Aims: Food safety and drug resistance in bacteria are both important issues globally. Consumption of escargot represents possible food safety problem especially when contaminated with an indicator and multi-drug resistant bacteria. Hence, this study aimed to identify and evaluate susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from edible snails Archachatina marginata to antibiotics. Methodology and results: A total of 60 edible snails, A. marginata were purchased from local markets in three states of Nigeria. The edible snails were starved for three days and Enterobacteriaceae were isolated using microbiological procedures. Bacteria was identified by sequencing its partial 16S rRNA, while susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotic was determined by disc diffusion method. Enterobacteriaceae obtained were Klebsiella (18), Escherichia (16), Citrobacter (10), Salmonella (7) and Enterobacter (5) species. Out of the 56 isolates obtained, 21 (37.5%) were resistant to amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 9 (16.07%) were resistant to tetracycline and 4 (7.14%) were resistant to co-trimoxazole. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The number of isolates which show resistant to different antibiotic classes was small. However, coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter cloacae) isolated from edible snails represent a huge food safety risk to the consumers of edible snails. Hence, high hygienic practices are required for the consumers of edible snails to prevent infection with pathogenic bacteria.
Enterobacteriaceae--isolation & ; purification ; Snails

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in gram-negative organisms have been implicated as the enzymes responsible for resistance to oxyimino-cephalosporins. The incidence of ESBL- producers in Korean isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were in the range of 4.8 7.5% and 22.5 22.8%, respectively. The ESBL-producing isolates revealed variable levels of resistance to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam. They also showed the elevated MIC values of non-beta-lactam antibiotics. SHV-12 and SHV-2a were the enzymes most frequently found in K. pneumoniae strains, but TEM-52 was the most prevalent in E. coli isolates. About 15% of ESBL-producing isolates of Enterobacteriaceae produced CMY-1 enzyme, which conferred resistance to cephamycins such as cefoxitin as well as oxyimino-cephalosporins. Thus, the most common types of ESBLs in Korea are TEM-52, SHV-12, SHV-2a, and CMY-1.
Drug Resistance, Microbial/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae/chemistry* ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology ; Human ; Korea ; beta-Lactamases/analysis*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the detective efficacy of Chromogenic Coliform and Escherichia Coli Agar (CCEA).

METHODSA new chromogenic medium CCEA prepared by Huankai laboratory was used to compare with a classical medium of violet red bile agar (VRBA), and other two Chromogenic media Agar I and Agar II by detecting separately 11 reference strains, thirteen sterile samples with Coliform or E.coli and other four samples, and the accordant rates of detection were observed.

RESULTSCCEA had the good selectivity. To seven kinds of quality strains in the resultant analysis, CCEA with VRBA and Agar I had not shown salience difference (P > 0.05), and CCEA with Agar II had significant difference (P < 0.05). CCEA showed more advantages than the Agar II. To thirteen sterile samples with Coliform or E.coli in resultant analysis, CCEA with Agar I and Agar II had shown no significant difference (P > 0.05), while CCEA with VRBA had significant difference (P < 0.05). CCEA might be more advantageous than the VRBA. In analysis of the four actual samples of Coliform, CCEA with VRBA, Agar I and Agar II showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). The accordant rates were 90%, 71.88%, 86.25% and 81.25% respectively, showing CCEA > Agar I > Agar II > VRBA. To two actual samples of E.coli in the resultant analysis, the CCEA with Agar I and Agar II had not shown significant difference (P > 0.05). The accordant rates were 100% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe CCEA might be more advantageous than the VRBA, having the same efficacy as with Agar I and Agar II.

Bacteriological Techniques ; Culture Media ; Enterobacteriaceae ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification

Aged, 80 and over ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Bacteremia/*microbiology ; Cross Infection/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Providencia/*isolation & purification ; *Tertiary Care Centers

When cholera was first detected in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in mid-2009, national diagnostic capacity faced many challenges. This was in part due to the non-endemic status of the outbreak, resulting in few local staff experienced in Vibrio cholerae detection and poor access to the required consumables. The PNG Institute of Medical Research conducted culture on specimens from suspected cholera patients in Madang Province, with presumptive V. cholerae isolates sent to Goroka for confirmation. Of 98 samples analysed 15 were culture positive, with V. cholerae detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in an additional 3 samples. Further analyses were conducted to identify other pathogenic bacteria from thiosulphate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar. Molecular-based assays detected enteropathogenic (n = 1) and enterotoxigenic (n = 1) strains of Escherichia coli. No other major enteric pathogens were detected. The low detection rate of V. cholerae at the provincial level reflects challenges in the laboratory diagnosis of cholera and in-country challenges in responding to an outbreak of a non-endemic disease, such as lack of in-country diagnostic expertise and available consumables in the early stages. It also suggests that full aetiological investigations are warranted in future outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea in PNG to fully elucidate the potentially complex aetiology, which could in turn guide diagnostic, treatment and prevention measures.
Cholera/*epidemiology/*microbiology ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Papua New Guinea/epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vibrio cholerae/*isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: The modified Hodge test (MHT) was designed to detect carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). This study evaluated variables to improve the performance of MHT. METHODS: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from November 2010 to March 2013 at the Asan Medical Center, were evaluated, including 33 metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producers and 103 non-CPEs. MHT was performed by using two carbapenem disks (ertapenem and meropenem; Becton Dickinson, USA), three media (Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA), MacConkey agar (MAC), and zinc-enriched MHA), and two inoculums (0.5-McFarland [McF] suspension and a 10-fold dilution of it.) PCR was performed to detect beta-lactamase genes of the MBL, AmpC, and CTX-M types. RESULTS: The sensitivity of MHT for detecting New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM) producers was highest using ertapenem and 0.5-McF, 52.0% on MHA and 68.0% on MAC, respectively. NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (NDMKP) were detected with higher sensitivity on MAC (78.6%) vs. MHA (28.6%) (P=0.016), but VIM-producing Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia were detected with higher sensitivity on MHA (78.5%) vs. MAC (14.3%) (P=0.004). MBL producers were consistently identified with lower sensitivity using meropenem vs. ertapenem, 39.4% vs. 60.6% (P=0.0156), respectively. The effects of zinc and inoculum size were insignificant. Enterobacter aerogenes producing unspecified AmpC frequently demonstrated false positives, 66.7% with ertapenem and 22.2% with meropenem. CONCLUSIONS: The MHT should be adjusted for the local distribution of species and the carbapenemase type of MBL producers. MAC and ertapenem are preferable for assessing NDMKP, but MHA is better for VIM. Laboratory physicians should be aware of the limited sensitivity of MHT and its relatively high false-positive rate.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Phenotype ; beta-Lactamases/genetics/*metabolism

BACKGROUND: Our study was to investigate the prevalence of carbapenemase genes in strains of Enterobacteriaceae species exhibiting decreased susceptibility to carbapenems in our hospital. METHODS: The carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae species were confirmed by modified Hodge test (MHT) and EDTA-disc synergy test which indicating the production of class B carbapenemases. PCR and sequencing analysis were used to identify the drug-resistant genes. DNA fingerprinting based on enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR was applied to investigate the homology of Enterobacteriaceae species. RESULTS: From a collection of 1,472 Enterobacteriaceae species, 18 isolates with decreased susceptibility to carbapenem treatment were identified and 9 of which were positive by MHT, and 6 of which produced class B carbapenemases. PCR and sequencing analysis of the 18 isolates revealed 4 different carbapenemase genes (blaIMP-8, blaoxa-1, blaIMP-26, and blaoxa-47) in 10 isolates, with the blaIMP-8 and blaoxa-1 genes being the most common (60-70% prevalence). ERIC-PCR showed 5, 2, and 2 unique genotypes for Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Three E. coli strains isolated from different patients from the urologic surgery department exhibited the same DNA banding pattern, suggesting a possible clonal dissemination. Majority (17/18) of the carbapenem-unsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae species isolates was obtained from the surgery department of our hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The main carbapenemase genes of Enterobacteriaceae species in our hospital were blaIMP-8 and blaoxa-1. Prevalence of carbapenem resistance may be existed in surgery department and infection control should be taken for preventing further dissemination of drug-resistant strains.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Carbapenems/*pharmacology ; China ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*drug effects/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology ; Genotype ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; beta-Lactamases/*genetics

OBJECTIVETo examine the differential levels of fecal Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile between patients with hepatic cirrhosis and healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected from 29 patients with hepatic cirrhosis treated in the Department of Digestive Diseases at Zunyi Hospital between March and December of 2010.

METHODSFecal samples were collected from 13 healthy college students for use as controls. All samples were assessed by pH measurement, bacterial culture for turbidity, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The t-test and rank correlation test were used to determine statistical significance of intergroup differences in each tested parameter.

RESULTSThe feces of patients with hepatic cirrhosis had higher pH than that of healthy controls (6.79+/-0.64 vs. 6.18+/-0.74, P less than 0.05). The bacterial turbidity was not significantly different between the feces of hepatic cirrhosis patients and healthy controls (1.15+/-0.59 vs. 1.39+/-1.01, P more than 0.05). The numbers of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile in feces of patients with hepatic cirrhosis were significantly lower than those of the controls (all P less than 0.01). No significant correlation was found between the number or ratio of bacteria species and the severity of hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh scores; P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe total quantity of intestinal bacteria in patients with hepatic cirrhosis is not significantly different from that in healthy patients. However, the profile of intestinal bacteria is different, which may explain the increased pH of fecal samples from patients with hepatic cirrhosis, but the differential profile is not correlated to cirrhosis pathogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteroides ; isolation & purification ; Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; Case-Control Studies ; Clostridium ; isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of intestinal flora in diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome with Pi-wei dampness-heat syndrome (IBS-PDS).

METHODSThe seven kinds of common intestinal bacteria in feces, including enteri bacillus, enterococci, saccharomycete, bifid bacteria, lactobacillus, bacteroides and peptococcus were studied in 21 patients suffered from IBS-PDS, and compared with those in 22 patients with IBS with deficiency of Pi syndrome (DPS) and 25 healthy subjects as control.

RESULTSAs compared with the healthy subjects, the levels of enteri bacillus and enterococci were significantly increased (P<0.01), the levels of bifid bacteria, Lactobacillus and Peptococcus were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and saccharomycete and Bacteroides were insignificantly different in patients with PDS. As compared with patients with DPS, the levels of enteri bacillus, enterococci, bifid bacteria, Lactobacillus, Peptococcus and Bacteroidaceae were significantly increased except the level of saccharomycete.

CONCLUSIONThere may be alteration of intestinal flora in patients with IBS-PDS.

Adult ; Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; complications ; microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; isolation & purification ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged