In vitro activity of disinfectants against Aspergillus spp

Fungi of the Aspergillus genus are widespread and contaminate the environment. Thousands of conidia are released from each phialide and dispersed in the air every day. These fungi are considered important mycose-causing agents in hospitals. Due to this, research to determine prevalent fungi from the Aspergillus genus in hospital environments, and an adequate disinfection program in these areas is are needed. This study evaluated the susceptibility of Aspergillus spp. isolated from a veterinary environment against four disinfectants. Successive dilutions of disinfectants (log2) were used according to CLSI M38-A2 microdilution technique adapted to chemical agents against 18 isolates of this genus. After 72 hours of incubation, the Minimum Inhibiting Concentration and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration capable of inhibiting 50% and 90% of the isolates were determined. Chlorexidine-cetrimine, benzalconium chloride and a chlorophenol derivative proved to be effective against all isolates with a lower MIC than that suggested by the manufacturer, except for the A. flavus strain. Sodium hypochlorite was ineffective against three A. fumigatus, three A. flavus and one A. niger isolate. These results demonstrated that all studied disinfectants were effective against environmental isolates, with the exception of sodium hypochlorite, which showed lower effectiveness.

Niveles plasmáticos de hierro, cobre y zinc en escolares Barí / Blood plasma concentrations of iron, copper and zinc in Indigenous Bari schoolchildren

Introducción: Los micronutrientes hierro (Fe), cobre (Cu) y zinc (Zn) participan en funciones biológicas importantes, tales como el crecimiento y desarrollo del niño, la formación de células sanguíneas, el metabolismo energético y la respuesta inmune. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los niveles plasmáticos de hierro, cobre y zinc es escolares Barí.Métodos: Fueron colectadas muestras de sangre periférica de 42 niños con edades entre 6-12 años, habitantes de la comunidad indígena Barí “Kumanda” en la Sierra de Perijá, Estado Zulia. Se realizó la evaluación nutricional antropométrica por combinación de los indicadores peso/edad, peso/talla y talla/edad. Las concentraciones de Fe, Zn y Cu fueron determinadas mediante espectrometría de absorción atómica. Para el estudio del consumo dietético de los minerales se utilizó como metodología la etnografía focalizada.Resultados: Los niveles plasmáticos de minerales (µg/ml) en la población infantil Barí fueron: Fe 0,44±0,10; Zn 0,32±0,04; Cu 0,76±0,06, sin diferencias entre sexos (p>0,05). El 88,1%, 92,9% y 69,1% de los niños presentaron valores bajos de Fe (<0,50 µg/ml), Zn (<0,70 µg/ml) y Cu (<0,90 µg/ml), respectivamente. La evaluación nutricional antropométrica mostró un 71,4% de los niños Barí con déficit, 26,2% normales y 2,4% con exceso. La ingesta diaria de minerales fue muy deficiente, con adecuaciones de 59,77% (Fe), 7,37% (Zn) y 14,67% (Cu).Conclusión: En la muestra estudiada se encontró deficiencia de hierro, cobre y zinc y elevada prevalencia de desnutrición.

Introduction: The micronutrients iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are involved in important biological functions such as growth and child development, blood cell formation, energy metabolism, and immune response. The purpose of our study was to determine plasma concentrations of iron, copper and zinc in Bari schoolchildren. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 42 children aged 6-12 years in the indigenous Bari community, "Kumanda", in the Perija mountain range of Venezuela's Zulia state. Assessment was performed by combining the anthropometric nutritional indicators of weight/age, weight/height, and height/age. Concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Focused ethnography was used to study dietary mineral intake. Results: Plasma concentrations of minerals (µg/ml) in Bari children were Fe 0.44±0.10, Zn 0.32±0.04, and Cu 0.76±0.06, with no gender differences (p> 0.05).Low levels of Fe (<0.50 µg/ml) were found in 88.1%, Zn (<0.70 µg/ml) in 92.9%, and Cu (<0.90 µg/ml) in 69.1% of children. Anthropometric nutritional assessment showed 71.4% of Bari children as deficient, 26.2% as normal, and 2.4% overweight. Daily intake of minerals was very poor, reaching 59.77% for Fe, 7.37% for Zn, and 14.67% for Cu. Conclusion: The study sample presented deficiencies of iron, copper, and zinc, with a high prevalence of malnutrition.