Resistant Bacterial Isolates Research Articles

Synergistic invitro antimicrobial activity of polyherbal combination of Morinda lucida fruit and Pterocarpus santalinoides seed against multi-drug resistant clinical bacterial isolates

Background: Synergistic drug combination has been shown to be a way of bypassing drug resistance and reducing the amounts of antimicrobials consumed. As infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) continue to pose global threat, it is important to search for new antimicrobial combinations of plant origin that are safe and readily available. The objective of this study is to evaluate the synergistic antimicrobial activity of extracts of Morinda lucida fruit and Pterocarpus santalinoides seed against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial isolates Methodology: Morinda lucida and P. santalinoides fruits were plucked and washed clean, and the fruits of P. santalinoides were deseeded to remove the seeds. They were cut into smaller pieces and dried under shade before being milled into smooth powder and extracted with methanol. The clinical bacterial isolates used were MDR Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were determined using the standard method. The invitro antimicrobial assay of the extracts was done at a concentration of 50 to 400 mg/ml using the agar well diffusion technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of each extract were determined using the Checker-board micro-titration method, and the FIC result obtained for each isolate was used to calculate the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of the combined extracts. The time kill assay was performed to confirm the synergistic and bactericidal activities from the MIC values obtained. Results: The phytochemical analysis revealed that the extracts of both herbal plants contained alkaloids, phenol, tannin, saponin, glycosides, and terpenoids. The antimicrobial assay results showed that the polyherbal combination of the extracts was active against all the MDR bacterial isolates tested with varying zones of inhibition. The mean inhibition zone diameters of individual M. lucida and P. santalinoides ranged from 18.0±0.9mm to 26.0±1.4mm and 17.0±0.1mm to 24.0±0.2mm respectively, while the MIC ranged from 6.25mg/ml to 12.5mg/ml for M. lucida and 12.5 mg/ml for P. santalinoides. The mean inhibition zone diameter of the polyherbal combination of the two plant extracts ranged from 25.00±00mm to 34.0±0.4mm, which compared favorably with that of levofloxacin control (28.0±0.0mm to 32.00±0.0mm), while their MIC ranged from 0.39mg/ml to 1.56mg/ml. The FIC of M. lucida extract ranged from 0.06mg/ml to 0.25mg/ml while that of P. santalinoides ranged from 0.03mg/ml to 0.13mg/ml. The FICI of combined extracts ranged from 0.09mg/ml to 0.38 mg/ml for all the MDR isolates, which is less than 0.5mg/ml, indicating synergism against all the isolates. The time of kill assay confirmed the synergistic and bactericidal activities with a 3log10 CFU/ml decrease in the number of viable cells within 6 hours of incubation.Conclusion: Our findings showed synergistic antibacterial actions of extracts of M. lucida fruit and P. santalinoides seed against MDR clinical bacterial isolates, comparable to levofloxacin. Combination of these herbal plants may serve as alternative sources of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infections caused by MDR bacterial pathogens.

Emergence and genomic epidemiology of tigecycline resistant bacteria of fly origin across urban and rural China

Plasmid-mediated tigecycline resistance genes, notably the tet(X4) and tmexCD-toprJ genes, have garnered considerable attention due to their transferability. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and resistance mechanisms associated with tet(X) and tmexCD-toprJ in flies, which are important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes. A total of 52 tigecycline resistant bacterial isolates were collected, among which 40 (76.9 %) and 12 (23.1 %) were positive for tet(X) and tmexCD-toprJ, respectively. Tigecycline resistant bacteria were isolated from diverse geographical locations in China, with tet(X4)-positive Escherichia coli and tmexCD1-toprJ1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae dominant among the isolates. The prevalence of tet(X) in rural area was significantly higher than that in urban area (2.7 % vs. 0.3 %; P < 0.001), while the prevalence of tmexCD1-toprJ1 shows no significant difference between urban and rural areas (0.2 % vs. 0.6 %; P > 0.05). Most tet(X)-positive strains (n = 40, 100.0 %), and 11(91.7 %) of the tmexCD1-toprJ1-positive strains exhibited multi-drug resistance. The IncFIB(Mar)/IncHI1B hybrid plasmid carrying tmexCD1-toprJ1 was identified by whole-genome sequencing analysis, which dominated the transmission of tmexCD1-toprJ1 in K. pneumoniae. Genetic context analysis showed that tmexCD1-toprJ1 was related locally to IS26, and IS26 may exacerbate the spread of tmexCD1-toprJ1 in different bacteria. In addition, the genetic structure of tmexCD1-toprJ1 also contains several antimicrobial resistance genes, including aph(3′)-Ic, sul1, blaDHA-1, blaCTX-M−5, etc., conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and carbapenems. This study provides insights into the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of tigecycline resistance genes, informing targeted intervention strategies to mitigate antimicrobial resistance dissemination.

In vitro efficacy of aquaculture antimicrobials and genetic determinants of resistance in bacterial isolates from tropical aquaculture disease outbreaks.

Understanding the efficacy of antimicrobials against pathogens from clinical samples is critical for their responsible use. The manuscript presents in vitro efficacy and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in seven species of fish pathogens from the disease outbreaks of Indian aquaculture against oxytetracycline, florfenicol, oxolinic acid, and enrofloxacin. In vitro efficacy was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. The gene-specific PCR screened AMR genes against quinolones (qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS) and tetracyclines (tetM, tetS, tetA, tetC, tetB, tetD, tetE, tetH, tetJ, tetG, and tetY). The results showed that Aeromonas veronii (45%) showed the maximum resistance phenotype, followed by Streptococcus agalactiae (40%), Photobacterium damselae (15%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (10%), and Vibrio vulnificus (5%). There was no resistance among Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus against the tested antimicrobials. The positive association between tetA, tetB, tetC, tetM, or a combination of these genes to oxytetracycline resistance and qnrS to quinolone resistance indicated their potential in surveillance studies. The prevalence of resistance phenotypes (16.43%) and evaluated AMR genes (2.65%) against aquaculture antimicrobials was low. The resistance phenotype pattern abundance was 0.143. All the isolates showed susceptibility to florfenicol. The results help with the appropriate drug selection against each species in aquaculture practices.

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates of dogs with ulcerative keratitis in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Identify microorganisms present in canine eyes affected by ulcerative keratitis and assess its resistance profile to available antimicrobial drugs. Samples were collected from 88 canine eyes that exhibited ulcerative keratitis. They were identified using MALDI-TOF and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion. Among the assessed subjects, brachycephalic dogs accounted for 74.48% (50/83) of the evaluated canines. Among the 88 evaluated eyes, 90.9% (80/88) showed positive cultures, with 11.33% (10/88) of the samples isolating more than one species of bacteria. Of all bacterial isolates identified (90), Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 63.33% (57/90), while Gram-negative bacteria constituted 36.66% (33/90), with predominance of Staphylococcus spp. at 35.55% (32/90) being, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius at 68.75% (22/32), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 15.55% (14/90), respectively. Staphylococcus spp. exhibited resistance to penicillin (89.29%), sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (60.71%), and tetracycline (67.86%), while doxycycline (88.89%), cefotaxime (85.71%), chloramphenicol (82.14%), gentamicin, and moxifloxacin (78.57%) showed the highest sensitivity rates. Pseudomonas aeruginosa displayed sensitivity (100%) to gentamicin and imipenem, and resistance (8.33%) to norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and cefepime. Similarly, the Enterobacteriaceae family showed higher sensitivity to amikacin and gentamicin (88.89%), imipenem (88.24%), and levofloxacin (87.5%), with pronounced resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate (50%) and cefazolin (47.06%). This highlights multiresistance in 23.33% (21/90) of the isolates. The most isolated species in canine ulcerative keratitis are S. pseudintermedius and P. aeruginosa. However, other species were also isolated, demonstrating diversity in ocular microbiota infection. There is a high-rate multidrug resistance associated with canine ulcerative keratitis. Nevertheless, these strains exhibited sensitivity to antimicrobials commonly used in veterinary ophthalmology.

Antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria from the sediments of adjoining high Arctic fjords, Svalbard.

Antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are now considered major global threats. The Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden are the interlinked fjords in the Arctic that are currently experiencing the effects of climate change and receiving input of pollutants from distant and regional sources. The present study focused on understanding the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of retrievable heterotrophic bacteria from the sediments of adjacent Arctic fjords Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden. A total of 237 bacterial isolates were tested against 16 different antibiotics. The higher resistance observed towards Extended Spectrum β-lactam antibiotic (ESBL) includes ceftazidime (45.56%) followed by trimethoprim (27%) and sulphamethizole (24.05%). The extent of resistance was meagre against tetracycline (2.53%) and gentamycin (2.95%). The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis identified that Proteobacteria (56%) were the dominant antibiotic resistant phyla, followed by Firmicutes (35%), Actinobacteria (8%) and Bacteroidetes. The dominant resistant bacterial isolates are Bacillus cereus (10%), followed by Alcaligenes faecalis (6.47%), Cytobacillus firmus (5.75%) Salinibacterium sp. (5%) and Marinobacter antarcticus (5%). Our study reveals the prevalence of antibiotic resistance showed significant differences in both the inner and outer fjords of Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden (p < 0.05). This may be the input of antibiotic resistance bacteria released into the fjords from the preserved permafrost due to the melting of glaciers, horizontal gene transfer, and human influence in the Arctic region act as a selection pressure for the development and dissemination of more antibiotic resistant bacteria in Arctic fjords.

Bullet-related bacterial wound infections among injured personnel at emergency site hospitals in Bahir Dar: prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and associated factors.

Bullet-related bacterial wound infection can be caused by high-velocity bullets and shrapnel injuries. In Ethiopia, significant injuries were reported that may cause severe wound infections, persistent systemic infections and may lead to amputation and mortality. The magnitude, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and factors associated with bacterial wound infections among patients with bullet-related injuries are not yet studied particularly at health facilities in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence, bacterial profiles, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and factors associated with bacterial infections among patients with bullet-related injuries at referral health facilities in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. A Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with bullet-related injuries at three referral health facilities in Bahir Dar from May 25 to July 27, 2022. A total of 384 patients with bullet-related injuries were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Wound swabs were collected aseptically and cultured on Blood and MacConkey agar following bacteriological standards. Biochemical tests were performed to differentiate bacteria for positive cultivation and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates were done on Muller Hinton agar using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique according to the 2021 Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guideline. The data were entered using Epi-Info version 7.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive data were presented using frequency, percentages, figures, and charts. Logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with bacterial wound infections. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of bullet-related bacterial wound infection among three referral hospitals in Bahir Dar city was 54.7%. The most commonly isolated Gram-negative organism was Klebsiella spps 49 (23.3%) while among Gram-positive organism, Staphylococcus aureus 58 (27.6%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) 18 (8.6%). Contamination, hospitalization and smoking habit were significantly associated with the presence of bullet-related bacterial wound infections. Over 97% multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial isolates were identified and of theses, E. coli, Proteus species, Citrobactor, and Staphylococcus aureus were highly drug resistant. Increased prevalence of bullet-related bacterial wound infection was noticed in this study. S. aureus followed by Klebsiella species were most commonly isolated bacteria. High frequency of resistance to Ampicillin, Oxacillin, Cefepime, Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, Vancomycin, and Norfloxacin was observed. Therefore, proper handling of bullet injuries, prompt investigation of bacterial infections, monitoring of drug sensitivity patterns and antibiotic usage are critical.

Acorus calamus L. rhizome extract and its bioactive fraction exhibits antibacterial effect by modulating membrane permeability and fatty acid composition.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIndia's ancient texts, the Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, make reference to the traditional medicinal usage of Acorus calamus L. In India and China, it has long been used to cure stomach aches, cuts, diarrhea, and skin conditions. This ability of the rhizome is attributed to its antimicrobial properties. Research studies to date have shown its antimicrobial properties. However, scientific evidence on its mode of action is still lacking. Aim of the studyAcorus calamus L. rhizome extract and its bioactive fraction exhibits antibacterial effect by modulating membrane permeability and fatty acid composition. Material and methodThe secondary metabolites in the rhizome of A. calamus L. were extracted in hexane using Soxhlet apparatus. The ability of the extract to inhibit multidrug resistant bacterial isolates, namely Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated using checkerboard assay. Further, the extract was purified using thin layer chromatography, gravity column chromatography, and combiflash chromatography. Structure elucidation of the active compound was done using GC-MS, FT-IR, and UV–Vis spectral scan. The mode of action of the bioactive fraction was determined. Bacterial membrane damage was analyzed using SEM, membrane permeability was determined using SYBR green I and PI dye, leakage of cytoplasmic contents were analyzed using Bradford assay and Fehling’s reagent. The ability to inhibit efflux pump of A. baumannii was determined using EtBr accumulation assay and β-lactamase inhibition was analyzed using nitrocefin as substrate. Also, the biofilm inhibition of B. cereus was determined using crystal violet dye. Moreover, the effect of the bioactive fraction on the fatty acid profile of the bacterial membrane was determined by GC-FAME analysis using 37 component FAME mix as standard. ResultsAcorus calamus L. rhizome hexane extract (AC-R-H) demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against all the isolates tested. AC-R-H extract also significantly reduced the MIC of ampicillin against all tested bacteria, indicating its bacterial resistance modulating properties. The assay guided purification determined Asarone as the major compound present in the bioactive fraction (S-III-BAF). S-III-BAF was found to reduce the MIC of ampicillin against Escherichia coli (100–25 mg/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15–3.25 mg/mL), Acinetobacter baumannii (12.5–1.56 mg/ml), and Bacillus cereus (10–1.25 mg/mL). Further, it recorded synergistic activity with ampicillin against B. cereus (FICI = 0.365), P. aeruginosa (FICI = 0.456), and A. baumannii (FICI = 0.245). The mode of action of S-III-BAF can be attributed to its ability to disturb the membrane integrity, enhance membrane permeability, reduce biofilm formation, and possibly alter the fatty acid composition of the bacterial cell membranes. ConclusionThe bioactive fraction of AC-R-H extract containing Asarone as the active compound showed antibacterial activity and synergistic interactions with ampicillin against the tested bacterial isolates. Such activity can be attributed to the modulation of fatty acids present in bacterial membranes, which enhances membrane permeability and causes membrane damage.

Trends, patterns and relationship of antimicrobial use and resistance in bacterial isolates tested between 2015-2020 in a national referral hospital of Zambia.

Increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria underscores the need to strengthen AMR surveillance and promote data-based prescribing. To evaluate trends and associations between antimicrobial usage (AMU) and AMR, we explored a dataset of 34,672 bacterial isolates collected between 2015 and 2020 from clinical samples at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. The most frequently isolated species were Escherichia coli (4,986/34,672; 14.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (3,941/34,672; 11.4%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (3,796/34,672; 10.9%). Of the 16 drugs (eight classes) tested, only amikacin and imipenem showed good (> 50%) antimicrobial activity against both E. coli and K. pneumoniae, while nitrofurantoin was effective only in E. coli. Furthermore, 38.8% (1,934/4,980) of E. coli and 52.4% (2,079/3,791) of K. pneumoniae isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns on antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Among S. aureus isolates, 44.6% (973/2,181) were classified as methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Notably, all the MRSA exhibited MDR patterns. The annual hospital AMR rates varied over time, while there was a weak positive relationship (r = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.11-0.60) between the monthly use of third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) and 3GC resistance among Enterobacterales. Overall, the results revealed high AMR rates that fluctuated over time, with a weak positive relationship between 3GC use and resistance. To our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate the association between AMU and AMR in Zambia. Our results highlight the need to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programs and optimize AMU in hospital settings.

Isolation and characterization of coliphages from different water sources and their biocontrol application combined with electron beam irradiation for elimination of E. coli in domestic wastewater

BackgroundAntibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), are high-risk waterborne pathogens that pose a vital threat to the general public’s health. Therefore, this study aims to develop alternative and affordable treatment approaches. Coliphage treatment is an economically and environmentally sustainable method for eliminating pathogenic bacteria. A significant step toward improving germicidal effectiveness might be to combine coliphage with electron beam treatment.ResultsTwelve isolated E. coli were used as host bacteria. In addition, eleven coliphages were isolated and characterized to determine their suitable host range and lytic activities. Antibiotic resistance was tested to detect the most antimicrobial-resistant E. coli isolates. Results indicated that E. coli-2 and E. coli-10 were the most resistant bacterial isolates. Both somatic coliphage-3 (S3) and F-specific coliphage-3 (F3) were the most active lytic coliphages. Based on transmission electron microscope analysis, S3 was classified as a member of the Myoviridae family, while F3 belonged to the Leviviridae family. Genome types were detected; the S3 genome was a linear double-stranded DNA virus, while the F3 genome was a single-strand RNA virus. The adjustment of pH to 7 and temperature to 38 °C increased coliphage activity by 32.2% for S3 and 14% for F3. The optimum multiplicity of infection (MOI) for S3 was 1:1 and 2:1 for F3. From the one-step growth curve, both the latent periods of S3 and F3 were estimated to be 30 and 20 min, and the burst sizes showed 5.8 and 4.6 (PFU)/infected cells, respectively. The D10 values of the most two antimicrobial-resistant strains (E. coli-2 and E. coli-10) were calculated, showing nearly identical values (0.37 and 0.38 kGy), respectively. Both coliphages were used, either alone or in combination with electron beam irradiation (EBI), to eradicate the most multidrug-resistant E. coli in domestic wastewater. EBI reduced the counts of E. coli-2 and -10 by 59% and 65%, respectively. While the combination of coliphages and EBI completely eradicated these microbes.ConclusionsCombination of each individual coliphage and EBI decreased the growth of E. coli in domestic wastewater to an undetectable level.Graphical

MICROBIAL LOAD AND ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM NIGERIA NAIRA NOTES

In our society today, exchange of goods and services usually involves exchange of currency notes by hand. This can serve as a means of transferring microorganisms and antibiotics resistant bacterial isolates. This study was aimed at assessing the contamination of Naira notes in Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna State and to determine the antibiotics resistance patterns of the isolated bacteria. A total of 160 samples of naira notes, were collected randomly from staff and students, marketers, hospital and pharmacies, food vendors and transporters at strategic spots in Ungwan Rimi. Bacteria isolation and identification of samples were carried out using spread plate technique on medium and standard biochemical characterization, respectively. Antibiotics susceptibility testing were carried out using agar disc diffusion method. Isolates that were non-susceptible to at least one antimicrobial agent in three or more antimicrobial classes were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR), those that remain susceptible to agent(s) in only one or two classes as extended drug resistant (XDR) while pandrug resistant (PDR) isolates were classified as those isolates that were resistant to all antibiotics used. Highest bacterial load was observed with N100 notes with marketers (5.33 x 105) while the least bacterial load was 1.2 x 104 in N50 notes from hospitals and pharmacies. The following bacteria were isolated Staphylococcus aureus 70 (26.8%), Bacillus spp 60 (23.0%), Clostridium spp 31 (11.9%), Escherichia coli 30 (11.5%), Streptococcus species 25 (9.6%), Klebsiella spp 24 (9.2%), Salmonella 15 (5.8%), Shigella species 4 (1.5%) and Pseudomonas species 2 (0.8%)...

The Role of Emotional Eating as Relief Mechanism from Psychological Distress and its Impact on Overall Wellbeing

Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial isolates from immunocompromised patients attending selected health facilities in Benue State were investigated. Three hundred and three midstream urine samples were collected for both study and control patient and bacteria were isolated and identified following standard bacteriological methods. Prevalence of UTIs and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were done. Drug resistant bacterial isolates were identified as multidrug resistant (MDR), extensive drug resistant (XDR) and pan-drug resistant organisms (PDR). Data were analysed and statistical significance was considered at p&lt;0.05. From the results, fifty-seven and twenty-one bacterial isolates were identified given prevalence of 18.8% and 6.9% for the study and control subjects respectively. The male HIV patients had higher prevalence of UTI (20.6%) than the female (17.5%). The study bacterial isolates expressed high levels of resistance to ampicillin, aztreonam, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole and the quinolones. Cefotaxime, genticin, augmentin and imipenem which showed high susceptibility were the most effective antibiotics. None of the isolates showed complete susceptibility to all the tested antibiotics. Forty-one drug resistant bacterial isolates consisting of 30 MDR, 7 XDR and 4 PDR isolates were identified. High prevalence of UTI and drug resistant isolates in immunocompromised HIV infected patients was shown in this study. Therefore, regular test of urine cultures and sensitivity, antibiotic policy for rational use of antibiotics in our hospitals and close monitoring of MDR, XDR and PDR isolates in our communities will significantly reduce the problem of antibiotic resistance.

BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS AMONG MALNOURISHED CHILDREN: CAUSES, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND OPHTHALMIC ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF COMMON BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Background and aims: More than 15 million children worldwide are thought to have one or more congenital or acquired visual impairments. If their immune system is defective due to poor nutrition, children are more susceptible to eye infections and other eye disorders. The ongoing, intense war and disruption of social services have had a clear impact on the overall health and nutritional status of children and the entire population in Yemen. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to study bacterial conjunctivitis in malnourished children by identifying bacterial causes and associated factors and determining patterns of ocular antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the three selected places (Alkhpt hospital in Al-Kapt district, Al-Khamis hospital in Al-Khamisdistrict, and Al-Joumhori hospital in Al-Mahwatt city), from November 2022 until June 2023. The first clinical investigations of malnutrition and conjunctivitis were done by doctors in the hospitals and recorded in the pre-designed questionnaire. Collected eye swabs were investigated for bacteriological agents and antibiotic susceptibility according to standard laboratory methods in the National Center of Public Health Laboratories Sana’a (NCPHL). Results:The study included 351 males (46.4%) and 406 females (53.6%). 143 children (18.9%) suffer from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and 55 (7.3%) from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), with total global acute malnutrition equal to 198 (26.2%).There was a highly significant association of bacterial conjunctivitis with MAM (OR=3.1, p&lt;0.0001), SAM (OR=2.9, p&lt;0.0001), and severe stunting (OR=2.2, p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: The severity of acute malnutrition was very high in the study area, reaching a critical phase and exceeding the emergency threshold. The commonest causative organisms of bacterial conjunctivitis were S. aureus and Branhamella catarrahalis. Since there isn't a single medication that can effectively treat these diverse species of bacteria, it's best to look into bacteriological culture and in vitro antibiotic sensitivity. Peer Review History: Received: 3 November 2023; Revised: 11 December; Accepted: 9 January 2024, Available online: 15 January 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, amanyalboghdadly@gmail.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Nkechi Obiofu Ezenobi, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, nkechi.ezenobi@uniport.edu.ng Dr. Nicola Micale, University of Messina, Italy, nmicale@unime.it

Honey mediated synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles, and evaluation of antimicrobial, antibiofilm activities against multidrug resistant clinical bacterial isolates

The present work aims to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) via a greener approach using honey as a bio-reductant and stabilizing agent. The prepared nanoparticles were analysed by using UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), crystalline nature by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field electron scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), size distribution and zeta potential by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. XRD patterns demonstrate the polycrystalline wurtzite structure for ZnONPs with an average zeta potential value of − 2.61 mV. Spherical and square-shaped nanostructures were affirmed using FE-SEM and TEM micrographs. The DPPH and ABTS assays revealed that ZnONPs possess antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 38 µg/mL and 6.38 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of ZnONPs performed against clinical strains of Gram negative bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Gram positive bacteria Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was assessed along with their antibiofilm activity. The evaluation of the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane with the leakge of cellular components, including nucleic acids and proteins, into the culture medium indicated that honey synthesized ZnONPs could function as potential antimicrobial agents.

Multidrug Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from Pus Samples: A Hospital-based Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, initially associated with healthcare-associated infections, have now spread and become a major cause of community-acquired infections, as well. Therefore, there is a need for monitoring MDR bacterial infections in healthcare settings to establish policies for antimicrobial therapy and effective infection prevention strategies. As pyogenic infections were a major burden of infectious diseases in our healthcare setup, the present study was conducted. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of Multidrug Resistance (MDR) and Extensive Drug Resistance (XDR) in bacterial isolates from pus samples. Materials and Methods: The present hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Microbiology Laboratory, SMBT Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India, from June 2022 to May 2023. A total of 360 bacterial isolates from pus samples received from the General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Otorhinolaryngology Departments were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2023 guidelines. Isolates were classified as MDR and XDR as per standard definitions. All Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) isolates were tested for Ampicillinase C (AmpCs) production by disk approximation test and double disk synergy test. Microsoft Excel 2013 was used for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of MDR and XDR in Gram-negative bacteria was 175 (68.8%) and 120 (47.2%), respectively. The prevalence of MDR and XDR Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was 59 (67%) and 10 (11.3%), respectively. The prevalence of Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 45.4% (n=40). Out of the total 111 isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, five isolates were AmpC beta-lactamase producers (4.5%). Conclusion: In the present study, a high prevalence of MDR was observed in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria isolated from different pus samples. This is an alarming situation, and further in-depth studies need to be conducted to assess the association of MDR bacterial infections with particular sites and types of infections to develop effective therapeutic and infection control policies.

Profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from effluents of Kolladiba and Debark hospitals.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and bacterial profiles of some multi-drug-resistant bacteria isolated from the effluents of Kolladiba and Debark Hospitals. Sixteen samples were collected from Kolladiba and Debark Hospitals in North Gondar, Ethiopia, to investigate the presence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. To assess susceptibility patterns, well-isolated bacterial colonies were subjected to seven antibiotics. The selected resistant isolates were characterized using morphological and biochemical tests. Plasmid DNA analysis of the isolates was also performed. Out of a total of 28 bacterial isolates, 12 were found to be multi-drug resistant. Among the tested antibiotics, erythromycin was the most resistant antibiotic, while novobiocin was the most effective antibiotic. A plasmid profile study of the isolates revealed both the presence and absence of plasmids. The number of plasmids ranged from zero to four, with plasmid sizes of 100, 900, 1,000, 1,400, 1,500, and 1,800 base pairs. This study concluded that effluents from both hospitals have high number of multi-drug-resistant isolates. The genes responsible for multi-drug resistance in bacterial isolates under this study could be either plasmid-mediated or chromosomal DNA-mediated. The presence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in these effluents should not be overlooked.

Antibacterial Activity of the Combined Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Corchurus olitorius and Bryophyllum pinnatum on Some Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Isolates

Antibacterial Activity of the Combined Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Corchurus olitorius and Bryophyllum pinnatum on Some Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Isolates

Prevalence of Bacteriuria, and Characterization of Their Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern and Efflux Pumps Activity in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Uti Patients

Rationale: Urinary tract infections (UTI) occur more frequently in patients with type 2 diabetes. In developing countries, impairments in the defense system, metabolic disorder during diabetes, and incomplete bladder emptying all contribute to the pathogenesis of UTI in diabetic patients. This comparative study is undertaken to reveal the prevalence of uropathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns, and to assess hematological biomarker in diabetic and non-diabetic UTI patients. Methods: The prevalence of uropathogens were tested in 40 diabetic and 40 non-diabetic UTI patients. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates were assessed by the Kirby-Buer disc-diffusion method. Moreover, the bacterial load, Gram-staining, biochemical and serological assays were performed using appropriate methods. Results: The findings showed that diabetic patients are more likely to UTI compared to non-diabetic patients. In terms of uropathogenic prevalence, 61% Escherichia coli, 34% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2% Staphylococcus aureus, 2% Pseudomonas aureginosa and 1% others. The antimicrobial resistance profile demonstrated that most of the bacterial isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin and methicillin but susceptible to azithromycin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. Moreover, the drug efflux pumps activity and bacterial burden were significantly high among antimicrobial resistant bacterial isolates. Besides, the C-reactive protein, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glycosylated hemoglobin A1C, neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly high in diabetic UTI patients. Conclusion: This study found E. coli was the most frequent bacteria isolates, and this observation is consistent others. Diabetic UTI patients are more vulnerable with high bacterial burden and systemic inflammation. Bioresearch Commu. 10(1): 1413-1419, 2024 (January)

Genomic investigation unveils high-risk ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae within a rural environmental water body

Antimicrobial resistance is regarded as a global threat to public health, animals, and the environment, emerging in response to extensive utilization of antimicrobials. The determinants of antimicrobial resistance are transported to susceptible bacterial populations through genetic recombination or through gene transfer, mediated by bacteriophages, plasmids, transposons, and insertion sequences. To determine the penetration of antimicrobial resistance into the bacterial population of the Thiruvandarkoil Lake, a water body located in the rural settings of Puducherry, India, culture-based microbiological and genomic approaches were used. Resistant bacterial isolates obtained from microbiological screening were subjected to whole genome sequencing and the genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance were identified using in silico genomic tools. Cephalosporin-resistant isolates were found to produce extended spectrum beta lactamases, encoded by blaVEB-6 (in Proteus mirabilis PS01), blaSHV-12 and ompK36 mutation (in Klebsiella quasipneumoniae PS02) and blaSHV-12, blaACT-16, blaCTX−M and blaNDM-1 in (Enterobacter hormaechei PS03). Genes encoding heavy metal resistance, virulence and resistance to detergents were also detected in these resistant isolates. Among ESBL-producing organisms, one mcr-9-positive Enterobacter hormaechei was also identified in this study. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-9 carrying bacterium in the environment in India. This study seeks the immediate attention of policy makers, researchers, government officials and environmental activists in India, to develop surveillance programs to monitor the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

Antibiotic resistance determinants among carbapenemase producing bacteria isolated from wastewaters of Kathmandu, Nepal

The emergence of carbapenem resistant bacteria (CRB) possesses a remarkable threat to the health of humans. CRB and carbapenem resistance genes (CRGs) have frequently been reported in clinical isolates from hospitals, however, their occurrence and distribution in wastewaters from various sources and river water have not been emphasized in Nepal. So, this study aimed to detect carbapenem resistant bacterial isolates and their resistance determinants in river water and different types of wastewaters. River water and both untreated and treated wastewater samples from hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, and municipal sewage were collected in summer and winter seasons. From 68 grab wastewater samples, CRB were detected only in 16 samples, which included eight hospital wastewater, and four each from untreated municipal sewage and river water. A total of 25 CRB isolates were detected with dominance of E. coli (44.0%) and K. pneumoniae (24.0%). The majority of the isolates harbored blaNDM-1 (76.0%), followed by blaOXA (36.0%) and blaKPC (20.0%) genes. Hospital wastewater majorly contributed to the presence of blaNDM-1, blaKPC, and blaOXA along with intI1 genes compared to river water and untreated municipal sewage, especially during the winter season. However, CRB were not detected in treated effluents of hospitals and municipal sewage, and both influents and effluents from pharmaceutical industries. The combined presence of each blaNDM-1 &blaOXA and blaKPC &blaOXA occurred in 16.0% of the bacterial isolates. The increased minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem was significantly associated with the presence of CRGs. The results of this study highlight the significance of carbapenem resistance in bacteria isolated from wastewater and river water, and underscore the necessity for efficient monitoring and control strategies to prevent the dispersion of carbapenem resistance in the environment and its potential consequences on human health.

Efficacy Assessment of Some Commonly used Disinfectants against Multidrug Resistant Bacterial Isolates from a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Benin City, Nigeria

The ever-rising numbers of multidrug resistant, MDR bacteria in healthcare facilities globally has correspondingly led to a rapid escalation in the use of disinfectants, antiseptics or biocides which reached unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has also elicited grave apprehension about the development of resistance to disinfectants. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of some regularly used disinfectants in the study population. Five brands of disinfectants were obtained and diluted in sterile 300 ppm calcium carbonatenutrient broth to their respective minimum inhibitory concentrations, MICs to which were exposed broth cultures of MDR organisms for 2 min before sampling onto nutrient agar plates in replicates. Further samples were taken NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES (NIJSES) Volume 4 Issue 1 2023 ©NIJSES Publications Open Access ONLINE ISSN: 2992-5819 PRINT ISSN: 2992-6149 Onemu et al., 2023 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited Page | 49 from the mixture at 4, 6, 8, … 30 min intervals. One set of plates were incubated at 37oC and the other at RT for 48 h and 96 h respectively and examined for growth. Sodium hypochlorite, phenol and glutaraldehyde - all proved to be effective with the fastest time kill kinetics at 2.5 min. The longest time kill kinetics were demonstrated by cetrimide and cresol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 16 min and 13 min respectively, thus affirming Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the most resistant organism. This study infers of a reassurance in the continued effectiveness of the disinfectants under review in the phase of the ever-soaring tide of MDR organisms in healthcare settings. Keywords: Disinfectants, usage, effectiveness, MDR-organisms