Phenotypic and Molecular Detection of Antiseptic Resistance Genes among Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Isolates During COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has expanded the use of chlorhexidine digluconate, a biocide frequently used in hospitals, to inhibit the spread of infection. Genes responsible for resistance against the quaternary ammonium compound qac in Staphylococcus aureus isolates have been shown to confer tolerance to a number of biocidal chemicals, including chlorhexidine. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of antiseptic resistance genes (qacA/B and qacC) in clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The study also aimed to investigate the association between the presence of the mecA, qacA/B, and qacC genes in MRSA isolates and the susceptibility of the isolates to chlorhexidine to evaluate its future use in the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) hospital, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for patients with MRSA. S. aureus isolates (n = 100) were collected from inpatients and outpatients at TBRI. A minimal inhibitory concentration of chlorhexidine was also detected. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mecA, qacA/B, and qacC genes. The results revealed that 84% of S. aureus isolates were MRSA. MRSA (61.9%) and MSSA (68.8%) isolates were susceptible to chlorhexidine. The qacA/B gene was more dominant, being detected in 34%, while qacC was detected in only 5% of S. aureus isolates. All S. aureus isolates with reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine harbored either the qacA/B or qacC genes. The clinical use of chlorhexidine may continue to increase, emphasizing the significance of continuous caution underlining the emergence of new clones with reduced susceptibility and avoiding antiseptic misuse

The role of adverse childhood experiences in predicting child abuse perpetration among married mothers in Alexandria, Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are receiving increased amounts of attention as a critical public health issue. ACEs have a massive impact on future violence victimization and perpetration. They are also associated with lifelong mental and physical health consequences as well as premature mortality. The present study aimed to investigate the role of different ACEs among married mothers in predicting the risk of child abuse perpetration in offspring. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 mothers of children aged 2–12 years attending family health centres in Alexandria. The mothers completed a predesigned interview questionnaire on sociodemographic data and data related to ACEs, spousal violence, and child abuse perpetration. Suitable bivariate and multivariate statistical tests were used to analyse the collected data using version 20.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results Two-thirds of mothers (66.3%) reported ever having been exposed to any ACE, and 18.6% of them had experienced 3 or more ACEs. Psychological abuse (46%) and witnessing domestic violence (17%) were the most common. Psychological aggression (95.4%), minor physical assault (79%), and neglect (52%) were the most common forms of child abuse perpetrated by the mothers. The number of ACEs experienced by mothers showed a moderate positive significant correlation with the 5 forms of child abuse examined. Different ACEs, mother’s age, socioeconomic status, and current exposure to spousal violence were found to be independent predictors of different forms of child abuse (psychological aggression, neglect, minor physical assault, and severe physical assault). Conclusion Different practices of family violence are strongly connected throughout different stages of an individual’s life and across generations. Further understanding of the interconnections among forms of violence and addressing them should be prioritized. Additionally, concerted national strategies across all levels and sectors are needed to address this complex problem

Evaluation of anterior segment changes using ultrasound biomicroscopy following phacoemulsification and implantation of one-piece and three-piece intraocular lenses in high myopia

Aim The aim of this research was to study the performance of the implanted one-piece and three-piece intraocular lenses (IOLs) in relation to the enlarged diameters of the capsular bags of the highly myopic eyes. Patients and methods Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A included 15 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of one-piece IOLs, and group B included 15 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of three-piece IOLs. All patients included in this study were high myopes with axial length greater than 26.5 mm. All eyes were planned for clear lens extraction or cataract extraction. Results In group A, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the diameters of the capsular bags and the diameters of the implanted one-piece IOLs. The correlation coefficient (r) is −0.56. In group B, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between the diameters of the capsular bags and the diameters of the implanted three-piece IOLs. The correlation coefficient (r) is 0.86. Conclusion The study of this correlation is to help in answering an important question − that is, does one diameter IOL fit all capsular bags? The statistical analyses in both groups point to a statistically significant correlation between the diameters of the capsular bags and the diameters of the implanted IOLs in both groups A and B, which demonstrates the absence of fitting of both sorts of IOLs in relation to the enlarged capsular bags of the highly myopic eyes − i.e. it focuses on the divergence between the size of the IOLs and that of the capsular bag

Additional file 1 of The role of adverse childhood experiences in predicting child abuse perpetration among married mothers in Alexandria, Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Supplementary Material 1: Appendix I. Mothers’ Adverse Childhood Experience