http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com The most accessed research articles published by Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012-05-07T00:00:00Z Background: The ideal identification of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates requires a battery of tests and this is costly in resource limited settings. In many developing countries, the tube coagulase test is usually confirmatory for S. aureus and is routinely done using either human or sheep plasma. This study evaluated Mannitol salt agar and the deoxyribonuclease (DNase) test for improving the efficiency of the tube coagulase test in resource limited settings. The efficiency of human and sheep plasma with tube coagulase tests was also evaluated. Methods: One hundred and eighty Gram positive, Catalase positive cocci occurring in pairs, short chains or clusters were subjected to growth on Mannitol salt agar, deoxyribonuclease and tube coagulase tests. Of these, isolates that were positive for at least two of the three tests (n = 60) were used to evaluate the performance of the tube coagulase test for identification of S. aureus, using PCR-amplification of the nuc gene as a gold standard. Results: Human plasma was more sensitive than sheep plasma for the tube coagulase test (sensitivity of 91% vs. 81% respectively), but both plasmas had very low specificity (11% and 7% respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of the tube coagulase test (human plasma) was markedly improved when Mannitol salt agar and DNase were introduced as a tri-combination test for routine identification of Staphylococcus aureus (100% specificity and 75% sensitivity). The specificity and sensitivity of Mannitol salt agar/DNase/tube coagulase (sheep plasma) combination was 100% and 67%, respectively. Conclusion: The efficiency of the tube coagulase test can be markedly improved by sequel testing of the isolates with Mannitol salt agar, DNase and Tube coagulase. There is no single phenotypic test (including tube coagulase) that can guarantee reliable results in the identification of Staphylococcus aureus. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/9/1/23 David Kateete Cyrus Kimani Fred Katabazi Alfred Okeng Moses Okee Ann Nanteza Moses Joloba Florence Najjuka Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2010, null:23 2010-08-13T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-9-23 /content/figures/1476-0711-9-23-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 23 2010-08-13T00:00:00Z XML Background: Statins have several effects beyond their well-known antihyperlipidemic activity, whichinclude immunomodulatory, antioxidative and anticoagulant effects. In this study, we havetested the possible antimicrobial activity of statins against a range of standard bacterial strainsand bacterial clinical isolates. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values were evaluated and compared among threemembers of the statins drug (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin). Results: It was revealed that statins are able to induce variable degrees of antibacterial activity withatorvastatin, and simvastatin being the more potent than rosuvastatin. Methicillin-sensitivestaphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE), vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE),acinetobacter baumannii, staphylococcus epidermidis, and enterobacter aerogenes, weremore sensitive to both atorvastatin, and simvastatin compared to rosuvastatin. On the otherhand, escherichia coli, proteus mirabilis, and enterobacter cloacae were more sensitive toatorvastatin compared to both simvastatin and rosuvastatin. Furthermore, most clinicalisolates were less sensitive to statins compared to their corresponding standard strains. Conclusion: Our findings might raise the possibility of a potentially important antibacterial class effect forstatins especially, atorvastatin and simvastatin. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/13 Majed Masadeh Nizar Mhaidat Karem Alzoubi Sayer Al-azzam Ziad Alnasser Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:13 2012-05-07T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-13 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-13-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 13 2012-05-07T00:00:00Z PDF Background: Bloodstream infections are associated with significant patient morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns should guide the choice of empiric antimicrobial regimens for patients with bacteremia. Methods: From January to December of 2002, 82,569 bacterial blood culture isolates were reported to The Surveillance Network (TSN) Database-USA by 268 laboratories. Susceptibility to relevant antibiotic compounds was analyzed using National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Results: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (42.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.5%), Enterococcus faecalis (8.3%), Escherichia coli (7.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.6%), and Enterococcus faecium (3.5%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria from blood cultures, collectively accounting for >80% of isolates. In vitro susceptibility to expanded-spectrum β-lactams such as ceftriaxone were high for oxacillin-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci (98.7%), oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus (99.8%), E. coli (97.3%), K. pneumoniae (93.3%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (97.2%). Susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones were variable for K. pneumoniae (90.3–91.4%), E. coli (86.0–86.7%), oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus (84.0–89.4%), oxacillin-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci (72.7–82.7%), E. faecalis (52.1%), and E. faecium (11.3%). Combinations of antimicrobials are often prescribed as empiric therapy for bacteremia. Susceptibilities of all blood culture isolates to one or both agents in combinations of ceftriaxone, ceftazdime, cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam or ciprofloxacin plus gentamicin were consistent (range, 74.8–76.3%) but lower than similar β-lactam or ciprofloxacin combinations with vancomycin (range, 93.5–96.6%). Conclusion: Ongoing surveillance for antimicrobial susceptibility remains essential, and will enhance efforts to identify resistance and attempt to limit its spread. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/3/1/7 James Karlowsky Mark Jones Deborah Draghi Clyde Thornsberry Daniel Sahm Gregory Volturo Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2004, null:7 2004-05-10T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-3-7 /content/figures/1476-0711-3-7-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 7 2004-05-10T00:00:00Z XML BackroundVaginitis is among the most common conditions women are seeking medical care for. Although these infections can easily be treated, the relapse rate is high. This may be due to inadequate use of the diagnostic potential. Methods: We evaluated the misjudgement rate of the aetiology of vaginal complaints. A total of 220 vaginal samples from women with a vaginal complaint were obtained and analysed for numbers of total lactobacilli, H2O2-producing lactobacilli, total aerobic cell counts and total anaerobic cell counts including bifidobacteria, Bacteroides spp., Prevotella spp. Additionally, the presence of Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida spp. and Trichomonas vaginalis was evaluated by DNA-hybridisation using the PCR and Affirm VPIII Microbial Identification Test, respectively. Results: The participating physicians diagnosed Bacterial vaginosis (BV) as origin of discomfort in 80 cases, candidiasis in 109 cases and mixed infections in 8 cases. However, a present BV, defined as lack of H2O2-lactobacilli, presence of marker organisms, such as G. vaginalis, Bacteroides spp. or Atopobium vaginae, and an elevated pH were identified in only 45 cases of the women examined. Candida spp. were detected in 46 cases. Interestingly, an elevated pH corresponded solely to the presence of Atopobium vaginae, which was detected in 11 cases. Conclusion: Errors in the diagnosis of BV and candida vulvovaginitis (CV) were high. Interestingly, the cases of misjudgement of CV (77%) were more numerous than that of BV (61%). The use of Amsel criteria or microscopy did not reduce the number of misinterpretations. The study reveals that the misdiagnosis of vaginal complaints is rather high. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/5/1/4 Andreas Schwiertz David Taras Kerstin Rusch Volker Rusch Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2006, null:4 2006-02-17T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-5-4 /content/figures/1476-0711-5-4-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 4 2006-02-17T00:00:00Z XML Background: The objective of this study was to determine the contamination rate of the healthcare workers' (HCWs') mobile phones and hands in operating room and ICU. Microorganisms from HCWs' hands could be transferred to the surfaces of the mobile phones during their use. Methods: 200 HCWs were screened; samples from the hands of 200 participants and 200 mobile phones were cultured. Results: In total, 94.5% of phones demonstrated evidence of bacterial contamination with different types of bacteria. The gram negative strains were isolated from mobile phones of 31.3% and the ceftazidime resistant strains from the hands were 39.5%. S. aureus strains isolated from mobile phones of 52% and those strains isolated from hands of 37.7% were methicillin resistant. Distributions of the isolated microorganisms from mobile phones were similar to hands isolates. Some mobile phones were contaminated with nosocomial important pathogens. Conclusion: These results showed that HCWs' hands and their mobile phones were contaminated with various types of microorganisms. Mobile phones used by HCWs in daily practice may be a source of nosocomial infections in hospitals. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/8/1/7 Fatma Ulger Saban Esen Ahmet Dilek Keramettin Yanik Murat Gunaydin Hakan Leblebicioglu Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2009, null:7 2009-03-06T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-8-7 Healthcare workers' mobiles pose infection threat Screening of healthcare workers' hands and mobile phones in operating theatres and the ICU suggest that mobiles may act as reservoirs of infection for clinically important microorganisms. /content/figures/1476-0711-8-7-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 7 2009-03-06T00:00:00Z XML Background: Herbs and spices are very important and useful as therapeutic agent against manypathological infections. Increasing multidrug resistance of pathogens forces to findalternative compounds for treatment of infectious diseases. Methods: In the present study the antimicrobial potency of garlic and ginger has been investigatedagainst eight local clinical bacterial isolates. Three types of extracts of each garlic and gingerincluding aqueous extract, methanol extract and ethanol extract had been assayed separatelyagainst drug resistant Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis,Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus epidermidisand Salmonella typhi. The antibacterial activity was determined by disc diffusion method. Results: All tested bacterial strains were most susceptible to the garlic aqueous extract and showedpoor susceptibility to the ginger aqueous extract. The (minimum inhibitory concentration)MIC of different bacterial species varied from 0.05 mg/ml to 1.0 mg/ml. Conclusion: In the light of several socioeconomic factors of Pakistan mainly poverty and poor hygieniccondition, present study encourages the use of spices as alternative or supplementarymedicine to reduce the burden of high cost, side effects and progressively increasing drugresistance of pathogens. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/8 Iram Gull Mariam Saeed Halima Shaukat Shahbaz Aslam Zahoor Samra Amin Athar Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:8 2012-04-27T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-8 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-8-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 8 2012-04-27T00:00:00Z PDF Background: The organisms responsible for neonatal sepsis vary across geographical boundaries and with the time of illness thus periodic bacteriologic surveillance is a neccessity. The present study was therefore carried out to determine the common bacterial pathogens in Port Harcourt and their sensitivity pattern. Methods: Four hundred and six neonates were prospectively screened for sepsis over a 6 month period. Sensitivity of the bacterial isolates to different antibiotics was determined using Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Results: Gram negative organisms predominated (75.1%) with Klebsiella pneumonia (58.2%) being the commonest. The quinolones were the most sensitive antibiotics to the commonly isolated organisms. Conclusion: Klebsiella pneumonia is the commonest organism responsible for neonatal sepsis in Port Harcourt. There is an overall decline in the antibiotic susceptibility to the commonly isolated bacterial pathogens. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/7 Boma West Oliemen Peterside Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:7 2012-03-26T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-7 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-7-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 7 2012-03-26T00:00:00Z XML Daptomycin is licensed in adults for the management of Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant infections, including bone and skin complicated infections. We describe for the first time its use in a renal transplant recipient for Fabry-Anderson Disease with right heel osteomyelitis. The patient was unresponsive to first-line Teicoplanin and second-line Tigecycline, whereas he was successfully treated with third-line Daptomycin monotherapy at 4 mg/Kg/qd for 4 weeks. Local debridement was performed in advance of each line of treatment. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/6 Ennio Polilli Tamara Ursini Elena Mazzotta Federica Sozio Vincenzo Savini Domenico D'Antonio Michelino Barbato Augusta Consorte Giustino Parruti Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:6 2012-03-11T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-6 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-6-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 6 2012-03-11T00:00:00Z XML Background: The increased resistance of microorganisms to the currently used antimicrobials has lead to the evaluation of other agents that might have antimicrobial activity. Medicinal plants are sources of phytochemicals which are able to initiate different biological activities including antimicrobialsMaterials and methodsIn vitro antibacterial (MIC, MBC and time-kill studies) of polyphenol-rich fractions from Sida alba L. (Malvaceae) was assessed using ten bacteria strains (Gram-negative and Gram-positive). Results: All test bacteria were susceptible to the polyphenol-rich fractions. Time-kill results showed that after 5 h exposition there was no viable microorganism in the initial inoculum and the effect of polyphenol-rich fractions was faster on Enterococcus faecalis (Gram-positive bacterium) comparatively to the other bacteria strains. Conclusion: The data analysis indicates that the tested of polyphenol-rich fractions has significant effects when compared with the standard antibiotic. These results therefore justify the traditional use of sida alba L., alone or in combination with other herbs to treat bacterial infections. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/5 Kiessoun Konate Adama Hilou Jacques Mavoungou Alexis Lepengue Alain Souza Nicolas Barro Jacques Y Datte Bertrand M'Batchi Odile Nacoulma Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:5 2012-02-24T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-5 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-5-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 5 2012-02-24T00:00:00Z XML Microbes living in the mammalian gut exist in constant contact with immunity system that prevents infection and maintains homeostasis. Enteric alpha defensins play an important role in regulation of bacterial colonization of the gut, as well as in activation of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of the adaptive immune system cells in lamina propria. This review summarizes currently available data on functions of mammalian enteric alpha defensins in the immune defense and changes in their secretion in intestinal inflammatory diseases and cancer. http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/11/1/1 Nikolai Lisitsyn Yulia Bukurova Inna Nikitina George Krasnov Yuri Sykulev Sergey Beresten Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2012, null:1 2012-01-11T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1476-0711-11-1 /content/figures/1476-0711-11-1-toc.gif Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 1476-0711 ${item.volume} 1 2012-01-11T00:00:00Z XML