Impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 no diagnóstico laboratorial de tuberculose no sul do Brasil

Background and objectives: to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in different settings is essential to guide the establishment of appropriate TB control strategies. This study aimed to assess the influence of COVID-19 pandemic in laboratory diagnosis of TB in patients tested and diagnosed for TB. Methods: a data survey was carried out in the database of laboratories that perform TB diagnosis for the public health system in Rio Grande city (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Results: there was a decrease of 1,368 to 735 (reduction of 46.3%) in the number of patients tested for TB in public diagnostic services in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and a decrease of 197 to 119 (reduction of 39.6%) in the number of new TB cases diagnosed. In contrast, the positivity rate was 14.4% in 2019 and 16.2% in 2020. Moreover, it was observed that the laboratory that performs the diagnostic service for Primary Health Care was the most affected, when compared to Tertiary Health Care. Conclusion: as a consequence of measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, there was a reduction in TB testing and in the detection of new cases, especially in Primary Health Care, where patients with less need for hospitalization are received.Justificación y objetivos: comprender el impacto de la pandemia Covid-19 en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis (TB) en diferentes lugares es fundamental para orientar el establecimiento de estrategias adecuadas de control de la TB. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de la pandemia de COVID-19 en el diagnóstico de laboratorio de TB, en términos de pacientes examinados y diagnosticados de TB. Métodos: los datos fueron recolectados de la base de datos de los laboratorios que realizan el diagnóstico de TB para el sistema público de salud en la ciudad de Rio Grande (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil). Resultados: hubo una reducción de 1.368 a 735 (reducción del 46,3%) en el número de pacientes sometidos a pruebas de TB en los servicios públicos de diagnóstico en 2019 y 2020, respectivamente, y una reducción de 197 a 119 (reducción del 39,6%) en el número de nuevos casos de TB diagnosticados. Por otro lado, la tasa de positividad fue de 14,4% en 2019 y 16,2% en 2020. Además, se observó que el laboratorio que realiza el servicio de diagnóstico para la Atención Primaria de Salud fue el más afectado, en comparación con la Atención Terciaria de Salud. Conclusiones: como consecuencia de las medidas para el control de la propagación del SARS-CoV-2, hubo una reducción en las pruebas de TB y en la detección de nuevos casos, especialmente en la Atención Primaria de Salud, donde se encuentran los pacientes con menor necesidad de hospitalización.Justificativa e objetivos: compreender o impacto da pandemia COVID-19 no diagnóstico da tuberculose (TB) em diferentes locais é essencial para orientar o estabelecimento de estratégias adequadas de controle da TB. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da pandemia de COVID-19 no diagnóstico laboratorial de TB, em pacientes testados e diagnosticados com TB. Métodos: foi realizado um levantamento de dados no banco de dados de laboratórios que realizam diagnóstico de TB para o sistema público de saúde na cidade de Rio Grande (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil). Resultados: houve redução de 1.368 para 735 (redução de 46,3%) no número de pacientes testados para TB nos serviços públicos de diagnóstico em 2019 e 2020, respectivamente, e redução de 197 para 119 (redução de 39,6%) no número de novos casos de TB diagnosticados. Em contrapartida, a taxa de positividade foi de 14,4% em 2019 e 16,2% em 2020. Além disso, observou-se que o laboratório que realiza o serviço de diagnóstico para a Atenção Primária à Saúde foi o mais afetado, quando comparado com a Atenção Terciária à Saúde. Conclusão: como consequência das medidas de controle da disseminação do SARS-CoV-2, houve redução na testagem de TB e na detecção de novos casos, principalmente na atenção primária à saúde, onde são recebidos pacientes com menor necessidade de internação

Influence of temperature and culture media on growth and lipolytic activity of deep-sea Halomonas sulfidaeris LAMA 838 and Marinobacter excellens LAMA 842

Bacteria with lipolytic activity are widespread in the marine environment. These organisms can be usedas a source of lipases with activity in unusual conditions such as low temperatures and high salinities.These characteristics allow them to be applied to several industrial processes and products includingwastewater treatment and detergent production. In this context the lipolytic activity of bacteria isolatedfrom deep-sea sediments of the South Atlantic was evaluated. Among the collection studied, two strains,Halomonas sulfidaeris LAMA 838 and Marinobacter excellens LAMA 842, were selected for further analysisconcerning their growth and lipolytic activity in different temperatures and culture media. Both strainswere characterized as mesophiles: H. sulfidaeris LAMA 838 grew best at 30ºC, while M. excellens LAMA 842showed a maximum growth rate between 20 and 25ºC. Maximum lipolytic activity for both microorganismswas observed above 45ºC, but only M. excellens LAMA 842 had lipolytic activity at low temperatures (5ºC) aswell. Considering the culture media employed, H. sulfidaeris LAMA 838 grew better in marine broth withoutTween 40, while M. excellens LAMA 842 grew best in marine broth supplemented with Tween 40. Bothorganisms had maximum lipolytic activity in rich or minimal media supplemented with Tween 40. Theseresults demonstrate the potential of deep-sea bacteria as sources of lipases and indicate conditions thatmay be used in their cultivation and for the production of industrially relevant enzymes

Tuberculose extrapulmonar ou sarcoidose associada a tuberculose? Relato de caso

Objectives: The present report aims to discuss the differential diagnosis between tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. Case description: The case of a 25-year-old male patient who developed granulomatous arthritis and osteomyelitis with nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation suggesting a sarcoidosis. Twenty-four months before this report, he had positive laboratory results to pulmonary tuberculosis, however, he was not treated. Conclusion: This case report demonstrates how necessary is the follow-up of patient after the performance of a diagnostic testing to tuberculosis, and the challenge to confirm a diagnosis of sarcoidosis in a patient with tuberculosis.Objetivos: El presente relato tiene como objetivo discutir el diagnóstico diferencial entre tuberculosis y sarcoidosis. Descripción del caso: Caso de un paciente del sexo masculino, 25 años, que desarrolló artritis granulomatosa y osteomielitis con inflamación granulomatosa no caseosa sugestiva de sarcoidosis. Veinticuatro meses antes de ese relato, el paciente tuvo resultados de laboratorio positivos para la tuberculosis pulmonar, por lo que no fue tratado. Conclusión: Demostramos cómo es necesario el acompañamiento del paciente después de la realización de una prueba diagnóstica para tuberculosis y el desafío de confirmar un diagnóstico de sarcoidosis en un paciente con tuberculosis.Objetivos: O presente relato tem como objetivo discutir o diagnostico diferencial entre tuberculose e sarcoidose. Descrição do caso: Caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 25 anos, que desenvolveu artrite granulomatosa e osteomielite com inflamação granulomatosa não caseosa sugestiva de sarcoidose. Vinte e quatro meses antes desse relato, o paciente teve resultados laboratoriais positivos para tuberculose pulmonar, no entando, não foi tratado. Conclusão: Demonstramos como é necessário o acompanhamento do paciente após a realização de um teste diagnóstico para tuberculose e o desafio de confirmar um diagnóstico de sarcoidose em um paciente com tuberculose

Characterization of acidophilic bacteria related to Acidiphilium cryptum from a coal-mining-impacted river of South Brazil

Three acidophilic bacteria were isolated from water and sediment samples collected at a coal mining-impacted river, Rio Sangão, located in the city of Criciúma, Santa Catarina state, in south Brazil. These microorganisms were isolated in acid media and were phylogenetic related to the species Acidiphilium cryptum by its 16s rRNA gene sequences, although they differ from this species in the assimilation of some carbon sources. The optimum and the maximum pH for growth of all strains were nearly 3.0 and 5.0-6.0, respectively. Two of the strains were slightly more acidophilic, with the minimum pH for growth of 2.0. All strains also tolerate the four tested metals (Ni, Zn, Cu and Se) at variable concentrations, with LAMA 1486 being the most metal-resistant strain. These bacteria may belong to different ecotypes of A. cryptum, or even represent new species in the genus. Besides they bear characteristics that make them useful in the development of bioremediation process, for the treatment of sites contaminated with multiple toxic metals, including coal mining drainag

The BACTEC MGIT(tm) 320 system as a laboratory tool to diagnose tuberculosis in a Brazilian hospital with a high prevalence of HIV infection

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization endorses the BACTEC Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT)(tm) system as a rapid, sensitive, and specific method to diagnostic of tuberculosis. Here, we compared the performance of this system against Ogawa-Kudoh cultures and microscopy. METHODS: A total of 927 samples were obtained between December 2011 and December 2013 from 652 cases of suspected tuberculosis at the School Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande in Brazil. RESULTS: The MGIT system confirmed tuberculosis in more cases in less time. CONCLUSIONS: The MGIT system is an effective tool for early diagnosis of tuberculosis, especially in patients with HIV/AIDS