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The presence of opportunistic bacteria such as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) in drinking water poses public health concerns because of its potential to cause human infection and due to its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) diversity. This study evaluated the occurrence, virulence markers and AMR of CoNS in 468 drinking water samples from 15 public fountains located in four urban parks of São Paulo city (Brazil). Out of 104 samples positive for the presence of Staphylococcus genus, we detected CoNS in 75 of them (16%), which did not meet the Brazilian sanitary standards for residual chlorine. All isolates were of concern to public health for being responsible for infection in humans from low to high severity, nine of them are considered the most of concern due to 63.6% being multiresistant to antimicrobials. The results demonstrated that CoNS in drinking water must not be neglected. It is concluded that the presence of resistant staphylococci in drinking water is a potential health risk, which urges feasible and quick control measures to protect human health, especially in crowded public places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C) varies widely throughout the world. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, to estimate the prevalence of GBV-C infection and to identify associated risk factors, using a large sampling of the general population rather than blood donors or an illness-related group of subjects. GBV-C RNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using primers directed to the 5′ noncoding region (NCR) and nonstructural 5A region (NS5A) in serum samples from 1,039 healthy individuals 2 years of age or more. Fifty-two individuals were positive for both sets of primers and one was positive for NS5A only (prevalence of GBV-C infection, 5.1%; 95%CI, 3.9–6.7%). No child under 5 years of age was found positive. Among subjects aged 5 years or more, the prevalence of infection increased consistently with age, up to 30–39 years (8.3%), and decreased from then on. The number of sexual partners in the last 3 years (2 or more: OR, 2.6; 95%CI, 1.3–5.5) and history of contact with blood-sucking insects (OR, 2.5; 95%CI 1.2–5.4) were independently associated with GBV-C infection. In conclusion, the prevalence of GBV-C infection is high in São Paulo. In addition to parenteral transmission, another route, e.g. sexual or vertical, may be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]