Prevalence of Bacillus cereus in Ready-to-Eat Foods in Northern Perak, Malaysia

Food poisoning cases in Malaysia showed an increasing trend every year where 496 episodes were reported in 2018 as compared to 401 episodes in the same week of the year 2017. Bacillus cereus is one of the foodborne pathogens related to food poisoning cases in Malaysia. The main cause for the outbreak of B. cereus is the unregulated temperature during holding time. This study was conducted to detect the presence of aerobic bacteria and B. cereus present in ready-to-eat food in Northern Perak. A total of 83 food samples were collected and analyzed for the microbial count. The result shows that aerobic bacteria and B. cereus were detected in 28% of the samples. B. cereus count in food samples tested ranged from 100 cfu/g to 42000 cfu/g, whereas the aerobic bacteria recorded a range of 500 cfu/g to 2100000 cfu/g. The highest percentage of B. cereus was found in rice-based food, followed by meat, poultry, and gravy dishes. Positive colonies of B. cereus were further tested for anti-microbial resistance profile. Most B. cereus isolates showed resistance to tetracycline and clindamycin.

Mechanical Property, Thermal Stability and BioDegradability Studies on PLA based Bio-Nanocomposites derived from Agricultural Residues

Looking at the environmental hazards being posed by indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics, abundant research is being done to explore various bio-degradable polymers. In the present study, Cellulose Nano Fibers (CNFs) were extracted from Pineapple Crown using mechano chemical treatment, PLA was synthesized by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation using cellulase enzyme on Acacia Arabica as substrate. Further, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by using different precursors. The biocomposite sheets of PLA, PLA+ 5%-20% CNFs, PLA+5% ZnO+5-20 % CNFs and PLA+10% ZnO+5-20 % CNFs were solvent casted. Microbial efficacy test was done using E.coli and with inclusion of ZnO nanoparticles the microbial resistance has increased. Noteworthy vibration band of the sheets were observed in the wavelength range of 3700 to 2800 cm-1 from the FTIR analysis, which shows that there is only a physical interaction rather than chemical. The crystallinity increased for initial concentration, but was similar to the neat PLA. Significant increase in tensile strength and maximum elongation at break was observed in PLA + 5% ZnO + 10% CNFs sheet. Sheets were allowed to degrade naturally and significant weight loss was observed after 120 days with maximum reduction of 38.4 %. Morphological analysis through SEM revealed the uniform distribution of fillers in the polymer matrix. TGA studies have shown that the degradation temperatures were in the range of 320-405oC. The thermal stability decreased with the increase in ZnO concentration. The results have shown a promising and sustainable use in various applications in view of microbial resistance and bio-degradability.

Evaluation of Emerging Antimicrobials Resistance in Nosocomial Infections Caused by E. Coli: The Comparison Results of Observed Cases and Compartmental Model

Background: The World Health Organization repeatedly emphasizes the spread and association of nosocomial infections with microbial resistance. In a 2014 report, the World Health Organization cited microbial resistance as a global threat. In recent years, the world has seen the rapid growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in most areas, which poses a serious threat to public health. A high percentage of bacteria that cause nosocomial infections have been resistant to treatment. The most common bacterial agent among these nosocomial infections is E. coli. This bacterium is one of the main causes of nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients. One of the most important goals of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) is timely identification and transmission of Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance (EAR) or outbreak of antibiotic resistance. One of the main ways to identify this "emerging" at the national or local level is to identify deviations from the expected resistance in drug compounds. As a result, if the observed cases of a drug-resistant pathogen are significantly higher than expected, it could indicate "emerging".Purpose: This study aimed to identify and transmit EAR or outbreak of antibiotic resistance among antibiotics used in the treatment of nosocomial infections caused by E. coli. This was done by comparing the observed cases of resistant E. coli with the predicted cases of resistant E. coli, which were predicted by the compartment model.Methods: This is a hospital-based study that used data from the nosocomial infection survelliance system to investigate observed cases of antibiotic resistance. In this study, the results of 12,954 antibiogram tests related to 57 hospitals located in 31 provinces of Iran were divided into two parts (results related to the first half of 2017 and results related to the second half of 2017). The model was developed in the second half of the year to predict expected cases. Before developeing model to predict the expected cases of resistant E. coli, the validity of the model was evaluated by implementing the model in the first half of the year. Finally, the predicted cases of resistant E. coli were compared with those observed in 2017. If the difference between the two was statistically significant, it indicated the outbreak of E.coli. This model evaluated 11 antibiotics recommended by the World Health Organization that are used to treat nosocomial infections caused by E. coli.Results: The results of this study showed that the outbreak of E. coli resistant to ampicillin and ceftazidime occurred in 2017 in hospitals of Iran. This means that resistance to ampicillin and ceftazidime antibiotics in nosocomial infections caused by E. coli is higher than expected and has become "emerging".Conclusion: This study showed how the outbreak of antibiotic resistance in the country's hospitals can be investigated. Using the method of this study, we can investigate the outbreak of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the coming years and in different substrates. The results of this study showed that the administration and use of antibiotics should be reconsidered.

INSIGHT INTO ANTIMICROBIC EVALUATION TECHNIQUES AND THEIR ROLE IN BETTER ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIC AGENTS: A REVIEW

At present, researchers have a keen interest in creating advanced antimicrobic agents to overcome microbial resistance from various new sources either from plants or microbes. For this, robust attention has been given to the advancement in the rapid antimicrobic assessment strategies and methods to develop antimicrobic agents. Some of the antimicrobic techniques such as well diffusion using broth and agar and disc diffusion are more prominent in assaying antimicrobial testing while techniques such as bioluminescence, flow cytofluorometry methods are less used due to specific equipment’s, high calibration and evaluation processes. Thus, the information of precise antimicrobial techniques is must to the new researchers for antimicrobic testing. In this review article, various antimicrobic techniques with their advantages and limitations are being reported which are currently being carried out for antimicrobial testing.

Comparison of Topical Herbal Cream and 1% Clindamycin Gel for Treatment of Mild-to-moderate Acne: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Acne is the most common chronic skin disease affecting young adults and adolescents worldwide. A characteristic of this disease is the chronic inflammation of sebaceous glands leading to comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Topical and systemic uses of medicines are common approaches to treat acne. However, these medicines are associated with some adverse effects and increased microbial resistance. Objectives: We aimed to prepare and apply an herbal formulation containing several herbs with different effects on mechanisms associated with acne formation. Methods: In this study, 66 patients with mild-to-moderate acne randomly received a packet containing herbal medicine or clindamycin gel. The treatment period was two months, and the total acne lesions and acne severity index were measured every four weeks. After eight weeks of treatment and follow-up, the physician examined clinical outcomes and possible complications. Results: Decreases in total acne lesions and acne severity index were significantly different in both treatment groups (P < 0.05 in both groups). Although the herbal cream provided better improvement than clindamycin, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The use of the herbal cream could be recommended for treating acne lesions due to few complications, greater patient satisfaction, and avoiding microbial resistance to chemical antimicrobials.

Review on Drug Utilization Assessment of Cephalosporin

Pediatric is the field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children and adolescents. Globally, many infectious diseases have been controlled in the 20th century by improving People’s standard of living through public health campaigns and the use of various antimicrobial agents. Evidence suggests that the manner in which Primary Healthcare centers prescribe drugs has contributed to the high rise in Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). The extent of the resistance is determined by the site of antibiotic application and in this study oral usage of antibiotics was found to be the highest contributor to Anti-Microbial Resistance. A systematic review of the published literature on the conduct and reporting of meta-analyses in observational studies was done using databases searched included MEDLINE, Educational Resources Information Center, PsycLIT (http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr), Google Scholar, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and the Current Index to Statistics. It was concluded that most of the articles reported that cephalosporin were widely used antibiotics and therefore its use must be rational; to avoid its abuse which may result to high level of resistance.

Evaluation of Emerging Antimicrobials Resistance in Nosocomial Infections Caused by E. Coli: the Comparison Results of Observed Cases and Compartmental Model

Background: The World Health Organization repeatedly emphasizes the spread and association of nosocomial infections with microbial resistance. In a 2014 report, the World Health Organization cited microbial resistance as a global threat. In recent years, the world has seen the rapid growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in most areas, which poses a serious threat to public health. A high percentage of bacteria that cause nosocomial infections have been resistant to treatment. The most common bacterial agent among these nosocomial infections is E. coli. This bacterium is one of the main causes of nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients. One of the most important goals of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) is timely identification and transmission of Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance (EAR) or outbreak of antibiotic resistance. One of the main ways to identify this "emerging" at the national or local level is to identify deviations from the expected resistance in drug compounds. As a result, if the observed cases of a drug-resistant pathogen are significantly higher than expected, it could indicate "emerging".Purpose: This study aimed to identify and transmit EAR or outbreak of antibiotic resistance among antibiotics used in the treatment of nosocomial infections caused by E. coli. This was done by comparing the observed cases of resistant E. coli with the predicted cases of resistant E. coli, which were predicted by the compartment model.Methods: This is a hospital-based study that used data from the nosocomial infection survelliance system to investigate observed cases of antibiotic resistance. In this study, the results of 12,954 antibiogram tests related to 57 hospitals located in 31 provinces of Iran were divided into two parts (results related to the first half of 2017 and results related to the second half of 2017). The model was developed in the second half of the year to predict expected cases. Before developeing model to predict the expected cases of resistant E. coli, the validity of the model was evaluated by implementing the model in the first half of the year. Finally, the predicted cases of resistant E. coli were compared with those observed in 2017. If the difference between the two was statistically significant, it indicated the outbreak of E.coli. This model evaluated 11 antibiotics recommended by the World Health Organization that are used to treat nosocomial infections caused by E. coli.Results: The results of this study showed that the outbreak of E. coli resistant to ampicillin and ceftazidime occurred in 2017 in hospitals of Iran. This means that resistance to ampicillin and ceftazidime antibiotics in nosocomial infections caused by E. coli is higher than expected and has become "emerging".Conclusion: This study showed how the outbreak of antibiotic resistance in the country's hospitals can be investigated. Using the method of this study, we can investigate the outbreak of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the coming years and in different substrates. The results of this study showed that the administration and use of antibiotics should be reconsidered.