Introdução: Em Por tugal e apesar da alta cober tura vacinal o número de casos de tosse convulsa notificados tem vindo a aumentar. A reemergência da tosse convulsa em países com elevadas cober turas vacinais tem tornado par ticularmente relevante a avaliação da infeção por Bordetella per tussis em adultos, descrita como assintomática ou ligeiramente sintomática, pela possibilidade de transmissão da bactéria aos...
Introdução: A transmissão do vírus da hepatite A (VHA) ocorre, maioritariamente, pela via fecal-oral, tanto por ingestão de alimentos contaminados como por contacto direto com uma pessoa infetada, incluindo contacto sexual. A incidência da hepatite A tem diminuído em diferentes regiões do globo, por melhoria das condições económicas e sanitárias, o que originou uma população crescente de indivíduos suscetíveis....
Adherent tiling systems are widely used all over the world as wall cladding because of their aesthetic and technical characteristics. However, anomalous behaviours often occur; compromising the overall behaviour of facades, and possibly raising safety risks. The need to create expeditious, non-destructive and accurate methods of inspection that can encourage these systems’ inspection and maintenance fomented a ...
The emergence of non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species as a common cause of fungal infection is often associated with the increasing number of immunocompromised patients, the widespread use of indwelling medical devices and the decreased susceptibility to azoles. The ability of Candida species to adapt to a variety of different habitats and to form biofilms is also of major contribution to this increased ...
The infective ability of Candida species depends on specific virulence mechanisms that confer the ability to colonize host surfaces, to invade deeper host tissue or to evade host defences. During the pathogenic process many virulence attributes may be involved including, production of extracellular proteases and haemolytic activity. Nevertheless, in vitro studies have indicated that antifungal agents could be a...
Candida glabrata was considered, for years, a relatively non-pathogenic saprophyte of the normal flora of healthy individuals and as no causative agent of serious infection in humans. However, its high mortality rate and its quick spread confirm the opposite. In fact, due to the widespread and increased use of immunosuppressive therapy together with broad-spectrum antifungal treatments, the frequency of mucosal...