Cytotoxicity evaluation, antibacterial effect, and degree of conversion of QAM-containing adhesives

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of adding quaternary ammonium methacrylates (QAMs) to experimental adhesives by assessing the degree of conversion (DC), cytotoxicity against keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and antibacterial activity against biofilm formation. Two QAMs were added to an experimental adhesive: dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate bromododecane (DMADDM) or dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate bromohexadecane (DMAHDM) at three concentrations each: 1, 2.5, and 5 wt.%. Experimental adhesive without QAMs (control group) and commercially available Transbond XT Primer (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) were used for comparisons. The adhesives were tested for DC, cytotoxicity against keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and antibacterial activity against biofilm formation. DC, cytotoxicity against fibroblasts, and antibacterial activity were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparisons. Cytotoxicity against keratinocytes was evaluated using the Kruskal Wallis and Dunn's post-hoc (α = 5%) tests. Transbond showed lower DC as compared to 5% DMAHDM, 1% DMADDM, and 5% DMADDM (p < 0.05). However, all groups presented proper DC when compared to commercial adhesives in the literature. In the evaluation of cytotoxicity against keratinocytes, Transbond induced higher viability than 2.5 wt.% groups (p < 0.05). Against fibroblasts, Transbond induced higher viability as compared to 5 wt.% groups (p < 0.05). DMAHDM at 5 wt.% reduced biofilm formation when compared to all the other groups (p < 0.05). Despite their cytotoxic effect against keratinocytes, gingival fibroblasts showed higher viability. DMAHDM at 5 wt.% decreased Streptococcus mutans viability. The incorporation of DMAHDM at 5 wt.% may be a strategy for reducing the development of white spot lesions.

Microbiological profile and antibiotic sensitivity of maxillofacial infections in an emergency hospital

Aim: To investigate the bacteriological profile of oral and maxillofacial infections and the pattern of sensitivity to a specific group of antibiotics in a reference emergency hospital in Brazil. Methods: This is a prospective cohort institutional study that studied patients affected by oral and/ or maxillofacial infections in a Brazilian emergency hospital, over a 12-month period, of different etiologies, through data collection, culture and antibiogram tests, and monitoring of the process of resolution of the infectious condition. The variables were analyzed using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, using a significance level of 5%. Results: The sample consisted of 61 patients, 62.3% male. The mean age of participants was 34.3 years. Odontogenic infection was the most frequent etiology and the submandibular space was the most affected. The bacterial species Streptococcus viridans was isolated in 21.6% of cases. Levofloxacin, vancomycin and penicillin were the antibiotics with the highest frequency of bacterial sensitivity, while clindamycin and erythromycin showed the highest percentages of resistance. Conclusions: The results suggest that, among the most used antibiotics for the treatment of these infections, penicillin remains an excellent option of choice for empirical therapy

The impact of synthetic bone grafting for tissue regeneration: an in vivo study

Aims: This study aimed to examine the biological response of synthetic nanocomposite material on canine mandibular bone. Methods: Nine healthy adult male local breed dogs aged 12 to 18 months and weighing 10.2 to 15.2 kg were used in the study. Based on healing intervals of 1 and 2 months, the dogs were divided into 2 groups. Each group had 3 subgroups with 3 dogs each. The division was based on the grafting material used to fill the created defect: an empty defect (Control-ve), Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate, and nanocomposite (Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate and nanosilver 1%) . Surgery started after the dogs were anaesthetized. The surgical procedure began with a 5 cm parallel incision along the mandible's lower posterior border. After exposing the periosteum, a three 5mm-diameter, 5-mmdeep critical-size holes were made, 5mm between each one. Each group's grafting material had independent 3 holes. The defects were covered with resorbable collagen membranes followed by suturing of the mucoperiosteal flap. Results: Total densitometric analysis showed no significant differences between groups at 1-month intervals, with the nanocomposite group having a higher mean rank (165.66± 31.21) in comparison to other groups while at 2 months intervals that there was a highly significant difference between three groups as the P-value was (0.000) with the nanocomposite group having a higher mean rank (460.66± 26.40). Conclusions: In the current study, the use of nanocomposites improved osteoconductivity by accelerating new bone formation. Moreover, the encorporation of nanosilver enhanced growth factor activity. These attributes make nanocomposites a promising material for enhancing the bone healing process

Antibiotics prophylaxis at the time of catheter removal after radical prostatectomy: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Purpose: To conduct a systematic literature review with meta-analysis to identify whether antibiotic prophylaxis after removal of the indwelling urinary catheter reduces posterior infections. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in the databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, using the keywords "antibiotics" AND "prostatectomy" AND "urinary catheter." Results: Three articles were identified having the scope of our review, with 1,040 patients, which were subjected to our meta-analysis revealing a marginally significant decrease in the risk of urinary infection after indwelling urinary catheter removal (odds ratio-OR = 0.51; 95% confidence interval-95%CI 0.27-0.98; p = 0.04; I2 = 0%). No difference was found regarding the presence of bacteriuria (OR = 0.39; 95%CI 0.12-1.24; p = 0.11; I2 = 73%). Conclusions: In our meta-analysis, there was a significant decrease in urinary tract infection with antibiotic prophylaxis after indwelling urinary catheter removal following radical prostatectomy.

Clasificación de riesgo y tiempo puerta-antibiótico en pacientes con sospecha de sepsis / Risk classification and door-to-antibiotic time in patients with suspected sepsis / Classificação de risco e tempo porta-antibiótico no paciente com suspeita de sepse

Objetivo: evaluar la asociación entre la clasificación de riesgo y el tiempo puerta-antibiótico en pacientes con sospecha de sepsis. Método: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, con una muestra de 232 pacientes con sospecha de sepsis atendidos en el departamento de emergencias. Se dividieron en 2 grupos: con y sin clasificación de riesgo. Una vez identificado el tiempo puerta-antibiótico, se realizó un análisis de varianza de un factor con la prueba post hoc de Bonferroni o la prueba t de Student independiente para variables cuantitativas continuas; pruebas de correlación de Pearson, correlación biserial puntual o correlación biserial para análisis de asociación; y procedimiento de bootstrap cuando no había distribución normal de variables. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: el tiempo puerta-antibiótico no difirió entre el grupo que recibió clasificación de riesgo en comparación con el que no fue clasificado. El tiempo puerta-antibiótico fue significativamente más corto en el grupo que recibió una clasificación de riesgo de alta prioridad. Conclusión: no hubo asociación entre el tiempo puerta-antibiótico y si se realizó o no la clasificación de riesgo, ni con la hospitalización en enfermería y en unidad de cuidados intensivos, ni con la duración de la estancia hospitalaria. Se observó que cuanto mayor era la prioridad, más corto era el tiempo puerta-antibiótico.

Objective: to evaluate the association between risk classification and door-to-antibiotic time in patients with suspected sepsis. Method: retrospective cohort study, with a sample of 232 patients with suspected sepsis treated at the emergency department. They were divided into 2 groups: with and without risk classification. Once the door-to-antibiotic time was identified, one-way analysis of variance was performed with Bonferroni post hoc test or independent Student's t-test for continuous quantitative variables; Pearson correlation tests, point-biserial correlation or biserial correlation for association analyses; and bootstrap procedure when there was no normal distribution of variables. For data analysis, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software was used. Results: the door-to-antibiotic time did not differ between the group that received risk classification compared to the one that was not classified. Door-to-antibiotic time was significantly shorter in the group that received a high priority risk classification. Conclusion: there was no association between door-to-antibiotic time and whether or not the risk classification was performed, nor with hospitalization in infirmaries and intensive care units, or with the length of hospital stay. It was observed that the higher the priority, the shorter the door-to-antibiotic time.

Objetivo: avaliar a associação entre a realização de classificação de risco e o tempo porta-antibiótico no paciente com suspeita de sepse. Método: estudo de coorte retrospectivo, com amostra de 232 pacientes com suspeita de sepse atendidos no pronto atendimento. Foram distribuídos em 2 grupos: com e sem classificação de risco. Identificado o tempo porta-antibiótico, realizou-se análise de variância de um fator com post hoc de Bonferroni ou teste T-Student independente para variáveis quantitativas contínuas; testes de correlação de Pearson, correlação bisserial por pontos ou correlação bisserial para análises de associação; e procedimento de bootstrap quando não havia distribuição normal de variáveis. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado o software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: o tempo porta-antibiótico não diferiu entre o grupo que recebeu classificação de risco comparado ao que não foi classificado. O tempo porta-antibiótico foi significativamente menor no grupo que recebeu classificação de risco de alta prioridade. Conclusão: não houve associação entre o tempo porta-antibiótico e a realização ou não da classificação de risco, tampouco com internação em enfermaria e em unidade de terapia intensiva, ou com o tempo de internação hospitalar. Observou-se que quanto maior a prioridade, menor o tempo porta-antibiótico.

Terapia con antibióticos versus apendicectomía en la apendicitis aguda no complicada: Una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

Introducción: Existe una controversia acerca del mejor enfoque para el tratamiento de la apendicitis aguda no complicada. Este metaanálisis buscó evaluar la eficacia, recurrencia de la patología, presencia de complicaciones mayores, y duración de la estancia hospitalaria en adultos con apendicitis aguda no complicada. Materiales y Método: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase y Cochrane Library hasta finales de octubre del 2022. El riesgo de sesgo y calidad de los estudios incluidos en el estudio fueron evaluados mediante la herramienta RoB 2.0. de la Colaboración Cochrane. La síntesis de datos fue realizada a través del software Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan; version 5.3). Resultados: 6 estudios fueron incluidos, con un total de 1.862 pacientes. La probabilidad de presentar una mejoría clínica definitiva en el grupo que recibió antibioticoterapia fue menor (RR 0,5; IC95% 0,92-0,98; p = 0,004; IC2 = 44%). La probabilidad de presentar una recurrencia de la apendicitis en el grupo que recibió antibioticoterapia fue notablemente superior (RR 94,86; IC95% 30,73-292,81; p < 0,00001; IC2 = 0%). El grupo conservador presentó un menor riesgo de presentar una complicación mayor (RR 0,55; IC95% 0,36-0,85; p = 0,007; IC2 = 0%). El tratamiento conservador presentó una duración de la estancia hospitalaria superior que la apendicectomía (MD 0,34; IC95% 0,25-0,42; p < 0,00001; IC2 = 64%). Conclusiones: Esta revisión sistemática demuestra que, en términos de eficacia, recurrencia del cuadro y duración de la estancia hospitalaria, la antibioticoterapia es inferior a la apendicectomía en adultos con apendicitis aguda no complicada y superior en evitar la presencia de complicaciones mayores.

Introduction: There is controversy about the best approach for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. This meta-analysis sought to assess efficacy, disease recurrence, presence of major complications, and length of hospital stay in adults with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Materials and Method: A systematic search for randomized clinical trials was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to the end of October 2022. The risk of bias and quality of the studies included in the study were assessed. using the RoB 2.0 tool. of the Cochrane Collaboration. Data synthesis was performed using the Cochrane Review Manager software (RevMan; version 5.3). Results: 6 studies were included, with a total of 1.862 patients. The probability of presenting a definitive clinical improvement in the group that received antibiotic therapy was lower (RR 0.5; CI95% 0.92-0.98; p = 0.004; CI2 = 44%). The probability of presenting a recurrence of appendicitis in the group that received antibiotic therapy was notably higher (RR 94.86; 95%CI 30.73-292.81; p < 0.00001; CI2 = 0%). The conservative group presented a lower risk of presenting a major complication (RR 0.55; CI95% 0.36-0.85; p = 0.007; CI2 = 0%). Conservative treatment had a longer hospital stay than appendectomy (MD 0.34; 95%CI 0.250.42; p < 0.00001; CI2 = 64%). Conclusions: This systematic review shows that, in terms of efficacy, recurrence of the condition, and length of hospital stay, antibiotic therapy is inferior to appendectomy in adults with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, and superior in avoiding the presence of major complications.

Trends in the epidemiological and microbiological profiles of infectious keratitis in southeastern Brazil / Perfil epidemiológico e microbiológico das ceratites infecciosas no sudeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility as well as the clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological profiles of microbial keratitis. Methods: This was a longitudinal retrospective study, and we retrospectively reviewed medical and laboratory records from 2015 to 2019. Results: In total, 380 pathogens (321 bacteria and 59 fungi) were isolated from the corneas of 352 patients. Staphylococcus species (45%) were most abundant within the organisms that were isolated, followed by Pseudomonas (18.4%), fungi (15.5%), Streptococcus (7.9%), and Serratia species (3.2%). The isolated gram-positive bacteria were not resistant to amikacin or vancomycin, although 14.8% of the gram-positive isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (p<0.05). All the gram-negative isolates were susceptible to amikacin. Male patients represented 62.8% of the 129 cases with accessible clinical data. The mean age of the patients was 53.17 ± 21 years. The time to presentation (from onset of symptoms) was 14.9 ± 19.4 days (median: 7 days). Large ulcers (>5 mm in any dimension) were present in 49.6% (64 eyes) of the cases. The duration of treatment was 49 ± 45.9 days (median: 38 days). Direct ocular trauma was reported by 48 (37.2%) patients, and 15 patients (11.6%) reported using contact lenses. For 72 (55.8%) patients, topical treatment had been previously prescribed, and 16 (12.4%) patients reported using other classes of drugs. Hospitalizations were required for 79 (61.2%) patients, and in terms of major complications, 53 (41.1%) patients had corneal perforations. A total of 40 patients (31%) underwent tectonic penetrating keratoplasty, and 28 (21.7%) developed secondary glaucoma. A progression to endophthalmitis occurred in 8 (6.2%) patients, with 50% of those patients' (3.1% of the total) endophthalmitis evolving to evisceration. The patients' microbial keratitis was largely treated empirically, with 94 (72.9%) patients prescribed moxifloxacin and 56 (43.4%) prescribed ciprofloxacin before receiving their culture results. Conclusions: For the most part, our hospital treated patients with severe microbial keratitis. Despite identifying gram-positive bacteria in most of the isolates, we also frequently identified gram-negative rods and fungi. Our susceptibility results support prescribing a combination of vancomycin and amikacin as an effective empirical therapeutic regimen to treat microbial keratitis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar a susceptibilidade a antibió­ticos, o perfil clínico, epidemiológico e microbiológico das ce­ratites infecciosas. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo longitu­dinal. Registros médicos e laboratoriais de 2015 a 2019 fo­ram revisados retrospectivamente. Resultados: Trezentos e oitenta patógenos (321 bactérias e 59 fungos) foram isolados das córneas de 352 pacientes. As espécies de Staphylococcus foram os microorganismos mais isolados (45%), seguidos de Pseudomonas (18,4%), fungos (15,5%), Streptococcus (7,9%) e Serratia (3,2%). Não houve resistência das bactérias Gram-positivas à amicacina ou vancomicina, enquanto 14,8% isolados Gram-positivos foram resistentes à ciprofloxacina (p<0,05). Todos os organismos Gram-negativos eram suscetíveis à amicacina. Pacientes do sexo masculino representaram 62,8% de 129 casos com dados clínicos acessíveis. A média de idade foi 53,17 ± 21 anos. O tempo até a apresentação (desde o início dos sintomas) foi de 14,9 ± 19,4 dias (mediana: 7 dias). Úlceras grandes (>5mm em qualquer extensão) representaram 49,6% (64 olhos) dos casos. A duração do tratamento foi de 49 ± 45,9 dias (mediana: 38 dias). Trauma ocular direto foi relatado por 48 (37,2%) pacientes e uso de lentes de contato por 15 (11,6%) pacientes. Foi prescrito tratamento prévio para 72 (55.8%) pacientes. Outras classes de medicamentos foram prescritas para 16 (12.4%). Setenta e nove (61,2%) pacientes tiveram que ser hospitalizados. Como complicações maiores, 53 (41,1%) pacientes apresentaram perfuração corneana, 40 pacientes (31%) foram submetidos à ceratoplastia penetrante tectônica e 28 (21,7%) desenvolveram glaucoma secundário. Oito pacientes (6,2%) evoluíram para endoftalmite. O tratamento empírico da ceratite microbiana foi amplamente empregado, com 94 (72,9%) pacientes em uso de moxifloxacina e 56 (43,4%) em uso de ciprofloxacina antes do resultado da cultura. Conclusões: Nosso hospital tratou predominantemente de pacientes com úlceras microbianas graves. Embora bactérias Gram-po­sitivas constituíssem a maioria dos isolados, bacilos e fungos Gram-negativos também foram frequentemente identificados nas ceratites microbianas. Os resultados de suscetibilidade sugerem a combinação de vancomicina e amicacina como um regime terapêutico empírico eficaz para essa condição grave com risco de perda visual permanente.

One week pre-operative oral antibiotics for percutaneous nephrolithotomy reduce risk of infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of extended dose of preoperative antibiotics to reduce infectious risk in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Materials and Methods A literature search for prospective case-control studies or randomized controlled trials was done. PICO framework was used. Population: adult patients that underwent to PCNL; Intervention: extended dose preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis before PCNL; Control: short dose preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis before PCNL; and Outcome: systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis, fever after PCNL and positive intraoperative urine and stone culture. This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO database under the number: CRD42022359589. Results Three RCT and two prospective studies (475 patients) were included. SIRS/sepsis outcome was retrieved from all studies included. Seven days preoperative oral antibiotics for PCNL was a protective factor for developing SIRS/sepsis (OR 0.366, 95% CI 0.234 - 0.527, p < 0.001). There was no statistical association between seven-day use of antibiotics and fever (OR 0.592, 95% CI 0.147 - 2.388, p = 0.462). Patients who received seven days preoperative antibiotics had lower positive intraoperative urine culture (OR 0.284, 95% CI 0.120 - 0.674, p = 0.004) and stone culture (OR 0.351, 95% CI 0.185 - 0.663, p = 0.001) than the control group. Conclusion one week of prophylactic oral antibiotics based on local bacterial sensitivity pattern plus a dose of intravenous antibiotics at the time of surgery in patients undergoing PCNL reduces the risk of infection.

Evaluation of toxin-antitoxin genes, antibiotic resistance, and virulence genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Toxin-antitoxin genes RelBE and HigBA are known to be involved in the formation of biofilm, which is an important virulence factor for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of toxin-antitoxin genes and exoenzyme S and exotoxin A virulence genes in P. aeruginosa isolates and whether there is a relationship between toxin-antitoxin genes and virulence genes as well as antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Identification of the isolates and antibiotic susceptibilities was determined by a VITEK 2 (bioMérieux, France) automated system. The presence of toxin-antitoxin genes, virulence genes, and transcription levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: RelBE and HigBA genes were detected in 94.3% (82/87) of P. aeruginosa isolates, and exoenzyme S and exotoxin A genes were detected in all of the isolates (n=87). All of the isolates that harbor the toxin-antitoxin and virulence genes were transcribed. There was a significant increase in the RelBE gene transcription level in imipenem- and meropenem-sensitive isolates and in the HigBA gene transcription level in amikacin-sensitive isolates (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between RelBE and exoenzyme S (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that antibiotic resistance may be linked to toxin-antitoxin genes. Furthermore, the relationship between RelBE and exoenzyme S indicates that toxin-antitoxin genes in P. aeruginosa isolates are not only related to antibiotic resistance but also play an influential role in bacterial virulence. Larger collections of comprehensive studies on this subject are required. These studies should contribute significantly to the solution of the antibiotic resistance problem.

Effects of breast milk intake ratio during hospitalization on antibiotic therapy duration in preterm infants less than 34 gestational weeks: a multicenter retrospective cohort study / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of breast milk to total milk intake ratio during hospitalization on the duration of antibiotic therapy in preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestation.Methods:Clinical data of preterm infants ( n=1 792) less than 34 gestational weeks were retrospectively collected in 16 hospitals of Jiangsu Province Neonatal-Perinatal Cooperation Network from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. The days of therapy (DOT) were used to evaluate the duration of antibiotic administration. The median DOT was 15.0 d (7.0-27.0 d). The patients were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of DOT: Q 1 (DOT≤7.0 d), Q 2 (7.0 d<DOT≤15.0 d), Q 3 (15.0 d<DOT≤27.0 d) and Q 4 (DOT>27.0 d) groups. According to the breast milk intake ratio (breast milk intake to total milk intake during hospitalization×100%), they were also divided into four groups: very-low-ratio breastfeeding group (breast milk intake ratio≤25%), low-ratio breastfeeding group (25%<breast milk intake ratio≤50%), medium-ratio breastfeeding group (50%<breast milk intake ratio≤75%) and high-ratio breastfeeding group (breast milk intake ratio>75%). Univariate analysis ( Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test) was used to analyze the factors influencing DOT. Spearman correlation analysis and trend Chi-square test were used to explore the relationship between breast milk intake ratio and DOT. After using multiple imputations to address missing data, two models were constructed after adjusting for different factors, and multinomial logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the effects of the breast milk intake ratio on DOT. Finally, sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the stability of the models. Results:(1) Of the 1 792 preterm infants, there were 507 (28.3%) in the Q 1 group, 422 (23.5%) in the Q 2 group, 438 (24.4%) in the Q 3 group and 425 (23.7%) in the Q 4 group. (2) The median values of DOT in the very-low-ratio, low-ratio, medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding groups were 20.0 d (11.0-31.0 d), 20.0 d (11.0-32.0 d), 13.0 d (6.0-25.8 d) and 10.0 d (4.0-21.0 d), respectively. Compared with the very-low-ratio and low-ratio breastfeeding groups, the medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding groups had shorter DOT (all P<0.05). (3) After adjusting for factors with P<0.1 (prenatal glucocorticoid exposure, antimicrobial use within 24 h before delivery, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score≤7 at 1 min, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, infectious pneumonia and early-onset neonatal sepsis) between the DOT quartile groups, it showed that medium-ratio and high-ratio breastfeeding were protective factors in contrast to very-low-ratio breastfeeding in the Q 2, Q 3 and Q 4 groups as compared with the Q 1 group [Q 2 group: OR=0.50 (95% CI: 0.30-0.85) and OR=0.36 (95% CI: 0.26-0.51); Q 3 group: OR=0.31 (95% CI: 0.18-0.55) and OR=0.20 (95% CI: 0.14-0.29); Q 4 group: OR=0.22 (95% CI: 0.12-0.42) and OR=0.17 (95% CI: 0.12-0.26)]. Conclusion:Breast milk intake accounting for over 50% of total milk intake has a positive impact on reducing DOT in premature infants requiring antibiotics, which suggests that breastfeeding should be actively encouraged.

Necessity of asymptomatic bacteriuria screening during pregnancy / 中华围产医学杂志

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) refers to the presence of one or more species of bacteria in an individual's urine without the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Previous studies have shown that untreated ASB during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Many international guidelines recommend a single screen-and-treat approach to ASB during pregnancy. Still, this approach has not been proven favorable to pregnancy outcomes in low-risk populations by recent studies. ASB screening is not a routine obstetric examination in clinical practice in China. Given this, this article will review the evidence of ASB screening during pregnancy and analyze the recommendations and existing problems in the guidelines from various academic organizations. Clinical studies should be carried out according to the situation in the region, and the basic risks and treatment benefits of ASB in pregnancy should be analyzed in combination with specific data to establish a proper screening and treatment plan for ASB during pregnancy. Screening for ASB is recommended for pregnant women with high-risk factors at this stage.

Surveys on management of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in ten hospitals in Northwest China in 2016 and 2021 / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the status of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) management in 10 hospitals in Northwest China over the past five years and to investigate the strategies for improving the prevention and treatment of RDS.Methods:This retrospective study involved premature infants with RDS who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of 10 hospitals (six in Shaanxi Province, three in Gansu Province, and one in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) of the Northwest China Neonatal Collaborative Group within 3 d after birth from January 1 to December 31, 2016, and from January 1 to December 31, 2021. Basic information, perinatal condition, treatment approaches, complications, and prognosis of the patients were compared. T-test, rank sum, and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Result:(1) This study enrolled 322 premature infants with RDS in 2016 and 349 in 2021. Premature infants at the gestational age of 30 to 33 weeks were mainly affected, and the majority were male [64.3% (207/322) and 57.3% (200/349)]. The average maternal age in 2021 was older than that in 2016 [(30.6±4.8) years vs (28.6±5.4) years, t=24.02, P<0.001], and the proportion of women at advanced maternal age was also higher in 2021 [19.2% (67/349) vs 12.4% (40/322), χ2=4.18, P<0.05]. (2) The proportions of pregnancies conceived with assisted reproductive technologies [11.7% (41/349) vs 1.9% (6/322), χ2=25.12], underwent routine prenatal examinations [58.5% (204/349) vs 30.4% (98/322), χ2=53.33], exposed to steroids [62.2% (217/349) vs 28.6% (92/322), χ2=82.58] and delivered by cesarean section or elective cesarean section [73.6% (257/349) vs 51.6% (166/322), χ2=35.06; 24.1% (84/349) vs 6.5% (21/322), χ2=39.07], as well as the ratio of cesarean scar pregnancy [7.4% (26/349) vs 3.4% (11/322), χ2=5.23] were all higher in 2021 than those in 2016 (all P<0.05). Moreover, the incidence of fetal distress [30.1% (105/349) vs 20.2% (65/322), χ2=8.68], gestational hypertension [24.6% (86/349) vs 13.0% (42/322), χ2=14.59], premature rupture of membranes [16.0% (56/349) vs 10.2% (33/322), χ2=4.89], meconium-stained amniotic fluid [12.6% (44/349) vs 5.6% (18/322), χ2=9.83], placental abruption [10.3% (36/349) vs 5.3% (17/322), χ2=5.84], gestational diabetes mellitus [10.3% (36/349) vs 1.6%(5/322), χ2=22.41], chorioamnionitis [4.6%(16/349) vs 0.9% (3/322), χ2=8.12], thyroid dysfunction [4.3% (15/349) vs 0.6% (2/322), χ2=7.88] and heart disease [4.3% (15/349) vs 0.3% (1/322), χ2=9.17] were higher in 2021 than in 2016 (all P<0.05). (3) In 2021, the rate of pulmonary surfactant (PS) usage, the dosage of porcine PS, and the proportion of bovine PS usage were all significantly higher than those in 2016 [73.6% (257/349) vs 67.1% (216/322), χ2=11.62; (178.5±38.0) mg/kg vs (165.2±42.8) mg/kg, t=7.85; 47.9% (123/257) vs 19.4% (42/216), χ2=41.72; all P<0.01]. No significant difference in the incidence of intubation-surfactant-extubation (INSURE), early PS administration (≤2 h after birth), or the arterial blood gas values before and after PS treatment was found between the cases enrolled in 2021 and 2016. The duration of antibiotic treatment [7.0 d (5.0-14.0 d) vs 5.0 d (1.0-8.0 d), Z=7.55] and assisted ventilation [144 h (81-264 h) vs 73 h (47-134 h), Z=8.20] and the median hospital stay [24 d(14-42 d) vs 16 d (10-25 d), Z=6.74] were significantly longer in 2021 than in 2016 (all P<0.01). More patients required nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation [29.6% (100/338) vs 1.0% (3/306), χ2=97.81] and conventional ventilation [42.6% (144/338) vs 30.1% (92/306), χ2=10.87] in 2021 as compared with those five years ago (both P<0.01). (4) In 2021, the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus [15.5% (54/349) vs 6.2% (20/322), χ2=63.40], bronchopulmonary dysplasia [9.2% (32/349) vs 2.8% (9/322), χ2=12.88], persistent pulmonary hypertension [5.4% (19/349) vs 0.6% (2/322), χ2=12.85], periventricular leukomalacia [4.3% (15/349) vs 1.2% (4/322), χ2=7.52] and pneumothorax [3.4% (12/349) vs 0.3% (1/322), χ2=9.68] increased as compared with those in 2016 (all P<0.05), while the incidence of nosocomial infection decreased significantly [7.4% (26/349) vs 19.6% (63/322), χ2=21.37, P<0.001]. (5) The cure rate of premature infants with RDS was 70.8% (247/349) in 2021, which was significantly higher than that in 2016 [56.2% (181/322), χ2=15.37, P<0.001]. Moreover, the rate of withdrawing treatment and the total mortality rate was lower in 2021 than in 2016 [7.7% (27/349) vs 14.3% (46/322), χ2=7.41; in-hospital: 1.4% (5/349) vs 5.6% (18/322), χ2=8.74; out of hospital: 8.3% (29/349) vs 13.7% (44/322), χ2=4.96; all P<0.05]. Conclusions:The clinical management of RDS in premature infants in the involved hospitals has been improved. However, there is room for improvement in prenatal examinations.

High-frequency ultrasonography-assisted evaluation of treatment outcomes of erysipelas: a prospective controlled study / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To measure the skin thickness in patients with erysipelas by high-frequency ultrasonography (HF-USG), and to compare the clinical efficacy of systemic antibiotics alone versus their combination with glucocorticoids in the treatment of erysipelas.Methods:Hospitalized patients with erysipelas were enrolled from Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University from January to December in 2021, and randomly divided into the study group and control group according to the order of visits. The study group was treated with systemic cefathiamidine for 7 days followed by oral methylprednisolone at a dose of 0.4 mg·kg -1·d -1, while the control group was treated with cefathiamidine alone. Before and after the treatment for 10 days, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers and subcutaneous tissues were measured by HF-USG at the sites of the most severe skin lesions on the affected limbs and at the corresponding sites on the healthy limbs, and white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil (NEU) counts, as well as C-reaction protein (CRP) levels were determined. The t test and non-parametric test were used to compare the efficacy between two groups. Results:A total of 23 patients with erysipelas were enrolled. Among the 12 patients in the study group, 8 were males and 4 were females, and their age was 71.4 ± 11.4 years. Among the 11 patients in the control group, 7 were males and 4 were females, and their age was 67.4 ± 11.1 years. Before treatment, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers (0.33 ± 0.12 cm) and subcutaneous tissues (1.08 ± 0.49 cm) in the study group were not significantly different from those in the control group (0.25 ± 0.09 cm, 0.98 ± 0.46 cm; t = -1.83, -0.49, P = 0.081, 0.626, respectively). After the 10-day treatment, the thicknesses of the epidermis-dermis layers and subcutaneous tissues of the skin lesions on the affected limbs significantly decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05), and the decrease in the thicknesses of subcutaneous tissues was significantly stronger in the study group (0.32 ± 0.33 cm) than in the control group (0.10 ± 0.07 cm; t = 2.20, P = 0.039). Before treatment, the WBC counts ([11.16 ± 4.42] × 10 9/L), NEU counts ([8.26 ± 4.16] × 10 9/L) and CRP levels (median [ Q1, Q3]: 72.20 [19.28, 140.50] mg/L) in the study group were not significantly different from those in the control group ([10.10 ± 4.53] × 10 9/L, [7.21 ± 3.00] × 10 9/L, 34.40 [8.00, 74.20] mg/L, respectively; t or Z = 0.60, 0.71, -0.85, P = 0.578, 0.496, 0.196, respectively). After the 10-day treatment, the WBC counts, NEU counts, and CRP levels significantly decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:The combined treatment with systemic antibiotics and glucocorticoids could effectively alleviate skin inflammation, and more rapidly reduce the thicknesses of inflamed subcutaneous tissues in patients with erysipelas compared with systemic antibiotics alone.

Analysis of risk factors for failure in the treatment of early periprosthetic joint infection by debridement, antibioticsand implant retention combined with intra-articular injection of antibiotics / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To analyze the risk factors leading to the failure of early periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) treated by debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) combined with intra-articular injection of antibiotics.Methods:A total of 100 patients who received DAIR combined with intra-articular injection of antibiotics between January 2010 and October 2020 in the Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 47 males and 53 females, with an average age of 62.8±13.0 years (26-84 years). 75 patients were diagnosed as PJI after primary surgery while 25 PJI after revision or debridement, involving 41 hips and 59 knees. According to the clinical outcomes, the patients were divided into the cured group (78 cases) and the uncured group (22 cases). Risk factors were screened by univariate analysis on their gender, age, body mass index, site of infection (hip/knee), synovial white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), time of infection, types of pathogenic bacteria (gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria or fungi), preoperative sinus tract and previous surgical history. For the factors with P<0.20, multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn and any cause that led to treatment failure was seen as the end point event. Calculate prosthetic survival time and 10-year survival rate. Results:The average follow-up was 59.8±40.6 months (0.3-129.0 months). The infection control rate of DAIR combined with intra-articular injection of antibiotics in the treatment of early PJI was 78% (78/100). The univariate analysis showed that the successful rate of non-fungal infection group (81%, 77/95) was significantly higher than the fungal infection group (20%, 1/5) and the successful rate of the group without previous surgical history (85.3%, 64/75) was significantly higher than that with previous surgical history (56.0%, 14/25, χ 2=7.07, P=0.008; χ 2=9.40, P=0.002). The multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that fungal infection [ OR=0.08, 95% CI(0.01, 0.79), P=0.031] and history of previous surgical intervention [ OR=0.25, 95% CI(0.09, 0.73), P=0.001] were independent risk factors for treatment failure. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival time of the prosthesis was 96.83±5.30 months, and the 10-year survival rate was 68.1%. Meanwhile, the survival rate of patients with fungal infection and previous surgical history was significantly lower than that of patients without fungal infection or previous surgical history, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=15.49, P<0.001; χ 2=8.91, P=0.030). Conclusion:The time of PJI, bacterial virulence and species, and preoperative inflammatory indicators had no effect on the outcome of DAIR combined with intra-articular injection of antibiotics in the treatment of early PJI. However, DAIR was not recommended for patients with a history of surgical intervention and fungal infection.

A case report of suppurative acromioclavicular arthritis and literature review / 中华骨科杂志

One case of suppurative acromioclavicular arthritis caused by Staphylococcus aureuswas reported. The patient was admitted to hospital due to swelling and pain in the right shoulder, limited mobility without no obvious cause.Through medical history, physical examination, imaging examination, and local tissue bacterial culture, it was confirmed that the infection was caused by Staphylococcus aureus. After surgery and anti infection treatment, satisfactory treatment results were achieved. Through literature review, 95 cases of suppurative acromioclavicular arthritis were retrieved and analyzed from 57 articles.Among them, 26 cases (27%) were infected with Staphylococcus aureus, including 3 cases of clearly identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 2 cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and 1 case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis; 13 cases (14%) of Streptococcus; There were 6 cases (6%) of special pathogens, including 2 cases of Haemophilus parainfluenzae, 1 case of Candida, 1 case of Bacillus pallidum, 1 case of Mycobacterium avium, and 1 case of Pasteurella multocida; 50 cases (53%) of specific infections with pathogens were not clearly reported. Suppurative acromioclavicular arthritis has the characteristics of difficult early diagnosis, rapid disease progression, and strong destructiveness. MRI and ultrasound have high specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of this disease, and ultrasound can assist in obtaining joint fluid for examination. Early identification of the pathogen is the key to the treatment of this disease. Before identifying the pathogen, antibiotics should not be used arbitrarily. After diagnosis, timely anti infection treatment should be carried out, and if necessary, surgical debridement should be performed. The vast majority of patients can achieve satisfactory and accurate treatment results after active and standardized treatment.

The practice of clinical pharmacists participating in the management of prophylactic antibiotics during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery / 中国基层医药

Objective:To explore the role of clinical pharmacists participating in the management of prophylactic antibiotics during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery, and to evaluate the effects after participating in the practice.Methods:The use of antimicrobials during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery in Wenjiang Hospital of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital in August 2019 (pre-practice) was retrospectively analyzed. The existing problems were summarized, and the possible causes of the existing problems were analyzed. The improvement measures were jointly developed by clinical pharmacists and physicians. Clinical pharmacists continued to manage the use of antimicrobials by means of medication order reviews, ward rounds for pharmacy service, and medication training. The use of prophylactic antibiotics during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery was compared between August 2019 (pre-practice group) and December 2019 (post-practice group) and the practical effect was evaluated.Results:Clinical pharmacists reviewed perioperative patients' medication orders once a day, ward rounds for pharmacy service twice a week, and medication training once a month. Twenty-two patients were enrolled before practice, and 26 patients were enrolled after practice. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, operative time, type of surgical incision, and preventive use of antibiotics between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In the post-practice group, the appropriate time for preoperative administration was 100.0%, which was significantly higher than 88.2% in the pre-practice group. The reasonable rate of preoperative preventive drug selection was 100.0%, which was significantly higher than 44.4% in the pre-practice group ( χ2 = 17.50, P < 0.001). In the post-practice group, the duration of preventive medication was (1.82 ± 0.59) days, which was significantly shorter than (7.54 ± 3.25) days in the pre-practice group ( t = 11.97, P < 0.001). In the post-practice group, the cost of antibacterial drugs was 316.00(237.00,454.25) yuan, which was significantly lower than 1 136.00(391.81 , 2 184.65) yuan in the pre-practice group ( Z = -2.78, P < 0.05). The defined daily dose of antibiotics among inpatients was 2.67(2.00,3.42), which was significantly lower than 8.88(3.92 , 19.18) in the pre-practice group ( Z = -3.26, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection and total length of hospital stay between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Conclusion:Clinical pharmacists participating in the management practice of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics in thoracic surgery can effectively promote the rational application of perioperative antibiotics, markedly improve the reasonable rate of prophylactic drug delivery, shorten the course of prophylactic drugs, reduce the cost of antibiotics, decrease the defined daily dose of antibiotics, without increasing the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection and the total length of hospital stay.

Clinical analysis of 71 patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations and related risk factors of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE) bloodstream infection, and to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of PAE bloodstream infection after combining with bacterial resistance condition. Methods:The clinical data and biological data of all patients with PAE bloodstream infection who received treatment in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The independent influential factors of PAE bloodstream infection were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Results:Eighty-three patients had PAE bloodstream infection. Among them, 71 patients were included in the final analysis. Among the 71 patients, 36 patients (50.70%) had carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( CRPA). Univariate analysis showed that the history of hospitalization within 90 days ( χ2 = 3.90, P = 0.048), indwelling catheterization ( χ2 = 5.08, P = 0.024), septic shock ( χ2 = 4.00, P = 0.046), mechanical ventilation ( χ2= 12.35, P < 0.001), deep venous catheter ( χ2 = 4.08, P = 0.043), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score II ≥ 10 points ( χ2 = 4.06, P = 0.044), and multi-drug resistance ( χ2 = 11.75, P = 0.001) were the suspicious influential factors of CRPA bloodstream infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that mechanical ventilation was an independent risk factor for CRPA bloodstream infection ( OR = 7.43, 95% CI 1.182-46.674, P = 0.032). Multi-drug resistance was an independent risk factor for CRPA bloodstream infection ( OR = 5.842, 95% CI 1.520-22.450, P = 0.010). Conclusion:Mechanical ventilation and multi-drug resistance are the independent influential factors of CRPA bloodstream infection. Invasive operations such as mechanical ventilation should be avoided in the clinic.

Ação antimicrobiana de extratos de gengibre (Zingiber officinale) e quilaia (Quillaja saponaria) isolados e associados sobre Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistente a antibióticos / Antimicrobial action of isolated and associated extracts of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and quilaia (Quillaja saponaria) on antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Extratos de plantas têm demonstrado diversos efeitos positivos para a saúde, incluindo ação antimicrobiana, no entanto, o uso clínico da fitoterapia ainda é discreto, de modo que mais estudos sobre os efeitos benéficos do sinergismo farmacológico de extratos poderiam contribuir para sua aplicação terapêutica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos dos extratos glicólicos de gengibre (EG) e quilaia (EQ) isolados e em associação sobre 7 cepas clínicas de Pseudomonas aeruginosa e uma cepa padrão em forma planctônica e biofilmes monotípicos. Para a análise antimicrobiana sobre cultura planctônica foram feitos testes para determinação de Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Microbicida Mínima (CMM) (CLSI, M07-A9) dos extratos isolados, além do Índice de Concentração Inibitória Fracionada (ICIF) e do Índice de Concentração Microbicida Fracionada (ICMF) para os extratos combinados. A análise estatística foi feita com método ANOVA e teste de Tukey para dados com distribuição normal e Kruskall-Wallis com Teste de Comparação Múltipla de Dunn para dados sem distribuição normal (significância de 5%). Para cepa padrão foram determinadas CIM igual a 3,12 mg/mL e CMM igual a 6,25 mg/mL para ambos os extratos. Para cepas clínicas as CIM do EG foram 3,12 ou 6,25 mg/mL e de EQ 1,56 ou 3,12 mg/mL, enquanto os valores de CMM foram de 6,25 mg/mL para EG e de 1,56, 3,12 ou 6,25 mg/mL para EQ. Os resultados de ICIF indicaram 15 associações sinérgicas e 4 associações aditivas dos extratos contra a cepa padrão e, dentre cepas clínicas, foram obtidos 15 resultados aditivos. A partir dos resultados de ICMF foram identificadas 6 associações sinérgicas e 1 associação aditiva contra a cepa padrão, além de 8 associações com efeito aditivo contra cepas clínicas. A partir dos resultados de testes em culturas planctônicas foi avaliada a ação antibiofilme sobre as cepas em que foram observadas reduções de viabilidade de 36,7 e 34% para o EG (50 e 25 mg/mL) e 51,3 e 51,4% para EQ (25 e 12,5 mg/mL) contra cepa padrão. As reduções em cepas clínicas variaram de 43 a 73% com EG e de 36 a 79% para EQ. As associações dos extratos promoveram reduções de viabilidade de 8 a 35% contra 5 das 7 cepas clínicas. Conclui-se que os extratos glicólicos de gengibre e quilaia apresentam ação antimicrobiana de forma isolada e combinados com efeito aditivo sobre a forma planctônica de cepas clínicas resistentes de P. aeruginosa. De forma isolada, os extratos apresentaram importante ação preventiva na formação dos biofilmes dessas cepas, podendo ser considerados potenciais fitoterápicos com aplicações terapêuticas para o combate das infecções por P. aeruginosa. (AU)

Plant extracts have demonstrated several positive health effects, including antimicrobial action, however, the clinical use of phytotherapy is still discreet, so that more studies on the beneficial effects of pharmacological synergism of extracts could contribute to its therapeutic application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glycolic extracts of ginger (EG) and quilaia (EQ) alone and in combination on 7 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a standard strain in planktonic form and monotypic biofilms. For the antimicrobial analysis on planktonic culture, tests were performed to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Microbicidal Concentration (MMC) (CLSI, M07-A9) of the isolated extracts, in addition to the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) and the Fractionated Microbicidal Concentration Index (FICM) for the combined extracts. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA method and Tukey's test for data with normal distribution and Kruskall-Wallis with Dunn's Multiple Comparison Test for data without normal distribution (5% significance). For the standard strain, MIC were determined equal to 3.12 mg/mL and MMC equal to 6.25 mg/mL for both extracts. For clinical strains the MIC of EG were 3.12 or 6.25 mg/mL and 1.56 or 3.12 mg/mL of EQ, while the MMC values were 6.25 mg/mL for EG and 1.56, 3.12 or 6.25 mg/ml for EQ. The FICI results indicated 15 synergistic and 4 additive associations of the extracts against the standard strain and, among clinical strains, 15 additive results were obtained. From the FICM results, 6 synergistic and 1 additive association against the standard strain were identified, in addition to 8 associations with additive effect against clinical strains. Based on the results of tests on planktonic cultures, the antibiofilm action were evaluated on the strains in which viability reductions of 36 and 34% were observed for EG (50 and 25 mg/mL) and 51% were observed for EQ (25 and 12, 5 mg/mL) against the standard strain. Reductions in clinical strains ranged from 43 to 73% with EG and from 36 to 79% for EQ. Associations of extracts promoted viability reductions of 8 to 35% against 5 out of 7 clinical strains. It is concluded that the glycolic extracts of ginger and quilaia have antimicrobial action in isolation and combined with additive effect on the planktonic form of resistant clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Isolated, the extracts showed an important preventive action in the formation of biofilms of these strains and may be considered potential herbal medicines with therapeutic applications to combat P. aeruginosa infections. (AU)

Antibiotic prescription in the management of endodontic infections amongst Iraqi final-year undergraduate dental students

Aim This study aimed to examine the prescription of antibiotics for endodontic infections among undergraduate dental students. Methods Two government Iraqi dental schools [(the University of Baghdad (UOB) (n=99) and University of Babylon (UB) (n=70)], and one private dental school [Osouldeen University College (OUC) (n=103)] were included in this survey study. A paper-based questionnaire composed of seven questions was distributed to students, and collected. A chi-square test was used for data analysis, and the level of significance was set at 0.05 (P=0.05). Results A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was identified between students' answers in the three dental schools regarding antibiotic selection for endodontic infections in which patients had no known allergies (P=0.001). In comparison to other dental schools, a statistically significantly higher proportion of respondents from UOB (32%) favored Azithromycin 500mg for treating patients with penicillin hypersensitivity (P=0.003). A high percentage of participants (62.1%) selected antibiotic prescription in cases with necrotic pulp and symptomatic apical periodontitis (with swelling and moderate/severe preoperative symptoms). However, there were no significant differences between the 3 dental schools (P>0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, a significantly greater percentage of UB chose amoxicillin for the treatment of endodontic infection in patients with no medical allergies. Azithromycin 500mg was selected by UOB as the preferred option in patients who were sensitive to penicillin. Our findings support the need for the implementation of strategies to raise awareness of good antibiotic prescribing practices among dentists in Iraq.

Bacteriuria asintomática en el embarazo. Serie de casos en una clínica privada de Uruapan, Michoacán / Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy. Cases series in a private clinic in Uruapan Michoacán

Resumen OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de bacteriuria asintomática, su adecuado tratamiento con base en el reporte del antibiograma de pacientes embarazadas que acudieron a control prenatal en una clínica privada. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de una serie de casos, descriptivo y transversal efectuado en mujeres embarazadas que acudieron a control prenatal en la consulta externa del Hospital Fray Juan de San Miguel de Uruapan, Michoacán, entre el 1 de enero de 2019 y el 31 de diciembre de 2021. Variables de estudio: edad de las madres, semanas de embarazo, embarazos, bacteriuria, agente causal, antibiótico indicado y respuesta al tratamiento. Para interpretar los resultados obtenidos se aplicaron estadística descriptiva, medidas de tendencia central y de frecuencias simples. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 227 embarazadas; de ellas, 49 tuvieron un urocultivo positivo. La prevalencia de bacteriuria asintomática fue de 21.59. Escherichia coli fue el agente causal más reportado. De los urocultivos de control 36 de 37 resultaron negativos y solo 1 de 37 fue positivo. CONCLUSIÓN: La prevalencia de bacteriuria asintomática de este estudio fue de 21.59% y el principal agente etiológico asilado E. coli en la mayoría de los casos, con sensibilidad a nitrofurantoína en la mayoría de los casos.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, its adequate treatment based on the antibiogram report of pregnant patients who attended prenatal control in a private clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a case series, descriptive and cross-sectional carried out in pregnant women who attended prenatal control in the outpatient clinic of the Hospital Fray Juan de San Miguel de Uruapan, Michoacán, between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Study variables: mothers' age, weeks of pregnancy, pregnancies, bacteriuria, causative agent, indicated antibiotic and response to treatment. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and simple frequencies were used to interpret the results obtained. RESULTS: A total of 227 pregnant women were studied; 49 of them had a positive urine culture. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 21.59. Escherichia coli was the most reported causative agent. Of the control urine cultures 36 of 37 were negative and only 1 of 37 was positive. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in this study was 21.59% and the main etiologic agent was E. coli in most cases, with sensitivity to nitrofurantoin in most cases.