No abstract

Drug-resistant bacteria from the genus Enterococcus are currently among the most important pathogens behind healthcareassociated infections. The drug resistance of these bacteria has been on the increase since the 1980s, leeding to their multi-drug resistance. Selective pressure, present mainly in the hospital environment, contributed to this phenomenon. However, also outside the hospital environment selective pressure comes into play, namely the use of antibiotics as promoters of growth in animal husbandry and in food production. Household pets form a reservoir of drug-resistant enterococcal strains, too. The exchange of resistance genes between enterococcal strains from different niches poses a threat to public health.

Background: Conventional brackets are often used during orthodontic therapy of patients with malocclusion. T heir complicated construction greatly inhibits oral hygiene, which predisposes to increased carriage of microbiota. Orthodontic brackets could be a reservoir of yeast and predispose to oral candidosis.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess Candida prevalence and role of oral hygiene during fixed appliance therapy. Further aim was to characterize isolated yeasts according to their ability to biofilm formation.Methods: Seventeen participants (average age 17 ± 7 years) were monitored by taking oral rinses, elastomeric ligatures samples and evaluation of Approximal Plaque Index (API) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) before and after placement of orthodontic conventional brackets for 12 weeks. Isolated yeasts w ere counted and biofilm formation was evaluated.Results: One hundred and sixteen samples (67 oral rinses and 49 orthodontic elastomers) were collected. Ten patients (58.8% subjects) were Candida-carriers (2 were colonized after bracket placement) and C. albicans was the most common species. The average number of yeasts in the oral cavity showed some fluctuation during the study but in general with an upward trend (adj. R2 = 0.7967, p = 0.07025). The correlation of median number of yeasts with periodontal indexes (API, GBI) was found. I n Candida-carries average API values decreased (adj. R 2 = 0.95; p = 0.01709), while in non- Candida -carriers average GBI values increased (adj. R 2 = 0.92; p = 0.0256).Conclusions: Treatment with orthodontic appliances promotes Candida yeast colonization which is variable over time in terms of strain and species, with domination of C. albicans, without an increased biofilm-forming activity. In carriers, the API value decreases over time, and in non-colonized patients the GBI value increases – which may have a predictive significance for the development of oral candidiasis during orthodontic treatment.

Currently, there are three known subtypes of scabies: ordinary, crusted, and bullous. The worldwide prevalence of scabies remains high in the 21st century. To decrease the social, economic, and psychological impact on the enormous population infected, a lot of important work has been completed over the last 20 years concerning the management of scabies. For example, a standardization of guidelines for the treatment of scabies has been completed and programs have been designed for the prevention and treatment in endemic populations, called mass drug administrations. Unfortunately, these only apply to the ordinary form of scabies. Moreover, resistance to the drugs currently used in treatment is growing, which imposes the need to search for new treatments. For this purpose, new acaricides are being developed to enhance the therapeutic options for the patients’ benefit and effectively treat this disease. There is also the necessity for prevention before the development of scabies. An effective vaccine has the potential to protect people before this disease, especially in endemic areas. Unfortunately, there are no such vaccines against Sarcoptes yet.

Background/Objectives: The genus Acinetobacter demonstrates resistance to antibiotics and has been shown to spread in the hospital environment causing epidemic outbreaks among hospitalized patients. The objectives of the present study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and clonality among Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Materials and Methods: The study involved 6 (I Outbreak) and 3 (II Outbreak) A. baumannii strains isolated from patients hospitalized in vascular surgery unit. Results: All tested A. baumannii strains were extensively drug resistant (XDR) and all the isolates were carbapenem-resistant and among them, all carried the blaOXA-51 gene, the blaOXA-24 gene, as well as the blaOXA-23 gene. All of the investigated strains had the ability to form a biofilm, but all of them produced less biofilm than the reference strain. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) showed that all strains belonged to the ST2 clone. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) divided the tested outbreak strains into two clones (A and B). Conclusion: This study shows a nosocomial spread of XDR A. baumannii ST2 having the blaOXA-51 gene, the blaOXA-24 gene, as well as the blaOXA-23 gene, low biofilm formers, that was prevalent in the vascular surgery unit. To identify the current situation of vascular surgery departments targeted epidemiological investigation was needed. Effective implementation of infection control prevented the spread of the epidemic outbreaks.