Identification and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. isolated from surfaces near patients in an intensive care unit of a hospital in southeastern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Contaminated hospital environments contribute to the transmission of microorganisms associated with healthcare. Contaminated surfaces handled by patients or healthcare professionals are a source of microorganism transmission by hand. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria are among the main agents responsible for increasing healthcare-associated infections in Brazil and worldwide. METHODS: The objective of this study was to screen and characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. on surfaces near patients in an intensive care unit. Microbiological samples, collected from ten beds in an intensive care unit with five sampling sites, were inoculated into a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus chromogenic medium. MALDI-TOF and PCR analyses were used to identify the bacteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion test. The presence of the mecA gene was investigated using PCR. RESULTS: We observed that 44 out of the 50 sampling sites presented grown isolates in the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus medium. The incidence of isolated microorganisms on the right side rail, left side rail, tables, infusion pump keypad, and cardiac monitor were 18.8 %, 36.7 %, 10.9 %, 2.4 %, and 31 %, respectively. The 42 isolates included in this study were identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. All of these microorganisms were multidrug-resistant and mecA gene-positive. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the presence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus on the beds of an intensive care unit, providing evidence for the necessity of assertive actions to decrease the risk of healthcare-associated infections at the site.

Sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDS counseling practice in primary health care in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2015-2016. / Prática de aconselhamento em infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, HIV e aids, realizada por profissionais da atenção primária à saúde de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 2015-2016.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate self-reported counseling practice of primary health care (PHC) professionals on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil, 2015-2016. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire answered by PHC physicians and nurses; their practice was classified as being adequate/inadequate based on the recommendations of Ministry of Health manuals; four thematic areas were investigated - counseling provision; prevention measures; risk behavior and vulnerability assessment; serological testing. RESULTS: 146 professionals participated (41.1% physicians; 58.9% nurses); only 25.7% of professionals reported adequate practices; the area with the highest proportion of inadequate self-reported practice was 'risk behavior and vulnerability assessment' (69.9%); physicians overall practice was more likely to be appropriate than that of nurses (OR=3.48 - 95%CI 1.57;7.70), especially for 'serological testing'. CONCLUSION: self-reported STI and HIV/AIDS counseling practices in PHC were found to be inadequate, revealing the need to intensify health professional awareness-raising/training.

Identification and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. isolated from surfaces near patients in an intensive care unit of a hospital in southeastern Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Contaminated hospital environments contribute to the transmission of microorganisms associated with healthcare. Contaminated surfaces handled by patients or healthcare professionals are a source of microorganism transmission by hand. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria are among the main agents responsible for increasing healthcare-associated infections in Brazil and worldwide. METHODS: The objective of this study was to screen and characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. on surfaces near patients in an intensive care unit. Microbiological samples, collected from ten beds in an intensive care unit with five sampling sites, were inoculated into a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus chromogenic medium. MALDI-TOF and PCR analyses were used to identify the bacteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion test. The presence of the mecA gene was investigated using PCR. RESULTS: We observed that 44 out of the 50 sampling sites presented grown isolates in the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus medium. The incidence of isolated microorganisms on the right side rail, left side rail, tables, infusion pump keypad, and cardiac monitor were 18.8 %, 36.7 %, 10.9 %, 2.4 %, and 31 %, respectively. The 42 isolates included in this study were identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. All of these microorganisms were multidrug-resistant and mecA gene-positive. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the presence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus on the beds of an intensive care unit, providing evidence for the necessity of assertive actions to decrease the risk of healthcare-associated infections at the site.

Prática de aconselhamento em infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, HIV e aids, realizada por profissionais da atenção primária à saúde de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 2015-2016 / Practica en aconsejar sobre enfermedades transmisibles sexualmente y VIH/SIDA en la atención primaria de salud en Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brasil, 2015-2016 / Sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDS counseling practice in primary health care in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2015-2016

Resumo Objetivo: investigar a prática autorreferida dos profissionais da atenção primária à saúde (APS) sobre aconselhamento em infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (ISTs) e HIV/aids em Montes Claros, MG, Brasil, 2015-2016. Métodos: estudo transversal, mediante aplicação de questionário a médicos e enfermeiros da APS; a prática desses profissionais foi classificada, segundo manuais do Ministério da Saúde, como adequada/inadequada; foram investigadas quatro unidades temáticas - realização do aconselhamento; medidas de prevenção; avaliação de comportamento de risco e vulnerabilidade; e testagem sorológica. Resultados: participaram 146 profissionais (41,1% médicos; 58,9% enfermeiros); apenas 25,7% referiram práticas adequadas; o domínio com maior proporção de prática autorreferida inadequada foi 'avaliação de comportamento de risco e vulnerabilidade' (69,9%); médicos referiram prática global com maior chance de ser adequada que enfermeiros (OR=3,48 - IC95% 1,57;7,70), especialmente na unidade temática 'testagem sorológica'. Conclusão: as práticas autorreferidas de aconselhamento em ISTs e HIV/aids na APS mostraram-se inadequadas, indicando a necessidade de intensificar a sensibilização/capacitação dos profissionais.

Resumen Objetivo: describir investigar la práctica auto-referida de los profesionales de la atención primaria de salud (APS) sobre aconsejar en enfermedades transmisibles sexualmente (ETS) y VIH/SIDA en Montes Claros, MG, Brasil, 2015-2016. Métodos: estudio transversal por cuestionario aplicado a médicos y enfermeros; la práctica fue clasificada según los manuales del Ministerio de Salud, en adecuada/inadecuada; se investigaron dominios - realización del asesoramiento; medidas de prevención; evaluación de comportamiento de riesgo y vulnerabilidad; pruebas serológicas. Resultados: participaron 146 profesionales (41,1% médicos; 58,9% enfermeros); sólo el 25,7% de los profesionales reportaron prácticas adecuadas; el dominio con mayor proporción de práctica auto-referida inadecuada fue la 'evaluación del comportamiento de riesgo y vulnerabilidad (69,9%); los médicos tuvieron una práctica global con mayor probabilidad de ser adecuada que los enfermeros (OR=3,48 - IC95% 1,57;7,70), especialmente en la unidad temática 'pruebas serológicas'. Conclusión: las prácticas de asesoramiento en ITS y VIH/SIDA en la APS se mostraron inadecuadas, revelando la necesidad de intensificar la sensibilización/capacitación de los profesionales.

Abstract Objective: to investigate self-reported counseling practice of primary health care (PHC) professionals on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil, 2015-2016. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire answered by PHC physicians and nurses; their practice was classified as being adequate/inadequate based on the recommendations of Ministry of Health manuals; four thematic areas were investigated - counseling provision; prevention measures; risk behavior and vulnerability assessment; serological testing. Results: 146 professionals participated (41.1% physicians; 58.9% nurses); only 25.7% of professionals reported adequate practices; the area with the highest proportion of inadequate self-reported practice was 'risk behavior and vulnerability assessment' (69.9%); physicians overall practice was more likely to be appropriate than that of nurses (OR=3.48 - 95%CI 1.57;7.70), especially for 'serological testing'. Conclusion: self-reported STI and HIV/AIDS counseling practices in PHC were found to be inadequate, revealing the need to intensify health professional awareness-raising/training.