Bacterial contamination of neglected hospital surfaces and equipment in an Algerian hospital: an important source of potential infection.

Hospital surfaces are heavily contaminated with bacteria, which are a potential source of nosocomial infections. This study was undertaken to identify bacterial communities isolated from neglected hospital surfaces after cleaning routine in a Algerian public hospital. Screening of bacterial contamination in patient bed (PB), reception land-line phones (TF), door handles (DH) and medical equipment (ME) during five months generated 108 inocula. Isolates obtained were identified based on biochemical characteristics and confirmed by analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. Statistical analysis was performed to reveal possible relationship between bacterial diversity and swabbed surfaces. Our findings showed a high prevalence of bacteria in various hospital surfaces, reaching (65.25%), where a highest contaminated surface was the PB (47.22%) and a lowest contaminated was TF (5.55%). Gram negative bacteria were the dominant group (62.03%) mainly represented by Entrobacteriaceae (42.59%), whereas Staphylococcus aureus belonging to Gram positive was the main expanded pathogen with (15.74%).

Chemical profiles and efficacy of essential oils obtained from three spices against Helicobacter pylori

Introduction: the medicinal herbs constitute one of the most preferred alternative solutions as antimicrobial agents due to their availability, biodegradability, fewer side effects. Unfortunately, rare are the studies focused on the efficacy of plant extracts against Helicobacter pylori to either confirm or refute their effectiveness. Objective: determinate the chemical profiles and evaluate the antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori of the essential oils obtained from Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi. Methods: the essential oils obtained from flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata and seeds of Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi were extracted by hydrodistillation. The antibacterial potency against local clinical isolate of Helicobacter pylori was tested using agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration techniques and the chemical composition was determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: the phytochemical analysis identified trans-anethole (43.01%), estragole (27.04%) and fenchone (06.63%) as main compounds in F. vulgare oil. Carvone and α -pinene were defined as major components of C. carvi oil with 63.92% and 8.43% respectively, whereas the abundant constituents of E. caryophyllata were eugenol (65.22%), eugenyl acetate (18.77%) and trans-caryophyllene (9.92%). The strongest anti H. pylori activity was exhibited by F. vulgare oil reaching similar action of Clarithromycin (p < 0.05) used as positive control. Conclusion: this is the first report showing the potency of essential oils from spices against H. pylori, the results indicated that these resources can constitute potential natural treatment.

Introducción: las hierbas medicinales constituyen una de las soluciones alternativas preferidas para desempeñar el papel de agentes antimicrobianos debido a su disponibilidad, biodegradabilidad y pocos efectos secundarios. Desafortunadamente, son raros los estudios centrados en la eficacia de los extractos de las plantas contra Helicobacter pylori que confirman o refutan su eficacia. Objetivo: evaluar la actividad antibacteriana contra Helicobacter pylori de los aceites esenciales de Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare y Carum carvi. Métodos: los aceites esenciales obtenidos de los brotes de la flor del E. caryophyllatay, de semillas del F. vulgare y del C. carvi fueron extraídos por el hydrodistillation. La potencia antibacteriana contra el aislante clínico local Helicobacter pylori fue probada usando la difusión del disco del agar. Las técnicas de concentración inhibitoria mínima y la composición química fueron determinadas vía cromatografía del gas, espectrometría de masas. Resultados: los análisis fitoquímicas de los aceites esenciales identificado trans-anethole (43,01 %), estragole (27,04 %) y fenchone (6,63 %) como compuestos mayoritarios en F. vulgare. El aceite extraído del C. carvi reveló la presencia del carvone y α -pinene con los compuestos abundantes a 63,92 % y 8,43 % respectivamente, mientras que los componentes principales para E. caryophyllata eran el eugenol (65,22 %), eugenyl acetate (18,77 %) y trans-caryophyllene (9,92 %). De los aceites esenciales obtenidos, el de F. vulgare presentó mayor actividad anti-H. pylori, con la acción similar al del Clarithromycin (p < 0,05) usada como control positivo. Conclusión: los aceites esenciales de Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare y Carum carvi pueden constituir un potencial tratamiento natural contra H. pylori.