Iranian propolis efficiently inhibits growth of oral streptococci and cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a natural bee product with a wide range of biological activities that are related to its chemical composition. The present study investigated the quantification of quercetin (Q) in Ardabil ethanol extract of propolis (AEEP), and then compared its anti-bacterial, anti- biofilm and cytotoxic effects on cancer and normal cell lines. METHOD: In the present study, the chemical composition of AEEP was determined through the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The AEEP and its main component, quercetin (Q), were evaluated in vitro against 57 oral streptococci by a broth micro-dilution method. The biofilm formation was assessed through the crystal violet staining and MTT assays. The impact of AEEP and Q anti-proliferative effect were evaluated on the fibroblast as normal and cancer cell lines (KB and A431). RESULTS: The Q concentration in the composition of AEEP was 6.9% of all its components. The findings indicated that the AEEP and Q were efficient against the cariogenic bacteria and were able to inhibit the S.mutans biofilm adherence at a sub-MIC concentration. Moreover, electron micrographs indicated the inhibition of biofilms compared to control biofilms. In addition, the AEEP and Q indicated a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on A431 and KB cell lines. On the contrary, they had no cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the synergistic impact of main components of AEEP was related to the inhibition of the cancer cell proliferation, cariogenic bacteria and oral biofilm formation. It may play a promising role in the complementary medicine and, it is suggested to be used as food additives.

Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated among hospital staff nasal carriers of Babol, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus (s. aureus) nasal carriers, particularly the healthcare staff can be considered as a potential source for the spread of resistant strains. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular characterization of S. aureus strains isolated among the staff nasal carriers in one of the teaching hospitals in Babol. METHODS: A total of 120 nasal swabs were taken from the staff of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital Babol during 2016. The antibiotic resistance pattern was performed by disc diffusion method for 13 antibiotics, including cefoxitin, cephalothin, teicoplanin, vancomycin, daptomycin, oxacillin, amoxicillin, amikacin, linezolid, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, erythromycin, rifampin, according to the CLSI 2015. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect mecA and pvl genes. Finally, the different SCCmec types were determined by multiplex- PCR method. RESULTS: Among the 120 collected specimens, 40(33.3%) S. aureus isolates were approved. 28(70%) of strains were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the frequency of pvl gene was confirmed 2(5%). Based on the multiplex PCR assay, four different SCCmec types were detected as 35.7% type I, 14.2% type III, 7.1% type II and 3.5% type IV. By a disc diffusion method, no resistance pattern was observed to vancomycin, while 100% of strains were resistant to amoxicillin. CONCLUSION: Consequently our results illustrated that isolated S. aureus strains among the staff nasal carriers via mentioned molecular characterization may lead to increase the nosocomial persistent infections in hospitalized patients and also health care workers.

Molecular Typing of Hospital-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Isfahan, Iran.

Background. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most common pathogens that cause hospital- and community-acquired infections in the world. The use of molecular typing methods is essential for determining the origin of the strains, their clonal relations, and also in epidemiological investigations. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistant S. aureus isolates and using spa, agr, and SCCmec typing to determine the dominant types in Iran. Material and Method. Fifty isolates of S. aureus were collected from January to May 2010. S. aureus identification was performed by biochemical tests. Disk diffusion method was employed to assess the sensitivity of S. aureus strains to antibiotics and then genetic analysis of bacteria was performed using SCCmec, agr, and spa typing. Results. S. aureus resistance to tetracycline, cefoxitin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, Cot: cotrimoxazole, levofloxacin, rifampin, and vancomycin were found to be 36%, 18%, 12%, 12%, 22%, 6%, 6%, and 0%, respectively. The results of this study showed that 16% of the isolates were resistant to methicillin (MRSA) and the majority of isolates were SSC mec type IV. In addition spa and agr typing revealed agr typeI and spa type t7688 to be the most predominant. Conclusion. In this study, spa typing showed 100% reliability and the t7688 spa type had a frequency of 26% compared to the frequency of 0.0% in the Ridom SpaServer. The frequency of t304 spa type was higher than the global average.

Nosocomial infections in burned patients in motahari hospital, tehran, iran.

Burn patients are at high risk of developing nosocomial infection because of their destroyed skin barrier and suppressed immune system, compounded by prolonged hospitalization and invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Studies on nosocomial infection in burn patients are not well described. The objective of the present study was to identify the causative bacterial of nosocomial infection and to determine the incidence of nosocomial infection and their changing during hospitalization in burned patients admitted to in the Motahari Hospital, Tehran, Iran. During the second part of 2010, 164 patients were included in this study. Samples were taken the first 48 hours and the fourth week after admission to Motahari Burn hospital. Isolation and identification of microorganisms was performed using the standard procedure. Of the 164 patients, 717 samples were taken and 812 bacteria were identified, 610 patients were culture positive on day 7 while 24 (17.2%) on 14 days after admission. The bacteria causing infections were 325 Pseudomonas, 140 Acinetobacter, 132 Staphylococcus aureus, and 215 others. The percentage of mortality was 12%. All of patients had at least 1 positive culture with Pseudomonas and/or with Acinetobacter. Hospitals suggest continuous observationof burn infections and increase strategies for antimicrobial resistance control and treatment of infectious complications.