Nasopharyngeal Carriage, Antibiotic Resistance and Serotype Distribution of Streptococcus Pneumoniae among Healthy Adolescents in Zahedan

Abstract Background and objectives: Colonization of nasopharynx by Streptococcus Pneumoniae can lead to pneumococcal disease. This study was performed to determine the carriage rate of nasopharyngeal S.pneumoniae in adolescents and their antibiotic susceptibility and serotype prevalence in Zahedan, Iran Material and Methods: Nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained from 865 adolescents aged 10-19 years old of eight schools in Zahedan and then assessed by standard procedures to isolate S. Pneumoniae. The serotyping was carried out by latex agglutination test, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin, as well as other commonly used antibiotics, was determined by a broth-dilution method. Results: Pneumococci were Isolated from 15.7% [136/865, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.3-18.9] of total samples. Of 136 samples, 119 isolates are typified by the available antisera which the most frequent ones are 1, 19A, 15C, 9V, 11A and 19F. Ninthythree pneumococcal isolates are sensitive to penicillin. The MIC values of antibiotics tested are (μg/ml): penicillin 0.01-4, cefotaxime 0.01-4, ceftriaxone 0.02-128, chloramphenicol 0.08-32, ciprofloxacin 0.06-16, erythromycin 0.01-128, tetracycline 0.08- 128 and vancomycin 0.02-1. Conclusion: A clear diversity is seen in the serotype distribution of the S. Pneumoniae isolates and most of the antibiotic resistant strains belonge to a few serotypes. Healthy adolescents in Zahedan commonly show pneumococcal carriage and antibiotic resistance. Keywords: Streptococcus Pneumoniae, nasopharyngeal carriage, penicillin resistance, serotyp

Antidiabetic effects of Eucalyptus globulus on pancreatic islets: a stereological study

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in pancreatic islands by stereological methods. Fifty mature normoglycaemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10): control; STZ-induced diabetic (D) - by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin; treated control (TC); and treated diabetic (TD1, 2), respectively, received 20 and 62.5 g/kg of eucalyptus in their diet, and 2.5 g/L aqueous extract of eucalyptus in their drinking water from one week after induction of diabetes. After four weeks of the experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of the islets and pancreas, and total number of islets were carried out. Administration of eucalyptus significantly decreased the weight loss and increase of water and food intake in the treated diabetic groups in comparison to the STZ-induced diabetic (D) group. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of islets, and mass of pancreas of both treated diabetic groups were higher than the D group. In TD2, these stereological parameters increased significantly compared to the D group (p < 0.001). Volume density and total volume of beta cells increased 21% and 65%, respectively, in the TD2 group, but it was not statistically significant compared to the diabetic group (p > 0.05). The results suggested that Eucalyptus globulus with a dose-dependent manner ameliorates diabetic states by partial restoration of pancreatic beta cells and repair of STZ-induced damage in rats. This study suggests a beneficial effect of eucalyptus in the treatment of diabetes. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 112-118

Antimicrobial resistance of Shigella spp. isolated from diarrheal patients in Zahedan

One of the great challenges in the treatment of infectious diseases is the resistance of pathogenic bacteria against antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance to Shigella is broadly observed in different parts of the world. The object of this study was to determine Shigella antibiotic resistance pattern against the antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 147 Shigella strains were collected from the diarrheic patients referring to different medical centers of Zahedan. Specific antisera were used for serotyping of isolated Shigella and their antibiotic resistance patterns were determined by standard Kirby-Bauer method. Of the 147 studied Shigella strains, 102 (69.3) belonged to S. flexneri, 32 (21.7) to S. dysenteriae, 11 (7.4) to S. boydii, and 2 (1.36) to S. sonnei species. The isolated strains showed resistance to ampicillin (99.3), trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (52) and nalidixic acid (1.3), but there was no resistance against ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. According to the findings, it is suggested that antibiotics should not be used without laboratory testing (antibiogram). © 2008 Tehran University of Medical Sciences

The Study of Pantone Valentin Leukocidin (PVL) Gene in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated from Blood and Wound in Zahedan, Iran

Background & aim: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a Staphylococcus aureus gamma toxin. There may be a link between Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), as an important cytotoxin found particularly in severe infections. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify Staphylococcus aureus virulence Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and methicillin resistance genes in clinical samples using PCR techniques. Methods: In&nbsp;the present&nbsp;cross-sectional&nbsp;study, 89 isolates were collected from blood samples and detected as Staphylococcus aureus during the period of 6 months at Ali Ebne AbiTaleb Hospital, Zahedan, Iran. Initially, the case study examples were examined by biochemical tests. Then, based on recognized standards, Staphylococcus aureus isolates were isolated. Afterwards, isolates obtained were confirm by using 16srRNA gene. Subsequently, the antibiotic susceptibility of all isolates to methicillin was determined using Cefoxitin(30&micro;g) disk diffusion and agar screening methods. Finally, the PCR method was used to determine PVL and mecA genes. All results were analyzed by the Chi-square test. Results: Out of the total 89 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus blood isolates, 26 isolates from wounds and 63 were isolated. Most samples were obtained from female patients. According to the molecular analysis, 47 isolates (82/52%) were mecA gene and resistant to methicillin and 42 strains (47/2%) was methicillin-sensitive. Resistance to vancomycin wasn&rsquo;t observed in isolates. Erythromycin and Penicillin had the highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance among isolates, respectively. Multi-resistant strains were the most PLV genes frequent. A significant relationship was observed between the resistance and the presence of Pantone Valentin (P&ge;0 / 05). Conclusions: Due to the frequency of mecA and PLV genes in resistant and susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and also the distribution of Pantone Valentin gene in resistant strains; therefore, based on the statistical analysis, we can conclude that there may be a connection between these two factors (P&ge;0 / 05)

Molecular Identification of Genes Responsible for Resistance to Aminoglycosides and Methicillin in Clinical Samples of Staphylococcus Aureus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important causes of infection in the hospital and the community. Resistance to aminoglycosides is caused by certain enzymes, which are coded by the genes with the ability of intrastrain circulation by mobile genetic elements such as transposons. This study aims to to determine the frequency of aac (6 ') Ie / aph (2 "), aph (3') - IIIa1, ant (4 ') - Ia1 genes along with mecA gene. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 113 Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from 579 various clinical samples. The Method of determining the minimum inhibitory concentration was used to identify the genes resistant to aminoglycosides by Oxacillin Etest strips. PCR method was used to identify aac (6 ') Ie / aph (2 "), aph (3') - IIIa1, ant (4 ') - Ia1and mecA. The relationship between aminoglycosides and mecA genes was also investigated. FINDINGS: Of 113 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus confirmed by phenotypic tests, 53 isolates (46.91%) had mecA gene, 43 isolates (38.05%) had aac (6 ') Ie / aph (2 ") gene, 19 isolate (16.81%) had aph (3') - IIIa1 gene and 22 isolates (19.47%) had ant (4 ') - Ia1 gene. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the presence of Methicillin-resistant gene and genes responsible for resistance to aminoglycosides. Meanwhile, there was also a significant relationship between the type of isolated samples and the presence of resistance genes in some cases (p≤0/005). CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that frequent use of the aminoglycoside antibiotics along with beta-lactam antibiotics might provide the context for the emergence of multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDR) strains. By appropriate and controlled administration of antibiotics, we can decrease such resistances and prevent the emergence of multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

COAGULASE POSITIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI RESISTANCE TO BETALACTAM ANTIBIOTICS: USING IODOMETRIC AND ACIDOMETRIC ASSAY – 1999

Introduction. It is very important to know the resistant bacteria to common used antibiotics in our community. Staphylococcus coagulase positive was the main cause of infection in infectious disease. This study was done to demonstrate the pattern of resistance to batalactamase antibiotics among staphiococci.&#13; Methods. During a period of five month, 38 coagulase positive staphylococcus isolates were identified from various clinical specimens from 600 patients at the AI-Zahra university hospital (affiliated to IUMSHS).&#13; Results. Betalactamase production assays using rapid acidometric and iodometric tests showed that 78.9 percent and 73.6 percent of isolates were positive, respectively. The differnce in determination rate between acidometric and iodometric tests was not statistically significant. Moreover the acidometric test was cheaper and more easy to perform than iodometric test. In vitro sensitivity testing using the disc diffusion method showed that all of isolates were resistant to carbenicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin, while 7.9 percent and 13.2 percent were resistant to cefazolin and cephalexin, respectively.&#13; Discussion. We recommend use of cefazolin, cephalexin and oxacillin for treatment of patients with staphylococcus infections