Microbiological Characteristics Research Articles

Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Water Using Culture Methods, Flow Cytometry and Luminometry

A very important role in determining the quality of water is the assessment of its microbiological quality. Water quality control, which could pose a direct threat to human health and life, is performed in the case of water produced at water treatment plants, tap water, or water in swimming pools. However, these traditional methods used to assess its quality are laborious and time-consuming. In emergency and incidental situations, in the era of terrorist threats, the need for quick, reliable, and reproducible microbiological determinations seems to be essential. In this study, an attempt was made to compare various methods of assessing the microbiological quality of water. The assessment was carried out for water with different microbiological characteristics: surface water, rainwater, groundwater, and water supply. The evaluation was carried out using traditional culture methods and high-speed methods: flow cytometry and luminometry. The analysis of microbiological parameters was the basis for the statistical analysis. The conducted microbiological analysis of various types of water, along with their statistical evaluation, showed different dependencies for each of the analyzed waters.

DEPENDENCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE TISSUES OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH INFLAMMATORY GENITAL DISEASE ON THE TAXONOMIC AFFILIATION OF PATHOGENS

The aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of the fallopian tubes' clinical, microbiological and histological characteristics in adolescent girls and young women with inflammatory genital disease.
 Materials and methods. The etiological diagnosis of inflammatory disease was established with the help of complex microbiological and cytological studies of biomaterial from the vagina of teenage girls and the cervical canal of young women before hospitalization and histological examination fragments of fallopian tube – after surgery. The microbiological examination included the cultural detection of bacteria of various taxonomic groups, fungi, mycoplasmas, and ureaplasmas from the biomaterial. A set of methods described in the article was used to detect chlamydia [13]. The degree of bacterial infection of the fallopian tube fragments was assessed by determining the microbial count. Histological examination of biopsy specimens of fallopian tube tissues removed during surgery was performed by the conventional method [9].
 Results. In the examination of 29 adolescent girls and young women hospitalized for surgical treatment, a comparative analysis was conducted between the clinical manifestations of inflammatory genital disease, identifiable factors, and histological signs of damaged fallopian tubes.When studying the spectrum of factors in the inflammatory focus (fallopian tube biopsies) in adolescent girls (n=12), enterobacteria (33.3%), staphylococci (33.3%), streptococci (8.35%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.35%) were detected; in 16.7% of adolescent girls, the cultures were sterile. In young women (n=17), microbiological examination of fallopian tube tissues revealed chlamydia (29.4%), mycoplasma (11.6%), ureaplasma (5.8%), gonococci (5.8%), enterobacteria (5.8%), fungi (5.8%); in 6 (35.8%) of the examined women, no bacterial growth was detected. Among young women who had been operated on for tubo-ovarian inflammatory diseases and ectopic pregnancy, chlamydia were most often (29.4%) found in the tissues of the fallopian tubes.
 Conclusions. The studies have shown that in the development of acute purulent salpingitis in young women, sclerotic changes and signs characteristic of the productive process prevailed in the tissues of the fallopian tubes against the background of genital inflammation, and in adolescent girls, an exudative process was observed against the background of genital inflammation. The peculiarities of the course of genital inflammation depend on the biological properties of pathogens of different taxonomic affiliations.

Description and Analysis of Bacteremia by Gram Negative Bacilli in Neutropenic Oncohematological Pediatric Patients in a Third Level Hospital

Abstract INTRODUCTION Bacteremia is one of the main post-chemotherapy complications in oncohematological patients. Neutropenia is the most frequent risk factor for its development. Determining an adequate empirical treatment based on local epidemiology is essential to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective and descriptive study was performed. It included episodes of Gram-Negative Bacilli (GNB) bacteremia in neutropenic patients under 18 years of age with hemato-oncological diseases admitted to a high-complexity pediatric hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021. Bone marrow and solid organ transplants were excluded. In all cases, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.2.2. OBJECTIVES Evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings, microbiological characteristics, resistance patterns and empirical antibiotic treatment (EAT) of GNB bacteraemias in neutropenic oncohematological patients. RESULTS Fifty-two episodes of bacteremia were evaluated in 44 patients. Forty (76.9%) episodes presented severe neutropenia. The median age was 128 (59;168) months and females were predominant (59.3%). The most frequent underlying disease was acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) in 30 cases (57.7%), of which 12 were relapsed (40%) and 9 (30%) induction. The median number of days since the last chemotherapy was 10. A percent of 78.8% (41/52) had platelets less than 50000 mg/dl; the PCR value was greater than 90 mg/dl in 44.2% (23/52) . Forty-two bacteremias (80.7%) presented with fever. Thirteen (25%) primary bacteraemias were identified. As to secondary bacteremia, the main associated focus was the central venous catheter in 23 cases (44.2%) followed by abdominal focus in 13 (25%). The most frequent bacteria were Escherichia coli (23), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13), Enterobacter cloacae (7), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3). In 18 of the microorganisms, multiresistance mechanisms (MDR) were detected, the main one being extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) in 25% (13/52) with the following distribution: Klebsiella pneumoniae 69.2% (9/13), Escherichia coli 23.1 % (3/13), Enterobacter cloacae 7.7% (1/13). Moreover, two isolations of Enterobacter cloacae with resistance to cephalosporins due to hyperproduction of ampC-type Betalactamases and one of Klebsiella pneumoniae with the presence of Metallobetacarbapenemases (MBL) were detected. The coverage against GNB was achieved mostly by piperacillin-tazobactam. In 32.6% of the cases the EAT was not adequate. Fifteen patients (28.8%) developed septic shock, 7 of which showed ESBL-resistant microorganisms (p=0.034), 13 patients died and 8 of them presented MDR isolates (p= 0.037). CONCLUSIONS GNB MDR bacteremia in neutropenic oncohematological patients is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Knowing the local epidemiology in each institution is essential to establish an adequate EAT favoring the rational use of antibiotics and preventing increased resistance.

Comparison of clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-acquired hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Invasive infection caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) has been reported worldwide. Most of the patients are community population, related to diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic liver disease and other basic diseases, which prone to systemic migratory infection. In this study, we collected 377 patients with community acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2018, 65.8% of whom were male, and 49.6% had DM. Patients with DM are prone to eye and central nervous system (CNS) infection, which need continuous local abscess drainage during treatment. Among them, patients with poor blood glucose control have a higher rate of blood stream infections (BSI). 219 strains of HvKP were obtained, with K1/K2 Serotype accounted for 81.7%. The incidence of BSI in K2 patients was higher than that in K1 patients. The PCR results indicate that the carrying rate of virulence genes (rmpA、areo、kfu、allS、iroN、magA、uge、wcaG) in K1/K2 type strains is significantly higher than that in non K1/K2 type strains. ST23 and ST65 are the most common multilocus sequence typing (MLST), which belong to K1 and K2 Serotype respectively. All of HvKP strains showed high sensitivity to commonly used clinical antibiotics other than ampicillin, with 54.3% of the strains exhibiting high viscosity characteristics. Meanwhile, 35 classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (cKP) strains were collected, and their serum typing is mainly non K1/K2. The carrying rate of virulence genes and viscosity degree in HvKP are significantly higher than those in cKP. Primary liver abscess caused by HvKP is prone to multiple tissue and organ infections, but it shows higher sensitivity to most commonly used antibiotics in clinical practice except for ampicillin. After effective treatment, the overall prognosis of patients is better. This study analyzes the pathogenic characteristics of HvKP and elaborates on the clinical characteristics of patients, which can provide reference for clinical and scientific research work.

Factors Associated With Culture-proven Neonatal Sepsis and Resistance to First-line Antibiotics in Indonesia.

Neonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Blood culture positivity rates and antibiotic resistance pattern of neonatal sepsis differs across various regions. This study aims to identify clinical cofactors associated with blood culture-proven neonatal sepsis and in vitro resistance to first-line antibiotics (ampicillin and gentamicin) from cases originating in a tertiary healthcare center in Surabaya, Indonesia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2020 to August 2022 by utilizing secondary data collected from standardized electronic medical records. Microbiological characteristics and associated factors were statistically analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Across 266 neonatal sepsis cases, 46.9% were culture-proven and 79.2% of confirmed sepsis were resistant to first-line antibiotics. The most common isolated pathogen is Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae. Extremely preterm delivery [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.813; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.70-19.91] and late-onset sepsis (aOR: 9.165; 95% CI: 5.12-16.40) were associated with culture-proven neonatal sepsis. Increased odds of resistance to first-line antibiotics were identified in extremely preterm (<28 weeks) or very-preterm delivery (28 to <32 weeks) (aOR: 50.80; 95% CI: 1.66-1554.21 and aOR: 45.679; 95% CI: 3.22-647.46, respectively), cesarean section (aOR: 4.149; 95% CI: 1.04-16.53) and an absence of antenatal corticosteroid use (aOR: 0.233; 95% CI: 0.07-0.76). The association between clinical cofactors with culture-proven sepsis and antibiotic resistance emphasizes the importance for clinicians to adjust empirical antibiotic regimens based on the local antibiogram and resource availability.

Propagation, Purification, and Characterization of Bacteriophages for Phage Therapy.

Phage therapy is an alternative approach to combat bacterial infections. In this approach, bacteriophages are used as antimicrobial agents due to their properties to infect specific bacterial cells, to propagate inside their hosts, and to lyse host cell to release progeny phages. However, to introduce bacteriophages to clinical or veterinary practice, it is necessary to construct a large library of precisely characterized phages. Therefore, in this chapter, methods for propagation, purification, and microbiological characterization of bacteriophages are presented in the light of their potential use in phage therapy. Isolation of newly discovered bacteriophages from different habitats is also described as it is a preliminary assessment of their efficacy in combating bacterial biofilms and in the treatment of bacterial infections in a simple insect model-Galleria mellonella.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Honey in Southwest Ethiopia: Detection of Adulteration through Analytical Simulation

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of honey in the supply chain from the Gera district to Jimma town in southwest Ethiopia and develop a predictive model to detect adulteration. A preliminary survey revealed that poor handling practices and adulteration negatively impacted honey's physicochemical and microbial quality. For laboratory analysis, 268 honey samples were collected from households, cooperatives, chira markets, Agaro markets, and Jimma markets. They were mixed separately to create composite samples representing different value chain actors. Laboratory results indicated that honey samples from supply chain actors confirmed significant differences (p < 0.05) in physicochemical and microbial quality. The study found that the extent of adulteration and physicochemical quality loss increased from producers to Jimma retailers, indicating multiple-stage adulteration along the supply chain that could pose a risk to the safety and quality of the product. The physicochemical quality parameters of the honey samples in the study varied within the following ranges: moisture (18.35–19.42%), water activity (0.48–0.61), viscosity (7.45–10.28 Pas), pH (3.41–4.0), titratable acidity (34.01–36.03 meq/kg), ash (0.1–0.23%), electrical conductivity (0.25–0.39 mS/cm), Total Soluble Solid (75.9–77.5 °Brix), Water insoluble Solid (0.16–2.48 g/100 g), Diastase Activity (6–14 DN), and Hydroxymethylfurfural (0.2–27.7 mg/kg). Microbiological analyses showed that total aerobic bacterial and fungal load ranged from 2.7 × 101–2.29 × 102 and 3.2 × 101–4.57 × 102, respectively. A predictive model was developed using adulteration indicator parameters, showing good linearity (R2>90%) and predictive capacity for detecting adulteration with sugar syrup.

Microbiological characterization of biofilm from different immobilization structures used in submersed aerobic biofilters in domestic effluent treatment at the city of Joinville, Brazil.

The objective of this work was to develop a polymeric structure for a biofiltration unit of domestic effluents through microbiological immobilization, capable of promoting the efficient removal of pollutants, meeting local/national Brazilian standards and/or legislation while providing low environmental impact on their production. Four different structures were tested, namely, polypropylene casings without filling material (TF1); polypropylene casings filled with expanded polystyrene grains (TF2); polypropylene casings, filled with polyurethane foam (TF3); and polypropylene casings, filled with polyvinyl chloride pellets (TF4). A flow of 0.216 m3 d-1 was applied to the system, and the biofilters operated in sequential batches with a hydraulic retention time of 6h. The efficiency potential of the four immobilization structures was verified regarding biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, total ammoniacal nitrogen and total phosphorus. Microbiological analysis of the formed biofilm, performed with the 16S library sequencing method, with amplification of the 16S rRNA V3 and V3-V4 genomic regions, showed a high diversity of microbiological colonization in the four immobilization structures, with better results and consequently greater community stability in TF2. It is recommended using the filter bed made up of unfilled casings, followed by the one filled with expanded polystyrene grains.

Ancient Grain Flours with Different Degrees of Sifting: Advances in Knowledge of Nutritional, Technological, and Microbiological Aspects.

Ancient grains have gained considerable attention in recent years, as some research suggests they may be healthier than modern wheat. The present study aims to evaluate the chemical, rheological, and microbiological features of three Southern Italian cultivated ancient wheat varieties: Risciola, Carosella, and Saragolla. ATR-FTIR analyses were performed on the finely ground grain samples of the three varieties. The selected grains were ground with a stone mill, and different sifting degrees (whole-100%, type 1-80%, and type 0-72%) were evaluated. The flours showed a good nutritional profile, a higher amylose/amylopectin ratio, and a lower glycemic index than the literature. The gluten index of the samples was in the range 2.6-28.9%, and the flours can be classified as weak, having a value <30%. The farinographic test showed a short development time, low dough stability, a high softening degree, and water absorption, which increased with the degree of sifting. Microbiological analyses performed on flours from ancient grains at different degrees of sifting show their safety, according to their microbiological parameters, which fall within the legal microbiological requirements established by the European Commission Regulation (EC).

Current state of bacterioplankton of Lake Ilmen

Objective: Determination of the quantitative level of the Lake Ilmen bacterial community in a retrospective. Assessment of lake water quality by microbiological indicators based on the results of seasonal microbiological studies in 2022Research material and methods used: The material was samples of bacterioplankton from the surface water layer of the Lake Ilmen, collected in May, August and September 2022. The total numbers of microorganisms was determined by the epifluorescence method using DAPI fluorochrome. Standard methods were used to determine the number of saprophytic microorganisms at two temperature regimes.Originality: For the first time in the last 25 years, the quantitative characteristics of the bacterial community of Lake Ilmen were determined. A quality assessment of lake waters has been carried out, and the values of self-purification coefficients were calculated.Results: The microbiological characteristic of the water masses of Lake Ilmen, as a habitat for bioresources, is presented. The maximum values of the total bacterial numbers (TBN) were observed in May (average 5.05±0.52×106 cells/ml) during the spring flood, the minimum — at the end of September (average 3.21±0.89×106 cells/ml) during the cooling period of the lake. Coccoid cells prevailed in the bacterioplankton, which indirectly indicates the absence of contamination of the lake waters with organic matter of various origins. According to the average for the observation period TBN (4.10±1.05×106 cells/ml), the trophic state of the lake corresponded to weakly eutrophic. The number of saprophytic bacteria growing at 22 °С always exceeded that at 37oC, which indicated active self-purification processes. According to the quantitative ratios of the TBN and the number of saprophytic bacteria growing at 22 °С (OMH 22 °С), the water masses of the lake, with rare exceptions, belonged to the conditional category of “pure” (oligosaprobic)

Effects of different irradiation doses and storage period on microbiological characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Microbiological analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) treated with different doses of ionizing radiation (0.2 kGy, 0.5 kGy, 1 kGy, 5 kGy and 10 kGy) is presented in this paper. The aim was to determine the influence of different irradiation doses on the microbial population profile of wheat. In all samples, the total bacterial count and the populations of Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, yeasts and molds were examined. The analyses were carried out twice: immediately after irradiation and nine months after treatment. Obtained results revealed the presence of Bacillus cereus, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds in all examined samples. Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens, were not detected. It has been found that the number of microorganisms decreases with the increase in the irradiation dose, with no viable microorganisms detected at the dose of 10 kGy. In all examined samples, nine months after irradiation, there was a noticeable reduction in the number of microorganisms. Only yeasts and molds were detected at a dose of 5 kGy, while no microbial growth was observed at 10 kGy. There are no reference studies on Enterobacteriaceae inactivation in wheat by ionizing radiation and storage. Therefore this study is the first contribution to understanding this microbial community decrease by gamma radiation after room temperature storage. The results highlighted the prolonged effect of ionizing radiation treatment on the microbiological safety of wheat.

Molecular and virulence characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates: a prospective cohort study

This study aimed to characterize the molecular features and virulence profiles of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates. Clinical CRAB isolates were obtained from blood cultures of adult patients with CRAB bacteremia, collected between July 2015 and July 2021 at a Korean hospital. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect 13 virulence genes, genotyping was conducted via multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and a Tenebrio molitor infection model was selected for survival analysis. Herein, 170 patients, from whom CRAB isolates were collected, showed the in-hospital mortality rate of 57.6%. All 170 clinical CRAB isolates harbored blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51. MLST genotyping identified 11 CRAB sequence types (STs), of which ST191 was predominant (25.7%). Virulence genes were distributed as follows: basD, 58.9%; espA, 15.9%; bap, 92.4%; and ompA, 77.1%. In the T. molitor model, ST195 showed a significantly higher mortality rate (73.3% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.015) than the other groups. Our findings provide insights into the microbiological features of CRAB blood isolates associated with high mortality. We suggest a potential framework for using a T. molitor infection model to characterize CRAB virulence. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which virulence improves clinical outcomes.

Physicochemical, Microbiological, and Toxicological Characterization of Pâté Prepared from the Meat and Liver of Bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) Carcasses.

The development of balanced, healthy, ready-to-consume, and easy-to-prepare products has led to the development of new food technologies. Despite their high commercial value, bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) carcasses result in low yields, with the thighs being the most marketed in comparison to other carcass portions. In this sense, liver pâté is a traditional food consumed worldwide, mainly in European countries, and may be prepared by incorporating bullfrog meat by-products and certain viscera. In this context, the aim of the present study was to develop a pâté product based on a mixture comprising 50% grounded bullfrog torso meat and 50% liver paste, with each treatment incorporating 10% liver paste increments, totaling five final mixtures. The nutritional compositions and physicochemical, microbiological, and toxicological characteristics of each mixture were assessed. The dry matter percentage of the prepared product was determined to be 27.00%, while mineral content was 1.45%, lipid content was 4.00%, and total protein content was 20.00%. Finally, microbiological counts were in agreement with current food safety regulations. The developed pâté serves as a standard, recycling underused industrial materials, adding value to the production chain at low operational costs, creating a more accessible market, and promoting the popularization of this type of meat.

Abstract 16120: Efficacy of an Electronic Medical Record Alert System in Identifying Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection

Introduction: Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device infection (CIED-I) is common, morbid, and frequently under recognized. Electronic Medical Record (EMR) based alerts have been proposed as a solution to improve detection of CIED-I. Hypothesis: Development of a real-time EMR algorithm to identify CIED-I can improve recognition of patients with CIED-I. Methods: An EMR (Epic, Verona, WI) alert system to identify inpatients with CIED-I was developed based on the presence of CIED and positive blood cultures. The presence of CIED was determined using patient problem list, structured data elements describing device implantation, and prior device interrogation. Alerts were generated each time a patient with CIED had a positive blood culture. We examined patients admitted between January 2020 - March 2023. Identified patients were adjudicated manually to confirm: (1) the presence of CIED and (2) true bacteremia versus contaminant based on patient and microbiological characteristics. Results: The algorithm generated 255 alerts, corresponding to 100 unique patients over 142 hospitalizations. Of these alerts, 213 appropriately identified 88 unique patients with positive blood cultures and CIEDs, resulting in an alert specificity of 84% and patient specificity of 88%. The remaining 42 (16.6%) alerts occurred in 10 patients who no longer had CIED due to prior CIED extraction (6 at the time of heart transplant and 4 with extraction without reimplantation) as well as 2 patients with erroneous blood culture identification (one positive syphilis antibody test and one lab documentation error). In patients with appropriate alerts, 27 patients had 4/4 positive blood culture bottles, 5 patients had 3/4, 10 patients had 2/4, 41 patients had 1/4, 2 patients had 2/2, and 1 patient had 1/2. The positive predictive value of the algorithm to identify true bacteremia was 0.65 (138/213). Conclusions: The algorithm has high specificity to identify patients with possible CIED infection. Improving the accuracy of device detection, by incorporating radiology imaging or history of extraction, could further improve specificity. Positive predictive value and alert fatigue could be improved by stratifying alerts by blood culture species and total number of positive blood cultures.

Physicochemical and sensory analysis of Coalho Cheese supplemented with different concentrations of essential oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare)

The objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of coalho cheese supplemented with different concentrations of oregano oil. This study used a completely randomized experimental design with four levels of oregano oil and five storage days. However, fat content and fat in dry matter presented a significant difference (p&lt;0.0001) with the inclusion of oregano oil. The sensory attributes had no significant difference. Regarding sensory analysis and purchase intention, all cheeses were well accepted by most consumers, indicating that they can be used as natural additives in coalho cheese.

Microbiological characteristics, transmission routes, and mitigation measures in bronchoscope-associated investigations: Summary of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consultations, 2014-2022.

In this summary of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consultations with state and local health departments concerning their bronchoscope-associated investigations from 2014 through 2022, bronchoscope reprocessing gaps and exposure to nonsterile water sources appeared to be the major routes of transmission of infectious pathogens, which were primarily water-associated bacteria.

Postintravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis: Incidence, Characteristics, Management, and Outcome.

Postintravitreal injection (IVI) endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating complication. Herein, we report the incidence ,and clinical and microbiological characteristics, as well as the visual outcome, in IVIs endophthalmitis in two medical centers. All patients undergoing intravitreal injections between 1/2018 and 12/2019 in two large medical centers were analyzed for post-IVI endophthalmitis. Of the total of 51,356 IVIs performed, 23 cases of post-IVI endophthalmitis were diagnosed, yielding an overall incidence of 0.045%. The median interval from IVI to symptoms onset was 2 days (IQR: 1-5). Cultures were positive in 56% of the cases (100% Gram-positive bacteria and 76% coagulase-negative staphylococcus). Parameters associated with higher culture-positive rates included samples taken during vitrectomy, WBC on vitreous smear, the number of IVIs in the 12 months prior to presentation, and the time interval from last IVI to diagnostic sampling. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, the median change in VA (logMAR) was -1.10 (IQR: (-1.32)-(-0.40)) and -1.02 (IQR: (-1.10)-(-0.30)), respectively. Younger age and better BCVA at presentation were associated with better VA outcome, while positive culture result and systemic steroids treatment were each associated with the worse visual outcome. We found no difference in visual outcomes between PPV and TAI as a primary procedure. Post-IVI endophthalmitis is a rare complication, and most patients do not regain their initial VA. Certain parameters (clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic) may help anticipate the outcome and guide decision making regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Assessing differential land use impacts on soil quality: A method based on log-response ratios and polygonal projections

Soil quality indices (SQI) used for assessing soil degradation are often developed using additive scoring functions. However, these SQI may lack reference values for interpreting their outputs and the capacity to differentiate changes in specific variables. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces SQI using Log Response Ratios (LRR) as measures of size effects caused by land use in physical, chemical, and microbiological soil quality indicators. LRR vectors projected 2D polygons with condensed change measures along their perimeters. This method was tested in andosols within the southeastern region of Antioquia, Colombia. These soils were subjected to contrasting stages of degradation determined by the extent of A-horizon removal due to land use practices. This study shows that mining and agriculture have detrimental effects on soil organic carbon and water contents, and that size effects vary significantly between land uses (p < 0.05). Microbiological features also exhibit distinct size effects, such as populations of culturable mesophilic bacteria and fungi, microbial basal respiration, spore density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), their diversity, and total glomalin-related soil proteins (p < 0.05). The SQI proposed exhibited a negative correlation with SQI computed from scoring additive functions either considering the entire dataset (R2 = 0.87) or a minimum dataset (R2 = 0.90). This approach underscores the utility of using LRR geometrical analysis to assess global soil quality differences among land uses (p < 0.01), offering a visual, quantifiable representation of the effects of each land use over specific soil quality indicators.

Fournier’s gangrene: Clinical, pathological and microbiological characteristics - a portuguese central hospital experience

Fournier’s gangrene: Clinical, pathological and microbiological characteristics - a portuguese central hospital experience

Detection of Novel US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade Subtypes in Japan.

Neisseria meningitidis causes invasive meningococcal diseases and has also been identified as a causative agent of sexually transmitted infections, including urethritis. Unencapsulated sequence type 11 meningococci containing the gonococcal aniA-norB locus and belonging to the United States N. meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) are causative agents of urethral infections in the United States, predominantly among men who have sex with men. We identified 2 subtypes of unencapsulated sequence type 11 meningococci in Japan that were phylogenetically close to US_NmUC, designated as the Japan N. meningitidis urethritis clade (J_NmUC). The subtypes were characterized by PCR, serologic testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Our study suggests that an ancestor of US_NmUC and J_NmUS urethritis-associated meningococci is disseminated worldwide. Global monitoring of urethritis-associated N. meningitidis isolates should be performed to further characterize microbiologic and epidemiologic characteristics of urethritis clade meningococci.