The human microbiome varies according to individual and geographic characteristics. The endometrial microbiome plays a relevant role in reproductive physiology; however, data from healthy South American populations remain scarce. This prospective observational study aimed to characterize the endometrial microbiome in healthy reproductive-aged women from Rosario, Argentina and to establish a regional baseline for future research. A total of 100 healthy women aged 22–50 years from Rosario, Argentina, were included. Endometrial samples were obtained by aspiration biopsy during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle or under hormonal contraception. Microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V4 region on the Illumina NextSeq 500/550 platform (2×150bp). Bioinformatic analysis was carried out in QIIME2. Of the 98 samples successfully amplified, 86 met quality criteria and were included in the final analysis. The endometrial microbiome was predominantly composed of Firmicutes, particularly members of the Lactobacillaceae family. The most abundant species were Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus helveticus/crispatus. No significant differences in alpha diversity were observed among age groups; however, a progressive increase in Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Megasphaera was detected with advancing age. This study provides the first regional characterization of the normal endometrial microbiome in healthy Argentine women and establishes a reference framework for future studies addressing endometrial dysbiosis and reproductive disorders.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are high-priority pathogens; however, most healthcare providers in resource-limited settings do not consider enterococci in the differential diagnosis of clinical bacterial infections. This cross-sectional surveillance study determined the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of Enterococcus and factors associated with their presence in patients attending the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Nigeria. Non-repetitive clinical samples from 180 patients were processed for the isolation, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of enterococci in Slanetz-Bartley agar and the Vitek® 2 Compact system. Structured questionnaires were used to collect participants’ sociodemographic and risk factor data. The prevalence of enterococcal infection was 23.3% (42/180), comprising 57.1% Enterococcus faecalis and 42.9% Enterococcus faecium. Subgroup analysis showed no significant association between the isolation rates and sample type (p=0.379). The frequency of enterococcal infection was significantly highest among patients aged 31–40 years (p<0.05), with a higher frequency among older patients. Moreover, unemployed patients (OR=1.8, p=0.0195) and those using pit latrines (OR=2.1, p=0.034) had significantly increased the odds of enterococcal infection. Enterococci resistance was highest against ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (90.5%), and ciprofloxacin (69%), with 83.3% exhibiting a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype. Remarkably, 7.1% of all isolates were VR-E. faecium. Moreover, enterococci with a multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index of 0.3 (45.2%) were predominant. A high level of MDR enterococci (including VRE) was identified in the clinical samples from patients initially managed for non-enterococcal infections, underscoring the need to use a selective bacteriological medium to minimize microbiological misdiagnosis in resource-limited healthcare settings. This study provides valuable local surveillance data indicating gaps in the integration of appropriate diagnostic bacteriology into clinical infectious disease practice.
Moniliophthora roreri has significantly impacted cacao production in Latin America, including Mexico. Extracts of Capsicum annuum can inhibit its growth, although their effectiveness depends on fruit maturity and environmental conditions. In this study, the in vitro efficacy of methanolic extracts of immature and mature fruits of C. annuum var. glabriusculum from plants grown under 0, 35, and 70% shade was evaluated for its ability to inhibit mycelial growth (MG) and sporulation of M. roreri. The most effective treatment was selected and used in a field trial involving young fruits of three cacao genotypes in Tabasco, Mexico. Extracts of immature fruits of this chili pepper contain phenolic compounds that inhibit MG and sporulation of M. roreri both in vitro and in vivo, independently of shading during fruit growth. All treatments at a concentration of 2.5g/l delayed the onset of fungal growth and were highly effective in inhibiting MG and sporulation. In cacao fruit slices, the concentrated extract reduced fungal sporulation by more than 50%, with a second application on the third day. In the field, the antifungal efficacy of the extracts was greater than 50% when applied three days before fruit inoculation. The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of extracts from immature C. annuum var. glabriusculum fruits against M. roreri, regardless of shading, highlights its potential as a sustainable alternative for managing moniliasis in cacao plantations.
Jatropha dioica has shown promising pharmacological properties in dentistry. This plant has shown antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens. Therefore, antibacterial activity combined with cytotoxicity needs to be further investigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of J. dioica extract against periodontal pathogens such as Tannerella forsythia and Filifactor alocis, as well as its cytotoxic effects on human primary fibroblasts (HGF). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using 5, 15, 30, and 300μg/ml extract concentrations. For the cytotoxicity assays, HGF were incubated with the same extract concentrations for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days, and cell viability was assessed using the resazurin assay. The MIC for T. forsythia was found to be 5μg/ml, with the highest inhibition at 80% (p<0.01), compared to the positive control. And at the concentrations 15 and 30μg/ml, bacterial viability decreased higher than 60%. For F. alocis, the highest inhibition was also recorded at the lowest dosage (5μg/ml), resulting in 58% microbial inhibition. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that cell viability was not significantly affected after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of culture. The effects were observed to be dose-dependent, with a slight increase in viability at 5μg/ml (9.29%) and a decrease at the highest dosage of 300μg/ml (11.7%) compared to the control after 7 days of culture. J. dioica extract exhibited antibacterial activity against the evaluated periodontal pathogens with minimal cytotoxic effects on gingival fibroblasts, suggesting its potential application in periodontal therapy.
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) increase antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate resistance patterns and antibiotic therapy in patients with UTIs and AB in Peru. Cross-sectional study based on 164 urine cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 62 cases of AB and 102 of UTI were identified. Women (116, 70.7%) and older adults (60, 36.6%) predominated. A total of 4582 antibiotic prescriptions were recorded, with a therapeutic pattern in both UTI and AB centered on the use of meropenem (540, 21.3%) and (333, 16.3%), vancomycin (221, 8.7%) and (454, 22.2%), ceftriaxone (369, 14.5%) and (176, 8.6%) and ceftazidime (227, 8.9%) and (274, 3.4%), respectively. In general, antibiotic therapy was bactericidal in (87, 53.0%) cases, from the surveillance group in (98, 59.8%) cases, monotherapy in (112, 68.3%) cases, and in cycles of ≤7 days. UTI was associated with a higher burden of comorbidities, including chronic renal failure, hypertension, and diabetes. Fifteen bacterial species were isolated in both clinical entities, with a predominance of Gram-negative bacilli, mainly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, both of which exhibited high resistance to cephalosporins, sulfonamides, and ampicillin/sulbactam. Among Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium showed resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and quinolones. The widespread use of antibiotics from the surveillance group and similar antibiotic therapy in AB and UTI, revealed a critical gap in the implementation of clinical guidelines and the urgent need to accurately differentiate between the two diagnoses to avoid overprescribing and help contain bacterial resistance.
