Viral infections in workers in hospital and research laboratory settings: a comparative review of infection modes and respective biosafety aspects

Objectives: To compare modes and sources of infection and clinical and biosafety aspects of accidental viral infections in hospital workers and research laboratory staff reported in scientific articles. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scirus, and Scielo were searched (to December 2008) for reports of accidental viral infections, written in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or German; the authors' personal file of scientific articles and references from the articles retrieved in the initial search were also used. Systematic review was carried out with inclusion criteria of presence of accidental viral infection's cases information, and exclusion criteria of absence of information about the viral etiology, and at least probable mode of infection.Results: One hundred and forty-one scientific articles were obtained, 66 of which were included in the analysis. For arboviruses, 84% of the laboratory infections had aerosol as the source; for alphaviruses alone, aerosol exposure accounted for 94% of accidental infections. of laboratory arboviral infections, 15.7% were acquired percutaneously, whereas 41.6% of hospital infections were percutaneous. For airborne viruses, 81% of the infections occurred in laboratories, with hantavirus the leading causative agent. Aerosol inhalation was implicated in 96% of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections, 99% of hantavirus infections, and 50% of coxsackievirus infections, but infective droplet inhalation was the leading mode of infection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the mucocutaneous mode of infection was involved in the case of infection with influenza B. For blood-borne viruses, 92% of infections occurred in hospitals and 93% of these had percutaneous mode of infection, while among laboratory infections 77% were due to infective aerosol inhalation. Among blood-borne virus infections there were six cases of particular note: three cases of acute hepatitis following hepatitis C virus infection with a short period of incubation, one laboratory case of human immunodeficiency virus infection through aerosol inhalation, one case of hepatitis following hepatitis G virus infection, and one case of fulminant hepatitis with hepatitis B virus infection following exposure of the worker's conjunctiva to hepatitis B virus e antigen-negative patient saliva. of the 12 infections with viruses with preferential mucocutaneous transmission, seven occurred percutaneously, aerosol was implicated as a possible source of infection in two cases, and one atypical infection with Macacine herpesvirus 1 with fatal encephalitis as the outcome occurred through a louse bite. One outbreak of norovirus infection among hospital staff had as its probable mode of infection the ingestion of inocula spread in the environment by fomites.Conclusions: The currently accepted and practiced risk analysis of accidental viral infections based on the conventional dynamics of infection of the etiological agents is insufficient to cope with accidental viral infections in laboratories and to a lesser extent in hospitals, where unconventional modes of infection are less frequently present but still have relevant clinical and potential epidemiological consequences. Unconventional modes of infection, atypical clinical development, or extremely severe cases are frequently present together with high viral loads and high virulence of the agents manipulated in laboratories. In hospitals by contrast, the only possible association of atypical cases is with the individual resistance of the worker. Current standard precaution practices are insufficient to prevent most of the unconventional infections in hospitals analyzed in this study; it is recommended that special attention be given to flaviviruses in these settings. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis in a children's hospital specialized in craniofacial malformations

This study aimed to verify the relationship between acute diarrhea provoked by rotavirus and different indicators of craniofacial malformations. In the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, 8,724 children with cleft lip and cleft palate were divided into the following groups: acute diarrhea and infection due to rotavirus (C1, n = 62), acute diarrhea (C2, n = 153) and without acute diarrhea (C3, n = 8,509). In C1, 29.03% of the cases consisted of hospital infections associated with the hospitalization period while 38.71% of the patients were aged less than six months. The percentage of children not having breastfed was significantly higher in acute diarrhea groups. Additionally, there was a seasonal prevalence of rotavirus infection between May and October. Finally, the present findings indicate that rotavirus is a predominant etiological agent for gastroenteritis in children with craniofacial malformations. Moreover, among infants younger than six months of age, type of craniofacial malformation, breastfeeding difficulty, socioeconomic level and longer hospitalization period appear to contribute to higher infection morbidity.

Ocorrência de infecção hospitalar em idosos internados em hospital universitário

OBJETIVO: A infecção hospitalar é uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade na população idosa. O estudo realizado teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência e os fatores de risco da infecção hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo prospectivo em uma amostra de 322 idosos com 60 anos e mais, internados em um hospital universitário, entre setembro de 1999 e fevereiro de 2000. O cálculo da amostra foi feito pela fórmula de Fisher e Belle, com intervalo de confiança de 0,95%, de um total de 760 idosos internados, proporcionalmente ao número de pacientes em cada unidade de internação, no ano de 1997. Os critérios para definição da infecção hospitalar foram os do Center for Diseases and Prevention Control. Para a análise estatística dos dados foram utilizados o odds ratio e regressão logística. RESULTADOS: A taxa de infecção hospitalar encontrada foi de 23,6%. As topografias prevalentes de infecção hospitalar foram infecção respiratória (27,6%), do trato urinário (26,4%) e do sítio cirúrgico (23,6%). O tempo de internação dos pacientes sem infecção hospitalar foi de 6,9 dias e dos com infecção hospitalar foi de 15,9 (p<0,05). A taxa de mortalidade dos pacientes internados foi de 9,6% e a de letalidade dos pacientes com infecção hospitalar de 22,9% (p<0,05). Os fatores de risco encontrados para infecção hospitalar foram colangiografia (odds ratio (OR)=46,4, intervalo de confiança 95% (IC 95%)=4,4-485); diabetes melito (OR=9,9, IC 95%=4,4-22,3); doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (OR=8,3, IC 95%=2,9-23,7); cateterismo urinário (OR=5, IC 95%=2,7-11,8); internação com infecção comunitária (OR=3,9, IC 95%=1,7-8,9) e ventilação mecânica (OR=3,8, IC 95%=1,9-6,3). CONCLUSÕES: A infecção hospitalar apresentou incidência e letalidade elevadas e aumentou o tempo de internação dos idosos estudados.

Detecção e identificação dos genes de beta-lactamases blaSHV, blaTEM e blaCTX-M em Klebsiella penumoniae isoladas em um Hospital Terciário do Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Microbiologia - IBILCE

Vigilância hospitalar: possibilidades e obstáculos de uma prática integrada

O presente estudo discute a questão da integração das vigilâncias em âmbito hospitalar (vigilância epidemiológica hospitalar e vigilância do controle de infecção hospitalar), analisando as possibilidades e impossibilidades dessa integração. Examina os aspectos histórico-políticos e as concepções teórico-práticas de organização dos serviços de vigilância hospitalar, buscando identificar as diferenças e semelhanças entre as duas vigilâncias. A análise inicial permitiu examinar em que medida os limites impostos pelas especificidades de cada vigilância contribuem para sua prática de forma desintegrada. Em seguida realizou-se pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, por meio de entrevistas com grupos focais de profissionais que atuam na vigilância das infecções hospitalares e da vigilância epidemiológica em âmbito hospitalar. O material localizado nos grupos focais foi analisado utilizando-se categorias construídas a partir do próprio material. As vigilâncias hospitalares têm tentado encontrar formas de mudar suas práticas, buscando romper com os caminhos neutralizados, buscando uma aproximação entre as vigilâncias, pois havia muito conflito relacionado a questões técnicas advindas da formação diversificada entre os profissionais que atuam na área. Hoje a busca de novos caminhos foi possível pela mudança da percepção dos profissionais apenas, sem a imposição da gestão, ao perceberem a necessidade de reorganizar o serviço de vigilância hospitalar de forma horizontalizada, construindo um diagnóstico com múltiplos olhares/saberes, como práticas aliançadas com a transformação da realidade de sua unidade hospitalar. Alguns apontam a necessidade de se discutir um novo conceito para Vigilância Hospitalar, capaz de reconhecer além da vigilância das infecções hospitalares e vigilância epidemiológica, capaz de incluir também a vigilância ambiental, assim o conceito de vigilância em saúde no território hospitalar deve possibilitar uma visão mais ampla para a VH. Esta vem enfrentando dificuldades ao tentar reorganizar suas práticas, principalmente em sua infra-estrutura, e os recursos humanos têm sido o maior problema. Reconhecem que um serviço de VH requer normas, fluxos, protocolos, etc. para integrar suas práticas, o que exige construir a integração. Embora acreditem que a integração não deva começar pela mudança da estrutura do serviço, mas pelo processo de trabalho, esperam que, ao final dessa construção, seja criada uma regulamentação que proponha a integração das vigilâncias, efetivando a proposta.

Detección de portadores de gérmenes multiresisttentes en la unidad de cuidado intensivo medico fundación cardioinfantil

Introducción: En Colombia la prevalencia de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (SARM) oscila entre 6% y 15% para el personal medico, entre el 13 % y el 26 % de SARM en pacientes atendidos en la unidades de cuidado intensivo, no se reportan gérmenes productores de Betalactamasas de espectro extendido (ESBL) en fosas nasales y se reportan cifras alarmantes para Enterococcus resistente a la Vancomicina (VRE). Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de portadores de microorganismos multiresistentes en pacientes que ingresan a la unidad de cuidado intensivo médico, y en personal asistencial dedicado su cuidado. Metodología: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, se estudiaron 114 sujetos, se llevo a cabo toma de muestra nasal, faringe y rectal. Resultados: se encontró una prevalencia de 18 % en los pacientes (muestra nasal) y 12.5 % (muestra nasal) en el personal medico y paramédico para el SARM, y en muestra faringe para el personal asistencial una prevalencia de 6.3 % y 25.6 % para los pacientes, la prevalencia de ESBL fue 0% en muestra nasal y faringe para los dos grupos, en la muestra rectal se encontró una prevalencia de 7.3 % y 13.4 % para Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL positivo y Escherichia coli ESBL respectivamente. Discusión: Las prevalencias encontradas en este estudio en comparación con datos publicados reflejan el uso racional de los antibióticos en la FCI-IC y la adherencia a los protocolos de vigilancia epidemiológica; lo cual no significa que no pueda existir una exposición del personal medico y paramédico al paciente colonizado. Palabras claves: Gérmenes multiresistentes – Infecciones Intrahospitalarias – SARM – ERV- BLEE Key words : multiresistant germs, hospital infections, ESBL, VRE, MRSA

Eficacia de la limpieza corporal con clorhexidina en prevenir la sepsis neonatal en cuidado intensivo revisión sistemática

ANTECEDENTES. La mortalidad neonatal se debe principalmente a procesos infecciosos y a prematurez. Se ha sugerido que el lavado corporal total con clorhexidina podría reducir la mortalidad neonatal relacionada con infección. No existen revisiones sistemáticas que exploren la eficacia de esta intervención. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de la limpieza corporal total con clorhexidina en la prevención de las infecciones asociadas al cuidado de la salud en neonatos de alto riesgo hospitalizados en cuidado intensivo neonatal. Metodología. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura. La búsqueda se hizo a través de las bases de datos Medline, Embase, LilaCS, Cochrane library y el registro de ensayos clínicos del Instituto Nacional de Salud de Estados Unidos. Se incluyeron ensayos clínicos publicados en los últimos 15 años hasta el 30 de enero del 2015. Las variables cualitativas se estimaron mediante OR o RR con sus IC95%. Las variables cuantitativas mediante diferencias de promedios o diferencias estandarizadas de promedios con sus IC95%. Resultados: Se incluyeron 3 estudios en el análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo. No se encontró evidencia concluyente que permita recomendar el uso de la limpieza corporal total con clorhexidina en los recién nacidos hospitalizados en cuidado intensivo neonatal. Conclusión: No existe evidencia que permita concluir que la limpieza corporal total con clorhexidina al 0.25% es mejor respecto a otras intervenciones en la prevención de sepsis neonatal asociada al cuidado de la salud . Es una intervención segura sin efectos adversos significativos.

Bacterial biofilms with emphasis on coagulase-negative staphylococci

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

ANTS AS POTENTIAL VECTORS OF PATHOGENS IN HOSPITALS IN THE STATE OF SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Baiting studies performed in large, medium and small hospitals in Brazil revealed the presence of 14 ant species, with up to nine recorded in one hospital. Dominant species were exotic ants, and in the large hospital, Tapinoma melanocephalum was the most prevalent. Ants were not uniformly spread through the hospitals, but tended to be found in the more critical areas, particularly in nursery, intensive care, obstetrics, neurology and dermatology units. Bacteriological studies using specific media for bacteria associated with intra-hospital infections indicated the potential for the mechanical vectoring of species of Staphylococcus, Serratia, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Candida and Enterococcus by ants. Although T. melanocephalum did not have the highest rate of association with these bacteria, its ubiquitous occurrences resulted in the highest overall potential as a vector of these bacteria. Because of a large number of ant species occurring in Brazilian hospitals, ants pose a potential problem to the spread of diseases in hospitals. Because of the number of associated ant species in hospitals, the control of this potential problem is much more difficult than in registered temperate areas.

Infecção hospitalar--aspectos éticos.

The author focuses the question of hospital infection, analysing the background on which the control committees were created. The hospital infection is discussed under bioethical principles and the Medical Ethics Code, examining the aspects related to the government, the Hospital Directorship, the Committee and the Control Service of Hospital Infection, and the assisting physician. A closer integration between the activities of the Program of Control of Hospital Infections and those of the Medical Ethics Committee is proposed, aiming at the patient and at the community, targets of total medical attention.

Influěncia defluídos biológicos na sobrevivěncia de staphylococus aureus sobre diferentes superficiessecas

It is known that the transmission of hospital infections, whether environmental or cross infection, is facilitated by the enhanced survival of microorganisms on dry surfaces that is caused by the presence of biological fluids. To demonstrate the need for care with bodily substances in the routine of cleaning, this study evaluated the influence of some body fluids (blood, urine and artificial saliva), deposited in the same way on various surfaces and allowed to dry, on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Blood was able to preserve bacterial viability for up to 72 days when deposited on ceramic flooring. Fabric of cotton fiber allowed longer survival than synthetic fabric. These results show that the composition of biological fluid and type of support influence bacterial survival in normal conditions.

Avaliação da utilização da técnica de lavagem das mãos pelo profissional de enfermagem em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal

Pós-graduação em Enfermagem (mestrado profissional) - FMB

Staphylococcus spp. Na cavidade bucal e na bolsa periodontal de indivíduos com periodontite crônica: presença e sensibilidade aos antibióticos

Staphylococcus are not usually studied in the oral cavity, when this happens, they are considered to belong to transitory microflora. Individuals that present periodontal disease represent possibles reservoirs of these opportunist bacteria in the oral cavity. The use of antibiotics whether for treatment of periodontal disease or due to hospital infections, may predispose the increase of the Staphylococcus spp. in the oral cavity because they easily become resistant to antibiotics, resulting in superinfection. The study was made with 88 patients, minimum age- 25 years old, presenting chronical periodontitis, with, at least, two sites having a probing pocket bigger or equal to 5mm. After anamnese and clinical periodontal examination samples were taken from the periodontal pocket using paper cones and from the oral cavity using mouth rinse. Of the total patients 37,50% presented Staphylococcus spp. in the periodontal pocket and 61,36% in lhe oral cavity; 27,27% presented bacteria in the two sites, not necessarily of the same specie. S. epidermidis was the most prevailing specie in periodontal pocket (15,9%) and oral cavity (27,27%). Positive for S. aureus in the periodontal pocket were 4,5% and for the oral cavity 25%, and 3,4% were positive for the two sites. There was not found significative statistical difference referring to the presence of the microorganisms as to age, smoking habit and increase of the probing depth. The majority of the isolated Staphylococcus samples showed resistance to the tested antibiotics, indicating that the drugs as an adjunct to periodontal therapy, must be seen with caution