Invasive candidiasis in a pediatric tertiary hospital: Epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, and mortality rates.

Invasive infections caused by non-albicans Candida are increasing worldwide. However, there is still a lack of information on invasive candidiasis (IC) in the pediatric setting, including susceptibility profiles and clonal studies. We investigated the clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory characteristics of IC, possible changes in antifungal susceptibility profiles over time, and the occurrence of clonality in our tertiary children's hospital. We analyzed 123 non-duplicate Candida isolates from sterile sites of pediatric patients in a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil, between 2016 and 2021. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes were collected. Candida species distribution, antifungal susceptibility profiles, biofilm production, and molecular epidemiology of isolates were assessed using reference methods. The range of IC incidence was 0.88-1.55 cases/1000 hospitalized patients/year, and the IC-related mortality rate was 20.3%. Of the total IC cases, 42.3% were in patients aged < 13 months. Mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission were common in this group. In addition, ICU admission was identified as a risk factor for IC-related mortality. The main site of Candida spp. isolation was blood, and non-albicans Candida species were predominant (70.8%). No significant clonal spread was observed among isolates of the three most commonly isolated species, and 99.1% of all isolates were biofilm producers. Non-albicans Candida species were predominant in this study. Notably, clonal expansion and emergence of antifungal drug resistance were not observed in our pediatric setting.

The epidemiology of invasive candidiasis has changed over time and there is still a lack of information in the pediatric setting. Non-albicans Candida species predominated in this study, clonal expansion and emergence of antifungal drug resistance were not observed in our pediatric setting.

High-risk clones of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae recovered from pediatric patients in Southern Brazil.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) exhibit high mortality rates in pediatric patients and usually belong to international high-risk clones. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and carbapenem resistance mechanisms of K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from pediatric patients, and correlate them with phenotypical data. Twenty-five CRKP isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using broth microdilution. Carbapenemase production and ß-lactamase genes were detected by phenotypic and genotypic tests. Multilocus sequence typing was performed to differentiate the strains and whole-genome sequencing was assessed to characterize a new sequence type. Admission to the intensive care unit and the use of catheters were significantly positive correlates of CRKP infection, and the mortality rate was 36%. Almost all isolates showed multidrug-resistant phenotype, and most frequent resistant gene was blaKPC. We observed the dissemination of ST307 and clones belonging to CG258, which are considered high risk. In pediatric patients, these clones present with high genomic plasticity, favoring adaptation of the KPC and NDM enzymes to healthcare environments.

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection in nasopharyngeal swab, saliva, and gargle samples.

The nasopharyngeal swab is a gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2. However, the inconvenience of this method compelled us to compare its efficiency with saliva and gargle samples, which we collected sequentially from 229 individuals. Saliva outperformed gargle samples, constituting a reliable RNA viral source with similar performance to nasopharyngeal samples.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary public hospital in Curitiba, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Curitiba, Brazil. METHODS: Upper respiratory samples from 1077 HCWs were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from June 16, 2020 to December 9, 2020. RESULTS: Overall, 32.7% of HCWs were infected. The positivity rates in symptomatic and asymptomatic HCWs were 39.2% and 15.9%, respectively. Hospital departments categorized as high-risk for exposure had the highest number of infected HCWs. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and isolation of infected HCWs remain key in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission because HCWs in close contact with COVID-19 patients are more likely to be infected than those who are not.

Clinical and laboratorial features of oral candidiasis in HIV-positive patients.

INTRODUCTION: We describe the clinical and laboratorial features of oral candidiasis in 66 HIV-positive patients. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-based techniques were performed for differentiation of Candida spp. isolated from patients at a public teaching hospital in Midwest Brazil. RESULTS: Oral lesions, mainly pseudomembranous, were significantly related to higher levels of immunosuppression. Of 45 Candida isolates, 66.7% were C. albicans. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the antifungal drugs tested. CONCLUSIONS: Oral lesions were associated with higher immunosuppression levels. Lower susceptibility to antifungals by non-albicans isolates supports the importance of surveillance studies using susceptibility tests to aid in the treatment.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary public hospital in Curitiba, Brazil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Curitiba, Brazil. METHODS: Upper respiratory samples from 1077 HCWs were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from June 16, 2020 to December 9, 2020. RESULTS: Overall, 32.7% of HCWs were infected. The positivity rates in symptomatic and asymptomatic HCWs were 39.2% and 15.9%, respectively. Hospital departments categorized as high-risk for exposure had the highest number of infected HCWs. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and isolation of infected HCWs remain key in controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission because HCWs in close contact with COVID-19 patients are more likely to be infected than those who are not.

Clinical and laboratorial features of oral candidiasis in HIV-positive patients

Abstract INTRODUCTION We describe the clinical and laboratorial features of oral candidiasis in 66 HIV-positive patients. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-based techniques were performed for differentiation of Candida spp. isolated from patients at a public teaching hospital in Midwest Brazil. RESULTS: Oral lesions, mainly pseudomembranous, were significantly related to higher levels of immunosuppression. Of 45 Candida isolates, 66.7% were C. albicans. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the antifungal drugs tested. CONCLUSIONS: Oral lesions were associated with higher immunosuppression levels. Lower susceptibility to antifungals by non-albicans isolates supports the importance of surveillance studies using susceptibility tests to aid in the treatment.