Antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacilli isolated from the skin of healthy humans

Abstract In the present work, twelve bacilli were isolated from four different regions of human skin from Bela population of Nagpur district, India. The isolated bacilli were identified by their morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. Seven isolates were Gram negative rods, out of which five were belong to genus Pseudomonas. Three among the five Gram positive isolates were identified as Dermabactor and the remaining two Bacillus. Their antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The isolates showed resistance to several currently used broad-spectrum antibiotics. The Dermabactor genus was resistant to vancomycin, although it was earlier reported to be susceptible. Imipenem was found to be the most effective antibiotic for Pseudomonas while nalidixic acid, ampicillin and tetracycline were ineffective. Isolates of Bacillus displayed resistance to the extended spectrum antibiotics cephalosporin and ceftazidime. Imipenem, carbenicillin and ticarcillin were found to be the most effective antibiotics as all the investigated isolates were susceptible to them. Antibiotic resistance may be due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics during the treatment, or following constant exposure to antibiotic-containing cosmetic formulations.

Antimicrobial activity of Aspilia latissima (Asteraceae)

Abstract We evaluated the antimicrobial activity of Aspilia latissima - an abundant plant from the Brazilian Pantanal region - against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The crude extracts and fractions showed activity in all tested microorganisms. The chloroform fraction of the leaves and roots showed the most antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, with an MIC of 500 μg/mL. This fraction was submitted to bioautographic assays to characterize the activity of the compounds. Two bands from the leaves (L-A and L-B) and three bands from the roots (R-C, R-D and R-E) were bioactive. Within the root-derived bands, the terpene derivatives stigmasterol, kaurenoic acid and kaura-9(11), 16-dien-18-oic acid were identified. Antibiotic activity of A. latissima is reported for the first time.

Draft genome sequence of Inquilinus limosus strain MP06, a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate

The bacterium, Inquilinus limosus, with its remarkable antimicrobial multiresistant profile, has increasingly been isolated in cystic fibrosis patients. We report draft genome sequence of a strain MP06, which is of considerable interest in elucidating the associated mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium and for an insight about its persistence in airways of these patients.

Synergistic effects of sulbactam in multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii is a frequently isolated etiologic agent of nosocomial infections, especially in intensive care units. With the increase in multi-drug resistance of A. baumannii isolates, finding appropriate treatment alternatives for infections caused by these bacteria has become more difficult, and available alternate treatments include the use of older antibiotics such as colistin or a combination of antibiotics. The current study aimed to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of various antibiotic combinations against multi-drug resistant A. baumannii strains. Thirty multi-drug and carbapenem resistant A. baumannii strains isolated at the Ankara Training and Research Hospital between June 2011 and June 2012 were used in the study. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and species-level identification were performed using conventional methods and the VITEK 2 system. The effects of meropenem, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, tigecycline, and colistin alone and in combination with sulbactam against the isolates were studied using Etest (bioMérieux) in Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FIC) was used to determine the efficacy of the various combinations. While all combinations showed a predominant indifferent effect, a synergistic effect was also observed in 4 of the 5 combinations. Synergy was demonstrated in 43% of the isolates with the meropenem-sulbactam combination, in 27% of the isolates with tigecycline-sulbactam, and in 17% of the isolates with colistin-sulbactam and amikacin-sulbactam. No synergy was detected with the sulbactam-ciprofloxacin combination and antagonism was detected only in the sulbactam-colistin combination (6.66% of the isolates). Antibiotic combinations can be used as an alternative treatment approach in multi-drug resistant A. baumannii infections.

Staphylococcus aureus: aislamientos bacteriológicos y patrones de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos, en un Hospital Universitario / Staphylococcus aureus: bacteriologic isolates and sensitivity patterns to the antimicrobials in University Hospital

Se presentan los resultados de una revisión estadística de los aislamientos de los Staphylococcus aureus del Hospital Universitario de Caracas, en el lapso de un año. Los aislamientos conciderados fueron los procesados por el personal de la Sección de Bacteriología de la institución. Se revisaron 593 cepas de SA aislados de pacientes hospitalizados. El 55% de ellas procedia de secreciones de partes blandas y de secreciones de heridas quirúrgicas. El servicio en el cual se aisló el mayor número de cepas de SA fue de Enfermedades infecciosas de adulto, seguido por los de Pediatría naonatal y de Medicina II. La sensibilidad de los SA a los antimicrobianos fue de 96% para la vancomicina y el cloranfenicol; de 88% para la oxacilina y la rifampicina; y de 77% para la eritromicina. Se comparan los resultados con un estudio similar sobre Staphylococcus aureus efectuado en 1985, concluyéndose que no existen grandes variaciones en los patrones de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos en el lapso transcurrido. Se alerta sobre el incremento del número de cepas de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a la meticilina. Se revisa la literatura y se concluye recomendando el inicio de un programa de vigilancia epidemiológica de las infecciones por Staphylococcus aureus, para controlar las cepas resistentes a la meticilina y evitar que se conviertan en un problema de infección nosocomial

Escherichia coli: aislamientos microbiológicos en un Hospital Universitario / Escherichia Coli: isolation microbiologic in the Hospital Universitario

Durante un año se efectuó un estudio de vigilancia microbiológica de los aislamientos de E.coli identificados en la Sección de Bacteriología del Hospital Universitario de Caracas, por ser esta bacteria la más frecuentemente aislada en la institución y la segunda en importancia en la etiología de las infecciones nosocomiales registradas. Se identifican 559 cepas de E.coli, procedentes de 557 hospitalizados, de las cuales el 31% se aisló de muestras de orina; el 24% de secreciones de tejidos blandos superficiales; el 20%, de secreciones de heridas quirúrgicas; y el 12%, del tracto digestivo. La mayoría de las muestras para aislamientos bacteriológicos fué enviada por los servicios de Cirugía, Medicina, Neomatología y Urología. El porcentaje más alto de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos correspondió a cefotaxime, con 98%, seguido por amikamicina, con 95%, tobramicina, con 91%. El de más baja sensibilidad fué ampicilina, con 50%. El trabajo es una adaptación de la vigilancia microbiológica a los aislamientos rutinarios de E.coli en una sección de Bacteriología; en los actuales momentos de crisis económica que vive el país, se hace necesaria la utilización racional de todos los recursos humanos y materiales de nuestro Sistema de Salud