In-vitro activity of 10 antifungal agents against 320 dermatophyte strains using microdilution method in Tehran

Dermatophyte fungi are the etiologic agents of skin infections commonly referred to as ringworm. These infections are not dangerous but as a chronic cutaneous infections they may be difficult to treat and can also cause physical discomfort for patients. They are considered important as a public health problem as well. No information is available regarding the efficacy of antifungal agents against dermatophytes in Tehran. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the efficacy of 10 systemic and topical antifungal medications using CLSI broth microdilution method [M38-A]. The antifungal agents used included griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole, ciclopiroxolamine, amorolfine and naftifine.Fifteen different species of dermatophytes which were mostly clinical isolates were used as follows; T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, E. floccosum, M. canis, T. verrucosum, T. tonsurans,M. gypseum, T. violaceum, M. ferruginum,M. fulvum, T. schoenleinii, M. racemosum, T. erinacei,T.eriotriphon and Arthrodermabenhamiae. The mean number of fungi particles [conidia] inoculated was 1.25 x 10[4] CFU/mL. Results were read after 7 days of incubation at 28 °C. According to the obtained results,itraconazole and terbinafine showed the lowest and fluconazole had the greatest MIC values for the most fungi tested. Based on the results, it is necessary to do more research and design a reliable standard method for determination of antifungal susceptibility to choose proper antibiotics with fewer side effects and decrease antifungal resistance and risk of treatment failure

[Evaluation of antibiotic resistance of gonococcal infections in women referred to Azad university hospitals]

There is high prevalence of pencicllinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and antibiotic resistance in numerous areas of the world. The aim of this study was to investigate drug resistance of gonococci. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, vaginal discharge of 126 patients visited for vaginal discharge or suprapubic pain or admitted for periodic examination in Azad University hospitals were studied. Direct smear and gram stain of vaginal discharge was prepared and it was cultured into Tyer-Marthin media. Sensitivity to antibiotics was evaluated in positive cultures. Direct smear and gram staining of cervical discharge revealed 48 [38.1%] gram negative kidney shaped diplococci, but in selective media, only 12 [9.5%] Nesseria gonorrhoeae was detected. From 12 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 8 [66.6%] were resistant to penicillin, 8 [66.6%] to spectinomycin and 8 [66.6%] to co-trimoxazol, but neither of specimens were resistant to ceftriaxone. Direct smear of vaginal discharge isn't enough for proper diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and it should be confirmed by culture. Ceftriaxone is the best choice for treatment of gonococcal infections, but there is resistance to spectinomycin, co-trimoxazol and penicillin

[Frequency of Campylobacter jejuni in stool samples of patients with bloody diarrhea]

Compylobacter jejui is an important pathogen in developing diarrhea, ufortunatley it was not mostly searched in ordinary diagnostic laboratories using selective C. jejuni medium and many diarrhea due to this bacterium remained undiagnosed. The aim of this study was to evaluate frequency of C. jejuni in stool samples of patients with bloody diarrhea. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, in which frequency of C. jejuni was evaluated among 90 patients with diarrhea attending to Azad University hospitals between 2007 and 2008. Stool samples were cultured in skirrow's medium and incubated in 42°C for 24-48 hours and bacterial colonies were assessed biochemically. Ninety patients with mean age of 13.08 years [range age of 4-80 years] were studied. 24 [26.7%] were male and 66 [73.3%] female [p<0.05]. Of 90 patients, in 7 cases [7.8%] C. jejuni was obtained. Severe abdominal pain in C. jejuni positive cases was higher then C. jejuni negative subjects [28.6%] in C. jejuni positive patients versus 7.2% of C. jejuni negative cases, p<0.05]. Because of importance of C. jejuni in bloody diarrhea and bacillary dysenteries, it is recommended the use of campylobacter selective medium such as skirrow's or campybap in examination of diarrheic stools