Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technology: Homoeopathy, Technikon Natal, 1994. / The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of simillimum treatment and Natrum muriaticum and Rhus toxicodendron on the treatment of recurrent cutaneous Herpes Simplex I with reference to patients response to treatment and patients perception of the effectiveness of treatment in order to determine the efficacy of the treatment methods in the management of recurrent Herpes Simplex I attacKS. Thirty one patients with recurrent cutaneous Herpes Simplex I were admitted to the study if they suffered from frequently recurring cutaneous Herpes Simplex lat least three times a year.Patients were recruited by means of advert ising in local newspapers, shoppi ng centres and libraries. Age group was 5-65 years. After an initial consultation including a case history and physical examination, a double-blind, random procedure ensured that the 31 patients were allocated to one of the two experimental groups.One group recei ved simillimum treatment and the other group received Natrum muriaticum and Rhus toxicodendron for a period of five months.Treatment only started at the beginning of a recurrent attaCK. At the time of recurrence details of the HSV llesion were obtained and a patient perception questionnaire / M

Thesis (M Med.(Family Medicine))--University of Limpopo, 2010. / Aim: To understand the help seeking behaviour of parents having children with minor illnesses such as fungal skin infection and to respond appropriately to such behaviours. Design: A descriptive qualitative study using the free attitude interview technique Method: The study was conducted in Francistown City Council Clinics. Eight participants were interviewed. Using purposeful sampling chose the participants. Each respondent was asked the same exploratory question “How much do you know about this skin infection?” Exploratory question (Setswana) is “O itse go le kae ka bolwetsi jone jo jwa letlalo?” The probe follow up questions were used to encourage elaboration on the topic. The discussions were held in Setswana language. The interviews were audio – taped. The recordings were transcribed, and the ideas that emerged were developed into themes. Results: Most of the respondents believed that Skin fungal infection was common in the community and it was generally called skin rash. It was believed to be infectious that it may be associated with HIV infection. Some however believe that its cause was known and it was treatable The help seeking behaviour of parents having children with minor illness like skin fungal infection falls within these reasons: Availability of alternative treatment, Concern of the child especially if the child complains about the problem, 6 Concern of the parents when the parents consider such minor health concern as a health problem for the child, issues around difficult in management of the problem, If problem is tolerable. Conclusion: Residents of Francistown city council, which was where the study was carried out perceived skin fungal infection as a common infectious skin problem, that is treatable. There is adequate knowledge of the symptoms of skin fungal infection among the participants. Some of the participants believed that skin fungal infection is common in children because they see the skin lesion as a normal change in colour for children before adult life. It was believe that as they get older the change in colour will then disappear. Many of them believe that they do not know the cause and even the few that felt that they knew the cause could not give a good account of the exact cause of the skin fungal infection, only one said that it is caused by a germ. Most of the participants were aware that it is treatable but yet they were not keen seeking for help when they come to the clinics because of one or two of the following reasons: Availability of alternative treatment; Concern of the child especially if the child complains about the problem; Concern of the parents when the parents consider such minor health concern as a health on the child; Issues around difficult in management of the problem; Health problem being tolerable

No description available.

This study investigated how gastrointestinal and skin bacterial infections were affected by differential expression of connexin (Cx) 26 and a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 17 in vitro. Cx26 is a component of gap junctions, which facilitate the transfer of small molecules between two cells. Recessive mutations in Cx26 cause non syndromic hearing loss (NSHL), and in certain populations, specific mutations account for the majority of Cx26 related NSHL. Their common occurrence suggests that they may provide a heterozygous, protective advantage to carriers. In this study adherence by the attaching and effacing pathogen Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was significantly reduced in cells expressing mutant Cx26 compared to wild type Cx26. Furthermore, EPEC adherence and invasion of an alternative enteric pathogen, Shigella flexneri were reduced following treatment with Cx26 short-interfering-RNA in intestinal cells. These findings suggest that the loss of functional Cx26 expression improves protection against enteric bacteria. ADAM17 releases substrates including tumour necrosis factor alpha and ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor and therefore is involved in the induction of immune responses and maintenance of the epidermal barrier. This study demonstrated that ADAM17 provides protection during Staphylococcus aureus infection of keratinocytes. Subsequently the protective effects of ADAM17 mediated protection were explored. Secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines Interleukins 6 and 8 correlated with ADAM17 activity. Additionally gene expression profiling was performed which identified the IL-17 signalling pathway, which is known to be important during S. aureus infection, as a potential downstream target of ADAM17. In summary, based on these findings, Cx26 and ADAM17 may represent potential therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal and skin bacterial pathogens.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-168). / Microfiche. / xiii, 168 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

BACKGROUND: The risk factors, microbial etiology, differentiation, and clinical features of purulent and non-purulent cellulitis are not well defined in Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized adults with cellulitis in Taiwan in 2013. The demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory and microbiological findings, treatments, and outcomes were compared for patients with purulent and non-purulent cellulitis. RESULTS: Of the 465 patients, 369 had non-purulent cellulitis and 96 had purulent cellulitis. The non-purulent group was significantly older (p = 0.001) and was more likely to have lower limb involvement (p < 0.001), tinea pedis (p = 0.003), stasis dermatitis (p = 0.025), a higher Charlson comorbidity score (p = 0.03), and recurrence at 6 months post-infection (p = 0.001) than the purulent group. The purulent group was more likely to have a wound (p < 0.001) and a longer hospital stay (p = 0.001) and duration of antimicrobial therapy (p = 0.003) than the non-purulent group. The etiological agent was identified in 35.5 % of the non-purulent cases, with β-hemolytic streptococci the most frequent cause (70.2 %). The etiological agent was identified in 83.3 % of the purulent cases, with Staphylococcus aureus the predominant pathogen (60 %): 50 % of these were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In multivariable analysis, purulent group (odds ratio (OR), 5.188; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.995-13.493; p = 0.001) was a positive predictor of MRSA. The prescribed antimicrobial agents were significantly different between the purulent and non-purulent groups, with penicillin the most frequently used antimicrobial agent in the non-purulent group (35.2 %), and oxacillin the most frequent in the purulent group (39.6 %). The appropriate antimicrobial agent was more frequently prescribed in the non-purulent group than in the purulent group (83.2 % vs. 53.8 %, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology, clinical features, and microbiology of purulent and non-purulent cellulitis were significantly different in hospitalized Taiwanese adults. Purulence was a positive predictor of MRSA as the causal agent of cellulitis. These findings provide added support for the adoption of the IDSA guidelines for empirical antimicrobial therapy of cellulitis in Taiwan.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major problems faced by the medical industry today. The ability of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance against antibiotics and the over prescription and inappropriate use of antibiotics further exacerbate this crisis. Few new antimicrobials are, however, making it through the drug discovery pipeline. The search and development of novel and effective antimicrobials is therefore of the utmost importance. Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized cationic antimicrobial peptides with extensive post-translational modifications. They are active against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. They are characterized by the presence of lanthionine and methyllanthionine rings and have been suggested as alternatives or for use in conjunction with antibiotics against resistant pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacteria isolated from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Strains of S. aureus have emerged with resistance against antibiotics with the most common being methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Several lantibiotics are active against MRSA in vivo and have even shown superior activity to traditional antibiotics. Lantibiotics therefore show much promise for the treatment of SSTIs caused by resistant- and non-resistant S. aureus. In this study the bacterially diverse soil of the Fynbos in the Western Cape was screened for novel antimicrobials. Two antimicrobial producing Bacillus strains were isolated, Bacillus clausii AD1 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AD2. Both of these strains produce lantibiotics with B. clausii AD1 producing a known lantibiotic, clausin. B. amyloliquefaciens AD2 produces a novel two-component lantibiotic which was designated amyloliquecidin. The lantibiotic operon of amyloliquecidin was sequenced and annotated. All the genes required for successful production of amyloliquecidin are present in the operon. Amyloliquecidin was characterized in vitro and along with clausin is active against clinical strains of S. aureus (including MRSA), Enterococcus spp., Listeria spp. and beta-haemolytic streptococci. Amyloliquecidin has remarkable stability at physiological pH compared to nisin and clausin. A comparative in vivo murine infection model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of amyloliquecidin, nisin, clausin and Bactroban (commercial S. aureus topical treatment) in treating wound infections caused by S. aureus. All the lantibiotics proved to be just as effective as the Bactroban treatment. Furthermore, the tested lantibiotics did not have a negative influence on the wound closure rates of infected and non-infected wounds. Bactroban had a negative effect on wound healing compared to the lantibiotics. To our knowledge amyloliquecidin is the third two-component lantibiotic isolated from Bacillus. This study represents the first to test the effectiveness of amyloliquecidin in vivo and is one of a handful to test lantibiotics as topical treatments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Antimikrobiese weerstandbiedende bakterieë is op die oomblik een van die grootste probleme in die mediese veld. Die antibiotika krisis word vererg deur die vermoë van bakterieë om vinnig weerstand op te bou teen antibiotika, asook die alledaagse misbruik van antibiotika. Daar is ook ʼn tekort in die hoeveelheid antibiotika wat na die finale fases van ontwikkeling gaan. Om die oorhand teen antibiotika-weerstandige bakterieë te kry is dit van uiterste belang dat meer effektiewe antibiotika ontdek word. Lantibiotika is kationiese antimikrobiese peptiede wat deur die ribosoom gesintetiseer word en bevat ʼn verskeidenheid van modifikasies wat na translasie ingebou word. Hulle word gekarakteriseer deur lanthionien en metiellanthionien ringe. Lantibiotika is aktief teen ʼn verskeidenheid Gram-positiewe bakterieë en kan in kombinasie met antibiotika, of as alternatief gebruik word. Staphylococcus aureus is die mees algemene bakterium wat geassosieer word met vel en sagte weefsel infeksies (VSWIs). Staphylococcus aureus met weerstand teen antibiotika is ook al geïsoleer, die mees algemene weerstandige ras is methisillien-weerstandige S. aureus (MWSA). Lantibiotika is wel aktief teen MWSA in vitro en in vivo, met van hulle wat tot beter aktiwiteit as die voorgeskrewe antibiotika het. Lantibiotika kan dus gebruik word as behandeling vir VSWIs wat veroorsaak word deur weerstandige S. aureus, asook teen nie-weerstandige rasse. In hierdie studie was die bakteriese diverse grond van die Fynbos in die Wes-kaap ondersoek vir bakterieë wat antimikrobiese middels produseer. Twee Bacillus rasse, Bacillus clausii AD1 en Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AD2, wat antimikrobiese middels produseer, is geïsoleer. Bacillus clausii AD1 produseer ʼn bekende lantibiotikum, naamlik clausin. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AD2 produseer ʼn nuwe twee-komponent lantibiotikum, amyloliquecidin. Die lantibiotikum operon wat verantwoordelik is vir die produksie van amyloliquecidin is geïdentifiseer en geannoteer. Die operon bevat al die gene benodig vir die biosintese van amyloliquecidin. Amyloliquecidin is in vitro gekarakteriseer en het aktiwiteit teen ʼn verskeidenheid Gram-positiewe bakterieë. Amyloliquecidin en clausin is aktief teen S. aureus (insluitend MWSA), Enterococcus spp., Listeria spp. en beta-hemolitiese streptococci wat vanaf infeksies geïsoleer is. Amyloliquecidin is baie stabiel by filologiese pH en aansienlik meer stabiel as nisin en clausin. Die effektiwiteit van nisin, clausin en amyloliquecidin in die behandeling van muis vel infeksies veroorsaak deur S. aureus was vergelyk met die kommersiële behandeling Bactroban. Al drie lantibiotika het die verspreiding van S. aureus met die selfde effektiwiteit as Bactroban belemmer. Geen van die lantibiotika het ʼn negatiewe effek op wond genesing nie. Bactroban, inteendeel, belemmer wond genesing. So ver ons weet is amyloliquecidin die derde twee-komponent lantibiotikum wat uit Bacillus geïsoleer is. Die studie is ook die eerste om die effektiwiteit van amyloliquecidin in vivo te rapporteer, asook ook een van die min studies wat kyk na lantibiotika as behandeling vir topikale infeksies.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-05-21T14:55:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Mysrayn Yargo de Freitas Araújo Reis.pdf: 25441289 bytes, checksum: 518beaa4a3b4581b9a50e243986be6b6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-05-23T16:59:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Mysrayn Yargo de Freitas Araújo Reis.pdf: 25441289 bytes, checksum: 518beaa4a3b4581b9a50e243986be6b6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-23T16:59:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Mysrayn Yargo de Freitas Araújo Reis.pdf: 25441289 bytes, checksum: 518beaa4a3b4581b9a50e243986be6b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Bacterial Skin Infections (BSIs) includes a varied group of diseases caused by the invasion of bacteria into the epidermidis and adjacent soft tissues. Although the skin can host bacteria belonging to the normal cutaneous microbiota, such as, several speciessuch as, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be considered pathogens for several IBPs. Among the various antibiotic groups used in treatment of BSIs, azithromycin is mentioned in the literature. Azithromycin (AZ), is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic of the azalide class and is a promising candidate for the treatment of BSIs due to their capacity of penetration in the tissues and wide spectrum of action for several bacterial species. The incorporation of AZ into new drugs delivery systems such as microemulsion (ME) can ensure release control, lower toxicity, lower doses, decrease in plasma peaks, protection of drug degradation or inactivation. The present work aims to encapsulate AZ into microemulsion systems, perform the characterization and confirm its antibacterial activity. From the pseudoternary phase diagram were developed and selected one type of O/W formulations composed of deionized water, isopropyl myristate, LAS , and Brij 52 for the encapsulation of AZ. Both formulations in the absence (MEB) and presence of drug (MEAZ) were presented as clear and stable systems. For MEAZ, the pH value (6.75) indicated an excellent compatibility for dermal administration. In addition, its high conductivity (630.1), allied with the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies, suggested an O/A type system. The refractive index revealed the isotropic character, confirmed by the technique of polarized light microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (MET) indicated the nanometric droplet size of the systems and the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique was able to measure a diameter of 18.72 and 20.89 nm for MEB and MEAZ, respectively. From the rheological analysis we can attest to the Newtonian type behavior for both formulations. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of MEAZ against the strains of S.aureus, S.epidermidis and P.aeruginosa was confirmed. Studies necessary to trace the release profile and determination of minimal inhibitory concentration will be conducted so that the developed ME may represent a new safe and effective alternative in the complementary treatment of PPIs. / As infecções bacterianas da pele (IBPs) engloba um variado grupo de doenças causadas pela invasão de bactérias na epiderme e tecidos moles adjacentes. Embora a pele possa abrigar bactérias que pertencem a microbiota cutânea normal, muitas espécies tais como, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Pseudomonas aeruginosa podem ser consideradas agentes patógenos para várias IBPs. Dentre os vários grupos de antibióticos utilizados no tratamento das IBPs, pode ser citada a azitromicina (AZ). A AZ é um antibiótico macrolídeo semi-sintético da classe dos azalídeos, apresenta-se como um promissor candidato no tratamento das IBPs uma vez que possui a capacidade de penetração nos tecidos e largo espectro de ação para diversas espécies bacterianas. A incorporação de AZ em novos sistemas de liberação de fármacos visando a sua administração por via tópica, como as microemulsões (ME), pode garantir o controle da liberação, menor toxicidade, menor número de doses, diminuição dos picos plasmáticos, a proteção da degradação e/ou inativação do fármaco. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo incorporar a AZ em uma ME, realizar a sua caracterização e confirmar a sua atividade antibacteriana. A partir do diagrama de fases pseudoternário foi desenvolvida e selecionada uma microemulsão do tipo O/A compostas por água deionizada (fase aquosa), miristato de isopropila (fase oleosa), LAS e Brij 52 (tensoativos na proporção 9:1) para a incorporação de AZ. Ambas as formulações na ausência (MEB) e presença de fármaco (MEAZ) se apresentaram como sistemas límpidos e estáveis. Para a MEAZ, o valor de pH (6,75) indicou uma ótima compatibilidade para administração cutânea. Além disso, a sua elevada condutividade (630, 1µScm^-1), aliada aos estudos de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) sugeriram um sistema do tipo O/A. O índice de refração revelou o caráter isotrópico, confirmada pela técnica de microscopia de luz polarizada. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET) indicou o tamanho de gotículas nanométrico dos sistemas e a técnica de espalhamento de luz dinâmica (DLS) foi capaz de medir um diâmetro de 18,72 e 20,89 nm, para a MEB e MEAZ, respectivamente. A partir de análises reológicas pode-se atestar o comportamento do tipo newtoniano para ambas as formulações. Por último, foi atestada a atividade antimicrobiana da MEAZ contra as cepas de S. aureus, S.epidermidis e P. aeruginosa. Estudos necessários para traçar o perfil de liberação e determinação da concentração inibitória mínima serão conduzidos para que a ME desenvolvida possa representar uma nova alternativa segura e eficaz no tratamento complementar das IBPs.

Traditional medicine has a long history of being used for treating various ailments ranging in severity. Although traditional medicine has typically been the health care for the poorest levels of society, there is a worldwide growth in popularity. The growing popularity of traditional medicine, termed the green boom, may be ascribed to people taking a more holistic approach to maintain their health. Traditional medicine is widely used on a regular basis by 70% of South Africans. Various indigenous medicinal plants are used for the preparation of traditional herbal medicine. These plants are mostly indigenous to the regions were it is used. In this study four medicinal plants (Bulbine frutescens, Leonotis leounurus, Melianthus major & Zantedecshia aethiopica) that are traditionally used in the Eastern Cape region for treating burn wound infections, were collected for investigation. The in vitro antibacterial activity of these plants was tested against different bacterial strains of eight different bacteria. The bacteria used in this investigation included bacterial strains of four Gram-positive bacteria, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. feacalis, S. pyogenes and four Gramnegative bacteria, P. aeruginosa, A. baumanii, K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis. Traditional preparations as well as three different extracts (methanol, aqueous & acetone) of the plants were used for in vitro antibacterial activity testing. The microtitre plate assay and agar dilution assay were used for determining the antibacterial activity of the traditional preparations and plant extracts against the different bacterial strains. In the microtitre plate assay the antibacterial activity was tested using the bacterial growth indicator, INT and a microtitre plate spectrophotometer to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the plant extracts and traditional preparations. The microtitre plate assay was used for testing the antibacterial activity of the plants against the bacterial strains of five bacteria, S. aureus, MRSA, P. aeruginosa, A. baumanii and K. pneumoniae. The bacterial strains of the three bacteria, S. pyogenes, E. feacalis and P. mirabilis were not compatible with the microtitre plate assay using INT and spectrophotometric readings to determine bacterial inhibition. Therefore the agar dilution assay were used as an alternative method for determining the MIC’s of the plant extracts against the bacterial strains of these bacteria. The initial plant extract concentration in the microtitre plate assay differed with the different plant extracts in the microtitre plate assay. Acetone followed by methanol extracted the highest plant extract concentrations with the different medicinal plants. M. major followed by L. leonurus produced the highest plant extract concentrations following extraction with the different extraction solvents. Consequently the acetone extract of M. major had the highest plant extract concentration before serial dilution in the microtitre plate assay. Uniform plant extract concentrations were tested in the agar dilution assay. The methanol extract followed by the acetone extract of the plants gave the highest antibacterial activity against the different bacterial strains. The extracts of M. major followed by L. leonurus inhibited the highest number of bacterial strains in the microtitre plate assay and the extracts of B. frutescens inhibited the lowest number of bacterial strains. The acetone and methanol extracts of M. major were the only extracts that displayed antibacterial activity in the agar dilution assay. The bacterial strains of P. mirabilis were the only bacteria that were inhibited using this method. The bacterial strains of S. pyogenes and E. feacalis were not inhibited at any of the plant extract concentrations in the agar dilution assay.

Thesis (PhD (Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Multidrug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus is presenting an increasing threat, especially immune compromised individuals. Many of these strains have developed resistance to newly approved drugs such as quinupristin-dalfopristin, linezolid and daptomycin. The search for alternative treatment, including bacteriocins (ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides) of lactic acid bacteria is increasing . Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis F10, isolated from freshwater catfish, produced a new nisin variant active against clinical strains of S. aureus. The operon encoding nisin F is located on a plasmid and the structural gene has been sequenced. The lantibiotic is closely related to nisin Z, except at position 30 where valine replaced isoleucine. The antimicrobial activity of nisin F against S. aureus was tested in the respiratory tract of Wistar rats. Non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed rats were intranasally infected with S. aureus K and then treated with either nisin F or sterile physiological saline. Nisin F protected immunosuppressed rats against S. aureus, as symptoms of an infection were only detected in the trachea and lungs of immunosuppressed rats treated with saline. The safety of intranasally administered nisin F was also evaluated and proved to have no adverse side effects. The potential of nisin F as an antimicrobial agent to treat subcutaneous skin infections was evaluated by infecting C57BL/6 mice with a bioluminescent strain of S. aureus (Xen 36). Immunosuppressed mice were treated with either nisin F or sterile physiological saline 24 h and 48 h after infection with subcutaneously injected S. aureus Xen 36. Histology and bioluminescence flux measurements revealed that nisin F was ineffective in the treatment of deep dermal staphylococcal infections. Non-infected and infected mice treated with nisin F had an influx of polymorphonuclear cells in the deep stroma of the skin tissue. This suggested that nisin F, when injected subcutaneously, may have modulated the immune system. Nisin F proved an effective antimicrobial agent against S. aureus-related infections in the respiratory tract, but not against subcutaneous infections. The outcome of nisin F treatment thus depends on the route of administration and site of infection.