Introduction resistance to carbapenem is widespread among Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) strains. Metallo-beta lactamases enzymes (MBL) are responsible for carbapenem resistance, as are oxacillinases (OXA). In recent years, MBL producing carbapenem-resistant strains have been reported in the world and Morocco at increasing rates. Our study aimed to investigate the presence of carbapenemases in acinetobacter strains isolated from hospitalized patients in CHU Fez. Methods a total of 58 imipenem-resistant A. baumannii strains isolated from clinical samples were investigated. The presence of MBL was described phenotypically by the double-disk synergy test (DDST), MBL E-test, and modified Hodge test. The bla IMP , bla VIM , genes, and bla OXA-23 , bla OXA-51 genes were investigated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The blaNDM-1 gene was determined by simplex PCR. Results fifty-eight strains were resistant to imipenem (98%), the modified Hodge test (MHT) was positive for 58 strains (100%), 47 strains (82%) were found to be positive for MBL by the test of double-disk synergy (DDST), 58 strains (100%) were positive by E-test MBL. The OXA 51 gene was detected in all strains, and the OXA 23 gene was detected in 53 strains (91%). In addition, the MBL genes were not detected by genotypic methods. Conclusion the OXA-23 and OXA-51 carbapenemases type are responsible for the resistance to carbapenems in A. baumannii resistant to carbapenems in our establishment. Resistance to carbapenems by MBL enzymes has been found by phenotypic tests, which must be confirmed by genotypic methods; and solicit other MBL genes.

Background and Objectives: Infesting nearly 50% of the world's population, Helicobacter pylori are thought to cause pep- tic ulcers, as well as gastricadenocarcinoma. Several diagnostic methods are available to detect this bacterium; however, at least two must be used together for an accurate diagnosis. Thisstudy evaluated the use of rapid urease test for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in a pediatric population. Materials and Methods: Five gastric biopsies were taken from children during a 2-year period for the purpose of histolog- ical, molecular, bacteriological culture, and rapid urease testing. Results: Among 83 children, 38 were male, and 45 were female with an age ranging of 2 to 15 years. The infected group represented 31%. The rapid ureasetest had a sensitivity of 88.5%, a negative predictive value of 94%, a specificity of 84.2%, and a positive predictive value of 72%. Conclusion: A rapid urease test may be appropriate for ruling out H. pylori infection after a negative result. The positive results however, may be confirmed by a second invasive test.

Background and Objectives: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has recently been identified by the World Health Organization as a critical pathogen. We propose to characterize the molecular characteristics of clinical isolates of A. baumannii resistant to carbapenems collected in a Moroccan hospital. Materials and Methods: Seventy carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates from various samples were received at the mi- crobiology laboratory of the Hospital Center. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by the diffusion disc method and molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance was performed by PCR and sequencing. Results: Carbapenemase genes were detected in our isolates: the OXA-51 gene and the ISbA1 sequence were detected in all isolates (100%), the OXA-23 and OXA-58 genes were detected in 82.85% and 10% of isolates respectively, MBL genes were dominated by VIM 39 isolates (55.7%), followed by GIM 26 isolates (37%), SIM 20 isolates (28.5%), IMP 8 isolates (11, 4%), NDM 3 isolates (4%) and for the first time in Morocco SPM with 4 isolates (5.7%). Conclusion: The emergence of resistance of A. baumannii to carbapenems is a serious problem in our hospital which re- quires the establishment of a prevention strategy and strict respect for hygiene to minimize their dissemination.