Zoonotic origin and transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the UAE.

Since the emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, there have been a number of clusters of human-to-human transmission. These cases of human-to-human transmission involve close contact and have occurred primarily in healthcare settings, and they are suspected to result from repeated zoonotic introductions. In this study, we sequenced whole MERS-CoV genomes directly from respiratory samples collected from 23 confirmed MERS cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These samples included cases from three nosocomial and three household clusters. The sequences were analysed for changes and relatedness with regard to the collected epidemiological data and other available MERS-CoV genomic data. Sequence analysis supports the epidemiological data within the clusters, and further, suggests that these clusters emerged independently. To understand how and when these clusters emerged, respiratory samples were taken from dromedary camels, a known host of MERS-CoV, in the same geographic regions as the human clusters. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus genomes from six virus-positive animals were sequenced, and these genomes were nearly identical to those found in human patients from corresponding regions. These data demonstrate a genetic link for each of these clusters to a camel and support the hypothesis that human MERS-CoV diversity results from multiple zoonotic introductions.

Activity of cefepime against nosocomial blood culture isolates.

Cefepime is a new aminothiazolylacetamido cephalosporin with a wider spectrum and greater potency than many currently available cephalosporins. Since the blood culture isolates from patients of the study centre in Saudi Arabia are significantly more resistant to antimicrobial agents in clinical practice, we evaluated the in-vitro activity of cefepime and six other beta-lactam antibodies against 390 and 273 isolates of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Cefepime had a broad spectrum of activity against the Enterobacteriaceae (MIC50 < 0.12 mg/L), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. and methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MIC50 2.0 mg/L). The activity of cefepime was generally two-to four-fold greater than that of ceftazidime. Resistance to cefepime was most often encountered with Serratia spp. (45%), Citrobacter spp. (25%), Enterobacter cloacea (22%), and Stenotrophomonos mattophilia (45%). It had little or no activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and enterococci. Cefepime was highly active, with a spectrum better than ceftazidime against Gram-negative, and better than cephalothin against Gram-positive blood culture isolates.

Rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Crystal MRSA ID System.

A commercially available method for the rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BBL Crystal MRSA ID System) was evaluated and compared with conventional methods. All 52 isolates of methicillin-susceptible and 142 isolates of intrinsic methicillin-resistant S. aureus were correctly identified in 4 h by the test method, whereas correct identification took 11 to 24 h by conventional methods. The test is simple, rapid, and easy to perform and the results are easy to interpret.