Distribution Profile of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Asa River (Nigeria)

Escherichia coli are known pathogenic organism that has caused diseases which has led to severe morbidity and increased death rate. The occurrence of extended spectrum beta Lactamase (bla) producing Escherichia coli has been on the rise. Water samples were investigated as a potential reservoir for the Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ESBL) - producing E. coli using phenotypic (culture-based) and molecular methods. Double disc synergy test was determined between a disc of amoxicillin-clavulanate (20μg/10μg) (augmentin) and a 30-μg disc of each  thirdgeneration cephalosporin antibiotic placed at a distance of 20 mm from centre to centre on a Mueller-Hinton Agar plate streaked with the isolate. An isolate was considered to be ESBL negative if there was no enhancement between any of the cephalosporin and the clavulanate-containing discs and were then subjected to specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Eighty-four environmental E. coli was isolated. 58(69.04%) showed positivity for ESBL production. E. coli isolates positive for ESBL-production selected and subjected to plasmid curing were all plasmid mediated. 16 isolates subjected to PCR to identify the presence of blaSHV (Sulphydryl Variable), blaTEM (Temoneira) and blaCTX-M  (Cefotaximase) genes revealed that 11(68.7%) of these had at least one ESBL gene (either blaCTX-M or blaTEM, or both), 5(31.3%) isolates do not have any of the three ESBL genes, and blaSHV was not detected in any of the isolates. The results of this study indicate the widespread prevalence of ESBLs in E. coli. Therefore, beta-lactam antibiotics and beta-lactamase inhibitors should be prescribed based on an antibacterial susceptibility test.Keywords: WATER, E. coli, ESBL, DDST, PLASMID CURING and ASA RIVE

Adaptation of a Community Health Advisor Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans in the Southern United States

Community health advisor (CHA) interventions increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. Focus groups and learner verification were used to adapt National Cancer Institute CRC screening educational materials for delivery by a CHA to African American community health center patients. Such academic-community collaboration improves adoption of evidence-based interventions. This short article describes the adaptation of an evidence-based cancer education intervention for implementation in an African American community

Hydrocarbon-degrading Capability of Bacteria isolated from a Maize-Planted, Kerosene-contaminated Ilorin Alfisol

In an effort at discovering autochthonous and active bacterial strains that could be of relevance in biodegradation and/or bioremediation of petroleum contaminated systems in Nigeria, twenty four bacterial species were isolated from kerosene treated Ilorin alfisol. The traditional method of identifying bacteria was complemented by using MicrobactTM ID 24E system for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae and common miscellaneous Gram-negative bacilli (MGNB). The results show appreciable increase in optical densities and total viable counts contemporaneous with decrease in pH of the culture media. The most promising organisms in this study are Leclercia adecarboxylata , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus mirabilis , Micrococcus luteus , Arthrobacter sp. and Streptococcus sp. The results obtained in this study showed that kerosene spillage posses a great threat to the survival and development of Zea mays . It also revealed that some bacteria survive and even thrive in kerosene contaminated soil and hence have the potential to be used in biodegradation and/or bioremediation of oil contaminated soils and water

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Evaluation of enhanced-efficiency fertilisers in Queensland sugarcane

Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilisers (EEFs) are purported to reduce nitrogen (N) losses by better matching N supply to crop demand over the growing season. The EEF60 project was designed to evaluate EEF performance across regions, rainfall conditions, soil types and fertiliser application times. EEFs were tested on 74 sugarcane farms, located between Mossman and Bundaberg, with the lifespan of trial sites ranging from one to three ratoons. Four treatments, including two urea and two EEF treatments, were tested. One urea treatment had N applied at the SIX EASY STEPS Step 4 (6ES) recommended rate (Urea 6ES), while the three other treatments applied 20% less N. Applying urea at 20% less N decreased cane yield in medium and high rainfall conditions but improved profitability in low rainfall conditions. Urea treated with nitrification inhibitor (NI) and blends of 20% controlled release fertilisers (CRF) with 80% urea applied with 20% less N maintained similar productivity and profitability to urea applied at 6ES. Blends with high proportions of CRF applied at 20% less N also maintained productivity but cost more, which generally made them less profitable to apply. Nitrogen-use efficiency indicators, such as crop-N content, partial factor productivity of applied N and N-uptake efficiency, were improved when EEFs were applied at 20% less N. These findings indicate that NI-urea and blends of 20% CRF with 80% urea at N rates 20% less than 6ES can be applied at any time during the season without loss of productivity or profitability in comparison to Urea 6ES. EEFs appeared to obtain higher yields than Urea 6ES in some situations under high rainfall conditions, which corresponds to past EEF research. These findings suggest that the EEF option could be endorsed as a recommended nutrient management strategy, particularly when high rainfall is expected

Evaluation of enhanced-efficiency fertilisers in Queensland sugarcane

Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilisers (EEFs) are purported to reduce nitrogen (N) losses by better matching N supply to crop demand over the growing season. The EEF60 project was designed to evaluate EEF performance across regions, rainfall conditions, soil types and fertiliser application times. EEFs were tested on 74 sugarcane farms, located between Mossman and Bundaberg, with the lifespan of trial sites ranging from one to three ratoons. Four treatments, including two urea and two EEF treatments, were tested. One urea treatment had N applied at the SIX EASY STEPS Step 4 (6ES) recommended rate (Urea 6ES), while the three other treatments applied 20% less N. Applying urea at 20% less N decreased cane yield in medium and high rainfall conditions but improved profitability in low rainfall conditions. Urea treated with nitrification inhibitor (NI) and blends of 20% controlled release fertilisers (CRF) with 80% urea applied with 20% less N maintained similar productivity and profitability to urea applied at 6ES. Blends with high proportions of CRF applied at 20% less N also maintained productivity but cost more, which generally made them less profitable to apply. Nitrogen-use efficiency indicators, such as crop-N content, partial factor productivity of applied N and N-uptake efficiency, were improved when EEFs were applied at 20% less N. These findings indicate that NI-urea and blends of 20% CRF with 80% urea at N rates 20% less than 6ES can be applied at any time during the season without loss of productivity or profitability in comparison to Urea 6ES. EEFs appeared to obtain higher yields than Urea 6ES in some situations under high rainfall conditions, which corresponds to past EEF research. These findings suggest that the EEF option could be endorsed as a recommended nutrient management strategy, particularly when high rainfall is expected

Assessment of enhanced efficiency fertilisers in sugarcane grown in North Queensland

The EEF60 project tested Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers (EEFs) on 60 sugarcane farms located in the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef, over three cropping seasons. Four treatments including two urea and two EEF treatments were tested. One urea treatment had N applied at the industry standard SIX EASY STEPS (6ES) recommended rate (Urea 6ES), the three other treatments all received N at 20% lower than the 6ES rate. Applying urea at N rates 20% below 6ES decreased cane yield. Nitrification inhibitor (NI) coated urea and blends of 20% controlled release fertilisers (CRF) with 80% urea applied at N rates 20% less than 6ES maintained similar productivity and profitability to Urea 6ES. Applying an NI or CRF blended with urea at the 6ES N rate did not improve productivity and is likely to decrease profitability. NUE indicators, such as partial factor productivity of applied N and index for efficiency of fertiliser N recovery were improved when EEF’s were applied at N rates 20% less than 6ES. Findings indicated that NI and blends of 20% CRF with 80% urea at N rates 20% less than 6ES could be applied at any time during the season without loss of productivity or profitability. However, there was some evidence of better performance when loss conditions were likely to be high. EEFs appeared to obtain higher yields than Urea 6ES in some situations under high rainfall conditions. The concentration of DIN in leachate was shown to be higher in Urea 6ES compared to the lower N rate of urea and EEFs. Findings suggest that more widespread use of EEF’s at N rates 20% lower than 6ES would improve NUE without affecting productivity or profitability

Support of cane farmer trials of enhanced efficiency fertiliser in the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef

Key Findings 1. Applying urea at N rates 20% below the 6ES recommended rate decreased cane yield in medium and high rainfall conditions. While it maintained grower profitability, the lower yield decreases mill revenue and could reduce industry profitability. The lower urea N rate performed better (e.g. greater net revenue) in low rainfall conditions, however making N rate decisions based on predicted rainfall is currently risky. 2. DMPP treated urea and blends of 20% CRF with 80% urea applied at N rates 20% less than 6ES maintained similar productivity and profitability to urea applied at 6ES. 3. EF blends with a high proportion of CRF (e.g. 1/3 DMPP with 2/3 CRF) applied at N rates 20% lower than 6ES have high fertiliser costs, which generally reduces profitability except in a few situations such as in sand and loamy soils that experience high rainfallconditions after late season fertiliser application. Applying the same EEF blend at the higher 6ES N rate did not increase production and so was even less profitable. 4. Concentrations of N in water sampled 1 metre below the soil surface from the Urea 6ES treatment were found to be significantly greater than from EEFs and urea applied at N rates 20% lower than 6ES. 5. Indicators of NUE, such as crop N content and N uptake efficiency, were improved in comparison to Urea 6ES when EEFs are applied at N rates 20% less than 6ES. 6. Urea treated with DMPP and blends of 20% CRF with 80% urea, both applied at N rates 20% less than 6ES, can be applied at any time during the season without loss of productivity or profitability in comparison to urea applied at the 6ES recommended rate. These strategies delivered higher yields than Urea 6ES in some high rainfall situations, which was consistent with other EEF research. These findings suggest that the EEF option should be the preferred nutrient management strategy when high rainfall is expected

Investigating losses from green and burnt cane harvesting conditions

Despite much research into the impact of high harvester pour rates and fan speeds on harvested cane yields, there has been low adoption of HBP (harvesting best practice) across the industry. Full adoption across the Australian sugarcane industry could increase industry revenue with no necessity for horizontal expansion (increase in cane land). In order to inform industry of the potential for significant gains, 95 replicated harvesting trials and workshops were undertaken during 2017 and 2018 across 12 sugarcane regions in Queensland and New South Wales. The performance of settings recommended by HBP was compared with each harvesting operation's standard practice by assessing yield, CCS, bin mass, extraneous matter (EM), fibre, sugar loss and revenue. To highlight the strong relationship between cane loss and excessive pour rates and fan speeds, treatments with higher pour rates and fan speeds and lower pour rates and fan speeds were also trialled. Cane loss, production and revenue data from the fully replicated and randomised trials were analysed to identify differences between industry standard harvesting practices and those recommended by HBP. Harvesters typically operate at ground and fan speeds at on average of 0.9 km/h and 95 rpm above those recommended under HBP parameters. The higher ground speed overloads the cleaning capacity of the harvester in delivering an average 21 t/h more cane though the machine. Consequently, fan speeds are increased to remove the additional EM (extraneous matter) entering the machine, which then removes additional cane via the extractor. This cane often disintegrated in the process, making much invisible. Trials indicated the average sugar loss out of the extractor increased by 0.15 t/ha over the HBP settings. However, there was no significant improvement in EM or bin mass. As a result of cane loss though the extractor, less cane per hectare was delivered to the mill. Mill analyses across the trials identified cane and sugar yields for the recommended practice were 4.9 t/ha (cane yield) and 0.7 t/ha (sugar yield) higher than standard practice. Neither CCS nor fibre levels were significantly different. Increased cane and sugar yields generated by the recommended practice translated to an increase in grower gross revenue of $181/ha., but reduced ground speeds increased the cost of harvesting by$61/ha. Subtracting the additional harvesting costs and levies from the additional grower revenue leaves a net benefit of $116/ha for the grower. Preliminary results of "good" burn trials indicate an improvement of$207/ha in grower gross revenue with lower fuel. Based on the green-cane results, full adoption of HBP could improve annual industry revenue by $44 million for growers at an additional cost of$17 million for harvesting (excluding incentives). Milling revenue would also improve by $25 million per year but this does not account for additional milling or transport costs. © 2021 42nd Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Conference 2021, ASSCT 2021. All rights reserved