Serum MicroRNAs as predictors for fibrosis progression and response to direct-acting antivirals treatment in hepatitis C virus genotype-4 Egyptian patients.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding molecules that play an important role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and liver diseases progression. The current study aimed to evaluate serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring of fibrosis progression and prediction of responses to direct-acting antivirals (sofosbuvir + daclatasvir + ribavirin) in HCV genotype-4 patients.

Methods: The serum levels of four miRNAs (miRNA-21, 199, 448 and 181c) were assessed in 150 HCV patients and 50 healthy controls using quantitative real-time PCR.

First detection of vanB phenotype-vanA genotype vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Egypt.

Introduction: Enterococci have emerged in last two decades as serious hospital acquired pathogens particularly vancomycin resistant strains (VRE). The study aimed to identify the prevalence of enterococcal isolation from hospital infections and colonization as well as determine vancomycin resistance phenotypes and genotypes.

Methods: Sixty enterococcus isolates were isolated from patients, health care workers and hospital environment, identified and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospital-acquired infections: Concomitant analysis of antimicrobial resistant strains.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections caused by K pneumoniae are difficult to eradicate since K pneumoniae carries resistance genes for many antimicrobials, including carbapenems. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections caused by multiple drug-resistant K pneumoniae and identify carbapenem and fluoroquinolone resistance by phenotypic and genotypic methods amongst hospitalised patients.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty samples from patients with hospital-acquired infections were included.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant in Hospital-Acquired Surgical Wound Infections and Bacteremia: Concomitant Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes.

Background: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of infections among patients with hospital-acquired surgical wound sepsis and bacteremia in surgical wards and identify the antimicrobial susceptibility in these pathogens. Genetic role of erythromycin, vancomycin, and cephalosporin resistance in these pathogens was also examined.

Methods: Two hundred samples were collected from surgical wound infections and 100 blood cultures from patients with suggested bacteremia to identify by phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Occult hepatitis C virus infection among Egyptian hemodialysis patients.

Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OCI) was reported in an apparently disease-free state in the absence of liver disease, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in the serum. The existing data examining the clinical significance of OCI and its potential as a source of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients are very limited. We examined the presence of OCI among patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Minia Governorate, Egypt; an HCV endemic country.