STUDIES ON DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL OF LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA IN DIFFERENT WATER SAMPLES

A number of 192 samples (180 water & swab specimens and 12 patient sputa)were chosen from different sites of Mansoura University Hospitals for detection anddiagnosis of Legionella pneumophila. Out of the 192 samples, 148 were positive byculture method and non-specific staining technique such as gram staining andbiochemical analysis. In our trials for diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila, wefound that 107 of 148 samples were positive by slide agglutination test and 110samples were positive by direct immunoflourescence assay, while 130 samples werepositive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique which proved to be the mostspecific and sensitive technique for diagnostic investigation of L. pneumophila. Theresults show that the four disinfectant procedures (chlorine, ozone, U.V. light andheat) were effective in eradicating Legionella pneumophila from different watersamples. Both UV light and heat (60ºC) produced a 5 log kill in less than 1 h. Incontrast, both chlorine and ozone required 5 h of exposure to produce a 5 logdecrease. Neither turbidity nor the higher temperature of 43ºC impaired the efficacyof any of the disinfectant methods

Burden and risk factors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia:a Multinational Point Prevalence Study of Hospitalised Patients

Pseudornonas aeruginosa is a challenging bacterium to treat due to its intrinsic resistance to the antibiotics used most frequently in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data about the global burden and risk factors associated with P. aeruginosa-CAP are limited. We assessed the multinational burden and specific risk factors associated with P. aeruginosa-CAP. We enrolled 3193 patients in 54 countries with confirmed diagnosis of CAP who underwent microbiological testing at admission. Prevalence was calculated according to the identification of P. aeruginosa. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa-CAP. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa and antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa-CAP was 4.2% and 2.0%, respectively. The rate of P. aeruginosa CAP in patients with prior infection/colonisation due to P. aeruginosa and at least one of the three independently associated chronic lung diseases (i.e. tracheostomy, bronchiectasis and/or very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was 67%. In contrast, the rate of P. aeruginosa-CAP was 2% in patients without prior P. aeruginosa infection/colonisation and none of the selected chronic lung diseases. The multinational prevalence of P. aeruginosa-CAP is low. The risk factors identified in this study may guide healthcare professionals in deciding empirical antibiotic coverage for CAP patients

Rosemary extract ameliorates cadmium-induced histological changes and oxidative damage in the liver of albino rat

The oxidative damage and histological changes of liver of rats exposed to cadmium and the ameliorative effect of rosemary extract against cadmium hepatotoxicity were studied. The results showed that exposure to Cd (30 mg/kg b.w., 5 consecutive days/week for 8 weeks) led to an increase in the MDA levels and a decrease in activity of SOD, CAT and the concentration of GSH versus controls. In contrast, administration of rosemary aqueous extract restored the changes in these parameters to nearly the normal levels. Treating animals with Cd led to different histopathological changes such as loss of the normal structure of hepatic cells, blood congestion, leukocytic infiltrations and fatty degeneration. Ultra structure results revealed abnormality in the nucleus, swelling of mitochondria, degeneration of endoplasmic reticulum, and increase of lysosomes and appearance of fat droplets. On the other hand, animals treated with Cd and rosemary showed an improvement in these changes and the tissue appears with normal structures. The results suggested that the ameliorative effect of rosemary extract may be due to its antioxidant properties in combating free radical-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury resulting from cadmium chloride