ANNA SARA SHAFFERMAN LEVIN
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina - Docente
Instituto Central, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/49 - Laboratório de Protozoologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
Instituto Central, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/49 - Laboratório de Protozoologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
18 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 18
- Bloodstream infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outpatients: risk factors for hospitalization and death(2019) RUSSO, Rachel; MENDES, Elisa Teixeira; LEVIN, Anna Sara; DULLEY, Frederico; OLIVEIRA, Maura S.; SHIKANAI-YASUDA, Maria Aparecida; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoWe described 235 bloodstream infection (BSI) episodes in 146 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outpatients and evaluated risk factors for hospitalization and death. Records of outpatients presenting with positive blood cultures over a 5-year period (January 2005 to December 2008) were reviewed. Variables with p< 0.1 in bivariate analysis were used in a regression logistic model. A total of 266 agents were identified, being 175 (66.7%) gram-negative. 80 (30.3%) gram-positive bacteria and 9 (3.4%) fungi. The most common underlying disease was acute leukemia 40 (27.4%), followed by lymphoma non-Hodgkin 26 (18%) and 87 patients (59.6%) were submitted to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). BSI episodes were more frequent during the first 100 days after transplantation (183 or 77.8%), and ninety-one (38.7%) episodes of BSI occurred up to the first 30 days. Hospitalization occurred in 26% of the episodes and death in 10% of cases. Only autologous HSCT was protector for hospitalization. Although. central venous catheter (CVC) withdrawal and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score up to 21 points were protector factors for death in the bivariate analysis, only MASCC remained as protector.
- How new molecular tools can help bugbusters: a Burkholderia cepacia complex outbreak investigation(2020) MACIEL, Amanda Luiz Pires; SCHMITT, Cristiane; BARALDI, Marcia Maria; SILVA, Caio de Lima; OLIVEIRA, Luiz Felipe Valter de; SAMPAIO, Jorge Luiz Mello; LOURENCO, Rogerio Ferreira; LEVIN, Anna Sara; BOSZCZOWSKI, IcaroAn outbreak of bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) took place from March 2012 until April 2014 involving thirteen patients. Aim. To describe an outbreak investigation of BSI Bcc and showing how genetic sequencing tools contributed to confirm the hypothesis of extrinsic contamination proposed by an observational study. Methods. The Infection Control Department revised and reinforced good practices of infusion therapy and catheter care, visits to affected wards, a case control study, and environmental screening based on the case-control findings. Results. Data from the case-control study found an association of cases with central venous catheter (OR 1.36; CI 1.15-1.67) and intravenous cisatracurium use (OR 10.75; CI 1.67-68.89). Visits to the operatory block revealed problems related to the cold chain used for the preservation of thermolabile cisatracurium. We could not retrieve Bcc from environmental samples using classic microbiology. New samples from the same surfaces were obtained for genetic sequencing. Bcc was identified in the cooler box, refrigerator and reusable ice packages. Conclusion. Environmental screening using genetic sequencing proved to be a useful tool for confirming our hypothesis of extrinsic contamination raised by the case-control study.
- POLYCLONAL OUTBREAK OF BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS CAUSED BY Burkholderia cepacia COMPLEX IN HEMATOLOGY AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT OUTPATIENT UNITS(2014) BOSZCZOWSKI, Icaro; PRADO, Gladys Villas Boas do; DALBEN, Mirian F.; TELLES, Roberto C. P.; FREIRE, Maristela Pinheiro; GUIMARAES, Thais; OLIVEIRA, Maura S.; ROSA, Juliana F.; SOARES, Robson E.; LLACER, Pedro Enrique Dorlhiac; DULLEY, Frederico Luiz; COSTA, Silvia F.; LEVIN, Anna S.Aim: The objective was to describe an outbreak of bloodstream infections by Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) in bone marrow transplant and hematology outpatients. Methods: On February 15, 2008 a Bcc outbreak was suspected. 24 cases were identified. Demographic and clinical data were evaluated. Environment and healthcare workers' (HCW) hands were cultured. Species were determined and typed. Reinforcement of hand hygiene, central venous catheter (CVC) care, infusion therapy, and maintenance of laminar flow cabinet were undertaken. 16 different HCWs had cared for the CVCs. Multi-dose heparin and saline were prepared on counter common to both units. Findings: 14 patients had B. multivorans (one patient had also B. cenopacia), six non-multivorans Bcc and one did not belong to Bcc. Clone A B. multivorans occurred in 12 patients (from Hematology); in 10 their CVC had been used on February 11/12. Environmental and HCW cultures were negative. All patients were treated with meropenem, and ceftazidime lock-therapy. Eight patients (30%) were hospitalized. No deaths occurred. After control measures (multidose vial for single patient; CVC lock with ceftazidime; cleaning of laminar flow cabinet; hand hygiene improvement; use of cabinet to store prepared medication), no new cases occurred. Conclusions: This polyclonal outbreak may be explained by a common source containing multiple species of Bcc, maybe the laminar flow cabinet common to both units. There may have been contamination by B. multivorans (clone A) of multi-dose vials.
- Conjugative transfer of plasmid p_8N_qac(MN687830.1) carrying qacA gene from Staphylococcus aureus to Escherichia coli C600: potential mechanism for spreading chlorhexidine resistance(2021) BES, Taniela Marli; NAGANO, Debora Satie; MARCHI, Ana Paula; CAMILO, Gaspar; PERDIGAO-NETO, Lauro Vieira; MARTINS, Roberta Ruedas; LEVIN, Anna Sara; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoThe methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized by its ability to acquire and transferring resistance genes through interspecies conjugative plasmids. However, transference of plasmids from Gram-positive cocci to Gram-negative bacilli is not well characterized. In this report, we describe the transfer of a conjugative plasmid carrying qacA from MRSA to Escherichia coli C600. We performed a conjugation experiment using a chlorhexidine resistant MRSA isolate (ST-105/SCCmec type III) carrying the gene qacA and qacC as the donor and a chlorhexidine susceptible E. coli C600 isolate as the receptor. Transconjugants were selected using MacConkey agar plates containing chlorhexidine in concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 16 g.L-1. To genotypically confirm the transfer of the resistance gene, the transconjugants were screened by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and submitted to Sanger's sequencing. MRSA isolates successfully transferred the chlorhexidine resistance gene (qacA) to the recipient E. coli strain C600. The E. coli transconjugant exhibited an important reduction of chlorhexidine susceptibility, with MICs increasing from <= 0.25 to >= 16 g.L-1 after conjugation. The qacA gene was detected by PCR as well as in the Sanger's sequencing analysis of DNA from transconjugant plasmids. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the plasmid p_8N_qac(MN687830.1) carrying qacA and its transfer by conjugation from a MRSA to an E. coli. These findings increase concerns on the emergence of resistance dissemination across the genus and emphasizes the importance of continuous antiseptic stewardship.
- Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in individuals from the community in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil(2018) BES, Taniela Marli; MARTINS, Roberta Ruedas; PERDIGAO, Lauro; MONGELOS, Diego; MORENO, Luisa; MORENO, Andrea; OLIVEIRA, Gerson Salvador de; COSTA, Silvia Figueiredo; LEVIN, Anna SaraStaphylococcus aureus (SA) is a commensal habitant of nasal cavities and skin. Colonization by community-acquired methicillin-resistant SA (CA-MRSA) is associated with infections in patients who have not been recently hospitalized. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of MRSA colonization in an outpatient population, currently unknown in Brazil. Three-hundred patients or caregivers from two teaching hospitals were included. A questionnaire was applied and nasal swabs were obtained from patients. Swabs were inoculated in brain heart infusion (BHI) with 25% NaCl and seeded in mannitol. Suspicious colonies were subjected to MALDI-TOF MS Microflex (TM) identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility test for oxacillin was performed for SA-positive samples by microdilution. Polymerase chain-reactions for detection of mecA and coA genes were performed for resistant samples. Data about MRSA carriers were compared with non-carriers. There were 127 S. aureus isolates, confirmed by MALDI-TOF. Only seven (2.3%) were MRSA and positive for mecA and coA genes. Factors associated with MRSA carriage were African ethnicity, skin diseases or antibiotic use. The majority of them were from Dermatology clinics. Prevalence of MRSA colonization in individuals from the community was low in our study (2.3%). This finding raises the hypothesis of inter-household transmission of SA. although we did not find any association between MRSA-colonization and the shared use of personal objects. Given the low prevalence of MRSA carriers observed, empirical antimicrobial coverage for MRSA in community-acquired infections should be not necessary.
- Are mobile phones part of the chain of transmission of SARS- CoV-2 in hospital settings?(2021) ESPINOZA, Evelyn Patricia Sanchez; CORTES, Marina Farrel; NOGUERA, Saidy Vasconez; PAULA, Anderson Vicente de; GUIMARAES, Thais; BOAS, Lucy Santos Villas; PARK, Marcelo; SILVA, Cristina Carvalho da; MORALES, Ingra; NETO, Lauro Vieira Perdigao; TOZETTO-MENDOZA, Tania Regina; BOSZCZOWSKI, Icaro; SABINO, Ester Cerdeira; MENDES-CORREA, Maria Cassia; LEVIN, Anna Sara; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoMobile phones (MPs) have become an important work tool around the world including in hospitals. We evaluated whether SARS-CoV-2 can remain on the surface of MPs of first-line healthcare workers (HCW) and also the knowledge of HCWs about SARS-CoV-2 cross-transmission and conceptions on the virus survival on the MPs of HCWs. A crosssectional study was conducted in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit of a teaching hospital. An educational campaign was carried out on cross-transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and its permanence in fomites, in addition to the proper use and disinfection of MPs. Herewith an electronic questionnaire was applied including queried conceptions about hand hygiene and care with MP before and after the pandemic. The MPs were swabbed with a nylon FLOQ SwabTM, in an attempt to increase the recovery of SARS-CoV-2. All MP swab samples were subjected to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR; RT-PCR positive samples were subjected to viral culture in Vero cells (ATCC (R) CCL-81TM). Fifty-one MPs were swabbed and a questionnaire on hand hygiene and the use and disinfection of MP was applied after an educational campaign. Most HCWs increased adherence to hand hygiene and MP disinfection during the pandemic. Fifty-one MP swabs were collected and two were positive by RT-PCR (4%), with Cycle threshold (Ct ) values of 34-36, however, the cultures of these samples were negative. Although most HCWs believed in the importance of cross-transmission and increased adherence to hand hygiene and disinfection of MP during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in MPs. Our results suggest the need for a universal policy in infection control guidelines on how to care for electronic devices in hospital settings.
- Evaluation of eleven immunochromatographic assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection: investigating the dengue cross-reaction(2022) OLIVEIRA, Beatriz Araujo; OLIVEIRA, Lea Campos de; OLIVEIRA, Franciane Mendes de; PEREIRA, Geovana Maria; SOUZA, Regina Maia de; MANULI, Erika Regina; MARCHINI, Fabricio Klerynton; ESPINOZA, Evelyn Patricia Sanchez; PARK, Marcelo; TANIGUCHI, Leandro; MENDES, Pedro Vitale; FRANCO, Lucas Augusto Moyses; NASTRI, Ana Catharina; OLIVEIRA, Maura Salaroli de; VIEIRA JUNIOR, Jose Mauro; KALLAS, Esper Georges; LEVIN, Anna Sara; SABINO, Ester Cerdeira; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoCOVID-19 disease is spread worldwide and diagnostic techniques have been studied in order to contain the pandemic. Immunochromatographic (IC) assays are feasible and a low-cost alternative especially in low and middle-income countries, which lack structure to perform certain diagnostic techniques. Here we evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of eleven different IC tests in 145 serum samples from confirmed cases of COVID-19 using RT-PCR and 100 negative serum samples from blood donors collected in February 2019. We also evaluated the cross-reactivity with dengue using 20 serum samples from patients with confirmed diagnosis for dengue collected in early 2019 through four different tests. We found high sensitivity (92%), specificity (100%) and an almost perfect agreement (Kappa 0.92) of IC assay, especially when we evaluated IgG and IgM combined after 10 days from the onset of symptoms with RT-PCR. However, we detected cross-reactivity between dengue and COVID-19 mainly with IgM antibodies (5 to 20% of cross-reaction) and demonstrated the need for better studies about diagnostic techniques for these diseases.
- Smqnr VARIANTS IN CLINICAL ISOLATES OF Stenotrophomonas maltophilia IN BRAZIL(2013) GRACIA-PAEZ, Jorge Isaac; FERRAZ, Juliana Rosa; SILVA, Ivan Avelino Franca E; ROSSI, Flavia; LEVIN, Anna Sara; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoStenotrophomonas maltophilia contains a novel chromosomally-encoded qnr gene named Smqnr that contributes to low intrinsic resistance to quinolone. We described Smqnr in 13 clinical isolates of S. maltophilia from two Brazilian hospitals, over a 2-year period. The strains were identified by API 20 NE (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility by microdilution method to trimetroprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, minocycline, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol and ticarcillin/clavulanate was performed according to CLSI. PCR detection of Smqnr gene was carried out. The sequence of Smqnr was compared with those deposited in GenBank. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of all strains was performed. Thirteen Smqnr positives isolates were sequenced and three novel variants of Smqnr were identified. All 13 Smqnr isolates had distinguishable patterns by PFGE. This is the first report of Smqnr in S. maltophilia isolated in Brazil.
- Confronting the Multidimensional Challenges of Research in the Context of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Brazil: The Example of Yellow Fever(2020) AVELINO-SILVA, Vivian I.; FIGUEIREDO-MELLO, Claudia; CASADIO, Luciana V. B.; NASTRI, Ana C. S. S.; MARCILIO, Izabel; RIBEIRO, Ana F.; LEVIN, Anna S.; SABINO, Ester C.In the most recent Brazilian yellow fever (YF) outbreak, a group of clinicians and researchers initiated in mid-January 2018 a considerable effort to develop a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of sofosbuvir on YF viremia and clinical outcomes (Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-93dp9n). The approval of this protocol had urgency given the seasonal/short-lived pattern of YF transmission, large number of human cases, and epidemic transmission at the outskirts of a large urban center. However, many intricacies in the research regulatory and ethical submission systems in Brazil were indomitable even under such pressing conditions. By April 2018, we had enrolled 29 patients for a target sample size of 90 participants. Had enrollment been initiated 3 weeks earlier, an additional 31 patients could have been enrolled, reaching the prespecified sample size for the interim analysis. This recent experience highlights the urgent need to improve local preparedness for research in the setting of explosive outbreaks, as has been seen in the last few years in different countries.
- Clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients colonized or infected by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: is resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim a problem?(2020) MENDES, Elisa Teixeira; PAEZ, Jorge Isaac Garcia; FERRAZ, Juliana Rosa; MARCHI, Ana Paula; SILVA, Ivan Leonardo Avelino Franca e; BATISTA, Marjorie Vieira; LIMA, Ana Lucia Munhoz de; ROSSI, Flavia; LEVIN, Anna Sara; COSTA, Silvia FigueiredoStenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in the last decade. Increased resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) has been reported in S. maltophilia strains in the past few years, leading to few therapeutic options. We conducted a prospective multicenter study at two Brazilian teaching hospitals that identified S. maltophilia isolates and evaluated their antimicrobial susceptibility profile, SMX/TMP resistance genes and their clonality profile. A total of 106 non-repeated clinical samples of S. maltophilia were evaluated. Resistance to SMX/TMP was identified in 21.6% of the samples, and previous use of SMX/TMP occurred in 19 (82.6%). PCR detected the sul1 gene in 14 of 106 strains (13.2%). Of these isolates, nine displayed resistance to SMX/TMP. The resistant strains presented a polyclonal profile. This opportunistic pathogen has emerged in immunocompromised hosts, with few therapeutic options, which is aggravated by the description of emerging resistance mechanisms, although with a polyclonal distribution profile.