Detection of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases in Escherichia Coli Isolated from the Community in Gaza Strip, Palestine

This study was designed in order to detect the production of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in the isolated Escherichia coli. The prevalence of ESBL production was determined among 300 isolates of E. coli. Eleven (3.7%) isolates proved to be ESBL. High resistance especially, to amoxycillin, cephalexin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime (100.0%) and gentamicin (81.8%) was observed. It was also observed that, all ESBL-producers displayed multiple resistance to four or more antimicrobial agents and the majority of th

Antibiotic resistance and mecA gene characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from some hospitals in Gaza strip

Antibiotic resistance of S. epidermidis isolated from biological specimens is a global problem to public health. In this study a total of 256 S. epidermidis isolates (128 clinical isolates and 128 nasal isolates) from Gaza strip, Palestine were investigated. All isolates were tested for its antimicrobial susceptibilities and carriage of the mecA gene. Out of the 256 isolates, 184 (71.9%) were resistant to multiple antibiotics with all displaying increased susceptibility toward rifampicin (100%), doxycycline (98.4%) and vancomycin (98%). Ninety-six isolates (37.5%) were multidrug resistant (MDR) while, 99 isolates (38.7%) were mecA positive. A significant difference was demonstrated between clinical and nasal isolates. Clinical isolates were significantly more resistant for 8/12 tested antibiotics including resistance to cefoxitin (30μg) (p=0.000) and significantly (p=0.000) represents the MDR isolates while nasal isolates were significantly (p=0.000) sensitive for all tested antibiotics. No significant difference between the two groups in carrying mecA. We find that clinical isolates gain an extra-feature that qualify it to cause a disease and methicillin resistance (MR) was not mecA dependent in all MR isolates

Biodegradation of Organophosphorus Pesticide (Malathion) by Bacillus sp. FYM31 Isolated from Agriculture Drainage Water

Organophosphorus pesticides (OP) are used extensively in many arenas including agriculture and industry leading to humans and agroecosystems disorders. Malathion is one of the OP that are used in agriculture to control pest and protect crops. Also, they harm non-target organisms and affect cruelly water sources, air, and soil quality. The present study aimed to isolate and identify a potent bacterial isolate capable of degrading malathion. Bacterial strain that isolated from Al Fayoum governorate, Egypt exhibited high efficiency for malathion biodegradation. Biodegradation process using minimal salt medium (MSM) supplemented with different malathion concentrations indicated that the bacterium was able to degrade and use malathion as a sole carbon source up to 700 mg/l at 37°C.The potent strain that exhibited biodegradation potential was identified as Bacillus sp. FYM31 and deposited into GenBank with the accession number OK325597. HPLC proved the effectiveness of malathion removal by Bacillus sp. FYM31 after 12 days of incubation to the level of 70.1% malathion (700 mg/l) degradation. Organophosphorus hydrolase (opd) gene was detected in the potent Bacillus sp. FYM31 strain. Due to the widespread usage of malathion in Egypt's agricultural areas, Bacillus sp. FYM31 can help bio-remediate the polluted areas

Multiresistant Escherichia coli isolated from women with community-acquired urinary tract infections in the Gaza Strip.

1. J Chemother. 2002 Dec;14(6):637-8. Multiresistant Escherichia coli isolated from women with community-acquired urinary tract infections in the Gaza Strip. Astal Z, Sharif FA, Abdallah SA, Fahd MI. PMID: 12583559 [Indexed for MEDLINE]. Publication Types: Letter. MeSH terms. Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use; Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy; Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*; Escherichia coli/drug effects*; Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy*; Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology; Female; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle East; Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy*; Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology. Substance. Anti-Bacterial Agents

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases in Eschericia coli isolated from community-acquired urinary tract infections in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Materials and Methods Isolates were collected from outpatient adult females with clinical evidence of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI) during the period January to June 2001, in the Gaza Strip. UTIs were defined as the culture of a single organism from a midstream urine specimen at≥ 105 colony forming units per milliliter. 7 Only one specimen per patient was processed. Identification and confirmation of E. coli isolates were done according to standard procedures. 7-9 The susceptibility of the isolates to twelve antimicrobial agents was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique according to the NCCLS recommendations. 10 The disks and concentrations of the twelve antimicrobial agents that are commonly used for the treatment of UTIs in our region were as follows: amoxycilli

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

BackgroundWe previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in similar to 80% of cases.MethodsWe report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded.ResultsNo gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5-528.7, P=1.1x10(-4)) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR=3.70[95%CI 1.3-8.2], P=2.1x10(-4)). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR=19.65[95%CI 2.1-2635.4], P=3.4x10(-3)), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR=4.40[9%CI 2.3-8.4], P=7.7x10(-8)). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD]=43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P=1.68x10(-5)).ConclusionsRare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially