Pathogenic Microorganisms Research Articles

In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Hepatic Fibrosis for Pharmacodynamic Evaluation and Pathology Exploration

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is an important pathological state in the progression of chronic liver disease to end-stage liver disease and is usually triggered by alcohol, nonalcoholic fatty liver, chronic hepatitis viruses, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), or cholestatic liver disease. Research on novel therapies has become a hot topic due to the reversibility of HF. Research into the molecular mechanisms of the pathology of HF and potential drug screening relies on reliable and rational biological models, mainly including animals and cells. Hence, a number of modeling approaches have been attempted based on human dietary, pathological, and physiological factors in the development of HF. In this review, classical and novel methods of modeling HF in the last 10 years were collected from electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, Baidu Scholar, and CNKI. Animal models of HF are usually induced by chemical toxicants, special diets, pathogenic microorganisms, surgical operations, and gene editing. The advantages and limitations of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), organoids, and 3D coculture-based HF modeling methods established in vitro were also proposed and summarized. This information provides a scientific basis for the discovery of the pathological mechanism and treatment of HF.

The Effect of Oral Microbiota on the Severity and Prognosis of Stroke

The microbiome of the oral cavity plays an important role in the development and progression of various somatic diseases, including stroke. Studies show that bacteria living in the oral cavity can enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammatory processes, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. It was found that in 79% of the studied stroke-related blood clots, DNA of bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity, such as streptococci of the Viridans species, was found. Periodontal pathogenic microorganisms can cause chronic inflammation and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which is one of the main risk factors for stroke. Dysbiosis of the oral cavity is also associated with an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines, which can worsen the condition of blood vessels and increase the likelihood of thrombosis. Thus, maintaining oral health and timely treatment of dental diseases can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of stroke. Understanding the relationship between the oral microbiome and the state of the cardiovascular system opens up new horizons for the development of preventive measures and therapeutic approaches to the treatment of patients at high risk of stroke.

Microbial Contamination and Food Safety (Volume I)

Food safety is a global concern driven by the constant need to find innovative solutions to mitigate contamination risks by pathogenic microorganisms [...]

The impact of tuberculosis-induced hyperglycemia on pulmonary microbiota and airway mucus secretion in individuals not previously diabetic: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

The lung environment harbours a community of microbes that play a significant role in health and disease, including innate protection against pathogenic microorganisms. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, psychological stress associated with the tuberculosis (TB) disease, and the metabolites from the rifampicin treatment regimen have been reported to induce hyperglycemia and consequently type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals not previously diabetic. The high glucose concentration is proposed to alter the composition of the lung microbiota and airway homeostasis, exerting an influence on TB disease and treatment outcomes. In this systematic review, we propose to synthesize literature on TB-induced hyperglycemia and its impact on lung microbiota and secretion of airway mucus in individuals not previously diabetic. A systematic search will be carried out on PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PROQUEST, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and manually on Google Scholar and references of relevant articles to identify other studies. We will review published articles that include studies on TB-induced hyperglycemia, pulmonary microbiome, mucin secretion, and (or) airway surface liquid upon TB diagnosis and during treatment. The quality of the study articles will be assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta-analysis will be conducted using random effect model for heterogeneity to pool estimates on microbial diversity. Egger's test will be performed to explore any selective reporting bias. The findings of the systematic review and the meta-analysis will be reported as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol guidelines. This protocol was developed and uploaded onto the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database, registration number: CRD42024482248.

Influence of Pathogenic Microorganisms on Spectral Characteristics of Leaf Pigments in Apple Clonal Rootstocks

Influence of Pathogenic Microorganisms on Spectral Characteristics of Leaf Pigments in Apple Clonal Rootstocks

Co-infection of nervous necrosis virus and Vibrio harveyi increased mortality and worsened the disease severity in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

Co-infections of different pathogenic microorganisms usually cause complex effects, and receive more attention. Red-grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) and Vibrio are the common viral and bacterial pathogens of fish, and are often detected simultaneously in diseased fish. However, the understanding of co-infection of RGNNV and Vibrio is still unclear. In this study, we have established a grouper (Epinephelus coioides) model of the co-infection of RGNNV and Vibrio harveyi (V. harveyi). Compared with single pathogen infection, co-infection of RGNNV and V. harveyi significantly caused more severe pathologic changes with higher mortality (P<0.05), and promoted the proliferation of the pathogens by RNA-FISH and qRT-PCR (P<0.05), demonstrating a synergistic effect of RGNNV and V. harveyi in grouper. Furthermore, we found that V. harveyi inhibited the induction and migration of neutrophils by RGNNV, resulting the obviously reduced neutrophils of co-infection groups (P<0.05). In addition, transcriptome analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of brain tissues of different experimental groups were enriched in immune signaling pathways, such as JAK-STAT signaling, NF-κB signaling and TNF signaling pathways. For the liver and spleen tissues, the DEGs of different experimental groups were enriched in metabolism-related pathways, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and glycerolipid metabolism. Further analysis of the selected DEGs, co-infection of RGNNV and V. harveyi significantly suppressed the host immune response and up-regulated host glucose and lipid metabolism, compared with single-pathogen infection. Taken together, the RGNNV and V. harveyi make synergic reaction in grouper, possibly due to the down regulation of host immune response and up regulation of metabolism to facilitate the replication of both pathogens. These results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of multiple pathogens, and contribute to develop new therapies.

Amphibian-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides: Essential Components of Innate Immunity and Potential Leads for New Antibiotic Development.

Like other vertebrates, amphibians possess innate and adaptive immune systems. At the center of the adaptive immune system is the Major Histocompatibility Complex. The important molecules of innate immunity are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These peptides are secreted by granular glands in the skin and protect the animal against microorganisms entering its body through the skin. AMPs offer an effective and rapid defense against pathogenic microorganisms and have cationic and amphiphilic structures. These peptides are small gene-encoded molecules of 8-50 amino acid residues synthesized by ribosomes. These small molecules typically exhibit activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even cancer cells. It is known that today's amphibian AMPs originated from a common precursor gene 150 million years ago and that the origin of these peptides is preprodermaseptins. Today, antibiotic resistance has occurred due to the incorrect use of antibiotics. Traditional antibiotics are becoming increasingly inadequate. AMPs are considered promising candidates for the development of new-generation antibiotics. Therefore, new antibiotic discoveries are needed. AMPs are suitable molecules for new-generation antibiotics that are both fast and have different killing mechanisms. One of the biggest problems in the clinical applications of AMPs is their poor stability. AMPs generally have limited tropical applications because they are sensitive to protease degradation. Coating these peptides with nanomaterials to make them more stable can solve this problem.

Microbial Fermentation in Food and Beverage Industries: Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities

Microbial fermentation is a primary method by which a variety of foods and beverages are produced. The term refers to the use of microbes such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds to transform carbohydrates into different substances. Fermentation is important for preserving, enhancing flavor, and improving the nutritional quality of various perishable foods. Historical records clearly show that fermented foods and drinks, such as wine, beer, and bread, have been consumed for more than 7000 years. The main microorganisms employed were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which are predominantly used in alcohol fermentation, and Lactobacillus in dairy and vegetable fermentation. Typical fermented foods and drinks made from yogurt, cheese, beer, wine, cider, and pickles from vegetables are examples. Although there are risks of contamination and spoilage by pathogenic and undesirable microorganisms, advanced technologies and proper control procedures can mitigate these risks. This review addresses microbial fermentation and clarifies its past importance and contribution to food preservation, flavoring, and nutrition. It systematically separates yeasts, molds, and bacteria and explains how they are used in food products such as bread, yogurt, beer, and pickles. Larger producers employ primary production methods such as the artisanal approach, which are explored along with future trends such as solid-state fermentation, the potential of biotechnology in developing new products, and sustainability in new product development. Future research and development strategies can lead to innovations in methods that improve efficiency, product range, and sustainability.

Microbial Contamination of Nebulizers in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Objective: Nebulizer contamination has potential harmful effects on the respiratory system. The aim was to investigate the contamination profile of the nebulizers in cystic fibrosis patients and evaluate the relationship between hygiene practices and microbial contamination. Materials and Methods: Microbiological swab samples were taken from 3 different locations of the nebulizers of 102 patients. A questionnaire regarding nebulizer hygiene practices was applied to participants. Results: Contamination rate was 40.2%, while chambers were the most contaminated area. The bacterial contamination rate was 37.3%, with gram-negative bacterial growth being predominant. The organisms identified were mostly environmental or floral. Only 3 of the patients were performing the whole steps correctly. This number was not sufficient to assess the relationship between nebulizer cleaning and disinfection practices and microbial growth from nebulizers. When the relationship between nebulizer cleaning/disinfection frequencies, methods, and storage locations was evaluated separately with microbial growth from nebulizers, no statistically significant relationship was found for all (P > .05 for all). Conclusion: The nebulizer contamination rate with pathogenic microorganisms is low in the present study. Regular educational interventions regarding nebulizer hygiene practices should be implemented in all Cystic Fibrosis Centers.

Plasticity of cell death pathways ensures GSDMD activation during Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection.

Macrophages express pattern recognition and cytokine receptors that mediate proinflammatory signal transduction pathways to combat microbial infection. To retaliate against such responses, pathogenic microorganisms have evolved multiple strategies to impede innate immune signaling. Recent studies demonstrated that YopJ suppression of TAK1 signaling during Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection promotes the assembly of a RIPK1-dependent death-inducing complex that enables caspase-8 to directly cleave and activate gasdermin D (GSDMD). However, whether and how macrophages respond to Yersinia infection in the absence of YopJ or caspase-8 activity remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that loss of YopJ or its catalytic activity triggers non-canonical inflammasome activation in macrophages and that caspase-11 is required to restrict the bacterial burden invivo. Under conditions of low caspase-8 activity, wild-type Y.pseudotuberculosis invades macrophages and accesses the cytosol, leading to non-canonical inflammasome activation. Thus, our study highlights the plasticity of death pathways to ensure GSDMD activation during Yersinia infection.

Comparative Assessment of the Antibacterial Property of Cotton Fabric Coated with the Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Chemical and Green Approach

AbstractWorldwide, increasing pollution and bacterial infections are posing a serious risk to human well‐being and society. Clothing and textiles are the major pathways for the transmission and aggravation of infectious diseases. Thus, imparting antibacterial properties to the textiles is perceived with great interest. With this motivation, this study aims to fabricate durable antibacterial cotton fabrics to protect the wearer from pathogenic microorganisms. Herein, the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) via chemical (ZOCM) and green (ZOGM) routes, which were eventually applied onto the cotton fabric using the padding‐drying‐curing technique. The synthesized ZnO NPs and ZnO‐deposited cotton fabrics were analyzed by various characterization techniques. Including UV–vis, FTIR, BET, XRD, SEM‐EDAX, and TGA analysis. Additionally, the antibacterial effectiveness, washing durability, and mechanical properties of finished cotton (ZOCMC, ZOGMC) and uncoated fabric were investigated. The results indicate that ZOGM and ZOGMC show higher antibacterial efficiency than ZOCM and ZOCMC. Moreover, TGA analysis reveals the amount of ZnO loading before and its retention after multiple washing cycles. ZOGMC exhibits good adherence of NPs and better washing durability than ZOCMC. This study underscores the significance of environmentally friendly green synthesis methods for producing ZnO NPs, showcasing the potential for advancement in healthcare textiles.

Aerosol dynamics in dental clinics: Effects of ventilation mode on the mitigation of airborne diseases transmission.

Dental operations inherently involve a high risk of airborne cross-infection among medical staff and patients due to the exposure of respiratory secretions, which contain pathogenic microorganisms and typically spread in the form of aerosols. In order to contribute to the understanding of aerosol dynamics during dental operation and efficiently mitigate their dispersion and deposition through appropriate ventilation, 3D numerical simulations and full-scale experimental measurements were performed in this study. The indoor airflow distribution and dynamic aerosol behaviors observed under three optimized ventilation schemes (Scenario I-III) were compared with those observed under the current ventilation system. Qualitative analysis was performed together with quantitative examination using the air age, air change efficiency, contaminant removal effectiveness, and deposition ratio. It is demonstrated that the ventilation currently in use is unable to effectively discharge aerosols, resulting in most of them depositing on surfaces routinely accessed by dental workers. The pronounced air mixing effect induced by the design of Scenario I facilitates the rapid dispersion of aerosols throughout the clinic, impeding the efficient removal via the outlet. Moreover, the effective elimination of indoor aerosols is only attainable by implementing high ventilation rates in Scenario II. The Scenario III exhibits better overall performance, as evidenced by the successful discharge of approximately 69.8% of injected aerosols with limited deposition on indoor surfaces under ACH=6h-1, and further enhanced performance is observed at higher ACHs for contaminant removal. The prevailing ventilation design in dental clinics, which primarily focuses on maintaining a desirable temperature and relative humidity, often overlooks the necessity of proper ventilation for reducing the exposure risk of occupants. This study provides solid evidence for the upgrading or reconstruction of ventilation systems in dental clinics, aiming to promote a safe and healthy treatment environment.

Effect of fumigation, cover crops, and potato growth on shifts in soil microbial communities.

Fumigation as a broad-spectrum pesticide can affect both pathogenic and non-target microorganisms in the soil. As microbial communities are critical within the soil ecosystem, depletion of or changes in these communities can result in negative implications for soil health. Because cover crops are used to enhance soil health physically, chemically, and biologically, they might recover the soil health of the fumigated soil. However, little information is available on the interactive effect of these practices on soil health especially regarding the soil microbiome. This study was to investigate microbial community shifts as affected by fumigation and cover crops in different stages of potato field management practices. A year-long field test was conducted in Adkins sandy loam of Eastern Oregon following a split-plot design with fumigation as main plots and cover crops as subplots. Fumigation treatments included non-fumigated control, metam sodium, 1,3-dichloropropenene, and metam sodium+1,3-dichloropropenene. Soil samples were collected around the termination of cover crops and after potato harvesting for soil microbial analysis. 16S and ITS rRNA- gene sequencing analyses were employed to understand the prokaryote and eukaryote populations, respectively. Microbial community analysis indicated no significant interaction between the treatment conditions, with cover crops resulting in no significant shifts in the soil microbial community. Combination fumigation treatments (metam sodium+1,3-dichloropropenene) resulted in the largest community shifts for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, with significant abundance changes in the bacterial phyla Acidobacteriota, Planctomycetota, and Verrucomicrobiota and the eukaryotic phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota compared with no fumigation control; and these changes did not repeat from cover crop planting, although subsequent years of study are needed to establish definitive trends in community shifts.

Evaluation of antimicrobial short sequence peptides derived from mackerel gill and intestine against gram-negative bacteria

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides that play a crucial role in growth inhibiting of pathogenic microorganisms in many organisms including humans. Therefore, the study of those peptides is interesting in the applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. This research focuses on mackerel gills and intestines, which are low-value but protein-rich wastes from processing of mackerel. These wastes can be hydrolyzed to protein hydrolysate, which might contain several amino acids and bioactive peptides. From the previous results, the protein hydrolysate derived from mackerel gills and intestines wastes had inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhimurium. The objective of this research is to analyze and identify inhibitory mechanisms on the growth of salmonella when it was treated with small peptides by using Venn diagram and STITCH database. The obtained small peptides might affect the growth inhibitory activities, anticancer activity, gyrase activity, and anti-angiotensin activity. To increase antimicrobial activity of peptides, especially against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the model of peptides created from Pepwheel help predict for containing higher hydrophobicity and more symmetry in the helix structure might provide better antibacterial activity of the peptides.

Protective effect of a combination of multiple strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus on collagen-induced arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic autoimmune disease. Many studies have shown that microorganisms may be an important pathological factor leading to the onset of RA. Some infectious or non-infectious pathogenic microorganisms and their metabolites may be the initiating factors of the early onset of RA. The aim of this study was to alleviate RA by regulating the imbalance of the gut microbiota in the early stage of RA using mixed bacterial strains. The mixed strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (BD18, NCFM, BD1802, BD3545, BD5032) significantly reduced the clinical score and swelling thickness of the paws of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. The expression of TNF-α and MMP-13 proteins in the joints of CIA rats was also inhibited. The levels of specific antibodies (anti-CII IgG, anti-CII IgG1, anti-CII IgG2a, and anti-CII IgG2b) and inflammatory factor IL-6 in the serum of CIA rats were also significantly reduced. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Clostridia_UCG-014, Ruminococcus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 in the gut microbiota of CIA rats receiving oral administration of the mixed strains of L. acidophilus was significantly reduced, bringing their microbiota closer to that of healthy rats. Moreover, the levels of intestinal metabolites of short chain fatty acids in CIA rats, acetic acid and butyric acid, were significantly increased. The mixed strains of L. acidophilus could recover the relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus, Clostridia_UCG-014_unclassified, Ruminococcus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Romboutsia and Turicibacter, affecting purine metabolism, transcription factors and alanine metabolism, and reducing the levels of specific antibodies and inflammatory factors in the blood, finally slowing the development of experimental arthritis induced by CII, which exerts the protective effect of probiotics. Mixed L. acidophilus strains are more effective than a single strain, and the effect is not the result of a single strain, but of a combination of strains.

Dust storm-driven dispersal of potential pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The atmosphere hosts a microbiome that connects distant ecosystems yet remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that dust storms enhance the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and whether these microorganisms carry antibiotic resistance and virulence-related genes in the Eastern Mediterranean. We collected air samples during a seasonal transition period, capturing data from 13 dusty days originating from Middle Eastern sources, including the Saharan Desert, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, and 32 clear days, with temperatures ranging from 16.5 to 27.1°C. Using metagenomic analysis, we identified several facultative pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Aspergillus fumigatus, which are linked to human respiratory diseases, and others like Zymoseptoria tritici, Fusarium poae, and Puccinia striiformis, which are harmful to wheat. The abundance of these pathogens increased during dust storms and with rising temperatures. Although we did not find strong evidence that these species harbored antibiotic resistance or virulence-related genes, which could be linked to their pathogenic potential, dust storms transported up to 125 times more total antibiotic resistance genes, as measured by RPKM abundance, compared to clear conditions. These levels during dust storms far exceeded those found in other ecosystems. While further research is needed to determine whether dust storms and temperature variations pose an immediate threat to public health and the environment, our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of atmospheric microbiomes. This surveillance is crucial for assessing potential risks to human health and ecosystem stability, particularly in the face of accelerating global climate change.

Predictive Application Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in the Resistance of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Objective: Although metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology has achieved notable outcomes in pathogen detection, there remains a gap in the research regarding its application in predicting the antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria. This study aims to analyze the clinical application value of mNGS in predicting the resistance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), as well as the relevant influencing factors, thereby providing valuable insights for clinical antimicrobial therapy. Methods: Nonduplicate isolates of Enterobacterales bacteria collected from Liaocheng People's Hospital from April 2023 to June 2024 were selected, and CRE bacteria were screened. mNGS was used to detect resistance genes, and the results were compared with those of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of gene detection. Furthermore, the performance of mNGS in identifying pathogenic microorganisms and predicting antibiotic resistance was assessed by comparing the sequencing results with those of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Results: A total of 46 isolates were confirmed as CRE through traditional AST and were further identified using the Vitek MS and Vitek 2 systems. The results indicated 27 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 isolates of Escherichia coli, 2 isolates of Enterobacter hormaechei, 2 isolates of Enterobacter cloacae, and 1 isolate of Citrobacter freundii. These isolates were subjected to both mNGS and PCR for detection. The calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated the reliability of mNGS in detecting resistance genes. Conclusion: mNGS demonstrated high sensitivity in predicting the presence of carbapenemase resistance genes in CRE, showing potential in early indication of isolate resistance information, thereby facilitating timely guidance for clinical treatment strategies.

Meat Quality Control in Beef Production

The hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) system is primarily a risk assessment method focused on identifying and controlling the risk factors classified as the critical control points. Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the meat supply chain at various points along their path. Live animals can harbor various pathogens, while unhygienic conditions during slaughter and processing introduce external contamination risks, and cross contamination can occur during handling and cooking. Traditionally, pathogen control is concentrated in the processing stage. Despite its effectiveness, approaches like HACCP do not fully satisfy the consumer demands for food safety. A more comprehensive approach targeting pathogen control at every stage of the supply chain that is, “from farm-to-table,” offers broadercoverage and greater integration. Meat is one of the most perishable food products, providing an ideal environment for the growth of a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. Foodborne illnesses result from the consumption of bacteria, toxins, or cells produced by microorganisms present in food. Past outbreaks have been linked to various stages of the meat production process; hence, it is logical to develop a risk assessment model encompassing all stages, from raising food animals and processing carcasses to meat preparation and consumption. The primary task in meat production is the evaluation of the microbiological quality of raw meat and the sanitary conditions at processing facilities based on the presence of indicator microorganisms in the meat, equipment, and processing plants. Accordingly, hygienic measures in meat production, processing, and retail aim to ensure meat safety, prevent rapid spoilage, and preserve its quality. HACCP, which heavily relies on prerequisite programs like good hygienic practice and sanitation standard operating procedures, provides enhanced hygiene standards essential for producing safe meat and meat products throughout the entire meat supply chain.

A modern view on the problem of red flat liquid of the mouth cavity

Annotation. Today, lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and mucous membranes, which can lead to a number of complications, which are especially manifested in the absence of adequate treatment or in the course of severe recurrent forms of the disease. The main insidiousness of all types of this disease is the duration of the course, when periods of “fading” are replaced by periods of exacerbation. The high risk of secondary skin infection is caused not by lichen planus itself, but by the addition of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, the erosive-ulcerative form is classified as a facultative precancerous disease. Cancer later developed in 2% of patients with LP of the oral cavity. It is known that the cause of the development of complications of lichen planus in 5% of cases were pathogenic (transient) streptococci, in 17% – pathogenic (transient) staphylococci, in 51% – conditionally pathogenic (resident) diphtheroids, micrococci, and in 27% – mixed microflora. The primary elements of the lesion in lichen planus are characteristic rashes that have specific signs. The main element of the rash in this disease is a papule. Papules have a flat surface, are small in size (1-3 mm in diameter), often polygonal in shape. They can be slightly shiny and have a purple or reddish-bluish color. A characteristic Wickham grid observed on the surface of the papules. This mesh structure is formed due to the special structure of the epidermis and becomes visible during wetting or during dermatoscopy. The main complications of lichen planus that can arise as a result of this disease can be in the form of infectious complications – pyoderma (purulent skin lesions) and viral infections (herpetic impressions). Affected areas of the skin and mucous membranes in lichen planus are often irritated by itching and scratching, which can lead to the development of bacterial infections.

Prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC β-lactamase producing bacteria in urinary tract infection patients visiting tertiary care hospital in Central India

Antimicrobial resistance showed by different uropathogens is one of the barricades that might hinder the successful treatment (Bajpai et al., 2019). Detection of extended beta–lactamase (ESBL) production among uropathogens is an important marker of endemicity. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of pathogens in urinary tract and their antimicrobial susceptibilities, based on extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC beta-lactamase production in Central India. Methodology and results: The prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in urinary tract and their antimicrobial resistance patterns were identified in 400 isolates from patients with urinary tract infections. Combined disc diffusion was performed to identify the presence of ESBL-producing strains. Moreover, disc approximation assay, disc potentiating test and double disc synergy test were performed to determine the presence of AmpC beta-lactamase producing bacterial strains. This study demonstrated a higher prevalence of UTIs in females (81.25%) than in males (18.75%). The most common pathogen was found Escherichia coli (44.5%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5%) Enterobacter species (5%) and Proteus species (2.5%). ESBL and AmpC beta-lactamase production occurred more frequently in E. coli (17.5%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (5.5%) respectively. Significance and impact of study: The result of this study would provide physicians with important information which help them to make a judicious choice of antibiotics for therapeutic purposes. However, it is emphasized that continuous surveillance of antibiogram of medically important organisms causing UTI is necessary for adopting a rational antibiotic policy in the country.