Background. The microbiological risk of the hospital environment, including inert surfaces, medical devices, and equipment, represents a real problem. Objective. This study is aimed at demonstrating and assessing the antibacterial activity of three synthetic disinfectants classified as quaternary ammoniums on different bacterial strains (Gram-negative and Gram-positive like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus) isolated from the hospital environment. The reference strains included Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 used as negative control strains. Method. Three quaternary ammonium disinfectants were tested: DDN9® (0.5%) which contains didecylmethylpolyoxyethylammonium propionate as an active substance, spray (0.4%) containing quaternary ammonium compounds, and Phagosurf ND® (0.4%) with didecyldimethylammonium chloride. Their effect was evaluated using the disk diffusion technique and the broth dilution methods, allowing the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and then the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Result. Only the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and some strains of Gram-negative bacteria were inhibited by the three synthetic disinfectants. NDD9® demonstrated an antibacterial effect only against the Gram-positive strains (S. aureus and S. aureus ATCC 29213) with a MIC of 0.25 mg/ml. The disinfectant spray showed effect against all four strains including E. coli (9), S. aureus, E. coli ATCC 25922, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 with an inhibitory concentration of 4 mg/ml, while the growth of S. aureus ATCC 29213 was inhibited at 2 mg/ml. The third disinfectant, Phagosurf ND®, inhibited only the growth of S. aureus ATCC 29213 at a MIC of 4 mg/ml. Conclusion. This study is the first here in Morocco to evaluate the bacterial activity of products intended for the control of the healthcare environment. The results obtained on the three disinfectants tested reveal an ineffectiveness against some isolated strains from the hospital environment.

The Culex pipiens mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) is highly suspected to be the vector responsible for the spread of several parasitic and viral diseases. The use of synthetic insecticides is generally the preferred method of controlling these mosquitoes’ proliferation. However, it has led to resistance problems in target mosquitoes and environmental damage. Hence, diverse plant extracts could be considered as an alternative and potential source as mosquito control agents. In this study, essential oils of Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia and Lavandula dentata spp. dentata that are growing in Morocco were examined for their insecticidal effects on Culex pipiens larvae. The bioassay was performed according to a methodology inspired by the standard protocol of the World Health Organization. The mortality rate was determined after 24 hours of exposure, and probit regression analysis was used to calculate LC50 and LC90. The chemical analysis revealed that the principal compounds of L. angustifolia subsp. essential oils include linalool, linalyl acetate, geraniol, lavandulyl acetate, camphor, β-caryophyllene, terpinen-4-ol, β-myrcene, and 1,8-cineole, while the essential oil of L. dentata spp. was mainly composed of 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, trans-pinocarveol, linalool, and borneol. These volatile compounds have shown a toxic effect against Culex pipiens larvae, with lethal concentrations LC50 and LC90 being, respectively, 140 µg/ml and 450 µg/ml, for the L. angustifolia subsp. essential oil. Meanwhile, they were estimated at 2670 µg/ml and 7400 µg/ml, respectively, for the L. dentata spp. essential oil. These results suggest using essential oils of two species of Lavandula to control the Culex pipiens mosquito. It could be useful for the study of new natural larvicidal compounds.

Background and Objectives: Food in healthcare settings are complementary to medical treatment, hence it should be produced in good sanitary conditions. In fact, hospitalized and immune-compromised patients are more likely to have foodborne infections than the rest of the community. The aim of our study is to evaluate the microbiological quality of food contact surfaces in a hospital kitchen in Morocco. Materials and Methods: A total of 238 samples was collected from kitchen surfaces and analyzed for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMC), Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus count and the presence of Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Results: The bacteriological analysis shows that the highest rates of compliance with good hygienic conditions were obtained in baking worktops (77%) and serving meal worktops (50%) and the vegetables cutting boards (45.83%). In contrary, some surfaces show a low level of compliance, such as the raw meat cutting boards (96%). The isolated bacteria were S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Serratia odorifera, Raoultela ornithiaolytica and Pseudomonas aeroguinosa. Conclusion: The actual results indicate that the high levels of bacterial counts on kitchen surfaces, presents an evident need to improve the hygienic process and adopt an HACCP system in this facility.

This study was conducted in order to know the colonization rate of MDR enterobacteria in neonates during their hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Furthermore, we investigated risk factors for potential colonization and molecular epidemiology of isolated resistant bacteria. This prospective study was carried out in the neonatology and intensive care unit department of the University Hospital of Fez (Morocco) from February 2013 to July 2015. All consecutive admitted newborns were screened for intestinal and nasal carriage of MDR enterobacteria at admission of the babies and during the hospitalization. During the study period, a total of 641 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominated bacteria. Bacterial identification and antibiograms were performed according to the international standards. On admission, 455 newborns were screened. A median age of these newborns was 1 day with an extended 147 days and their average weight was 2612 ± 1023 grams. 22.4% of neonates were found colonized by an ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), 8.7% by a carbapenemases producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). During hospitalization, 207 of newborns were included in the acquisition study. 59.4% of newborns acquired an ESBL-E during their stay, 12.5% has acquired CPE. The blaCTXM-15 gene was the most frequently detected (81.2%) among ESBL-E. While, all CPE has expressed the blaOXA-48 gene exclusively. Two risk factors have been significantly associated with MDR enterobacteria colonization at admission which are newborns admission from maternity of the university hospital (95% CI, 1.859–5.129, P = 0.000) and neurological distress (95% CI, 1.038 to 4.694, P = 0.040). During hospitalization, the none risk factor was significantly associated with the carriage of MDR-E. The high rate of colonization, the MDR enterobacteria and the resistance genes found represent good indicator of cross-transmission in the NICU. An active strategy to control the spread of MDR enterobacteria should be applied.