The modeling of the resulting LasR protein showed a conformational change in its structure, suggesting that this might be the reason why these isolates are unable to produce biofilm.

No abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. are three of the pathogens most frequently involved in infections of cancer patients, and the production of b-lactamases is a major mechanism of resistance due to its wide diversity of existing enzymes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the microbiological profile and data related to patients and infections, and to search for b-lactamase genes in bacterial isolates from hospitalized cancer patients in a hospital in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 169 isolates were recovered between 2012 and 2014, of which 58 were P. aeruginosa, 36 were Acinetobacter spp. and 75 were Klebsiella spp. A high percentage of carbapenem resistance was observed in P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. Among the carbapenem-resistant bacteria, the bla SPM-1 gene was detected in P. aeruginosa (35.5 %) and Acinetobacter spp. (3.8 %), while bla KPC was detected in P. aeruginosa (25.8 %) only. Among the third-and fourth-generation cephalosporin-resistant strains, in Klebsiella spp. we detected the genes bla TEM (30.6 %), bla CTX-M (58.3 %) and bla KPC (5.6 %), and in Acinetobacter spp. only bla TEM (25.9 %). This the first report of an Acinetobacter baumannii bla SPM-1 gene carrier that has been isolated in Brazil. The most frequent cancer types were bowel tumour [14.8 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI 95 % ) 9.8-21.1 %], breast cancer (13.6 %; CI 95 % 8.8-19.7 %) and prostate cancer (11.2%; CI 95 % 6.9-17.0 %). These results therefore provide knowledge of susceptibility profile and resistance mechanisms and thus can contribute to the strategic formulation of hospital infection control plans and the rational use of antimicrobials, reducing mortality from infection levels in cancer patients. frequency and severity of infections may be related to the use of potent cytotoxic drugs and increasingly invasive diagnostic tools (Maschmeyer & Haas, 2008;Wang et al., 2011). INTRODUCTIONGiven this vulnerability among patients with cancer, this population is more susceptible to community and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). According to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 25 hospitalized patients [4.0 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI 95 % ), 3.7-4.4] is battling an HAI, defined as those infections acquired in hospital or healthcare service unit that first appear 48 h or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge following in-patient care (Revelas, 2012;Magill et al., 2014). Other causes for concern in many healthcare centres for patients with cancer are the high bacterial resistance rates and the rise of opportunistic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii (Pongas et al., 2012;Fukuta et al., 2013;Marín et al., 2014).Gram-positive bacteria are described as the most frequent cause of HAIs in cancer patients, especially through bloodstream infection (Wisplinghoff et al., 2003;Maschmeyer & Haas, 2008;Wang et al., 2011; Kosmidis & Chandrasekar...

RESUMOA garantia do fornecimento de uma água de qualidade destinada ao consumo humano é uma questão relevante para a saúde pública, sobretudo quando a água ofertada é dependente de meios alternativos, como os chamados caminhões-pipa. Entretanto, a grande preocupação quanto a esse tipo de transporte de água está relacionada aos diversos riscos de contaminações que podem ocorrer. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade bacteriológica da água para consumo direto (ingestão) comercializada por caminhões-pipa, destinada ao abastecimento da cidade de Caruaru-PE. Foram analisadas 10 amostras, obtidas de cinco caminhões-pipa, por meio da Técnica dos Tubos Múltiplos, para a identificação de Pseudomonas aeruginosa e do grupo coliforme e, da técnica pour plate, para a contagem de bactérias heterotróficas. Os resultados revelaram a presença dos grupos bacterianos testados na maioria das amostras analisadas. Foi verificado que o tempo era um fator que contribuia para o aumento do índice de contaminação. Conclui-se que esse tipo de comércio acaba fornecendo uma água que não atende aos requisitos de potabilidade e com um alto risco de contaminação, sendo imprópria para o consumo humano.Palavras-chave: água potável, coliforme, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacteriological analysis of drinking water sold by water tank trucks ABSTRACTAssuring the quality of the supply of water for human consumption is important for public health, especially when delivery of the water is dependent on alternative means, such as tanker trucks. The major concern about this kind of water transport is the risk of contamination. This study therefore evaluated the bacteriological quality of water sold by water trucks that supply the city of Caruaru-PE, Brazil. Ten samples from five trucks were analyzed using the technique of multiple tubes for the identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coliform, and the pour plate technique for counting heterotrophic bacteria was also used. The results revealed the

These results revealed that P. aeruginosa is able to accumulate different resistance and virulence factors, making the treatment of infections difficult. The identification of blaSPM-1 genes and the dissemination of clones in different hospitals, indicate the need for stricter application of infection control measures in hospitals in Recife, Brazil, aiming at reducing costs and damages caused by P. aeruginosa infections.