Aims: The aim of this research is to explore the presence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from hospitalized patients in a tertiary-care center, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia and to compare their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Methodology and results: Clonal relationships were determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and biofilm forming ability was evaluated by using 2, 3 - bis (2 - methoxy - 4 - nitro - 5-sulfophenyl) - 5 - [(phenylamino) carbonyl] - 2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay in microplates and Congo red agar method (CRA). Four virulence genes coding for A. baumannii pilus usher-chaperone assembly protein, csuE gene; outer membrane protein, ompA gene; biofilm poly-β-1, 6-Nacetylglucosamine (PNAG) synthesis protein, pgaA gene; and acinetobactin-mediated iron acquisition protein, bauA gene were searched for in a collection of strains. Antimicrobial resistance against 11 antibiotics were studied by broth microdilution method. Seventeen A. baumannii clinical strains were isolated and MLST showed that the strains belonged to 5 distinct sequence types (STs), namely, ST-6, ST-265, ST-324, ST-325 and ST-432. Fiftythree percent of the strains were resistant to 4 or more antibiotics. Twelve strains produced biofilm and out of them, 4 were strong biofilm producer, besides, these strong biofilm producers were MDR strains and belongs to ST-6. In addition, all strains were ompA positive, biofilm producing strains were csuE and pgaA positive and only strong biofilm producing strains were bauA positive. Conclusion, significance and impact study: Our study demonstrates that the ST-6 strains in Malaysia could represent MDR, capable of forming strong biofilm and possess csuE, ompA, pgaA and bauA genes, virulence characteristics that probably help the bacteria to persist and cause infection.
Acinetobacter baumannii

Introduction: Rapid detection of influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be achieved by having rapid molecular point of care tests (POCTs). This expedites the diagnosis attributed by having similar clinical presentations leading to facilitation of precision medicine and reduction of antimicrobial resistance. The growing number of POCTs foster the need to ensure that these POCTs have satisfactory and reliable performance. With that the aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of rapid molecular POCT regarded as ‘X’ for the detection of Influenza viruses and RSV in comparison to multiplex PCR. Methods: A laboratory-based study was conducted from January to December 2020 which involved analysis of 116 nasopharyngeal swabs, tested using POCT X and multiplex PCR as a method of reference. The performance analysis incorporated the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicted values determination. The cycle threshold values were reviewed for discordant results. Results: The POCT X demonstrated sensitivity of 88.57% with 100% specificity for Influenza A virus, and 85.71% of sensitivity with 100% specificity for influenza B virus detection. Meanwhile it revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity for RSV detection. There were ten specimens demonstrating discordant results whereby viruses were not detected by POCT X, however detected by multiplex PCR. The POCT X was not able to detect eight (12.9%) and two (16.7%) influenza A and B viruses respectively. Conclusion: The overall performance of POCT X was corresponded to multiplex PCR. This best served as a steadfast ancillary test for influenza and RSV infection.

Objective: To characterise a collection of pili-carrying and none pili-carrying pneumococcal isolates of clinical origin for serotypes, antibiotic resistance and genotype. Methods: In total, 42 clinical isolates were collected between October 2017 and December 2019. Those isolates were analysed for antimicrobial susceptibility, serotype distribution, detection of pneumococcal virulence and pilus genes. Multilocus sequence typing was performed only for piliated isolates, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: The common isolation sites among the pneumococcal isolates were tracheal aspirate (28.6%), blood (26.2%), and sputum (23.8%). Fifty percent isolates were resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline (50.0%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (43.0%). The most frequent were serotypes 19F (28.6%), 6A/B (23.8%) and 19A (14.3%). Piliated isolates were detected in a small proportion (33.3%); 64.3% were multidrug-resistant. ST320 was the prevalent sequence type among the piliated isolates and genetically related to the Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network clones Taiwan 19F -14 (CC271). In the phylogenetic analysis, some piliated isolates showed a close association having similar ST320, carrying serotype 19A and both pilus genes indicating their clonal spread. Conclusions: Pneumococcal lineages of piliated isolates have been globally disseminated and pili could have played a role in the spread of antibiotic resistant clones.