Biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus and Bacillus species isolated from human allogeneic skin.

Human skin banks around the world face a serious problem with the high number of allogeneic skins that are discarded and cannot be used for grafting due to persistent bacterial contamination even after antibiotic treatment. The biofilm formation capacity of these microorganisms may contribute to the antibiotic tolerance; however, this is not yet widely discussed in the literature. Thisstudy analyzed bacterial strains isolated from allogeneic human skin samples,which were obtained from a hospital skin bank that had already been discardeddue to microbial contamination.

Bacterial contamination of human skin allografts and antimicrobial resistance: a skin bank problem.

Background: Bacterial contamination remains the major problem in skin banks, even after antimicrobial treatment, and results in high rates of tissue discarding. This study aimed to analyze bacterial contamination in 32 human skin allografts from the skin bank of Dr. Roberto Corrêa Chem from the Hospital Complex Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre.

First Report of Human Gastroenteritis Caused by Escherichia coli O157:NM in Brazil.

In September 2005, the Sanitary Surveillance Service of Rio de Janeiro (SSS/RJ), Brazil, investigated a case of gastroenteritis involving a 13-year-old teenager hospitalized because of bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. Owing to the severity of the symptoms, an epidemiological investigation was conducted in two states of Brazil. Escherichia coli O157:NM was isolated from stools and from a tomato and cheese salad prepared at the school canteen where the teenager attended.

Antimicrobial resistance and PCR-ribotyping of Shigella responsible for foodborne outbreaks occurred in southern Brazil.

Little information about Shigella responsible for foodborne shigellosis is available in Brazil. The present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and PCR-ribotyping patterns of Shigella isolates responsible for foodborne outbreaks occurred in Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), Southern Brazil in the period between 2003 and 2007. Shigella strains (n=152) were isolated from foods and fecal samples of victims of shigellosis outbreaks investigated by the Surveillance Service.

Serological characterization and prevalence of spvR genes in Salmonella isolated from foods involved in outbreaks in Brazil.

Salmonella strains (n = 75) isolated from foods involved in foodborne outbreaks occurred in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, during 1999 and 2000 were studied. Strains were serotyped and submitted to PCR analysis to verify the prevalence of Salmonella plasmid virulence (spvR) regulatory gene. Among the 75 isolates, 73 (97%) were classified as Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis.

Extracellular enzymatic activities of Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates.

Several enzymatic activities were investigated in six isolates of the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana, originating from different areas of Brazil. Among the glycosidases studied, beta-glucosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-xylosidase, cellobiohydrolase, and chitobiohydrolase were the major activities. In some isolates, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, and alpha-mannosidase activities were also present.