scholarly journals Emerging Scientists Supplementary Issue II: Nature inspired Antimicrobial Nanotextured Surfaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (Supp01) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Tan Yee Lin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Contact Killing ◽  
Supplementary Issue

The development of cross infections arising from bacteria transmission on frequently touched facilities has led to an urgent need to promptly disinfect these surfaces, such as hand railings, door handles and elevator buttons. Conventional antimicrobial disinfectants are not ideal as they contribute to the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis. In recent years, the discovery that the wings of insects such as the Clanger cicada (Psaltoda claripennis) possess naturally occurring antimicrobial properties has led to a growing interest to synthetically recreate these surfaces. The use of a physical contact killing mechanism on such nanotextured surfaces is a promising strategy for curbing the proliferation of bacteria, as it is unlikely to contribute to the formation of antimicrobial resistance. Here, I highlight the key advantages of using these antimicrobial nanotextured materials and how they could play a role in safeguarding public health security, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Drivers of antibiotic use in Vietnam: implications for designing community interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. e005875
Author(s):  
Shannon McKinn ◽  
Duy Hoang Trinh ◽  
Dorothy Drabarek ◽  
Thao Thu Trieu ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Global Challenge

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance is a global challenge that threatens our ability to prevent and treat common infectious diseases. Vietnam is affected by high rates of antimicrobial resistant infections, driven by the overuse of antibiotics and the Vietnamese government has recognised antimicrobial resistance as a health security priority. This study aimed to understand how people in Vietnam use antibiotics in community settings, and the factors that impact their practices and decision-making regarding antibiotics.MethodsWe conducted 43 qualitative in-depth interviews with 50 community members in two urban and two rural sites in Vietnam. We conducted iterative, inductive thematic analysis alongside data collection through a process of systematic debriefings based on detailed interview summaries. Through this process, we developed a coding framework that was then applied to transcribed interview data.ResultsFrequent and indiscriminate use of antibiotics was driven by the powerful appeal that antibiotics held for many Vietnamese consumers. Consumers were discerning in making decisions in their purchase and use of antibiotics. Consumers’ decisions were affected by perceptions of what constitutes high-quality medicine (effective, strong, accessible and affordable); privileging symptom control over diagnosis; social constructions of antibiotics as a trusted remedy with embodied evidence of prior efficacy, which is reinforced by advice from trusted sources in their community; and varied, generally incomplete, understanding of the concept of antibiotic resistance and its implications for individuals and for public health.ConclusionAntibiotic use at the community and primary care level in Vietnam is driven by community members’ social and economic response to what constitutes effective healthcare, rather than biomedical logic. Community-based interventions to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use need to engage with the entangled socio-structural factors that ‘resist’ current public health efforts to ration antibiotic use, alongside biomedical drivers. This study has informed the design of a community-based trial to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption: the ESAC programme

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Antimicrobial Consumption ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Major Public Health Concern

Resistance to antimicrobials has become a major public health concern, and it has been shown that there is a relationship, albeit complex, between antimicrobial resistance and consumption

scholarly journals Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and pattern of antimicrobial resistance in mastitis milk of cattle in Chitwan, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmita Shrestha ◽  
Rebanta Kumar Bhattarai ◽  
Himal Luitel ◽  
Surendra Karki ◽  
Hom Bahadur Basnet
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Milk Samples

Abstract Background The threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) exists globally and has been listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. One of the sources of MRSA emergence is livestock and its products, often raised in poor husbandry conditions. There are limited studies in Nepal to understand the prevalence of MRSA in dairy animals and its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chitwan, one of the major milk-producing districts of Nepal, from February 2018 to September 2019 to estimate the prevalence of MRSA in milk samples and its AMR profile. The collected milk samples (n = 460) were screened using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and positive samples were subjected to microbiological analysis to isolate and identify S. aureus. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to identify the presence of the mecA gene and screen for MRSA. Results In total, 41.5% (191/460) of milk samples were positive in the CMT test. Out of 191 CMT positive milk samples, the biochemical tests showed that the prevalence of S. aureus was 15.2% (29/191). Among the 29 S. aureus isolates, 6.9% (2/29) were identified as MRSA based on the detection of a mecA gene. This indicates that that 1.05% (2/191) of mastitis milk samples had MRSA. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that 75.9% (22/29) and 48.3% (14/29) S. aureus isolates were found to be sensitive to Cefazolin and Tetracycline respectively (48.3%), whereas 100% of the isolates were resistant to Ampicillin. In total 96.6% (28/29) of S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of S. aureus-mediated subclinical mastitis in dairy herds in Chitwan, Nepal, with a small proportion of it being MRSA carrying a mecA gene. This S. aureus, CoNS, and MRSA contaminated milk poses a public health risk due to the presence of a phenotype that is resistant to very commonly used antibiotics. It is suggested that dairy herds be screened for subclinical mastitis and treatments for the animals be based on antibiotic susceptibility tests to reduce the prevalence of AMR. Furthermore, future studies should focus on the Staphylococcus spp. to explore the antibiotic resistance genes in addition to the mecA gene to ensure public health.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Biofilm Forming Non Typhoidal Salmonella enterica Isolates from Poultry and Its Associated Food Products from Pakistan

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 785
Author(s):  
Abubakar Siddique ◽  
Sara Azim ◽  
Amjad Ali ◽  
Saadia Andleeb ◽  
Aitezaz Ahsan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Multiple Drug Resistance ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Multiple Drug ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Salmonella Spp

Salmonellosis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonellaenterica from poultry products is a major public health concern worldwide. This study aimed at estimating the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance in S. enterica isolates obtained from poultry birds and their food products from different areas of Pakistan. In total, 95/370 (25.67%) samples from poultry droppings, organs, eggs, and meat were positive for Salmonella. The isolates were further identified through multiplex PCR (mPCR) as Salmonella Typhimurium 14 (14.7%), Salmonella Enteritidis 12 (12.6%), and other Salmonella spp. 69 (72.6%). The phenotypic virulence properties of 95 Salmonella isolates exhibited swimming and/or swarming motility 95 (100%), DNA degrading activity 93 (97.8%), hemolytic activity 92 (96.8%), lipase activity 87 (91.6%), and protease activity 86 (90.5%). The sopE virulence gene known for conferring zoonotic potential was detected in S. Typhimurium (92.8%), S. Enteritidis (100%), and other Salmonella spp. (69.5%). The isolates were further tested against 23 antibiotics (from 10 different antimicrobial groups) and were found resistant against fifteen to twenty-one antibiotics. All isolates showed multiple drug resistance and were found to exhibit a high multiple antibiotic-resistant (MAR) index of 0.62 to 0.91. The strong biofilm formation at 37 °C reflected their potential adherence to intestinal surfaces. There was a significant correlation between antimicrobial resistance and the biofilm formation potential of isolates. The resistance determinant genes found among the isolated strains were blaTEM-1 (59.3%), blaOxA-1 (18%), blaPSE-1 (9.5%), blaCMY-2 (43%), and ampC (8.3%). The detection of zoonotic potential MDR Salmonella in poultry and its associated food products carrying cephalosporin and quinolone resistance genes presents a major threat to the poultry industry and public health.

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of Rifampicin Loaded Alginate–Gelatin Biocomposite Microfibers

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1514
Author(s):  
Ameya Sharma ◽  
Vivek Puri ◽  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Inderbir Singh ◽  
Kampanart Huanbutta
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
In Vitro Release ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Entrapment Efficiency ◽  
Tissue Proliferation ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Reinforcing Material ◽  
Vitro Release

Various systematic phases such as inflammation, tissue proliferation, and phases of remodeling characterize the process of wound healing. The natural matrix system is suggested to maintain and escalate these phases, and for that, microfibers were fabricated employing naturally occurring polymers (biopolymers) such as sodium alginate, gelatin and xanthan gum, and reinforcing material such as nanoclay was selected. The fabrication of fibers was executed with the aid of extrusion-gelation method. Rifampicin, an antibiotic, has been incorporated into a biopolymeric solution. RF1, RF2, RF3, RF4 and RF5 were coded as various formulation batches of microfibers. The microfibers were further characterized by different techniques such as SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR. Mechanical properties and physical evaluations such as entrapment efficiency, water uptake and in vitro release were also carried out to explain the comparative understanding of the formulation developed. The antimicrobial activity and whole blood clotting of fabricated fibers were additionally executed, hence they showed significant results, having excellent antimicrobial properties; they could be prominent carriers for wound healing applications.

scholarly journals Salmonella in Captive Reptiles and Their Environment—Can We Tame the Dragon?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zając ◽  
Magdalena Skarżyńska ◽  
Anna Lalak ◽  
Renata Kwit ◽  
Aleksandra Śmiałowska-Węglińska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Epidemiological Analysis ◽  
High Occurrence ◽  
Salmonella Serovars ◽  
Floor Surfaces

Reptiles are considered a reservoir of a variety of Salmonella (S.) serovars. Nevertheless, due to a lack of large-scale research, the importance of Reptilia as a Salmonella vector still remains not completely recognized. A total of 731 samples collected from reptiles and their environment were tested. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of Salmonella in exotic reptiles kept in Poland and to confirm Salmonella contamination of the environment after reptile exhibitions. The study included Salmonella isolation and identification, followed by epidemiological analysis of the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. Implementation of a pathway additional to the standard Salmonella isolation protocol led to a 21% increase in the Salmonella serovars detection rate. The study showed a high occurrence of Salmonella, being the highest at 92.2% in snakes, followed by lizards (83.7%) and turtles (60.0%). The pathogen was also found in 81.2% of swabs taken from table and floor surfaces after reptile exhibitions and in two out of three egg samples. A total of 918 Salmonella strains belonging to 207 serovars and serological variants were obtained. We have noted the serovars considered important with respect to public health, i.e., S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Kentucky. The study proves that exotic reptiles in Poland are a relevant reservoir of Salmonella.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Properties of the Ag, Cu Nanoparticle System

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Xinzhen Fan ◽  
L’Hocine Yahia ◽  
Edward Sacher
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Biomedical Application ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Cu Nanoparticles ◽  
Postoperative Infections ◽  
Nanoparticle System ◽  
Contact Killing ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Microbes, including bacteria and fungi, easily form stable biofilms on many surfaces. Such biofilms have high resistance to antibiotics, and cause nosocomial and postoperative infections. The antimicrobial and antiviral behaviors of Ag and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) are well known, and possible mechanisms for their actions, such as released ions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), contact killing, the immunostimulatory effect, and others have been proposed. Ag and Cu NPs, and their derivative NPs, have different antimicrobial capacities and cytotoxicities. Factors, such as size, shape and surface treatment, influence their antimicrobial activities. The biomedical application of antimicrobial Ag and Cu NPs involves coating onto substrates, including textiles, polymers, ceramics, and metals. Because Ag and Cu are immiscible, synthetic AgCu nanoalloys have different microstructures, which impact their antimicrobial effects. When mixed, the combination of Ag and Cu NPs act synergistically, offering substantially enhanced antimicrobial behavior. However, when alloyed in Ag–Cu NPs, the antimicrobial behavior is even more enhanced. The reason for this enhancement is unclear. Here, we discuss these results and the possible behavior mechanisms that underlie them.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Risk Assessment: Contributing to Maintaining Urban Public Health Security and Achieving Sustainable Urban Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4208
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Xiaodie Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Floating Population ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
And Control ◽  
Epidemic Risk

As the most infectious disease in 2020, COVID-19 is an enormous shock to urban public health security and to urban sustainable development. Although the epidemic in China has been brought into control at present, the prevention and control of it is still the top priority of maintaining public health security. Therefore, the accurate assessment of epidemic risk is of great importance to the prevention and control even to overcoming of COVID-19. Using the fused data obtained from fusing multi-source big data such as POI (Point of Interest) data and Tencent-Yichuxing data, this study assesses and analyzes the epidemic risk and main factors that affect the distribution of COVID-19 on the basis of combining with logistic regression model and geodetector model. What’s more, the following main conclusions are obtained: the high-risk areas of the epidemic are mainly concentrated in the areas with relatively dense permanent population and floating population, which means that the permanent population and floating population are the main factors affecting the risk level of the epidemic. In other words, the reasonable control of population density is greatly conducive to reducing the risk level of the epidemic. Therefore, the control of regional population density remains the key to epidemic prevention and control, and home isolation is also the best means of prevention and control. The precise assessment and analysis of the epidemic conducts by this study is of great significance to maintain urban public health security and achieve the sustainable urban development.

scholarly journals Serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence genes of Salmonella isolated from a pig slaughterhouse in Yangzhou, China

AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Li ◽  
Jian Yin ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
Zewei Li ◽  
Yuanzhao Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Rate ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

AbstractSalmonella is an important food-borne pathogen associated with public health and high economic losses. To investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of Salmonella in a pig slaughterhouse in Yangzhou, a total of 80 Salmonella isolates were isolated from 459 (17.43%) samples in 2016–2017. S. Derby (35/80, 43.75%) was the most prevalent, followed by S. Rissen (16/80, 20.00%) and S. Newlands (11/80, 13.75%). The highest rates of susceptibility were observed to cefoxitin (80/80, 100.0%) and amikacin (80/80, 100.0%), followed by aztreonam (79/80, 98.75%) and nitrofurantoin (79/80, 98.75%). The highest resistance rate was detected for tetracycline (65/80, 81.25%), followed by ampicillin (60/80, 75.00%), bactrim (55/80, 68.75%), and sulfisoxazole (54/80, 67.50%). Overall, 91.25% (73/80) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 71.25% (57/80) of the isolate strains were multidrug resistant in the antimicrobial susceptibility tested. In addition, 86.36% (19/22) of the 22 antimicrobial resistance genes in the isolates were identified. Our data indicated that the resistance to certain antimicrobials was significantly associated, in part, with antimicrobial resistance genes. Furthermore, 81.25% (65/80) isolates harbored the virulence gene of mogA, of which 2 Salmonella Typhimurium isolates carried the mogA, spvB and spvC virulence genes at the same time. The results showed that swine products in the slaughterhouse were contaminated with multidrug resistant Salmonella commonly, especially some isolates carry the spv virulence genes. The virulence genes might facilitate the dissemination of the resistance genes to consumers along the production chain, suggesting the importance of controlling Salmonella during slaughter for public health.

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