The investigation of antibacterial activity of hyperlight fluid fusion subcellular essential complex.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the possibility of applying the hyperlight fluid fusion essential complex in dental plaque control, and to evaluate the effectiveness of new and modern agents used for the prevention and early treatment of gingivitis. METHODOLOGY: The study included 60 subjects randomly divided into two groups. The control group was assigned to 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouth rinse, whereas the test group used a solution based on hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC), twice daily for 2 weeks. The plaque, gingivitis and bleeding scores were evaluated and recorded. Collected plaque samples were seeded on blood agar and incubated aerobically at a temperature of 37 °C for 24-48 hours. In order to isolate anaerobic bacteria, samples were seeded on Schaedler Agar and incubated anaerobically at 37 °C for seven days. Serial dilutions in saline from 101 - 106 were made, and grown colonies were counted and identified using the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) system. RESULTS: The reduction in the number of bacteria was significant in both control and test groups. The reduction was greater in the control group compared to the experimental group, but without statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: 3HFWC treatment causes significant reduction in the number of dental plaque microorganisms. Since 3HFWC solution exhibited a bacteriostatic effect similar to chlorhexidine it could be an adequate addition to solution of a growing problem in prevention and early treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis.

Resistance to Antibiotics in Thermophilic Campylobacters.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most frequent causes of bacterial enterocolitis globally. The disease in human is usually self-limiting, but when complications arise antibiotic therapy is required at a time when resistance to antibiotics is increasing worldwide. Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria are diverse depending on antibiotic type and usage and include: enzymatic destruction or drug inactivation; alteration of the target enzyme; alteration of cell membrane permeability; alteration of ribosome structure and alteration of the metabolic pathway(s). Resistance of Campylobacter spp. to antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones is now a major public health problem in developed and developing countries. In this review the mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracycline, aminoglycoside and the role of integrons in resistance of Campylobacter (especially at the molecular level) are discussed, as well as the mechanisms of resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics, sulphonamides and trimethoprim. Multiple drug resistance is an increasing problem for treatment of campylobacter infections and emergence of resistant strains and resistance are important One Health issues.

The Outcomes of an Interventional Oral Health Program on Dental Students' Oral Hygiene.

Dental students are an interesting population because they are expected to have a higher level of knowledge of and to exhibit better oral hygiene habits, and thus have a greater impact on the environment, families, and society as a whole. The aim of this research was to determine the state of oral hygiene in dental students before and after the interventional health education program. The research sample consisted of 119 students of dentistry in their first and fourth years of study. The first research stage was conducted before health education intervention (for the evaluation of selected oral health parameters, the Decayed, Missing and Filled index, Greene-Vermillion index, Silness-Löe plaque index, Silness-Löe gingival index, and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs index were used). The second stage was conducted as a clinical measurement of oral health changes. The conducted health education intervention, to an extent, led to changes in the state of oral hygiene among the students, and thus healthier habits. There was a statistically significant difference in the examined population between the beginning of the study and after the health education intervention program. Although a significant improvement in oral hygiene and oral health was noticed after the health education intervention program, the state of oral hygiene was still not at a satisfactory level among the dental students, contrary to our expectations.

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter spp.: A review of the literature.

Campylobacter spp. are commensal organisms in the intestinal tract of food producing and companion animals. There is an increasing trend of human campylobacteriosis worldwide, including complicated cases that request treatment by antibiotics. Prevalence of resistance continually increases, especially to fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines. There are many reports on multiresistant strains of Campylobacter spp.In this work we present the available information about the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. worldwide, as well as studies from Serbia published in last two decades. Campylobacter strains isolated from animal samples in Serbia showed increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistance to all clinically relevant antibiotics. Preliminary data (2014-2019) from Reference laboratory for Campylobacter and Helicobacter at the Institute of Public Health of Nis, Serbia show high resistance rates to ciprofloxacin (90%) and to tetracycline (50%) but low resistance to erythromycin (<5%) in human Campylobacter isolates.

Campylobacter concisus.

Campylobacter concisus has been described as the etiological agent of periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and enterocolitis. It is also detected in healthy individuals. There are differences between strains in healthy individuals and affected ones by production of two exototoxins. In this mini review authors discuss major facts about cultivation, isolation, virulence and immune response to C. concisus.

Inhibitory effects of propolis and essential oils on oral bacteria.

INTRODUCTION: Propolis is a natural composite balsam. In the past decade, propolis has been extensively investigated as an adjuvant for the treatment of periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial activities of propolis solutions and plant essential oils against some oral cariogenic (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Lactobacillus acidophilus) and periodontopathic bacteria (Actinomyces odontolyticus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum). METHODOLOGY: Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The antimicrobial activity of propolis and essential oils was investigated by the agar dilution method. Serial dilutions of essential oils were prepared in plates, and the assay plates were estimated to contain 100, 50, 25 and 12.5 µg/mL of active essential oils. Dilutions for propolis were 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.3 µg/mL of active propolis solutions. RESULTS: Propolis solutions dissolved in benzene, diethyl ether and methyl chloride, demonstrated equal effectiveness against all investigated oral bacteria (MIC=12.5 µg/mL). Propolis solution dissolved in acetone displayed MIC of 6.3 µg/mL only for Lactobacillus acidophilus. At the MIC of 12.5 µg/mL, essential oils of Salvia officinalis and Satureja kitaibelii were effective against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, respectively. For the latter, the MIC value of Salvia officinalis was twice higher. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that propolis and plant essential oils appear to be a promising source of antimicrobial agents that may prevent dental caries and other oral infectious diseases.

Genetic Profiling and Comparison of Human and Animal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolates from Serbia.

The aim of this study was to characterize a collection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates of human and animal origin from Serbia. In total, 36 MRSA isolates-30 obtained from humans and six from companion animals-were investigated by PCR for the presence of antibiotic and biocide resistance determinants and virulence genes (PVL-Panton⁻Valentine leukocidin, ETs-exfoliative toxins, TSST-toxic shock syndrome toxin, SEs-staphylococcal enterotoxins, and MSCRAMMs-microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and biofilm). Isolates were analyzed by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), spa, and dru typing, as well as by multiple locus variable number of tandem repeat analyses (MLVA), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and subsequently, eBURST. The majority of human MRSA isolates were resistant to gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and ciprofloxacin. Different antibiotic resistance genes were detected: aac-aphD, ant(6')-Ia, erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), tet(K), tet(M), fexA, and catpC221. All isolates were susceptible to teicoplanin and linezolid. SCCmec type III was prevalent in human isolates, while SCCmec elements in animals were mostly nontypeable. t037 was the predominant spa type in human and t242 in animal MRSA isolates. The prevalent dru type was dt11c in human and dt10a in animal MRSA isolates. MRSA isolates exhibited 27 different MLVA types. ST239 was predominant in human, while ST5 was prevalent in canine MRSA isolates. PVL was found in two, while tsst-1 was detected in three human isolates. Human-associated clones belonging to ST5, ST45, and ST239 MRSA clones were discovered in companion animals, which suggests anthropozoonotic transmission.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection and bronchial hyperreactivity in children up to two years of age in correlation with atopy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bronchiolitis in early childhood caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is considered to be important risk factor of the recurrent wheezing and asthma development. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of RSV infection and atopy in children up to two years of age and to determine their correlation with bronchial hyperreactivity. METHODS: The study included 175 children aged 5-24 months. The presence of RSV infection was identified by serum levels of IgA and IgG determined by ELISA. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) has been defined as the existence of chronic bronchial disease and/or three or more previous suspected diagnosis of acute bronchial disease. Atopy was confirmed by detection of the specific serum IgE using quantitative multitest Phadiatop infant (cut off 0.35 kUA/L). RESULTS: The children with atopy were more frequently infected with RSV (43.3%) than those without atopy (22.8%; p = 0.02). The higher frequency of RSV infection was found in children with BHR in comparison with those without it but only in the group who also had atopy (77.8% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.018). In the female children, BHR and RSV infection were associated in 62.5% of cases, regardless the atopy. In the male children with atopy, RSV infection was associated with BHR in 83.3% of the cases, while in those without atopy, RSV infection with BHR was found in only 17.4% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Children up to two years of age with atopy are more frequently infected with RSV (43.3%) than nonatopic children. Every third child with atopy develops BHR and 77.8% of them also have RSV infection. Atopic children are at higher risk for development of BHR when infected with RSV also.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and ß-lactamase production in Bacillus cereus isolates from stool of patients, food and environment samples.

Background/Aim: Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) usually ingested by food can cause two types of diseases: vomiting due to the presence of emetic toxin and diarrheal syndrome, due to the presence of diarrheal toxins. Systemic manifestations can also occur. The severe forms of disease demand antibiotic treatmant. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in antibiotic susceptibility and ß-lactamase activity of B. cereus isolates from stools of humans, food and environment. Methods: Identification of B. cereus was performed with selective medium, classical biochemical test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific for bal gene. Thirty isolates from each group were analysed for antibiotic susceptibility using the disk-diffusion assay. Production of ß-lactamase was determined by cefinase test, and double-disc method. Results: All strains identified as B. cereus using classical biochemical test, yielded 533 bp fragment with PCR. Isolates from all the three groups were susceptible to imipenem, vancomycin, and erythromycin. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin but one from the environment. A statistically significant difference between the groups was confirmed to tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole sensitivity. A total of 28/30 (93.33%) samples from the foods and 25/30 (83.33%) samples from environment were approved sensitive to tetracycline, while 10/30 (33.33%) isolates from stools were sensitive. Opposite to this result, high susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was shown in samples from stools (100%), while isolates from foods (63.33%) and from environment (70%) had low susceptibility. All samples produced ß-lactamases. Conclusion: The strains of B. cereus from all the three groups showed high rate of sensitivity to most tested antibiotics, except to tetracycline in samples from human stool and to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole in samples from food and environment. The production of ß-lactamases was confirmed in all the strains.

Campylobacter jejuni infection and IgE sensitization in up to 2-year-old infants.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The "hygiene hypothesis" addresses the correlation between the occurrence of atopy and the frequency of infections in the earliest age, explaining an increase in the incidence of atopic diseases by living in good, infection-free, hygienic conditions. The aim of our study was to determine the conection between atopy and Camplobacter infection, and to analyze the association between serum concentrations of total IgE and Campyobacter infection in relation to atopy in children up to two years. METHODS: A case control study was conducted with the sample of 98 infants of the average age of 8 months. Total serum IgE and Phadiatop infant multi-test were determined on Immunocap-100 (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden). The presence of atopy was determined by detection of serum-specific IgE > 0.35 kUA/L (Phadiatop infant positive) and serum IgM, IgA, IgG levels against C j uni were determined by a quantitative immuno-enzyme test--SERION ELISA classic. RESULTS: Total IgE cut-off values > 15 kU/L point to atopy in infants, and tIgE cut-off values > or = 8.1 kU/L pointed to a Cj/uni infection in infants. Within the group of atopic children, tIgE levels > 29.8 kU/L point to C. jejuni infection, and within the group of non-atopic children, tIgE levels > or = 5.9 kU/L point to infection. Enteritis is not a predictor of C jejuni infection, because of a high frequency of asymptomatic cases of infection. The risk factors for C. jejuni infection are age and tIgE, and the protective factors are breastfeeding and atopy. CONCLUSION: C. jejuni infection increases the total serum IgE level, which is pre- dictive of infection, regardless of the presence of atopy. The presence of symptomatic C. jejuni infection reduces the risk of atopy in a child of the age of 5-24 months by the factor of 10.

[Determination of sensitivity to antibiotics of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from human feces].

BACKGROUND/AIM: One of the most important bacterial zoonosis is campylobacteriosis. Human disease is mostly caused by thermophilic Campylobacter spp: Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Campylobacter coli (C. coli), Campylobacter lari (C. lari) and Campylobacter upsakensis (Campsalensis). Campylobacteriosis is a mild and self-healing disorder. In patients with more severe and prolonged forms, an antibiotic treatment is recommended. Recommended drugsare erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin, chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Lately, an increase of Campylobacter genus resistance to antibiotics mostly used in therapy is an annoying evidence. The rise coincided with the beginning of antibiotic use, especially quinolones, in veterinary medicine. The aim of the study was to isolate and identify thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from human feces and to determine their sensitivity to antibiotics and hemotherapeutics mostly used in campylobacteriosis treatment. METHODS: Sensitivity to erythromycin, tetracyclin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin of 24 strains of Campylobacter spp. isolated from humans was investigated by E-test. RESULTS: Seventeen C. jejuni and seven C. coli strains were investigated. Six (25%) out of 24 C. jejuni and C. coli investigated strains were resistant to ampicillin and seven (29.2%) were resistant to tetracycline. Twelve (50%) C. jejuni and C. coli investigated strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin. C. jejuni was more resistant (52.9%). Four (23.5%) C. jejuni strains were resistant to erythromycin and 11.7% to choramphenicol. None of C. coli strains were resistant to both chloramphenicol and erytromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Testing sensitivity to erythromycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin demonstrated a rather high resistance frequency of C. jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from humans. C. jejuni strains were more resistant than those of C. coli.