Virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 clone carrying blaKPC and blaNDM from patients with and without COVID-19 in Brazil.

AIMS: Investigated and compared the occurrence of virulence genes fimH, mrkD, irp2, entB, cps, rmpA, and wabG, resistance genes blaKPC and blaNDM, and the genetic variability and clonal relationship of 29 Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates of patients with and without COVID-19, from a hospital in Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS: All isolates were resistant to beta-lactams. The genes were investigated by PCR, and for molecular typing, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) and MLST were used. The detection of blaNDM was greater (n = 23) when compared to that of blaKPC (n = 14). The virulence genes that most occurred were fimH, entB, cps, and wabG, which are responsible for adhesins, siderophore enterobactin, capsule, and lipopolysaccharides, respectively. Among the isolates, 21 distinct genetic profiles were found by ERIC-PCR, with multiclonal dissemination. Four isolates belonged to the ST11 clone. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of the ST11 is worrying as it is a high-risk clone involved in the dissemination of virulent strains throughout the world.

Neonatal fungemia caused by Lodderomyces elongisporus: first case report in Latin America.

Premature hospitalized neonates have a greater risk for candidemia, however, fungemia due to rare opportunistic yeasts have been recently reported and is associated with high mortality rates. We herein report the first case in Latin America of Lodderomyces elongisporus fungemia in a premature neonate with a fatal outcome.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Neurocryptococcosis Associated with HIV in Northeastern Brazil.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a serious infection of the central nervous system that is predominant in developing countries, caused by fungi of the genus Cryptococcus, and which affects immunosuppressed patients, especially those with HIV. Here, we aim to diagnose and characterize the clinical-epidemiological profile of cryptococcosis in patients admitted to two tertiary public hospitals in northeastern Brazil. The study is divided into three moments: (1) the isolation of fungus and diagnosis from biological samples collected between 2017 and 2019, (2) a description of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients, and (3) the experimental tests related to an in vitro susceptibility antifungal profile. The species were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS. Among the 100 patients evaluated, 24 (24.5%) were diagnosed with cryptococcosis based on positive culture. Clinical-epidemiological analysis showed a slightly higher prevalence in men between 30 and 39 years. When comparing the date of HIV diagnosis and the development of cryptococcosis, it was observed that 50% received the diagnosis of infection by cryptococcosis after or equal to a period of 12 months from being diagnosed with HIV; the other 50% received it within the first 30 days of the HIV diagnosis. Neurocryptococcosis was the most prevalent clinical form, and, at the time of hospital admission, the most common clinical signs were high fever (75%), intense headache (62.50%), and neck stiffness (33.33%). The cerebrospinal fluid showed 100% sensitivity and positivity for direct examination by India ink, and fungal culture. The mortality rate in this study was 46% (11/24), a lower rate than in the other literature. An antifungigram showed that 20 (83.33%) isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and 15 (62.5%) to fluconazole. Mass spectrometry identified 100% of the isolates as Cryptococcus neoformans. In Brazil, this infection is not mandatory notifiable. Therefore, although there is little information on the subject, it is obsolete and does not express the reality of the facts, mainly in the northeast region, where this information is insufficient. The data obtained in this research contribute to the epidemiological knowledge of this mycosis in Brazil and will serve as a basis for future globally comparative epidemiological studies.

Candidemia in Brazilian neonatal intensive care units: risk factors, epidemiology, and antifungal resistance.

Candidemia is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units and represents a challenge due to the complexity of hospitalized neonates, the deficiency in approved and precise diagnostic techniques, and the increasing number of species resistant to antifungal agents. Thus, the objective of this study was to detect candidemia among neonates evaluating the risk factors, epidemiology, and antifungal susceptibility. Blood samples were obtained from neonates with suspected septicemia, and the mycological diagnosis was based on yeast growth in culture. The fungal taxonomy was based on classic identification, automated system, and proteomic, when necessary molecular tools were used. The in vitro susceptibility tests were performed according to the broth microdilution method from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Statistical analysis was performed using the R software version R-4.2.2. The prevalence of neonatal candidemia was 10.97%. The major risk factors involved were previous use of parenteral nutrition, exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, prematurity, and prior use central venous catheter, but only this last was statistically associated with mortality risk. Species from Candida parapsilosis complex and C. albicans were the most frequent. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, except C. haemulonii that also exhibited elevated MICs to fluconazole. C. parapsilosis complex and C. glabrata exhibit the highest MICs to echinocandins. Considering these data, we emphasize that an effective management strategy to reduce the impact of neonatal candidemia should involve the knowledge of risk factors, rapid and precise mycological diagnostic, and tests of antifungal susceptibility to help in the selection of an appropriate treatment.

Antifungal Efficacy of Amphotericin B in Candida Albicans Endocarditis Therapy: Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Although it is the most common agent among the fungal causes of endocarditis, Candida albicans endocarditis is rare. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in the treatment of C. albicans endocarditis beyond a systematic review. DATA SEARCH: Articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese, conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, IBECS and SciELO, in humans and published in the last 25 years. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies, clinical trials, and case series providing data on the amphotericin B use in patients with a C. albicans endocarditis diagnosis without age limitations. DATA SYNTHESIS: From the initial search (n=79), 25 articles were fully evaluated, of which 19 were excluded for meeting one or more exclusion criteria, remaining five articles (two observational studies and three case series). Patients using amphotericin B demonstrated improvement in survival rates, and its main use was in association with the surgical method as well as with caspofungin association. CONCLUSION: Literature lacks evidence to conclude about efficacy and safety of amphotericin B in the treatment of fungal endocarditis. Randomized clinical trials are necessary to provide better evidence on the subject.

Antifungal efficacy of amphotericin b in candida albicans endocarditis therapy: systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Although it is the most common agent among the fungal causes of endocarditis, Candida albicans endocarditis is rare. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in the treatment of C. albicans endocarditis beyond a systematic review. Data search: Articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese, conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, IBECS and SciELO, in humans and published in the last 25 years. Study selection: Observational studies, clinical trials, and case series providing data on the amphotericin B use in patients with a C. albicans endocarditis diagnosis without age limitations. Data synthesis: From the initial search (n=79), 25 articles were fully evaluated, of which 19 were excluded for meeting one or more exclusion criteria, remaining five articles (two observational studies and three case series). Patients using amphotericin B demonstrated improvement in survival rates, and its main use was in association with the surgical method as well as with caspofungin association. Conclusion: Literature lacks evidence to conclude about efficacy and safety of amphotericin B in the treatment of fungal endocarditis. Randomized clinical trials are necessary to provide better evidence on the subject.

Alterações clínicas e oftalmológicas em frentistas expostos a vapores de derivados de petróleo em postos de gasolina do Grande Recife / Clinical and ophthalmologic findings in workers exposed to gas petrol in stations in Recife

Introdução e objetivos: Os olhos, assim como as vias aéreas superiores, são os primeiros setores do organismo atingidos quando há contato direto ou indireto com produtos derivados do petróleo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi observar alterações clínicas e oftalmológicas decorrentes da exposição aos derivados do petróleo. Casufatica e métodos: Estudo prospectivo, em que se examinaram 197 frentístas, divididos em três grupos, segundo o tempo de exposição aos derivados do petróleo. O exame consistiu em entrevista, exame clínico, neurológico, laboratorial e oftalmológico. Resultados: Observaram-se manifestações clínicas em dois (1,0 por cento) frentistas, entretanto, 34 (17,3 por cento) apresentaram aumento dos níveis pressóricos. Em relação aos exames bioquímicas, 49 (24,9 por cento) tinham aumento da transamínase glutâmica pirúvica e 34 (69,4 por cento) desses se submeteram a ultra- sonografía abdominal na qual foram encontradas alterações em 29 (85,5 por centoó) indivíduos, sendo as mais comuns fibrose periportal e esteatose hepática, correspondentes a 14 (41,2 por cento) e 13 (38,2 por cento) casos, respectivamente. Apresentavam anormalidades ao exame oftalmológíco 98 (49,7 por cento) frentistas, sendo as alterações do filme lacrimal as mais preva- lentes, correspondendo a 78 (39,6 por cento) casos, sendo estes estatisticamente significativos (P<0,05). Conclusão: As alterações hepáticas encontradas devem ser estudas mais a fundo, pois há uma gama de outras causas a serem afastadas. Encontrou-se com maior relevância alteração no tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal no presente estudo, sendo que essa é apenas sugestiva de olho seco, devendo ser confirmada com outros testes díagnósticos que poderão ser feitos em estudos futuros.(au)

Aspectos epidemiológicos da hanseníase na cidade de Recife, PE em 2002 / Epidemiologic aspects of leprosy in the city of Recife, Pernambuco state, 2002

FUNDAMENTOS: Ainda é de grande importância a hanseníase como problema de Saúde Pública no Brasil, devido a sua alta endemicidade. OBJETIVO: Determinar as principais características dessa enfermidade na cidade de Recife no ano de 2002. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo observacional retrospectivo, mediante o preenchimento de um questionário específico, analisando-se 100 prontuários de pacientes assistidos em centro de referência do Recife em 2002. Elaborou-se um banco de dados, e a análise foi feita utilizando-se o software EPI-Info-6. Obtiveram-se as freqüências simples das variáveis, e realizou-se análise bivariada, estudando-se as diferenças entre as proporções por meio do qui-quadrado. O ponto de corte foi p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Observou-se aumento da freqüência dos casos de hanseníase com a idade (7 por cento dos casos ocorreram em crianças e adolescentes, e 11 por cento em maiores de 65 anos) (p<0,001). A distribuição por sexo mostrou diferença significativa (masculino 57 por cento, feminino 43 por cento) (p<0,001). A forma tuberculóide possui a maior prevalência, com 42 por cento dos casos (p<0,001) e maior incidência no sexo feminino, enquanto no sexo masculino prevaleceu a dimorfa (x²=18,83; p<0,001). As formas paucibacilares (tuberculóide e indeterminada) apresentaram lesão única ou variação de duas a cinco lesões em 55,4 por cento e 37,5 por cento dos casos, respectivamente (x²=37,04; p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Foi possível constatar que a cidade ainda é uma região endêmica devido à grande incidência da forma tuberculóide no meio, indicador epidemiológico sugestivo de tendência crescente da endemia na região. Só o diagnóstico e o tratamento precoce dos casos poderão quebrar a cadeia de transmissão da doença.

Brucelose: relato de caso / Brucelosis: A case

Os autores relatam um caso de brucelose ocorrido em um paciente do sexo masculino, 29 anos, agropecuarista, procedente de Ipubi, estado de Pernambuco, que se queixava de febre diária, cefaléia frontal, mialgias e vômitos há 15 dias. Apresentava-se, por ocasião do internamento, com 5800 leucócitos, neutropenia (59 segmentados) e linfocitose ( 75 linfócitos típicos/ 08 linfócitos atípicos). A reação de Widall, no início de sua sintomatologia, era reagente para antígeno somático (TO)1/40, com sorologia para brucela também reagente; pporém, sem quantificação de títulos. Na admissão, apresentou reação de Widal com títulos de TO=1/160e positivação doantígeno flagelar (TH), 1/256; embora hemoculturas para Salmonella thyphi (três amostras) fossem negativas. O paciente já chegou ao serviço em uso de cloranfenicol (50mg/Kg há cerca de 15 dias). Não apresentou melhora, evoluindo com queda do estado geral, sudorese profusa com odor de "palha azeda" e orquite. A sorologia para brucela (soroaglutinação lenta), nesta ocasião, foi reagente, com título igual a 1/1280