ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of carvacrol against Salmonella Typhimurium. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined and the time-kill curve and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to evaluate antibacterial activity. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated by quantifying total biomass using crystal violet assay, and metabolic activity was determined using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The action of carvacrol against preformed biofilm on polypropylene and stainless steel was also evaluated by colony counting and SEM. The MIC and MBC was 312 µg mL-1. Carvacrol at MIC and 2 x MIC eliminated cells after 6 and 1 h of treatment, respectively, as exhibited in the time-kill curve. The greatest reduction in biofilm biomass and metabolic activity was 1,719 OD550 and 0,089 OD550 respectively, both at 4 x MIC of carvacrol. In carvacrol treated biofilms of S. Typhimurium on polypropylene, a reduction of 5.12 log was observed with 4 x MIC, while on stainless steel, carvacrol at 4 x MIC reduced bacterial counts by 5 log. The results showed that carvacrol exhibits antibacterial activity and can be used as an alternative for the control of S. Typhimurium biofilms.

A contaminação de alimentos por patógenos entéricos é uma das principais causas de doenças diarréicas em todo o mundo, resultando em altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade e perdas econômicas significativas. As bactérias são importantes agentes de doenças de origem alimentar, particularmente Escherichia coli diarreiogênicas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a diversidade genética e a resistência a antimicrobianos de E. coli isoladas de leite pasteurizado, processados em 21 laticínios na região noroeste do Paraná - Brasil. Os 95 isolados de E. coli foram submetidos a testes de suscetibilidade aos antimicrobianos de acordo com as recomendações do Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute e avaliados genotipicamente por ERIC-PCR (Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus - Polymerase Chain Reaction). O principal perfil de resistência encontrado entre os isolados foi resistência à cefalotina (55,78%). ERIC-PCR revelou alta diversidade genética, agrupando os 95 isolados bacterianos em 90 diferentes perfis genotípicos. Estes resultados mostraram uma população heterogênea de E. coli em amostras de leite produzido na região noroeste do Paraná e a necessidade de boas práticas na manipulação de todo o processamento de leite pasteurizado, a fim de reduzir o risco de doenças transmitidas por alimentos.

Food contamination caused by enteric pathogens is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, resulting in high morbidity and mortality and significant economic losses. Bacteria are important agents of foodborne diseases, particularly diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. The present study assessed the genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates from pasteurized milk processed in 21 dairies in northwestern State of Parana, Brazil. The 95 E. coli isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and assessed genotypically by Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ERIC-PCR). The highest rate of resistance was observed for cephalothin (55.78%). ERIC-PCR revealed high genetic diversity, clustering the 95 bacterial isolates into 90 different genotypic patterns. These results showed a heterogeneous population of E. coli in milk samples produced in the northwestern region of Paraná and the need for good manufacturing practices throughout the processing of pasteurized milk to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility was determined in the 78 yeasts isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) from the city of Maringá/Parana/Brazil, assisted in the Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Clinical Analysis of the State University of Maringá, from 01 January 2005 to December 31, 2006. Its sensibility in vitro was tested according to microdilution method in front of ketoconazol (KETO), fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole (ITRA), nistatin (NIS) and amphotericin B (AMB). For KET, 41.5% of the C. albicans and 96.0% of the C. non-albicans showed resistance (100.0% of C. glabrata) and for FLU, only 3.8% of the isolates of C. albicans and 8.0% of C. glabrata showed resistance. Only 1.9% of the C. albicans and 20% of the C. no-albicans were resistant. For AMB, 5.7% of the C. albicans and 8% of the C. no-albicans (only C. glabrata), were resistant. There were no isolations resistant from NIST, however, there was a high frequency of dose-dependent sensibility (SDD) in vitro. These data makes it possible to confirm the growing necessity of the performance of identification tests and in vitro antifungal susceptibility to antifungals to establish the correct treatment of CVV.

Se determinó la susceptibilidad antifúngica in vitro de 78 cepas de levaduras aisladas de mujeres de la ciudad de Maringá/Paraná, Brasil, con candidiasis vulvovaginal (CVV), atendidas en el Laboratorio de Enseñanza e Investigación en Análisis Clínicos (LEPAC) de la Universidad Estatal de Maringá, desde el 1 de enero 2005 al 31 de diciembre 2006. Su sensibilidad in vitro fue investigada por el método de microdilución frente a ketoconazol (KETO), fluconazol (FLU), itraconazol (ITRA), nistatina (NIS) y anfotericina B (AMB). Para KETO, 41,5% de las cepas de C. albicans y 96% de Candida no-albicans presentaron resistencia (100% de C. glabrata) y para FLU solamente el 3,8% de los aislamientos de C. albicans y el 8,0% de C. glabrata fueron resistentes. Sólo 1,9% de las cepas de C. albicans y 20% de las de C. no-albicans fueron resistentes a ITRA y el 5,7% de las C. albicans y el 8% de las C. no-albicans (sólo C. glabrata) fueron resistentes a AMB. No hubo aislamientos resistentes a NIST, pero sí una elevada frecuencia de sensibilidad dosis dependiente "in vitro". Estos datos avalan la creciente necesidad de la realización de pruebas de identificación y susceptibilidad in vitro a los antifúngicos para establecer el correcto tratamiento de la CVV.

There are indications that paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is endemic in northwestern Paraná, but little is documented about this disease in the region. This study outlines the clinical-laboratory and epidemiologic features of 45 individuals with PCM, attended at a referral service in northwestern Paraná from March 1996 to November 2006. It was observed that the clinical manifestation that motivated the search for assistance were lesions of the oropharynx in 28 (62.2%) instances, followed by lung damage in nine (20.0%). Ten of the 45 patients (22.2%) were sent to the service by dental surgeons. The male/female ratio was 14:1. There was a predominance of patients older than 41, bearing the chronic form of the disease, and from a profession linked to agriculture. Smoking and alcohol drinking habits were frequent. The most employed diagnostic method was histopathological, and the most prescribed pharmacological treatment was the sulphametoxazole-trimethoprim association.

Hay indicativos de que la paracoccidioidomicosis (PCM) sea endémica en el Noroeste del Paraná, pero poco aún se documenta sobre esa enfermedad en la región. En el presente estudio, son descritas las características clínico-laboratoriales y epidemiológicas de 45 pacientes con PCM, atendidos en un servicio de referencia, en el Noroeste del Estado del Paraná, en el período de marzo de 1996 a noviembre de 2006. Se observó que la manifestación clínica que motivó la búsqueda por la asistencia fue lesiones en la orofaringe en 28 (62,2%) de los casos, seguida del comprometimiento pulmonar en 9 (20,0%), siendo que 10 de los 45 pacientes (22,2%) fueron encaminados al servicio por cirujanos-dentistas. La proporción hombre / mujer fue de 14:1; hubo predominio de mayores de 41 años de edad, de la forma crónica de la enfermedad y de profesión vinculada a la agricultura. Los hábitos de tabaquismo y de consumo de alcohol fueron frecuentes. Como método de diagnóstico, lo más realizado fue el histopatológico, y la asociación sulfametoxazol-trimetropim fue el tratamiento farmacológico más prescrito.

Há indicativos de que a paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) seja endêmica no Noroeste do Paraná, porém pouco ainda é documentado sobre essa doença na região. No presente estudo, são descritas as características clínico-laboratoriais e epidemiológicas de 45 indivíduos com PCM, atendidos em um serviço de referência, no Noroeste do Estado do Paraná, no período de março de 1996 a novembro de 2006. Observou-se que a manifestação clínica que motivou a procura por assistência foi lesões na orofaringe em 28 (62,2%) casos, seguida do comprometimento pulmonar em 9 (20,0%), sendo que 10 dos 45 pacientes (22,2%) foram encaminhados ao serviço por cirurgiões-dentistas. A proporção homem/mulher foi de 14:1, houve predomínio de maiores de 41 anos de idade; da forma crônica da doença e profissão vinculada à agricultura. Os hábitos de tabagismo e consumo de bebida alcoólica foram freqüentes. Como método de diagnóstico, o mais realizado foi o histopatológico, e a associação sulfametoxazol-trimetropim foi o tratamento farmacológico mais prescrito.