The Natural History of Bacterial Colonization of the Newborn in a Maternity Hospital (Part I)

1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McAllister ◽  
J. Givan ◽  
A. Black ◽  
M. J. Turner ◽  
M. M. Kerr ◽  
...  

Bacteriological examinations were performed on 1103 infants to determine the ages at which the newborn are colonized at different sites by bacteria, and with which organisms. On the day of birth, specimens for culture included aspirated gastric contents, and swabs from nose, throat, groin and rectum; on Day 3 the umbilical cord clamp with a section of the cord, swabs from nose, throat, groin and rectum; on days 5 and 1, and weekly thereafter, swabs from the same 4 sites. These examinations included identification of the individual bacterial species. The mass of information so obtained was analysed by computer. The high level of bacterial colonization by day 3 was striking and, indeed, large numbers of potential pathogens were grown from infants within one hour of birth. Staphylococcus aureus was found only in very small numbers of infants, e.g. only 2.6 per cent of infants' umbilical cords on day 3, and 4 per cent of infants' noses on day 7. If the levels of colonization reflect the risks of infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranks close to Staph. aureus in the newborn nursery of the modern maternity hospital. Forty two different species of bacteria were isolated from these infants of which 24 were potential pathogens and of the latter, gram-negative organisms greatly outnumbered the gram-positive. This high incidence of gram-negative colonization in a large series of hospitalized neonates may be a normal phenomenon but it suggests that the risk of infection is today greater with gram-negative than with gram-positive bacteria. The figures for carriage of pathogenic staphylococci in the present investigation contrast markedly with the figures reported by many workers between 1950 and 1960.

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Sien Ombelet ◽  
Alessandra Natale ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ronat ◽  
Olivier Vandenberg ◽  
Liselotte Hardy ◽  
...  

Bacterial identification is challenging in low-resource settings (LRS). We evaluated the MicroScan identification panels (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) as part of Médecins Sans Frontières’ Mini-lab Project. The MicroScan Dried Overnight Positive ID Type 3 (PID3) panels for Gram-positive organisms and Dried Overnight Negative ID Type 2 (NID2) panels for Gram-negative organisms were assessed with 367 clinical isolates from LRS. Robustness was studied by inoculating Gram-negative species on the Gram-positive panel and vice versa. The ease of use of the panels and readability of the instructions for use (IFU) were evaluated. Of species represented in the MicroScan database, 94.6% (185/195) of Gram-negative and 85.9% (110/128) of Gram-positive isolates were correctly identified up to species level. Of species not represented in the database (e.g., Streptococcus suis and Bacillus spp.), 53.1% out of 49 isolates were incorrectly identified as non-related bacterial species. Testing of Gram-positive isolates on Gram-negative panels and vice versa (n = 144) resulted in incorrect identifications for 38.2% of tested isolates. The readability level of the IFU was considered too high for LRS. Inoculation of the panels was favorably evaluated, whereas the visual reading of the panels was considered error-prone. In conclusion, the accuracy of the MicroScan identification panels was excellent for Gram-negative species and good for Gram-positive species. Improvements in stability, robustness, and ease of use have been identified to assure adaptation to LRS constraints.


1976 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Kerr ◽  
J. H. Hutchison ◽  
J. MacVicar ◽  
J. Givan ◽  
T. A. McAllister

The object of this study was to determine the sources from which the newborn infant derives his bacterial flora during the first 5 days after birth. Detailed bacteriological data was obtained from 193 mothers antenatally and during labour, and from their infants on the day of birth and on Day 5. Organisms were typed by appropriate methods and the 193 mother-baby pairs declared to be a ‘match’ or a ‘non-match’ according as to whether or not identical bacteria were isolated from both members of the pair. Weekly swabs from hands and noses of staff were taken throughout the 12 months of the study. Swabs were also taken from the environment and air samples from different areas in the hospital. In approximately one third of infants the colonizing bacteria are derived from their mothers, in over 70 per cent of instances from the mother's rectum. The mother's birth canal is not a common source of bacteria and there is no direct relationship with the noses or hands of staff. Artificial feeds are not a source of the colonizing bacteria. The overall distribution of the bacterial species in the infants differed from that found in the hospital environment but this does, none the less, constitute a reservoir of bacteria which is being continually replenished from human sources. Pathogens such as Staph. aureus and Strep. pyogenes are no longer commonly found in newborn infants in the modern maternity hospital, but the need for continual vigilance and an efficient bacteriological service in all maternity units has been in no way diminished.


Membranes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souhir Sabri ◽  
Ahmad Najjar ◽  
Yehia Manawi ◽  
Nahla Eltai ◽  
Asma Al-Thani ◽  
...  

Polysulfone (PS) membranes blended with different loadings of arabic gum (AG) were synthesized using phase inversion method and the antibacterial properties of the synthesized membranes were tested using a number Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial species. It was shown that AG addition to the dope polymer solutions essentially changed porous structure, hydrophilicity and zeta potential of the cast PS/AG membranes. These changes were due to the amphiphilic properties of AG macromolecules that contained negatively charged hydrophilic residues. A pronounced decrease in bacterial attachment was seen in the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images for PS/AG membrane samples compared to both commercial (Microdyn-Nadir) and bare PS (without AG) membranes. AG loading dependent trend was observed where the prevention of bacterial colonization on the membrane surface was strongest at the highest (7 wt. %) AG loading in the casting solution. Possible mechanisms for the prevention of bacterial colonization were discussed. Significantly, the inhibition of bacterial attachment and growth on PS/AG membranes was observed for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial models, rendering these novel membranes with strong biofouling resistance attractive for water treatment applications.


Author(s):  
Erum Malik ◽  
David A. Phoenix ◽  
Timothy J. Snape ◽  
Frederick Harris ◽  
Jaipaul Singh ◽  
...  

AbstractHere the hypothesis that linearized esculentin 2EM (E2EM-lin) from Glandirana emeljanovi possesses pH dependent activity is investigated. The peptide showed weak activity against Gram-negative bacteria (MLCs ≥ 75.0 μM) but potent efficacy towards Gram-positive bacteria (MLCs ≤ 6.25 μM). E2EM-lin adopted an α-helical structure in the presence of bacterial membranes that increased as pH was increased from 6 to 8 (↑ 15.5–26.9%), whilst similar increases in pH enhanced the ability of the peptide to penetrate (↑ 2.3–5.1 mN m−1) and lyse (↑ 15.1–32.5%) these membranes. Theoretical analysis predicted that this membranolytic mechanism involved a tilted segment, that increased along the α-helical long axis of E2EM-lin (1–23) in the N → C direction, with −  < µH > increasing overall from circa − 0.8 to − 0.3. In combination, these data showed that E2EM-lin killed bacteria via novel mechanisms that were enhanced by alkaline conditions and involved the formation of tilted and membranolytic, α-helical structure. The preference of E2EM-lin for Gram-positive bacteria over Gram-negative organisms was primarily driven by the superior ability of phosphatidylglycerol to induce α-helical structure in the peptide as compared to phosphatidylethanolamine. These data were used to generate a novel pore-forming model for the membranolytic activity of E2EM-lin, which would appear to be the first, major reported instance of pH dependent AMPs with alkaline optima using tilted structure to drive a pore-forming process. It is proposed that E2EM-lin has the potential for development to serve purposes ranging from therapeutic usage, such as chronic wound disinfection, to food preservation by killing food spoilage organisms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S777-S778
Author(s):  
Arsheena Yassin ◽  
Christine Stavropoulos ◽  
Krystina L Woods ◽  
Jiashan Xu ◽  
Justin Carale ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hand infections represent a major source of morbidity, which can result in hand stiffness and amputation. Early appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen may reduce the associated morbidity, hence the importance to examine local epidemiology. The aim of this study was to define the current epidemiology of adult hand infections at two urban hospitals in New York City. Methods We performed a double center, retrospective study of adult patients hospitalized from March 2018 to May 2020. Patients with positive cultures associated with the hand infections were included. Retrospectively, 100 patients were reviewed. Data on baseline demographic, clinical, surgical, microbiology, and treatment parameters were collected. Results Of the 100 patients, 76% were male, with median age of 47.5 years (35, 58.25) and average C-reactive protein (CRP) of 50.66 mg/L (± 64.64) on admission (see Table 1). Previous hospitalization within 1 year (38%), previous surgical procedures (39%) and recent IV medication use (26%) were common. 130 bacterial isolates were identified (see Table 2). The most frequent organisms were Gram-positive, with Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, 25.38%), Streptococcus species (20.08%), and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 15.38%) being the most common. Gram-negative organisms were infrequent, with Haemophilus parainfluenzae (3.85%), Enterobacter cloacae (3.85) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.08%) being the most prevalent. Of the 100 patients, 27% had polymicrobial infections, associated with trauma (6%), illicit IV use (6%) and unknown (7%) etiologies. Table 1: Baseline demographics and co-morbid conditions Table 2: Types and numbers of organisms in relation to etiologies Conclusion Within our population, the most common organisms associated with hand infections were Gram-positive, with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species being the most prevalent. Gram-negative pathogens were infrequently isolated. The results within this study can provide guidance to clinicians on assessing the appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen in patients with hand infections, and can serve as a basis for further studies identifying risk factors associated with isolation of organisms associated with hand infections. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuguang Liu ◽  
Dirk Schulze-Makuch ◽  
Jean-Pierre de Vera ◽  
Charles Cockell ◽  
Thomas Leya ◽  
...  

Single-cell sequencing is a powerful technology that provides the capability of analyzing a single cell within a population. This technology is mostly coupled with microfluidic systems for controlled cell manipulation and precise fluid handling to shed light on the genomes of a wide range of cells. So far, single-cell sequencing has been focused mostly on human cells due to the ease of lysing the cells for genome amplification. The major challenges that bacterial species pose to genome amplification from single cells include the rigid bacterial cell walls and the need for an effective lysis protocol compatible with microfluidic platforms. In this work, we present a lysis protocol that can be used to extract genomic DNA from both gram-positive and gram-negative species without interfering with the amplification chemistry. Corynebacterium glutamicum was chosen as a typical gram-positive model and Nostoc sp. as a gram-negative model due to major challenges reported in previous studies. Our protocol is based on thermal and chemical lysis. We consider 80% of single-cell replicates that lead to >5 ng DNA after amplification as successful attempts. The protocol was directly applied to Gloeocapsa sp. and the single cells of the eukaryotic Sphaerocystis sp. and achieved a 100% success rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2243-2251
Author(s):  
Azhar G. Shalaby ◽  
Neveen R. Bakry ◽  
Abeer A. E. Mohamed ◽  
Ashraf A. Khalil

Background and Aim: Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards simplify sample storage, transport, and extraction by reducing cost and time for diagnosis. This study evaluated the FTA suitability for safe transport and storage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells of animal origin on its liquid culture form and from organ impression smears (tissues) under the same routine condition of microbiological laboratory along with detecting their nucleic acid over different storage conditions. Materials and Methods: Increase in bacterial count from 104 to 107 (colony-forming units/mL) of 78 isolates representing seven bacterial species was applied onto cards. FTA cards were grouped and inoculated by these bacteria and then stored at different conditions of 24-27°C, 4°C, and –20°C for 24 h, for 2 weeks, for 1 and 3 month storage, respectively. Bacteriological examination was done, after which bacterial DNA was identified using specific primers for each bacterial type and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The total percentage of recovered bacteria from FTA cards was 66.7% at 24-27–C for 24 h, the detection limit was 100% in Gram-positive species, while it was 57.4% in Gram-negative ones. Regarding viable cell detection from organ impression smears, it was successful under the previous conditions. No live bacterial cells were observed by bacteriological isolation rather than only at 24-27°C for 24 h storage. All bacterial DNA were sufficiently confirmed by the PCR technique at different conditions. Conclusion: Overall, the FTA card method was observed to be a valid tool for nucleic acid purification for bacteria of animal origin in the form of culture or organ smears regardless of its Gram type and is used for a short time only 24 h for storage and transport of live bacteria specifically Gram-positive type. Moreover, the bacterial nucleic acid was intact after storage in –20°C for 3 months and was PCR amplifiable.


CHEST Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 45S
Author(s):  
Abhijit Duggal ◽  
Konstantinos Marmagkiolis ◽  
Lawrence Goldstein

2013 ◽  
pp. 155-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Brown ◽  
Martin C. Prevett

Epilepsy is a common condition that affects large numbers of working people. In about one-third, epilepsy is the only condition, and in others there are additional neurological, intellectual, or psychological problems. Uncontrolled epileptic seizures can lead to injury and may impact on education and employment, but antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment is effective in approximately 70 per cent of people with epilepsy. Many people do not disclose a history of epileptic seizures when applying for a job or during a routine examination at the workplace. This may cause major problems for the individual and the employer and, on occasions, inadvertently contravene the HSW Act or invalidate insurance cover. However, the disability provisions of the Equality Act 2010 now confer some protection on those with epilepsy. The unenlightened attitudes of some employers have led to secrecy or denial by those affected. The possibility of dangerous situations arising at work, or dismissal without recourse to appeal, may be the consequence. A competent occupational health service, trusted by both shop-floor and management, can be invaluable in resolving conflicts and giving advice. Responsibility for the employment and placement of a person with epilepsy rests with the employer and they should take appropriate medical advice. Each case must be judged on its merits in light of the available information, which must include a sound and complete understanding of the requirements of the job. Employees with epilepsy must be regularly reviewed. The development of good rapport and mutual trust will encourage employees to report any changes in their condition or treatment that have arisen.


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