S. Aureus (s + aureu)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of S. Aureus

  • methicillin-resistant s. aureu
  • methicillin-sensitive s. aureu
  • methicillin-susceptible s. aureu

  • Terms modified by S. Aureus

  • s. aureu cell
  • s. aureu strain
  • s. aureu strain isolated

  • Selected Abstracts


    Cutaneous infections in the elderly: diagnosis and management

    DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 3 2003
    Jeffrey M. Weinberg
    ABSTRACT:, Over the past several years there have been many advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous infectious diseases. This review focuses on the three major topics of interest in the geriatric population: herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), onychomycosis, and recent advances in antibacterial therapy. Herpes zoster in adults is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox in children. For many years acyclovir was the gold standard of antiviral therapy for the treatment of patients with herpes zoster. Famciclovir and valacyclovir, newer antivirals for herpes zoster, offer less frequent dosing. PHN refers to pain lasting ,2 months after an acute attack of herpes zoster. The pain may be constant or intermittent and may occur spontaneously or be caused by seemingly innocuous stimuli such as a light touch. Treatment of established PHN through pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapy will be discussed. In addition, therapeutic strategies to prevent PHN will be reviewed. These include the use of oral corticosteroids, nerve blocks, and treatment with standard antiviral therapy. Onychomycosis, or tinea unguium, is caused by dermatophytes in the majority of cases, but can also be caused by Candida and nondermatophyte molds. Onychomycosis is found more frequently in the elderly and in more males than females. There are four types of onychomycosis: distal subungual onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis, white superficial onychomycosis, and candidal onychomycosis. Over the past several years, new treatments for this disorder have emerged which offer shorter courses of therapy and greater efficacy than previous therapies. The treatment of bacterial skin and skin structure infections in the elderly is an important issue. There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of gram-positive infections, including resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and drug-resistant pneumococci. While vancomycin has been considered the drug of last defense against gram-positive multidrug-resistant bacteria, the late 1980s saw an increase in vancomycin-resistant bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). More recently, strains of vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. aureus (VISA) have been isolated. Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are often the cause of skin and skin structure infections, ranging from mild pyodermas to complicated infections including postsurgical wound infections, severe carbunculosis, and erysipelas. With limited treatment options, it has become critical to identify antibiotics with novel mechanisms of activity. Several new drugs have emerged as possible therapeutic alternatives, including linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin. [source]


    High phenotypic diversity in infecting but not in colonizing Staphylococcus aureus populations

    ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
    Christiane Goerke
    Summary In hostile environments diversity within a bacterial population may be beneficial for the fitness of the microbial community as a whole. Here we analysed the population diversity of Staphylococcus aureus in infecting and colonizing situations. In the study, performed independently in two German centres, the heterogeneity of the S. aureus population was determined by quantifying the occurrence of phenotypic variants (differences in haemolysis, pigmentation, colony morphology) in primary cultures from nose, oropharyngeal and sputum specimens from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and in nose swabs from healthy S. aureus carriers. The proportion of heterogeneous samples, the number of clearly distinguishable isolates per sample and the qualitative differences between phenotypes was significantly higher in CF sputum specimens than in the other samples. The heterogeneity of the S. aureus population could be correlated with high bacterial densities in the sputum samples. In patients co-infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa lower S. aureus bacterial loads and less heterogeneity in the S. aureus population were observed. Typing of all S. aureus isolates from heterogeneous samples by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis or spa typing revealed that the bacteria were polyclonal in 30%, monoclonal with minor genetic alterations in 25% or not distinguishable in 69% of the specimens. Some specimens harboured monoclonal and polyclonal variants simultaneously. Importantly, differences in antibiotic susceptibility were detected in phenotypic S. aureus variants within a single specimen. Diversification of a S. aureus population is highly favoured during chronic CF lung infection, supporting the general hypothesis that maintenance of intrahost diversity can be of adaptive value, increasing the fitness of the bacterial community. [source]


    In vitro Study of the Antibacterial Activity of Bioactive Glass-ceramic Scaffolds,

    ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
    Marta F. Gorriti
    Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen of major clinical interest for its high prevalence in biomaterial-related infections. This experimental study provides the first evidence in vitro that bioactive glass-ceramic scaffolds made from both 45S5 Bioglass® and from boron containing bioactive glass (45S5.2B) as well as their ionic dissolution products do no exhibit antibacterial effect against several strains of S. aureus. [source]


    Route of Administration Differentially Affects Fevers Induced by Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Pyrogens in Rabbits

    EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
    T. Cartmell
    We have investigated the febrile responses of New Zealand White rabbits to a Gram-negative pyrogen (bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhosa), commonly associated with systemic infection, and a Gram-positive pyrogen (Staphylococcus aureus), more frequently associated with superficial soft tissue infection, each administered via one of four different routes (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or intraperitoneal) at each of three different doses (LPS: 0.1, 1 and 10 ,g kg,1; S. aureus: 1.5 × 107, 1.5 × 108 and 1.5 × 109 cell walls kg,1). Intravenous administration of LPS evoked rapid, dose-dependent biphasic fever. Injection of LPS by the other routes also evoked dose-dependent fever. However, these fevers were monophasic, had increased latency of onset, and were of lower amplitude. It is important to note that a dose of approximately 10 and 100 times that of the standard intravenous dose was required to produce a similar peak rise in temperature when administered subcutaneously and intraperitoneally, respectively. Intravenous injection of the highest dose of S. aureus evoked dose-dependent biphasic fever, with short latency of onset, which was very similar to that induced by intravenous LPS. At lower doses, intravenous S. aureus induced monophasic fever. No fever occurred when the same doses of S. aureus were administered by any other route. We conclude that any of the four routes may be used for the study of LPS-induced fever, provided that the doses are adjusted. However, studies of S. aureus -induced fever, and detection of contamination with either pyrogen, requires intravenous injection. [source]


    Microbial interactions and differential protein expression in Staphylococcus aureus ,Candida albicans dual-species biofilms

    FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
    Brian M. Peters
    Abstract The fungal species Candida albicans and the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus are responsible for a majority of hospital-acquired infections and often coinfect critically ill patients as complicating polymicrobial biofilms. To investigate biofilm structure during polymicrobial growth, dual-species biofilms were imaged with confocal scanning laser microscopy. Analyses revealed a unique biofilm architecture where S. aureus commonly associated with the hyphal elements of C. albicans. This physical interaction may provide staphylococci with an invasion strategy because candidal hyphae can penetrate through epithelial layers. To further understand the molecular mechanisms possibly responsible for previously demonstrated amplified virulence during coinfection, protein expression studies were undertaken. Differential in-gel electrophoresis identified a total of 27 proteins to be significantly differentially produced by these organisms during coculture biofilm growth. Among the upregulated staphylococcal proteins was l -lactate dehydrogenase 1, which confers resistance to host-derived oxidative stressors. Among the downregulated proteins was the global transcriptional repressor of virulence factors, CodY. These findings demonstrate that the hyphae-mediated enhanced pathogenesis of S. aureus may not only be due to physical interactions but can also be attributed to the differential regulation of specific virulence factors induced during polymicrobial growth. Further characterization of the intricate interaction between these pathogens at the molecular level is warranted, as it may aid in the design of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at combating fungal,bacterial polymicrobial infection. [source]


    Cot mattresses as reservoirs of potentially harmful bacteria and the sudden infant death syndrome

    FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
    Richard E. Sherburn
    Abstract Cot mattress materials were investigated as potential reservoirs of bacteria in relation to the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The sleeping position of the infant significantly influenced bacterial population density of cot mattress polyurethane foams (p<0.0000001) and their covers (p<0.004). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated at significantly higher frequency (p<0.03) from the infant's head region of cot mattress materials. Significantly higher bacterial population densities (p<0.001) were associated with polyurethane foams from non-integral mattresses (exposed polyurethane foam), when compared to those from mattresses completely covered by polyvinyl chloride (integral type mattress). The frequency of isolation of S. aureus from polyurethane foams from non-integral mattresses was also significantly higher (p=0.03) than from foams from the integral type. The following factors were significantly associated with increased frequency of isolation of S. aureus: from the polyurethane foam, previous use of non-integral mattresses by another child (p=0.03 for all sample sites, p=0.01 for torso region); from the covers, sleeping in the prone position (p=0.003 head region, p=0.001 torso region). Prone sleeping was also significantly associated with increased bacterial population levels (p=0.01) and increased frequency of isolation of Escherichia coli (p=0.02) from the torso region of cot mattress covers. These findings could explain some recently identified risk factors for SIDS associated with type and previous use of cot mattresses. Clostridium perfringens was isolated at very low frequency and Streptococcus pyogenes was not isolated from any cot mattress materials tested. [source]


    Human antibody response during sepsis against targets expressed by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

    FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
    Udo Lorenz
    Abstract The identification of target structures is a prerequisite for the development of new treatment options, like antibody based therapy, against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this study we identified immunodominant structures which were expressed in vivo during sepsis caused by MRSA. Using human sera we compared the immune response of humans with MRSA sepsis with the immune response of normal individuals and asymptomatically colonized individuals. We identified and characterized four staphylococcal specific antigenic structures. One target is a staphylococcal protein of 29 kDa that exhibited 29% identity to secreted protein SceA precursor of Staphylococcus carnosus. The putative function of this protein, which was designated IsaA (immunodominant staphylococcal antigen), is unknown. The second target is an immunodominant protein of 17 kDa that showed no homology to any currently known protein. This immunodominant protein was designated IsaB. The third and fourth antigens are both immunodominant proteins of 10 kDa. One of these proteins showed 100% identity to major cold shock protein CspA of S. aureus and the other protein was identified as the phosphocarrier protein Hpr of S. aureus. The identified immunodominant proteins may serve as potential targets for the development of antibody based therapy against MRSA. [source]


    An epidemiological study on the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in superficial abscesses of patients presenting for surgery in a teaching hospital in Khartoum, Sudan

    FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
    Seif Eldin Ibrahim Mahdi
    Abstract A group of patients (n=86) suffering from superficial abscesses was recruited in the Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Sudan. Detailed clinical and socio-economic data were collected. It appeared that 83% of all patients were younger than 40. Labourers were most prevalent (28%), followed by students (23%) and housewives (16%). The head and neck were most often affected (22%), with hands being second (19%). In 92% of all pus cultures a microbial agents was identified, the large majority being Staphylococcus aureus (69%). Among patients, 47% were nasal carriers of S. aureus, similar to the carriage rate measured among controls, suggesting that nasal carriage is no risk factor for abscess development. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of abscess, recent traditional medical treatment, poor hygiene and low socio-economic status were significantly and independently associated with the occurrence of superficial abscesses. [source]


    ica and beyond: biofilm mechanisms and regulation in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus

    FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2007
    James P. O'Gara
    Abstract Recent progress in elucidating the role of the icaADBC -encoded polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) or polymeric N -acetyl-glucosamine (PNAG) in staphylococcal biofilm development has in turn contributed significantly to our understanding of the pathogenesis of device-related infections. Nevertheless, our understanding of how the ica locus and PIA/PNAG biosynthesis are regulated is far from complete and many questions remain. Moreover, beyond ica, evidence is now emerging for the existence of ica -independent biofilm mechanisms in both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Teichoic acids, which are a major carbohydrate component of the S. epidermidis biofilm matrix and the major cell wall autolysin, play an important role in the primary attachment phase of biofilm development, whereas the cell surface biofilm-associated protein and accumulation-associated protein are capable of mediating intercellular accumulation. These findings raise the exciting prospect that other surface proteins, which typically function as antigenic determinants or in binding to extracellular matrix proteins, may also act as biofilm adhesins. Given the impressive array of surface proteins expressed by S. aureus and S. epidermidis, future research into their potential role in biofilm development either independent of PIA/PNAG or in cooperation with PIA/PNAG will be of particular interest. [source]


    Bronchopneumonia and oral health in hospitalized older patients.

    GERODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
    A pilot study
    Abstract Aims: To correlate microbial findings obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage in pneumonia patients with the clinical situation of the oral cavity. Method: Quantitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures were carried out in 150 ml samples of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) obtained by means of an endoscope (Video Endoscope Pentax®) inserted per as in the infected bronchus. Material: Twenty consecutive patients with a tentative clinical diagnosis of bronchopneumonia in whom BAL was carried out for diagnostic purposes. A clinical evaluation of the oral health status (oral hygiene, caries, periodontal diseases) was subsequently carried out. Results: In seven edentulous subjects wearing complete dentures the culture of anaerobic microorganisms was negative or yielding less than 100 cfu/ml BAL. Two patients yielded high counts of S. aureus and one high counts of P. aeruginosa. In the 13 subjects with natural teeth left one showed high counts of Veillonella spp. (anaerobic)+P. aeruginosa, one high counts of Veillonella spp. +S. aureus, one high counts of P. aeruginosa + S. aureus and one high counts of E. coli. These four subjects showed poor oral hygiene, periodontal pockets and a BAL microflora consistent with periodontal pathology. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that microorganisms of denture plaque or associated with periodontal diseases may give rise to aspiration pneumonia in susceptible individuals. [source]


    Bacterial endocarditis in a child with haemophilia B: risks of central venous catheters

    HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 5 2001
    D. K. Hothi
    The use of central venous catheters may be complicated by thrombosis and infection. We report a case of a needle-phobic 5-year-old boy with factor IX deficiency, in whom a portacath was inserted owing to poor compliance with prophylactic treatment. Within a week, he developed a Staphylococcus aureus line infection that was treated with a 2-week course of intravenous antibiotics. One month later he presented with nonspecific symptoms and blood cultures again grew S. aureus. An echocardiogram revealed a large vegetation adherent to the tricuspid valve, confirming the diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis. His clinical course was further complicated by the development of pulmonary emboli. Medical treatment with intravenous antibiotics led to a successful resolution of the endocarditis and pulmonary emboli with a favourable long-term outcome. [source]


    Mortality differences among organisms causing septicemia in hemodialysis patients

    HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006
    Mark D. DANESE
    Abstract Septicemia is a serious problem in hemodialysis patients because it can lead to life-threatening complications and a persistently elevated risk of death. Most analyses have not examined whether there are differences in mortality risk among the organisms that cause these episodes of septicemia. This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of first septicemia hospitalizations during the first year of hemodialysis. Time to death (both in-hospital and within 12 weeks post-discharge) was compared among the different septicemia-causing organisms based on discharge diagnoses in Medicare billing data from 1996 to 2001. The effect of various complications on mortality risk was also evaluated. There were 22,130 septicemia hospitalizations identified. The most common organism identified was Staphylococcus aureus (27%), with no other organism having an incidence >10%. The overall unadjusted death rate from admission through 12 weeks of follow-up was 34%. During the first hospitalization, the death rate was 14%, and during the 12-week period after the hospitalization it was 20%. In adjusted analyses, S. aureus was associated with a 20% higher risk of death both during the in-hospital period and the 12-week post-discharge period, when compared with all other specified organisms. Hospitalizations complicated by meningitis, stroke, or endocarditis were also associated with increased risk of mortality, independent of the organism causing septicemia. Septicemia hospitalizations are associated with a high mortality rate,both during the initial hospitalization and after discharge. Meningitis, stroke, and endocarditis represent particularly serious complications. Overall, septicemia hospitalizations (especially for S. aureus) are serious events, and patients would benefit from better treatment and prevention. [source]


    RAPA: a novel in vitro method to evaluate anti-bacterial skin cleansing products

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010
    S. A. Ansari
    Synopsis Development of efficacious anti-bacterial skin cleansing products has been limited by the availability of a pre-clinical (in vitro) method to predict clinical efficacy adequately. We report a simple and rapid method, designated as rapid agar plate assay (RAPA), that uses the bacteriological agar surface as a surrogate substrate for skin and combines elements of two widely used in vivo (clinical) methods (Agar Patch and Cup Scrub). To simulate the washing of the human hand or forearm skin with the test product, trypticase soy agar plates were directly washed with the test product and rinsed under running tap water. After air-drying the washed plates, test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli) were applied and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 18,24 h. Using S. aureus as the test organism, anti-bacterial bar soap containing triclocarbanilide showed a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.97) between bacterial dose and their per cent reduction. A similar dose-response relationship (R2 = 0.96) was observed for anti-bacterial liquid hand soap against E. coli. RAPA was able to distinguish between anti-bacterial products based on the nature and level of actives in them. In limited comparative tests, results obtained by RAPA were comparable with the results obtained by clinical agar patch and clinical cup scrub methods. In conclusion, RAPA provides a simple, rugged and reproducible in vitro method for testing the relative efficacy of anti-bacterial skin cleansing products with a likelihood of comparable clinical efficacy. Further testing is warranted to improve the clinical predictability of this method. Résumé Le développement des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne efficace a été limité par la disponibilité d'une méthode (in vitro) préclinique pour prévoir en juste proportion l'efficacité clinique. Nous rapportons une méthode simple et rapide, indiquée comme analyse rapide de plat d'agar (RAPA) ce des utilisations la surface bactériologique d'agar comme substrat de remplacement pour la peau et combinons des éléments de deux méthodes (cliniques) in vivo employées couramment (correction d'agar et la tasse frottent). Pour simuler le lavage de la peau humaine de main ou d'avant-bras avec le produit d'essai, des plats de l'agar de soja de trypticase ont été directement lavés avec le produit d'essai et rincés sous l'eau du robinet courante. Après l'air séchant les plats lavés, les bactéries d'essai (S. doré Ou Escherichia coli) étaient appliquées et des plats ont été incubées au °C 37 pendant 18,24 heures. Utilisant S. doré Comme organization d'essai, le triclocarbanilide contenant du savon de barre antibactérienne a montré un rapport linéaire fort (R2 = 0.97) entre la dose bactérienne et leur réduction de pour cent. On a observé un rapport semblable de réponse à dose donnée (R2 = 0.96) pour le savon liquide antibactérien de main contre E. coli. RAPA pouvait distinguer les produits antibactériens basés sur la nature et le niveau des actives dans eux. Dans les essais comparatifs limités, résultats obtenus par RAPA étaient comparables aux résultats obtenus par la correction clinique d'agar et la tasse clinique frottent des méthodes, en conclusion, RAPA fournit à une méthode in vitro simple, raboteuse et reproductible pour examiner l'efficacité relative des produits de nettoyage de peau antibactérienne la probabilité de l'efficacité clinique comparable. Davantage d'essai est justifié pour améliorer la prévisibilité clinique de cette méthode. [source]


    Identification of the clonal complexes of Staphylococcus aureus strains by determination of the conservation patterns of small genomic islets

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
    M. Suzuki
    Abstract Aims:, To investigate the clonality of Staphylococcus aureus isolates, it is important to identify their clonal complexes (CCs) with multilocus sequence typing (MLST). However, it is expensive to carry out MLST analyses for many isolates. The aim of this study, therefore, was to develop a cost-effective method to identify CCs by determining the conservation pattern of ,small genomic islets' (SGIs). SGIs are nonconserved regions between strains and have single or multiple open-reading frames (ORFs). Methods and Results:, The whole-genome sequences of nine strains were compared in order to select 16 SGIs. The conservation patterns of the 16 SGIs (islet patterns) were investigated in 136 S. aureus isolates, which were classified into 21 CCs. The islet patterns (IPs) exhibited a one-to-one correspondence with the CCs, except for isolates belonging to CC1, CC5 and CC8. The IPs typical of strains belonging to CC1, CC5 and CC8 differed between those of sequence type 1 (ST1) and ST188 (CC1), ST5 and ST6 (CC5) and ST8 and ST239 (CC8). Significance and Impact of the Study:, The CCs of many isolates can be identified in an easy and inexpensive manner by detecting these 16 SGIs. Emergent clones, particularly methicillin-resistant ones, can be identified by examining numerous islets by IP analysis. [source]


    Virulence genes of bovine Staphylococcus aureus from persistent and nonpersistent intramammary infections with different clinical characteristics

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
    M. Haveri
    Abstract Aims:, To screen putative virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus causing persistent and nonpersistent bovine intramammary infections (IMI) with different clinical characteristics. To examine, whether a possible relationship exists between genetic profile and infection persistence, clinical signs of infection, clonal type determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and antimicrobial resistance. Methods and Results:, One-hundred and sixty-one S. aureus isolates derived from bovine IMI, consisting of 17 different PFGE types, were screened by conventional and multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 24 virulence genes for haemolysins (hla-hlg), leukocidins (lukED, lukM), exfoliative toxins (eta, etb), enterotoxins (sea-seo, seu), toxic-shock syndrome toxin (tst), and genes encoding penicillin (blaZ) and methicillin resistance (mecA). The majority of S. aureus isolated at the onset of mastitis carried haemolysin genes (76·7,97·4%), lukED (96·6%), and at least one gene for pyrogenic toxin superantigen (PTSAg) (69·0%). Strains carrying PTSAg-encoding genes were more common among predominant PFGE types and in persistent IMI. Strains concomitantly possessing sed, sej, and blaZ, putatively plasmid-encoded, were typically found in connection with persistent IMI. Conclusions:, Our results suggest that certain genetic elements are over-representative in S. aureus isolates especially from persistent bovine mastitis. This phenomenon seems to be in connection with clonal type and is often concomitant with penicillin resistance. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This is the first study to investigate associations between a large number of bacterial factors and outcome of S. aureus mastitis. The finding that widespread clonal types of S. aureus causing bovine mastitis of low treatment response may harbour characteristic genes could be improved for strain-specific diagnostic purposes. [source]


    Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk cheese by combinations of high-pressure treatments and bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
    J.L. Arqués
    Abstract Aims:, To investigate the combined effect of high-pressure treatments (HPT) and milk inoculation with bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (BP-LAB) on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus during ripening of raw milk cheese. Methods and Results:, Cheeses were manufactured from raw milk artificially contaminated with S. aureus at ca 5 log CFU ml,1, a commercial starter culture and one of seven strains of BP-LAB, added as adjuncts at 0·1%. HPT of cheeses were performed on days 2 or 50 at 300 MPa (10°C, 10 min) or 500 MPa (10°C, 5 min). On day 3, S. aureus counts were 6·46 log CFU g,1 in control cheese. Milk inoculation with different BP-LAB lowered S. aureus counts on day 3 when compared with control cheese by up to 0·46 log CFU g,1, HPT at 300 MPa on day 2 by 0·45 log CFU g,1 and HPT at 500 MPa on day 2 by 2·43 log CFU g,1. Combinations of BP-LAB with HPT at 300 and 500 MPa on day 2 lowered S. aureus counts on day 3 by up to 1·02 and 4·00 log CFU g,1 respectively. Conclusions:, The combined effect of milk inoculation with some of the BP-LAB tested and HPT of cheese on S. aureus inactivation was synergistic. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The combination of HPT at lower pressures with BP-LAB inoculation is a feasible system to improve cheese safety in case of deleterious effects on cheese quality caused by HPT at higher pressures. [source]


    Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis to the Episkin® reconstructed epidermis model and to an inert 304 stainless steel substrate

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
    G. Lerebour
    Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective influence of the physicochemical interactions and the roughness involved in the first part of the biological substrate biocontamination. Methods and Results:, Therefore we compared the bioadhesion results obtained on the biological model substrate (Episkin®) and on a commonly employed inert substrate (AISI 304 stainless steel), frequently used either in dermatology or in development of medical devices. The two studied strains presented different characteristics, both physicochemical and microbiological. Staphylococcus epidermidis, a relatively hydrophobic bacteria capable of exchanging interactions which are principally of the van der Waals type, adhered more to 304 steel than to the surface of reconstituted skin. As for S. aureus, an essentially basic, hydrophilic bacteria, was more adherent to Episkin® (a bipolar, hydrophilic substrate) than to stainless steel (a unipolar, basic, hydrophilic substrate). Conclusions:, In the absence of electrostatic interactions, the adhesion of substrate-dependent bacteria to the surface of reconstituted skin was dependent upon the balance between ,LW, ,+ and ,,. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Consequently, so as to restrict microbial adhesion and reduce adhesive binding between micro-organisms and the surface of the skin, it would be preferable to render this substrate hydrophobic and apolar through the use of appropriate surface treatment. [source]


    Electrospun PEG,PLA nanofibrous membrane for sustained release of hydrophilic antibiotics

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010
    Xiuling Xu
    Abstract Reported in this study is the successful incorporation of a hydrophilic antibiotic drug, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), into electrospun PEG,PLA nanofibrous membrane without loss of its bioactivity. Degradation behavior of the copolymer was studied in vitro. Release behavior of TCH from the electrospun membrane and antimicrobial effects of the TCH-loaded membrane against Staphylococcus aureus culture were investigated. The medicated nanofibrous membrane demonstrated sustained release of TCH over 6 days and was found to be effective in inhibiting growth of S. aureus. In addition, increasing the antibiotic drug content in the electrospun membranes was found to enhance the anti-bacterial effectiveness of the medicated fiber mats. And the combination of mechanical barriers provided by the electrospun biodegradable nanofibrous membranes and their capability of local sustained delivery of antibiotics made these membranes more useful in biomedical applications, particularly as new wound dressings for ulcers caused by diabetes or other diseases, and to provide a better means of treatment for these malignant wounds and ulcers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source]


    Antibiotics, arsenate and H2O2 induce the promoter of Staphylococcus aureus cspC gene more strongly than cold

    JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
    Palas Kumar Chanda
    Abstract Proteins expressed by the bacterial cold shock genes are highly conserved at sequence level and perform various biological functions in both the cold-stressed and normal cells. To study the effects of various agents on the cold shock genes of Staphylococcus aureus, we have cloned the upstream region of cspC from S. aureus Newman and found that the above region possesses appreciable promoter (Pc) activity even at 37 °C. A reporter S. aureus strain CHANDA2, constructed by inserting the Pc - lacZ transcriptional fusion into S. aureus RN4220 genome, was found to express very low level of , -galactosidase after cold shock, indicating that low temperature induces Pc very weakly. Interestingly, transcription from Pc was induced very strongly by several antibiotics, hydrogen peroxide and arsenate salt. Cold shock proteins expressed by S. aureus are highly identical at sequence level and bear single-strand nucleic acid binding motifs. A 16 nt downstream box and a 13 nt upstream box were identified at the downstream of initiation codon and at the upstream of ribosome binding site of csp transcripts. Their roles in S. aureus cold shock gene expression have been discussed elaborately. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Detection by PCR of adhesins genes and slime production in clinical Staphylococcus aureus

    JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    Tarek Zmantar
    Abstract The presence of the ica loci and adhesins genes in clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains were considered important factors of virulence. In this study, 46 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from auricular infection, and were investigated for slime production using Congo Red Agar method (CRA). In order to detect the adhesins genes (ica A, ica D, fnb A, cna, Clf A) Polymerase Chain Reaction was used. Qualitative biofilm production of S. aureus using CRA plates revealed that 56.5% of strains were slime producers. In addition 78.26% of strains were ica A and ica D positive. While the fnbA gene was present in 76.1% of isolated strains. Furthermore, 56.5% of strains have the cna gene and 30.4% were clfA positives. Overall this study confirms the presence of fnb A and ica A/ica D genes in the majority of studies S. aureus strains isolated from Staphylococcal sepsis. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Effect of certain bioactive plant extracts on clinical isolates of ,-lactamase producing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

    JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
    Farrukh Aqil
    Ethanolic extracts and some fractions from 10 Indian medicinal plants, known for antibacterial activity, were investigated for their ability to inhibit clinical isolates of ,-lactamase producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Synergistic interaction of plant extracts with certain antibiotics was also evaluated. The MRSA test strains were found to be multi-drug resistant and also exhibited high level of resistance to common ,-lactam antibiotics. These strains produced ,-lactamases, which hydrolyze one or other ,-lactam antibiotics, tested. The extract of the plants from Camellia sinensis (leaves), Delonix regia (flowers), Holarrhena antidysenterica (bark), Lawsonia inermis (leaves), Punica granatum (rind), Terminalia chebula (fruits) and Terminalia belerica (fruits) showed a broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone size of 11 mm to 27 mm, against all the test bacteria. The extracts from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum showed better activity against the three MRSA strains. On the other hand, extracts from Allium sativum (bulb) and Citrus sinensis (rind) exhibited little or no activity, against MRSA strains. The antibacterial potency of crude extracts was determined in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the tube dilution method. MIC values, of the plant extracts, ranged from 1.3 to 8.2 mg/ml, against the test bacteria. Further, the extracts from Punica granatum and Delonix regia were fractionated in benzene, acetone and methanol. Antibacterial activity was observed in acetone as well as in the methanol fractions. In vitro synergistic interaction of crude extracts from Camellia sinensis, Lawsonia inermis, Punica granatum, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia belerica was detected with tetracycline. Moreover, the extract from Camellia sinensis also showed synergism with ampicillin. TLC of the above extracts revealed the presence of major phytocompounds, like alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols and saponins. TLC-bioautography indicated phenols and flavonoids as major active compounds. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Sterilization system for air purifier by combining ultraviolet light emitting diodes with TiO2

    JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
    Xiaohui Huang
    Abstract BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) were used as a light source in TiO2 photocatalysis because of their many advantages, such as, long life, safety, low pollution, etc. In this experiment, a light source panel was successfully fabricated with UV LEDs, the light intensities of which were relatively uniform. RESULTS: The sterilization process comprised two steps. First, an aerosol was blocked by high efficient particulate air (HEPA) filter paper coated with TiO2 photocatalyst. Second, Staphylococcus aureus in the aerosol decreased gradually in the photocatalysis process of UV LED/TiO2. After 52 h irradiation all the S. aureus were killed. CONCLUSION: The UV LED light source panel had a larger surface for irradiation than a mercury lamp. Thus, its sterilization efficiency was much better than that of traditional methods. The feasibility of UV LED/TiO2 for photocatalysis was proved. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


    Humoral immunity host factors in subjects with failing or successful titanium dental implants

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 12 2000
    Mats Kronström
    Abstract Background: Treatment with titanium dental implants is in general successful. However, an unknown number of implants do not integrate and are removed either by exfoliation or at the time of second stage surgery. It would be of importance to identify subjects at risk and predict early implant failure. Methods: In a retrospective study serum IgG antibody titers and avidity in sera from 40 subjects who had experienced titanium dental implant treatments with non-osseo-integration as the outcome (NOTI) and in sera from 40 age and gender matched control subjects who had received successful titanium dental implants (SOTI) were studied. Serum IgG titers to whole cell Actinomyces viscosus, Bacteroides forsythus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus intermedius sonicated antigen preparations were studied by ELISA. Results: Serum IgG antibody titers to S. aureus were significantly higher in subjects with SOTI than in NOTI (p<0.001) suggesting that higher titers indicate protection against implant failure as a result of S. aureus infection. Statistically significant higher serum IgG antibody avidity to P. gingivalis and B. forsythus were found in subjects with SOTI than in subjects with NOTI (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate antibody titer or avidity differences to the other pathogens studied. The likelihood that SOTI was associated with a high OD reading for S. aureus was 13.1:1 (p<0.001). Whether subjects were edentulous or not, or if they had lost teeth because of periodontitis or caries did not seem to matter. Conclusion: Serum IgG antibodies relative to B. forsythus, P. gingivalis and S. aureus may be associated with the outcome of implant procedures and explain why early implant failures occur. [source]


    INACTIVATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS EXPOSED TO DENSE-PHASE CARBON DIOXIDE IN A BATCH SYSTEM

    JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2009
    HUACHUN HUANG
    ABSTRACT The inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus exposed to dense-phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) was investigated, and the kinetics of come-up time (CUT) in pressurization was monitored with come-down time (CDT) and temperature fluctuation in depressurization. CUT was about 2.5, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.0 min; CDT was 3.4, 3.7, 4.5 and 4.5 min; lowest temperature of samples in depressurization was 4, ,1, ,15 and ,22C, corresponding to 10, 20, 30 and 40 MPa at 37C. The inactivation behavior of S. aureus was closely related to the variables of process pressure, holding-pressure time (HPT), process temperature and process cycling. The log reduction of S. aureus at 40 MPa for 30-min HPT was significantly greater (P < 0.05), but the inactivation effect at 10, 20 and 30 MPa was similar. The log reduction of S. aureus at 30 and 40 MPa for 60-min HPT was similar and significantly greater (P < 0.05), while the inactivation effect at 10 and 20 MPa was similar. The inactivation of S. aureus against HPT conformed to a fast,slow biphase kinetics; the two stages were well fitted to a first-order model with higher regression coefficients R2 = 1.000 and 0.9238; their respective D values (decimal reduction time) were 16.52 and 70.42 min. As the process temperature increased, the log reduction of S. aureus increased significantly (P < 0.05); the inactivation kinetics of S. aureus versus process temperature was characterized with a fast inactivation rate from 32 to 45C and a slow inactivation rate from 45 to 55C. As compared to one-process cycling for a total of 60-min HPT, four-process cycling resulted in a significant reduction of S. aureus, and its maximal reduction was near to 5 log cycles, indicating that more process cycling caused more inactivation of S. aureus under identical pressure and temperature with equal HPT. However, the maximal reduction was 0.09 and 0.12 log cycles for two- and four-process cyclings with 0-min HPT, indicating that pressurization and depressurization had a lesser effect on the inactivation of S. aureus, while HPT was significant in DPCD to inactivate S. aureus. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Dense-phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) is a novel technology to achieve cold pasteurization and/or sterilization of liquid and solid materials, and is likely to replace or partially substitute currently and widely applied thermal processes. This study showed that DPCD effectively inactivated Staphylococcus aureus inoculated in 7.5% sodium chloride broth, and the inactivation behavior of S. aureus was closely related to the pressure, holding-pressure time, temperature and process cycling. Based on this observation, the technology of DPCD can be applied in the pasteurization of foods such as milk and various fruit juices, especially thermal-sensitive materials. [source]


    ACIDIFIED SODIUM CHLORITE, TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE AND POPULATIONS OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ON CHICKEN-BREAST SKIN

    JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 2 2006
    HAYDAR ÖZDEM
    ABSTRACT The present study was designed to determine the individual and combined effects of acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) antimicrobial treatments. Chicken-skin samples inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were separately dipped into sterile tap water, 10% TSP, 0.1% ASC, 0.1% ASC followed by 10% TSP and 10% TSP followed by 0.1% ASC for 15 s at 25C ± 1. On day 0, reductions were 1.4,1.6 log for S. Typhimurium and 1.1,2.1 log for S. aureus, while they were 1.8,2.9 and 0.7,1.7 log, respectively, on day 5 of storage. Results indicated that treatment with ASC solution alone was more effective than treatment with ASC and TSP solutions combined in reducing S. aureus populations on chicken skin during the entire storage period. Similarly, treatment with TSP solution alone was more effective than treatment with ASC and TSP solutions combined in reducing S. typhimurium populations on chicken skin on days 1, 3 and 5 of storage. [source]


    THE INFLUENCE OF SAE LOCUS KNOCKOUT ON EXOPROTEINS IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 3 2010
    JUNNI TANG
    ABSTRACT The sae operon is a key regulator in Staphylococcus aureus, which is known as an important infective and toxigenic bacterial pathogen. For the exploration of virulence factors expressed in the secreted exoprotein fraction are being controlled by sae operon, the relationship between the sae locus and exoproteins was investigated in this study. The homologous recombination vector pBT2,sae was constructed and the sae deletion mutant strain was successfully obtained. The results showed that the sae locus played an important role in the production of thermonucleases and other exoproteins. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed different exoprotein profiles between parent strain and mutant strain, in which three bands were visibly weakened. The results revealed that sae locus was involved in the regulation on exoproteins, some of which play a known fundamental role in the virulence of S. aureus. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study presents that knocking out the sae gene locus in a specific Staphylococcus aureus strain results in reduced thermonuclease action, and also in reduced levels of proteins in the vicinity of 42 and 32 kDa molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gels, indicating that their production is dependent on the sae locus. Practically, these proteins are associated with virulence traits, and with the pathogen's response to the environment and in potential hosts, which could be helpful for understanding the pathogenicity of S. aureus and also for further studies on the role of selected genes in the pathogenicity of S. aureus. [source]


    A NOVEL MULTIPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, AEROMONAS AND SALMONELLA FROM CHICKEN MEAT AND MILK SAMPLES

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 2 2010
    K. BALAKRISHNA
    ABSTRACT Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas and Salmonella are among the most important foodborne bacterial pathogens. The majority of human infections caused by all of these organisms are associated with ingestion of undercooked and contaminated meat, dairy products and water where in the secreted bacterial toxins lead to foodborne intoxications. We, here, report a new multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection of these important foodborne bacterial pathogens. The mPCR targeted Ail and virF genes of Y. enterocolitica, nuc and entB genes of S. aureus, aerA and 16S rRNA genes of Aeromonas and invA, an invasion protein A gene of Salmonella. An internal amplification control designed to check the false negative reactions in mPCR was also included. This procedure could detect initial populations of 1,100 cfu/g or /mL within 24 h in experimentally spiked food and water samples. When evaluated on a total of 104 naturally occurring food samples, the mPCR detected two samples to contain S. aureus, one was identified to contain Y. enterocolitica and four samples were identified to contain Salmonella species individually. This was compared with the standard microbiological and biochemical identification procedures. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS All the microorganisms selected in this study are food and waterborne and contaminate a variety of food items. Pathogenic Y. enterocolitica and Aeromonas species are able to grow and multiply and secrete toxins even at low temperatures. The high throughput and cost-effective multiplex polymerase chain reaction method reported here could be a viable alternative for detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica, S. aureus, Aeromonas and Salmonella from food and environmental samples. [source]


    PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF LYSOSTAPHIN FROM STAPHYLOCOCCUS SIMULANS AGAINST GROWTH OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN MILK AND SOME OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 3 2007
    PIOTR SZWEDA
    ABSTRACT The effect of lysostaphin from Staphylococcus simulans expressed in Escherichia coli TOP10 strain on Staphylococcus aureus used for inoculation of milk, ground pork and mayonnaise salad was investigated. The populations of this pathogen in ultrahigh-temperature milk preserved at 4C by lysostaphin added up to concentrations of 1.5 or 3.0 µg/mL were reduced by 0.73 and 0.92 log(cfu/mL) in control samples without enzyme addition. The protective influence of lysostaphin was diminished in case of milk storage (20C) prolonged up to 24 h. Furthermore, a final reduction level by 0.92 log(cfu/mL) was achieved after 24 h of pork storage. The smaller and more dependent on enzyme concentration inactivation of S. aureus was observed in the case of the mayonnaise salad, and it led to the conclusion that some food components or proteolytic enzymes originating from other bacteria caused lysostaphin inactivation. [source]


    HYGIENIC PARAMETERS, TOXINS AND PATHOGEN OCCURRENCE IN RAW MILK CHEESES

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 3 2002
    K. DE REU
    ABSTRACT In total, 71 samples of retail raw milk cheeses produced or imported in Belgium and samples of Belgian farmhouse cheeses were examined for cotiforms, ,-glucuronidase positive Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. The presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins was investigated on samples with S. aureus counts higher than 103 cfu/g. The incidence of coliforms, ,-glucuronidase positive E. coli and S. aureus was higher in soft than in blue veined, semi-hard, hard and fresh cheeses. Four mold-ripened soft cheeses were positive for E. coli O157. One of the 4 cheeses was positive for verotoxin VT2. Staphylococcal enterotoxins were detected in 1 soft redsmear cheese, which was positive for L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes was also detected in one fresh cheese. Salmonella was not detected in any of the 71 raw milk cheeses. [source]


    INDICATOR AND PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN GUACAMOLE AND THEIR BEHAVIOR IN AVOCADO PULP

    JOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 4 2001
    SOFÍ M. ARVIZU-MEDRANO
    ABSTRACT The presence of some indicator microorganisms and pathogenic bacteria in guacamole sampled from restaurants and street vendors, and the behavior of Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were studied in avocado pulp. Coliform, yeast and mold populations showed a wide dispersion, in agreement with the diversity of sanitary conditions observed among places sampled. The frequency of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli were 1.3, 16.0, and 60.0 %, respectively; with higher numbers among street vendors. Populations of E. coli ranged from 29 to 3800 NMP/g and S. aureus from 2.95 to 5.35 log CFU/g. Thirteen out of 16 hemolytic L. monocytogenes strains were pathogenic for mice. In avocado pulp Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 showed a lag phase close to 3 h, and a generation time of 54 min and 1.23 h, respectively. No growth of pathogens was observed in avocado pulp stored at 4-7C. [source]