Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Background Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and in particular Staphylococcus epidermidis have emerged as major pathogens primarily causing nosocomial infections in patients with indwelling medical devices. These infections are often caused by multidrug-resistant strains of S. epidermidis (MDRSE). Other clinical entities due to CoNS are lower urinary tract infections (UTI) in women and native valve endocarditis. The purpose of this work was to investigate the frequency of antibiotic resistance and the molecular epidemiology of both hospital and community-associated isolates of S. epidermidis in order to examine if certain clones are related to MDRSE infections. Furthermore, we aimed to explore if specific clones of S. saprophyticus are associated with UTI in women. Methods A total of 359 hospital-associated methicillin-resistant isolates of CoNS obtained from 11 hospitals in northern Europe and 223 community-associated staphylococcal isolates were examined. Furthermore, 126 isolates of S. saprophyticus isolated from women with uncomplicated UTI from five different locations in northern Europe were analyzed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for genotyping. Additionally, some of the S. epidermidis isolates were analyzed with multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Antibiotic susceptibility was determined for all isolates by the disc diffusion test. Results 293 of the 359 (82%) hospital-associated and 124 of the 223 (56%) community-associated isolates belonged to the species S. epidermidis. Among the hospital-associated S. epidermidis isolates, two dominating PFGE types (type A and B) were distinguished, comprising 78 (27%) and 51 (17%) isolates, respectively. Type A, which was detected in a Norwegian and eight Swedish hospitals, corresponded with a novel sequence type (ST215). Type B was discovered in a German, a Danish and seven Swedish hospitals and corresponded with ST2. In contrast, community-associated isolates of S. epidermidis were genetically extremely diverse with no predominating genotype, and showed a low rate of antibiotic resistance; only two (1.6%) methicillin-resistant strains were detected. Among 126 analyzed isolates of S. saprophyticus, 47 different PFGE profiles were identified. Several clusters of genetically highly related isolates were detected among isolates obtained from different locations and periods of time. Conclusion We have demonstrated the occurrence, persistence and potential dissemination of two multidrug-resistant S. epidermidis (MDRSE) genotypes, including a novel sequence type (ST215), within hospitals in northern Europe. Community-associated isolates of S. epidermidis showed a low rate of methicillin-resistance and were genetically heterogeneous. These results indicate that MDRSE by large are confined to the hospital setting in our region. Moreover, although the S. saprophyticus population was quite heterogeneous, indistinguishable isolates of S. saprophyticus causing lower UTI in women were identified in different countries 11 years apart, indicating the persistence and geographical spread of some clones of S. saprophyticus.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

L’optimisation des performances d’une pile à combustible (PEMFC) requiert la compréhension microscopique des mécanismes de transport de l’eau et du proton confinés au sein de la membrane électrolyte polymère. La membrane est un matériau nanostructuré chargé, caractérisé par une dynamique de l’eau et du proton complexe et multi-échelle étroitement corrélée à la morphologie confinante. Nous nous sommes intéressés à la relation structure – transport dans i) L’Aquivion, un ionomère perfluorosulfonique récent présentant de bonnes performances en pile, ii) des systèmes «modèles» auto-assemblés de tensioactifs perfluorés formant des phases lamellaires et hexagonales et iii) une nouvelle membrane hybride préparée par dopage en tensioactif. La nano-structuration des différents systèmes a été étudiée par diffusion de rayonnement (X et neutrons), pour caractériser l’évolution de la structure (géométrie de la matrice hôte, taille de confinement) avec l’hydratation. Ensuite, nous avons sondé la dynamique de l’eau à l’échelle moléculaire (de la picoseconde à la nanoseconde) par diffusion quasi-élastique des neutrons (QENS) et à l’échelle micrométrique par RMN à gradients de champs pulsés. La comparaison membranes commerciales / systèmes modèles permet de discuter l’impact de la connectivité, du confinement et de la géométrie sur le transport ionique. Enfin, des membranes hybrides à fort potentiel ont été obtenues par dopage du Nafion et de l’Aquivion avec des tensioactifs. Ces nouveaux matériaux ouvrent une voie prometteuse pour la préparation de membranes polymères fortement anisotropes avec des chemins de conduction préférentiellement orientés. / The optimization of the Fuel Cell’s performances (PEMFC) requires a microscopic understanding of the water and proton’s transport mechanism, which are confined in a polymer electrolyte membrane. The latter is nanostructured, charged and characterized by a complex and multi-scale water and proton dynamics, closely correlated to the confining morphology. We studied the structure-transport interplay in i) the Aquivion, a recent perfluorosulfonic ionomer exhibiting good performances in fuel cell, ii) “model” systems of perfluorosulfonic surfactants, which self-assemble in lamellar and hexagonal phases and iii) a new hybrid membrane doped with surfactant. The nanostructuration of the different systems has been studied by neutron and X-ray scattering, to characterize the structural evolution (host matrix geometry, confinement sizes) with hydration. Then, we probe the water dynamics at the molecular level (from picosecond to nanosecond) with Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) and at the micrometric scale with Pulsed Field Gradient NMR. The comparison of commercial membranes and model systems bring new insight on the impact of the connectivity, the confinement and the geometry, on the ionic transport. Finally, high potential hybrid membranes have been obtained by doping Nafion and Aquivion with surfactants. Those new materials open a promising way for the preparation of highly anisotropic polymer membrane, with conducting path preferentially oriented.

Orientador: Maria Luiza Moretti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T02:52:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Kuboyama_RogerioHakio_D.pdf: 1899697 bytes, checksum: 863826cd141f1e5f89eb90d272c0c330 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Os objetivos do presente estudo, conduzido retrospectivamente, utilizando cepas isoladas de espécimens clínicos obtidos de pacientes internados em dois hospitais brasileiros entre fevereiro de 2001 e junho de 2004 foram descrever: a presença de cepas de Klebsiella pneumoniae produtoras de beta-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBLs), o melhor método e o substrato preferido para os testes de triagem e de confirmação da produção de ESBLs, a relação epidemiológica das cepas obtidas e analisar os fatores de risco para infecção por cepa produtora de ESBLs. A fim de investigar a relação genética das cepas, foram utilizadas as análises do DNA plasmidial e do DNA cromossômico por eletroforese em campo pulsátil (PFGE). Um total de 89 cepas de K. pneumoniae foram coletadas de diversos sítios anatômicos. Os espécimens clínicos mais comuns dos quais foram isoladas cepas produtoras foram urina (12,4%) e sangue (10,1%). Utilizando os critérios estabelecidos pelo CLSI (testes de triagem), 35 (39,3%) cepas de K. pneumoniae foram consideradas possivelmente produtoras de ESBLs, enquanto que o teste de aproximação de discos (DDAT) revelou distorções características nas zonas de inibição produzidas pela molécula do clavulanato em 96, 62,5, 50, 18,8 e 12,5% das cepas ao redor dos discos contendo aztreonam, cefotaxima, ceftazidima, ceftriaxona e cefpodoxima, respectivamente. Das 89 cepas, 32 (36%) foram consideradas produtoras de ESBLs baseadas no teste confirmatório pelo método Oxoid de discos-combinados. O disco contendo cefotaxima foi capaz de confirmar 100 % dos produtores de ESBLs enquanto que o disco contendo ceftazidima deixou de confirmar 2 cepas produtoras. Dez e 32 diferentes perfis plasmidiais foram observados dentre as cepas de K. pneumoniae produtoras e não produtoras, respectivamente. A PFGE demonstrou melhor poder discriminatório fornecendo 15 e 55 perfis de DNA cromossômico dentre as cepas ESBLs-positivas e ESBLs-negativas, respectivamente. Da análise univariada, as variáveis significativamente associadas com infecção por cepas de K. pneumoniae produtoras de ESBLs foram: uso de cefalosporinas de quarta geração, de lincosamida, de carbapenêmicos, de glicopeptídeos, cirurgia recente, traqueostomia, idade, dias em uso de lincosamida, dias em uso de glicopeptídeos, número total de antibióticos e duração da terapia antimicrobiana. Ao realizar a análise multivariada, utilizando um modelo de regressão logística que incluía as variáveis estatisticamente significantes da análise univariada (P < 0,05), número total de antibióticos permaneceu como única variável independente para infecção por cepa de K. pneumoniae produtora de ESBLs (OR, 1,60; IC95%, 1,194-2,145.; P = 0,0017). Os dados obtidos revelam: uma taxa relativamente alta da produção de ESBLs em cepas de K. pneumoniae obtidas de pacientes das instituições estudadas; a insuficiência da análise plasmidial na elucidação da relação genética dentre as cepas produtoras de ESBLs; aztreonam como melhor substrato indicador da produção presuntiva de ESBLs e cefotaxima como o melhor substrato no teste confirmatório pelo método Oxoid de discoscombinados / Abstract: The objectives of this study conducted restrospectively using strains isolated from clinical specimens obtained from patients hospitalized in two Brazilian hospitals between February 2001 to June 2004 were to describe the presence of extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, the best method and the preferred substrate for screening and confirming ESBL production and the epidemiological relatedness of ESBL-producing strains and analyse the risk factors for infection due to ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. To investigate the genetic relatedness of the strains, plasmid analysis and chromosomal DNA analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were used. A total of 89 K. pneumoniae were collected from diverse body sites. The most commom specimens yielding ESBL-producing strains were urine (12.4%) and blood (10.1%). Using CLSI criteria (ESBL screening breakpoints), 35 K. pneumoniae (39.3%) had presumptive ESBL phenotype, while using the double-disk approximation test (DDAT) characteristic clavulanate-induced distortions of inhibition zones were found in 96, 62.5, 50, 18.8 and 12.5% of the strains around the disks containing aztreonam, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefpodoxime, respectively. Of 89 isolates, 32 (36%) produced ESBL based on the confirmatory Oxoid combination disk method. The disk containing cefotaxime was able to confirm 100% of the ESBL producers while the disk containing ceftazidime was not able to confirm 2 ESBL-positive strains. Ten and 32 different plasmid profiles were observed among the ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and non ESBL producers, respectively. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed the best discriminatory power giving 15 and 55 different chromosomal DNA profiles among the ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative K. pneumoniae, respectively. From univariate analysis, variables significantly associated with infection by an ESBL-producing strain of K. pneumoniae included the following: use of 4st-generation cephalosporins, lincosamide, carbapenems, glycopeptides, recent surgery, tracheostomy, age, days in using of lincosamide, days in using of glycopeptides, total number of antibiotics and duration of the antimicrobial therapy. The only variable that remained independent risk factor for acquiring infection due to ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae after multivariable analysis using a logistic regression model, which included the variables associated with acquiring infection by ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae by univariate analysis (P < 0.05), was total number of antibiotics (OR, 1.60; 95%CI, 1.194-2.145; P = 0.0017). In summary, these data indicate that ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae occur at a relatively high incidence at our institutions and the plasmid analysis is not sufficient to identify relationships between ESBL-producing strains of K. pneumoniae. The ESBL screening breakpoints and DDAT with aztreonam appear to be good indicators in presumptive detection of ESBL-producing strains and the cefotaxime used in the Oxoid combination disk method constituted the best substrate in the confirmatory test / Doutorado / Ciencias Basicas / Doutor em Clínica Médica

Les hydrogels de polysaccharide sont des biomatériaux utilisés comme matrices à libération contrôlée de médicaments et comme structures modèles pour l’étude de nombreux systèmes biologiques dont les biofilms bactériens et les mucus. Dans tous les cas, le transport de médicaments ou de nutriments à l’intérieur d’une matrice d’hydrogel joue un rôle de premier plan. Ainsi, l’étude des propriétés de transport dans les hydrogels s’avère un enjeu très important au niveau de plusieurs applications. Dans cet ouvrage, le curdlan, un polysaccharide neutre d’origine bactérienne et formé d’unités répétitives β-D-(1→3) glucose, est utilisé comme hydrogel modèle. Le curdlan a la propriété de former des thermogels de différentes conformations selon la température à laquelle une suspension aqueuse est incubée. La caractérisation in situ de la formation des hydrogels de curdlan thermoréversibles et thermo-irréversibles a tout d’abord été réalisée par spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (FT-IR) en mode réflexion totale atténuée à température variable. Les résultats ont permis d’optimiser les conditions de gélation, menant ainsi à la formation reproductible des hydrogels. Les caractérisations structurales des hydrogels hydratés, réalisées par imagerie FT-IR, par microscopie électronique à balayage en mode environnemental (eSEM) et par microscopie à force atomique (AFM), ont permis de visualiser les différentes morphologies susceptibles d’influencer la diffusion d’analytes dans les gels. Nos résultats montrent que les deux types d’hydrogels de curdlan ont des architectures distinctes à l’échelle microscopique. La combinaison de la spectroscopie de résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) à gradients pulsés et de l’imagerie RMN a permis d’étudier l’autodiffusion et la diffusion mutuelle sur un même système dans des conditions expérimentales similaires. Nous avons observé que la diffusion des molécules dans les gels est ralentie par rapport à celle mesurée en solution aqueuse. Les mesures d’autodiffusion, effectuées sur une série d’analytes de diverses tailles dans les deux types d’hydrogels de curdlan, montrent que le coefficient d’autodiffusion relatif décroit en fonction de la taille de l’analyte. De plus, nos résultats suggèrent que l’équivalence entre les coefficients d’autodiffusion et de diffusion mutuelle dans les hydrogels de curdlan thermo-irréversibles est principalement due au fait que l’environnement sondé par les analytes durant une expérience d’autodiffusion est représentatif de celui exploré durant une expérience de diffusion mutuelle. Dans de telles conditions, nos résultats montrent que la RMN à gradients pulsés peut s’avérer une approche très avantageuse afin de caractériser des systèmes à libération contrôlée de médicaments. D’autres expériences de diffusion mutuelle, menées sur une macromolécule de dextran, montrent un coefficient de diffusion mutuelle inférieur au coefficient d’autodiffusion sur un même gel de curdlan. L’écart mesuré entre les deux modes de transport est attribué au volume différent de l’environnement sondé durant les deux mesures. Les coefficients d’autodiffusion et de diffusion mutuelle similaires, mesurés dans les deux types de gels de curdlan pour les différents analytes étudiés, suggèrent une influence limitée de l’architecture microscopique de ces gels sur leurs propriétés de transport. Il est conclu que les interactions affectant la diffusion des analytes étudiés dans les hydrogels de curdlan se situent à l’échelle moléculaire. / Polysaccharide hydrogels are biomaterials used as controlled drug delivery matrices and serve as model scaffolds for the study of many biological systems like bacterial biofilms and mucus. In every case, the transport of drugs or nutriments across a hydrogel matrix is of prime importance. Therefore, the study of transport properties in hydrogels is an important issue for many fields of application. In this work, curdlan, a neutral bacterial polysaccharide made of β-D-(1→3) glucose repeating units, is used as a model hydrogel. Aqueous suspensions of curdlan can form thermogels of different conformations depending on the incubation temperature. In situ characterization of the preparation of thermo-reversible (low-set) and thermo-irreversible (high-set) curdlan hydrogels was first carried out using variable temperature attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results allowed optimization of the gelling conditions leading to reproducible gel samples. Structural characterization of fully hydrated hydrogels, carried out by FT-IR imaging, environmental scanning electron microscopy (eSEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), allowed visualization of the different gel morphologies susceptible of influencing the diffusion of analytes in hydrogels. Our results show that both types of curdlan hydrogels have distinct microscopic architectures. The combination of pulsed field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and NMR profiling allowed the study of self-diffusion and mutual diffusion on the same hydrogel system in similar experimental conditions. We showed that the diffusion of analytes in the gels is slower than in the aqueous solution. The diffusion experiments, carried out on a series of analytes of various sizes in both types of curdlan gels, show a decrease of the relative self-diffusion coefficient as a function of the analyte size. In addition, our results suggest that the equivalence between the self-diffusion and mutual-diffusion coefficients measured in the high-set curdlan gels is mainly due to the fact that the environment probed by the analytes during a self-diffusion experiment is representative of the one probed during a mutual-diffusion experiment. In such conditions, our results show that PFG NMR may present a valuable approach for the characterization of controlled drug release systems. Additional experiments show that the mutual-diffusion coefficient of dextran macromolecules is smaller than its self-diffusion coefficient in the same curdlan hydrogel. The difference between both transport rates is attributed to the different environment volumes probed by the analytes during the measurements. The similarities observed between the self-diffusion and mutual-diffusion coefficients, measured in both types of curdlan gels for all investigated analytes, suggest a limited influence of the microscopic gel architecture on its transport properties. It is therefore concluded that the interactions affecting the diffusion of the investigated analytes in the curdlan hydrogels lie at the molecular scale.

Die Frage nach adäquaten mikrobiologischen und molekulargenetischen Methoden, um die Kolonisation des Respirationstrakts von Mukoviszidose-Patienten mit Pseudomonas aeruginosa nachzuweisen und zu charakterisieren, wird kontrovers diskutiert. Von 38 klinisch stabilen Patienten mit cystischer Fibrose (CF) wurden sequentiell im Abstand von 18 Monaten Proben aus Rachenabstrich, Sputum und Bronchiallavage (BAL) entnommen und bezüglich Pseudomonas-Nachweis untersucht. Die Pseudomonas-Stämme wurden mittels Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-Analyse und Pulsfeld-Gelelektrophorese (PFGE) von DNA-Makrorestriktionsfragmenten typisiert und bezüglich der Frage nach genetisch divergierenden Isolaten innerhalb des selben Individuums sowie nach möglichen longitudinalen genetischen Veränderungen evaluiert. Sensitivität, negative und positive prädiktive Werte und Spezifität, um eine P. aeruginosa-Besiedlung zu erkennen, waren 36%, 74%, 83% und 96% im Falle der Kulturen aus dem Oropharynx von nicht-expektorierenden Patienten und 92%, 94%, 100% und 100% für Sputumkulturen von expektorierenden Probanden. RAPD-Analyse und PFGE waren in der Lage, zwischen unterschiedlichen Pseudomonas-Stämmen zu diskriminieren, wobei nur die DNA-Makrorestriktion zwischen Subtypen unterscheiden konnte. Die Genotypen der Pseudomonas-Isolate aus Rachenabstrich und Sputum divergierten in 55% und 40% zu den Isolaten der BAL. Longitudinale Variationen des Genotyps wurden in 62% der Fälle beobachtet, die Hälfte davon war nur mittels bronchoskopisch gewonnener Proben erkennbar. Zusammengefasst besitzen Sputumproben bezüglich des Pseudomonas-Nachweises dieselbe Wertigkeit wie Kulturen aus der BAL, während Rachenabstriche in einer frühen Krankheitsphase für die Charakterisierung der bakteriellen Flora des unteren Respirationstrakts wenig geeignet sind. Die Methode der DNA-Makrorestriktion kann als zuverlässige Technik für epidemiologische Untersuchungen empfohlen werden. Unterschiedliche Genotypen innerhalb desselben Individuums und longitudinale genetische Alterationen sind häufig, jedoch unter Umständen nur bronchoskopisch nachweisbar. / There is controversy about adequate specimen to detect and characterise colonisation of cystic fibrosis (CF) airways by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Oropharyngeal, sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were evaluated sequentially from 38 stable CF patients for the detection of P. aeruginosa. Pseudomonas strains were typed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA macrorestriction fragments. The occurrence of genetically different isolates within the same host and longitudinal variations in the genotype during repeated examinations was assessed. Sensitivity, negative and positive predictive values and specificity to detect P. aeruginosa were 36%, 74%, 83% and 96% for oropharyngeal cultures in non-expectorating patients and 92%, 94%, 100% and 100% for sputum cultures from expectorating patients, respectively. RAPD analysis and PFGE were suitable to characterize P. aeruginosa CF isolates, although only DNA macrorestriction was able to distinguish between identical and closely related strains. Genotypes of Pseudomonas isolates recovered from oropharyngeal swabs and sputum differed to the strains recovered by bronchoscopy in 55% and 40%, respectively. In 62% longitudinal variations in the genotype occurred. Half of these alterations were only detectable from bronchoscopically obtained samples. In conclusion, sputum samples have the same value as specimens from BAL to detect P. aeruginosa colonisation, whereas cultures from the oropharynx are not suitable for characterising the bacterial conditions in the CF lungs in an early disease state. DNA macrorestriction is recommended as an excellent tool for epidemiological investigations. Different genotypes within the same host and longitudinal genetic alterations are common and may be detectable in the BAL fluid exclusively.

Introdução - A crescente resistência antimicrobiana em bactérias responsáveis por infecções hospitalares é um grande desafio à Saúde Pública. as B-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL), que hidrolisam a maioria dos compostos B-lactâmicos, são reconhecidas mundialmente como um grande problema para pacientes hospitalizados, devido à localização de seus genes em elementos transferíveis, facilitando sua disseminação. Objetivo - Caracterizar geneticamente cepas de Enterobactérias produtoras de ESBL isoladas de pacientes de um hospital público da cidade de São Paulo. Material e métodos - Todas as cepas de enterobactérias produtoras de ESBL isoladas em um ano foram submetidas a análises moleculares pela PCR, com iniciadores específicos para oito genes bla, e as cepas de Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL positivas (ESBL-Kp) identificadas nesse período foram comparadas pela técnica de PFGE.Resultados - Os genes, bla(tem), bla(shv), bla(ctx-m), bla(per-2) bla(veb) and bla(ges) foram identificados em 9 espécies: Klebsiella pneumoniae (71,5 por cento), Escherichia coli (13,5 por cento), Morganella morganii (6 por cento), Proteus mirabilis (3 por cento), Klebsiella oxytoca (1,5 por cento), Providencia rettgeri (1,5 por cento), Providencia stuartii (1,5 por cento), Enterobacter aerogenes (0,75 por cento). Os genes bla(per-1) e bla(oxa) não foram detectados. O PFGE revelou 8 perfis moleculares principais em 68,4 por cento das ESBL-Kp, e 31,6 por cento das cepas não estavam relacionadas. Conclusões - Os resultados de PCR revelaram uma grande variedade de grupos de ESBL, e aparentemente este é o primeiro relato de grupos GES e VEB em enterobactérias no Brasil. / Introduction - The increasing antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria causing nosocomial infections is a major public health challenge. The extended-spectrum &#946;-lactamases (ESBL), which hydrolyze most of &#946;-lactams, are recognized worldwide as a great problem to hospitalized patients, due to the transferable location of their genes, which facilitates their spreading. Objective - Genetically characterize ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from patients of a Public Hospital in the city of São Paulo. Material and Methods - All Enterobacteriaceae ESBL-producing strains isolated in an 1-year period were submitted to molecular analysis by PCR with specific primers for eight bla genes, and all ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) identified in this period were compared by the PFGE technique. Results - Genes blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaPER-2, blaVEB and blaGES were identified in 9 species: Klebsiella pneumoniae (71,5%), Escherichia coli (13,5%), Morganella morganii (6%), Proteus mirabilis (3%), Klebsiella oxytoca (1,5%), Providencia rettgeri (1,5%), Providencia stuartii (1,5%), Enterobacter aerogenes (0,75%) and Enterobacter cloacae (0,75%). Genes blaPER-1 and blaOXA were not detected in any strain. PFGE revealed 8 distinct main molecular patterns in 68,4% of ESBL-Kp, and 31,6% of the strains were totally unrelated. Conclusions - PCR results showed a great variety of ESBL groups in the institution, and apparently this is the first report of GES- and VEB-ESBL groups in enterobacteria in Brazil. The results suggest the spread of resistance genes in different strains of ESBL-Kp in some hospital wards, and also that some strongly related clones of these bacteria colonized patients from a neonatal ward in a 3-month period.

Nas duas últimas décadas, várias espécies de Candida têm surgido como importantes patógenos hospitalares, no mundo e no Brasil. A identificação da origem da infecção tem importância na definição de estratégias de prevenção e controle. As estratégias para a prevenção de candidíase endógena podem focar, parcialmente, em métodos para redução da colonização de mucosas, por exemplo, a restrição ao uso de antibióticos de largo espectro. Entretanto, nos casos nos quais está envolvida uma fonte exógena, um expressivo reforço, na melhoria da qualidade das práticas de assistência à saúde, é prioritário para prevenção da transmissão. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar diferentes sítios de colonização por Candida como potenciais fontes de candidemia. O estudo foi desenvolvido em 3 hospitais no Brasil: Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo, hospital universitário de nível terciário de complexidade, com mil leitos; o Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, um hospital com 200 leitos, referência para todo o Estado de São Paulo; e o Hospital Geral de Itapecerica da Serra, hospital de cuidados secundários da Grande São Paulo. Foram incluídos no estudo os pacientes com isolamento de Candida em hemocultura obtida de veia periférica após 48 horas de admissão hospitalar. As culturas de vigilância para Candida foram colhidas dos seguintes sítios: urina, reto, cavidade oral, pele (virilha e axila), pele ao redor do cateter e ponta de cateter caso disponível. A tipagem molecular foi realizada quando a mesma espécie de Candida (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata) foi isolada no sangue e nos sítios de vigilância do mesmo paciente. A eletroforese em campo pulsado foi realizada para os isolados de C. albicans, C. parapsilosis e C. glabrata. A amplificação de segmentos polimórficos do DNA foi realizada para C. albicans e C. tropicalis. No total 63 pacientes consecutivos com candidemia foram incluídos no estudo no período de maio de 2004 a outubro de 2005. C. albicans foi isolada em 42% das hemoculturas, C. parapsilosis em 35%, C. tropicalis em 16%, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. glabrata, e C. holmii, em 2% cada uma. Unicamente seis dos 10 isolados de ponta de cateter apresentaram perfil eletroforético idêntico aos isolados de C. parapsilosis do sangue. Os isolados de C. albicans do sangue e de culturas de vigilância do trato gastrintestinal correspondentes, oriundos de 12 pacientes, apresentaram genótipos idênticos. Os resultados sugerem que a colonização do trato gastrintestinal é a provável fonte de candidemia por C. albicans e que a candidemia por C. parasilosis é de origem exógena. / In the last two decades, Candida spp. have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in the world and in Brazil. The identification of the source of infection is important in approaching prevention and control strategies. Strategies for the prevention of endogenous candidiasis may focus, to a certain extent, on methods for reducing mucosal colonization, for example limitation use of wide-spectrum antibiotics. However, in cases in which an exogenous source is involved, the aggressive reinforcement of adequate healthcare practices is mandatory to prevent transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate different Candida colonization sites as potential sources for Candida fungemia. The study was done in 3 hospitals in Brazil: the Central Institute of Hospital das Clinicas, a 1000-bed tertiary-care hospital affiliated to the University of São Paulo; the Institute Emilio Ribas, a 200-bed infectious diseases hospital, reference for all the state of São Paulo; and the General Hospital of Itapecerica da Serra, a secondary-care community hospital located in area of the greater São Paulo. The patients with a positive blood culture for Candida, collected from a peripheral vein, were included in the study if they had to be hospitalized for 48 hours or more before candidemia. The following surveillance cultures for Candida were collected from: urine, rectum, oropharynx, skin (groin and axilla), skin around the catheter and catheter tip if available. Molecular typing was performed when the same species of Candida (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata) was isolated from the blood and from surveillance sites of a single patient. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata isolates. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA was performed for C. albicans and C. tropicalis. A total of 63 consecutive patients with candidemia were included in the period from May 2004 to October 2005. C. albicans comprised 42% of the blood isolates, C. parapsilosis 35%, C. tropicalis 16%, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. glabrata, and C. holmii, 2% each. Six of the 10 isolates from catheter tips presented identical electrophoretic profiles to corresponding C. parapsilosis blood cultures and no other surveillance sites were related. C. albicans isolates from blood and from corresponding gastrointestinal surveillance sites from 12 patients presented identical genotypes. In conclusion, our results suggest that tract gastrointestinal colonization is the probable source of C. albicans candidemia and that C. parapsilosis candidemia is not endogenous.

Introdução - A crescente resistência antimicrobiana em bactérias responsáveis por infecções hospitalares é um grande desafio à Saúde Pública. as B-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL), que hidrolisam a maioria dos compostos B-lactâmicos, são reconhecidas mundialmente como um grande problema para pacientes hospitalizados, devido à localização de seus genes em elementos transferíveis, facilitando sua disseminação. Objetivo - Caracterizar geneticamente cepas de Enterobactérias produtoras de ESBL isoladas de pacientes de um hospital público da cidade de São Paulo. Material e métodos - Todas as cepas de enterobactérias produtoras de ESBL isoladas em um ano foram submetidas a análises moleculares pela PCR, com iniciadores específicos para oito genes bla, e as cepas de Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL positivas (ESBL-Kp) identificadas nesse período foram comparadas pela técnica de PFGE.Resultados - Os genes, bla(tem), bla(shv), bla(ctx-m), bla(per-2) bla(veb) and bla(ges) foram identificados em 9 espécies: Klebsiella pneumoniae (71,5 por cento), Escherichia coli (13,5 por cento), Morganella morganii (6 por cento), Proteus mirabilis (3 por cento), Klebsiella oxytoca (1,5 por cento), Providencia rettgeri (1,5 por cento), Providencia stuartii (1,5 por cento), Enterobacter aerogenes (0,75 por cento). Os genes bla(per-1) e bla(oxa) não foram detectados. O PFGE revelou 8 perfis moleculares principais em 68,4 por cento das ESBL-Kp, e 31,6 por cento das cepas não estavam relacionadas. Conclusões - Os resultados de PCR revelaram uma grande variedade de grupos de ESBL, e aparentemente este é o primeiro relato de grupos GES e VEB em enterobactérias no Brasil. / Introduction - The increasing antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria causing nosocomial infections is a major public health challenge. The extended-spectrum &#946;-lactamases (ESBL), which hydrolyze most of &#946;-lactams, are recognized worldwide as a great problem to hospitalized patients, due to the transferable location of their genes, which facilitates their spreading. Objective - Genetically characterize ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from patients of a Public Hospital in the city of São Paulo. Material and Methods - All Enterobacteriaceae ESBL-producing strains isolated in an 1-year period were submitted to molecular analysis by PCR with specific primers for eight bla genes, and all ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) identified in this period were compared by the PFGE technique. Results - Genes blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaPER-2, blaVEB and blaGES were identified in 9 species: Klebsiella pneumoniae (71,5%), Escherichia coli (13,5%), Morganella morganii (6%), Proteus mirabilis (3%), Klebsiella oxytoca (1,5%), Providencia rettgeri (1,5%), Providencia stuartii (1,5%), Enterobacter aerogenes (0,75%) and Enterobacter cloacae (0,75%). Genes blaPER-1 and blaOXA were not detected in any strain. PFGE revealed 8 distinct main molecular patterns in 68,4% of ESBL-Kp, and 31,6% of the strains were totally unrelated. Conclusions - PCR results showed a great variety of ESBL groups in the institution, and apparently this is the first report of GES- and VEB-ESBL groups in enterobacteria in Brazil. The results suggest the spread of resistance genes in different strains of ESBL-Kp in some hospital wards, and also that some strongly related clones of these bacteria colonized patients from a neonatal ward in a 3-month period.