Publications by authors named "Nik Zuraina"

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is an emerging pathotype in addition to classical Klebsiella pneumoniae, with its ability to cause life-threatening, community-acquired metastatic infections even in healthy individuals. We presented a case of cerebral abscess preceded by otitis media in a 10-year-old child caused by hvKp. The isolates from blood pus aspirate were later identified as K.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A systematic review of 63 studies from 2010 to 2022 found that the overall prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella species in Asian patients is around 8%, with 68.7% being multidrug-resistant.
  • * Resistance rates for commonly used antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and azithromycin are concerning, while resistance to carbapenems remains very low, indicating a need for new treatment strategies to effectively manage shigellosis in Asia.
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Article Synopsis
  • Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Malaysia were studied for the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the COVID-19 third wave, with a focus on asymptomatic individuals.
  • Out of 617 HCWs surveyed, including primarily nurses and health attendants, none tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies despite many having exposure to COVID-19 cases.
  • The study concluded that high compliance with infection prevention and control practices among HCWs likely contributed to the low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in this population.
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Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Diarrheagenic (DEC) is an important bacterial agent for diarrhea in infants, children, and international travelers, and accounts for more than 30% of diarrheal cases in children less than 5 years old. However, the choices of antimicrobial agents are now being limited by the ineffectiveness of many first-line drugs, in relation to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains.

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Respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis, are among the leading causes of death worldwide. The use of accurate diagnostic tests is crucial to initiate proper treatment and therapy to reduce the mortality rates for RTIs. A PCR assay for simultaneous detection of six respiratory bacteria: and , was developed in our lab.

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Despite the advanced understanding of the disease, melioidosis, an infection caused by , continues to be of global interest. The bacterial virulence factor, type six secretion system-5 (T6SS-5), in particular, is an essential factor for that is associated with internalization and intracellular survival of the pathogen. To detect the virulence gene cluster, this study has successfully developed a novel seven-gene (C-5, D-5, A-5, -5, B-5, F-5, and G-5) multiplex PCR assay.

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A thermostabilized, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay was developed in this study for the detection of six respiratory bacterial pathogens. Specific primers were designed for an internal amplification control (IAC) and six target sequences from , , , , , and . The resultant seven-band positive amplification control (PAC) of this heptaplex PCR assay corresponded to 105 base pairs (bp) of IAC, 202 bp of , 293 bp of , 349 bp of , 444 bp of , 505 bp of , and 582 bp of .

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Background: Overcrowding during the annual Hajj pilgrimage has been known to increase the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Despite the high prevalence of respiratory illness among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims, knowledge about the etiologic pathogens is yet very limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine the spectrum of bacterial respiratory pathogens among the Hajj pilgrims returning to Malaysia in year 2016.

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Background: The genus Enterococcus is of increasing significance as a cause of nosocomial infections, and this trend is exacerbated by the development of antibiotic resistance.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to estimate the potential virulence factors in enterococci and to ascertain their prevalence in Malaysian hospitals.

Material And Methods: The study comprised 222 enterococcal strains isolated from blood, urine, exudates, sputum, stool and body fluid.

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Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a common source of nosocomial infection and colonization. The aim of the present study was to assess the burden of methicillin-resistant S. aureus nasal carriage, its association with factors of interest including its genetic relationships.

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