Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii belongs to the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus – baumannii complex (Acb) containing 2 other pathogenic species: Acinetobacter pittii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis . ...Identification of these bacteria remains problematic despite the use of matrix-assisted laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Here, we enriched the SARAMIS™ database of the Vitek MS® plus mass spectrometer to improve the identification of species of the Acb complex. For each species, we incremented reference spectra. Then, a SuperSpectrum was created based on the selection of 40 specific masses. In a second step, we validated reference spectra and SuperSpectra with 100 isolates identified by rpo B gene sequencing. All the isolates were correctly identified by MALDI-TOF MS with the database we created as compared to the identifications obtained by rpo B sequencing. Our database enabled rapid and reliable identification of the pathogen species belonging to the Acb complex. Identification by MALDI-TOF MS with our database is a good alternative to molecular biology.
Highlights • Acinetobacter baumannii is disseminated widely on Reunion Island. • There was high genotypic diversity in the Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated. • baumannii strains were recovered ...from pets in various areas of the island. • The majority of isolates were susceptible to antimicrobials.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are responsible for an increase in morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospital stay. A multiplex PCR kit such as the FilmArray
®
BCID panel could allow early ...adaptation of antimicrobial therapy, which is crucial for clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the performances of FilmArray
®
BCID panel for the detection of bacteria producing VAP. We tested the FilmArray
®
BCID panel on 50 bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs), from patients hospitalized in two intensive care units at the Angers university hospital, compared to the conventional culture-based method. The sensitivity and the specificity of the FilmArray
®
BCID panel were 67.2% and 98.9% respectively. They were 88.6% and 98.3% respectively when considering BALs with a positive culture > 10
4
CFU/mL, and 94.7% and 99.6% respectively if considering BALs with a positive direct examination. This study underlines the good performance of the FilmArray
®
BCID panel for BAL fluid analysis. In case of positive direct examination, this test allows reliable results that can be obtained at an early stage, facilitating the early adaptation of antimicrobial therapy.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) remain a burden in healthcare facilities, environmental surfaces being a potential reservoir for healthcare-associated pathogens. In this context, exploration ...of materials with potential antimicrobial activities represents a way forward for the future. Here, we explored the survival of four bacterial species commonly involved in HAI (Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus), on oak versus three other materials (aluminum, polycarbonate, stainless steel). Twenty microliters of each bacterial suspension (approximatively 107 bacteria) were deposited on each material. Bacterial counts were measured by grinding and culturing on day 0, 1, 2, 6, 7 and 15. Analyses were performed in triplicate for each material and each time evaluated. It appeared that the bacteria viable count decreased rapidly on transversal and tangential oak compared with the other materials for all bacterial species. Furthermore, no difference was noticed between transversal and tangential oak. These results underline the potential for use of oak materials in healthcare facilities, a consideration that should be supported by further investigations.
Abstract
Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of neonatal meningitis, and sialic acid is a determinant of the development of meningitis. The transcription level of the neuD gene, used as a ...marker of neu gene expression and capsular production, was significantly higher in serotype III GBS strains isolated from meningitis than from vaginal carriage. This was irrespective both of the phylogenetic position of strains and of the presence of a thymine at position 264 in the neuD gene. Differences in neuD gene transcription may explain in part why particular isolates among the GBS strains colonizing the vagina can cause meningitis.
Wood, as a contact surface, has been used for centuries but is usually questioned because of its porosity and organic composition. It has natural antimicrobial properties and, hygienically, can stand ...the comparison with other materials such as plastic, glass and steel. In this review, we focused on potential microbe-inhibiting properties of wooden surfaces being used in hygienically important places like health institutes and food industries. This article addresses the questionable properties of untreated wood like hygroscopicity, porosity, roughness and chemical composition, and their relation to the hygienic and antimicrobial nature of this material. The other factors linked to the hygienic properties of wood, such as age, species and type of wood, have also been discussed. Our analysis of literature will create better understanding for acceptance of wood as a safety renewable resource. It also provides an outline for future research considering wood material in critical healthcare or food industries.
Highlights • The diagnosis of leptospirosis was made post-mortem in a man returning from Thailand. • The Leptospira sp genotype was characterized by variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis ...directly from clinical samples. • This genotype has not yet been described with this method. • This illustrates the diversity or the misreading of Leptospira sp strains from tropical climates. • VNTR analysis directly on clinical samples is a reliable and rapid method.
•The treatment of Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infections is difficult.•This study analysed the epidemiology of S. saprophyticus urinary tract infections.•Susceptibility of S. ...saprophyticus to ceftriaxone was studied.•A high rate of ineffective empirical antibiotic therapy for S. saprophyticus was noted.•High ceftriaxone minimum inhibitory concentrations were noted for methicillin-susceptible S. saprophyticus.
Staphylococcus saprophyticus is resistant to the drugs most often used for the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). The adequacy of antimicrobial treatments prescribed for UTI due to S. saprophyticus is not usually questioned. This study described the epidemiology of such infections and assessed the susceptibility of S. saprophyticus to ceftriaxone and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid.
Methicillin-susceptible S. saprophyticus (MSSS) isolated from clinical samples between November 2014 and July 2016 were included. Clinical data were recorded. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone were measured for these MSSS strains and for 17 randomly selected methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains.
Of the S. saprophyticus isolates from urine, 59.5% were associated with a diagnosis of cystitis and 33.3% with pyelonephritis. Sixty percent of S. saprophyticus cystitis cases and 25% of pyelonephritis cases were given an inappropriate antibiotic regimen. The MICs of ceftriaxone ranged from 4 to >32μg/ml for MSSS, and from 1.5 to 4μg/ml for MSSA.
Many UTIs were treated with an empirical antibiotic therapy that was ineffective for S. saprophyticus, revealing that S. saprophyticus is an aetiology that is insufficiently considered in UTI. High MICs for ceftriaxone in MSSS were observed, which raises questions about the use of this antibiotic in UTIs due to S. saprophyticus.
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