Erythromycin-resistant lactic acid bacteria in the healthy gut of vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores

Diet can affect the diversity and composition of gut microbiota. Usage of antibiotics in food production and in human or veterinary medicine has resulted in the emergence of commensal antibiotic resistant bacteria in the human gut. The incidence of erythromycin-resistant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the feces of healthy vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores was analyzed. Overall, 155 LAB were isolated and characterized for their phenotypic and genotypic resistance to erythromycin. The isolates belonged to 11 different species within the Enterococcus and Streptococcus genera. Enterococcus faecium was the dominant species in isolates from all the dietary categories. Only 97 out of 155 isolates were resistant to erythromycin after Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination; among them, 19 isolates (7 from vegans, 4 from ovo-lacto vegetarians and 8 from omnivores) carried the erm(B) gene. The copresence of erm(B) and erm(A) genes was only observed in Enterococcus avium from omnivores. Moreover, the transferability of erythromycin resistance genes using multidrug-resistant (MDR) cultures selected from the three groups was assessed, and four out of six isolates were able to transfer the erm(B) gene. Overall, isolates obtained from the omnivore samples showed resistance to a greater number of antibiotics and carried more tested antibiotic resistance genes compared to the isolates from ovo-lacto vegetarians and vegans. In conclusion, our results show that diet does not significantly affect the occurrence of erythromycin-resistant bacteria and that commensal strains may act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes and as a source of antibiotic resistance spreading

Erythromycin-resistant lactic acid bacteria in the healthy gut of vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores

Diet can affect the diversity and composition of gut microbiota. Usage of antibiotics in food production and in human or veterinary medicine has resulted in the emergence of commensal antibiotic resistant bacteria in the human gut. The incidence of erythromycin-resistant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the feces of healthy vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores was analyzed. Overall, 155 LAB were isolated and characterized for their phenotypic and genotypic resistance to erythromycin. The isolates belonged to 11 different species within the Enterococcus and Streptococcus genera. Enterococcus faecium was the dominant species in isolates from all the dietary categories. Only 97 out of 155 isolates were resistant to erythromycin after Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination; among them, 19 isolates (7 from vegans, 4 from ovo-lacto vegetarians and 8 from omnivores) carried the erm(B) gene. The copresence of erm(B) and erm(A) genes was only observed in Enterococcus avium from omnivores. Moreover, the transferability of erythromycin resistance genes using multidrug-resistant (MDR) cultures selected from the three groups was assessed, and four out of six isolates were able to transfer the erm(B) gene. Overall, isolates obtained from the omnivore samples showed resistance to a greater number of antibiotics and carried more tested antibiotic resistance genes compared to the isolates from ovo-lacto vegetarians and vegans. In conclusion, our results show that diet does not significantly affect the occurrence of erythromycin-resistant bacteria and that commensal strains may act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes and as a source of antibiotic resistance spreading

Paracoccidioidomicosis en la Provincia de Formosa, Argentina Paracoccidioidomycosis in Formosa province (Argentina)

Durante 2 años, en un estudio de corte trasversal, se estudiaron los pacientes con síntomas compatibles con paracoccidioidomicosis (PCM) que concurrieron al Hospital Central de Formosa. Se seleccionaron 335 enfermos, de los cuales 264 eran varones y 71 mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre los 25 y los 79 años. Se hizo diagnóstico de PCM en 24 pacientes, obteniéndose una prevalencia de 7,16%. Hubo un solo caso femenino. La mayoría (83%) de los pacientes había consumido tabaco por un tiempo mayor a 10 años, el 96% pertenecía al área rural y el 63% de ellos refería una ingesta elevada de alcohol. Se detectaron también un caso de PCM infanto-juvenil y uno de neuroparacoccidioidomicosis. El 100% de las muestras de lesiones muco-cutáneas de pacientes con PCM estudiadas fue positivo. El estudio serológico por inmunodifusión en gel de agar (IDGA) permitió el diagnóstico en 22/249 pacientes estudiados. La PCM es endémica en la provincia de Formosa donde coexiste con otras afecciones con manifestaciones semejantes, por lo que se debe realizar siempre el diagnóstico diferencial.Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) compatible symptoms who attended Hospital Central de Formosa, were studied during 2 years. Three hundred and thirty five patients were selected, 264 male and 71 female, ages were between 25 and 79 years old. Twenty four patients were diagnosed, the prevalence observed was 7.16%. There was only one female positive case. Most patients (83%) had smoked for more than 10 years, 96% came from a rural area and 63% was alcoholic. Also a case of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis and a juvenile-type PCM case were detected. Specimens of mucocutaneous lesions were 100% positives. Immunodiffusion (IDGA) allowed the diagnostic in 22/249 patients. PCM and others infectious diseases with similar clinical manifestations coexist in Formosa province, for this reason differential diagnostic must be done

Paracoccidioidomicosis asociada a otras patologías respiratorias en un hospital de Corrientes, Argentina Association of paracoccidioidomycosis with different pulmonary pathologies in a hospital in Corrientes province, Argentina

Se realizó la búsqueda sistemática de paracoccidioidomicosis (PCM) en un conjunto de pacientes que fueron atendidos en un hospital de la ciudad de Corrientes dentro de un período de dos años. El criterio de inclusión fue: pacientes con tuberculosis (TBC), pacientes con diagnóstico presuntivo o confirmado de cáncer de pulmón (CA), pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) y pacientes con imagen radiológica compatible con micosis pulmonar (IRXC). Se estudiaron 84 pacientes: 57 con TBC, 1 con CA, 5 con EPOC, 3 con TBC+CA, 4 con TBC+EPOC, 4 con EPOC+CA y 10 con IRXC. A todos se les realizó serología por inmunodifusión en gel de agar (IDGA) y, en los casos en que se pudo obtener una muestra clínica, también se efectuaron estudios microbiológicos. Por IDGA se diagnosticaron 10 casos de PCM: 4 asociados a TBC, 1 a TBC+CA, 3 a EPOC y 2 a IRXC; 9 de ellos se corroboraron por el hallazgo del hongo. La búsqueda sistemática de PCM en habitantes del área endémica que presentan patología pulmonar favorecería el diagnóstico precoz y, por lo tanto, las posibilidades de un tratamiento eficaz.<br>For 2 years, a systematic research of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) had been conducted in a hospital in the city of Corrientes. The inclusion criterium used was: tuberculosis patients (TBC), presumptive or confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary cancer (CA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or X-ray images compatible with pulmonary mycosis (XRC). Eighty four patients were studied: 57 (TBC), 1 (CA), 5 (COPD), 3 (TBC+CA), 4 (TBC+COPD), 4 (COPD+CA) and 10 (XRC). Serology tests by agar gel immunodiffusion (IDGA) were performed on all patients, whereas microbiological studies were performed on those cases in which clinical samples could be obtained. Ten PCM were diagnosed by IDGA; 4 associated to TBC, 1 to TBC+CA, 3 to COPD and only 2 to XRC. PCM was mycologically proven in 9 of these cases. Systematic research of PCM would lead to an early diagnosis and therefore, to better chances for a successful treatment