BackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae causes life-threatening infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, and febrile bacteremia, particularly in young children. The increasing number of drug-resistant isolates has highlighted the necessity for intervening and controlling disease. To achieve this, information is needed on serotype distribution and patterns of antibiotic resistance in children.MethodsAll cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children aged less than 15 yr recorded at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed for serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility. Isolates were collected from 78 consecutive patients with IPD between 2009 and 2012. All collected isolates were subjected to serotyping by co-agglutination, sequential multiplex PCR, and single PCR sequetyping as previously described.ResultsThe most frequently isolated IPD serotypes were 23F, 6B, 19F, 18C, 4, 14, and 19A, which are listed in decreasing order and cover 77% of total isolates. The serotype coverage for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7, PCV10, and PCV13 was 77%, 81%, and 90%, respectively. Results from sequential multiplex PCR agreed with co-agglutination results. All serotypes could not be correctly identified using single PCR sequetyping. Minimum inhibitory concentration showed that 50 (64%) isolates were susceptible to penicillin, whereas 70 (90%) isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime.ConclusionsThe most common pneumococcal serotypes occur with frequencies similar to those found in countries where the PCV has been introduced. The most common serotypes in this study are included in the PCVs. Addition of 23A and 15 to the vaccine would improve the PCV performance in IPD prevention.

Gram-negative bacteria communicate among themselves by cell-to-cell signaling molecules that are essential not only for interaction within the cell population, but also for host-pathogen interactions during infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are opportunistic Gram-negative pathogens associated with a broad range of acute and chronic infections, as well as causing severe nosocomial problems. The quorum-sensing signaling system controls not only multiple virulence determinants such as the assembly of virulence factors essential for colonizing and perseverance in different environmental conditions, but also interference with the host core signaling pathways. We discuss the quorum-sensing role in host response during infections, focusing on the collision of quorum-sensing molecules with the immune response and host cell apoptosis modulation pathways. The pathways used during the infectious course could open new perspectives for the expansion of specific antimicrobial strategies based on communication control of this extremely adaptable and resistant opportunistic pathogen.

Carbapenems are broad-spectrum b-lactam antibiotics that act by inhibition of cell wall synthesis. Various families of carbapenemases comprising numerous members have been identified, which may be plasmid or chromosomally encoded. More than one mechanism of carbapenem resistance (carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, CRE) has been identified with sporadic reports of CRE infection across the world. Appearance of carbapenem resistance in enterobacteriaceae is worrying as infection with these organisms has high mortality rates with fewer treatment options, which are expensive and have more adverse effects. Colistin and tigecycline are the currently available options for treatment of CRE infections. Carbapenem resistance in the enterobacteriaceae and other Gram-negative bacteria may be due to carbapenemasemediated or noncarbapenemase-mediated mechanisms. In our review, we have compared different forms of carbapenem resistance and discussed issues related to susceptibility testing, treatment options, and subsequent clinical outcome.

-A study, to design, fabricate and performance evaluation of the domestic gas oven was carried. The oven was designed and was fabricated with an outer dimension of 450 mm length × 350 mm width × 380 mm height made up stainless steel and the inner dimension of 380 mm length × 310 mm width × 340 mm height made up of aluminum sheet and silicone rubber and asbestos used as an insulator. The gas burner was fixed in the stand for baking and the deflector plate placed in the bottom of the baking chamber and the bimetallic thermometer was fixed in the oven and provided with the vent for the removal of humid air. The oven was tested in order to determine its function the model works on natural convection. The effectiveness was analyzed by baking cake, cookies and muffins. Results showed that the cake was baked in 28 min at a temperature of 180˚C it depends on the size of the cake, cookies took 10 min at a temperature of 150˚C and the muffins were baked in 13min at a temperature of 180˚C showing higher energy efficiency by reducing the energy, cost and the time of baking.