Assessing the sources of high fecal coliform levels at an urban tropical beach

Recreational water quality is commonly assessed by microbial indicators such as fecal coliforms. Maceió is the capital of Alagoas state, located in tropical northeastern Brazil. Its beaches are considered as the most beautiful urban beaches in the country. Jatiúca Beach in Maceió was found to be unsuitable for bathing continuously during the year of 2011. The same level of contamination was not observed in surrounding beaches. The aim of this study was to initiate the search for the sources of these high coliform levels, so that contamination can be eventually mitigated. We performed a retrospective analysis of historical results of fecal coliform concentrations from 2006 to 2012 at five monitoring stations located in the study region. Results showed that Jatiúca Beach consistently presented the worst quality among the studied beaches. A field survey was conducted to identify existing point and non-point sources of pollution in the area. Monitoring in the vicinity of Jatiúca was spatially intensified. Fecal coliform concentrations were categorized according to tide range and tide stage. A storm drain located in northern Jatiúca was identified as the main point source of the contamination. However, fecal coliform concentrations at Jatiúca were high during high tides and spring tides even when this point source was inactive (no rainfall). We hypothesize that high fecal coliform levels in Jatiúca Beach may also be caused by aquifer contamination or, more likely, from tide washing of contaminated sand. Both of these hypotheses will be further investigated.

Antimicrobial Activity of Bacteria Associated with Seaweeds against Plant Pathogens on Par with Bacteria Found in Seawater and Sediments.

Aim: We report antimicrobial activities of bacteria associated with 10 native and one invasive species of seaweeds on par with bacteria found in the seawater and sediment. Bacteria exhibiting antimicrobial activity were phylogenetically analysed using 16S rRNA gene. Place and Duration of Study: Samples of seaweeds, seawater and sediments collected at 6 localities of south east coast of India between December 2009 and January 2010 during monsoon season. Methodology: Culturable bacteria in seaweeds (epibiotics and endobiotics), seawater and sediments were isolated through serial dilutions using 1.5% ZoBell marine agar (HiMedia, India). Bacterial isolates producing antibiotics were identified by screening against commercial antibiotics and they were subjected to morphological, Gram’s staining and biochemical studies. Chemical property and stability of antimicrobial substances obtained from the promising bacteria active against plant pathogens were studied. Phylogenetic analysis of antibiotics-producing marine bacteria was made using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique. Results: A number of673 isolates obtained through the isolation process were found to be the member of 27 bacterial genera, with species of Bacillus recording a maximum of 40.2%. Generally species of bacterial isolates in the association (seaweeds: epibiotics, 39.54% and endobiotics, 40.74%, seawater 8.61% and sediments 11.11%) produced antibiotics and active against plant pathogens (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, X. oryzaepv. oryzae and Ustilaginoidea virens) were associated with seaweeds (epibiotics 33.46% and endobiotics 43.11%) and sediments (23.43%). Extracellular components of active bacteria are proteins and retaining bioactivity at pH 7.0, up to 40°C and antifungal property up to 60°C. Extracts obtained from the active bacteria are nonpolar lipophilic substances exhibited only antifungal activity. Conclusion: Bacterial population were considerably higher in seaweeds as compared to seawater and sediments, and at the same time higher bacterial population was recorded in Gulf samples than the open coast samples. Most of the bacterial isolates associated with seaweeds were found to produce antibiotics.

Microbiological Assessment of Opened Soft Drink Bottles for Pathogenic Bacteria Associated with Drinking Directly from the Orifice

Four types of carbonated soft drinks encoded as A; B; C and D; and bottled and sealed water E (used as control) were bought from a student restaurant in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology; Port Harcourt Nigeria. The area of the orifice and neck of the bottles usually placed in the mouth while drinking directly from the bottles was analyzed in triplicates for the impinging bacterial species. Of the eighty-three morphologically identified aerobic isolates the percent frequency of occurrence was: Staphylococcus aureus (38.4); Bacillus and other gram-positive rods (36.0); Enterococcus sp (12.0); Micrococcus spp (8.4each); and Proteus and Pseudomonas spp (2.4each). The Standard Plate Count expressed as the Colony Forming Units (CFU) indicated a range of 5.3 x 10 3 to 2.6.0 x 10 4 CFU ml-1 of the rinsate of the orifice and neck of the soft-drink bottles. The preponderance of the indicator organisms: Coagulase positive S. aureus and the Enterococci sp is used to infer the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria. The need for public health enlightenment on the packaging and safe conduits for the distribution of soft drinks was discussed

Bacteriological profile of biomedical waste: Management guidelines.

Biomedical waste (BMW) is generated in hospitals, research institutions, health care teaching institutes, clinics, laboratories, blood banks, animal houses and veterinary institutes. Hospital waste management has been brought into focus in India recently, particularly with the notification of the BMW (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. This study was conducted in Sharda hospital, Greater Noida with the aim to find out bacteriological profile of BMW with study of practices being followed in management and disposal of this waste with standard procedure. Total 500 cases of biomedical waste samples were taken in the study for bacterial culture, 136 samples of biomedical waste showed growth of bacterias. Pseudomonas species was the predominant bacteria isolated from these cultures. This study also suggests about the optimum practice which is to be followed in management of biomedical waste.

Assessment of Commonly Available Antimicrobial Agents. a Study from Ilala-Tanzania

Objective: Microbiological assessment of commonly available antimicrobial agents in Ilala Municipality. Methodology The disc diffusion method was used for the determination of antimicrobial activities. Results:Amoxicillin exhibited ZI between 21mm (Elys) and 23mm (Zenufa) against E. coli; and between 21mm and 23mm (Elys) against S. aureus. Ampicillin samples yielded ZI from 20mm (India) to 25mm (Keko) against both bacteria. Dicloxacillin exhibited ZI between 13mm (Keko) and 16mm (India; Keko) against E. coli and from 15mm (Keko) to 18mm (Shelys) against S.aureus. Ciprofloxacin samples (India) exhibited ZI between 22mm and 25mm against both bacteria. On the other hand ketoconazole exhibited ZI between 16.5 and 19.0 mm against both Candida albicans and Cryptoccocus neoformans. Nystatin (Cyprus) produced ZI between 10 and 12mm against both fungi; similarly Fluconazole (India) yielded between 16.5 and 20mm of ZI against both C. albicans and C. neoformans. Conclusion The antimicrobial agents analyzed in this study have demonstrated substantial antimicrobial activities against the test microorganisms; an indicative of possession of active ingredients. As far as the in vitro microbiological assays are concerned; the study's findings could not reveal any counterfeit drug. However; further studies should be conducted to confirm the content specifications and other relevant parameters of each pharmaceutical preparation

Prevalence of psychrotrophic bacteria in mozzarella cheese

Thirty-five samples of mozzarella cheese were collected from different supermarkets in Cairo and Giza cities and examined for psychrotrophic bacteria. The mean count of psychrotrophs per gram cheese was 5.8 x 10 5 +/- 1.7 x 10 5. Pseudomonas fleurescence, Acinetobacter anitratus, Citrobacter diversus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Serratia liquefaciens and Klebsiella pneumoniae could be isolated from examined samples at varying percentages. The economic and public health significance as well as suggestive control measures for improving the quality of the product were discussed