Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Aug 2015

Nosocomial infections (NIs) have increasingly resulted in death and patients have to bear high treatment costs. Healthcare personnel could play a prominent role in prevention and control of NIs.. The aim of this study was to evaluate NIs in patients admitted to a teaching hospital in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, during 2013..Patients and The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Razi Hospital, Ahvaz during 12 months from March 2013 to March 2014. All patients hospitalized with no signs and symptoms of infection within 48 hours of admission and presenting signs and symptoms of infection after 48 hours of hospitalization were included in the study. Data about patients’ age, sex, site of infection, ward of hospitalization and type of NIs were collected. Bacterial strains were isolated from various clinical samples of patients and identified by conventional methods.. The incidence of NIs was low (i.e. < 2%). Among 16936 admitted patients in this hospital, 174 patients (79 males and 95 females) with a mean age of 51.7 ± 24.6 years (range, 5 to 90 years) were diagnosed with an NI. Incidence density of NIs were 3.18% in infectious diseases ward, 2.17% in intensive care unit (ICU), 2% in orthopedic ward, 0.68% in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) ward and 0.278% in general surgery. Regarding the etiology of infection, coagulase-negative staphylococci in 23.69%, Bacillus in 21.05%, Escherichia coli was found in 18.42%, and coagulase-positive staphylococci in 13.16% of the cases. The results indicated that coagulase-negative staphylococci was the most frequent pathogen.. The frequency of NIs in this hospital was lower in comparison with other worldwide studies. However, low incidence of health care-associated infections in our study may be due to under diagnosis and underreporting of such infections by health care staff..

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an acute respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis). Pertussis toxin is an important virulence factor of B. pertussis and plays a major role in the immune and inflammatory responses. Likewise, allelic variations in the genes of virulence factors have led to the non-responsiveness of the new strains to both whole-cell and acellular vaccines. Given the importance of pertussis vaccine, we sought to address the lack of fundamental studies on the polymorphisms of the virulence genes of B. pertussis in Iran.. The aim of this study was to identify the polymorphisms of the pertussis toxin S1 subunit (ptxS1) gene in the circulating strains and compare them to the vaccine strain..Patients and In this study, 50 strains of B. pertussis isolated from patients with pertussis were investigated in the pertussis reference laboratory of Pasteur institute of Iran. Cultivation, biochemical tests, and the specific antisera were used to confirm B. pertussis. The sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products was performed to determine the ptxS1 alleles, and B. pertussis 134 was studied as the vaccine strain.. The results showed that all the strains had the dominant allele ptxS1A. There were differences between the alleles of the clinical strains and the vaccine strain.. In recent years, a significant increase in the incidence of pertussis has been reported worldwide. Our findings regarding the allelic shift of the ptxS1 gene are similar to those reported in many European and American countries showing the difference of the dominant allele of ptxS1 between the circulating isolates and the vaccine strains..

Beta-lactam antibiotics such as long-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems are the empirical treatment against urinary tract infections (UTIs). The common mechanism of resistance to B-lactamas in Escherichia coli is producing of ESBLs.. The aims of this study was evaluation of the susceptibility of the ESBL-producing E. coli strains to ordinarily used antibiotics and to detect the presence of the four common ESBL genes: blaTEM, blaOXA, blaCTX-M, and blaSHV using multiplex PCR method.. In a retrospective cross sectional study conducted between 2012 and 2013, out of145 strains of E. coli were isolated from hospitalized children with UTIs. Susceptibility test was performed by disc diffusion method. All isolates were also tested for ESBL by the standard CLSI double disk diffusion method, using cefotaxime/ clavulanic acid and ceftazidime/clavulanic acid disks. Multiplex PCR was performed for detect of blaCTX-MIV, blaOXA, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes.. From 145 strains of E. coli, 51(35.2%) and 61(42.1%) isolates were resistance to ceftazidime and cefotaxime, respectively. ESBL production was noted in 59 (40.7%) strains. The amplification of β-lactamase genes showed the presence of blaCTX-M like genes in 22 (37.9%) strains, blaTEM in 42 (72.4%), blaSHV in 7 (11.9%) and blaOXA in 23 (39%) of the total 58 strains of E. coli.. Our data showed that, the high prevalence of beta-lactamase genes among isolates, and it. Our findings may provide useful insights in replace of the appropriate antibiotics and it may also prevents of ESBLs, mediated resistance problem..

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen and a serious threat to the public health in the world. Consumption of traditional foods such as dairy and meat products can be a major reason for relative abundance and isolation of these bacteria.. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from dairy and meat products.. A total of 317 dairy products and meat-processed samples were collected. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed on each sample by the disk diffusion method (Kirby Bauer). Five reference loci were used for typing of L. monocytogenes strains by MLVA (Multiple Locus VNTR Analysis) Technique.. A total of 24 L. monocytogenes isolates were collected from the dairy and meat products. Resistance of isolated L. monocytogenes strains to penicillin G were 54.54% (from dairy products) and 46.15% (from processed meat). Genetic relatedness of isolates were assessed by MLVA. Out of 13 different types, type 2 with 6 strains and type 3 with 4 strains, were the most common types.. MLVA analysis showed that samples obtained from different sources could have similar genetic profile. As a result, administration of penicillin in patients with listeriosis (especially pregnant women) and antibiotic susceptibility test are recommended. The fast and accurate methods such as MLVA for tracking of pollution sources of L. monocytogenes are recommended during outbreaks..

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are among the most occupational hazards in the world, including Iran. Barbers have continued to expose to different infectious diseases. They may often be exposed accidentally to the blood and body fluids of their customers, through needle pricks, scissor cuts, tattooing and other beauty treatments.. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of HBV, and HCV infections and to investigate the correlation between the HBs-Ab titer and some of the risk factors in the barbers of Isfahan city, Iran..Patients and This cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was performed on 479 male and female barbers during July to September 2012 in Isfahan Province, Iran. Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire including demographic characteristics and main risk factors for HCV and HBV infections. A 5-mL venous blood sample was obtained from each subject. The levels of antigen and antibodies (HBs Ag, HBc Ab, HBs Ab, and HCV Ab) were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by SPSS software, version 16.. The mean age of the individuals was 39.6 ± 11.4 years. Two hundred and thirty-three cases (48.6%) were men and 246 (51.4%) were women. All the subjects were negative for HCV Ab. The seropositivity of HBV was 6.6%. No significant correlation was found between risk factors and being HBV-seropositive. Among our participants, it was found that most barbers had been exposed to razors or scissor cuts.. Our findings indicate that both HCV and HBV infections may not constitute occupational hazards for barbers; however, it is essential to promote awareness of these risks among barbers and effective HBV vaccination should be performed among them..

Dental carries are the most widespread disease among humans, caused by the bacteria growing in the dental plaque. Streptococcus mutans is known as the main bacteria-inducing dental carries.. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of some commercially available iron supplements on the growth of this bacteria and dental carries.. The antimicrobial effects of six different types of iron supplements were assessed using the well-diffusion method. Furthermore, the effects of these supplements on the beginning and progression of the process of dental carries were investigated. The SPSS software package version 20 was used for statistical tests.. At the concentration of 100%, the highest and the lowest inhibitory effect were for Ferrokids-drops (32 mm) and Irovit (26 mm), respectively. At a concentration of 50%, Vitane (26 mm) supplement and Irovit supplement (21 mm) had the highest and lowest effectiveness, respectively. Moreover, at a concentration of 10%, the highest and the lowest inhibitory effect were for Vitane and Irovit, respectively. The positive control group had the highest number of decayed teeth, while the group that received Vitane iron supplements was the one with the lowest number of decayed teeth. There were no decayed teeth in the negative control group.. In spite of what the parents believe, iron supplements not only do not cause dental carries but also they have preventive and inhibitory effects on them. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that supplements containing both iron and zinc elements should be preferred over supplements containing only iron elements..

Enterobacter spp. is increasingly recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen and implicated in many episodes of hospital acquired infections.. The current study aimed to describe distribution and transferability of blaCTX-M-15 gene, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern in the clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp.. A total of 110 Enterobacter isolates were collected from five hospitals in Tehran, Iran from May 2012 to April 2013. Enterobacter species were identified by API 20E system. Antibacterial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method, and extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) production was confirmed by combined disk method. The blaCTX-M-15 gene was identified by PCR with specific primers. The transferability of the blaCTX-M-15was tested by conjugation with broth matting method.. The prevalence of Enterobacter species was E. cloacae (78.2 %), E. aerogenes (6.13 %) and E. sakazakii (8.2%). They were from different clinical sources. Maximal resistance in Enterobacter isolates was noticed against Augmentin®, trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole and cefoxitin 75.5%, 64.5%, and 59.1%, respectively. Fourteen isolates, showed ESBL phenotype. The blaCTX-M-15 gene frequency in Enterobacter isolates was 11.8%. Three conjugative plasmids containing blaCTX-M-15 were found in one Enterobacter isolate.. It was the first report on the blaCTX-M-15 gene emergence in clinical Enterobacter spp. in Iran. The current study demonstrated the predominant presence of the gene encoding CTX-M-15 among ESBL producing Enterobacter spp. commonly with a large plasmid, in the setting.

Gastroenteritis is a remarkable hygiene problem worldwide. Bacteria and parasites can cause gastroenteritis-associated disorders.. The aims of study were to survey the most common cause of gastroenteritis in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ilam, Iran..Patients and This descriptive-analytical study was performed during 2012 to 2013. After collecting 2376 stool samples, standard biochemical and microbiological tests were performed. Susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion method agreeing with clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The protozoa were detected by sediment wet-mount method.. Of 2376 patients, 466 (19.6%) were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or protozoa.The frequency of microorganisms isolated from the patients were 10.3%, 2.5%, 2.5%, 2.1%, 46.4%, 30.9%, 2.5% and 2.5% for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Yersinia enterocolitica, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, E. coli and Candida spp., respectively. Sensitivities to ciprofloxacin in E. coli and S. dysenteriae strains were 100% and 91.66%, respectively.. The results showed that some patients were probably contaminated with nonbacterial and nonparasitic agents. All the parasitic isolates were resistant to most antibiotics. Therefore determination of microbial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility is necessary before treatment procedures..