Nanopartículas de plata en el tratamiento de la micosis asociada al pie diabético / Silver nanoparticles to treat mycosis associated with diabetic foot / Nanopartículas de prata no tratamento da micose associada ao pé diabético

Resumen: Una proporción importante de infecciones en el pie diabético consisten en onicomicosis y tinea pedis, problema común en el pie, amenazante de la viabilidad del tejido que puede provocar infecciones bacterianas secundarias. Requieren períodos prolongados de tratamiento antimicótico con alta tasas de recaídas y reinfección. Diversos estudios han mostrado la seguridad y eficacia de las nanopartículas de plata (NP Ag) como agente antimicrobiano. Realizamos un estudio donde se evaluó el tratamiento con NP Ag en dermatomicosis del pie de pacientes diabéticos. Método: estudio piloto, abierto, prospectivo, randomizado y controlado en pacientes que asisten a una policlínica de pie diabético. Dieciocho pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión conformándose dos grupos homogéneos. Ambos grupos recibieron tratamiento estándar que consistió en antimicótico tópico y desbastado mecánico. El grupo intervención utilizó un textil (medias) confeccionadas con hilos con NP Ag. Se realizó control clínico y microbiológico hasta las 12 semanas. Se evaluó el porcentaje de remisión y el tiempo hasta alcanzar el mismo. Resultados: predominó la onicomicosis y el germen Trichophyton rubrum. En el grupo intervención se logró un mayor porcentaje de remisión de lesiones y en un tiempo menor que el grupo control. Conclusiones: el uso de medias confeccionadas con hilos de NP Ag se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de curación completa en un período de 12 semanas a pesar de que el número de pacientes no permitió llegar al nivel de significación estadística, pudiendo contribuir a la prevención de infecciones o úlceras suplementarias en el pie diabético.

Summary: Onychomycosis and tinea pedis represent a significant proportion of infections in the diabetic foot, a common foot problem, and they constitute a threat to the viability of tissues that may provoke secondary bacterial infections. To combat them, antifungal treatments are required for long periods of time, the rates of relapse and reinfection being high. Several studies have proved the safety and effectiveness of silver nano particles (NP Ag) as an antimicrobial agent. A study was conducted to assess nanoparticle agents for foot dermatomycosis in diabetic patients. Method: pilot, open, prospective randomized and controlled study in patients who are assisted in a diabetic foot policlinic. 18 patients complied with the inclusion criteria and two homogeneous groups were formed. Both groups received standard treatment consisting in topic antifungal and mechanical roughing. The intervention groups used a textile (stockings) made with silver nanoparticle threads. Clinical and microbiological control was made during 12 weeks, also assessing the remission percentage and the time it took to achieve it. Resultados: onychomycosis and trichophyton rubrum prevailed. The intervention group showed a greater percentage of remission of lesions in a period of time that was shorter than that of the control group. Conclusions: the use of stockings made with NP Ag threads was associated with a greater probability of complete healing, in a 12-week period, despite the fact that the number of patients was not statistically significant. This could contribute to the prevention of supplementary infections or ulcers in the diabetic foot.

Resumo: Uma proporção significativa de infecções do pé diabético consiste em onicomicose e Tinea pedis, um problema comum nos pés que ameaça a viabilidade do tecido e pode causar infecções bacterianas secundárias. Requerem períodos prolongados de tratamento antifúngico com altas taxas de recidiva e reinfecção. Vários estudos têm demonstrado a segurança e a eficácia das nanopartículas de prata (NP Ag) como agente antimicrobiano. Realizamos um estudo onde o tratamento com NP Ag foi avaliado na dermatomicose do pé de pacientes diabéticos. Método: estudo piloto, aberto, prospectivo, randomizado e controlado em pacientes atendidos em uma policlínica de pé diabético. Dezoito pacientes preencheram os critérios de inclusão, formando dois grupos homogêneos. Ambos os grupos receberam tratamento padrão que consiste em antifúngico tópico e moagem mecânica. O grupo intervenção utilizou um tecido (meias) confeccionado com fios NP Ag. O controle clínico e microbiológico foi realizado até 12 semanas. A porcentagem de remissão e o tempo para alcançá-la foram avaliados. Resultados: predominaram a onicomicose e o germe Trichophyton rubrum. No grupo intervenção, obteve-se maior percentual de remissão das lesões e em menor tempo que o grupo controle. Conclusões: o uso de meias confeccionadas com fios NP Ag esteve associado a uma maior probabilidade de cura completa, no período de 12 semanas, apesar do número de pacientes não permitir atingir o nível de significância estatística, podendo contribuir para a prevenção de infecções ou úlceras adicionais no pé diabético.

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Associated with Acute Gastroenteritis in Children from Soriano, Uruguay.

INTRODUCTION: Acute diarrheal disease still deserves worldwide attention due to its high morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. While etiologic determination is not mandatory for management of all individual cases, it is needed for generating useful epidemiologic knowledge. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are relevant enteropathogens, and their investigation requires specific procedures to which resources and training should be dedicated in reference laboratories. METHODOLOGY: Following the hypothesis that enteric pathogens affecting children in towns located in the interior of Uruguay may be different from those found in Montevideo, we conducted a diagnostic survey on acute diarrheal disease in 83 children under 5 years of age from populations in the south of the country. RESULTS: DEC pathotypes were the only bacterial pathogens found in diarrheal feces (20.48%), followed by rotavirus (14.45%) and enteric adenovirus (4.81%). Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) was the most frequent DEC pathotype identified, and unexpectedly, it was associated with bloody diarrheal cases. These patients were of concern and provided with early consultation, as were children who presented with vomiting, which occurred most frequently in rotavirus infections. aEPEC serotypes were diverse and different from those previously reported in Montevideo children within the same age group and different from serotypes identified in regional and international studies. Enteroinvasive (EIEC) O96 : H19, associated with large outbreaks in Europe, was also isolated from two patients. Antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria identified in this study was higher than that observed in previous national studies, which had been mainly carried out in children from Montevideo. CONCLUSION: The reduced number of detected species, the marked prevalence of aEPEC, the scarce resistance traits, and the diverse range of serotypes in the virulent DEC identified in this study confirm that differences exist between enteropathogens affecting children from interior towns of Uruguay and those circulating among children in Montevideo.