Background: COVID-19 is known as a new viral infection. Viral-bacterial co-infections are one of the biggest medical concerns, resulting in increased mortality rates. To date, few studies have investigated bacterial superinfections in COVID-19 patients. Hence, we designed the current study on COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs. Methods: Nineteen patients admitted to our ICUs were enrolled in this study. To detect COVID-19, reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed. Endotracheal aspirate samples were also collected and cultured on different media to support the growth of the bacteria. After incubation, formed colonies on the media were identified using Gram staining and other biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out based on the CLSI recommendations. Results: Of nineteen COVID-19 patients, 11 (58%) patients were male and 8 (42%) were female, with a mean age of 67 years old. The average ICU length of stay was~15 days and at the end of the study, 18 cases (95%) expired and only was 1 case (5%) discharged. In total, all patients were found positive for bacterial infections, including seventeen Acinetobacter baumannii (90%) and two Staphylococcus aureus (10%) strains. There was no difference in the bacteria species detected in any of the sampling points. Seventeen of 17 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were resistant to the evaluated antibiotics. No metallo-beta-lactamases-producing Acinetobacter baumannii strain was found. One of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates was detected as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and isolated from the patient who died, while another Staphylococcus aureus strain was susceptible to tested drugs and identified as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the concern of superinfection in COVID-19 patients due to Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus. Consequently, it is important to pay attention to bacterial co-infections in critical patients positive for COVID-19.

ObjectiveThe emergence of metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a worldwide health concern. In this study, the first evaluation of MBL genes, blaIMP and blaVIM, in Escherichia coli resistant to imipenem isolated from urine and blood specimens in Qom, Iran is described. Three hundred urine and blood specimens were analysed to detect the presence of E. coli. Resistance to imipenem and other antimicrobials was determined by disk diffusion and MIC. MBL production was screened using CDDT. PCR was also carried out to determine the presence of blaIMP and blaVIM genes in imipenem-resistant isolates.ResultsIn total, 160 E. coli isolates were collected from March to May 2016. According to disk diffusion, high-level of resistance (20%) to cefotaxime was observed, whereas the lowest (1%) was detected for tetracycline. In addition, five isolates showed resistance to imipenem with a MIC ≥ 4 µg/mL. CDDT test confirmed that five isolates were MBL-producing strains, but no blaIMP and blaVIM genes were detected. Results of this study show a very low level of resistance to imipenem in our geographical area.

Background Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive bacterium that can be found in various natural and human-made environments. It is often involved in gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning; yet, it can rarely cause serious non-gastrointestinal tract infections. Case presentation Here we describe a case of B. cereus cutaneous infection of a wound on the hand of a young woman from a rural area in Iran. On admission, she had no systemic symptoms other than a cutaneous lesion. The identification of the causative agent was performed using sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the bacteria isolated from the wound. The isolated microorganism was identified as B. cereus. Targeted antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin was successful. Discussion and conclusion Although non-intestinal infections caused by B. cereus are rare, it should be taken into consideration that this organism might also cause infections in other parts of the body.