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GERMS, Volume 8, Issue 1 (03 2018) – 4 articles , Pages 8-40

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Article
Antimicrobial Resistance and Putative Virulence Genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Patients With Respiratory Tract Infection
by Heba Y. Al Dawodeyah, Nathir Obeidat, Luay F. Abu-Qatouseh and Asem A. Shehabi
GERMS 2018, 8(1), 31-40; https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2018.1130 - 3 Mar 2018
Cited by 39
Abstract
Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common agent causing community acquired and nosocomial respiratory tract infections, with particularly life-threatening manifestations in patients who are immunocompromised of who have cystic fibrosis. This study investigated the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo β-lactamase (MBL) [...] Read more.
Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common agent causing community acquired and nosocomial respiratory tract infections, with particularly life-threatening manifestations in patients who are immunocompromised of who have cystic fibrosis. This study investigated the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo β-lactamase (MBL) in association with important putative virulence genes and genotypes variation among P. aeruginosa isolates from respiratory tract infection of Jordanian patients. Methods: Over a period of 8-month, a total of 284 respiratory tract samples were obtained from patients diagnosed with respiratory tract infection while attending the Pulmonary Clinic/Intensive Care Unit, Jordan University Hospital (JUH). At the time of sampling most were inpatients (86.9%). Samples were cultured specifically for P. aeruginosa. Results: A total of 61/284 (21.5%) P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from respiratory samples of patients. The percentage of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates was 52.5%, and all isolates were susceptible to colistin with lower rates of susceptibility to other tested antibiotics. Positive genes of blaCTX-M, blaVEB, blaTEM, blaGES and blaSHV were detected in 68.9%, 18.9%, 18.9%, 15.6% and 12.5% of isolates, respectively. Genotyping revealed no significant genetic relationship among MDR P. aeruginosa isolates from hospitalized patients as judged by the constructed dendrogram and the presence of 14 genotypic groups. The percentages of the virulence genes algD, lasB, toxA, exoS, and exoU among P. aeruginosa isolates were 98%, 98%, 80%, 33% and 33%, respectively, and 87% of isolates produced pyocyanin. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates high occurrence of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates carrying blaCTX-M genes. No specific associations were found between antibiotic resistance, virulence genes and genotypes among MDR isolates. Full article
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Article
Characterization of Resistance to Selected Antibiotics and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Staphylococcus aureus in a Healthy Student Population at a Malaysian University
by Zarizal Suhaili, Putri ’Amira Rafee, Norhidayah Mat Azis, Chew Chieng Yeo, Syafinaz Amin Nordin, Abdul Rachman Abdul Rahim, Mazen M. Jamil Al-Obaidi and Mohd Nasir Mohd Desa
GERMS 2018, 8(1), 21-30; https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2018.1129 - 1 Mar 2018
Cited by 16
Abstract
Introduction: This study aims to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from university students and to determine the prevalence of constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistance, the latter being able to cause therapeutic failure due to false in vitro [...] Read more.
Introduction: This study aims to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from university students and to determine the prevalence of constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistance, the latter being able to cause therapeutic failure due to false in vitro clindamycin susceptibility. Methods: S. aureus strains were isolated from the nasal swabs of 200 health sciences students of a Malaysian university. Twelve classes of antibiotics were used to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles with the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) phenotype for inducible clindamycin resistance determined by the double-diffusion test (D-test). Carriage of resistance and virulence genes was performed by PCR on S. aureus isolates that were methicillin resistant, erythromycin resistant and/or positive for the leukocidin gene, pvl (n = 15). Results: Forty-nine isolates were viable and identified as S. aureus with four of the isolates characterized as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; 2.0%). All isolates were susceptible to the antibiotics tested except for penicillin (resistance rate of 49%), erythromycin (16%), oxacillin (8%), cefoxitin (8%) and clindamycin (4%). Of the eight erythromycin-resistant isolates, iMLSB was identified in five isolates (three of which were also MRSA). The majority of the erythromycin-resistant isolates harbored the msrA gene (four iMLSB) with the remaining iMLSB isolate harboring the ermC gene. Conclusion: The presence of MRSA isolates which are also iMLSB in healthy individuals suggests that nasal carriage may play a role as a potential reservoir for the transmission of these pathogens. Full article
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Article
Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and Other Sexually-Transmitted Pathogens Among High-Risk Individuals in Greece
by Paraskevi Chra, Joseph Papaparaskevas, Eleni Papadogeorgaki, George Panos, Michalis Leontsinidis, George Arsenis and Athanassios Tsakris
GERMS 2018, 8(1), 12-20; https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2018.1128 - 1 Mar 2018
Cited by 10
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection among individuals at high risk for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) at a major urban STD clinic in Athens, in view of the lack of data pertaining [...] Read more.
Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection among individuals at high risk for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) at a major urban STD clinic in Athens, in view of the lack of data pertaining to this infection in Greece. Methods: Urethral and cervical samples from 176 individuals consecutively attending the clinic and agreeing to participate were prospectively collected and tested for MG infection using conventional PCR and TaqMan Real-Time PCR. All individuals were also examined for alternative STD pathogens. Results: A total of 161 individuals (91.5%) reported symptoms, while 15 individuals (8.5%) were asymptomatic. MG was detected in 5.7% (10/176) of the total population and in 5.6% (9/161) of those with symptoms, corresponding to 5.7% (5/87) of symptomatic men and 5.4% (4/74) of symptomatic women. Among symptomatic males, 3.4% (3/87) displayed MG mono-infection. The median age of MG infected individuals was 25 years (IQR 21.5-29.5 years). Individuals infected with MG were more likely to be coinfected with Ureaplasma spp. [OR = 5.12, 95%CI, 1.27-20.57] (p = 0.017). MG infection was also more common among individuals who had received antibiotics in the previous 15 days [OR = 6.04, 95%CI, 1.37-26.64] (p = 0.035). Conclusion: MG was found to represent an important microbial pathogen among patients presenting with symptoms of urethritis or cervicitis in Greece. Consideration of MG as cause of STD seems crucial in diagnostic algorithms and treatment strategies. Full article
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Editorial
Prevalence Studies of M. genitalium and Other Sexually Transmitted Pathogens in High Risk Individuals Indicate the Need for Comprehensive Investigation of STIs for Accurate Diagnosis and Effective Treatment
by George Panos
GERMS 2018, 8(1), 8-11; https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2018.1127 - 1 Mar 2018
Cited by 3
Abstract
In this issue of GERMS the paper by Chra P et al. [...] Full article
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