A serosurvey for hantavirus infection in wild rodents from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco, Brazil

Sera from 269 rodents obtained during the routine surveillance operations in plague areas of Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco states, Brazil were tested by ELISA for specific IgG antibodies against a recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein of Araraquara hantavirus. ELISA-positive sera were submitted to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for amplification of the virus genome and later sequencing for identification of the viral variant. The samples from the state of Pernambuco were antibody negative, and although four from Rio de Janeiro were ELISA-positive, they failed to yield viral cDNA by RT-PCR. This is the first report of the presence of antibodies to a hantavirus among rodents from Rio de Janeiro and suggests the possibility of human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in that state, although no case has yet been reported. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis in six hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance survey in six hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To estimate resistance to at least one drug (DR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) and identify associated factors. DESIGN: One-year cross-sectional survey. Hospitals were included as a convenience sample. RESULTS: Of 595 patients investigated, 156 (26.2%) had previously undergone anti-tuberculosis treatment, 433 (72.8%) were not previously treated and information on the remaining 6 was not available. Overall, DR and MDR rates were high, at respectively 102 (17.1%, 95%CI 14.3-20.5) and 44 (7.4%, 95%CI 5.5-9.9) cases. Among individuals not previously treated, 17 had MDR (3.9%, 95%CI 2.4-6.3) and diagnosis in a TB reference hospital was independently associated with MDR (prevalence ratio [PR] 3.3, 95%CI 1.2-8.7) after multivariate analysis. Among previously treated individuals, 27 had MDR (17.3%, 95%CI 11.7-24.2). MDR-TB was independently associated with diagnosis in a TB reference hospital (PR 3.6, 95%CI 1.5-8.7), male sex (PR 2.3,95%CI 1.2-4.4) and dyspnoea (PR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.7). CONCLUSION: We found high levels of DR- and MDR-TB. Our study design did not permit us to determine the contribution of community versus nosocomial transmission. Further studies are needed to establish this. Nevertheless, hospitals should be recognised as a potential source of transmission of resistant TB strains and urgent measures to avoid nosocomial TB transmission should be taken.

Access to tuberculosis diagnosis in Itaborai City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the patient`s point of view

SETTING: Itaborai Municipality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate access to tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis for users of the Family Health Program (FHP) and Reference Ambulatory Units (RAUs). DESIGN : A cross-sectional study was conducted in Itaborai City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between July and October 2007, a sample of 100 TB patients registered consecutively with the TB Control Program was interviewed using the primary care assessment tool. The two highest scores, describing `almost always` and `always`, or `good` and `very good`, were used as a cut-off point to define high quality access to diagnosis. RESULTS: FHP patients were older and had less education than RAU interviewees. Sex and overcrowding did not differ in the two groups. Patient groups did not differ with regard to the number of times care was sought at a unit, transport problems, cost of attending units and availability of consultation within 24 h. Adequate access to diagnosis was identified by 62% of the FHP patients and 53% of the RAU patients (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In Itaborai, Rio de Janeiro, TB patients believe that the FHP units provide greater access to TB diagnosis than RAUs. These findings will be used by the Department of Health to improve access to diagnosis in Itaborai.

Knowledge and practices of medical students to prevent tuberculosis transmission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Objectives. To describe knowledge, practices, and associated factors of medical students to prevent transmission of tuberculosis (TB) in five medical schools. Methods. Cross-sectional survey of undergraduate medical students in preclinical and in early and late clinical years. Information was obtained on sociodemographic profile, previous lectures on TB, knowledge about TB transmission, exposure to patients with active pulmonary TB, and use of respiratory protective masks. Results. Among 1 094 respondents, 575 (52.6%) correctly answered that coughing, speaking, and sneezing can transmit TB. Early [adjusted odds ratio = 4.0 (3.0, 5.5)] and late [adjusted odds ratio = 4.2 (3.1, 5.8)] clinical years were associated with correct answers, but having had previous lectures on TB was not. Among those who had previous lectures on TB, the rate of correct answers increased from 42.1% to 61.6%. Among 332 medical students who reported exposure to TB patients, 194 (58.4%) had not used protective masks. More years of clinical experience was associated with the use of masks [adjusted odds ratio = 2.9 (1.4, 6.1)], while knowledge was inversely associated with the use of masks [adjusted odds ratio = 0.4 (0.2, 0.6)]. Conclusions. Many medical students are not aware of the main routes of TB infection, and lectures on TB are not sufficient to change knowledge and practices. Regardless of knowledge about TB transmission, students engage in risky behaviors: more than two-thirds do not use a protective mask when examining an active TB case. We suggest innovative, effective active learning experiences to change this scenario.

Molecular characteristics of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Twenty-five extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were characterized by isoelectric focusing, PCR and sequencing of bla(ESBL) genes, plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants, phylogenetic groups, replicon typing, pulsed-field electrophoresis, and multilocus sequencing typing. Twenty-three (92%) ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were positive for bla(CTX-M) genes, aac(6`)-lb-cr, and qnrB. Genetic relatedness of ESBL producers clustered seven (28%) CTX-M-15-producing isolates as sequence type (ST) 410, clonal complex (CC) 23, and two (8%) as clone O25-ST131. Our results illustrate the predominance of phylo-group A (52%), ST410 (CC 23) and CTX-M-15 among ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.

A trag??dia da regi??o serrana do Rio de Janeiro em 2011: procurando respostas

O estudo de caso trata do desastre natural ocorrido na regi??o serrana do Rio de Janeiro nos dias 11 e 12 de janeiro de 2011, considerado a maior cat??strofe clim??tica e geot??cnica do pa??s, causado por fortes chuvas que provocaram enchentes e deslizamentos em sete munic??pios. O caso tem por finalidade despertar a discuss??o sobre as vari??veis e atores que influenciaram o processo de gest??o da crise, contextualizando o desastre no cen??rio da regi??o e reconstituindo, especialmente, o processo de resposta imediata dada ?? trag??dia pelos ??rg??os envolvidos. O estudo pode ser utilizado em cursos que abordem, entre outros, os seguintes t??picos: gest??o de crise e gest??o de riscos, negocia????o, comunica????o e planejamento estrat??gico

Compras p??blicas sustent??veis: uma experi??ncia de compra sustent??vel compartilhada no Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Bot??nico do Rio de Janeiro

A Diretoria de Gest??o do Jardim Bot??nico do Rio de Janeiro (JBRJ), motivada em contribuir para ado????o de um novo paradigma de consumo na administra????o p??blica, implementou a compra compartilhada sustent??vel de 48 itens de material de expediente com 10 ??rg??os da administra????o p??blica federal. Essa foi considerada pelo Minist??rio do Planejamento, Or??amento e Gest??o (MP) como a primeira compra compartilhada sustent??vel do governo federal. O projeto, por ser compartilhado, permitiu efetivamente o ganho de escala, gerando uma economia de aproximadamente 50% do valor estimado. Os ??rg??os participantes e a equipe JBRJ empenharam-se com bastante motiva????o na implementa????o do projeto. O cadastramento dos produtos no ComprasNet permitiu a codifica????o dos primeiros produtos sustent??veis de material de expediente. Adotou-se, portanto, uma medida inovadora, que vai colaborar para a redu????o do impacto ambiental decorrente do consumo no ??mbito dos ??rg??os p??blicos, ao encontro da perspectiva do desenvolvimento sustent??vel

Otite externa difusa aguda: um estudo prospectivo no verão do Rio de Janeiro

A Otite Externa Aguda é uma doença extremamente comum em países tropicais, especialmente no verão. Vários fatores predisponentes são identificáveis e o quadro clínico pode ser bastante variado, principalmente com relação à intensidade da otalgia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar, através de um estudo prospectivo no maior hospital de Emergências do Rio de Janeiro, a incidência e as características da otite externa no período de verão. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo clínico com coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: 391 pacientes com otite externa atendidos no Serviço de ORL do Hospital Souza Aguiar foram avaliados em uma série de parâmetros clínicos e de tratamento, incluindo análise de possíveis fatores predisponentes. RESULTADOS: Os principais sintomas referidos foram otalgia, otorréia discreta e plenitude auricular. Os principais fatores predisponentes foram banho de mar e piscina e uso de cotonetes. CONCLUSÃO: A otite externa aguda é uma doença extremamente comum em países tropicais, especialmente no verão. A possível contaminação da água de praias e piscinas, embora descartada por vários autores como fatores predisponentes, pode ter alguma influência na sua patogênese.

prevalência da perda auditiva em uma população de idosos da cidade do Rio de Janeiro: um estudo seccional

A perda auditiva na população idosa é uma das mais freqüentes doenças crônicas. OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência da perda auditiva em uma população de idosos, com 65 anos ou mais, da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo, cross-sectional de base populacional com 238 idosos com 65 anos ou mais, sendo 198 mulheres e 40 homens. RESULTADOS: A prevalência da perda auditiva foi, respectivamente, para melhor e pior orelha, 39.4% e 61.6% para o grupo das mulheres, 60% e 77.5% para os homens, e 42.9% e 64.3% considerando toda a população de estudo. O grau de perda auditiva leve apresentou maior prevalência. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência da perda auditiva na população estudada se mostrou bastante significativa e em consonância com outros estudos epidemiológicos internacionais. Pesquisas e estudos longitudinais devem ser desenvolvidos, pois podem oferecer uma melhor compreensão da perda de audição associada ao envelhecimento, na população brasileira.

Root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. treated with humic acids isolated from typical soils of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Humic substances isolated from soil organic matter had been used as stimulators of plant metabolism. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. with only five chromosomes, short cycle and size, is an important model to evaluate the physiological effects of these substances, which are qualitatively and quantitatively influenced by morphogenesis, mineralogy and chemistry of soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ambience effects on bioactivity of humic acids. A and B horizons of four typical soils of the North Fluminense were sampled. After isolation and purification, humic acids were applied to plants in increasing concentrations. The number and length of lateral roots and main root length were evaluated and, subsequently, the concentrations of maximum stimulation were determined by dose-response curves and regression equations. The results showed that more stable humic acids isolated from soil in less advanced stages of weathering, high activity clay and high base saturation resulted in better physiological stimulants for Arabidopsis.