Jaqueline Otero Silva

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae as etiological agents of conjunctivitis outbreaks in the region of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

In the study of conjunctivitis outbreaks occurring from September 1994 to September 1996 in the region of Ribeirão Preto, conjunctival exudates of 92 patients were cultivated in Instituto Adolfo Lutz Laboratory I, Ribeirão Preto. Most cases occurred in the age range 2-7 years. The etiological agents which were most frequently isolated from the analyzed cases were: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, in 40.22% and 21.74%, respectively. 51.35% of the S. pneumoniae isolated strains were not typable. The oxacillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains were submitted to the minimum inhibitory concentration test (MIC) and three of them presented intermediate resistance, whereas only one was highly resistant to penicillin.

Performance of Selective and Differential Media in the Primary Isolation of Yeasts from Different Biological Samples

In view of the increase in yeast infections, especiallypolymicrobial ones, differential culture media have acquired increasing importance. The presentstudy evaluated the Sabouraud chloramphenicol, Biggy agar, Pagano Levin agar and CHROMagarCandida media in terms of isolation, number of yeast colony forming units per plate,and inhibition of bacteria and filamentous fungi. To this end, we used 223 biological samples,including feces, and oral, vaginal and anal mucosae from 86 patients presenting or notsymptoms of fungal infections. The four media did not differ significantly in terms of detectionof yeast-positive cultures. The number of colony forming units per plate ranged from zero to 2.380,with a predominance of counts of 1 to 9 colonies per plate. No significant differences wereobserved among the four culture media in terms of number of colonies counted, for each kind ofbiological material.Fifteen species belonging to the genera Candida, Saccharomyces,Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Rhodotorula were isolated,with C. albicans being the predominant species, followed by C. parapsilosis and R. rubra. CHROMagar Candidaand Biggy agar were complementary in the isolation of the different species and favored a greater recoveryof polymicrobial cultures. Pagano Levin agar isolated the smallest variety of species. Sabouraud chloramphenicolagar was the least effective in terms of bacterial inhibition and favored a greater development of filamentous fungi. The results suggest that more than one culture medium should be used for an adequate primary isolation.

Enteroparasitoses e onicomicoses em manipuladores de alimentos do município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

Most microbial food-borne illnesses are due to inappropriate food handling. The identification of food handlers contaminated with pathogenic organisms that can be transferred to food is a useful tool in the prevention of food contamination. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the presence of enteroparasitosis and onychomycosis in food handlers in Ribeirao Preto, in order to contribute to sanitary surveillance actions. METHODS: From July to November 2000, 69 fecal and 23 nail samples of 23 food handlers in Ribeirao Preto were examined. Feces were submitted to the KATOs and spontaneous sedimentation method. In the mycological analysis, every nail scraping sample was submitted to clarification with 30% KOH for 30 minutes for the microscopic study (direct examination) and culture in Sabouraud agar with 100 mg/L of chloramphenicol, and later incubation at 28-30oC. Yeast growth was checked weekly. RESULTS: Among the workers evaluated, 04 (17.4%) presented intestinal parasitism, 08 (34.8%) mycosis, and 01 (4.3%), concurrent enteroparasitosis infection and mycosis. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent food-borne illnesses, the joint implementation of some actions is necessary, including the identification of pathogenic agents that can be transmitted by food, through handling.

Atividade enzimática, produção de slime e sensibilidade a antifúngicos de Candida sp

Abilith of Candida spp to secrete extracellular enzymes and slime has been associated as pathogenicity factors. Out of a total of 37 strains of Candida sp, 100% were proteinase producers, 83.8% were phospholipase producers, 64.9% were slime producers and 100% were sensitive to fluconazole and itraconazole. Seventeen typings (enzymes/slime) were found. This methodology presented a good discrimination rate (D=0.93) and could be used for phenotypic characterization of yeasts.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolated from sputum

INTRODUCTION Rhodococcus equi is an opportunistic pathogen, causing rhodococcosis, a condition that can be confused with tuberculosis. Often, without identifying M. tuberculosis, physicians initiate empiric treatment for tuberculosis. R. equi and M. tuberculosis have different susceptibility to drugs. Identification of R. equi is based on a variety of phenotypic, chromatographic, and genotypic characteristics. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to characterize bacterial isolates from sputum samples suggestive of R. equi. METHODS The phenotypic identification included biochemical assays; thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for genotypic identification. RESULTS Among 78 Gram-positive and partially acid-fast bacilli isolated from the sputum of tuberculosis-suspected patients, 51 were phenotypically and genotypically characterized as R. equi based on literature data. Mycolic acid analysis showed that all suspected R. equi had compounds with a retention factor (R(f)) between 0.4-0.5. Genotypic characterization indicated the presence of the choE gene 959bp fragments in 51 isolates CAMP test positive. Twenty-two CAMP test negative isolates were negative for the choE gene. Five isolates presumptively identified as R. equi, CAMP test positive, were choE gene negative, and probably belonged to other bacterial species. CONCLUSIONS The phenotypic and molecular techniques used constitute a good methodological tool to identify R. equi.

Avaliação do sistema API20C AUX na identificação de leveduras de interesse clínico

Fifty yeasts belonging to the genera Candida, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula and Trichosporon were identified by classical methods and by the API 20C AUX system. The commercial system correctly identified 92% of the species, with the need for additional tests in 16% of cases. The results were interpreted with good, very good and excellent identification.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus gattii in a patient on chronic corticotherapy

Cryptococcus gattii causes a form of endemic mycosis that most commonly affects the lungs and central nervous system of immunocompetent patients living in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Case report. A 66-year-old man who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without HIV infection and had been on systemic corticotherapy for several years developed extensive ulceration of the left forearm that was associated with ipsilateral supraclavicular adenomegaly, consequent to infection with Cryptococcus gattii. The patient was treated with fluconazole 400mg/day for eight months, which led to complete healing of the lesion. This case emphasizes that, although rare, C. gattii may cause opportunistic cutaneous-lymphatic infection in patients living in the southeastern region of Brazil who are immunocompromised through chronic corticotherapy.