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Hassoun N, Kassem II, Hamze M, El Tom J, Papon N, Osman M. Antifungal Use and Resistance in a Lower-Middle-Income Country: The Case of Lebanon. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1413. [PMID: 37760710 PMCID: PMC10525119 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Antifungal resistance is often underestimated in both healthcare and non-clinical settings. In LMICs, it is believed that the inappropriate use of antifungals, limited surveillance systems, and low diagnostic capacities are significant drivers of resistance. Like other LMICs, Lebanon lacks antifungal use and resistance surveillance programs, and the impact of antifungal resistance in the country remains unclear, especially during the unfolding economic crisis that has severely affected medical care and access to safe food and water. Interestingly, the widespread use of antifungals in medicine and agriculture has raised concerns about the development of antifungal resistance in Lebanon. In this light, we aimed to survey available antifungal drugs in the country and evaluate susceptibility patterns of prevalent fungal species to guide empiric treatments and develop antifungal stewardship programs in Lebanon. We noted that the economic crisis resulted in significant increases in antifungal drug prices. Additionally, a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases identified 15 studies on fungal infections and antifungal resistance conducted from 1998 to 2023 in Lebanon. While data on antifungal resistance are limited, 87% of available studies in Lebanon focused on candidiasis, while the remaining 13% were on aspergillosis. Overall, we observed a marked antimicrobial resistance among Candida and Aspergillus species. Additionally, incidences of Candida auris infections have increased in Lebanese hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a uniform resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin-B. Taken together, a One Health approach, reliable diagnostics, and prudent antifungal use are required to control the spread of resistant fungal pathogens in healthcare and agricultural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Hassoun
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Issmat I. Kassem
- Center for Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, USA;
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Jad El Tom
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon;
| | - Nicolas Papon
- University of Angers, University of Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France;
| | - Marwan Osman
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Dabbousi AA, Osman M, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. High rates of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in human campylobacteriosis in the Middle East and North Africa. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:957-967. [PMID: 35796073 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter is one of the main causative agents of bacterial gastrointestinal infections. Recently, a rise in the incidence of campylobacteriosis has been reported worldwide. Despite the clinical importance of this zoonotic disease, its microbiological diagnosis is not systematically performed in clinical laboratories in developing countries such as the Middle East and North Africa region. Multidrug-resistant Campylobacter isolates, particularly against erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, have been highly reported. The findings of this study highlight the critical need to urge clinical laboratories in the Middle East and North Africa region to include screening for Campylobacter in the routine stool culture of diarrheal patients. Although there is a paucity of data regarding the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis, alarming rates of infection prevalence and antimicrobial resistance were found in Egypt, Iran, Qatar and Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marwan Osman
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.,Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
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Khalife S, Resendiz-Sharpe A, Lagrou K, Fréalle E. Molecular identification and azole susceptibility testing of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolated from soil samples in Lebanon. J Mycol Med 2021; 32:101242. [PMID: 35030518 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Khalife
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
| | - Agustin Resendiz-Sharpe
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Mycosis, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emilie Fréalle
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL, Lille F-59000, France; CHU Lille, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Lille F-59000, France
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Osman M, Rafei R, Ismail MB, Omari SA, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Cazer C, Karah N, Abbara A, Hamze M. Antimicrobial resistance in the protracted Syrian conflict: halting a war in the war. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:825-845. [PMID: 34223789 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Syrian conflict has damaged key infrastructure and indirectly affected almost all parts of the Middle East and Europe, with no end in sight. Exhausting conditions created by the Syrian crisis and related massive displacement promote the emergence of numerous public health problems that fuel antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. Here, we explore the current situation of the Syrian displaced population, and AMR inside Syria and among refugees in host countries. We then suggest a roadmap of selected key interventions and strategies to address the threat of AMR in the context of the Syrian crisis. These recommendations are intended to urge health policy-makers in governments and international health organizations to optimize and push for implementing an effective policy taking into consideration the current obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Bachar Ismail
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.,Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Sarah Al Omari
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hassan Mallat
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Casey Cazer
- Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Nabil Karah
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Aula Abbara
- Department of Infection, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie, Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
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Abboud Z, Galuppo L, Tolone M, Vitale M, Puleio R, Osman M, Loria GR, Hamze M. Molecular Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes of Bacterial Pathogens from Bovine and Caprine Mastitis in Northern Lebanon. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1148. [PMID: 34071800 PMCID: PMC8228836 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mastitis is an infectious disease encountered in dairy animals worldwide that is currently a growing concern in Lebanon. This study aimed at investigating the etiology of the main mastitis-causing pathogens in Northern Lebanon, determining their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and identifying their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. A total of 101 quarter milk samples were collected from 77 cows and 11 goats presenting symptoms of mastitis on 45 dairy farms. Bacterial identification was carried out through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Molecular characterization included polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC among Enterobacterales isolates, and virulence factors among Staphylococcus isolates. Escherichia coli isolates were subjected to phylogenetic typing by a quadruplex PCR method. The most frequently identified species were Streptococcus uberis (19.2%), Streptococcus agalactiae (15.1%), E. coli (12.3%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.96%). Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to macrolides and tetracycline, whereas gram-negative bacteria displayed resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline. Two ESBL genes, blaTEM (83.3%) and blaOXA (16.7%), and one AmpC beta-lactamase gene, blaCMY-II (16.7%), were detected among six E. coli isolates, which mainly belonged to phylogenetic group B1. Among Staphylococcus spp., the mecA gene was present in three isolates. Furthermore, four isolates contained at least one toxin gene, and all S. aureus isolates carried the ica operon. These findings revealed the alarming risk of AMR in the Lebanese dairy chain and the importance of monitoring antimicrobial usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahie Abboud
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon;
| | - Lucia Galuppo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.V.); (R.P.)
| | - Marco Tolone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maria Vitale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.V.); (R.P.)
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.V.); (R.P.)
| | - Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon;
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Guido Ruggero Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (L.G.); (M.V.); (R.P.)
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli P.O. Box 146404, Lebanon;
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