International Journal of Infection
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Oct 2018

The production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) by Enterobacteriaceae is a global public health problem. The present study was carried out on 156 strains of enteric bacteria isolated from urinary and cervicovaginal fluid samples. Identification of the strains was performed using MALDI-TOF MS and antibiotic susceptibility tests by disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar in accordance with the recommendations of the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society for Microbiology. ESBL genes were sought by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by gel-based PCR. Gel-based PCR products were used for sequencing of the resistance genes, which were analyzed in the NCBI and Arg Annot databases. Results showed a predominance of Escherichia coli both in the urinary and cervicovaginal fluid samples. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the second most isolated bacterium in the specimens. Sensitivity to antibiotics revealed high levels of cephalosporin resistance but low resistance to carbapenem. No resistance was noted to colistine. The bla-TEM gene was present in Escherichia coli, while bla-SHV was found in Klebsiella pneumoniae and bla-CTX-M was recovered in both strains. Analysis of the sequences revealed that bla-Tem1 was predominant in bla-TEM and bla-CTX-M-15 was most represented by bla-CTX-M. This study confirms the presence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteria in Benin. This was an epidemiological study aimed at detecting cephalosporin resistance in gram-negative Bacillus isolated from urinary tract and genital infections developed by women. Since the advent of molecular biology techniques for the identification of resistance in bacteria including determination of ESBL resistance genes (i.e., TEM, SHV, CTX-M), no study has been conducted to identify the different variants that circulate in Benin by sequencing these resistance genes. This sequencing is essential in order to differentiate the non-ESBL parental enzymes, which is not possible with the commonly used PCR techniques that do not permit differentiation of the point generating different variants of the ESBL genes. The present study then helped to identify those variants, in particular Tem1, SHV1, and CTX-M15, which are most encountered in Benin and around the world.

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the human pathogenic microbes causing Listerosis and is usually found as a contaminant in many foods and dairy samples. Neuraminidases (NAs) plays a key role in many pathogenic bacteria and has the ability to block sialic acid (a virulence factor) that targets mucosal surfaces.

In the current study, NA or sialidase-producing Listeria monocytogenes were screened from different milk samples of cow.

Listeria monocytogenes was identified by morphological, biochemical, and hlyA gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Furthermore, molecular detection of 432 bp amplicon of sialidase enzyme (Neuraminidase) gene in the native isolates was noted.

The prevalence of Listeria species was found to be around 4.16%. Sialidase enzyme was found to be produced in high amounts in isolated L. monocytogenes. Furthermore, NA was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration techniques. The partially purified sialidase enzyme possessed a molecular mass of 27.0 ± 1 with an isoelectric point of 7.6. The optimum pH and temperature were 4.6 to 8.2 and 30 to 35°C, respectively. The enzyme had no effect on metal ions, such as Mn+2, Zn+2, and Ca+2, whereas Hg+2 and Al+3 had potentially acted as inhibitors.

This study suggests that the sialidase of L. monocytogenes plays a significant role in its pathogenesis

The cause of vitamin D deficiency in the Hispanic population with HIV has not been studied in great detail. This deficiency may be related to the underlying chronic disease or to the lack of sun exposure and other notable factors. The current standards that have been applied to non-HIV patients may in fact not be applicable to the HIV population. This study attempted to evaluate the possible relationship between HIV and vitamin D deficiency in a Hispanic patient population residing in El Paso, Texas. 94 HIV-infected patients were surveyed over a period of 12 months. Data was collected from their records regarding CD4 count, HIV viral load, use of anti-retroviral drugs, vitamin D levels, and status of prescription for vitamin D. We found no correlation between the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and vitamin D deficiency. We also did not find evidence that antiretroviral (ARV) therapy was correlated to lower vitamin D levels in these patients. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and HAART.

Visceral leishmaniosis, kala-azar, or black fever is a fatal disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Serological testing is more frequently used in endemic areas. The recombinant kinesin antigen (rK39) is a useful antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), also available in strip format as a rapid test, but the best way for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniosis is histopathologic demonstration of the parasite by aspiration or biopsy of affected organs (usually, bone marrow or spleen aspirations).

Here, we present the case of a 5-year-old girl with fever, weight loss, weakness and massive hepatosplenomegaly. In lab data, pancytopenia was observed. ELISA rapid test was negative for leishmaniosis. Bone marrow aspiration showed amastigotes within macrophages and outside cells.

The aim of this report was to emphasize that bone marrow aspiration is an accurate method for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniosis

I recently read with interest the published article by Ibrahim et al. (1). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with high mortality among patients undergoing hemodialysis (2). The prevalence of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients is varied in different countries, and a meta-analysis on Iraqi patients undergoing hemodialysis reported a prevalence of 20% for HCV infection (3); however, the prevalence of this disease seems to be lower in Kurdish region compared to other parts of Iraq. Control of HCV infection, as a health hazard, is necessary in hemodialysis patients. In the study by Ibrahim et al. (1), all HCV-infected patients had history of transfusion, but 16 out of 87 patients who were HCV negative did not have history of transfusion. I believe that the limited number of HCV-infected patients avoiding the authors from concluding that transfusion history was a risk factor. Transfusion history has been considered as a cardinal risk factor in several studies and I suggest to use other modalities for the management of anemia in these patients. It is worth mentioning that duration of hemodialysis is another risk factor that the authors did not address in their study. If we seeking to follow the ultimate goal of the World Health Organization for the elimination of HCV infection in our community, it will be easier to do so in hemodialysis patients using validated strategies, the most important of which being treatment of all infected patients. In so doing, the vicious cycle of nosocomial transmission due to poor infection control measures will be halted.For the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, periodic screening of HBs Ag, separation of devices and location of hemodialysis centers, vaccination against HBV infection, follow up for anti-HBs antibody, and devising new strategies for better response to HBV vaccination in this high-risk group are suggested (4).