Cluster of legionnaires’ disease in an Italian prison

Background: Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is the most common etiologic agent causing Legionnaires’ Disease (LD). Water systems offer the best growth conditions for Lp and support its spread by producing aerosols. From 2015 to 2017, the Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis of Palermo monitored the presence of Lp in nine prisons in Western Sicily. During this investigation, we compared Lp isolates from environmental samples in a prison located in Palermo with isolates from two prisoners in the same prison. Methods: We collected 93 water samples from nine Sicilian prisons and the bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) of two prisoners considered cases of LD. These samples were processed following the procedures described in the Italian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Legionellosis of 2015. Then, genotyping was performed on 19 Lp colonies (17 from water samples and 2 from clinical samples) using the Sequence-Based Typing (SBT) method, according to European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) protocols. Results: Lp serogroup (sg) 6 was the most prevalent serogroup isolated from the prisons analyzed (40%), followed by Lp sg 1 (16%). Most of all, in four penitentiary institutions, we detected a high concentration of Lp >104 Colony Forming Unit/Liter (CFU/L). The environmental molecular investigation found the following Sequence Types (STs) in Lp sg 6: ST 93, ST 292, ST 461, ST 728, ST 1317 and ST 1362, while most of the isolates in sg 1 belonged to ST 1. We also found a new ST that has since been assigned the number 2451 in the ESGLI-SBT database. From the several Lp sg 1 colonies isolated from the two BALs, we identified ST 2451. Conclusions: In this article, we described the results obtained from environmental and epidemiological investigations of Lp isolated from prisons in Western Sicily. Furthermore, we reported the first cluster of Legionnaires’ in an Italian prison and the molecular typing of Lp sg 1 from one prison’s water system and two BALs, identified the source of the contamination, and discovered a new ST

A NEW CASE OF LOUSE-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER IN SICILY: CASE REPORT AND MINI REVIEW

Body lice transport B. recurrentis from man to man and humans are the only host. The presence of lice in Italy and an increasing number of cases in migrants can contribute to the onset of autochthonous cases. In this paper, we report a new case of Louse-borne Relapsing Fever (LBRF) diagnosed among migrants in Sicily exactly one year after the first case was recorded. We reviewed all cases reported in Europe from February 2016 until now. Our study identified two new cases of LBRF in migrants arrived in Europe: one who came from Somalia and one from Mali. Here we report data on a new case in Sicily. The number of migrants and refugees to transit in Sicily has increased, and this has led to the introduction of infectious diseases. Therefore, in our opinion it is essential to upgrade control of the sanitation conditions of migrants

Grain Sorting Effects on Geochemical Characteristics of Sulfide Mine Tailings: a Case Study

The geochemical evolution of a sulfide mine tailings impoundment in SW Spain was studied. The impoundment was selected because of its small size and its tailings deposition system with a simple discharge point. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that mineral segregation associated to hydraulic sorting has significant effects on the geochemical characteristics and the long term weathering. Tailings samples were collected along depth profiles in three sampling points (proximal, central and distal to the point of discharge), and characterized by color, grain size, pH, acid-base account and chemical elements concentration, with the help of routine XRD analysis. Three vertical zones were identified: an upper oxidized zone, a transition intermediate zone, and an unoxidized zone. The analytical results indicate a segregation pattern in the unoxidized tailings based on differences in size and density of tailings grains. Near the discharge point, tailings were coarser and rich in pyrite, whereas the proportion of silicates increased from proximal to distal points. This results in a clear zoning which has consequences on geochemical and mineralogical evolution under weathering, showing substantial differences in the depth of the oxidation front, the acid generation and neutralization capacity, the formation of Fe secondary phases (jarosite) and the total content of the sulfide-related elements (Fe, As, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd). The results of the study can serve to improve the theoretical bases for the development of conceptual models for predicting environmental impacts associated with sulfide tailings impoundments. Recently, the impoundment has been covered with a soil cover. This fact offers the possibility of new research on its evolution under new conditions

Multicultural and egalitarian beliefs in a Europe in transformation. A study with teachers in southern Italy

Europe is going through one of the most regressive moments in terms of rights for migrants. Policies that justify the questioning of rights are based and, in turn, contribute to the formation of certain beliefs towards diversity. These beliefs in the teaching staff condition the teaching-learning processes, the modes of relationship and the transmission of values within the classroom. This study focuses on knowing teachers' beliefs towards multiculturalism and equality in Southern Italy, one of the areas with the greatest migration control in Europe. For the research, the Cultural Beliefs for Teachers Scale (TCBS) was validated cross-culturally (through exploratory and confirmatory analysis) that was applied to 300 teachers from Sicilian public schools. The results show, despite the political context, that teachers maintain positive beliefs towards equality and multiculturalism. Women manifest more positive beliefs towards multiculturalism in the classroom than their male peers, while the group with more years of teaching offers worse results towards multiculturalism outside the classroom. This general overview offers an image of schools as potential spaces for democratic resistance. However, there is a need to develop new instruments that assess contemporary forms of discrimination more concretely and sensitively.Europa atraviesa uno de los momentos más regresivos en materia de derechos para las personas migrantes. Las políticas que justifican el cuestionamiento de derechos se asientan y, a su vez, contribuyen a la conformación de determinadas creencias hacia la diversidad. Estas creencias en el profesorado condicionan los procesos de enseñanzaaprendizaje, los modos de relación y la transmisión de valores dentro del aula. Este estudio se centra en conocer las creencias del profesorado hacia la multiculturalidad y la igualdad en el sur de Italia, una de las zonas de mayor control migratorio en Europa. Para la investigación se validó transculturalmente la encuesta de Creencias culturales para profesores (The Teachers Cultural Beliefs Scale –TCBS-) (mediante análisis exploratorio y confirmatorio) que se aplicó sobre 300 docentes de centros educativos públicos sicilianos. Los resultados muestran, pese al contexto político, que el profesorado mantiene creencias positivas hacia la igualdad y la multiculturalidad. Las mujeres manifiestan creencias más positivas hacia la multiculturalidad en el aula que sus pares masculinos, mientras que el grupo con más años de docencia ofrece peores resultados hacia la multiculturalidad fuera del aula. Esta panorámica general, ofrece una imagen de las escuelas como potenciales espacios de resistencia democrática. No obstante, es preciso desarrollar instrumentos que valoren de manera más concreta y sensible las formas contemporáneas de discriminación

Eficácia in vitro de extratos vegetais no controle do carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

O carrapato do boi, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887), principal ectoparasita dos bovinos nas regiões tropicais e subtropicas, é responsável por diversas perdas econômicas na bovinocultura, dentre as quais temos, perda de peso e depreciação do couro, transmissão de hemoparasitas, espoliação sanguínea e elevados custos ao seu controle. O uso indiscriminado de produtos químicos para o controle desse ectoparasita tem levado ao desenvolvimento de resistência aos princípios químicos, além dos danos ambientais. Diante dessas circunstâncias, os fitoterápicos têm sido avaliados como um método de controle alternativo, visto que, dependendo da espécie vegetal, podem promover desenvolvimento lento da resistência, têm baixo custo e são biodegradáveis, não causando danos ao meio ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia in vitro de seis extratos vegetais em diferentes concentrações sobre fêmeas ingurgitadas (teleóginas) de R. microplus

VIRULENCE FACTORS AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ST131 IN COMMUNITY-ONSET HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS IN SICILY, ITALY

Escherichia coli ST131 is an emerging resistant agent recently called \u201csuperbug\u201d in England. This strain is responsible of community-acquired urinary tract infections and nowadays showing increasing resistance to antibiotics like fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins. Survey of virulent bacterial clone is relevant to control its spreading in community. We aim to assess the circulation of resistant clones Escherichia coli ST131 outside of the hospital to prompt control of outbreak in our geographical area. We selected 105 E. coli resistant isolates from community-acquired urinary infections and performed a multiplex PCR to evaluate if they belonged to the ST131 type. We investigated their set of virulence factors; in particular, kpsMII, papA, sfaS, focG, iutA, papC, hlyD and afa genes, and finally, we evaluated beta lactamases genes and quinolone resistance determinants. E. coli ST 131 clone was present in 66.6% of our isolates and showed positivity to a wide range of resistance genes, in particular blaCTX-M-15 among beta lactamases and plasmid-related quinolone resistance genes (qnrA, qnrS and aac (6\u2019)-Ib-cr). Moreover, 81% of the strains showed positivity to at least one of the virulence factor genes. Our results suggested a high presence of E. coli ST131 in community. We suggest antibiotic stewardship for outpatient clinicians and facilities to contain the spread of \u201csuperbug\u201d agents

HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND EPSTEIN\u2013BARR CO-INFECTION IN GASTRIC DISEASE

The incidence of gastrointestinal diseases and in particular gastric cancer (GC) is high worldwide. Over the last few years, numerous studies have speculated that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can be correlated with gastric cancerogenesis. Virulence factors of H. pylori can contribute to the variability of clinical outcomes: among the most important virulence factors is the pathogenicity island (CagPAI), vacA and oipA gene. EBV infection usually persists in B cells and induces an inflammatory reaction in cooperation with H. pylori. In Sicily, H. pylori and EBV infections are particularly prevalent, and to our knowledge no study has addressed this yet. The aim of our study was to examine the association of H. pylori and EBV infection in patients with gastric diseases in Sicily. Gastric biopsies were collected from 24 adult patients with chronic gastritis active (CGA) and from 24 adult patients without any gastric disease (NGD) who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by PCR for ureaseA gene while EBV-DNA was detected by Real time PCR for region Bam HI-W. Moreoever, we investigated the presence of CagPaI and the status of vacA and oipA genes. Percentage of resistance to Clarithromycin of H. pylori was evaluated also. We established that H. pylori and EBV infection was present in 42% of patients, while dual infection with H. pylori and EBV-DNA was present in 54% of the patients with CGA. In patients with NGD we found that H. pylori and EBV infection was present in 46% and in 21% of patients respectively, while co-infection was present in 33% of patients. CagPAI was present in only 20% of patients with GCA and in 9% of patients with NGD. As regards vacA alleles, s2i2m2 were predominant, present in 80% and 82% of patients with CGA and NGD respectively. The status \u201cON\u201d of oipA gene was present in the same percentage. Finally, we found that 38% of patients positive for H. pylori infection showed resistance to Clarithromycin. In our study, there was a strong association between the simultaneous presence of H. pylori and EBV infection in patients with CGA compared to patients with NGD. Furthermore, our data confirmed the high percentage of resistance among H. pylori strains circulating in Sicily, underlining the importance of establishing a therapy that is effective in eradicating them and reducing the frequency of coinfections and evolution towards gastric cancerogenesi