Community-Acquired urinary tract infection by pseudomonas oryzihabitans

Exploring structural features and potential lipid interactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type three secretion effector PemB by spectroscopic and calorimetric experiments

Type Three Secretion System (T3SS) is a sophisticated nano-scale weapon utilized by several gram negative bacteria under stringent spatio-temporal regulation to manipulate and evade host immune systems in order to cause infection. To the best of our knowledge, this present study is the first report where we embark upon characterizing inherent features of native type three secretion effector protein PemB through biophysical techniques. Herein, first, we demonstrate binding affinity of PemB for phosphoinositides through isothermal calorimetric titrations. Second, we shed light on its strong homo-oligomerization propensity in aqueous solution through multiple biophysical methods. Third, we also employ several spectroscopic techniques to delineate its disordered and helical conformation. Lastly, we perform a phylogenetic analysis of this new effector to elucidate evolutionary relationship with other organisms. Taken together, our results shall surely contribute to our existing knowledge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretome.

A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes

There is increasing attention focussed on the risks associated with mobile phones possibly serving as ‘Trojan Horse’ fomites for microbial transmission in healthcare settings. However, little is reported on the presence of microbes on community derived mobile phones which in 2021, numbered in the billions in circulation with majority being used on a daily basis. Identify viable microbial organisms swabbed from smartphones on a university campus. Entire surfaces of 5 mobile phones were swabbed and examined for their microbial content using pre-agar-based growths followed by downstream DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing analysis. All phones were contaminated with viable microbes. 173 bacteria, 8 fungi, 8 protists, 53 bacteriophages, 317 virulence factor genes and 41 distinct antibiotic resistant genes were identified. While this research represents a pilot study, the snapshot metagenomic analysis of samples collected from the surface of mobile phones has revealed the presence of a large population of viable microbes and an array of antimicrobial resistant factors. With billions of phones in circulation, these devices might be responsible for the rise of community acquired infections. These pilot results highlight the importance of public health authorities considering mobile phones as ‘Trojan Horse’ devices for microbial transmission and ensure appropriate decontamination campaigns are implemented.

A randomized control trial evaluating efficacy of antimicrobial impregnated hospital privacy curtains in an intensive care setting

BACKGROUND

Acquisition of pathogens into health care settings from prior room occupants has been documented. Hospital room privacy curtains are at high risk for pathogenic bacterial contamination. Antimicrobial impregnated curtains could be effective in reducing contamination.

METHODS

Rooms within an intensive care unit at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics were randomized to 3 arms. The 2 intervention arms: (1) halamine antimicrobial curtains (BioSmart curtain [BSC]) and (2) halamine antimicrobial curtains sprayed twice weekly with a sodium hypochlorite-based disinfecting spray (BSC-pre and BSC-post) and a third control arm (standard curtain [SC]). Samples were collected twice weekly for 3 weeks to assess pathogenic bacterial contamination.

RESULTS

The likelihood of remaining uncontaminated was 38% for SC, 37% for BSC, and 60% for the BSC-pre group. Time to event (contamination) analysis found no statistically significant difference between pathogenic contamination between the SC, BSC, and BSC-pre groups (P value = .1921). There was a decrease in average colony count for BSC curtains compared with control, however, this difference was not statistically significant. Hypochlorite spray was found to transiently decontaminate curtains, but effects dissipated after 72 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

BSC did not show a significant reduction in pathogenic contamination compared with control. Antimicrobial curtains could have a role in reducing environmental contamination in the health care setting. Future studies should be done to determine the long-term effects of using antimicrobial curtains in health care.

In Vitro and In Vivo Control of Secondary Bacterial Infection Caused by Leishmania major

Bacterial infections of cutaneous leishmaniasis cause skin ulcers on mice, resulting in increased tissue deterioration, and these infections can be controlled with liquid allicin. To isolate and identify the incidences of real secondary bacterial infections in mice, we performed the current study by injecting mice (n = 50) with Leishmania major. L. major infections were initiated by an intramuscular injection of 0.1 mL Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI 1640 media/mouse (107 promastigote/mL)). Scarring appeared 2-6 weeks after injection, and the bacteria were isolated from the skin ulcer tissues. Allicin (50 µL/mL) and ciprofloxacin (5 μg; Cip 5) were used for controlling L. major and bacteria. One hundred samples from skin ulcers of mice were examined, and 200 bacterial colonies were isolated. Forty-eight different genera and species were obtained and identified by Gram staining and physiological and biochemical characterization using identification kits. All samples were positive for secondary bacterial infections. Of the isolates, 79.16% were identified as Gram-negative bacteria, and 28.84% were identified as Gram-positive bacteria; only one yeast species was found. Interestingly, pure allicin liquid at a concentration 50 µL/mL exhibited antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria, in addition to yeast, and was 71.43% effective. Antimicrobial resistance patterns of all genera and species were determined using 15 different antibiotics. Allicin (50 µL/mL) and Cip 5 were the most effective against L. major and 92.30% of isolated bacteria. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the most resistant bacterium to the tested antibiotics with a survival rate of 73.33%, and it exhibited resistance to allicin.

Pseudomonas oryzihabitans sepsis in a 1-year-old child with multiple skin rashes: a case report

Background

Pseudomonas oryzihabitans is a Pseudomonas bacterial organism rarely implicated in human infections. The bacterium has been isolated in a few reported cases of neurosurgical infections and patients with end-stage cirrhosis, sickle cell disease, and community-acquired urinary tract infections. Limited information exists in developing countries, however, because of the lack of advanced microbiological tools for identification and characterization of this bacterium. This case report describes the isolation of a rare Pseudomonas bacterium in a patient presenting with sepsis and skin infection.

Case presentation

A 1-year-old girl was presented to a hospital in the northeastern part of Ghana with a 1-week history of pustular rashes on her scalp and neck, which occasionally ruptured, along with discharge of yellowish purulent fluid. The child is of Mole-Dagbon ethnicity and hails from the northern part of Ghana. Pseudomonas oryzihabitans was identified in the patient’s blood culture using the 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing technique. The rash on the patient’s scalp and skin resolved after continuous treatment with gentamicin while her condition improved clinically.

Conclusions

This finding suggests the potential of this bacterium to cause disease in unsuspected situations and emphasizes the need to have evidence for the use of the appropriate antibiotic in clinical settings, particularly in rural settings in Africa. It also brings to the fore the unreliability of conventional methods for identification of Pseudomonas bacteria in clinical samples and thus supports the use of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid in making the diagnosis.