International Journal of Infection
Year:2021 | Volume:8 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Dear editor, Malaria is a major public health threat and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a death toll of over 400, 000 annually (1). A great portion of these deaths comes from African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria, all accounting for about 51% of all malaria deaths worldwide (1). Over 90% of these malaria mortality cases is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most virulent form of the malaria parasite (1). In the past few decades, a major contributor to the increased severity and mortality rate of malaria is the nagging problem of drug resistance, mainly for P. falciparum, which has emerged against almost all used antimalarial drugs since the 1930s (2). This has greatlyimpededglobal efforts to control malaria. . . .

Introduction: Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG), a known veterinary pathogen with the potential for zoonotic human infections, comprises S. intermedius, S. pseudintermedius, and S. delphini, which are not easily distinguishable. Without the proper equipment and procedures, it cannot be distinguished from Staphylococcus aureus (SAu), which causes underestimation of its true incidence. Case Presentation: A 52-year-old male with diabetes presented with complaints of fever and malaise. He developed respiratory failure and altered mental status; hence, intensive care was provided to him. Blood cultures and bronchoalveolar lavage culture developed methicillin-resistant SIG. Despite rapid adjustment of empiric antibiotic therapy, he died of multiple organ failure. Conclusions: Incorporating knowledge about this new pathogen and its aggressiveness into daily clinical practice can, through a high index of suspicion and detailed anamnesis, reduce misdiagnoses.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes a wide range of adverse effects in both mothers and infants during pregnancy and after delivery. Objectives: This studyaimedto evaluate the effects of erythromycin either alone or in combination with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the clinical GBS isolated from pregnant women. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional studywas performedon106womenaged 16-48 years. After identification of GBSstrains by phenotypic and genotypic methods (PCR), erythromycin-resistant isolates were identified using the Kirby-Bauer test and broth microdilution method according to CLSI-2015 guidelines. The antibacterial properties and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of erythromycin (either alone or combined with AuNPs) were assessed by the agar well-diffusion and broth microdilution methods, respectively. Results: The frequency of GBS isolates was significantly high in the pregnant women aged less than 40 years (73. 9%) (P = 0. 0251), those with a history of abortion (60. 9%) (P = 0. 038), and residents of rural areas (60%) (P = 0. 038). Moreover, 65. 2% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin. The MIC of AuNPs-erythromycin combination required to inhibit the growth of 50% of GBS isolates (MIC50 = 0. 25  g/mL) was significantly lower than the concentration of AuNP-erythromycin required to inhibit the growth of 90% of the isolates (MIC90 = 1  g/mL) (P = 0. 02), indicating a 16-fold lower dose than the values for erythromycin and AuNPs alone. In the agar well-diffusion method, the average diameter of the growth inhibition zone of AuNPs-erythromycin was 2. 5-fold greater than that of free erythromycin (P = 0. 037). Conclusions: The results showed that the combination of erythromycin with AuNPs increased the antibacterial effects of erythromycin against GBS isolates.

Background: Wound infection is a highly common problem in hospital settings, where microbes are often resistant and difficult to treat due to rapid exposure to antibiotics. While treating wound infection, bacteria often enter the deep tissue; as therapy needs long exposure time, bacteria have sufficient time to develop biofilm, which makes them much more resistant to antibiotics. Objectives: The current study was performed to identify wound-infecting bacteria and determine their protease production activity. Methods: The ability to produce biofilm was evaluated by the Congo red agar and tube methods. Antibiotic resistance pattern was assessed before and after biofilm formation to detect the changes in resistance due to biofilm formation. Results: We identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Corynebacterium xerosis, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp. in 20 wound samples, among which about 10 isolates were found to be biofilm producers. Almost all the biofilm producers showed complete resistance or a much smaller inhibition zone. Conclusions: Pathogenic bacteria can be more difficult to eradicate by antibiotic treatment if they are able to produce biofilm; thus, it is essential to prevent biofilm formation.

Background: Despite substantial efforts to control the disease, brucellosis remains one the most rampant zoonotic infections among agricultural and rural populations. It is still considered a major public health challenge in endemic areas, including Iran. Objectives: Regarding the high prevalence rate of brucellosis in northwest of Iran and the occupational nature of the disease, this study intends to describe the epidemiological pattern of brucellosis in Salmas, Iran, during 2014-2017. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the data collected using a checklist designed to investigate the personal health records of patients available at Urmia University of Medical Sciences from 2014 to 2017. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS, version 19. Chi-square, t-test, and the Cochran-Armitage  2 test for trend were performed. Results: Among 417 brucellosis cases, the total incidence rate was 52. 73 cases/100, 000 inhabitants over the four-year study. The prevalence rate of brucellosis was higher in men, and the male to female ratio was 1. 38. The 31-45 years age group was the most infected. Summer season showed a higher prevalence. Brucellosis was more common among housewives-stockbreeders. Cheese was the most frequently consumed unpasteurized dairy product. The majority of patients were from rural regions. Conclusions: The study shows a significant increase in the prevalence of human brucellosis in Salmas, hence the disease has to be regarded as a public health priority. Educating farmers and inhabitants of endemic areas to take preventive measures can play a significant role in controlling brucellosis.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory and lethal effect of artichoke on pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus and compare it with antibiotics in vitro. Methods: Ten strains of S. aureus were isolated from the vagina of womenin Amir Al-Momenin Hospital of Zabol, Iran. The resistance pattern was determined by the disk diffusion method. Finally, the effect of the extract on bacteria was determined by the 96-well microplate method. Results: The results of the antibiotic resistance pattern showed that S. aureus samples had the highest resistance to oxacillin antibiotic and were sensitive to other antibiotics, and only one sample was sensitive to vancomycin antibiotic. The lowest inhibitory concentration of artichoke against S. aureus was 3. 1 mg/mL, but five strains were inhibited at a concentration of 6. 25 mg/mL. Conclusions: Ethanolic extract had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of S. aureus pathogens. Further clinical research is necessary for clinical use of these extracts.

Introduction: COVID-19 is a new respiratory infection caused by the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared as a global epidemic in 2019. All the information obtained about this virus was different in children than in adults. Case Presentation: The case investigated in this study was a 10-year-old boy with hemoptysis and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in his post-COVID-19 recovery phase. Conclusions: COVID-19 can have a variety of presentations and complications beyond the classic respiratory symptoms and fever. This case is important and shows how COVID-19 can be life-threatening.

Background: This study was done to investigate the antimicrobial activity of rosemary and olive extracts on antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from quail feces in Zabol city. Methods: Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of rosemary (leaf) and olive (leaf) plants were prepared using a rotary apparatus. Also, E. coli strains were isolated from poultry feces samples, the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by the microdilution method. Results: The lowest values of MIC and MBC against E. coli were 12. 5 ppm and 25 ppm for rosemary ethanolic extract and 25 ppm and 50 ppm for rosemary methanolic extract, respectively. The lowest values of MIC and MBC against E. coli were 12. 5 ppm and 25 ppm for olive ethanolic extract and 6. 25 ppm and 12. 5 ppm for olive methanolic extract, respectively. Conclusions: In general, methanol solvent and olive extract are highly effective against E. coli. Due to the obtained results and increasing resistance of bacteria to chemical antibiotics, it is suggested that with further studies on olives and the use of methanol solvent in the extraction of plant extracts, antibacterial compounds of olives and other plants be used in the treatment of bacterial infections.