Comparison of urine culture, microscopy and nitrite dipstick tests in the detection of urinary tract infection

UTI is one of the most frequent bacterial diseases in children, adults and in the elderly. The most widespread reference method for UTI is conventional urine culture. This method is time consuming, expansive and patients are often treated before results are available. Dipsticks nitrite test and examination microscopy [White blood cells] are commonly used in primary care to predict the subsequent diagnosis of urinary tract infection. Compare reagent strip testing [nitrite] with microscopy and culture in identifying significant bacteriuria and to assess the prevalence of UTI and to assess the most frequent pathogens responsible for UTI's in outpatients in Benghazi. Urine samples were obtained from 546 adults [pregnant, non pregnant females and males] and children from out patients in the city of Benghazi from July 2006 to July 2007. Nitrite test, pyuria, and bacteriuria had a sensitivity of 27.3%, 76.4% and 47.3% respectively for detect in UTI cases and specificity of 100%, 88.7% and 97.4% respectively. Escherichia coli was the most common organism isolated [n=26, 47.3%] followed by Klcbsiella pneumoniae [n=l5, 27.3%]. The results suggest that positive cultures cannot accurately predicted by microscopic urinalysis or the nitrite dipstick alone

Interrelationship between oral bacteria and formation of germ-tubes by albicans

Inhibition of Candida albicans germ- tube formation was observed in serum in the presence of the following bacteria: Escherichia coli, Citrobacter koseri, Streptococcus salivarius, streptococcus sanguis, Corynebacterium hofmanni and Neisseria pharyngis.in the absence of bacteria 88% of the yeast cells formed germ tubes, but in their presence this value was reduced to a range of 3-46% depending on the bacterial species used. The ratio of bacteria in relation to the number of candida must be high [>102] in order to inhibit germ tubes development, and this phenomenon may be related to the size and/ or the arrangements of bacterial cells. The contact between bacteria and Candida seems to be loose and can easily be broken by washing. Inhibition of the germination may be mediated by a ligand on bacterial cell surface receptor on yeast cells interaction.

outbreak of cholera in Ajdabiya-Libya

During an outbreak of cholera in Libya, 15 [79%] out of 19 diarrhoeal samples from non-Libyans yielded V cholera 01 strains of E1 Tor biotype and Ogawa serotype. Isolates were [BETA]-haemolytic on blood agar, grew on CLED medium and were positive for VP test. The organisms were resistant to cotrimoxazole chloramphenicol, tetracycline and to the vibriostatic compound 0/129. However, they were sensitive to nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, carbenicillin and ampicillin. The possible source of infection was attributed to polluted well drinking water

Emergence of multiple-drug resistant salmonellae isolated from neonates in Benghazi-Libya

An outbreak of diarrhoeal disease was detected in a Neonatal Nursery Unit, Benghazi-Libya. Salmonella was isolated from 63 out of 118[52.5%] stool samples. All isolates were resistant to co-trimoxazole, choramphenicol. ampicillin, amoxycilin, cephaloridine, gentamicine and kanamycin. As high as 95% of the isolates were also resistant to augmentin, cephamandole, ceftriaxohe and cefotaxime exhibiting multiple resistance patterns. Variable susceptibility patterns were detected for cefoxitin, ceftazidime and aztreonam. However all isolates were sensitive to tetracycline, polymyxin B, imipenem norfloxacin and ofloxacin. The present investigation underlines an alarming situation which could be due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in developing countries which require stricter control measures both at hospitals and in the community