An overview of the public health challenges in diagnosing and controlling human foodborne pathogens

Pathogens found in food are believed to be the leading cause of foodborne illnesses; and they are considered a serious problem with global ramifications. During the last few decades, a lot of attention has been paid to determining the microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses and developing new methods to identify them. Foodborne pathogen identification technologies have evolved rapidly over the last few decades, with the newer technologies focusing on immunoassays, genome-wide approaches, biosensors, and mass spectrometry as the primary methods of identification. Bacteriophages (phages), probiotics and prebiotics were known to have the ability to combat bacterial diseases since the turn of the 20th century. A primary focus of phage use was the development of medical therapies; however, its use quickly expanded to other applications in biotechnology and industry. A similar argument can be made with regards to the food safety industry, as diseases directly endanger the health of customers. Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to bacteriophages, probiotics and prebiotics most likely due to the exhaustion of traditional antibiotics. Reviewing a variety of current quick identification techniques is the purpose of this study. Using these techniques, we are able to quickly identify foodborne pathogenic bacteria, which forms the basis for future research advances. A review of recent studies on the use of phages, probiotics and prebiotics as a means of combating significant foodborne diseases is also presented. Furthermore, we discussed the advantages of using phages as well as the challenges they face, especially given their prevalent application in food safety

Mass Spectrometry Technology and qPCR for Detection of Enterococcus faecalis in Diabetic Foot Patients

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most serious and costly complications of diabetic patients. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) represents one of the most virulent microorganisms in diabetic foot infections (DFIs). We therefore aimed to study the frequency and precise identification of E. faecalis in DFU. Six hundred thirty specimens collected from diabetic foot patients were used in the current investigation. Biochemical identification was carried out by the Vitek® 2 system. Proteomic analysis was implemented by MALDI-TOF MS and confirmed by SYBER Green real-time polymerase chain reaction (SYBER Green qPCR). According to the results, the overall frequency of E. faecalis in patients with DFU was 8.25% (52/630). Out of 52 E. faecalis strains, 40 isolates were isolated from males and 12 from females. The results of biochemical identification revealed that 92.30% (48/52) of E. faecalis isolates were properly recognized at the species level. Whereas 100% (52/52) of E. faecalis isolates were properly recognized by MALDI-TOF MS as 44.23% (23/52), 51.92% (27/52) and 3.84% (2/52) with a score value ranging from 2.300 to 3.000, 2.000-2.299 and 1.700-1.999 Da, respectively. Seven E. faecalis virulence genes, including asa1, GelE, cylA, esp, hy1, VanA, and VanB, were detected by SYBER Green RT-PCR. In conclusion, E. faecalis was the utmost predominant single organism isolated from the DFIs. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is considered a fast, trustworthy and economic detection method for various significant microorganisms. E. faecalis isolates were also found to carry several virulence genes. Our findings may serve as an urgent issue for supplementary investigations of contagions caused by E. faecalis

Antibacterial effects and resistance induction of silver and gold nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus‐induced mastitis and the potential toxicity in rats

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the prevalent mastitis‐inducing pathogens worldwide. The resistance of S. aureus to antibiotics is a common issue for dairy farms. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have been used for treating antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. We therefore aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of silver and gold NPs (AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively) and the resistance developed by S. aureus as well as the toxic effects of both NPs in rats. We used 198 S. aureus strains to determine the antibacterial effects of AgNPs and AuNPs. The microdilution method was used to establish the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of both NPs. To induce resistance, 20 S. aureus strains were passaged 10 times in broth medium with sublethal doses of NPs and an additional 10 times without NPs to examine the stability of resistance. Histopathology was performed after oral administration to the rats with the study doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg of NPs for 30 days. The MICs of 10‐nm AgNPs, 20‐nm AgNPs, 10‐nm AuNPs, and 20‐nm AuNPs against S. aureus were 14.70 ± 1.19 μg/ml, 9.15 ± 0.13 μg/ml, 24.06 ± 2.36 μg/ml, and 18.52 ± 1.26 μg/ml, respectively. Most strains developed strong resistance when treated with 20‐nm or 10‐nm AgNPs, whereas only two strains were resistant to 10‐nm AuNPs and three strains to 20‐nm AuNPs. No cross‐resistance between NPs and various antibiotics was identified in any of the adapted S. aureus strains. Organ histopathology revealed that 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg doses of AgNPs and AuNPs were not toxic to rat tissue. In contrast, a higher dose (2 mg/kg) of NPs impaired all organs tested. This study demonstrates the antibacterial effects of NPs. S. aureus strains develop resistance less frequently against AuNPs than AgNPs, and neither AuNPs nor AgNPs was toxic to rats at low doses

Highlight on Multidrug Resistance of Enterococcus faecalis Recovered from Diabetic Foot Patients

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a progressively serious health problem worldwide. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is one of the most frequent bacteria in DFIs. The antibiotic resistance patterns of this bacterium remain a significant tool for monitoring infection. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the susceptibility of E. faecalis recovered from the wounds of hospitalized diabetic foot patients to various antimicrobial drugs. Fifty-two E. faecalis strains were recovered from 630 diabetic foot patients. All isolates were identified biochemically by a Vitek® 2 system and via a mass spectrometer (MALDI Biotyper). Antimicrobial sensitivity testing used Vitek 2 cards and Kirby-Bauer as the reference method. The findings indicated that the susceptibility of E. faecalis was 100% for ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, benzylpenicillin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin; 92% for nitrofurantoin, teicoplanin, and vancomycin; 87% for imipenem; 81% for kanamycin (high concentration) and tetracycline; 73% for levofloxacin; and 52% for streptomycin (high concentrations). The resistance was 100% for clindamycin and quinupristin-dalfopristin, 96% for cefuroxime, 90% for ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, 86% for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 54% for gentamicin (high concentration), and 48% for streptomycin (high concentration). All E. faecalis strains were resistant against numerous antibiotics with a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.20–0.60. The mean value of MAR indices for all tested E. faecalis species was 0. 373. The high levels of antimicrobial resistance patterns to E. faecalis seen here are important because they restrict treatment possibilities and adversely affect the health of diabetic foot patients. Consequently, our findings should be carefully considered in public health and awareness programs

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs): Challenges and Measures Taken by the Radiology Department to Control Infection Transmission

Infections contracted during healthcare delivery in a hospital or ambulatory setting are collectively referred to as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Healthcare workers and patients alike are vulnerable to serious problems as a result of the risk of HAIs. In the healthcare system, HAIs are considered among the most common and serious health problems. However, the occurrence of HAIs differs between different types of clinical departments within the hospital. Recently, the risk of HAIs has been increasing in radiology departments globally due to the central role of radiology in guiding clinical decisions for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of different diseases from almost all medical specialties. The radiology department is particularly vulnerable to HAIs because it serves as a transit hub for infected patients, non-infected patients, and healthcare workers. Furthermore, as the number of patients referred to radiology and the length of patient contact time has increased, thanks to modern imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, the risk of HAIs has also increased significantly. With the increasing use of interventional radiological procedures, patients and healthcare workers face a potentially greater risk of contracting HAIs due to the invasive nature of such procedures. Although not exhaustive, we attempted through a literature search to provide a general overview of infection prevention and control practices, address HAIs in the radiology departments, and highlight the challenges and measures taken to control infection transmission in the radiology departments

Proteomic Analysis and Molecular Characterization of Airborne Bioaerosols in Indoor and Outdoor Environment in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

There are various sources of microbial air pollution which are seems to be a serious public health problem all over the world. For prevention and control of air pollution caused by airborne bacteria, rapid, sensitive and reliable detection techniques are required. Therefore, our study focused on using MALDI Biotyper (MBT) for rapid recognition of various microbial air pollutants. Five hundred air samples were collected from three localities, including Qassim University (150 samples), Al-Qassim hospitals (250 samples) and poultry slaughter houses (100 samples). All air samples were collected by impactor air sampler from the indoor and outdoor environment. All samples were cultivated on nutrient and blood agar media for two days and a total of 129 isolates were purified for proteomic analysis using MALDI Biotyper (MBT) then confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). One hundred and nineteen (92.25%) isolates were identified by MBT at the species level with a log (score) value ≥2. 000 whereas; 10 (7.75%) isolates were detected at the genus level with score values ranged from 1.7000 to 1.999. The MBT was able to identify 93 (72.10%) gram-positive and 36 (27.90%) gram-negative bacterial isolates. The most common genera were Staphylococcus (n = 43, 33.33%), Escherichia (n = 16, 12.40%), Enterococcus (n = 15, 11.63%) and Bacillus (n = 15, 11.63%). Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most frequently identified species (n = 16, 12.40% for each). In general, we detected 53 (41.10%) various bacterial species in Al-Qassim hospitals, 41 (31.79%) in poultry slaughter houses and 35 (27.13%) in Qassim University. Throughout Al-Qassim region, the air was tainted by numerous environmental microorganisms, and the MBT was positively adjusted for their fast and accurate identification

The Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Producing ESBL among Male and Female Patients with Urinary Tract Infections in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

The Escherichia coli that produces extended-spectrum lactamases (ESBL-E. coli) can develop resistance to many antibiotics. The control of ESBL-E. coli disorders is challenging due to their restricted therapeutic approaches, so this study aims to determine the prevalence and pattern of the antibiotic resistance of ESBL-E. coli among male and female patients with urinary tract infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During the period of 2019 to 2020 at King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, 2250 urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) were collected, and microbial species were cultured and identified using standard biochemical techniques. A double-disc synergy test was used to identify ESBL-producing strains of E. coli, and an in vitro method and the clinical laboratory standard institute (CLSI) criteria were employed to determine the resistance of these strains to antimicrobial drugs. ESBL-E. coli was detected in 510 (33.49%) of the 1523 E. coli isolates, 67.27% of which were recovered from women and 33.7% of which were recovered from men. A total of 284 (55.69%) ESBL-E. coli isolates were found in patients under 50 years of age, and 226 (44.31%) were found in patients over 50 years of age. Nearly all the isolates of ESBL-E. coli were resistant to cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefepime, cefuroxime, and cephalothin) and penicillin (ampicillin), whereas the majority of the isolates were sensitive to several carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem), aminoglycosides (amikacin), and nitrofurantoins. The development of antibiotic resistance by ESBL-E. coli, the most frequent pathogen linked to urinary tract infections, plays a crucial role in determining which antibiotic therapy is appropriate

Migratory Wild Birds as a Potential Disseminator of Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria around Al-Asfar Lake, Eastern Saudi Arabia

Migratory wild birds acquire antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria from contaminated habitats and then act as reservoirs and potential spreaders of resistant elements through migration. However, the role of migratory wild birds as antimicrobial disseminators in the Arabian Peninsula desert, which represents a transit point for birds migrating all over Asia, Africa, and Europe not yet clear. Therefore, the present study objective was to determine antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in samples collected from migratory wild birds around Al-Asfar Lake, located in Al-Ahsa Oasis, Eastern Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on Escherichia coli virulence and resistance genes. Cloacal swabs were collected from 210 migratory wild birds represent four species around Al-Asfar. E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella spp. have been recovered from 90 (42.9%), 37 (17.6%), and 5 (2.4%) birds, respectively. Out of them, 19 (14.4%) were a mixed infection. All samples were subjected to AMR phenotypic characterization, and results revealed (14–41%) and (16–54%) of E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. isolates were resistant to penicillins, sulfonamides, aminoglycoside, and tetracycline antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. were identified in 13 (14.4%) and 7 (18.9%) isolates, respectively. However, none of the Salmonella isolates were MDR. Of the 90 E. coli isolates, only 9 (10%) and 5 (5.6%) isolates showed the presence of eaeA and stx2 virulence-associated genes, respectively. However, both eaeA and stx2 genes were identified in four (4.4%) isolates. None of the E. coli isolates carried the hlyA and stx1 virulence-associated genes. The E. coli AMR associated genes blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV, aac(3)-IV, qnrA, and tet(A) were identified in 7 (7.8%), 5 (5.6%), 1 (1.1%), 8 (8.9%), 4 (4.4%), and 6 (6.7%) isolates, respectively. While the mecA gene was not detected in any of the Staphylococcus spp. isolates. Regarding migratory wild bird species, bacterial recovery, mixed infection, MDR, and AMR index were relatively higher in aquatic-associated species. Overall, the results showed that migratory wild birds around Al-Asfar Lake could act as a reservoir for AMR bacteria enabling them to have a potential role in maintaining, developing, and disseminating AMR bacteria. Furthermore, results highlight the importance of considering migratory wild birds when studying the ecology of AMR

IS711 sequencing of Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus strains, and use of microchip-based real-time PCR for rapid monitoring

In animal production systems around the world, brucellosis is a serious zoonotic disease that creates public health hazards and losses in economic terms. The aim of the study is to genotype and molecularly characterize Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis) and Brucella abortus (B. abortus) collected from different animal species and humans. A total of 50 isolates of Brucella species (16B. melitensis and 34B. abortus) were isolated from 1081 animal and human samples using a culture technique, followed by biochemical identification using the Vitek 2 compact system and proteomic identification using mass spectrometry technology. Molecular genotyping was performed on all isolates using multiplex real-time PCR. Six isolates from each genotype of Brucella species were selected and genetically evaluated by IS711 insertion sequences. Microchips-based real-time PCR for Brucella species identification was performed on twelve genetically characterized isolates as a first attempt. Forty-four (88%) isolates of Brucella species were detected using multiplex real-time PCR. Based on IS711 nucleotide sequencing, twelve isolates were phylogenetically clustered into their specific clusters. The results of the comparative analysis of conventional real time and microchips-based real time indicated that the later is faster and qualitatively more sensitive than conventional real time; however, further studies are needed to ensure that it is capable of serving as a gold standard alternative for Brucella species monitoring

<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection: Current Status and Future Prospects on Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Control Challenges

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which affects approximately half of the world’s population, remains a serious public health problem. As H. pylori infection leads to a number of gastric pathologies, including inflammation, gastroduodenal ulcers, and malignancies, early detection and treatment are crucial to preventing the spread of the infection. Multiple extragastric complications, such as iron deficiency anaemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and certain neurological disorders, have also been linked to H. pylori infection. An awareness of H. pylori and associated health hazards is necessary to minimize or even eradicate the infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need to raise the standards for the currently employed diagnostic, eradication, alternative treatment strategies. In addition, a brief overview of traditional and cutting-edge approaches that have proven effective in identifying and managing H. pylori is needed. Based on the test and laboratory equipment available and patient clinical characteristics, the optimal diagnostic approach requires weighing several factors. The pathophysiology and pathogenic mechanisms of H. pylori should also be studied, focusing more on the infection-causing virulence factors of this bacterium. Accordingly, this review aims to demonstrate the various diagnostic, pathophysiological, therapeutic, and eradication tactics available for H. pylori, emphasizing both their advantages and disadvantages. Invasive methods (such as quick urease testing, biopsy, or culture) or noninvasive methods (such as breath tests, stool investigations, or serological tests) can be used. We also present the most recent worldwide recommendations along with scientific evidence for treating H. pylori. In addition to the current antibiotic regimens, alternative therapies may also be considered. It is imperative to eradicate the infections caused by H. pylori as soon as possible to prevent problems and the development of stomach cancer. In conclusion, significant advances have been made in identifying and treating H. pylori. To improve eradication rates, peptide mass fingerprinting can be used as a diagnostic tool, and vaccines can also eliminate the infection