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Cureus May 2024This report highlights two cases of surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by (Mf) following abdominal mesh implantation. The first case involved an 83-year-old male...
This report highlights two cases of surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by (Mf) following abdominal mesh implantation. The first case involved an 83-year-old male experiencing non-healing erythema and wounds post-operation, which persisted despite multiple treatments, until effective management was achieved with targeted antibiotics after Mf identification. The second case concerned a female patient with a gynecological postoperative hernia, where Mf was quickly detected following SSI onset three weeks after surgery. Prompt mesh removal and appropriate antibiotic treatment led to a rapid and full recovery. These cases emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention in managing Mf infections effectively, illustrating how the timing of diagnosis can significantly influence treatment outcomes.
PubMed: 38939297
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61263 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024Some naturally occurring compounds, known for their antimicrobial activities, have been employed as food additives. However, their efficacy in treating infections caused...
UNLABELLED
Some naturally occurring compounds, known for their antimicrobial activities, have been employed as food additives. However, their efficacy in treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is yet to be fully explored. Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM), a category within nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), are prevalent in various environments and can lead to infections in humans. The rise of antimicrobial resistance within RGM is a documented concern. In this study, we reported that four specific natural compounds effectively inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of three key RGM pathogens , , and . We screened 12 natural compounds for their effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant clinical strains of RGM. Four compounds showed significant inhibitory effects from the most effective to least: -cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, gentisaldehyde, and phloroglucinaldehyde. In the analysis of time-killing kinetics, gentisaldehyde and phloroglucinaldehyde displayed bactericidal activity while -cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol exhibited bacteriostatic effects. At 1× minimal inhibition concentrations, these compounds significantly reduced biofilm formation in all three RGM species to levels between 2.9% and 20.5% relative to controls. Checkerboard assays indicated synergistic interactions between these four compounds and antibiotics such as amikacin, clarithromycin, and linezolid. Of these 12 compound-antibiotic combinations, the pairs of carvacrol-linezolid, carvacrol-amikacin, and gentisaldehyde-clarithromycin demonstrated the most synergy against multiple RGM strains. Moreover, two other compounds citral and geraniol showed synergism with all three test antibiotics. Time-killing assays further confirmed most of synergistic combinations identified in the checkerboard tests. Our research suggests the potential of these essential oils and phenolic aldehydes, both individually and in combination with antibiotics, in treating RGM infections. In addition, this work illuminates applications of these natural compounds in environmental remediation to mitigate bacterial persistence for the control of infectious diseases.
IMPORTANCE
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance within rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) poses a significant threat to public health. This study investigates the potential of naturally occurring compounds to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant RGM including , , and . We identified four specific natural compounds showing impressive inhibitory effects against antibiotic-resistant clinical strains. These compounds not only inhibited the growth and biofilm formation but also exhibited synergistic interactions with antibiotics against key RGM pathogens. Our findings highlight the alternative treatment strategies for RGM infections and potential environmental applications of these natural compounds in mitigating microbial persistence and controlling infectious diseases.
PubMed: 38934606
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00199-24 -
International Journal of... Apr 2024Environmental mycobacteria are involved in several infections ranging from lung to skin infections. In Côte d'Ivoire, apart from Mycobacterium ulcerans and...
BACKGROUND
Environmental mycobacteria are involved in several infections ranging from lung to skin infections. In Côte d'Ivoire, apart from Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, little information exists on other species. The culture of these species, a real challenge, especially in developing countries like Cote d'Ivoire, limits their identification. However, there are reports in literature of infections caused by these mycobacteria, and few species have never been described in human or animal infections. These are difficult cases to treat because of their resistance to most antituberculosis antibiotics. The aim of our work was to study the diversity of potentially pathogenic mycobacterial species in wastewater drainage channels in different townships and in two hospital effluents in the city of Abidjan.
METHODS
Wastewater samples were cultured, followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting mycobacterial 16S ribonucleic acid (16S RNA) using PA/MSHA primers. 16 S RNA identified were sequenced by Sanger techniques. Sequences obtained were analyzed, and a phylogenic tree was built.
RESULTS
Fast-growing mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium phocaicum, Mycobacterium sp., and others presence, were confirmed both by culture and molecular techniques. M. fortuitum strain was the same in effluents of the Treichville University Hospital and in the wastewater of the township of Koumassi. New species never isolated in Côte d'Ivoire, such as M. phocaicum, have been identified in wastewater of the township of Yopougon.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that the sewer network in the city of Abidjan is colonized by both potentially pathogenic mycobacteria and saprophytic environmental mycobacteria.
Topics: Cote d'Ivoire; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Humans; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Wastewater; Polymerase Chain Reaction; DNA, Bacterial; Mycobacterium
PubMed: 38916386
DOI: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_96_24 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Jun 2024Emerald tree boas (Corallus batesii) are boids that in situ occurs in forested habitats in the Amazon Basin. The mycobacterial species can infect reptiles but the...
Emerald tree boas (Corallus batesii) are boids that in situ occurs in forested habitats in the Amazon Basin. The mycobacterial species can infect reptiles but the species Mycolicibacterium fortuitum was identified only in feces samples of ex situ Python regius and was isolated from granulomatous lesions of an ex situ Iguana iguana when was still part of the genus Mycobacterium. This article aims to report a mycobacteria infection case in a female Corallus batesii kept under human care. The animal presented apathy and 2 months of anorexia, being found dead. The necropsy revealed presence of tracheal and pulmonary nodules besides multifocal, bacterial, granulomatous pneumonia. After Fite-Faraco histochemical staining, immunohistochemistry, semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic sequencing the Mycolicibacterium fortuitum complex was diagnosed with 99.54% of nucleotide similarity. This mycobacterial species was already pointed out as an important nosocomial pathogen and more studies are necessary to explore their zoonotic potential.
PubMed: 38878258
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01422-x -
Heliyon May 2024The emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial strains is a significant crisis that has led to higher treatment failure rates and more toxic and expensive...
The emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial strains is a significant crisis that has led to higher treatment failure rates and more toxic and expensive medications for tuberculosis (TB). The urgent need to develop novel therapeutics has galvanized research interest towards developing alternative antimicrobials such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The current study focused on the anti-mycobacterial activity of green-synthesized AgNPs and its polyethylene glycol encapsulated derivative (PEG-AgNPs) with improved stability using the leaves extract of . Different characterization methods were used to analyze them. DLS analysis revealed a lower polydispersity index of PEG-AgNPs, suggesting a more uniform size distribution than that of AgNPs. The HR-TEM results revealed that the AgNPs and PEG-AgNPs have predominantly spherical shapes in the size range of 9-35 nm and 15-60 nm, respectively, while positive values of Zeta potential indicate their stability. FTIR-ATR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups responsible for reducing and capping the bio-reduced AgNPs, whereas the XRD data established its crystalline nature. Impressively, the PEG-AgNPs exhibited maximum inhibitory activity against different Tubercular and Non-Tuberculous species , and , relative to those of AgNPs and Linezolid. The flow cytometry assay showed that the anti-mycobacterial action was mediated by an increase in cell wall permeability. Notably, the results of AFM confirm their ability to inhibit mycobacterial biofilm significantly. We demonstrated the nontoxic nature of these AgNPs, explicated by the absence of hemolytic activity against human RBCs. Overall, the results suggest that PEG-AgNPs could offer a novel therapeutic approach with potential anti-mycobacterial activity and can overcome the limitations of existing TB therapies.
PubMed: 38799742
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31116 -
Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences Sep 2023Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported to cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections. These NTMs are often misdiagnosed as MTB due to their similar... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported to cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections. These NTMs are often misdiagnosed as MTB due to their similar clinical presentations to tuberculosis, leading to inappropriate treatment and increased morbidity and mortality rates. This literature review aims to provide an overview of the prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of NTM infections in Africa.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed using various electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search was limited to studies published in the English language from 2000 to 2021. The following keywords were used: "non-tuberculous mycobacteria", "NTM", "Africa", and "prevalence". Studies that focused solely on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or those that did not report prevalence rates were excluded. Data extraction was performed on eligible studies. Overall, a total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review.
RESULTS
In our literature review, we identified a total of 32 studies that reported non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) in Africa. The majority of these studies were conducted in South Africa, followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria. The most commonly isolated NTM species were Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium abscessus. Many of the studies reported a high prevalence of NTM infections among HIV-positive individuals. Other risk factors for NTM infection included advanced age, chronic lung disease, and previous tuberculosis infection.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this literature review highlights the significant burden of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infections in Africa. The prevalence of these infections is high, and they are often misdiagnosed due to their similarity to tuberculosis. The lack of awareness and diagnostic tools for non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infections in Africa is a major concern that needs to be addressed urgently. It is crucial to improve laboratory capacity and develop appropriate diagnostic algorithms for these infections.
Topics: Humans; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Africa; Prevalence
PubMed: 38784502
DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v33i5.21 -
Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences Sep 2023Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) are ubiquitous, free-living, environmental saprophytic microorganisms. NTMs belong to the genus Mycobacterium which includes...
BACKGROUND
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) are ubiquitous, free-living, environmental saprophytic microorganisms. NTMs belong to the genus Mycobacterium which includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). NTMs have lately been a major cause of pulmonary disease (PD) in immuno-compromised individuals including HIV-1 patients. NTMs and MTB appear similar based on microscopy, radiology, and clinical symptoms; consequently, this may lead to misdiagnosis. This study sought to establish the prevalence of NTM pulmonary disease in HIV-1 patients presumed to have pulmonary tuberculosis.
METHODS
A cross-sectional analytical laboratory study design was used targeting 617 adult HIV-1 infected patients presenting with presumptive pulmonary TB at Bungoma County Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic in Western Kenya between July 2021 to June 2022.
RESULTS
A total of 75 (12.2%, 4.6 -9.8 CI) of the participants presented with presumptive MTB and had TB-like symptoms while 542 (87.8%, 12.5 -30.7 CI) were negative. Additionally, 56 (9.1%) were infected with NTMs. HIV-positive participants had a significantly higher prevalence of NTMs 62 (11.8%, 5.6 -9.2 CI) compared to 2 (2.1%, 0.4 -1.8 CI). In HIV + study participants P<0.0001. M. avium was the most prevalent NTM, 25(33.3%), followed by M. fortuitum 20 (26.7%). A significant number of the isolates were M. tuberculosis 10 (13.3%) as well as M. kansasii 8 (10.7%).
CONCLUSION
There seems to be a high prevalence of NTMPD in HIV-1 patients which is assumed to be pulmonary TB. Differential diagnosis of the mycobacterium species is necessary to help improve disease management and outcomes in this group of patients.
Topics: Humans; Kenya; Male; Adult; Female; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prevalence; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; HIV Infections; Middle Aged; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; HIV-1; Young Adult
PubMed: 38784500
DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v33i5.3 -
Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) Jul 2024Exposure to Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) varies regionally and may partly explain the disparate outcomes of BCG vaccination and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility.
INTRODUCTION
Exposure to Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) varies regionally and may partly explain the disparate outcomes of BCG vaccination and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility.
METHODS
We examined NTM sputum colonization, associations with clinical characteristics, and tuberculin skin test (TST) responses in an adolescent TB prevalence survey.
RESULTS
Among 5004 adolescents screened, 2281 (45.5 %) were evaluated further. TB and NTM prevalence rates were 0.3 % and 8.0 %, respectively. Among 418 NTM isolates, 103 were unidentifiable, and 315 (75 %) comprised 15 species, the most frequent being M. intracellulare (MAC) (108, 26 %), M. scrofulaceum (96, 23 %) and M. fortuitum (51, 12 %). "NTM colonized" adolescents had less frequent chronic cough and night sweats (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.62, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.87and aOR 0.61, CI 0.42-0.89 respectively), and lower TST induration (median 11 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 0-16) vs 13 mm (IQR 6-17; p = 0.006)) when compared to "NTM not colonized" participants. MAC, but not M. scrofulaceum or M. fortuitum, was associated with decreased TST induration (median 7.5 mm (IQR 0-15) vs 13 mm (IQR 6-17) among "MAC colonized" vs "not colonized", p = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
We observed high NTM prevalence rates with species-specific associations with TST induration, consistent with a model of species-dependent heterologous immunity among mycobacteria.
Topics: Humans; Tuberculin Test; Adolescent; Kenya; Male; Female; Prevalence; Sputum; Mycobacterium avium Complex; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Child; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection; Predictive Value of Tests; Cross-Sectional Studies
PubMed: 38723342
DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2024.102514 -
JACS Au Apr 2024Steroidal pharmaceuticals with a 10α-methyl group or without the methyl group at C10-position are important medicines, but their synthesis is quite challenging, due to...
Steroidal pharmaceuticals with a 10α-methyl group or without the methyl group at C10-position are important medicines, but their synthesis is quite challenging, due to that the natural steroidal starting materials usually have a 10β-methyl group which is difficult to be inverted to 10α-methyl group. In this study, 3-((1,3a,4,7a)-1-(()-1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-7a-methyl-5-oxooctahydro-1-inden-4-yl) propanoic acid (HIP-IPA, ) was demonstrated as a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of this kind of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with a side chain at C17-position. Knockout of a β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene and introduction of a sterol aldolase gene into the genetically modified strains of (ATCC 6841) resulted in strains N13ΔΩ and N33ΔΩ, respectively. Both strains transformed phytosterols into . Compound was produced in 62% isolated yield (25 g) using strain N13ΔΩ, and further converted to (3S,3aS,9aS,9bS)-3-acetyl-3a,6-dimethyl-1,2,3,3a,4,5,8,9,9a,9b-decahydro-7H-cyclopenta[a]naphthalen-7-one, which is the key intermediate for the synthesis of dydrogesterone. This study not only overcomes a challenging synthetic problem by enabling an efficient synthesis of dydrogesterone-like steroidal APIs from phytosterols, the well-recognized cheap and readily available biobased raw materials, but also provides insights for redesigning the metabolic pathway of phytosterols to produce other new compounds of relevance to the steroidal pharmaceutical industry.
PubMed: 38665665
DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00688 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024C19 steroids and C22 steroids are vital intermediates for the synthesis of steroid drugs. Compared with C19 steroids, C22 steroids are more suitable for synthesizing...
C19 steroids and C22 steroids are vital intermediates for the synthesis of steroid drugs. Compared with C19 steroids, C22 steroids are more suitable for synthesizing progesterone and adrenocortical hormones, albeit less developed. 9,22-dihydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-4-ene-3-one(9-OHBA), due to its substituents at positions C-9 and C-22, is a beneficial and innovative steroid derivative for synthesizing corticosteroids. We focused on the C22 pathway in ATCC 35855, aiming to develop a productive strain that produces 9-OHBA. We used a mutant strain, MFΔ, that knocked out from ATCC 35855 named MFKD in this study as the original strain. Hsd4A and FadA5 are key enzymes in controlling the C19 metabolic pathway of steroids in ATCC 35855. After knocking out , MFKDΔ accumulated 81.47% 9-OHBA compared with 4.13% 9-OHBA in the strain MFKD. The double mutant MFKDΔΔ further improved the selectivity of 9-OHBA to 95.13%, and 9α-hydroxy-4-androstenedione (9-OHAD) decreased to 0.90% from 4.19%. In the end, we obtained 6.81 g/L 9-OHBA from 10 g/L phytosterols with a molar yield of 80.33%, which showed the best performance compared with formerly reported strains.
Topics: Mycobacterium fortuitum; Androstenedione; Molar; Phytosterols; Progesterone
PubMed: 38612391
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073579