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From 2005 to 2009, at Detroit Medical Center, the prevalence of Providencia stuartii increased from 0.52 to 0.91/1000 patient-days (p<0.001). The use of colistin also increased (p<0.001) during the study period. The increase in the prevalence of P. stuartii was associated with an increased use of colistin (p<0.001). Facilities that frequently use colistin and tigecycline should closely monitor the prevalence of P. stuartii along with other Proteeae, since these organisms are intrinsically resistant to colistin and tigecycline.

eIn published studies, cohorts of patients with bacteremia due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) have predominantly been infected with Enterococcus faecium. Little is known about the epidemiology and outcomes associated with bacteremia due to VR Enterococcus faecalis. A retrospective study of isolates obtained from January 2008 to October 2010 was conducted at Detroit Medical Center (DMC). Unique patients with blood cultures positive for VRE were reviewed. Outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression. During the study period, 105 cases of bacteremia due to VR E. faecalis and 197 cases of bacteremia due to VR E. faecium were identified. The mean age in the study cohort was 61.5 ؎ 15 years; 162 subjects (53.6%) were male. After controlling for a propensity score, bacteremia due to VR E. faecalis was associated with >2-fold-lower in-hospital mortality than bacteremia due to VR E. faecium. Interestingly, bacteremia due to VR E. faecalis was associated with longer hospital stay after VRE isolation, although total length of stay was similar for groups with VR E. faecalis and VR E. faecium. Bacteremia due to VR E. faecalis was associated with a >2-fold-lower risk for mortality than bacteremia due to VR E. faecium, possibly due to the availability of ␤-lactam therapeutics for treatment of VR E. faecalis. Enterococci are the third most common type of health careassociated pathogen in the United States (17). The two most common species responsible for enterococcal infections in humans are Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Enterococci are inherently resistant to several antimicrobials and also have an ability to acquire mobile genetic resistance determinants (22). The emergence of resistance to various antimicrobial agents, specifically to vancomycin, has become a major clinical and epidemiological threat. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs compared to vancomycin-susceptible enterococcal infections (3).VRE infections impose a huge burden on facilities in metropolitan Detroit. At Detroit Medical Center (DMC) in 2009, 530 of 4,377 (12.1%) isolates of E. faecalis and 846 of 1,150 (73.6%) isolates of E. faecium were VRE (16). Both the proportion of total VREs accounted for by VR E. faecalis and the total absolute number of unique clinical isolates of VR E. faecalis increased significantly from 2003 to 2009 (16). The prevalence of VR E. faecalis at DMC is much higher than in other regions in North America and worldwide. According to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data, 6.9% of E. faecalis isolates reported in 2006 and 2007 were VRE, compared to over 12% of E. faecalis isolates reported at DMC (17).Past studies of the epidemiology and outcomes associated with VRE infections were conducted with cohorts consisting predominantly of E. faecium, and relatively little is known about the epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (5). Only a few studies with small sample sizes have compared the epidemiology of infec...

A diverse array of wild and weedy crucifers was screened under laboratory conditions for their resistance to Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Among these, Brassica fruticulosa and Brassica montana were found to be the most promising. The availability of a synthetic amphiploid, AD-4(B. fruticulosa 9 Brassica rapa var. brown sarson) as well as a set of Brassica juncea lines carrying genomic introgressions from B. fruticulosa allowed us to investigate B. fruticulosa resistance in greater detail. This assessment was carried out along with susceptible check B. rapa ssp. brown sarson cv. BSH-1 in a series of choice and no choice experiments. The mustard aphid showed maximum preference for feeding on BSH-1 while least preference was recorded for B. fruticulosa followed by AD-4 as evidenced by the number of aphids that settled on circular leaf bits of these genotypes 24 and 48 h after release in a choice experiment. Brassica fruticulosa exhibited strong antibiosis against mustard aphid in no choice experiment and all the released aphids died within 5-8 days of their release, while the maximum survival (76.7%) was recorded on BSH-1. The survival on AD-4 (40%) was significantly lower than that on BSH-1. Almost similar trend was observed with respect to other demographic parameters of L. erysimi viz. development time, fecundity and longevity. In the screen house studies, there was no seedling mortality in B. fruticulosa and AD-4 after 30 days of aphid release while 80% mortality was observed on BSH-1. Excellent variation for aphid resistance was recorded in B. juncea introgression lines, emphasizing heritable nature of fruticulosa resistance. The biochemical analysis suggested the possibility of high concentration of lectins to be associated with low aphid infestation in B. fruticulosa.

Abstract:A six year field study was conducted from 2001-2002 to 2006-2007 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India to study the losses in seed yield of different Brassica species (B. juncea, B. napus, B. carinata, B. rapa and Eruca sativa) by the infestation of insect pests. The experiment was conducted in two different sets viz. protected/sprayed and unprotected, in a randomized block design, with three replications. Data on the infestation of insect pests, and seed yield were recorded at weekly intervals and at harvest, respectively. The loss in seed yield, due to mustard aphid and cabbage caterpillar, varied from 6.5 to 26.4 per cent. E. sativa suffered the least loss in seed yield and harboured the minimum population of mustard aphid (2.1 aphids/plant) and cabbage caterpillar (2.4 larvae/plant). On the other hand, B. carinata was highly susceptible to the cabbage caterpillar (26.2 larvae/plant) and suffered the maximum yield loss (26.4%).

We report a case of a 52-year-old immunocompetent Caucasian female treated for necrotizing Streptococcus intermedius pneumonia and review available literature of similar cases. Our patient presented with respiratory failure and required hospitalization and treatment in the intensive care unit. Moreover, she required surgical drainage of right lung empyema as well as decortication and resection. The review of literature revealed three cases of S. intermedius pneumonia, one of which was a mortality. Comparison of the published cases showed a highly varied prehospital course and radiological presentations, with a symptomatic phase ranging from 10 days to five months. Radiological findings varied from an isolated pleural effusion to systemic disease with the presence of brain abscesses. Immunocompetence appears to correlate well with the overall prognosis. In addition, smoking appears to be an important risk factor for S. intermedius pneumonia. In 2 (50%) of cases, pleural fluid analysis identified S. intermedius. In contrast, no organism was found in our patient, necessitating the acquisition of lung tissue sample for the diagnosis. In conclusion, both medical and surgical management are necessary for effective treatment of S. intermedius pneumonia. The outcome of treatment is good in immunocompetent individuals.

Abstract:The genus Brassica includes economically important oilseed and vegetable plants. A number of insect pests are known to infest these crops and cause significant losses in yield. The plants in the family Brassicaceae have multiple defense mechanisms to overcome or reduce the damage by these pests including defensive biochemicals. These Plant Secondary Metabolites (PSMs) involve myrosinase-glucosinolate system, different volatile compounds, lectins, phytoalexins and phytoanticipins. While some of the compounds are always present in the plant system, the others are synthesized after herbivore attack. These compounds can either directly protect the plant by having effect(s) on insects' biology/behaviour or indirectly by attracting the natural enemies of the pests. Because of these secondary compounds, Brassicas have the potential to be used in pest management such as biofumigation against soil pests, as trap crops and cover crops and hence, can be a part of push-pull strategy. An attempt has been made to review these compounds in Brassicas, their role in defense against insects and potential in pest management.