Introduction: Propolis is a natural product derived from beekeeping. It has anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, immune-stimulant and antibacterial properties on grampositive and gramnegative bacteria. However, little is known regarding its activity on Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria colonizes about half of the world’s population and is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of 22 propolis extracts from nine of the 11 beekeeping Chilean regions on 10 strains of H. pylori isolated from gastric mucosa. Methods: The antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined using the well diffusion method and diffusion disks. Results: 100% of the extracts were active on the tested strains, showing inhibition halos equal to or greater than 15 mm by both methods. Conclusions: our results show an effective anti H. pylori activity of propolis. However, additional microbiological studies are needed before a potential clinical utility of these natural products is warranted.

Introducción: El propóleos es un producto natural derivado de la apicultura que tiene propiedades anestésicas, anti-inflamatorias, inmuno-estimulantes y antibacterianas. Ejerce su acción sobre distintas bacterias grampositivas y gramnegativas. Sin embargo, es muy poco lo que se sabe en relación a su actividad sobre H. pylori, bacteria asociada con gastritis crónica, úlcera gastro-duodenal y cáncer gástrico y que coloniza a alrededor de la mitad de la población mundial. Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad inhibitoria de 22 extractos de propóleos de orígenes botánicos diferentes, provenientes de nueve de las once zonas mielíferas de Chile, en la época de otoño, sobre 10 cepas de H. pylori aisladas de mucosa gástrica. Metodología: La actividad antibacteriana de los extractos se determinó a través del método de difusión en pocillos y de difusión en discos. Resultados: 100% de los extractos fueron activos sobre las cepas ensayadas, observándose halos de inhibición iguales o mayores a 15 mm en ambos métodos. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos in vitro en el presente estudio muestran una efectiva actividad anti H. pylori de los propóleos chilenos, siendo necesario estudios microbiológicos y farmacológicos adicionales para avanzar en una posible utilidad clínica de estos productos naturales.

The cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) present in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has two essential components, the ccr gene complex and the mec gene complex. Additionally, SCCmec has non-essential components called J regions which are used for MRSA subtyping. This study was performed to determine subtypes MRSA strains carrying SCCmec type I based on polymorphism of regions located downstream of the mecA gene. A total of 98 MRSA strains carrying SCCmec type I isolated from patients hospitalized at the County Hospital of Valdivia (Chile) between May 2007 and May 2008, were analyzed by multiplex PCR designed to amplify the mecA gene and 7 DNA hypervariable regions located around the mecA gene. MRSA strains were classified into seventeen genotypes accordingly to amplification patterns of DNA hypervariable regions. Five genotypes showed amplification patterns previously described. The remaining twelve genotypes showed new amplification patterns. Genotypes 18 and Genotype 19 were the most frequently detected. Regions HVR, Ins117 and pI258 stand out as being present in more than 60% of tested isolates. The acquisition of hypervariable regions by MRSA is a continuous horizontal transfer process through which the SCCmec have been preserved intact, or even may give rise to new types and subtypes of SCCmec. Therefore it is possible to infer that most MRSA strains isolated at the County Hospital of Valdivia (Chile) were originated from two local clones which correspond to Genotype 18 and Genotype 19.

Helicobacter pylori colonizes more than 50% of the world population thus, it is considered an important cause of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the isolation frequency of H. pylori in Southern Chile from patients with symptomatology compatible with gastritis or gastric ulcer and to correlate these findings with demographic parameters of infected patients and the susceptibility profiles of the isolated strains to the antimicrobial drugs used in the eradication treatments. A total of 240 patients were enrolled in the study. Each gastric biopsy was homogenized and seeded onto blood agar plates containing a selective antibiotics mixture (DENT supplement). Plates were incubated at 37° C in a microaerophilic environment for five days. The susceptibility profiles to amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole were determined using the E-test method. H. pylori was isolated from 99 patients (41.3%) with slightly higher frequency in female (42% positive cultures) than male (40.2% positive cultures). With regard to age and educational level, the highest isolation frequencies were obtained in patients between 21-30 (55%) and 41-50 (52.6%) years old, and patients with secondary (43.9%) and university (46.2%) educational levels. Nineteen (21.6%) strains showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial drug. Tetracycline was the most active antimicrobial in vitro, whereas metronidazole was the less active. One strain (5.3%) showed resistance to amoxicillin, clarithomycin and metronidazole, simultaneously.

Arcobacter butzleri é um bacilo Gram negativo de caráter zoonótico, pertencente à Família Campylobacteraceae, que tem sido associado a diarréia e septicemia no ser humano. A susceptibilidade de 50 amostras de A. butzleri isoladas de fígados de frango [12], mariscos [18], água de rio [6] e fezes de bovinos [5], patos [2] e pelicanos [7] aos metais pesados mercúrio (Hg), cromo (Cr), prata (Ag), níquel (Ni), cobalto Co), ferro (Fe), manganês (Mn), molibdênio (Mo) e chumbo (Pb) foi determinada.Todas as amostras foram resistentes a Mo, Mn, Ni, Co, Pb e Fe, sendo susceptíveis a Hg, Ag e Cr. Os valores das CIM apresentaram alta variabilidade indicando um comportamento não homogêneo entre as amostras.

The susceptibility of 50 strains of Arcobacter butzleri isolated from chicken liver [12], mussels [18], river water [6] and bovine [5], duck [2] and pelicans [7] feces to mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and lead (Pb) was determined.All the strains were resistant to Mo, Mn, Ni, Co, Pb and Fe and susceptible to Hg, Ag and Cr. MIC values showed high variability, indicating a non homogeneous behavior among the strains.

A resistência de Arcobacter butzleri à dessecação foi determinada. Duas, 3 e 4 amostras não resistiram a dessecação por mais de 2, 12 e 36 h, respectivamente. Duas amostras resistiram a dessecação por > 48 h. A. butzleri seria mais resistente que as espécies enteropatogênicas clássicas de Campylobacter.

The desiccation resistance of A. butzleri was studied. Two, 3 and 4 of the strains did not resist desiccation for more than 2, 12 and 36 h, respectively. Two strains resisted desiccation for > 48 h. A. butzleri seems to be more resistant to desiccation than the classical enteropathogenic Campylobacter species.