Browsing by Author "Louie, Marie"

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    Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli in Public Beach Waters in Quebec
    (2012-01-01) Turgeon, Patricia; Michel, Pascal; Levallois, Patrick; Chevalier, Pierre; Daignault, Danielle; Crago, Bryanne; Irwin, Rebecca; McEwen, Scott A; Neumann, Norman F; Louie, Marie
    INTRODUCTION: Human exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria may result in the transfer of resistance to commensal or pathogenic microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract, which may lead to severe health consequences and difficulties in treatment of future bacterial infections. It was hypothesized that the recreational waters from beaches represent a source of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli for people engaging in water activities.OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant E coli in the recreational waters of beaches in southern Quebec.METHODS: Sampling occurred over two summers; in 2004, 674 water samples were taken from 201 beaches, and in 2005, 628 water samples were taken from 177 beaches. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the antimicrobial-resistant E coli isolates against a panel of 16 antimicrobials were determined using microbroth dilution.RESULTS: For 2004 and 2005, respectively, 28% and 38% of beaches sampled had at least one water sample contaminated by E coli resistant to one or more antimicrobials, and more than 10% of the resistant isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial of clinical importance for human medicine. The three antimicrobials with the highest frequency of resistance were tetracycline, ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole.DISCUSSION: The recreational waters of these beaches represent a potential source of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria for people engaging in water activities. Investigations relating the significance of these findings to public health should be pursued.
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    Characterization of antibiotic resistance in ampicillin and tetracycline resistant escherichia coli from feedlot cattle fed subtherapeutic antimicrobials
    (2008) Mirzaagha, Parasto; McAllister, Tim; Louie, Marie
    The study investigated tetracycline- and ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli selected from feces of calves that were or were not administered in-feed subtherapeutic antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persisted throughout the experiment even in the absence of in-feed antibiotics. Transmission of E. coli isolates among cattle was evident, particularly among animals within a single pen. In addition, shedding of E. coli biotypes was observed to occur transiently throughout the feeding period. Administration of subtherapeutic levels of antimicrobials did not have a major impact on AMR E. coli as compared to control steers, except for the observation that administration of chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine increased the number of ampicillin-resistant isolates that also exhibited resistance to sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol. Molecular characterization of isolates found tet(B) to be the most prevalent determinant among the tetracycline-resistant isolates and teml-like determinant to be most prevalent among the ampicillin-resistant isolates. Results suggest that AMR in£. coli is complex and is likely affected not only by the administration of antibiotics but also by numerous other presently undefined environmental and management factors.
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    Determination of the relative economic impact of different molecular-based laboratory algorithms for respiratory viral pathogen detection, including Pandemic (H1N1), using a secure web based platform
    (BioMed Central, 2011-06-06) Lee, Bonita E.; Mukh, Shamir N.; May-Hadford, Jennifer; Plitt, Sabrina; Louie, Marie; Drews, Steven J.
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    Physician Perspectives on Vaccination and Diagnostic Testing in Children with Gastroenteritis: A Primary Care Physician Survey
    (Oxford Academic, 2017-06-17) Sperou, Arissa; Dickinson, James A.; Lee, Bonita; Louie, Marie; Pang, Xiao-Li; Chui, Linda; Vanderkooi, Otto G.; Freedman, Stephen
    Objectives: Gastroenteritis remains a common paediatric illness. Little is known about physician knowledge of enteric pathogen diagnostic tests. At the time of study conduct, Alberta lacked a publicly funded rotavirus vaccination program and knowledge of primary care physician perspectives was lacking. We sought to ascertain diagnostic testing methods and to understand knowledge and perceptions regarding enteric pathogen vaccination. Methods: A 30-item electronic survey was distributed across Alberta’s five health care zones. The survey was developed by virology, microbiology, paediatrics, family medicine and public health experts. Participants were members of Alberta’s Primary Care Networks, the TARRANT network and The Society of General Pediatricians of Greater Edmonton. Study outcomes included: (1) physician knowledge of available diagnostic tests, (2) perspectives regarding stool sample collection and (3) support for an enteric vaccine program. Results: Stool culture was reported as the test to identify parasites (47%), viruses (74%) and Clostridium difficile (67%). Although electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassay were used to identify viruses in Alberta during the study period, only 20% and 48% of respondents respectively identified them as tests employed for such purposes. Stool testing was viewed as being inconvenient (62%; 55/89), whereas rectal swabs were thought to have the potential to significantly improve specimen collection rates (82%; 72/88). Seventy-three per cent (66/90) of the respondent physicians support the adoption of future enteric pathogen vaccines. Conclusions: Simplification of diagnostic testing and stool sample collection could contribute to improved pathogen identification rates. Implementation of an enteric vaccine into the routine paediatric vaccination schedule is supported by the majority of respondents.
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    Prevalence of USA300 Colonization or Infection and Associated Variables During an Outbreak of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Marginalized Urban Population
    (2007-01-01) Gilbert, Mark; MacDonald, Judy; Louie, Marie; Gregson, Dan; Zhang, Kunyan; Elsayed, Sameer; Laupland, Kevin; Nielsen, Diane; Wheeler, Virginia; Lye, Tara; Conly, John
    BACKGROUND: In 2004, an outbreak of the USA300 strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in persons with histories of homelessness, illicit drug use or incarceration in the Calgary Health Region (Calgary, Alberta). A prevalence study was conducted to test the hypotheses for factors associated with USA300 colonization or infection.METHODS: Participants were recruited at sites accessed by this marginalized population. Health care staff administered a questionnaire and collected crack pipes and nasal, axillary and skin infection swabs. Pipes and swabs were cultured according to standard techniques. MRSA isolates were further characterized by polymerase chain reaction (mecA, Panton-Valentine leukocidin and Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec) and typing methods (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, staphylococcal protein A typing and multilocus sequence typing). Colonization or infection was determined by having any one of nasal, axillary, skin infection or pipe swabs positive for USA300. Colonized participants had one or more nasal, axillary or pipe swab positive for USA300; infected participants had one or more skin infection swab positive for USA300.RESULTS: The prevalence of USA300 colonization or infection among 271 participants was 5.5% (range 3.1% to 9.0%). USA300 cases were more likely to report manipulation of skin infections (OR 9.55; 95% CI 2.74 to 33.26); use of crack pipes was not significant despite identification of the USA300 strain on two of four crack pipes tested. USA300 cases were more likely to report drug use between sex trade workers and clients (OR 5.86; 95% CI 1.63 to 21.00), and with casual sex partners (OR 5.40; 95% CI 1.64 to 17.78).CONCLUSION: Ongoing efforts to promote the appropriate treatment of skin infections in this population are warranted. The association of USA300 colonization or infection and drug use with sexual partners suggest a role for sexual transmission of the USA300 strain of MRSA.