Plague and the Human Flea, Tanzania

Pulex irritans fleas were more common in villages with high plague incidence

Deletion of the Correia element in the mtr gene complex of Neisseria meningitidis

The mtr gene complex in Neisseria meningitidis encodes an efflux pump that is responsible for export of antibacterial hydrophobic agents. The promoter region of the mtrCDE operon harbours an insertion sequence known as a Correia element, and a binding site for the integration host factor (IHF) is present at the centre of the Correia element. It has been suggested that the expression of the mtrCDE operon in meningococci is subject to transcriptional regulation by the IHF and post-transcriptional regulation by cleavage in the inverted repeat of the Correia element. The promoter region of the mtrCDE operon as well as the association of changes at that point with decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs in 606 Neisseria meningitidis strains were analysed in this study. Two different deletions were present in the analysed region. The first one, found in seven strains, corresponded to absence of the Correia element. The second one, affecting the -10 region and first 100 bp of the mtrR gene and present in 57 isolates, was only found in ST-1624 isolates. None of the deletions were associated with decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. Although most of the meningococcal strains carry the Correia element at that position, its deletion is not an exception.Fil: Enríquez, Rocío. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Abad, Raquel. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Chanto, Grettel. Centro Nacional de Referencia en Bacteriología (INCIENSA); Costa Rica.Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Cruces, Raquel. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Marc Gabastou, Jean. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Unidad de Medicamentos Esenciales; Ecuador.Fil: Gorla, María Cecilia. Adolfo Lutz Institute. Bacteriology Branch. Brasil.Fil: Maldonado, Aurora. Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP). Bacteriología; Chile.Fil: Moreno, Jaime. Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS). Microbiología. Colombia.Fil: Muros-Le Rouzic, Erwan. Sanofi-Pasteur. Global Scientific & Medical Affairs; Francia.Fil: Sorhouet, Cecilia. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Vazquez, Julio A. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España

Deletion of the Correia element in the mtr gene complex of Neisseria meningitidis

The mtr gene complex in Neisseria meningitidis encodes an efflux pump that is responsible for export of antibacterial hydrophobic agents. The promoter region of the mtrCDE operon harbours an insertion sequence known as a Correia element, and a binding site for the integration host factor (IHF) is present at the centre of the Correia element. It has been suggested that the expression of the mtrCDE operon in meningococci is subject to transcriptional regulation by the IHF and post-transcriptional regulation by cleavage in the inverted repeat of the Correia element. The promoter region of the mtrCDE operon as well as the association of changes at that point with decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs in 606 Neisseria meningitidis strains were analysed in this study. Two different deletions were present in the analysed region. The first one, found in seven strains, corresponded to absence of the Correia element. The second one, affecting the -10 region and first 100 bp of the mtrR gene and present in 57 isolates, was only found in ST-1624 isolates. None of the deletions were associated with decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. Although most of the meningococcal strains carry the Correia element at that position, its deletion is not an exception.Fil: Enríquez, Rocío. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Abad, Raquel. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Chanto, Grettel. Centro Nacional de Referencia en Bacteriología (INCIENSA); Costa Rica.Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Cruces, Raquel. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España.Fil: Marc Gabastou, Jean. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Unidad de Medicamentos Esenciales; Ecuador.Fil: Gorla, María Cecilia. Adolfo Lutz Institute. Bacteriology Branch. Brasil.Fil: Maldonado, Aurora. Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP). Bacteriología; Chile.Fil: Moreno, Jaime. Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS). Microbiología. Colombia.Fil: Muros-Le Rouzic, Erwan. Sanofi-Pasteur. Global Scientific & Medical Affairs; Francia.Fil: Sorhouet, Cecilia. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Vazquez, Julio A. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Laboratorio de Referencia para meningococos; España

Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus colonization in healthy Venezuelan children

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We investigated both the colonization and co-colonization characteristics for these pathogens among 250 healthy children from 2 to 5 years of age in Merida, Venezuela, in 2007. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonization, S. aureus colonization, and S. pneumoniae–S. aureus co-colonization was 28%, 56%, and 16%, respectively. Pneumococcal serotypes 6B (14%), 19F (12%), 23F (12%), 15 (9%), 6A (8%), 11 (8%), 23A (6%), and 34 (6%) were the most prevalent. Non-respiratory atopy was a risk factor for S. aureus colonization (p = 0.017). Vaccine serotypes were negatively associated with preceding respiratory infection (p = 0.02) and with S. aureus colonization (p = 0.03). We observed a high prevalence of pneumococcal resistance against trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (40%), erythromycin (38%), and penicillin (14%). Semi-quantitative measurement of pneumococcal colonization density showed that children with young siblings and low socioeconomic status were more densely colonized (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02, respectively). In contrast, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole- and multidrug-resistant-pneumococci colonized children sparsely (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). Our data form an important basis to monitor the future impact of pneumococcal vaccination on bacterial colonization, as well as to recommend a rationalized and restrictive antimicrobial use in our community

Impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b with and without a booster dose on meningitis in four South American countries

Fil: García, Salvador. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Lagos, Rosanna. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Muñoz, Alma. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Picón, Teresa. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Rosa, Raquel. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Alfonso, Adriana. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Abriata, Graciela. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Romanin, Viviana. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Regueira, Mabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Chiavetta, Laura. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Agudelo, Clara Inés. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Castañeda, Elizabeth. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: De la Hoz, Fernando. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Higuera, Ana Betty. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Arce, Patricia. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Cohen, Adam L.. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Verani, Jennifer. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Zuber, Patrick. Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva; Suiza.Fil: Gabastou, Jean-Marc. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Pastor, Desiree. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Flannery, Brendan. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Andrus, Jon. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.To inform World Health Organization recommendations regarding use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in national immunization programs, a multi-country evaluation of trends in Hib meningitis incidence and prevalence of nasopharyngeal Hib carriage was conducted in four South American countries using either a primary, three-dose immunization schedule without a booster dose or with a booster dose in the second year of life. Surveillance data suggest that high coverage of Hib conjugate vaccine sustained low incidence of Hib meningitis and low prevalence of Hib carriage whether or not a booster dose was used

Impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b with and without a booster dose on meningitis in four South American countries

Fil: García, Salvador. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Lagos, Rosanna. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Muñoz, Alma. Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo (CVD-Chile), Santiago; Chile.Fil: Picón, Teresa. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Rosa, Raquel. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Alfonso, Adriana. National Immunization Program and Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Montevideo; Uruguay.Fil: Abriata, Graciela. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Gentile, Angela. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Romanin, Viviana. Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez, Epidemiología, Buenos Aires; Argentina.Fil: Regueira, Mabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Chiavetta, Laura. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Agudelo, Clara Inés. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Castañeda, Elizabeth. Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: De la Hoz, Fernando. Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Higuera, Ana Betty. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Arce, Patricia. Secretaria de Salud de Bogotá, Bogotá; Colombia.Fil: Cohen, Adam L.. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Verani, Jennifer. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Estados Unidos.Fil: Zuber, Patrick. Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva; Suiza.Fil: Gabastou, Jean-Marc. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Pastor, Desiree. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Flannery, Brendan. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.Fil: Andrus, Jon. Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC; Estados Unidos.To inform World Health Organization recommendations regarding use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in national immunization programs, a multi-country evaluation of trends in Hib meningitis incidence and prevalence of nasopharyngeal Hib carriage was conducted in four South American countries using either a primary, three-dose immunization schedule without a booster dose or with a booster dose in the second year of life. Surveillance data suggest that high coverage of Hib conjugate vaccine sustained low incidence of Hib meningitis and low prevalence of Hib carriage whether or not a booster dose was used

Resistance to non-beta-lactamantibiotics in the clinicalisolates of Streptococcuspneumoniaeof children inLatin America. SIREVA II,2000–2005

Fil: Agudelo, Clara Inés. Instituto Nacional de Salud; Colombia.Fil: Castañeda, Elizabeth. Instituto Nacional de Salud; Colombia.Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Regueira, Mabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: de Cunto Brandileone, María Cristina. Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Brasil.Fil: Pires Brandão, Angela. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Brasil.Fil: Maldonado, Aurora. Instituto de Salud Pública; Chile.Fil: Hormazabal, Juan Carlos. Instituto de Salud Pública; Chile.Fil: Tamargo, Isis. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí; Cuba.Fil: Echániz-Avilés, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública; México.Fil: Soto, Araceli. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública; México.Fil: Viveros, Mónica Guadalupe. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; México.Fil: Hernández, Irma. Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos; México.Fil: Chamorro, Gustavo. Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública; Paraguay.Fil: Weiler, Natalie. Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública; Paraguay.Fil: Sánchez, Jacqueline. Hospital Infantil Dr. Robert Reid Cabral; República Dominicana.Fil: Feris, Jesús M. Hospital Infantil Dr. Robert Reid Cabral; República Dominicana.Fil: Camou, Teresa. Servicio Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud Pública; Uruguay.Fil: García, Gabriela. Servicio Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud Pública; Uruguay.Fil: Spadola, Enza. Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel; Venezuela.Fil: Payares, Daisy. Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel; Venezuela.Fil: Gabastou, Jean-Marc. Organización Panamericana de la Salud; Estados Unidos.Fil: di Fabio, José Luis. Organización Panamericana de la Salud; Estados Unidos.Fil: Grupo SIREVA II; Argentina.Objetivo. Determinar la evolución de la resistencia a la eritromicina, el cloranfenicol, el trimetoprim-sulfametozaxol (SXT) y la vancomicina de aislamientos invasores de Streptococcus pneumoniaeobtenidos de niños de 10 países de América Latina y del Caribe en seis años de vigilancia. Métodos. Se analizaron 8 993 aislamientos de S. pneumoniaerecuperados entre 2000 y 2005 de niños menores de 6 años con infecciones invasoras, procedentes de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, México, Paraguay, República Dominicana, Uruguay y Venezuela. La sensibilidad a los antibióticos se determinó mediante los métodos establecidos y estandarizados en el proyecto SIREVA. La resistencia a múltiples antibióticos se definió como la resistencia a tres o más familias de antibióticos, de los no betalactámicos analizados en este estudio o de los betalactámicos evaluados en un estudio previo en el que 37,8% de estos aislamientos presentaron sensibilidad disminuida a la penicilina. Resultados. Se encontró algún grado de resistencia al SXT y la eritromicina (56,4% y 15,4% de los aislamientos estudiados, respectivamente) y 4,6% presentó alta resistencia al cloranfenicol. Todos los aislamientos fueron sensibles a la vancomicina. Se observó la mayor frecuencia de resistencia al SXT en los aislamientos de neumonía y a la eritromicina en los casos de sepsis (61,6% y 25,5%, respectivamente; P< 0,01). La mayor frecuencia de resistencia al SXT se observó en Brasil (71,9%) y a la eritromicina en México (38,2%) y Venezuela (32,9%). Los serotipos 14, 6B, 19F y 23F fueron los que más frecuentemente se asociaron con la resistencia a los antibióticos estudiados. Conclusiones. Se observó una elevada y creciente frecuencia de aislamientos resistentes al SXT y la eritromicina, y una disminución en la proporción de aislamientos resistentes al cloranfenicol. Estas tendencias mostraron diferencias entre los países estudiado