Is the Potential Interconnection between Antibiotic Susceptibility and Disinfectant Resistance a Threat to Food Safety?

The prevalence of antibiotic susceptibility and disinfectant resistance in bacterial pathogens causes a serious problem not only to food safety but also to public health, which directly or indirectly leads to treatment and disinfection failures. In this review, multidrug resistance, the mechanism of disinfectant resistance, the methods for detecting disinfectant resistance and the cross-resistance between an- tibiotics and disinfectants are summarized. More efforts should be devoted to explor- ing the professional guidance of using antibiotics and disinfectants, and to develop- ing the comprehensive detection with genetic and molecular methods is highly ex- pected.

Different antibiotic susceptibility between antrum and corpus of the stomach,a possible reason for treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM: To assess whether antibiotic resistance varies between the antrum and corpus of the stomach of patients that are either Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) therapy-naive or pre-treated.

Detection of Beta-Lactamase and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase of Pathogens Isolated from Pig and Chicken and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility Test

The antibacterial activity of beta-lactam antibiotics or their combinations with inhibitor sulbactum against non-lactamase- producing strains, lactamase-producing and ESBLs-producing isolates was evaluated with twofold dilution method after pathogens isolated from pigs and chickens were detected, respectively, for beta-lactamase and extended-spectrum beta- lactamases （ESBLs）, The results revealed that most of 43 clinically isolated strains could produce beta-lactamase and 3 strains of shigella isolated from chicken samples produced ESBLs. All of 30 lactamase-producing strains isolated and only one of 16 non-lactamase-producing strains were resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin. MICs of ampicillin against lactamaseproducing isolates decreased 10-40 and 10-20 times respectively, when it was conbined with sulbactam at ration of 1：2 and 1：4. All clinical isolates were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins. The MICs of third-generation cephalosporins against lactamase-producing isolates did not change when they were conbined with sulbactam. MICs of ceftiofur and ceftriaxone against ESBLs-producing isolates decreased 2-4 times when they were conbined with sulbactam.

Microbial Assessment and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacterial Fish Isolates in an Aquaculture Production Site in Mefou Afamba Division of Cameroon

The practice of integrated fish farming and the use of local fish meal and manure for fish feeding in Cameroon constitute potential sources of resistant pathogenic bacteria in the fish pond environment.Therefore,a periodical and constant monitoring of the microbiological quality of fish pond is imperative.This study was to assess the microbial contamination of Mfou aquaculture production site and evaluate the antibiotic resistance profile of bacterial fish isolates.Samples of pond water(n=36),sediment(n=36),fishmeal(n=12)and African catfish(Clarias gariepinus),kanga(Heterotis niloticus)and Nile Tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus)(n=36,each)were collected to determine TVAC(Total Viable Aerobic Bacterial Count),FC(Fungal Count),SAC(Staphylococcus aureus count),TCC(Total Coliform Count)and FCC(Feacal Coliform Count).The fish skin isolates of S.aureus,Enterobacter sakazakii,Citrobacter freundii,Serratia fonticola,Klebsiella oxytoca,Proteus spp.,Aeromonas hydrophila,Kluyvera spp.,Moraxella spp.,Pasteurella multocida and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested against penicillin G(10μg),chloramphenicol(30μg),sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim(25μg),erythromycin(15μg),tetracycline(30μg),using the disk diffusion method.Results reveal a heavy contamination of fish farms with microbial load above the recommended limits.Our study indicates that fish ponds are sources of zoonotic pathogens underlining their epidemiological and clinical relevance.All bacterial isolates were multiresistant with a multiple antibiotic resistance index above 0.2.These data raise concern about the microbial contamination of aquaculture and associated public health risks in Cameroon.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Isolated Bacteria from Otitis Media in Children at Mohamed Aden Sheikh Children Teaching Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Background: Otitis media (OM) is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. OM is a prevailing problem among children in Hargeisa. The antibiotic susceptibility of etiologic bacteria is not investigated in Somaliland which hinders the effective treatment of OM cases in children. Objective: This study aimed at determining the etiologic bacteria and its antibiotic susceptibilities in children presenting with OM to a pediatric referral hospital in Hargeisa for the period March 2013-May 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted on a random sample of 270 children with OM. The laboratory used standard microbiological techniques for bacterial isolation and Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info 7 and any associations among the study variables tested with Chi2 test with confidence level of 95% and p value of Results: The rate of bacterial isolation was 96.3%. The predominant bacterial isolate was S. aureus (31.48%) followed by P. aeruginosa (24.81%) and P. mirabilis (15.93%) respectively while the least prevalent isolates were coagulase negative Staphylococcus (1.48%), S. pyogenes (0.74%) and Enterobacter spp. (0.37%) in descending order. Age group 0 - 3, χ2 (143,270 = 223.245, p = 0.000) showed highest bacterial isolation. There was no significant relationship between bacterial isolate and gender, χ2 (11,270 = 9.2283, p = 0.6008). S. aureus showed highest sensitivity towards ciprofloxacin (85.7%), amikacin (76.5%), and gentamicin (73.8%). All isolates showed mixed resistance pattern. Conclusion: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis were the leading causative pathogens of otitis media. No association was established between isolate distribution and gender. Both the isolated gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria showed greatest sensitivity towards ciprofloxacin while the highest resistance was observed to penicillins, tetracyclines and sulfonamides. The Otitis Media among children in Hargeisa could be possibly treated, based on the antibiogram of the major associated bacteria, with topical and systemic formulations of the following antibiotic groups: fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides and 3rd gen. cephalosporins.

Comparative Study of the Static Magnetic Field Effects on Growth Rate with Relative Antibiotic Susceptibility in Escherichia coli

We studied the biological effects of different magnetic fields. Identified bacterial strain Escherichia coli （type I） has been exposed to the dipolar magnetic field force （400, 800, 1200 and 1600 Gausses） which prepared locally with incubation for different period times （24, 48 and 72 hrs） at 37℃. The effects were evaluated by optical density （OD） at 600 nm determining their growth density incorporation with negative control and depending of McFarland turbidity standard （0.5）, in addition to its susceptibility to various antibiotics. Results illustrate different forces of magnetic field decreased the growth rate of E. coli in particular at 24 hrs incubation comparing with unexposed or control samples. The magnetic field increased the logarithmic phase within 4-6 hrs of treatment but decreased after 16 to 18 hrs. Furthermore, changes in the antibiotic sensitivity were observed after exposure period of 6 hrs since E. coli cells became more sensitive to certain antibiotics. While after a 16 hrs exposure period, it became more resistant to the same antibiotics comparing with control groups.

Bacteriological Assessment and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Recovered from <i>Clarias gariepinus</i>Selected from Various Fish Farms in Anambra North Senatorial Zones in Anambra State, Nigeria

Fishes are cheap sources of protein and are commonly reared in artificial pond in Nigeria. Bacterial infested fishes have been a serious public health concern. This study was aimed at isolating and identifying bacteria associated with the internal organs (gills, liver, guts) of Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) in fish ponds in Anambra North Senatorial zones in Anambra State, Nigeria, and to determine the seasonal bacterial load of the organs and antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates to conventional antibiotics. A total of 720 African catfish were sampled from randomly selected fish farms during rainy and dry seasons. Bacteria isolates inoculated on Blood and Nutrient agar plates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. Susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Isolates from the fish organs include species of Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Serratia, Proteus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter and Micrococcus. Results also revealed that there was significant difference (p value < 0.05) in the bacterial load recovered from the fish organs, during rainy and dry seasons. Bacillus sp. was the most abundant gram positive bacterium in the organs of the fish samples during the rainy and dry season, while Citrobacter sp., a gram negative organism, was relatively abundant in the liver and gut. Percentage susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotics was highest with vancomycin (100%) and least with erythromycin (75.0%). The most susceptible isolates were species of Staphylococcus, Microccoccus and Microbacterium while Bacillus sp. was the most resistant bacterium. This study has shown that high bacteria load are found in the internal organs of the fish and a good number of the bacteria are resistant to some of the antibiotics tested. There is, therefore, need for adherence to proper sanitary measures to avoid bacterial contamination of fish.

A Retrospective Study on the Pyogenic Pathogens and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns along with the ES<i>β</i>L Production

Pyogenic infections are caused by various pathogens leading to pus formation and that can be attributed due to a wound either through accident or during surgery leading to infection spread. There are pathogenic strains that are not uncommon in hospital settings like Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter etc., that are multidrug resistant (MDR) and are a cause of concern. The bacteriological profile in the pyogenic infections tends to be same but there is a vast difference with the antibiotic resistant patterns in different hospital settings. Hence, the aim was to study the antibiotic susceptibility profiles and Extended spectrum βeta Lactamases (ESβL) production in these pathogens. A prospective study was carried out in Silchar Medical College and Hospital Assam, India, over a four-month period from February to May 2021. The samples were processed using Blood and MacConkey’s agar. Further, these isolated pathogens were identified by standard morphological, cultural and biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and ESβL production was detected by using combined disk diffusion test. It was observed that the identified pathogens had an incidence rate of 84.2% and further revealed that Gram negative had a higher incidence rate compared to Gram positive with 59.8%. The pathogens isolated from pus samples had a maximum of Klebsiella sps (19.64%) and the lowest was E. coli with 5.36%. Antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) of Gram-negative bacterial isolates showed the highest incidence with aztreonam (40.6%) and the lowest was observed in Piperacillin/Tazobactam with 7.5%. The only Gram positive was observed in our study, Staphylococcus aureus had the highest resistance in amikacin with 80% and interestingly, all the isolates were sensitive to Linezolid with 100%. There is a high rise and spreading with the multi-drug resistance (MDR) strains along with ESβL production and it was observed in our studies that these pathogens had an incidence rate of 18.5%. The highest was 58.1% in Pseudomonas sps. None of Proteus sps were found to be ESβL producers. To combat resistance, the irrational use of antibiotics should be avoided and surveillance of the rising multidrug species regularly helps in implementing better therapeutic options to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Assessment of Clinical Presentation, Performance of Diagnostic Methods and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing for Salmonella among Patients Attending Kangema Sub-County Hospital, Kenya

Background: Typhoid disease remains a major public health problem globally, especially in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Symptoms associated with typhoid disease mimic those of other febrile illnesses and are thus difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. A confirmed diagnosis requires the determination or isolation of the bacteria in well-equipped laboratories. Developing countries are faced with a huge limitation of the laboratory infrastructure to diagnose typhoid disease, which would otherwise guide in treating, managing, controlling, and halting the spread of drug resistant mutants. Objective: This study, therefore, was aimed at determining the clinical presentation, performance of diagnostic tests and antibiotic susceptibility testing of Salmonella among adults attending Kangema Sub-County Hospital. Study Population: The study population was residents of Kangema Sub-County in Murang’a County, Kenya while the target population was adults. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design that employed a systematic random sampling procedure. The study took place between April and June 2021. The sample size was 97 respondents who all consented and were enrolled in the study. Interviewing the respondents was carried out by administering structured questionnaires to collect quantitative data. Stool samples were obtained and cultured in Cary Blair transport media and then cultured in appropriate media at the Murang’a County Referral Hospital Laboratory. A rapid Salmonella Antigen (SAT) test was also performed on all the stool samples. Data Analyses: Word Statistics and Data (STATA) v 13 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of Typhoid Fever was at 6.2% (95% CI) which included S. Typhi (n = 1;16.7%) and S. Paratyphi B (n = 5;83.3%). No isolate showed resistance to Ciprofloxacin. The sensitivity of SAT is 100% and a specificity of 98.9% with a kappa statistic of almost perfect agreement (0.9641) with culture. Patients who had fever p = 0.001, abdominal distention p = 0.028, diarrhoea p = 0.038, loose or watery stool p = 0.021 and mild general condition p = 0.02 remained independently associated with Salmonella infection. Conclusion: Typhoid Fever being endemic, laboratory diagnosis was a key for confirmation after clinical diagnosis. SAT can accurately be used to detect the disease where culture is unavailable. However, antibiotic sensitivity tests were crucial when determining the drug of choice as Salmonella isolates were multi-drug resistant. Establishment of prescribing antimicrobial policies and guidelines can periodically monitor the antibiogram patterns.

Epidemiology and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus among Livestock and Pet Animals

Staphylococcus aureus is an important zoonotic pathogen that is responsible for a variety of infectious diseases in humans and animals.The present study was designed to check the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of MSSA from three different animal origins(bovine,caprine and pet).A total of n=450 samples(150 each source)were collected from bovine,caprine and pets.Collected samples were subjected to S.aureus identification by microbiological examination and confirmed S.aureus isolates were put to oxacillin disk diffusion test to declare them MSSA.The MSSA confirmed isolates were subjected to various antibiotics for susceptibility profiling using Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion test.The present study found higher prevalence of MSSA from caprine origin(goat 83.33%)as compared to pet(cat 69.33%;dog 65.33%)and bovine origin(buffalo 26.66%;cattle 31.66%).The in-vitro findings of current study revealed oxytetracycline and gentamicin presented 100%efficacy against MSSA of all origins while the vancomycin presented>35%,>40%and>65%resistance against MSSA isolated from bovine,caprine and pet origin respectively.However,ciprofloxacin was equally effective(50%)against MSSA from buffalo and cattle while>80%efficacy was noted against MSSA from cat and dogs.Linezolid and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid were 77.78%and 66.67%sensitive to MSSA isolates from caprine milk.The present study found higher prevalence of MSSA from bovine,caprine and pet isolates with diversified pattern of susceptibility of different antibiotics from all sources.

Bacterial Isolates from Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs in Grenada, and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility

Of 52 culture positive urine samples from dogs in Grenada for six years (2004 through 2009) 65.5% of isolates were Gram-negative bacteria, with E. coli as the predominant species, followed by Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Other Gram-negative isolates included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter anitratus, and Serratia plymuthica. Among the Gram-positive isolates, Staphylococcus intermedius was the most common species, followed by S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and enterococci. Sensitivity results obtained with 6 antibiotics showed least resistance to enrofloxacin, the rate being 19% for all isolates together. More than two-thirds of isolates were resistant to tetracycline. For Gram-positive isolates, resistance to cephalothin was even less than that against enrofloxacin, with a rate of only 13%. Overall resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was 36%. The most common drug used for treatment of urinary tract infections in Grenada has been amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, followed by enrofloxacin.

Vaginal Colonization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Group B <i>Streptococcus</i>Isolated from Pregnant Women in Maternitéde l’Hôpital Des Soeurs de Pauvres de Bergame de Kimbanseke, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterium which often colonizes maternal vaginal and rectal epitheliums and can be transmitted to the neonate during delivery. GBS infections may cause significant maternal and neonatal morbidity, including sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. In Democratic Republic of Congo, few studies have been done on GBS colonization of pregnant women. This study was conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in order to determine the prevalence of GBS vaginal colonization among pregnant women at a gestational age of 35 - 37 weeks and the antibiotic susceptibility. Vaginal swabs of 104 pregnant women were inoculated onto Chromatic Strepto B medium. GBS isolates were identified by Gram staining, catalase test, blue-green colonies and confirmed to be GBS by Strepto B latex test kit. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done using the disc diffusion method. The prevalence of GBS vaginal colonization was 23.07%. Of the isolates studied 100%, 75%, 62.5%, 50% were sensitive to vancomycin, clindamycin, cefazolin, and erythromycin respectively. Our findings seem to suggest that maternal GBS colonization rate in this study was higher compared to a previous report from Bukavu in Democratic Republic of Congo. All isolates were found to be sensitive to vancomycin which was the most effective antibiotic for the treatment of GBS infections.

Antibiotic susceptibility of body surface and gut micro flora of two aquatic leech species(Hirudinaria manillensis and Hirudinaria javanica)in Malaysia

Objective:To elucidate the antibiotic susceptibility of body surface and gut associated microflora of two local aquatic leech species Hirudinaria manillensis and Hirudinaria javanica.Methods:Four commercially available antibiotics(doxycycline,chloramphenicol,tetracycline and ciprofloxacin)were used in this study.A total of 13 isolated gut and two surface micro flora from Hirudinaria manillensis and two gut and two surface micro flora from Hirudinaria javanica were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility.Results:Based on the susceptibility,it was observed that all the isolated bacteria were found to be susceptible to at least three of the antibiotics except Microbacterium resistens,Serratiamarcescens and Morganella morganii.This study also found that the bacterial species Bacillus fusiformis has displayed resistance against tetracycline and Tsukamurella inchonensis against chloramphenicol.Conclusions:Among all the antibiotics tested,ciprofloxacin was found to be the best bactericidal agent.The immersion of leeches in ciprofloxacin before the application to the patient may be beneficial to prevent invasive infection of the patient.Further study is needed to sterilize the live leech by immersion/oral mode of administration for the tested antibiotics.

Antagonistic Effect of Bacteria Isolated from the Digestive Tract of Lutzomyia evansi against Promastigotes of Leishmania infantum, Antimicrobial Activities and Susceptibility to Antibiotics

Lutzomyia evansi is a phlebotomine insect endemic to Colombia’s Caribbean coast and is considered the main vector of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region. Specific studies of the direct effects generated by bacteria in the digestive tract of the insect vectors, under Leishmania infantum using in vitro models, represent a novel alternative as a control strategy for the transmission of leishmaniasis and also provide the opportunity to detect natural products or antimicrobial peptides with different biological activities. In this study, we evaluate the leishmanicidal and antimicrobial activities of Pantoea ananatis, Ochrobactrum anthropi and Enterobacter cloacae, isolated from the digestive tract of Lutzomyia evansi and the susceptibility of these bacteria to commonly used antibiotics. The antagonistic effect of Pantoea ananatis, Ochrobactrum anthropi and Enterobacter cloacae was evaluated against six species of human pathogenic bacteria and against stationary (Metacyclic-like) and exponential promastigotes (Procyclic-like) of Leishmania infantum (BCN-GFP strain) by co-culture assays for 24 hours. The activity of the bacterial isolates on Leishmania infantum promastigotes was quantified by flow cytometry. The susceptibility of the bacterial strains to clinically used antibiotics was analyzed by antibiogram. The highest percentage of inhibition was observed against exponential promastigotes with bacterial concentrations of 108 CFU/ml of Enterobacter cloacae (77.29% ± 0.6%) and Pantoea ananatis (70.17% ± 1.1%). The extracts produced by three bacterial isolates showed similar biological activity (13 mm - 22 mm inhibition halos) against all tested bacteria;however, significant differences were observed with respect to gram-positive bacteria (P < 0.003557). The most active antibacterial activity was displayed against the pathogenic bacteria Bacillus cereus. Ochrobactrum anthropi was the isolate with the highest number of antibiotic resistance patterns while Pantoea ananatis and Enterobacter cloacae showed greater susceptibility to the evaluated antibiotics. The growth inhibitory activity of exponential Leishmania infantum promastigotes shown by extracts of Enterobacter cloacae and Pantoea ananantis suggests that the presence of these bacteria in the vector intestine may affect the parasite development to metacyclic stages, infective to human hosts. This in turn confers said bacteria, a potential in controlling the transmission of Leishmania spp. that deserves to be studied in depth.

A comparative study on antimicrobial susceptibility of uroculturome of humans in health and urinary tract infections

Background:The uroculturome indicates the profile of culturable microbes inhabiting the urinary tract,and it is often required to do a urine culture to find an effective antimicrobial to treat urinary tract infections(UTIs).Methods:This study targeted to understand the profile of culturable pathogens in the urine of apparently healthy(128)and humans with clinical UTIs(161)and their antimicrobial susceptibility.All the urine samples were analyzed to quantify microbial load and determine the diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of microbes following standard microbiological methods.Results:In urine samples from UTI cases,microbial counts were 1.2×10^(4)±6.02×10^(3) colony-forming units(cfu)/mL,while in urine samples from apparently healthy humans,the average count was 3.33±1.34×10^(3) cfu/mL.In eight samples(six from UTI cases and two from apparently healthy people,Candida(C.albicans 3,C.catenulata 1,C.krusei 1,C.tropicalis 1,C.parapsiplosis 1,C.gulliermondii 1)and Rhizopus species(1)were detected.Candida krusei was detected only in a single urine sample from a healthy person and C.albicans was detected both in urine of healthy and clinical UTI cases.Gram-positive(G+ve)bacteria were more commonly(Odds ratio,1.98;CI99,1.01-3.87)detected in urine samples of apparently healthy humans,and Gram-negative(G−ve)bacteria(Odds ratio,2.74;CI99,1.44-5.23)in urines of UTI cases.From urine samples of 161 UTI cases,a total of 90 different types of microbes were detected and,73 samples had only a single type of bacteria.In contrast,49,29,3,4,1,and 2 samples had 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 types of bacteria,respectively.The most common bacteria detected in urine of UTI cases was Escherichia coli(52 samples),in 20 cases as the single type of bacteria,other 34 types of bacteria were detected in pure form in 53 cases.From 128 urine samples of apparently healthy people,88 types of microbes were detected either singly or in association with others,from 64 urine samples only a single type of bacteria was detected while 34,13,3,11,2 and 1 sample yielded 2,3,4,5,6 and seven types of microbes,respectively.In the urine of apparently healthy humans too,E.coli was the most common bacteria,(10 samples)followed by Staphylococcus haemolyticus(9),S.intermedius(5),and S.aureus(5),and similar types of bacteria also dominated in cases of mixed occurrence,E.coli was detected in 26,S.aureus in 22 and S.haemolyticus in 19 urine samples,respectively.G+ve bacteria isolated from urine samples’irrespective of health status were more often(P<0.01)resistant than G−ve bacteria to ajowan oil,holy basil oil,cinnamaldehyde,and cinnamon oil,but more susceptible to sandalwood oil(P<0.01).However,for antibiotics,G+ve were more often susceptible than G−ve bacteria to cephalosporins,doxycycline,and nitrofurantoin.Conclusion:The study concludes that to understand the role of good and bad bacteria in the urinary tract microbiome more targeted studies are needed to discern the isolates at the pathotype level.Further,the study suggests the use of antibiotics by observing good antibiotic stewardship following antibiotic susceptibility testing only.

Isolation,Identification and Antibiotics Susceptibility Test of Citrobacter freundii from Procambarus clarkia

This experiment was conducted to clarify species and drug resistance of pathogen from the diseased Procambarus clarkia. Pathogenic bacteria from hepatopancreas of the diseased P. clarkia were examined using conventional methods,and then were isolated. The further tests and analysis of the isolated strain were developed,including the regression experiment to P. clarkia,the morphology,physiological and biochemical characteristics,sequence analysis of their 16 S rRNA and gyr B genes,and the susceptibility test to antibiotics. Large colonies with similar morphology and color were obtained. Strain X120523 was identified as Citrobacter freundii,proved to have strong pathogenicity,and was susceptible to quinolones and aminoglycosides.

Causative bacteria of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit in Bahrain:Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility pattern

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)is defined as pneumonia that occurs two calendar days following endotracheal intubation or after that.It is the most common infection encountered among intubated patients.VAP incidence showed wide variability between countries.AIM To define the VAP incidence in the intensive care unit(ICU)in the central gove-rnment hospital in Bahrain and review the risk factors and the predominant bacterial pathogens with their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.METHODS The research was a prospective cross-sectional observational study over six months from November 2019 to June 2020.It included adult and adolescent patients(>14 years old)admitted to the ICU and required intubation and mechanical ventilation.VAP was diagnosed when it occurred after 48 h after endotracheal intubation using the clinical pulmonary infection score,which considers the clinical,laboratory,microbiological,and radiographic evidence.RESULTS The total number of adult patients admitted to the ICU who required intubation and mechanical ventilation during the study period was 155.Forty-six patients developed VAP during their ICU stay(29.7%).The calculated VAP rate was 22.14 events per 1000 ventilator days during the study period,with a mean age of 52 years±20.Most VAP cases had late-onset VAP with a mean number of ICU days before the development of VAP of 9.96±6.55.Gram-negative contributed to most VAP cases in our unit,with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter being the most identified pathogen.CONCLUSION The reported VAP rate in our ICU was relatively high compared to the international benchmark,which should trigger a vital action plan for reinforcing the implementation of the VAP prevention bundle.

Unveiling the impact:COVID-19's influence on bacterial resistance in the Kingdom of Bahrain

BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat,and understanding local trends in bacterial isolates and their susceptibility patterns is crucial for effective infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has introduced additional complexities,potentially influencing these patterns.AIM To analyze trends in bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex from 2018 to 2023,with a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends.METHODS A retrospective analysis of microbiological data was conducted,covering the period from 2018 to 2023.The study included key bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli(E.coli),Klebsiella pneumoniae,Acinetobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Staphylococcus aureus,among others.The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of these isolates were assessed using standard laboratory methods.To contextualize the findings,the findings were compared with similar studies from other regions,including China,India,Romania,Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates,Malaysia,and United States.RESULTS The study revealed fluctuating trends in the prevalence of bacterial isolates,with notable changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.For example,a significant increase in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was observed during the pandemic years,while the prevalence of E.coli showed a more variable pattern.Antibiotic resistance rates varied among the different pathogens,with a concerning rise in resistance to commonly used antibiotics,particularly among Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli.Additionally,the study identified an alarming increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)strains,especially within Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli isolates.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends was evident,with shifts in the frequency,resistance patterns,and the emergence of MDR bacteria among several key pathogens.CONCLUSION This study highlights the dynamic nature of bacterial isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns at Salmaniya Medical Complex,particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.The findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and effective anti-microbial stewardship programs to combat the evolving threat of antibiotic resistance.Further research and policy initiatives are required to address the identified challenges and improve patient outcomes in the face of these ongoing challenges.

Fosfomycin—A Promising Oral Antibiotic for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Background: Among the common morbid causes that are prevalent among all age groups, urinary tract infections top the list. In our country, most of the UTI patients visiting hospitals (OPD or IPD) are already on empirical antibiotics even before getting the sensitivity report in their hand. The purpose of this research was to examine the susceptibility patterns of commonly used antibiotics, particularly fosfomycin, against common uropathogens. Methodology: This was a prospective observational study conducted between January and March 2021 in four private tertiary hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. All the urine samples referred to these four laboratories, obtained from patients of all ages and both genders, clinically diagnosed to have UTI, were included. Urine culture was performed by a semiquantitative method on blood agar media and MacConkey agar media. Following identification, antimicrobial sensitivity testing was performed using the modified Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method in accordance with CLSI standards. The data was put into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software version 25 for the analysis. Results: A total of 5389 urine samples were received from four private hospitals in Dhaka over three months, and of these, 934 (17.33%) isolates were obtained from culture. About 95% of the isolates were gram-negative bacilli (GNBs). The most common isolate was Escherichia coli 615 (65.85%), followed by Klebsiella spp. 154 (16.49%), Pseudomonas spp. 64 (6.85%) and 51 (5.46%) isolates of Enterobacter. Among the gram-positive cocci, the most common were Enterococci fecalis 18 (1.93%) and Staphylococcus aureus 17 (1.82%). Of all the antibiotics tested, fosfomycin sensitivity was 98.4%, 88.88%, and 100% for Escherichia coli, Enterococci fecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. All the isolates tested were susceptible to Meropenem (77% - 100%), Amoxiclav (78% - 100%) and Nitrofurantoin (45% - 94%). Sensitivity amongst all the uropathogens for ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and cotrimoxazole was nearly 50% - 77%. Conclusion: The positivity of urinary isolates is 17.33%, with the most common pathogen being Escherichia coli. Common uropathogens show the highest in vitro susceptibility to fosfomycin. So, fosfomycin should be considered as a highly potent and promising alternative oral antibiotic treatment for UTI.

Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Index of Gram-Negative Bacteria from Bird Droppings in Two Commercial Poultries in Enugu, Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms to grow in the presence of an antimicrobial agent at a concentration that will normally kill or inhibit their growth. Antimicrobial resistance has become a major global threat making treatment of infections tougher especially with high cost of treatment in humans and animals. This study was done to determine the Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Index (MARI) of Gram-negative bacteria from bird droppings in two commercial poultries in Enugu. Forty (40) samples were collected from each of the poultries. Isolates were identified by standard microbiological methods. The isolates identified were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter spp, Proteus spp. and, Enterobacter spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using disc diffusion technique. The organisms were tested against pefloxacin, augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), ceftazidime, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, cephalothin, neomycin and ofloxacin. The result of the susceptibility test showed that Proteus spp had the highest resistance and MARI value of 0.5 and 1.0 respectively. The other MARI values were Escherichia coli (0.9), Klebsiella pneumonia (0.9), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.8), Citrobacter spp (0.8) and Enterobacter spp (0.7). These results suggest that bacterial organisms from poultry source can contribute significantly to the spread of multi-antibiotic resistant organisms. This could arise from the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in bird feeds in poultries.