High Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile Ribotype 176 in the University Hospital in Kosice.

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, caused by antibiotics, plays a key role in the establishment of Clostridioides difficile CD). Toxin-producing strains are involved in the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), one of the most common hospital-acquired infections. We cultured a total of 84 C. difficile isolates from stool samples of patients hospitalized at Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice, Slovakia, that were suspected of CDI and further characterized by molecular methods. The presence of genes encoding toxin A, toxin B, and binary toxin was assessed by toxin-specific PCR. CD ribotypes were detected using capillary-based electrophoresis ribotyping. A total of 96.4% of CD isolates carried genes encoding toxins A and B, and 54.8% of them were positive for the binary toxin. PCR ribotyping showed the presence of three major ribotypes: RT 176 (n = 40, 47.6%); RT 001 (n = 23, 27.4%); and RT 014 (n = 7, 8.3%). Ribotype 176 predominated among clinical CD isolates in our hospital. The proportion of RT 176 and RT 001 in four hospital departments with the highest incidence of CDI cases was very specific, pointing to local CDI outbreaks. Based on our data, previous use of antibiotics represents a significant risk factor for the development of CDI in patients over 65 years of age.

Antibiotic resistance in the invasive bacteria Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVES: The beta-lactamases with extended spectrum of activity (ESBL) are medically one of the most important group of enzymes. Another group of beta-lactamases representing of Enterobacteriaceae is group of the AmpC-type cephalosporinases. The presented study provides identification and determination of the spectrum of resistance against different and clinically used antimicrobial drugs in the clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. METHODS: These isolates had origin in different departments of the L. Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice. The goal was the detection of beta-lactamase production with extended-spectrum effect and testing of AmpC-type cephalosporinases by several phenotypic tests in clinical isolates. MALDI-TOF MS analysis was performed on a Microflex MALDI Biotyper. Samples were positively tested for ESBL with the use of the disc diffusion method. PCR were performed with a series of primers designed for the detection of Ambler class A, B and C beta-lactamase genes. RESULTS: For all 485 isolates, we determined the production of ESBL, which we detected in 166 E. coli isolates, which represents a 34.2% prevalence of ESBL production. It is clear from the results that the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli out of the total number of E. coli investigated reached 34.2%. In the monitored period, we confirmed at least one resistance gene from 485 E. coli in 188 positive isolates. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a complex ESBL epidemiology. The study revealed a high rate of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates; blaTEM and blaSHV enzymes dominated in ESBL-positive E. coli isolates in the L. Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice.

Quantity of selected probiotic cultures in semi-hard cheese with low-cooking curd during the maturation process.

The work studies the survival of added selected probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus (S1), Lactobacillus casei (S2), and Lactobacillus plantarum96 (S3) in semi-hard cheese with low-cooking curd during the maturation process. Cheeses were made according to the standard procedure (Polyfood SI 050 device). Probiotic lactobacilli strains Lactobacillus acidophilus (S1), Lactobacillus casei (S2), and Lactobacillus plantarum96 (S3) used in this study were added into the milk before the renneting process. The manufactured cheeses were matured for 6 months at the temperature of 10 °C. Cheese samples were taken for pH and titratable acidity measurements, lactobacilli enumeration, and chemical analysis at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days of maturation. At the end of the experiment (180 days) the cheese samples were analyzed also for the amount of lactic acid and protein contents. Initial numbers of lactobacilli inoculated into the milk (10(8) CFU mL(-1)) decreased during the first 2 weeks of maturation and reached from 2.15 10(7) CFU g(-1) in S1 cheese to 4.32 10(7) CFU g(-1) in S3 cheese. The number of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain bacteria at the beginning of the maturation period was 2.47.10(7) CFU g(-1) and declined until day 120 of maturation to the number of 0.45 10(6) CFU g(-1). In the last month of the experiment day 180 the viable cell numbers started to rise up to the final number of 0.41 10(7) CFU g(-1). The numbers of Lactobacillus plantarum96 varied around 10(8) CFU g(-1) during the whole period of the experiment. According to our results it was detected that in all experimental cheeses, the used probiotic lactobacilli reached the values above 10(6) CFU g(-1). Thus the legislated and therapeutic minimum limits set for the products containing probiotic bacteria for human diet were fulfilled.

Potential association between Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and selected risk factors among veterinary students in Slovakia.

The present study investigated the prevalence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii and the possible factors predisposing students of veterinary medicine to C. burnetii infections. IgG antibodies to phase I and phase II C. burnetii antigens were determined by ELISA. Out of 77 students examined, 13 were positive for phase I and 45 were positive for phase II antibodies. The titres determined were in the range of 1 : 100-1 : 3200. Some risk factors may have contributed to the high seroprevalence found in these subjects. For example, there were positive associations with rural life and exposure to the breeding of farm animals, and in addition, work in a dusty environment, such as on fields, gardens, stables and construction sites were also connected to high seroprevalence.