Browsing by Author "Pimenta, Raquel"
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- Fungal contamination assessment in healthcare environments: a bibliographic reviewPublication . Pimenta, Raquel; Gomes, Bianca; Dias, Marta; Viegas, CarlaIn Healthcare environments fungal presence depends on the medical activities performed, number and types of patients, cleaning frequency and procedures, and the type of ventilation systems. The aim of this review article was to identify different methodologies applied to assess fungal contamination in Healthcare environments, as well as to describe the most reported fungi in these environments. This study was based on a systematic search for information and data that have been published in free access sources during the period of 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2020. PRISMA methodology was applied to identify and select studies referring to Healthcare environments where the fungal assessment was performed. The most common Healthcare environments assessed were hospitals (26 out of 56) and the most used sampling methods were active (27 articles). Passive methods were exclusively used in 8 papers, and the combined use of both methods was verified in 21 papers. Concerning analytical procedures, the exclusive use of morphological identification was the most frequent approach (40 out of 56). Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., and Penicillium sp. were the predominant genera found indoors (24 out of 56). There is scientific evidence of fungal contamination present in Healthcare environments. Thus, in order to have an accurate and reliable risk characterization, the combined use of active and passive sampling methods and the use of culture based-methods and molecular tools are of upmost importance.
- Microbial contamination in firefighter headquarters’: a neglected occupational exposure scenarioPublication . Viegas, Carla; Gomes, Bianca; Pimenta, Raquel; Dias, Marta; Cervantes, Renata; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Soszczyńska, Ewelina; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, SusanaOne of the occupational environments that need intervention to overcome the lack of information concerning exposure to biological agents is the Firefighter Headquarters’ (FFH). This study intends to assess the microbial contamination in Portuguese FFH with a multi-approach protocol for sampling and analyses using active (air samples by impaction and impingement) and passive (surface swabs collected as swabs, settled dust, cleaning cloths and mops, electrostatic dust cloths, and identification badges) sampling methods. The fungal contamination was also characterized through molecular detection of toxigenic species, antifungal resistance, and mycotoxins profile. Cytotoxicity assessment was included in specific cells line using the MTT assay in order to recognize the possible health effects. It was raised concern regarding the following findings: a) microbial contamination didn't comply with Portuguese IAQ legal requirements in most of the FFH (bacteria load 63.63%, fungal load 45.45%); b) fungal exposure through inhalation underlining a possible risk factor for respiratory diseases; c) prevalence of Aspergillus sp. in cleaning materials that might represent a potential source of cross-contamination; d) widespread of Aspergillus section Fumigati in all the FFH analysed; e) trend of multidrug resistance found among fungi with a focus on Fumigati isolates; f) detection of several mycotoxins (fumonisin B2, nivalenol, mycophenolic acid, and sterigmatocystin) and; g) potential role of Aspergillus genus in the cytotoxicity found, particularly in lung cells. The multi-approach on sampling methods (active and passive) and laboratory assays (culture based-methods, molecular tools, mycotoxins detection, cytotoxicity evaluation) improved data findings, enabling a more detailed and accurate risk characterization.
- Microbiological contamination assessment in higher education institutesPublication . Viegas, Carla; Pimenta, Raquel; Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Brito, Miguel; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Carolino, Elisabete; Gomes, Anita Q.The higher education sector represents a unique environment and it acts as a work environment, a learning environment for students, and frequently, also a home environment. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial contamination (SARS-CoV-2, fungi, and bacteria) in Higher Education Facilities (HEI) by using active and passive sampling methods and combining culture-based methods with molecular tools targeting Aspergillus section Fumigati. In addition, the resistance to azole profile was also assessed. Surface samples showed a range of total bacterial contamination between 1 × 103 to 3.1 × 106 CFU·m−2, while Gram-negative bacteria ranged from 0 to 1.9 × 104 CFU·m−2. Fungal contamination ranged from 2 × 103 to 1.8 × 105 CFU·m−2 on MEA and from 5 × 103 to 1.7 × 105 CFU·m−2 on DG18. The most prevalent species found on both media was Cladosporium sp. (47.36% MEA; 32.33% DG18). Aspergillus genera were observed on MEA (3.21%) and DG18 (14.66%), but not in the supplemented media used for the azole screening. Aspergillus section Fumigati was detected in 2 air samples (2.22%, 2 out of 90 samples) by qPCR. When testing for SARS-CoV-2 all results were negative. The present study showed that although cleaning and disinfection procedures are done regularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being effective in eliminating SARS-CoV-2, surfaces were often contaminated with microorganisms other than SARS-CoV-2. This can be a result of increasing resistance to biocides, and to the wide range of environmental factors that can contribute to the dissemination of microbial contamination indoors.
- Towards an integrated approach on occupational health to tackle COVID-19 pandemicPublication . Ribeiro, Edna; Oliveira, Ketlyn; Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Pimenta, Raquel; Delgadinho, Mariana; Ginete, Catarina; Abreu, Renato; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Almeida, Ana; Gomes, Anita Q.; Brito, Miguel; Viegas, CarlaBackground: Serological screening is crucial for the prevention of infection, ensuring the maintenance of the worker’s health, and thus promoting occupational health. It was reported that SARS-CoV-2 can survive in aerosols and on dry surfaces for several days to weeks. Objectives: We aimed to apply an integrated approach to Occupational Health to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: We performed a rapid immunoglobulin IgM-IgG immunoassay, ELISA, and hematologic profile among workers (N = 740), in a Public Higher Education Institution from Portugal and an environmental assessment by two sampling methods (Air N = 49; Surfaces N = 101) and RT-PCR. Results: Regarding workers' serologic surveillance, 1.89% of rapid test positivity was observed for SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies and a low prevalence of positivity for IgG (1.21%) in which only 33.3% were confirmed by ELISA. Hematologic surveillance data revealed the presence of 10.44% of abnormal hematological profiles, being anemia (3.78%) being the most relevant. All the environmental samples analyzed were negative regarding SARS-CoV-2 detection. Discussion: Low SARS-CoV-2 immunization and the negative environmental samples strongly indicate the effectiveness of the preventive measures. Nevertheless, COVID-19 disease alters hematologic parameters. Conclusion: In this study, it was possible to implement an integrated approach to Occupational Health combining efforts with the Occupational Health Services.