Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Year:2017 | Volume:4 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Background: Due to their weak immune systems, contact with soil, and failure to comply with hygiene principles, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection is high among children.Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and the effects of various factors among elementary school children in Bushehr, Iran.Methods: Following coordination with the education office, schools were randomly selected from different areas, and fecal samples were collected from 203 males and females students at different education levels. The samples were examined using the formalinether sedimentation technique. The data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and the Chi-squared test.Results: Approximately 25.1% of the children were infected with at least one type of intestinal parasite, and 5.9% of them were infected with more than one species. The highest prevalence was apparent in children at education levels 4 and 5. There was no significant relationship between infection and parents’ education and some clinical symptoms, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and nausea, but there was a significant relationship with the number of family members.Conclusions: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was relatively high among the schoolchildren in this study. Since these parasites can cause anemia and dysfunctional nutrient absorption, growth, and learning among children, it is suggested that training courses be held for parents and that basic steps be taken to improve the level of hygiene in the region to prevent the transmission of these parasites.

kground: In the treatment of bacterial infections, drug resistance is a global problem; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is no exception. This bacterium is among the important causes of nosocomial infections, especially burn wound infections, and it is resistant to most applicable antibiotics.Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-bacterial effects of Ferula persica gum extract and gold nanoparticles on P. aeruginosastrains isolated from burn wound infections in Isfahan in 2012.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 150 P. aeruginosa strains carrying the bla SPM-1 gene were isolated from burn wound infections and were confirmed by biochemical tests. The anti-microbial activities ofFerula persica gum extract and gold nanoparticles were evaluated by agar well-diffusion assay and microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests. The results were compared to ciprofloxacin.Results: The highest mean zone of inhibition (18 mm) was observed in a concentration of 250 mg/mL of F. persica extract, which was equal to that of ciprofloxacin. In the gold nanoparticles, the highest mean growth inhibition zone (10.18 mm) was observed in the dilution of 50 ppm. The highest zone of inhibition of nanoparticle-extract synergy was observed in the dilution of 125 mg/mL extract+25 ppm nanoparticle (9.89 mm). The MIC and MBC of the extract were 69.25 42.36 mg/mL and 102.25  16.76 mg/mL, respectively. The MIC and MBC of the nanoparticle-extract mixture were 50.7819.26 mg/mL and 54.1119.72 mg/mL, respectively.Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that the extract of F. persica gum and the gold nanoparticles had anti- Pseudomonas aeruginosaeffects, which were more pronounced when they were used separately.

Background: Serum vitamin D (VitD) status is associated with active tuberculosis (TB) and TB infection conversion (TBIC).Objectives: The objective of the present study was to quantify the risks of TB (latent, conversion, disease) in accordance with VitD status and other variables among the contacts of pulmonary TB patients.Methods: From 2009 to 2012, a cohort of the contacts of pulmonary TB patients was studied to rule out and prevent TB in Castellon (Spain). The exams performed included a tuberculin skin test (TST), a QuantiFERON Gold in-tube test® (QFTGIT), blood and radiographic tests, and an initial measurement of serum VitD status. Contacts who were initially without active TB were followed up through 2015. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) analyses were carried out.Results: From a total of 572 contacts of pulmonary TB patients with VitD status measurement, 523 completed the follow-up (participation rate 91.4%). Among them, five groups could be established: 3 new cases of pulmonary TB (0.6%), 27 cases of TBIC (5.2%), 116 cases of latent TB infection (LTBI) (22.2%), 125 uninfected TB contacts with only one TST or QFTGIT measurement (23.9%), and 252 uninfected TB contacts with two TST or QFTGIT measurements (48.2%). The comparison of these five groups revealed several significant differences, including age, whether they were foreign-born, place of residence, social class, high exposure to an index case with sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and VitD status. The MLR analysis for all groups, with the group of uninfected TB contacts with two TST or QFTGIT measurements as a reference, estimated that only two of these factors were significantly associated with TB in three or more groups; these factors were VitD status and high exposure and a sputum AFB-positive index case. VitD status was a protector against pulmonary TB with a relative risk (RR) of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74 - 0.99) and against TBIC (R=0.95; 95% CI 0.91- 0.99), while it was not associated with LTBI (RR=0.99; 95% CI 0.97-1.01). Only 34.0% of the contacts had sufficient VitD levels ( 30 ng/mL).Conclusions: Our results suggest that a sufficient VitD level could be a protective factor against TBIC and active TB.

Background: Foodborne diseases are one of the most major public health concerns in the world. Ice cream flavors, especially the traditional ones, have a high potential for the transmission of the pathogenic bacteria.Objectives: The aim of the current study is to investigate the microbiological status and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureusisolated from traditional ice cream.Methods: A total of 114 traditional ice creams were randomly collected from retail stores in Hamadan, Iran. Samples were investigated for the total bacteria count (TBC) and contamination with the coliform, Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella as well as the prevalence and antibiotic resistance ofStaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.Results: The count of Enterobacteriaceae (89.47%), mold and yeast (50%), coliform (40.35%) and TBC (28.07%) of samples was higher than Iran’s standard.Salmonella was not found in all samples. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was confirmedin50% and37.72% of samples, respectively. CollectedEscherichia coli hadthe highest antibiotic resistance to ampicillin 67.44%, nalidixic acid 39.53% and co-amoxyclav 37.21%.Staphylococcus aureus showed a higher antibiotic resistance to penicillin (82.46% of isolates) and oxacillin (38% of isolates).Conclusions: The results showed high contamination levels of traditional ice cream with spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms as well as considerable resistance of isolatedStaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to common antibiotics. Therefore, good hygienic practice during processing and personal hygiene should be considered to improve the quality of ice cream. In addition, it is necessary that the regulatory authorities carry out more control on the production centers of traditional ice cream.

Three cases were referred to the Rajaei hospital in Karaj, Iran, and the culture of lung secretions resulted in isolation of multidrugresistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Although antibiotic treatment was started, all the three patients died. This report describes the clinical course of the illness. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no cases of multidrug resistantAcinetobacter baumannii have been reported previously in the Rajaei hospital, Karaj.

Context: Bioaerosols are associated with a wide spectrum of health effects, including infections and contagious diseases, acute toxicities, allergies, and even cancer.Evidence Acquisition: Previous publications describing research conducted in healthcare and community settings during the years 2001 - 2016wereincluded in this analysis. Thewordsbioaerosol, contamination, bacteria, fungi, viruses, andIranwereexplored via the use of search engines such as PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. A total of 28 studies were found.Results: The levels of bacterial contamination were higher than those found in the fungal species. The most isolated of the bacterial species wereS. aureus (38.24%) and Micrococci (31.6%), and the most isolated of the fungal species were Penicillium (32.28%) and Aspergillusspp (22.78%). The highest levels of contamination were detected in infectious disease (ID) settings (mean=9186 cfu/m3 for bacteria and 27 24 for fungi). Moreover, levels of indoor air contamination were lower than the world health organization (WHO) standards, with the exception ofS. aureus at 201 cfu/m3 and 189 cfu/m3 in infectious disease (ID) and intensive care unit (ICU) settings, respectively. In terms of geographic area and cultural differences, the numbers of bacterial and fungal agents were not significantly different (i.e., North versus South and East versusWest). Moisture levels were significantly related to air contamination (pv=0.02).Conclusions: The levels of air contamination inside hospital and healthcare settings were lower than the WHO mean standard. Active air sampling methods are necessary for measuring bioaerosol contamination. There were no significant differences in the levels of contamination found in various indoor settings in Iran. Efficient ventilation systems and contamination prevention or minimization are necessary for these settings.

Background: Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is a basic component of a healthy diet. Thus, the consumption of vegetables can have an important role in public health.Objectives: Because of this concern, a prevalence study of parasitic contamination was carried out on raw vegetables to estimate the human risk of parasitic infections in Asadabad city, west of Iran.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 383 samples of different vegetables were obtained randomly from 12 vegetable farms in and around Asadabad. These samples included 10 types of seasonal vegetables: coriander, radish, spring onion, leek, parsley, tarragon, savory, basil, mint, andcress. The samples wereexaminedbytwoparasitological methods: sedimentationandfloatation techniques.Results: Parasitic contaminations were detected in 34 (8.4%) vegetable samples, including five pathogenic and two non-pathogenic parasites. The parasites identified wereGiardia intestinalis (1.6%), Entamoeba coli (2.6%), Toxocara spp. (0.8%), Fasciola spp. (0.5%), Taeniaspp. (0.3%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.3%), and free-living larvae (2.3%). Among the infested samples, coriander was the most contaminated vegetable (15.8%). The relationship between contamination of vegetables and untreated water used on farms was significant (P<0.001).Conclusions: The results implicate the importance of consumption of vegetables in the spread of parasitic diseases in the studied region. Thus, some basic hygiene measures should be carried out to improve public health and reduce infectious disease rates.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infectious diseases and nosocomial infections worldwide, and uropathogenicEscherichia coli is the primary cause of UTI. Due to increased antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) UPEC clones, the treatment of UTI is difficult. The occurrence of MDR inE. coli has been attributed to the AcrAB-TolC complex of efflux pumps.Objectives: The aim of this study was to complete a frequency evaluation of acrA and acrB genes among UPEC MDR strains isolated from patients with UTI who were admitted to Milad hospital in Tehran.Methods: For 123 UPEC strains that were isolated and diagnosed from the urine samples of patients using biochemical tests, antibiotic susceptibility was carried out using the disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Isolates that were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent in three or more of the categories were considered to beMDR. The presence and frequency ofacrA and acrBgenes was determined using PCR.Results: The rates of antibiotic resistance to ampicillin, cefalotin, tetracycline, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, ceftizoxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and cotrimoxazole were 82.9%, 78.1%, 61.1%, 49.5%, 38.2%, 30.2%, 26.1%, 42.2%, and 60.1%, respectively. The isolates were most sensitive to nitrofurantoin (95.9%), gentamicin (77.2%), and amikacin (71.5%). A total of 78% of the isolates were MDR. The frequency of theacrA genewas82.90%, the acrB genewas95.90% and acrA+acrB was95.90%. Therewasnosignificant difference between acrAand acrB frequency relating to bacterial antibiotic resistance.Conclusions: Our results showed that ways to control the treatment of UTI for the prevention of MDRoccurrence should be sought. For a better study of efflux pumps, a comprehensive and detailed study regarding the presence of efflux pumps gees is required.