Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in three different Arab world countries.

Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in three different Arab world countries (West Bank of Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq) was the aim of the study presented here. This is done on the basis of spa sequencing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing. The majority (92%) of the spa-tested isolates belonged to spa type t932 and possessed the (SCCmec) type III. These data suggest that MRSA clone, which harbors the spa type t932 and (SCCmec) type III, had been transferred throughout the three studied countries.

Community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Palestine.

Community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is becoming an important public-health problem. This study attempted to investigate S. aureus and MRSA colonization in nasal swabs obtained from 843 patients without a history of hospitalization at the time of hospital admission and from 72 health-care workers chosen for comparison. Of the patients, S. aureus was detected in 218/843 (25.9%) and MRSA in 17/843 (2.0%). Of the health-care workers, S. aureus was detected in 15/72 (20.8%) and MRSA in 10/72 (13.9%). The majority of the 27 MRSA isolates exhibited a sensitivity pattern expected for CA-MRSA. Multilocus restriction fragment typing resolved the isolates into eight restriction fragment types. The predominant restriction fragment types were AAACCAA and AAAAAAA, accounting for 51.9% (14/27) of the MRSA isolates and included CC5 and CC1 groups, respectively. This study thus demonstrated the transmission of CA-MRSA strain types into a health-care setting, emphasizing the need for implementation of a revised set of control measures in both hospital and community settings.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in children with diarrhoea in the West Bank, Palestine.

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in children (n=760) with diarrhea aged 1 month to 13 years, living in urban areas (n=234), rural areas (n=394) and refugee camps (n=132). Samples were collected, stained by modified acid fast stain, and examined microscopically for oocysts. The overall prevalence was 11.6% (88/760). The prevalence was higher in refugee camps at 12.9% (17/132) and in rural areas at 12.2% (48/394) as compared to 9.8% (23/234) in urban areas. According to age, the prevalence in age group I (<5 years) was significantly high (P<0.05) at 14.4% (67/464) as compared to 7.7% (15/195) in age group II (5-10 years) and 5.9% (6/101) in age group III (10-15 years). Our findings indicate that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. is high when compared to that in developed countries.

Helicobacter pylori, a causative agent of vitamin B12 deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcer disease worldwide and a major cause of chronic superficial gastritis leading to atrophy of gastric glands. METHODOLOGY: A total of 60 patients suffering from gastric disease due to H. pylori infection were evaluated. Endoscopy was performed and gastric biopsies were obtained for histopathology and urease test. Blood was simultaneously collected for the determination of the levels of vitamin B12 and the MCV. Vitamin B12 levels were determined by chemiluminescent assay. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the mean vitamin B12 level +/- SEM for the total population, the H.pylori infected and non-infected patients were 264.5+/-22.9, 207.7+/-21.9 and 419.7+/-39.8 respectively. H. pylori was found in 71.7% (43/60) of the patients tested. The level of vitamin B12 was lower than 200pg/ml (deficient) in 67.4% (29/43) of patients tested positive for H. pylori. CONCLUSION: H. pylori appears to be implicated in causing vitamin B12 deficiency.