Browsing by Author "Santos, Isabel"
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- Antimicrobial resistance in urban wastewater: insights from operating conditions and bacterial community dynamicsPublication . Ribeiro, Diana; Ruivo, Afonso; Santos, Isabel; Mena, Cristina; Vaz-Moreira, Ivone; Costa, Cláudio; Faria, Gabriela; Campinas, Margarida; Mesquita, Elsa; Silva, Catarina; Rosa, Maria João; Manaia, Célia M.
- Avaliação microbiológica de embalagens e materiais de embalagem para uso alimentarPublication . Santos, Isabel; Teixeira, Maria J.; Carneiro, Luísa; Poças, Fátima; Mena, CristinaO papel da embalagem alimentar pode ser abordado segundo duas perspetivas diferentes. Por um lado, a embalagem desempenha um papel muito importante na proteção e na conservação dos alimentos, contribuindo assim para a sua qualidade e segurança. Por outro lado, a embalagem não deve contribuir com perigos físicos, químicos ou microbiológicos, que condicionem a qualidade e segurança dos alimentos. De acordo com o Regulamento da CE nº 852/2004, os fabricantes e fornecedores do sector da embalagem alimentar devem garantir que os materiais de acondicionamento e embalagem não constituem fonte de contaminação para os géneros alimentícios. Assim, é importante avaliar a contaminação microbiológica das superfícies de materiais e embalagens antes da sua utilização, nomeadamente o nível da contaminação por bactérias, bolores e leveduras. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a carga microbiana presente em embalagens, alguns artigos plásticos (copos e pratos) e filmes plásticos. As embalagens destinavam-se a alimentos que não sofriam processamento na própria embalagem (como produtos de panificação e confeitaria e refeições prontas a comer). As amostras foram recolhidas no mercado ou foram fornecidas pelos produtores. Para determinar o grau de contaminação foram testadas 80 amostras: 39 embalagens e artigos plásticos e 41 filmes plásticos. As amostras foram analisadas antes de utilização para avaliar a contaminação resultante da manipulação e da contaminação ambiental das áreas de processamento, armazenamento e distribuição. A recuperação dos microrganismos foi obtida por contato entre o diluente de “lavagem” e a superfície a testar. No caso das embalagens e artigos, foi avaliada toda a superfície interna para contato com os alimentos, nos filmes foram analisadas amostras com 1 dm2 de área. Na contagem de microrganismos foi utilizado o método da membrana filtrante e as placas incubaram a 30 °C durante 72 horas. 108 4º Simpósio Nacional SPASS 2017 Os resultados mostram que tanto os filmes como as embalagens têm microrganismos nas suas superfícies, como seria de esperar. Em 39 das amostras (25 embalagens/artigos plásticos e 14 filmes) obtiveram-se contagens inferiores ou iguais a 10 unidades formadoras de colónias (ufc). Resultados com contagem superiores a 50 ufc, considerados não satisfatórios, foram encontrados em 8 filmes e 2 embalagens. As restantes amostras (19 filmes e 12 embalagens/artigos de plástico), apresentaram resultados compreendidos entre 10 e 50 ufc. Apesar da área analisada na embalagem e artigos plásticos ser igual ou superior à área analisada do filme, os resultados mostram que os filmes plásticos apresentam, de um modo geral, um nível superior de contaminação comparativamente às embalagens e artigos plásticos. Isto poderá estar relacionado com as diferentes condições de manipulação e armazenamento das amostras antes da receção no laboratório. A embalagem alimentar não é normalmente considerada como fonte principal de contaminação microbiológica dos alimentos. O número de ufc obtido na maioria das embalagens/artigos plásticos analisados foi muito baixo quando comparado com nível de contaminação usualmente encontrado na maioria dos alimentos deste tipo. Neste tipo de utilização, não é necessário que a embalagem seja comercialmente estéril mas, o nível e tipo de microrganismos contaminantes não devem conduzir a alterações microbiológicas e sensoriais dos alimentos a que se destina.
- Balneotherapy and rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized control trialPublication . Santos, Isabel; Cantista, Pedro; Vasconcelos, Carlos; Amado, JoãoBackground: The effects of balneotherapy on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are still controversial partly due to poor metho- dology used in randomized controlled trials, as reported in the international medical literature. Objectives: To determine whether spa therapy plus pharmacological treatment offers any benefit in the management of RA as compared to pharmacological treatment alone. methods: We conducted a prospective, controlled, unblinded randomly assigned study of patients with RA according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. Following the 2007recommendations of FRETH, the method designed for this study was “immediate treatment versus delayed treatment.” All patients were followed at the Oporto Hospital Centre and each physician observed the same patients throughout the study. Patients continued with their usual medications and maintained their daily life activities at home, at leisure and/or in the workplace. The spa therapy group received spa treatments for 21 days at S. Jorge Spa-Santa Maria da Feira. The main outcome measure was the HAQ-DI; the moderated regression analysis, together with the Johnson-Neyman technique, was used for statistical analysis. results: HAQ-DI at the end of treatment (21 days) and at the 3 month follow-up was improved in the spa group (odds ratio 0.37, confidence interval 0.09–0.64, P = 0.01 at 21 days, and 0.44, 0.15–0.72, P = 0.004 at 3 months). conclusions: In individuals in whom pain (physical and psychological) predominates, any complementary gain in function is beneficial. The main goal is to enhance quality of life.
- Biofilm formation among clinical and food isolates of Listeria monocytogenesPublication . Barbosa, Joana; Borges, Sandra; Camilo, Ruth; Magalhães, Rui; Ferreira, Vânia; Santos, Isabel; Silva, Joana; Almeida, Gonçalo; Teixeira, PaulaObjective. A total of 725 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, 607 from various foods and 118 from clinical cases of listeriosis, were investigated concerning their ability to form biofilms, at 4°C during 5 days and at 37°C during 24 h. Methods. Biofilm production was carried out on polystyrene tissue culture plates. Five L. monocytogenes isolates were tested for biofilm formation after being exposed to acidic and osmotic stress conditions. Results. Significant differences ( ) between clinical and food isolates were observed. At 37°C for 24 h, most food isolates were classified as weak or moderate biofilm formers whereas all the clinical isolates were biofilm producers, although the majority were weak. At 4°C during 5 days, 65 and 59% isolates, from food and clinical cases, respectively, were classified as weak. After both sublethal stresses, at 37°C just one of the five isolates tested was shown to be more sensitive to subsequent acidic exposure. However, at 4°C both stresses did not confer either sensitivity or resistance. Conclusions. Significant differences between isolates origin, temperature, and sublethal acidic stress were observed concerning the ability to form biofilms. Strain, origin, and environmental conditions can determine the level of biofilm production by L. monocytogenes isolates.
- Characterization of listeria monocytogenes isolates recovered from human clinical cases occurring in Portugal between 2008 and 2012Publication . Magalhães, Rui; Ferreira, Vânia; Santos, Isabel; Almeida, Gonçalo; Teixeira, Paula
- Evaluation of antibiotic resistance patterns of food and clinical Listeria monocytogenes isolates in PortugalPublication . Barbosa, Joana; Magalhães, Rui; Santos, Isabel; Ferreira, Vânia; Brandão, Teresa R. S.; Silva, Joana; Almeida, Gonçalo; Teixeira, PaulaThe aim of this study was to characterize a broad collection of isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, of different serotypes, recovered in Portugal between 2003 and 2007 from foods (n = 353) and from clinical cases of human listeriosis (n = 95), in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility. All the isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, the preferred agent to treat listeriosis. Resistances to nitrofurantoin (n = 99), to ciprofloxacin (n = 18), to erythromycin (n = 10), to tetracycline (n = 2), to gentamicin (n = 1) and to rifampicin (n = 1) were observed. One hundred (28.3%) and 20 (21.0%) food and clinical isolates, respectively, were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Eight isolates (1.8%) were resistant to two or more antimicrobials of different classes, and all were collected from foods. Serogroup IVb included the highest percentage of isolates resistant to erythromycin. The highest percentages of isolates resistant to nitrofurantoin were of serogroup IVb and IIc. It was demonstrated that the incidence of antibiotic-resistant isolates of L. monocytogenes, during the period 2003 to 2007, was low in Portugal but still higher than that observed in other countries. Given the increasing population at greater risk of listeriosis, namely, the elderly, the high mortality rate of the infection and the detection of resistant isolates, monitoring for antibiotic resistance in strains of L. monocytogenes on a large scale, and assessing the risk of infection by these strains, is highly recommended.
- Foci of Contamination of L. monocytogenes in Cheese Plants of Different Sizes and FormatsPublication . Almeida, Gonçalo; Magalhães, Rui; Carneiro, Luisa; Santos, Isabel; Teixeira, Paula; Hogg, Tim
- Genetic and phenotypic characterization of listeria monocytogenes from human clinical cases that occurred in Portugal between 2008 and 2012Publication . Magalhães, Rui; Ferreira, Vânia; Santos, Isabel; Almeida, Gonçalo; Teixeira, Paula; Research TeamListeria monocytogenes infection (listeriosis) is an uncommon but severe foodborne illness that affects mainly individuals with recognized underlying conditions: the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women and their fetuses. The aim of this study was to obtain epidemiological data on cases of listeriosis occurring in Portugal from 2008 through 2012, collected in hospitals on a voluntary basis. L. monocytogenes isolates were characterized by genoserotyping by multiplex polymerase chain reaction, DNA macrorestriction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, μg/mL) for 12 antibiotics. During this period, 203 cases of listeriosis were detected. The annual incidence rate observed ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Nineteen cases (9.5%) corresponded to maternal/neonatal (MN) infections. The mean age of the nonmaternal/neonatal (non-MN) cases with documented age was 59 years, and 46.4% occurred in patients aged over 65 years. The majority of listeriosis cases were caused by genoserogroup IVb isolates, and PFGE analysis revealed a high molecular diversity, suggesting that most were sporadic. Nevertheless, several clusters of isolates presenting different geographic and time distributions were detected. The incidence of antibiotic-resistant isolates of L. monocytogenes was low but significantly higher than in previous years (2003–2007). The implementation of a national surveillance system monitoring the incidence of listeriosis and antimicrobial resistance of strains would be most valuable, allowing identification of sporadic and outbreak cases, to detect general trends in antibiotic susceptibilities, and potentially identify food sources of clinical strains.
- Imigrantes sem-abrigo em PortugalPublication . Monteiro, Teresa Líbano; Policarpo, Verónica; Ramalho, Vanda; Santos, Isabel
- Um novo modelo de gestão das escolas: entre a retórica da mudança e o vazio das consequênciasPublication . Santos, Isabel; Matias Alves, José