Infection, Epidemiology And Medicine
Volume:6 Issue: 4, Autumn 2020

Urinary tract infections are considered as a major health concern. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections. The presence of qnr plasmid genes in bacteria is the main cause of resistance to quinolones. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern and prevalence of qnrB gene in E. coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections.

In this cross-sectional study, samples were taken from patients with urinary tract infections, referred to Kermanshah hospitals during the spring of 2017. E. coli strains were identified by biochemical tests. Then antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for the isolates by the disc diffusion method. Following that, qnrB resistance gene was detected by PCR; finally, data were analyzed by SPSS software Ver. 23.

In this study, 105 E. coli strains were isolated from urine specimens. The strains resistance rate to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin antibiotics was 62.85, 38.09, and 33.33%, respectively. PCR results showed that 67 strains (63.8%) had qnrB gene, and 38 strains (36.19%) lacked this gene. Logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the presence of qnrB gene and nalidixic resistance.

The results of this study show that the frequency of qnrB gene among the E. coli strains isolated from urinary tract infections is fairly high in Kermanshah. Therefore, it is necessary to do further investigates using molecular techniques and to take serious preventive measures.

Foodborne diseases caused by Salmonella are considered as a global health concern, especially in low-income countries. Rapid and specific detection of this infective agent is highly important in the outbreak control. The current study aimed to design and optimize a LAMP method and to compare its sensitivity and efficiency with the PCR method in the detection of S. typhi in food.

Food samples including mayonnaise and vegetable salad were inoculated with S. enterica serovar Typhi. Sensitivity and detection limit of LAMP test were investigated at different concentrations of contaminated mayonnaise and vegetable salad. invA gene was chosen as the target gene for bacterial detection by PCR and LAMP tests.

The detection limit of Samonella was estimated to be 16 CFU/mL using LAMP and PCR. LAMP reaction revealed a visible turbidity, indicating the accurate amplification of the selected target gene and proper identification of Salmonella at different dilutions of the studied food samples.

The present study indicated that LAMP is a rapid, cost-effective, and specific technique for the identification of Salmonella. This method could be used in laboratories with minimal equipment without the need for costly molecular detection methods.

In recent years, the widespread prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus strains and the increase in the number of Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) and Pandrug-Resistant (PDR) phenotypes amongst S. aureus strains have become one of the greatest challenges. This study aimed to determine the incidence of MDR, XDR, and PDR phenotypes in S. aureus strains in a teaching hospital in Gorgan, Golestan province, Iran.

Clinical samples of blood, urine, wound, and sputum were collected from all hospitalized patients during April to June 2019. S. aureus strains were identified using conventional biochemical methods, and antibiotic susceptibility assessment was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

A total of 73 isolates were identified as S. aureus. The majority of S. aureus isolates were collected from wound specimens (31 out of 73). Most of the isolates were recovered from internal ward (35 out of 73), followed by intensive care unit (ICU) (16 out of 73). The highest susceptibility was observed to glycopeptides category (100%), and the lowest susceptibility was observed to erythromycin (54.7%), followed by cefoxitin (49.3%). Out of the 73 isolates, 32 (43.8%) were found to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. Among MRSA isolates, 96.8 and 12.5% were MDR and XDR, respectively. All of the MRSA isolates, were susceptible to vancomycin. No PDR phenotype was observed among the isolates as all of them were sensitive to vancomycin (100%).

Based on the obtained results, the highest and lowest antibiotic resistance was observed against erythromycin and vancomycin, respectively, which is consistent with similar studies conducted in the country. Therefore, these antibiotics should not be used in the empirical therapy of S. aureus infections

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease with significant economic and public health consequences. This study aimed to investigate the seroepidemiological prevalence of human brucellosis in Gorgan and Dasht, Northeastern Iran during one year.

In this study, 153 brucellosis-suspected cases who were referred to the health centers of Gorgan and surrounding villages from April 2017 to March 2018, were included. Two serological assays (Wright and 2-mercaptoethanol) were performed on all sera taken from patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 23) using Chi-square test and independent t-test. A p-value less than .05 was considered as statistically significant.

Of 153 suspected cases, 62 cases (40.5%) were positive for brucellosis, among whom 39 cases (62.9%) were men, and 41 cases (66%) were 17-38 years old. The highest prevalence rate of brucellosis was observed in rural men (69.5%) as well as in those consuming raw cheese (35.5%) and being in direct contact with livestock (27.5%). Furthermore, the frequency of the disease was significantly higher in the summer. The incidence rate of the disease was significantly associated with season, history of contact with livestock, and the type of dairy product consumed (p <.05).

The prevalence of brucellosis is higher in rural areas of Gorgan, particularly among farmers and livestock keepers. Providing training and raising awareness of these individuals as well as developing strategic health plans regarding the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products could help reduce the incidence of brucellosis.

Aureobasidin A is known as a cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic with toxic effects against yeasts such as Candida spp at low concentration. Combination therapy is used as a conventional treatment for fungal infections, especially drug-resistant cases. The current study aimed to investigate the combined effects of fluconazole and Aureobasidin A on fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates using broth microdilution method.

Antifungal activity of Aureobasidin A (AbA) compared to fluconazole against C. albicans ATCC 76615 strain was determined using the standardized broth microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, document M27-Ed4) guidelines. The checkerboard method was used to test the combined effects of Aureobasidin A and fluconazole. The synergy, indifference, and antagonism were defined based on the fractional inhibitory concentration values below 0.5, 0.5-4, and more than 4 μg/mL, respectively.

MIC50 and MIC90 evaluations of Aureobasidin A and fluconazole were done at concentrations of 0.25-2 and 32-64 μg/mL against C. glabrata isolates, respectively. The synergy between fluconazole and Aureobasidin A was observed against Candida isolate. A reduced MIC was demonstrated against C. albicans isolate when fluconazole was combined with Aureobasidin A at 4 to 0.12 μg/mL concentrations.

The present study findings revealed that Aureobasidin A combined with fluconazole exhibited potent inhibitory effects against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates. Further studies is recommended to investigate the synergistic effects of Aureobasidin A and other antifungal drugs.

Many parasitic diseases cause parasitic complications in humans, in addition to causing significant damage to the livestock industry. This study intended to determine the prevalence pattern of some parasitic infections observed in livestock slaughtered in Kermanshah province.

Data were obtained through the examination of livestock carcasses in Kermanshah province during 2013-2017 (4367 cows, 29809 sheep, and 8995  goats) and further evaluated descriptively-analytically.

The highest prevalence rate of a parasitic disease referred to as hepatic hydatid was observed in cows with 166 cases (3.8%), followed by goats with 116 cases (1.28%), and sheep with 320 cases (1.07%), while the highest prevalence rate of Hydatid cyst was observed in cows with 252 cases (5.77%), followed by goats with 304 cases (3.37%), and sheep with 708 cases (2.37%), respectively. Fasciola infection was recognized in 115 cases of cows (2.63%), followed by 37 cases (0.41%) of goats, and 73 cases (0.24%) of sheep, and the disparity between the rates was deemed significant. In terms of the prevalence rate of Dicrocoelium infection, a considerable disparity was observed between cows with 85 cases (1.94%) and sheep with 464 cases (1.55%), while 247 cases (2.74%) were recognized in goats.

Moreover, a significant disparity was observed in the seasonal prevalence of infections between different livestock breeds. Ultimately, the results of this study provided essential information for the implementation of developmental and prevention programs in the monitored area.

Trichomonas vaginalis is, one of due to vaginitis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted and treatable infection in the world. Co- infection of T. vaginalis along with other agents of vaginitis should always be considered in patients with chronic vulvovaginal symptoms.

An Iranian woman with 32 years of age and signs of vaginitis infection referred to a midwifery clinic in Bandar Abbas. While she used antifungal and antibacterial medications many times during the past two years to treat her vaginitis infection, but since her husband did not do so, all the clinical signs of her infection reappeared again after a short time. A miscarriage, genital warts in the lower end of the uterus (cervix), yellowish-green foamy secretion, and vigorous redness of the lower end of the uterus were among the problems reported in her medical record. To diagnose the disease, sampling was done from the posterior fornix of vagina and using direct smear and Diamond culture medium, the specimen was examined for the presence of T. vaginalis by a specialist in parasitology. Based on the direct smear test results, the specimen was positive for yeast and bacteria and negative for T. vaginalis, while culture test result was positive for the presence of T. vaginalis. Therefore, the woman referred to a physician qualified in gynecology for her infection therapy, but this time with her husband. The duration of their treatment was three months, after which the culture test result (after 72 h) was negative for T. vaginalis, and the clinical signs of the infection ameliorated.

It is recommended that, in addition to careful examination of patients’ clinical symptoms, direct smear and culture methods be employed in midwifery centers to correctly diagnose vaginitis. In addition, the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in people involved in a sexual relationship should be done simultaneously.

The new unknown pandemic introduced in December 2019 in China is now known as SARS-CoV-2 induced COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) disease. Some studies have been published by World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, there is a little information about food safety and COVID-19. The world has not sufficiently addressed the effects of COVID-19 on food safety. The remarkable point is the hypothesis that this epidemic has passed through a food source eaten by an individual and subsequently turned humans into an intermediate host. In particular, the recent state of information about SARS-CoV-2 is challenging owing to its high transmission and mortality rate in people as a potential source of pathogen and infections. However, there is currently no evidence about COVID-19 spread through food.

Due to the fact that food is a basic humans need and could be an indirect carrier for the virus; therefore, hygiene protocols must be carefully implemented. Also, some studies have suggested that taking supplements, fermented dairy foods, probiotic products, as well as Vitamins C and D could be helpful. Heat treatment and pasteurization could prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission through food.

It is recommended that further studies be performed on the duration of COVs survival at different levels of contact with foods under certain conditions with nanoparticles, nano-packaging, nano-emulsions, and nano-encapsulation to evaluate their size effect.