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Abstract Background and Objectives: one of the endemic foci for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran is Mashhad in which limited outbreak have recently been reported. The commonly used method for diagnosis is the clinical features confirmed by direct microspic examination and culture or biopsy. We compared these two tests to determine the level of their sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value. Material and Methods: we performed this comparative-analytic study on 73 patients suspected of having ulcers Leishmaniasis in Mashhad, Iran. Giemsa was staining the smears and the samples cultivated on Di-phasic N.N.N. culture media . Analysis was performed by SPSS version 11.5 and Chi square test. A P- value less than 0.05 were considered as a significant. Results: In 43 cases (58.9%), both the smear and culture are Positive. In 13 cases (17.8%), the smear is negative but the culture Positive. In 17 cases (23.2%), both smear and culture are negative. The two methods are positively correlated (82%). Sensitivity, Specifity, Positive predictive Value and negative predictive value are 76.7%, 100%, 100% and 56.7%., respectively. Conclusion: when the smear is positive, there is no need for culture. However, the opposite is not true. Key words: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Laboratory Diagnostic, Direct Microspic Examination, Culture.

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Abstract Background and objectives: Resistance to antimicrobial agent is a world-wide problem and the existed reports are not the same. Aware of antibiotic resistant pattern of microorganisms in each hospital is important for controlling the nosocomial infections. This study was designed to determine the resistant pattern of microorganisms isolated in Yahya nejad hospital, Babol, north of Iran. Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, organisms were isolated during 2006 from urine, blood, endotracheal tube, abscess, fluids (ascites, pleura, and synovia), wound, discharges and bonemarrow of both outpatients and inpatients in our hospital were studied. Their antibiotics resistances were evaluated by Kirby Bauer method. Results: of 3114 culture specimens of admitted patients (female 1732, male 1382), 325 (10.4%) microorganisms were isolated. They were isolated from urine 162(49.8%), blood 115(35.4%), abscess 11(3.4%), wound, 10(3.1%) and discharge10 (3.1%). The most common microorganisms were Escherichia coli 107(33%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis 69(21.3%). Maximum resistance of E.coli is related to tetracycline (83.9%) and ampicillin (75%) and maximum resistance of S.epidermidis to oxacillin (89.2%) and penicillin (82.1%). Conclusion: With regard to high antibiotic resistance (>70%) in this study, it seems that the early beginning and inappropriate dosage of antimicrobial agents may be associated with developing antibiotic resistance. Hence, it is highly recommended to prohibit the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics Key words: Antibiotic resistance, microorganisms, Blood culture, E.coli

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Abstract Background and objectives: Blood culture is a critical part of evaluation of Neonate suspected wath Septicaemia. This phenomenon is one of the most important causes of neonates in Neonatal. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 1470 somples of neonates suspected with bacteraemia , using reutine microbiologicul technique. The samples wene assessed in hazrate Masoomeh hospilal of Kermansha,Iran. Results and Conclusions: of all samples, 112 (7.62%) ane pasitive. Most of the Positive cultures were obtained after 24 hours of incubation in broth mediu. we Confirmed this result by using diseriminafiue culture media the Isolated bacteria are Coagulase-negative Staphylococus(28.6%),Alfahymolylic Streptococus(0.09%), staphylococus aureus(10.7%),Klebseilla(6.2%),pseudomonas(12.5%),moraxella(0.9%),acin eto bacter(13.4%), Alcalingenes(13.4%),protenos(1.8%) and salmonela (0.9%). Conclusion: the frequency of Coagulase-negative Staphylococus Isolated from neonates Blood culture is more than the other micro organisms. Generally, the frequency of gram negative bacteria is higher than gram Positive. Key words: Septicaemia, Blood culture, Bacteraemia, Neonatal

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Abstract Background and objectives: The aim of this study was the detection of S.pneumoniae infection by rapid urinary test and blood culture in children with pneumonia in comparison with healthy children. Material and Methods: This case control study was carried out in pediatric ward of Rasoul Akram hospital in Tehran, Iran (2006 - 200٧).Fifty-four Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 50 healthy children were selected by simple sampling. The urinary antigen detection test (BINAX NOW co.) was performed on both cases and controls and blood culture was done for the cases suffered from Pneumonia. Results: Pneumococcal antigenuria is detected in 31.5 % of CAP and 6 % of controls groups. There is Significant difference between cases and controls (fisher test CI 95%, P =0.01). None of the children with nonpneumococcal Pneumonia (positive culture) has antigenuria. Conclusion: The possibility of diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in children, by means of blood culture, is low. Thirty-one percent of CAP is due to S.pneumonia, by using the rapid antigenuria test. There fore, we recommend using rapid urinary antigen test, in addition to blood Culture test. Key words: CAP (community-acquired pneumonia) S pneumoniae urinary antigen test (BINAX now), Blood culture, Children

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Abstract Background and objectives: Helicobacter pylori is a helical gram negative bacterium with polar flagella, discovered by Warren and Marshall in 1983. Helicobacter pylori exist in the stomach mucus tissue of less than 20% of people under 30 years old, but this amount would increase up to 40% and 60% in 60- year- old people. The aim of this study was to compare three methods of culture media, direct slide staining and the urease test for the rapid diagnosis of bacterium in case of peptic or duodenal ulcer. Material and Methods: In This descriptive study, duplicate biopsy specimens were taken from 82 clients referring to four different Hospitals .In endoscopy room of the Hospitals, a rapid urease test were carried out on one of duplicate specimens for the presence or non-presence of Helicobacter pylori. In order to see the Helicobacter pylori in the tissues, three slides using foushin, giemsa, and gram staining were prepared from the second specimens. Then, the specimens were incubated into selective culture media and incubated for 4-6 days in micoraerophilic condition. Results: Of 82 tested specimens 70(85.5%) and 66(80.5%) are identified as Helicobacter pylori by positive urease and culture medium, respectively. The frequency of foushin, giemsa, and gram staining are 67 (81.7%), 66 (80.5%), and 61 (74.4%), respectively. The foushin staining is the best with 100% sensitivity among the other methods. Conclusion: Based on difference between proportions, There is no significant difference between staining methods (foshin, giemsa, gram staining) and culture media in all cases. Key words: Helicobacter pylori, microscopic methods, urease test, culture media, identification

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Abstract Background and Objectives: gasterointertidis is one of the most common forms of Salmonellosis, which is a worldwide problem. The invasive characteristic of intestinal bacteria is one of their pathogenicity Mechanisms , which can be easily investigated by cell culture technique. In this study ,the invasive characteristic of some Salmonella serogroup were investigated by using HEP-2 cell. Methods and Material: The rectals soap were prepared from 280 diarrhea patients referred to Imam Khomeyni and children medical centres , 140 with bloody diarrhea and 140 with watery diarrhea as a comparison group. The rectal soap was taken before patients taking any antibiotics, and 140 rectal specimens were taken from healthy people as a control group. All the samples were inoculated in differential and selective media, like Hektoen enteric agar and Xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar .After incubation at 37C for 24 hours, the colonies were examined and identified by conventional biochemical and serological tests. Using HEP-2, cellular invasion characteristic of Salmonella serogroups was assessed. Moreover, the antibiotic resistance patterns were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Of all tested samples, 35(8.3%) are Salmonella strains. The frequency of Salmonella is reported for bloody diarrhea (5.2%) , watery diarrhea ( 1.7%) and control group( 1.4%) .The most abundant serogroups with invasive characteristic, using HEP-2 cell culture, are serogroup B ( 62.9%) and D (17.2%). Conclusion The results obtained in this study show that the majority of Salmonella isolates are without invasive characteristic. Key words: Salmonella, Diarrhea, Cell invasion, Cell culture

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Abstract Background and Objective: Salmonellosis is one of the most important food-borne bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide, and poultry and its products are the major sources for salmonella transmission to human. Isolation of Salmonellaenterica from poultry needs bacteriologic enrichment and selected cultures of fecal samples. In this study, different culture methods for the isolation of salmonella from fecal samples were compared. Material and Methods: Forty- five positive samples from infected farms and 45 negative samples from normal farms were processed using enrichment media including tetrathionate broth, selenite cistine and Rappaport-Vassiliadis. Then the samples were incubated in selective cultures, and after 24 h, their results were compared with standard method. Results: Specificity of all methods for salmonella isolation was 100%, and salmonella was not isolated from the negative samples. The highest susceptibility was related to the method in which the sample first in Selenite cistine and later in Rappaport-Vassiliadis was enriched (100%). Enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis could isolate 41 salmonella from 45 positive samples (91%) while the result of enrichment in tetrathionate was 6 isolates (13.3%). Conclusion: This study shows that enrichment in selenite cistine and then in Rappaport-Vassiliadis is currently the best method for isolating salmonella from fecal samples of poultry. Key words: Salmonella Bacteriologic Culture Diagnosis Isolation Enrichment Poultry

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Abstract Background and Objective: One of the main causes of increased mortality in cancer patients is bacteremia. On the other hand, antibiotic resistance is the major cause of treatment failure in malignant diseases especially in hematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to diagnose the bacterial strains isolated from blood specimens of cancer patients and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 0.5 ml of venous blood was taken from 613 cancer patients especially leukemia, and blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using standard methods. Using disc diffusion method, antibiotic susceptibility was performed with a wide range of antibiotics. Results: Out of 613 cultured specimens, 153 (25%) were found to be positive including 76.47% of gram negative and 23.53% of gram positive bacteria. The most common isolated bacteria were E. coli, coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa, respectively. Conclusion: It seems that Ceftriaxone is the best choice for the treatment of gram negative caused bacteremia and Gentamicin for bacteremia caused by gram positive agents. Given the high level of resistance to the commonly used antibiotics, it seems reasonable to avoid of early and inappropriate use of antibiotics to prevent the development of drug resistant bacteria. Keywords: Cancer, Blood Cultures, Bacteremia, Antibiotic Resistance

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Abstract Background and Objective: The prevalence of different bacterial species and antibiotic resistance varies according to geographical conditions. Hence, we aimed to identify the prevalence of bacterial agents isolated from the urine culture and also investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 7200 urine samples to identify the bacteria causing infections, using differential tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility was performed via disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: The most common bacteria were Escherichia coli (736 61.1%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (128 10.6%) and Enterococcus faecalis, (88 7.3%). The highest antibiotic susceptibility was related to Ciprofloxacin (174 14.45%) and the lowest to Amoxicillin (795 62.02%). Conclusion: Owing to the lowest resistance, it is recommended that Ciprofloxacin be used as the first line of treatment. In addition, Amoxicillin and Ampicillin should be used the least during primary treatment of urinary tract infections. Keywords: Antibiogram, Bacterial Resistance, Urine Culture

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Background and objective: Implementation of standard methods for accurate detection of bacteria, correct antibiotic susceptibility testing and effective treatment of bacterial infections play important roles in development of public health and prevention of drug resistance. This study aimed to detect bacteria using standard methods and compare the results with the results obtained in teaching hospitals’ laboratories.

Methods: Positive culture plates containing bacteria isolated from patients in hospital laboratories in city of Sari were transferred to microbiology laboratory of Faculty of Medicine at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, after determining the genus and species of bacteria and antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates. The samples were re-examined based on standard protocols, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby-Bauer method.

Results: Of 101 patients, 20% of bacteria and 22.5% of antibiotic sensitivity results reported by the hospital laboratories were incorrect. There were significant differences between the two study groups in terms of bacterial species detection and sensitivity to some drugs (P<0.05).

Conclusion: In the present study, lack of implementation of internal quality control programs in some hospital laboratories and lack of proper monitoring by regulatory authorities in different departments of the hospital have caused 20% false-detection results in hospital reports. Inconsistency in results of laboratories, false antibiograms and subsequent false laboratory reports cause drug resistance in some patients. This indicates the necessity of continuous training in the field of Microbiology and implementation of standard protocols and methods for detection of bacterial species and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

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Background and objectives: Developing scaffolds is important for tissue engineering and repairing damaged tissues. The present study aimed to investigate effects of pre-incubation of an electrospun silk fibroin scaffold in complete and serum-free media on proliferation and survival of cells seeded on the scaffold.
Methods: After removing sericin from the silk cocoon and preparing the fibroin solution (3% w/v), the electrospun silk fibroin scaffold was fabricated and its morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The scaffolds were pre-incubated in complete and serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle media for one hour (short-term) and 10 days (long-term), and the hydrophilicity of scaffolds was evaluated by measuring the water contact angle. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were seeded onto the scaffolds, and cell survival and genomic DNA concentration were evaluated after 21 days.
Results: The short-time pre-incubation of electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds in the complete medium increased the proliferation of seeded cells because of serum protein adsorption. In addition, long-term pre-incubation of the scaffolds in the complete and serum-free media increased cell proliferation due to the increased hydrophilicity of the scaffold (p<0.05). However, only long-term pre-incubation of the scaffolds in the complete medium had a significant effect on cell survival.
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that long-term pre-incubation of the scaffolds in the complete medium have more profound positive effects on cell survival and proliferation compared to short-term pre-incubation.

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Background and objectives: Conventional culture and sensitivity methods take around 48 hours to generate antibiotic sensitivity results after a blood culture is flagged as positive by automated systems. However, it is imperative to initiate early targeted antibiotic therapy for effective management of sepsis and to reduce morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the direct sensitivity test (DST) as a potential tool to obtain quicker antibiotic susceptibility results from positive BacT/ALERT blood culture vials and the VITEK-2 system (the reference method).
Methods: Blood culture bottles flagged as positive by BacT/ALERT were Gram-stained. Cultures with polymicrobial growth were excluded from the study. The isolates were then simultaneously cultured and processed for the DST using the disk diffusion method. Agreements or errors were interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s guidelines.
Results: Among 76 Gram-positive isolates, we observed 99.2% essential agreement between the DST and AST. The rate of minor and major errors was 4.04% and 1.18%, respectively. Among 75 Gram-negative isolates, we observed 98.99% essential agreement between the DST and AST. The rate of minor and major errors was 4% and 2%, respectively. No very major error was seen in either Gram-negative or -positive isolates.
Conclusions: The DST results are available earlier than the AST results, which can ultimately help in the early initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy.

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