The aim of this study was to determine whether tuberculosis (TB) treatment normalizes the lipid profile strongly affected by pulmonary TB. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were determined in 83 patients with pulmonary TB before and after treatment, and compared to results obtained from 100 control subjects without TB. Before treatment, levels of TC (p<0.005), HDL-C (p<0.005) and LDL-C (p<0.005) were significantly lower in pulmonary TB patients than normal subjects. Unlike TC and LDL-C, HDL-C decrease was correlated (r = 0.96, p<0.05) with smear positivity extent (SPE). At the end of TB treatment, which lasted six months, TC (p<0.01) and HDL-C (p<0.005) levels were significantly increased than before treatment while LDL-C stayed relatively unchanged. The treatment significantly reduced the atherogenic indices TC/HDL-C (p<0.001), LDL-C/HDL-C (p<0.001) and log (TG/HDL-C) (p<0.001) levels. Our results show that tuberculosis treatment increases TC levels and normalizes HDL while reducing atherogenic indices to below levels of controls.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a serious public health concern, with a considerable impact on patients’ health, and substantial healthcare costs. In this study, patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) from six public hospitals in Benin were screened for MRSA. Strains were identified as MRSA using conventional microbiological methods in Benin, and confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in Belgium. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used on the confirmed MRSA isolates, to characterize their genomic content and study their relatedness. Amongst the 305 isolates (304 wound swabs and 61 nasal swabs) that were collected from patients and HCWs, we detected 32 and 15 cases of MRSA, respectively. From this collection, 27 high-quality WGS datasets were obtained, which carried numerous genes and mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance. The mecA gene was detected in all the sequenced isolates. These isolates were assigned to five sequence types (STs), with ST8 (55.56%, n = 15/27), ST152 (18.52%, n = 5/27), and ST121 (18.52%, n = 5/27) being the most common. These 27 isolates carried multiple virulence genes, including the genes encoding the Panton–Valentine leukocidin toxin (48.15%, n = 13/27), and the tst gene (29.63%, n = 8/27), associated with toxic shock syndrome. This study highlights the need to implement a multimodal strategy for reducing the risk of the cross-transmission of MRSA in hospitals.

Background Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is considered a top priority pathogen by the World Health Organization for combatting increasing antibiotic resistance and development of new drugs. Since it was originally reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2009, the quick spread of the blaNDM−1 gene encoding a New-Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) is increasingly recognized as a serious threat. This gene is usually carried by large plasmids and has already been documented in diverse bacterial species, including A. baumannii. Here, we report the first detection of a NDM-1-producing A. baumannii strain isolated in Benin. Case presentation: A 31-year-old woman was admitted to a surgical unit with a diagnosis of post-cesarean hematoma. An extensively-drug resistant A. baumannii strain solely susceptible to amikacin, colistin and ciprofloxacin, and resistant to several other antibiotics including ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem, gentamicin, tobramycin, ceftazidime/avibactam, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, was isolated from the wound. Production of NDM-1 was demonstrated by immunochromatographic testing. Whole genome sequencing of the isolate confirmed the presence of blaNDM−1, but also antibiotic resistance genes against multiple beta-lactamases and other classes of antibiotics, in addition to several virulence genes. Moreover, the blaNDM−1 gene was found to be present in a Tn125 transposon integrated on a plasmid. Conclusions The discovery of this extensively-drug resistant A. baumannii strain carrying blaNDM−1 in Benin is worrying, especially because of its high potential risk of horizontal gene transfer due to being integrated in a transposon located on a plasmid. Strict control and prevention measures should be taken, once NDM-1 positive A. baumannii has been identified to prevent transfer of this resistance gene to other Enterobacterales. Capacity building is required by governmental agencies to provision suitable antibiotic treatment options and strategies, in combination with strengthening laboratory services for detection and surveillance of this pathogen.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is considered a top priority pathogen by the World Health Organization for combatting increasing antibiotic resistance and development of new drugs. Since it was originally reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2009, the quick spread of the blaNDM-1 gene encoding a New-Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) is increasingly recognized as a serious threat. This gene is usually carried by large plasmids and has already been documented in diverse bacterial species, including A. baumannii. Here, we report the first detection of a NDM-1-producing A. baumannii strain isolated in Benin.Case presentation: A 31-year-old woman was admitted to a surgical unit with a diagnosis of post-cesarean hematoma. An extensively-drug resistant A. baumannii strain solely susceptible to amikacin, colistin and ciprofloxacin, and resistant to several other antibiotics including ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem, gentamicin, tobramycin, ceftazidime/avibactam, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, was isolated from the wound. Production of NDM-1 was demonstrated by immunochromatographic testing. Whole genome sequencing of the isolate confirmed the presence of blaNDM-1, but also antibiotic resistance genes against multiple beta-lactamases and other classes of antibiotics, in addition to several virulence genes. Moreover, the blaNDM-1 gene was found to be present in a Tn125 transposon integrated on a plasmid.Conclusions: The discovery of this extensively-drug resistant A. baumannii strain carrying blaNDM-1 in Benin is worrying, especially because of its high potential risk of horizontal gene transfer due to being integrated in a transposon located on a plasmid. Strict control and prevention measures should be taken, once NDM-1 positive A. baumannii has been identified to prevent transfer of this resistance gene to other Enterobacterales. Capacity building is required by governmental agencies to provision suitable antibiotic treatment options and strategies, in combination with strengthening laboratory services for detection and surveillance of this pathogen.