Search

Cronobacter sakazakii has been documented as a cause of life-threating infections, predominantly in neonates. We conducted a multicenter study to assess the occurrence of C. sakazakii across Europe and the extent of clonality for outbreak detection. National coordinators representing 24 countries in Europe were requested to submit all human C. sakazakii isolates collected during 2017 to a study center in Austria. Testing at the center included species identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, subtyping by whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and determination of antimicrobial resistance. Eleven countries sent 77 isolates, including 36 isolates from 2017 and 41 historical isolates. Fifty-nine isolates were confirmed as C. sakazakii by WGS, highlighting the challenge of correctly identifying Cronobacter spp. WGS-based typing revealed high strain diversity, indicating absence of multi-national outbreaks in 2017, but identified 4 previously unpublished historical outbreaks. WGS is the recommended method for accurate identification, typing, and detection of this pathogen.

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of the hybrid material based on polyvinyl alcohol and silver nanoparticles (PVA/AgNps) in the treatment of the otitis externa as an additional component in the commercial product “Betazon Trio”. It was established that the experimental creamy formula with silver concentration 600 mg/L is suitable for recovery of the microbial homeostasis when it is administrated once daily in dose 1 ml over a period of 14 days.Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Food allergy, Otitis externa, Silver nanoparticles

The European NDM-1 Survey Participants: Manuela Caniça (Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas do INSA) Acquired carbapenemases confer extensive antibiotic resistance to Enterobacteriaceae and represent a public health threat. A novel acquired carbapenemase, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1), has recently been described in the United Kingdom and Sweden, mostly in patients who had received care on the Indian subcontinent. We conducted a survey among 29 European countries (the European Union Member States, Iceland and Norway) to gather information on the spread of NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Europe, on public health responses and on available national guidance on detection, surveillance and control. A total of 77 cases were reported from 13 countries from 2008 to 2010. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequently reported species with 54%. Among 55 cases with recorded travel history, 31 had previously travelled or been admitted to a hospital in India or Pakistan and five had been hospitalised in the Balkan region. Possible nosocomial acquisition accounted for 13 of 77 cases. National guidance on NDM-1 detection was available in 14 countries and on NDM-1 control in 11 countries. In conclusion, NDM-1 is spreading across Europe, where it is frequently linked to a history of healthcare abroad, but also to emerging nosocomial transmission. National guidance in response to the threat of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is available in approximately half of the surveyed European countries. Surveillance of carbapenemase- producing Enterobacteriaceae must be enhanced in Europe and effective control measures identified and implemented.

Trichophyton raubitschekii is a dermatophyte belonging to the T. rubrum complex and is differentiated principally by its positive urease activity and production of profuse macroconidia and microconidia in culture. It is classically isolated from African, South-east Asian and Australian aboriginal patients with tinea corporis or tinea cruris. This study was undertaken to screen Greek and Bulgarian clinical isolates identified as T. rubrum for T. raubitschekii and to delineate these strains by two molecular methods used for the first time in T. rubrum epidemiological studies. Ninety-five Greek and 10 Bulgarian strains, originating from various body sites, initially identified as T. rubrum, were screened for urease activity. The biochemical properties and morphology of the urease-positive strains were determined. Strains were delineated with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ribotyping amplifying repeat elements of the intergenic spacer region and by PCR fingerprinting. Five Greek and one Bulgarian T. raubitschekii strains were identified comprising isolates from patients with tinea manuum (one), tinea corporis (one), tinea cruris (one) and tinea unguium (three). Only one strain had the classical T. raubitschekii microscopic morphology, whereas the remaining five presented a dominant arthroconidial phenotype. Both typing methods clustered all T. raubitschekii and T. rubrum isolates together in the same group, indicating strain homogeneity in the genetic regions examined. The reported isolation of T. raubitschekii in the Balkan and South-eastern Mediterranean regions extends the geographical distribution of this species. As the more primitive T. raubitschekii probably represents the parental population of T. rubrum, the Greek and Bulgarian T. raubitschekii strains could represent a remnant of the T. rubrum spread that took place after the First World War, rather than being a recent epidemiological event.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) present a serious problem in a hospital setting because they reduce treatment options in enterococcal infections. Using the conventional tests and the Sceptor MIC/ID System (BBL), we analysed 2 VRE strains isolated from the urine of patients at the University Hospital in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. In vitro susceptibility testing was done using the DDM (Bayer – Kirby) and MIC (Agar Dilution Method; E-test). Resistance to high-level aminoglycosides (HLAR) was determined by DDM using disk containing Gentamicin 120 µg. The E. faecalis isolates were a strain with multiresistance to high-level aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, and Vancomycin but susceptible to Teicoplanin. E. faecium, the second urine isolate, was equally multiresistant to high-level aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, and Vancomycin but susceptible to Teicoplanin. The problem of VRE in Bulgaria already exists. It is imperative to monitor the enterococcal infections in the hospitals now, when they are still sporadic.

The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the epidemiologic and epizootic status of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe(Balkan region). Based ondimension of the disease problem, there is a need to establish collaboration in the eradication and prevention of brucellosis between all countries in the region. Althought there were no readily accessible data concerning epidemiology and epizootiology of brucellosis in these contries, the limited official and published data were analyzed. The incidence of brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in sheep, goats and human is very significant problem in Macedonia and Greece. in Greece, cattle are also affected either by B. melitensis or B. abortus. the disease is an endemic problem in some regions of Yugoslavia and includes B. suis biovar 2 in pig and in Croatia. B. melitensis in sheep, goats and human is found occasionally. No problem appears to exist with brucellosis in Bulgaria. Financial well-supported brucellosis control programs of the European Union that will include all countries, regardless of the magnitude of brucellosis incidence, are needed for eradication and control of brucellosis.

The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the epidemiologic and epizootic status of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe (Balkan region). Based on dimension of the disease problem, there is a need to establish collaboration in the eradication and prevention of brucellosis between all countries in the region. Although there were no readily accessible data concerning epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis in these countries, the limited official and published data were analyzed. The incidence of brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in sheep, goats and humans is a very significant problem in Macedonia and Greece. In Greece, cattle are also affected either by B. melitensis or B. abortus. The disease is an endemic problem in some regions of Yugoslavia and includes B. suis biovar 2 in pigs and in Croatia, B. melitensis in sheep, goats and human is found occasionally. No problem appears to exist with brucellosis in Bulgaria. Financial well-supported brucellosis control programs of the European Union that will include all countries, regardless of the magnitude of brucellosis incidence, are needed for eradication and control of brucellosis. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Geotrichosis affects mainly patients with systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, leukoses, neoplasms etc. Clinically, it is similar to candidiasis and may occur as an oral, vaginal, skin, or systemic infection. Clinical specimens (98 sputa and 67 oral smears) were collected and studied using microscopic examination of Gram stained preparations and culture sampling between 1995 and 1997. Geotrichum candidum was isolated as a single pathogen in 8 sputum and 7 oral smear samples. Ten-day antifungal treatment with Nizoral was applied and resulted in relatively quick clinical improvement. The presented cases are the first cases of pulmonary and oral infections reported in our home practice in which Geotrichum candidum species was identified as a pathogen. The identification of Geotrichum candidum using combination of colonial and microscopic morphologic features increase the possibilities for diagnostic decision.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidosis has been described in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity. We describe a female patient with sarcoidosis who developed a Candida granuloma on her upper lip. Moderate impairment of the cell-mediated immunity was detected. Three months' treatment with ketoconazole was successful, but the lesion recurred at the same place after treatment was stopped.