Nimesulide inhibits pathogenic fungi: PGE2-dependent mechanisms.

Certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit fungal growth, fungal prostaglandin E2 production, and enzyme activation. This study aims to investigate the antifungal effect of nimesulide against pathogenic filamentous fungi and yeast. The experiments detailed below were also designed to investigate whether the action is dependent on E2 fungal prostaglandins. Our data showed that nimesulide exhibited potent antifungal activity, mainly against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ATCC 9533) and Cryptococcus neoformans with MIC values of 2 and 62 µg/mL, respectively. This drug was also able to inhibit the growth of clinic isolates of filamentous fungi, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, and dermatophytes, such as T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, and M. gypseum, with MIC values ranging from 112 to 770 µg/mL. Our data also showed that the inhibition of fungal growth by nimesulide was mediated by a mechanism dependent on PGE2, which led to the inhibition of essential fungal enzymes. Thus, we concluded that nimesulide exerts a fungicidal effect against pathogenic filamentous fungi and yeast, involving the inhibition of fungal prostaglandins and fungal enzymes important to the fungal growth and colonization.

Microbial evaluation of the handling of antineoplastic agents at a reference cancer treatment hospital in Pará State, Brazil / Avaliação microbiológica do processo de manipulação de antineoplásicos em um hospital de referência no tratamento de câncer no Estado do Pará, Brasil

The Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária RDC 220/04 sets minimum requirements for operating an antineoplastic therapy service, which emphasizes the importance of a quality assurance system that incorporates the best practices for the preparation of antineoplastic therapy. According to pharmacy protocols, pharmaceutical products must be of a quality that complies with specifications determined by official codes. The microbiological quality of the environment for the preparation of these medicines is a critical factor in achieving efficiency and safety. Patient safety depends on the sterility of the product because these patients are usually immunocompromised. The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of the process of handling anti-cancer drugs at a reference cancer treatment hospital in Pará State, Brazil. Material was collected by surface swab and spontaneous sedimentation from the biological safety cabinet (BSC), the handlers' gloves and the air conditioning system. The bacteria and fungi were identified using standard biochemical procedures and microculture. We isolated 31 colony forming units: 22 were from samples from the BSC, six from the air conditioning system and three from the handler's glove. The majority of the microorganisms identified in the BSC samples were Staphylococcus and Bacillus sp. Staphylococcus and Klebsiella sp were found on the handlers' gloves and in the air conditioning system. These results showed microbiological contamination of processes involved in antineoplastic preparations. A continuous monitoring of microbiological quality of the processes, equipment and the environment is necessary as well as a validation of asepsis and restructuring of the physical space to conform to the RDC 50/02 and 220/04.

A Resolução RDC 220/04 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária estabelece os requisitos mínimos para o funcionamento dos serviços de terapia antineoplásica e enfatiza a importância de um sistema de garantia da qualidade que abranja as melhores práticas para a preparação da terapia antineoplásica. De acordo com os protocolos farmacêuticos, os produtos devem obedecer às especificações determinadas pelas normas da legislação oficial. A qualidade microbiológica do ambiente na preparação das drogas antineoplásicas é um fator essencial para que seja realizada com eficiência e segurança. A segurança dos pacientes depende da esterilidade do produto, pois eles são geralmente imunocomprometidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica do processo de manipulação de drogas antineoplásicas em um hospital de referência no tratamento de câncer no Estado do Pará, Brasil. O material foi coletado da cabine de segurança biológica (CSB), de luvas de manipuladores e do sistema de ar-condicionado, por meio de swab de superfície e sedimentação espontânea. Os espécimes de bactéria e fungo foram identificados por procedimentos bioquímicos padrões, bem como por microcultura. Foram isoladas 31 unidades formadoras de colônias: 22 de amostras da CSB, seis do sistema de ar-condicionado e três de luvas de manipuladores. A maioria dos micro-organismos identificados nas amostras da CSB era de Staphylococcus e Bacillus sp. Foram encontrados Staphylococcus e Klebsiella sp nas luvas dos manipuladores e no sistema de ar-condicionado. Os resultados apresentados demonstraram uma contaminação microbiológica nos processos envolvidos na preparação de antineoplásicos. É necessário que se faça um monitoramento contínuo da qualidade microbiológica desses processos, dos equipamentos e do ambiente, e que seja feita a validação da assepsia e a reestruturação do espaço físico, para que sejam obedecidas as Resoluções RDC 50/02 e 220/04.