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Background:Legionellaceae contains Legionella genus with over 52 species and 64 serogroups. It is one of the most important causes of respiratory disease in human. More than 30% of hospital-acquired pneumonia is caused by Legionella. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection acquired in hospital wards, particularly in intensive care unit (ICU). This disease approximately affects 9% to 20% of intubated patients. Mortality in these patients varies between 8% and 76%. Legionella is one of the important factors for infection in intubated patients.Objectives:The present study was aimed to investigate the use of molecular methods in diagnosis of infection caused by Legionella pneumophila.Materials and Methods:In this study, 109 samples of lung secretions collected from intubated patients admitted to ICU wards of four university hospitals in a three-month period were examined. Cultivation and Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods were used to assess L. pneumophila colonization in these samples.Results:Eleven samples had positive results using real time PCR analysis of 16s rRNA gene fragments specific for L. pneumophila, but according to culture method on specific buffered charcoal-yeast extract medium (BCYE), no positive cases were detected. Of the total positive cases, six were males, one female and four infants. The seven adults aged 40-65 years.Conclusions:Using molecular methods in diagnosis of infection caused by L. pneumophila has a great value because of its high specificity and rapid diagnosis potency.

Background:The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibiotics is a big problem, especially in burns and wound infections. Laser irradiation affects microorganisms by denaturing their proteins, which involves changes in the chemical or physical properties of the protein.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeic acid and low-power laser light co-exposure on Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn wounds. Materials and Methods: Ten bacterial samples were collected from patients with burn wound infections at Shahid Motahhari medical center of Tehran. The He-Ne laser was used in this study with output power of 2 mW. Results: The data significantly indicated that both the caffeic acid and laser treatment alone reduced the number of colony-forming units compared to control cultures. Co-exposure of bacterial suspensions to caffeic acid and laser at three time points showed the following number of colony-forming units 240.23 ± 60.15, 148.13 ± 52.66 and 84.57 ± 35, respectively. The best concentrations of caffeic acid to achieve countable colonies were 1.5 and 1.75 mM. At the concentration of 1.5 mM of caffeic acid, the number of colonies significantly reduced to 280.78 ± 59 (P = 0.008) while at 1.75 mM the number of colonies reduced to 234.07 ± 72.28 (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Caffeic acid treatment reduced bacterial growth and resulted in a decreased number of colony formation. The simultaneous effect of caffeic acid and laser at three time courses showed a synergic effect in reducing colony formation compared to the control and caffeic acid, and laser alone.