Search Results (128)

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common fungal infection among reproductive-age women and is increasingly challenged by the emergence of non-albicans Candida species and reduced azole susceptibility. This prospective cross-sectional study investigated 235 symptomatic reproductive-age women attending two healthcare facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to determine VVC prevalence, Candida species distribution, pregnancy-associated patterns, antifungal susceptibility, and diagnostic performance. Vaginal swabs were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and CHROMagar™ Candida, while species identification was confirmed by PCR-RFLP targeting the ITS region. Susceptibility to fluconazole and clotrimazole was assessed using the disk diffusion method. Candida spp. was detected in 55.7% of participants. C. albicans accounted for 50.3% of isolates, whereas non-albicans Candida species represented 49.7%, indicating a substantial species shift. VVC was more frequent among pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester. Most C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis isolates remained susceptible to azoles; however, C. glabrata showed markedly reduced susceptibility to fluconazole and clotrimazole. CHROMagar™ Candida reliably identified C. albicans but misclassified several non-albicans Candida isolates compared with PCR-RFLP. These findings highlight the need for routine species-level diagnosis, antifungal susceptibility testing, and strengthened VVC surveillance in reproductive and antenatal healthcare settings in Vietnam. Full article

Background/Objectives: Given the ongoing threat of antimicrobial resistance, the identification and characterization of multidrug-resistant isolates are essential. An increase in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has been reported in Romania, but national data are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) isolated over two years at a Romanian nephrology hospital, while comparing carbapenemase detection phenotypic methods. Methods: Gram-negative bacterial isolates collected between January 2022 and May 2024 that met antimicrobial resistance screening criteria were evaluated. After identification, extensive disk diffusion antibiograms were performed, read, and interpreted, complemented by testing on cloxacillin/oxacillin-supplemented Mueller–Hinton agar. The colistin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was not assessed, and aztreonam–avibactam was not tested for Enterobacterales. For non-fermenter GNB, the colistin MIC was determined. Phenotypic carbapenemase production tests were performed for all strains (BlueCarba Test, CIM, mCIM, zCIM, and rCIM). Carbapenemase detection immunochromatographic tests were performed for a set of strains. Results: Among the 397 evaluated strains, 335 (84.38%) were Enterobacterales and 62 (15.62%) non-fermenter GNB, showing high antimicrobial resistance levels. Of these, 188 (47.35%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae; 139/188 (73.93%) showed carbapenem resistance and carbapenemase production; 49/188 (26.06%) produced two carbapenemases; and 45/188 (23.93%) presented resistance to all tested antimicrobials. MALDI-TOF identified 28 KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains. Lateral flow assays revealed NDM, VIM, KPC, and OXA-48-like enzymes in 48 of 56 tested Enterobacterales; 12/48 strains produced two carbapenemases. Of the 62 non-fermenter GNB, 33 were Pseudomonas spp. and 20 Acinetobacter baumannii; one Pseudomonas spp. was susceptible only to colistin and seven only to cefiderocol; four A. baumannii were susceptible only to colistin and three only to cefiderocol. Lateral flow assays detected VIM or IMP enzymes in 13/33 Pseudomonas spp. and OXA-23 and/or OXA-40/-58 enzymes in all 20 A. baumannii. Conclusions: Among the evaluated strains, many showed resistance to multiple antimicrobial classes. Furthermore, strains co-producing two carbapenemases were identified. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Among bacteria, E. coli is frequently used as a key indicator of AMR. Despite their genetic proximity to humans, studies on AMR in Non-Human Primates (NHPs) remain limited, particularly in semi-anthropized environments. This study aims to characterize the antibiotic resistance profiles and phylo-groups of E. coli isolated from NHPs and humans at a primatology center. Methods: A total of 143 stool samples were collected, including 125 from NHPs and 18 from humans. Isolates were cultured on Eosin Methylene Blue agar and then identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method, with 30 antibiotics following CASFM-EUCAST recommendations. E. coli phylo-groups were characterized by quadruplex PCR according to the Clermont method, targeting the genes. Results: A total of 122 E. coli isolates (85.31%) were recovered, with comparable prevalence observed across NHPs and human staff. More than half of the isolates (55.74%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic tested, and 12.3% were classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR). Resistance rates of isolates in Mandrillus sphinx, Pan troglodytes, and humans were 50.6%, 57.7%, and 80.0%, respectively, with no significant statistical difference (p = 0.11). A single Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing isolate was identified in the mandrill. Phylo-group analysis revealed the dominance of group A (50%), followed by groups B1, D, and C. Conclusions: Resistance profiles and phylo-group distribution among NHPs could suggest bacterial exchange and potential for cross-transmission of AMR within the shared environment. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most urgent global health threats, significantly impacting patient outcomes, healthcare systems, and economic sustainability. Rapid and accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) are essential to guide targeted therapy, reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use, and support antimicrobial stewardship programs. However, conventional phenotypic AST methods, including broth microdilution, disk diffusion, agar dilution, and gradient strip tests, remain labor-intensive and require prolonged turnaround times, often delaying optimal therapeutic decisions. Although automated commercial platforms such as VITEK 2, BD Phoenix, MicroScan WalkAway, and Sensititre ARIS have improved laboratory workflow and standardization, they still rely on culture-based approaches and typically require 16–36 h to generate minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results. In recent years, several innovative rapid phenotypic AST technologies have emerged, aiming to significantly shorten the time to susceptibility results while maintaining high accuracy. This review provides an overview of currently available rapid automated phenotypic platforms for MIC determination, including VITEK^® Reveal™, ASTar, FASTinov^®AST, QuickMIC^®, and the Accelerate Pheno^® system. These systems employ advanced technologies such as volatile organic compound detection, flow cytometry, microfluidics, real-time imaging, and morphokinetic cellular analysis to deliver susceptibility results within a few hours directly from positive blood cultures. We summarize their technical principles, antibiotics and pathogens included, performances, and current limitations. Overall, the implementation of rapid phenotypic AST tools has the potential to substantially improve clinical decisions, optimize antimicrobial therapy, and contribute to fight AMR. Full article

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance and the increasing incidence of cancer have highlighted the urgent need to develop new drugs; therefore, the discovery of new bioactive molecules is an important goal for future research. In this study, freshwater fungi isolated from submerged Phragmites australis from Egypt were screened for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Using ITS1 and ITS4 primers, eight frequently occurring Sordariomycetes taxa were identified and were then selected for further evaluation of bioactivity. Ethyl acetate crude extracts (A–H) were evaluated for antimicrobial activity using the agar disk-diffusion method. Extracts A and E, derived from Chaetomium globosum SCUF0000404 (PX596738) and Chaetomium madrasense SCUF0000401 (PX596735), respectively, showed broad-spectrum activity at 100 mg/mL against bacterial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (15.33 and 18.00 mm), Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 (11.00 mm), Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 (10.33 and 10.67 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 (14.00 and 16.67 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (13.33 and 16.33 mm), and show antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 14053 (20.33 mm), Candida krusei ATCC 6258 (15.67 and 15.33 mm), Trichosporon asahii AMS 187 (17.00 and 17.67 mm), Exserohilum rostratum AMS 1077 (34.00 and 33.67 mm), and Trichophyton indotineae AMS 180 (38.33 and 34.00 mm). Selective cytotoxic effects on the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were observed by extracts A and E at IC₅₀ = 309 and 277 μg/mL, while non-selective cytotoxic effects on the normal HUVEC cell line were found with IC₅₀ = 919 and 796 μg/mL, respectively. Characterization of the most effective extracts A and E by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) shows that they have a wide range of secondary metabolites, including cytochalasans, azaphilone alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenols. These findings underscore the chemical diversity and therapeutic potential of freshwater fungi from Egypt. Full article

Background/Objectives: Implant-associated infections remain among the most severe and clinically challenging complications in contemporary orthopedics, largely due to the formation of persistent bacterial biofilms and the limited penetration of systemically administered antibiotics into the tissue–implant interface. In this context, local antibacterial functionalization of implantable materials represents a promising strategy for the prevention of early infectious complications. The objective of this study was to develop and comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial performance of PLA-based composites loaded with antibiotics from different pharmacological classes, with a view toward their potential application in individualized 3D-printed implants. Methods: Polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites incorporating gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and vancomycin were fabricated using thermal processing under conditions compatible with extrusion and fused filament fabrication. Physicochemical characterization (FTIR, TGA, SEM) was performed to assess the structure and morphology of the composites, and in vitro antibiotic release studies were conducted. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar diffusion assay against ATCC reference strains and clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 10 per species). The antibacterial performance of the composites was evaluated in comparison with standard commercial antibiotic disks used as qualitative reference controls. Results: Antibiotic-loaded PLA composites exhibited consistent and reproducible antibacterial activity, markedly exceeding that of neat PLA. The broadest activity spectrum was observed for PLA–ciprofloxacin (≈29–36 mm) and PLA–gentamicin (≈25–27 mm), which effectively inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates, including MRSA and P. aeruginosa. PLA–vancomycin retained selective activity against staphylococci (≈14–15 mm), whereas PLA–doxycycline demonstrated limited efficacy against Gram-negative pathogens. Physicochemical analysis confirmed successful incorporation of antibiotics without detectable degradation of the polymer structure, while release studies demonstrated sustained antibiotic release from the composite materials. Importantly, the expected pharmacological activity profiles of the antibiotics were preserved after incorporation into the polymer matrix and subsequent high-temperature processing. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating clinically relevant antibiotics into a thermoplastic PLA matrix while preserving their selective antimicrobial activity following processing compatible with extrusion and additive manufacturing. The proposed PLA-based composites can be regarded as elements of a pharmacologically tunable antibacterial platform, offering a rationale for the development of context-dependent, biodegradable, 3D-printed implants for the local prevention of implant-associated infections in the setting of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance in food–animal environments threatens sustainable production and public health, yet small farms remain poorly characterized as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. To address this, we investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterococcus spp. from small-scale cattle farms in Tennessee, USA. Methods: Over one year, 153 environmental samples (soil, manure, water) were collected from 17 farms. Target bacteria were isolated and confirmed using selective agar, biochemical tests, and PCR, and tested against 12 antibiotics using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion test. Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) and multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles were summarized. A complementary farmer survey of 26 farmers captured veterinary access, antibiotic use, manure handling, record keeping, and awareness of antimicrobial resistance. Results: Prevalence was highest for Enterococcus spp. (41.8%), followed by E. coli (23.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (12.4%). Seasonal variation was significant for E. coli and Enterococcus (p < 0.05). Winter manure yielded highest detection of E. coli (55.6%) and Enterococcus (53.8%), whereas Klebsiella peaked in Fall soil (19.1%). Resistance patterns varied across species, with Enterococcus showing consistent resistance to all three. E. coli frequently resisted erythromycin, ampicillin, and azithromycin; and Klebsiella commonly resisted erythromycin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime, though some of these reflect intrinsic resistance rather than acquired clinical resistance. MARI values were 0.92 in manure and soil, identifying them as high-risk reservoirs. We identified 29 distinct MDR pattern. Bipartite network visualization highlighted “resistance hubs” around erythromycin, ampicillin, and vancomycin, particularly in Enterococcus. In our study, 76.9% of farmers consulted veterinarians before antibiotic use, 57.7% kept written antibiotic records, and 65.4% were aware of AMR as a public health issue. Small-scale cattle farms are potential reservoirs of multidrug resistant commensal bacteria. Conclusions: These findings provide an evidence-based foundation to guide targeted antimicrobial stewardship and promote sustainable management practices in small-scale food animal farms. Full article

Objective: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the role of wild fishes inhabiting in three anthropogenic-impacted Bays in Chile as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Methods: A total of 245 antimicrobial-resistant isolates were isolated from fish captured in the Coquimbo (142 isolates), Concepción (44 isolates), and Puerto Montt (59 isolates) Bays, and were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, Antimicrobial-resistant isolates were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by an agar disk diffusion method, and the carriage of genes encoding for resistance to main antimicrobial classes, such as β-lactams, amphenicols, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Results: A predominance of the Pseudomonas (37.04%), Vibrio (14.40%), and Shewanella (13.99%) genera. Antimicrobial-resistant isolates were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by an agar disk diffusion method, showing highest resistance to streptomycin (82.4%), amoxicillin (67.4%), and furazolidone (63.3%), and lowest resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.7%), meropenem (22.5%), and oxytetracycline (29.8%) and exhibiting a high occurrence of the multi-drug resistance phenotype (76.9%). Furthermore, an important number of isolates recovered from sampled fish species carried plasmids (53.5%), floR gene (36.7%), and tet genes (19.2%), whereas the detection of sul genes and class 1-integron was rare. As an overall result, 10.6% of isolates carried at least one bla gene, encoding an extended-spectrum-β-lactamase, with a high predominance of the bla_CTX-M1 gene (23 isolates), whereas 14 out of 245 isolates (5.7%) were positive for the carriage of carbapenemases encoding genes, which both groups exhibited the β-lactam resistance phenotype. Conclusions: The wide distribution of ARG-carrying bacteria in wild fishes from all sampled Bays provides evidence that wild fish are important reservoirs and drivers of spread of ARGs in the marine environment, prompting the need of a continuous surveillance of these genes in wild fishes inhabiting anthropic impacted coastal marine environments in Chile. Full article

(1) Background: Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) is widespread and resistant to almost all available antimicrobial agents. In this study, we aimed to assess the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of CREC isolated from retail meats in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. (2) Methods: A total of 155 retail meat samples were randomly collected, and 412 presumptive carbapenem-non-susceptible isolates were screened via culturing on imipenem-containing eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar. Susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem was tested using the disk diffusion method, and carbapenemase and virulence genes in CREC isolates were detected using PCR. Phylogenetic groups and genetic relatedness of carbapenemase-positive CREC isolates were analyzed using gene markers and BOX-PCR, respectively. (3) Results: The results revealed a high prevalence of presumptive carbapenem-non-susceptible E. coli (CNSEC) isolates in beef samples. Over 89% of the CNSEC isolates from all meat types were identified as CREC. Of these, only 4.8% of the isolates from beef samples were positive for the bla_NDM gene, and one was also positive for the bla_VIM gene. These isolates carried only the fimH gene as a virulence factor. The bla_NDM-positive CREC isolates were classified in phylogenetic Group D. (4) Conclusions: Identifying antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, particularly CREC, in food-producing animals is critical due to potential risks to public health. Full article

Candida spp. are important opportunistic human fungal pathogens. This study aimed to identify and characterize Candida spp. obtained from patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), focusing on virulence attributes and susceptibility to antifungal agents. A total of 131 isolates from oral and tracheobronchial secretions of adult ICU patients were evaluated. Phenotypic identification was performed using chromogenic culture media for Candida, followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, with representative isolates confirmed by ITS sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B was determined only by the agar disk diffusion method, and virulence was assessed through esterase, DNase, protease, and hemolytic activity assays. C. albicans was the prevalent species, followed by C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis, C. lusitaniae, and C. guilliermondii. Antifungal resistance rates reached 51.1% for fluconazole, 42.7% for ketoconazole, and 19.1% for amphotericin B, as determined by disk diffusion method. Overall, 64.9% of the isolates exhibited esterase activity, 18.3% DNase, 45.8% protease, and 67.2% exhibited hemolytic activity. Oral isolates were more frequent than tracheal isolates and demonstrated a higher prevalence of antifungal resistance and virulence traits. These findings underscore the epidemiological importance of characterizing Candida species in hospitals to better understand the yeast profile and to support adequate clinical management. Full article

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Campylobacter species poses a serious threat to food safety and public health, highlighting the urgent need for natural antimicrobial alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This study investigated the antibacterial potential and mechanism of action of seven essential oils (EOs), Cymbopogon citratus, Mentha pulegium, Artemisia absinthium, Myrtus communis, Thymus algeriensis, Thymus capitatus, and Eucalyptus globulus, against multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. The antimicrobial activity was first assessed by the agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods to determine inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The most active EOs were further evaluated through time–kill kinetics, cell lysis, salt tolerance, and membrane integrity assays to elucidate their bactericidal mechanisms. Results showed that E. globulus, T. algeriensis, and M. communis exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects, particularly against C. jejuni, with MIC values ranging from 3.125% to 6.25%, while C. coli was more resistant. Time–kill and lysis experiments demonstrated rapid bacterial reduction and significant decreases in optical density, indicating cell disruption. Additionally, EO treatments reduced salt tolerance and induced leakage of cytoplasmic materials, confirming membrane damage. Overall, these findings suggest that selected essential oils exert potent antimicrobial effects through membrane disruption and osmotic imbalance, offering promising natural strategies to control MDR Campylobacter in food systems. The application of such bioactive compounds could contribute significantly to improving food quality, extending shelf life, and enhancing food safety. Full article

Background: Non-absorbable polyvinyl alcohol sponges (Merocel) are widely used in otolaryngology for nasal and ear packing but are prone to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which may increase infection risk and drive frequent use of systemic antibiotics. Sustained-release drug delivery systems enable prolonged local antiseptic activity at the site of packing while minimizing systemic exposure. Methods: We developed a sustained-release varnish containing chlorhexidine (SRV-CHX) and coated sterile Merocel sponges. Antibacterial, in vitro, activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated using kinetic diffusion assays on agar, optical density (OD₆₀₀) measurements of planktonic cultures, drop plate, ATP-based viability assays, biofilm analysis by MTT metabolic assay, crystal violet bio-mass staining, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), and spinning disk confocal microscopy. Results: SRV-CHX-coated sponges produced sustained zones of inhibition on agar plates for up to 37 days against S. aureus and 39 days against P. aeruginosa, far exceeding the usual 3–5 days of clinical sponge use. Planktonic growth was significantly reduced compared with SRV-placebo, and a bactericidal effect persisted for up to 16 days for S. aureus and 5 days for P. aeruginosa before becoming predominantly bacteriostatic. Biofilm formation was markedly inhibited, with suppression of metabolic activity and biomass for at least 33 days for S. aureus and up to 16 days for P. aeruginosa. HR-SEM and confocal imaging confirmed sparse, discontinuous biofilms and predominance of non-viable bacteria on SRV-CHX-coated sponges compared with dense, viable biofilms on the placebo controls. Conclusions: Coating Merocel sponges with SRV-CHX provides prolonged antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against clinically relevant pathogens. This strategy may reduce dependence on systemic antibiotics and improve infection control in nasal and ear packing applications in otolaryngology. Full article

Background: Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are non-pathogenic bacteria that enhance plant growth through several mechanisms such as nutrient mobilization, phytohormones production, defense against phytopathogens, and alleviation of plant stress. Hence, these bacteria are used as ecologic biofertilizers to diminish the use of agrochemicals. Nevertheless, some PGPR strains can harbor antibiotic resistance determinants and the possibility of spreading them upon releasing these bacteria is an environmental concern. Objectives: The objectives of this work are as follows: (1) evaluating the antibiotic resistance in a collection of PGPB, and (2) prospecting antibiotic resistance genes in the genomes of PGPB in order to predict the risk for antibiotic resistance dissemination. Methods: The resistance towards 12 antibiotics in a collection of 20 PGPB (10 Gram-positive and 10 Gram-negative strains) has been evaluated using disk diffusion in agar, broth microdilution, and agar dilution tests. In addition, the whole genomes of six strains have been sequenced in order to find the correlation between the resistance levels and AMR genes by using bioinformatic tools. Results: The results indicated a wide range of halo diameters, but in general Gram-negatives showed higher resistance compared to Gram-positives. The four most resistant strains and the two more susceptible strains were selected for further analysis and sequencing the whole genomes. The resistant strains were identified as Achromobacter spanius N6, Leclercia adecarboxylata H17, Priestia aryabhattai strain MHA1, and Bacillus cereus N25. The susceptible strains were identified as Pantoea sp. S3 and Priestia megaterium MS4. Mining antibiotic resistance genes in the genomes confirmed the existence of resistance determinants responsible for the phenotypic behavior, indicating the potential of genomics for predicting antibiotic resistance in PGPB. However, there was not an exact correspondence between the presence of the genes and the level of resistance, suggesting the existence of additional regulatory mechanisms. Conclusions: The information obtained by genomics must be complemented experimentally by tests for antibiotic resistance determination. In this regard, it is necessary to develop a global antibiotic resistance database for PGPB, due to the difficulty of interpretation of the antibiotic susceptibility tests after comparing the experimental results with those tabulated for clinical species. Full article

Background: The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing and colistin-resistant Escherichia coli in retail meat poses a significant public health risk. Method: A total of 180 retail meat samples (chicken parts, internals, processed products; lamb; beef; fish) were purchased from markets and butcher shops across Turkiye. Presumptive ESBL-producing isolates were screened on chromogenic agar and phenotypically confirmed. Species identity was verified by uspA PCR, and resistance genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaOXA, blaSHV, mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3) were analyzed. Colistin MICs were determined by broth microdilution, while antimicrobial susceptibility of ESBL-positive isolates was assessed by disk diffusion. Results: Overall, ESBL-producing E. coli were detected in 21.7% (n = 39) of the 180 meat samples analyzed, with the highest prevalence observed in chicken parts (26/40, 65.0%) and giblets (6/10, 60%). All ESBL-E. coli isolates harbored blaCTX-M, with blaCTX-M-1 identified as the sole variant. The blaTEM gene was detected in 61.5% (24/39) of ESBL-positive E. coli isolates. Colistin resistance was identified in six isolates (15.4%), all of which carried the mcr-1 gene. Additionally, one lamb minced meat isolate harbored the mcr-2 gene. Co-occurrence analysis revealed that the most frequent resistance gene combination among ESBL-producing isolates was blaCTX-M1 + blaTEM, detected predominantly in chicken meat samples, while mcr-1 was observed only in isolates harboring single or limited resistance genes, suggesting a distinct acquisition pattern. Conclusions: A high prevalence of blaCTX-M-1 and the co-occurrence of mcr genes were detected in E. coli isolates from retail meat, particularly poultry. The detection of mcr-1/mcr-2 co-carriage in lamb meat, though rare, highlights the need for broader surveillance. These findings underscore the need for integrated monitoring and prudent antimicrobial use in food animals. The use of antibiotics as growth promoters is prohibited in Türkiye, and therapeutic applications require a veterinary prescription; however, stronger enforcement remains essential to limit the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the food chain. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fungal colonization and biofilm formation on intrauterine device (IUD) strings are known to contribute to recurrent infections and decreased contraceptive efficacy. This study aims to develop a novel approach to prevent Candida reservoir and biofilm formation on IUD strings, thereby lowering the risk of IUD-associated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Methods: Cervicovaginal samples were collected from human cervix using a sterile cytobrush, avoiding microbial contamination. Cytological examination using the Papanicolaou method was performed to detect the presence of Candida. The antifungal effect of the essential oils (EOs) was determined by broth dilution and disk diffusion methods. Antifungal and biofilm inhibitory effects of Thymus zygis (Tz) EO-coated IUD strings were determined by agar diffusion and crystal violet binding assays, while fungal growth on the coated strings was assessed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Results: Tz EO exhibited significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC ≤ 0.06 µL/mL) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC = 0.24 µL/mL) values compared to Melaleuca alternifolia (Ma) EO (MIC > 0.24 µL/mL, MFC = 1.95 µL/mL), along with larger zones of inhibition (ZOI) against both Candida albicans (110.0 ± 6.0 mm vs. 91.3 ± 7.0 mm) and Candida glabrata (84.0 ± 13.1 mm vs. 50.0 ± 9.2 mm), indicating a stronger antifungal potential. On IUD strings coated with 4% (40 μL/g) Tz EO in hypromellose ointment, the biofilm formation of both C. albicans and C. glabrata strains was inhibited by 58.9% and 66.7%, respectively, as confirmed by SEM and EDX. Conclusions: Tz EO-coated IUD strings effectively inhibit Candida growth, suggesting a promising natural strategy to reduce recurrent IUD-associated fungal infections. However, before these results can be translated to clinical practice, additional research is needed. Future investigations may encompass an extended number of Candida isolates, stability and release studies of the EO in relation to the formulation, toxicity to vaginal mucosa, epithelial cells and sperm motility, and the effect on vaginal microbiotia. Full article