ABSTRACT Polymyxin antibiotics are disfavored owing to their potential clinical toxicity, especially nephrotoxicity. However, the dry antibiotic development pipeline, together with the increasing global prevalence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria, have renewed clinical interest in these polypeptide antibiotics. This review highlights the current information regarding the mechanisms of resistance to polymyxins and their molecular epidemiology. Knowledge of the resistance mechanisms and epidemiology of these pathogens is critical for the development of novel antibacterial agents and rapid treatment choices.

ABSTRACT Syphilis, an infectious disease considered a global public health concern, can cause stillbirths and neonatal deaths. This highlights the importance of continuous surveillance studies among women of reproductive age. A cross-sectional study was carried out to analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with Treponema pallidum infection in women assisted by primary health care units in Dourados, a city located in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, which borders Paraguay. A questionnaire was applied to a population-based sample, blood samples were collected for syphilis testing and multivariable analyses were performed to screen associations with T. pallidum infection. The prevalence of T. pallidum infection was 6.04%. Bivariate analysis showed that women referring multiple sexual partners (c2: 6.97 [p=0.014]), income less 2 minimal wages (c2: 15.93 [p=0.003]), who did not have high school (c2: 12.64 [p=0.005]), and reporting history of STIs (c2: 7.30 [p=0.018]) are more likely to have syphilis. In the multivariate analysis, a highest prevalence ratio was observed in women with income less than 2 minimal wages (PR: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.85 - 0.97]), and who did not have high school (PR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.90 - 0.98]). In addition, 80% of the women reported irregular use of condoms and 63.89% declared having sexual intercourses with multiple partners, which creates more opportunities for the transmission of the infection. These results highlight the need for healthcare systems to implement initiatives to monitor syphilis screening and the commitment of patients and their sexual partners to the treatment in order to achieve a decrease of new cases.

ABSTRACT The present study proposes to characterize the parasites isolated during the initial phase of production in fish farms located in Mato Grosso do Sul in the central-western region of Brazil, using histopathology analysis and molecular techniques. A total of 340 hybrid surubim fish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × P. corruscans) from four farms were examined during the co-feeding phase. Histopathology analysis showed that 10.9% (n = 37) of the fish were infected with parasites. Branchitis, lifting epithelium, hypertrophy of epithelial cells, lamellar fusion, aneurisms and infection in the bone tissue of the gill filament was observed. The parasite species was determined by amplification of the 18S rRNA gene followed by sequencing. The phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences indicates a close relationship (99.6%) with Henneguya pseudoplatystoma reported to be infecting the hybrid Pseudoplatystoma. This study demonstrates the occurrence of H. pseudoplatystoma in hybrid surubim (P. reticulatum × P. corruscans) during the co-feeding phase in fish farms in Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, molecular techniques provide a faster and sensitive method to identify fish parasites, and may assist in the development of new management techniques aimed at improving the sanitary conditions contributing to the reduction of mortality rates in these animals.

Abstract: Metallo-beta-lactamase production is an important mechanism for carbapenem resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which represents an emerging public health challenge. We report the case of a patient admitted to an intensive care unit, with sepsis caused by multidrug-resistant São Paulo Metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing P. aeruginosa . This is the first case of infection by this pathogenic strain in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Thus, infection control measures are required for preventing future spread and outbreaks.

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de diferentes recobrimentos e temperaturas de armazenamento na conservação de laranjas Champagne. Após refrigeração e sanitização, os frutos foram submetidos aos seguintes tratamentos: 1) controle, sem recobrimento; 2) frutos recobertos com fécula de mandioca a 2% (m/v); 3) frutos recobertos com fécula de mandioca a 4% (m/v); 4) embalagem com filme de PVC esticável; 5) embalagem em saco plástico de polietileno de baixa densidade. Estes frutos foram, em seguida, armazenados em três diferentes temperaturas: ambiente (25ºC / 70 ± 5% UR) e em câmara fria a 3ºC e a 8ºC, com 85 ± 5% UR. Determinou-se a perda de massa pelos frutos; no suco, foram determinados o pH e os sólidos solúveis (SS), a acidez titulável, os açúcares totais e o ácido ascórbico. As amostragens foram realizadas a cada 4 dias, durante 24 dias, nos frutos armazenados em condição ambiente, e a cada 10 dias, durante 60 dias de armazenamento, nos frutos mantidos em câmara fria. Os frutos armazenados a 3ºC apresentaram menor perda de massa. Os frutos do controle e os revestidos com fécula, independentemente da temperatura de estocagem, tiveram perdas maiores do que aqueles embalados em filme de PVC e polietileno. A acidez apresentou redução ao longo do armazenamento em todas as temperaturas estudadas e sem diferenças entre os revestimentos/embalagens. Os tratamentos e o período de armazenamento, independentemente da temperatura, não influenciaram nos resultados de pH, teores de SS, açúcares totais e ácido ascórbico. Os frutos refrigerados a 3ºC mantiveram a qualidade por até 60 dias, desde que acondicionados com polietileno e PVC, enquanto que, sob a temperatura ambiente, a qualidade dos frutos embalados com estes filmes foi mantida por até 20 dias. Frutos embalados com o filme de polietileno apresentaram sinais de podridão e odor estranho a partir do 20º dia, quando armazenados a 25ºC, e a partir do 50º dia, quando armazenados a 8ºC.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types of coating, temperatures and storage times in the conservation of 'Champagne' oranges. After cooling and sanitizing, the fruits were submitted to the following treatments: 1) control, 2) coating with 2% cassava starch (m/v), 3) coating with 4% cassava starch (m/v), 4) coating with stretchable PVC film and 5) coating with low density polyethylene film. The fruits were stored at three different temperatures: ambient (25ºC / 70 ± 5% RH) and in cold rooms at 3ºC and at 8ºC with 85 ± 5% RH. The loss in mass of the fruits was determined and also the pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity, total sugars and ascorbic acid of the juices. Samples were taken every 4 days for 24 days for the fruits stored under ambient conditions, and every 10 days for 60 days for those stored in the cold. The fruits stored at 3 ºC showed a lower mass loss. Regardless of storage temperature, the control fruits and those coated with starch showed higher losses of mass than those coated with PVC and polyethylene. The acidity declined slightly during storage at all temperatures and with all treatments. Independent of temperature, the treatments and storage period had no influence on the pH, solids, total sugar and ascorbic acid contents. Fruit stored at 3ºC maintained their quality for up to 60 days if packed in polyethylene or PVC, whilst at room temperature, the quality of the fruits packed in these films was maintained for 20 days. Fruits packed in polyethylene film showed signs of rot and a strange odour as from the 20th day when stored at 25ºC, and as from the 50th day when stored at 8ºC.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar a influência do nível de processamento mínimo e atmosfera modificada na qualidade de laranja 'Champagne' minimamente processada armazenada sob refrigeração. Laranjas submetidas aos seguintes processos: a) remoção do albedo; b) remoção do albedo e flavedo; c) segmentada em gomos, foram acondicionadas em embalagem sem revestimento (controle), com filme de polietileno, com filme de PVC, com revestimento comestível de gelatina a 3% e em pote plástico com tampa de poliestireno. O armazenamento dos frutos foi realizado a 5 ± 1 °C por oito dias, sendo submetidos a análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas a cada dois dias. A maior perda de massa ocorreu em frutos sem flavedo e segmentados, sem revestimento e com película de gelatina. À medida que avançou o período de armazenamento, observou-se ligeira elevação no teor de SST para os tratamentos com maior perda de massa e redução da acidez e ácido ascórbico, sem efeito da embalagem. As contagens microbianas não ultrapassaram os limites preconizados em nenhum tratamento, entretanto, maiores contagens foram verificadas no final do armazenamento. As frutas minimamente processadas embaladas em potes de poliestireno com tampa, filmes de polietileno e PVC mantiveram boa aparência com poucas modificações nas características físico-químicas e microbiológicas até o 8° dia de armazenamento.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the level of minimal processing and modified atmosphere on the quality of 'Champagne' orange stored under refrigeration. The fruits were subjected to the following processing: a) whole fruit without flavedo; b) whole fruit without flavedo and albedo; and c) segmented into wedges and packed as follows: uncoated packaging (control); polyethylene film; PVC film; gelatin-based edible films (3%); and polyesthyrene translucent plastic container with a lid. The minimally processed oranges were stored at 5 ± 1°C for 8 days and were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses every two days. Greater weight loss occurred in fruits without flavedo and segmented, uncoated, and coated with the edible gelatin film During storage, there was a slight increase in Total Soluble Solids (TSS) for the treatments with greater weight loss and reduction in acidity and ascorbic acid, regardless of the packaging type. The microbial counts did not exceed the acceptable limits in the treatments; however, higher counts were observed at the end of storage. The minimally processed fruit packed in lidded polystyrene containers and polyethylene and PVC films kept their overall fresh visual appearance with a few physicochemical and microbiological changes up to the 8th day of storage.