Journal of Medical Bacteriology

Clinical and Demographic Correlates of MRSA and mecA-Positive Isolates in a Tertiary Hospital, Tehran: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-02-11T11:36:16+0330

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections, with the mecA gene serving as a key marker of resistance. This study investigates the clinical and demographic factors associated with MRSA and mecA carriage in a tertiary hospital in Tehran to inform targeted infection control strategies.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 125 hospitalized patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections from a tertiary hospital in Tehran. Clinical and demographic data were collected via structured questionnaires and medical records, and MRSA/mecA status was determined using phenotypic methods and real-time PCR, with associations analyzed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests in SPSS v18.

Result : MRSA was identified in 40.8% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates, with no significant association found with age or sex. Prolonged hospitalization, immunocompromised status, and frequent antibiotic use were significantly associated with MRSA infection (p < 0.05), while a lower prevalence was observed among patients with infected wounds.

Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of MRSA in a Tehran tertiary hospital, with prolonged hospitalization, immunocompromised status, and antibiotic overuse identified as key risk factors. Targeted infection control strategies integrating clinical risk assessment and microbiological surveillance are recommended to mitigate MRSA transmission.

Isolation and Characterization of Isolates of Bacillus cereus Group and their Comparative Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing against Oxytetracycline

2026-02-11T11:36:16+0330

Background: Bacillus cereus is a very important organism widely used for microbiological assays of pharmaceutical products especially in antibiotic susceptibility testing. The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has emphasized the need for effective antibiotic susceptibility testing of pathogens for the management of patient’s health.

Methods: The present study isolated of 5 strains of B. cereus (R-01, R-02, C-01, C-03 & SS-01) from different samples collected from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Pure cultures were then characterized based on microscopy, cultural and biochemical characteristics and also compared with standard reference strain B. cereus MTCC 430. Further, all the 5 isolates were subjected to MALDI-TOF analysis to confirm their identity. Finally, antimicrobial susceptibility of all the indigenous strains was tested in comparison with B. cereus MTCC 430 using the agar well diffusion method at various concentrations of Oxytetracycline (1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.12, 3.91, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0, & 16.0 µg/mL).

Results: Morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics confirmed the identity of all the bacterial isolates as B. cereus which was further authenticated by MALDI-TOF analysis. The antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that out of 5 indigenous isolates, R-01 and R-02 were found to be susceptible at all tested concentrations of Oxytetracycline; whereas C-01, C-03 and SS-01 were found to be resistant at a concentration 2.5 µg/mL and below.

Conclusion: The antibiotics susceptibility test results displayed sensitivity profile of all 05 indigenous isolates of B. cereus against the Oxytetracycline and revealed that 02 isolates (R-01 and R-02) were more sensitive to Oxytetracycline compared to others.

Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Urine in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

2026-02-11T11:36:16+0330

Background: Pseudomonas spp is a clinically significant opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in urinary tract infections. Differences in pigment production may indicate pathogenic variations and aid in optimizing treatment strategies.

Methods: A total of 4208 samples were processed according to standard microbiological techniques. Pigment production was enhanced on nutrient agar and antimicrobial sensitivity was performed according to CLSI guidelines. This data was then analyzed, noted and reported.

Results: 62 samples of Pseudomonas spp. were isolated, 29 (46.8%) samples did not produce any pigment, 19(30.6%) were green pyocyanin producers and 14 (22.6%) produced the pigment pyoverdine. Strains producing pigment were overall more resistant to tested antibiotics than strains not producing pigment. Pyoverdine producing strains demonstrated most resistance, but pyocyanin producing strains showed better sensitivity.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for routine pigment-based differentiation in clinical microbiology laboratories, as it may offer an early clue to resistance patterns and guide more effective empirical therapy.

Prevalence of Coeliac Disease Among Symptomatic Patients: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in North-East Delhi

2026-02-11T11:36:16+0330

Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated small intestinal disorder precipitated by gluten consumption in genetically predisposed individuals. The condition is increasingly recognized worldwide, including in India, largely due to better availability of serological assays and awareness of non-classical manifestations. To determine the prevalence of Coeliac disease among patients presenting with gastrointestinal and related complaints using serological screening.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, UCMS & GTB Hospital, Delhi, and included 752 consecutive serum samples received between May 2023 and July 2025. IgA anti-tTG antibodies were estimated by Quantitative ELISA (Aeskulisa, Aesku Diagnostics, Germany) employing recombinant human antigen. Results were interpreted as negative (<16 IU/mL), equivocal (16–19 IU/mL), or positive (≥20 IU/mL).

Results: Among 752 patients, 99 (13%) tested positive, 633 (84%) were negative, and 20 (3%) yielded equivocal findings. Males constituted 59% of the study group, with a slight male predominance among positive cases (55.5%). The highest frequency of positivity (87%) was observed in the 1–20 years age group, mainly in children aged 1–10 years. The majority of samples originated from the Paediatrics Department.

Conclusion: CD was detected in 13% of symptomatic patients, with the greatest burden in the paediatric age group. These results highlight the importance of early serological screening in high-risk groups to facilitate timely diagnosis and prevention of long-term sequelae.

Bacterial Detection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiling in a Broiler Breeder Flock

2026-02-11T11:36:16+0330

Background: The health of breeders is essential for the next generation of chicks. Bacterial agents, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Mycoplasma gallisepticum or Mycoplasma synoviae, are the leading causes of disease and mortality in breeder poultry. The widespread usage of antimicrobials in poultry, has raised concerns about the potential for spread of antimicrobial resistance. The present study aimed to identify bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance patterns in the case of breeder’s mortality.

Methods: Samples were collected from tissues and bone marrow of sixteen broiler breeders. The specimens were cultured onto blood agar, MacConkey agar and confirmatory biochemical media for the bacteriological examination. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used for fungal isolation. The specimens were cultured on Mueller-Hinton agar to assess their antibiotic resistance to gentamicin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, penicillin, erythromycin, streptomycin, lincomycin, and amoxicillin

Results: The bacteria including Escherichia coli (93.8%), Staphylococcus (31.3%), Streptococcus (12.5%), Bacillus (12.5%) and Clostridium (6.3%) were isolated. Co-infection was observed in 50% of carcasses, most frequently involving E. coli and Staphylococcus. Isolates from 62.5% were resistant to all the antibiotics tested. Gentamicin was the most effective antibiotic.

Conclusion: Escherichia coli was the dominant isolate, and its detection in the bone marrow of 31.3% of cases confirms systemic dissemination. Consequently, enhanced biosecurity protocols are essential to prevent the spread of pathogens such as E. coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed a multidrug-resistant pattern. Therefore, poultry farms should base antibiotic selection on specific laboratory results rather than relying on empirical broad-spectrum therapy.

Antibiotics Used to Treat Streptococcus pyogenes Infections

2026-02-11T11:36:17+0330

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) remains a globally significant human pathogen responsible for hundreds of millions of infections annually. Pharyngitis alone accounts for an estimated 616 million cases per year, with invasive disease causing more than 500,000 deaths worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Antibiotic therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment, with penicillin maintaining its status as the drug of choice after more than 70 years of clinical use and with no documented resistance.

Conclusion: This mini review summarizes current antibiotic therapies for GAS, highlighting mechanisms of action, clinical applications, resistance patterns, global treatment guidelines, and recent developments between 2020 and 2025. Comparative and statistical data are provided on antibiotic efficacy, regional resistance rates, short-course versus standard regimens, and diagnostic advances. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based therapy to reduce complications such as rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Climate Change and Kid Infections: Preparing for Vector-Borne Threats in Pediatrics

2026-02-11T11:36:17+0330

Background: Climate change, driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is profoundly altering the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) by expanding vector habitats, prolonging transmission seasons, and introducing pathogens to previously unaffected regions. Children are disproportionately vulnerable due to immature immune systems, higher respiratory rates, increased outdoor play behaviors, and socioeconomic disparities that limit access to preventive measures. severe manifestations, including cerebral malaria, dengue hemorrhagic fever, congenital Zika syndrome, and neuroborreliosis.

Conclusion: The convergence of climate change and pediatric VBDs represents an escalating public health crisis that demands immediate integration of climate resilience into child health practice. Pediatricians must adopt climate-informed prevention, enhanced surveillance, equitable vaccine and vector-control strategies, professional education, and advocacy for rapid emissions reduction. Proactive, multidisciplinary action is essential to protect current and future generations from widening health inequities and irreversible harm.

The Unfinished Agenda: Pursuing Durable Protection Against Pneumococcal Disease in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

2026-02-11T11:36:17+0330

Background: The syndemic of the human immunodeficiency virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections remains a significant global health challenge. Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, people living with the human immunodeficiency virus face a 20- to 100-fold higher risk of invasive pneumococcal disease due to persistent, multifaceted immunodeficiency affecting both innate and adaptive immunity. This includes dysfunction of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, compromised mucosal barriers, depletion of CD4+ T-cells particularly T-follicular helper cells and B-cell dysregulation, creating a perfect storm for invasive infection. The evolution from polysaccharide to conjugate vaccines represents a major advancement. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, by enabling T-cell-dependent responses, generate higher-quality antibodies, robust memory B-cells, and demonstrate superior immunogenicity and effectiveness in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus compared to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Evidence from immunogenicity studies, observational data, and the herd effects from childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccines programs confirms that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines significantly reduce vaccine-type pneumococcal disease. However, challenges like serotype replacement, waning immunity, suboptimal response despite antiretroviral therapy, and the aging of the people living the human immunodeficiency virus population impede optimal protection.

Conclusion: While conjugate vaccines have transformed prevention, durable protection against pneumococcal disease in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus remains an unfinished agenda. Future success hinges on developing novel vaccines (e.g., protein-based), optimizing strategies with adjuvants and boosters, defining correlates of protection, and ensuring global equity in vaccine access. A multifaceted approach combining research, clinical innovation, and public health policy is essential to significantly reduce this burden.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Development of Efflux Pump Inhibitors

2026-02-11T11:36:17+0330

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mediated by efflux pumps constitutes a critical health problem, necessitating urgent strategies for the development of new efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). In this regard, artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be an innovative strategy for accelerating discovery, optimization, and understanding of EPIs mechanisms of action.

Conclusion: This review summarizes recent advances regarding the role of AI in the development of new EPI, with emphasis on machine learning (ML) based inhibitor prediction, molecular dynamics (MD) for binding analysis, and quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling (QSAR). By regrouping data from recent studies, we discuss here the important role played by AI in the improvement of lead identification, inhibitor designs, and the study of the resistance mechanisms. Despite current limitations such as limited, fragmented data and structural complexity of efflux pumps, AI offers great promise to revolutionize EPI development. In order to effectively combat AMR, we address here some key approaches, applications, challenges, and future directions, demonstrating the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Different Names of Participants in Phase I Clinical Trials

2026-02-11T11:36:17+0330

Background: Clinical trials contribute to the generation of new knowledge and can lead to the discovery of novel treatments. By introducing more effective therapies, they can improve patients' quality of life and reduce the complications of diseases. For searching scientific resources in this context, one should focus on appropriate keywords, identify synonyms, related phrases, and academic terms in this field to expand the scope of the search. The first phase of clinical trials is the initial step in evaluating an investigational drug product in humans.

Conclusion: In this review, given the importance of Phase I clinical trials, we first address the different and common names of Phase I clinical trials and then provide examples of synonyms for "study participants." It is hoped that researchers can, by identifying synonyms and related academic phrases, more quickly and accurately find relevant scientific resources and produce more precise and clear scientific writing.