Objetivo: comparar a eficácia do álcool 80% (p/v), friccionado por 30 e 60 segundos, no processamento manual de bacias de banho em aço inoxidável, após limpeza com água corrente e detergente neutro. Método: estudo experimental realizado em hospital do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, com 50 bacias randomicamente distribuídas em dois grupos de 25, para as intervenções de 30 e 60 segundos de fricção com álcool 80% (p/v). Resultados: das análises microbiológicas coletadas, antes e após as intervenções para os dois grupos, verificou-se eficácia parcial do desinfetante, mesmo ampliando o tempo de fricção. Em ambos os grupos, observou-se maior prevalência de sobrevida de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 14 cepas resistentes a carbapenens, especificamente, 11 ao imipenen e três ao meropenen. Conclusão: bacias de banho no leito em aço inoxidável, descontaminadas para reuso com álcool 80% (p/v), após limpeza com água corrente e detergente neutro, apresentam-se como reservatórios de patógenos hospitalares. O uso das bacias de banho no leito para pacientes com pele íntegra não teria consequências preocupantes, mas para aqueles com pele não íntegra e pensando na contaminação das mãos dos profissionais, os resultados dessa pesquisa justificam a busca de outros métodos de descontaminação ou a adoção de banho de leito descartável.

Objective: to compare the efficacy of 80% (w/v) alcohol, rubbed for 30 and 60 seconds, in the manual processing of stainless-steel wash bowls, after cleaning with running water and neutral detergent. Method: experimental study conducted in a hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, on 50 bowls randomly divided into two groups of 25 bowls each for interventions of 30 and 60 seconds of rubbing with 80% (w/v) alcohol. Results: based on the microbiological analyses collected, before and after the interventions for both groups, partial efficacy of the disinfectant was observed even when extending rubbing time. In both groups, there was a higher prevalence of survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with 14 strains that were resistant to carbapenems, being, specifically, 11 to imipenem and three to meropenem. Conclusion: stainless-steel bed wash bowls decontaminated for reuse by 80% (w/v) alcohol, after cleaning with running water and neutral detergent, showed to be reservoirs of hospital pathogens. The use of bed wash bowls for patients with intact skin would not have worrying consequences, but considering those with non-intact skin and the contamination of professionals’ hands, the results in this study justify the search for other decontamination methods or the adoption of disposable bed baths.

Objetivo: comparar la eficacia del alcohol al 80% (p/v), frotado durante 30 y 60 segundos, en el proceso de descontaminación manual de palanganas de baño de acero inoxidable, después de lavarlas con agua corriente y detergente neutro. Método: estudio experimental realizado en un hospital del estado de São Paulo, Brasil, con 50 palanganas divididas aleatoriamente en dos grupos de 25, para intervenciones de 30 y 60 segundos de frotamiento con alcohol al 80% (p/v). Resultados: los análisis microbiológicos recolectados, antes y después de las intervenciones para ambos grupos, demostraron efectividad parcial del desinfectante, incluso cuando se extendió el tiempo de fricción. En ambos grupos, se observó una mayor prevalencia de supervivencia de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 14 cepas resistentes a carbapenemas, específicamente 11 a imipenem y tres a meropenem. Conclusión: las palanganas de baño de cama de acero inoxidable, descontaminadas para su reutilización con alcohol al 80% (p/v), después del lavado con agua corriente y detergente neutro, actúan como reservorios de patógenos hospitalarios. El uso de las palanganas de baño de cama no tendría consecuencias preocupantes para pacientes con la piel íntegra, pero para aquellos cuya piel no conserva su integridad y pensando en la contaminación de las manos de los profesionales, los resultados de esta investigación justifican la búsqueda de otros métodos de descontaminación o la adopción del baño de cama desechable.

Over the last decades, there have been important changes in the epidemiology of Candida infections. In recent years, Candida species have emerged as important causes of invasive infections mainly among immunocompromised patients. This study analyzed Candida spp. isolates and compared the frequency and biofilm production of different species among the different sources of isolation: blood, urine, vulvovaginal secretions and peritoneal dialysis fluid. Biofilm production was quantified in 327 Candida isolates obtained from patients attended at a Brazilian tertiary public hospital (Botucatu, Sao Paulo). C. albicans ALS3 gene polymorphism was also evaluated by determining the number of repeated motifs in the central domain. Of the 198 total biofilm-positive isolates, 72 and 126 were considered as low and high biofilm producers, respectively. Biofilm production by C. albicans was significantly lower than that by non-albicans isolates and was most frequently observed in C. tropicalis. Biofilm production was more frequent among bloodstream isolates than other clinical sources,in urine, the isolates displayed a peculiar distribution by presenting two distinct peaks, one containing biofilm-negative isolates and the other containing isolates with intense biofilm production. The numbers of tandem-repeat copies per allele were not associated with biofilm production, suggesting the evolvement of other genetic determinants.

Phenotypic and genotypic SPM and IMP metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) detection and also the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime were evaluated in 47 multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens. Polymerase chain reaction detected 14 positive samples to either blaSPM or blaIMP genes, while the best phenotypic assay (ceftazidime substrate and mercaptopropionic acid inhibitor) detected 13 of these samples. Imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime MICs were higher for MBL positive compared to MBL negative isolates. We describe here the SPM and IMP MBL findings in clinical specimens of P. aeruginosa from the University Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil, that reinforce local studies showing the high spreading of blaSPM and blaIMP genes among brazilian clinical isolates.

Foram estudados 117 pacientes com fraturas expostas, submetidos a protocolo para identificação do paciente e características do trauma, internados para tratamento cirúrgico, durante um período de dois anos. A avaliação microbiológica da ferida foi realizada em 45 pacientes antes do desbridamento cirúrgico, com predomínio dos germes gram positivos. A antibioticoterapia foi utilizada profilaticamente em todos os pacientes, podendo, no entanto, ser melhor padronizada. O perfil da maioria dos pacientes da amostra foi: sexo masculino, branco, casado, com idade entre 21 e 30 anos, trabalhador industrial com Primeiro Grau completo, vítima de acidente de automóvel ou motocicleta. As fraturas foram agrupadas segundo a classificação de Gustilo, sendo que a maioria dos casos encontrados foram do tipo III. Os índices de infecção estiveram relacionados ao grau da classificação, sendo mais freqüente no tipo III. No entanto, o estudo também revelou índice elevado de infecção no tipo II, comparado com a literatura. O tempo médio de exposição foi de cinco horas e trinta e nove minutos, sendo o fixador externo o meio de tratamento mais utilizado. Foi também avaliada a freqüência de politraumatizados, 15%. O período de internação foi em média de 9,14 dias, com uma média de aproximadamente oito retornos por paciente nos ambulatórios. As principais complicações foram a infecção e a pseudoartrose, sendo a tíbia o osso mais acometido.

Epidemiological, clinical and microbiological prospective study of patients with open fractures assisted at university Hospital. We studied 117 patients with open fractures during a period of two years, submitted to a protocol to identify the patient and the kind of trauma, interned for surgical treatment. The culture was collected in 45 patients for microbiological evaluation, before the surgery. The Gram-positive bacteria were the most observed type. All patients used prophylactic antibiotic therapy, but the choice of drug could have a better pattern. Most patients had the following profile: male, white, married, age group 21-30 years, industrial worker with Elementary School complete, victim of car or Motorcycle accidents. The fractures were grouped according to the Gustilo classification, and most of them were of Type III. The infection levels were related to the degree of the classification, being more frequent in Type III. Compared with the literature, the present study showed a higher infection rate in Type II. On the average, the exposure time was of five hours and thirty-nine minutes. Most fractures were managed with an external fixator. It was also evaluated the presence of other injuries, that was low. The Average time spent at the Hospital was of 9.14 days, with almost eight visits to the ambulatory for patient assistance. The most observed complications were infection and pseudoarthrosis, and the more implicated bone was the tibia. Most patients were discharged by the end of this study.

Utilizou-se o modelo experimental de paracoccidioidomicose, em camundongos, induzida pela inoculação endovenosa de suspensão de formas cerebriformes do P. brasiliensis (cepa Bt2; 1x10(6) formas viáveis/animal), para avaliar, após 2, 4, 8, 16 e 20 semanas: 1. A presença de imunoglobulinas e C3 nos granulomas pulmonares, por imunofluorescência direta; 2. A resposta imune humoral (imunodifusão) e celular (teste do coxim plantar), e 3. A histopatologia das lesões. Os camundongos apresentaram resposta imunocelular positiva desde a 2a. semana, com depressão transitória na 16a. semana, e anticorpos desde a 4a. semana, com pico na 16a. semana. Os granulomas pulmonares foram epitelióides, com numerosos fungos e microabscesses; a extensão das lesões foi progressiva até a 16a. semana, com regressão discreta na 20a. semana. Desde a 2a. semana, houve deposição de IgG e C3 na parede dos fungos no interior dos granulomas e a presença de células IgG positivas no halo linfomononuclear periférico; estes achados foram máximos entre a 4a. e 16a. semanas. Não se detectou depósito de IgG e C3 no interstício dos granulomas. IgG e C3 parecem exercer papel precoce e importante na defesa do hospedeiro contra o P. brasiliensis, contribuindo possivelmente para a destruição dos fungos e bloqueando a difusão de antígenos para fora dos granulomas.

The experimental model of paracoccidioidomycosis induced in mice by the intravenous injection of yeast-forms of P. brasiliensis (Bt2 strain; 1 x 10(6) viable fungi/animal) was used to evaluate sequentially 2, 4, 8, 16 and 20 weeks after inoculation: 1. The presence of immunoglobulins and C3 in the pulmonary granuloma-ta, by direct immunofluorescence; 2. The humoral (immunodiffusion test) and the cellular (footpad sweeling test) immune response; 3. The histopathology of lesions. The cell-immune response was positive since week 2, showing a transitory depression at week 16. Specific antibodies were first detected at week 4 and peaked at week 16. At histology, epithelioid granulomas with numerous fungi and polymorphonuclear agreggates were seen. The lungs showed progressive involvement up to week 16, with little decrease at week 20. From week 2 on, there were deposits of IgG and C3 around fungal walls within the granulomas and IgG stained cells among the mononuclear cell peripheral halo. Interstitital immunoglobulins and C3 deposits in the granulomas were not letected. IgG and C3 seen to play an early an important role in. the host defenses against P. brasiliensis by possibly cooperating in the killing of parasites and blocking the antigenic diffusion.