Bacteria on the hands of school-age children at a Pediatric Hospitalization Unit

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from the hands of school-age children at a hospitalization unit. Methodology. In 2009, strains were cultured from the hands of 90 school-age children at the pediatric hospitalization unit of Hospital Estadual Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil). After culture of the samples, the isolated bacteria were identified. Results. In 98% of the samples taken from the children, bacteria were isolated. Coagulase-negative Staphilococcus was isolated in 64% of the samples, followed by Staphilococcus aureus (5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1%). Conclusion. In most of the samples from the children’s hands, bacteria were isolated. Therefore, educative actions about hygiene habits in- and outside the hospital environment should be reinforced, aimed at children and their companions.

Microbiologic characterization of equine mastitis

Mastitis occurrence in mares is low if compared to other livestock species. The microorganisms often isolated and detected in milk and mammary gland secretions of mares are Streptococcus beta-haemolytica, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Actinobacillus spp., and enterobacter. The present experiment was designed to evaluate the main microorganisms present in the milk of healthy mares and having a mammary infection. One hundred and ten mammary glands from 55 lactating mares were analyzed, ranging from 15 to 150 d post-partum. The mastitis diagnostic was performed through analysis of the milk via the screened test of the mug with dark background (Tamis), mammary gland inflammation and/or systemic signs. The subclinical mammary gland infection was characterized via the California Mastitis Test (CMT). From the 55 lactating mares, 2 (3.64%) had clinical mastitis. Following the CMT, the mares presented: 13 (23.60%), 7 (12.72%), and 12 (21.88%) scores from 1+, 2+, and 3+, respectively. From the 110 mamary glands were analysed, in 47 (85.45%) of these samples strains of microorganisms were isolated. In summary, results from our experiment suggest a low occurrence of clinical mastitis in lactating mares.

Avaliação de atividades biológicas dos extratos de Rosmarinus officinalis L. (alecrim) e Thymus vulgaris L. (tomilho)

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Atividade antimicrobiana, anti-inflamatória, citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade do extrato glicólico de Betula pendula Roth (Bétula)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Etiolofia, epidemiologia e prognóstico das pneumonias associadas à ventilação mecânica em um hospital de ensino, com ênfase no estudo molecular e virulência de Staphylococcus aureus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Analysis of susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas spp. and prevalence of bacterial samples from the surfaces of dental consulting-rooms

The aim of this research was to evaluate the susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas spp. and the prevalence of bacterial samples isolated from horizontal surfaces surrounding wash-basins used by dentists in several adjoined consulting-rooms, at points next to and at a distance from the basin, before and after surgical procedures. Our results showed a high percentage of Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli; 34.66% were Staphylococcus spp. and 30.12% were non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli among which Pseudomonas spp. (40.90%) was the commonest genus. Analysis of the susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas spp. isolates by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 14 antibiotics showed a great variation among the strains and high rates of resistance to cefazolin, ceftazidime and aztreonan. Of the 14 antibiotics tested, 59.03% were found to be active against all the environmental isolates. Strains were resistant to aztreonan (62.82%), while susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins was variable.

Produção de ramnolipídios por linhagens de Pseusomonas aeruginosa em diferentes fontes de carbono e condições de cultivo

Os biossurfactantes, moléculas tenso-ativas sintetizadas por microrganismos, apresentam propriedades biológicas e superficiais que podem ser aplicadas a processos industriais diversos. Apesar das vantagens apresentadas, não são amplamente utilizados pela indústria, devido ao alto custo de produção, baixa produtividade e uso de substratos caros. Bactérias do gênero Pseudomonas são conhecidas por sintetizarem ramnolipídios, moléculas tenso-ativas promissoras em termos de produção industrial, por apresentarem excelentes propriedades tenso-ativas, além de características físico-químicas e biológicas que permitem a obtenção em concentrações superiores a outros biossurfactantes. O uso de substratos alternativos seria uma estratégia que facilitaria o desenvolvimento industrial de sua produção. A proposta deste trabalho é dar continuidade ao estudo da produção de ramnolipídios a partir de substratos não-convencionais (n-parafina, óleos vegetais utilizados em frituras, glicerol) por isolados de P. aeruginosa.