Background and objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) -producing bacteria have become a growing problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in urine samples of hospitalized patients in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil over a period of October 2011 to August 2012.Methods: A total of 400 urinary pathogens isolated from urine samples were included in the study. All isolates were identified by routine biochemical methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing carried out by Kirby-Bauer method. Confirmatory test for production of ESBLs was performed by the combination disk tests. The results were interpreted according to the recommendation of CLSI.Results: Of 400 isolated bacteria, 267 were E.coli, 39 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 17 Klebsiella oxytoca, 16 Enterobacter cloacae, 15 Enterobacter aerogenese, 6 Enterobacter agglomerans, 8 Enterobacter sakazakji, 3 Citrobacter freundii, 2 Citrobacter diversus, 3 Proteus mirabilis, 4 Edvardsiella tarta, 3 Serratia marcesecens and 17 Morganella morganii all of which then were analyzed. ESBL was detected in 36.75% (147) of isolates. One Hundred Fourteen E.coli cases (77.5%), 15 Klebsiella pneumonia (10.2%), 5 Klebsiella oxytoca (3.4%), 4 Enterobacter aerogenese (2.72%), 4 Enterobacter cloacae (2.72%), 1 Citrobacter freundii (0.68%), and 1 Morganella morganii (0.68%) were detected as ESBLs producers, respectively.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, broad-spectrum beta-lactamase production in bacterial strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection was very high and almost 40% of all bacterial species isolates were ESBLs producers. Because of the high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in the urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients of our area, we would strongly suggest that the ESBL production should be considered in these patients.

Hospitals are hotspots for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and will be expelled from hospitals via wastewater systems. In this study, we present ESBLs prevalence in Entrobacteriaceae strains isolated from hospitals and urban wastewaters in Karaj. A total of 100 Entrobacteriaceae strains were isolated from hospitals and urban wastewater in Alborz province during the summer of 2018. Bacterial strains were identified by standard microbiological and biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was determined according to Kirby Baur assay. ESBLs producers were screened by disc diffusion and combined disc and were studied by using specific primers for blaTEM and blaSHV genes. Among the organisms cultured, Escherichia coli (73%) was the most common organism followed by Klebsiella oxytoka (7%). Antibiotic resistance patterns were observed as follows: cefotaxim 26%, ceftriaxone 21%, ceftazidim 15% and cefepim 9%. Thirteen percent of isolates were detected as ESBLs producers. Based on the PCR results the frequency of blaTEM and blaSHV among the ESBLs producer isolates were 92. 3% and 100% respectively. Antimicrobial resistance should now be seen as an environmental pollutant and new wastewater treatment processes must be assessed for their capability in eliminating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, especially from hospital effluents.

BACKGROUND: Poultry farming is one of the most productive and economic agricultural sectors. However, the bacterial contamination and the activity of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) as a potential reservoir of Salmonella in meat poultry farms can inflict direct and indirect damages. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the darkling beetles and their accompanying Enterobacteriaceae contamination in Isfahan chicken farms. METHODS: Darkling beetles were collected and identified based on their morphological aspects from different parts of 16 poultry farms (4 from each geographical area) in Isfahan Province, Iran. Then, 80 samples of darkling beetles were cultured on selective-differential media culture of the Enterobacteriaceae family using the homogenization and enrichment method. The isolated bacteria were identified based on physiological and molecular characteristics. Also, specific antisera were used to determine serological groups. RESULTS: The results revealed that all collected darkling beetles’ samples belonged to the species Alphitobius diaperinus (Col., Tenebrionidae), and from 80 microbial culture samples from the beetles, isolated bacteria belonged into 4 genera: Escherichia sp. (20 isolates, 25 %), Klebsiella sp. (8 isolates, 10 %), Proteus sp. (22 isolates, 27. 5 %), and Salmonella sp. (30 isolates, 37. 5 %). Among them, the Salmonella genus accounted for the highest percentage of darkling beetles’ contamination. In the serological assay, the isolated Salmonella were classified into two serogroups, A (23 isolates, 76. 67 %) and C (C2 and C3) (7 isolates, 23. 33 %), which the A serogroup was the most frequent. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the A. diaperinus species was isolated and identified for the first time from poultry farms, and this pest, with a high percentage of Salmonella infection, is introduced as one of the reservoir sources of bacterial contamination in the broiler farms.

Background & objectives: Resistant microbial strains are a serious threat to public health in different societies. Among the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing strains the Enterobacteriaceae family which is considered as the main factors producing urinary tract infections, have created many problems in treatment of this kind of infections. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of β-lactamase TEM-1 gene in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from urine samples in Ardabil city.Methods: Within 6 months, 400 urinary isolates of Enterobacteriaceae of inpatients and outpatients were collected in Ardabil hospitals and were identified by standard methods.Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was tested by disk diffusion method, and ESBL producer confirmatory test was conducted using combined disk. Finally, the frequency of β-lactamase TEM-1 gene in producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases strains was investigated using PCR.Results: From 400 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, 150 cases (37.5%) were ESBL producing.PCR results showed presence of the TEM-1 gene in 69 cases (46%). The frequency of this gene in isolates ofEnterobacter (Aerogenes, Cloacae), Klebsiella (Pneumoniae, Oxytoca) and E. coliwas obtained to be 62.5%, 54.5% and 44.8%, respectively. Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescensstrains were lacking these genotypes.Conclusion: As regards the presence of TEM-1 gene, there is also increasing in other members of the Enterobacteriaceae family includingKlebsiella and Enterobacter in addition toE. coli, therefore sufficient identification of this strains is necessary to prescribe the right medicine.

Biological control using marine bacteria is part of the integrated management to control harmful algal blooms (HABs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency and diversity of bacteria in HAB-exposed regions in Hormozgan province and to evaluate their algicidal activity against Cochlodinium polykrikoides. Seasonal frequency of bacteria in 10 stations throughout the coastal regions of Hormuz Island, Bandar Abbas, and Bandar Lengeh showed maximum frequency in St 1, St 6, and St 10 in spring. We identified 10 bacterial families in sediment samples, which dominantly belonged to Vibrionaceae, Entrobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae with 29%, 14 %, and 12% frequency, respectively. While in seawater samples Entrobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae were dominated with 23% among 6 identified families. Approximately, 13.33% of sediment-isolated bacteria and 9.09% of seawater-isolated bacteria were able to kill whole algal cells. The extracted metabolites of the active isolates exhibited significant algicidal activity with LC50 values ranging from 90.28±3.14 to 1029±45.94 µg/ml. This study presented an overview of the frequency and diversity of bacteria in the investigated areas and provided eight algicidal isolates for future studies on the biological control of HABs.

Background and Objectives: The production of unpasteurized ice cream known as Traditional ice cream is common in Iran. Since pasteurization conditions and personal health normally don’t be fully applied in preparation and distribution of this product, probability of foodborne disease outbreaks due to these products are high. The aim of this study was to assess microbial pollution in traditional ice creams to Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae as indicators of contamination in Gorgan city.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 ice-cream samples were taken randomly from all related enterprises in Gorgan city in 2010. The samples were taken to food laboratory under sterile condition and examined for microbial contamination and the results were compared with national standards.Results: Research findings showed that the contamination rate of ice cream to Escherichia Coli and Enterobacteriaceae were 36 and 11 percent, respectively. About 40 percent of total samples were contaminated. E. coli contamination in ice-cream was appreciably higher than Enterobacteriaceae contamination. Statistically significant relationships were observed between level of contamination and employee literacy, personal hygiene, and sanitation of workplaces.Conclusion: Using unpasteurized milk in production of ice cream, non-compliance with health regulations, including insufficient personal hygiene, lack of properly washing and disinfection of glassware were identified as the main sources of microbial contamination of traditional ice cream. Milk pasteurization, personal hygiene, and environmental health inspections are required to prevent poisoning occurrence caused by the consumption of unhealthy ice cream. According to these results, it is necessary that health officials to consider production of ice cream to shift from traditional into industrialized one.

Background and the purpose of the study: The occurrence of Extended Spectrum b- Lactamase (ESBL)-producing Entrobacteriaceae has been steadily increased in recent years, resulting in limitation of therapeutic options. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of ESBL-producing Entrobacteriaceae isolated from Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and to investigate their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Methods: A total of one hundred fifty isolates were collected from urine and urinary catheter, sputum, blood, wound and other clinical samples from patient admitted in ICUs. All isolates were identified by biochemical tests and then were screened for ESBL production by Disk Agar Diffusion (DAD) according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. The species that met screening criteria were further tested for the effects of clavulanic acid by confirmatory method. ESBL-positive species were tested for blaTEM and blaSHV genes by PCR assay. Results: Of total of 150 bacterial isolates, 133(89.3%) isolates were positive in the resistance to all tested cephalosporin indicators; and 89(59.3%) isolates were confirmed as ESBL producer. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Entrobacter spp. were the most ESBL-producing species. All isolates were sensitive to imipenem. The blaTEM (55.5%) was the most common gene detected in ESBL phenotypic-positive isolates using PCR method.Conclusion: The present study shows high prevalence of ESBL-producing Entrobacteriaceae from ICU patients. The increased rate of these species is mainly due to the inadequate and unnecessary antimicrobial therapy. Rational administration of b-lactams and appropriate infection control policies may reduce prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in ICUs.

To improve shrimp quality, it is of importance to evaluate shrimp spoilage characteristics. Therefore, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory changes of white shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis) during storage at ice (0º C) and refrigerator (4± 1º C) were assessed. Mesophilic, psychrophilic, Entrobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus sp., H2S producing bacteria (white colony) and H2S producing bacteria (black colony) counts of stored in ice at day 16 were 7. 50, 7. 83, 7. 13, 6. 42, 7. 06 and 6. 45 log10 CFU/g, respectively. Mesophilic, psychrophilic, Entrobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus sp., H2S producing bacteria (white colony) and H2S producing bacteria (black colony) counts of stored at refrigerator at day 16 were 8. 76, 9. 80, 8. 13, 6. 95, 8. 28 and 7. 20 log10 CFU/g, respectively. Mesophilic, psychrophilic, Entrobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus and H2S producing counts were higher in white shrimp stored at refrigerator compared to white shrimp that stored at ice. Thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acid, total volatile bases nitrogen and pH indexes were higher in white shrimp stored at refrigerator compared to white shrimp stored at ice (p<0. 05). The lowered rate of increase in pH, total volatile basis nitrogen (TVBN) were obtained in shrimp stored at ice. H2S-producing bacteria were the dominant group of microorganisms at refrigerator whereas Enterobacteriaceae were dominant at ice. Total volatile basic nitrogen correlated well (r= 0. 859) with the sensory scores in shrimps stored at ice and correlated well (r= 0. 987) with the sensory scores in shrimps stored at refrigerator. Correlation coefficient of bacteria count and sensory evaluation in shrimp stored at ice and refrigerator was above 0. 824. The results showed that using of ice could improve the microbiological count and delay the spoilage and extend the shelf life of white shrimp (M. affinis).

Probiotic is considered as a remedy to solve disease problem in shrimp aquaculture. Shrimp body and environment bacterial flora are recommended as reliable source for extracting of beneficial bacteria. Therefore, 5000 pieces of post larvae of Penaeus monodon were distributed equally in 4 tanks in probiotic and antibiotic free condition up to juvenile. Then microbiological samples from digestive system, muscles, body surface, rearing water and tank sediment were inoculated onto the selective media plates. Incident of total bacteria, Vibrio, Pseudomonas and Entrobacteriaceae were evaluated in different body parts and rearing environment of shrimp. The highest bacteria count for total bacteria, Vibrio, Pseudomonas was occurred in sediment followed by digestive system. No Entrobacteriaceae was observed from all samples. Isolated bacteria were identified and placed in 7 genera consisted of Vibrio, Shewanella, Burkholderia, Clavibacter, Staphylococcus, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, while one genus remained unidentified. Genus Shewanella exhibited highest frequent bacteria in digestive system of P. monodon which may be indicated its ability to colonization in digestive system. Shewanella algae was selected from whole isolated bacteria as candidate probiotic via well plate diffusion technique and cross streak antagonistic test against Vibrio harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus. It was able to digest lipid and protein in tributyrin agar and skim milk agar.