Microbiological studies on the effect of medicinal plant extracts on diabetic foot ulcer bacteria

Background: The emergence of microbial resistance towards antibiotics increased in a terrible rate. Screening of antimicrobial effect of plant extracts represents hope for discovery of new antimicrobial agents

Objectives:This research aimed to study the influence of the extracts of several medicinal plants on diabetic foot ulcer bacteria

Methodology: Swabs from deep tissues were collected from 56 patients attending the Outpatient clinic of diabetic foot Unit, and diagnosed clinically as diabetic foot infections. The specimens were examined to identify the causative bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts of ten medicinal plant parts [cinnamon, henna, fennel, black cumin, eucalyptus, clove, chamomile, ginger, sloenstemma and basil] were investigated using well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of effective plants extracts were performed using tests for alkaloids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, phenols, sterols, tannins, flavonoids and diterpen

Results: The commonest isolated organisms were S. aureus [33.9%], followed by S. epidermidis [16.9%], P. aeruginosa [15.3%], P. mirabilis [13.6%], K. pneumoniae [10.2%], E. coli [6.8%] and P. vulgaris [3.4%]. Most bacteria were resistant to tested antibiotics and 33.9% were multi-drug resistant bacteria. Ethanol extract of solenstemma, clove, black cumin, and basil had effective growth inhibition effect against isolated bacteria. Phytochemical screening clarified that these plant parts contain powerful secondary metabolites and active materials which explained their antimicrobial activity

Conclusions: Some medical plants showed antimicrobial activity against resistant bacteria, thus could be leading and useful therapeutic agents against many bacterial infections

PCR versus serology for diagnosing of brucellosis in pregnant women: mansoura university hospital experience

Background: Brucellosis is endemic disease in most of developing countries. It is a disease with non specific symptoms or signs. Definitive diagnosis of this infection is based on the culture of Brucella strains from different samples, mainly blood. A positive result of the cultures depends on varying factors. In the absence of a positive culture, the diagnosis mainly depends on serological tests or PCR. Many researchers reported that brucellosis can affect the pregnancy outcome, so the appropriate diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of pregnant women with brucellosis can be life-saving for the fetus

Aim: This prospective study aimed to evaluate best method of diagnosing brucellosis during pregnancy and its effects on pregnancy outcome in Mansoura university hospital

Methods: This study was conducted from May 2012 to May 2013 on 90 pregnant women [all 20-35 years], clinically suspected of brucellosis. Peripheral blood samples were tested by blood culture, serology using: standard tube agglutination test [STA T], IgM Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [IgM ELISA] and IgG Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [IgG ELISA], and PCR using primer pair to amplify a 223-bp region within a gene coding for a 31-hD Brucella antigen. Positive cases by culture [20 cases] were followed up during pregnancy and compared to 20 negative cases by all tests to determine any effects on pregnancy course

Results: The culture was positive in 20/90 blood samples. Serological testing for the 90 sera showed that 27, 23, and 20 samples were positive for Brucella by STAT, IgM ELISA, and IgG ELISA, respectively. Twenty-six sera were positive for Brucella DNA by PCR. The incidence of spontaneous abortion in the brucellosis positive cases was 20%, in comparison with 15% in the negative cases. Nine preterm deliveries [45%] were reported in pregnancy with brucellosis versus only 2 in the negative group [significantly statistic difference].

Thierr was intrauterine fetal death in brucellosis nor control group

Conclusion: The ELISA IgG 6 :M tests were no superior to the other tests. STAT [> 320] gave best diagnostic results in serological PCR diagnosed six cases that were negative by the culture and near similar result to STAT. Bruc<. s in this study not a cause for spontaneous abortion, however, brucellosis in pregnancy may be a risk / c tc tor for preterm delivery

Nosocomial infection by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistant s senotrophomonas maltophilia in intensive care units of Mansoura university hospitals

Background: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole [['MPISMX] has been the antimicrobial of choice for treatment of Stenotrophomonas malt philia [S. malt philia] infections. Several reports have shown that the prevalence of strains resistant to TMP/SMX is increasing. We investigated prevalence, risk factors and sulfamethoxazole resistance determinants of TMPISMX resistant S. malt philia in our geographic location

Methods: this study was conducted from January, 2009 till March, 2010 on 625 patients admitted to intensive care units [ICUs] in Mansoura University Hospitals [MUHs]. Nosocomial S. malt philia infections were detected in 90 samples. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using the disk diffusion method. PCR was. Conducted for the detection of sull and sul2

Results: out of 90 S. malt philia isolates, 22 [24.4%] revealed resistances to TMPISMX Significant risk factors were: duration of ICU stay [P = 0.018], antibiotic treatment [P = 0.002] specifically Carbapenems [P = 0.035] and fluoroquinolones [P < 0.001] and duration of antibiotic treatment. All TMPISMX resistant S. malt philia isolates were positive for sull gene. None of the isolates carried sul2

Conclusion: the isolation of TMP/SMX resistant S. malt philia at our geographic location is alarming. Strategies to prevent S. malt philia infection should be encouraged. The resistance of S. malt philia isolates to TMP/SMX is due to sull rather than to sul2

Depression and anxiety among patients with erectile dysfunction

This study aimed to elucidate the relationships between erectile dysfunction [ED] and depression or anxiety. Subjects were 280 men from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain [140 from each country] aged 40-65 years. ED was assessed by the international index of Erectile Function 5 [IIEF-5] score [Arabic version], and depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale [HADS]. In this study ED cases were defined as those whose IIEF-5 value was less than 12, and a score of 8 or higher was used to classify a subject as suffering from depression or anxiety, respectively, the prevalence odds ratio [OR] of ED was calculated with confidence interval [CL] estimated by the Woolfis method by 5 age groups [40-45, 45-50.50-55, 55-60, 60-65 years]. To control for age, body mass index, smoking and substance abuse factors, we conducted the multivariate logistic regression analysis for calculating adjusted ORs and 95% CLs. ED was significantly associated with depression in age groups 45-50 and 55-60 years. ED was significantly associated with anxiety in the 50-60 year-old age group. The concomitant depression and anxiety group [A+D+] had significantly higher prevalence of ED than the control group [A-D-] in both the 45-49 and 50-60 age groups. [P < 0.01]. ED is commonly associated with depression and anxiety only in late 40s to 50s [45-60 years]. Furthermore, comorbidities of depression and anxiety strengthen this association. Our results might be useful in further understanding of ED aetiology and determining a target population for prevention in ED subjects

Aspects of somatisation among primary care patients

This is a descriptive study designed to examine aspects of somatisation in a sample of Primary Care patients. The study subjects included 200 patients attending Primary Care clinics. The General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] and Bradford Somatic Inventory [BSI] were used as psychiatric tools. Psychiatric morbidity was found to be 21% in P.C.patients. Somatisation was found to be more frequent in housewives of 20-30 years of age and those with lower education