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The adequate management of surgical wound infections in neurosurgery is fundamental for reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The suspicion and diagnostic confirmation associated with microbiological isolation are essential to ensure timely treatment and proper management of antibiotics. Therefore, in this review we present, in a synthetic manner, the main points for the prevention and treatment of surgical site infections in neurosurgery, which includes a section on the use of intrathecal/intraventricular antibiotics.

Abstract Background Plasmids containing hylEfm (pHylEfm) were previously shown to increase gastrointestinal colonization and lethality of Enterococcus faecium in experimental peritonitis. The hylEfm gene, predicting a glycosyl hydrolase, has been considered as a virulence determinant of hospital-associated E. faecium, although its direct contribution to virulence has not been investigated. Here, we constructed mutants of the hylEfm-region and we evaluated their effect on virulence using a murine peritonitis model. Results Five mutants of the hylEfm-region of pHylEfmTX16 from the sequenced endocarditis strain (TX16 [DO]) were obtained using an adaptation of the PheS* system and were evaluated in a commensal strain TX1330RF to which pHylEfmTX16 was transferred by mating; these include i) deletion of hylEfm only; ii) deletion of the gene downstream of hylEfm (down) of unknown function; iii) deletion of hylEfm plus down; iv) deletion of hylEfm-down and two adjacent genes; and v) a 7,534 bp deletion including these four genes plus partial deletion of two others, with replacement by cat. The 7,534 bp deletion did not affect virulence of TX16 in peritonitis but, when pHylEfmTX16Δ7,534 was transferred to the TX1330RF background, the transconjugant was affected in in vitro growth versus TX1330RF(pHylEfmTX16) and was attenuated in virulence; however, neither hylEfm nor hylEfm-down restored wild type function. We did not observe any in vivo effect on virulence of the other deletions of the hylEfm-region Conclusions The four genes of the hylEfm region (including hylEfm) do not mediate the increased virulence conferred by pHylEfmTX16 in murine peritonitis. The use of the markerless counterselection system PheS* should facilitate the genetic manipulation of E. faecium in the future.

Abstract Background Noroviruses are one of the principal biological agents associated with the consumption of contaminated food. The objective of this study was to analyse the size and epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain. Methods In all reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with food consumption, faecal samples of persons affected were analysed for bacteria and viruses and selectively for parasites. Study variables included the setting, the number of people exposed, age, sex, clinical signs and hospital admissions. The study was carried out from October 2004 to October 2005. Results Of the 181 outbreaks reported during the study period, 72 were caused by Salmonella and 30 by norovirus (NoV); the incidence rates were 14.5 and 9.9 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In 50% of the NoV outbreaks and 27% of the bacterial outbreaks (p = 0.03) the number of persons affected was ≥10; 66.7% of NoV outbreaks occurred in restaurants; no differences in the attack rates were observed according to the etiology. Hospitalizations were more common (p = 0.03) in bacterial outbreaks (8.6%) than in NoV outbreaks (0.15%). Secondary cases accounted for 4% of cases in NoV outbreaks compared with 0.3% of cases in bacterial outbreaks (p < 0.001) Conclusion Norovirus outbreaks were larger but less frequent than bacterial outbreaks, suggesting that underreporting is greater for NoV outbreaks. Food handlers should receive training on the transmission of infections in diverse situations. Very strict control measures on handwashing and environmental disinfection should be adopted in closed or partially-closed institutions.

Background: Chagas disease can lead to life-threatening cardiac manifestations. Regional factors, including genetic characteristics of circulating Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), have attracted attention as likely determinants of Chagas disease phenotypic expression and Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) progression. Our objective was to elucidate the differential transcriptomic signatures of cardiomyocytes resulting from infection with genetically discrete T. cruzi strains and explore their relationships with CCM pathogenesis and progression., Methods: HL-1 rodent cardiomyocytes were infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes of the Colombian, Y, or Tulahuen strain. RNA was serially isolated post-infection for microarray analysis. Enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes (fold-change ≥ 2 or ≤ 0.5) highlighted over-represented biological pathways. Intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were compared between T. cruzi-infected and non-infected HL-1 cardiomyocytes., Results: We found that oxidative stress-related gene ontology terms (GO terms), 'Hypertrophy model', 'Apoptosis', and 'MAPK signaling' pathways (all with P < 0.01) were upregulated. 'Glutathione and one-carbon metabolism' pathway, and 'Cellular nitrogen compound metabolic process' GO term (all with P < 0.001) were upregulated exclusively in the cardiomyocytes infected with the Colombian/Y strains. Mean intracellular levels of ROS were significantly higher in the T. cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes compared to the non-infected (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The upregulation of oxidative stress-related and hypertrophic pathways constitutes the universal hallmarks of the cardiomyocyte response elicited by T. cruzi infection. Nitrogen metabolism upregulation and glutathione metabolism imbalance may implicate a relationship between nitrosative stress and poor oxygen radicals scavenging in the unique pathophysiology of Chagas cardiomyopathy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Since the late twentieth century, Chagas disease gained global attention to suppress the vector burden as a main control strategy in endemic countries. In Central America, multi-national initiative successfully achieved significant reduction in the estimated disease prevalence as well as elimination of the region's principal vector species at the time in 2012. While the last decade has witnessed significant changes in ecosystem-such as urbanization and replacement of the main vector species-that can possibly affect the vector's habitation and residual transmission, the up-to-date vector burden in the region has not been evaluated thoroughly due to the cessation of active vector surveillance. The aim of this study was to update the risk of vector-borne Trypanosoma cruzi infection in El Salvador, the top Chagas disease-endemic country in Central America., Methods: A nationwide vector survey was conducted in the domestic environment of El Salvador from September 2018 to November 2020. The selection of the houses for inspection was based on expert purposeful sampling. Infection for T. cruzi was examined by microscopic observation of the insects' feces, followed by a species confirmation using PCR. The data were analyzed using R software version 4.1.3. Proportion estimates with 95% confidence intervals were inferred using the Jeffrey's method provided under the epiR package., Results: A total of 1529 Triatoma dimidiata was captured from 107 houses (infestation rate, 34.4%; 107/311) in all the fourteen departments of the country visited within the period; prevalence of T. cruzi infection was as high as 10% (153/1529). In the country, domestic T. dimidiata infestation was distributed ubiquitously, while T. cruzi infection rates varied across the departments. Five out of fourteen departments showed higher infection rates than the average, suggesting sporadic high-risk areas in the country., Conclusions: Our comprehensive study revealed substantial T. cruzi infection of T. dimidiata across the country, indicating potential active transmission of the disease. Therefore, strengthened surveillance for both vector and human infection is required to truly eliminate the risk of T. cruzi transmission in Central America., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Weight loss is associated to blood pressure (BP) reduction in obese patients. There is no information on central 24-h BP changes after bariatric surgery (BS)., Methods and Results: In this study, we analyzed changes in 24-h BP 12 months following BS, with intermediate evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 months, in severely obese adults. The primary endpoint was aortic (central) 24-h systolic BP changes. Circadian BP patterns and hypertension resolution were also assessed. As secondary endpoints, we analyze changes in central 24-h diastolic BP as well as in all office and ambulatory peripheral BP parameters. Obese adults scheduled for BS as routine clinical care were recruited. We included 62 patients (39% with hypertension, 77% women, body mass index, 42.6 ± 5.5 kg/m 2 ). Reduction in body weight was mean (IQR) 30.5% (26.2-34.4) 1 year after BS. Mean (95% CI) change in central 24-h systolic BP was - 3.1 mmHg (- 5.5 to - 0.7), p = 0.01 after adjustment for age, sex, and baseline hypertensive status. BP parameter changes were different between normotensives and hypertensives. Mean (95% CI) change in central 24-h systolic BP was - 5.2 mmHg (- 7.7 to - 2.7), p < 0.001, in normotensives and - 0.5 mmHg (- 5.1 to 4.0), p = 0.818, in hypertensives. There was a remission of hypertension in 48% of patients. Most patients had a reduced dipping pattern, similarly at baseline and 12 months after BS., Conclusions: Among patients with severe obesity, there was a substantial central 24-h systolic BP decrease 12 months following BS. Importantly, this change was observed in those patients with normal BP at baseline., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03115502.

In the bioethanol industry, per liter of the produced alcohol 9 to 14 liters of vinasse are obtained as a byproduct. If the vinasse is directly shed into bodies of water without an adequate treatment, it may have negative effects on the existing biota and human health due to its high turbidity and color, low pH and high content of organic material. The purpose of this study was to assess the acute toxicity of vinasse by means of a rapid test with Aliivibrio fischeri and compare it with a standard immobilization assay with Daphnia magna . The standard assay of D. magna by means of its EC 50 of 4.7% showed that organism was more sensitive to the contaminant, in comparison with the 69.6% obtained with the A. fischeri which suggests that it should be continuesly used as one of the organisms of first choice for the evaluation of the acute toxicity of this effluent., (Copyright © 2019 SETOX & Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, SASc.)

In the bioethanol industry and its derivative processes, 9-14 l of vinasse per liter of ethanol are obtained as residue, depending on whether or not a recirculation process is used. If the vinasse is discharged directly into water bodies without proper treatment it can produce negative effects on existing biota and on human health. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of a mixed treatment with Komagataeibacter kakiaceti GM5 and Trametes versicolor DSM 3086 to degrade and reduce the toxicity of this by-product. In order to carry out the tests, an experimental culture media of vinasse at 60% (v/v) was used. This culture was compared to a standard medium of glucose at 2% and, simultaneously, a mixed culture (bacterium-fungus) was used through a batch process in an orbital shaker. When compared to the treatments evaluated with individually grown microorganisms, the mixed treatment proposed produced the best COD results in vinasse degradation. However, better results were obtained when using the treatment with T. versicolor DSM 3086 for color removal and treatment with K. kakiaceti GM5 produced better results in terms of turbidity and toxicity. Although the simultaneous mixed treatment did not improve all the variables studied, it never showed the lowest performance. Therefore, this proposal can be considered as an innovative biological alternative in degradation processes of great organic pollutants such as vinasse., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)