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Background: Candidemia is a widespread threat that can lead to significant complications in healthcare settings. Objectives: Our study aimed to identify isolates of Candida isolated from blood culture bottles of patients with candidemia and assess their antifungal susceptibility profiles. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Cairo University tertiary care hospitals over 16 months including 90 patients. Candida isolates were collected from blood culture bottles, and identified using MALDI-TOF MS technology of VITEK MS PRIME (bioMérieux) with the corresponding database VITEK IVD Database 3.2. followed by antifungal susceptibility testing using VITEK 2 Compact system. Results: Candida albicans was the most common species isolated from both pediatric and adult patients with percentages of 47.3% and 36.4% respectively, followed by Candida parapsilosis with percentages of 32.6% and 25.0% respectively. Voriconazole showed the highest antifungal activity at 90.9% of isolates in adults and 95.7% in pediatrics, followed by caspofungin and micafungin. The mean hospital stays for adults ranged from 8 to 30 days and from 10 to 42 days in the pediatric group. Conclusions: C. albicans remains the predominant species isolated from both pediatric and adult candidemia patients, despite a notable increase in other species. C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis are considered the most common non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. The rise in Candida species other than albicans highlights the urgent need for effective antifungal stewardship programs. Voriconazole exhibited the higher antifungal activity followed by caspofungin and micafungin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Candidemia is a widespread threat that can lead to significant complications in healthcare settings. Objectives Our study aimed to identify isolates of Candida isolated from blood culture bottles of patients with candidemia and assess their antifungal susceptibility profiles. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at Cairo University tertiary care hospitals over 16 months including 90 patients. Candida isolates were collected from blood culture bottles, and identified using MALDI-TOF MS technology of VITEK MS PRIME (bioMérieux) with the corresponding database VITEK IVD Database 3.2. followed by antifungal susceptibility testing using VITEK 2 Compact system. Results Candida albicans was the most common species isolated from both pediatric and adult patients with percentages of 47.3% and 36.4% respectively, followed by Candida parapsilosis with percentages of 32.6% and 25.0% respectively. Voriconazole showed the highest antifungal activity at 90.9% of isolates in adults and 95.7% in pediatrics, followed by caspofungin and micafungin. The mean hospital stays for adults ranged from 8 to 30 days and from 10 to 42 days in the pediatric group. Conclusions C. albicans remains the predominant species isolated from both pediatric and adult candidemia patients, despite a notable increase in other species. C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis are considered the most common non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. The rise in Candida species other than albicans highlights the urgent need for effective antifungal stewardship programs. Voriconazole exhibited the higher antifungal activity followed by caspofungin and micafungin.

This study aimed to investigate bacterial diversity in Al-Asfar Lake, Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, based on a polyphasic approach. Water samples were collected and divided into two parts. For the culture-dependent approach, different media such as Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), and Blood Agar (BA) were used. The obtained 29 isolates were diverse with respect to phenotypic characteristics revealed by VITEK. 18 isolates were selected for 16S rRNA sequencing based on the initial screening by VITEK. Since some types of bacteria do not grow on media, the DNA in the second part was isolated directly and subjected to metagenomic analysis. VITEK disclosed a total of 19 species belonging to 3 phyla: Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacillota, while the 16S rRNA sequencing revealed 12 species that could be amplified and sequenced. Metagenomic analysis exhibited variation in the relative abundance of 13 phyla, 18 classes, 20 families, 16 genera, and 24 species. Four dominant phyla are represented, including Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria, respectively. Furthermore, functional gene screening revealed 33 functional categories including the metabolism of cofactors, vitamins, and xenobiotic biodegradation. This study affords insights into the bacterial diversity and fundamental biogeochemical processes in the lake and paves the way for the potential exploitation of microbial wealth in biotechnological applications.

This study aimed to investigate bacterial diversity in Al-Asfar Lake, Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, based on a polyphasic approach. Water samples were collected and divided into two parts. For the culture-dependent approach, different media such as Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), and Blood Agar (BA) were used. The obtained 29 isolates were diverse with respect to phenotypic characteristics revealed by VITEK. 18 isolates were selected for 16S rRNA sequencing based on the initial screening by VITEK. Since some types of bacteria do not grow on media, the DNA in the second part was isolated directly and subjected to metagenomic analysis. VITEK disclosed a total of 19 species belonging to 3 phyla: Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacillota, while the 16S rRNA sequencing revealed 12 species that could be amplified and sequenced. Metagenomic analysis exhibited variation in the relative abundance of 13 phyla, 18 classes, 20 families, 16 genera, and 24 species. Four dominant phyla are represented, including Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria, respectively. Furthermore, functional gene screening revealed 33 functional categories including the metabolism of cofactors, vitamins, and xenobiotic biodegradation. This study affords insights into the bacterial diversity and fundamental biogeochemical processes in the lake and paves the way for the potential exploitation of microbial wealth in biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background When reaching their first birthday, kids in poor nations and about 62% of children in wealthier countries experience their initial occurrence of otitis media. The primary culprits for these bacterial ear infections in infants are the non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) strains, known for causing both acute and recurring episodes of otitis media. This study aimed to isolate and identify the non-typable Haemophilus influenzae isolates in children with recurrent otitis media and to evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated Haemophilus influenzae strains. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 children (38 males and 22 females) who suffered from recurrent acute otitis media, ranging in age from 6 months to 5 years, and presented at the outpatient clinic between June 2022 and March 2023. Swabs were collected from ear discharge and examined using the Vitek system and PCR. Results Microbiological examination of ear swabs revealed that H. influenzae was the most commonly isolated species (38.3%), followed by S. pneumoniae (26.7%). The current study found that 82.6% of Haemophilus influenzae isolates were non-typeable, whereas only 17.4% were typeable based on PCR results. The results were considered highly significant (Hs) as the P value was

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the known risk factors for many infections due to the uncontrolled hyperglycaemia that causes immunocompromised state of patients. This study was thus carried out to compare the most prevalent pathogenic organisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods: We collected169 non-duplicate clinical isolates from different clinical samples. Identification of the isolates up to spp. level and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were performed by VITEK® 2 compact system. The extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan drug-resistant (PDR) isolates were selected for the detection of beta-lactamase genes using PCR. Results: 55.6 % of all isolates were collected from diabetics, while 44.4 % were collected from non-diabetics. Gram-negative bacteria were the most prevalent (80.5%), followed by Candida species (10.7%), then Gram-positive bacteria (8.9%). Most of the Gram-negative bacteria in diabetic patients showed a high resistance rate to ciprofloxacin (80.8%) and cefazolin (78.2%). However, in non-diabetic patients, high resistance rate was found to ampicillin (70.7%), ceftriaxone (67.2%) and cefepime (65.5%). Most of the Gram positive bacteria in diabetic patients showed high resistance rate to benzyl penicillin (71.4%). 72.2% of the isolates showed resistance to ≥ three antibiotics; 60.7% were from diabetics and 39.3% were from non-diabetics. The frequency of beta-lactamase genes among isolates from diabetics was found to be 68.6% but only 46.4% among isolates from non-diabetics. High frequencies of blaOXA-48-like (84.9%) were found. Conclusions: Antibiotic abuse and immunocompromised state of uncontrolled diabetics were highly associated with multidrug resistance.

Introduction: The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia provides comprehensive antenatal care for all pregnant women with all required investigations. However, it does not include urine culture for diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). This is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of ASB among pregnant females, identify the causative organisms and determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Arar, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 400 pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Two midstream urine samples were aseptically collected and screened using standard microbiological techniques including microscopic examination, dipstick testing, and urine culture. In order to interpret the urine culture results, ≥ 105 CFUs/mL was considered significant bacteriuria. Identification of the isolates and their antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using the Vitek 2 system (BioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) with the available test kits. Results: The prevalence of ASB was 8.25% (35/400). Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) were detected between positive urine culture results and random blood sugar, leucocytes, nitrites, pus cells, urine red blood cells, epithelial cells, and mucus. Escherichia coli was the most common causative organism (45.7%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.9%). Klebsiella pneumoniae represented 11.4% of the isolates. Most of the isolated Gram-positive organisms were sensitive to many of the tested antibiotics; most of the detected Gram-negative isolates were resistant. Conclusions: ASB caused by antibiotic resistant organisms is alarming. Screening for ASB during pregnancy using urine culture and sensitivity testing is of vital importance to improve the maternal and neonatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the known risk factors for many infections due to the uncontrolled hyperglycaemia that causes immunocompromised state of patients. This study was thus carried out to compare the most prevalent pathogenic organisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods: We collected 169 nonduplicate clinical isolates from different clinical samples. Identification of the isolates up to spp. level and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were performed by VITEK® 2 compact system. The extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan drugresistant (PDR) isolates were selected for the detection of beta-lactamase genes using PCR. Results: 55.6 % of all isolates were collected from diabetics, while 44.4 % were collected from non-diabetics. Gram-negative bacteria were the most prevalent (80.5%), followed by Candida species (10.7%), then Gram-positive bacteria (8.9%). Most of the Gram-negative bacteria in diabetic patients showed a high resistance rate to ciprofloxacin (80.8%) and cefazolin (78.2%). However, in non-diabetic patients, high resistance rate was found to ampicillin (70.7%), ceftriaxone (67.2%) and cefepime (65.5%). Most of the Gram positive bacteria in diabetic patients showed high resistance rate to benzyl penicillin (71.4%). 72.2% of the isolates showed resistance to = three antibiotics; 60.7% were from diabetics and 39.3% were from non-diabetics. The frequency of beta-lactamase genes among isolates from diabetics was found to be 68.6% but only 46.4% among isolates from non-diabetics. High frequencies of blaOXA-48-like (84.9%) were found. Conclusions: Antibiotic abuse and immunocompromised state of uncontrolled diabetics were highly associated with multidrug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are useful in guiding appropriate antimicrobial therapy however, routine provision and interpretation of MIC values to guide clinical decision-making is challenging. Objectives: This proof of concept study aims to demonstrate the clinical utility and application of Vitek®-derived MIC values through categorisation of clinical isolates as wild type. Method: A random selection of clinically relevant Gram negative isolates routinely tested on the Vitek® instrument were included. The Vitek® MIC values, for selected antimicrobials at the lowest calling range of that card, were compared to the broth microdilution reference method. The specified end-point was concordance between the two results if the reference MIC was less than or equal to the EUCAST-defined epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) for that drug-bug combination. Results: A total of 525 isolates were included (468 Enterobacterales and 57 Pseudomonas aeruginosa), with an overall concordance rate of 96.4% (508/525). Correct ECOFF categorisation by the Vitek® was highest for ceftazidime and piperacillin (100%, n = 48 and n = 55, respectively) and lowest for cefepime (81.8%, n = 66). Conclusion: Vitek®-derived MIC values can be used to categorise organisms as wild-type if the MIC is reported at the card's lowest calling range (≤) as there is high likelihood that the MIC is at or below the ECOFF. This has important implications for antimicrobial management, assisting in choice of agent and in improving probability of target attainment for desired pharmacodynamic targets which can translate into improved clinical outcomes. Contribution: Minimum inhibitory concentration data from an automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing instrument can be used to guide clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to isolate and diagnose Staphylococcus Aureus (S. aureus) from clinical specimens of patients infected with urinary tract infections and evaluate the bacteria’s resistance to antimicrobial agents. Additionally, it attempted to study the existence of the clumping factor A (clfA) gene. This study took place in Najaf province, Iraq, from December 2020 to April 2021 and included 40 clinical specimens taken from urine. In order to make an initial diagnosis of S. aureus isolates, microscopic evaluation was used in conjunction with culture and biochemical features. The automatic final diagnostic provided by the VITEK-2 compact system (bioMérieux, France) was utilized, which had a significant advantage. The results showed that 27 (67.5%) isolates gave positive results for S. aureus, 2 (5%) isolates for Streptococcus pyogenes, 6 (15%) isolates for Lactobacillus, and 5 (12.5%) for Escherichia coli. Antibiotic sensitivity test was conducted by disk diffusion methods, in which the isolates showed high resistance to ceftriaxone, as well as erythromycin, and they showed sensitivity to vancomycin, gentamicin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. The findings led to a concluding remark that all of the S. aureus isolates were clfA gene positive.

Background: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are useful in guiding appropriate antimicrobial therapy however, routine provision and interpretation of MIC values to guide clinical decision-making is challenging. Objectives: This proof of concept study aims to demonstrate the clinical utility and application of Vitek®-derived MIC values through categorisation of clinical isolates as wild type. Method: A random selection of clinically relevant Gram negative isolates routinely tested on the Vitek® instrument were included. The Vitek® MIC values, for selected antimicrobials at the lowest calling range of that card, were compared to the broth microdilution reference method. The specified end-point was concordance between the two results if the reference MIC was less than or equal to the EUCAST-defined epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) for that drug-bug combination. Results: A total of 525 isolates were included (468 Enterobacterales and 57 Pseudomonas aeruginosa), with an overall concordance rate of 96.4% (508/525). Correct ECOFF categorisation by the Vitek® was highest for ceftazidime and piperacillin (100%, n = 48 and n = 55, respectively) and lowest for cefepime (81.8%, n = 66). Conclusion: Vitek®-derived MIC values can be used to categorise organisms as wild-type if the MIC is reported at the card’s lowest calling range (≤) as there is high likelihood that the MIC is at or below the ECOFF. This has important implications for antimicrobial management, assisting in choice of agent and in improving probability of target attainment for desired pharmacodynamic targets which can translate into improved clinical outcomes. Contribution: Minimum inhibitory concentration data from an automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing instrument can be used to guide clinical decisions.

Water is an excellent source of essential nutrients which plays a significant role not only in the digestion and absorption of food but also in the elimination of waste products through urine. Most of the aquatic systems are inhabited by fungi and bacteria as their natural environments. A wide variety of bacterial species maintains, develops and exchanges genetic elements that represent a risk to human and ecological health. The presence of different types of bacteria in drinking water indicates contamination and associated health risk. Herein, a total of 11 water samples were collected in the sterile containers from different drinking stations of an educational institution of Mullana; followed by physicochemical and bacteriological analyses using standard methods. Water samples were cultured on selective agar media. Serial dilutions were performed and CFUs were calculated by the spread plate count method. Molecular identification and characterization of the bacterial isolates was performed using MALDI-TOF MS while the antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for all the positive cultures using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay and VITEK system. The results showed that Acinetobacter junii and Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most prevalently detected pathogenic bacteria in the drinking water samples with high CFU ml−1 counts. The primary purpose of this study was to make people aware about the existence of bacterial load in drinking water. The present investigation indicates the dominance of Acinetobacter species in the samples of drinking water examined under the conditions employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are not only the most common probiotics in the food and feed industry but are also used as plant probiotics. Therefore, precise identification of LAB at the species level is required. In this study, we compared three different methods, the VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS, to identify six LAB (Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum) species previously assigned to the genus Lactobacillus that are used as biofertilizers. Twenty‐two strains of six LAB species were analyzed using the VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS, and identification rates at the species level were 45.5%, 95.5%, and 95.5%, respectively. There were cross‐reactions between L. casei and L. parpacasei, and one strain of L. casei could not be identified by these three methods. PCR assays and MALDI‐TOF MS were applicable for LAB identification. Practical Application: LAB are the most common probiotics in the food and feed industry, so precise identification and classification of LAB at the species level are required. This study aimed at comparing three different methods for the effective identification of six LAB species: biochemical testing using VITEK 2 ANC card, species‐specific PCR, and MALDI‐TOF MS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of the "mcr-1" gene in the transmission of this colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria (GNB) poses a serious threat to current clinical management of human community acquired infections. Current study aim is to determine the prevalence of colistin resistance clinical isolates obtained from patients of ICUs, wards of a tertiary hospital, and to detect the ‘mcr-1’ gene using real-time PCR assay. A total of 2032 different clinical specimens were processed at Microbiology laboratory. From these, 1852 gram-negative isolates further processed for antimicrobial susceptibility test for Colistin resistance through minimum inhibitory VITEK method. Colistin resistant strains were further screened for mcr-1 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the total clinical samples, 91.14% isolates were Gramnegative bacilli. The most predominant isolate among Gram-negatives was K. pneumonia, and E. coli. 20% of E. coli and 25% of K. pneumonia were resistant to carbapenem. From the 1853 GNB isolates, 31 colistin resistance isolates were identified. Among 31 colistin resistant GNB, 41.94% (13/31) were Klebsiella sps, 25.81% (8/31) were E.coli, 19.36 % (6/31) were Pseudomonas sps, 6.45 %(2/31) were Acinetobacter Sps, and 6.45% (2/31) were Enterobacter species respectively. In MIC assay, majority of E. coli and K. pneumonia confirmed as colistin resistant at MIC≥4 µg/ml. K. pneumoniae had a higher prevalence of colistin resistance than compared to E. coli (0.71%vs 0.42%, p<0.05). Overall, the prevalence of colistin resistance was 1.637% (31/1852) and the acquisition rate of ‘mcr-1’ was 6.45% (2/31). Resistance to drug colistin and its isolation of mcr-1 indicate further emergency in infection management. Hence, extensive surveillance, formulation and implementation of effective strategies, and extension of diagnostic facilities can be some remedies to cope with this global crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep are considered as an important part of livestock in the worldwide, particularly in Iraq, as they provide meat, milk, leather, wool, and manure. The present study aim is isolation and identification of staphylococci, enteric bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. Totally, 115 samples were collected from sheep (100 samples were collected from the nasal cavity of local sheep suffering from respiratory infections, and 15 samples were collected from apparently healthy local sheep). All the samples were collected from seven flocks located in Abu Ghraib and Al-Radwaniyah, Baghdad governorate, Iraq. The samples were taken during the period from October 2020 to February 2021. Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., andenteric bacteria were detected firstly by using classical diagnostic methods, and secondly they were identified to the species level by using the corresponding analytical profile index (API 20 staph, API 20NE and API 20E) and via the Vitek2 system. Importantly, from nasal swabs, 79% bacterial isolates were obtained, including Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Raoutltella planticola, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus among others. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed multi-drug resistant S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. To conclude, several aerobic bacteria were isolated from the nasal cavity of diseased sheep. An extensive study is needed to determine the economic and public health impacts of these bacteria.

Bacteria are seriously affecting broiler chickens and the poultry industry in many countries, as well as in Egypt. Both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacterial species have been reported in broiler chickens. The present study aimed to isolate and identify the most common bacteria recovered from apparently healthy broiler chickens by conventional methods and the VITEK system. Samples were taken from 30 broiler chickens of different ages (3 – 5 weeks) from different retail markets in Cairo during the period from January to August 2019. Bacteriological examination of the samples showed both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well. Lysinibacillus sphaericus (n=7), Escherichia coli (n = 5), Proteus species (n = 4), Bacillus cereus (n = 3), with isolation rates of 23.3 %, 16.6 %, 13.3 % and 10 %, were identified. In addition to its pathogenicity and hazardous action, some strains of Lysinibacillus sphaericus have a larvicide effect on some species of mosquitoes. So, further studies and investigations will be conducted to test Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Bacillus cereus isolates for their biological control activity and/or their potency to remove, control, or reduce petroleum hydrocarbon soil contaminants in different localities. It will be used as an alternative control agent for numerous synthetic commercial formulations.

The study was conducted in the period from January to May 2018. The study included the identification of the total account and types of microbial content of the oral cavity during the normal daily practices at different times, which were after waking up, after washing mouth with water (rinsing), after breakfast and after using toothpaste for 33 donors of females and males, smokers and non-smokers, and the ages range were 25-35 years. The results of the study showed that all donor groups showed positive growth during the isolation stages, but there were no significant differences in the growth density of the total count, Enterobacteriaceae and staphylococcus for the donor groups, and the recorded account are not considered to be dangerous to the health of mouth. This is because donor's mouth health was good and smoking period was short. The highest account of bacteria in isolates were seen among smokers after waking up was 74-550 cfu / ml. The study also included the diagnosis of isolated microbial species using VITEK2. The results showed that the isolated bacterial species are Staphylococcus aureus, Lelliottia amnigena, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas luteola, Klebsiella pneumonie, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia which were varied in count, Bacterial resistance was tested for some of the antibiotics that were Doxycycline (DO), Mastiscs (TS), Ceftriaxone (CRO), Tobramycine (TOB), Mastiscs (T), Mastdiscs (T), Gentamicin (CN). The results showed that L. amnigena and S.maltophilia were sensitive to all antibiotics. P. fluorescens were sensitive to antibiotics CN, T, TOB, DO and resistance to antibiotics CRO, TS whereas K.pneumonie was sensitive to all Antibiotics used except the DO antibiotic. The S.aureus bacteria showed resistance to antibiotics CN, TOB, CRO, TS and sensitive to antibiotics T, DO.

Background and Objectives: Resistance to methicillin in methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is due to the presence of mec-A gene ,which encodes a low affinity penicillin binding protein (PBP)-2a or PBP2. Accurate and rapid identification of MRSA in clinical specimens is essential for timely decision on effective treatment. The aim of the study was to compare three different methods for detection of MRSA namely cefoxitin disc diffusion, CHROM agar MRSA and VITEK-2 susceptibility with PCR which is the gold standard reference method and to find the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these isolates by VITEK-2. Materials and Methods: A Total of 100 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates were collected from different clinical samples among both outpatient and inpatients. Detection of MRSA among these isolates was done by cefoxitin disc diffusion, VITEK-2, CHROM agar MRSA and PCR. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of cefoxitin disc diffusion and Vitek was found to be 97.2% and 100%, while that of CHROM agar was found to be 100% and 78.6%. The overall prevalence of MRSA in our study by PCR was 72%. Conclusion: Based on the findings in our study, isolates which show cefoxitin zone diameter < 22 mm can be reported as MRSA. However, those isolates which have a zone diameter between 22-24 mm, should ideally be confirmed by PCR.

The present study aimed to isolate and diagnose Staphylococcus Aureus (S. aureus) from clinical specimens of patients infected with urinary tract infections and evaluate the bacteria's resistance to antimicrobial agents. Additionally, it attempted to study the existence of the clumping factor A (clfA) gene. This study took place in Najaf province, Iraq, from December 2020 to April 2021 and included 40 clinical specimens taken from urine. In order to make an initial diagnosis of S. aureus isolates, microscopic evaluation was used in conjunction with culture and biochemical features. The automatic final diagnostic provided by the VITEK-2 compact system (bioMérieux, France) was utilized, which had a significant advantage. The results showed that 27 (67.5%) isolates gave positive results for S. aureus, 2 (5%) isolates for Streptococcus pyogenes, 6 (15%) isolates for Lactobacillus, and 5 (12.5%) for Escherichia coli. Antibiotic sensitivity test was conducted by disk diffusion methods, in which the isolates showed high resistance to ceftriaxone, as well as erythromycin, and they showed sensitivity to vancomycin, gentamicin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. The findings led to a concluding remark that all of the S. aureus isolates were clfA gene positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meshari Alabdullatif,1,2 Jihad Alrehaili1 1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Microbiology, SmartLab, National Health Laboratory Services, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Meshari AlabdullatifDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Uthman Ibn Affan Road, Riyadh 13317-4233, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 11-258-2811Fax +966 11-203-7109Email MIAlabdullatif@imamu.edu.saBackground: Bacterial antibiotic resistance (AR) is a primary public health concern. In 2017, the Saudi National Action Plan (SNAP) implemented several strategies to overcome AR. Here, to better understand the effectiveness of that plan, we evaluated the rates of AR, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positivity, and multi-drug resistance (MDR) among gram-negative bacteria in a private Saudi hospital.Methods: This retrospective study included all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of gram-negative bacterial infection from January 2017 to December 2019. Identification of bacterial strains was performed using VITEK 2 ID-GNB cards, while AR, ESBL, and MDR were determined using AST-No. 12 cards, both used as recommended by the manufacturer. Cards were loaded into a VITEK 2 system for examination.Results: A total of 4760 isolated gram-negative bacteria were collected. The most isolated organism was Escherichia coli, with 2585/4760 (54.30%) strains, and the least was Providencia stuartii, with 55/4760 (1.16%) strains. A total of 1328/4760 (27.90%) clinical isolates were ESBL-positive, and 851/4760 (17.88%) possessed MDR. Escherichia coli was also the most frequently isolated as having ESBL activity and MDR, with 772/1328 (58.13%) and 292/851 (34.31%) isolates, respectively. Between 2017 and 2019, the rates of ESBL and MDR were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for most bacteria, except for Salmonella species, which showed increased resistance to antibiotics.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the rates of AR, ESBL, and MDR reduced over time, which suggests the SNAP is effective at overcoming AR risk.Keywords: antibiotic resistance, multi-drug resistance, gram-negative bacteria, VITEK, Saudi Arabi

Mastitis is responsible for heavy economic loss to dairy industry. It affects the public health because of pathogenic bacteria, their toxins and due to antibiotic resistance among mastitogens. A total of 233 quarter milk samples from 60 cows of livestock farm, LUVAS, Hisar were investigated in this study. The bacterial isolates obtained were identified by VITEK 2 Compact automated identification system. It was found that, the most prevalent isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (22%)and Staphylococcus chromogens (22%), followed by Leuconostoc mesenteroides cremoris (14%)and Staphylococcus epidermidis (10%). The antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the isolates were revealed that, the Staphylococcus isolates were resistant to methicillin, oxytetracycline and streptomycin. The Leuconostoc mesenteroides cremoris isolate was resistant to oxytetracycline (85.72%) and streptomycin (100%). The isolates, Aerococcus viridans, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus avium were also found cent per cent resistant for methicillin, oxytetracycline and streptomycin. The Streptococcus infantarius coli isolate was resistant for amikacin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, neomycin and streptomycin. Pediococcus pentosaceus and Granulicatella elegans exhibited complete resistance to oxytetracycline and streptomycin. The pathogens responsible for mastitis may change over time, therefore regular monitoring of herd must be carried out. This is evident from the different bacterial isolates obtained from our study. The possibility of cross contamination of microbes with the employees of livestock farm cannot be neglected. The regular monitoring of mastitogens and their antibiogram surveillance is the need of hour to reduce the antibiotic resistance among bovines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the treatment of septic patients, the prediction of a pathogen's susceptibility to piperacillin–tazobactam can be crucial. Commercial tests are available to measure the pathogen's susceptibility to piperacillin–tazobactam, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their accuracy. Therefore, this study compared the accuracy of disk diffusion, gradient strip, and automated dilution with the accepted standard broth microdilution. Testing was performed on 150 blood culture isolates from hospitalized patients at the University Hospital Bonn. The most recent Escherichia coli (n = 50), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 50), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 50) isolates were chosen. All measurements were performed strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were primarily interpreted based on EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) 8.1 and supplementarily based on CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) 28th. The results of automated dilution showed a categorical agreement of 93.3% and presented five minor errors, four major errors, and one very major error. The results for gradient strip and disk diffusion were similar, except for the three additional major errors in the gradient strip and two additional very major errors in disk diffusion. Most of the major errors and very major errors were associated with P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, there was no relevant difference in accuracy between the three compared tests. Their overall categorical agreement ranged from 90.7% to 93.3% and was therefore at the lower end of the threshold. The possibly increased error rate for P. aeruginosa could be relevant in the preparation of empirical antibiotic guidelines and the treatment of septic patients. Universal Trial Number: U1111-1224-0035. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria are seriously affecting broiler chickens and the poultry industry in many countries, as well as in Egypt. Both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacterial species have been reported in broiler chickens. The present study aimed to isolate and identify the most common bacteria recovered from apparently healthy broiler chickens by conventional methods and the VITEK system. Samples were taken from 30 broiler chickens of different ages (3 - 5 weeks) from different retail markets in Cairo during the period from January to August 2019. Bacteriological examination of the samples showed both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well. Lysinibacillus sphaericus (n=7), Escherichia coli (n = 5), Proteus species (n = 4), Bacillus cereus (n = 3), with isolation rates of 23.3 %, 16.6 %, 13.3 % and 10 %, were identified. In addition to its pathogenicity and hazardous action, some strains of Lysinibacillus sphaericus have a larvicide effect on some species of mosquitoes. So, further studies and investigations will be conducted to test Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Bacillus cereus isolates for their biological control activity and/or their potency to remove, control, or reduce petroleum hydrocarbon soil contaminants in different localities. It will be used as an alternative control agent for numerous synthetic commercial formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aim to isolation and identification of Gram negative aerobic bacteria from clinical samples from various pathological conditions, investigation the virulence factors genes of bacteria. The present study included 250 specimens collected from patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcer, cystic fibrosis, people exposed to burns to different degrees, People with eye infections, in addition to those with fistulas, who attends to Alsader medical city, Al-Hakim General Hospital during the period extended from September 2020 to February 2021 for both sexes with an age ranged between )1 -75) years. The results revealed that 20 specimens of the total number of samples are Burkholderia cepacia . The results revealed that the frequency among males 198 (79.2%) more than female 52 (20.8%). The sample distribution according age, it appears high 7.6% with group 1-15 years in female, and high 22% with group 31-45 years in male, while high 26.8% with group 31-45 years male and female . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and has resultant important economic and societal costs underscoring the need for accurate surveillance. In recent years, prevalence rates reported in East Africa have been inconsistent, sparking controversy and raising concern. Methods We described antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus isolates cultured from patients within the Internal Medicine department of the largest public healthcare facility in East and Central Africa- the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, Kenya. Routine antimicrobial susceptibility data from non-duplicate Staphylococcus aureus isolates cultured between the years 2014–2016 from the medical wards in KNH were reviewed. Results Antimicrobial susceptibility data from a total of 187 Staphylococcus aureus isolates revealed an overall MRSA prevalence of 53.4%. Isolates remained highly susceptible to linezolid, tigecycline, teicoplanin and vancomycin. Conclusions The prevalence of MRSA was found to be much higher than that reported in private tertiary facilities in the same region. Careful interrogation of antimicrobial susceptibility results is important to uproot any red herrings and reserve genuine cause for alarm, as this has a critical bearing on health and economic outcomes for a population.

Background and Objectives: Resistance to methicillin in methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is due to the presence of mec-A gene, which encodes a low affinity penicillin binding protein (PBP)-2a or PBP2. Accurate and rapid identification of MRSA in clinical specimens is essential for timely decision on effective treatment. The aim of the study was to compare three different methods for detection of MRSA namely cefoxitin disc diffusion, CHROM agar MRSA and VITEK-2 susceptibility with PCR which is the gold standard reference method and to find the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these isolates by VITEK-2. Materials and Methods: A Total of 100 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates were collected from different clinical samples among both outpatient and inpatients. Detection of MRSA among these isolates was done by cefoxitin disc diffusion, VITEK-2, CHROM agar MRSA and PCR. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of cefoxitin disc diffusion and Vitek was found to be 97.2% and 100%, while that of CHROM agar was found to be 100% and 78.6%. The overall prevalence of MRSA in our study by PCR was 72%. Conclusion: Based on the findings in our study, isolates which show cefoxitin zone diameter < 22 mm can be reported as MRSA. However, those isolates which have a zone diameter between 22-24 mm, should ideally be confirmed by PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter junii is one of more than 50 different species belonging to the genus Acinetobacter. This bacterium is rarely reported to cause human infections. Here we described a rare case of Acinetobacter junii, which grew in urine culture approximately one month after the patient was discharged from the hospital with antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, which caused left obstructing renal calculi requiring nephrostomy tube placement.

This study was conducted to isolate and identify killer yeasts from soil samples that collected from different locations in Basrah and Dhi-Qar provinces. Seventy-five soil samples were collected from different areas, including sandy, arable, surface sediment and uncultivated soil, using dilution methods to cultivate a serial dilution of each soil sample. The results showed that a 112 isolates were identified biochemically using VITEK system and molecularly using internal transcribed spacer (ITS1- 5.8S-ITS2) marker. The molecular identification provided fast and precise identification results for the 112 isolates, whereas the VITEK test resulted low identification efficiency (8.2% were accurate and 91.8 % were not). The Diazonium blue B salts produced a good colour reaction in distinguishing between ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. The PCR was more accurate in identification of killer yeasts compared to the VITEK system.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) is a facultative anaerobic Gram-negative coccobacillus that is associated with a variety of diseases in humans. In the present study, the isolate finally identified as A. actinomycetemcomitans by MALDI-TOF was misidentified as Pasturella canis or Pasturella multocida by the automated VITEK 2 system. The findings re-enforce the importance of an accurate and rapid diagnosis to assist patient management.

Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection. It is the third most common invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant recipients. The primary organ affected is the lungs, but infection of the central nervous system and other organ systems are also seen. Here we reported a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a healthy patient who presented with severe pneumonia, a left upper lobe nodule and enlarged mediastinal lymphadenopathy on a chest computed tomography scan.

This study was carried out for detection of some virulence factors for E coli O157:H7 isolated from patients with bloody hemorrhagic diarrhea or urinary tract infection (UTI). A total of 200 bloody diarrhea and 150 urine samples were collected from children of both sexes between the age of 3 and 10 years, who were suffering from bloody diarrhea and urinary tract infection (UTI) in the period from September to December 2016 in, Central Children Hospital and Children Safe Hospital in Baghdad/Iraq. All samples were screened to detect the presence of non-sorbitol fermenting colonies on sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with Cefixime -Tellurite (CT-SMAC) also cultured on other enrichment and selective media(Hicrome and Eosin methylen blue) at 37°C for 24hrs. The isolates were identified by Vitek 2 system and they were confirmed by latex agglutination test. A total of 11 isolate, 8 (4%) from bloody diarrhea and 3 (2%) isolates from urine samples were diagnosed as E. coli O157:H7 that appeared on CT-SMAC as small, circular and colorless colonies with smoky center whereas on Hicrome media as dark purple to magenta colored moiety colonies, positive for Vitek2 and latex agglutination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect some virulence genes of isolates ,as hlyA (responsible for hemolysine) flicH7 (encoding fimbria) and rfbO157 (encoding- lipopolysaccharide) using specific primers of 534, 625 and 259 bp for previous genes respectively . The result of PCR amplification revealed presence of hly A , flic H7 and rfb O157 genes in all isolate.

This study was conducted to isolate and identify killer yeasts from soil samples that collected from different locations in Basrah and Dhi-Qar provinces. Seventyfive soil samples were collected from different areas, including sandy, arable, surface sediment and uncul t ivated soi l, using dilution methods to cultivate a serial dilution of each soil sample. The results showed that a 112 isolates were identified biochemically using VITEK system and molecularly using internal transcribed spacer (ITS1- 5.8S-ITS2) marker. The molecular identification provided fast and precise identification results for the 112 isolates, whereas the VITEK test resulted low identification efficiency (8.2% were accurate and 91.8 % were not). The Diazonium blue B salts produced a good colour reaction in distinguishing between ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. The PCR was more accurate in identification of killer yeasts compared to the VITEK system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis and its association with some risk factors and the incidence of different species of Candida attending the Maternity Hospital in Erbil City. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at Maternity Teaching Hospital, over a period from July 2019 to January 2020 on female patients who complained of itching and erythema, vaginal discharge, swelling. A questionnaire form was prepared for each patient, which includes: age, clinical presentation and history of pregnancy, diabetes, and history of using contraceptives and the type of contraceptives. High vaginal swabs were collected from patients and subjected to direct microscopy, cultured onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Blood agar. The results, determined by standard microbiological methods, and species identification was done by using an automated VITEK 2 compact system. Results From the total of 246 high vaginal swabs collected at Maternity Hospital in Erbil city, the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis was 54.66%. The highest number of positive cases was found to be in the age group of 30-34 years and the positive culture among pregnant women was 71 (63.4%). Also, the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis was higher among diabetic women 44(67.7%), frequency of culture positive for Candida spp. in the antibiotic users group was 85 (64.4%) and also the positive culture for Candida spp was higher among the contraceptive pills 31(57.4%); however, for intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) user, the positive culture was 22 (66.7%). Conclusion In this present study, vulvovaginal candidiasis is more in the young age group and more frequent in the pregnant ladies and the diabetic patients and those using antibiotic and contraceptives, either the pills or IUCD. Candida albicans had the highest percentage among other positive isolated from high vaginal swab and there was a significant relation between clinical presentation of the patient with the result of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current Study included 273 samples colected from models of different clinical Samples (urine , Stool, blood , sputum, and swabs from the vagina ,wounds, ear and throat) which have been get on 30 (10.98% ) isolates of Klebsiella from total of various clinical samples. The rate of Klebsiella from urine samples was 26.6% of the total 30 samples and The isolation rate from stool and blood sampls was 16.6%, while in wound infection the rat was (13.3%). Klebsiella isolated from vaginal swabs with (10%), and with respect to ear infections the percentage of isolation that have emerged in this study are (3.33%) and isolated rate from the throat and sputum was (6.6%). After a Diagnosis results have shown the prevalence of K.pneumoniae with rate(23 with76.66%) followed by K.oxytoca rate (5with16.66%) and 2 K.terrigena isolates with( 6.66%) of the total 30 isolates. Twenty isolates were selected belonging to the species K.pneumoniae and K.oxytoca which diagnosed by Api20E for rediagnosing by(PCR and viteke2) , and the results of the diagnostic system Vitek2 showd that the Klebsiella which have been previously diagnosed byApi20E system (90%) K.pneumoniae and (10%) K.oxytoca while the genetic diagnosis results showed 80% of the isolates belonged to the type of the K.pneumoniae and 20% of isolates belonging to K.oxytoca

Due to the increasing diffusion of MDR/XDR Gram-negatives it is necessary to offer reliable antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), which also include new drugs. Here we evaluated the performances of the VITEK®2 AST-N376 and the AST-N397 cards. A collection of 180 clinical Gram-negative bacteria, producing relevant resistance mechanisms, were tested using VITEK 2 and MERLIN, in parallel. Discrepancies between the 2 systems were solved by the reference broth microdilution method. The workflow timing of the VITEK®2 system was also assessed. Overall, the VITEK®2 cards proved to be reliable in determining AST for the molecules evaluated, even if compliance with ISO acceptance criteria for accuracy assessment was not reached for some combinations and showed a short hands-on time for panels preparation. In conclusion, VITEK®2 is a valid system that ensures accurate results for AST of the molecules evaluated in this study and speeds up the workflow in the laboratory of diagnostic microbiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungus that causes a wide range of symptoms. We report finding 17 cases of C. auris infection that were originally misclassified but correctly identified 27.5 days later on average. Patients with a delayed diagnosis of C. auris had a 30-day mortality rate of 35.2%.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a significant hospital pathogen, quickly becoming resistant to commonly prescribed antimicrobials. Objectives: To isolate various species of Acinetobacter, to compare inpatients (ICU’s & wards) and outpatients isolates and to know it’s frequency from various clinical specimens. Material and methods: The retrospective study is conducted in the department of Microbiology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, from January 2013 to December 2014. The various clinical specimens from inpatients and outpatients were included. The samples were processed as per the standard guidelines. Identification & antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by using GN and AST 281 cards (Vitek 2 compact, BioMerieux) respectively. MIC values of antibiotics were obtained and reporting was done as per the CLSI guidelines. The data was captured from the laboratory computer and analysed. Results: A total of 496 Acinetobacter species were isolated from 2459 samples (20.17%) from the entire hospital, in which Acinetobacter baumannii was 462(93.16%), Acinetobacter lwoffii was 16(3.22%), Acinetobacter junii was 13(2.62%), Acinetobacter haemolyticus was 5(1.00%). Maximum isolates observed from endotracheal tube secretions (39.51%) followed by blood specimens (15.12%), sputum (12.70%), pus swab (8.66%), clean catch (5.84%) and others (18.17%). Conclusions: In this study, Acinetobacter isolates showed multidrug resistant pattern mostly in inpatients and hence there is a need for emphasizing the importance of hand washing and use of disinfectants in prevention of transmission of infection in health care setups.

Adequate and timely antibiotic therapy is crucial for the treatment of sepsis. Innovative systems, like the Q-linea ASTar, have been developed to perform rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) directly from positive blood cultures (BCs). We conducted a prospective study to evaluate ASTar under real-life conditions with a focus on time-to-result and impact on antimicrobial therapy. Over 2 months, all positive BCs that showed Gram-negative rods upon microscopy were tested with the ASTar and our standard procedure (VITEK 2 from short-term culture). Additionally, we included multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from our archive. Both methods were compared to broth microdilution. In total, 78 bacterial strains (51 prospective and 27 archived) were tested. ASTar covered 94% of the species encountered. The categorical and essential agreement was 95.6% and 90.7%, respectively. ASTar caused 2.4% minor, 2.0% major, and 2.4% very major errors. The categorical agreement was similar to standard procedure. The average time between BC sampling and the availability of the antibiogram for the attending physician was 28 h 49 min for ASTar and 44 h 18 min for standard procedure. ASTar correctly identified all patients who required an escalation of antimicrobial therapy and 75% of those who were eligible for de-escalation. In conclusion, ASTar provided reliable AST results and significantly shortened the time to obtain an antibiogram. However, the percentage of patients that will profit from ASTar in a low-resistance setting is limited, and it is currently unclear if a change of therapy 29 h after BC sampling will have a significant impact on the patient's prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Our objective was to determine the effect of the MALDI TOF on time to optimal antimicrobial therapy in bloodstream infections (BSI) compared to conventional methods. Methods: We reviewed all positive blood cultures from February 2012- 2014. The control group (CG) had pathogen identification using conventional methods and the intervention group (IG) with MALDI-TOF. Results: There were 199 cultures (CG, n=121, IG, n=78). The median time to species identification (hours) for the CG was 48, interquartile range (IQR) 37-57 vs. IG=17, IQR 14-23 (median difference 31, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) -38 to -25). Median time to optimal therapy (hours) for the CG was 28, IQR 2-64 vs. IG= 14.5, IQR 3-55 (median difference -13.5, 95% CI -31-13). By Cox regression MALDI TOF was not associated with reduced time to optimal therapy (hazard ratio (HR) 1.2, p=0.64). Conclusions: Species level identification is faster with MALDI TOF in BSI but does not allow for faster time to optimal antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia guyoniana is a medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. It is used by local populations for its medicinal properties. This study was to determine the antibacterial effect of the aqueous extract from Euphorbia guyoniana on pathogenic bacteria of telluric origin. The aqueous extract was obtained by confrontation with organic solvents method with a yield of 1.7%. The total content of the flavonoïd extract was evaluated by the method of Aluminum Trichloride and was found to be 0.31 mg EQ/gE. The extract obtained was characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy and revealed a richness of phenol, aldehyde and ester then analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, which allowed us to identify 27 flavonoid compounds. The extract was tested by the diffusion method on agar, on 12 bacterial strains isolated from a henhouse and identified by VITEK. These strains seem to be sensitive to the flavonoids of Euphorbia guyoniana with MICs varying from 1.47 to 61.78 mg/ml. The order of sensitivity of the bacterial strains to the extract is represented in the following order: Staphylococcus aureus > Streptococcus faecalis > Escherichia coli. Thus, the flavonoids of Euphorbia guyoniana may be an alternative to chemical control of certain pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To present the microbiological details and clinical outcomes of Acinetobacter spp. endophthalmitis with the first reported case of A. haemolyticus.Methods: A retrospective study of microbiologically proven Acinetobacter spp. endophthalmitis was carried out from 2010 to 2015. The data collected included age, type of endophthalmitis, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), species involved, and antibiotic susceptibility pattern. The primary outcomes measured were anatomical outcomes in terms of globe integrity and functional outcome as BCVA at last follow-up.Results: Eleven patients out of 3004 patients who underwent surgery for endophthalmitis were due to Acinetobacter spp. Seven cases (63.6%) were both smear and culture positive; there were two cases (18%) each of A. haemolyticus and A. baumanii. Four cases (36%) were only culture positive with negative smear. Three cases (27.2%) were polymicrobial. Ten cases (91%) were susceptible to amikacin and nine (82%) to ciprofloxacin. Six (54.5%) were resistant to ceftazidime. Mean logMAR BCVA improved to 1.8 (20/1330) from an initial 2.5 (20/6839). Pthisis bulbi was seen in two cases (18%).Conclusions: Even though the outcomes of Acinetobacter spp. endophthalmitis are modest to poor, outcomes following intervention are relatively good for A. haemolyticus. These cases have good susceptibility to amikacin, but are often resistant to ceftazidime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time in Iraq, the study was used electronic vitek-2 apparatus for detection some bacteria that were isolated from omphalitis cases of broiler chicks of meat breeders in AL-Diwaniyah city. Thirty swaps were taken from thirty of meat broiler chicks infected by yolk sac infection or omphalitis then the samples tested biochemical tests by use electronic vitek-2 apparatus after culture all the isolates on media. E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faceuim were recorded by our study from the samples with percentages (60%), (23.3%) and (16.6%) respectively; then the antibiotics sensitivity test has done for all the isolates where the antibiotics that have more effect were trimethoprim(TR)(5MG), Amikacin(AK)(30mg) and Tetracycline(TE)(30mg) respectively. E.coli was prevalent from other bacteria, the subject was required more studies about all aspects like pathological, molecular, and immunological. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mannitol salt agar (MSA) is often used in resources' limited laboratories for identification of S. aureus however, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) grows and ferments mannitol on MSA. 171 strains of CoNS which have been previously misidentified as S. aureus due to growth on MSA were collected from different locations in Nigeria and two methods for identification of CoNS were compared i.e. ViTEK 2 and MALDI-TOF MS with partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing as gold standard. Partial tuf gene sequencing was used for contradicting identification. All 171 strains (13 species) grew on MSA and ferments mannitol. All tested strains of S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. nepalensis, S. pasteuri , S. sciuri,, S. warneri, S. xylosus, S. capitis were correctly identified by MALDI-TOF while variable identification were observed in S. saprophyticus and S. cohnii (90%, 81%). There was low identification of S. arlettae (14%) while all strains of S. kloosii and S. gallinarum were misidentified. There is absence of S. gallinarum in the MALDI-TOF database at the period of this study. All tested strains of S. epidermidis, S. gallinarum, S. haemolyticus, S. sciuri,, S. warneri, S. xylosus and S. capitis were correctly identified by ViTEK while variable identification were observed in S. saprophyticus, S. arlettae, S. cohnii, S. kloosii , (84%, 86%, 75%, 60%) and misidentification of S. nepalensis, S. pasteuri. Partial sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used as gold standard for most strains except S. capitis and S. xylosus where the two species were misidentified by partial sequencing of 16S rRNA contrary to MALDI-TOF and ViTEK identification. Tuf gene sequencing was used for correct identification. Characteristic growth on MSA for CoNS is also identical to S. aureus growth on the media and therefore, MSA could not differentiate between S. aureus and CoNS. The percentage accuracy of ViTEK was better than MALDI-TOF in identification of CoNS. Although partial sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used as gold standard in this study, it could not correctly identify S. capitis and S. xylosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ocular microbiota is mainly found in the conjunctiva and consists of bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus corynebacterium spp., Bacillus spp., Neisseria spp., Moraxella spp., and Streptococcus spp. This diversity may vary according to seasonal conditions, temperature, age, and environmental exposure. Objective: To characterize the diversity of resident and transient conjunctival microbiota in young adults. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational descriptive study including 67 young adults, men and women between 18 and 25 years of age, who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to sign the informed consent form. Two samples from the conjunctival sac were collected from each subject, with an interval of one week. These were cultured on blood agar and chocolate agar at 37 °C for 24 hours. Isolated colonies were identified using the VITEK automated system. Results: Sixteen genera and 29 different species were identified. The most common genus was Staphylococcus (55.6%), followed by Acinetobacter (12.0%), Bacillus (7.0%), Pasterella (4.6%) and Escherichia (3.7%). Resident microbiota consisted primarily of the genus Staphylococcus and its most representative species were S. epidermidis (50.0%) and S. lentus (13.3%). Conclusion: There is a great diversity of bacteria in the conjunctival flora, greater in the transient than in the resident microbiota; this probably depends on the environment in which the individual lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the frequency of change of the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern when the same isolate was found in the same patient in various situations. We used laboratory data collected over a period of 8 years (January 2014 to December 2021) at the clinical microbiology laboratory of a tertiary hospital for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) were performed using Vitek 2 automated system. We determined essential agreement and categorical agreement, and introduced the new terms essential MIC increase and change from nonresistant to resistant to present changes in antimicrobial susceptibility over time. During the study period, 18,501 successive AST were included. The risk for S. aureus to be resistant to any antibiotic upon repeated culture was <10% during a follow-up of 30 days. For Enterobacterales, this risk was approximately 10% during a follow-up of 7 days. For P. aeruginosa, this risk was higher. The longer the follow-up period, the higher the risk that the bacteria would show phenotypic resistance. We also found that some drug-bug combinations were more likely to develop phenotypical resistance (i.e., E. coli/amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and E. coli/cefuroxime). A potential consequence of our finding is that if we regard a risk of resistance below 10% as acceptable, it may be feasible to omit follow-up AST within 7 days for the microorganisms investigated in this study. This approach saves money, time, and will reduce laboratory waste. Further studies are needed to determine whether these savings are in balance with the small possibility of treating patients with inadequate antibiotics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.