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Cureus Mar 2024A rare human pathogen, ()has previously been found to cause skin and soft tissue infections post-trauma. The literature contains limited information regarding its...
A rare human pathogen, ()has previously been found to cause skin and soft tissue infections post-trauma. The literature contains limited information regarding its management or sensitivity patterns. We aim to share our findings on infections in an area with a high rate of antibiotic resistance. To draw attention to this uncommon and rare infection, we share a case series of . The antibiogram revealed that in all our cases was multidrug resistant. Two of our five cases had a prior history of road traffic accidents and yielded polymicrobial infections along with . The other two were revived successfully with proper antibiotic treatment, though one had glucose-6-phosphate deficiency (G6PD) and the last one was a neonate with pulmonary hypertension who grew in blood culture.
PubMed: 38654783
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56840 -
Impact of operational conditions on drinking water biofilm dynamics and coliform invasion potential.Applied and Environmental Microbiology May 2024Biofilms within drinking water distribution systems serve as a habitat for drinking water microorganisms. However, biofilms can negatively impact drinking water quality...
UNLABELLED
Biofilms within drinking water distribution systems serve as a habitat for drinking water microorganisms. However, biofilms can negatively impact drinking water quality by causing water discoloration and deterioration and can be a reservoir for unwanted microorganisms. In this study, we investigated whether indicator organisms for drinking water quality, such as coliforms, can settle in mature drinking water biofilms. Therefore, a biofilm monitor consisting of glass rings was used to grow and sample drinking water biofilms. Two mature drinking water biofilms were characterized by flow cytometry, ATP measurements, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Biofilms developed under treated chlorinated surface water supply exhibited lower cell densities in comparison with biofilms resulting from treated groundwater. Overall, the phenotypic as well as the genotypic characteristics were significantly different between both biofilms. In addition, the response of the biofilm microbiome and possible biofilm detachment after minor water quality changes were investigated. Limited changes in pH and free chlorine addition, to simulate operational changes that are relevant for practice, were evaluated. It was shown that both biofilms remained resilient. Finally, mature biofilms were prone to invasion of the coliform, . After spiking low concentrations (i.e., ±100 cells/100 mL) of the coliform to the corresponding bulk water samples, the coliforms were able to attach and get established within the mature biofilms. These outcomes emphasize the need for continued research on biofilm detachment and its implications for water contamination in distribution networks.
IMPORTANCE
The revelation that even low concentrations of coliforms can infiltrate into mature drinking water biofilms highlights a potential public health concern. Nowadays, the measurement of coliform bacteria is used as an indicator for fecal contamination and to control the effectiveness of disinfection processes and the cleanliness and integrity of distribution systems. In Flanders (Belgium), 533 out of 18,840 measurements exceeded the established norm for the coliform indicator parameter in 2021; however, the source of microbial contamination is mostly unknown. Here, we showed that mature biofilms, are susceptible to invasion of . These findings emphasize the importance of understanding and managing biofilms in drinking water distribution systems, not only for their potential to influence water quality, but also for their role in harboring and potentially disseminating pathogens. Further research into biofilm detachment, long-term responses to operational changes, and pathogen persistence within biofilms is crucial to inform strategies for safeguarding drinking water quality.
Topics: Biofilms; Drinking Water; Enterobacteriaceae; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Water Quality; Water Purification; Water Microbiology; Water Supply
PubMed: 38647288
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00042-24 -
Stress Biology Jan 2024Worldwide wastewater treatment plants generate enormous amounts of sewage sludge, and their further disposal depends on the treatment technologies applied and...
Worldwide wastewater treatment plants generate enormous amounts of sewage sludge, and their further disposal depends on the treatment technologies applied and spontaneously occurring microbiological processes. From different ages urban sewage sludge, 12 strains of bacteria with simultaneous tolerance to two or more trace elements: Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb at concentration of 3-5 mmol were isolated and identified by PCR of target genes and Sanger sequencing methods. The isloated metal(loids) tolerant strains belong to the species, i.e., Serratia fonticola, Rhodococcus qingshengii, Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas extremaustralis, Pseudomonas cedrina, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Serratia liquefaciens and Citrobacter freundii. The ecological features of the isolated strains were studied. The optimal growth temperatures for most strains was 15-30°C at pH range of 5-9, although some strains grew at 7°C (Pseudomonas fragi SS0-4, Serratia fonticola SS0-9 and Serratia fonticola SS12-11). Satisfactory growth of two strains (Serratia fonticola SS0-1and Citrobacter freundii SS60-12) was noted in an acidic medium at pH 4. Most of the strains grew in the NaCl concentration range of 1-5%. The isolated bacteria resistant to high concentrations of trace elements can be used for the effective mineralization of sewage sludge and for the decontamination of wastewater.
PubMed: 38273092
DOI: 10.1007/s44154-023-00144-8 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The study examines the antibiotic resistance of metal-tolerant bacteria isolated from the wastewater treatment plant of a large city to six antibiotics belonging to the...
The study examines the antibiotic resistance of metal-tolerant bacteria isolated from the wastewater treatment plant of a large city to six antibiotics belonging to the β-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides and amphenicols. Resistance of bacteria from sewage sludge multitolerant to heavy metals to 18 antibiotics of the β-lactam antibiotics, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, diaminopyrimidines, amphenicols and ansamycins was studied also. Out of 10, the metal-tolerant microorganisms isolated from wastewater treatment facilities only the strain (tolerant to 3 mM Cu) from the sludge of a secondary settling tank did not show resistance to the studied antibiotics at the concentrations considered. Resistance to the maximum amount of antibiotics was typical for strains SS0-1, isolated from fresh sewage sludge and resistant to 5 mmol Cu and 3 mmol Pb, or SS0-5, also isolated from fresh sludge and resistant to 3 mmol Zn and Cu. It is possible that bacterial resistance to antibiotics develops not only as a result of the use of antibiotics themselves, but also as a result of environmental pollution with heavy metals, and vice versa.
PubMed: 38136714
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121678 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023The involvement of non-human-to-human transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) remains elusive. Foodstuffs may serve as...
BACKGROUND
The involvement of non-human-to-human transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) remains elusive. Foodstuffs may serve as reservoirs for ESBL-PE and contribute to their spread.
AIM
We aimed to systematically investigate the presence and spatiotemporal distribution of ESBL-PE in diverse unprocessed foodstuffs of different origin purchased in a central European city.
METHODS
Chicken and green (herbs, salad, sprouts, vegetables) samples were collected monthly for two consecutive years, from June 2017 to June 2019, from large supermarket chains and small local food retailers, representing all ten postcode areas of the City of Basel (Switzerland), and the kitchen of the University Hospital Basel (Basel, Switzerland). After enrichment, presumptive ESBL-PE were isolated by selective culture methods and identified by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. ESBL production was confirmed by phenotypic testing.
RESULTS
Among 947 food samples, 14.8% were positive for ESBL-PE isolate/s belonging to eight different ESBL-producing bacterial species. and were predominant across samples (9 and 2%, respectively). Higher ESBL-PE prevalence was observed in chicken (25.9%) than in green (3.8%) samples ( < 0.001). Among greens, ESBL-PE were most frequently isolated from sprouts (15.2%). High ESBL-PE species diversity was observed among chicken samples, with as predominant (17.6%). ESBL-producing was detected among different greens. Yet, ESBL-producing was predominant in sprouts (12.1%). In total, 20.5% of samples from organic farming and 14.2% of samples from conventionally raised animals harbored an ESBL-producing isolate. Detection of ESBL-PE across samples differed between organic and non-organic when stratified by food source ( < 0.001), particularly among greens (12.5% organic, 2.4% conventional). High proportion of organic chicken samples was positive for ESBL- (33.3%), while the detection of several species characterized the conventional chicken samples. No significant differences in ESBL-PE frequences were detected between national (13.4%) and international samples (8.0%) ( = 0.122). Instead, differences were observed between regions of food production and countries ( < 0.001). No significant differences were found when comparing the proportion of ESBL-PE positive samples across districts, shop sizes and the hospital kitchen. The percentage of ESBL-PE positive samples did not differ monthly across the two-year sampling period ( = 0.107).
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate moderate dissemination of ESBL-PE in foodstuffs, especially between chicken products and sprouts. Chicken meat represents a source for several ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, especially , while greens are more prone to carry ESBL- and . We disclose the importance of food type, food production system and production origin when assessing the risk of contamination with different ESBL-PE species.
PubMed: 38075908
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1295037 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2023mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the transmission of malaria parasites, which poses a devastating burden on global public health and welfare. The recent invasion...
mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the transmission of malaria parasites, which poses a devastating burden on global public health and welfare. The recent invasion of Anopheles stephensi in Africa has made malaria eradication more challenging due to its outdoor biting behavior and widespread resistance to insecticides. To address this issue, we developed a new approach for mosquito larvae control using gut microbiota-mediated RNA interference (RNAi). We engineered a mosquito symbiotic gut bacterium, Serratia fonticola, by deleting its gene to produce double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in the mosquito larval gut. We found that the engineered strains can stably colonize mosquito larval guts and produce dsRNAs ds or ds to activate RNAi and effectively suppress the expression of methoprene-tolerant gene and ecdysone receptor gene , which encode receptors for juvenile hormone and ecdysone pathways in mosquitoes, respectively. Importantly, the engineered strains markedly inhibit the development of A. stephensi larvae and leads to a high mortality, providing an effective dsRNA delivery system for silencing genes in insects and a novel RNAi-mediated pest control strategy. Collectively, our symbiont-mediated RNAi (smRNAi) approach offers an innovative and sustainable method for controlling mosquito larvae and provides a promising strategy for combating malaria. Mosquitoes are vectors for various diseases, imposing a significant threat to public health globally. The recent invasion of A. stephensi in Africa has made malaria eradication more challenging due to its outdoor biting behavior and widespread resistance to insecticides. RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising approach that uses dsRNA to silence specific genes in pests. This study presents the use of a gut symbiotic bacterium, Serratia fonticola, as an efficient delivery system of dsRNA for RNAi-mediated pest control. The knockout of , a dsRNA-specific endonuclease gene, in using CRISPR-Cas9 led to efficient dsRNA production. Engineered strains of can colonize the mosquito larval gut and effectively suppress the expression of two critical genes, and , which inhibit mosquito development and cause high mortality in mosquito larvae. This study highlights the potential of exploring the mosquito microbiota as a source of dsRNA for RNAi-based pest control.
Topics: Animals; RNA Interference; Anopheles; Larva; Insecticides; Ribonuclease III; Mosquito Vectors; RNA, Double-Stranded; Malaria
PubMed: 37458601
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01666-23 -
Microorganisms Jan 2023Enterobacteriaceae represent one of the main families of Gram-negative bacilli responsible for serious urinary tract infections (UTIs). The present study aimed to define...
Enterobacteriaceae represent one of the main families of Gram-negative bacilli responsible for serious urinary tract infections (UTIs). The present study aimed to define the resistance profile and the virulence of Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in urinary tract infections in Benin. A total of 390 urine samples were collected from patients with UTIs, and Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated according to standard microbiology methods. The API 20E gallery was used for biochemical identification. All the isolated strains were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was investigated using a double-disc synergy test (DDST), and biofilm production was quantified using the microplate method. Multiplex PCR was used to detect uro-virulence genes, namely: PapG, IronB, Sfa, iucD, Hly, FocG, Sat, FyuA and Cnf, using commercially designed primers. More than 26% (103/390) of our samples were contaminated by Enterobacteriaceae strains at different levels. Thus, E. coli (31.07%, 32/103), Serratia marcescens (11.65%, 12/103), Klebsiella ornithinolytica (8.74%, 9/103), Serratia fonticola (7.77%, 8/103) and Enterobacter cloacae (6.80%, 7/103) were identified. Among the isolated strains, 39.81% (41/103) were biofilm-forming, while 5.83% (6/103) were ESBL-producing. Isolates were most resistant to erythromycin, cefixime, ceftriaxone and ampicillin (≥90%) followed by ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, doxycycline and levofloxacin (≥50%), and least resistant to imipenem (27.18%). In regard to virulence genes, Sfa was the most detected (28.15%), followed by IronB (22.23%), iucD (21.36%), Cnf (15.53%), PapG (9.71%), FocG (8.74%), Sat (6.79%), FyuA (5.82%) and Hyl (2.91%). These data may help improve the diagnosis of uropathogenic strains of Enterobacteriaceae, but also in designing effective strategies and measures for the prevention and management of severe, recurrent, or complicated urinary tract infections in Benin.
PubMed: 36677505
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010213 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023The aim of this research is to profile the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts of () and to evaluate its antioxidant,...
The aim of this research is to profile the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts of () and to evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial and insecticidal activities on adults. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed a total of 27 constituents in EO of , which accounted for 99.08% of its constituents. Carvacrol (57.32%) was a main component, followed by -cymene (14.70%) and -terpinene (9.84%). The antioxidant activity of EO was investigated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TCA (the total antioxidant capacity) methods. This EO exhibited a remarkable antiradical and reducing power against DPPH (IC = 2.855 ± 0.018μL/mL), FRAP (EC = 0.124 ± 0.013µL/mL) and TCA (IC = 14.099 ± 0.389 mg AAE/g of the EO). The antibacterial tests in vitro, using the disc and dilution methods, were carried out on nine pathogenic bacteria isolated from the hospital patients, such as , , , , , , and . The EO demonstrated a considerable antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) from 2 to 8 µL/mL against all strains except (MIC = 32 µL/mL). Regarding the insecticidal activity, the fumigation test indicated a high efficacy (100% mortality), and a lethal dose of LD = 17 ± 0.53 μL/L air was found after 24 h of exposureTherefore, EO could be utilized as a natural antioxidant, antibiotic and biopesticides.
PubMed: 36671374
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010174 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Bacterial communities, microbial populations, and antibiotic resistance of potential pathogens in the water and fish (, flesh and gut) from different areas (A1, A2 and...
Bacterial communities, microbial populations, and antibiotic resistance of potential pathogens in the water and fish (, flesh and gut) from different areas (A1, A2 and A3-A1 was linked with river water, A2 with cattle activity, and A3 with waters of a spring after heavy rains) of Lake Karla (Thessaly, Central Greece) were investigated. The isolated bacteria were identified using Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and were tested for resistance in 21 antibiotics. The microbiota composition of fish flesh was also studied using 16S amplicon-based sequencing and several species of (e.g., , , etc.) exhibited the highest abundances in all studied samples, while the microbiota profile between the three studied areas was similar, according to the culture-dependent analysis. Of them, was found to be resistant in the majority of the antibiotics for the water and fish (gut and flesh), mainly of the areas A1 and A2. Regarding 16S metabarcoding, the presence of and at genus level was confirmed, but they found at very lower abundances than those reported using the culture-dependent analysis. Finally, the TVC and the rest of the studied microbiological parameters were found at acceptable levels (4 log cfu/mL or cfu/g and 2-4 log cfu/mL or cfu/g, extremely low levels of /coliforms) in both water and fish flesh. Based on our findings, the water of Lake Karla would be used for activities such as irrigation, recreation and fishing, however, the development and implementation of a quality management tool for Lake Karla, to ensure environmental hygiene and prevention of zoonosis during the whole year, is imperative.
PubMed: 36558807
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121473 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Oct 2022Diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis has been described around the world for some decades, frequently associated with and other anaerobic, gas-forming bacteria and...
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis has been described around the world for some decades, frequently associated with and other anaerobic, gas-forming bacteria and mostly in patients living with diabetes. We present a case report of emphysematous pyelonephritis in a non-diabetic patient caused by as well as a brief literature review to draw attention to this rare pathogen as a cause of pyelonephritis.
CASE SUMMARY
A 38-year-old female presented with fever, severe pain in the right flank and changes in urinary habits. She was admitted, and emphysematous pyelonephritis was confirmed by an abdominal computerized tomography and urine cultures; the latter showed as a single pathogen. After 3 d of being treated with piperacillin/tazobactam and percutaneous drainage she became afebrile, and the gas presence reduced.
CONCLUSION
Emphysematous pyelonephritis infections in non-diabetic patients are rare but can be severe and life-threatening. This case suggests that infection can occur in patients undergoing invasive or instrumented procedures.
PubMed: 36312511
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i29.10600