Antimicrobial resistance in colonizing group B Streptococcus among pregnant women from a hospital in Vietnam

Few studies have been conducted on group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Vietnam. We determined the GBS colonization and antimicrobial resistance vaginal-rectal profile of 3863 Vietnamese pregnant women over 5 years. Maternal GBS colonization was characterized by antibiotic susceptibility. Overall, the GBS colonization rate was 8.02% (95% CI: 7.20–8.94%). Compared to sampling ≥ 35 weeks of gestation, the GBS colonization rate was statistically higher (p = 0.004) with sampling < 35 weeks. Among 272 antimicrobial susceptibility testing isolates, all were susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, vancomycin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Resistance was highest for tetracycline (89.66%), followed by erythromycin (76.23%) and clindamycin (58.21%). Multidrug resistance and resistance to ≥ 6 different antibiotics were 60.66% and 8.82%, respectively. Resistance to clindamycin but not erythromycin (L phenotype) was 2.2%. The clindamycin resistance rate was significantly increased (p = 0.005) during the study period. These data demonstrate a low rate of maternal GBS colonization. The high rate of erythromycin, clindamycin, and multidrug resistance to GBS that can be transmitted to neonates is an important risk factor to consider. β-lactams continue to be appropriate for first-line treatment and prophylaxis in the study area. Ongoing monitoring should be considered in the future.

Diversity of mangrove fungal endophytes from selected mangrove species of coastal Kenya

Endophytes are bacteria or fungi living asymptomatically in the internal tissues of plants. They are symbiotic in nature and can be exploited for novel bioactive metabolites with applications in agriculture, medicine and industry. Mangrove fungal endophytes from the marine environment are abundant and have been recognized as sources of bioactive natural products. The study was designed to isolate, purify and identify mangrove fungal endophytes from selected common mangrove species of Gazi Bay, Tudor and Mida creek on the Kenya coast. The colonization rate and isolation rate of the mangrove fungal endophytes were determined. The studied mangrove species were Rhizophora mucronata (red mangrove), Sonneratia alba (mangrove apple), Avicennia marina (grey or white mangrove), and Ceriops tagal (spurred mangrove). Samples from twigs of these mangrove species were collected and analyzed using standard methods. Isolation of pure cultures of the endophytes was performed using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) incubated at 28 ± 1ºC for 5 days. The fungal isolates were identified under a light microscope based on colony morphology characteristics, type and presentation of conidiophores and conidia. A total of 18 different mangrove fungal endophytes were identified and these belonged to 5 genera. These were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cephalosporium and Blastomyces, with Aspergillus being the most dominant genus. Tudor Creek recorded the highest fungal community diversity (H’ = 1.35) and Gazi Bay had the lowest diversity (H’ = 0.45). Fungal community similarity based on the identified genera was highest between Gazi Bay and Mida Creek (0.80) and lowest between Tudor Creek and Mida Creek (0.57). The selected mangrove species recorded a colonization rate of endophytic fungi of between 38.9 – 94.4 % with the highest habitation being associated with S. alba and C. tagal. There were differences and similarities in the colonization rate within mangrove species across study sites. Findings of this study have confirmed that the selected mangrove species exhibit high diversity of fungal endophytes with host recurrence and spatial heterogeneity.

The Influence of Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Wound Infection and on the Colonization of Wound Drains in Patients After Correction of Craniosynostosis

Objective: Evidence for the duration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) after the correction of craniosynostosis in children is scarce. We evaluated the necessary duration of PAP to ensure a minimal rate of postoperative wound infections.Methods: In this monocentric, retrospective, and prospective pilot study, two PAP protocols were compared. From August 2017 to May 2018, treatment group 1 (TG 1) was treated using the standard PAP protocol with at least three doses of antibiotics. Between May 2018 and March 2019, a shortened PAP with a single-shot administration was given to treatment group 2 (TG 2a and b). Endpoints of this study were wound infection rate, colonization rate of wound drains, and the course of treatment reflected by clinical and laboratory data.Results: A cohort of 187 children underwent craniosynostosis correction: 167 were treated according to protocols-−95 patients with at least three doses (TG 1) and 72 patients with a single-shot of cefuroxime (TG 2a). Baseline characteristics were similar for both groups. We could not detect significant differences, neither for wound infection rates (TG 1: 1.1%, TG 2a: 0.0%, p = 0.38) nor for colonization rates of wound drains (TG 1: 4.8%, TG 2a: 10.5%, p = 0.27).Conclusions: Single-shot PAP had no adverse effects on the wound infection rate or the colonization rate of the wound drains compared with prolonged perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. As a result, single-shot preoperative PAP is now applied to the majority craniosynostosis patients undergoing surgical correction in our unit.

The Active Surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus using Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Identification Method among Hospitalized-patient of Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers is associated with the lower incidence of bacteremia and lower mortality rates throughout literature; yet, this important step still remains problematic for developing countries, particularly Indonesia. AIM: The study aimed to demonstrate MRSA colonization rate in Haji Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 200 mucocutaneous isolates obtained from hospitalized patients during a 1-year period of study (2018). VITEK-2 system in addition to standard bacterial identification, such as gram staining, latex agglutination test, and hemolysis pattern, was performed to select S. aureus colonies in two different laboratories, Microbiology laboratory of Haji Adam Malik General Hospital and Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination. RESULTS: Based on the VITEK-2 system preliminary identification, there were 80 S. aureus colonies which then underwent PCR examination. Through standard PCR assay, there were 32 bacterial isolates contained the mecA gene and it can be determined MRSA colonization rate of the hospital was 16% with consistent results of standard bacterial identification. CONCLUSIONS: Active surveillance of MRSA carriers is mandatory and urged it as a regular program in a hospital setting to decrease MRSA transmission rate.

High ESBL-E colonization rate among children in Gabon: a follow-up study

A previous study conducted in Gabon, Central Africa, in 2010/11 found a high colonization rate with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing enterobacterales (ESBL-E) among children of ~34 %. Eight years later, we aimed to reassess the ESBL-E rate and previously identified risk factors for colonization in children from Gabon. We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study in 2018 on 92 outpatients under 5 years of age with diarrhoea in Lambaréné, Gabon, in whom a rectal swab was obtained at the initial medical encounter (baseline). Fifty-eight of these provided a further rectal swab 1 week afterwards. ESBL-E colonization was assessed [following the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST)], and in confirmed ESBL-E isolates the susceptibility to meropenem and the prevalence of the most abundant ESBL genes, bla CTX-M, bla SHV, and bla TEM, were investigated. At baseline, the ESBL-E colonization rate was 57 % (52/92; 95 % CI: 46–67). Hospitalization during the previous year, chicken consumption in the past week and young age were identified as independent risk factors for ESBL-E colonization at baseline. On day 7, the ESBL-E carriage rate was 72 % (42/58; 95 % CI: 59–83). All ESBL-E isolates (n=293) were susceptible to meropenem and bla CTX-M was the most frequently detected β-lactamase gene. The ESBL-E colonization rate among children from Gabon is alarmingly high, with indications of further increase over recent years. While all ESBL-E strains remain currently susceptible to meropenem, in practice no adequate treatment is available locally for severe infections with such isolates. It is thus of the utmost importance to invest in improved hospital infection prevention and control measures to combat ESBL-E effectively.

Effects of Rhizophagus intraradices on Plant Growth and the Composition of Microbial Communities in the Roots of Continuous Cropping Soybean at Maturity

Soybean is the major food and oil crop in the world. However, soybean continuous cropping can significantly reduce soybean yield. In this study, the effects of Rhizophagus intraradices on soybean growth and the composition of microbial communities in soybean roots under different continuous cropping regimes were investigated at maturity. The results showed that the mycorrhizal colonization rate was affected by R. intraradices and soybean continuous cropping. The mycorrhizal colonization rate was the highest in the inoculated soybean plants under 1 year of continuous cropping. Inoculation of R. intraradices significantly increased soybean plant growth. The greatest biomass parameters were obtained from the soybean plants inoculated with R. intraradices under 0 years of continuous cropping. Bacterial diversity was decreased by soybean continuous cropping, while the opposite result occurred for fungal diversity. Moreover, inoculation of R. intraradices could increase and decrease the diversity of bacteria and fungi in soybean roots, respectively. It also indicated that R. intraradices and soybean continuous cropping had significant effects on the composition of microbial communities in soybean roots. Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were the most dominant bacterial and fungal phylum in all samples, respectively. It would contribute to developing a biocontrol strategy to alleviate the soybean continuous cropping obstacles.

The Antioxidant Effects of Calligonum Extract on Oxidative Stress in Spermatogonial Stem Cells Culture

Background: Spermatogenesis is a programmed route of germ cell proliferation and differentiation that could produce abundant numbers of spermatozoa. The antioxidants play a vital role in decreasing ROS production in cells, therefore plants extract administration with antioxidant property can prevent of cell damage. In the present study, antioxidant effects of Calligonum extract on proliferation and colonization rate of spermatogonial cells was assessed. Materials and Methods: After isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from neonatal mice (4-5 day old) and identification by PLZF and Oct4 markers, the therapeutic effect of Calligonum comosum extract was measured on the cells treated with H2O2. Induced oxidative stress cells were treated with 10 μg/ml extract for 3 weeks. ROS levels were assessed by flow cytometry, proliferation by cell count and TAC by FRAP assay. Also, the apoptosis rate was measured with P53 and Bax genes by real time PCR method. Results: After three weeks of treatment, the Calligonum group showed significantly lower ROS level relative to the H2O2 group. Antioxidants levels were in Calligonum group significantly higher than the H2O2 group (P≤0.05). There was a strong inverse relationship between the two groups. Proliferation and colonization rate were in Calligonum + H2O2 group significantly higher than H2O2 group alone (P≤0.05). Finally, the results of the study indicated that P53 and Bax expression decreased in Calligonum + H2O2 group compared to H2O2 group. Conclusion: The results of present study expressed that Calligonum as a plant with antioxidant effect could reduce the level ofROS, and increase proliferation and colonization rate and TAC. In other hand, 30 μM doses of H2O2increased oxidative stress and apoptosiswhile decreased proliferation of SSCs.