Molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital and community environments in northeastern Brazil.

This study characterized 30 MRSA isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) environment and equipment surfaces and healthy children. The SCCmec types I, IVa and V were detected in HA-MRSA isolates while CA-MRSA showed the SCCmec type IVa and V. Most isolates were classified as agr group II. All isolates presented the sei gene, and only HA-MRSA were positive for etb e tst genes. Three genotypes were related to Pediatric (ST5/SCCmecIV) and Berlin (ST45/SCCmecIV) clones. The present study showed molecular similarity between CA- and HA-MRSA isolates in hospital and community settings in a Brazilian region.

Molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital and community environments in northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT This study characterized 30 MRSA isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) environment and equipment surfaces and healthy children. The SCCmec types I, IVa and V were detected in HA-MRSA isolates while CA-MRSA showed the SCCmec type IVa and V. Most isolates were classified as agr group II. All isolates presented the sei gene, and only HA-MRSA were positive for etb e tst genes. Three genotypes were related to Pediatric (ST5/SCCmecIV) and Berlin (ST45/SCCmecIV) clones. The present study showed molecular similarity between CA- and HA-MRSA isolates in hospital and community settings in a Brazilian region.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities and acute toxicity of Bumelia sartorum Mart., Sapotaceae, a Brazilian medicinal plant

In order to validate the Bumelia sartorum Mart., Sapotaceae, traditional use for infection diseases, this study evaluates the antibacterial activity of the stem bark fractions against methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus strains by using the agar dilution method and reported as MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). In addition, the DPPH scavenging activity of these fractions was measured and the chemical composition and acute toxicity of the active fraction were also determined. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract was chemically analyzed by LC/MS, direct ionization APCI/MS, ¹H NMR and 13C-NMR. All fractions, except butanol extract, presented high antioxidant activity, especially the methanol and the EtOAc extracts, which showed EC50 values (5.67 and 5.30 µg/mL, respectively) considerably lower than the Gingko-standard EGb 761® (38.58 µg/mL). The antibacterial activity against S. aureus strains was observed in EtOAc (MIC 256-512 µg/mL), which showed a very low toxicity. The chemical study of this fraction revealed the abundant presence of polyphenolic compounds. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities reported in this paper for EtOAc extract from B. sartorum and the low toxicity of this fraction opens the possibility that it could be helpful for the developing of new antibacterial agents for treating S. aureus infections.

Alternativa no isolamento e caracterizaçäo de amostras de clostridium difficile a partir de fezes de crianças / Alternative for isolation and characterization of Clostridium difficile from faeces of children

Avaliaçäo de esquema alternativo para isolamento de Clostridium difficile visando células esporuladas e vegetativas, a partir de fezes de criança. A atmosfera de incubaçäo foi obtida combinando-se a técnica de substituiçäo da atmosfera interna da jarra por produçäo de vácuo e injeçäo de mistura gasosa com a técnica de modificaçäo da atmosfera utilizando esponja de aço cobreada. O cultivo de 123 espécimes fecais com e sem tratamento térmico (80-C - 10 min) foi realizado nos meios de cultura: a) Trypticase Yeast Glucose Agar (TYGA) com estreptomicina (500 microng/ml) e cefoxitina (16 microng/ml; b) TYGA com estreptomicina (250 microngf/ml), cefoxitina (8 microng/ml) e lisozima (5 microng/ml) para a parte do espécime sem tratamento térmico, e c) TYGA somente com lisozima (5 microng/ml) para a parte do espécime que sofreu tratamento térmico. O método sugerido demonstrou maior sensibilidade quando se utilizou a associaçäo dos meios TYGA/antibióticos (células vegetativas) e TYGA/lisozima (células esporuladas), com um percentual de isolamento em torno de 95%. Melhor caracterizaçäo do C. difficile foi realizada pela pesquisa da enzima DNase e da atividade proteolítica das amostras