Phenotypic Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci from The External Surfaces of Hospital Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

A study to phenotypically characterize and determine the antibiogram of coagulase positive Staphylococci (CoPS) from the external surfaces of hospital cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) was conducted using standard microbiological methods. Out of the 50 cockroaches collected from various hospitals in Uyo, sixty-two percent (n = 31) had coagulase positive Staphylococci which consisted of Staphylococcus aureus (44.0 %; n = 22) and Staphylococcus intermedius (18.0 %; n = 9). The CoPS isolates showed 100% resistance to Penicillin, Tetracycline, Clindamycin and 80.6% sensitivity to Amoxicillin-clavulanate. The CoPS showed multiple antibiotic resistances to ≥ 3 antibiotics, with 60 % exhibiting resistance to 6 antibiotics. Out of the 80 % (n = 31) of the multidrug resistant CoPS that were sensitive to Amoxicillin-clavulanate, none of them showed production of beta lactamase. The cockroaches bore multiple antibiotic resistant CoPS on their external surfaces and their contact can initiate contamination of patients' food. Pest control measures in hospital are hereby recommended to minimize cockroach related infections

Uso da Homeopatia nas principais afecções cutâneas causadas por estafilococos: uma revisão / Use of homeopathy in major cutaneous conditions caused by staphylococci: a review

As piodermites são as causas mais comuns de dermatopatia atendidas na rotina do veterinário de pequenos animais. Tratam-se de infecções cutâneas causados por microrganismos comensais, principalmente pelo Staphylococcus pseudointermedius. As lesões em geral, são pruriginosas e podem ser classificadas como piodermite superficiais e profundas, as primeiras cursam com acometimento da epiderme com lesões de crostas melicélicas e colarinhos epidérmicos, já as segundas cursam com furunculose, lesões mais erosivas e bolhosas que drenam material purulento e hemático. Em ambos os casos, o diagnóstico é clínico e utiliza exames laboratoriais como a cultura em antibiograma para direcionar o tratamento. Em todos os casos de piodermite, deve-se buscar a causa de base, pois a maioria dos casos são secundários a alergopatias, endocrinopatias, sarna demodécica e escabiose. O tratamento do quadro agudo na alopatia é a base de antibióticos, sendo os de eleição os beta-lactâmicos, o principal alvo das bactérias multirresistentes. As opões terapêuticas são as cefalosporinas, amoxicilina com clavulanato de potássio, clindamicina, marbofloxacina, entre outros. Para os quadros recorrentes, utiliza-se as bacterinas e pulsoterapias. A homeopatia é uma ferramenta de grande valia para esses quadros recorrentes, pois não vai tratar a bactéria e sim o paciente como um todo. A homeopatia trabalha segundo a lei da semelhança, em que um medicamento que causa determinados sintomas no experimentador são, é capaz de curar os mesmos sintomas quando estes aparecem em forma de doença. A cada dia, há cada vez mais trabalhos enfatizado a eficácia e as vantagems do tratamento de dermatopatias e infecções estafilocócicas em geral. Os medicamentos mais utilizados para as piodermites são os nosódios produzidos a partis dos estafilococos e outros como Hepar sulphur, Arsenicum album, Calcarea carbônica, Creosotum, Graphites, Lycopodium, Mercurius solubilus, Phosphorus, Rhus toxicodendron, Sulphur e Psorinum.(AU)

The pyoderma is the most common cause of skin diseases of routine of small animal veterinarian. It's about skin infections caused by bacterias, especially Staphylococcus pseudointermedius. The lesions are usually itchy and can be classified as superficial and deep Pyoderma, the first one involves the epidermis leading to melicelical crusts lesions and colarettes, the second on show epidermal furunculosis, bullous lesions that can be erosive and supurative. In both cases, the diagnosis include clinical and laboratory tests such as antimicrobial culture to guide the treatment. In all cases of Pyoderma, we should seek the primary cause, because most cases are secondary to alergical diseases, endocrinal diseases, demodediciosis and scabies. The treatment in allopathy is based on antibiotics, mainly beta-lactam antibiotics, the main target of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The therapeutic options are the cephalosporins, amoxiciclin with clavulanate potassium, clindamycin, marbofloxacin, among others. For the recurring cases, the bacterins and pulsetherapy can be used. Homeopathy is a tool of great value for those applicants, because it will not treat the only bacteria, but the whole patient. Homeopathy works according to the law of similarity, in which a medicine that causes certain symptoms in healthy experimenter, can cure the same symptoms when they appear in the form of sickness. Every day, more and more studies emphasized the effectiveness and the advantages of the treatment of skin diseases and Staphylococcal infections with homeopathy. The most used for the pyoderma cases are the nosodes produced with staphylococci and others like Hepar sulphur, Arsenicum album, Calcarea carbonica Creosotum, Graphites, Lycopodium, Mercurius solubilus, Phosphorus, Rhus toxicodendron, Sulphur and Psorinum.(AU)

Prevalência e susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos de Staphylococci isolados de vagina de ovelhas sadias / Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococci isolated from the vagina of healthy ewes

Os objetivos deste estudo foram: identificar as espécies de Staphylococcus sp. da vagina de ovelhas sem sinal de infecção e determinar sua susceptibilidade in vitro aos antimicrobianos. Swabs estéreis foram usados para coletar as amostras da vagina de 24 ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, do mesmo rebanho, classificadas como livres de doenças genitais após um histórico e exame físico detalhados. Procedimentos bacteriológicos padronizados, como por exemplo, o isolamento em meio de cultura seletivo e crescimento das amostras em aerobiose, foram utilizados para identificação dos isolados. Espécies de Staphylococcus coagulase-positivo (CoPS) representaram 60% dos isolados e foram significantemente mais resistentes do que as espécies de Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo. A resistência aos antibióticos foi frequentemente observada, e 66,6% dos isolados demonstraram resistência à pelo menos uma droga. Ciprofloxacina foi o agente antimicrobiano mais eficiente, não apresentando nenhuma cepa resistente, enquanto a Penicilina G foi a droga menos efetiva (40% de resistência). Esse estudo confirma a presença de amostras estafilocócicas na vagina de ovelhas, com predominância de CoPS que apresentaram resistência a diversos antibióticos testados. Este trabalho contribui para um melhor esclarecimento sobre o papel dos staphylococci na vagina das ovelhas e sua susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos, colaborando para um tratamento de vaginite mais eficiente, que pode ser causada por este gênero bacteriano.

The aims of this study were identify the species of Staphylococcus sp. from the vagina of healthy ewes and determine their in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect samples from the vagina of 24 ewes. Standard bacteriological procedures were conducted. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus species (COPS) represented 60% of the isolates and were significantly more resistant to antibiotics than coagulase-negative isolates. Resistance to antibiotics was frequently observed, and 66.6% of the isolates showed resistance to at least one tested drug. Ciprofloxacin was the most active antimicrobial agent (100%), while Penicillin G was the less effective (40% of resistance). This study confirms the presence of Staphylococcal isolates in the vagina of ewes, with predominance of CoPS isolates resistant to various antibiotics. This study contributes to a better knowledge about the role of Staphylococcus species in the ewe’s vagina and their antimicrobial susceptibility, collaborating for a better treatment of the vaginitis determined by these bacteria.

Caracterización molecular de cepas toxigénicas de Staphylococci aisladas de operarios de plantas de alimentos / Molecular characterization of toxigenic Staphylococci strains isolated from food handlers

Resumen Objetivo. Utilizar la técnica de amplificación aleatoria de ADN polimórfico ( random amplification of polymorphic DNA, RAPD para caracterizar molecularmente cepas de Staphylococci productoras de toxinas, aisladas de operarios de plantas de producción de alimentos. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 31 aislamientos enterotoxigénicos de Staphylococci para la extracción y cuantificación de ADN. Posteriormente, se realizó un ciclo general de amplificación utilizando los oligonucleótidos HLWL-74 y arbitrario, seguido por la visualización de los productos de RAPD por electroforesis en gel de agarosa. Resultados. Para los dos oligonucleótidos utilizados, se observaron de 1 a 15 bandas, dos linajes, divididos en tres conglomerados (A, B y C). El oligonucleótido arbitrario generó 10 bandas polimórficas (66,66%) y el oligonucleótido HLWL-74 arrojó 13 bandas altamente polimórficas (86,66%). Cada oligonucleótido mostró un agrupamiento diferente de cada una de las cepas, lo cual muestra una alta diversidad de aislamientos de Staphylococci presentes en humanos. Conclusiones. Se presentó una alta diversidad molecular en cuanto a aislamientos de garganta, nariz y manos de un mismo individuo, así como en todos los aislamientos analizados, lo cual demuestra que las cepas enterotoxigénicas de Staphylococci encontradas en los operarios analizados tienen una alta diversidad molecular.

Objective. To use Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to compare molecularly enterotoxigenic Staphylococci strains isolated from people working in food processing plants. Materials and methods. 31 Staphylococci enterotoxigenic isolates were used for extraction and quantification of DNA, followed by a general amplification cycle with the HLWL-74 and arbitrary oligonucleotides with visualization of the RAPD products by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results. The two oligonucleotides used generated 1 to 15 bands, two mayor lineages divided in three clusters (A, B, and C). The arbitrary oligonucleotide generated 10 polymorphic bands (66.66%), the HLWL-74 oligonucleotide generated 13 polymorphic bands (86.66%). Each oligonucleotide generated a different type of grouping with respect to each of the strains analyzed. This shows a high diversity between the human isolates of Staphylococci. Conclusion. A high molecular diversity was present amongst throat, nose and hands isolates from the same person, and among the analyzed isolates; this demonstrates a high molecular diversity in Staphylococci enterotoxigenic isolates.

Evaluation of augmentin and cotrimoxazole against 276 pathogens in community acquired urinary tract infections [abstract]

OBJECTIVE: Augmentin and cotrimoxazole are the front-line drugs in the therapy of community acquired urinary tract infections. This report examines the in vitro efficacy of these two drugs against 276 urinary pathogens encountered from patients attending outpatient clinics at the University Hospital of the West Indies. METHODS: The urines collected from outpatients in 3 months (March to May, 2001) were cultured semi-quantitatively. The isolates (o 10 cfu/ml) were identified by routine methodology and antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by the standard disc-diffusion technique. RESULTS: Of the 276 isolates, 190 (68.8 percent) were gram negative and 86 (31.2 percent ) were gram positive pathogens. The common isolates in order of frequency were: Escherichia coli 89 (32.2 percent), Enterococci/Group D Streptocci 33 (12.0 percent, Proyteus mirabilis 28 (10.1 percent), Klebsiella sp 25 (9.1 percent) and coagulase negative Staphulococci 20 (7.2 percent). These five organisms together accounted for over two-thirds (70.7 percent of all isolates. Augmentin was effective against 71.0 percent of all, 68.9 percent of gram negative and 75.6 percent of gram positive pathogens and cotimoxazole was effective against 63.0 percent of all, 58.4 percent gram negative and 73.3 percent of gram-positive isolates. CONCLUSION: Despite decades of their usage, augmentin and cotrimoxazole continue to be effective in community acquired urinary tract infections. (AU)

Current use of antibiotics in opthalmology

The use of antibiotics in opthmalmology is based on the information from sensitivity studies derived from the ocular microbiology laboratory and results of clinical studies. Because of systemic use of antibiotics, bacteria develop mechanisms of resistance over time. The organisms considered pathogens evolve to become less frequent, and unusual organisms become the primary culprit. We have found an increasing trend of gram positive organisms such as Staphylococci and a decreasing incidence of gram negatives. As the same time, the antibiotic sensitivity profile has changed. The fluoroquinolones have been the antibiotic of choice for the last decade. Current laboratory data show a decreasing sensitivity profile. Clinical data are beginning to emerge that mirror this information. Data show that aminoglycosides, penicillins and other antibiotics such as vancomycin and chloramphenicol may be more appropriate. New antibiotics such as the oxazliodones and new generation quinolones may soon become the antibiotics of choice. (AU)

Immunologic changes in healthy probands and HIV infected patients after oral administration of Staphylococcus aureus 12c: a pilot study

The tumoricidal and antiviral effects of Staphylococcal toxins are well documented. In a preliminary study we investigated the immune modulating properties of these toxins by administering single oral doses of a 12c potency of a lysate of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, to 4 healthy probands and 12 HIV infected patients with clinical symptoms. We observed a decrease of circulating immune complexes in the healthy probands as CD4 lymphocytes... (AU)