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Objective: To explore the distribution and correlation of pathogens in the elderly patients with AECOPD, so as to guide the rational use of antibiotics and hormones in clinic. Methods: A total of 111 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) admitted to Nanjing First Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The basic data such as eosinophil, neutrophil and lymphocyte count, the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)in blood routine examination were collected. Further, the pathogens were qualified by sputum fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the pathogens distribution was analyzed. Results: The level of ESR and the ratio of cardiovascular diseases showed significant differences between the pathogen-positive group and pathogen-negative group. In this study, the top five pathogens in AECOPD patients were EB virus (21.6%), Haemophilus influenzae (19.8%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.1%), herpes simplex virus(14.4%), influenza A virus(14.4%). The detection rate of influenza A virus was correlated with influenza B virus and Aspergillus (P < 0.05);The detection rate of respiratory syncytial virus was correlated with Candida, Moraxella catarrholis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae (P < 0.05);The detection rate of Escherichia coli was correlated with rhinovirus, adenovirus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii (P < 0.05);The detection rate of Candida was correlated with that of Moraxella catarrholis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P<0.05);The detection rate of human coronavirus was correlated with Haemophilus influenzae, herpes simplex virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae(P < 0.05). Conclusions: AECOPD are mostly induced by different pathogens, especially mixed infection of bacteria and virus. It is helpful to guide the rational use of antibiotics by analyzing the etiological characteristics in the elderly patients with AECOPD.
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Introduction: Candida auris has been reported from various health care settings and has recently gained importance because of its intrinsic resistance to many classes of antifungal agents and to disinfection. The outbreak potential and high mortality associated with Candida auris infection reinforces the need for speciation. Routine conventional methods are cumbersome and automated systems are unable to confirm up to species level. Materials and Methods: Candida auris isolates from consecutive non-repetitive blood cultures over a 1-year period were speciated based on phenotypic, physiological and biochemical tests and VITEK. Molecular confirmation was done by PCR-RFLP and MALDI-TOF. Anti- fungal susceptibility test was performed according to CLSI guidelines (2021), using suitable controls. Virulence factors such as production of Hemolysin, Phospholipase, Esterase and Bio-film production were demonstrated. RT-PCR was used to screen the COVID-19 status using SD-Biosensor kit. Baseline data and clinical history were collected and analysed. Results: Of 3632 blood cultures (0.77%), 28 Candida sp. were isolated including 9 Candida auris, (9/28, 32.14%). Of these 8 were from COVID-19 positive patients (88.89%), while 1 was from COVID-19 negative patient (11.11%). Two patients survived, while the remaining 7 patients succumbed to the disease. Conclusion: The increasing incidence of Candidiasis especially during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the concern for early speciation. Through multi-modal strategies such as quick and correct identification, active surveillance, guided reporting, stringent infection control measures and correct use of anti-fungals through proper susceptibility testing, we can prevent the occurrence and spread of new Candida auris cases in the future.
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Various kinds of field crops growing on two commercial farms in the Whitehorse area of the southern Yukon Territory were surveyed for diseases in summer 2020 by staff of the Agriculture Branch of the Government of Yukon. They included barley, wheat, canola, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and turnips. Fields were visited one or more times during July and August. The incidence and severity of diseases were visually assessed on a crop-by-crop basis and samples were collected for laboratory analysis of the pathogens present, if any. Both infectious and non-infectious diseases were present on most crops. The infectious diseases were caused by various species of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi that were common on these crops growing in other areas of Canada. INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: The 2020 field crop disease survey is believed to be the first organized study of its kind on agricultural crops in the Territory. In his book, "An Annotated Index of Plant Diseases in Canada . . . ", I.L. Conners lists over 300 records of plant diseases on trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses in the Yukon that were published by individuals who were surveying forests and native vegetation mainly for federal government departments, universities and other agencies (Conners 1967). The objectives of the 2020 survey were: (1) to determine the kinds and levels of diseases on selected Yukon crops, (2) to identify the major pathogen species attacking Yukon crops, and (3) to use the results to plan future surveillance activities aimed at helping producers to improve their current disease management programs. All of the fields included in the 2020 survey were situated on two commercial farms, which were designated as Farm #1 and #2, in the Whitehorse area in the southern Yukon (Fig. 1). The crops surveyed included cereals (barley and wheat), oilseeds (canola) and vegetables (beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and turnips). Fields were visited one or more times in the mid- to late growing season (July/August) at a time when damage from diseases was most noticeable. Symptoms were visually assessed on a crop-by-crop basis by determining their incidence and severity. Incidence was represented by the percentage of plants, leaves, heads, kernels, etc., damaged in the target crop, while severity was estimated to be the proportion of the leaf, fruit, head, root/canopy area, etc., affected by a specific disease as follows: Proportion of the canopy affected based on a 0-4 rating scale, where: 0 = no disease symptoms, 1 = 1-10% of the crop canopy showing symptoms;2 = 11-25% showing symptoms, 3 = 26- 50% showing symptoms, and 4 = > 50% showing symptoms. Photographs of affected plants were taken and sent to plant pathologists across Western Canada for their opinions on causation. Where possible, representative samples of plants with disease symptoms were packaged and sent to the Alberta Plant Health Lab (APHL) in Edmonton, AB for diagnostic analyses. Background information, such as the general cultural practices and cropping history, was obtained from the producers wherever possible. GPS coordinates were obtained for each field to enable future mapping Cereals: Individual fields of barley (11 ha) and wheat (30 ha) located at Farm #1 were surveyed. The barley was a two-row forage cultivar 'CDC Maverick', while the wheat was an unspecified cultivar of Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) Wheat. Plant samples were taken along a W-shaped transect for a total of five sampling points for the barley field (< 20 ha) and ten sampling points for the wheat field (> 20 ha). The first visit, which occurred on July 30, involved visual inspection and destructive sampling wherein plants were collected and removed from the field for a detailed disease assessment at a lab space in Whitehorse. There, the roots were rinsed off and the plants were examined for disease symptoms. The second visit to these fields, which occurred on August 27, only involved visual examination of the standing crop. Oilseeds: A single 40 ha field of Polish canola (cv. 'Synergy') was examined o
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Objectives: To examine the clinical characteristics, drug resistance, and factors influencing development of a pulmonary fungal infection in patients with severe respiratory diseases in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment.
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The new coronavirus reaches the cells of the lower respiratory tract, starting an inflammatory process. Considering this infection, the immune system must eliminate the pathological agents and mantein cellular homeostasis, tissue repair and generation of immunity memory. When there is a failure in this pathway, this system encounters a series of difficulties for the resumption of balance, in addition to secondary infections, leading to additional clinical complications. Thus, this study sought to address the immune response to Sars-CoV-2, and the main post-Covid secondary infections (bacterial and fungal) and antimicrobial resistance in this context. This is a literature review based on the analysis of journals from the following academic platforms: Google Scholar, Center for Biotechnology Information (PubMed), Science Direct, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Scopus. The research was delimited in a range from 2003 to 2021, using the keywords COVID-19 as a search tool;Immune response;Bacterial infections;Fungal infections;Resistance. The results obtained in the studies demonstrate the impact of secondary infections on mortality, thus, among the main infections, bacterial infections (84%) stand out, including mainly the agents: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Clostridioides difficile and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. As for secondary fungal infections, Aspergillus sp. and Candida affected mainly critically ill patients. Based on the data, an evident problem was the difficulty in identifying the agent causing the secondary infection, resulting in a scenario of intense use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, contributing to the selection of resistant pathogens and, controversially, the worsening of the prognosis of the disease patient.
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The objective of this case report is to highlight the impending secondary fungal infection outbreak in COVID-19 and the need to contain this emerging spread of fungal infections. Three case reports are presented, all from India. Altered immunity is an important risk factor for mucormycosis. In addition, diabetes has been noted to be critical for the development of mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients. Candidiasis is an infection caused by the Candida species due to the immunosuppressed state developed by the use of glucocorticoids, which results in secondary fungal infection requiring urgent medical attention.
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SARS Cov-2 virus has spread rapidly all over the world, and since March 2020, it has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The general symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue, cough, myalgia, dyspnea, headache, sore throat and pneumonia. The most common oral symptom in COVID-19 is taste disorders, which is seen in 45% of patents. In addition, various oral mucosal lesions such as herpetiform and aphthous-like lesions, candidiasis and Kawasak-like lesions can be observed in patents. The purpose of this revew study is to examine the mouth findings seen in COVID-19 disease.
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There is an increasing universal awareness of environmental problems arising as a result of COVID- 19 pandemic and pollution especially in Nigeria. Among the source of this problem is effluent discharge from industries, particularly hospitals in arable farmlands and environs. Two outstanding hospital were purposively selected;Madonna Catholic Hospital and Abia Specialist Hospital in Umuahia, Abia State. Their wastewater samples were collected from three different wards;maternity, general private, and general out-patients department (GOPD) wards. Results obtained show significant variation in physiochemical properties in some wards and heavy metals across all wards. Seven bacteria species;Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klesbsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacteriod sp and Streptococcus pyogenes and one fungi specie- Candida albican were recorded from the samples. The bacterial load in Madonna ranged from 209.04 to 232.95cfu/ml in January, February, and March each and was statistically the same in the three wards (p>0.05). Fungi load ranged from 1.58 to 2.35cfu/ml in January, February, and March each and also significantly different at (p>0.05). The frequency of microbial characteristics isolated in the two hospital wastewater ranged from 33 to 100% with 100% of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in all the wards, while other species varied significantly between 67 and 33% each. The results of the isolated bacteria from hospital wastewater showed resistivity to the tested antibiotics, and as therapeutic agents. Therefore, results call for need for urgent attention to be given to the discharge of wastewater from hospitals to ensure that food production around the environment is not contaminated.
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This special issue contains 13 papers dedicated to Professor Waclaw Tadeusz Szybalski on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Topics covered include: monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies;gene therapy;synthetic biology tools for engineered therapeutics;impact of molecular subtype and stromal composition on the activation of epithelial mesenchymal transition process during breast cancer progression;probiotics in the times of COVID-19;use of transcriptional slippage for diverse gene expression;cloning, expression in Komagataella phaffii, and biochemical characterization of recombinant sequence variants of Pseudomonas sp. S9 GDSL-esterase;genetic and physiological diversity of white Spanish broom (Chamaecytisus albus) endophytes;SecA structure and function;Escherichia coli and Serratia fonticola ESBLs as a potential source of antibiotics resistance dissemination in the Tricity water reservoirs;antibacterial activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives, and anthraquinone oligopeptides against a range of pathogenic bacteria;role of hypoxia-induced Factor and AMP kinase in metabolic evolutionary roots of the macrophage immune response in amoeba-bacteria interactions;and organisational units in current bioethics, and their main characteristics concerning life sciences.
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Candida auris has emerged in recent years as an important cause of hospital infection outbreaks around the world. C. auris is an intensive care unit (ICU) environmental colonizer and many hospital environments may harbor C. auris transmission. In addition, in 2020, other countries: Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Colombia and the United States - documented cases of C. auris infection, mostly in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection, highlighting that in the first three countries no isolates were reported prior to this period. Therefore, it is noteworthy that both COVID-19 and C. auris share at least six characteristics that should be highlighted: (a) both pathogens may remain on surfaces, including hospital floors, beds, bedrails, poles, air conditioners and windows;(b) both may present high mortality rates;(c) both pathogens require standard laboratory methods for diagnosis;(d) both present treatment difficulties due to multidrug resistance (C. auris) or no effective medical therapy (SARS-Cov-2);(e) both are globally distributed causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities;(f) both present risk factors, including in cases of mechanical ventilation, diabetes mellitus, protracted ventilator-assisted management, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease, etc. There is much to be learned about these infectious diseases, particularly in countries with poor hygiene, high population density and intense migratory flows, not to mention international travel contributing substantially to both pandemics. Vigilance practices by hospital committees for infection control and routine diagnostic processes for determining C. auris fungal infection in COVID-19 patients should be implemented. Modern diagnostic tests must be made available worldwide, as well as access to adequate antifungal therapy to manage C. auris infection. All of the aspects mentioned will effectively contribute to reducing mortality by COVID-19 and enable monitoring the emergence of C. auris.
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Background: Presently the use face masks has become the need of the hour due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Although the use face mask protects the user from SARS-CoV-2 infection, it has certain adverse effects. One of the new and recently noticed side effect is on the oral health of the wearer known as "Mask Mouth". This consist of symptoms like caries, gingivitis, halitosis, candidiasis and angular cheilitis. In this article, a systematic review was done, where comprehensive, critical and objective analysis of the current knowledge regarding adverse effects of using face mask on the oral health was reviewed. It was observed that prolonged use of mouth mask can cause dryness of mouth as well as bring about a change in the oral microflora and have an impact on overall oral health. Mask mouth can be prevented by maintaining proper oral and mask hygiene, avoiding mouth breathing and staying hydrated.
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Background: Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection with a high fatality rate and is the third most common fungal infection that is invasive in nature, next to candidiasis and aspergillosis. It is attributed to the poor socio-economic status and triggered by the local trauma due to unhygienic setup or poor health care. The pathway of pathogenesis is not clearly understood in immunocompetent patients and therefore becomes a matter of great concern. Aim& Objective: To explore the pathway of mucormycosis in a case of post SARS-CoV-2 infection Settings and Design: Tertiary Care hospital of Jabalpur DistrictMethods and Material: Interview with the case and care taker and case file review.