Microbiologia Medica

Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitoses among residents of Ekemkpon and Idim Ita of Cross River State, Nigeria

Francisca Ugboaja, Etefia Etefia, Samuel S. Akpan, Ben Asuquo — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background: intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infections in the world, with the most prevalent burden occurring in poverty-stricken areas. Intestinal parasitic infections are endemic in certain parts of Nigeria as a result of poor hygiene practices and pollution, which result in contamination of food and water. In semi-urban and rural communities where the dwellers are generally poor and uneducated and lack basic amenities like potable water supply and good sanitary facilities, intestinal parasitic infections cause major health problems. This study was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors in the transmission of intestinal parasitoses among the residents of Ekemkpon and Idim Ita Communities of Cross River State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: this was a cross-sectional survey between April 2019 and August 2019. Samples were obtained from 359 participants in the study areas and examined for stool analysis using direct microscopy and brine floatation technique. Socio-demographic data of the study subjects were obtained using questionnaires. Results: the prevalence of intestinal parasites was higher in Ekemkpon (41.0%) than in Idim Ita (14.9%). Participants with mixed infections in Ekemkpon were 7.9%, while those in Idim Ita were 2.2%. The study has shown that level of education had an influence on the transmission of intestinal parasites in Ekemkpon (p<0.05). Open defecation played a major role as a source of contamination of domestic water and farm products in the Ekemkpon community. The overall helminthic infections in the two study areas were higher than the protozoan infections observed in this study. The only intestinal protozoa in Ekemkpon was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar while hookworm species were the commonest helminthic parasites in Ekemkpon. Balantidium coli (4.4%) was the most prevalent intestinal protozoan parasites in Idim Ita while hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides (2.8%) were the most occurring helminthic parasites in Idim Ita. Conclusions: it is recommended that strategies aimed at health education, diagnosing and treating those positive for intestinal parasite infections, and improving the general well-being of the masses be encouraged.

To compare the detection of S. aureus carriage in Healthcare Workers of Pediatric Intensive Care Units using Robertson’s Cooked Meat medium with and without 10% NaCl

Ravita Sharma, Gopal Agrawal, Hina Rahangdale, Sunanda Shrikhande — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background: about 20% of the world’s population has been colonized by Staphilococcus aureus in the long term. Nasal carriage of S. aureus is an important risk factor for sepsis. In most cases, asymptomatic colonized Healthcare Workers (HCWs) can serve as reservoirs of infection for spreading S. aureus strains to susceptible patients. Aims: detecting S. aureus carriage in hospital staff working in Neonatal (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: swabs from the anterior nares and web spaces of both hands of HCWs were processed. Swabs were cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) with & without enrichment by RCM with 10% NaCl. After incubating for 48 hours, subculture from RCM was done on MSA. S. aureus was identified using standard microbiological techniques. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2024 guidelines. Results: S. aureus carriage rate was 18.8%. The carriage was higher in males than in females. It was higher in residents (38.1%) than in nursing staff (5.6%). Higher isolation of S. aureus was observed after enrichment with 10% NaCl. Methicillin resistance was as high as 77.8% in S. aureus isolates from HCW carriers. All isolates were found sensitive to mupirocin. Conclusions: to monitor the carriage of S. aureus in HCWs, RCM with 10% NaCl should always be used along with MSA. Eighteen point eight percent of HCWs in this study were found to be carriers of S. aureus. The study emphasizes the need for regular surveillance of HCWs. Methicillin resistance was very high (77.8%). Healthcare centers are supposed to monitor patients continuously and provide proper treatment.

Colistin, the last resort antibiotic: challenges in the implementation of its routine susceptibility testing

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background: colistin has become a critical antibiotic for lifethreatening multidrug resistance Gram-negative infections, particularly carbapenemase-producing bacteria. Detecting colistin resistance in routine microbiology laboratories is crucial for combating these fatal infections poses a challenge. Especially in developing countries, there is a need for a cost-effective, rapid, and user-friendly diagnostic method. Objective: implementing the various available methods for colistin testing is a significant challenge in resource-limited settings due to logistic difficulties and the need for technical expertise. Materials and Methods: this study shares experiences and insights gained while implementing in-vitro colistin susceptibility testing in a high-load bacteriology laboratory of a tertiary care center in Delhi, India. The following test methods for colistin susceptibility testing were incorporated in the routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of our laboratory: Colistin Agar Test, Colistin Broth Disk Elution Test, Broth Microdilution susceptibility testing. Results: inconsistent growth patterns were observed in the colistin agar dilution Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method, which could be resolved only after the preparation of fresh plates containing that specific concentration of colistin. The contamination issue of plates on use over a few days was addressed by pouring agar containing various concentrations of colistin in cottonplugged glass tubes. In the colistin broth disk elution test, due to the non-availability of screw-capped 10 mL glass tubes, MacCornety bottles (30 mL) were used. Subcultures were performed from the turbid wells to rule out the growth of contaminants when encountering discordant MIC values or skipped wells on the colistin broth microdilution test. Conclusions: despite several technical issues in in-vitro colistin susceptibility testing, we have successfully implemented it in our laboratory. Our experiences can offer guidance to laboratories that are still in the process of implementing it.

Results of an Italian multi-long-term care facilities survey on diagnostic, therapeutic, and infection control topics: state of the art and future perspective

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background and Aims: current trends in the world’s demographic structure indicate increasing requirements for chronic and Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs). As the above settings may act as reservoirs for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs), it is essential to acquire information about diagnostic, therapeutic, and infection control practices, aiming to optimize strategies for the near future. Materials and Methods: the annual survey form for assessment of the MDRO management in LTCFs and Residential Homes (RHs) for non-self-sufficient elderly people, promoted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and adapted by the version of the American National Healthcare Safety Network, was sent to LTCFs healthcare operators by the AMCLI GLISTer Working Group. Topics considered were interactions with clinical microbiology laboratories, infection prevention/control and antibiotic stewardship practices, and electronic medical records data availability. Results and Conclusions: sixteen structures, mostly from 120 to 280 beds, took part in the survey. We registered that i) MDRO colonization screening is usually not adopted in Italian LTCFs for new admissions (14; 87,5%) at present, and ii) microbiological results are usually provided by an external laboratory service. Furthermore, infection control interventions are regularly adopted, and antibiotic prescriptions are registered only in 62,5% and 75% of structures, respectively. About 70% of facilities do not have a strategy for antibiotic use optimization. Planning of 1^st/2^nd/3^rd level MDRO surveillance programs, enhanced training activities, and improved antibiotic consumption control, whether for prophylaxis, empirical, and targeted therapy, appears of paramount importance in the complex reality of LTCFs.

Detection of free-living amoeba in a tertiary care hospital

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to investigate the presence of Free-Living Amoebae (FLA), particularly Acanthamoeba spp., in diverse water systems and body fluids within a hospital. Water and body fluid samples were collected from various locations. Cultivation of FLA was performed using Non-Nutrient Agar (NNA) culture with Escherichia coli, and microscopic observations after staining. Microscopic observations revealed the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in pre-dialysis tank water and dental flush water samples. The identification of Acanthamoeba in specific water sources underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and preventive strategies to mitigate potential health risks.

Parasites (protozoa and helminths) localized to the central nervous system

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Parasitoses that are localized to the central nervous system (CNS) can cause symptomatic diseases or progress asymptomatically [g1] [AR2]. Any parasites that affect humans could involve the CNS; however, the most common parasitic infection of the CNS is cerebral malaria, followed by neurocysticercosis. Other relatively frequent infections are toxoplasmosis, cystic and alveolar echinococcosis and schistosomiasis [g4] [AR5].

A fatal rhabdomyolysis with the presence of Bacillus cereus on blood culture: description of a clinical case

Mon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive bacterium that is ubiquitously present. It is often involved in gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning, but it can rarely cause serious non-gastrointestinal tract infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The pathogenicity of B. cereus is predominantly derived from the production of tissue-destructive exoenzymes, including hemolysins, phospholipases, and proteases. Here, we present a case of bacteremia due to B. cereus in an elderly patient, admitted to the emergency room for respiratory failure and rhabdomyolysis after a fall. The microorganism was detected through blood culture and identified using the MALDI-TOF technique. Despite the rapid start of antibiotic therapy, laboratory data have highlighted how this bacterium, through its virulence factors, can be lethal in the case of rhabdomyolysis, worsening the inflammatory response and subverting the host-microorganism relationship in its favor.

A rare case of pneumococcal keratitis in a patient with Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus and compromised immune status

Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Infectious keratitis is commonly encountered in the ophthalmology emergency department. Streptococcus pneumoniae causing bacterial keratitis is a cause of concern in developing countries, owing to its complication of irreversible corneal scarring. This is a rare case report of a 25-year-old immunocompromised patient who presented to the Ophthalmology Department in a tertiary care hospital in India with complaints of diminution of vision in the left eye with pain, redness and watering, along with a history of vesicular painful rashes involving the left side of the forehead, the tip of the nose and the supraciliary area. Gram-positive lanceolate diplococci and plenty of pus cells were seen on the Gram staining of the corneal abscess scrape. The clinical presentation of the patient led to a provisional clinical diagnosis of secondary bacterial infection in Herpes Zoster Opthalmicus (HZO), corneal abscess with herpetic keratitis. Quellung reaction yielded an 18C serotype of the isolated pneumococci. Prompt treatment was required to prevent rapidly progressive complications.

Identification of Brucella (Ochrobactrum) anthropi by MALDI-TOF MS from blood: a case report

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This case report describes the identification of Ochrobactrum anthropi (O.a.), from a positive blood culture using MALDI-TOF spectrometry system. According to the information available this is the first case in AORN Sant’Anna and San Sebastiano, Caserta, Campania, Italy. This microbe is moderately pathogenic and hazardous, with the potential to cause hospital-acquired infections. It is recommended that it be included in hospital “germ alerts”.

First reported case of Phoma multirostrata from central India

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A 50-year-old male patient, resident of Gondia, Maharashtra, India, presented with chief complaints of swelling and raw areas over left foot for 3 months. Patient was apparently alright 3 months prior when he had a traumatic injury with a piece of wood which went across his whole foot, which was removed by patient himself, and then he visited a private hospital where he was given various medications, which gave him partial relief. After a few days, the patient developed a painful swelling over the left foot, up to the ankle, which was associated with difficulty in walking and local rise of temperature, and not with fever or other symptoms. Following this, after a month, the patient developed a single raised lesion, which progressed to involve the whole left foot over a period of 5 days. The lesions then burst spontaneously, which was associated with bloody discharge. For these complaints, the patient visited a nearby hospital, where he was admitted and given various medications, including tablet amoxycillinpotassium clavulanate 625 mg, tablet pantoprazole 40 mg, tablet paracetamol 500 mg and fusidic acid cream application, which gave him partial relief. After a few days, the patient developed a burning sensation over these lesions, for which he was then referred to GMC, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, from same hospital.