Historical Overview of the Evolution of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections in Tunisia from 1999 to 2019.

: As antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-negative bacteria change over time, this study aimed to analyze the antimicrobial susceptibility trends of , , , and isolates in Tunisia. : From 1999 to 2019, non-duplicate isolates of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 11 Tunisian hospitals as part of an antimicrobial resistance surveillance program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines.

Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance in Bloodstream Infections in Tunisia: A 13-Year Trend Analysis.

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance network has been monitoring bloodstream bacterial pathogens and their resistance since 1999 in Tunisia. We report the long-term trends in the distribution of bloodstream bacterial pathogens and their resistance patterns from this surveillance database. We analyzed antibiotic resistance rates in 11 tertiary teaching hospital laboratories under the AMR surveillance network during 2011-2023, focusing on six priority bacterial pathogens, using the Cochrane-Armitage test for trend analysis.

Parasitological and microbiological assessment of contact lens storage cases: a survey of asymptomatic lens student wearers from five medical specialties in Tunisia, North Africa.

Background: Contamination of contact lenses has always been correlated with contamination of lenses and lens storage cases (LSCs), with higher loads of microorganisms in LSCs. The aim of the present study is to better understand non-compliance with strict hygiene rules in asymptomatic contact lens wearers, and to track circulating germs in LSCs that may affect the integrity of the eye.

Methods: Demographic and behavioral data were collected from 111 asymptomatic lens wearers belonging to different medical faculties in Tunisia.

Chemical composition, free radical scavenging capacity and molecular docking evaluation of essential oils from leaves, roots, and flowers of DC. growing in Tunisia.

The essential oils (EOs) isolated from fresh leaves, roots, and flowers of DC. growing in Tunisia were analysed by GC/MS. Twenty-four compounds were identified in the leaf EO, with β-caryophyllene (27.

Identification and antifungal susceptibility profile of uncommon yeast species at Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Tunisia.

Despite the severe impact of uncommon yeast fungal infections and the pressing need for more research on the topic, there are still few studies available on the identification, epidemiology, and susceptibility profile of those pathogens. The aims of the current study were to define the profile of uncommon yeast species at Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital using phenotypic, molecular, and proteomic methods and to study their antifungal susceptibility profile. Pre-identified uncommon yeast species were collected from 2018 to 2021.

Comparison of time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 between young and elderly among asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients: a cohort study from a national containment center.

Objective: We aimed to study the relationship between age and time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with asymptomatic and mild forms of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study including all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from the national COVID-19 containment center of Tunisia. Patients were subdivided into two cohorts: (under 60 years) and (over 60 years) and were followed up until PCR negativization.

In vitro immunotoxicity effects of carbendazim were inhibited by n-acetylcysteine in microglial BV-2 cells.

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a benzimidazole fungicide widely used worldwide in industrial, agricultural, and veterinary practices. Although, CBZ was found in all brain tissues causing serious neurotoxicity, its impact on brain immune cells remain scarcely understood. Our study investigated the in vitro effects of CBZ on activated microglial BV-2 cells.

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Data Analysis and Assessment of Tunisian Strategy from January 2021 to February 2022.

Due to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.

In Vitro Effects of Cypermethrin and Glyphosate on LPS-Induced Immune Cell Activation.

(1) Background: The insecticide cypermethrin (Cypm) and the herbicide glyphosate (Glyp) are among the most widely used pesticides. While the two pesticides have been considered to have low toxicity in mammals, some indication of potential immunotoxicity has emerged. The aim of this work was to investigate in vitro the effects of Cypm and Glyp on bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune cell activation and of Cypm on 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT)-induced maturation of dendritic cells (DCs).

Age and severity-dependent gut microbiota alterations in Tunisian children with autism spectrum disorder.

Alterations in gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) have been reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We analysed the gut microbiota and fecal SCFA in Tunisian autistic children from 4 to 10 years, and results were compared to those obtained from a group of siblings (SIB) and children from the general population (GP). ASD patients presented different gut microbiota profiles compared to SIB and GP, with differences in the levels of Bifidobacterium and Collinsella occurring in younger children (4-7 years) and that tend to be attenuated at older ages (8-10 years).

Treatment of infection 14-day concomitant quadruple therapy versus triple therapy: A parallel double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Successful (Hp) eradication with the traditional 7-day course of proton pump inhibitor triple therapy is declining. Prolonging therapy to 14 days is associated with better eradication rates. Most learned societies recommend concomitant quadruple therapy (QC) as a first-line alternative therapy for this bacterial infection.

Clonal, Plasmidic and Genetic Diversity of Multi-Drug-Resistant Enterobacterales from Hospitalized Patients in Tripoli, Libya.

Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) and carbapenems in Enterobacterales is a major issue in public health. Carbapenem resistance in particular is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover, such resistance is often co-harbored with resistance to non-beta-lactam antibiotics, and pathogens quickly become multi-drug-resistant (MDR).

Evaluation of three viral concentration methods for detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) could be useful as an early warning system for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic spread. Viruses are highly diluted in wastewater. Therefore, a virus concentration step is needed for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater detection.

An Overview on Fecal Profiles of Amino Acids and Related Amino-Derived Compounds in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Tunisia.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental pathology characterized by the impairment of social interaction, difficulties in communication, and repetitive behaviors. Alterations in the metabolism of amino acids have been reported. We performed a chromatographic analysis of fecal amino acids, ammonium, biogenic amines, and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in Tunisian autistic children from 4 to 10 years, and results were compared with their siblings (SIB) and children from the general population (GP).

A sero-epidemiological investigation of West Nile virus among patients without any records of their symptoms from three different hospitals from Tunisia.

West Nile virus is one of the most known arboviruses around the world, along with Dengue virus, Toscana virus, Chikungunya (CHIK). In Tunisia, many epidemics of WNV had occurred in the past. The last one dated from 2018.

The Delta variant wave in Tunisia: Genetic diversity, spatio-temporal distribution and evidence of the spread of a divergent AY.122 sub-lineage.

Introduction: The Delta variant posed an increased risk to global public health and rapidly replaced the pre-existent variants worldwide. In this study, the genetic diversity and the spatio-temporal dynamics of 662 SARS-CoV2 genomes obtained during the Delta wave across Tunisia were investigated.

Methods: Viral whole genome and partial S-segment sequencing was performed using Illumina and Sanger platforms, respectively and lineage assignemnt was assessed using Pangolin version 1.

Comparative study of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in hospitals and community settings in the region of Monastir - Tunisia.

Introduction And Aim: Multidrug resistance in bacteria has become a widespread scourge. The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) at Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir - Tunisia compared to the community and to define their antibiotic resistance profiles.

Methods: It was a retrospective and descriptive study over a period of 5 years (2016-2020) conducted at the microbiology department of Fattouma-Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir - Tunisia.

Occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among healthcare workers in Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Tunisia.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Indeed, they are exposed to blood and body fluid which put them at an important risk of transmission of various blood borne pathogens including HCV. The goal of this study was to determine the magnitude of occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection as well as the factors associated to this exposure among HCWs at a Tunisian University Hospital in 2017.

Characterization of Turpentine nanoemulsion and assessment of its antibiofilm potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Turpentine essential oil (TEO) is a commercially available product having application as food additive, due to its ethno-botanical and ethnopharmacological properties. In the present study, we performed chemical composition of TEO by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, TEO was nanoemulsified, encapsulated and characterized by droplet size, PDI, Zeta potential and transmittance.