Introduction: There is a dearth of surveillance data on clinical Campylobacter in South Africa, particularly in the private healthcare environment. We investigated the prevalence of resistance to first-line antibiotics used to treat campylobacterioses in clinical Campylobacter isolates from a private pathology laboratory. Methodology: Identification of the Campylobacter specific genes were confirmed by PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using the broth micro-dilution method against macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin) and tetracycline. Results: Seventy-two Campylobacter isolates were identified by PCR, with 54 (75%) being classified as C. jejuni and 18 (25%) as C. coli. Of these, 11 (20.4%) C. jejuni and six (33.3%) C. coli strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin and three (7.41%) C. jejuni and three (16.7%) C. coli strains were resistant to gatifloxacin. The number of C. jejuni strains resistant to erythromycin and azithromycin was 17 (31.5%) and 36 (50%) respectively, while the resistance of C. coli strains to erythromycin and azithromycin were seven (38.9%) and 14 (77.8%) respectively. Resistance to tetracycline was detected in 10 (55.6%) C. coli and 14 (25.9%) C. jejuni strains. Conclusion: In the light of these resistant profiles, the lack of a South African Campylobacter surveillance program is of concern. Relatively high prevalence of resistance in clinical isolates of C. jejuni and C. coli to the fluoroquinolones, macrolides and tetracycline used in first line treatment is of great concern. The efficacy treating human campylobacteriosis should thus be revisited.

No abstract

1. TBA-354 was a promising antitubercular compound with activity against both replicating and static Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), making it the focal point of many clinical trials conducted by the TB Alliance. However, findings from these trials have shown that TBA-354 results in mild signs of reversible neurotoxicity; this left the TB Alliance with no other choice but to stop the research. 2. In this study, mass spectrometric methods were used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and spatial distribution of TBA-354 in the brain using a validated liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) and mass spectrometric imaging (MSI), respectively. Healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of TBA-354 (20 mg/kg bw). 3. The concentrationtime profiles showed a gradual absorption and tissue penetration of TBA-354 reaching the C at 6 h post dose, followed by a rapid elimination. MSI analysis showed a time-dependent drug distribution, with highest drug concentration mainly in the neocortical regions of the brain. 4. The distribution of TBA-354 provides a possible explanation for the motor dysfunction observed in clinical trials. These results prove the importance of MSI as a potential tool in preclinical evaluations of suspected neurotoxic compounds.

Tigecycline (TIG), a derivative of minocycline, is the first in the novel class of glycylcyclines and is currently indicated for the treatment of complicated skin structure and intra-abdominal infections. A selective, accurate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of TIG in rat brain tissues. Sample preparation was based on protein precipitation and solid phase extraction using Supel-Select HLB (30 mg/1 mL) cartridges. The samples were separated on a YMC Triart C18 column (150 mm x 3.0 mm. 3.0 µm) using gradient elution. Positive electrospray ionization (ESI+) was used for the detection mechanism with the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated over the concentration range of 150-1200 ng/mL for rat brain tissue. The precision and accuracy for all brain analyses were within the acceptable limit. The mean extraction recovery in rat brain was 83.6%. This validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in female Sprague Dawley rats, which were given a dose of 25 mg/kg TIG intraperitoneally at various time-points. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study highlights the genetic diversity and resistance mechanisms in MRSA strains from the private health sector in SA hence the need for implementing effective infection control programs.

No abstract

No abstract

This is the first report of clofazimine (CFZ) penetration and distribution in normal mouse brain. Mice were administered 25 mg/kg CFZ or 100 mg/kg CFZ orally, daily for 2 weeks. Animals were sacrificed and blood and brain tissues were harvested. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry showed high concentrations of CFZ in homogenized brain, with 100 mg/kg dose having significantly higher concentration than 25 mg/kg. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization spectrometric imaging of brain sections showed widespread tissue distribution of CFZ. Our results show dose dependent localization in brain.