Characteristics of patients with hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic and biological agents and desensitization behavior / Características de pacientes com reações de hipersensibilidade a agentes quimioterápicos e biológicos e comportamento de dessensibilização

Introduction: Hypersensitivity to chemotherapeutic and biological agents has increased in recent years due to their frequent use. Avoidance has been the first line of defense, leading to decreased treatment efficacy and increased adverse events. Objective: To characterize the sociodemographic and clinical aspects of patients with hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic agents who underwent desensitization and biological procedures in a Colombian city. Methods: This observational, descriptive, retrospective, multicenter study was conducted in patients with hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic and biological agents who underwent desensitization. Results: In the 14 included patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic and biological agents (57.1% women; median age 42.5 years), 45 desensitization procedures were performed. The most commonly prescribed drug was rituximab (57%). The skin was the most frequent reaction site (78.6%), and systemic corticosteroids were the most common treatment (78.6%). Breakthrough reactions occurred in 31.1% of the patients and only premedication with corticosteroids was associated with less severe reactions. All cases of desensitization were successful. Conclusions: Desensitization to chemotherapeutic and biological agents proved to be a useful and safe tool in a Colombian population.

Introdução: A hipersensibilidade aos agentes quimioterápicos e biológicos aumentou nos últimos anos devido ao seu uso frequente. Evitar tem sido a primeira linha de ação, levando à diminuição da eficácia do tratamento e ao aumento de eventos adversos. Objetivos: Caracterizar os aspectos sociodemográficos e clínicos de pacientes com reações de hipersensibilidade a agentes quimioterápicos submetidos a dessensibilização e procedimentos biológicos em uma cidade colombiana. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, descritivo, retrospectivo e multicêntrico em pacientes com reações de hipersensibilidade a agentes quimioterápicos e biológicos submetidos à dessensibilização. Resultados: Foram incluídos 45 procedimentos de dessensibilização em 14 pacientes com histórico de reações de hipersensibilidade a agentes quimioterápicos e biológicos (57,1% mulheres, com mediana de idade de 42,5 anos). O medicamento mais relatado foi o rituximabe (57%). O envolvimento cutâneo foi o mais frequente (78,6%) e os corticosteroides sistêmicos foram o tratamento mais utilizado (78,6%). As reações ocorreram em 31,1% e apenas a pré-medicação com corticosteroides foi associada a uma menor gravidade destas. Todos os casos de dessensibilização foram bem-sucedidos. Conclusões: A dessensibilização a agentes quimioterápicos e biológicos provou ser uma ferramenta útil e segura em uma população colombiana.

Acidentes de trabalho com exposição a materiais biológicos entre trabalhadores no norte de Minas Gerais / Work accidents with exposure to biological materials betweenworkers in the north of Minas Gerais / Accidentes de trabajo con exposición a materiales biológicos entre trabajadores en el norte de Minas Gerais

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil dos acidentes com exposição a material biológico ocorridos em Minas Gerais. Métodos: estudo epidemiológico, descritivo e transversal realizado por meio da consulta do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação dos municípios do norte de Minas Gerais, no período de 2008-2012. Resultados: dentre os 56 municípios investigados 28 notificaram 1025 acidentes, 46,1% ocorreram entre técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem, 14,7% por estudantes e pelos médicos com 11,6% das ocorrências. Houve predomínio dos acidentes com profissionais de 30 a 39 anos, em procedimentos cirúrgicos, descarte inadequado de materiais perfuro cortantes e administração de medicamentos. Verificou-se que a exposição percutânea, o sangue como material orgânico e agulhas como agente. Conclusão: as causas dos acidentes mais comumente estão diretamente relacionadas com a maneira em executar as atividades no decorrer do trabalho, desencadeadas por ineficiência dos equipamentos de proteção individuais ou coletivos, percebe-se a fragilidade no cumprimento da norma regulamentadora

Objective:To describe the profile of accidents with exposure to biological material that occurred in Minas Gerais. Methods: an epidemiological, descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out by consulting the Notification Disease Information System of the municipalities of northern Minas Gerais, from 2008-2012. Results: among the 56 municipalities investigated 28 reported 1025 accidents, 46.1% occurred among technicians and nursing assistants, 14.7% by students and doctors with 11.6% of occurrences. There was a predominance of accidents with professionals aged 30 to 39 years, in surgical procedures, improper disposal of sharps and administration of medication. Percutaneous exposure, blood as organic material and needles as agent were found. Conclusion: the causes of accidents most commonly are directly related to the way to perform activities during work, triggered by inefficiency of individual or collective protective equipment, it is perceived the weakness in compliance with the regulatory standard

Objetivo: Describir el perfil de accidentes con exposición a material biológico ocurridos en Minas Gerais. Métodos: un estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo y transversal realizado mediante la consulta del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Notificación de los municipios del norte de Minas Gerais, de 2008 a 2012. Resultados: entre los 56 municipios investigados, 28 reportaron 1025 accidentes, 46.1% ocurrieron entre técnicos y auxiliares de enfermería, 14.7% por estudiantes y médicos con 11.6% de incidentes. Predominaron los accidentes con profesionales de 30 a 39 años, en procedimientos quirúrgicos, eliminación inadecuada de objetos punzantes y administración de medicamentos. Se encontraron exposición percutánea, sangre como material orgánico y agujas como agente. Conclusión: las causas de accidentes más comúnmente están directamente relacionadas con la forma de realizar actividades durante el trabajo, desencadenadas por la ineficiencia de los equipos de protección individuales o colectivos, se percibe la debilidad en el cumplimiento de la norma reguladora

Defence responses in rice plants in prior and simultaneous applications of Cladosporium sp. during leaf blast suppression.

An alternative method to control rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) is to include biological agent in the disease management strategy. The objective of this study was to assess the leaf blast-suppressing effects of rice phylloplane fungi. One Cladosporium sp. phylloplane fungus was shown to possess biocontrolling traits based on its morphological characteristics and an analysis of its 18S ribosomal DNA. Experiments aimed at determining the optimal time to apply the bioagent and the mechanisms involved in its rice blast-suppressing activities were performed under controlled greenhouse conditions. We used foliar spraying to apply the Cladosporium sp. 48 h prior to applying the pathogen, and we found that this increased the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, in vitro tests performed using isolate C24 showed that it possessed the ability to secrete endoxylanases and endoglucanases. When Cladosporium sp. was applied either prior to or simultaneous with the pathogen, we observed a significant increase in defence enzyme activity, and rice blast was suppressed by 84.0 and 78.6 %, respectively. However, some enzymes showed higher activity at 24 h while others did so at 48 h after the challenge inoculation. Cladosporium sp. is a biological agent that is capable of suppressing rice leaf blast by activating biochemical defence mechanisms in rice plants. It is highly adapted to natural field conditions and should be included in further studies aimed at developing strategies to support ecologically sustainable disease management and reduce environmental pollution by the judicious use of fungicidal sprays.

Legionelosis

La legionelosis es una enfermedad bacteriana de origen ambiental, con presentación en el ámbito comunitario y hospitalario. De distribución mundial, puede acontecer en forma de brotes y casos aislados o esporádicos. En el estudio se hace un recorrido histórico de la identificación del agente biológico causante (Legionella spp.) y de los principales eventos que condujeron a su descubrimiento. Asimismo, se describen los principales brotes acaecidos desde el inicio de la definición de la enfermedad, la incidencia de ésta última y su importancia relativa a la vigilancia y prevención...

Legionelosis is a bacterial disease of environmental origin present at community and hospital settings. It may appear worldwide in the form of isolated or sporadic outbreaks. A historical account of the identification of the causative biological agent (Legionella spp.) and the main events leading to the discovery was made. Likewise, the main outbreaks from the definition of the disease, its incidence to the importance of surveillance and prevention were all described...

Sustained clinical remission and rate of relapse after tocilizumab withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Data on when to stop use of biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are scant. We assessed the length of remission and the rate of clinical relapse in patients with RA who had to discontinue treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ) because of the ending of longterm (5 yrs) open-label clinical trials. METHODS: All patients at 2 participating centers in Mexico were in remission, defined as Disease Activity Score 28 ≤ 2.6, with no swollen joints at the time of the last TCZ infusion. Patients were followed thereafter every 8 weeks for 12 months or until relapse. Relapse was defined as the presence of ≥ 1 swollen joint. Doses of methotrexate and antiinflammatory drugs were not changed during the followup period. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were analyzed, 87% were women (mean age 52 yrs, mean disease duration 14 yrs). During the 12 months of followup, 44% of patients maintained remission. Relapses occurred in 56% of patients: 14 during the first 3 months after the last TCZ administration. Retreatment using other agents achieved low disease activity or remission. CONCLUSION: Longterm clinical remission is possible in a number of patients with RA after suspension of TCZ. This effect has also been reported with other biologic agents. Additional data are required to support recommendations for discontinuing a biological agent after achieving remission.

Acidentes ocupacionais com material biológico e equipe de enfermagem de um hospital-escola / Accidentes ocupacionales con material biológico y equipo de enfermería de un hospital escuela / Occupational Accidents with biological material and the nursing team in a teaching hospital

Patógenos podem ser transmitidos mediante exposição percutânea, sendo o sangue o principal veículo de transmissão de micro-organismos. Este estudo descritivo exploratório teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de acidentes com material biológico entre profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital de ensino de grande porte, interior de São Paulo, mediante os registros dos prontuários de trabalhadores acidentados, no período 01 de julho a 31 de dezembro de 2006. Utilizou-se a técnica de análise documental. Dos resultados, destaca-se que a maioria dos acidentes foi percutâneo (85,7%) e em 67,8% das exposições a agulha oca foi o objeto causador mais envolvido. As situações mais frequentes de ocorrência foram punção vascular (26,8%) e administração de medicamentos (13,3%). Verificou-se que 34 (60,89) profissionais usavam equipamentos de proteção individual no momento do acidente.Conclui-se que há necessidade de implementar um programa educacional permanente e novas estratégias que permitam a revisão do processo de trabalho.

Pathogens can be transmitted through percutaneous exposure and blood turns out to be the main transmission vehicle of several microorganisms. This descriptive and exploratory study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of accidents with potentially contaminated biological material among nursing team workers in a large teaching hospital located in the backlands of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It resorted to accident victims’ records within the period of July, 1st to December 31st, 2006. Documentary analysis was used. Results evince that most of the accidents were percutaneous (85.7%) and that hollow needles account for 67.8% of the cases. Venal/arterial puncture head occurrences observed (26.8%) followed by medication administration (13.3%). Thirty-four (60.89%) professionals were found to be using individual protection equipment when the accident occurred. We conclude that a permanent educational program must be implemented and new strategies must be adopted to allow for a review of the work process.

Diversos patógenos pueden ser transmitidos mediante exposición percutánea, siendo la sangre el principal vehículo de transmisión para diferentes microorganismos. La finalidad de este estudio descriptivo exploratorio fue evaluar la ocurrencia de accidentes con material biológico potencialmente contaminado entre profesionales de enfermería de un hospital de enseñanza de gran porte, interior de São Paulo-Brasil, mediante los prontuarios de trabajadores accidentados, entre 1 de julio y 31 de diciembre de 2006. Fue utilizado el análisis documental. Los resultados evidenciaron que la mayoría de los accidentes fue percutánea (85,7%) y que la aguja hueca fue el objeto más involucrado (67,8%). Las situaciones más frecuentes de ocurrencia fueron punción vascular (26,8%) y administración de medicamentos (13,3%). Se verificó que 34 (60,8%) profesionales utilizaban equipos de protección individual cuando ocurrió el accidente. Se concluye que es necesario implementar un programa de educación permanente y adoptar nuevas estrategias que posibiliten la revisión del proceso de trabajo.