Prevalence of intestinal parasites in a clinical analysis laboratory in southern Brazil: a retrospective study

The population's living conditions, basic sanitation, hygiene, and poor socioeconomic status, are determining factors for diseases´ transmission, such as intestinal parasitic infections which constitute one of the main public health problems in Brazil. These diseases are considered endemic in several areas of the country, presenting a wide geographic distribution, varying according to environmental conditions and parasites´ species. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in individuals attending a clinical analysis laboratory in a municipality located in Southern of Brazil. A retrospective study was carried out through the analysis of 2,247 reports of parasitological stool examination from individuals who attended a clinical analysis laboratory located in Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, from September 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2020. Parasitic structures were found in stool samples from 181 (8.1%) individuals. The protozoans Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli were the most prevalent parasites, being present in 58.0% and 29.8% of individuals, respectively. A higher prevalence of intestinal parasites was observed in women (52.5%), aged 21 to 60 years old (62.4%). Biparasitism or polyparasitism was present in 7.2% (13/181) of individuals and only 31.7% (713/2247) of samples collected three fecal samples for examination. The low prevalence of intestinal parasites found in the present study may be an indicator of improvements in sanitary, environmental, and health education conditions.

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Indicates Early Circulation of P.1 (Gamma) Variant of Concern in Southern Brazil.

The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage emerged in Amazonas (AM), North Brazil and its evolution has been dynamically reported associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion. Here, we evaluated the lineages circulating in 29 cities in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil between March 2020 and May 2021 and investigated the genetic events associated with the emergence of the P.1. A total of 202 oro/nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 specimens from patients during routine hospital care were submitted to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Evolutionary Analyses of the P.1 lineage were carried out to determine the relationship between sequences from RS and AM and dated their common ancestor and origin. One hundred six (53%) sequences were assigned as P.1 and most carried the 22 lineage-defining mutations. All the P.1 sequences included other important mutations, such as P314L and R203K/G204R, and revealed a high genetic diversity in the phylogenetic tree. The time-scaled inference suggests that the oldest P.1 sequences from different Brazilian states share a ancestor with those from AM, but the origin of some sequences from RS is unknown. Further, the common ancestor of sequences from RS is dated to mid-June/July 2020, earlier than those previously reported from AM. Our results demonstrate that there is a high degree of genetic diversity among P.1 sequences, which suggests a continuous evolution and community spread of the virus. Although the first P.1 outbreak was reported in AM, the lineage was associated with multiple introductory events and had already been circulating in Southern Brazil prior to November 2020. IMPORTANCE The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage is associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion and presents a dynamic evolution in Brazil. The significance of our research relies in the fact that we evaluated the SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Southern Brazil between March 2020 and May 2021. This evaluation allowed us to detect the genetic events associated with the emergence of the P.1 and its sublineages. This study is important because we were able to establish that the common ancestor of P.1 sequences from Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, is dated of mid-June/July 2020, earlier than the P.1 sequences previously reported from Amazonas (AM) state. Noteworthy, the high degree of genetic diversity among P.1 sequences found in this study suggests a continuous evolution and community spread of the virus. Moreover, the oldest P.1 sequences from different Brazilian states share a ancestor with those from AM.

Prevalência de infecções fúngicas em um laboratório de análises clínicas da cidade de Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul / Prevalence of the fungal infecctions in a clinical analysis laboratory in the city of Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul

Objetivo: As infecções fúngicas, atualmente, constituem um problema de saúde pública, devido à elevada prevalência e frequência com que acometem a população. Fatores predisponentes como condições climáticas, região geográfica e características culturais e socioeconômicas favorecem a ocorrência destas infecções. O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a prevalência das infecções fúngicas em pacientes atendidos em um laboratório de análises clínicas na cidade de Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo, por meio da consulta ao banco de dados, de 403 laudos de exames micológicos, direto e cultural, realizados no laboratório durante o período de abril de 2014 a abril de 2017. Resultados: Dentre os laudos analisados no estudo, houve positividade em 251 (62,28%) exames micológicos diretos (EMD) e em 226 (56,08%) exames culturais. As micoses superficiais e cutâneas constituíram as principais infecções diagnosticadas, sendo os fungos dermatófitos os agentes etiológicos mais isolados (69,47%), representados majoritariamente pela espécie Trichophyton mentagrophytes, seguidos por leveduras (20,35%), especialmente as pertencentes ao gênero Candida. Houve predomínio de infecções em pacientes do sexo feminino (64,54% EMD e 61,5% cultura) e adultos de 31 a 60 anos foram os mais acometidos pelas micoses diagnosticadas (58,96% EMD e 60,62% cultura). Conclusão: O conhecimento do perfil epidemiológico pode servir como guia na correta identificação do patógeno no diagnóstico laboratorial, influenciando diretamente no prognóstico e na escolha da conduta terapêutica adequada.

Objective: The fungal infections are a public health issue, because ofthe high prevalence and frequency that they victimize the population. Predisposal factors as bioclimatic conditions, geographic region and cultural and socioeconomic characteristics favor the occurrence of this infections, generating, this way, variation in the prevalence of species in each region. The goal of the present study was to determinate the prevalence of fungal infections in patients in a clinical analysis laboratory in the city of Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Methods: A retrospective study was made, using the consult of data basis, of 403 direct and culture mycological examination reports made in the laboratory during the period of April 2014 to April 2017. Results: In the analyzed examination reports in the study, there was positivity in 251 (62,28%) mycological direct exams (EMD) and, in 226 (56,08%) cultural exams. The superficial and cutaneous mycosis constituted the mainly diagnosed infections, being the dermatophytic fungi the most isolated etiological factors (69,47%), represented mainly, by the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species, followed by yeasts (20,35%), especially those who belong to the Candida genre. There was prevalence of infections in women patients (64,54% EMD and 61,5% culture). Adults among 31 and 60 years old were the most victimized by the diagnosed mycosis (58,96% EMD e 60,62% cultural). Conclusion: Knowledge of the epidemiological profile can serve as guide in the correct identification of the pathogen in the laboratory diagnosis, influencing directly in the prognosis and in the choice of the right therapeutic conduct

Perfil de resistência, etiologia e prevalência de patógenosisolados em uroculturas de gestantes atendidas em umlaboratório de análises clínicas da cidade de Veranópolis,Rio Grande do Sul / Resistance profile and prevalence of isolated pathogens from urine cultures of pregnant women attended in a clinical analysis laboratory in the Veranópolis city, Rio Grande do Su

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência de ITU, analisando a faixa etária bem como o perfil de resistência aos antimicrobianos a partir da urocultura de gestantes. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal por meio da análise de 538 laudos de urocultura de gestantes atendidas em um laboratório de análises clínicas da cidade de Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, no período de abril de 2014 a abril de 2017. Os dados foram coletados a partir do sistema laboratorial Jalis e transcritos para uma planilha utilizando o programa Microsoft Office Excel® 2010. Resultados: Dos 538 laudos de uroculturas de gestantes analisados, 137 (25,5%) apresentaram crescimento bacteriano. Analisando a prevalência dos microrganismos, Escherichia coli foi o agente predominante (65%), apresentando maior resistência a ampicilina (53,4%) e a sulfametoxazol + trimetoprim (22,5%). Conclusão: A realização da urocultura durante o pré-natal é de extrema importância para garantir um diagnóstico precoce de ITU e iniciar uma antibioticoterapia adequada, a fim de evitar complicações maternas e fetais.

Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of UTI, analyzing the age range as well as the profile of antimicrobial resistance from the urine culture of pregnant women. Methods: An observational, descriptive and transversal study was carried out through analysis of 538 urine culture exam reports of pregnant women attended in a laboratory of clinical analyses in the city of Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, in the period from April 2014 to April 2017. The data were collected from the laboratorial system Jalis and transcribed to a spreadsheet using the Microsoft Office Excel® 2010 program. Results: Of 538 reports of pregnant women urine cultures analyzed, 137 (25,5%) presented bacterial growth. Analyzing the prevalence of the microorganisms, Escherichia coli was the predominant agent (65%), showing a higher resistance to ampicillin (53,4%) and to sulfametoxazol + trimetoprim (22,5%). Conclusion: The urine culture realization during the prenatal is of extreme importance to guarantee an early diagnosis of UTI and to begin an appropriate antibiotic therapy, in order to avoid maternal and fetal complications.

Estudo retrospectivo sobre a prevalência de Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes em um município do interior do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Retrospective study on the prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae among pregnant from a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Introdução: O Streptococcus agalactiae, também conhecido como estreptococo do grupo B (EGB), é uma bactéria pertencente à microbiota de seres humanos e encontra-se aderido às membranas das mucosas, colonizando principalmente os tratos gastrointestinal e geniturinário. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo que envolveu a coleta de dados do Laboratório de Análises Clínicas de Veranópolis (RS), no período de abril de 2014 a fevereiro de 2017. Resultados: No período estudado, realizaram o exame no referido laboratório 109 gestantes que se encontravam a partir da 27ª semana de gestação, das quais 92 (84,4%) apresentaram resultado negativo e 17 (15,6%) apresentaram resultado positivo para S. agalactiae. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram a importância de realizar a pesquisa de S. agalactiae antes do parto, para manter o recém-nascido e a mãe em segurança e sem complicações. (AU)

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as group B streptococcus (GBS), is a bacterium from the human microbiota that adheres to the mucous membranes, mainly colonizing the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving the collection of data from the Laboratory of Clinical Analyzes of Veranópolis (RS), from April 2014 to February 2017. Results: During the study period, 109 pregnant women at the 27 weeks gestation or more were evaluated for S. agalactiae at the above mentioned laboratory, of which 92 (84.4%) were negative and 17 (15.6%) were positive for this bacteria. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the importance of performing screening for S. agalactiae before delivery to keep the newborn and the mother safe and without complications. (AU)