Epidemiology and risk factors for staphylococcal urinary tract infections in the Moroccan Casablanca area.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and risk factors for developing staphylococcal urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the Casablanca area of Morocco. METHODS: In Casablanca, Morocco, a retrospective evaluation of 772 UTIs patients was conducted between January 2020 and December 2022. The research included two groups of patients: those with staphylococcal UTIs and those without. Sex, age, chronic illnesses, antibiotic exposure, urinary catheterization, urological surgery, and UTIs history were the risk variables assessed. We employed a logistic regression model to identify the characteristics that were predictive of staphylococcal UTIs. RESULTS: Eight staphylococcal species were responsible for 16.84% of UTIs in 772 non-repeating individuals. Patients infected with S. saprophyticus (35.38%) were the most common, followed by those infected with S. epidermidis (24.61%), S. aureus (13.85%), and S. hemolyticus (10.78%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (95% CI: 0.261-0.563), immunosuppression and immunosuppressive treatments (95% CI: 0.0068-0.64), chronic diseases (95% CI: 0.407-0.965), previous UTIs (95% CI: 0.031-0.228), frequency of urination more than 8 times a day (95% CI:1.04-3.29), frequency of urination once or twice a day (95% CI: 1.05-2.39), and urinary catheterization (95% CI: 0.02-0.22) were the most likely predictors of staphylococcal UTIs. In addition, a larger proportion of patients with staphylococcal UTIs were made aware of the risk factors associated with staphylococcal UTIs (52.31%, χ2 = 4.82, = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first global study to evaluate the predictive factors for acquiring UTIs caused by staphylococci. Monitoring these factors will enable medical authorities to devise effective strategies for managing UTIs and combating antibiotic resistance.

Evaluation of Bioremediation Potentiality of Bacillus mojavensis Isolated from Wastewater for the Elimination of Reactive Yellow 145 and Methyl Orange.

Textile industry waste has become one of the largest polluters in the world. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for sustainable and eco-friendly practices for the treatment of dye-laden effluents. Overall, this study highlights the potential of bioremediation as a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. The Bacillus mojavensis isolated from wastewater and identified using 16S rRNA degraded reactive yellow 145 and methyl orange in 36 h of incubation, this decolorization was affected by pH, temperature, dye concentration, glucose concentration, source of nitrogen, type of dye, and agitation. Our study found that the optimal conditions for total decolorization of dyes were achieved by incubating B. mojavensis at 46 °C, pH 9, with 1 g/L of glucose and 2 g/L of peptone. The azoreductase activity, FT-IR analysis, and UV-visible spectrum before and after total decolorization indicated that it was a dye degradation rather than biosorption in surface Celle. In addition, the study of phytotoxicity show the metabolites of degradation are not phytotoxic in Lens esculenta seeds. In conclusion, our results suggest the use of this bacterium as an environmentally friendly and also cost-effective method, making it an attractive option for industries looking to reduce their environmental impact.

Detection of Carbapenemase Encoding Gene and Resistance to Cefiderocol in Hospital and Community eXtensive Drug Resistance and Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains in Morocco.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) remains among clinically-significant Gram-negative species. The carbapenems are often the last resort for treating infections due to multidrug resistant isolates such as Pa. The carbapenems' efficacy is increasingly compromised by the emergence and the rapid spread of Pa carrying carbapenemases which represent a serious threat to public health. This study aimed to establish the resistance profile and to identify carbapenemase genes in isolates with imipenem resistant phenotypes. Among 134 Pa isolates collected both in the community (46) and hospital (88) from January 2021 to December 2021 in Morocco, 18 (8 were from the community and 10 from the hospital settings) were carbapenem resistant. The identification of these strains has been confirmed using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). The antibiotic susceptibility testing against 16 antibiotics was carried out and interpreted according to the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (2021). The worrying antibiotics resistance profiles, which spread to cefiderocol for two isolates, were obtained for all isolates, which were eXtensive Drug Resistance showing highly resistant to all antibiotic categories tested, even to ceftolozane-tazobactam. Colistin (100% susceptible) and cefiderocol (88.88%) were the most active agents against carbapenem-resistant Pa (CRPa). Phenotypic detection by NP-CARBA and NG-CARBA tests of metallo­ß­lactamase (MßL) production was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing. Three CRPa isolates coharboring blaVIM-2-blaNDM-1 (two isolates) and blaVIM-2-blaIMP-8 (one isolate) genes were detected. In this study, we describe the coexistence of these MßL genes and the cefiderocol resistance in CRPa strains in Morocco. The alarming antibiotic resistance patterns of all these CRPa isolates and their resistance genes emphasize the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the choice of antibiotics for treating Pa infections.

Whole genomic comparative analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 isolates causing invasive and non-invasive infections among children under 5 years in Casablanca, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 remains a leading cause of invasive pneumococcal diseases, even in countries with PCV-10/PCV-13 vaccine implementation. The main objective of this study, which is part of the Pneumococcal African Genome project (PAGe), was to determine the phylogenetic relationships of serotype 1 isolates recovered from children patients in Casablanca (Morocco), compared to these from other African countries; and to investigate the contribution of accessory genes and recombination events to the genetic diversity of this serotype. RESULTS: The genome average size of the six-pneumococcus serotype 1 from Casablanca was 2,227,119 bp, and the average content of coding sequences was 2113, ranging from 2041 to 2161. Pangenome analysis of the 80 genomes used in this study revealed 1685 core genes and 1805 accessory genes. The phylogenetic tree based on core genes and the hierarchical bayesian clustering analysis revealed five sublineages with a phylogeographic structure by country. The Moroccan strains cluster in two different lineages, the five invasive strains clusters altogether in a divergent clade distantly related to the non-invasive strain, that cluster with all the serotype 1 genomes from Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The whole genome sequencing provides increased resolution analysis of the highly virulent serotype 1 in Casablanca, Morocco. Our results are concordant with previous works, showing that the phylogeography of S. pneumoniae serotype 1 is structured by country, and despite the small size (six isolates) of the Moroccan sample, our analysis shows the genetic cohesion of the Moroccan invasive isolates.

Environmental surveillance of Legionella pneumophila in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco.

OBJECTIVE: Environmental monitoring of Legionella in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco was performed during the period from January 2016 to April 2018. A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed. METHODS: A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed. Possible risk factors were prospectively recorded, and data were analyzed in connection with building and plumbing systems characteristics. Data about building and risk factors were collected through a questionnaire survey. RESULTS: Out of the 149 samples, 77(51.7%) were positive for L. pneumophila. Serological typing of the isolates revealed that 54 (70.1%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 2-15 and 23 (29.9%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 1. 56.8% of all buildings were colonized by L. pneumophila. Counts were over 1,000 CFU/L in 44%. Contamination was strongly correlated with temperature in the circulation, the age of the premise plumbing and the size of the building. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a relevant exposure to L. pneumophila in the community and the identified risk factors can serve as indicators for risk assessment and relevant actions.

Adhesion of Legionella pneumophila on glass and plumbing materials commonly used in domestic water systems.

We aimed to investigate the adhesion of Legionella pneumophila serogroup1 and L. pneumophila serogroup2-15 on glass, galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper, Polyvinyl chloride(PVC), Cross-linked polyethylene(PEX-c) and Polypropylene Random Copolymer(PPR). The surface physicochemical properties of both bacterial cells and materials were estimated through contact angle measurements. The roughness and surface topography of the materials were evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy. The two L. pneumophila serogroups and plumbing materials showed a hydrophobic character, while glass surface was hydrophilic. All strains were adhered to all materials with the exception of copper. The result showed that the adhesion of both L. pneumophila sg1 and sg2-15 was systematically expressed with high intensity on galvanized steel followed by PVC, PEX-c, PPR, stainless steel and the low intensity on glass. The extent of adhesion is in correlation with the surface roughness and acid-bases interactions, while hydrophobicity seems to have no effect in adhesion intensity.

Molecular characterization of penicillin non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation in Casablanca, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially among children and the elderly. The ability to effectively treat pneumococcal infection has been compromised due to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance, particularly to ß-lactam drugs. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and molecular evolution of penicillin non-susceptible S. pneumoniae (PNSP) isolated from invasive diseases before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation in Casablanca, Morocco. METHODS: Isolates were obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory of Ibn Rochd University Hospital Centre of Casablanca. Serogrouping was done by Pneumotest Kit and serotyping by the Quellung capsular swelling. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined by disk diffusion and E-test methods. The PNSP were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and by genotyping of pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x genes. RESULTS: A total of 361 S. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 2007 to 2014. Of these isolates, 58.7% were obtained before vaccination (2007-2010) and 41.3% after vaccination (2011-2014). Of the 361 isolates, 80 were PNSP (22.2%). Generally, the proportion of PNSP between pre- and post-vaccination periods were 31 and 13% (p = 0.009), respectively. The proportion of PNSP isolated from pediatric and adult (age > 14 years) patients decreased from 34.5 to 22.9% (p = 0.1) and from 17.7 to 10.2% (p = 0.1) before and after vaccine implementation, respectively. The leading serotypes of PNSP were 14 (33 vs. 57%) and 19A (18 vs. 14%) before and after vaccination among children. For adults, serotypes 19A (53%) and 23F (24%) were the dominant serotypes in the pre-vaccination period, while serotype 14 (22%) was the most prevalent after vaccination. There were 21 pbp genotypes in the pre-vaccination period vs. 12 for post-vaccination period. PFGE clustering showed six clusters of PNSP grouped into three clusters specific to pre-vaccination period (clusters I, II and III), two clusters specific to post-period (clusters V and VI) and a cluster (IV) that contained clones belonging to the two periods of vaccination. CONCLUSION: Our observations demonstrate a high degree of genetic diversity among PNSP. Genetic clustering among PNSP strains showed that they spread mainly by a restricted number of PNSP clones with vaccine serotypes. PFGE clustering combined with pbp genotyping revealed that vaccination can change the population structure of PNSP.

Clonal Analysis of Clinical and Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Meknes Region, Morocco.

From 123 clinical and environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 24 strains were selected for their similar antibioresistance, virulence and biofilm formation profiles, to examine their diversity and occurrence of clones within two hospitals and different natural sites in Meknes (Morocco). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, using DraI enzyme, didn't reveal a close relationship between clinical and environmental isolates nor between strains of the two hospitals. 19 genotypes were obtained, including two virulent environmental clones and three clinical clones virulent and resistant to antibiotics. Intra-hospital transmission of high-risk clones detected, in and between wards, constitutes a great public health concern.

Genotypic characterization of quinolone resistant-Escherichia coli isolates from retail food in Morocco.

This study was conducted to assess the retail food as a possible vehicle for antimicrobial resistant, particularly quinolones resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli. We determined the prevalence and characteristics of nalidixic acid (Nal) resistant E. coli isolates from diverse retail food samples. In all, 70 (28%) of 250 E. coli isolates studied were Nal-resistant E. coli and 91% of these were multi-drug resistant. Plasmid mediated quinolone resistance genes were identified in 32 isolates, including aac(6')-Ib-cr (n = 16), qnrS1 (n = 11) and qnrB19 (n = 7). Mutations in gyr A and par C genes were detected among 80% of the isolates, and the isolates showed substitution Ser83-Leu and Asp87-Asn in gyrA and Ser80-Ile in parC. In addition, three different gene cassettes were identified (aadA1, aadA7, aac(3)-Id) in 18%. Virulence-associated genes stx1, eae, sfa, hlyA and stx2 were found in six (8%), three (4%), two (3%), three (4%) and three (4%) isolates, respectively. E. coli isolates of phylogenetic group A were dominant (64%, 45/70). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed none epidemiological relationship between these isolates. The results of this work report the higher frequency of Nal-resistant E. coli isolates from Moroccan retail food samples including MDR and pathogenic isolates.

First report of VIM-2 metallo-ß-lactamases producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Morocco.

The emergence and the rapid spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa carrying carbapenemases represent a serious threat to public health due to their delicate therapy. This work was performed to establish the resistance profile and to detect carbapenemases producing in 123 P. aeruginosa isolates. Among these 55 are environmental isolates and 68 are from the two major hospitals of Meknes-Tafilalet region in Morocco. All strains were tested against 14 antipseudomonal drugs by disc diffusion method. On carbapenem resistant strains minimum inhibitory concentrations of imipenem were determined by the E-test method. The modified Hodge test and EDTA tests were used for the detection of carbapenemases and metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs), respectively. PCR and DNA sequencing were conducted to detect carbapenemase-encoding genes and the enzyme types. 12% of isolates was susceptible to all antibiotics tested and Carbapenem resistance was observed in 33 P. aeruginosa isolates, 33.3% of them were multi-drug resistant. Among carbapenem resistant strains only two (6.1%) were positive for carbapenemases and also for MBLs. In addition to their resistance to almost all ß-lactams tested, the MBLs producing strains were resistant to aminoglycosides. Molecular biology techniques confirmed the phenotypic results obtained for the two strains carbapenemase producers and demonstrated that each one of them carried blaVIM-2. The present study reports the first isolation of blaVIM genes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in Morocco. Such isolates represent a serious emerging threat requiring strict hygiene measures to better control their spread.

Association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism with end-stage renal disease and hyperlipidemia in patients on long-term hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death of patients with chronic renal failure. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays an important role in the homeostasis of cholesterol and triglycerides. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the possible link(s) between apoE gene polymorphism, inflammation and lipoproteins in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: We studied 109 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 97 controls. The serum lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein particles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and total homocysteine (t-Hcy) levels and paraoxonase (PON) activity were determined in our patients. We also analyzed apoE gene polymorphism in the patients and controls. RESULTS: The analysis of the apoE gene demonstrated a predominance of the e3 allele in both the patients and controls, followed by the e4 and then the e2 alleles. The analysis of the apoE genotype and allele frequencies showed significantly higher e4 allele and E3E4 genotype frequencies and decreased e3 allele and E3E3 genotype frequencies in the patients compared with the controls. The e2, e4 and E3E4 carriers within the ESRD patient population presented an atherogenic lipid profile. However, there were no significant variations in the serum PON activity and the hs-CRP and t-Hcy levels between individuals with different apoE polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an association between the e4 allele, E3E4 genotype and ESRD. The apoE polymorphism affects the serum lipoprotein levels, and the ESRD patients who are e4 and e2 allele carriers are more likely to present an atherogenic lipoprotein profile that may be a major factor associated with increased risk of CVD.

The scourge of antibiotic resistance: the important role of the environment.

Antibiotic resistance and associated genes are ubiquitous and ancient, with most genes that encode resistance in human pathogens having originated in bacteria from the natural environment (eg, ß-lactamases and fluoroquinolones resistance genes, such as qnr). The rapid evolution and spread of "new" antibiotic resistance genes has been enhanced by modern human activity and its influence on the environmental resistome. This highlights the importance of including the role of the environmental vectors, such as bacterial genetic diversity within soil and water, in resistance risk management. We need to take more steps to decrease the spread of resistance genes in environmental bacteria into human pathogens, to decrease the spread of resistant bacteria to people and animals via foodstuffs, wastes and water, and to minimize the levels of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria introduced into the environment. Reducing this risk must include improved management of waste containing antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.

Influence of humans on evolution and mobilization of environmental antibiotic resistome.

The clinical failure of antimicrobial drugs that were previously effective in controlling infectious disease is a tragedy of increasing magnitude that gravely affects human health. This resistance by pathogens is often the endpoint of an evolutionary process that began billions of years ago in non-disease-causing microorganisms. This environmental resistome, its mobilization, and the conditions that facilitate its entry into human pathogens are at the heart of the current public health crisis in antibiotic resistance. Understanding the origins, evolution, and mechanisms of transfer of resistance elements is vital to our ability to adequately address this public health issue.

Prevalence and types of extended spectrum ß-lactamases among urinary Escherichia coli isolates in Moroccan community.

This study was designed to characterize extended-spectrum-ß-lactamases (ESBL) produced by Escherichia coli isolates causing community urinary tract infections over a 2-year period (2010 and 2011) in a Moroccan large geographical region. Molecular characterization was done by using PCR and sequencing of the ß-lactamases genes and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants. Among 1174 isolates, 49 (4.1%) were ESBL producers. The blaCTx-M-15 (n = 31) was the most frequent ESBL gene detected, followed by blaCTx-M-1 (n = 5), blaSHV-12 (n = 6), blaPER-2 (n = 3), then blaTEM-3, blaTEM-20, blaTEM-158, blaSHV-27, blaSHV-28, blaSHV-36, blaSHV-125, blaCTx-M-14 and blaCTx-M-27 with one isolate for each. The non-ESBL genes detected were blaTEM-70 (n = 1), blaTEM-176 (n = 1), blaTEM-104 (n = 6), blaTEM-1 (n = 15) and blaOxA-1 (n = 12). Plasmid mediated AmpC ß-lactamases genes; blaACT-5 (n = 1), blaDHA-1(n = 2) and blaCMY-2 (n = 4) were detected in seven isolates (14.2%). The blaOxA-48 (n = 1) and blaIMP-1 (n = 1) carbapenemases genes were detected among five carbapenem-resistant E. coli. Five isolates (10.2%) harboured qnr genes, qnrB1 (n = 3), qnrB2 (n = 1) and qnrS1 (n = 1) type were detected. Thirty isolates (61.2%) were positive for aac(6')-Ib-cr gene. The class 1 integron was detected in twenty two (44.8%) isolates. Phylogenetic grouping revealed that 22 (44.8%) isolates belonged to group A, while 15 (30.6%), 11 (22.4%) and 1 (2%) belonged to B2, D and B1. Results of conjugation experiments indicated that blaCTx-M-15, blaTEM-1, blaOxA-1, aac(6')-Ib-cr and qnrB1 genes were co-transferred and that these genes were carried by a conjugative plasmid of high molecular weight. The results of this work reports the genetic diversity of ESBL genes, with the CTX-M-15 enzyme being the most common among ESBL-producing E. coli in Moroccan community.

Prevalence and antibacterial resistance patterns of uropathogenic staphylococci in Casablanca, Morocco.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the resistance profile of uropathogenic staphylococci bacteria in Casablanca, Morocco. METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective cross-sectional research carried out from January 2017 to December 2020, isolation and identification were carried out according to the usual techniques in medical microbiology. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the nuc gene, and the antibiogram was performed according to the guidelines of the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Microbiology (CA-SFM 2021). The susceptibility of uropathogenic staphylococci to vancomycin was determined with broth microdilution following the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The mecA gene was tested on phenotypically cefoxitin-resistant S. aureus isolates by PCR. RESULTS: The prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) was 18% (772/4374). UTIs were more common in females (n = 483, 63%) than males (n = 289, 37%). Among the Gram-positive bacteria isolated (198, 25.65%), the prevalence of staphylococci was (130/198, 65.66%). Among staphylococcal species identified, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were more prevalent (112/130, 86.15%), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the most frequently isolated CoNS (46/112, 41.07%). Additionally, there were several S. aureus strains (18/130, 13.85%). Forty-four percent of S. aureus isolates (n = 8) were resistant to cefoxitin and also harboured the mecA gene. All S. aureus isolates were susceptible to linezolid, cotrimoxazole and vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and antibacterial resistance patterns of uropathogenic staphylococci in this study, with a high percentage of methicillin resistance, require careful consideration of antimicrobial therapy for staphylococcal UTIs.

New alternative therapeutic strategies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic multi-resistant pathogen with a myriad of virulence factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) has emerged as a significant cause of Gram-negative infections, particularly in patients with impaired host defenses. It is one of the six ESKAPE pathogens that majorly cause severe nosocomial infections. In addition to biofilm formation, PA possesses various virulence factors. It can be life-threatening due to his remarkable capacity to resist antibiotics, either intrinsically, developing adaptative resistance, or following the acquisition of resistance genes. The situation worsens when these mechanisms co-exist, conferring worrying multi-resistant phenotypes. Therapeutic options are becoming limited, which has led to the development of new antibiotics and novel alternative therapeutic strategies that require the exploration of other therapeutic avenues. Although mostly at the preclinical stages, many recent studies have reported several innovative therapeutic technologies that have demonstrated pronounced effectiveness in fighting against drug-resistant Pa strains. This literature review aims to discuss the mechanism of pyocyanic bacillus resistance to antibiotics, highlight the current state of some novel antibiotics and combination therapies, and the new alternative therapeutic approaches for treating PA infections.

Characterization of fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in the community of Casablanca (Morocco).

Resistance to fusidic acid in Staphylococcus aureus is caused by mutation of the elongation factor G (EF-G) encoded by fusA or by expression of a protein, encoded by fusB or fusC, that protects the drug target. Other mechanisms involved in this resistance are mutations in the riboprotein L6 operon within rplF. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and mechanisms of resistance to fusidic acid in clinical isolates of S. aureus in Casablanca (Morocco) and to define the phenotypic and genotypic traits of these isolates and their clonal relationship. All fusidic acid-resistant S. aureus (FAR-SA) isolates were tested for fusB and fusC genes and were evaluated for the detection of mutations in fusA and fusE (rplF). fusB-positive strains were tested for a cadDX operon, encoding cadmium resistance. The agr group and the presence of toxin genes were monitored to characterize all FAR-SA isolates which were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and spa typing. Among 140 clinical S. aureus isolates collected in 2007 and 2008, 18 (∼13%) exhibited resistance to fusidic acid. The most common resistance determinant was fusC, found in 16 isolates. Molecular typing showed that 14 of them harboured an agr group III and belonged to the same clonal complex (CC) spa type 127 and identical clonotype (cluster labelled A). These isolates also possessed the staphylococcal enterotoxin H gene. The second resistance determinant was fusB found in two isolates. These two isolates lacked cadDX gene and were found to belong to two unrelated clusters and spa types. While no isolate carrying mutations in rplF was found, 15 expressed a silent mutation in fusA (nucleotide 342). Only acquired fusidic acid resistance genes (mainly fusC) were prevalent among FAR-SA isolates with almost all of the clinical specimens belonging to CC-spa type 127. This study provides valuable data on the prevalence of fusidic acid-resistant S. aureus with the associated molecular mechanisms of resistance and the genetic background of the strains in Casablanca.

Detection of ESBLs and carbapenemases among Enterobacteriaceae isolated from diabetic foot infections in Ouargla, Algeria.

INTRODUCTION: The emergence and rapid spread of Enterobacteriaceae carrying extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases represent a great threat to clinical treatment due to their multi-drug resistance. This study investigated ESBLs and carbapenemases encoding genes in Enterobacteriaceae collected from diabetic foot infections (DFIs) in Ouargla, southern Algeria. METHODOLOGY: A total of 70 Enterobacteriaceae strains were recovered from 76 patients with DFI between February 2017 and April 2018. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method, and the presence of bla genes was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The genetic transfer of the plasmids was carried out by conjugation using the broth mating method. RESULTS: The most common isolate was Proteus mirabilis, followed by Escherichia coli, Morganella morganii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The prevalence of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was 11.42% and 2.85 % respectively. Plasmid-mediated AmpC was detected in 5.71% isolates. Conjugation experiments showed the transferability of blaCTX-M-2. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the view that various pathogens found in DFIs differ from one part of the country to another. This study reports the first description of metallo-ß-lactamase NDM-5 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate in Algeria.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Streptomyces species from soils of three different cold sites in the Fez-Meknes region Morocco.

The increasing demand for new bioactive compounds to combat the evolution of multi-drug resistance (MDR) requires research on microorganisms in different environments in order to identify new potent molecules. In this study, initial screening regarding the antimicrobial activity of 44 Actinomycetes isolates isolated from three soil samples from three different extremely cold sites in Morocco was carried out. Primary and secondary screening were performed against Candida albicans ATCC 60,193, Escherichia coli ATCC 25,922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14,579, other clinical MDR bacteria, and thirteen phytopathogenic fungi. Based on the results obtained, 11 active isolates were selected for further study. The 11microbial isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characters and their molecular identification was performed using 16S rRNA sequence homology. The UV-visible analysis of dichloromethane extracts of the five Streptomyces sp. Strains that showed high antimicrobial and antioxidant (ABTS 35.8% and DPPH 25.6%) activities revealed the absence of polyene molecules. GC-MS analysis of the dichloromethane extract of E23-4 as the most active strain revealed the presence of 21 volatile compounds including Pyrrolopyrazine (98%) and Benzeneacetic acid (90%). In conclusion, we studied the isolation of new Streptomyces strains to produce new compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in a cold and microbiologically unexplored region of Morocco. Furthermore, this study has demonstrated a significant (P < 0.0001) positive correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity, paving the way for the further characterization of these Streptomyces sp. isolates for their optimal use for anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial purposes.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Legionella spp. Strains Isolated from Water Systems in Morocco.

Objective: Legionella is a waterborne pathogen that causes a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' diseases, which is normally acquired by inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella originating from natural and man-made water systems. The aim of this study was to describe the level of antimicrobial susceptibility of environmental Legionella spp. strains to preferred and recommended therapeutic agents to treat Legionella disease. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 60 environmental Legionella spp. strains were tested using the broth dilution method. Susceptibility testing was performed for 12 antimicrobial agents: macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin [AZI], and clarithromycin [CLA]), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gemifloxacin), a ketolide (telithromycin), cefotaxime (CEF), tigecycline (TIG), doxycycline (DOX), and rifampicin (RIF). Results: All tested strains of Legionella spp. were inhibited by low concentrations of fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Regarding the macrolides, CLA was the most active antibiotic, and AZI was the least active. RIF was the most effective antibiotic against the isolates in vitro. All isolates were inhibited by the following antibiotics (in decreasing order of their MICs): DOX>CEF>TIG. Conclusions: No resistance against these drugs was detected, and all isolates were inhibited by low concentrations of the tested antibiotics. Susceptibility testing of environmental Legionella spp. isolates must be monitored often to detect and evaluate the possible development of antibiotic resistance.