ANÁLISE DO USO DE ANTIMICROBIANOS E O IMPACTO NA RESISTÊNCIA BACTERIANA EM PACIENTES DO CENTRO DE TERAPIA INTENSIVA DE UM HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO EM MINAS GERAIS

The present study aims to describe the profile of antimicrobial use in the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora; analyze the results of the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test of bacterial strains isolated from clinical specimens and evaluate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial species from the specimens. Thus, it is characterized as a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from the analysis of patients' medical records of which, in clinical samples of tracheal aspirate, positive culture was identified for multidrug-resistant bacteria producing carbapenemases hospitalized in the period from 2020 to 2022, at the Santa Catarina University Hospital in Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF). It was observed that factors such as: prolonged ICU stay, use of invasive devices, comorbidities, age, previous use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, COVID co-infection, and gram-negative co-infections can contribute to a poor prognosis of patients. Despite the development of new antimicrobials, such as ceftazidime/avibactam for the treatment of carbapenemase-producing bacteria, it is necessary to implement strict measures to control the use of these drugs.  O presente estudo objetiva-se em descrever o perfil de utilização de antimicrobianos no Centro de Terapia Intensiva do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; analisar os resultados do Teste de Sensibilidade aos Antimicrobianos de cepas bacterianas isoladas de amostras clínicas e avaliar a prevalência de espécies bacterianas multirresistentes das amostras. Desta forma, caracteriza-se como um estudo transversal retrospectivo descritivo realizado a partir da análise de prontuários de pacientes dos quais em amostras clínicas de aspirado traqueal, foram identificadas cultura positiva para bactérias multirresistentes produtoras de carbapenemases internados no período de 2020 a 2022, no Hospital Universitário Santa Catarina em Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF). Observou-se que fatores como: internação prolongada no CTI, uso de dispositivos invasivos, comorbidades, idade, uso prévio de antimicrobianos de amplo espectro, coinfecção por COVID e coinfecções por gram negativos, podem contribuir para um mau prognóstico dos pacientes. Apesar do desenvolvimento de novos antimicrobianos, como ceftazidima/ avibactam para o tratamento de bactérias produtoras de carbapenemases, é necessária a implementação de medidas rigorosas de controle do uso desses medicamentos

Comparison of Rapid Nucleic Acid Extraction Methods for SARS-CoV-2 Detection by RT-qPCR

Since 2020, humanity has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2. The world’s response to pandemic went through the development of diagnostics, vaccines and medicines. Regarding diagnostics, an enormous challenge was faced due to shortage of materials to collect and process the samples, and to perform reliable mass diagnosis by RT-qPCR. In particular, time-consuming and high cost of nucleic acid extraction procedures have hampered the diagnosis; moreover, several steps in the routine for the preparation of the material makes the extracted sample susceptible to contamination. Here two rapid nucleic acid extraction reagents were compared as extraction procedures for SARS-CoV-2 detection in clinical samples by singleplex and multiplex RT-qPCR analysis, using different transport media, samples with high and low viral load, and different PCR machines. As observed, rapid nucleic acid extraction procedures can be applied for reliable diagnosis using a TaqMan-based assay, over multiple platforms. Ultimately, prompt RNA extraction may reduce costs with reagents and plastics, the chances of contamination, and the overall time to diagnosis by RT-qPCR

Fasciola hepatica em ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos em municípios do sul do Espírito Santo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar a presença de Fasciola hepatica em ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos em dez municípios do sul do Espírito Santo e relacionar fatores determinantes da doença na região. Um total de 34 propriedades de ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos foi visitado coletando-se amostras fecais dessas espécies para procedimento da técnica de sedimentação. Um total de 58 (13,68%) amostras de ovinos, 76 (21,78%) amostras de caprinos e 10 (23,81%) amostras de bubalinos foram positivas para ovos de F. hepatica. Todos os moluscos coletados foram identificados como pertencentes à espécie Lymnaea columella. Notou-se que os municípios da região sul do Espírito Santo apresentam altas taxas de F. hepatica em ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos, tornando essa região um grande foco de dispersão da parasitose, e que a ocorrência de casos anteriores de fasciolose nas propriedades ficou caracterizada como fator de risco epidemiológico para a doença

PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN CONVENTIONALLY AND ORGANICALLY GROWN TOMATOES IN ESPÍRITO SANTO (BRAZIL)

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of acephate, carbaryl, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin, methamidophos and permethrin in conventionally and organically grown tomatoes from Espírito Santo, Brazil, between May 2012 and April 2013. QuEChERS sample preparation was used and analysis was performed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. The method validation showed good linearity (R > 0.99), precision (RSD -1 for all pesticides. The pesticides acephate, carbaryl (0.23 mg kg-1; exceeding maximum residue levels), carbendazim, chlorpyriphos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin (0.41 mg kg-1; exceeding maximum residue levels), methamidophos and permethrin (0.51 mg kg-1, exceeding maximum residue levels) were found in conventional tomatoes. In organic tomatoes, only one sample exhibited the presence of permethrin (0.21 mg kg-1). Considering that the pesticides found are toxic and carcinogenic, and given the high incidence of irregularities, it is important to implement government actions to ensure consumer safety.</p

Fasciola hepatica EM BÚFALOS (Bubalus bubalis) NO SUL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO

búfalos, em uma propriedade de Jerônimo Monteiro, sul do Espírito Santo. Um total de 15 amostras de sangue e fezes de búfalos foi coletado e destas, sete (46,67%) foram positivas para ovos de F. hepatica e quatro (26,67%) animais apresentaram ovos do tipo Strongyloidea, sendo que o OPG variou de zero a 50. A média do hematócrito dos animais foi de 42% e somente um teve valor inferior ao da normalidade. O registro da ocorrência de F. hepatica na propriedade sugere que deva ocorrer análise das amostras de fezes de búfalos e de outras espécies de hospedeiros em propriedades próximas, por haver possibilidade de contaminação da água, introdução de animais contaminados e presença do hospedeiro intermediário

Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis using the nested-PCR, correlation with the presence of morulae and thrombocytopenia in dogs treated in Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Espirito Santo

ABSTRACT. Sales M.R.R.P., Ignacchiti M.D.C., Mendes Junior A.F., Suhett W.G., Porfírio L.C., Marins M., Aptekmann K.P. & Pereira Júnior O.S. [Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis using the nested-PCR, correlation with the presence of morulae and thrombocytopenia in dogs treated in Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Espirito Santo.] Prevalência de Ehrlichia canis pela Nested- -PCR, correlação com a presença de mórula e trombocitopenia em cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 37(1):47-51, 2015. Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Rua Projetada s/nº, Caixa Postal 25, Pontal, Marataízes, ES 29349-000, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] Ehrlichia canis, is the primary etiologic agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. The disease is mainly transmitted by the brown dog ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus in different endemic regions of Brazil. The purpose of this study was determinated using the Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (nested-PCR) the prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in 85 dogs, regardless of race, age, sex or health status, treated at the Veterinary Hospital of Federal University of Espirito Santo, in Alegre-ES and evaluate its correlation with the presence of morulae and thrombocytopenia. It was observed that 1.17% of the samples were positive by blood smear, for the presence of morulae. However, the nested-PCR showed 5.88% positivity of samples. And 17.64% samples showed thrombocytopenia. By analyzing all the techniques, it was concluded that the introduction of diagnostic techniques such as nested-PCR is an important method for aid in early diagnosis of pathologies

The Influence of the Omicron Variant on RNA Extraction and RT-qPCR Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a Laboratory in Brazil

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants can affect their detection via RT-qPCR. The Omicron variant has a greater affinity for the upper respiratory system and causes clinical conditions similar to bronchitis, as opposed to the pneumonitis-like conditions caused by other SARS-CoV-2 variants. This characteristic increases the viscosity of clinical samples collected for diagnosis. Coinciding with the arrival of the Omicron variant, we observed a failure in control gene expression in our laboratory. In this report, we have optimized a rapid nucleic acid extraction step to restore gene expression and detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We reevaluated 3000 samples, compared variant types occurring in different time periods, and confirmed that the presence of the Omicron variant was responsible for changes observed in the characteristics of these clinical samples. For samples with large amounts of mucus, such as those containing the Omicron variant, a modification to the nucleic acid extraction step was sufficient to restore the quality of RT-qPCR results