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

Animals ; Chickens ; microbiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Enterobacteriaceae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Meat ; microbiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteus mirabilis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Raw Foods ; microbiology ; Singapore ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics

BACKGROUND: The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) represents a major clinical problem because these bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics. CPE remain relatively uncommon in Korea. We report the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and molecular epidemiology of CPE isolates collected from five university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Between January and December 2015, 393 non-duplicated isolates that were nonsusceptible to ertapenem were analyzed. Production of carbapenemase, extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and AmpC β-lactamase was determined by genotypic tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined by using an Etest. Clonality of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2-producing and oxacillinase (OXA)-232-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: Of the 393 isolates tested, 79 (20.1%) were CPE. Of these 79 isolates, 47 (59.5%) harbored the bla(OXA-232) gene while the remaining isolates carried genes bla(KPC-2) (n=27), bla(IMP-1) (n=4), and bla(NDM-1) (n=1). Among the 24 KPC-2 K. pneumoniae isolates from hospital B, 100% were resistant to carbapenems, 8% to colistin, and 0% to tigecycline. Among the 45 OXA-232 K. pneumoniae at hospital C, 95% were resistant to ertapenem, 68% to imipenem, 95% to meropenem, 10% to colistin, and 24% to tigecycline. PFGE analysis revealed a unique pattern for KPC-2 K. pneumoniae and identified 30 isolates belonging to the dominant pulsotypes (PT)1 and PT2 among 41 OXA-232 K. pneumoniae isolates. CONCLUSIONS: CPE strains are present in Korea, with the majority of K. pneumoniae isolates producing OXA-232 and KPC-2. The prevalence and predominant genotypes of CPE show hospital-specific differences.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; beta-Lactamases/*genetics/metabolism

Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) are rapidly disseminating worldwide, and their presence in tertiary care hospitals poses a significant threat to the management of nosocomial infections. There is a need to control CPO, especially in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, because these organisms are resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics and are easily transmitted. At present, the identification of CPO is time-consuming; hence, this study focused on the use of the Xpert CARBA-R assay (Cepheid, USA) to determine intestinal colonization rates of CPO in patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care hospital in Korea. Forty clinical stool samples were collected and inoculated both in a CARBA-R cartridge and in conventional culture plates. The CARBA-R assay required only ~one hour to screen CPO, while the time required for conventional culture was over three days. We also found that the prevalences of intestinal colonization by carbapenem-resistant organisms and Enterobacteriaceae were 17.5% (7 out of 40) and 7.5% (3 out of 40), respectively. Among the colonizing strains, three that contained carbapenemase, including Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase (KPC), and imipenem (IMP) and Verona integron-mediated metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) were found. With its convenience, the Xpert CARBA-R assay can be included in CPO surveillance strategies.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Humans ; Imipenem/pharmacology ; Intensive Care Units ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Tertiary Healthcare ; beta-Lactamases/*genetics/metabolism

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/AIMS: Providencia species frequently colonize urinary catheters and cause urinary tract infections (UTIs); however, bacteremia is uncommon and not well understood. We investigated the clinical features of Providencia bacteremia and the antibiotic susceptibility of Providencia species. METHODS: We identified cases of Providencia bacteremia from May 2001 to April 2013 at a tertiary care hospital. The medical records of pertinent patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen cases of Providencia bacteremia occurred; the incidence rate was 0.41 per 10,000 admissions. The median age of the patients was 64.5 years. Eleven cases (78.6%) were nosocomial infections and nine cases (64.3%) were polymicrobial bacteremia. The most common underlying conditions were cerebrovascular/neurologic disease (n = 10) and an indwelling urinary catheter (n = 10, 71.4%). A UTI was the most common source of bacteremia (n = 5, 35.7%). The overall mortality rate was 29% (n = 4); in each case, death occurred within 4 days of the onset of bacteremia. Primary bacteremia was more fatal than other types of bacteremia (mortality rate, 75% [3/4] vs. 10% [1/10], p = 0.041). The underlying disease severity, Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, and Pitt bacteremia scores were significantly higher in nonsurvivors (p = 0.016, p =0.004, and p = 0.002, respectively). Susceptibility to cefepime, imipenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam was noted in 100%, 86%, and 86% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Providencia bacteremia occurred frequently in elderly patients with cerebrovascular or neurologic disease. Although Providencia bacteremia is uncommon, it can be rapidly fatal and polymicrobial. These characteristics suggest that the selection of appropriate antibiotic therapy could be complicated in Providencia bacteremia.
APACHE ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacteremia/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Child ; Cross Infection/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Providencia/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

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

No abstract available.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Pneumonia/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*diagnosis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

A multiplex PCR protocol was established to simultaneously detect major bacterial pathogens in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) including Edwardsiella (E.) tarda, Streptococcus (S.) parauberis, and S. iniae. The PCR assay was able to detect 0.01 ng of E. tarda, 0.1 ng of S. parauberis, and 1 ng of S. iniae genomic DNA. Furthermore, this technique was found to have high specificity when tested with related bacterial species. This method represents a cheaper, faster, and reliable alternative for identifying major bacterial pathogens in olive flounder, the most important farmed fish in Korea.
Animals ; Edwardsiella tarda/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Fish Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Fisheries/*methods ; *Flatfishes ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/economics/*veterinary ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcal Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Streptococcus/genetics/*isolation & purification

We investigated the occurrence and genetic basis of AmpC beta-lactamase (AmpC)-mediated antibiotic resistance, by examining Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis isolates at a university hospital, from 2007 to 2010. The ampC genes were detected by multiplex AmpC PCR, and AmpC-positive strains were subjected to DNA sequencing. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was assessed using the ESBL disk test based on the utilization of boronic acid. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were further investigated by the modified Hodge test, a carbapenemase inhibition test and SDS-PAGE experiments. AmpC expression was detected in 1.6% of E. coli (39 DHA-1, 45 CMY-2, and 1 CMY-1) isolates, 7.2% of K. pneumoniae (39 DHA-1, 45 CMY-2, and 1 CMY-1) isolates, and 2.5% of P. mirabilis (8 CMY-2 and 1 CMY-1) isolates. Of the 198 acquired AmpC producers, 58 isolates (29.3%) also produced an ESBL enzyme. Among the acquired AmpC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) MIC50/MIC90 values for cefoxitin, cefotaxime, cefepime, imipenem, and meropenem were >32/>32, 16/>32, 1/16, 0.25/0.5, and <0.125/0.125 microg/mL, respectively. The MIC values for carbapenem were > or =2 microg/mL for 2 K. pneumoniae isolates, both of which carried the blaDHA-1 gene with a loss of OmpK36 expression, but were negative for carbapenemase production. The acquisition of AmpC-mediated resistance in K. pneumoniae isolates increased, as did the proportion of AmpC and ESBL co-producers among the hospital isolates. The accurate identification of isolates producing AmpCs and ESBLs may aid in infection control and will assist physicians in selecting an appropriate antibiotic regimen.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/*epidemiology/*microbiology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/enzymology/isolation & purification ; Hospitals, University/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/enzymology/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteus mirabilis/drug effects/enzymology/isolation & purification ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; beta-Lactamases/*genetics