Polyphasic characterisation of Burkholderia cepaciacomplex species isolated from children with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) pulmonary infections have high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare different methods for identification of Bcc species isolated from paediatric CF patients. Oropharyngeal swabs from children with CF were used to obtain isolates of Bcc samples to evaluate six different tests for strain identification. Conventional (CPT) and automatised (APT) phenotypic tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-recA, restriction fragment length polymorphism-recA, recAsequencing, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) were applied. Bacterial isolates were also tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. PCR-recA analysis showed that 36 out of the 54 isolates were Bcc. Kappa index data indicated almost perfect agreement between CPT and APT, CPT and PCR-recA, and APT and PCR-recA to identify Bcc, and MALDI-TOF and recAsequencing to identify Bcc species. The recAsequencing data and the MALDI-TOF data agreed in 97.2% of the isolates. Based on recA sequencing, the most common species identified were Burkholderia cenocepacia IIIA (33.4%),Burkholderia vietnamiensis (30.6%), B. cenocepaciaIIIB (27.8%), Burkholderia multivorans (5.5%), and B. cepacia (2.7%). MALDI-TOF proved to be a useful tool for identification of Bcc species obtained from CF patients, although it was not able to identify B. cenocepacia subtypes.

The Antimicrobial Activity of (-)-Epigallocatehin-3-Gallate and Green Tea Extracts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli Isolated from Skin Wounds

BACKGROUND: Skin infections with Gram-negative bacteria are sometimes challenging to treat, because these bacteria show multidrug resistance against commonly used antibiotics and patients with Gram-negative bacterial infection overall have deteriorated in conditions in many cases. Studies have shown that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and green tea extracts (GTE) inhibit the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria species. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EGCG and GTE in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and assess the use of these chemicals as an alternative or adjunct topical antimicrobial agent against P. aeruginosa and E. coli with multidrug resistance. METHODS: The MICs of EGCG, GTE, and other tested antibiotics were measured and compared to determine the antibacterial efficacy and the differences in pattern of resistance. RESULTS: The P. aeruginosa and E. coli strains used in this study showed multidrug resistance. EGCG inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa at a MIC level of 200~400 microg/ml. The MIC of GTE was a 1 : 16 dilution for P. aeruginosa. EGCG showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli at a MIC of 400 microg/ml. In the case of GTE, the MIC was a dilution between 1:8 and 1:4 for E. coli. CONCLUSION: EGCG and GTE showed potential as alternative or adjunct topical antimicrobial agents for infections that are resistant to traditional antibiotic therapy.

Distribution of Pathogens and Their Antibiotic Resistance in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Gram-negative Bacterial Infections / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To study the distribution of pathogens and their antibiotic resistance in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients with gram-negative bacterial infections,for guiding the rational use of antibiotics therapy.METHODS The identification was analyzed by ATB Expression automatic microbiology analytical instrument system.The bacterial susceptibility test was done by Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion method.RESULTS Among 346 patients included,112(32.4%)had bacterial infections.A total of 181 pathogens strains had been isolated.Among 181 isolates,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Acinetobacter baumannii,Proteus mirabilis,and Enterobacter cloacae were the main pathogens.The ESBLs producing rates in E.coli and K.pneumoniae were 27.5% and 28.1%.Piperacillin/tazobactam and cefepime had less activity against A.baumannii and low resistant to other Gram-negative bacilli(0-46.2% and 13.0-33.3%).Meropenem,imipenem and cefoperazone/sulbactam showed greater activity against Gram-negative bacilli,their resistant rates were 0-17.1%,0-22.9% and 0-38.5%,respectively.CONCLUSIONS The clinical features of SLE patients with bacterial infections are lack of specificity.The data will be useful for reasonably choosing antimicrobial agents in the treatment of SLE patients with bacterial infections.