Acinetobacter baumannii is an aggressive opportunistic bacterial pathogen that causes severe nosocomial infections, especially among burn patients. An increasing number of hospitals-acquired infections have been reported all over the world. However, little attention has been paid to the relatedness between A. baumannii isolates from different hospital environments and patients. In this study, 27 isolates were collected from the Burn and Plastic Surgery Hospital of Al Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq, from January through December 2019 (11 from patients and 16 from the wards environment), identified to species level as A. baumannii using Vitek 2 system and molecular detection of 16S rRNA gene, and then confirmed by targeting the bla_OXA-51 gene. Moreover, the isolates were characterized by means of automated antimicrobial susceptibility assay, antimicrobial-resistant patterns, a phenotypic method using a combined disk test, and molecular methods for the detection of class A and C -lactamase genes, and finally, the genetic relatedness was classified. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 63% (17/27) of the retrieved A. baumannii isolates were extensively drug-resistant to 8/9 antimicrobial classes. Furthermore, 37% (10/27) of the isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant; 8 isolates exhibited similar resistant patterns and the other two isolates showed 2 different patterns, while resistance was greater in isolates from patients than from the ward environment. Combined disk test showed that two isolates contained extended-spectrum -lactamase. All isolates carried bla_TEM-1, and two copies of the bla_CTX-1 gene were indicated in one isolate, while bla_SHV was absent in all isolates. Twenty-four isolates carried the bla_AmpC gene; among them, 3 isolates harbored the insertion sequence ISAba-1 upstream to the gene. Using Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR, the isolates were clustered into 6 distinct types; among them, two clusters, each of four strains, were classified to contain isolates from both patients and environments. The clusters of similar genotypes were found in inpatients as well as the environments of different wards during time periods, suggesting transmission within the hospital. Identification of possible infection sources and controlling the transmission of these aggressive resistance strains should be strictly conducted.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, and up to 80% of these are linked to urinary catheters. The biofilm formation of uropathogenic E. coli plays a critical role in the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This study aimed to develop a silicone elastomer material incorporating green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles for potential urinary catheter applications and assess its antibiofilm efficacy against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). E. coli was identified by the BD Phoenix^TM system and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. ZnO NPs were synthesized through a green method using Crataegus azarolus leaf extract as a biological reducing and stabilizing agent. NPs were incorporated into a silicone matrix at different concentrations (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt% and 1.5 wt%) to produce ZnO-functionalized silicone elastomer specimens for potential urinary catheter applications, and then their antibiofilm activity was assessed through a 96-well microtiter assay. NPs and nanocomposites were characterized through various spectroscopic techniques using XRD, FTIR, and FESEM. In the 1.5 wt% ZnO NPs–silicone elastomer specimen, biofilm formation by E. coli ATCC 25922 and the clinical isolate were significantly reduced by 86.94% and 78.40%, respectively, compared to the control silicone elastomer specimen for potential urinary catheter application. The present findings suggest that green synthesized ZnO NPs provide a promising and biocompatible approach to reducing UPEC biofilm formation when incorporated into silicone elastomer specimens for urinary catheter application. Furthermore, this method may help reduce CAUTIs in clinical settings.

Background and Aim: The study aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 using custom-designed primers in conventional PCR, targeting RdRp, E, and N genes, and assess regional isolate genetic diversity compared to global strains. Materials and Methods: In Sulaimani City, Iraq, from September 2020 to September 2021, 200 positive nasopharyngeal samples were collected, and 17 known ...

A significant challenge and threat to public health have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic for the entire global population. The study aimed to compare the SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection capabilities of available primers and probes to identify the most reliable, efficient, and affordable method. From 200 previously detected samples of SARS CoV-2, 94 samples were selected randomly and used for the optimization of our primers and probes. We compared our results with two kits that have been approved by the health authority. In addition, we evaluated the detectability of each gene. The study compared the diagnostic performance of different gene combinations for COVID-19 detection using kits A and B and a novel approach combining RdRp, N, and E genes. Results showed that the combined approach exhibited superior discriminatory power, particularly with the inclusion of the E gene, boasting area under the curve (AUC) values of 83.3%, 79.1%, and 93.7% for the respective genes. Kit B, with Orf1ab and N genes, outperformed Kit A (RdRp and S genes), with AUC values of 81.2% and 90.6% versus 80.2% and 75%, respectively. The chart representation highlighted gene detection frequencies across various cycle threshold (Ct) ranges, demonstrating robust identification within the 20.1–30 Ct range across all kits and genes, emphasizing the reliability of detection within specific intervals. Combining RdRp, N, and E genes showed the highest accuracy for COVID-19 diagnosis, particularly with the E gene. Detection was most reliable within the 20.1–30 Ct range across all gene combinations and kits.