Molecular characterization of plasmid content of penicillinase-and non-penicillinase-producing neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and its epidemiologic correlate

A total number of 40 gonococcal strains isolated from patients were classified according to the production of beta-Iactamase [penicillinase] enzyme into 32 penicillinase-producing [PPNG] and 8 non- penicillinase-producing [non-PPNG] strains. Plasmid DNA was extracted from all 32 PPNG strains and 7 non-PPNG strains and was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty three PPNG strains showed an identical. plasmid profile composed of 3 different plasmid species having masses of 2.6-, 24.5, and 24.5 - Md, 5 PPNG strains carried only the 2.6- and 4.5- Md plasmid, whereas the remaining 4 PPNG strains harboured a 3.2- Md plasmid in addition to the 2.6- Md plasmid. Out of the 8 non-PPNG strains 7 carried the 2.6- Md plasmid, but only 1 carried the 24.5- Md plasmid in addition and I was plasmid- free. Epidemiologically, it was found that 20 [83%] of the 24 PPNG strains isolated from patients who contracted the gonococcal infection in the Far East carried the 3 different plasmids 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5- Md, thus all contained the 4.5- Md [Asia] plasmid. The 4 PPNG strains isolated from men who contracted infection in Moroco contained the 2.6-Md plus the 3.2-Md [Africa] plasmid. On the other hand, the 4 PPNG strains isolated from men returning from Turkey had 2 different plasmid profiles, 3 strains carried the 3 different plasmid 2.6-, 4.5, and 24.5-Md and 1 strain carried the 2 different plasmids 2.6, and 4.5- MD

Different auxotypes of neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and their patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility to four antibiotics

In a rabbit corneal model inoculated with Aspergillus flavus, the authors studied the effect of pH variation on the efficacy of topical Ketoconanzole 2% in the treatment of the fungal keratitis. Boric acid 4%, sodium bicarbonate 3% and neutral saline were adminstered prior to Ketoconazole drops in three different groups for five days. Through a microbiological study of the mean counts of CFU cornea, the Ketoconazole treated eyes in acidic pH gave the least count, which was statistically significant [0.01> p>0.001] when compared to their control eyes and also significant [0.02 > p>0.01] when compared to Ketoconazole in alkaline medium. This was confirmed by the in vitro testing as the Ketoconazole dissolved in Boric acid, gave a larger inhibition zone. In conclusion, the authors observed that the drug produced its best therapeutic effect in the acidic medium in comparison to the alkaline or neutral media

Role of chlamydia and mycoplasma in the etiology of nongonococcal urethritis [NGU] in men

A total of 70 men [patients and controls] were included in the present study. 50 patients complained either of spontaneous urethral discharge or a discharge was demonstrable on penile stripping with >/= 4 PMNs/HPF in urethral smear and with negative smear and culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae; these men were designated as the NGU group. The remaining 20 men were completely asymptomatic; they were designated as the control group. By passage of urethral swabs specimens were obtained for smear and culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, culture for mycoplasma, and smear for chlamydia [for immunofluorescence staining]. Chlamydia tracomatis was identified from significantly more NGU patients [23 [46%] of 50] than from men with no-urethitis [1 [5%] of 20]. Ureaplasma urealyticum was isolated from 14 [28%] of 50 NGU, this agent was found to be significantly associated with chlamydia-negative NGU patients [11 [41%] of 27 patients] than either chlamydia-positive NGU [3 [13%] of 23 patients] or men with no-urethritis [3 [15%] of 20 men]. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of isolation of Mycoplasma hominis between NGU patients and controls. Clinically there were no prominant differences observed between the NGU group and the control group