Nasopharyngeal Carriage, Antibiotic Resistance and Serotype Distribution of Streptococcus Pneumoniae among Healthy Adolescents in Zahedan.

BACKGROUND: Colonization of nasopharynx by Streptococcus pneumoniae can lead to pneumococcal diseases. This study was performed to determine the carriage rate of nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae in adolescents, antibiotic susceptibility and serotype prevalence in Zahedan, Iran. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal specimens from 865 adolescents (age range: 10-19 years old) attending eight schools in Zahedan, Iran, were collected and assessed by standard procedures to recover S. pneumoniae. The serotyping was carried out by latex agglutination test and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin as well as other commonly used antibiotics were determined by a broth dilution method. RESULTS: Pneumococci were recovered from 15.7% (136/865, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.3-18.9) of total samples which 119 isolates were typable with the available antisera. 1, 19A, 15C, 9V, 11A and 19F were found as the most frequent serotypes. Ninety three pneumococcal isolates were sensitive to penicillin. The MIC values of antibiotics tested were (µg/ml): penicillin 0.01-4, cefotaxime 0.01-4, ceftriaxone 0.02-128, chloramphenicol 0.08-32, ciprofloxacin 0.06-16, erythromycin 0.01-128, tetracycline 0.08-128 and vancomycin 0.02-1. CONCLUSION: A clear diversity was seen in the serotype distribution of the S. pneumoniae isolates and most of the antibiotic resistant strains belonged to few serotypes. Healthy adolescents in Zahedan, Iran commonly show pneumococcal carriage and antibiotic resistance.

Antidiabetic effects of Eucalyptus globulus on pancreatic islets: a stereological study.

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in pancreatic islands by stereological methods. Fifty mature normoglycaemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10): control; STZ-induced diabetic (D) - by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin; treated control (TC); and treated diabetic (TD1, 2), respectively, received 20 and 62.5 g/kg of eucalyptus in their diet, and 2.5 g/L aqueous extract of eucalyptus in their drinking water from one week after induction of diabetes. After four weeks of the experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of the islets and pancreas, and total number of islets were carried out. Administration of eucalyptus significantly decreased the weight loss and increase of water and food intake in the treated diabetic groups in comparison to the STZ-induced diabetic (D) group. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of islets, and mass of pancreas of both treated diabetic groups were higher than the D group. In TD2, these stereological parameters increased significantly compared to the D group (p < 0.001). Volume density and total volume of beta cells increased 21% and 65%, respectively, in the TD2 group, but it was not statistically significant compared to the diabetic group (p > 0.05). The results suggested that Eucalyptus globulus with a dose-dependent manner ameliorates diabetic states by partial restoration of pancreatic beta cells and repair of STZ-induced damage in rats. This study suggests a beneficial effect of eucalyptus in the treatment of diabetes.

Effects of garlic extract treatment in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats infected with Candida albicans.

The anti-candidial effect of garlic extract (Allium sativum L.) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Rats were divided into six groups with fifteen rats in each group: (1) Normal control rats (2) Control rats + C. albicans (3) Control rats + garlic extract + C. albicans (4) Diabetic control rats (5) Diabetic rats + C. albicans (6) Diabetic rats + garlic extract + C. albicans. The concerned groups were inoculated with C.albicans on the 15 th day. At the end of one month experiment, fasted rats were killed by cervical decapitation. Blood was collected for estimation of glucose and C. albicans concentrations were estimated in liver and kidneys homogenates. A significant increase was observed in serum glucose levels in diabetic rats. A loss of bodyweight, polydipsia and polyphagia were observed in diabetic rats. Administration of alcoholic extract of garlic (0.25 g/kg body weight) reduced the hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia and associated weight loss of streptozotocin-treated rats. Administration of garlic extract significantly reduced C. albicans concentrations in liver and kidneys homogenates in infected control and diabetic rats. It is concluded that garlic extract improves candidia infection in diabetic rats.

Frequency of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in children with diarrhoea in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been implicated in diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhagic colitis and uraemic haemolytic syndrome but is not routinely cultured in laboratories. We tested 322 samples from children referred with diarrhoea to a clinic in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran. There were 21 sorbitol-negative E. coli isolated; serotyping revealed 4 strains positive for O157, out of which only 2 strains were identified as E. coli O157:H7. Both cases were boys, aged 1.5 and 4 years respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity testing found the strains were sensitive for amikacin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin and tobramycin and resistant to chloramphenicol, cefalexin, cefalothin and co-trimoxazole.

Frequency of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in children with diarrhoea in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been implicated in diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhagic colitis and uraemic haemolytic syndrome but is not routinely cultured in laboratories. We tested 322 samples from children referred with diarrhoea to a clinic in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran. There were 21 sorbitol-negative E. coli isolated; serotyping revealed 4 strains positive for O157, out of which only 2 strains were identified as E. coli O157:H7. Both cases were boys, aged 1.5 and 4 years respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity testing found the strains were sensitive for amikacin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin and tobramycin and resistant to chloramphenicol, cefalexin, cefalothin and co-trimoxazole