Eficiência Antimicrobiana e Antiparasitária de Desinfetantes na Higienização de Hortaliças na Cidade de Natal - RN

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2179460X12755This study evaluated the efficiency of sodium hypochlorite (1%) and the acetic acid (vinegar) (6.6%) in the sanitation of vegetables (lettuce, cabbage, cilantro and kale) from six establishments, subdivided into three supermarkets and three fairs, located in the city of Natal - RN, during the period from June  to October, 2013. The samples were analyzed in order to describe the presence of contaminants and then were submitted to treatment with sanitizer solutions. For parasitological analysis, we used the methods of Hoffman, Pons and Janer (HPJ) and Faust. For bacterial analysis, we used the technique of chromogenic substrate and subsequent quantification of coliform groups by the most probable number (MPN). For statistical analysis, in addition to descriptive statistics, considering an α=0.05, the Student t test was used. In total of 24 samples analyzed, in 41,7% were found parasitic forms and the most prevalent ones was the Endolimax nana (22.2%). Among the samples analyzed, 100% were contaminated with total coliforms and 83,3% with thermotolerant coliforms. The lettuce had the highest rate of contamination by parasites (50%), among the samples from the control group, as well as, the highest average of contamination by total coliforms and thermotolerants coliforms, above 2400 NMP/100mL and 1356 NMP/100mL, respectively. The vegetables coming from the fairs had the highest prevalence of contamination by parasites (70%), total coliforms (53.7%) and thermotolerants coliforms (56.8%).However, this study showed there is no difference between the risk of a vegetable bought in a supermarket or a fair being contaminated by parasites (p ≤ 0.223), total coliforms (p ≤ 0.193) and/or thermotolerants coliforms (p ≤ 0.789). The solution of sodium hypochlorite (1%) was more efficient to contaminated samples by parasites (p ≤ 0.001), total coliforms (p ≤ 0.000) and thermotolerants coliforms (p ≤ 0.001). It is concluded that vegetables can be great reservoirs of pathogenic parasites and coliform groups, making necessary pre-emptive measures aimed at sanitary quality of water used for irrigation of vegetables and the proper disinfection of these foods.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2179460X12755O presente estudo avaliou a eficiência do hipoclorito de sódio a 1% e do ácido acético a 6,6% (vinagre) na higienização de hortaliças in natura (alface, coentro, repolho e couve), provenientes de seis estabelecimentos comerciais, subdivididos em três supermercados e três feiras livres, localizados na cidade de Natal - RN, durante o período de junho a outubro de 2013. As amostras foram analisadas com o objetivo de descrever a presença de contaminantes e em seguida foram submetidas ao tratamento com soluções higienizantes. Para a análise parasitológica utilizou-se os métodos de Hoffman, Pons e Janer (HPJ) e Faust. Para as analises bacteriológicas, foi utilizada a técnica do substrato cromogênico e posterior quantificação dos grupos coliformes através da técnica do número mais provável (NMP). Para a análise estatística, além da estatistica descritiva, foi utilizado o teste t de student, considerando um α=0,05. De um total de 24 amostras analisadas, em 41,7 % foram encontradas formas parasitárias e o parasita mais prevalente foi o Endolimax nana (22,2%). A análise dos grupos coliformes evidenciou que, 100% das amostras do grupo controle estavam contaminadas por coliformes totais e 83,3% por coliformes termotolerantes. A alface apresentou o maior índice de contaminação por parasitas (50%) entre as amostras do grupo controle, bem como, as maiores médias de contaminação por coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes, acima de 2400 NMP/100mL e 1356 NMP/100mL, respectivamente. As hortaliças provenientes das feiras livres apresentaram a maior prevalência de contaminação por parasitas (70%), por coliformes totais (53,7%) e coliformes termotolerantes (56,8%). Entretanto, esse estudo mostrou que não há diferença entre o risco de uma hortaliça adquirida em um supermercado ou feira livre está contaminada por parasitas (p≤0,223), coliformes totais (p≤0,193) e/ou coliformes termotolerantes (p≤0,789). O uso do hipoclorito de sódio a 1% mostrou-se mais eficaz para a higienização de amostras contaminadas por parasitas (p≤0,001), coliformes totais (p≤0,000) e coliformes termotolerantes (p≤0,001). Conclui-se que as hortaliças podem ser grandes reservatórios de parasitas patogênicos e grupos coliformes, fazendo-se necessária a realização de medidas preventivas direcionadas à qualidade higiênico-sanitária da água utilizada para irrigação das hortaliças e a correta desinfecção desses alimentos

Conhecimentos, atitudes e prática do exame de Papanicolaou por mulheres, Nordeste do Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women related to the Pap test and the association between these behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A household survey with quantitative approach was conducted. A total of 267 women aged 15 to 69 years, randomly selected in a stratified manner, living in the city of São José de Mipibu, Northeastern Brazil, were interviewed in 2007. A questionnaire consisting of pre-coded open questions was administered and answers were described and analyzed, as for adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding the Pap test. Tests of association were carried out between sociodemographic characteristics and behaviors studied at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Although 46.1% of the women interviewed showed adequate knowledge about the Pap test, a significantly higher proportion of adequacy was seen regarding attitudes and practices, 63.3% and 64.4%, respectively. Higher schooling was associated with adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The main barriers to the Pap test were negligence, non-requesting by their physicians, and shame. CONCLUSIONS: The physician is the main source of information about the Pap test. However, women who more often attend medical visits, despite their good practice, show low adequacy of knowledge and attitudes related to the Pap test, which indicates that they are not receiving appropriate information on the test's purpose, advantages and benefits to women's health.OBJETIVO: Analisar conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas das mulheres em relação ao exame citológico de Papanicolaou e a associação entre esses comportamentos e características sociodemográficas MÉTODOS: Inquérito domiciliar com abordagem quantitativa. Foram entrevistadas 267 mulheres com idade de 15 a 69 anos, selecionadas de forma estratificada aleatória, residentes no município de São José do Mipibu, RN, em 2007. Utilizou-se questionário com perguntas pré-codificadas e abertas, cujas respostas foram descritas e analisadas quanto à adequação dos conhecimentos, atitudes e prática das mulheres em relação ao exame preventivo de Papanicolaou. Foram realizados testes de associação entre as características sociodemográficas e os comportamentos estudados, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Apesar de 46,1% das mulheres entrevistadas terem mostrado conhecimento adequado, proporções de adequação significativamente maiores foram observadas em relação às atitudes e prática quanto ao exame: 63,3% e 64,4%, respectivamente. O maior grau de escolaridade apresentou associação com adequação dos conhecimentos, atitudes e prática, enquanto as principais barreiras para a realização do exame relatadas foram descuido, falta de solicitação do exame pelo médico e vergonha. CONCLUSÕES: O médico é a principal fonte de informação sobre o exame de Papanicolau. Entretanto, mulheres que vão a consultas com maior freqüência, embora apresentem prática mais adequada do exame, possuem baixa adequação de conhecimento e atitude frente ao procedimento, sugerindo que não estejam recebendo as informações adequadas sobre o objetivo do exame, suas vantagens e benefícios para sua saúde.OBJETIVO: Analizar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de las mujeres con relación al examen citológico de Papanicolaou y su asociación entre comportamientos y características sociodemográficas. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa domiciliar con abordaje cuantitativo. Fueron entrevistadas 267 mujeres con edad de 15 a 69 años, seleccionadas de forma estratificada aleatoria, residentes en el municipio de São José do Mipibu, Noreste de Brasil, en 2007. Se utilizó cuestionario con preguntas pre-codificadas y abiertas, cuyas respuestas fueron descritas y analizadas con relación a la adecuación de los conocimientos, actitudes y práctica de las mujeres con relación al examen preventivo de Papanicolaou. Fueron realizadas exámenes de asociación entre las características sociodemográficas y los comportamientos estudiados, con nivel de significancia de 5%. RESULTADOS: A pesar de 46,1% de las mujeres entrevistadas haber mostrado conocimiento adecuado, proporciones de adecuación significativamente mayores fueron observadas con relación a las actitudes y práctica con respecto al examen: 63,3% y 64,4%, respectivamente. El mayor grado de escolaridad presentó asociación con adecuación de los conocimientos, actitudes y práctica, con relación a las principales barreras para la realización del examen relatadas fueron descuido, falta de solicitud del examen por el médico y vergüenza. CONCLUSIONES: El médico es la principal fuente de información sobre el examen de Papanicolaou. Mientras tanto, mujeres que van a consultas con mayor frecuencia, a pesar de presentar práctica más adecuada del examen, poseen baja adecuación del conocimiento y actitud frente al procedimiento, sugiriendo que no están recibiendo las informaciones adecuadas sobre el objetivo del examen, sus ventajas y beneficios para su salud

Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from aquatic environments in Brazil: a systematic review

This article discusses antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from aquatic environments in Brazil, taking into account isolation sites, the main reported antimicrobial agents, the genes involved in resistance, the most prevalent bacterial genera and species, and the main mechanisms of resistance. This review is based upon specialized literature, consulting published scientific articles selected from the SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases. Based upon the inclusion criteria, we selected 21 articles, most (61.6%) were from PubMed, with the highest prevalence for work done in the Southeast region (71.4%) in freshwater environments (71.4%), and the major focus on farm ponds (28.6%). Gram-negative bacteria are the most studied (71.4%) and the Aeromonas spp. was the one found most frequently (19.0%). The most frequently used antimicrobials were chloramphenicol (81.0%), gentamicin (76.2%), sulpha/trimethroprim (71.4%), ampicillin (61.9%) and tetracycline (71.4%); and the ones with higher prevalence of resistance were chloramphenicol (58.8%), sulpha/trimethroprim (78.5%) and ampicillin (84.6%). It was found that studies on resistance in other aquatic environments have not yet been conducted in Brazil, especially in the North and Northeast regions, where irregular rainfall distribution leads to the use of reservoirs as supply sources during the dry season, highlighting concerns regarding the quality, contamination and maintenance of these resources, as the water is intended for human use or for production purposes

Contamination of semiarid potiguar reservoirs by harmful bacteria

Water contamination in the semi-arid section of Northeast Brazil is a current concern for the country’s researchers, since this region is considered one of the poorest in Brazil and the water in these locations is a primary vehicle for disease transmission. We collected physical and chemical data as well as water samples from four semiarid potiguar reservoirs during the dry and rainy seasons of 2013 and 2014. These samples were prepared in a laboratory at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and their physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics were evaluated. The procedures of microbial isolation and identification followed the Standard Methods for Examinations of Water and Wastewater. Then Vitek II system (Bio-Merieux®) was used to identify the microbial specimens and we calculated the frequency of specimens’ occurrence. Altogether, 168 bacteria were isolated and identified; 97% were Gram-negative and only 3% were Gram-positive. Within the Gram negatives, 73.2% were identified as belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family and, in general terms, the most constant genera in the water reservoirs were Vibrio and Aeromonas. Among the Enterobacteriaceae family, the species Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequent. There was no statistical difference between the number or morphotype groups found in the periods, p=0.255 and p=0.237, respectively. The analyzed data indicate possible contamination of these water reservoirs by human and/or animal fecal material