Do Geese Contribute to the Amount of E. coli Found in Treated Sewage From the Cahaba Waste Water Treatment Plant?
Water quality is vital for the safety of human and animal life. Treated sewage water must be evaluated to ensure that the levels of bacteriareturning into the effluent water supply are acceptable. The Cahaba Waste Water Treatment Plant routinely checks the level of E. coli that are returning to the Cahaba River. Recent elevated levels of E. coli found in effluent water supply suggest possible E. coli contamination from geese that lived on the waste water treatment plant grounds. In order to test this, goose fecal, influent, effluent, and river water samples were collected and isolated by being streaked onto EMB agar. The E. coli were assayed by antibiotic resistance and classified using discriminate function analysis. We show that the geese did not contribute to the increase of E. coli found in the effluent water supply of the Cahaba Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL.
P167 • Tamara C. Smoot, Brian S. Burnes
Exposure to Candida Species in a College Environment
Recent studies have shown that opportunistic mycoses are becoming a persistent public health problem, especially on college campuses. In this study we investigated the prevalence of Candida on the campus of The University of West Alabama. Candida was recovered from various samples throughout the campus and identified to the species level. Our results for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei are consistent with previous studies. In this study we show that Candida species found are typical of the college environment.
Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL
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P168 • Essence Parrish, Brian Burnes
Transfer of S. aureus And MRSA From Gym Equipment to Hands
A concern with community acquired methicillin-resistant aureus has emerged because of the possibility that fomites may play a significant role in the transferal of S.aureus to humans. Aside from health care facilities (i.e., nursing homes, hospitals, etc.), studies have found that relatively large numbers of S.aureus were also found on shared equipment in community fitness centers. However, whether S.aureus and MRSA reaches the body on contact with the fitness center equipment remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify S.aureus and MRSA equipment-to-body transfer in a small community fitness center. Exercise equipment and the users of the equipment were sampled for S.aureus and MRSA before and after the equipment was used. A previous study at the same gym found that S.aureus and MRSA were present on 84% and 42% of surfaces, respectively. This study further examines the possibility that fomites may lead to the transmission of potentially infectious Staphylococcal species.
Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The University of West Alabama, Livingston, Al
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P169 • Joshua L. Postoak, Linda K. Husmann
Hydrogen Peroxide Production by Clinical Isolates of Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecalis is an important nosocomial pathogen of humans capable of causing infection in a variety of locations, including the urinary tract, endocardium, bloodstream, wounds, and areas compromised by indwelling medical devices. E. faecalis is also known to produce biofilm on both biotic and abiotic surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide production by E. faecalis is considered a potential virulence factor since it is expected to contribute to inflammation and host cell damage. Forty-five clinical E. faecalis isolates were assayed for hydrogen peroxide production using the Prussian blue reaction to determine if hydrogen peroxide production correlates with the site of infection or is associated with vancomycin resistance. We found no significant difference between invasive isolates (from the bloodstream) compared to isolates from various tissues or from urine in their capacity for peroxide production. We also found no significant difference between vancomycin resistant isolates compared to sensitive isolates. We did find, however, that addition of 0.6% glucose to the growth medium significantly decreases hydrogen peroxide production. Since glucose is known to promote biofilm formation, we hypothesize that hydrogen peroxide production may be down regulated during biofilm formation in vivo. Studies are ongoing to examine whether other growth conditions known to promote biofilm formation also affect hydrogen peroxide production.
Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN
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P170 • Eunbyeol Goh1, Chelsea B. Sumner1, Erin N. Byrd2, Erik Hill2, Sharon E. Mason1, Michelle S. Thomas1
Isolation and Characterization of Fluoroquinolone Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria From Hog Fecal Samples
There are an estimated 10.1 million commercial hogs in NC and 9.4 million people. Hogs, sometimes treated with fluoroquinolones (FQ), generate vast amounts of fecal waste every year. Waste can be sprayed on farms; however, this results in enviornmental and public health concerns because of the potential exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria. Humans may come in contact with these resistant organisms through ingestion of contaminated food which may transfer resistance to human commensal bacteria. FQ are second-line antibioitics used to treat infections in humans. FQ resistance, gained through plasmids, may be transferred to other species of bacteria. The purpose of this resaerch is to evaluate the prevalence of FQ resistance and to characterize the genetic mechanism of the resistance in Gram negative bacteria from hog fecal samples prior to and after treatment with Enrofloxacin. These samples were cultures with and without selective pressure. Both pre and post treatment colony counts showed no significant difference in the number of resistant bacteria, suggesting low acquisition of resistance after a single treatment. PCR was used to screen resistant Gram negative bacteria for the presence of common plasmid mediated FQ resistance genes including: qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, and aac-(6’)-lb-cr. Out of 27 Gram negative resistant colonies, 7 showed postiive results for aac-(6’)-lb-cr gene, two for qnrA, and one for qnrB. Positive PCR products will be purified and sequenced to confirm the presumed resistance genes. Other possible mechanisms of FQ resistance for cultured Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria will be explored.
1 Dept of Biological Science, 2 Dept of Public Health: Campell University, Buies Creek, NC
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P171 • Brian K. Handlon, Dr. Michelle Thomas
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