Resistência antimicrobiana na pneumonia adquirida na comunidade: revisão de literatura

A resistência antimicrobiana é um fator importante para a abordagem da Pneumonia Adquirida na Comunidade, uma das principais causas de morte por doenças infecciosas no mundo. A presente revisão de literatura objetiva analisar a resistência bacteriana relacionada aos principais antimicrobianos usados para o tratamento da Pneumonia Adquirida na Comunidade, na Atenção Primária à Saúde, no mundo e no Brasil. Foram realizadas pesquisas com oito associações composta por quatro dos seguintes descritores: “Pneumonia”, “Brazil”, “Family Health Strategy”, “Primary Health Care”, “Anti-Bacterial Agents”, “Drug Resistance, Bacterial”, “Drug Resistance, Microbial” e “Antimicrobial Stewardship”. As bases de dados utilizadas foram: Pubmed/Medline, Google Scholar, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), Portal de Periódicos Capes/MEC e Research Gate, considerando o período de maio a junho de 2020. Após a análise, dez estudos foram incluídos, com ausência de resultados concernentes ao Brasil. Os trabalhos obtidos referiram-se à resistência nos países europeus (sete), nos Estados Unidos (dois) e no Malawi (um). O Streptococcus pneumoniae apresentou-se como o patógeno bacteriano de maior prevalência nessa infecção. Os resultados sugerem a importância de se estabelecer diretrizes para o tratamento da Pneumonia Adquirida na Comunidade de acordo com o perfil epidemiológico de cada região. No Brasil, especificamente, as dificuldades no manejo dessa condição, realizado regularmente de forma empírica, podem ser explicadas pela ausência de estudos dirigidos a essa temática, tornando-se fundamental a realização de investigações da realidade brasileira.

Analytical Strategies for the Detection and Quantification of Nano-formulated Antibiotics: Updates and Perspectives

The rapid development of drug resistant micro-organisms is a challenge to the mankind. Nano formulated compounds have proved to be effective strategy to combat bacterial drug resistance. Currently nanoparticulate systems such as nanoantibiotics are getting major attention due to their low inherent toxicity, biodegradability, bioincompatibility and tuneable mechanical characteristics. Nano formulated antibiotics are generally obtained by emulsification and gelification techniques. The effective uses of polymers in encapsulation of antibiotics show enhancement of the efficacy of antibiotics. Combined with techniques like diffraction laser spectroscopy (DLS), electron microscopy (EM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), morphological research of nanoformulated antibiotics are conducted. The detailed study of the polymers used in the preparation of antibiotics nanoparticles as well as their impact on interactions is done by bio-analytical techniques. Antibiotics attached to nanoparticles can avoid the action of enzymes produced by drug resistant bacteria. Nano antibiotics show higher efficacy and bioavailability so a lot of new formulations using nano methods can be developed with the help of bioanalytical techniques. The development as well as the estimation of antibiotics prepared as nano-formulations as per the recent advanced techniques is illustrated in this review.

Antibiotic resistance modifying ability of phytoextracts in anthrax biological agent Bacillus anthracis and emerging superbugs: a review of synergistic mechanisms

Background and objectives The chemotherapeutic management of infections has become challenging due to the global emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria. The recent expansion of studies on plant-derived natural products has lead to the discovery of a plethora of phytochemicals with the potential to combat bacterial drug resistance via various mechanisms of action. This review paper summarizes the primary antibiotic resistance mechanisms of bacteria and also discusses the antibiotic-potentiating ability of phytoextracts and various classes of isolated phytochemicals in reversing antibiotic resistance in anthrax agent Bacillus anthracis and emerging superbug bacteria. Methods Growth inhibitory indices and fractional inhibitory concentration index were applied to evaluate the in vitro synergistic activity of phytoextract-antibiotic combinations in general. Findings A number of studies have indicated that plant-derived natural compounds are capable of significantly reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration of standard antibiotics by altering drug-resistance mechanisms of B. anthracis and other superbug infection causing bacteria. Phytochemical compounds allicin, oleanolic acid, epigallocatechin gallate and curcumin and Jatropha curcas extracts were exceptional synergistic potentiators of various standard antibiotics. Conclusion Considering these facts, phytochemicals represents a valuable and novel source of bioactive compounds with potent antibiotic synergism to modulate bacterial drug-resistance.

Host Defense Peptide-Mimicking Polymers and Polymeric-Brush-Tethered Host Defense Peptides: Recent Developments, Limitations, and Potential Success

Amphiphilic antimicrobial polymers have attracted considerable interest as structural mimics of host defense peptides (HDPs) that provide a broad spectrum of activity and do not induce bacterial-drug resistance. Likewise, surface engineered polymeric-brush-tethered HDP is considered a promising coating strategy that prevents infections and endows implantable materials and medical devices with antifouling and antibacterial properties. While each strategy takes a different approach, both aim to circumvent limitations of HDPs, enhance physicochemical properties, therapeutic performance, and enable solutions to unmet therapeutic needs. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in each approach, spotlight the fundamental principles, describe current developments with examples, discuss benefits and limitations, and highlight potential success. The review intends to summarize our knowledge in this research area and stimulate further work on antimicrobial polymers and functionalized polymeric biomaterials as strategies to fight infectious diseases.

Influence of feed additives for chickens on the quality of eggs laid and related risks

A chicken egg is a valuable animal product that has served people for centuries. Research carried out over the last dozen or so years shows that society's knowledge about them is still relatively small. The research cited in the text shows that only 23% of respondents know that the color of a hen's egg shell depends on the breed of the hen, and not on the way it is fed. As a result, some consumers choose eggs in the store by choosing their color instead of the official markings on each individual egg. Chickens' nutrition has a direct impact on the quality of the eggs they lay. Chickens fed with fodder with antibiotics lay eggs in which we can find the same antibiotics that the animal ate with the food. It has many side effects, however, the greatest of which seems to be bacterial drug resistance, caused by the use of the same strong antibiotics in the nutritional industry and in human hospital medicine. Bacteria have developed various resistance mechanisms. For example, Enterococcus spp. Has developed resistance to vancomycin, Salmonella Typhimurum to tetracyclines, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones. However, it is possible to use antibiotics in poultry treatment, but it is very important in this case to strictly observe the grace periods necessary to eliminate the antibiotic from the animal's body. Some of the world's governments, aware of the dangers of such a state of affairs, are trying to combat the phenomenon of feeding poultry with antibiotic growth stimulants by introducing new norms, orders and bans in their countries. Antibiotics such as avoparcin, zinc-bacitracin and spiromycin have been discontinued. Chicken egg producers are finding newer and newer ways to circumvent these recipes. Non-antibiotic feed additives such as probiotics, phytobiotics, and specific herbs are used. An effective way to combat this phenomenon may be to educate the public on this topic.

The presence of pathogens and heavy metals in urban peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)

Background and Aim: Wild birds raised in urban environments may be exposed to many negative factors, including biological and chemical toxic elements. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of bacteria and parasites in wild birds, based on the example of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) as a potential indicator of bacterial drug resistance genes. Toxicological contamination was also analyzed to determine the impact of urbanized areas on this predatory species, in terms of its health, welfare, and survival in urban environments. Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of down feathers and fresh feces obtained from seven falcon chicks (during obligatory veterinary examination) reared in two nests located in the Lublin region (Lublin and Pulawy). Bacteria and parasites were isolated directly from feces by classical microbiological methods, polymerase chain reaction, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS). The down feathers and feces of birds were used for toxicological testing by plasma inductively coupled plasma MS to assess the concentrations of selected heavy metals (cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], arsenic [As], zinc [Zn], and copper [Cu]). Results: The study revealed the presence of a diverse microbiome in the falcon chicks, among which Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp. bacteria and parasites of the genus Caryospora were dominant. The presence of drug resistance genes was also confirmed among the pathogens. The toxicological analysis found high concentrations of toxic heavy metals, including Cd, Pb, As, and Zn, in the downy feathers and feces of peregrine chicks. Conclusion: Predatory free-living birds living in urban environments not only can be infected with various pathogens but may also show contamination with heavy metals, which could influence their natural resistance, condition, and welfare.

Chemotherapy and Mechanisms of Action of Antimicrobial Agent

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that causes bloodstream, urinary tract, burn wounds infections and is one of the largest pathogens that infect cystic fibrosis patients’ airways and can be life-threatening for P. aeruginosa infections. In addition, P. aeruginosa remains one of the most significant and difficult nosocomial pathogens to handle. Increasingly, multi-drug resistance (MDR) strains are identified and the option of therapy is often very limited in these cases, particularly when searching for antimicrobial combinations to treat serious infections. The fact that no new antimicrobial agents are active against the MDR strains of P. aeruginosa is an additional matter of concern. In recent decades, bacterial drug resistance has increased, but the rate of discovery of new antibiotics has decreased steadily. The fight for new, powerful antibacterial agents has therefore become a top priority. This chapter illustrates and explores the current state of several innovative therapeutic methods that can be further discussed in clinical practice in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.