The examination of some virulence factors in S. aureus isolates obtained from the healthy human population, sheep mastitis, and cheese

Abstract.

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for many infections in humans and animals from skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening diseases. In this study to explore the origin of S. aureus infections in humans, the antibiotic resistance profile and the variety of virulence factors in S. aureus isolates were examined in three groups: a healthy human population, cheese, and the milk of sheep with mastitis.

Aims

The examination of some virulence factors in S. aureus isolates obtained from the healthy human population, sheep mastitis, and cheese.

Methods

A total of 400 nasal swab samples from healthy students, 30 cheese samples, and 122 sheep milk samples were collected for the detection of S. aureus isolates from January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2018. The frequency of hla, hlb, Acme/arcA, pvl, and tsst-1 virulence genes and mecA gene was determined in each group by PCR assay.

Results

There was a direct relationship between the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates from a healthy population and those from mastitis milk samples. Of 400 nasal samples, 15% (60/400) were positive for S. aureus, of which 60% (36/60) were positive for mecA. While 50% (15/30) of cheese samples were positive for S. aureus. of which 7 cases (46.66%, 7/15) were positive for mecA. The prevalence of S. aureus among students was dependent on gender (P=0.025). Also, 47.5% (58/122) of milk samples from sheep mastitis were positive for S. aureus, and 41.37% (24/58) were positive for the mecA gene. Based on PCR results, the highest rate of hla (68.33%, 41/60), hlb (53.33%, 32/60), and Acme/arcA (46.66%, 28/60) genes were related to a healthy population, and the highest frequency of pvl (41.38%, 24/58), and tsst-1 (27.59%, 16/58) was related to milk samples (P<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the presence of the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME)-arcA gene and resistance to methicillin (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The high rate of virulence factors in the S. aureus isolates obtained from mastitis and dairy products is an alert point, because they could be source of the spreading of S. aureus to humans. There is an essential need for continuous monitoring to control staphylococcal food poisoning.

Information technology acceptance in health information management

OBJECTIVE

User acceptance of information technology has been a significant area of research for more than two decades in the field of information technology. This study assessed the acceptance of information technology in the context of Health Information Management (HIM) by utilizing Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which was modified and applied to assess user acceptance of health information technology as well as viability of TAM as a research construct in the context of HIM.

METHODS

This was a descriptive- analytical study in which a sample of 187 personnel from a population of 363 personnel, working in medical records departments of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, was selected. Users' perception of applying information technology was studied by a researcher-developed questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS software (version16) using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

RESULTS

The results suggest that TAM is a useful construct to assess user acceptance of information technology in the context of HIM. The findings also evidenced the perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PE) were positively associated with favorable users' attitudes towards HIM. PU was relatively more associated (r= 0.22, p = 0.05) than PEOU (r = 0.014, p = 0.05) with favorable user attitudes towards HIM.

CONCLUSIONS

Users' perception of usefulness and ease of use are important determinants providing the incentive for users to accept information technologies when the application of a successful HIM system is attempted. The findings of the present study suggest that user acceptance is a key element and should subsequently be the major concern of health organizations and health policy makers.