Characterization of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates in a Moroccan hospital

Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two pathogens with an important power of adaptation to antibiotics thus, both pose a real public health problem. Our study investigated epidemiological characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity profile and resistance genes of imipenem resistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. This was a retrospective study carried out in the bacteriology laboratory of Mohammed V military training hospital, spanning from January 2018 to April 2021. Antibiotic susceptibility was studied by Mueller Hilton agar diffusion method with OXOID?? type antibiotic discs and interpreted according to the recommendations of EUCAST 2021. Carbapenemase detection was performed by CarbaNP-test??. The molecular study was performed using conventional PCR. During the study period, we collected 1,072 imipenem-resistant isolates namely, 820 A. baumannii and 252 P. aeruginosa. The molecular study showed that out of 108 A. baumannii isolates 102 carried the blaOXA-51 and 100 isolates carried the blaOXA-23 gene. The coexistence of blaOXA-23 and blaNDM genes was detected in only 4 isolates. Altogether 50% of P. aeruginosa strains carried blaVIM-2. All investigated A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa strains were colistin susceptible in this study. Multiresistant bacterial infections are associated with longer hospitalization, higher hospital costs and higher mortality rates. Therefore, a collective action including the different actors of the healthcare system is necessary

Prevalence of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in a University Hospital in Rabat, Morocco: A 19-Months Prospective Study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the prevalence of clinical isolates of enterobacteriaceae with carbapenem resistance as a result of carbapenemase production, and to characterize the types of enzymes produced. Methods: All non-duplicate enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp and E. coli) clinical isolates collected over 19 months (i.e., in the period from May 2009 through December 2010) were included in the study. The modified Hodge test was performed on strains showing reduced ertapenem susceptibility. Isolates that tested positive were sent to the French reference center on emerging resistance for molecular characterization and clone determination. Results: A total of 463 strains were investigated: E. coli 63.9%, Klebsiella spp 27.9% and Enterobacter spp 8.2%. Carbapenemase production occurred in 13 isolates (2.8%). Ten strains produced class D carbapenemases (OXA-48). These were 6 K. pneumoniae, 1 K. oxytoca and 3 E. cloacae. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) metallo enzymes were produced by three K. pneumoniae strains. Conclusion: A source of concern for Morocco can be found in both the high prevalence of carbapenemase producing Klebsiella and Enterobacter clinical isolates and detection of NDM-1 carbapenemases. This requires setting up an emerging resistance monitoring and surveillance scheme at national level

Early results for active infective endocarditis

Introduction: Cardiac surgery is frequently needed during active phase of infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of this study was to analyze the immediate and late results and determine the risk factors for death.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 101 patients with IE operated in the active phase. The mean age was 40.5 ± 12.5 years. 16 patients (15.8%) were diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). 81 (80.9%) were in NYHA functional class III-IV. Blood cultures were positive in only 24 cases (23.9%).Results: in-hospital mortality rate was 17.9% (18 cases). Multivariate analysis indentified five determinant predictor factors: congestive heart failure (CHF), renal insufficiency, high Euroscore, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (> 120 min) and long ICU stay. The median follow-up period was 4.2 (2-6.5) years. Overall survival rate for all patients who survived surgery was 97% at 5 years and 91% at 10 years.Conclusion: Despite high in-hospital mortality rate, when patients receive operation early in the active phase of their illness, late outcome may be good.Keywords: Infective endocarditis, valvular surgery, active phas

Research Article Bacteraemia in Intensive Care Unit: Clinical, Bacteriological

Objectives. We conducted a one-year observational study from December 2012 to November 2013 to describe the epidemiology of bacteraemia in intensive care units (ICU) of Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital of Rabat (Morocco). Methods. The study consisted of monitoring all blood cultures coming from intensive care units and studying the bacteriological profile of positive blood cultures as well as their clinical significance. Results. During this period, a total of 46 episodes of bacteraemia occurred, which corresponds to a rate of 15,4/1000 patients. The rate of nosocomial infections was 97% versus 3% for community infections. The most common source of bacteraemia was the lungs in 33%, but no source was identified in 52% of the episodes. Gram negative organisms were isolated in 83,6% of the cases with Acinetobacter baumannii being the most frequent. Antibiotic resistance was very high with 42,5% of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Enterobacteriaceae and 100% of carbapenemase in Acinetobacter baumannii. The antibiotherapy introduced in the first 24 hours was adequate in 72% of the cases. Conclusions. Bloodstream infections in ICU occur most often in patients over 55 years, with hypertension and diabetes. The bacteria involved are mainly Gram negative bacteria multiresistant to antibiotics. Early administration of antibiotics significantly reduces patients mortality

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Septicémie fatale due à une bactérie émergente: arcanobactrium hemolyticum

L’Arcanobactérium haemolyticum (A.haemolyticum) est un bacille à Gram positif. L’homme en est le principal réservoir. C’est un pathogène opportuniste essentiellement chez l’immunodéprimé, et qui peut être responsable d’infection au niveau de la peau et du pharynx chez les sujets sains, surtout chez les enfants et les adolescents. Il peut causer des surinfections des ulcères chroniques, et occasionnellement des infections invasives. Sa détection au niveau des cultures reste toujours difficile car il simule de nombreuses bactéries auxquelles il est souvent associé dans les produits pathologiques. Et Il n’existe pas de recommandations concernant l’étude sa sensibilité aux antibiotiques. Les bactériémies àArcanobactérium sont rares, à notre connaissance, seize cas ont été décrits dans la littérature. Nous rapportons, un autre cas de bactériémie à A.haemolyticum, secondaire à une surinfection d’escarres fessières.The Pan African Medical Journal 2016;2

Pancytopenia revealing acute brucellosis

Brucellosis is the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis worldwide. The WHO estimates that the infection is responsible for more than 500 000 cases per year across the world [1].Hematological complications like mild anemia and leukopenia have been frequently associated with acute brucellosis, but pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia are less frequently encountered [2]. We are reporting the case of a 73 year old male patient, with pancytopenia that revealed acute brucellosis. Following 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy, our patient showed favorable clinical outcome, and the complete blood count returned to normal. Acute brucellosis should be highly suspected in patients with pancytopenia

Bacteriological aspects of chronic osteoarticular infections in adults: the influence of the osteosynthesis material

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to establish the bacterial epidemiology of chronic osteoarticular infections in adults, to study the susceptibility of the isolated strains to antibiotics and to demonstrate the influence of osteosynthesis material thereon. Patients and methods This is a retrospective study of 78 months, from January 2006 to June 2012, providing bacteriological samples from patients with osteitis and osteoarthritis in the Mohammed V military teaching hospital of Rabat. Isolation and identification of bacteria were made by bacteriological classical techniques. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed by disk diffusion agar method, as recommended by the Committee of the susceptibility of the French Society for Microbiology (CA-SFM). Results We collected 234 cases, 53% (n = 124) of patients without osteosynthesis material (group A) and 47% (n = 110) patients with osteosynthesis material (group B).We isolated 371 bacteria which 51.49 (n = 191) in group A and 48.51% (n = 180) in group B. Gram-positive cocci were the most frequent (n = 234), followed by the Gram-negative bacilli (n = 114) and the Gram-positive bacilli (n = 19). Our study shows that the rate of resistance to antibiotics in strains obtained from patients with osteosynthesis material is higher compared to those obtained from patients without osteosynthesis material. Conclusions Chronic OA infection in adults is difficult to diagnose and treat. Its good management must be multidisciplinary

Predominance of OXA-48 Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales in a Moroccan Hospital

Objective. The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is a major concern that is increasingly reported worldwide. Our study aimed at investigating the resistance of CPE isolates in a Moroccan teaching hospital using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Methods. Enterobacterales strains from March to June 2018 were collected from different clinical samples. The Enterobacterales isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (3GC) and/or carbapenems were subjected to the Carba NP test and an immunochromatographic test for phenotypic detection. Detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) was also performed following standards. Molecular screening of carbapenemases genes (OXA-48, NDM, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaOXA-24, blaOXA-23, OXA-51, OXA-58) using conventional multiplex PCR assays was also performed on 143 isolates. Results. Enterobacterales represented 52.7% with a proportion of 21.8% of bacteria resistant to 3GC and/or carbapenems. Within 143 isolates MDR to 3GC, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and E. cloacae represent 53.1%, 40.6%, and 6.3%, respectively. These strains were isolated mainly from urinary samples (74.8%) in patients admitted to emergency and surgical units. 81.1% of strains are producing ESBL and 29% are carbapenemase producers as confirmed by the Carba NP test, immunochromatographic test, and molecular testing. OXA-48 carriers represent 83.3% of these strains, followed by NDM with 16.7%. blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaOXA-24, blaOXA-23, OXA-51, OXA-58 were not detected in any of these bacteria. Conclusions. A high rate of CPE carrying OXA-48 among Enterobacterales resistant to 3GC and/or carbapenems isolates was found. Strict observance of hospital hygiene measures and more rational use of antibiotics are mandatory. Implantation of carbapenemases detection should be encouraged in our hospital settings to estimate the true burden of the CPE