ABSTRACT
This study in Iraq investigated the occurrence of Legionella. pneumophila in different drinking-water sources in Basra governorate as well as the susceptibility of isolates to several antibiotics. A total of 222 water samples were collected in 2008-2009: 49 samples from water purification plants (at entry points, from precipitation tanks, from filtration tanks and at exit points), 127 samples of tap water; and 46 samples from tankers and plants supplying water by reverse osmosis. The findings confirmed the presence of L. pneumophila in sources of crude water, in general drinking water supplies and drinking water tankers. Of 258 isolates 77.1% were serotype 1 and 22.9% serotypes 2-15. All examined isolates displayed drug resistance, particularly to ampicillin, but were 100% susceptible to doxycycline. The prevalence of L. pneumophila, especially serogroup 1, is a strong indicator of unsuitability of drinking water and requires appropriate action.
Subject(s)
Drinking Water/microbiology , Legionella pneumophila/isolation & purification , Humans , Iraq , Legionella pneumophila/drug effects , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Water Purification/standards , Water SupplyABSTRACT
This study in Iraq investigated the occurrence of Legionella. Pneumophila in different drinking-water sources in Basra governorate as well as the susceptibility of isolates to several antibiotics. A total of 222 water samples were collected in 2008-2009: 49 samples from water purification plants [at entry points, from precipitation tanks, from filtration tanks and at exit points], 127 samples of tap water; and 46 samples from tankers and plants supplying water by reverse osmosis. The findings confirmed the presence of L. pneumophila in sources of crude water, in general drinking water supplies and drinking water tankers. Of 258 isolates 77.1% were serotype 1 and 22.9% serotypes 2-15. All examined isolates displayed drug resistance, particularly to ampicillin, but were 100% susceptible to doxycycline. The prevalence of L. pneumophila, especially serogroup 1, is a strong indicator of unsuitability of drinking water and requires appropriate action
ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori is recognized by the World Health Organization to be the primary cause of peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and stomach cancer, though the source of human infection is not well understood. One of the problems in understanding the source of human contamination is the difficulty in isolating the organism from the environment. However, the combination of PCR results with those of culturing of 471 drinking water samples can provide a more accurate picture of H. pylori detection. In this method 78 presumptive H. pylori colonies out of 266 tap water samples were obtained in the preliminary detection on modified Columbia agar (MCUA) slant relying on urease positivity with a rate of 29.3%. However, only 11 out of them were confirmed by Gram staining and biochemical tests reducing the rate to 4.13% whereas only 3 (1.46%) from 205 reverse osmosis (RO) water samples. Furthermore, only 6 (54.5%) out of the 11 isolates from tap water and 1 (33.3%) of the 3 RO isolates were confirmed by 16SrRNA PCR. Thus PCR confirmation reduced the rate to 2.2%. In addition, only 4 (4%) of 100 tap water samples negative for H. pylori by culture method were H. pylori positive by 16SrRNA. Water samples were collected from 24 districts of Basrah Governorate from February-December 2009. The direct recovery of H. pylori from drinking water is both alarming and scientifically exciting in terms of the investigation of its epidemiology.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium complex and other nontuberculous mycobacteria in drinking-water in Basra governorate, Iraq and their susceptibility to several antibiotics and the effect of 0.5 mg/L of chlorine on their survival. A total of 404 samples of drinking-water were collected from 33 different districts of the governorate from November 2006 to August 2007. Filtered samples were incubated for 7 days or less in a monophasic-biphasic culture setup of tuberculosis broth and Lowenstein-Jensen agar. The 252 isolates were identified as M. avium complex (21), M. marinum (15), M. kansasii (30), M. simiae (20), M. szulgai (19), M. xenopi (16), M. malmoense (11), M. fortuitum (37), M. chelonae (50) and M. abscessus (33). Isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility as well as their ability to tolerate chlorine at a concentration of 0.5 mg/L. The presence of these pathogenic bacteria in drinking-water renders the water unfit for human consumption.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Chlorine , Drinking Water/microbiology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Mycobacterium avium Complex/isolation & purification , Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods , Drinking Water/standards , Humans , Iraq , Mycobacterium avium Complex/classification , Mycobacterium avium Complex/drug effects , Water Purification/methodsABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Mycobocterium avium complex and other nontuberculous mycobacteria in drinking-water in Basra governorate, Iraq and their susceptibility to several antibiotics and the effect of 0.5 mg/L of chlorine on their survival. A total of 404 samples of drinking-water were collected from 33 different districts of the governorate from November 2006 to August 2007. Filtered samples were incubated for 7 days or less in a monophasic-biphasic culture setup of tuberculosis broth and Lowenstein-jensen agar. The 252 isolates were identified as M avium complex [21], M. marinum [15], M. kansasii [30], M. simiae [20], M. szulgai [19], M. xenopi [16], M. malmoense [11], M.fortuitum [37], M. chelonae [50] and M. abscessus [33]. Isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility as well as their ability to tolerate chlorine at a concentration of 0.5 mg/L The presence of these pathogenic bacteria in drinking-water renders the water unfit for human consumption
Subject(s)
Water Microbiology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mycobacterium avium Complex , Nontuberculous MycobacteriaABSTRACT
The mode of the transmission of Helicobacterpylori infection remains poorly understood. A total of 198 samples of drinking water from 22 districts of Basra governorate were collected during the period October 2006 to July 2007. The concentration of residual chlorine was measured and the numbers of total and faecal coliforms were counted. On modified Columbia urea agar, 469 bacterial cultures were obtained, of which 173 isolates were identified. Only 14 isolates were Helicobacter spp., of which 10 were H. pylori (2.0% of the total isolates). These isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility as well as ability to tolerate chlorine at 0.5 mg/L. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of H. pylori in treated municipal drinking water.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification , Water Microbiology , Water Supply , Bacteriological Techniques , Chlorine , Colony Count, Microbial , Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Epidemiological Monitoring , Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology , Helicobacter Infections/transmission , Humans , Iraq/epidemiology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Seasons , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Water Purification/methods , Water Supply/analysis , Water Supply/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
The mode of the transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection remains poorly understood. A total of 198 samples of drinking water from 22 districts of Basra governorate were collected during the period October 2006 to July 2007. The concentration of residual chlorine was measured and the numbers of total and faecal coliforms were counted. On modified Columbia urea agar, 469 bacterial cultures were obtained, of which 173 isolates were identified. Only 14 isolates were Helicobacter spp., of which 10 were H. pylori [2.0% of the total isolates]. These isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility as well as ability to tolerate chlorine at 0.5 mg/L. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of H. pylori in treated municipal drinking water
Subject(s)
Water Microbiology , Helicobacter Infections , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Colony Count, Microbial , Helicobacter pyloriABSTRACT
The study aimed to develop a rapid and simple method for the primary isolation and detection of Helicobacter pylori from dyspeptic patients. Mucosal antral biopsy specimens were obtained from 136 consecutive dyspeptic patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer by endoscopy at Basra General Hospital, Iraq. From histopathological examination of biopsies, H. pylori was detected in 81 (59.6%) peptic ulcer patients. For bacterial culture, specimens were cultured in parallel on 2 media: the non-selective classic Columbia agar and the selective modified Columbia urea agar (MCUA). MCUA showed a higher isolation rate than classic Columbia agar (67.6% versus 44.1% of patients), and the results were obtained faster (24 hours versus 5-7 days) with more clear-cut identification.
Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Biopsy/methods , Dyspepsia/microbiology , Gastritis/microbiology , Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis , Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification , Peptic Ulcer/microbiology , Adolescent , Adult , Agar , Aged , Colony Count, Microbial , Culture Media , Female , Gastroscopy , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Humans , Iraq , Male , Middle Aged , Severity of Illness Index , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The study aimed to develop a rapid and simple method for the primary isolation and detection of Helicobacter pylori from dyspeptic patients. Mucosal antral biopsy specimens were obtained from 136 consecutive dyspeptic patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer by endoscopy at Basra General Hospital, Iraq. From histopathological examination of biopsies, H. pylori was detected in 81 [59.6%] peptic ulcer patients. For bacterial culture, specimens were cultured in parallel on 2 media: the nonselective classic Columbia agar and the selective modified Columbia urea agar [MCUA]. MCUA showed a higher isolation rate than classic Columbia agar [67.6% versus 44.1% of patients], and the results were obtained faster [24 hours versus 5-7 days] with more clear-cut identification
Subject(s)
Dyspepsia , Biopsy , Culture Media , Peptic Ulcer , Colony Count, Microbial , Endoscopy, Digestive System , Helicobacter pyloriABSTRACT
Over an 18-month period 485 throat swabs and sputum samples were taken from patients admitted to Basra General Hospital, Iraq, with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. Most patients (94.0%) had community-acquired pneumonia; 29 (6.0%) had hospital-acquired pneumonia. Patients aged < or = 15 years and males had the highest incidence of pneumonia. Cases were analysed by type of pneumonia: bronchial (76.3%) versus lobar (23.7%), and primary (81.0%) versus secondary (19.0%). The most common pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae (43.9%) followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (19.4%); a low percentage were Proteus spp. (1.2%). Twenty patients were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Subject(s)
Community-Acquired Infections , Cross Infection , Hospitals, General/statistics & numerical data , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Cross Infection/diagnosis , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Iraq/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Population Surveillance , Proteus , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Streptococcus pneumoniaeABSTRACT
Over an 18- month period 485 throat swabs and sputum samples were taken from patients admitted to Basra General Hospital, Iraq, with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. Most patients [94.0%] had community- acquired pneumonia; 29 [6.0%] had hospital- acquired pneumonia. Patients aged </= 15 years and males had the highest incidence of pneumonia. Cases were analysed by type of pneumonia: bronchial [76.3%] versus lobar [23.7%], and primary [81.0%] versus secondary [19.0%]. The most common pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae [43.9%] followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae [19.4%]; a low percentage were Proteus spp. [1.2%]. Twenty patients were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Subject(s)
Pneumonia , Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Culture Media , Microbial Sensitivity TestsABSTRACT
A simple monophasic-diphasic culture set-up was developed to provide efficient isolation and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The set-up consisted of a slant medium, the bottom covered with 1 mL of broth, establishing a diphasic solid-liquid environment at the bottom of the test tube surmounted by a monophasic solid one. The specimen was directly inoculated into the liquid phase, mixed, and tilted once or twice to cover the upper slanted portion prior to incubation. The method had several advantages over other techniques including rapid results, elimination of transport medium, and use of two separate environments to accomplish both the detection and identification of M. pneumoniae.
Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Culture Media/standards , Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/microbiology , Bacteriological Techniques/standards , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Cross Infection/diagnosis , Cross Infection/microbiology , Culture Media/chemistry , Humans , Mycoplasma pneumoniae/growth & development , Mycoplasma pneumoniae/isolation & purification , Pharynx/microbiology , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/diagnosis , Sputum/microbiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A simple monophasic-diphasic culture set-up was developed to provide efficient isolation and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The set-up consisted of a slant medium, the bottom covered with 1 mL of broth, establishing a diphasic solid-liquid environment at the bottom of the test tube surmounted by a monophasic solid one. The specimen was directly inoculated into the liquid phase, mixed, and tilted once or twice to cover the upper slanted portion prior to incubation. The method had several advantages over other techniques including rapid results, elimination of transport medium, and use of two separate environments to accomplish both the detection and identification of M. pneumoniae
Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques , Community-Acquired Infections , Cross Infection/diagnosis , Culture Media , Pharynx , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma , Sputum , Time Factors , Mycoplasma pneumoniaeABSTRACT
We describe here an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin. The toxin was extracted from an S. aureus strain isolated from a case of staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome. The activity of the toxin was compared in tryptic soy broth and brain heart infusion broth. Both supported growth of S. aureus but the culture filtrate of brain heart infusion broth lacked exfoliative toxin activity. Furthermore it appeared to contain a substance that neutralized the action of exfoliative toxin. This suggests the possibility of a treatment for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and bullous impetigo.
Subject(s)
Antitoxins/pharmacology , Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Culture Media/analysis , Exfoliatins/antagonists & inhibitors , Impetigo/drug therapy , Impetigo/microbiology , Phosphatidylcholines/pharmacology , Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome/microbiology , Staphylococcus aureus , Animals , Bacteriophage Typing , Biological Assay , Caseins , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Humans , Mice , Protein Hydrolysates , Staphylococcus aureus/classification , Staphylococcus aureus/growth & developmentABSTRACT
We describe here an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin. The toxin was extracted from an S. aureus strain isolated from a case of staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome. The activity of the toxin was compared in tryptic soy broth and brain heart infusion broth. Both supported growth of S. aureus but the culture filtrate of brain heart infusion broth lacked exfoliative toxin activity. Furthermore it appeared to contain a substance that neutralized the action of exfoliative toxin. This suggests the possibility of a treatment for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and bullous impetigo
