Core and variable antimicrobial resistance genes in the gut microbiomes of Chinese and European pigs

Monitoring the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)is vital for addressing the global crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.Despite its importance,the characterization of ARGs and microbiome structures,as well as the identification of indicators for routine ARG monitoring in pig farms,are still lacking,particularly concerning variations in antimicrobial exposure in different countries or regions.Here,metagenomics and random forest machine learning were used to elucidate the ARG profiles,microbiome structures,and ARG contamination indicators in pig manure under different antimicrobial pressures between China and Europe.Results showed that Chinese pigs exposed to high-level antimicrobials exhibited higher total and plasmid-mediated ARG abundances compared to those in European pigs(P<0.05).ANT(6)-Ib,APH(3')-IIIa,and tet(40)were identified as shared core ARGs between the two pig populations.Furthermore,the core ARGs identified in pig populations were correlated with those found in human populations within the same geographical regions.Lactobacillus and Prevotella were identified as the dominant genera in the core microbiomes of Chinese and European pigs,respectively.Forty ARG markers and 43 biomarkers were able to differentiate between the Chinese and European pig manure samples with accuracies of 100%and 98.7%,respectively.Indicators for assessing ARG contamination in Chinese and European pigs also achieved high accuracy(r=0.72-0.88).Escherichia flexneri in both Chinese and European pig populations carried between 21 and 37 ARGs.The results of this study emphasize the importance of global collaboration in reducing antimicrobial resistance risk and provide validated indicators for evaluating the risk of ARG contamination in pig farms.

Protective eff ect and mechanism of nanoantimicrobial peptide ND-C14 against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

BACKGROUND:Streptococcus pneumoniae(S.pneumoniae)is a common pathogen that causes bacterial pneumonia.However,with increasing bacterial resistance,there is an urgent need to develop new drugs to treat S.pneumoniae infections.Nanodefensin with a 14-carbon saturated fatty acid(ND-C14)is a novel nanoantimicrobial peptide designed by modifying myristic acid at the C-terminus of humanα-defensin 5(HD5)via an amide bond.However,it is unclear whether ND-C14 is effective against lung infections caused by S.pneumoniae.METHODS:In vitro,three groups were established,including the control group,and the HD5 and ND-C14 treatment groups.A virtual colony-count assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of HD5 and ND-C14 against S.pneumoniae.The morphological changes of S.pneumoniae treated with HD5 or ND-C14 were observed by scanning electron microscopy.In vivo,mice were divided into sham,vehicle,and ND-C14 treatment groups.Mice in the sham group were treated with 25μL of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS).Mice in the vehicle and ND-C14 treatment groups were treated with intratracheal instillation of 25μL of bacterial suspension with 2×108 CFU/mL(total bacterial count:5×10^(6) CFU),and then the mice were given 25μL PBS or intratracheally injected with 25μL of ND-C14(including 20μg or 50μg),respectively.Survival rates were evaluated in the vehicle and ND-C14 treatment groups.Bacterial burden in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted.The lung histology of the mice was assessed.A propidium iodide uptake assay was used to clarify the destructive eff ect of ND-C14 against S.pneumoniae.RESULTS:Compared with HD5,ND-C14 had a better bactericidal eff ect against S.pneumoniae because of its stronger ability to destroy the membrane structure of S.pneumoniae in vitro.In vivo,ND-C14 significantly delayed the death time and improved the survival rate of mice infected with S.pneumoniae.ND-C14 reduced bacterial burden and lung tissue injury.Moreover,ND-C14 had a membrane permeation eff ect on S.pneumoniae,and its destructive ability increased with increasing ND-C14 concentration.CONCLUSION:The ND-C14 may improve bactericidal eff ects on S.pneumoniae both in vitro and in vivo.

Design of pH-responsive antimicrobial peptide melittin analog-camptothecin conjugates for tumor therapy

Melittin,a classical antimicrobial peptide,is a highly potent antitumor agent.However,its significant toxicity seriously hampers its application in tumor therapy.In this study,we developed novel melittin analogs with pH-responsive,cell-penetrating and membranelytic activities by replacing arginine and lysine with histidine.After conjugation with camptothecin(CPT),CPT-AAM-1 and CPT-AAM-2 were capable of killing tumor cells by releasing CPT at low concentrations and disrupting cell membranes at high concentrations under acidic conditions.Notably,we found that the C-terminus of the melittin analogs was more suitable for drug conjugation than the N-terminus.CPT-AAM-1 significantly suppressed melanoma growth in vivo with relatively low toxicity.Collectively,the present study demonstrates that the development of antitumor drugs based on pH-responsive antimicrobial peptide-drug conjugates is a promising strategy.

Distribution of pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial sensitivity of eye infections in Suzhou

AIM:To investigate the types of bacteria in patients with eye infections in Suzhou and their drug resistance to commonly used antibacterial drugs.METHODS:The clinical data of 155 patients were retrospectively collected in this study,and the pathogenic bacteria species and drug resistance of each pathogenic bacteria were analyzed.RESULTS:Among the 155 patients(age from 12 to 87 years old,with an average age of 57,99 males and 56 females)with eye infections(160 eyes:74 in the left eye,76 in the right eye and 5 in both eyes,all of which were exogenous),71(45.81%)strains were gram-positive bacteria,23(14.84%)strains were gram-negative bacteria and 61(39.35%)strains were fungi.Gram-positive bacteria were highly resistant to penicillin and erythromycin(78.87%and 46.48%respectively),but least resistant to vancomycin at 0.Gram-negative bacteria were highly resistant to cefoxitin and compound sulfamethoxazole(100%and 95.65%respectively),but least resistant to meropenem at 0.Comparison of the resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to some drugs revealed statistically significant differences(P<0.05)in the resistance of both to cefoxitin,cotrimoxazole,levofloxacin,cefuroxime,ceftriaxone and ceftazidime,and both had higher rates of resistance to gram-negative bacteria than to gram-positive bacteria.The distribution of bacterial infection strains showed that Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common strain in the conjunctiva,cornea,aqueous humor or vitreous body and other eye parts.Besides,Fusarium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also among the most common strains of conjunctival and corneal infections.CONCLUSION:Gram-positive bacteria are the dominant bacteria in eye infections,followed by gram-negative bacteria and fungi.Considering the resistance of gramnegative bacteria to multiple drugs,monitoring of bacteria should be strengthened in eye bacterial infections for effective prevention and control to reduce complications caused by eye infections.

Impact of next-generation sequencing on antimicrobial treatment in immunocompromised adults with suspected infections

BACKGROUND:Prompt pathogen identification can have a substantial impact on the optimization of antimicrobial treatment.The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of next-generation sequencing(NGS)for identifying pathogen and its clinical impact on antimicrobial intervention in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.METHODS:This was a retrospective study.Between January and August 2020,47 adult immunocompromised patients underwent NGS testing under the following clinical conditions:1)prolonged fever and negative conventional cultures;2)new-onset fever despite empiric antimicrobial treatment;and 3)afebrile with suspected infections on imaging.Clinical data,including conventional microbial test results and antimicrobial treatment before and after NGS,were collected.Data were analyzed according to documented changes in antimicrobial treatment(escalated,no change,or deescalated)after the NGS results.RESULTS:The median time from hospitalization to NGS sampling was 19 d.Clinically relevant pathogens were detected via NGS in 61.7% of patients(29/47),more than half of whom suffered from fungemia(n=17),resulting in an antimicrobial escalation in 53.2% of patients(25/47)and antimicrobial de-escalation in 0.2% of patients(1/47).Antimicrobial changes were mostly due to the identification of fastidious organisms such as Legionella,Pneumocystis jirovecii,and Candida.In the remaining three cases,NGS detected clinically relevant pathogens also detected by conventional cultures a few days later.The antimicrobial treatment was subsequently adjusted according to the susceptibility test results.Overall,NGS changed antimicrobial management in 55.3%(26/47)of patients,and conventional culture detected clinically relevant pathogens in 14.9% of the patients(7/47).CONCLUSION:With its rapid identification and high sensitivity,NGS could be a promising tool for identifying relevant pathogens and enabling rapid appropriate treatment in immunocompromised patients with suspected infections.

Effect of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative dosage and surgical site infection incidence in total joint arthroplasty

Surgical site infections(SSI)following total joint arthroplasty pose a significant concern for both providers and patients across the globe.Currently,administration of antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis is used throughout the world to reduce the incidence of SSI.However,the correct dosage and frequency of administration remains debatable.In this editorial,we emphasized the determination of the effect of administration of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis regime on the incidence of SSI and postoperative dosage reduction compared to the conventionally used regime during total joint arthroplasty.The results demonstrated similar efficacy between both regimes with respect to the incidence of SSI.In addition,weight-adjustment led to reduced postoperative dosage and has the potential to reduce chances of achieving lower therapeutic concentration,drug resistance,drug toxicity,and costs.

Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Macrosphyra longistyla against Gram-Positive Oral Biofilm-Formers from School Children in Southwestern Nigeria and Toxicity Studies Using Brine Shrimps

The world will benefit from more effective antimicrobial agents against oral conditions arising from the actions of biofilm forming bacteria. Also, information is lacking on the oral biofilm-forming bacterial diversity in Southwestern Nigeria. In this study, we isolate and characterize oral biofilm producing bacteria in the oral cavities of schoolchildren in Southwestern Nigeria. We also investigate the antimicrobial properties of Macrosphyra longistyla extracts against the biofilm-formers and the toxicity of potent extracts. Samples were obtained from 109 schoolchildren aged 4 - 14 years from Lagos, Oyo and Osun States. Agar well diffusion technique was used in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Toxicity testing was done using brine shrimps (Artemia salina). Biofilm-formers in this study are Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Micrococcus sp. Ethanol leaf extracts had the highest activity against all biofilm-producing bacteria. Ethanol stem bark extract, which elicited activity against Klebsiella only, was found to be less toxic than the ethanol leaf extract. Staphylococcus showed >10 mm susceptibility to the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Macrosphyra longistyla. Streptococcus and Micrococcus were susceptible to the antimicrobial actions of the ethanolic leaf extracts. Although the ethanol extracts of the leaves had lower minimum inhibitory concentrations than the ethanol extracts of the stem bark, toxicity studies showed ethanol extracts of the stem-bark to be more toxic than the ethanol extracts of the leaves. In conclusion, ethanolic extracts of Macrosphyra longistyla show potential as sources of antimicrobials against gram-positive, oral biofilm-forming bacteria.

Bacterial Exofactors Modulate Biofilm Growth and Resistivity to Antimicrobial Drugs

Some bacteria have the ability to co-exist, proliferate and survive in a multicellular community, biofilm. Each participating bacteria can form its colonies and encases itself by a self-produced insoluble extracellular matrix substance (EPS). Microcolonies within biofilm are held together by interactions and bonding of the substances present in the EPS with their separation from the water channels. Similar to insoluble EPS, bacterial microcolonies release soluble exofactors that have direct impacts on the survivability, growth and antibacterial resistivity of other microcolonies made of single- or multi-species bacteria in the same biofilm. How the exofactors of microcolonies of one-type bacteria impact on microcolonies of other-type bacteria is still unclear. We studied about the role of exofactors released from Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are common biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. Exofactors facilitate to transform the microenvironment where bacteria can acquire alternative lifestyle with a long survival period and resistivity to certain antimicrobial drugs.

Profile of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Bukavu Hospitals and Antimicrobial Susceptibility to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: To evaluate the spread of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) bacterial infections in Bukavu hospitals and test antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of some isolates to usual marketed antibiotics. Methods: The prevalence of MDR strains was determined by using general antimicrobial susceptibility data collected from 3 hospital laboratories. The susceptibility of some isolates to usual antibiotics was processed by agar diffusion method with standard E. coli ATCC8739 and standard antibiotics discs as controls. The tested antibiotics were ampicillin, ceftriaxone, gentamicin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. Results: At the 3 hospitals, 758 tests were realized in urine, pus, stool, FCV, blood, LCR, split and FU specimens;46 strains were unidentified and 712 strains were identified. Of 712 identified strains, 223 (31.4%) were MDR or XDR strains including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii, Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, Neisseria gonorrohoae, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative, staphylococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Of the infected patients, 36 (21.5%) children were under 16 years and 188 (78.5%) adults were predominately women (58.5%). The susceptibility test showed that all strains but S. aureus were resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin. Gentamicin, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol remain partially active (27% - 80%) against P. mirabilis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The resistance is more likely related to strain mutation than to pharmaceutical quality of the antibiotics prescribed. Conclusion: Both data from hospital laboratories and in vitro post-testing findings confirmed the ongoing elevated prevalence of MDR strains in Bukavu. The causes of antibiotic misuse and socio-economic determinants of the phenomenon of resistance should be scrutinized in order to take adequate strategies in the prospective of establishing an effective control system against this threat to overall health. The results of this work on MDR profiles have various implications for the management of infectious diseases. It provides indicators for the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, practical guidelines for antibiotic susceptibility testing in biomedical laboratories, and guidance for antibiotic therapy.

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Clerodendron phlomoides Leave Extract:Particle Morphology,Antimicrobial Potential and Application

Silver nanoparticles are versatile nanomaterials that have found numerous applications in various fields.The use of plant extract for the synthesis of silver is a green and sustainable approach.Clerodendron phlomoides leaves extract has been found to contain various phytochemicals,such as phenols,flavonoids,tannins,and alkaloids,which possess reducing and stabilizing properties that can aid the production of silver particles.In this paper,morphological and topographical analyses were performed on silver nanoparticles.The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed antimicrobial potential against wound pathogens.SEM and TEM micrographs revealed that the particles were sphere and nanosized,which makes them suitable for various biomedical applications.

Biosynthesis of Copper Nanoparticles using an Extract of the root of Asparagus racemosus:Basic Synthesis,Antimicrobial,and Anti-oxidant Potentials

Copper nanoparticles(CuNPs)have emerged as a promising alternative due to their unique antimicrobial properties.The synthesis of CuNPs using Asparagus racemosus,commonly known as Shatavari,offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to producing nanomaterials.Moreover,the resulting CuNPs have been found to possess excellent antibacterial,and antioxidant properties,which further expands their potential applications in medicine and environmental remediation.In this article,we discussed the in vitro characterization of the CuNPs.In vitro studies revealed that CuNPs have the potential for biomedical applications and as a base nanomaterial for the construction of drug delivery and targeting vehicles.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Poultry Farmers on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Kitwe, Zambia: Implications on Antimicrobial Stewardship

Introduction: The inappropriate antimicrobial usage (AMU) in chicken production has led to an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is little information documented regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practices of poultry farmers on AMU and AMR. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 106 poultry farmers from November to December 2021 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Overall, of the 106 participants, 90.6% knew what antimicrobials were, but only 29.2% were aware of AMR. The study showed that 46.2% of the participants had low knowledge, 71.7% had negative attitudes, and 61.3% had poor practices regarding AMR. The prevalence of antibiotic use in poultry production was 83%. The most used antimicrobials were tetracycline (84%) and gentamicin (35.2%). The commonly reported reason for the use of antimicrobials was for the treatment (93.2%) and prevention (89.8%) of diseases. Further, 76.9% of the administered antimicrobials were usually done without veterinarian consultation or prescription. Conclusion: The study shows that there was high AMU in poultry farms in Kitwe. However, there was low knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practices towards AMU and AMR. Therefore, there is a need for educational and sensitisation programmes regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Alongside this, antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance systems should be strengthened in the livestock production sector. This will ensure food safety and public health.

Encapsulated peracetic acid as a valid broad‑spectrum antimicrobial alternative,leading to beneficial microbiota compositional changes and enhanced performance in broiler chickens

Background Antimicrobial alternatives are urgently needed,including for poultry production systems.In this study,we tested the potential broad-range antimicrobial alternative peracetic acid,delivered in feed via the hydrolysis of encapsulated precursors through a 28-day study using 375 Ross 308 broiler chickens.We tested two peracetic acid concentrations,30 and 80 mg/kg on birds housed on re-used litter,and we evaluated the impact of both levels on gut microbial communities,bacterial concentration,antimicrobial resistance genes relative abundance and growth performance when compared to control birds housed on either clean or re-used litter.Results Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio improved in peracetic acid fed birds.At d 28,birds given 30 mg/kg of peracetic acid had a decreased Firmicutes and an increased Proteobacteria abundance in the jejunum,accompanied by an increase in Bacillus,Flavonifractor and Rombustia in the caeca,and a decreased abundance of tetracycline resistance genes.Chicken given 80 mg/kg of peracetic acid had greater caecal abundance of macrolides lincosamides and streptogramins resistance genes.Growth performance on clean litter was reduced compared to reused litter,which concurred with increased caecal abundance of Blautia,decreased caecal abundance of Escherichia/Shigella,Anaerostipes and Jeotgalicoccus,and greater gene abundance of vancomycin,tetracycline,and macrolides resistance genes.Conclusions Peracetic acid could be used as a safe broad-spectrum antimicrobial alternative in broilers.Encapsulated precursors were able to reduce the bacterial concentration in the jejunum whilst promoting the proliferation of probiotic genera in the caeca,especially at the low peracetic acid concentrations tested,and improve growth performance.Moreover,our findings offer further insights on potential benefits of rearing birds on re-used litter,suggesting that the latter could be associated with better performance and reduced antimicrobial resistance risk compared to clean litter rearing.

Design methods for antimicrobial peptides with improved performance

The recalcitrance of pathogens to traditional antibiotics has made treating and eradicating bacterial infections more difficult.In this regard,developing new antimicrobial agents to combat antibiotic-resistant strains has become a top priority.Antimicrobial peptides(AMPs),a ubiquitous class of naturally occurring compounds with broadspectrum antipathogenic activity,hold significant promise as an effective solution to the current antimicrobial resistance(AMR)crisis.Several AMPs have been identified and evaluated for their therapeutic application,with many already in the drug development pipeline.Their distinct properties,such as high target specificity,potency,and ability to bypass microbial resistance mechanisms,make AMPs a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics.Nonetheless,several challenges,such as high toxicity,lability to proteolytic degradation,low stability,poor pharmacokinetics,and high production costs,continue to hamper their clinical applicability.Therefore,recent research has focused on optimizing the properties of AMPs to improve their performance.By understanding the physicochemical properties of AMPs that correspond to their activity,such as amphipathicity,hydrophobicity,structural conformation,amino acid distribution,and composition,researchers can design AMPs with desired and improved performance.In this review,we highlight some of the key strategies used to optimize the performance of AMPs,including rational design and de novo synthesis.We also discuss the growing role of predictive computational tools,utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning,in the design and synthesis of highly efficacious lead drug candidates.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among Village Animal Health Workers and Veterinary Drug Retailers in Cambodia

Misuse, overuse, and missed prescription of antimicrobials are the driving factors to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) leading to a globally increasing public health concern. This study was conducted to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of village animal health workers (VAHWs) and veterinary drug retailers (VDRs) on antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The sample size was calculated following [1]. KAP data were scored and categorized following Bloom’s cut-off score. A total of 108 study populations (66 VAHWs and 42 VDRs) were purposively surveyed using a validated KAP questionnaire in 5 provinces across Cambodia. This study found that VAHWs and VDRs have moderate levels of knowledge (61% to 65%) and good attitudes towards AMU (83% to 84%) but employed moderate practices (59% to 74%) on AMU. VAHWs had moderate (66%);while DVRs had poor knowledge (58%) on AMR. Thus, regular awareness education specifically on proper use, prudent use, and stewardships on AMU and AMR in the form of refresher training or awareness events must be provided to VAHWs and VDRs to avoid inappropriate use of antimicrobials and spreading the AMR knowledge across Cambodia.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Knowledge and Attitudes of Pharmacy Staff on Antibiotic Dispensing Patterns, Use and Resistance in Benin

Background: One of the key drivers for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is non-prudent antibiotic use, which results in selection pressure toward relevant bacteria. Pharmacy staffs have pivotal roles in facilitating the prudent use of antibiotics through antimicrobial stewardship programs. Due to limited information in Benin, this study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacy staffs on antibiotic use and resistance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 159 pharmacy staffs using a structured questionnaire from August 2018 to December 2018 in Benin. Data analysis was done by using Stata version 13.0. Results: Of the 159 participants, 54.8% knew the definition of antibiotic therapy and 66.9% knew the definition of probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The majority (88.1%) of the participants thought that the choice of antibiotics was made according to the pathology, while 60.4% thought that it depended on the pathology and the germ involved. 49.02% of dispensers in pharmacies stated that half of the patients had requested treatment without providing a prescription at the pharmacy. The top three antibiotics that were dispensed without a prescription include amoxicillin (98.1%), cloxacillin (76.7%) and metronidazole (57.2%), all from the Access group of antibiotics. Conclusion: These results underscore the need for educational and training interventions targeting specific professional groups. There is an urgent need for regulatory measures and public awareness through improved antimicrobial stewardship to limit this practice.

Global Strategies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Perspective

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge that has escalated due to the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and the environment. Developing and implementing strategies to reduce and combat AMR is critical. Purpose: This study aimed to highlight some global strategies that can be implemented to address AMR using a One Health approach. Methods: This study employed a narrative review design that included studies published from January 2002 to July 2023. The study searched for literature on AMR and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in PubMed and Google Scholar using the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Results: This study reveals that AMR remains a significant global public health problem. Its severity has been markedly exacerbated by inappropriate use of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and the broader ecological environment. Several strategies have been developed to address AMR, including the Global Action Plan (GAP), National Action Plans (NAPs), AMS programs, and implementation of the AWaRe classification of antimicrobials. These strategies also involve strengthening surveillance of antimicrobial consumption and resistance, encouraging the development of new antimicrobials, and enhancing regulations around antimicrobial prescribing, dispensing, and usage. Additional measures include promoting global partnerships, combating substandard and falsified antimicrobials, advocating for vaccinations, sanitation, hygiene and biosecurity, as well as exploring alternatives to antimicrobials. However, the implementation of these strategies faces various challenges. These challenges include low awareness and knowledge of AMR, a shortage of human resources and capacity building for AMR and AMS, in adequate funding for AMR and AMS initiatives, limited laboratory capacities for surveillance, behavioural change issues, and ineffective leadership and multidisciplinary teams. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study established that AMR is prevalent among humans, animals, and the environment. Successfully addressing AMR calls for a collaborative, multifaceted One Health approach. Despite this, some gaps remain effectively implementing strategies currently recommended to combat AMR. As a result, it is essential to reinforce the strategies that are deployed to counter AMR across the human, animal, and environmental sectors.

Towards an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Young Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria: A Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Usage

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity and this burden is borne largely by low and middle-income countries. As part of efforts to combat AMR, the World Health Organization has identified Antimicrobial Stewardship as one of the strategic objectives of its global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. This survey aimed to observe antimicrobial prescribing and usage patterns in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital with the purpose of identifying gaps to inform the specific antimicrobial stewardship interventions necessary to address our specific needs. Methodology: A point prevalence survey was conducted using the protocol and web-based automated data management system designed by the Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance, University of Antwerp, Belgium, in November 2021. Results: A total of 69 adult medical and surgical patients were surveyed;27 males and 18 females. Antimicrobial prevalence was 65.2%. Third generation cephalosporins (24.4%;33.3%), fluoroquinolones (17.8%;22.2%) and imidazole derivatives (20%;36.1%) were most prescribed on the medical and surgical wards. Antimicrobial guidelines were completely unavailable, most antimicrobials (93.8%) were prescribed empirically and 64.4% of these remained empirical after 72 hours of commencement. Conclusion: Antimicrobial stewardship interventions are necessary to minimize sub-optimal antimicrobial prescribing practices in our facility. Most critical are education on appropriate use of antimicrobials, support for development of antimicrobial guidelines, diagnostic stewardship, and the drive for improved use of the laboratory to guide antimicrobial prescriptions. The antimicrobial stewardship committee and team must drive this, having the requisite support from the management and prescribers, with the primary outcomes being reduced antimicrobial prevalence and improved antimicrobial prescription patterns.

Antimicrobial peptides act on the rumen the performance of castrated bulls

Background Many countries have already banned the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry,making it extremely difficult to maintain animal health in livestock breeding.In the livestock industry,there is an urgent need to develop alternatives to antibiotics which will not lead to drug resistance on prolonged use.In this study,eighteen castrated bulls were randomly divided into two groups.The control group(CK)was fed the basal diet,while the antimicrobial peptide group(AP)was fed the basal diet supplemented with 8 g of antimicrobial peptides in the basal diet for the experimental period of 270 d.They were then slaughtered to measure production performance,and the ruminal contents were isolated for metagenomic and metabolome sequencing analysis.Result The results showed that antimicrobial peptides could improve the daily weight,carcass weight,and net meat weight of the experimental animals.Additionally,the rumen papillae diameter and the micropapillary density in the AP were significantly greater than those in the CK.Furthermore,the determination of digestive enzymes and fermentation parameters showed that the contents of protease,xylanase,andβ-glucoside in the AP were greater than those in the CK.However,lipase content in the CK was greater than that in the AP.Moreover,the content of acetate,propionate,butyrate,and valerate was found to be greater in AP than those in CK.The metagenomic analysis annotated 1993 differential microorganisms at the species level.The KEGG enrichment of these microorganisms revealed that the enrichment of drug resistance-related pathways was dramatically decreased in the AP,whereas the enrichment of immune-related pathways was significantly increased.There was also a significant reduction in the types of viruses in the AP.187 probiotics with significant differences were found,135 of which were higher in AP than in CK.It was also found that the antimicrobial mechanism of the antimicrobial peptides was quite specific.Seven low-abundance microorganisms(Acinetobactersp.Ac1271,Aequorivita soesokkakensis,Bacillus lacisalsi,Haloferax larsenii,Lysinibacillussp.3DF0063,Parabacteroidessp.217,Streptomycessp.So13.3)were found to regulate growth performance of the bull negatively.Metabolome analysis identified 45 differentially differential metabolites that significantly different between the CK and the AP groups.Seven upregulated metabolites(4-pyridoxic acid,Ala-Phe,3-ureidopropionate,hippuric acid,terephthalic acid,L-alanine,uridine 5-monophosphate)improve the growth performance of the experimental animals.To detect the interactions between the rumen microbiome and metabolism,we associated the rumen microbiome with the metabolome and found that negative regulation between the above 7 microorganisms and 7 metabolites.Conclusions This study shows that antimicrobial peptides can improve the growth performance of animals while resisting viruses and harmful bacteria and are expected to become healthy alternatives to antibiotics.We demonstrated a new antimicrobial peptides pharmacological model.We demonstrated low-abundance microorganisms may play a role by regulating the content of metabolites.

Antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of saponin extracts from walnut(Juglans regia L.) leaves

Objective:To investigate the relationship between triterpenoid saponin content and antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of 70%ethanolic,butanolic,aqueous,supernate and precipitate extracts of Juglans regia leaves.Methods:Triterpenoid saponins of different Juglans regia leaf extracts were measured by the vanillin method.Antioxidant activity was evaluated against DPPH and ABTS free radicals.We also assessed α-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of the leaf extracts.Pearson’s correlation coefficient was evaluated to determine the correlation between the saponin content and biological activities.Results:The butanolic extract was most effective against DPPH with an IC50of 6.63μg/mL,while the aqueous extract showed the highest scavenging activity against ABTS free radical with an IC50of 42.27μg/mL.Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a strong negative correlation (r=-0.956) between DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50) and the saponin content in the samples examined.In addition,the aqueous extract showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity compared with other extracts.All the extracts had fair antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis,Escherichia coli,and Klebsiella pneumoniae except for the aqueous extract.Conclusions:Juglans regia extracts show potent antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.There is a correlation between saponin levels in Juglans regia leaf extracts and the studied activities.However,additional research is required to establish these relationships by identifying the specific saponin molecules responsible for these activities and elucidating their mechanisms of action.