Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from breast milk of women suffering infectious mastitis: potential virulence traits and resistance to antibiotics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>is considered the main etiological agent of infectious mastitis, recent studies have suggested that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) may also play an important role in such infections. The aims of this work were to isolate staphylococci from milk of women with lactational mastitis, to select and characterize the CNS isolates, and to compare such properties with those displayed by CNS strains isolated from milk of healthy women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The milk of 30 women was collected and bacterial growth was noted in 27 of them, of which <it>Staphylococcus epidermidis </it>was isolated from 26 patients and <it>S. aureus </it>from 8. Among the 270 staphylococcal isolates recovered from milk of women with mastitis, 200 were identified as <it>Staphylococcus epidermidis </it>by phenotypic assays, species-specific PCR and PCR sequencing. They were typified by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genotyping. The PFGE profiles of the <it>S. epidermidis </it>strains were compared with those of 105 isolates from milk of healthy women. A representative of the 76 different PFGE profiles was selected to study the incidence of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. The number of strains that contained the biofilm-related <it>ica</it>D gene and that showed resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, clindamycin and mupirocin was significantly higher among the strains isolated from mastitic milk.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>S. epidermidis </it>may be a frequent but largely underrated cause of infectious mastitis in lactating women. The resistance to diverse antibiotics and a higher ability to form biofilms found among the strains isolated from milk of women suffering mastitis may explain the chronic and/or recurrent nature of this infectious condition.</p

Staphylococcus epidermidis: A differential trait of the fecal microbiota of breast-fed infants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast milk is an important source of staphylococci and other bacterial groups to the infant gut. The objective of this work was to analyse the bacterial diversity in feces of breast-fed infants and to compare it with that of formula-fed ones. A total of 23 women and their respective infants (16 breast-fed and 7 formula-fed) participated in the study. The 16 women and their infants provided a sample of breast milk and feces, respectively, at days 7, 14, and 35. The samples were plated onto different culture media. Staphylococcal and enterococcal isolates were submitted to genetic profiling and to a characterization scheme, including detection of potential virulence traits and sensitivity to antibiotics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The feeding practice had a significant effect on bacterial counts. A total of 1,210 isolates (489 from milk, 531 from breast-fed and 190 from formula-fed infants) were identified. <it>Staphylococcus epidermidis </it>was the predominant species in milk and feces of breast-fed infants while it was less prevalent in those of formula fed-infants. <it>Enterococcus faecalis </it>was the second predominant bacterial species among the fecal samples provided by the breast-fed infants but it was also present in all the samples from the formula-fed ones. The biofilm-related <it>icaD </it>gene and the <it>mecA </it>gene were only detected in a low number of the <it>S. epidermidis </it>strains. Several enterococcal isolates were also characterized and none of them contained the <it>cylA </it>or the <it>vanABDEG </it>antibiotic-resistance genes. All were sensitive to vancomycin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The presence of <it>S. epidermidis </it>is a differential trait of the fecal microbiota of breast-fed infants. Globally, the staphyloccal isolates obtained from milk and feces of breast-fed infants contain a low number of virulence determinants and are sensitive to most of the antibiotics tested.</p

Tomografía axial computarizada en los traumatismos encéfalo - craneanos.

The encephalic cranial trauma constitutes a habitual entity of observation in the general medical practice. It has been observed an outstanding increase of the moderated and severe cranial trauma in our country, mainly related to car accidents. This fact turns the encephalic cranial trauma into an epidemiologic problem. In this case the computerized axial tomography (CAT) offers fast and information of the brain tissue, like the presence of blood collections and fractures. For the aforesaid aspects we feel motivated to perform this job. It was performed a descriptive and retrospective  research of all the patients that were assisted at Celia Sanchez Manduley province hospital in Manzanillo, diagnosed by CAT of moderated encephalic cranial trauma since January to December, 2008. The universe was made by 105 patients. There were taken into account some variables like: age, sex and results of the initial tomography, obtaining as outstanding results that the most affected group of age was included between 41 to 50 years, as well as the male sex. The subdural hematoma and contusional focus were the most frequent lesions. The epidural hematoma was more associated to fractures, brain edema and effect of mass with more than 5mm.El traumatismo encéfalo craneano (TEC) constituye una entidad de observación habitual en la práctica médica general. Se ha observado un significativo incremento del trauma craneano moderado y severo en nuestro país, relacionado fundamentalmente con los accidentes automovilísticos. Este hecho convierte el traumatismo encéfalo craneano en una problemática de marcado impacto epidemiológico. En estos casos la tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) proporciona información rápida y no invasiva del tejido cerebral, así como la presencia de colecciones sanguíneas y fracturas. Por todo lo antes expuesto es que nos motivamos a realizar este trabajo. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de todos los pacientes atendidos en el hospital provincial universitario Celia Sánchez Manduley de Manzanillo, con el diagnóstico por TAC de trauma cráneo - encefálico moderado y severo en el período comprendido entre enero - diciembre de 2008. El universo estuvo constituido por 105 pacientes. Se tuvieron en cuenta variables como: edad, sexo y resultados de la tomografía inicial, obteniéndose como resultados significativos, que el grupo de edad  más afectado  fue el comprendido entre 41- 50 años, así como el sexo masculino. El hematoma subdural y los focos contusionales  fueron las lesiones más frecuente. El hematoma epidural fue la lesión que más se asoció a fracturas, edema cerebral y efecto de masa de más de 5mm.

Aberrant thymoma in the anterior mediastinum. A case report.

La glándula tímica puede ser el sitio de origen de una gran variedad de neoplasias malignas y benignas. Aunque estos tumores son relativamente infrecuentes en la población general, son de gran interés para la literatura médica por sus manifestaciones clínico-patológicas. Se reporta un caso de una mujer de 45 años de edad quien presentó dolor torácico derecho leve y disnea además de ensanchamiento mediastinal ínfero anterior derecho, en una radiografía de tórax (vista postero-anterior y lateral). La tomografía computarizada mostró una imagen hiperdensa,  con realce de contraste de forma homogénea que hacia cuerpo con la aurícula derecha, desplazándola. Se realizó mediastinotomía transesternal y fue extraído un tumor blando, amarillento, el cual fue diagnosticado histológicamente como un timoma linfocítico.The thymic gland may be the place for a variety of malign and benign neoplasias.  Although these tumors  are relatively weird in the population, they are  interest in the  medical literature for their clinical- pathological  manifestations. It is reported a case of a 45 year-old woman who presented minor  right thoracic pain and dispnea with a mediastinal right anterior enlargement perceived in a thoracic radiography (lateral post- anterior view). The computerized tomography showed a hyperdense area,  with homogeneous contrast .  The transternal mediastinotomy  was performed and a soft, yellowish tumor wa spotted. It was histologically diagnosed as a lymphocytic thymoma. The thymoma is a benign epithelial tumor of low grade, generally located in the upper anterior mediastinum. Nevertheless, when there is an ectopic or an aberrant gland, there may be found thymomas in some other mediastinal regions, such as the neck,  hilus pulmonary, thyroid glands, lung or pleura. The thymomas are the second most frequent neoplasias in the mediastinum with a 20% and the first neoplasias in the upper anterior mediastinum. They are not commonly presented in childhood and the major incidence lies in the third and fifth decades. They are usually symptomathic and the symptoms may be lymphocitic, epithelial (or both) . The mixt term lymphocitic and epithelial is used as a synonym of lymphoepithelioma. In literature there are numerous reports about the adequate treatment of thymoma , including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or the combination of both. Thymomas are surgically treated obtaining great results .The diagnosed researches with image techniques are important and essential when determining the presence of tumors and their extension to adjacent structures. Systematic thorax radiographies consiting on a post anterior and lateral  view and the TAC may show   the thymomas.  These tumors appear frequently as lobe masses, smooth in the upper side of the anterior mediastinum and they are generally projected in one  hemithorax. The mass  may be calcified, containing grease or be cystic and it is less frequent in the anterior – inferior mediastinum, like in this case

Transvaginal- Ultrasonic- Anatomopatological Clinical Study in the gynecological conditions

Introducción: el ultrasonido transvaginal es un magnífico método para la evaluación de la mayoría de las estructuras presentes en la pelvis femenina.Objetivo: confirmar la presencia de alteraciones ginecológicas, que se sospechaban por la clínica y el examen físico.Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo a 136 pacientes que asistieron a la consulta del hospital ginecobstétrico Fe del Valle, Manzanillo, entre enero y diciembre de 2011 con uso del ultrasonido transvaginal. Se estudiaron la edad, paridad, inicio de relaciones sexuales precoces, resultados del examen físico, hallazgos ecográficos y anatomopatológicos.Resultados: las enfermedades ginecológicas ocurrieron más en el grupo de 30 a 39 años (n=71; 52.20%); las afecciones ginecológicas predominaron en las que tenían 3 o más embarazos (n=53; 38.9%). La EIP fue más frecuente en las que iniciaron relaciones sexuales antes de los 18 años (n=20; 68.9%). Predominó del tumor tactable más los trastornos menstruales con 50 pacientes (36.7%), en las pacientes con miomas uterinos, el hallazgo ecográfico más frecuente fue el útero aumentado de tamaño (n=70; 85.36%). De las 136 mujeres estudiadas, en 120 coincidió el diagnóstico clínico con los resultados ecográficos.Conclusiones: las alteraciones ginecológicas fueron frecuentes entre los 30 y 39 años, en las multíparas, presentándose como signos y síntomas el tumor tactable más trastornos menstruales y el dolor más leucorrea. En el útero, la imagen nodular ecogénica localizada fue más frecuente; en ovarios, la imagen ecolúcida y las trompas engrosadas ecogénicas. Las afecciones más frecuentes encontradas por ecografía fueron el mioma uterino, la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica y los quistes de ovarios; respectivamente.Introduction: because of the high sensitivity, high specificity, availability and low cost, of the transvaginal ultrasound, it appears the election technique in the initial study of the majority of the clinical manifestations of the woman, especially in her fertile age.Objective: to confirm the presence of gynecological alterations, that were suspected by the clinic and the physical examination.Methods: it was made a descriptive study whose universe was constituted by 136 patients that assisted to the preoperative consult in the gynecobstetric hospital Fe del Valle of Manzanillo, in the period between January and December of the 2011. It was applied a transvaginal ultrasound in addition to the anatomopatological examination in order to relate them. There were included the age, parity and the precocious sexual relations (before the 18 years), the symptomatology referred by the patient, the results of the physical examination, the echographic and anatomopathological findings.Results: the gynecological alterations were more frequent between the 30 and 39 years (n=71; 52, 20%), being the multiparous the most affected (53 patients; 38, 9%), presenting like signs and fundamental symptoms the tumor, more menstrual disorders and the pain with leucorrhea (n=50; 36, 7%). In the uterus the echogenic nodular image located was presented with greater frequency (n=70; 85, 36%). The most frequent conditions found by the echography were, the uterine myoma (n=82; 60, 29%) and the pelvic inflamatory disease (68, 9%).Conclusions: the gynecological alterations were more frequent between the 30- 39 years, in the multiparous. The most frequent symptoms were the menstrual disorders and the pain with leucorrhea. The more frequent echographic images in the uterus was the echogenic nodular image located. The most frequent alterations were the uterine myoma and the pelvic inflamatory disease. There was coincidence between the initial clinical diagnostic and the echographic and anatomopatological diagnosis

Desarrollo de una práctica integral sobre el diseño, elaboración y comercialización de un alimento obtenido por fermentación a escala semi-industrial

Este documento contiene la memoria final del proyecto de innovación docente "Desarrollo de una práctica integral sobre el diseño, elaboración y comercialización de un alimento obtenido por fermentación a escala semi-industrial", llevado a cabo en el curso 2018-19. En la memoria se describen los resultados obtenidos en el desarrollo de este proyecto, cuyo objetivo ha sido implementar una práctica para que los estudiantes del Grado en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos llevaran a cabo el diseño y la elaboración de cerveza en condiciones similares a las reales en la industria alimentaria. El proyecto se ha incluido dentro de las actividades de la asignatura optativa "Tecnología Enológica y de Otras Bebidas Alcohólicas", que se imparte en el cuarto curso del Grado

Relationship between molecular pathogen detection and clinical disease in febrile children across Europe: a multicentre, prospective observational study

BackgroundThe PERFORM study aimed to understand causes of febrile childhood illness by comparing molecular pathogen detection with current clinical practice.MethodsFebrile children and controls were recruited on presentation to hospital in 9 European countries 2016-2020. Each child was assigned a standardized diagnostic category based on retrospective review of local clinical and microbiological data. Subsequently, centralised molecular tests (CMTs) for 19 respiratory and 27 blood pathogens were performed.FindingsOf 4611 febrile children, 643 (14%) were classified as definite bacterial infection (DB), 491 (11%) as definite viral infection (DV), and 3477 (75%) had uncertain aetiology. 1061 controls without infection were recruited. CMTs detected blood bacteria more frequently in DB than DV cases for N. meningitidis (OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.92-5.99), S. pneumoniae (OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 2.07-7.59), Group A streptococcus (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.13-6.09) and E. coli (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.02-6.71). Respiratory viruses were more common in febrile children than controls, but only influenza A (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11-0.46), influenza B (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.37) and RSV (OR 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.36) were less common in DB than DV cases. Of 16 blood viruses, enterovirus (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.72) and EBV (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.90) were detected less often in DB than DV cases. Combined local diagnostics and CMTs respectively detected blood viruses and respiratory viruses in 360 (56%) and 161 (25%) of DB cases, and virus detection ruled-out bacterial infection poorly, with predictive values of 0.64 and 0.68 respectively.InterpretationMost febrile children cannot be conclusively defined as having bacterial or viral infection when molecular tests supplement conventional approaches. Viruses are detected in most patients with bacterial infections, and the clinical value of individual pathogen detection in determining treatment is low. New approaches are needed to help determine which febrile children require antibiotics.FundingEU Horizon 2020 grant 668303

Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus strains involved in human and bovine mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the main etiological agents of mastitis in different mammalian species. At present, it is unknown whether strains isolated from human mastitis cases share phenotypic properties and genetic background with those obtained from animal mastitis cases. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize S. aureus strains isolated from women with lactational mastitis and to compare them with the strains responsible for bovine mastitis and noninfectious strains. All the strains were genotyped by both pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing and submitted to a characterization scheme that included diverse assays related to pathogenic potential and antibiotic resistance. Apart from siderophore production, no significant association was observed between the strains from bovine and human mastitis. Statistical differences between human- and bovine-mastitis-associated strains were detected for some traits and virulence determinants, such as the presence of prophages and cna and hlb genes, which were more frequently found within the bovine group. On the contrary, resistance to penicillin was significantly higher among strains isolated from human lactational mastitis, probably related to the common presence of the blaZ gene. A high genetic diversity was found among the strains involved in mastitis in breastfeeding women. © 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.This study was partly supported by the FUN-C-FOOD (Consolider-Ingenio 2010) and AGL2010-15420 projects from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain). S.D. was the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the same Ministry.Peer Reviewe

Depositing Nickel-based Hardfacing to Join Carbon Steel and Cast Iron

The objective of this investigation is to determine the micro-structural behavior of a joint between cast iron and carbon steel by depositing a nickel-based substrate in the carbon steel. The filler was added through Shielded Metal Arc Welding using Castec 3099 (UTP 8) electrodes while the base materials were joined through Gas Tungsten Arc Welding with ER 70S – A1 bare electrodes. The Schaeffler diagram was used to analyze the chemical composition of the resulting weld beads. The results of the analysis performed on the welded area and the heat influence zone indicated the formation of acicular structures near the welded line when Castec 3099 electrodes are used and the formation of skeletal ferrite on the heat influence zone during the application of this welding process. An austenitic mixture is formed when ER 70S – A1 electrodes are used