Evalution of methods for the detection of MRSA in patients of Botucatu Medical School Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil

Oxacillin is the main drug of choice for the treatment of S. aureus infections. However, S. aureus resistance to oxacillin has become a major problem in the recent decades. The study aimed assess the rates of oxacillin resistance in S. aureus samples obtained at the Botucatu Medical School Hospital, UNESP, and to compare phenotypic techniques for the detection of MRSA against the gold standard method (mecA gene detection) in these samples. A total of 102 samples, previously isolated between 2002 and 2006, and kept at the Culture Collection of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, in the Botucatu Biosciences Institute, UNESP, were included. Oxacillin resistance was assessed by oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion and agar dilution tests, screening tests using Mueller-Hinton agar with 6 mu g/mL of oxacillin and 4% NaCl, E-test, and mecA gene detection. of the samples analyzed, 46 (45.1%) were mecA-positive. Oxacillin disk sensitivity and specificity were 86.9% and 91.1%, respectively. Cefoxitin disk sensitivity and specificity were respectively 91.3% and 91.1%. The screening test with the cefoxitin disk showed almost the same level of sensitivity (91.3%) and specificity (91.1%). With E-test strips, sensitivity was higher (97.8%) and specificity was comparable to that found with the other methods (91.1%). Ninety-three percent of the samples produced beta-lactamase and five of them were mecA-negative. There was a gradual increase in the number of oxacillin-resistant S. aureus samples between 2002 and 2004. However, from 2004 to 2006, the number of resistant samples dropped from 55% of MRSA in 2004, to 45% in 2005 and 34.6% in 2006. The data obtained reveal that, among phenotypic methods, the E-test yielded the best results, with higher sensitivity levels when compared to the other methods. The decreased resistance rate observed over the most recent years may be explained by the rational use of antimicrobial agents associated with good practices in the control of hospital infection, or may be related to the diminished use of oxacillin as a treatment option.

Diagnóstico de crianças com alterações específicas de linguagem por meio de escala de desenvolvimento

Alterações específicas do desenvolvimento da linguagem (AEDL) devem ser identificadas precocemente, pois tais alterações podem interferir nos aspectos sociais e escolares da criança. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi verificar o desempenho de crianças com diagnóstico de AEDL, em comparação com o de crianças normais, por meio da Escala de Desenvolvimento Comportamental de Gesell e Amatruda (EDCGA). Foram selecionadas 25 crianças de 3 a 6 anos com o diagnóstico de AEDL (grupo estudado - GE) e 50 crianças normais da mesma faixa etária (grupo controle - GC). As crianças do GC apresentaram desempenho satisfatório e melhor que as crianças do GE, em todos os campos da escala. O valor da mediana do GE foi limítrofe nos comportamentos adaptativo e social-pessoal, já no de linguagem foi discrepantemente rebaixado. Concluímos que as alterações de linguagem interferiram na avaliação dos outros campos do desenvolvimento (adaptativo e pessoal-social). Apesar da interferência, a escala pode ser instrumento útil no diagnóstico de AEDL.

Monitoração de anticorpos neutralizantes para o vírus da rinotraqueíte infecciosa bovina em bezerros

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Afecções oculares em crianças de 2 a 8 anos da rede pública municipal de Piracicaba - SP

Study model: observacional, retrospective. Objective: to determine the frequence of the ametropic errors and other ocular problems in children with 2 to 8 year-old at Piracicaba - SP. Patients and Method: During the school year of 2000, 1001 children enrolled at the public schools of Piracicaba - SP, age ranged from 2 to 8 years old, were referred to complete ophthalmological exam. Visual acuity was previously determined using Snellen chart, applied by school teachers. Those children presenting visual acuity equal or less than 0.8, visual complaints or visual disorders were selected to appointment. Results: 51 children (5.09%) did not attended to examination. 950 children were submitted to complete ophthalmological exam. Ametropic errors were found 70.84% of the children. The most prevalent refractive errors were Hypermetropic Astigmatism (49.62%) and Hypermetropia (32,98%). Anisometropia was found in 1.78% children. Other ocular disabilities accounted for 10.21% of the examined children, such as strabismus (3.36%), eyelid changes, allergic conjunctivitis, congenital dacryostenosis, optic atrophy, corioretinitis and congenital glaucoma. Conclusion: The frequence of ocular problems observed let us to conclude the screening programs are valid surveys on decreasing rates of preventable blindness in our country.

A comparison of mycolic acid analysis for nontuberculous mycobacteria identification by thin-layer chromatography and molecular methods

The development of fast, inexpensive, and reliable tests to identify nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is needed. Studies have indicated that the conventional identification procedures, including biochemical assays, are imprecise. This study evaluated a proposed alternative identification method in which 83 NTM isolates, previously identified by conventional biochemical testing and in-house M. avium IS1245-PCR amplification, were submitted to the following tests: thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of mycolic acids and PCR-restriction enzyme analysis of hsp65 (PRA). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of mycolic acids and Southern blot analysis for M. avium IS1245 were performed on the strains that evidenced discrepancies on either of the above tests. Sixty-eight out of 83 (82%) isolates were concordantly identified by the presence of IS1245 and PRA and by TLC mycolic acid analysis. Discrepant results were found between the phenotypic and molecular tests in 12/83 (14.4%) isolates. Most of these strains were isolated from non-sterile body sites and were most probably colonizing in the host tissue. While TLC patterns suggested the presence of polymycobacterial infection in 3/83 (3.6%) cultures, this was the case in only one HPLC-tested culture and in none of those tested by PRA. The results of this study indicated that, as a phenotypic identification procedure, TLC mycolic acid determination could be considered a relatively simple and cost-effective method for routine screening of NTM isolates in mycobacteriology laboratory practice with a potential for use in developing countries. Further positive evidence was that this method demonstrated general agreement on MAC and M. simiae identification, including in the mixed cultures that predominated in the isolates of the disseminated infections in the AIDS patients under study. In view of the fact that the same treatment regimen is recommended for infections caused by these two species, TLC mycolic acid analysis may be a useful identification tool wherever molecular methods are unaffordable.

Parâmetros físico-químicos da água e ocorrência de streptococcus spp. em criação intensiva de tilápia no estado do espírito Santo, Brasil

This study evaluated the influence of intensive farming of tilapia on physical and chemical parameters and on the occurrence of Streptococcus spp. in the water of the lake and of cages. Throughout a year, monthly samplings were taken in the rainy and dry seasons for a year, at two sampling sites, lake and net cages. For the determination of water quality, physical and chemical water parameters were evaluated and compared to the standards established by Conama Resolution no. 357/2005. The presence of Streptococcus spp. in the water was determined by plating on blood Agar and biochemical screening. Mean values of water parameters were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test comparing sampling sites and seasons. Ammoniacal nitrogen (ammoniacal-N), total phosphorus (total-P) levels and occurrence of Streptococcus spp. have increased in the water of the net cages. The mean values of several parameters have decreased during the rainy period, except for pH, temperature and ammoniacal-N. Total-P and dissolved oxygen levels, during dry and rainy periods, respectively, exceeded the standard established for freshwater class 2, recommended for aquaculture, which can be harmful to the fish. Therefore, constant monitoring of the physical,chemical and microbiological water parameters is recommended since the Juara lake is also used for recreational purposes.

Soroprevalência da infecção chagásica em indivíduos jovens em hemocentro no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

This study aimed at estimating the number of cases of non-negative serological reactions to Chagas disease in blood donors at the Blood Center of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2003 to 2010 and at relating them to their cities of origin. Five hundred and seventy-four non-negative results for Chagas disease were evaluated. Of these, 371 (64.8%) were reagent, and 203 (35.4%) were inconclusive. The prevalence of Chagas disease in blood donors was 0.05%. There were, on average, 72 cases/year, and a prevalence of males was observed (64.8%). Forty-three (7.49%) individuals were 18 to 30 years old; 92 (16.02%) were 31 to 40; 147 (25.61%) 41 to 50, and 292 (50.87%) were older than 50 years. It was observed that 29.3% of females with reagent serology were at their fertile age (18 and 45 years). The majority of donors were originally from cities in the southwestern and central regions of São Paulo, but individuals from other states contributed with 20%. The provenance of most donors was the city of Botucatu/SP, followed by the city of Taquarituba/SP. Therefore, the profile of donors at this blood center favors the occurrence of a larger number of non-negative serological reactions. Although there has been a significant reduction in the number of new cases/year for this disease, it is still a public-health problem, and results suggest the need for new epidemiological assessments in the studied region.

Avaliação do emprego de um novo método de triagem molecular da síndrome do cromossomo X frágil em indivíduos brasileiros

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação do teste padrão para o diagnóstico de cães com doença de von willebrand

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação comparativa das técnicas de ELISA indireto, antígeno acidificado tamponado, 2-mercaptoetanol com soroaglutinação lenta e fixação de complemento para o diagnóstico da brucelose em rebanho bovino não vacinado, rebanho vacinado com dose padrão e rebanho vacinado com dose reduzida da amostra 19 de Brucella abortus

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Resistência à oxacilina em Staphylococcus aureus provenientes de pacientes do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado em soros tratados com rivanol como teste confirmatório no diagnóstico sorológico da brucelose bovina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência de bacteriúria assintomática em crianças durante a idade pré-escolar no município de Araraquara-SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação das atividades mutagênica, pró-inflamatória e estrogênica de Machaerium hirtum e Crotalaria pallida

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de álcool entre idosos do município de Sâo Paulo/SP, Estudo SABE

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)