Microbial Tests Research Articles

Occurrence of antimicrobial residues in broiler chickens from selected farms and markets in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animal meant for human and animal’s consumption lead to occurrence of antibiotic residues which threaten the health of both animals and humans. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of antimicrobial residues in broiler chicken in Kano state, Nigeria. Samples of fresh breast muscle, thigh muscle, liver and kidney were collected from 100 birds and examined using microbial inhibition test and ELISA test to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial residues and Enrofloxacin residues. A questionnaire was also administered to 33 workers and managers of the selected bird’s farms to assess their knowledge on the use of antibiotics and presence of antimicrobial residues. The result of the study revealed that 43% of the studied birds tested positive to antibiotic residue. Kidney samples recorded the highest (43%) residue present while thigh muscles (35%) recorded the least. The result indicated that among the birds detected with positive antibiotic residues, 36.4% were also positive for Enrofloxacin residue. All the respondents were using one or more antibiotic for treatment, prophylaxis or both and to a lesser extent as growth promoters. Majority (55.5%) of the respondents were not aware of the presence of residues in poultry. Most of the respondents (63.7%) have knowledge of withdrawal period but all of them were not observing withdrawal practice before disposing their birds. Doxycycline antibiotic was found to be the most indiscriminately use antibiotic, while erythromycin and chloramphenicol are the least. The study advocates the need for awareness campaigns for the farmers on the correct way of administering the antibiotics with special emphasis on withdrawal periods as well as continuous monitoring of the residues for public health reasons.

Microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations in various pharmacopoeias: a global scenario.

A pharmacopoeia is a compendium of guidelines and criteria for drug quality. It was established by a national or regional entity and has legal significance. This applies to administration of drugs in a particular nation or region. In this study, the differences and similarities of microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications for microbial enumeration of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations in 14 national and international pharmacopeias were investigated. It was found that 12 pharmacopeias have given separate microbial limits for total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC), and a list of specified microorganisms for which acceptance criteria are defined. However, similarities were noticed in Ph.Eur, Ph. Helv and, BP. Salmonella, and Escherichia coli are the most common pathogens specified for herbal preparations in which boiling water is added prior to use and for internal use in all Pharmacopoeias because they serve as indicators of potential contamination. From this study, it can be concluded that the differences in microbial limit tests and their acceptance criteria as specified in the various pharmacopoeias need to be harmonized. It will become a more convenient option for global drug manufacturers to import/export herbal drugs, and this would also eliminate the burden of performing various analytical methods and comply with different microbial acceptance criteria set by various pharmacopoeias. The comparative data obtained from this study will be used to develop strategies for revisions of pharmacopoeias in a harmonized manner with respect to microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications for microbial enumeration of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations.

Significance of early diagnosis and surgical management in treating Mycobacterium immunogenum-related pyogenic extensor tenosynovitis: a case report

BackgroundNon-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental organisms that are increasingly contributing to human infections. Mycobacterium immunogenum, a variant of NTM discovered in 2001, is a rapidly growing mycobacterium that exhibits multidrug resistance. Reports of infections caused by this organism, particularly tenosynovitis in the musculoskeletal system, are limited.Case presentationA 71-year-old female with vesicular pemphigus, undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, presented with a progressively enlarging tumour on the dorsum of her right hand, along with erythematous papules that extended across her right forearm. The specimens of skin tissues and blood cultures revealed the presence of M. immunogenum. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation led to the diagnosis of pyogenic extensor tenosynovitis. A multidrug regimen, comprising amikacin and clarithromycin, was initiated, followed by synovectomy. The patient underwent a course of 180 days of antimicrobial therapy and demonstrated no signs of disease recurrence one year after treatment completion.ConclusionEarly diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial to prevent the adverse prognostic implications of pyogenic extensor tenosynovitis caused by M. immunogenum. Effective management requires precise microbial identification and susceptibility testing, necessitating collaborative engagement with microbiological laboratories.

Clinical Applicable Carboxymethyl Chitosan with Gel-Forming and Stabilizing Properties Based on Terminal Sterilization Methods of Electron Beam Irradiation.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-based hydrogels have great potential for clinical applications, but a critical sterilization process must be addressed to bring them to market. Compared to ethylene oxide sterilization or heat sterilization, irradiation sterilization avoids alkylation and heat damage, while available studies on γ-irradiated other polysaccharides show that solution polysaccharides are susceptible to degradation or cross-linking. Aiming at the challenges brought by the γ-irradiation process of polysaccharide aqueous solution, this paper innovatively proposes the lyophilized CMC using electron beam (EB) irradiation, which not only avoids the generation of free radicals in the irradiated water leading to the degradation and cross-linking of polysaccharides but also retains the properties of CMC in terms of gel formation, stabilization, and clinical application. We used FTIR, TG, GPC, and microbial load tests to demonstrate that lyophilized CMC did not have significant changes in structure and molecular weight after EB irradiation, complied with the requirements for sterilization, and still had gel stability, thus proving that lyophilized CMC could be used for EB irradiation and met the requirements for clinical application. Therefore, this work is expected to further advance CMC injectable hydrogels toward clinical applications and provide a new direction for the sterilization processes of other polysaccharide hydrogels.

The significance of monitoring respiratory sample cultures and polymerase chain reaction tests for detecting bacterial pathogens in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19

Background. Bacterial superinfection is one of the most common and potentially lethal complications in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19. Objectives. To determine the colonisation time frame and the spectrum of potential bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with severe and critical COVID-19, using routine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Methods. A prospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed severe and critical COVID-19 who were admitted to or transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Respiratory samples were collected for microbial culture and PCR testing within the first 2 days after ICU admission/transfer, between days 3 and 6, and after 7 days of ICU stay. Results. A total of 82 patients, with a median (interquartile range) age of 74.5 (67.3 - 81.0) years and a median Charlson comorbidity index of 4 (3 - 5), were enrolled in the study. Colonisation with any pathogen was observed in 67% of patients, after a median of 4 (2 - 6) days in the ICU. On days 0 - 2 of the ICU stay, micro-organisms were detected in 18% of patients, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (without acquired antibiotic resistance) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus being most frequently identified. Later, Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae became the predominant micro-organisms, identified in nearly half of the patients. In 74% of the samples, the results of microbial culture and PCR tests were identical. In 17%, PCR revealed bacterial pathogens not identified by culture. Conclusion. Our study confirms that colonisation of the respiratory tract occurs early in the course of ICU stay. Superinfections are predominantly caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Experimental study on pipeline corrosion behavior coupled with microorganisms and dynamic alternating current interference

Underground pipelines buried deeper than 1.5 m or in specific soil conditions are susceptible to microbial corrosion and dynamic alternating current (AC) interference. Yet, research on the coupled effects of these factors remains limited, leaving their mechanisms unclear. The study employed microbial activity tests, electrochemical experiments, and microscopic morphology characterization to elucidate the coupled effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and dynamic AC interference on buried metallic pipelines. Results show that sinusoidal AC significantly reduces SRB growth activity. Initially, the active microbial film produced by microbial metabolism inhibited corrosion but later exacerbating it as the microbial film detachment. Microscopic examination reveals as the interference time increases, the corrosion morphology changed from pitting corrosion to honeycomb/ulcer shapes, under SRB and different AC interference conditions. Moreover, sulfide corrosion products and iron phosphide formation accelerate corrosion, while rectification and alternating electric field effects further aggravate the process. These findings provide insights into the complex mechanisms of microbial and AC corrosion in buried pipelines, aiding in anti-corrosion strategies and layout optimization.

Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation Mentone

Introduction: Polyherbalism is extensively practiced in traditional medicine and constitutes complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Greater therapeutic efficacy ensues from the synergistic effects of constituents mediated by pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions and safety at higher dosages. Very few studies exist on mechanistics, despite rampant polyherbal use. Mentone tablet is a polyherbal constituting equal components of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., and Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F. and Thomson. Materials and Methods: Proximate and phytochemical analysis followed by quantification of polyphenolics was carried out. Asiatic acid, berberine, betaine, and glycyrrhizin were characterized using ultraviolet–high-performance liquid chromatography (UV-HPLC). Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) quenching activity, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity. Antimicrobial activity was determined by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion microbial susceptibility test followed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Results: Aqueous extraction using Soxhlet generated maximum yield. Proximate analysis yielded 52.96% ash, pH ranged from 5.75 to 5.76, and 5% moisture content. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of inorganic substances and phytochemicals: saponins, reducing sugars, terpenoids, starch, glycosides, and triterpenoids. Phenols were higher in aqueous, while flavonoids and tannins were higher in ethanolic extracts. HPLC revealed the presence of glycyrrhizin and asiatic acid. Mentone extracts at 100 µg/mL showed the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP assays, and H2O2 radical scavenging. Ethanolic extracts above 50 mg/mL demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603. Conclusion: Mentone contains phytochemicals with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. With active constituents such as asiatic acid and glycyrrhizin, Mentone could constitute a CAM for oxidative stress-induced diseases, including neurodegeneration.

Isolation, Biological Characterization, and Quality Inspection of Human Umbilical Cord-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Clinical Research

Background: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) represent a valuable and versatile cell type derived from the umbilical cord tissue of newborns. These cells exhibit diverse characteristics, including multipotent differentiation potential and low immunogenicity. hUCMSCs hold promise for clinical applications, yet concerns persist regarding their chromosomal stability. This study employs short tandem repeat (STR) analysis to assess genomic integrity. By focusing on chromosomal stability, the study aims to enhance confidence in the clinical viability of hUCMSCs, contributing to their safe and effective use in regenerative medicine. hUCMSCs were extracted from healthy newborn umbilical cords using tissue block adherence and enzyme digestion. The third generation of hUCMSCs undergoes biological characterization and quality checks, including examinations of cell morphology, viability, growth curves, surface markers, cell cycle, and multi-lineage differentiation potential. The result of the present study shows that hUCMSCs exhibit mesenchymal stem cell characteristics, with robust growth and high viability. Positive surface markers are expressed at rates exceeding 95%, while negative markers are ≤2%. Cell karyotyping analysis, STR spectrum identification, and chromosomal microarray analysis confirm genetic stability. Microbial testing shows the absence of contaminants, and immunological studies demonstrate the immunomodulatory capabilities of hUCMSCs. Specific residues, such as trypsin, were not detected. In conclusion, hUCMSCs produced under strict GLP and GMP conditions meet the quality guidelines for clinical application in various stem cell therapies. The findings support the clinical application of hUCMSCs in various medical contexts.

Emerging Role of Plasma Microbial Cell-free DNA in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is a rare and devastating angioinvasive infection that can be challenging to diagnose due to the low sensitivity of current noninvasive diagnostics and the lack of a "gold standard" reference test. We describe a retrospective case series of children with suspected mucormycosis where plasma microbial cell-free DNA testing was utilized in the diagnostic evaluation to illustrate the ways in which microbial cell-free DNA testing can noninvasively contribute to the evaluation and management of at-risk, immunosuppressed patients suspected of mucormycosis.

Benefit analysis of the auto-verification system of intelligent inspection for microorganisms.

In recent years, the automatic machine for microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests has been introduced into the microbiology laboratory of our hospital, but there are still many steps that need manual operation. The purpose of this study was to establish an auto-verification system for bacterial naming to improve the turnaround time (TAT) and reduce the burden on clinical laboratory technologists. After the basic interpretation of the gram staining results of microorganisms, the appearance of strain growth, etc., the 9 rules were formulated by the laboratory technologists specialized in microbiology for auto-verification of bacterial naming. The results showed that among 70,044 reports, the average pass rate of auto-verification was 68.2%, and the reason for the failure of auto-verification was further evaluated. It was found that the main causes reason the inconsistency between identification results and strain appearance rationality, the normal flora in the respiratory tract and urine that was identified, the identification limitation of the mass spectrometer, and so on. The average TAT for the preliminary report of bacterial naming was 35.2 h before, which was reduced to 31.9 h after auto-verification. In summary, after auto-verification, the laboratory could replace nearly 2/3 of manual verification and issuance of reports, reducing the daily workload of medical laboratory technologists by about 2 h. Moreover, the TAT on the preliminary identification report was reduced by 3.3 h on average, which could provide treatment evidence for clinicians in advance.

Gut microbiota and relevant abundances of<i> Prevotella copri, Lachnospiraceae, Collinsella, Helicobacter cinaedi, Desulfovibrio</i>, and <i>Escherichia coli</i> among cats with <i>Pemphigus foliaceus</i>

The cat gut-inhabitant conjoint microbiota is a peculiar ecosystem in relationship with several bodily functions and immunity. Gut microbiota dysbiosis could participate within autoimmune disease pathogenesis, whereas its niche, whether causative or influencing role regarding systemic immunity in autoimmune diseases, remains fugitive. The purpose of the present study was to identify gut microbiota alterations and probable mechanisms that participated in the development of Pemphigus foliaceus for a better understanding of future effective therapeutical armamentarium based on gut microbiota. In the present article, the authors investigated gut microbiota alterations to those of eight cats diagnosed with Pemphigus foliaceus. Furthermore, the study thoroughly analyzed pathogenic bacteria species as triggers of autoimmunity. The diagnostic algorithm involved two distinct sides: i) on referral with the first criteria was proof of evidence for possible autoimmunity, and ii) Pemphigus foliaceus diagnosis with relevant analytes. A total of eight cats were enrolled, and gut microbiomes were detected by the use of the MIDOG All-in-One Microbial Test targeting Next-Generation DNA Sequencing. By this methodology, we analyzed the dysbiosis network for bacterial kingdoms and determined the relationship between disease activity related to Pemphigus foliaceus and gut microbiota. The data showed increasing abundances of Collinsella, Lachnospiroceae, and Escherichia coli and decreasing Desulfovibrio piger, Prevotella copri, and Helicobacter cianedi among cats with pemphigus foliaceus. For the first time in Turkey, the gut microbiota of cats with pemphigus foliaceus were detected, the results of which could be cautiously taken into consideration for novel and effective therapeutical approaches.

Ten-year Trends in Infectious Keratitis in South Korea

Purpose: This study investigated the causative microorganisms, antibiotic susceptibility, and risk factors of infectious keratitis over the past 10 years.Methods: Data from patients with infectious keratitis who underwent microbial culture tests from 2012 to 2021, obtained from anonymized data systems, were analyzed. Microbial culture results and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were examined. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with infectious keratitis during the same period was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors.Results: Data from 1,837 cases of infectious keratitis were extracted from anonymized records. The culture positive rate among patients was 46.0% (1,137/2,474), with coagulase-negative <i>Staphylococcus</i> (CoNS) being the most common causative organism (27.8%). Increased resistance to cefazolin and cefotaxime was observed in gram-negative bacteria, while there were no significant temporal changes in quinolone resistance in gram-positive or negative bacteria. A retrospective medical record analysis of 288 cases revealed that older patients, as well as those with an initial corrected visual acuity < 0.1, a history of ocular surgery, pre-existing ocular conditions, prior steroid eye drops, or glaucoma eye drops, had significantly higher rates of culture positivity. Multivariate analysis identified risk factors for severe keratitis requiring surgical intervention as a symptom-to-presentation period of 7 days or longer (<i>p</i> = 0.048) and pre-existing ocular conditions (<i>p</i> = 0.040).Conclusions: CoNS was the most common microorganism causing infectious keratitis over the past decade. There has been an increase in resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics among gram-negative bacteria. Patients with pre-existing ocular conditions may require surgical intervention, so infectious keratitis in these patients requires greater attention.

Study of antimicrobial properties of liquid plaster containing of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare L.)

Treatment of wounds resulting from combat injuries is complicated by the addition of a secondary infection caused by multi-resistant bacteria. The liquid patch appears to be a promising formulation for wound therapy. The antimicrobial effect of essential oils is manifested due to the content of numerous components that interfere with the proliferation and formation of bacterial resistance. The aim of the work was to substantiate the choice of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil as the main active ingredient of a liquid patch with antimicrobial action, confirm the composition of the essential oil and study the antimicrobial properties of the model drug. The object of the study were model samples of a liquid patch with an experimentally developed film-forming system. Various concentrations of commercial essential oil of O. vulgare L., the composition of which was confirmed by GB/MS analysis, were used as the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Antimicrobial activity was studied by direct contact method using microbial culture tests. The use of liquid patch in the treatment of skin lesions of various etiologies, including combat wounds, is justified. The variability of the composition of the essential oil of O. vulgare L. depending on the subspecies, chemotype and growth conditions of the plant is discussed. The component composition of a commercial sample of O. vulgare L. essential oil, confirmed by GC/MS analysis, is considered. 11 components declared by the manufacturer were found to be completely identical, in particular, carvacrol, thymol, and monoterpene hydrocarbons. The other 11 compounds discovered were monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. Research has confirmed the feasibility of using O. vulgare L. essential oil, thymol-carvacrol chemotype, as an antimicrobial component. The dependence of the antimicrobial activity of model samples of liquid plaster on the concentration of Oregano essential oil was established. The essential oil of O. vulgare L. has a variable composition and requires mandatory control of the content of thymol and carvacrol, which inhibit the growth of the studied microorganisms. The antimicrobial effect of a liquid patch containing essential oil of O. vulgare L. at a concentration of 0.15 mg/ml is manifested against test cultures of microorganisms – Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis.

Assessing the Rate of Recyclable Plastic Wastes and Recycling Economic Value in Hospitals of Yazd in 2022

Introduction: Special and infectious wastes are the most significant wastes generated in hospitals, health centers, and similar facilities. Reducing and recycling such wastes at the source pose significant challenges to waste management. Therefore, this study assesses the components of healthcare waste in terms of their recyclability, emphasizing different types of plastic. Materials and Methods: Data collection involved sampling normal and infectious waste in selected hospitals over three months using monthly checklists. The total waste generated in these hospitals was analyzed on a daily basis. Moreover, the average microbial load of infectious waste was determined through microbial strip tests and biological tests following patient companion. Tests were performed with the acceptable performance of safe hospital devices with the destruction of microorganisms. Results: Average waste composition in the selected hospitals included 65-70% general waste and 30-35% infectious waste. The most common generated infectious waste was polyethylene (PE) sets (800 kg/month), while the predominant general waste was nylon bags for polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) packaging (520 kg/month). Hospital 1 had the highest per capita production of recyclable waste, generating 7,900 kg and 2,550 kg of normal and infectious waste per month, respectively. The total revenue generated from selling normal and infectious plastic waste was 1.4 and 0.2, respectively. Conclusion: The mixing of waste can be prevented by properly segregating normal and infectious waste and adequate staff training. Given the escalating disposal costs of health-care waste (HCW) and the shrinking space in landfills, efforts to minimize waste generation are crucial for effective recycling and reuse processes.

Farmed Chinese Perch (Siniperca chuatsi) Coinfected with Parasites and Oomycete Pathogens

Farming Chinese perch in aquaculture systems with artificial diets is a new method and developing trend. This method of raising Chinese perch has led to outbreaks of new diseases. In 2022, a disease outbreak occurred among farmed Chinese perch fed an artificial diet in Jiangxi Province, China, during which 50% of the fish died. The clinical signs exhibited by the diseased Chinese perch included decreased physical vitality, anorexia, emaciation, and dorsal fin ulceration with white cysts and flocs. Coinfection with ciliate parasites and an oomycete was found. No pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the microbial test, and the viral detection results were negative. After morphological and 18S or 28S rDNA sequence clustering analysis, the parasites were identified as Epistylis wuhanensis and Zoothamnium sp., while the oomycete was identified as Achlya klebsiana. This article discusses the interaction between parasitic and oomycete coinfections in Chinese perch from the perspective of the characteristics of Chinese perch raised with an artificial diet. The relationships between parasites, oomycete, and fish were also briefly discussed. This is the first report of the coinfection of Chinese perch with Epistylis wuhanensis, Zoothamnium sp. and Achlya klebsiana.

Combination of Coffee Grounds (Coffea) and Lime Peel Extract (Citrus Aurantifolia) in Making Body Scrub

Coffee grounds and lime peel extract can be used as raw materials for making environmentally friendly Body Scrub. This research aims to determine the effect of coffee grounds and lime peel extract and the effect of their use on the finished Body Scrub. A combination of coffee grounds and lime peel extract is used in variations of 15 g, 20 g, 25 g, 30 g, 35 g, and 40 g, for coffee grounds, while for lime peel extract the variations are 2 g, 2.5 g, 3 g, 3.5 g, and 4 g. Tests carried out include organoleptic tests, pH tests, homogeneity tests, microbial contamination tests, irritation tests, and existing humidity tests on volunteers. The research results that the body scrub preparation met the evaluation of the physical preparation of the Body Scrub preparation, namely coffee aroma, brown color and semi-solid texture, pH ranged from 5.2-5.9, homogeneous, didn’t irritate the skin, and could increase moisture in the skin.

Toward a molecular microbial blood test for tuberculosis infection

The World Health Organization's aim to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2050 cannot be achieved without taking measures to identify people with asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and offer them an intervention to reduce the risk of disease progression, such as preventive antimicrobial therapy. Implementation of this strategy is limited by the fact that existing tests for Mtb infection, which use immunosensitization to Mtb-specific antigens as a proxy for infection, have low positive predictive value for progression to TB. A blood test that detects Mtb deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) could allow preventive therapy to be targeted at individuals with microbiological evidence of persistent infection. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the development of molecular microbial blood tests for Mtb infection and discuss potential explanations for discordance between their results and those of immunodiagnostic tests in adults with recent exposure to an infectious index case. We also present a roadmap for further development of molecular microbial blood tests for Mtb infection, and highlight the potential for research in this area to provide novel insights into the biology of Mtb infection and yield new tools to support efforts to control the global TB epidemic.

Microbiological Quality Assessment of Skin and Body care Cosmetics by using Challenge test

Cosmetic products may be exposed to microbial contamination during storage or transport, and to avoid the risk of microbial growth, manufacturers add preservative compounds as a protection for the product from spoilage. The Microbial Challenge test is a procedure to evaluate the preservative efficacy by challenging the product with testing microorganisms to determine the quality of preservation. In this study, thirty-two cosmetics products used for body and skin care were collected from markets and pharmacies in Mecca region, these products are subjected to microbiological analysis, results show that most samples are contaminated except six samples. Non contaminated samples were subjected to European Pharmacopeia 7.0 standards. Results show that two samples, foaming gel and body and face cream are failed to demonstrate the required microbiocidal effect against the S.aureus test species, results recorded 1.21 x 105 and 6.80 x 105 (CFU/ml) respectively at the second day of incubation, other products: shower gel, hand wash, body lotion and shampoo demonstrate that required microbiocidal effect against the test species during day 2, 7, 14 until day 28th. The microbial count number is less than 10 during all incubation periods. To prevent contamination in cosmetics, manufacturers are required to add a good preservative system to the products and examine them before sale. Due to the high percentage of microbial contamination in cosmetics in Mecca region and for consumers safety, this study is prepared.

A novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for detection of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a leading cause of bacteremia and blood stream infections. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) that first appeared in 1961 often caused hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs) and was associated with high mortality rate. Accurate and rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) of MRSA is crucial for clinical management and treatment of MRSA infections, as well as the prevention and control of HAIs and CAIs. Here, we reported a novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for discriminative detection of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and MRSA. The dual HiFi-LAMP assay can detect 30 copies/reaction of nuc and mecA genes with detection limits of 147 and 158 copies per 25 µL reaction, respectively. A retrospective clinical evaluation with 107 clinical S. aureus isolates showed both sensitivity and specificity of 100%. A prospective clinical evaluation with 35 clinical samples revealed a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 92.3%. The dual HiFi-LAMP assay can detect almost all S. aureus samples (141/142; 99.3%) within 20 min, implying that the entire HiFi-LAMP assay (including sample process) can be completed within 40 min, extremely significantly shorter than 3-5 days by the traditional clinical microbial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay can be used as a robust POCT tool to promote precise diagnosis and treatment of MRSA infections in hospitals and to facilitate surveillance of MRSA at hospital and community settings.IMPORTANCEMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was associated with high mortality rate and listed as a "priority pathogen" by the World Health Organization. Accurate and rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) of MRSA is critically required for clinical management and treatment of MRSA infections. Some previous LAMP-based POCT assays for MRSA might be questionable due to their low specificity and the lack of appropriate evaluation directly using clinical samples. Furthermore, they are relatively tedious and time-consuming because they require DNA extraction and lack multiplex detection capacity. Here, we reported a novel extraction-free dual HiFi-LAMP assay for discriminative detection of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. The assay has high specificity and sensitivity and can be completed within 40 min. Clinical evaluation with real clinical samples and clinical isolates showed excellent performance with 100% specificity and 92.3%-100% sensitivity. The novel extraction-free assay may be a robust POCT tool to promote precise diagnosis of MRSA infections and facilitate surveillance of MRSA at hospital and community settings.

Solar biomass hybrid drying and quality evaluation of Eryngium foetidum in an innovative newly developed solar dryer

A novel solar-biomass powered hybrid drying system has been developed for studying the drying kinetics, and quality of long coriander (Eryngium foetidum), a medicinal spice. The experiments were carried out in biomass and hybrid energy modes. The findings of each method were compared with open sun drying. Freshly procured leaves of Eryngium foetidum with initial moisture content of 85.15 % (wet basis) was reduced to 9.5 % (wet basis). The biomass and hybrid drying system took 5 h and 8 h to obtain required final moisture. Non– linear regression method was implemented in this study for determining the drying behaviour of Eryngium foetidum. Seven empirical models were selected for determining the drying behaviour of Eryngium foetidum. Medilli model showed the highest R2 and lowest RMSE, χ2 values for both biomass mode (0.9945, 0.02748, 0.00055) as well as hybrid mode (0.9975, 0.01952, 0.00043) respectively. The overall drying efficiency was found out to be 31 % during hybrid mode and 24.22 % during biomass mode of drying. Quality analysis was performed on the final dried product through colour analysis and microbial testing. The colour retention was found out to be better in hybrid mode compared to biomass mode. Microbial analysis revealed that the total plate counts were within permissible limit. There was no growth of yeast and mould observed in both hybrid and biomass mode.