Browsing by Author "Almeida, Beatriz"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 54
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Algorithm to assess the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus resistant strains: the case of Norwegian sawmillsPublication . Viegas, Carla; Almeida, Beatriz; Aranha Caetano, Liliana; Afanou, Anani; Straumfors, Anne; Veríssimo, Cristina; Gonçalves, Paulo; Sabino, RaquelAssociation between selection pressure caused by the use of azole fungicides in sawmills and the development of fungal resistance has been described. The aim of this study was to implement an algorithm to assess the presence of Aspergillus section Fumigati resistant strains in sawmills. Eighty-six full-shift inhalable dust samples were collected from eleven industrial sawmills in Norway. Different culture media were used and molecular identification to species level in Aspergillus section Fumigati was done by calmodulin sequencing and TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A mutations were screened by real-time PCR assay and confirmed by cyp51A sequencing. Six Fumigati isolates were identified as A. fumigatus sensu stricto and two of these grew on azole-supplemented media and were further analyzed by real-time PCR. One was confirmed to be a TR34/L98H mutant. The obtained results reinforce the need to assess the presence of A. fumigatus sensu stricto resistant isolates at other workplaces with fungicide pressure.
- Are mycotoxins relevant to be studied in health care environments?Publication . Viegas, Susana; Almeida, Beatriz; Viegas, CarlaMycotoxins are fungi metabolites produced by specific fungal genera and although the reported evidence about the health effects there is still a gap about data in health care environments. This study aimed to investigate if mycotoxins presence should be monitored in health care facilities by searching for studies that reported fungal contamination by toxigenic fungi in different health care environments. The study involved a systematic search of available information/data published on PubMed during the period of 2010 until 31st December 2018. Among the 26 papers analyzed, only in two the Aspergillus genera were not reported as the most prevalent. Additionally, other genera also with toxigenic potential were observed, namely Fusarium and Penicillium. The information gathered with this review allowed to conclude about the importance to assess mycotoxins in health care environments. Moreover, the analytical methods used should allow detecting low concentrations and multiple mycotoxins.
- Are we neglecting the importance of azole resistance screening in indoor air quality assessments?Publication . Viegas, Carla; Almeida, Beatriz; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Caetano, Liliana AranhaIntroduction: The microbial exposure, as well as their metabolic products, has been frequently reported as a high risk of respiratory effects and general health hazards. Regarding the Portuguese legislation for IAQ, the microbial assessment covers only air sampling and culture-based methods (malt extract agar as only culture media to be applied). Fungal legal criteria consist of a fungal load ratio between indoor and outdoor, which should be lower than 1 (I/O<1). Purpose: Analyze the importance of including the characterization of the azole resistance profile in indoor air quality assessments.
- Are workers from waste sorting industry really protected by wearing filtering respiratory protective devices? The gap between the myth and realityPublication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Aranha Caetano, Liliana; Carolino, Elisabete; Gomes, Anita Quintal; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Grajewski, Jan; Marchand, Geneviève; Viegas, SusanaOne of the solutions for decreasing the workers' exposure to bioburden is the use of Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices (FRPD). As such it is important to determine whether these devices are fulfilling their protective role. This is the basis of the current study, aimed at characterizing bioburden retained by 120 FRPD (both in interior layers and in exhalation valves) through culture based-methods and molecular tools and also via analysis of antifungal resistance and mycotoxins profile. Our results show that Gram–Bacteria are present at a higher prevalence than total bacteria in both matrixes. Regarding fungal identification, Chrysonilia sitophila presented the highest prevalence on interior layers (55.1% on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%); 59.6% on dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18)), whereas on exhalation valves Aspergillus sp. presented the highest prevalence on MEA (6.8%) and C. sitophila on DG18 (36.3%). Among Aspergillus genera, section Fumigati was the one with the highest prevalence in both matrices. Aspergillus sp. was the most prevalent on exhalation valves (75.0% ITRA) in the screening of azole resistance. Fumigati section was the most abundant Aspergillus sp. detected on the interior layers (33.33%, 40 samples out of 120) and on the exhalation valves (1.66%, 2 samples out of 120). The interior layers and exhalation valves from workers with more waste contact showed an increased exposure to bioburden. This study showed that FRPD can have high levels of bioburden, toxigenic fungal strains and Aspergillus sections with reduced susceptibility to the tested azoles and can be used as a passive sampling method since it mimics the results obtained by active methods in previous studies. The gathered information will be useful to prioritize multiple interventions on workers’ education or even on FRPD replacement frequency.
- Aspergillus spp. and azole-resistance characterization on filtering respiratory protective devices from waste sorting industryPublication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, M.; Almeida, Beatriz; Gonçalves, P.; Veríssimo, Carla; Sabino, Raquel; Aranha Caetano, LilianaStudies performed on the waste management industry have reported Aspergillus as the most frequent genera on waste-sorting, incineration and composting. Filtering respiratory protective devices (FRPD) are disposable after one-day use (workshift) and their use is mandatory in Portuguese wastesorting industries. During FRPD use, humidity and temperature conditions provide a favorable environment for Aspergillus growth retained. The aim of this study was to characterize Aspergillus spp. presence in FRPD interior layer and exhalation valves, as well as to detect possible azole-resistant isolates in this complex indoor environment.
- Aspergillus spp. and azole-resistance characterization on mechanic protection gloves from waste sorting industryPublication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Caetano, Liliana AranhaAspergillus spp. species are filamentous fungi commonly found in different environmental compartments, where they thrive as saprophytes. Some species among the Aspergillus genera can be occasionally harmful to humans. Only a few species are considered as significant opportunistic pathogens in humans. Aspergillus section Fumigati is an opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised hosts and one of several Aspergillus species that cause a wide range of respiratory disorders. Increased occurrence of opportunistic Aspergillus infections in immunocompromised patients, and the emergence of antifungal resistance, either in the clinical or in the environment had been reported.
- Aspergillus spp. burden on filtering respiratory protective devices: is there an occupational health concern?Publication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Carolino, Elisabete; Gomes, Anita Quintal; Viegas, SusanaThere is scientific evidence that associates occupational exposure to fungi in the waste industry with health outcomes, being Aspergillus genera reported as the most prevalent. During Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices (FFR) use, humidity and temperature conditions provide favorable conditions for Aspergillus growth. The aim of this study was to characterize the Aspergillus burden retained by the FFR interior layer and exhalation valve. The sample consisted of 120 FFR and the correspondent interior layer and exhalation valves collected from different workstations from one waste sorting industry. The fungal content of exhalation valve and from the interior layer of the each FFR was extracted and inoculated on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%) and dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18). FFR extracts were also used for the molecular detection of Aspergillus sections Flavi and Fumigati. Valves presented Aspergillus spp. as the most prevalent genera on MEA media (44.4%), unlike what was observed in the FFR interior layer, where Aspergillus spp. was not the most prevalent genera (6.84% MEA; 5.2% DG18). Among the Aspergillus genera, section Fumigati was the one with the highest prevalence, both in exhalation valves (76.57% MEA; 87.24% DG18) and interior layer (75.81% MEA; 51.22% DG18). qPCR analysis successfully amplified DNA from the Aspergillus sections Flavi and Fumigati. Interior layers presented statistically significant differences showing a higher number of FFR contaminated with higher levels of Aspergillus in the workstations where workers contact directly with waste. This work, revealing strong fungal contamination of FFR used by workers at the waste industry, clearly indicates that future trials to test FFR protective efficacy and establishment of times for FFR replacement should be performed.
- Aspergillus spp. presence on mechanical protection gloves from the waste sorting industryPublication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Carolino, Elisabete; Viegas, SusanaThe organic material present on waste sorting units serve as a substrate for different microorganisms, increasing workers' exposure to Aspergillus spp. This study intends to assess the Aspergillus spp. contamination on Mechanical Protection Gloves (MPG) from different workstations and understand the role of MPG in workers' exposure to these genera. Sixty-seven used MPG were collected from different workstations and extracts were seeded on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%) and dichloran glycerol (DG18). The same extracts were used for the molecular detection of fungal species/strains, with reported toxigenic potential, namely Aspergillus sections (Circumdati, Flavi, Fumigati, and Nidulantes). Among Aspergillus spp., the sections with the highest prevalence on MEA were Nigri (88.29%) and Fumigati (8.63%), whereas on DG18 were Nigri (31.79%) and Circumdati (30.77%). Aspergillus section Circumdati was detected in 22 MPG samples by RT-PCR (32.84%), Fumigati in 59 samples (88.06%), Nidulantes in 61 samples (91.05%), and Flavi in 6 samples (8.96%). It was shown that, even with daily replacement, MPG presented Aspergillus spp. contamination. Thus, a more regular replacement of MPG and the adoption of complementary hygienic procedures by workers are critical to guarantee workers' protection in this occupational environment.
- Aspergillus spp. prevalence in one Portuguese hospital: a reason to be worried?Publication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Paciência, Inês; Rufo, João Cavaleiro; Teixeira, João Paulo; Pereira, CristianaAspergillus genus is responsible for over 80% of pulmonary invasive fungal infections in humans. Invasive aspergillosis, caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in 80% of the cases, is the most common invasive fungal infection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Aspergillus genus in a Portuguese hospital, using a wide sampling approach combining active and passive methods. A total of 15 sampling sites were defined, distributed by the different hospital areas - emergency room, day hospital, internment ward, operating room, and outpatient area. Active (air impaction) and passive (surfaces swabs, settled the dust, filters from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) sampling methods were applied. Samples were impacted/washed and seeded on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%) and dichloran-glycerol agar (DG18).
- Aspergillus spp. prevalence in Primary Health Care Centres: assessment by a novel multi-approach sampling protocolPublication . Viegas, Carla; Almeida, Beatriz; Gomes, Anita Quintal; Carolino, Elisabete; Aranha Caetano, LilianaExposure to Aspergillus conidia may cause adverse effects on human health; however, no specific recommendations for routine assessments of Aspergillus in the clinical environment have been suggested so far. This study intended to determine the prevalence of Aspergillus in the clinical environment, focusing on ten Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC) through a novel multi-approach sampling protocol. Air and passive sampling, culture-based methods and a probe-based real-time assay for the detection of four clinically relevant Aspergillus sections were performed. Aspergillus spp. was observed in all PHCC, with highest prevalence on floor surface swabs (n=81) (18% on MEA; 6.94% on DG18). Regarding air samples (n=81), highest Aspergillus counts were found in the waiting room (94% MEA; 18% DG18), where Nigri was the most prevalent Aspergillus section. The use of a multi-approach sampling protocol to assess Aspergillus burden in the analyzed PHCC has greatly contributed to risk characterization, highlighting the need to implement corrective measures in order to avoid fungal presence in those settings.