Virulence factors and drug resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from extraintestinal infections

Purpose: To determine the virulence factors produced by Escherichia coli isolated from extraintestinal infections, to study the drug resistance pattern in E. coli with special reference to extended spectrum β -lactamase (ESBL) and to evaluate screening methods for ESBL. Methods: A total of 152 isolates of E. coli from various extraintestinal infections were screened for virulence factors such as haemolysin, surface hydrophobicity, serum resistance and protease. All the isolates were also studied for antibiotic susceptibility pattern using modified Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. ESBL production was screened by standard disk diffusion method and confirmed using phenotypic confirmatory method. Results: Among 152 isolates, 36 (23.7%) were haemolytic, 42 (27.6%) were hydrophobic, 132 (86.8%) were serum resistant and only four were positive for protease. Multiple virulence factor were observed in 67 (44%) of isolates. Seventy-nine (51.4%) isolates produced ESBL. ESBL producing isolates showed multidrug resistance. There was a significant association ( P < 0.001) between multiple virulence factors and ESBL production by extraintestinal E. coli . Conclusions: The present study shows the expression of virulence factors and multidrug resistance in E. coli isolated from various extraintestinal infections. The study also shows that appropriate methods of detecting drug resistance and ESBL production are required for the judicious use of antibiotics in managing these infections

CRYSTAL FIELD AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Dy(OH)

The electric quadrupole and magnetic hyperfine interactions rneasured from the 161Dy Mössbauer resonance in crystalline Dy(OH)3 and from the 166Er resonance in crystalline Ho(OH)3 and Er(OH)3 are interpreted using the crystal field and molecular exchange field model . The crystal field parameters established from previous optical spectroscopy results account weIl for these hyperfine parameters. The crystal-field and magnetic properties of these ferromagnetic insulators are described weIl within the model

Characteristics of the 7-GeV advanced photon source: A guide for users

In this document we present the characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation from various types of sources on the 7-GeV Advanced Photon Source (APS) storage ring. The sources include bending magnets, undulators, and wigglers. The characteristics are compared with those of other synchrotron sources when operated at their design specifications. The influence of positron beam size on the on-axis brilliance is discussed, along with the power distribution from these sources. The goal of this document is to provide users with enough information on the characteristics of radiation from the APS storage ring so that experiments can be efficiently planned. 23 refs., 20 figs., 8 tabs