Assistant Lecturer

Akre Technical Institute, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq

Akre, Duhok

I teach Medical Microbiology subject (Theoretical and practical parts) for first year Nursing students at Akre technical Institute, DPU.

The Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and its Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern in Secondary School Students in Kurdistan Region,Iraq

J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common commensal bacterium of the human body and a potential pathogen, causing public health hazards. Due to various virulent factors and growing antibiotic resistance, bacteria could cause various infections, ranging from minor skin infections to life-threating sepsis. Objectives: Thepresentstudyaimedtoevaluatetheprevalencerateof S.aureusanddetermineitsantimicrobialsensitivityprofile inthesecondaryschoolstudentsinDuhokCity, Iraq. Methods: Samples were collected from the anterior nares of 492 volunteers aged more than 16 years in different cities, including Akre, Amedye, Bardarash, and Duhok. Conventionallaboratorytestswereperformedfortheidentificationof of the bacterial isolates. In addition, the antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Out of 492 subjects, 185 cases (37.6%) were carriers of S. aureus, including 57/185 (30.8%) males. The oxacillin resistance rate was estimated at 41.08%, while the resistance rate against tetracycline, fusidic acid, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, vancomycin, clindamycinandrifampicinwas27.02%,19.46%,9.19%,8.65%,7.56%,3.78%,and1.08%,respectively. Alltheisolatesweresusceptibleto teicoplanin. Conclusions: According to the results, the prevalence rate of S. aureus was high, and the species were more common in females. Therefore,furtherinvestigationsarerequiredtomonitortheS.aureusantimicrobialprofileandimplementproperplanstomanage the associated issues. Keywords: Staphylococcusaureus,AntibioticSensitivity,NasalCarriage,Duhok,Iraq

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate and molecular characterization of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec among Syrian refugees in Iraq

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Objectives: The aim was to investigate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage rates and to characterize the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) among Syrian refugees and the host community in Duhok, Iraq. Methods: A total of 492 host community and 355 Syrian refugee subjects were recruited. Participant bioinformation was collected using a study questionnaire. MRSA carriage was identified as recommended in the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. PCR was performed for typing the mecA gene and SCCmec groups. Results: In the host community, 76/492 (15.4%) carried MRSA, whereas 49/355 (13.8%) Syrian refugees carried MRSA (p = 0.505). Refugees were classified according to their arrival date; 36/278 (13%) existing refugees and 13/77 (16.9%) new refugee arrivals were identified as MRSA carriers (p = 0.375). Regarding the risk factors influencing MRSA spread, no association was found between MRSA prevalence and risk factors. The most common types of SCCmec in both communities were types IVa and V: 67.1% and 5.26%, and 49% and 2.04%, respectively. Conclusions: It is inferred that the effect of MRSA in refugees on the host community will be negligible. However, the refugee carriage rate is higher than that found in Western countries, the final destination of refugees. Therefore, screening for MRSA is mandated and the rapid detection of carriers would prevent its spread. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by

Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hospitals and Community in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

International journal of Infection

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious concern of the global health sector and more recently, an escalating problem in the community. Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the incidence of MRSA in hospital staff and community students in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq, and make a molecular comparison between the strains based on the detection of mecA gene and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene. Methods: We obtained 109 and 103 samples from the nares of hospital staff and community students, respectively. Conventional laboratory tests were performed for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and antibiotic sensitivity testing to identify MRSA isolates. Besides, PCR was utilized for molecular analysis. Results: All isolates from hospital staff were identified as S. aureus. Out of the 109 isolates, 55 (50.4%) were MRSA carrying the mecA gene, among which 4/55 (3.7%) were MRSA-PVL positive. Additionally, 54/109 (49.5%) isolates were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) but four isolates (3.7%) were MSSA-PVL positive. Furthermore, 23/103 (22.3%) samples from community students were identified as S. aureus, among which 5/23 (21.7%) and 17/23 (73.9%) isolates were MSSA-PVL positive and MSSA-PVL negative, respectively. Moreover, 1/23 (4.3%) was found as MRSA and was PVL gene-positive. Conclusions: The results showed that MRSA is swarming in hospitals and community in Duhok, Iraq. The highest rate of PVL was associated with community-acquired-MSSA (CA- MRSA). With further genotypic study, immediate action is needed to control and reduce the spread of MRSA clones, determine their clonal relations, and conduct epidemiological investigations. Keywords Hospital Staphylococcus aureus Community MRSA Duhok PVL Methicillin Resistance mecA

Geographic Distribution of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Sheep in Duhok Governorate, Iraq by using GIS.

Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that causes low productivity consequently, causes highly economic loses. It is an endemic disease in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The aim of the study is to distribute the FMD cases geographically by using Geographic Information System (GIS). Besides, the study assess the geographical relationship and prevalence rate between the areas having disease in Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (DGKRI) with other areas on borders of Iraq, and neighboring countries. Data of FMD in sheep in DGKRI have been used from three years 2013, 2014 and 2015 and obtained from Directorate of Veterinary in Duhok Governorate (DVDG). The results show that the highest prevalence rate of FMD cases found in areas of Duhok adjacent to other Arabs areas or countries. Among all the three years the areas Semel and Zaxo in 2015 which are located on borders with Turkey and Syria shows the highest number of cases. Whereas, in 2014 the highest cases of FMD is in Semel and Akre. While, in 2013 the highest prevalence rate of disease is in Zummer. To sum up, the study shows that the conflicted circumstances and war in the area have affected on spreading and increasing the rate of the disease in Duhok. Keywords: FMD, Kurdistan Region, Duhok, Epidemiology, Disease distribution, GIS