Abstract The critical role of the microbiology laboratory in infectious disease diagnosis calls for a close, positive working relationship between the physician and the microbiologists who provide enormous value to the health care team. This document, developed by both laboratory and clinical experts, provides information on which tests are valuable and in which contexts, and on tests that add little or no value for diagnostic decisions. Sections are divided into anatomic systems, including Bloodstream Infections and Infections of the Cardiovascular System, Central Nervous System Infections, Ocular Infections, Soft Tissue Infections of the Head and Neck, Upper Respiratory Infections, Lower Respiratory Tract infections, Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Intraabdominal Infections, Bone and Joint Infections, Urinary Tract Infections, Genital Infections, and Skin and Soft Tissue Infections; or into etiologic agent groups, including Tickborne Infections, Viral Syndromes, and Blood and Tissue Parasite Infections. Each section contains introductory concepts, a summary of key points, and detailed tables that list suspected agents; the most reliable tests to order; the samples (and volumes) to collect in order of preference; specimen transport devices, procedures, times, and temperatures; and detailed notes on specific issues regarding the test methods, such as when tests are likely to require a specialized laboratory or have prolonged turnaround times. There is redundancy among the tables and sections, as many agents and assay choices overlap. The document is intended to serve as a reference to guide physicians in choosing tests that will aid them to diagnose infectious diseases in their patients.
Debora Sabotinova, Petya Boycheva, Nadezhda Ivanova
et al.
<b>Background</b>: <i>Geraniaceae</i> species are widely used in traditional medicine. <i>Pelargonium radula</i> and <i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i> are aromatic medicinal plants traditionally used in Bulgaria for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. Comparative phytochemical data on <i>Pelargonium radula</i> and <i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i> cultivated in Bulgaria, however, remain limited. The present work aimed to characterize and compare the chemical composition of essential oils and main phenols, in support of future pharmacological evaluation. <b>Methods</b>: Essential oils from aerial parts of both species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Through HPLC-UV, ethanol extracts were evaluated to quantify the major phenolic acids and flavonoids. <b>Results</b>: The yield of essential oils was 0.10% for <i>P. radula</i> and 0.03% for <i>G. macrorrhizum</i>, dominated by oxidized monoterpenes, mainly citronellol and geraniol-type compounds. HPLC analysis revealed marked differences in their phenolic profiles. <i>P. radula</i> showed a composition with six phenolic acids—primary protocatechuic and ferulic acids, and very low levels of flavonoids, with rutin being the only quantifiable glycoside. In contrast, <i>G. macrorrhizum</i> contained nine phenolic acids and four flavonoids, with remarkably high levels of salicylic, rosmarinic, and <i>p</i>-coumaric acids, as well as catechins, absent in <i>P. radula</i>. <b>Conclusions</b>: The two species showed different phytochemical characteristics in both their volatile and non-volatile fractions. <i>P. radula</i> is characterized by a citronellol/geraniol-rich essential oil and a moderate phenolic profile, while <i>G. macrorrhizum</i> exhibits significantly higher phenolic diversity and abundance. These findings expand the current phytochemical knowledge of both taxa and provide a solid basis for future chemotaxonomic and pharmacological studies. The obtained results suggest that <i>Geranium macrorrhizum</i> may be more promising for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory applications, while <i>Pelargonium radula</i> may be preferentially explored for ant-microbial purposes.
Barasa Larsen, Cahyadi Tri, Simanjuntak Marihot
et al.
This investigation explores maritime professionals' perspectives on blockchain-enabled agricultural supply chain integration for island community sustainability. Through qualitative analysis of ten experienced maritime graduates with decade-long industry expertise, the research examines professional readiness for technological transformation within traditional shipping operations. Using phenomenological methodology, the study reveals sophisticated professional understanding of blockchain potential for transparency verification, carbon credit integration, and multi- stakeholder coordination, while identifying critical capacity-building needs for successful implementation. Findings show strong recognition of blockchain benefits for supply chain transparency (80% high recognition) and environmental stewardship (80% high integration potential), but reveal significant development needs in blockchain technology literacy (80% high priority) and agricultural supply chain understanding (70% high priority). The research contributes frameworks for maritime education transformation and industry collaboration strategies supporting comprehensive sustainability initiatives.
Wedad M. Abdelraheem, Doaa Elzaeem Ismail, Safaa S. Hammad
Abstract Background Resistance to carbapenem, the last line of treatment for gram-negative bacterial infections has been increasing globally and becoming a public health threat. Since integrons may aid in the transmission of resistance genes, the purpose of this study was to detect the frequency of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons as well as carbapenem-resistant genes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa that are resistant to carbapenem. Methods This study was carried out on 97 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa isolated from wound and urine samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility for all isolates was tested by the disc diffusion method. The presence of integrons and carbapenem-resistant genes among carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates was evaluated by conventional PCR. Results The antimicrobial resistance rate among P. aeruginosa clinical isolates was high, with imipenem resistance in 58.8% of the studied isolates. In this study, 86% of the carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates carry carbapenemase genes, with bla VIM being the most common gene followed by the bla OXA−48 gene. Class 1 and class 2 integrons were reported in 37 (64.9%) and 10 (17.5%) of the tested carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Conclusion Our data reported a high prevalence of class 1 integrons in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, suggesting the important role of integrons in carbapenem-resistant gene transfer among such isolates.