Probiotic bacteria have become increasingly popular during the last two decades as a result of the continuously expanding scientific evidence pointing to their beneficial effects on human health. As a result they have been applied as various products with the food industry having been very active in studying and promoting them. Within this market the probiotics have been incorporated in various products, mainly fermented dairy foods. In light of this ongoing trend and despite the strong scientific evidence associating these microorganisms to various health benefits, further research is needed in order to establish them and evaluate their safety as well as their nutritional aspects. The purpose of this paper is to review the current documentation on the concept and the possible beneficial properties of probiotic bacteria in the literature, focusing on those available in food.

The aim of this research was the isolation of Legionella spp. from domestic water supply networks in the Prefecture of Arta. A total of 100 water samples, from 25 houses, were collected. Half of the samples concerned the cold water and half the hot water supply. Purpose was to detect colonization of the water networks with Legionella spp. >500 cfu/L by using the method of filtration (ISO 11731). Out of 100 samples, 6 samples from 3 houses were positive for Legionella spp. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2–14 was isolated in 5 of 6 samples, whereas in the sixth sample Legionella anisa was identified. Only three of the samples had residual chloride over 0.2 mg/L, rate which is necessary for potable water, according to the Greek hygienic practice. Concerning the temperature of hot water, the mean temperature of the negative for Legionella samples was higher compared to the mean temperature of the positive for Legionella samples (49.9°C versus 45.5°C). It is estimated that there is risk of infection through the use of showers. The low concentration of chloride and the temperature, which was found within the limits favorable to developing Legionella spp. (20–45°C), provide fertile ground for proliferation of the bacteria.

IntroductionOral sex (fellatio) is a very common sexual activity. H. pylori is mainly a gastric organism, but studies have reported that infected individuals may permanently or transiently carry H. pylori in their mouth and saliva.Material and methodsA Pubmed search was conducted using the words infection, oral sex and urethritis.ResultsThe existing studies support the hypothesis that H. pylori could be a causative agent of non–gonococcal urethritis.ConclusionsIt is possible that H. pylori may be transmitted via the act of fellatio in the urethra. Further research is required to explore the role of H. pylori in sexually transmitted urethritis.

Staphylococcus warneri, similarly to other coagulase-negatine Staphylococcus (CoNS), is a commensal of the skin, mucous membranes, nasal cavities and mouth of humans, found in 50% of the population. This species usually represents less than 1% of the total staphylococcal skin population. S. warneri can potentially cause severe infections usually in immunocompromised individuals, even more in combination with the presence of indwelling devices and/or implants. The key treatment for such infections is the removal of the device. Sometimes, even in the absence of a foreign body, Staphylococcus warneri may be implicated as the causative agent of an infection in immunocompetent patients. We report here a case of chronic urinary tract infection in adult healthy patient caused by S.warneri, its clinical significance and resistant to commonly used beta-lactams .

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of common aerobic gram positive and gram negative bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis in symptomatic and asymptomatic Greek patients and to determine antibiotic resistance profiles. Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 316 adult men examined at the Assisted Reproduction Department of IASO- Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic in Athens, Greece. Sperm have been collected and proceed to culture and antibiotic sensitivity at the Central Laboratories following a standard protocol. Results: Twelve inappropriate out of 316 samples were excluded from the study. Out of the remaining 304 sperm samples 111 (37.5 %) were positive. Antibiotic sensitivity testing detected resistances to some commonly used antibiotics such as b-lactams and the quinolones. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were the most frequently isolated bacteria (45%), followed by Enterobacteriaceae (40%) and Enterococci 12.6%. The majority of 45 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, were Escherichia coli (31 strains/68%) corresponding to 27.9% of the total number of positive cultures. One infection to Chlamydia trachomatis was detected by an immunochromatic rapid test, one Candida sp, one Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two M. hominis and three Streptococcus group B. Escherichia coli were resistant to b lactams in about 38.7% due to b-lactamase, and 22.5%, 9.6%, 6.4%, were resistant to nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin respectively. Enterococci have shown resistance due to b-lactamase and PBP 5 alteration/hyperproduction. Ureaplasmas were resistant to the fluoroquinolones tested ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, at 72.2% and 62.3% respectively. Conclusion: Carriage of bacteria in sperm is controversial for its contribution in sperm quality and fertility. In our IVF unit, we follow a protocol of isolation and antibiotic profiling of bacteria from sperm culture regardless of their concentration in sperm and giving the numbers/ml. This helps doctors to distinguish carriage or infection and to decide about potential therapy. Given the antibiotic resistances shown by this study, the importance of culture against empiric therapy in assisted reproduction patients is also clearly demonstrated.