moreover, patients with TLR9high tumors, as well as those who indicated high consumption of alcohol exhibited a diminished overall survival. TCGA data analysis indicated that TLR9high tumors express a significant increase in some genes related with the oral cavity itself, inflammation and tumor promotion. Our analysis of tumor infiltrating leukocytes demonstrated that the major differences perceived in heavy alcohol consumers was the location of CD8+ T cells infiltrating the tumor, which showed lower numbers intratumorally. Our data suggest the existence of a pathogenic loop that involves alcohol consumption, high TLR9 expression and the immunophenotype, which might have a profound impact on the progression of the disease.

Investigation of Coxsackie Virus Type B in Grave’s Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is a broad term that refers to a variety of clinical conditions marked by inflammation and damage to thyroid cells. These disorders can be chronic or acute, include lymphocytic infiltration, have a microbial cause, or be linked to autoimmune thyroid disease, such as in Graves’ disease (GD). This cross-sectional study aimed to detect anti-TSH antibodies and investigate Coxsackie virus B (CVB) IgM and IgG antibodies in the serum of patients to know their role in the pathogenesis of thyroiditis. The study included 91 patients suffering from thyroid dysfunction through thyroid hormone tests (FT3, FT4 and TSH) by Snibe Maglumi-800 Chemiluminescence Immunoassay, where they were divided into three groups (subclinical thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism). To determine which of them has Graves’ disease, detection of anti-TSH Ab have been performed then detection of antibodies to specific CVB IgM and IgG in the sera of patients by ELISA. The results of serology showed that the percentage of anti-TSH antibodies in the three groups was (68.13%), and the percentage was the highest in the hyperthyroidism group, which amounted to (85%). The serological diagnosis also showed that the presence of antibodies to CVB IgM was (65.93%) while, IgG levels were (20.87%). Conclusions: Coxsackie virus B infection is commonly seen in patients with thyroiditis and may have a role in the its pathogenesis. Keywords: Coxsackie virus B, Graves’ disease, Thyroiditis