Fungal neonatal and infantile sepsis in Egypt: risk factors and identification of fungal isolates

1*Ahmed, S. H., 2Mokhtar, E. M., 3El-Kholy, I. M., 4El Essawy, A. K., 1El-Din, A. A., and 1Shetaia, Y. M.
1Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 2Microbiology Department, Abou Al-azayem Hospital, Cairo, Egypt 3Clinical Pathology Department, Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 4Microbiology Department, Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital, Ain Shams University Cairo, Egypt, *Correspondence to: sara_saifelnasr@hotmail.com; 00971563993304

Abstract:

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are opportunistic infections associated with significant mortality in paediatric patients, especially in those with compromised immune system and neonates with very low birth weight (VLBW). The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence, clinical features and fungi isolates of neonatal sepsis in three hospitals in Egypt. Methodology: The study is a cross sectional survey of 176 neonates with clinical sepsis admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of the three hospitals over a period of one year (February 2015 to January 2016). A minimum of two blood samples (collected within 24 hours) from each neonate were cultured for bacteria in automated BacT/AlerT and conventional culture bottles, while Saboraud-Brain Heart Infusion broth was inoculated for fungi culture. Positive growths from the broth were sub-cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates for aerobic incubation at 25oC and 37oC for 2 weeks. Identification of fungi colonies on SDA was by conventional morphology and confirmation on chromogenic agar media. Phylogenetic analysis of representative fungi isolates was done by partial nucleotide sequencing of D1-D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene.
Results: Of the 176 neonates, blood culture was positive for pathogens in 55 (31.3 %) samples and fungi were isolated in 26 (14.8 %); yeast (25) and mould (1). The commonly isolated yeasts were Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei representing 34.6%, 30.8% and 23.1%, respectively of the total fungi isolated. The phylogenetic analysis in comparison to Genbank data showed defined clades for Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii
Conclusion: This current study highlights the changing pattern of neonatal infections in Egypt caused by Candida, with increasing incidence of infections caused by non-albicans Candida species.

Key words: fungal infection, neonatal, risk factors, PCR, yeast

Received July 4, 2019; Revised September 16, 2019; Accepted September 18, 2019
Copyright 2020 AJCEM Open Access. This article is licensed and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attrition 4.0 International License (//creativecommmons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.

Infection fongique néonatale et infantile en Égypte: facteurs de risque et identification des isolats fongiques

1*Ahmed, S. H., 2Mokhtar, E. M., 3El-Kholy, I. M., 4El Essawy, A. K., 1El-Din, A. A., et 1Shetaia, Y. M.
1Département de microbiologie, Faculté des sciences, Université Ain Shams, Le Caire, Égypte
2Département de microbiologie, Hôpital Abou Al-Azayem, Le Caire, Égypte
3Département de pathologie clinique, Hôpital spécialisé de l’Université Ain Shams, Université Ain Shams,
Le Caire, Égypte
4Département de microbiologie, Université de Ain Shams, Spécialisé Hôpital, Université Ain Shams,
Le Caire, Égypte
*Correspondance à: sara_saifelnasr@hotmail.com; 00971563993304

Abstrait:

Contexte: Les maladies fongiques invasives (IFD) sont des infections opportunistes associées à une mortalité significative chez les patients pédiatriques, en particulier ceux dont le système immunitaire est compromis et les nouveau-nés de très faible poids à la naissance (VLBW). Les objectifs de cette étude sont de déterminer la prévalence, les caractéristiques cliniques et les isolements fongiques de la sepsie néonatale dans trois hôpitaux en Égypte.
Méthodologie: L’étude est une enquête transversale menée auprès de 176 nouveau-nés présentant une septicémie clinique et admis dans les unités de soins intensifs néonatals des trois hôpitaux sur une période d’un an (de février 2015 à janvier 2016). Un minimum de deux échantillons de sang (recueillis dans les 24 heures) de chaque nouveau-né ont été cultivés pour la bactérie dans des flacons de culture automatisés BacT/AlerT et conventionnels, tandis que le bouillon Saboraud-Brain Heart Infusion a été inoculé pour la culture de champignons. Les croissances positives du bouillon ont été sous-cultivées sur des plaques de gélose Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) pour une incubation aérobie à 25°C et à 37°C pendant 2 semaines. L’identification des colonies de champignons sur la SDA a été réalisée par la morphologie conventionnelle et confirmée sur un milieu chromogène en gélose. L’analyse phylogénétique d’isolats de champignons représentatifs a été réalisée par séquençage partiel de nucléotides du domaine D1-D2 du gène de l’ARNr de grande sous-unité.
Résultats: Sur les 176 nouveau-nés, la culture de sang était positive pour les agents pathogènes dans 55 échantillons (31,3%) et les champignons ont été isolés dans 26 (14,8%); levure (25) et moisissure (1). Les levures communément isolées étaient Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis et Candida krusei, représentant respectivement 34,6%, 30,8% et 23,1% du total des champignons isolés. L’analyse phylogénétique comparée aux données de Genbank a montré des clades définis pour Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans et Pichia kudriavzevii
Conclusion: La présente étude met en évidence l’évolution du schéma des infections néonatales causées par Candida en Égypte, avec une incidence croissante des infections causées par des espèces de Candida non albicans.

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Fungal neonatal and infantile sepsis 2020; 21 (1): 14 – 20

Mots-clés: infection fongique, néonatale, facteurs de risque, PCR, levure

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Fungal neonatal and infantile sepsis in Egypt: risk factors and identification of fungal isolates

Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

JN Dike-Ndudim, RC Egbuobi, EN Onyeneke, HI Uduji, MA Nwagbaraocha, IA Ogamaka, HM Okorie, LN Egbuobi, AU Opara

 

Abstract

As one of the common sources of protein available to man, fish is highly consumed due to its lower cholesterol content and price. So it forms a rich protein source for both poor and rich. As a part of checkmating the public health risks associated with this general dependence of the population on fish, the microbiological assessment of smoked fish, Scombia, scombia sold in Owerri was embarked on with the aim of ascertaining the microbial quality, the presence and prevalence of microorganisms of public health importance. A total of one hundred and eight (108) samples were collected from the smoking Factory, Open Market and Hawkers. These were analyzed microbiologically for viable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count on Nutrient and Potato dextrose agar respectively, using pour plate method and coliform count in MacConkey broth by multiple tube method (MPN). The mean value results from the analysis revealed high microbial contamination in all the samples. The resultant data were analyzed statistically using randomized block design of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% level of confidence and the difference were separated using the least significance difference (LSD). The mean results of viable  heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count showed no significance difference for the collection sites; but the coliform mean results for the three sites showed marked variation at 95% level (P>0.05). Identified bacteria, include: Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., whereas fungi arePenicillium sp., Aspergilusl sp., Fusarium violaceumBiospora sp., Candida sp, Botryodioplodia sp., Alternania sp. This high level of microbial contamination can be traceable to handlers, and environment to which this fish is exposed during smoking and selling exercises, and considering the danger it portends to human health, public health and  food safety authorities should intensify their monitoring efforts towards controlling such contamination.

Key words: Bacteria, Yeast, Mould, Smoked fish, Contamination.

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Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

 

Gut fermentation syndrome

SA Fayemiwo, B Adegboro

 

Abstract

Fungi have not been recognized to cause such notable syndromes until very recently. It has been documented among few individuals who became intoxicated after consuming carbohydrates, which became fermented in the gastrointestinal tract. These claims of intoxication without drinking alcohol, and the findings on endogenous alcohol fermentation are now called Gut Fermentation Syndrome. This review will concentrate on understanding the aetiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnostic options and treatment of the syndrome.

Keywords: Gut Fermentation Syndrome, Fungi, Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Gut fermentation syndrome