Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a growing public health concern, especially in hospital environments. The reason lies in the fact that the main etiological agents of these diseases are developing multidrug resistance due to the extensive use of antibiotic drugs, leading to the emergence and spread of epidemilogically important microorganisms, like methicillin-(-oxicillin) resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The increasing prevalence and widespread distribution of such pathogens is documented by surveillance programs and international data bases. In particular, Staphylococcus aureus resistance has grown to a worldwide emergency, and the search for alternative therapeutic remedies has become extremely urgent. Learning from nature is an increasingly common practice in science in general, and has recently given rise to a specific branch of medicine. One of the most promising novelties in the fight against bacteria in general, and resistant bacteria in particular, is represented by antimicrobial peptides, natural substances produced by several organisms of both the animal and plant kingdoms. Before these substances can be used as cures to human infections, however, microbiological and molecular studies are still necessary, to allow for a greater understanding of their functioning. This study aimed at testing the antimicrobial activity of six AMPs against a number of pathogens isolated from patients with bacteriuria, in particular Staphylococcus spp, as well as to identify and determine the antimicrobial resistance status of UTI-causing bacteria in a population of hospital inpatients and outpatients in Italy. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were further characterized using Multi Locus sequence Typing (MLST). The experimentation of innovative solutions deriving from an integrated approach seems to be the only way to contain the pandemic of multidrug resistance and to develop a cure for one of the main public health problems today.
Bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs): characterization and antibiotic resistance profile
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2008-01-01
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a growing public health concern, especially in hospital environments. The reason lies in the fact that the main etiological agents of these diseases are developing multidrug resistance due to the extensive use of antibiotic drugs, leading to the emergence and spread of epidemilogically important microorganisms, like methicillin-(-oxicillin) resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The increasing prevalence and widespread distribution of such pathogens is documented by surveillance programs and international data bases. In particular, Staphylococcus aureus resistance has grown to a worldwide emergency, and the search for alternative therapeutic remedies has become extremely urgent. Learning from nature is an increasingly common practice in science in general, and has recently given rise to a specific branch of medicine. One of the most promising novelties in the fight against bacteria in general, and resistant bacteria in particular, is represented by antimicrobial peptides, natural substances produced by several organisms of both the animal and plant kingdoms. Before these substances can be used as cures to human infections, however, microbiological and molecular studies are still necessary, to allow for a greater understanding of their functioning. This study aimed at testing the antimicrobial activity of six AMPs against a number of pathogens isolated from patients with bacteriuria, in particular Staphylococcus spp, as well as to identify and determine the antimicrobial resistance status of UTI-causing bacteria in a population of hospital inpatients and outpatients in Italy. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were further characterized using Multi Locus sequence Typing (MLST). The experimentation of innovative solutions deriving from an integrated approach seems to be the only way to contain the pandemic of multidrug resistance and to develop a cure for one of the main public health problems today.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
