Silver Nanocomposite Biosynthesis: Antibacterial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Bacterial resistance is an emerging public health issue that is disseminated worldwide. Silver nanocomposite can be an alternative strategy to avoid Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria growth, including multidrug-resistant strains. In the present study a silver nanocomposite was synthesized, using a new green chemistry process, by the addition of silver nitrate (1.10-3 mol·L-1) into a fermentative medium of Xanthomonas spp. to produce a xanthan gum polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the shape and size of the silver nanoparticles obtained. The silver ions in the nanocomposite were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The antibacterial activity of the nanomaterial against Escherichia coli (ATCC 22652), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29282), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) was carried out using 500 mg of silver nanocomposite. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii multidrug-resistant strains, isolated from hospitalized patients were also included in the study. The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite showed spherical nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 10 nm; 1 g of nanocomposite contained 49.24 µg of silver. Multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, and the other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested, were sensitive to the silver nanocomposite (10-12.9 mm of inhibition zone). The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite seems to be a promising antibacterial agent for different applications, namely biomedical devices or topical wound coatings.

Gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid-loaded liposome improves dermal burn healing in a porcine model.

There are a range of products available which claim to accelerate the healing of burns; these include topical agents, interactive dressings and biomembranes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid/liposomes on the healing of burns in comparison to silver sulfadiazine ointment and duoDerme® dressing, as well as examining its quantification by high performance liquid chromatography. The quantification of the usnic acid/liposomes was examined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by performing separate in vitro studies of the efficiency of the biomembranes in terms of encapsulation, drug release and transdermal absorption. Then, second-degree 5cm2 burn wounds were created on the dorsum of nine male pigs, assigned into three groups (n=3): SDZ - animals treated with silver sulfadiazine ointment; GDU - animals treated with duoDerme®; UAL - animals treated with a gelatin-based membrane containing usnic acid/liposomes. These groups were treated for 8, 18 and 30days. In the average rate of contraction, there was no difference among the groups (p>0.05). The results of the quantification showed that biomembranes containing usnic acid/liposomes were controlled released systems capable of transdermal absorption by skin layers. A macroscopic assay did not observe any clinical signs of secondary infections. Microscopy after 8days showed hydropic degeneration of the epithelium, with intense neutrophilic infiltration in all three groups. At 18days, although epidermal neo-formation was only partial in all three groups, it was most incipient in the SDZ group. Granulation tissue was more exuberant and cellularized in the UAL and GDU groups. At 30days, observed restricted granulation tissue in the region below the epithelium in the GDU and UAL groups was observed. In the analysis of collagen though picrosirius, the UAL group showed greater collagen density. Therefore, the UAL group displayed development and maturation of granulation tissue and scar repair that was comparable to that produced by duoDerme®, and better than that produced by treatment with sulfadiazine silver ointment In addition, the UAL group showed increased collagen deposition compared to the other two groups.

[Ethical issues in a market dispute between clinical laboratories and a health plan: case report]. / Aspectos éticos em uma disputa de mercado entre laboratórios clínicos e um plano de saúde: relato de caso.

In Brazil the private health plans appear as an alternative to the public health assistance. This segment suffered great intensification in the seventies and eighties, culminating in the entry of large insurance company in the scenario of supplementary medicine. Quickly, the service providers associated with these insurance companies, consolidating them in the market and triggering a relationship of dependency. This article analyzed, in the form of a case report, a marketing dispute between clinical laboratories and a health plan, emphasizing the moral and ethical aspects involved in this episode.

Aspectos éticos em uma disputa de mercado entre laboratórios clínicos e um plano de saúde: relato de caso / Ethical issues in a market dispute between clinical laboratories and a health plan: case report

Como alternativa à assistência em saúde pública, surgem no Brasil os planos privados. Esse segmento sofreu grande intensificação nas décadas de setenta e oitenta, culminando com a entrada das grandes seguradoras no cenário da medicina suplementar. Rapidamente, os prestadores de serviço se associaram a elas, solidificando-as no mercado e desencadeando uma relação de dependência. O presente artigo analisou, em forma de relato de caso, uma disputa mercadológica entre laboratórios clínicos e um plano de saúde, enfatizando os aspectos éticos e morais envolvidos nesse episódio.

In Brazil the private health plans appear as an alternative to the public health assistance. This segment suffered great intensification in the seventies and eighties, culminating in the entry of large insurance company in the scenario of supplementary medicine. Quickly, the service providers associated with these insurance companies, consolidating them in the market and triggering a relationship of dependency. This article analyzed, in the form of a case report, a marketing dispute between clinical laboratories and a health plan, emphasizing the moral and ethical aspects involved in this episode.

[Occurrence of enteroparasitosis in carriers of mental disease assisted at São Marcello nursing home in Aracaju, Sergipe State]. / Ocorrência de enteroparasitoses em portadores de transtornos mentais assistidos na Clínica de Repouso São Marcello em Aracaju (SE).

The interhuman transmission, low level of personal hygiene, coprophagic habits, among others, may contribute to the dissemination of enteroparasitosis in individuals with mental diseases. The object of this paper was to verify the occurrence of enteroparasitosis in individuals with mental diseases assisted at São Marcello Nursing Home in Aracaju, Sergipe State, in the period between February and May at 2006, and track epidemiological aspects of the transmission. So, coproparasitologic exams were performed, and samples were manipulated by Hoffmann, Pons or Janner (1932) technique. The epidemiological data was obtained from questionnaires applied to the legal responsible for each individual. There were 62.22% of patients infected by at least one parasite. Inadequacies regarding sanitation, habitation and habits of personal hygiene were also observed. This study stressed the importance of a constant monitoring of parasitisms and the continuous observance of the conditions that favor their transmission.

[Trichomoniasis: prevalence in the female gender in 2004-2005 in Sergipe State, Brazil]. / Tricomoníase: prevalência no gênero feminino em Sergipe no biênio 2004-2005.

Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, which initiates a wide variety of clinical manifestations. It may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus, cervical cancer, infertility and other diseases. Its incidence ranges from 20% up to 40% in Brazil. The primary channel of transmission is by sexual contact and laboratorial diagnostic may be performed by chain polymerase reaction (CPR), culture medium isolation, fresh vaginal content exam and/or colored by Giemsa and Papanicolau methods. The later has limitations in the detection of pathologies considered sexually transmissible, like Thricomoniasis. This work deals with prevalence of Thricomoniasis in users of laboratories associated with the Ministry of Health, in the age group from 19 up to 44 years old which were submitted to Papanicolau test in 2004-2005 in Sergipe state, Brazil. Results have revealed that among 206,034 users, 7,349 have shown Thricomoniasis, being 3,788 in 2004 and 3,498 in 2005. It could be observed that the estimated prevalence in Sergipe in the biennium studied did not corroborate with the Brazilian reality, which may be attributed to the diagnostic executed.

Ocorrência de enteroparasitoses em portadores de transtornos mentais assistidos na Clínica de Repouso São Marcello em Aracaju (SE) / Occurrence of enteroparasitosis in carriers of mental disease assisted at São Marcello Nursing Home in Aracaju, Sergipe State

A transmissão inter-humana, o baixo nível de higiene pessoal, o hábito de coprofagia, entre outros, contribuem para a disseminação de enteroparasitoses em portadores de transtornos mentais. No presente trabalho, verificou-se a ocorrência de enteroparasitas em portadores de transtornos mentais assistidos na Clínica de Repouso São Marcello, Aracaju (SE), no período de fevereiro a maio de 2006, bem como se rastreou os aspectos epidemiológicos de contágio. Para tanto, realizaram-se exames coproparasitológicos, sendo as amostras manipuladas pela técnica de Hoffmann, Pons ou Jannes (1932), e os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos a partir de questionários aplicados aos responsáveis. Observou-se que 62,22 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram-se infectados por pelo menos um parasito. Percebeu-se, também, uma inadequação no que se refere ao saneamento básico, moradia e hábitos de higiene pessoal. Este estudo realçou a importância de um monitoramento constante com relação às parasitoses e a observância insistente das condições que favorecem a transmissão.

The interhuman transmission, low level of personal hygiene, coprophagic habits, among others, may contribute to the dissemination of enteroparasitosis in individuals with mental diseases. The object of this paper was to verify the occurrence of enteroparasitosis in individuals with mental diseases assisted at São Marcello Nursing Home in Aracaju, Sergipe State, in the period between February and May at 2006, and track epidemiological aspects of the transmission. So, coproparasitologic exams were performed, and samples were manipulated by Hoffmann, Pons or Janner (1932) technique. The epidemiological data was obtained from questionnaires applied to the legal responsible for each individual. There were 62.22 percent of patients infected by at least one parasite. Inadequacies regarding sanitation, habitation and habits of personal hygiene were also observed. This study stressed the importance of a constant monitoring of parasitisms and the continuous observance of the conditions that favor their transmission.

Tricomoníase: prevalência no gênero feminino em Sergipe no biênio 2004-2005 / Trichomoniasis: prevalence in the female gender in 2004-2005 in Sergipe State, Brazil

A tricomoníase é uma protozoose causada pelo Trichomonas vaginalis, que desencadeia uma ampla variedade de manifestações clínicas, podendo estar associada à transmissão do vírus da imunodeficiência humana, câncer cervical, infertilidade, entre outros. No Brasil, a incidência varia entre 20 e 40 por cento. A via primária de transmissão é pelo contato sexual e o diagnóstico laboratorial pode ser realizado através da Reação de Polimerase em Cadeia (PCR), isolamento em meios de cultura e exame do conteúdo vaginal à fresco e/ou corados pelos métodos de Giemsa e Papanicolau. Esse último possui limitações na detecção de patologias consideradas DST, a exemplo da tricomoníase. Esse artigo trata da prevalência de tricomoníase em mulheres usuárias dos laboratórios conveniados ao Ministério da Saúde, na faixa etária de 19 a 44 anos, que foram submetidas ao teste de Papanicolau, em 2004-2005, no Estado de Sergipe. Os resultados revelaram que, em 206.034 usuárias, 7.349 apresentaram tricomoníase, sendo que 3.788 em 2004 e 3.498 em 2005. Observou-se que a prevalência estimada em Sergipe, no biênio estudado, não corrobora com a realidade brasileira, fato esse que pode estar atrelado ao diagnóstico executado.

Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, which initiates a wide variety of clinical manifestations. It may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus, cervical cancer, infertility and other diseases. Its incidence ranges from 20 percent up to 40 percent in Brazil. The primary channel of transmission is by sexual contact and laboratorial diagnostic may be performed by chain polymerase reaction (CPR), culture medium isolation, fresh vaginal content exam and/or colored by Giemsa and Papanicolau methods. The later has limitations in the detection of pathologies considered sexually transmissible, like Thricomoniasis. This work deals with prevalence of Thricomoniasis in users of laboratories associated with the Ministry of Health, in the age group from 19 up to 44 years old which were submitted to Papanicolau test in 2004-2005 in Sergipe state, Brazil. Results have revealed that among 206,034 users, 7,349 have shown Thricomoniasis, being 3,788 in 2004 and 3,498 in 2005. It could be observed that the estimated prevalence in Sergipe in the biennium studied did not corroborate with the Brazilian reality, which may be attributed to the diagnostic executed.

Avaliação da resistência da Escherichia coli frente a Ciprofloxacina em uroculturas de três laboratórios clínicos de Aracaju-SE / Escherichia coli: evaluation of its resistance by Ciprofloxacinin in urine culture of three clinical laboratories of Aracaju-SE

Esse artigo objetivou avaliar a resistencia da Escherichia coli ao antibiotico ciprofloxacina a partir dos resultados de uroculturas e seus antibiogramas no municipio de Aracaju-SE, no ano de 2007. Para tal, utilizou-se os registros do setor de microbiologiade dois laboratorios ambulatoriais e um hospitalar. Foram executadas no periodo em estudo, 3.646 uroculturas, sendo 2.629 negativas e 1.017 positivas. Dentre as positivas (64,1%) foram para Escherichia coli, seguida de Enterobacter spp. (10,7%) Klebsiella spp. (10,1%), Staphylococcus spp. (7,3%), Proteus spp. (5,4%), Morganella spp. (1%), Serratia spp. (0,8%) e Pseudomonas spp. (0,7%). Jaos antibioticos utilizados nas uroculturas positivas foram: ciprofloxacina (98,9 %), ceftriaxona (97,5%), amicacina (95,3%), ampicilina (94,9%), ceftazidima (94,7%), nitrofurantoina (90,3%) e tobramicina (90,1%). Neste estudo a Escherichia coli mostrou uma resistencia de 21,3%. Mediante esse resultado sugere-se que, ao ser administrado ciprofloxacina para tratamento de infeccoes urinarias por Escherichia coli em Aracaju-SE, ele seja realizado com bastante parcimonia.

This article aimed to evaluate the resistance of the Escherichia coli to the ciprofloxacin antibiotic based on urine cultures results and antibiograms in Aracaju-SE of 2007. To reach this goal, records from the Microbiology sector of two ambulatory laboratories and one hospital laboratory were used. During this period of studies, 3.646 urine cultures were accomplished, of which 2.629 were negative and 1.017 were positive. The samples were positive for Escherichia coli (64,1%), followed by Enterobacter spp. (10,7%), Klebsiella spp. (10,1%), Staphylococcus spp (7,3%), Proteus spp. (5,4%), Morganella spp. (1%), Serratia spp. (0,8%) and Pseudomonas spp. (0,7%). The antibiotics used in positive urine cultures were ciprofloxacin (98,9%), ceftriaxone (97,5%), amikacin (95,3%), ampicilin (94,9%), ceftazidime (94,7%), nitrofurantoin (90,3%) and tobramycin (90,1%). In this study, Escherichia coli showed a resistance of 21,3%. These results suggest that the ciprofloxacin administration for treating urinary infections by Escherichia coli should bedone with frugality in Aracaju-SE.