Antibiotics susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates from clinical specimens before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative organism causing mild to severe infections, with a wide spectrum range of organs involved. The study aimed to describe antibiotics susceptibility of E. coli from clinical specimens from October 11, 2019 to September 11, 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study was conducted retrospectively in a private microbiology laboratory in Mataram Indonesia. Period of study divided as two groups after WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic by March 11, 2020; group A including the specimen related to September 2019 to March 11th 2020 and group B including the specimens related to March 11th 2020 to September 2020. All clinical specimens were subjected to identify E. coli isolates and their antibiotics susceptibility using WHO-NET 5.6 version. RESULTS: Totally, 148 E. coli isolates were found in group A and 62 isolates in group B. Prevalence of extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)- producing E. coli in group A was 50% and in group B was 20.9% with significantly difference (p<0.05). There was an increase in susceptibility to 10/16 antibiotics; where 3 antibiotics ofloxacin, aztreonam, and fosfomycin were significant (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in susceptibility to the antibiotics piperacillin (p=0.012), amoxicillin (p=0.002), cefadroxil (p=0.036) and ampicillin (p=0.036). Type of infections between two groups: musculoskeletal infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sepsis were not significant. CONCLUSION: Reduced number of E. coli isolates between two groups with decrease of ESBL-producing E. coli contribute in dynamics of antibiotics susceptibility. The longer period of analysis is needed to be done, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of the bacteriocin produced by strain 9 lactic acid bacteria isolate for biopreservation.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of the bacteriocin produced by strain 9 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolate on the biopreservation of beef. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The strain 9 LAB isolate was identified conventionally by culturing with de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe broth medium followed by Gram staining and catalase testing. The molecular confirmation of the isolate involved analyzing the 16S rRNA gene with specific primers, that is, B27F (5-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3) and U1492R (5-GGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3). Then, the isolate was centrifuged to evaluate the bacteriocin production, and the effect of the biopreservative activity in beef was evaluated by measuring the NH3 produced with the Eber test and the organoleptic acceptance from expert panels. RESULTS: This study confirmed that the strain 9 LAB isolate was a strain of Pediococcus pentosaceus, and the bacteriocin product showed biopreservative potential. The biopreservative potential was characterized by a significant decline in the production of NH3 and the panel's acceptance of the texture and tenderness of the beef, compared with the control, after 10 days of constant treatment. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the high biopreservative potency of pediocin produced by P. pentosaceus strain 9. This was noted by the production of NH3 and the modifications in texture and tenderness.

High levels of serum IL-6 and serum hepcidin and low CD4 cell count were risk factors of anemia of chronic disease in HIV patients on the combination of antiretroviral therapy.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether high levels of serum IL-6 and serum hepcidin and CD4<350 cells/ul were risk factors for the anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in HIV-infected patients on the combination of antiretroviral (cARV) therapy with successful clinically and immunological responses. Patients and Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted in the VCT clinic of Sanglah General Hospital, Indonesia, between January 1 and September 1, 2016. The case group was HIV patients with ACD, while the control group was HIV patients without ACD. Purposive consecutive sampling was employed in HIV patients aged 15-65 years who have received cARV therapy for >6 months, had >95% adherence of cARV within 6 months, did not have any clinical failure, did not have any immunological failure and did not receive switch therapy within 6 months. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: A total of 42 cases and 42 controls were included in this study. Significant differences were found between case and control, which included serum IL-6, serum hepcidin, smoking, creatinine clearance, anemia at the initiation of cARV, CD4 at the initiation of cARV and actual CD4 (cell/µL). High levels of serum IL-6, high levels of serum hepcidin and CD4< 350 cells/µl were risk factors for ACD. After adjusted with anemia at cARV initiation and BMI, we found that high levels of serum IL-6 (adjusted OR: 17.682; 95% CI: 3.442-90.826), high levels of serum hepcidin (adjusted OR: 10.562; 95% CI: 2.531-44.076) and CD4 <350 cells/µl (adjusted OR: 4.181; 95% CI: 5.6-12.381) remain as risk factors for ACD. Conclusion: High levels of serum IL-6, high levels of serum hepcidin and CD4 count <350 cells/µL were risk factors for ACD in HIV patients with cARV therapy.