Prevalence, risk factors, and molecular analysis of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci colonization in a referral neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective study in northern Iran.

OBJECTIVES: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) is an emerging drug-resistant organism responsible for increasing nosocomial infections. Few data are available on the epidemiology of VRE colonization or infection in neonates, and is of recent interest. This study analyzes the prevalence of neonatal VRE colonization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and describes risk factors and molecular phenotypes associated with VRE colonization. METHODS: We performed a prospective epidemiological study on neonates admitted to an NICU. We compared neonates with VRE isolates detected in rectal swab cultures to those without. Association of VRE colonization with risk factors was tested by using univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: During a period of 18 months, amongst 180 neonates enrolled in the study, 76 (42.2%) were colonized by VRE. VRE isolates were resistant to amikacin in 68%, gentamicin in 26%, and ampicillin in 17.1% of cases. Molecular analysis showed the vanA gene in all isolates. Two VRE-positive patients developed infection during the observation time. No deaths occurred during this period. Prematurity (P = 0.023), low birth weight (P = 0.019), history of admission in other hospitals (P = 0.00), and antibiotic therapy for more than seven days (P = 0.01) were identified as risk factors for VRE colonization. CONCLUSION: Newborn susceptibility to early colonization with VRE in NICUs is increased in preterm and low birth weight newborns. All VRE colonization in the NICU was related to the acquisition of the vanA gene. Adherence to infection control policies and antimicrobial stewardship strategies are of the highest importance.

Regulatory Fluctuation of WNT16 Gene Expression Is Associated with Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer is one of the most serious and lethal kinds of cancer in the world. It is a multi-step, multi-factor, and elaborated process that is associated to gene abnormal expression. This study intended to investigate the WNT16 gene's expression in human gastric tumor and the margin tissues of the stomach (normal tissues). METHODS: Correspondingly, 40 samples (20 tumoral tissues and 20 non tumoral or margins tissues) were investigated in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari City, Mazandaran Province, Iran. In this way, real-time PCR, Taqman assay was employed to evaluate the upregulation and downregulation of this gene in both tissues in triplicate form. The GAPDH gene was selected as housekeeping gene. RESULTS: Conspicuously, the results have shown a remarkable modification in tumoral tissues, and the gene expression increased significantly in tumoral tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, the upregulation of WNTt16 gene expression in tumoral tissues was impressive and the P value was 0.005 and the SE range was 0.064-142.154.

A comparison of conventional rapid methods in diagnosis of superficial and cutaneous mycoses based on KOH, Chicago sky blue 6B and calcofluor white stains.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rapid confirmation of dermatomycoses is desirable, as it allows the clinicians to initiate appropriate therapy immediately. In this study, the utility of a novel contrast stain, Chicago sky blue stain, was compared with potassium hydroxide mount and calcofluor white stain to determine the causative fungal elements in the rapid detection method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this survey, 189 samples of suspected dermatomycosis infections were assessed in 3 incubation times of 30 minutes, 2 hours, and > 6 hours. RESULTS: Positive cases were shown in Chicago sky blue 6B (55%), calcofluor white (53.4%), and potassium hydroxide (36%), with 30-minute incubation. Positive results increased in other incubation times. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of Chicago sky blue 6B were 97%, 100%, 100%, 96% and 98% and, for potassium hydroxide, they were 66%, 98%, 97%, 98%, 80% versus CFW, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the Chicago sky blue 6B stain is a simple, fast and cost-effective method.