Genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains collected in Brazil by Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing.

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, resulting in safety issues for food producers. Foods contaminated by L. monocytogenes can represent a risk if consumed by susceptible individuals such as elderly, pregnant women and the immunocompromised. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of a collection of L. monocytogenes isolated from different matrices in Brazil during the period of 1979-2015. A total of 51 L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains isolated from clinical samples (n = 3) and food samples (n = 48) were characterized by Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing (MVLST). The strains were assigned to nine virulence types (VT): VT-11 (n = 3, 5·9%), VT-45 (n = 27, 52·9%), VT-59 (n = 11, 21·6%), VT-68 (n = 3, 5·9%), VT-94 (n = 2, 3·9%), VT-107 (n = 2, 3·9%), VT-184 (n = 1, 1·9%), VT-185 (n = 1, 1·9%) and VT-186 (n = 1, 1·9%); and four of them (VT-11, VT-45, VT-59 and VT-68) have already been associated with cases of listeriosis worldwide. The VT-11, VT-59 (Epidemic Clone V) and VT-186 were identified in blood culture samples, as well as in different classes of foods. It is recommended that the epidemiological surveillance agencies evaluate the risk that foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes VTs pose to susceptible populations.

[Demand of community health services in the periphery of a metropolitan area]. / Demanda de serviço de saúde comunitária na periferia de área metropolitana.

The content of 4,319 consultations in primary health care representing 7% of all consultations from March, 1985 to March, 1986 at the Murialdo Health Center, was analyzed. The health center is located in the outskirts of Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil). Woman represented 67% of the total demand. Most consultations were for children under 10 years of age (37%) and woman of childbearing age (21%). The first twenty reasons for the visit corresponded to 63% of the total, and the most common reason for visiting the health center was for renewal of prescriptions and/or ordering medication (9.3%). Of all the diagnoses, the first twenty accounted for 62% of the total number of patients and the most frequent were: hypertension (8.8%), upper respiratory tract infection (7.8%), and immunization (5.5%). Prescription and administration of medication were the most common actions performed. Referrals resulted in 7.3% of the visits. Of these, 5% were sent to other providers within the Murialdo service. Only 0.6% were referred for hospitalization. These findings, combined with others which describe aspects of morbimortality not easily measured in studies of spontaneous demand for medical services, should help in the planning of primary health care services and in the training of health personnel.