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The present study was designed to characterize methicillin-resistant staphylococci from raw meat. A total of 126 meat samples were obtained from open markets between February and April, 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the disc diffusion method. Molecular profiling was conducted using 16S rRNA, mecA, nuc, and PVL gene signatures were detected by polymerase chain reaction assay. Fifty isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. were detected in 26 (52%) pork, 14 (28%) beef and 10 (20%) chicken samples. The staphylococcal isolates were identified through partial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) nucleotide sequencing, and BLAST analysis of the gene sequence revealed 98%–100% staphylococcal similarity. All isolates from beef and chicken samples amplified the mecA gene, while 100% of the MRSA isolates amplified the PVL gene. The multidrug resistance profile (resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial agent in ≥3 classes of antimicrobial agents) of the staphylococcal isolates showed that 7 isolates were resistant to methicillin, penicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, kanamycin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin, erythromycin, vancomycin, and gentamycin. There was a significant regression effect from the multidrug-resistant profile on the number of isolates (p < 0.05) suggesting a consequence of the dissemination of resistant strains within bacterial populations. The findings of the present study indicate that raw meats in the Benin metropolis were possibly contaminated with pathogenic and multi-drug resistant staphylococci strains and therefore could constitute a risk to public health communities.

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been recognized as a global health problem. Concurrent MetS diagnosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is becoming increasingly common. Given the paucity of studies on the impact of MetS on treatment outcomes in STEMI patients, the purpose of this study was to evaluate in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients with a concurrent MetS diagnosis undergoing a stenting procedure to treat their underlying coronary artery disease. Method Patients with or without MetS who underwent coronary stenting following STEMI between 2005 and 2014 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database. Patients' demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared using a t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test. In addition, 1:1 propensity score matching was performed for age, gender, and race. Results Out of 1,938,097 STEMI patients, 5,817 patients with MetS underwent coronary stenting following STEMI and were matched with 5,817 patients with no Mets. MetS group had significantly higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and obstructive sleep apnea than the no MetS group but lower rates of heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In-hospital mortality following STEMI was significantly lower in patients with MetS (2.5% vs. 7.1%, p<0.001) and remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio (OR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.28-0.42, p<0.0001). Conclusion Concurrent diagnosis of MetS among patients undergoing coronary stenting is associated with a decreased in-hospital mortality risk. The impact of specific MetS components on the observed reduction in mortality remains unclear and warrants evaluation in future studies.

We report a case of an 80-year-old symptomatic female with severe visceral Armillifer armillatus infestation who presented with complaints of progressively worsening colicky abdominal pain with associated constipation and mild abdominal distension. Imaging workup demonstrated unique radiological features of the parasite including multiple curvilinear opacities, measuring approximately 3 to 6 mm in length, scattered in the lung fields, abdomen, pelvis, and inguinal region. Histologic examination of inguinal biopsies revealed enlarged lymph nodes containing several parasitic pseudocysts. She was managed conservatively and received antihelmintics, with subsequent uneventful recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of meticulous differential diagnoses formulation. In the right clinical scenario, pentastomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of patients with imaging evidence of multiple organ lesions, as a high index of suspicion is needed for the diagnosis of this entity and will help to avoid unnecessary invasive management.We report a case of an 80-year-old symptomatic female with severe visceral Armillifer armillatus infestation who presented with complaints of progressively worsening colicky abdominal pain with associated constipation and mild abdominal distension. Imaging workup demonstrated unique radiological features of the parasite including multiple curvilinear opacities, measuring approximately 3 to 6 mm in length, scattered in the lung fields, abdomen, pelvis, and inguinal region. Histologic examination of inguinal biopsies revealed enlarged lymph nodes containing several parasitic pseudocysts. She was managed conservatively and received antihelmintics, with subsequent uneventful recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of meticulous differential diagnoses formulation. In the right clinical scenario, pentastomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of patients with imaging evidence of multiple organ lesions, as a high index of suspicion is needed for the diagnosis of this entity and will help to avoid unnecessary invasive management.