Antibacterial effect of copper sulfate against multi-drug resistant nosocomial pathogens isolated from clinical samples.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: With the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the hospital acquired infection, the interest for antimicrobial agents has recently increased again in public health. Copper is recommended as a supplementary method of increasing biological safety in the hospital environment. The objective of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of copper sulfate salts on strains of bacterial pathogens isolated from different clinical pictures in different health establishment in Algeria. METHODS: A total of 25 different bacterial isolates (16 Enterobacteriaceae, 5 Staphylococci, and 4 Pseudomonas) were tested for susceptibility to copper sulfate using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC-Cu) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC-Cu) determinations. All isolates were also tested for susceptibility to six antibiotics. RESULTS: Antibiotic susceptibility studies revealed that 100% of isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Fifty two percent of isolates were very susceptible to copper sulfate, with MICs ranging from 100 to 200 µg/ml. MBC-Cu = 1600 µg/ml showed the best bactericidal effect against the great majority of studied bacteria (52%). A good bactericidal activities of copper sulfate were recorded against Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus aureus (MBC/MIC=1). The Gram-negative bacteria isolates which were copper resistant also showed a high resistance to chloramphenicol (r=0.78) and Trimethoprime (r=0.61). Furthermore, the strains that were no-susceptible to three different antimicrobial classes (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus) were not resistant to copper sulfate. CONCLUSION: Copper sulfate salts has significant antibacterial activity against multi-drug resistant nosocomial pathogens.

Management of toxic cyanobacteria for drinking water production of Ain Zada Dam.

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria in Algerian reservoirs represent a potential health problem, mainly from drinking water that supplies the local population of Ain Zada (Bordj Bou Arreridj). The objective of this study is to monitor, detect, and identify the existence of cyanobacteria and microcystins during blooming times. Samples were taken in 2013 from eight stations. The results show that three potentially toxic cyanobacterial genera with the species Planktothrix agardhii were dominant. Cyanobacterial biomass, phycocyanin (PC) concentrations, and microcystin (MC) concentrations were high in the surface layer and at 14 m depth; these values were also high in the treated water. On 11 May 2013, MC concentrations were 6.3 µg/L in MC-LR equivalent in the drinking water. This study shows for the first time the presence of cyanotoxins in raw and treated waters, highlighting that regular monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins must be undertaken to avoid potential health problems.

Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from cattle slaughtered at two abattoirs in Algeria.

BACKGROUND: Bovine Tuberculosis is prevalent in Algeria despite governmental attempts to control the disease. The objective of this study was to conduct, for the first time, molecular characterization of a population sample of Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from slaughter cattle in Algeria. Between August and November 2007, 7250 animals were consecutively screened at the abattoirs of Algiers and Blida. In 260 animals, gross visible granulomatous lesions were detected and put into culture. Bacterial isolates were subsequently analysed by molecular methods. RESULTS: Altogether, 101 bacterial strains from 100 animals were subjected to molecular characterization. M. bovis was isolated from 88 animals. Other bacteria isolated included one strain of M. caprae, four Rhodococcus equi strains, three Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) and five strains of other bacterial species. The M. bovis strains isolated showed 22 different spoligotype patterns; four of them had not been previously reported. The majority of M. bovis strains (89%) showed spoligotype patterns that were previously observed in strains from European cattle. Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) typing supported a link between M. bovis strains from Algeria and France. One spoligotype pattern has also been shown to be frequent in M. bovis strains from Mali although the VNTR pattern of the Algerian strains differed from the Malian strains. CONCLUSION: M. bovis infections account for a high amount of granulomatous lesions detected in Algerian slaughter cattle during standard meat inspection at Algiers and Blida abattoir. Molecular typing results suggested a link between Algerian and European strains of M. bovis.