We report a multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae exhibiting resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime, isolated in Portugal in 2019. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for typing and identification of genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance. Because of its antimicrobial susceptibility profile, awareness should be raised for the circulation of this strain.

There are many native species of animals with the potential to cause severe disease in Portugal. Of the four clinically relevant snake species, the vipers (Vipera latastei and Vipera seoanei) are the most concerning. They can cause severe disease and require in-hospital management, monitoring and specific treatment, including the administration of anti-snake venom serum. The Malpolon monspessulanus and Macroprotodon brevis snakes cause mostly localized clinical manifestations, which do not require specific treatment. Only a minority of the spider species in Portugal possess chelicerae (mouthparts of the Chelicerata, shaped as either articulated fangs or pincers, which may contain venom or be connected to the venom glands and are used for predation or capture of food) long enough to perforate the human skin. Nevertheless, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus and Loxosceles rufescens spider bites may require specialized treatment in a hospital setting, as well as careful active symptom surveillance. Diversely, the treatment for Scolopendra cingulata and Scolopendra oraniensis centipedes’ bites is merely symptomatic. The only existing scorpion species in Portugal is the Buthus ibericus; its sting typically causes local symptoms with intense pain, and its treatment consists essentially of analgesia. The insects of the Hymenoptera order, such as bees and wasps, have the ability to inject venom into the skin. Most people present only with local or regional inflammatory response, and symptomatic treatment is usually effective. Even so, individuals with hypersensitivity to bee venom may develop anaphylaxis. Several marine species in the Portuguese coast are venomous to humans, including weeverfish (Trachinidae family), stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca, Taeniura grabata, Myliobatis aquila), red scorpion fish (Scorpaena scrofa), cnidaria (Pelagia noctiluca, Chrysaora hysoscella, Physalia physalis) and bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata); treatment is symptomatic. Contact with the larvae or bristles (chitinous structures with locomotor or tactile functions) of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (pine processionary) can cause cutaneous, ocular and, rarely, respiratory reactions; its management is also symptomatic.

We propose a guideline about the risk, prevention and treatment of infection in the patient under immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapy in the context of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease. It is divided into three sections: drugs and associated risk of infection; immunizations; risk, prevention, and treatment of specific infections. The treatment of autoimmune diseases involves the use of immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies, with an increasing number of new drugs being used. It is associated with an increased risk of infection, which may be present globally or only for specific agents, varying widely depending on the pharmacological class and even within the same class. The prevention strategy and clinical management need to be individually tailored and there are several key factors: characterization of the disease that prompts the immunosuppression, understanding of the mechanism of action of the immunosuppressive drug, knowledge of previous infections, recognition of risk factors, laboratory test results, vaccine administration, monitoring of clinical signs and symptoms and patient education.

Introduction/Framework Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite the available treatment, it’s an important driver of global morbidity and mortality. It reaches mainly the lungs but can reach any organ. The main route of infection is inhalation of aerosolized particles or contaminated micro-droplets. Global efforts for early diagnosis and adequate treatment have made it possible to remove Tuberculosis from the worldwide ten leading causes of death in 2019. The worldwide incidence is around ten million, probably underestimated. Tuberculosis represents an often-overlooked pandemic, which remains an important cause of death from an infectious disease whose, in contrast to other infections, incidence has recently risen as occupational disease. Methodology It’s a narrative review of the national and international guidelines about Tuberculosis in healthcare workers, with an adaptation to the Portuguese reality using estimations from countries with a similar disease incidence. Contents The World Health Organization argues that the benefit of screening and treating Latent Tuberculosis Infection outweighs the individual risks and therefore should be performed whenever possible. Following these guidelines, the Portuguese health council (Direção-Geral da Saúde) determined that health institutions, within the scope of health surveillance of their workers, must adopt procedures that allow for the early detection of Tuberculosis and Latent Tuberculosis Infection. Thus, the Occupational Medicine Services are responsible for assessing and manage the professional exposure to this biological agent. The End TB Strategy program aspires to the worldwide eradication of Tuberculosis by 2035, aiming to reduce Tuberculosis incidence and mortality by 80 and 95%, respectively, as well as universal access to proper treatment. Discussion and Conclusions The authors argue that the institutional contribution with the reinforcement of hospital infection control measures, the implementation of regular occupational Tuberculosis surveillance programs and the containment of the disease, through timely screening after unprotected exposure, are essentials measures for the achievement of the ambitious outlined goals. Regardless of their job model, these programs should be applied to all workers, contributing to the maintenance of their health, the main Occupational Medicine’s goal. Finally, the authors share ten common questions from daily basis clinical practice and present methodological suggestions. KEY-WORDS: Labor Health Surveillance; Healthcare workers; Prevention of Occupational Diseases; Screening; Tuberculosis; Latent Tuberculosis Infection.