OBJETIVO: Identificar os principais problemas de saúde, o perfil de utilização de medicamentos e os problemas relacionados aos medicamentos (PRMs) envolvidos no tratamento de idosos fragilizados da Zona da Mata Mineira. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados prontuários de 260 idosos atendidos pelo Centro Mais Vida, Juiz de Fora-MG, entre agosto e setembro de 2010. As doenças foram agrupadas de acordo com a Classificação Internacional de Doenças - 10ª revisão, os medicamentos de acordo com o Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System e os PRMs de acordo com o Método Dáder. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que 73,8% dos idosos eram do sexo feminino e 42,7% possuíam entre 60 e 69 anos. Foram constatadas 1.300 doenças, sendo 31,07% do aparelho circulatório, 19,85% endócrinas, nutricionais e metabólicas e 13,46% do sistema osteomuscular e tecido conjuntivo. Dos 1.737 medicamentos, os mais prevalentes foram os do sistema cardiovascular (42,8%), seguidos pelos do trato alimentar e metabolismo (23,7%) e pelos do sistema nervoso (18,2%). Do total de medicamentos, 53,9% apresentaram algum PRM, sendo o PRM 1 (não utilização da medicação necessária) o mais frequente (37,4%). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade da revisão dos esquemas terapêuticos dos idosos, visando o uso racional e efetivo dos medicamentos. Os dados apontam, ainda, a necessidade de aprofundar estudos de avaliação de riscos de PRM nessa população.

OBJECTIVE: To identify major health problems, drug usage profile and drug-related problems (DRPs) involved in the treatment of frail elderly people of Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. METHODS: The study assessed 260 medical records of elderly patients served by Centro Mais Vida, Juiz de Fora-MG, between August and September 2010. The diseases were grouped according to the International Classification of Diseases - 10th review, the drugs according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System and the DRPs according to the Dáder method. RESULTS: It was observed that 73.8% of the elderly people were female and 42.7% were aged 60-69 years. We found 1,300 diseases, of which 31.07% were of circulatory system, 19.85% endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and 13.46% of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Among the 1,737 drugs, the ones of cardiovascular system (42.8%), followed by alimentary tract and metabolism (23.7%) and nervous system (18.2%) were the most prevalent. Among all drugs, 53.9% presented some DRPs, being DRP 1 (not using the drug needed) the most frequent (37.4%). CONCLUSION: The results highlight the need to review drug regimens of elderly patients, aiming to encourage rational and effective use of medicines. The data also show the need for more complete studies about the evaluation of DRP risks in the elderly population.

This study evaluated, in vitro, the antimicrobial activity and the anti-adherent property of xylitol (0.5, 2.5 and 5.0%, w/v) on two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (ATCC 9027 and clinical). The assay of antimicrobial activity was performed to determine a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the adhesion test was performed, by which the parameters regarding, growth in the culture medium, number of colony forming units (CFUs) released and slide evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were analyzed. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed for statistical analysis. Results showed that xylitol had no antimicrobial activity on these strains; however, the inhibition of bacterial adherence was observed in microphotographs obtained by SEM. These results indicated that xylitol could be a future alternative to combat bacterial colonization.

The present study aimed to evaluate xylitol's antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities on Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and on another clinical strain enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). In vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test and adhesion assays were performed using 0.5, 2.5 and 5.0% xylitol. It was found that xylitol did not have antimicrobial properties on these strains. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the slides treated with xylitol had a significant reduction in the number of bacilli and the inhibition of microbial adhesion was probably the xylitol's mechanism of action. Xylitol could be a possible alternative on the control of E. coli infections.