Survival of bacteria on dry surfaces in the hospital environment

Prijenos uzročnika infekcija rukama bolničkog osoblja vodeći je način prijenosa bolničkih infekcija. Uzročnici infekcija na ruke mogu dospjeti izravnim kontaktom osoblja s pacijentom, ali i kontaktom s različitim površinama u zdravstvenoj ustanovi. Bakterije koje su najčešći uzročnici bolničkih infekcija mogu mjesecima preživjeti na različitim površinama i materijalima koji tako mogu postati kontinuirani izvor zaraze za pacijente i osoblje u bolnici. U radu je opisano kako sušenje utječe na bakterijsku stanicu, navedeni su mehanizmi pomoću kojih pojedine bakterijske vrste uspješno preživljavaju u suhom okolišu, a objašnjeno je i kako različiti okolišni uvjeti utječu na preživljavanje bakterija u bolničkoj sredini. Navedeni su rezultati ispitivanja osjetljivosti na sušenje nekih češćih bakterijskih uzročnika bolničkih infekcija. Poznavanje čimbenika koji olakšavaju preživljavanja bakterija izloženih sušenju omogućuje izbor učinkovitih mjera dezinfekcije i sterilizacije kojima će se uništiti otporne vrste u zdravstvenim ustanovama, naročito bolnicama.Hand-transmission of microorganisms, mostly bacteria, by the hospital staff is the leading mode of transmission of nosocomial infections. Microorganisms can reach hands through direct contact with the patient but also through contacts with different surfaces in a medical institution. Bacteria that are the most common causes of nosocomial infections can survive for months on a variety of surfaces and materials, and in this way become a continuous source of infection to patients and hospital staff. The paper describes how desiccation affects the bacterial cell, the mechanisms by which bacteria successfully survive in a dry environment and how different environmental conditions affect the survival of bacteria in hospital settings. The sensitivity to desiccation of the most common bacterial causes of nosocomial infections is also described. Knowledge of the factors that facilitate the survival of bacteria exposed to desiccation enables selection of appropriate disinfectant and sterilization method for use in health care facilities

The listeriosis triangle: Pathogen, host and the environment

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen well known for its adaptability to diverse environment and host niches and its high fatality rate among infected immunocompromised populations. Infection in the immunocompetent host occurs but risk factors for the disease primarily points to abnormalities in cell-mediated and innate immunity as major predispositions to listeriosis. After ingestion of contaminated food, this pathogen is able to cross the intestinal, blood-brain and placental barrier and leads to gastroenteritis, meningitis and maternofetal infections which may result in abortion and spontaneous stillbirth. Despite the extensive use of this bacterium in the study of cell-mediated immunity and intracellular growth, our understanding of the host, pathogen and environmental factors that impact the pathogenesis of listeriosis is still incomplete. This review will summarize current knowledge, including our own efforts, about pathogen, host and environmental factors that influence, and contribute to the pathogenesis of Listeria monocytogenes infection

Antibacterial properties of honey

Globalni problem bakterijske rezistencije na antibiotike uzrok je potrage za novim antimikrobnim lijekovima. Zbog toga se mnogo očekuje od meda koji ima antimikrobno djelovanje na bakterije otporne na djelovanje antibiotika. Za antibakterijsku aktivnost meda odgovorno je više komponenti prisutnih u medu, u koncentracijama koje se razlikuju kod raznih vrsti meda. Nepredvidiva antibakterijska aktivnost meda, koja nije standardizirana, može otežati njegovu primjenu kao antimikrobnog agensa radi uočenih varijacija u in vitro antibakterijskoj aktivnosti različitih vrsta meda. Trenutačno se na tržištu može naći nekoliko vrsti meda sa standardiziranim razinama antibakterijskog djelovanja, od kojih je najpoznatiji med manuke (lat. Leptospermum scoparium).The global problem of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens increases the need for new antimicrobial agents. Therefore, honey with effective antimicrobial properties against antibiotic-resistant bacteria is much anticipated. Antibacterial activity of honey is very complex due to the involvement of multiple compounds and variations in their concentrations among different honeys. The unpredictable antibacterial activity of non-standardized honey may hamper its introduction as an antimicrobial agent due to variations in the in vitro antibacterial activity of various honeys. At present, a number of honeys are put to the market with standardized levels of antibacterial activity, of which the best known is manuka (lat. Leptospermum scoparium) honey

HOST AND BACTERIAL FACTORS IN PATHOGENESIS OF LISTERIOSIS

SAŽETAK Listerioza jest zoonoza do koje u većem broju slučajeva dolazi nakon konzumacije zagađenih namirnica. U zdravih odraslih osoba infekcija bakterijom Listeria monocytogenes posljeduje prolaznom, asimptomatskom kolonizacijom crijeva, ili slikom neinvazivna febrilnoga gastroenteritisa. Infekcija fetusa, novorođenčeta, ili imunokompromitirane osobe, može posljedovati razvojem invazivne infekcije praćene visokim postotkom smrtnosti. Zbog svojstva unutarstaničnoga parazitiranja, bakterija Listeria monocytogenes dugi se niz godina koristi kao oruđe za proučavanje stanične biologije i mehanizama stanične imunosti.ABSTRACT Listeriosis is a zoonosis usually transmitted through contaminated food or vertically from mother to foetus. In an immunocompetent, adult person the infection results in transitory asymptomatic gastrointestinal colonization or febrile, non-invasive gastroenteritis. The infection of the foetus, newborn or immunocompromised person can result in a serious invasive disease with high mortality rate. As a facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes is widely used as model for studying cellular biology and mechanisms of cellular immunity

CAMPYLOBACTERS AS THE CAUSE OF ACUTE DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN THE COUNTY PRIMORSKOGORANSKA IN THE YEAR 2006

SAŽETAK Bakterije roda Campylobacter jesu gram-negativne, zavinute, mikroaerofilne i termofilne bakterije. U humanoj patologiji najčešće su zastupljeni Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) i Campylobacter coli (C. coli), i to kao uzročnici akutne dijareične bolesti nastale najčešće nakon konzumiranja nedovoljno termički obrađenoga kontaminiranoga mesa peradi ili svinja. Cilj je ovoga rada prikazati zastupljenost kampilobaktera u stolicama bolesnika s proljevom, na području Primorsko-goranske županije. Analizirani su retrospektivno podaci Laboratorija za dijagnostiku crijevnih infekcija Nastavnoga zavoda za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije za godinu 2006. Tijekom te godine, na kampilobakter pretraženo je 6416 stolica bolesnika s akutnim proljevom. Od toga su broja iz 407 (6,34%) uzoraka izolirani kampilobakteri. Primoizolata (bolesnika) bilo je 239 (3,73%), a ostali izolati bili su ponovljene izolacije tijekom kontrole bolesnika. Među primoizolatima, C. jejuni bio je zastupljen u 187 (78,24%) slučajeva, a C. coli u 50 slučajeva (20,92%), dva izolata (0,84%) bila su identificirana jedino na razini roda kao Campylobacter spp. Najčešći bolesnici bili su mala djeca u dobi do četvrte godine, te mlađe odrasle osobe (20 – 29 godina). Najviše primoizolata bilo je tijekom mjeseca siječnja i rujna, vjerojatno zbog blage zime i toplijega kraja ljeta.ABSTRACT Campylobacter spp. are gram negative, curved, microaerophilic and thermophilic bacteria. The most important role in human pathology play Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and Campylobacter coli (C. coli) as the causative agents of acute diarrheal disease developed after consumption of contaminated meat (poultry or pork). The aim of the study was to present the quantity of campylobacters isolated from stools of the patients with diarrhea in the County Primorsko-Goranska. The data from the Laboratory for diagnostics of enteric infections of the Teaching institute of public health of the County Primorsko-Goranska for the year 2006 were analysed retrospectively. During that year 6416 stool samples were examined for Campylobacter spp. Campylobacters were found in 407 samples (6.34%) but primoisolates were identified in 239 (3.73%) patients and the other isolates were from control stools obtained from the same patients. Among primoisolates C. jejuni was found in 187 (78.24%) patients, C. coli in 50 (20.92%) patients and for two isolates (0.84%) species determination was not possible. The patients were mostly children under four years of age and young adults and the largest numbers of isolation were seen in January and September

Prevalence and resistance of Campylobacter spp. in retail poultry meat

Cilj rada bio je ustvrditi prevalenciju bakterija roda Campylobacter u pilećem mesu u maloprodaji grada Rijeke te ispitati nji- hovu osjetljivost na antibiotike. Usporediti dobivene rezultate s učestalošću i profilom otpornosti na antibiotike humanih izolata kampilobaktera. Ukupno 60 uzoraka pilećeg mesa bakteriološki je analizirano standar- diziranim postupcima odvajanja i identifi- kacije za detekciju kampilobaktera u hrani. Ispitana je osjetljivost svih izolata na ampi- cilin, eritromicin, ciprofloksacin, gentamicin i tetracikline. Rezultati su uspoređeni s hu- manim izolatima kampilobaktera izdvoje- nih u istom periodu iz 6444 uzoraka stolice bolesnika s akutnom dijarealnom bolešću. U pilećem mesu prevalencija kampilobaktera iznosi 31,7 %, a u ljudi 4,2 %. Prevladavao jeC.jejuni(78,9%umesuperadii89%u stolici bolesnika). Svi izolati bili su osjetljivi na gentamicin. Oko četvrtina izolata iz mesa peradi bila je otporna na eritromicin, dok su humani izolati bili osjetljivi. 33 % C. jejuni iz peradi, a 55 % humanih izolata bilo je otpor- no na ciprofloksacin, dok je 53 % C. jejuni iz mesa peradi za razliku od 9 % humanih izo- lata bilo otporno na tetracikline. U pilećem mesu u maloprodaji prisutne su bakterije roda Campylobacter koje predstavljaju zna- čajan rizik u za pojavu kampilobakterioze u ljudi. Rezultati ispitivanja osjetljivosti na antibiotike ovih bakterija upućuju na važ- nost ograničavanja uporabe antimikrobnih sredstava kao promotora rasta u peradi kako bi se spriječio rast bakterijske rezistencije i prijenos rezistencije s izolata iz pilećeg mesa na sojeve kampilobaktera koji izazivaju obo- ljenje u ljudi putem hrandbenog lanca.The objective of study was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in retail poultry meat in Rijeka and to investigate bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics. The goal was to associate resistance to certain antimicrobial agents of poultry meat isolates with the resistance to antibiotics of human isolates. During 2011, a total of 60 retail chickens of various suppliers in Rijeka were collected. Bacteriological analyzes have been carried out using standard methods of separation and identification for the detection of campylobacters in food. At the same time 6444 stool samples from diarrhoeal patients were examined for the presence of campylobacters. The sensitivity of all isolates to ampicillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and tetracycline was investigated. Campylobacters were detected in 31.7% poultry samples and in 4.2% human stools. C. jejuni was dominant species (78.9% of poultry isolates and 89% of human isolates). All isolates were sensitive to gentamicin. Approximately 25% of poultry meat isolates were resistant to erythromycin, while human isolates were susceptible. 33% of C. jejuni from poultry and 55% of human isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin whereas 53% C. jejuni from poultry meat in contrast to 9 % of human isolates were resistant to tetracycline. In retail poultry meat, Campylobacter spp. are present which pose a significant risk for the occurrence of campylobacterosis in humans. The results of antibiotic susceptibility tests indicate the importance of limiting the use of antimicrobial agents as growth promoters in poultry to prevent the growth of bacterial resistance and its potential transfer from chicken meat isolates to human strains through the food chain

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Human Campylobacteriosis in the County Primorsko-goranska (Croatia), 2003–2007

The aim of the study was to investigate campylobacteriosis incidence in the County Primorsko-goranska (Croatia) between 2003 and 2007 and to find out possible connection with environmental factors (the average monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation). The data (number of stool samples examined, age and sex distribution of patients, monthly distribution of isolates and distribution of isolates according to the species) from the Laboratory for Diagnostics of Enteric Infections of the Teaching Institute of Public Health of the County Primorsko-goranska (Croatia) were analyzed retrospectively. During the observed period 30,164 stool samples were examined for Campylobacter spp. Campylobacters were identified in 1,242 (4.12%) samples. The overall annual campylobacter incidence rate was 81.3±21.9/100,000 population. Campylobacter jejuni was found in 1,093 (88%) and C. coli in 149 (12%) patients. Our findings showed age distribution of patients typical for developed countries. The patients were mostly children under 5 years (484.4±129.1/ 100,000, p<0.001) and between 5 and 9 years of age (226.5±60.5/100,000, p<0.05). Male consistently experienced higher rates, but the difference between genders was significant in the age groups from birth till late twentieth (p<0.001). Campylobacter rates were significantly associated with monthly average temperatures (p<0.05), but not with precipitation. Further investigations into the incidence of campylobacteriosis on the national level are necessary. The causes of the noticed monthly distribution, sources of infection and connection with the routes of transmission in humans need to be elucidated as well