Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on dispensing counters of community pharmacies in Klang Valley

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care, develop in a hospital or other healthcare facility, and first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care. HAIs are linked to high mortality rates, prolonged stays, increased hospital overhead costs, and financial burdens on patients. Bacterial transmission from medical personnel or the environment, or patient-to-patient contact are all potential causes of these infections. A molecular epidemiology approach is needed to examine the contribution of risk factors and the distribution of "ESKAPE" pathogens within the hospital environment. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of ESKAPE bacterial pathogens in the environment of pediatric intensive care units over a 30-day time interval using shotgun metagenomics. We collected samples from handwashing sinks, the floor around patients, and ventilator screens and tubes in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia in March 2022. We determine taxonomic profiles and also detect resistome, and virulome distribution of ESKAPE pathogens on various environmental surfaces through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The microbiomes of the floor, sink, and mechanical ventilator exhibit a diverse composition of microbial communities, featuring significant species richness based on Shannon and Simpson’s index. These microbiomes encompass a wide array of microbial species, including ESKAPE bacterial pathogens, as well as profiles related to resistome and virulome. ESKAPE pathogens, especially Acinetobacter baumannii, predominated in the PICU environment. Most virulome have been associated with metabolism/nutrition and adhesion. Noteworthy findings include resistome genes characterized by mechanisms like efflux pumps (MDR) and alterations in antibiotic targets.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Metagenomic Analysis of "ESKAPE" Pathogens in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of General Hospital Yogyakarta Indonesia

Rizki,

Murni,

Aman

et al. 2024

“…Antibiotic use exerts a selective pressure on resistant bacteria, which creates a risk for the transference of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) to other bacteria via horizontal gene transfer mechanisms such as transformation, conjugation, or transduction [14,16] . This gradually precipitates the emergence of multi-antibiotic-resistance bacteria pathogenic to other animals and humans [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] . Besides, the residual antibiotic detected in animal flesh is another alarming concern for public health, particularly when the concentration of antibiotics exceeds the maximum residue limit [25,26] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probiotics: Comprehensive Exploration of the Growth Promotion Mechanisms in Shrimps

Goh¹,

Tan²,

Law³

et al. 2023

As feed accounts for a significant proportion of a farm’s expenditure, animal nutrition is one of the key profit determinants. Attributed to the size-dependent market value, enhancing shrimps' growth is essential to maximize profit. Despite not being the best option, antibiotics are often used as growth-promoting agents in farming. Although this trend is less explicit in aquaculture, increasing production yield is paramount, especially when intensive aquafarming compromises animal growth and increases disease prevalence. However, the environmental and clinical pitfalls of indiscriminate antibiotic usage are surfacing. Fortunately, increasing evidence demonstrated probiotics as a safer, more sustainable, and environmental-friendly substitute for antibiotics. Nonetheless, most studies are observational, and the growth-promotion mechanisms of these agents are yet to be elucidated. In this light, this review aims to decipher the growth promotion mechanisms of probiotics in shrimps based on the primary works conducted. Evidently, probiotic treatment modulates the gut microbiome composition. The growth promotion effect of probiotics is partly mediated through the production of bioactive compounds such as short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and polyamines. Besides, elevated digestive enzyme activities following the introduction of probiotics may help enhance digestibility and utilization. Histological changes at the hepatopancreas and intestine were evident. Furthermore, probiotics may reinforce the protective mechanisms in the gut and strengthen immune function. Treated shrimps demonstrate better appetite and exhibit superior metabolic and growth-related genes profile. Contrasting these recognized mechanisms with antibiotics helps construct the initial framework for designing high-quality probiotics for growth enhancement in farmed animals.

“…Some predictions show the major future health damage that humanity could have due to the re-emergence of these infectious diseases. Moreover, the search for antimicrobial molecules has become an essential approach to replace antibiotics which are undergoing elimination because of the inefficiency rendered by resistance [13][14][15] . Among the most sought-after products, natural substances occupy the first place because they have already shown promising antibacterial effects [16][17][18] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioactivity of Walnut: Investigating the Triterpenoid Saponin Extracts of Juglans regia Kernels for Antioxidant, Anti-diabetic, and Antimicrobial Properties

Elouafy¹,

Mortada²,

Yadini³

et al. 2023

The increasing demand for plant-based medicines makes plant research attractive to find natural alternatives that can replace synthetic products or at least reduce their use. Saponins are a group of natural phytochemical compounds in most herbs, vegetables, and legumes. There are two different types of saponin compounds, which can be classified based on the nature of the aglycone bound to the oligosaccharide fragments, whether it is a steroid or triterpenoid. This paper is devoted to saponins with triterpenoid aglycone and aims to study the relationship between their content and several biological activities in different Juglans regia kernel extracts, including antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial activities. Antioxidant activity was assessed against two free radicals: DPPH and ABTS. Oleanolic acid was used as a standard to quantify triterpenoid saponins, measured by the vanillin method, whereas Acarbose and Tetracycline were used as positive controls to evaluate the α-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities, respectively, of walnut kernel extracts. Findings show that hydroalcoholic extract (EtOH 70%) has a considerable content of phenolic compounds, with 59.51 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g in total polyphenol contents, while the content of total flavonoids and condensed tannins were 3.14 ± 0.27 mg QE/g and 85.65 ± 0.37 mg CE/g of crude extract, respectively. In terms of antioxidant activity, the butanolic extract proved to be the most effective against DPPH with IC50 = 7.74 ± 1.49 µg/mL, while the precipitated extract showed the highest scavenging activity against the ABTS free radical with IC50 = 33.14 ± 2.96 µg/mL. In addition, butanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Juglans regia kernels showed an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity even more efficiently than synthetic drugs such as Acarbose, with IC50 values of 11.66 µg/mL and 16.17 µg/mL, respectively, versus 18.01 µg/mL in Acarbose. The evaluation of the antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia strains revealed that some extracts could inhibit these bacteria. This study successfully assessed the bioactivities of the extracts, suggesting that the extracts of medicinal plants can demonstrate stronger bioactivity than pure synthetic compounds.