Synergistic activity between conventional antifungals and chalcone-derived compound against dermatophyte fungi and Candida spp.

The scarce antifungal arsenal, changes in the susceptibility profile of fungal agents, and lack of adherence to treatment have contributed to the increase of cases of dermatomycoses. In this context, new antimicrobial substances have gained importance. Chalcones are precursors of the flavonoid family that have multiple biological activities, have high tolerability by humans, and easy synthesis.

Effect of ozone gas on cultures of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus: evaluation of two ozonation devices.

Introduction: Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are two important agents of Healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of ozone (O3) gas produced by two commercial devices against cultures of these two species.

Methodology: Sterile plastic plates were inoculated with C.

Combinatorial effect of fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine with different culture extracts of Candida parapsilosis and Trichophyton spp. against Trichophyton rubrum.

Onychomycosis is a nail infection caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte fungi, and yeasts, especially Candida species. The present study evaluated the combinatorial effect of different cultured extracts of Candida parapsilosis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum with fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine against clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum. In addition, investigation of the action of the extracts on the wall or membrane was performed.

Use of Ozonized Water in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Children Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery.

Introduction: Since the reduction of healthcare-associated infections has been a focus for quality patient care, this study aimed to evaluate the surgical site infection rate of children who underwent cardiovascular surgery after implementation of ozonized water system for hand and body hygiene allied to previously implemented preventive measures.

Methods: Two uniformly comparable groups of pediatric patients underwent cardiovascular surgery. Group A (187) patients were operated prior to installation of ozonized water system (March 1 to August 31, 2019), and group B (214) patients were operated after installation of ozonized water system (October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020).

Sporothrix pathogenic clade: Molecular analysis of animal and human clinical isolates.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that affects animals and humans. Varying in severity, occurrences range from local lesions to systemic involvement. It is caused by thermodimorphic and saprobic fungi from the Sporothrix pathogenic clade.

Ultraviolet-C Light-emitting Device Against Microorganisms in Beauty Salons.

Background: Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is also known as germicidal radiation, and it is widely used for decontamination and disinfection of environments, water, and food. The ultraviolet source transfers electromagnetic energy from a mercury arc lamp to an organism's genetic material. When UV radiation penetrates the cell wall of an organism, it destroys the cell's ability to reproduce, through a physical and not chemical process.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis and in vitro antifungal susceptibility.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis resulting from the traumatic implantation of pathogenic Sporothrix species. In Brazil, zoonotic transmission plays an important role in the epidemiology of the disease, involving especially cats. The objective of this study was to isolate Sporothrix spp.

Improved in vitro and in vivo Anti- Activity of Essential Oil by Its Incorporation into a Microemulsion System.

Purpose: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an opportunistic fungal infection that adversely affects a woman's health, due to unpleasant symptoms, therapeutic challenges, and the emergence of resistant strains. The association of natural products and nanotechnology is important to improve the antifungal potential of medicinal plants. We aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti- activity of unloaded (EO) and loaded (ME+EO) essential oil of in the microemulsion (ME).

Broad Diversity of Fungi in Hospital Water.

Introduction: Some studies have reported the occurrence of microorganisms isolated from water. Considering these microorganisms, fungi are known to occur ubiquitously in the environment, including water, and some are pathogenic and may cause health problems, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to identify fungi in hospital water samples and to correlate their presence with the concentration of free residual chlorine.

Comparing activity, toxicity and model membrane interactions of Jelleine-I and Trp/Arg analogs: analysis of peptide aggregation.

Increasing resistance in antibiotic and chemotherapeutic treatments has been pushing studies of design and evaluation of bioactive peptides. Designing relies on different approaches from minimalist sequences and endogenous peptides modifications to computational libraries. Evaluation relies on microbiological tests.

Wide diversity of fungal species found in wellwater for human consumption: an analytical cross-sectional study.

Background: Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment. They are able to grow in water and many of them may be opportunistic pathogens.

Objective: The aims were to identify fungi in registered wells (RWs) and nonregistered wells (NRWs) that tap into groundwater; and to correlate the results from physicochemical assays on this water (free residual chlorine and pH) with the presence of fungi.

First Comprehensive Report of Clinical Strains Isolated in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Identified by MALDI-TOF MS and Molecular Biology.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), phenotypic and molecular methods for the identification of species complexes isolated from clinical cases in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil) between the years 2001 and 2017. Sequencing of ITS region of ribosomal DNA and elongation factor 1 alpha gene (ET1α) were used as reference method in the analysis of a total of 108 spp. clinical strains isolated from human hosts with superficial and systemic infections.

Phenotypic and genotypic profile of the antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates and evaluation of physical and chemical potability indicators in groundwater in Brazil.

The aquatic environment has received increasing attention regarding the evolution of bacterial resistance, either as a source of resistance genes or as a matrix for the dissemination of these genes. We evaluated the physicochemical, microbiological and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of 160 samples from alternative water well solutions. According to Ordinance 2914/2011 - MS, 44 (27.

Evaluation of disinfection of surfaces at an outpatient unit before and after an intervention program.

Background: Cleaning and disinfection processes must be improved so that there is a reduction in environmental contamination of frequent-contact surfaces. The objective of this study was to evaluate cleaning and disinfection of surfaces at a specialized healthcare unit after an intervention program.

Methods: Exploratory, longitudinal, and correlational study carried out in a medium-complexity clinic.

Intravaginal Delivery of (Bong.) Ruhland Fraction Based on a Nanoemulsion System Applied to Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment.

In this study, was evaluated the chemical composition of a fraction from extract and its antimicrobial potential unloaded (Fr3) and loaded (F9Fr3) into a nanoemulsion (F9) composed of cholesterol as the oil phase (10%), polyoxyethylene 20-cetyl ether and soy phosphatidylcholine (2:1) as surfactant (20%), and a solution of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) plus chitosan polymer dispersion (0.25%) as the aqueous phase (70%) to use for VVC treatment.

Microbiological analysis of contact lens cases: impact of the hospital environment.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the bacterial and fungal microbiota found in contact lens cases among two groups of patients to correlate the data on the habits of contact lens users and to evaluate whether there is a difference in the culture results between users of ridged and nonridged contact lens cases.

Methods: Two groups (35 patients per group) were included, consisting of hospital workers and those who had not visited a hospital in the past 30 days, and a questionnaire regarding epidemiological data and habits related to contact lens and lens case use was administered. In addition, 140 samples collected from the right and left compartments of each lens case by swabbing the bottom of the wells were tested using bacterioscopy as well as fungal and bacterial cultures via computerized identification of the species.

Efficiency of cleaning and disinfection of surfaces: correlation between assessment methods.

Objective: to assess the correlation among the ATP-bioluminescence assay, visual inspection and microbiological culture in monitoring the efficiency of cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of high-touch clinical surfaces (HTCS) in a walk-in emergency care unit.

Method: a prospective and comparative study was carried out from March to June 2015, in which five HTCS were sampled before and after C&D by means of the three methods. The HTCS were considered dirty when dust, waste, humidity and stains were detected in visual inspection; when ≥2.

Effectiveness of ATP bioluminescence assay for presumptive identification of microorganisms in hospital water sources.

Background: Laboratory analysis of organisms in water include arduous methods, such as the multiple tube and membrane filter. The ATP bioluminescence system, proposes a new way of measuring cellular material in water by measuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, which are expressed in relative light units (RLU). The ATP bioluminescence assay has been increasingly used to assess the microbiological safety of the hospital environment.

Syngonanthus nitens Bong. (Rhul.)-Loaded Nanostructured System for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment.

Herbal-loaded drug delivery nanotechnological systems have been extensively studied recently. The antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants has shown better pharmacological action when such plants are loaded into a drug delivery system than when they are not loaded. Syngonanthus nitens Bong.

Essential Oil of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle: A Strategy to Combat Fungal Infections Caused by Candida Species.

Background: The incidence of fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida yeasts, has increased over the last two decades. However, the indicated therapy for fungal control has limitations. Hence, medicinal plants have emerged as an alternative in the search for new antifungal agents as they present compounds, such as essential oils, with important biological effects.

Paracoccidioidomycosis and cryptococcosis with localized skin manifestations: report of two cases in the elderly.

Distinct cases of Paracoccidioidomycosis and Cryptococcosis with atypical and localized skin manifestation on the upper limbs of two elderly patients are reported. In the 2nd one, he presented asymptomatic pulmonary cancer; the blood tests for fungal infection were negative, and the etiologic agents were seen in skin biopsy samples. This report emphasizes the importance of the differential diagnosis of infectious diseases in elderly patients.

Antimicrobial activity of conventional and plant-extract disinfectant solutions on microbial biofilms on a maxillofacial polymer surface.

Statement Of Problem: Dentists often note problems with infection in patients with maxillofacial prostheses. Conventional disinfection protocols are not always effective and may alter the properties of the polymer used in the prosthesis. Thus, the search for improved disinfection methods is important.

Liquid crystal precursor mucoadhesive system as a strategy to improve the prophylactic action of Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhland against infection by Candida krusei.

Vaginal infections caused by Candida krusei are a problem of extreme complexity due to the intrinsic resistance to azole drugs. The species Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhland is a plant of the Eriocaulaceae family that has demonstrated promising antifungal activity.

Comparison of conventional and plant-extract disinfectant solutions on the hardness and color stability of a maxillofacial elastomer after artificial aging.

Statement Of Problem: Silicone elastomers undergo physical and chemical degradation with disinfecting solutions. Phytotherapy may be a suitable solution for disinfection. However, its effect on the properties of the silicone material is unknown.

Assessment of disinfection of hospital surfaces using different monitoring methods.

Objective: to assess the efficiency of cleaning/disinfection of surfaces of an Intensive Care Unit.

Method: descriptive-exploratory study with quantitative approach conducted over the course of four weeks. Visual inspection, bioluminescence adenosine triphosphate and microbiological indicators were used to indicate cleanliness/disinfection.