Isolation of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] from HIV patients referring to HIV referral center, Shiraz, Iran, 2011-2012

Extension of drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains is one of the problems of modern society. Presence of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] in HIV-infected individuals is an important cause of severe infections. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of MRSA carriage rate among HIV patients referring to the Shiraz HIV referral center [Shiraz, Iran] during 2011-2012. Nasal swabs were obtained from HIV positive patients and were cultured on differential and selective media to isolate Staphylococcus aureus, which was confirmed by standard biochemical tests. For isolation of MRSA isolates, bacterial suspensions were cultured on Muller-Hinton Agar containing NaCl and Oxacillin. Finally, data were analyzed by the SPSS software. Of 180 HIV patients, MRSA was isolated from nasal cavity of 23 [12.8%] patients. Most of the isolates were recovered from male subjects who were under 40 years old. No variables such as skin disease, history of hospitalization or infectious disease had significant association with the MRSA colonization rate. The presence of MRSA isolates in the nasal cavity of HIV patients in such a rate warns us about the potential spreading of MRSA among HIV patients in our society and emphasizes on establishing better prevention strategies

Carriage rate of group B streptococci in pregnant women in three teaching hospitals in Shiraz, Iran

The main goal of this study was to assess differences in the vaginal flora of pregnant women and provide a detailed evaluation of vaginal swabs for the presence of group B streptococcus [GBS] and other organisms in three teaching hospitals in Shiraz, southwest of Iran. In a cross-sectional study from April 2006 to March 2007, 310 women with vaginal delivery at three obstetric wards of teaching hospitals in Shiraz were studied. Swab specimens from the vagina and rectum were collected and were examined bacteriologically. All of the newborns were followed up for 3 months. Of 310 pregnant women, 43 [13.8%] were colonized with GBS. There were no differences between GBS carriers and GBS-negative women in risk factors like preterm rupture of membranes [p = 0.77] and preterm labor [p = 0.53]. One neonate was hospitalized due to meningitis and GBS was detected in CSF culture and Gram staining. Our data showed that the prevalence of GBS carriage rate in pregnant women in Shiraz, Iran was high. The poor correlation between risk factors and GBS carriage requires further investigation in larger groups

Relative frequency of staphylococcal carriage and antibiotic sensitivity of isolated staphylococci in hemodialysis patients in Shiraz, Iran

The purpose of this study was to determine the nasal carriage rate of Staphylococcus aureus in hemodialysis patients and the antibiogram of all isolated S. aureus from carriers. A cross-sectional study was carried out from May to September 2007. 130 patients [49 females, 81 males; mean age 55.6 +/- 15.2 years] with chronic renal failure were included in the study. The patients had undergone hemodialysis for at least 12 months in the dialysis ward of Faghihi Hospital, a referral center in Shiraz, Iran. Swab specimens were taken from the anterior nares and skin of the patients and cultured microbiologically. Next, antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed for all of the isolated S. aureus. 32 [24.6%] patients [95% CI 17.5-32.9%] were nasal carriers of S. aureus versus 98 [75.4%] non-carriers. S. aureus was also isolated from skin of 5 [3.8%] patients who were nasal carriers as well. The isolated S. aureus were 100, 97.3, 73.0, 70.3, 40.5 and 21.6% sensitive to vancomycin, rifampin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, methicillin and erythromycin, respectively. Because the nasal carriage rate of S. aureus observed in dialysis patients in this study was relatively high, we recommend screening for S. aureus in hemodialysis patients to enable prompt prevention strategies

Occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni in Shiraz, Southwest Iran

To investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni among other bacterial agents of acute diarrhea. Over a period of 3 months, 114 specimens of acute diarrhea were collected from patients aged 2-58 years referred to Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. The samples were tested for bacterial pathogens causing acute diarrhea. Of the 114 samples, 40 proved to be positive for bacterial enteric pathogens: C. jejuni 11 [9.6%], Salmonella spp.18 [15.8%] and Shigella spp. 11 [9.6%]. Maximum prevalence of C. jejuni was observed in patients aged 11-15 years. Significantly more females than males were infected with all diarrheal agents [p <0.05]. This study confirmed the presence of C. jejuni as a significant cause of gastroenteritis in Shiraz, Southwest Iran