Polymicrobial Keratitis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Ochrobactrum anthropi

PURPOSE: To report polymicrobial keratitis involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Ochrobactrum anthropi. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old female complained of pain and secretion in her right eye, which started 6 weeks before her visit. She applied steroid ointment, which was received from the dermatologist, to her eyelid 7 days prior to her visit but this treatment worsened her symptoms. At the initial visit, the visual acuity of the right eye was light perception, and purulent secretions were observed. Using a slit lamp, severe conjunctival hyperemia, hypopyon, and a ring-shaped central corneal ulcer were observed. The anterior chamber and fundus were not observed due to corneal lesions but ultrasonography showed no intraocular inflammation. Infectious keratitis was suspected and cultured by corneal scraping. During the incubation period, 0.5% moxifloxacin, 2% voriconazole, and 1% cyclopentolate were administered. A total of 400 mg of moxifloxacin and 100 mg of doxycycline were given orally. In the primary culture, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were identified so 5% ceftazidime, which was sensitive for the antibiotic susceptibility results was further instilled. Thereafter, the keratitis improved but the keratitis again worsened while maintaining the topical treatment. A secondary culture was positive for Ochrobactrum anthropi. Treatment with 1.4% gentamicin, which was sensitive for the antibiotic susceptibility test was added and the keratitis improved. A conjunctival flap was performed because of the increased risk of perforation. CONCLUSIONS: We report polymicrobial keratitis involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Ochrobactrum anthropi for the first time in the Republic of Korea.

First Case Report of Human Infection With Ochrobactrum tritici Causing Bacteremia and Cholecystitis

No abstract available.

Antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized by marine Ochrobactrum sp.

Metal nanoparticle synthesis is an interesting area in nanotechnology due to their remarkable optical, magnetic, electrical, catalytic and biomedical properties, but there needs to develop clean, non-toxic and environmental friendly methods for the synthesis and assembly of nanoparticles. Biological agents in the form of microbes have emerged up as efficient candidates for nanoparticle synthesis due to their extreme versatility to synthesize diverse nanoparticles with varying size and shape. In the present study, an eco favorable method for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using marine bacterial isolate has been attempted. Very interestingly, molecular identification proved it as a strain of Ochrobactrum anhtropi. In addition, the isolate was found to have the potential to form silver nanoparticles intracellularly at room temperature within 24 h. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The UV-visible spectrum of the aqueous medium containing silver nanoparticles showed a peak at 450 nm corresponding to the plasmon absorbance of silver nanoparticles. The SEM and TEM micrographs revealed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles were spherical in shape with a size range from 38 nm - 85 nm. The silver nanoparticles synthesized by the isolate were also used to explore its antibacterial potential against pathogens like Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi, Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus.

Impact of environmental stress on biochemical parameters of bacteria reducing chromium

Chromium pollution is produced in connection with industrial processes like in tanneries. It has been suggested that bioremediation could be a good option for clean up. The stress effect of variable chromate levels, pHs and growth temperatures on biochemical parameters of two Cr(VI) reducing bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa Rb-1 and Ochrobactrum intermedium Rb-2 was investigated. Transmission electrone microscopy (TEM) was performed to study the intracellular distribution of Cr(VI). It was observed that initial stress of 1000 µgmL-1 caused significant enhancement of all studied biochemical parameters at pH 7.0 and growth temperature of 37 °C showing great bioremediation potential of the strains. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the distribution of chromium precipitates was not uniform as they were distributed in the cytoplasm as well as found associated with the periplasm and outer membrane. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the possible involvement of carboxyl, amino, sulpohonate and hydroxyl groups present on the bacterial cell surface for the binding of Cr(VI) ions. Cr(VI) stress brought about changes in the distridution of these functional groups. It can be concluded that the investigated bacterial strains adjust well to Cr(VI) stress in terms of biochemical parameters and along that exhibited alteration in morphology.

Isolation of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria from bilge oil contaminated water

Two bacterial strains, i.e. Pseudomonas mendocina and Ochrobactnim sp. were isolated from bilge oil contaminated water of Mormugao harbour, Goa, India and grown in a culture medium with hexadecane as the sole carbon source. Pseudomonas mendocina was used in further studies as it was the dominant strain. This strain effectively degraded tetradecane, hexadecane and octadecane leaving a residual concentration of about 73%, 54% and 40% respectively in 120 h. Sequence analysis of the dominant bands from the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles revealed the differences between the genera of bilge oil contaminated sea water and its enrichment culture on hexadecane indicating a shift in community structure based on the type of substrate available. Pseudomonas mendocina amplified for the following catabolic genes namely C23O, nid and ndo. Based on the catabolic gene study the potential of the bacterial strain isolated, i.e. Pseudomonas mendocina seems to be interesting as it will be able to degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well. Physicochemical properties of Pseudomonas mendocina indicates production of exopolysaccharides based on the value of its isoelectric point

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon by a halotolerant bacterial consortium isolated from marine environment

The biodegradability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene and phenanthrene by a halotolerant bacterial consortium isolated from marine environment was investigated. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading bacterial consortium was enriched from mixture saline water samples collected from Chennai [Port of Chennai, salt pan], India. The consortium potently degraded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [> 95%] at 30g/L of sodium chloride concentration in 4 days. The consortium was able to degrade 39 to 45% of different polycyclic hydrocarbons at 60 g/L NaCl concentration. Due to increase in salinity, the percent degradation decreased. To enhance polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation, yeast extract was added as an additional substrate at 60g/L NaCl concentration. After the addition of yeast extract, the consortium degraded > 74% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 60 g/L NaCl concentration in 4 days. The consortium was also able to degrade PAHs at different concentrations [5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 ppm] with 30 g/L of NaCl concentration. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading halotolerant bacterial consortium consists of three bacterial strains, namely Ochrobactrum sp., Enterobacter cloacae and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

A Case of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Related Peritonitis Caused by Ochrobactrum anthropi / 대한신장학회지

Ochrobactrum anthropi is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacillus and currently thought to be an opportunistic pathogen. We experienced a 66-year-old male patient with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-related peritonitis caused by O. anthropi. Susceptible antibiotic therapy including amikacin and ciprofloxacin improved the patient's clinical status. However, peritoneal effluent showed sustained leukocytosis, thus CAPD catheter was removed. After 2 weeks of temporary hemodialysis, CAPD was successfully restarted with reinsertion of catheter. This is, to our knowledge, the first case of CAPD-related peritonitis caused by O. anthropi in Korea.

A Case of Meropenem-Resistant Ochrobactrum anthropi Bacteremia / 감염과화학요법

Ochrobactrum anthropi is an oxidase-producing, non-lactose-fermenting, gram-negative bacillus that is frequently isolated from the environment including sinks, baths, soil, and hospital water sources. Recently O. anthropi have been reported as an emerging opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with indwelling venous catheters. Most O. anthropi were highly resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics except carbapenem. We report a case of O. anthropi bacteremia with an unusual pattern of antibiotic resistance compared to previous reports. A 47-year-old woman undergoing camptobell/cisplatin chemotherapy via indwelling venous catheter (chemoport) for stage IV ovarian cancer, had septicemia due to O. anthropi of unknown origin. The isolates were resistant to all beta-lactams and meropenem and susceptible to aminoglycoside, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. She recovered from sepsis with combination treatment with imipenem and ciprofloxacin for 3 weeks.

A Case of Meropenem-Resistant Ochrobactrum anthropi Bacteremia / 감염과화학요법

Ochrobactrum anthropi is an oxidase-producing, non-lactose-fermenting, gram-negative bacillus that is frequently isolated from the environment including sinks, baths, soil, and hospital water sources. Recently O. anthropi have been reported as an emerging opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with indwelling venous catheters. Most O. anthropi were highly resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics except carbapenem. We report a case of O. anthropi bacteremia with an unusual pattern of antibiotic resistance compared to previous reports. A 47-year-old woman undergoing camptobell/cisplatin chemotherapy via indwelling venous catheter (chemoport) for stage IV ovarian cancer, had septicemia due to O. anthropi of unknown origin. The isolates were resistant to all beta-lactams and meropenem and susceptible to aminoglycoside, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. She recovered from sepsis with combination treatment with imipenem and ciprofloxacin for 3 weeks.

Infective Endocarditis due to Ochrobactrum anthropi in a Hemodialysis Patient: A Case Report / 대한신장학회지

Ochrobactrum anthropi is an aerobic, gram-negative, motile, non-lactose-fermenting, oxidase-producing, and urease-positive bacillus. We reported a case of aortic valve endocarditis due to O. anthropi in a hemodialysis patient. To our knowledge, this is the first case of O. anthropi endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient in Korea. The organism was resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptible to ciprofloxacin, amikacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin and carbapenem. We treated O. anthropi endocarditis with meropenem for 6 weeks and the patient recovered completely.

Biodegradation of nicotine in tobacco extracts for making reconstituted tobacco by strain DN2 / 生物工程学报

The purpose of the study is to use O. intermedium DN2 to degrade nicotine in tobacco extracts for making reconstituted tobacco. Firstly, we studied the effects of various factors on degradation of nicotine in the extracts by strain DN2. When we added 0.1% yeast extract into the extracts, adjusted its pH value to 7.0 by ammonia solution, inoculated 15% cultures and maintained fermentation temperature of 30 degrees C, the degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was the fastest. Furthmore, under these conditions, we studied the degradation rates of nicotine in three fed batches culture which carried out in a 30-L reactor, the result showed that the average degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was 140.55 mg/L/h, which was much higher than that reported in other studies. These results indicated that strain DN2 may be useful for reducing nicotine content of reconstituted tobacco.

A Case of Ochrobactrum anthropi Bacteremia / 병원감염관리

Ochrobactrum anthropi, a rarely encountered organism in humans, is usually associated with infections in immunocompromised hosts and patients with indwelling catheters. We report a case of bacteremia associated with O. anthropi in a 80-year-old male with intrahepatic duct carcinoma. After insertion of biliary stent with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, fever and neutrophilic leukocytosis developed in the patient. Blood cultures were performed three times, and O. anthropi was isolated from an aerobic bottle. Although the patient did not receive effective antibiotic treatment, fever and neutrophilic leukocytosis were improved.

Growth improvement of Sunflower seedlings by Cr[VI]-resistant bacteria

In the present study, three chromium resistant bacterial strains [CrT-1, CrT-2, CrT-3] which could resist very high concentration of K2CrO4 [up to 40 mg ml-1 on nutrient agar plates and 10 mg ml-1 in acetate-minimal medium] were used to inoculate the sunflower seeds both as control and under chromium stress. Cr[VI] caused severe reduction in different growth parameters [seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight g-1 fresh weight] as compared to control, while bacterial inoculations improved different growth parameters both as control and under chromate stress when compared with non-inoculated respective controls. With respect to biochemical parameters, acid phosphatase and auxin content showed marked increment with bacterial inoculation both in chromium stress and unstressed condition. Uptake of chromium in inoculated plants decreased significantly as compared to non-inoculated control. Cr [VI] application also severely damages different plant cells/tissues but bacterial inoculation not only improves the growth and yields parameters but also prevent cell damages caused by the Cr [VI] salt

A Case of Ochrobactrum Anthropi Endophthalmitis after Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: To report a case of Ochrobactrum anthropi endophthalmitis following cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: A 57-year-old man was refered for evaluation and management of chronic uveitis on his left eye. He had undergone cataract surgery 1 year previously. His visual acuity of left eye was 20/100. The left eye had marked inflammation in anterior chamber and vitreous cavity. We performed pars plana vitrectomy with removal of the intraocular lens and intravitreal antibiotics injection (Amikacin 0.4 mg/0.1 ml). RESULTS: Microbiologic examination of the anterior chamber fluid, intraocular lens disclosed Ochrobactrum anthropi, a gram-negative bacillus. Twelve weeks after vitrectomy, his left corrected visual acuity was 20/25 and anterior segment showed no inflammatory cell.