Funded Project
Start Date : 01 Sep 2022-01 Sep 2024
Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin that was recently introduced in the Egyptian market. There is currently very limited data regarding the susceptibility of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates to ceftaroline. In the proposed research we aim to determine the susceptibility of MRSA clinical isolates to ceftaroline and also to provide information regarding the prevalence of mecC gene and its relation -if any- to ceftaroline resistance. Sequencing of mecA and mecC genes will be carried out in ceftaroline resistant strains to determine the altered PBP2a. Staphylococcal Protein A (Spa) Typing will be carried out in ceftaroline resistant strains for epidemiological purposes. AIM OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH: 1- To determine the antibiotic susceptibility and resistance profiles of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates against the commonly used antibiotics as quinolone, macrolides, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracyclines, vancomycin and linezolid. 2- To determine the susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates to the new cephalosporin: ceftaroline. 3- Molecular analysis of ceftaroline non-susceptibile isolates: a- mecA/mecC genes detection by PCR followed by sequencing analysis. b- Spa typing to investigate the epidemiology of these isolates.

Funded Project
Start Date : 24 Aug 2021-20 Jul 2023
The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) Gram negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, represents a global serious problem in health care settings and plays a major role in hospital-acquired infections. These pathogens showed low susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents and they are among the most difficult pathogens to treat. Therefore, infections with such pathogens are frequently associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The pathogenicity of bacteria is multifactorial and it depends partially on the nature of the bacterial species or strain i.e. each pathogen has its own virulence factors. For example, the virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae include LPS, capsule, urease, adhesins and outer-membrane proteins while the virulence factors of Acinetobacter baumannii includes surface motility, hemolysis on blood agars, siderophore production, efflux pumps, porins and exoprotease activity. In addition to biofilm formation, which is one of the most important virulence factors associated with different clinical isolated, the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is mediated by many virulence factors e.g. hemolysin, phospholipase, gelatinase, DNAse, exotoxin A, protease and siderophore. Carbapenems represent the main therapy for treatment of infections caused by such pathogens. Unfortunately, a drastic increase of carbapenem resistant Gram negative isolates has been recorded in the recent years worldwide. The relationship between the carbapenem resistance among different MDR Gram negative pathogens and the production of different virulence factors is still not well understood and the published data are relatively low especially from Egypt. The aim of the present study is to investigate the co-existence and interplay between carbapenem resistance and virulence factors in Gram negative clinical isolates especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, collected from Alexandria. In the current study, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates will be collected from different clinical specimens. The isolates will be identified by conventional and non-conventional microbiological methods. The carbapenem resistance and virulence factors of tested isolates will be characterized phenotypically and genetically. Moreover, the correlation between the resistance to carbapenem and virulence factors production among tested clinical isolates will be assessed.