Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing nosocomial infections

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing is a typing method based on the DNA sequence analysis of staphylococcal protein A gene. The purpose of this study was to do molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients in Toohid and Besat hospitals, Sanandaj, Iran, in 2014.METHODS: Clinical specimens were collected from hospitalized patients over a period of 1 year. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified using culture and biochemical standard methods based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. spa gene patterns in Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified using spa-typing techniques.RESULTS: In total, 20 different patterns of spa gene were obtained in staphylococcus aureus isolates in this study, which included type t030 (6 cases), types t230, t459, and t701 (3 cases of each one), types t11332 and t304 (2 cases of each one), and types t325, t012, t1149, t1810, t197, t325, t7789, t808, t871, t937, t14896, t14913, t14928, and t14929 (1 case of each one). The highest prevalence belonged to types t030 (30.0%), and then, types t230, t459, and t701 (15.0% for each one). New types of t14896, t14913, t14928, and t14929 were identified during this study.CONCLUSION: There were some well-known patterns of spa types, and also we identified new types that should be studied more to qualify. Analysis of these patterns can improve insight to design nosocomial infection control programs

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) remains one of the most prevalent drug-resistant bacteria causing health care infections. Limited data are available about how the frequency of MRSE changed in Iran over the past years. The current study aimed at determining the frequency of MRSE in different cities of Iran. Methods: Databases including Web of Sciences, Scopus, Embase, Medline, and Iranian databases were searched to find studies addressing the frequency of MRSE in Iran published from Mar 2006 to Jan 2016. The data were analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis version 2.2 (Biostat). Of the 139 records identified in the databases, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: The analyses showed that the frequency of MRSE infections was 73.9% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 61.4 - 83.4] among culture-positive cases of S. epidermidis in different parts of Iran. The frequency of MRSE was higher in the studies conducted from 2011 to 2015, based on further stratified analyses. Conclusions: The regular surveillance on antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and formulation of definite antibiotic policy may control high rate of MRSE associated infections in Iran. Moreover, rapid and reliable diagnosis of MRSE isolates and regular screening of the personnel and surfaces of hospitals in terms of MRSE are indispensable

Comparison of the Effect of Ciprofloxacin and Nalidixic Acid in the Infection of Different Parts of the Urinary Tract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. The most common cause is Escherichia coli. This research is done with the aim at compare effect of ciprofloxacin with nalidixic acid in the infection of different parts of the urinary tract.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 patients with symptoms of the urinary tract infection referred to Imam Hossain Hospital of Shahrood were studied. For the all patients, urine samples were collected by standard method and urine analysis and culture was performed. Then, positive culture samples were tested by antibiogram and the resistance rate for the two antibiotics ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid and MBC and MIC was investigated.Results: Of the 130 patients with symptoms of UTI (fever, flank pain or tenderness and dysuria, urgency or frequency (84 patients had positive urine culture. Of all patients with positive urine, 31 cases had symptoms of pyelonephritis, 25 patients had symptoms of cystitis and 28 patients had symptoms of UTI. In antibiogram for positive urine samples, 21 pieces were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 46 pieces were resistant to nalidixic acid which significantly reduced resistance to ciprofloxacin (P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two antibiotics in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance. So there was no significant difference between the two MIC and MBC in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance.Conclusions: This study showed that ciprofloxacin is more effective in controlling infection of different parts of the urinary tract due to less drug resistance

Comparison of the Effect of Ciprofloxacin and Nalidixic Acid in the Infection of Different Parts of the Urinary Tract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. The most common cause is Escherichia coli. This research is done with the aim at compare effect of ciprofloxacin with nalidixic acid in the infection of different parts of the urinary tract.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 patients with symptoms of the urinary tract infection referred to Imam Hossain Hospital of Shahrood were studied. For the all patients, urine samples were collected by standard method and urine analysis and culture was performed. Then, positive culture samples were tested by antibiogram and the resistance rate for the two antibiotics ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid and MBC and MIC was investigated.Results: Of the 130 patients with symptoms of UTI (fever, flank pain or tenderness and dysuria, urgency or frequency (84 patients had positive urine culture. Of all patients with positive urine, 31 cases had symptoms of pyelonephritis, 25 patients had symptoms of cystitis and 28 patients had symptoms of UTI. In antibiogram for positive urine samples, 21 pieces were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 46 pieces were resistant to nalidixic acid which significantly reduced resistance to ciprofloxacin (P=0.005). There was no significant difference between the two antibiotics in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance. So there was no significant difference between the two MIC and MBC in place of clinical symptoms and drug resistance.Conclusions: This study showed that ciprofloxacin is more effective in controlling infection of different parts of the urinary tract due to less drug resistance

Antifungal activities of quince seed mucilage hydrogel decorated with essential oils of Nigella sativa, Citrus sinensis and Cinnamon verum

Background and Objectives: Candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor are opportunistic fungal infections that are caused by Candida spp. and Malassezia spp. yeasts. Conventional drugs like azole and amino derivatives are known to treat fungal skin diseases. However, drawbacks like long-term side effects and drug resistance lead to investigate on antifungal properties of phytochemicals as an alternative to available synthetic drugs. Materials and Methods: The herbal nano hydrogel was successfully synthesized from Quince Seed extract followed by ultrasonic treatment and it has been formulated using a mixture of essential oils. We evaluated the antifungal in vitro assay for a mixture of essential oils in combination with herbal nano hydrogel against Candida albicans and Malasezia furfur strains by micro dilution method. Results: The results indicated that essential oils possess antifungal activity with the MIC value of 12.5 and 6.24 mg/ml against C. albicans and M. furfur, respectively. No fungicidal effect was reported for the herbal hydrogel before nanofabrication while it shown some antifungal activity after ultrasonic treatment for 5 and 10 minutes. As anticipated; the antifungal property of essential oil mixture was appreciably improved when it combined with herbal nano hydrogel where the highest level of inhibition was observed at concentration of 3.125 mg/ml for both strains. The loss in biological activity observed when the ultrasonic treatment on herbal nano hydrogel performed for longer time. Conclusion: The proposed plant-based nano formulation shown promising in vitro antifungal activities against C. albicans and M. furfur strains and its antifungal properties were comparable with commercially available agents like clotrimazole. The new formulation expected to be safe with minimum long-term side effects. Further investigations are underway to confirm the safety and the mechanism of the action of this new herbal formulation

Detection of tetracycline resistance genes, aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, and coagulase gene typing of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in the Southwest of Iran

Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to determine the aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) encoded genes, tetracycline resistance genes, and the coa based typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in the Southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was carried out by agar disk diffusion methods. Two sets of multiplex PCR mixture were used for detection of AME genes and tet genes.  All of the isolates were typed with the coagulase gene typing method. Of the 121 isolates, 29.75% and 47.93% were resistant to at least one aminoglycosides and tetracyclines, respectively. Results: The aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'') was the most frequent gene (97.22%), and aph (3')-IIIa and ant (4')-Ia genes were detected in 61.11% and 11.11% of aminoglycoside resistant isolates, respectively. The tetK and tetM genes were detected in 82.75% and 56.9% of tetracycline resistant isolates, respectively. Overall 31.4% of isolates were MRSA. Totally 17 distinct coa gene RFLP patterns, numbered C1 to C17, were observed.  The C5 was the most frequent coa type with 31 isolates. Conclusion: The aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'') and aph (3')-IIIa genes were the most important genes contributing to aminoglycosides resistance, while resistance to tetracyclines was mediated by tetK and tetM genes. Interestingly all S. aureus with C5 as the most prevalent coa-type were resistant to at least one of the aminoglycoside antibiotics and tetracycline simultaneously. Moreover, 30 out of 31 isolates with this coa type were MRSA, indicating the importance of the C5 coa-type in MRSA strains and also in isolates that were resistant to aminoglycosides and tetracycline

Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing nosocomial infections

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing is a typing method based on the DNA sequence analysis of staphylococcal protein A gene. The purpose of this study was to do molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients in Toohid and Besat hospitals, Sanandaj, Iran, in 2014. METHODS: Clinical specimens were collected from hospitalized patients over a period of 1 year. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified using culture and biochemical standard methods based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. spa gene patterns in Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified using spa-typing techniques. RESULTS: In total, 20 different patterns of spa gene were obtained in staphylococcus aureus isolates in this study, which included type t030 (6 cases), types t230, t459, and t701 (3 cases of each one), types t11332 and t304 (2 cases of each one), and types t325, t012, t1149, t1810, t197, t325, t7789, t808, t871, t937, t14896, t14913, t14928, and t14929 (1 case of each one). The highest prevalence belonged to types t030 (30.0%), and then, types t230, t459, and t701 (15.0% for each one). New types of t14896, t14913, t14928, and t14929 were identified during this study. CONCLUSION: There were some well-known patterns of spa types, and also we identified new types that should be studied more to qualify. Analysis of these patterns can improve insight to design nosocomial infection control programs

Unveiling the antimicrobial potential of oxidized graphene derivatives: Promising materials for advanced wound dressings and antibacterial surfaces

This study investigates the influence of oxygen-containing functional groups resulting from varying degrees of oxidation on the antimicrobial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of graphene oxide (GO). Four GO derivatives with different oxidation degrees (GO1.5, GO2, GO3, and GO6) were prepared and analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. EDS results showed a progressive decrease in the C/O ratio from GO1.5 to GO6, indicating that GO6 had the highest concentration of oxygen-containing chemical groups. The cytotoxic effects of these compounds were evaluated using the MTT colorimetric assay on the 3T3 cell line. After 72 h, GO6 exhibited significantly superior biocompatibility across various concentrations. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities were assessed through Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC), Antibiofilm, and Time-Kill tests against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (StaA) and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PseA) bacteria, as well as Candida albicans (CanA) fungus. Notably, all tested compounds demonstrated significant efficacy against StaA, PseA and CanA. GO6, with higher levels of hydrophilic functional groups and oxidation, exhibited highly enhanced antibacterial effects compared to GO1.5, GO2, and GO3. While previous research has explored generic GO's antimicrobial characteristics, our study uniquely delves into the relationship between GO's degree of oxidation and its antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic effects. This study confirms that, compared to generic GO materials, highly oxidized GO (GO6) holds the potential to be a highly efficient antibacterial agent, reinforcing its relevance for medical applications in combating pathogenic microbes

Preparation of graphene oxide nanoparticles and their derivatives: Evaluation of their antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activity against 3T3 cell line

Antibacterial applications of graphene derivatives have been very highlighted during the last decade. In this study, graphene-based materials, i.e., graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and carboxylated graphene oxide (GO-COOH), were synthesized and characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and TEM. The main difference in these nanomaterials is the content of their oxygen-containing functional groups. According to EDX elemental analysis, GO-COOH has the highest ratio of carbon to oxygen and the highest oxygen-containing functional groups. Cytotoxicity of GO, RGO, and GO-COOH in eight concentrations at two times (24 and 48 h) on 3T3 cell lines showed concentration-dependence cytotoxicity for these three nanomaterials. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of these three materials against gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, as well as a fungus (Candida albicans), were evaluated by MIC, MBC, anti-biofilm, and Time-Kill tests. Our data demonstrated that the GO-COOH has the highest antimicrobial properties, which can result from increasing the oxygen-containing functional groups. To the best of our knowledge, comparing all cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-biofilm properties of these three graphene derivatives in one study has not been reported yet

Effect of acute interval walking with blood flow restriction on 4EBP1, ERK, p38, and myostatin of skeletal muscle in inactive men

Background: There is mounting evidence that moderate- to high-intensity exercise training has a key role in skeletal muscle adaption. Low-intensity exercise with Blood flow restriction (BFR) associated with unique effect on muscle hypertrophy. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute interval walking with BFR on phosphorylation of 4EBP1, P38, ERK, and myostatin (MSTN) of skeletal muscle in inactive men. Materials and Methods: Five healthy inactive men were participated in the study. Training protocol includes five intervals 2-min walking with BFR at 50%–60% maximum heart rate and 1 min at rest. All samples were collected immediately before exercise and 3 h after BFR training. Phosphorylation of 4EBP1, P38, and ERK skeletal muscle was evaluated by Western blotting and MSTN by Elayza test. Dependent t-test was used to analyze the data after subtracting the posttest score from the pretest. Results: However, there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-test for 4EBP1 (P = 0.001), ERK (P = 0.049), and MSTN (P = 0.0009). There was no significant difference between the pre- and post-test of P38 (P = 0/452) (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: As a result, acute interval walking with BFR activates mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways signaling in inactive men