Analysis of the clinical significance of CoNS isolated from hemocultures and the precise detection of oxacillin resistance represent decisive factors for the correct choice of antibiotic therapy. Although vancomycin constitutes the normal treatment in most Brazilian hospitals, reduction in its use is recommended.

α-Curcumene was isolated from the fresh aerial parts of Senecio selloi Spreng. DC. and its activity against bacteria, yeasts and an alga was inspected by the applying the microdilution method. The strongest effect was manifested against Saccharomyces cerevisiae with estimated values of MIC and MFC 0.8 mg/mL. The α-curcumene synergism in the concentrations of 1 mM and 5 mM, respectively, with selected antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, imipenem, ceftazidim and a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid) was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by the disk diffusion assay. The results have shown the occurrence of synergism of α-curcumene with imipenem against the clinical isolate E. cloacae with a significance level of p> 0.05. Based on these informations it can be concluded that fungal strains are more sensitive for α-curcumene than the bacterial ones and the synergism of α-curcumene with imipenem can improve the antibiotic efficiency against the E. cloacae.

RESUMOIntrodução: Devido à sepse bacteriana associada à transfusão de concentrados plaquetários (CPs) ter sérias consequências clínicas para os pacientes, alguns procedimentos têm sido incorporados na preparação e no controle de qualidade dos componentes sanguíneos para reduzir o risco da contaminação bacteriana. Este artigo descreve a prevalência da contaminação bacteriana dos CPs que foram transfundidos, o espectro bacteriano detectado com seu perfil de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos e as reações transfusionais nos receptores. Métodos: Um total de 292 CPs (278 randômicos e 14 por aférese), proveniente do Hemocentro do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (HEMORGS) de Santa Maria foi testado. As quantidades de 100µL e 200µL foram coletadas da porção tubular da bolsa de plaquetas e semeadas utilizando dois tipos de metodologias. Resultados: Em cinco unidades(1,7%; 5/292) foram isoladas bactérias pela metodologia qualitativa e apenas uma pela quantitativa. Staphylococcus epidermidis foi o microrganismo identificado em todas as amostras. Dois pacientes apresentaram sepse associada à transfusão com desfecho fatal. Conclusões: A contaminação bacteriana pelas transfusões de CPs constitui-se num importante problema de saúde pública devido a sua associação com altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Neste estudo, somente microrganismos gram-positivos foram isolados sendo que nenhuma amostra obtida por aférese apresentou contaminação. Palavras-chaves: Concentrados plaquetários. Contaminação bacteriana. Sepse. Staphylococcus epidermidis. ABSTRACTIntroduction: Bacterial sepsis associated with the transfusion of platelet concentrates (PCs) results in serious clinical implications for patients. Given these implications, certain procedures have been integrated into the preparation and quality control of blood components to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. This article describes the prevalence of bacterial contamination on transfused PCs, the bacterial spectrum detected and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile and transfusion reactions in receptors. Methods: A total of 292 PCs (278 random and 14 per apheresis) from the Blood Center of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (HEMORGS), located in the city of Santa Maria, were tested. Quantities of 100µL and 200µL were collected from platelet bag tubing and seeded using two methodologies. Results: Using the qualitative methodology, bacteria were isolated in five units (1.7%; 5/292), while only one was isolated using the quantitative methodology. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the microorganism identified in all samples. Two patients died of transfusion-related sepsis. Conclusions: Bacterial contamination due to PC transfusion is considered a major public health problem due to its association with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In this study only gram-positive microorganisms were isolated and none of the samples obtained by apheresis presented contamination.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent and severe complication that occurs in patient with cirrhosis and ascites. It occurs in 10% to 30% of patients admitted to hospital. The organisms that cause SBP are predominantly enteric. Escherichia coli is the most frequent recovered pathogen, and Gram-positive bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus spp., are being considered an emerging causative agent of SBP. Streptococcus bovis that may be found as part of the commensal bowel flora in about 10% of healthy adults constitute an uncommon cause of peritonitis that was first reported in 1994. We describe the first case of SBP at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM) caused by S. bovis, resistant to the antibiotics erythromycin and clindamycin (inducible clindamycin resistance detected by disk diffusion test using the D-zone test).

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent and severe complication that occurs in patient with cirrhosis and ascites. It occurs in 10% to 30% of patients admitted to hospital. The organisms that cause SBP are predominantly enteric. Escherichia coli is the most frequent recovered pathogen, and Gram-positive bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus spp., are being considered an emerging causative agent of SBP. Streptococcus bovis that may be found as part of the commensal bowel fl ora in about 10% of healthy adults constitute an uncommon cause of peritonitis that was fi rst reported in 1994. We describe the fi rst case of SBP at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM) caused by S. bovis, resistant to the antibiotics erythromycin and clindamycin (inducible clindamycin resistance detected by disk diffusion test using the D-zone test).