A5079007538- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Malaria Research and Control
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Otolaryngology and Infectious Diseases
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Microbial infections and disease research
University of Lisbon
2016-2025
Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte
2016-2025
Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
2024-2025
Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga E.P.E.
2024
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental
2024
Hospital Braga
2024
Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa
2024
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central
2018-2024
Hospital de Santa Maria
2008-2024
Instituto de Medicina Tropical
2010-2024
With the decrease of DNA sequencing costs, sequence-based typing methods are rapidly becoming gold standard for epidemiological surveillance. These provide reproducible and comparable results needed a global scale bacterial population analysis, while retaining their usefulness local surveys. Online databases that collect generated allelic profiles associated data available but this wealth remains underused frequently poorly annotated since no user-friendly tool exists to analyze explore it....
SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a human pathogen, causing clinical signs, from fever to pneumonia-COVID-19-but may remain mild or asymptomatic. To understand the continuing spread of virus, detect those who are and were infected, follow immune response longitudinally, reliable robust assays for detection immunological monitoring needed. We quantified IgM, IgG, IgA antibodies recognizing receptor-binding domain (RBD) Spike (S) protein over period 6 months following COVID-19 onset. report detailed...
Since autumn 2022, observed numbers of paediatric invasive group A Streptococcus infections in Portugal (n = 89) were higher than pre-COVID-19 seasons. Between September 2022 and May 2023, the dominant diagnoses pneumonia (25/79), mostly with empyema (20/25), sepsis (22/79). number cases required admission to intensive care (27/79) surgery (35/79), case fatality rate was 5.1% (4/79). Genomic sequencing 55) revealed multiple genetic lineages, dominated by M1UK sublineage (26/55) more diverse...
ABSTRACT The studies that correlate the results obtained by different typing methodologies rely solely on qualitative comparisons of groups defined each methodology. We propose a framework measures for quantitative assessment correspondences between methods as first step to global mapping type equivalences. A collection 325 macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes isolates associated with pharyngitis cases in Portugal was used benchmark proposed measures. All were characterized macrolide...
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is able to form biofilms in vivo and previous studies propose that pneumococcal play a relevant role both colonization infection. Additionally, pneumococci recovered from human infections are characterized by high prevalence of lysogenic bacteriophages (phages) residing quiescently their host chromosome. We investigated possible link between lysogeny biofilm formation. Considering extracellular DNA (eDNA) key factor the matrix, we reasoned prophage...
Foot infections are a major cause of morbidity in people with diabetes and the most common diabetes-related hospitalization lower extremity amputation. Staphylococcus aureus is by far frequent species isolated from these infections. In particular, methicillin-resistant S. (MRSA) has emerged as clinical epidemiological problem hospitals. MRSA strains have ability to be resistant β-lactam antibiotics, but also wide range other antimicrobials, making difficult manage very costly treat. To date,...
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a clinically relevant pathogen and frequent cause of hospital-acquired (HA) community-acquired (CA) urinary tract infections (UTI). The increased resistance this leading to limited therapeutic options. To investigate the epidemiology, virulence, antibiotic profile K. in infections, we conducted multicenter retrospective study for total 81 isolates (50 CA-UTI 31 HA-UTI) Portugal. detection characterization virulence determinants were performed by molecular methods...
Abstract Chronic wounds that fail to heal are a common complication of diabetes mellitus and the most precipitating reason for nontraumatic lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, bacterial species cause these infections becoming more resistant antibiotics, making them increasingly difficult treat. We assessed feasibility combating chronic with topically delivered bacteriophage cocktail in two animal models mellitus. Microbiological, planimetric, histological parameters were compared debrided...
The ESCPM group (Enterobacter species including Klebsiella aerogenes - formerly Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia species, Citrobacter freundii complex, Providencia and Morganella morganii) has not yet been incorporated into systematic surveillance programs. We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study analysing all strains isolated from blood cultures in 27 European hospitals over 3-year period (2020-2022). Diagnostic approach, epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility were...
Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance mediated by efflux systems is still poorly characterized in Staphylococcus aureus , despite the description of several pumps (EPs) for this bacterium. In work we used methodologies to characterize activity 52 S. isolates resistant ciprofloxacin collected a hospital Lisbon, Portugal, order understand role played these fluoroquinolones. Results Augmented was detected 12 out and correlated with increased Addition inhibitors did not result full...
To estimate the invasive disease potential of serotypes and clones circulating in Portugal before extensive use seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, we analyzed 475 isolates recovered from children adults 769 carriage between 2001 2003. Isolates were serotyped genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, a selection also characterized multilocus sequence typing. We found that diversities genotypes pneumococci responsible for infections identical most carried could be detected as...
According to the EARS-Net surveillance data, Portugal has highest prevalence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Europe, but information on MRSA community is very scarce and links between hospital are not known. In this study we aimed understand events associated recent sharp increase frequency evaluate how shaped epidemiology community. With purpose, 180 isolates recovered from infection two time periods 14 89 samples skin soft tissue infections (SSTI) were...
Since 2010 the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) replaced 7-valent (PCV7) as leading used in children through private sector. Although neither of PCVs were significantly adults, changes adult invasive disease (IPD) expected due to herd protection. We characterized n=1163 isolates recovered from IPD adults 2012-2014 with goal documenting possible serotype prevalence and antimicrobial resistance. Among 54 different serotypes detected, most frequent, accounting for half all IPD,...
Abstract Despite use of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, incidence pleural effusion and empyema (pediatric complicated pneumonia [PCPP]) is reportedly increasing globally. We cultured performed PCR on 152 fluid samples recovered from pediatric patients in Portugal during 2010–2015 to identify serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae. identified only 17 cases by culture, but molecular methods S. pneumoniae 68% (92/135) culture-negative samples. The most frequent serotypes were 3, 1, 19A,...
Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic disease that continues to increase significantly. One of the most important and costly complications diabetes are foot infections may be colonized by pathogenic antimicrobial resistant bacteria, harboring several virulence factors, could impair its successful treatment. Staphylococcus aureus one prevalent isolate in diabetic infections, together with aerobes anaerobes.
Abstract Vitamin D is a fundamental regulator of host defences by activating genes related to innate and adaptive immunity. Previous research shows correlation between the levels vitamin in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 degree disease severity. This work investigates impact genetic background pathways on COVID-19 For first time, Portuguese population was characterized regarding prevalence high variants associated pathways. study enrolled 517 admitted two tertiary hospitals. The serum...
Introduction Extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDR-PA) is a growing concern due to its increasing incidence, limited therapeutic options, data on the optimal treatment, and high mortality rates. The study aimed characterize population, outcome microbiological characteristics of XDR-PA identified in Portuguese university hospital center. Methods All isolates between January 2019 December 2021 were identified. was defined as resistance piperacillin-tazobactam, third fourth...
ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae FFUL 22K was isolated in April 1999 from the urine of an intensive care unit patient Portugal. The strain showed extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance profile. A typical synergistic effect between cefotaxime or cefepime and clavulanic acid observed. An Escherichia coli transformant displayed a similar phenotype harbored ca. 9.4-kb plasmid (p22K9). Cloning experiments revealed that β-lactamase encoded by bla GES-1 , previously described class 1 integrons K....