CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF IMPETIGO IN RAMADI CITY

The aims of this study was to detect the clinical and microbiological criteria used in the diagnosis of impetigo addition to understand the susceptibility pattern of the bacterial causative agents of impetigo to selected antimicrobial agents. A total of Fourty five patients infected with impetigo were included in this study. Microbiological examination was performed based on direct examination, staining with Gram stain, biochemical test and culture. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by standardized Kirbey-Bauer disc diffusion method.Out of 45 specimens obtained, 15(33.3%) were diagnosed bullous impetigo and 30 (66.7%) as impetigo contagiosa. Out of 30 patients of non bullous impetigo, 25 (83.3%) were appeared as a primary infection while five (16.7%) of them followed other infection like scabies. The study results showed that Staphylococci were the main bacterial causative agents of bullous impetigo. In non-bullous impetigo, staphylococci isolated in 17 cases and Streptococcus pyogenes in 10 (33.3%) of patients. With regard to antimicrobial susceptibility tests, staphylococcal isolates were appeared 100% of sensitivity against ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, rifampicin and amikacin. Cloxacillin alone and ampicillin/cloxacillin combination revealed resistance in 4 (28.6) and 3 (21.4%) respectively. Three (12%) of isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporines (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) respectively.Staphylococci were the main bacterial causative agents of bullous impetigo while in non-bullous impetigo, Streptococcus pyogenes in addition to staphylococci predominantly S aureus were the predominant causative agents. Further, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, rifampicin and amikacin were the most effective antimicrobial agents against study isolates of S aureus

Synthesize of pluronic-based nanovesicular formulation loaded with Pistacia atlantica extract for improved antimicrobial efficiency

One of the current concerns to human health is antibiotic resistance, which promotes the use of antibiotics that are more harmful, expensive, and ineffective. In this condition, researchers are turning to innovative options to combat this alarming situation. Combining herbal medicine with nanotechnology has created a new strategy to increase the effectiveness of phytochemical compounds in overcoming antimicrobial resistance. Pistacia atlantica is one of the promising herbs with medicinal benefits, but its poor solubility in biological fluids is challenging. In this regard, we seek to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Pistacia atlantica extract-loaded nanovesicle. Cholesterol, Span 40, and Pluronic F127 modified nanoformulation was developed using an environmentally friendly improved heating technique, and it was evaluated for size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency (EE%), release behavior, stability, and antimicrobial performance. By using DLS, spherical nanovesicles were identified with a size distribution of 50–150 nm and a zeta potential of −43 mV. The extract's encapsulation efficiency was 72.03%. The developed loaded nanovesicles demonstrated controlled extract release in the tested 96 h and storage stability of at least 12 months at 25 °C. Also, Comparing the two samples, the encapsulated extract had greater antibacterial activity against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida with MIC of 1320, 570, and 1100 µg/mL, respectively. Besides reducing the misuse of antibiotics by allowing for the controlled release of drugs made from natural sources, we expect the findings described here to help provide alternative plant-based formulations with greater stability and antibacterial activity

Cross-sectional study of chromosomal aberrations and immunologic factors in Iraqi couples with recurrent pregnancy loss

Background Parental chromosomal aberrations are important causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Some immunological factors such as antiphospholipid antibodies and interleukin-6 (IL-6) also contribute to this complication. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and to evaluate some of the immunological factors in couples with RPL from different cities in Iraq. Methods This study was conducted on 25 couples (50 individuals) who had more than two first trimester abortions in the past and 25 healthy females as controls. Karyotyping was performed on peripheral blood of all participants. Anticardiolipin (IgG and IgM), antiphosopholipid (IgG and IgM), lupus anticoagulant, and IL-6 were assayed. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 28.0% (n = 7/25) of RPL couples. Of these five (10.0%) were female and two (4.0%) were male. The types of structural abnormalities were as follows: 45, XX, t(21; 21); 45, XX, rob (14, 15); 46, XX, add (21) (p13); 46 XY, add (21)(p13); 46, XX, 21ps+; 46, XY, per inv (9) (p11q12) and 45, XX, t(13q, 13q). No chromosomal abnormalities were found in the control group. Also, no significant differences were found in the immunological parameters of the couples with RPL and the control group. Conclusion In this study, karyotyping revealed a high number of chromosomal abnormalities associated with the RPL in Iraqi couples. Since identification of genetic causes of miscarriage is important for genetic counseling and educating couples about the risk of future pregnancies, it is recommended that conventional karyotyping be investigated in patients with RPL

Inverse Association between the Existence of CRISPR/Cas Systems with Antibiotic Resistance, Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase and Carbapenemase Production in Multidrug, Extensive Drug and Pandrug-Resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>

Antimicrobial resistance, with the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases, is common in the opportunistic pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae. This organism has a genome that can contain clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), which operate as a defense mechanism against external invaders such as plasmids and viruses. This study aims to determine the association of the CRISPR/Cas systems with antibiotic resistance in K. pneumoniae isolates from Iraqi patients. A total of 100 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected and characterized according to their susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents. The CRISPR/Cas systems were detected via PCR. The phenotypic detection of ESBLs and carbapenemases was performed. The production of ESBL was detected in 71% of the isolates. Carbapenem-resistance was detected in 15% of the isolates, while only 14% were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, the bacteria were classified into multidrug (77%), extensively drug-resistant (11.0%) and pandrug-resistant (4.0%). There was an inverse association between the presence of the CRISPR/Cas systems and antibiotic resistance, as resistance was higher in the absence of the CRISPR/Cas system. Multidrug resistance in ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae occurred more frequently in strains negative for the CRISPR/Cas system. Thus, we conclude that genes for exogenous antibiotic resistance can be acquired in the absence of the CRISPR/Cas modules that can protect the bacteria against acquiring foreign DNA

SEN virus genotype H distribution in β-thalassemic patients and in healthy donors in Iraq: Molecular and physiological study.

The SEN virus (SENV) has been linked to transfusion-associated non-A-E hepatitis; however, information regarding SENV infections in patients with thalassemia, particularly in those with hepatitis virus co-infections, remains limited. This study investigated the frequency of SENV (genotypes D and H) infections in Iraqi patients with thalassemic patients infected and not infected with hepatitis C virus. The study involved 150 β-thalassemia patients (75 with HCV infections and 75 without) and 75 healthy blood donors. Patient levels of vitamins C and E, liver function markers, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were determined. Recovered viral nucleic acids were amplified using the conventional polymerase chain reaction (SENV DNA) or the real-time polymerase chain reaction (HCV RNA) techniques. Only 10% of healthy donors had evidence of SENV infection. Among patients with thalassemia, 80% and 77% of patients with and without concurrent HCV infections, respectively, had SENV infections. DNA sequencing analyses were performed on blood samples obtained from 29 patients. Patients with thalassemia, particularly those with SENV infections, had higher levels of several enzymatic liver function markers and total serum bilirubin (P < 0.05) than did healthy blood donors. Among the examined liver function markers, only gamma-glutamyl transferase demonstrated significantly higher levels in HCV-negative patients infected with SENV-H than in those infected with SENV-D (P = 0.01). There were significantly lower vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione peroxidase levels in patients than in healthy donors (P < 0.05), but only glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly lower in HCV-negative thalassemia patients infected with SENV than in those without SENV infections (P = 0.04). The SENV-H genotype sequences were similar to the global standard genes in GenBank. These results broaden our understanding the nature of the SENV-H genotype and the differential role of SENV-H infections, compared to SENV-D infections, in patients with thalassemia, in Iraq