Prevalence of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Sweets from Local Markets in Iran.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalences of some important antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and foodborne bacterial pathogens in sweet samples collected from local markets in Iran. METHODS: Forty sweet samples were collected. Foodborne pathogens and ARGs were detected in the sweet samples by conventional and multiplex PCR assays using species-specific primers. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Shigella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, and Campylobacter coli were detected and identified in 47.5%, 20%, 45%, 5%, and 30% of the sweet samples, respectively. We found S. aureus and Shigella spp. were the most prevalent bacterial pathogens. S. aureus was found to be the most frequent pathogenic bacteria profiled in these samples. We also found a significant correlation between the presence of C. coli and Cr. sakazakii. We detected the blaSHV resistance gene in 97.5% of the sweet samples; however, blaTEM was detected in only one sample (2.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Regarding these results, we suggest preventive strategies such as implementing automation of food processing; monitoring the personal hygiene and health of food handlers, and testing regularly for antibiotic resistance in raw materials and products.

Anticancer Properties of Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii Supernatant on Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Saccharomyces boulardii, a variety of S. cerevisiae, is used as a probiotic yeast in food and drug industries. However, S. boulardii is an opportunistic pathogen, and the supernatant of this organism has recently been recommended for its health-promoting benefits. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer disease in women worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of S. boulardii supernatant (SBS) on cell viability, inducing apoptosis and suppression of survivin gene expression in MCF-7 and MCF-7/MX as human non-drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant breast cancer cells respectively. The IC50 value of SBS against MCF-7 was calculated 1037, 542, and 543 µg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h treatments, respectively. Also, this value against MCF-7/MX cells were measured 1242, 616, and 444 µg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h respectively. We found that suppression of survivin gene expression should be one of the main molecular antitumor mechanisms which is contributed to apoptosis in breast cancer cells. However, anticancer activity of SBS was observed more efficient against MCF-7 than that against MCF-7/MX cells. SBS is suggested to be considered as one of the prospective anticancer drugs to treat human breast carcinoma. More investigations especially in vivo studies are strongly recommended to be implemented to characterize other antitumor mechanisms of SBS against breast carcinoma.

Genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of Shigella spp. isolates from food products.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Shigella is a significant threat to global public health. Limited studies have investigated the incidence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genetic diversity of Shigella isolated from food products. Conventional culture-based, serologic, molecular, disk diffusion, PCR, and RAPD-PCR methods were used to determine the prevalence rate, phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profile, and genetic diversity of the Shigella isolates from food samples including vegetable salad, ground meat, and raw cow's milk (405 samples). The prevalence rate of Shigella in food samples was 4.44%. The incidence of S. sonnei (3.7%) was higher than that of S. flexneri (0.74%). S. dysenteriae and S. boydii were not detected in food samples examined. Also, no Shigella were recovered from raw cow's milk. This study showed that the Shigella isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (83.3%), amoxicillin (66.6%), streptomycin (66.6%), tetracycline (61.1%), ampicillin (50%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (50%), azithromycin (50%), and chloramphenicol (50%) and completely sensitive to cefoxitin, cefepime, amikacin, and gentamicin. All Shigella isolates were multidrug-resistant. We detected bla SHV resistance gene in all isolates; however, no isolate harbored bla TEM gene. RAPD-PCR categorized the Shigella isolates into five main clusters. The highest antibiotic resistance was observed in the isolates of cluster R4. The finding of this study also indicated an association between antimicrobial resistance profiles and genotyping properties of the isolates. Novel food monitoring systems, including surveillance of multidrug-resistant foodborne pathogens, especially in developing countries, are required to control the foodborne diseases.

Prevalence, Phylogroups and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Isolates from Food Products.

The emergence of multi-drug resistant E. coli is an important matter of increasing considerable concern to global public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, antibiotic resistance pattern and phylogroups of E. coli isolates obtained from raw milk, vegetable salad and ground meat samples collected from Qazvin Province (Iran). Culture-based techniques, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility testing and PCR assays were used to determine the incidence rate, antimicrobial resistance pattern and phylogenetic groups of the E. coli isolates. The E. coli isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin (79.1%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (70.8%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (62.5%), tetracycline (54.1%), chloramphenicol (54.1%), nitrofurantoin (54.1%), ampicillin (45.8%), streptomycin (45.8%), and kanamycin (33.3%); and completely susceptible to norfloxacin and azithromycin and 70.8% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. Most E. coli isolates (46%) belonged to phylogroup A. Novel, practical, efficient food safety control and surveillance systems of multi-drug resistant foodborne pathogens are required to control the foodborne pathogen contamination.

Genotypic and antimicrobial resistance characterizations of Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from powdered milk infant formula: A comparison between domestic and imported products.

Cronobacter sakazakii, an opportunistic foodborne pathogen and a main cause of meningitis in neonates, is usually isolated from powdered milk infant formula (PMIF). At the present study, C. sakazakii were isolated from imported and domestically produced PMIF samples and identified by detection of ompA gene using real-time PCR SYBR green melting curve following the evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility and genotyping of the isolates employing BOX-PCR and RAPD methods. We detected totally 5% contamination rate and a significantly higher prevalence of C. sakazakii in bulky imported domestically packaged PMIF samples. Also, our isolates were recognized as multidrug-resistant pathogen completely resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin; and intermediately resistant to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline antimicrobials. Genotype clustering patterns of bulky imported and imported product isolates were identical by both genotyping methods. Far genetic relatedness of domestic isolate to other isolates and the reference strain indicated higher genetic diversity of the domestic isolate genome. Multidrug resistance and diverse population genetic make complicated situation for determination of strategies for infectious disease prevention.

A Survey of Iron Supplementation Consumption and its Related Factors in High School Students in Southeast Iran, 2015.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of iron supplement consumption and its associated factors among high school students in Iran. METHODS: A mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) study was conducted in Zahedan, southeast Iran, in 2015. The sample comprised 400 high school students from different areas of Zahedan who were randomly selected. A standard questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used to collect data in the quantitative and qualitative phases, respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS software with one-way ANOVA and Pearson's chi square. Additionally, content analysis was used for the qualitative analysis. RESULTS: In total, 38.2% of the students had not consumed iron supplements in the past 16 weeks, and students in third grade had the highest non-consumption rate (P=0.006). There was a significant positive relationship between iron tablet consumption and grade point average in the last year (P = 0.003). Digestive problems, influence of family and friends, students' reluctance, and poor environmental situations were the most important factors related to students' refusal to take tablets. CONCLUSIONS: Most students did not take or irregularly consumed iron supplements. Based on the digestive problems of the students, improving the taste and quality of iron tablets is recommended.

Barriers to implementation of evidence based practice in zahedan teaching hospitals, iran, 2014.

This study aimed to determine the barriers to implementation of EBP among nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Zahedan City, South East of Iran, in 2014. The questionnaire of barriers to implementation of EBP consists of 27 statements which was distributed among 280 nurses. More than half of the participants agreed that 56% and 57% of barriers to implementation of evidence based practice are related to organizational and individual aspects, respectively. Participants identified barriers at organizational level included the lack of human resources (78.3%), lack of internet access at work (72.2%), and heavy workload (70.0%). Barrier at individual level included lack of time to read literature (83.7%), lack of ability to work with computer (68.8%), and insufficient proficiency in English language (62.0%). Age, educational level, job experience, and employment status were associated with organizational barriers to implementation of EBP. At the individual level only education was associated with barriers to implementation of EBP. Barriers to implementation of EBP occur at both individual and organizational levels. The indicator of quality in nursing practice is EBP. Hence, familiarity with EBP is recommended for Iranian nurses. In addition, knowledge of barriers will help health care system and policy makers to provide a culture of EBP.