Phenotypic and molecular characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococci from wild birds: first detection of a plasmid-borne vanC1 in Enterococcus faecalis.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a public health concern as they lead to therapeutic impasses and play a pivotal role in the dissemination of vancomycin resistance genes. As recent evidence suggests that wildlife can play a role in the dissemination of bacterial resistomes, this study explored the potential role of Algerian wild birds as a reservoir of VRE. A total of 222 cloacal and fecal samples were collected from various wild bird species and screened for VRE using a selective medium.

High rates of intestinal colonization with carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are major human pathogens because, these cause high number of difficult-to-treat infections. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) recipients are highly exposed to these type of bacteria. The aim of our study was to investigate prevalence of CRE colonization in AHSCT patients and to determine genes encoding carbapenem resistance.

Co-occurrence of blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-23 in carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii belonging to high-risk lineages isolated from burn patients in Tunisia.

Aims: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab) is an important cause of infections in burn patients. This study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of CR-Ab isolated from burns in Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of the Trauma and Burn Centre of Ben Arous, to determine the prevalence of β-lactamase-encoding genes and to search eventual genetic relatedness of CR-Ab strains.

Methods And Results: From 15 December 2016 to 2 April 2017, all nonduplicated CR-Ab isolated in burn patients in the BICU were screened by simplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the class A, B, C, and D β-lactamase genes.

Detection of carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa co-harboring blaVIM-2 and blaGES-5 in burn patients.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the major infectious agents in burn patients. Globally, high rates of antimicrobial resistance in P. aeruginosa have been reported, which is a cause of concern.

Diagnostic low-dose X-ray radiation induces fluoroquinolone resistance in pathogenic bacteria.

Purpose: The crisis of antibiotic resistance has been attributed to the overuse or misuse of these medications. However, exposure of bacteria to physical stresses such as X-ray radiation, can also lead to the development of resistance to antibiotics. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exposure to diagnostic low-dose X-ray radiation on the bacterial response to antibiotics in two pathogenic bacteria, including the Gram-positive and Gram-negative .

Occurrence of High-Risk Clonal Lineages ST58, ST69, ST224, and ST410 among Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Isolated from Healthy Free-Range Chickens () in a Rural Region in Tunisia.

Antimicrobial-resistant isolates have emerged in various ecologic compartments and evolved to spread globally. We sought to (1.) investigate the occurrence of ESBL-producing (ESBL-Ec) in feces from free-range chickens in a rural region and (2.

Dissemination of epidemic ST239/ST241-t037-agrI-SCCmecIII methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Tunisian trauma burn intensive care unit.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen causing health care-infections in the world, especially in burns. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of dissemination of MRSA isolated from burn patients in Burn Intensive Care Unit in Tunisia and to evaluate the frequency of virulence and antibiotics resistance genes. Among the 72 S.

An intermittent outbreak of contaminating hematopoietic stem cells resulting in infusate-related blood stream infections.

Microbial contamination of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), used for autologous and allogenic transplantations, is rare but could cause serious blood stream infection in transplanted patients. These infections occur immediately, or later following the formation of biofilm on the catheter lumen. The present study describes an intermittent HSC contamination associated with nosocomial bacteremia: from October 2011 to April 2015, 17  strains were isolated in HSC bags ( = 14) and blood cultures ( = 3) in patients hospitalized in the National Bone Marrow Transplant Center.

Species distribution and genes encoding antimicrobial resistance in enterococcus spp. isolates from rabbits residing in diverse ecosystems: A new reservoir of linezolid and vancomycin resistance.

Aims: Worldwide, studies regarding antimicrobial resistance in rabbits are scarce. In addition, it seems that rearing conditions have important impact on emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Thus, the authors sought to (1) assess the role of rabbits residing across diverse ecosystems as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci and (2) investigate the genetic background of detected resistances.

Genetic characterization of ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli isolated from forest, urban park and cereal culture soils.

Little is known about the role of forestland and non-fertilized agriculture soils as reservoirs of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and plasmid-borne AmpC (pAmpC)-producing Escherichia coli isolates. Thus, in the present study, 210 soil samples from various origins (forest of Oued Zen (Ain Drahem), non-agriculture soils from different park gardens in Tunis City, cereal culture soils and home gardens) were investigated to characterize cefotaxime-resistant E. coli isolates.

Coagulase negative Staphylococcus bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: Clinical features and molecular characterization.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the epidemiology of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) responsible for bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and to determine the prevalence and the genetic background of methicillin resistance. The prevalence of CoNS bacteremia was 7.4% (54/728), higher in allograft (10.

Multidrug resistant bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Background: Bacteremia become fearsome in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains.

Aim: Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of MDR bacteremia in HSCT recipients at the Tunisian National Bone Marrow Transplant Center, associated factors and attributable mortality rate.

Methods: Our retrospective study (January 2010-December 2017) included all MDR bacteremia in the Hematology department.

Clonal spread of PER-1 and OXA-23 producing extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii during an outbreak in a burn intensive care unit in Tunisia.

Extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-Ab), has emerged as an important pathogen in several outbreaks. The aim of our study was to investigate the eventual genetic relatedness of XDR-Ab strains recovered from burn patients and environment sites in the largest Tunisian Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU) and to characterize β-lactamase encoding genes in these strains. Between March 04th, 2019 and April 22nd, 2019 an outbreak of XDR-Ab was suspected.

Epidemiology and molecular characterisation of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from immunocompromised patients in Tunisia.

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the resistance determinants and genetic relatedness of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (Col-Kp) isolates in the National Bone Marrow Transplant Center of Tunis (NBMTC) between 2002 and 2013. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for colistin of Col-Kp isolates were assessed using a UMIC broth microdilution kit. All isolates were screened by PCR for the resistance genes mcr-1, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla and bla as well as class 1, 2 and 3 integrons.

High prevalence of multidrug-resistant international clones among macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in immunocompromised patients in Tunisia.

Objectives: Macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates have increased considerably in the last decade, with important geographical variations in involved phenotypes and genotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate phenotypes, genotypes, serotypes and genetic relatedness of macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae isolated from immunocompromised patients in Tunisia.

Molecular characterisation and epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from immunocompromised patients in Tunisia.

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) strains in the National Bone Marrow Transplant Center of Tunis between 2002 and 2011 as well as their associated antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular features.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method according to CA-SFM guidelines. All of the strains were screened for β-lactamase genes, plasmid-encoded AmpC genes and integrons.

Description of a novel mutation in the atpC gene in optochin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolates from Tunisia.

Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae among other α-haemolytic streptococci is based on phenotypic or genotypic characteristics such as colony morphology, bile solubility and optochin susceptibility. This study reports three optochin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains isolated from immunocompromised patients in Tunisia.

Serotype Distribution, Antibiotic Resistance and Clonality of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Immunocompromised Patients in Tunisia.

Background: Pneumococcal disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, has higher incidence among young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised of all ages. In Tunisia, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are not included in the national immunization program. Also, few studies have described the epidemiology of S.