Invitro antibacterial activity of bark, leaf and root extracts of combretum molle plant against streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles in donkeys and horses.

BACKGROUND: Effective therapy for many infections is becoming difficult due to the evolutionary development of drug resistance, and hence, the development of alternative treatment options mainly from herbs is crucial. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of ethanol extracts of stem bark, leaves and roots of Combretum molle against Streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles using in vitro tests. METHODS: Plant extraction was performed using a maceration technique with 80% ethanol. The mean zone of inhibition was determined using the agar well diffusion method. Six serial dilutions with different concentrations (10%, 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625% and 0.3125%) of each plant extract were prepared using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A modified agar microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of the extracts. RESULTS: The results revealed that all plant extracts showed significant antibacterial activity. The root extract showed the best antibacterial effect compared to the others at all concentrations, with MZI values of 27.5, 23.225, 20.5, 17.9, 15.65 and 12.25 for the respective concentrations mentioned above and an MIC of 250 µg/ml. It was followed by the stem bark extract, which had MZI values of 24.67, 22.35, 18.225, 16.175, 11.125 and 8.2 millimeters and an MIC of 375 µg/ml. The leaf extract also had significant activity, with MZI values of 20.175, 18.25, 15.7, 13.125, 9.4 and 6.75 in millimeters and an MIC of 500 µg/ml. There was a direct relationship between the concentrations of the plant extracts and the level of inhibition. CONCLUSION: The test plant extracts were compared with the conventional antibiotic penicillin G, and the results indicated that the parts of the test plant have significant antibacterial activity, which may support traditional claims and could be candidates for alternative drug discoveries.

Essential oil and plant extract of oregano as agents influencing the virulence factors of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans, a polymorphic yeast, is a physiological component of the human and animal commensal microbiome. It is an etiological factor of candidiasis, which is treated by azole antifungals. Growing resistance to azoles is a reason to look for other alternative treatment options. The pharmacotherapeutic use of plant extracts and essential oils has become increasingly important. In our experiment, C. albicans showed susceptibility to four observed plant extracts and essential oils from peppermint ( Mentha piperita), thyme ( Thymus vulgaris), sage ( Salvia officinalis), and oregano ( Origanum vulgare). Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity, at MIC values of 4.9 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL respectively. Therefore, it was subjected to further research on the influence of virulence factors - biofilm formation, extracellular phospholipase production and germ tube formation. Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed an inhibitory effect on the observed C. albicans virulence factors at relatively low concentrations. The extract inhibited the adherence of cells at MIC 12.5 mg/mL and essential oil at MIC 0.25 mg/mL. Degradation of the formed biofilm was detected at MIC 14.1 mg/mL for plant extract and at MIC 0.4 mg/mL for essential oil. Extracellular phospholipase production was most effectively inhibited by the essential oil. In particular, the number of isolates with intensive extracellular phospholipase production decreased significantly. Of the 12 isolates intensively producing extracellular phospholipase, only 1 isolate (4.5%) retained intense production. Essential oil caused up to a 100 % reduction in germ tubes formation and plant extract reduced their formation depending on the concentration as follows: 2.6% (0.8 mg/mL), 21.2 % (6.25 mg/mL), and 64.5 % (12.5 mg/mL) compared to the control.

Estimation of epidemiological cut-off values for eight antibiotics used for treatment of bovine mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae.

Interpretive criteria for antimicrobial susceptibility testing are lacking for most antimicrobials used for bovine streptococcal mastitis. The objectives of this study were to determine (tentative) epidemiological cut-off ((T)ECOFF) values for clinically relevant antibiotics used for treatment of bovine mastitis, and to estimate the proportion of acquired resistance (non-wild-types) in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis. A total of 255 S. uberis and 231 S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae isolates were obtained in Denmark and Norway from bovine mastitis. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to 10 antibiotics using broth microdilution. In accordance with the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) standard operating procedure, additional published MIC distributions were included for the estimation of ECOFFs for cloxacillin, cephapirin, lincomycin and tylosin, and TECOFFs for amoxicillin, benzylpenicillin, cephapirin and oxytetracycline. The proportion of non-wild-type (NWT) isolates for the beta-lactams was significantly higher in the Danish S. uberis (45-55%) compared to the Norwegian isolates (10-13%). For oxytetracycline, the proportion of NWT was significantly higher in the Danish isolates, both for S. uberis (28% vs. 3%) and S. dysgalactiae (22% vs. 0%). A bridging study testing in parallel MICs in a subset of isolates (n = 83) with the CLSI-specified and the EUCAST-specified broths showed excellent correlation between the MICs obtained with the two methods. The new ECOFFs and TECOFFs proposed in this study can be used for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, and - for antimicrobials licensed for streptococcal bovine mastitis - as surrogate clinical breakpoints for predicting their clinical efficacy for this indication.

Review of treatment options for a multidrug-resistant fungus: Candida auris.

Candida auris is a widely distributed, highly lethal, multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. It was first identified in 2009 when it was isolated from fluid drained from the external ear canal of a patient in Japan. Since then, it has caused infectious outbreaks in over 45 countries, with mortality rates approaching 60%. Drug resistance is common in this species, with a large proportion of isolates displaying fluconazole resistance and nearly half are resistant to two or more antifungal drugs. In this review, we describe the drug resistance mechanism of C. auris and potential small-molecule drugs for treating C. auris infection. Among these antifungal agents, rezafungin was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis on March 22, 2023. Ibrexafungerp and fosmanogepix have entered phase III clinical trials.

Therapeutic potential of low-molecular weight lignin model polymer fractions for treating skin lesions in animals: a pilot study.

Bacterial infections and resistance to antibiotics are increasingly severe problems. In recent years, Staphylococcus species have emerged as important pathogens in animals and humans. Current therapeutic methods against these species have serious disadvantages; therefore new agents with antibacterial potential, such as plant-based substances, are very important in therapy. We report a pilot study with new method of fractioning the dehydrogenate polymer DHP obtained from coniferyl alcohol and application of the low-MW fractions of 200-3000 Da for antibacterial activity in healing animal lesions. In vivo experiments were conducted on the dogs having a skin lesion. Dogs were treated with the suspension containing the low-MW DHP fractions as the active ingredient, in combination with alginate for 7 days. Cytological smears and microbiological analyses of the affected area were performed. Staphylococcus spp. was isolated from lesions in all dogs from our research. The results show that the low-MW DHP suspension in alginate promotes skin healing and reduction of the infection of the lesions in the affected animals. Pharmaceutical composition containing the low-MW DHP fractions exerts a soothing effect on the subject in wound treatment. Reduction in the number of bacteria by 30% and more were noticed in 6 dogs, while in 4 dogs this percentage is above 50%. No side effects were noticed. Synthesized lignin oligomers may have a significant place as antimicrobial and skin healing agents, especially since an increasing number of multidrug-resistant staphylococci are found on the skin lesions in animals.

Fluconazole and propolis co-encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis in a murine model.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection caused mainly by Candida albicans. The treatment of VVC with azoles has been impaired due to the increased cases of resistance presented by this pathogen. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antifungal activity of mucoadhesive chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating both green propolis and fluconazole for topical use in the treatment of VVC. The nanoparticles were prepared by the ionic gelation method, resulting in a size of 316.5 nm containing 22 mg/kg of green propolis and 2.4 mg/kg of fluconazole. The nanoparticles were non-toxic in vitro using red blood cells or in vivo in a Galleria mellonella toxicity model. The treatment of female BALB/c mice infected by C. albicans ATCC 10231 with topical nanoparticles co-encapsulating fluconazole and green propolis was effective even using a fluconazole amount 20 times lower than the amount of miconazole nitrate 2% cream. Considering that the mucoadhesive property of chitosan, which is known to allow a prolonged retention time of the compounds at the mucous epithelia, the antifungal potential of the phenols and flavonoids present in green propolis may have favored the effectiveness of this treatment. These results indicate that this formulation of topical use for fluconazole associated with green propolis can be used as a promising approach to therapy for the treatment of VVC, thus contributing to reducing the development of resistance to azoles.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection for which we search for alternatives for its treatment. Thus, a nanoparticle formulation based on fluconazole and green propolis was developed. These nanoparticles were tested, and we obtained adequate results in laboratory tests.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of bee venom against multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Bee venom with an antimicrobial effect is a powerful natural product. One of the most important areas where new antimicrobials are needed is in the prevention and control of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Today, antibacterial products used to treat multi-drug resistant pathogen infections in hospitals and healthcare facilities are insufficient to prevent colonisation and spread, and new products are needed. The aim of the study is to investigate the antibacterial effect of the bee venom (BV), a natural substance, on the species of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli, Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. As a result of this study, it was found that MIC90 and MBC90 values ranged from 6.25 µg/mL - 12.5 µg/mL and numbers of bacteria decreased by 4-6 logs within 1-24 h for multi-drug resistant pathogens. In particular, Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolate decreased 6 log cfu/mL at 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL concentrations in the first hour. The effective bacterial inhibition rate of bee venom suggests that it could be a potential antibacterial agent for multi-drug resistant pathogens.Contribution: The treatment options of antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a major problem in both veterinary and human medicine fields. We have detected a high antibacterial effect against these agents in this bee venom study, which is a natural product. Apitherapy is a fashionable treatment method all over the world and is used in many areas of health. Bee venom is also a product that can be used as a drug or disinfectant raw material and can fill the natural product gap that can be used against resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial agents in small animal dermatology for treating staphylococcal infections.

Abstract: Antibiotic recommendations for treating skin infections have been published many times in the past 30 years. Prior to 2000, the recommendations focused on the use of ß-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, amoxicillin-clavulanate, or ß-lactamase stable penicillins. These agents are still recommended, and used, for wild-type methicillin-susceptible strains of Staphylococcus spp. However, since the mid-2000s there has been an increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp (MRSP). The increase among S pseudintermedius in animals coincided with the increase in methicillin-resistant S aureus that was observed in people near the same time. This increase led veterinarians to reevaluate their approach to treating skin infections, particularly in dogs. Prior antibiotic exposure and hospitalization are identified as risk factors for MRSP. Topical treatments are more often used to treat these infections. Culture and susceptibility testing is performed more often, especially in refractory cases, to identify MRSP. If resistant strains are identified, veterinarians may have to rely on antibiotics that were previously used uncommonly for skin infections, such as chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and human-label antibiotics such as rifampin and linezolid. These drugs carry risks and uncertainties that must be considered before they are routinely prescribed. This article will discuss these concerns and provide veterinarians guidance on the treatment of these skin infections.

Susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates in equine ulcerative keratitis: Implications for empirical treatment at a university teaching hospital in Sydney.

Corneal ulceration is a common ophthalmic condition in horses. It is frequently caused by trauma to the corneal surface, followed by secondary infection by commensal or pathogenic organisms including Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp. Emerging antimicrobial resistance amongst these organisms has raised the need for appropriate antimicrobial therapy selection, to optimise treatment efficacy while minimising further antimicrobial resistance. Medical records of 38 horses presented at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden for ulcerative keratitis between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed to identify those with positive bacterial cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles (13/38). Common susceptibility patterns were identified and used to guide the empirical treatment of equine bacterial corneal ulcers. Pseudomonas spp. (64.3%), Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (14.3%) and Actinobacillus spp. (14.3%) were most commonly identified. Susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin was observed in 100%, 66.7% and 85.7% Pseudomonas spp. isolates respectively. Resistance to polymyxin B and neomycin occurred in 85.7% and 71.4% of Pseudomonas spp., respectively. All Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus organisms in this study were susceptible to ceftiofur, cephalexin, penicillin and ampicillin, while they were all resistant to gentamicin, neomycin, enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. Predominating in this study, Pseudomonas spp. maintained overall aminoglycoside susceptibility despite some emerging resistance, and good fluoroquinolone susceptibility. High resistance to Polymyxin B could have arisen from its common use as first-line therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. Although further research is required, these new findings about predominant bacteria in equine corneal ulceration in the Camden region and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can be used to guide the empirical treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers in horses.

Isolation of Multidrug-Resistant Helicobacter pylori from Wild Houseflies Musca domestica with a New Perspective for the Treatment.

Background: High frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection and the unknown mode of transmission prompted us to investigate H. pylori-wild housefly relationship. H. pylori causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. H. pylori persists in the gut of the experimentally infected houseflies. The existence of H. pylori strains isolated from wild houseflies, on the other hand, has never been documented. Materials and Methods: In this study, 902 wild houseflies from different sites were identified as Musca domestica, then 60 flies were screened by traditional microbiological techniques and H. pylori-specific 16S rRNA gene. The antibiotic resistance (ART) was investigated phenotypically. Wild housefly gut bacterial isolates were further evaluated genotypically to have 23S rRNA gene mutation related to clarithromycin resistance. To find efficient therapeutic alternatives, the potency of three plant extracts (garlic, ginger, and lemon) and the wasp, Vespa orientalis venom was evaluated against H. pylori. The cytotoxic effect of the crude wasp venom, the most potent extract, against Vero and Colon cancer (Caco2) cell lines was investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Results: All isolates from houseflies were positive. The isolated bacteria have variable resistance to frequently used antibiotics in all isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of 15.625 mg/mL for both ginger and lemon extracts, 7.8125 mg/mL for garlic extract, and 0.0313 mg/mL for wasp venom were recorded. Wasp venom has the most potent antibacterial activity compared with the four antibiotics that are currently used in therapies against H. pylori. Conclusion: We conclude that wild houseflies can play a role in disseminating H. pylori. The housefly gut may be a suitable environment for the horizontal transfer of ART genes among its associated microbiome and H. pylori. Wasp venom proved its potential activity as a new and effective anti-H. pylori drug for both therapeutic and preventative usage.

In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial effect of Brazilian red propolis ethanol extract in the prevention of periodontal disease in dogs.

Dental plaque (DP) is found on the surface of teeth and comprises a community of microorganisms that form a structured biofilm. Bacteria present in DP are potential periodontal pathogens when there is an imbalance in the healthy oral environment, and are precursors of periodontal disease (PD). In dogs, the treatments, such as mechanical removal, are difficult and expensive to apply. Therefore, in order to seek new therapeutic alternatives to control dental plaque in dogs, Brazilian red propolis ethanol extract (RPEE) was tested to evaluate its antibacterial effect on bacteria isolated from DP of dogs without PD. DP was collected from the supragingival dental surfaces of 10 dogs. Bacterial isolates of DP were identified by PCR and sequencing of 16S rDNA gene. The RPEE was obtained using the ultrasound ethanol extraction technique, and the chemical composition was obtained by HPLC-DAD and UV-spectrophotometry. In total, 29 different bacteria belonging to five genera were identified. Formononetin, biochanin A, liquiritigenin and daidzein were the major constituents of the RPEE. The cytotoxic effect showed cell viability after 24 h above 50 % at all concentrations evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentration was between 37.5 and 150.0 µg/mL for all bacterial isolates. The minimal bactericidal concentration was between 150 and 1200 µg/mL for Gram-positive and 300-1200 µg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria. The results are promising and suggest that RPEE has significant antibacterial potential against the bacteria present in the DP of healthy dogs. Although further studies are still needed, the results suggest RPEE might be safely used in the prevention of periodontal disease.

Synergistic antibacterial activity of baicalin and EDTA in combination with colistin against colistin-resistant Salmonella.

The emergence and rapid spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria have posed a serious threat to global health and security. Because of the time-consuming, high cost and high risk of developing new antibiotics, a significant method is to use antibiotic adjuvants to revitalize the existing antibiotics. The purpose of the study is to research the traditional Chinese medicine baicalin with the function of inhibiting the efflux pump and EDTA whether their single or combination can increase the activity of colistin against colistin-resistant Salmonella in vitro and in vivo, and to explore its molecular mechanisms. In vitro antibacterial experiments, we have observed that baicalin and EDTA alone could enhance the antibacterial activity of colistin. At the same time, the combination of baicalin and EDTA also showed a stronger synergistic effect on colistin, reversing the colistin resistance of all Salmonella strains. Molecular docking and RT-PCR results showed that the combination of baicalin and EDTA not only affected the expression of mcr-1, but also was an effective inhibitor of MCR-1. In-depth synergistic mechanism analysis revealed that baicalin and EDTA enhanced colistin activity through multiple pathways, including accelerating the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), inhibiting the bacterial antioxidant system and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modification, depriving multidrug efflux pump functions and attenuating bacterial virulence. In addition, the combinational therapy of colistin, baicalin and EDTA displayed an obvious reduction in bacterial loads cfus of liver and spleen compared with monotherapy and 2-drug combination therapy. In conclusion, our study indicates that the combination of baicalin and EDTA as a novel colistin adjuvant can provide a reliable basis for formulating the therapeutic regimen for colistin resistant bacterial infection.

Sporotrichosis in dogs: epidemiological and clinical-therapeutic profile and the emergence of itraconazole-resistant isolates.

Sporotrichosis is a neglected and emerging mycosis caused by the traumatic implantation of Sporothrix propagules into the (sub)cutaneous tissues of humans and animals. We evaluated canine sporotrichosis's clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile, and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole. The variables were evaluated by a chi-square test. A total of 69 dogs were infected with Sporothrix spp., and the molecular identification revealed an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. The epidemiological profile was male (56.5%), adults (4.9 ± 1.92 years old; 69.6%), and mongrels (53.6%). The clinical signs were 76.8%, ulcers, draining tracts, and nodules were predominant, mainly in the nasal region (82.2%). Dogs were diagnosed late with an evolution time of up to 3 months (34.8%). According to the prior therapeutic information, 52.2% received empirical therapy, 79.2% antibiotics, and had a 0.29 significantly greater chance of presenting lesion evolution time ˃ 3 months (P < .05; Odds Ratio [OR] 1/0.29). Additionally, 25 S. brasiliensis isolates recovered between 2006-2012 (n = 15; Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.06-2 µg/ml) and 2013-2018 (n = 10; MIC: 2→16 µg/ml) were tested against itraconazole (ITZ). These findings highlighted the resistance to ITZ in clinical cases due to S. brasiliensis occurring after 2013, showing the temporal evolution of ITZ-resistance. We warn of the importance of accurate and early diagnosis in Sporothrix-affected areas, and we report the emergence of ITZ-resistant isolates in Southern Brazil.

Sporotrichosis is a fungal zoonosis. We investigated the clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile, and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole (ITZ) in canine cases in Southern Brazil. Our study highlighted the emergence of ITZ-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis and the main challenges for clinical control of this neglected disease.

Single oral or intravenous administration of voriconazole achieved recommended therapeutic minimum inhibitory concentrations against Aspergillus in the common raven (Corvus corax).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole after single IV or orally administered boluses in common ravens (Corvus corax). ANIMALS: 8 healthy common ravens. PROCEDURES: Voriconazole (5 mg/mL, 10 mg/kg IV) was administered to 8 birds, and then plasma voriconazole concentrations were measured at various time points by high-pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Starting 6 months later in a randomized 3-treatment 3-period regimen, birds received a single oral dose of voriconazole suspension (10 mg/mL; 6, 12, and 24 mg/kg PO). The study period was May 2015 to March 2016. RESULTS: Voriconazole (10 mg/kg IV) achieved an initial plasma concentration of 6.31 µg/mL when measured over 21 hours. After oral administration of voriconazole at 6, 12, and 24 mg/kg, the relative bioavailability was 67.5%, 209%, and 183%, respectively. For the 6-mg/kg dose, the maximum plasma concentration was reached at 30 minutes after administration and remained in the therapeutic range of 0.5 to 1 µg/mL for approximately 15 hours. The 12- and 24-mg/kg doses resulted in concentrations in a potentially toxic range. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Voriconazole was well tolerated. All 4 doses resulted in plasma concentrations of voriconazole > 0.5 µg/mL, which is the minimum inhibitory concentration recommended for pathogenic species of Aspergillus fungi known to affect birds. A single dose of voriconazole administered as 10 mg/kg IV or 6 mg/kg PO resulted in recommended target plasma concentrations. Administration of voriconazole 6 mg/kg PO 2 to 3 times daily may be adequate for treatment without exceeding the toxic range.

Application of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic concepts to the development of treatment regimens for sporadic canine urinary tract infections: Challenges and paths forward.

Antimicrobial efficacy can be predicted based on infection site exposure to the antimicrobial agent relative to the in vitro susceptibility of the pathogen to that agent. When infections occur in soft tissues (e.g., muscle, blood, and ligaments), exposure at the infection site is generally assumed to reflect an equilibrium between the unbound concentrations in plasma and that in the interstitial fluids. In contrast, for sporadic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs and uncomplicated UTIs in humans, the primary site of infection is the bladder wall. Infection develops when bacteria invade the host bladder urothelium (specifically, the umbrella cells that form the urine-contacting layer of the stratified uroepithelium) within which these bacteria can avoid exposure to host defenses and antimicrobial agents. Traditionally, pathogen susceptibility has been estimated using standardized in vitro tests that measure the minimal concentration that will inhibit pathogen growth (MIC). When using exposure-response relationships during drug development to explore dose optimization, these relationships can either be based upon an assessment of a correlation between clinical outcome, drug exposure at the infection site, and pathogen MIC, or upon benchmark exposure-response relationships (i.e., pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic indices) typically used for the various drug classes. When using the latter approach, it is essential that the unbound concentrations at the infection site be considered relative to the MIC within the biological matrix to which the pathogen will be exposed. For soft tissue infections, this typically is the unbound plasma concentrations versus MICs determined in standardized media such as cation-adjusted Mueller Hinton broth, which is how many indices were originally established. However, for UTIs, it is the unbound drug concentrations within the urine versus the MICs in the actual urine biophase that needs to be considered. The importance of these relationships and how they are influenced by drug resistance, resilience, and inoculum are discussed in this review using fluoroquinolones and beta-lactams as examples.

Aspergillus spp. osteoarticular infections: an updated systematic review on the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of 186 confirmed cases.

Aspergillus spp. osteoarticular infections are destructive opportunistic infections, while there is no clear consensus on their management. The purpose of this review is to investigate the current literature regarding Aspergillus spp. osteoarticular infections. An electronic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted considering studies that assessed osteoarticular infections from Aspergillus spp. We included only studies with biopsy proven documentation of positive cultures or histological findings for Aspergillus spp., and those with essential information for each case such as the anatomical location of the infection, the type of treatment (conservative, surgical, combination), the antifungal therapy, and the outcome. Overall, 148 studies from 1965 to 2021 including 186 patients were included in the review. One hundred and seven (57.5%) patients underwent surgical debridement in addition to antifungal therapy, while 79 (42.7%) patients were treated only conservatively. Complete infection resolution was reported in 107 (57.5%) patients, while partial resolution in 29 (15.5%) patients. Surgical debridement resulted in higher complete infection resolution rate compared to only antifungal therapy (70.0% vs. 40.5%, P < 0.001), while complete resolution rate was similar for antifungal monotherapy and combination/sequential therapy (58.3% vs. 54.5%; P = 0.76). Last, complete resolution rate was also similar for monotherapy with amphotericin B (58.1%) and voriconazole (58.6%; P = 0.95). The results of this study indicate that antifungal monotherapy has similar efficacy with combination/sequential therapy, while voriconazole has similar efficacy with amphotericin B. Moreover, surgical debridement of the infected focus results in better outcomes in terms of infection eradication compared to conservative treatment. LAY SUMMARY: Antifungal monotherapy has similar efficacy with combination/sequential therapy, and voriconazole has similar efficacy with amphotericin B for the treatment of Aspergillus spp. osteoarticular infections, while surgical debridement of the infected focus improves the infection eradication rate.

The perspective of antibiotic therapeutic challenges of brucellosis in the Middle East and North African countries: Current situation and therapeutic management.

Brucellosis is among the most prevalent zoonotic infections in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries, critically impacting human and animal health. A comprehensive review of studies on antibiotic susceptibility and therapeutic regimes for brucellosis in ruminants and humans in the MENA region was conducted to evaluate the current therapeutic management in this region. Different scientific databases were searched for peer-reviewed original English articles published from January 1989 to February 2021. Reports from research organizations and health authorities have been taken into consideration. Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus have been reported from the majority of MENA countries, suggesting a massive prevalence particularly of B. melitensis across these countries. Several sporadic cases of brucellosis relapse, therapeutic failure, and antibiotic resistance of animal and human isolates have been reported from the MENA region. However, several studies proved that brucellae are still in-vitro susceptible to the majority of antibiotic compounds and combinations in current recommended World Health Organization (WHO) treatment regimens, for example, levofloxacin, tetracyclines, doxycycline, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tigecycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The current review presents an overview on resistance development of brucellae and highlights the current knowledge on effective antibiotics regimens for treating human brucellosis.

Research Note: Preservative effect of compound spices extracts on marinated chicken.

The antimicrobial effect of 21 nature spices essential oils (EOs) on marinated chicken was investigated and response surface analysis was applied to obtain the optimal combination. Cassia bark EO, cinnamon EO, tea tree EO, and angelica EO had the best antibacterial effect. Their inhibition zone diameters (IZD) were 23 mm, 21 mm, 15 mm, and 12 mm, and their minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were 1.25 µL/mL, 1.25 µL/mL, 10.00 µL/mL, 20.00 µL/mL. Using the Box-Behnken Design model, with the minimum total number of spoilage bacteria as the evaluation index, the optimal mixture was cassia bark EO 2.40 µL/mL, cinnamon EO 1.00 µL/mL, tea tree EO 3.50 µL/mL, and angelica EO 9.00 µL/mL. Compared with the control group, the total number of colonies was reduced by 1.3 log unites at the 12th sampling day, and the protein degradation process was slowed down owing to the preservative addition. These results indicate the potential application of nature extracts in chicken and other meat preservation.

Treatment of pigs with enrofloxacin via different oral dosage forms - environmental contaminations and resistance development of Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: Antibacterial agents play important roles in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and carry-over of substances into the environment are several problems arising during oral treatment of bacterial infections. We assessed AMR development in commensal Escherichia coli (E. coli) in enrofloxacin treated and untreated animals. In addition, we examined fluoroquinolone in the plasma and urine of treated and untreated animals, and in sedimentation dust and aerosol. METHODS: In each trial, six pigs were treated with enrofloxacin via powder, granulate or pellet forms in two time periods (days 1-5 and 22-26). Four pigs served as untreated controls. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined to evaluate AMR development. Analysis of enro- and ciprofloxacin was performed with high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Non-wildtype E. coli (MIC > 0.125 µg/mL) was detected in the pellet treated group after the first treatment period, whereas in the other groups, non-wildtype isolates were found after the second treatment period. E. coli with MIC > 4 µg/mL was found in only the pellet trial. Untreated animals showed similar susceptibility shifts several days later. Bioavailability differed among the treatment forms (granulate > pellet > powder). Enro- and ciprofloxacin were detected in aerosols and sedimentation dust (granulate, powder > pellet). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the kind of the oral dosage form of antibiotics affects environmental contamination and AMR development in commensal E. coli in treated and untreated pigs.

Bactericidal and antibiofilm properties of Rumex japonicus Houtt. on multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus and its biofilm formation have been challenging to control in milk and dairy industries. Biofilms formed by Staph. aureus may result in the failure of antibacterial agents and disinfectants to penetrate the biofilm in an attempt to control contamination. Novel natural antibacterial agents are required to combat MDR bacteria and biofilms. In this study, we evaluated the bactericidal, antibiofilm, and antimotility effects of Rumex japonicus Houtt. (RJH) extract on MDR Staph. aureus isolated from milk. The RJH extract exhibited good antibacterial activity against MDR strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 0.78 to 6.25 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 3.125 to 12.5 mg/mL. The extract showed strong inhibition of biofilm formation (81.9%) at sub-MIC value and eradication of biofilm at higher concentrations. The motility of Staph. aureus was effectively blocked by the extract. Major compounds emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion were identified in RJH extract using HPLC-linear trap quadrupole (LTQ)/Orbitrap-mass spectrometry. The extract was nontoxic to human epithelial cell lines such as Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mg/mL, and from 0.1 to 0.75 mg/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that RJH extract could be an alternative to synthetic preservatives in milk and dairy products.