Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli from retail meat and workers: genetic diversity, virulotyping, pathotyping and the antimicrobial effect of silver nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

The spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing E. coli from food animals and the environment to humans has become a significant public health concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence, pathotypes, virulotypes, genotypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in retail meat samples and workers in retail meat shops in Egypt and to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-H2O2) against multidrug resistant (MDR) ESBL-producing E. coli.

RESULTS

A total of 250 retail meat samples and 100 human worker samples (hand swabs and stool) were examined for the presence of ESBL- producing E. coli. Duck meat and workers' hand swabs were the highest proportion of ESBL- producing E. coli isolates (81.1%), followed by camel meat (61.5%). Pathotyping revealed that the isolates belonged to groups A and B1. Virulotyping showed that the most prevalent virulence gene was Shiga toxin 2 (stx2) associated gene (36.9%), while none of the isolates harbored stx1 gene. Genotyping of the identified isolates from human and meat sources by REP-PCR showed 100% similarity within the same cluster between human and meat isolates. All isolates were classified as MDR with an average multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.7. AgNPs-H2O2 at concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/mL showed complete bacterial growth inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Virulent MDR ESBL-producing E. coli were identified in retail meat products in Egypt, posing significant public health threats. Regular monitoring of ESBL-producing E. coli frequency and antimicrobial resistance profile in retail meat products is crucial to enhance their safety. AgNPs-H2O2 is a promising alternative for treating MDR ESBL-producing E. coli infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance risks.

Genetic Relatedness, Antibiotic Resistance, and Effect of Silver Nanoparticle on Biofilm Formation by Clostridium perfringens Isolated from Chickens, Pigeons, Camels, and Human Consumers

In this study, we determined the prevalence and toxin types of antibiotic-resistant Clostridium perfringens in chicken, pigeons, camels, and humans. We investigated the inhibitory effects of AgNPs on biofilm formation ability of the isolates and the genetic relatedness of the isolates from various sources determined using RAPD-PCR. Fifty isolates were identified using PCR, and all the isolates were of type A. The cpe and cpb2 genes were detected in 12% and 56% of the isolates, respectively. The effect of AgNPs on biofilm production of six representative isolates indicated that at the highest concentration of AgNPs (100 µg/mL), the inhibition percentages were 80.8–82.8%. The RAPD-PCR patterns of the 50 C. perfringens isolates from various sources revealed 33 profiles and four clusters, and the discriminatory power of RAPD-PCR was high. Multidrug-resistant C. perfringens isolates are predominant in the study area. The inhibition of biofilm formation by C. perfringens isolates was dose-dependent, and RAPD-PCR is a promising method for studying the genetic relatedness between the isolates from various sources. This is the first report of AgNPs’ anti-biofilm activity against C. perfringens from chickens, pigeons, camels, and humans, to the best of our knowledge.

Does saline enema during the first stage of labour reduce the incidence of Clostridium difficile colonization in neonates? A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Maternal rectal enemas may reduce neonatal bacterial exposure during labour, which may reduce the risk of neonatal colonization with Clostridium difficile. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a saline enema during the first stage of labour in reducing neonatal colonization with C. difficile.

METHODS

This study was conducted at Cairo University Hospital, Egypt from January 2016 to July 2016. Asymptomatic mothers with uncomplicated vaginal delivery and their neonates without diarrhoea were included. The study group underwent saline enema, and the control group had no intervention. Stool samples were collected from neonates one week after delivery. The primary outcome was the detection of C. difficile in stool culture and direct detection of C. difficile Toxin A and Toxin B by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

FINDINGS

The two groups were comparable (P>0.05) in terms of age, gravidity, parity, body mass index and gestational age. C. difficile was detected in 13.54% and 37.63% of stool cultures from the enema group and the control group, respectively (P<0.001). Direct detection of Toxins A and B was positive in 22.92% of cases in the enema group and 53.76% of cases in the control group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that a saline enema for the mother during the first stage of labour may be useful in reducing the risk of neonatal gut colonization by C. difficile.

Occurrence, Virulence Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Chicken Products and Humans

Staphylococcus aureus in food is a consequence of inadequate hygienic handling and processing, posing a potential risk to public health. The current study aimed to characterize virulence factors, as well as antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated from retail chicken products and hand swabs from vendors in Egypt. In addition, genetic relatedness of the isolates from chicken and humans was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using protein A as a target. A total of 110 samples were collected from chicken products (n = 80) and vendors (n = 30). Overall, 30 (37.5%) chicken products samples were positive for S. aureus, whereas hand swabs from meat handlers revealed that 18 (60%) were positive. Ten MRSA strains were characterized by the presence of the mecA gene, comprising seven isolates from chicken and three from humans. Virulence-associated factors were evaluated by PCR, revealing that 31.3% of S. aureus isolates harbored the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene, whereas 10.4% were positive for the sea and sed genes each, and only two isolates were positive for γ-hemolysin-associated gene. Genotyping using spa PCR-RFLP showed identical restriction banding patterns of MRSA isolates of human and chicken meat origin, indicating the genetic relatedness of the isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize PVL-positive MRSA from chicken products and to utilize spa-RFLP for evaluating the genetic relatedness between MRSA of human and chicken origin in Egypt.