Whole-genome sequence analyses revealed the presence of ( = 31), ( = 8), ( = 1), or ( = 1) in extensively drug-resistant and pandrug-resistant organisms isolated from in-patients in 10 private hospitals (2012 to 2013) in Durban, South Africa. Two novel NDM-1-encoding plasmids from were circularized by PacBio sequencing. In p19-10_01 [IncFIB(K); 223.434 bp], was part of a Tn-like structure (16.276 bp) delineated by IS The multireplicon plasmid p18-43_01 [IncR_1/IncFIB(pB171)/IncFII(Yp); 212.326 bp] shared an 80-kb region with p19-10_01, not including the -containing region. The two plasmids were used as references for tracing NDM-1-encoding plasmids in the other genome assemblies. The p19-10_01 sequence was detected in ( = 7) only, whereas p18-43_01 was tracked to ( = 4), ( = 1), ( = 11), spp. ( = 7), and ( = 1), revealing horizontal spread of this -bearing plasmid structure. Global phylogeny showed clustering of the (18/20) isolates together with closely related carbapenemase-negative ST101 isolates from other geographical origins. The South African isolates were divided into three phylogenetic subbranches, where each group had distinct resistance and replicon profiles, carrying either p19-10_01, p18-10_01, or pCHE-A1 (8,201 bp). The latter plasmid carried and within an integron mobilization unit. Our findings imply independent plasmid acquisition followed by local dissemination. Additionally, we detected carried by pPKPN4 in (ST14) and contained by a pNDM-MGR194-like genetic structure in (ST167), adding even more complexity to the multilayer molecular mechanisms behind nosocomial spread of carbapenem-resistant in Durban, South Africa.
Preeclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality, due to ineffective treatment and diagnostic strategies, compounded by the lack of clarity on the etiology of the disorder. Although several clinical and biological markers of preeclampsia have been evaluated, they have proven to be ineffective in providing a definitive diagnosis during the various stages of the disorder. Exosomes have emerged as ideal biomarkers of pathological states, such as cancer, and have more recently gained interest in pregnancy-related complications, due to their role in cellular communication in normal and complicated pregnancies. This occurs as a result of the specific placenta-derived exosomal molecular cargo, which may be involved in normal pregnancy-associated immunological events, such as the maintenance of maternal–fetal tolerance. This review provides perspectives on placenta-derived exosomes as possible biomarkers for the diagnosis/prognosis of preeclampsia. Using keywords, online databases were searched to identify relevant publications to review the potential use of placenta-derived exosomes as biomarkers of preeclampsia.
Candida auris
is an invasive healthcare-associated fungal pathogen. Cases of candidemia, defined as illness in patients with
Candida
cultured from blood, were detected through national laboratory-based surveillance in South Africa during 2016–2017. We identified viable isolates by using mass spectrometry and sequencing. Among 6,669 cases (5,876 with species identification) from 269 hospitals, 794 (14%) were caused by
C. auris
. The incidence risk for all candidemia at 133 hospitals was 83.8 (95% CI 81.2–86.4) cases/100,000 admissions. Prior systemic antifungal drug therapy was associated with a 40% increased adjusted odds of
C. auris
fungemia compared with bloodstream infection caused by other
Candida
species (adjusted odds ratio 1.4 [95% CI 0.8–2.3]). The crude in-hospital case-fatality ratio did not differ between
Candida
species and was 45% for
C. auris
candidemia, compared with 43% for non–
C. auris
candidemia.
C. auris
has caused a major epidemiologic shift in candidemia in South Africa.
MS in KZN is more frequent than previously believed and occurs in all racial groups being most frequent in whites followed by Indians. MS, although rare, does occur in blacks. The increased prevalence figures may reflect better case ascertainment and use of modern diagnostic techniques. However, an absolute increase in numbers cannot be excluded.
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