Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella Isolated from Tegus (Tupinambis spp.)

Abstract In recent years, an increase in human clinical cases of reptile-associated salmonellosis has been identified, and it has been attributed to the increased popularity of these animals as pets. Limited information is available regarding the distribution of Salmonella spp. serotypes in different reptile species and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp. isolated from pet reptiles. This article describes the prevalence of Salmonella spp., distribution of serotypes, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns from isolates cultured from cloacal swabs obtained from 14 tegu lizards ( Tupinambis spp.). Eighteen strains of Salmonella belonging to different serotypes were obtaine…

Molecular Typing Reveals Frequent Clustering among Human Isolates of Listeria monocytogenes in Italy

In Italy, the annual incidence of reported cases of listeriosis amounts in recent years (2004 to 2006) to 0.8 cases per million inhabitants. Our study is a subtyping analysis by serotyping, ribotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of 44 human isolates from apparently sporadic cases of infection in the Lombardy region and in the Province of Florence, Italy, in the years 1996 to 2007. Based on the results of the different subtyping methods, 10 occasions were detected when strains of L. monocytogenes with the same subtype were isolated from more than one listeriosis case. A total of 28 (66.7%) out of 44 isolates were attributed to molecular subtype clusters. Our data support t…

Characterization of the first extended-spectrum b-lactamase–producing nontyphoidal Salmonella strains Isolated in Tehran, Iran

The infections caused by Salmonella remain a significant public health problem throughout the world. b-Lactams and fluoroquinolones are generally used to treat invasive Salmonella infections, but emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains are being increasingly notified in many countries. In particular, detection of extended spectrum b-lactamases (ESBLs) in Salmonella spp. is a newly emerging threat worldwide. This study was carried out to characterize b-lactamase–producing Salmonella strains identified in Tehran, Iran. Over the 2-year period from 2007 to 2008, 6 of 136 Salmonella isolates recovered from pediatrics patients, including three Salmonella enterica serotypes Enteritidi…

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing and mecA sequencing in methicillin-resistant staphylococci from Algeria: a highly diversified element with new mutations in mecA.

Genetic mechanisms of methicillin resistance are still relevant in staphylococci. The aims of this study are to assess the possible exchanges of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) among isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) and to check for known or new mutations in mecA DNA. A total of 35 MRS non-repetitive isolates were recovered, including 20 Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 7 Staphylococcus aureus, 4 Staphylococcus sciuri, 2 Staphylococcus saprophyticus and 1 isolate each of Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus lentus. Only 16 of the 35 strains were assigned to known SCCmec types: 7 SCCmec VII, 6 SCCmec IV and 3 SCCmec III, with possible horizontal transfer…

Outbreak of colonizations by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli sequence type 131 in a neonatal intensive care unit, Italy

Abstract Background Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) often associated with resistance to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones have recently emerged in community-associated Escherichia coli. The worldwide clonal dissemination of E. coli sequence type (ST)131 is playing a prominent role. We describe an outbreak of colonizations by ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-E. coli) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the University Hospital, Palermo, Italy. Methods An epidemiological investigation was conducted with the support of molecular typing. All children admitted to the NICU and colonized by ESBL-E. coli between January and June 2012, were included in the study. Cases were defined as…

Microbial interactions in food model systems: In situ antilisterial activity of mundticin KS producing strains

It is known that microbial interactions are important for the success of food fermentations, as well as for the establishment of the safety of the final products. In this study, we characterized extensively three enterococci (WFE3, WFE20 and WFE31) of flour origin, which were found to be active against Listeria monocytogenes, in order to investigate on their ability to produce bacteriocins in complex food model systems for their future industrial/food applications. The identification of the three bacterial isolates was performed by means of a combined 16S rRNA gene sequencing and multiplex PCR approach. Two isolates belonged unequivocally to the species E. mundtii, while one isolate could n…

Seasonal variations of antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oils extracted from three Citrus limon L. Burm. cultivars

In order to investigate the seasonal variations of antimicrobial properties and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs), three different cultivars of Citrus limon L. Burm. spp. (Femminello Santa Teresa, Monachello and Femminello Continella) were collected at 6-week intervals, from December 2012 to April 2013, for a total of four harvests. The EOs were extracted from lemon peel by hydro-distillation. The antimicrobial activity, tested by paper disc diffusion method, was evaluated against common food-related pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and Enterobacter spp.). EOs were more effective against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacte…

Daptomycin non-susceptible, vancomycin intermediate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 from a chronic leg ulcer, Italy

To the Editor,Human infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sequence type 398 (ST398) have been emerging in recent y in Europe [1–3]. Most studies have shown a stron...

Shigella sonnei biotype g: a further pandemic multiresistant organism?

Inhibition of foodborne pathogen bacteria by essential oils extracted from citrus fruits cultivated in Sicily

Abstract The antagonistic activity of the essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydrodistillation from the fruit peel of several citrus genotypes (pummelo, grapefruit, orange, kumquat, mandarin and lemon) was evaluated against foodborne pathogen bacteria (43 strains of Listeria monocytogenes , 35 strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 14 strains of Salmonella enterica ). Five commercial EOs were used for comparison. Most of the EOs were more effective against the Gram-positive bacteria rather than Salmonella . EOs of lemon genotypes 14 and 15 showed the best results in terms of number of strains inhibited and width of the inhibition zone. The most susceptible strain of each species ( L. monocytog…

Shigella sonnei biotype g carrying class 2 integrons in southern Italy: a retrospective typing study by pulsed field gel electrophoresis

Abstract Background Emergence and global dissemination of multiresistant strains of enteric pathogens is a very concerning problem from both epidemiological and Public Health points of view. Shigella sonnei is the serogroup of Shigella most frequently responsible for sporadic and epidemic enteritis in developed countries. The dissemination is associated most often to human to human transmission, but foodborne episodes have also been described. In recent years the circulation of multiresistant strains of S. sonnei biotype g carrying a class 2 integron has been reported in many countries worldwide. In southern Italy a strain with similar properties has been responsible for a large community o…

A comparative study for identification of Shigella sonnei biotype g isolates carrying class 2 integrons in Italy and Iran

Characterization of the first extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing nontyphoidal Salmonella strains isolated in Tehran, Iran.

The infections caused by Salmonella remain a significant public health problem throughout the world. beta-Lactams and fluoroquinolones are generally used to treat invasive Salmonella infections, but emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains are being increasingly notified in many countries. In particular, detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Salmonella spp. is a newly emerging threat worldwide. This study was carried out to characterize beta-lactamase-producing Salmonella strains identified in Tehran, Iran. Over the 2-year period from 2007 to 2008, 6 of 136 Salmonella isolates recovered from pediatrics patients, including three Salmonella enterica serotypes E…

Antibacterial activity of Borago officinalis and Brassica juncea aqueous extracts evaluated in vitro and in situ using different food model systems

The present study was undertaken to characterize the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extracts (AEs) obtained from the leaves of Borago officinalis L. and Brassica juncea L. The antagonistic activity was evaluated against several bacteria (42 strains of Listeria monocytogenes, 35 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 38 strains of Enterobacter spp. and 18 strains of Salmonella enterica) commonly associated with foodborne diseases by paper disc diffusion method. The susceptibility to the plant extracts was strain specific. Thirty-five strains (7 L. monocytogenes, 11 S. aureus, 1 S. Enteritidis, 1 S. Veneziana, 7 Enterobacter hormaechei, 5 Enterobacter cloacae, 1 Enterobacter sakazakii and 2…

Shigella sonnei: a further pandemic multiresistant organism?

Effetto antimicrobico della componente volatile dell’olio essenziale di mandarino.

Gli oli essenziali, estratti dalle piante, sono composti lipofili contenenti una ampia varietà di elementi volatili. Vengono normalmente ottenuti per distillazione o estrazione con solventi. Trovano impiego nella preparazione di cosmetici, per aggiungere sapore ai cibi e alle bevande e per la formulazione di profumi sia personali che per l’ambiente. Gli oli essenziali hanno recentemente trovato impiego nelle biotecnologie applicate al settore agroalimentare. Sono stati, infatti, utilizzati per ottimizzare le proprietà nutrizionali degli alimenti e per prolungarne la shelf life [1,2]. Gli oli essenziali ottenuti da mandarino sono tradizionalmente usati come antidolorifici, sedativi e curativ…

Emergenza di una variante monofasica di Salmonella typhimurium: isolamenti nella filiera suinicola e da casi di infezioni nell’uomo; IX Conferenza Nazionale di Sanità Pubblica, Parma, 13-15 ottobre 2005;

MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS COMPLEX IN PALERMO, ITALY

Background: We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in the province of Palermo, Italy, by characterizing 183 isolates identified in the years 2004-2012. A comparison with 104 MTBC strains identified in the same geographic area in the years 1994-2000 was also carried out. Methods: MTBC isolates were analyzed by spoligotyping and the 24 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU)-variablenumber tandem-repeat (VNTR) method typing. Susceptibility testing to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was also carried out. Furthermore, the spoligotyping dataset obtained from 104 MTBC isolates identified in the years 1994-2000 in …

Cluster of cases of Salmonella enterica serotype Rissen infection in a general hospital, Italy, 2007.

In 2007, three strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Rissen (S. Rissen) were isolated in the laboratory of diagnostic microbiology of the General Hospital of Prato, Tuscany, Italy, over a 1 month and half interval of time. The first isolate was recovered on January 26 from an outpatient with enteritis. Then, two strains were isolated on February 16 and March 11 respectively, from central venous catheters of patients who were being hospitalized in two departments of the Hospital. An epidemiologically linked cluster of cases of salmonellosis was suspected. The three strains were submitted to single enzyme-amplified fragment length polymorphism (SE-AFLP) and XbaI macrorestriction and pulsed-…

OXA-163-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cairo, Egypt, in 2009 and 2010

ABSTRACT Two genetically unrelated OXA-163-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were identified from two infection cases in June 2009 and May 2010 in Cairo, Egypt. OXA-163-producing Enterobacteriaceae had been previously reported in Argentina only. Both patients had no history of travel abroad. The emergence of this newly recognized OXA-48-related β-lactamase able to hydrolyze cephalosporins and carbapenems is especially worrying in a geographic area where OXA-48 is endemic and effective surveillance for antibiotic resistance is largely unaffordable.

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy.

AbstractIn this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the blaOXA-23-like and the blaOXA-58-like genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed …

Molecular Epidemiological Survey ofCitrobacter freundiiMisidentified asCronobacterspp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) andEnterobacter hormaecheiIsolated from Powdered Infant Milk Formula

A total of 75 powdered infant milk formula (PIF) samples collected from pharmacies and drugstores in Western Sicily, Italy, and representative of 12 different brands were analyzed in this study to evaluate their microbiological quality. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration protocol, 32 samples out of 75 were contaminated by enterobacteria. Commercial biochemical API(r) 20E-system identification method indicated that six PIF samples were presumptively contaminated by Cronobacter spp., but further characterization by alpha-glucosidase based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay identification strongly suggested that these strains did not belong to the genus Cronobacter. Phylogen…

Molecular epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii in Iran: endemic and epidemic spread of multiresistant isolates

Objectives We examined the molecular epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from two cities (Tehran and Tabriz) of Iran. Methods DiversiLab repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR), multilocus sequence typing and sequence group multiplex PCR were performed. The presence of resistance mechanisms including metallo-β-lactamases, extended-spectrum β-lactamases, OXA carbapenemases, aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes and RNA methylases was also investigated. Results DiversiLab rep-PCR identified 11 clusters and 11 singleton isolates. Twelve sequence types (STs), including six novel types, were identified. Sequence groups (SGs) 1-3 as well as five additional banding pattern…

Genetic relatedness among isolates of Shigella sonnei carrying class 2 integrons in Tehran, Iran, 2002–2003

Abstract Background Shigella spp. are major cause of diarrhoeal disease in both developing and developed countries. Shigella sonnei is the serogroup of Shigella most frequently responsible for sporadic and epidemic enteritis in developed countries. In recent years the emergence and spread of S. sonnei biotype g carrying class 2 integron have been frequently reported in many countries. Recently, S. sonnei has been reported as the prevalent serogroup of Shigella in Iran. The present study was carried out to investigate phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Shigella sonnei isolates identified in the years 2002 and 2003 in Tehran, Iran. Methods Biotyping, drug susceptibility testing, pulsed…

Molecular epidemiology of Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis from human and non human sources in southern Italy, 2000-2005.

A Snapshot on MRSA Epidemiology in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network, Palermo, Italy

Objectives. We performed a one-year prospective surveillance study on MRSA colonization within the five NICUs of the metropolitan area of Palermo, Italy. The purpose of the study was to assess epidemiology of MRSA in NICU from a network perspective. Methods. Transfer of patients between NICUs during 2014 was traced based on the annual hospital discharge records. In the period February 2014 – January 2015, in the NICU B, at the University teaching hospital, nasal swabs from all infants were collected weekly, whereas in the other four NICUs (A, C, D, E) at four week-intervals of time. MRSA isolates were submitted to antibiotic susceptibility testing, SCCmec typing, PCR to detect lukS-PV and l…

Inhibitory Activity and Chemical Characterization ofDaucus carotasubsp.maximusEssential Oils

The essential oils (EOs) of green seeds from Daucus carota subsp. maximus growing wild in Pantelleria Island (Sicily, Italy) were characterized. EOs were extracted by steam distillation, examined for their inhibitory properties against food-borne Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and analyzed for the chemical composition by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Undiluted EOs showed a large inhibition spectrum against Gram-positive strains and also vs. Acinetobacter spp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was in the range 1.25 – 2.50 μl/ml for the most sensitive strains. The chemical analysis indicated that D. carota subsp…

Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratorybirds passing through the territory of the island ofUstica, Sicily (Italy)

Several studies have shown that migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of pathogenic organisms. In October 2006, a health status evaluation was performed on a large population of migratory birds passing through the territory of Ustica (Italy), an island located on the migration route of many species of birds to Africa, and various laboratory tests were conducted. In total, 218 faecal swabs and the internal organs of 21 subjects found dead in nets were collected for bacteriological and virological examination, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease. In addition, 19 pooled fresh faecal samples were collected for mycological examination. T…

Cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli from cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt.

Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study, 32 cephalosporin resistant E. coli isolates identified from cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt in 2009-2010 were analyzed. Twenty-three were of phylogenetic group D, seven A and one each B1 and B2. By rep-PCR 15 phylogroup D isolates were grouped in four clusters, one with sequence type (ST) 405 and three ST68. Seventeen isolates showed single patterns. blaCTX-M-15 and aac(6')-Ib-cr were the most common resistance determinants. blaOXA-48 and blaVIM were also detected. Multidrug resistant E. coli seriously affects healthcare, especially in immunocompromised hosts, such as cancer patients.

Multiclonal emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Tuscany, Italy

Erratum to: Enhanced surveillance of invasive listeriosis in the Lombardy region, Italy, in the years 2006-2010 reveals major clones and an increase in serotype 1/2a [BMC Infect Dis., 13, (2013), 152.]

CARATTERIZZAZIONE DEL PROFILO AROMATICO E PROVE PRELIMINARI DI INIBIZIONE MICROBICA PER L’OLIO ESSENZIALE ESTRATTO DALLE BUCCE DI CITRUS RETICULATA cv. “TARDIVO DI CIACULLI”

Il mandarino denominato “Tardivo di Ciaculli” ha avuto origine e viene prodotto in provincia di Palermo (Sicilia) nei pressi della contrada Ciaculli. Ha un’epoca di maturazione tardiva che si concentra nei mesi da febbraio ad aprile. I frutti sono piccoli e con buccia di medio spessore [1]. In generale gli oli essenziali di mandarino sono particolarmente apprezzati per le loro proprietà chimico-fisiche costituendo un fondamentale ingrediente nell’industria cosmetica e alimentare come esaltatori di sapore in cibi e bevande. Inoltre trovano un impiego sempre maggiore nelle biotecnologie applicate al settore agroalimentare per ottimizzare le proprietà nutrizionali degli alimenti e prolungarne …

Serotypes, antibiotic resistance, and class 1 integrons in Salmonella isolates from paediatric cases of enteritis in Tehran, Iran.

Sequence type 101 (ST101) as the predominant carbapenem-non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae clone in an acute general hospital in Italy.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative organisms worldwide, responsible for high morbidity and mortality both in hospitals and alternative healthcare settings. Recently, increasing use of carbapenems has promoted the emergence and dissemination of carbapenem-non-susceptible MDR K. pneumoniae strains. All of the CNSKP strains isolated between January 2009 and December 2011 in the General Hospital of Prato (Prato, Italy) were studied. Our findings indicate that, unlike previously reported by other authors from different regions of Italy, K. pneumoniae producing KPC-2 and belonging to ST101 have been established in the area of Prato, Tuscany, It…

Salmonella bongori48:z35:– in Migratory Birds, Italy

Suggested citation for this article: Foti M, Daidone A, Aleo A, Pizzimenti A, Giacopello C, Mammina C. Salmonella bongori 48:z35:– in migratory birds, Italy. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2009 Mar [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/15/3/502.htm

Uso combinato di SBT e PFGE quali metodi molecolari per la tipizzazione di stipiti di Legionella pneumophila sierogruppo 1

An Update of the Evolving Epidemic of blaKPC Carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae in Sicily, Italy, 2014: Emergence of Multiple Non-ST258 Clones

Background: In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly endemic and KPC producing CC258 is reported as the widely predominating clone. In Palermo, Italy, previous reports have confirmed this pattern. However, recent preliminary findings suggest that an epidemiological change is likely ongoing towards a polyclonal KPC-Kp spread. Here we present the results of molecular typing of 94 carbapenem non susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates detected during 2014 in the three different hospitals in Palermo, Italy. Methods and Results: Ninety-four consecutive, non replicate carbapenem non susceptible isolates were identified in the three largest acute…

Seasonal variations of antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Citrus limon L. Burm. spp. essential oils

The interest towards the application of essential oils (EOs) is increasing due to the antimicrobial potential to be used as “natural” alternative to the chemical preservation of foods [1]. EOs are aromatic oily liquids produced as secondary metabolites in various plants exerting different biological properties, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic and insecticidal. EOs are complex mixtures of lipophilic substances and the chemical composition, thereby the biological activities, is influenced by the raw plant material (genotype, part of the plant, harvest time, geographical, ecological conditions and cultural techniques) and extraction method [2].

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in Sicily, Italy: what has changed after a decade?

Background We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, by characterizing 183 isolates identified in the years 2004-2012. A comparison with 104 MTBC strains identified in the same geographic area in the years 1994-2000 was also carried out. Methods One hundred eighty-three MTBC isolates identified in Palermo, Italy, in the years 2004-2012 were analyzed by spoligotyping and the 24 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU)-variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) method typing. Susceptibility testing to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was also performed. Furthermore, the…

Studio dell’impatto di un’attività di maricoltura attraverso l’analisi della Materia Organica Sedimentaria

Is the monoclonal spread of the ST258, KPC-3-producing clone being replaced in southern Italy by the dissemination of multiple clones of carbapenem-nonsusceptible, KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae?

D. M. Geraci, C. Bonura, M. Giuffre, L. Saporito, G. Graziano, A. Aleo, T. Fasciana, F. Di Bernardo, T. Stampone, D. M. Palma and C. Mammina 1) Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care ‘G. D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, 2) Postgraduate Specialty School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Palermo, 3) Laboratory of Microbiology, General Hospital ARNAS ‘Civico, Di Cristina & Benfratelli’, 4) Laboratory of Microbiology, General Hospital Azienda Ospedaliera ‘Villa Sofia-V, Cervello’ and 5) II Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital ARNAS ‘Civico, Di Cristina & Benfratelli’, Palermo, Italy

Effetti ambientali della stabulazione del tonno rosso (Thunnus thynnu, L. 1758): analisi del materiale sedimentato

Descriptive epidemiology of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients admitted to two healthcare facilities in Algeria.

Aim: To evaluate nasal carriage rate and variables associated with Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients admitted in two healthcare facilities. Results: S. aureus was isolated from 159 (26%) of the enrolled patients. Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus was isolated from 150 (24.5%) patients, and MRSA was isolated from 9 (1.5%). Cancer and previous hospitalization were associated with a significantly higher frequency of nasal S. aureus carriage among the patients admitted to the general hospital and the nephrology department, respectively. MRSA isolates were heterogeneous with respect to their staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (SC…

Polyclonal non multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from clinical cases of infection occurring in Palermo, Italy, during a one-year surveillance period.

BACKGROUND: The evolving epidemiology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is characterized by the emergence of infections caused by non multiresistant MRSA carrying staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCC)mec IV or V in the healthcare settings. A molecular epidemiological analysis of non multiresistant MRSA isolates from four acute general hospitals was performed in Palermo, Italy, during a one year period. METHODS: For the purpose of the study, MRSA isolates were defined as non multiresistant when they were susceptible to at least three classes of non beta-lactam antibiotics. Seventy-five isolates were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, multilocus sequenc…

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Potential of Artemisia arborescens L. Essential Oil

This study was undertaken to characterize the essential oil (EO) of Artemisia arborescens growing wild in Sicily. EO, extracted by steam distillation, was examined for its chemical composition and for its capability to inhibit some food-borne pathogen bacteria. A total of 43 compounds (13 monoterpene hydrocarbons, 14 oxygenated monoterpenes, 10 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, three oxygenated sesquiterpenes and less amount of other three compounds), which account 93.73% of the total oil, were identified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oxygenated monoterpenes (57.32%) constituted the main fraction, with β-thujone as the main compound (45.04%), followed by the sesq…

Enhanced surveillance of invasive listeriosis in the Lombardy region, Italy, in the years 2006-2010 reveals major clones and an increase in serotype 1/2a

Background Invasive listeriosis is a rare, life-threatening foodborne disease. Lombardy, an Italian region accounting for 16% of the total population, reported 55% of all listeriosis cases in the years 2006-2010. The aim of our study was to provide a snapshot of listeriosis epidemiology in this region after the implementation of a voluntary laboratory-based surveillance system. Methods We characterized by serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing and detection of epidemic clone markers, 134 isolates from 132 listeriosis cases, including 15 pregnancy-related cases, occurring in the years 2006-2010 in Lombardy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of cases h…

Sierotipi di Salmonella identificati da fonte umana, alimentare ed animale in Sicilia, 2003-2005

Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human listeriosis cases in Italy.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize by serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and PCR amplification of virulence genes and markers of epidemic clones I, II, and III (ECI, ECII, and ECIII) 54 human isolates from apparently sporadic cases of infection occurring in the Lombardy region and in the province of Florence, Tuscany, Italy, in the years 1996 to 2007. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were provided by the clinical microbiology laboratories of the Lombardy region and the “Careggi” Hospital of Florence, Tuscany, Italy. Serotyping, PFGE after digestion with the AscI and ApaI enzymes, and PCR amplification for the inlA , inlC , and inlJ genes and ECI, ECII,…

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization: a three-year prospective study in a neonatal intensive care unit in Italy.

Background: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major etiological agent of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Routes of entry of this organism can be different and the transmission pathway complex. Colonized neonates are the main endogenous reservoir. Methods and Results: We conducted a prospective three-year study on MRSA colonization recruiting 722 neonates admitted between 2009 and 2012. Nasal swabs were cultured weekly and MRSA isolates were submitted to molecular typing. The annual incidence density of acquisition of MRSA ranged from a maximum of 20.2 cases for 1000 patient-days during the first year to a minimum of 8.8 cases in the second one to ra…

Cephalosporin resistantEscherichia colifrom cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt

Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study, 32 cephalosporin resistant E. coli isolates identified from cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt in 2009–2010 were analyzed. Twenty-three were of phylogenetic group D, seven A and one each B1 and B2. By rep-PCR 15 phylogroup D isolates were grouped in four clusters, one with sequence type (ST) 405 and three ST68. Seventeen isolates showed single patterns. blaCTX-M-15 and aac(6')-Ib-cr were the most common resistance determinants. blaOXA-48 and blaVIM were also detected. Multidrug resistant E. coli seriously affects healthcare, especially in immunocompromised hosts, such as cancer patients.

tst1-positive ST22-MRSA-IVa in healthy Italian preschool children

A survey was performed in May 2013 to assess methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization in healthy children attending 26 municipal daycare centres in Palermo, Italy. Of the 500 children, ten (2 %) tested positive. Eight MRSA isolates were tst1-positive ST22-MRSA-IVa, spa t223; the other two isolates were identified as ST1-IVa and ST398-V, respectively. tst1-positive ST22-MRSA, spa t223 has been previously identified only in the Middle Eastern area.

Production, stability, gene sequencing and in situ anti-Listeria activity of mundticin KS expressed by three Enterococcus mundtii strains

Three enterococci (WFE3, WFE20 and WFE31) selected as presumptive bacteriocin producers were found to be active against Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, due to their potential industrial/food applications, the three bacterial isolates were extensively characterized. Identification was performed by means of a combined 16S rRNA gene sequencing and multiplex PCR approach, and was confirmed with the sequencing of a partial region of a protein-encoding gene, namely pheS. The three isolates belonged unequivocally to the species Enterococcus mundtii. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis recognized three distinct strains. The supernatants were mainly active against Listeria …

Ongoing spread of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in different wards of an acute general hospital, Italy, June to December 2011.

We describe polyclonal spread of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in an acute general hospital in Italy. Between June and December 2011, 58 colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered from 28 patients admitted to different wards, but mainly in the intensive care units. All isolates were tested for drug susceptibility and the presence of beta-lactamase (bla) genes. Clonality was investigated by repetitive extragenic palindromic (rep)-PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Fifty-two isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for colistin of 6-128 mg/L, carried blaKPC3 and were attributed to sequence type ST258. The remaining six isolates were susceptible to…

Epidemic spread of ST1-MRSA-IVa in a neonatal intensive care unit, Italy

Abstract Background Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has recently emerged as an important pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The purposes of this study were to characterize methicillin-resistant isolates from an outbreak in a NICU, to examine the genetic traits and clonality of CA-MRSA, and to review the characteristics and outcomes of the neonatal cases and investigate the routes of entry and transmission of the MRSA outbreak strain in the NICU under study. Methods The study NICU practiced an active surveillance program for multidrug-resistant organisms, including weekly cultures for detection of MRSA from nasal swabs among all the …

Assessment of the microbiological quality of fresh produce on sale in Sicily, Italy: preliminary results

Background Fresh produce occupies an increasingly important place in the human food supply because of its health-promoting nutritional properties. Most fresh produce is eaten raw or after minimal processing and, consequently, pathogen contamination can represent a serious health risk. There has been an increase in foodborne outbreaks and cases associated with fresh produce, but literature data about the prevalence of pathogen contamination are inconsistent. This study was undertaken to assess the hygienic quality and the prevalence of the most common bacterial pathogens in fresh produce sold in retail markets in Sicily. A total of 125 samples of different types of vegetables were examined b…

NDM-1 and OXA-163 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Cairo, Egypt, 2012

Here we describe carbapenem resistance determinants in two Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates recovered from two hospitalised patients in the same intensive care unit of a cancer hospital in Cairo, Egypt. PCR and sequencing were used to detect and characterise β-lactamase genes. Clonal relationships between the isolates were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The first K. pneumoniae isolate carried the blaNDM-1 gene and the second isolate carried the blaOXA-163 gene. Both isolates co-expressed the extended-spectrum β-lactamase CTX-M-15. The two isolates belonged to different sequence types (STs), ST11 and ST16, respectively. No history of …

The role of a monthly active surveillance programme for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in a neonatal intensive care unit: impact evaluation of preventive measures

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a public health threat. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients are particularly at risk, due to the large use of invasive devices and antimicrobial treatment. Since 2014 an active surveillance program of multidrug-resistant organisms is in place in the five NICUs of Palermo, Italy. High prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriage observed in one NICU suggested the need of a long-lasting approach to achieve effective control of MDR-GNB circulation. Materials/methods: Rectal swabs were obtained every month from each hospitalized new-born. Samples were enriched in liquid cultures, plated in McConkey Agar with three a…

Genetic relatedness among isolates of Shigella sonnei carrying class 2 integrons in Tehran, Iran.

Effetti ambientali della stabulazione del tonno rosso (Thunnus thynnus L.): analisi della materia organica sedimentaria

The Increasing Challenge of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli: Results of a 5-Year Active Surveillance Program in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Colonization and infection by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR GNB) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are increasingly reported.We conducted a 5-year prospective cohort surveillance study in a tertiary NICU of the hospital "Paolo Giaccone," Palermo, Italy. Our objectives were to describe incidence and trends of MDR GNB colonization and the characteristics of the most prevalent organisms and to identify the risk factors for colonization. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were prospectively collected. Active surveillance cultures (ASCs) were obtained weekly. Clusters of colonization by extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebs…

Serotypes, Antibiotic Resistance, and Class 1 Integrons in Salmonella Isolates from Pediatric Cases of Enteritis in Tehran, Iran

The present study was conducted to investigate serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance patterns, carriage of class 1 integron, and clonality of Salmonella strains isolated from patients aged 0-12 years in Tehran, Iran, during 2007-2008. A total of 139 Salmonella isolates were studied. Salmonella serotypes Enteritidis, Infantis, and Typhimurium included 84.9% of isolates, Enteritidis accounting for 41.7%. The most prevalent resistances were to doxycycline (64.7%), nalidixic acid (61.2%), tetracycline (51.8%), and streptomycin (42.8%). Fifty-three (38.1%) isolates contained class 1 integron. Eight different gene cassettes were identified, aadA1 being the most frequently encountered. P…

Efficacy of a coordinated strategy for containment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria carriage in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the context of an active surveillance program

AbstractBackgroundAntimicrobial resistance in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients is a threat, due to the frequent use of antimicrobial treatment and invasive devices in fragile babies. Since 2014 an active surveillance program of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriage has been in place in the five NICUs of Palermo, Italy. In 2017 an increase in the prevalence of MDR-GNB, and in particular of extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(ESBL-KP), was observed in “Civico” hospital NICU.AimTo assess the impact of a coordinated intervention strategy in achieving long-lasting reduction of MDR-GNB prevalence in the NICU.MethodsRectal swabs were ob…

Analisi molecolare di stipiti multiresistenti di Salmonella enterica sierotipo typhimurium isolati dalla filiera avicola e suinicola e da fonte umana; IX Conferenza Nazionale di Sanità Pubblica, Parma, 13-15 ottobre 2005;

Epidemic dissemination of Salmonella enterica spp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans in southern Italy in the years 1989-1991.

Epidemic strains of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans isolated in southern Italy during the years 1989-1991 were submitted to a molecular epidemiological study in comparison with isolates identified in the years 1980-1988 in the same geographic area. Genomic DNA fragments obtained by digestion with BglI or Eco RI hybridized with Escherichia coli rRNA to produce three distinct, but highly related patterns. Ribotype 1, which had never been identified before 1989, was found to characterize most of the strains identified between 1989 and 1991. Such a finding supports the hypothesis of emergence and spread of a new bacterial clone associated with the increased number o…

Characterization of MRSA from Palermo, Italy, and description of prevalent clones

Epidemiology and clonality of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii from an intensive care unit in Palermo, Italy

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor clinical relevance, is frequently isolated from infection cases in intensive care units. We describe the epidemiology of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) in a general ICU in Palermo, Italy, from October 2010 to March 2011. Findings 58 of 61 isolates exhibited MICs for meropenem or imipenem ≥16 mg/L. Forty-nine carried blaOXA-23 and two blaOXA-58 genes. Five subtype clusters were detected by rep-PCR. Clusters D and E included 10 isolates that tested negative for the carbapenem resistance genes. MLST attributed all isolates, but two, with sequence type (ST)2, whereas the two remainin…

Epidemiologia di Shigella sonnei

Colonization of pressure ulcers by multidrug-resistant microorganisms in patients receiving home care

Colonization and/or infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) of pressure ulcers in patients receiving care at home have seldom been investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of MDRO colonization in pressure ulcers of patients receiving home care in Palermo, Italy. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRGN) were isolated, identifi ed, and characterized from pressure ulcers and selected home environment surfaces. Thirty-two patients were enrolled, of whom 12 were under antimicrobial therapy. Five patients had been admitted to hospital in the prece…

Biotipi e pulsotipi di Shigella sonnei nell'Italia meridionale negli anni '70-'90

Sierotipi di Salmonella identificati da fonte umana, alimentare ed animale in Sicilia, 2003-2005

Analisi molecolare di stipiti multiresistenti di Salmonella enterica sierotipo Typhimurium isolati dalla filiera avicola e suinicola e da fonte umana