RESUMO
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that prominently causes a variety of clinical infections in humans, such as diarrhea, sepsis, and urinary tract infection. This bacterium is a common multidrug-resistant threat in community and hospital settings worldwide. This study examined the antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic relationship based on Clermont phylotyping and ERIC-PCR of 84 E. coli urinary isolates from provincial and community hospitals in Thailand. All the isolates were completely susceptible to nitrofurantoin, whereas almost all isolates were susceptible to carbapenem, fosfomycin, and amikacin. A high resistance rate was found to fluoroquinolone, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Clermont phylogroup B2 was predominant (n=58). Subtyping of the B2 phylogroup revealed diverse subgroups, of which subgroup V (n=11) was predominant, followed by VII (n=9), III (n=6), and II (n=6). ERIC-PCR showed the strain of the B2 subgroups III and V were spread between provincial and community hospitals and between hospital wards. This evidence suggested the need for comprehensive infection control monitoring, with strong active surveillance at all hospital levels.
RESUMO
A recent modelling study estimated that there are 2800 deaths due to melioidosis in Thailand yearly. The Thailand Melioidosis Network (formed in 2012) has been working closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to investigate and reduce the burden of this disease. Based on updated data, the incidence of melioidosis is still high in Northeast Thailand. More than 2000 culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis are diagnosed in general hospitals with microbiology laboratories in this region each year. The mortality rate is around 35%. Melioidosis is endemic throughout Thailand, but it is still not uncommon that microbiological facilities misidentify Burkholderia pseudomallei as a contaminant or another organism. Disease awareness is low, and people in rural areas neither wear boots nor boil water before drinking to protect themselves from acquiring B. pseudomallei. Previously, about 10 melioidosis deaths were formally reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (Report 506) each year, thus limiting priority setting by the MoPH. In 2015, the formally reported number of melioidosis deaths rose to 112, solely because Sunpasithiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani province, reported its own data (n = 107). Melioidosis is truly an important cause of death in Thailand, and currently reported cases (Report 506) and cases diagnosed at research centers reflect the tip of the iceberg. Laboratory training and communication between clinicians and laboratory personnel are required to improve diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis countrywide. Implementation of rapid diagnostic tests, such as a lateral flow antigen detection assay, with high accuracy even in melioidosis-endemic countries such as Thailand, is critically needed. Reporting of all culture-confirmed melioidosis cases from every hospital with a microbiology laboratory, together with final outcome data, is mandated under the Communicable Diseases Act B.E.2558. By enforcing this legislation, the MoPH could raise the priority of this disease, and should consider implementing a campaign to raise awareness and melioidosis prevention countrywide.
RESUMO
Infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii have become a critical problem for hospital patients worldwide. We investigated the multidrug-resistant A baumannii strain that caused hospital-acquired infections in Uthai Thani Hospital, Thailand, between 2006 and 2014. In summary, the spread of a clonally related multidrug-resistant A baumannii strain was the primary cause of nosocomial infections in Uthai Thani Hospital.
