Publications by authors named "Carole A Moubareck"

Article Synopsis
  • * A 12-year study in the UAE analyzed over 8,000 non-duplicate MTB complex isolates, primarily from respiratory samples, revealing that most patients were non-nationals from Asian countries, particularly India and Pakistan.
  • * The study found low levels of drug resistance, with 2.8% of MTB isolates being rifampicin-resistant and a slight upward trend in resistance observed over the years.
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  • * A 12-year surveillance study in the UAE (2010-2021) revealed an upward trend in antimicrobial resistance, with data showing that most cases came from inpatient settings, particularly affecting isolates from urine, blood, and respiratory tracts.
  • * The study found high resistance rates to common antifungals, with notable increases in echinocandin resistance, although mortality rates did not differ significantly between resistant and non-resistant patients.
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Introduction: is a group of ubiquitous non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB). Of the several species associated with humans, (PA) can acclimate to diverse environments. The global frequency of PA infections is rising and is complicated by this organism's high intrinsic and acquired resistance to several clinically relevant antibiotics.

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  • Enterococci typically cause mild infections but can lead to serious diseases like urinary tract infections and meningitis, with rising antibiotic resistance posing significant health threats, especially in the MENA and Gulf regions where data is limited.
  • A 12-year retrospective study analyzed over 37,000 bacterial isolates from the UAE, revealing that Enterococcus faecalis was the most common species found, with 1.8% showing vancomycin resistance (VRE), notably higher in Enterococcus faecium.
  • The presence of VRE is linked to increased patient mortality and longer hospital stays, highlighting the need for more awareness and surveillance of antibiotic resistance in the region.
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Background: Growing evidence supports the role of gut microbiota in obesity, yet exact associations remain largely unknown. Specifically, very little is known about this association in the Emirati population.

Methods: We explored differences in gut microbiota composition, particularly the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, between 43 obese and 31 lean adult Emirate counterparts, and its association with obesity markers, by using V3-V4 regions of 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing data.

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Composting favours recycling organic waste and producing an end product with high bioenergy potential and significant nutritional value for the soil. Analysing composted organic waste prepared in Dubai, a region with a desertic climate and a unique environment is essential since environmental conditions can greatly affect the physicochemical and biological soil properties and no studies in the Gulf region have been published yet on that process. This study analysed twelve different compost samples prepared in well ventilated wooden chambers, using home-generated organic wastes following the hot aerobic composting method for a duration of three months.

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Background: Cefiderocol (CFDC) is a novel siderophore-cephalosporin, effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. As it has a siderophore side chain, it can utilize iron acquisition systems for penetration of the bacterial outer membrane. We aimed to elucidate the role of siderophores and iron uptake receptors in defining Klebsiella pneumoniae susceptibility to CFDC.

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Peptide hormones play a crucial role in body weight and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to explore this association and recruited 43 obese and 31 age- and sex-matched lean participants. We assessed their body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), percentage body fat (PBF), fasting blood levels of peptide hormones (GLP-1, GLP-2, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, CCK, and PYY), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR).

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Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are important actors in host innate immunity and represent a promising alternative to combat antibiotic resistance. Here, the bactericidal activity of two CAMPs (LL-37 and CAMA) was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in the presence of IB3-1 cells, a cell line derived from patients with cystic fibrosis. The two CAMPs exerted different effects on PA survival depending on the timing of their administration.

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Human milk represents a cornerstone for growth and development of infants, with extensive array of benefits. In addition to exceptionally nutritive and bioactive components, human milk encompasses a complex community of signature bacteria that helps establish infant gut microbiota, contributes to maturation of infant immune system, and competitively interferes with pathogens. Among bioactive constituents of milk, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are particularly significant.

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The treatment of respiratory infections is associated with the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in the community and clinical settings. Development of new antibiotics is notoriously costly and slow; therefore, alternative strategies are needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the central effector molecules of the immune system, are being considered as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of CHROMagar™ KPC compared with Xpert® Carba-R assay for the detection of carbapenem-resistant bacterial isolates from rectal swabs.

Methods: Rectal swabs were obtained from patients admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) over a period of 7 months and were screened for carbapenem resistance by either culture on CHROMagar KPC or carbapenemase production using the Xpert Carba-R molecular method. Further testing for carbapenem susceptibility of isolates recovered from CHROMagar KPC was performed using VITEK®2.

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Few studies have addressed the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates in the Arabian Peninsula, and such investigations have been missing from Dubai, a major economical, tourism and medical centre of the region. The antibiotic susceptibility, the carbapenemase type produced, and the clonality of 89 CRE strains isolated in five major Dubai hospitals in June 2015 to June 2016 were determined. Thirty-three percent of the collection of 70 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 13 Escherichia coli and 6 other Enterobacteriaceae were extremely drug resistant, 27% were resistant to colistin, and 4.

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Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens have progressively disseminated to different countries worldwide, presenting a serious public health concern. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria in Lebanon, to elucidate molecular mechanisms, and to identify genetic relatedness of incriminated strains. Carbapenem nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas were collected from 11 Lebanese hospitals in 2012.

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The production of carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes has been recognized as one of the most currently relevant resistance mechanisms in gram negative bacterial isolates, and is being detected in various countries. In Lebanon, carbapenem resistance was studied among gram negative pathogens collected from a university hospital from January to June of years 2011 and 2012. All isolates were subjected to phenotypic tests including antibiotic susceptibility, cloxacillin effect, modified Hodge test, and Etest for metallo-β-lactamase detection.

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