Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria in liver disease patients from two hospitals in Egypt and France: a comparative epidemiological study.

This study aimed to assess and compare the epidemiology of faecal carriage of extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing enterobacteria (ESBL-E) in Hepatology departments of two hospitals specializing in liver diseases, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) in Cairo (Egypt) and Beaujon Hospital (Bj) in Clichy (France). CTX-M groups were identified by PCR, and TEM and SHV derivatives with the check-point system. Phylogenetic groups of E. coli were determined by multiplex PCR, and clone ST131 by PCR of gene pabB. Prevalence of ESBL-E was 77·6% (45/58) in TBRI and 6·5% (13/199) in Bj (P < 10-7). Previous hospitalization was more common (P = 0·003) in Bj patients (93%) than in TBRI patients (45%) suggesting high prevalence of ESBL-E in the Egyptian community. The presence of E. coli B2 ST131 among ESBL-E faecal E. coli in Egypt confirms its pervasiveness in the community and raises concern regarding this highly virulent and resistant clone.

Simultaneous microdetermination of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine or bromine in organic compounds by various rapid empty-tube combustion methods.

A standard Pregl absorption tube packed with polyurethane foam mixed with a cation-exchanger in the silver form, backed with a layer of "Anhydrone", and connected between the water and carbon dioxide absorption tubes and kept at room temperature, has been employed successfully for the simultaneous determination of chlorine or bromine together with carbon and hydrogen. This foam tube is suitable for use with the Belcher-Ingram, rapid straight empty-tube and rapid flash-combustion methods.