Action of mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus on Malassezia pachydermatis isolated from the ear canal of dogs.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus in inhibiting Malassezia pachydermatis, a yeast commonly found in the ear canal of dogs. M. pachydermatis has a zoophilic origin and can be found in mammals, and frequently in dogs, where it mainly colonizes the ear canal region and the skin, leading to lesions that are difficult to treat. The antimicrobial mechanism was evaluated using dilutions of supernatant with enzymatic activity, which may include ß-glucanases, glycoproteins known to act on microorganism cell walls. However, it is important to note that this supernatant may contain other compounds as well. ß-glucanases in the mycocins supernatant were found at a concentration of 0.8 U/mg. The susceptibility of M. pachydermatis isolates was tested using the microdilution method. The isolates suffered 100% inhibition when tested with the culture supernatant containing mycocins. In the proteinases production test, 44% of the isolates tested were strong proteinases producers. Subsequently all these isolates suffered inhibition of their activity when tested in research medium containing mycocins supernatant at a subinhibitory concentration of ß-glucanases. This shows that mycocins can inhibit the production of proteinases, a virulence factor of M. pachydermatis. The viability test showed the antifungal action of mycocins in inhibiting the viability of M. pachydermatis cells after a period of 8  hours of contact. These results support the antimicrobial potential of mycocins and their promise as a therapeutic option.

Inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases by mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus.

New alternatives have been under study as treatment due to the problem of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Among them, Wickerhamomyces anomalus mycocins have shown a great potential against several microorganisms since they have high antimicrobial activity, as well as they can be used as fast available nutrients and stand several extreme conditions. In this way, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases inhibition by mycocins produced by W. anomalus is important. Microdilution assays were carried out to evaluate strains inhibition in liquid medium and the test in solid medium were carried out. Toxicity was evaluated by both hemolysis and Artemia salina Leach tests. W. anomalus supernatant showed 2.36 U/mg ß-glucanases activity, and antimicrobial activity was evidenced in 100% Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase strains up to 0.12 U/mg concentration. Besides, there was low toxicity in hemolysis and Artemia salina Leach tests. It is suggested that W. anomalus mycocins may be an alternative to develop new antimicrobial substances.

Susceptibility of Candida albicans Strains Isolated from Vaginal Secretion in Front of the Mycocins of Wickerhamomyces anomalus.

Mycocins are substances that have the potential to affect other sensitive yeasts or microorganisms. Wickerhamomyces anomalus is a yeast that produces mycocins that have great biotechnological potential, being highly competitive in many habitats, as it is adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions. Thus, they are targets for studies in different areas, including the environment, industry, and medical sciences. Yeasts of the genus Candida are of great importance due to the high frequency with which they colonize and infect the human host. Yeast infections are often difficult to treat due to the acquisition of resistance against antifungals, leading to studies focusing in new treatment alternatives. This work aims to verify the inhibition of Candida albicans isolated from vaginal secretion by mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus. Tests were carried out in solid medium and microdilution tests, where mycocins proved to be efficient in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans, hemolysis, and irritation in an organotypic model, which showed that the mycocins produced by W. anomalus are safe and non-irritating. Thus, the results of this work can provide scientific evidence for the application of mycocins in the production of new antifungal alternatives.

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Factors Among Young People in a Public Health Center in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) significantly affect the health of sexually active people, especially young people, and can cause low sexual dysfunction, low self-esteem, infertility, increased transmission of HIV, and death. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of a cross-section of users of a public health services center and verified the prevalence of STI and its associated predictors for male and female individuals 13-24 years of age in an interior county of southern Brazil. RESULTS: The records of 1703 adolescents and young adults, stratified by age (13-18 and 19-24 years, respectively) and sex, admitted between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2017, were reviewed in this retrospective study. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data of medical records were analyzed using the chi-square test and odds ratio, with confidence interval of 95% by the Stata® 9.0 program. During the study period, a total of 3448 patients were attended to; of these, 1703 (49.39%) were 13-24 years of age, with 86.56% of those 19-24 years having at least 1 STI. The prevalence of STI among men and women, respectively, was 35.40% and 47.67% for condylomata, 8.46% and 7.00% for herpes, 26.35% and 18.80% for syphilis, and 20.06% and 6.27% for urethral discharge syndrome. The risk for STI acquisition was the highest in young adults (odds ratio [OR] 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-2.06, P = .002), female individuals (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.14-2.00, P = .004), those with multiple sexual partners (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.22-2.16, P < .001), and those not using or irregularly using prophylactics (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.22-2.16, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed a significant prevalence of STI among young people in public health service. The predictors associated with STI in these patients were being female, having multiple partners in the last year, and not using or irregularly using prophylactics. These predictors confirm the necessity to implement more aggressive strategies to prevent the occurrence of STI in specific populations with higher disease risk, thereby minimizing costs and damage caused by the infections.

Prevalência e perfil de suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos de microrganismos isolados em culturas de cateter / Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of isolated microorganisms in catheter cultures

Introdução: os cateteres intravenosos são de uso amplamente difundido em hospitais e por estarem em contato direto com a circulação sanguínea, tornam­se um potencial risco para a ocorrência de contaminação e infecção local e sistêmica, aumentando a mortalidade, o tempo de internação e consequentemente custos hospitalares. Objetivo: o presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar levantamento epidemiológico da prevalência de bactérias e fungos em pontas de cateteres provenientes de sete hospitais do município de Cascavel ­ Paraná. Metodologia: foi realizado um estudo transversal por meio da coleta de dados em laudos emitidos por um laboratório clínico privado do mesmo município, entre os anos de 2011 a 2014. Resultados: verificou­se positividade em 21,7% dos laudos analisados (248). O grupo dos bacilos Gram negativos fermentadores (BGN) foi o mais prevalente, sendo as principais bactérias encontradas Escherichia coli e Klebsiella pneumoniae (84 laudos), seguidos de BGN não­fermentadores (79 laudos) e cocos Gram positivos (67 laudos). Leveduras foram encontradas em 18 laudos. Staphylococcus aureus apresentaram uma resistência de 31,8% para oxacilina, sendo para Staphylococcus coagulase­negativa resistência de 86,9%. Klebsiella pnemoniae apresentou discreta resistência para ertapenem (9,5%), imipenem (7,1%) e meropenem (7,1%), sugerindo presença de carbapenemase. Espécies de Enterobacter foram resistentes a diversos antimicrobianos, não constatado resistência aos carbapenêmicos ertapenem, imipenem e meropenem. Acinetobacter baumanii e Pseudomonas aeruginosa apresentaram elevada resistência para imipenem e meropenem (77,1% e 45,2%; 80% e 51,6%, respectivamente). Candida albicans apresentou 100% de suscetibilidade aos antifúngicos utilizados. Conclusão: esses resultados demonstram a grande importância no manejo eficiente do controle de infecção hospitalar e uso responsável de antimicrobianos por hospitais.

Introduction: intravenous catheters are widely used in hospitals, and they become a potential risk for local and systemic contamination due to direct contact with blood circulation, increasing mortality, length of hospital stay and consequently hospital costs. Objectives: the present study aimed to conduct an epidemiological survey of bacteria and fungi prevalence in catheter tips from seven hospitals in Cascavel county ­ Paraná. Methodology: a cross­sectional study was performed by data collection in reports issued by a private clinical laboratory in the same municipality from 2011 to 2014. Results: positive results were found in 21.7% of analyzed reports (248). The Gram negative bacilli fermenting (BGN) group was the most prevalent, being main bacterias Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (84 reports), followed by non­fermenting BGN (79 reports) and Gram positive cocci (67 reports). Yeasts were found in 18 reports. Staphylococcus aureus showed a resistance of 31.8% for oxacillin, and resistance for Staphylococcus coagulase­negative of 86.9%. Klebsiella penmoniae presented a mild resistance to ertapenem (9.5%), imipenem (7.1%) and meropenem (7.1%), suggesting presence of carbapenemase. Enterobacter species were resistant to several antimicrobials, no resistance to carbapenems ertapenem, imipenem and meropenem. Acinetobacter baumanii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented high resistance to imipenem and meropenem (77.1% and 45.2%, 80% and 51.6%, respectively). Candida albicans showed 100% susceptibility to antifungals used. Conclusion: these results demonstrate great importance in the efficient management of hospital infection control and responsible use of antimicrobials by hospitals