In the present study we have characterised the microbiological quality of the drinking water from different water sources in Gogogo and Nkonkobe areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Using both standard microbiological methods and the commercial API 20E assay kit, we have been able to identify 54 different species of micro-organisms, 77.5% of which proved to be human pathogens, 53.2...

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) continue to be a major public health concern. A number of epidemiologically relevant HAI microorganisms are multidrug-resistant (MDR) germs that can spread rapidly and/or carry multiple resistance to antibiotics. They are the cause of high mortality and possible nosocomial epidemics. For this reason, we implemented microbiological surveillance acquiring sa...

BACKGROUND GP2 is the major membrane protein present in the pancreatic zymogen granule, and is cleaved and released into the pancreatic duct along with exocrine secretions. The function of GP2 is unknown. GP2's amino acid sequence is most similar to that of uromodulin, which is secreted by the kidney. Recent studies have demonstrated uromodulin binding to bacterial Type 1 fimbria. The fimbriae ...

Root segments and root-soil cores (6.5-cm diameter) from fields and nurseries of winter wheat and sorghum were tested for N2 fixation by using the acetylene reduction assay. Wheat samples (approximately 1,200) from 109 sites generally had low or no activity (0 to 3.1 nmol of C2H4 produced per h per g [dry weight] of root segments), even after 24 h of incubation. However, a commercial field of S...

The postnatal maturation of the gut, partially modulated by bacterial colonization, ends up in the establishment of an efficient barrier to luminal antigens and bacteria. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in pediatric practices alters the gut bacterial colonization and, consequently, may impair the maturation of the gut barrier function. To test this hypothesis, suckling Sprague-Dawley rats...

Enterobacter sakazakii has emerged as a rare cause of neonatal meningitis, septicemia and enterocolitis. Contaminated infant milk formula (IMF) has been identified as one infection route. A small number of clinical outbreaks have been epidemiologically linked to IMF contaminated post-pasteurization during manufacture and/or mishandled when reconstituted. Currently no agreed standardized typing ...

BACKGROUND The composition of the intestinal microbiota seems to be an important factor in determining the clinical outcome in children with short bowel syndrome (SBS). Alterations in the microbiota may result in serious complications such as small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) and intestinal mucosal inflammation that lead to prolonged parenteral nutrition (PN) dependency with subsequently ...

BACKGROUND The extensive use of the β-lactam antibiotics in hospitals and in the community has created major resistance problems which has led to increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. The use of the β-lactamase inhibitors in combination with the β-lactam antibiotics is currently the most successful strategy used for circumventing the resistance mechanisms. OBJECTIVE To evaluate...

OBJECTIVE To determine frequency, distribution and sensitivity pattern of Extended-Spectrum beta Lactamase (EBSL) producing organism at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. METHODS All members of enterobacteriacae isolated between April and August 2002 were studied. Isolates were speciated according to standard biochemical tests. Susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer method. ES...