The increase in the incidence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing Klebsiella species has become a serious problem worldwide, because of their incrimination in antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the resistance genes responsible for ESBL-producing Klebsiella species and carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella (CRE) isolated in Mthatha and to study their epidemiology. A prospective, descriptive study of 202 nonrepetitive samples from patients was obtained from Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. The cultured Klebsiella isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests and the polymerase chain reaction of blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaKPC, and blaNDM genes. Overall K. pneumoniae were the majority with 169 (83.7%) species isolates, followed by K. oxytoca with 29 (14.4%), while K. ozaenae and Raoultella ornithinolytica were 2 (0.9%) each. The prevalence of ESBL production in all Klebsiella species was 117 (57.9%). ESBL-genotypic resistance is driven in Mthatha by blaSHV 121 (77.1%) followed by blaTEM 105 (66.9%) and blaCTX-M at 89 (56.7%). The most common ESBL genotype combination among the Klebsiella was blaTEM + blaSHV + blaCTX-M at 79 (50.3%). There is a steady increase in the rate of ESBL genes in the last five years.

The effects of traditionally used medicinal and cosmetic clays in southern Africa on selected microorganisms were studied using microbiological media. The clay pH, microchemical composition, kind of associated microorganisms and antimicrobial activity of clays against test microorganisms were determined. The clays contained varying numbers of microorganisms which ranged from 0 up to 105 CFU/g. Clay pH ranged from 2.3-8.9. Neither Escherichia coli, nor other faecal coliforms were detected. Clays of pH value of <4 displayed antimicrobial activities. Clays which were active against test microorganisms had Na(2)O, Al(2)O(3), SiO(2), SO(3), CuO or Cl(2)O as major components. Microbial activity of clays was attributed mainly to low pH but cations such as Cu, Al, S or Cl and various anions might have contributed to the microbicidal effects. No antimicrobial activity was established for many of the clays commonly used in the treatment of common ailments of microbial origin.

Four palladium(II) complexes vz. C1, [PdCl 2 (L1)] (L1 = 3-ferrocenyl-1H-pyrazole), C2, [PdCl 2 (L2)] (L2 = 3-ferrocenylpyrazolyl-1-methylenepyridine), C3, [PdCl 2 (L3)] (L3 = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole) and C4, [PdCl 2 (L4)] (L4 = 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole) have been successfully synthesized. The ligands as well as the complexes were characterized by 1 H NMR, IR, UV-vis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cyclic voltammetry, magnetic measurements and mass spectrommetry. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the ligands and the respective complexes were carried out using the Agar disk diffusion method on two gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungal, Candida albicans.All the compounds displayed biological activity to some extent. However, L3 was more active than most of other compounds towards all the microorganisms screened. The activity was found to generally improve after coordination to palladium metal especially for ligands which do not contain a ferrocenyl moiety.

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