Isolation and identification of microbes from biofilm of Urinary catheters and antimicrobial Susceptibility evaluation

Objective: Bacterial species colonize indwelling catheters as biofilm induce complications in patients care. Methods: From the biofilm matrix seven species of microbes were isolated. The predominant bacteria seen in catheters were E.coli, (27 percent) P.mirabilis (20 percent) and S.epidermis (18 percent). Results: The biomass of microbes associated with the biofilm was estimated. The mean dry weight of biomass of bacteria associated with a catheter that was used for over a month time was in the range 2.5±0.04g - 3.1 ± 0.6g. Conclusion: But it was found to colonize the microtitre plate to attain a peak growth at 84h. P.mirabilis isolated from the biofilm was able to tolerate the antibiotics tetracycline, Penicillin, Kanamycin and Gentamycin at a dose level of 20μg/ml. The study indicated that the catheter has to be replaced if biofilm formation was noticed.

Effect of marine extracts on the microbial pathogens causing flacherie in the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L

Objective: Silkworms are invertebrate animals that are killed by bacteria pathogenic against humans, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholera. Biochemical characterization of the microbes in the haemolymph of diseased silkworm collected during the survey indicated the presence of Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. in the culture. Methods: Studies were carried out in vitro to assess the efficacy of some marine extracts for the containment of these microbes through turbidimetry analysis and zone of inhibition test. Results: The observations made during this study revealed that the ethyl acetate crude extracts of two marine samples are Auroraglobostellata and Spirostella inconstans var. moendrina Dendy effective against these microbes causing flacherie diseases in silkworm. The comparison of their effects indicated that ethyl acetate extracts were generally more effective Extensive studies using these extracts on the growth and cocoon production of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. are likely to throw much light on the possibility of using such extracts as a prophylactic measure during silkworm rearing to improve silk production. Conclusions: Also, the results indicate that maybe plays a possible role in the contamination of humans and animals, in particular silkworms, while marine extracts showed a potential to control the contamination caused by bacterial diseases.