Background: Staphylococcus aureus has a major role in different types of eye infections as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and endophthalmitis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was almost restricted to hospitals, but its prevalence has been increased in people outside hospitals. The cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus has protein A which can bind to the Fc portion of IgG. This ptnA is encoded by surface protein A of Staphylococcus aureus (spa) gene that contains a highly polymorphic sequence which is composed of repeats of 24-bp. Sequence typing of the spa gene repeat region is used to study the epidemiology of MRSA. The purpose of this study was screening of MRSA strains among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Hospital of the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO), Giza, Egypt, and detecting spa gene in their DNAs by PCR. Results: In the present study, 81 samples from healthcare providers in the hospital of the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt, were screened for MRSA. Out of these 81 samples, 41 isolates (50.6%) were identified as coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Twelve staphylococcal isolates were resistant to both oxacillin and cefoxitin, and those were identified as MRSA with a percentage of 14.8% (12/81). Conventional PCR could detect spa gene in 10 out of 12 DNA MRSA with a percentage of 83.3% (10/12). Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of MRSA in HCWs was 14.8%. Since amplification of spa gene by PCR is a necessary preliminary step for spa typing of MRSA and since using different primers for spa gene amplification might affect PCR results, then proper selection of the primers and thermal cycling reaction conditions are recommended for PCR performance and spa typing.

Background: The elaboration of allergic diseases as allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and allergic rhinitis (AR) is caused by the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Trans-acting T-cell-specific transcription factor (GATA3) is a transcription factor that readjust the T helper (Th2) cell response. High expression of GATA3 in Th2 cells elevate Th2 differentiation, resulting in the release of large amounts of immunoglobulin E (IgE) from B-cells and eventually aggravating allergic disease.Objective: The present work aims to investigate the association between GATA3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) with allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis at locus rs1269486 in the promoter region using RFLP-PCR among a group of Egyptian patients. Methodology: Cross sectional study included a total of 60 participants; 20 AC patients, 20 AR patients and 20 healthy individuals. Peripheral blood samples were taken and DNA was extracted followed by RFLP-PCR to analyze GATA3 (rs1269486) SNPs. Results: A substantially higher prevalence of the homozygous rs1269486 GG genotype and G allele appeared in the AR patients and AC patients, compared to the control subjects (P-value 0.003, and 0.002 respectively). Conclusion: This study showed a highly significant association between GATA3 SNP at locus, rs1269486 in the promoter region in the studied Egyptian patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis suggesting the role of GATA3 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of AC and AR.

Background: Multidrug resistance organisms (MDRO) emergence is recognized as a serious threat to worldwide health and welfare. Infections with MDRO are associated with longer hospitalization periods, relatively high infection-related death, and greater health expenditures. The appearance of carbapenems resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and vancomycin resistant Staph aureus (VRS) makes the condition worse, since carbapenems and vancomycin were the drug of choice in treatment of MDR Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin resistant Staph aureus (MRSA). Accordingly the evaluation of new drugs used as substitution to other resistant antibiotics became an urgent need worldwide. Objective: The objective of this research is to assess the in vitro activity of ceftaroline, ceftazidime-avibactam and colistin activity against various complicated infections with resistant bacteria. Methodology: Antibiotic susceptibility of all clinical isolates was performed by the disk diffusion method, and results in interpretation were performed according to CLSI guidelines ( 2019) Results: concerning Gram-negative bacteria, ceftazidime-avibactam and colistin showed high susceptibility (>85%) and (100%) respectively against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae, with enhanced antibacterial activity due to the inclusion of avibactam to ceftazidime drug. Ceftaroline demonstrated susceptibility ranged from (53% -75.8%) against Gram-negative bacteria and (> 75%) against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA. Conclusion: results showed acceptable susceptibility of both Gram negative and Gram positive isolates against tested antibiotics, however further investigations on increased number of isolates are required.

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