Browsing by Author "Cano, Manuela"
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- Agentes Biológicos - Avaliação da Exposição ProfissionalPublication . Cano, Manuela
- Agentes Biológicos - Avaliação da Exposição ProfissionalPublication . Cano, Manuela
- Air microbiology – external quality assurance programPublication . Cano, Manuela; Rosa, Nuno; Correia, Helena; Faria, Ana PaulaThe Regulation on Energy Heating and Cooling Systems in Buildings (Decreto-Lei 79/2006, April 4th) imposed efficiency rules for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC) in buildings, established reference concentrations for chemical and microbiological pollutants and compelled the execution of regular audits to indoor air quality in order to guarantee healthy indoor environments in existing commercial buildings with large HVAC systems. Given the significant increase in indoor air quality audits it became necessary to harmonize sampling and analysis procedures for microbiological pollutants in order to obtain comparable results. The Air and Occupational Health Unit (UASO) implemented the required procedures for accreditation of the assay “Determination of airborne culturable microorganisms” according to the International Standard ISO/IEC 17025 [1], unequivocal indicator of technical proficiency. In the absence of external quality assessment programs (EQA), a requirement of the standard, the UASO Unit in collaboration with the National Program for External Quality Assessment, organized the EQA program - Air Microbiology that consists on the bacteriological and fungal enumeration in air samples collected following the EN 13998 Standard methodology [2]. The EQA program allowed the comparability of results between participant Laboratories leading also to the harmonization of procedures, improving the traceability of measurements, result validation and improving the whole process leading to accreditation. At the end of each year the organizers of the EQA Program present the results and organize training courses in the areas identified as sensitive. The most debated topics have been the equipment calibration, estimation of uncertainty, the acceptance criteria of duplicate samples and control laboratory test conditions. The aim of this study is the assessment of the results of the EQA program - Air Microbiology (2010-2015).
- Airborne spores’ dissemination of a swine associated Clostridioides difficile clonePublication . Alves, Frederico; Cano, Manuela; Brondani, Greice; Nunes, Alexandra; Oleastro, MónicaThis study supports the airborne dissemination of Clostridioides difficile spores. Of the sieve impaction samples collected at a swine production unit, 66.7% were positive and all belonged to the predominantly established clone. Spores' density varied according to the characteristics of the animal population, suggesting the possibility of airborne transmission.
- O Ambiente Influencia A Minha Rica saúde?Publication . Júlio, Cláudia; Costa Ferreira, Filipa; Reyan, Iryna; Grossinho, José; José, Sílvia; Cruz Nogueira, Ana; Pires, Ana Filipa; Cano, Manuela; Jordão, Maria Luísa; Rebelo, HelenaCiclo de quatro palestras sobre os contaminantes químicos, incluindo os microplásticos, e microbiológicos do ar e das águas, seguidas de exposições interativas de equipamentos, materiais e amostras. Debates e questionário com a ferramenta Kahoot para avaliar o impacto das palestras na sensibilização dos alunos para os diversos temas.
- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria from air samples collected in nursing homesPublication . Salgueiro, Vanessa; Manageiro, Vera; Jones-Dias, Daniela; Cano, Manuela; Ferreira, Eugénia; Caniça, ManuelaIntroduction: Antibiotic resistance is currently a worldwide public health problem that can include diverse mechanisms and bacterial species. The understanding and monitoring of such phenomena is essential to avoid further dissemination. The main aim of this study was the characterization of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacterial strains collected in air samples from nursing homes and compare them with clinical samples isolated from the same geographic area. Materials and methods: Air samples were collected from bedrooms, living rooms and outdoor of 4 nursing homes located in Lisbon, Portugal. Screening of antimicrobial susceptibility of 18 Gram-negative (5 Acinetobacter spp., 1 Klebsiella oxytoca, 4 Pantoea spp., 7 Pseudomonas spp., 1 Sphingomonas paucimobilis) and 12 Gram-positive (3 Micrococcus luteus, 3 Staphylococcus spp.) isolates was performed by disk diffusion method. Different antibiotic resistant genes were searched by PCR. PFGE was used to evaluate clonality between K. oxytoca isolated from the air environment and other strains from clinical origin. Results and discussion: The majority of strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. Among beta-lactam antibiotics, reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin was detected in Staphylococcus capitis, through expression of the mecA gene, and to ampicillin, piperacillin and piperacillin-tazobactam in 1 K. oxytoca expressing a blaOXY-5-type beta-lactamase. Nonsusceptibility to meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam was observed in 2 Pseudomonas putida however no antibiotic resistance gene was detected. Regarding quinolones, non-susceptibility was found in 1 S S. capitis, 2 Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and 1 K. oxytoca. The molecular characterization of the mecA-positive S. capitis from the nursing homes and from a hospital within the same region suggests a potential dissemination of strains between these two environments. The genetic relatedness of K. oxytoca from nursing homes (n=1) and clinical isolates (n=9) recovered within the same region, allowed to conclude that they were not genetically related. Conclusions: Globally, nursing homes environments may act as complementary reservoirs of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Thus, a better understanding of the antibiotic resistance mechanisms and dissemination pathways in other reservoirs than human is essential to control its emergence and spread.
- Assessment of Indoor Air Quality - Avaliação da Qualidade do Ar InteriorPublication . Cano, Manuela
- Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality in Elderly Care CentersPublication . Cano, Manuela; Nogueira, Susana; Alves, Marta; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Aguiar, Fátima; Rosa, Nuno; Brás, Maria Clementina; Quintas, Maria Carmo; Pinhal, Hermínia; Nogueira, Ana; Proença, Carmo; Teixeira, João P.The aim of this study was to characterize indoor environmental quality in a representative sample of Elderly Care Centers (ECC) in order to associate it with ventilation, health and comfort of elderly people. Indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters and thermal comfort were measured twice, during winter and spring/summer seasons, from 18 Elderly Care Centers (ECC) located in Lisbon, with a total of 116 rooms evaluated. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide were monitored during occupation periods using the Indoor Air Quality Meter (TSI, model 7545, USA). Formaldehyde was collected by active sampling on impingers, using personal pumps at an airflow of 1L/min and analyzed according to NIOSH 3500 method, using visible spectrometry (UV4, UNICAM). PM10 and PM2,5 were collected by active sampling on pre-weighted PTFE filters mounted on PM10 and PM2,5 collectors (PEM, SKC), using personal pumps operating at 2L/min, followed by gravimetric analysis for particle mass according to the method IP-10A by SKC (2004). Duplicate samples of total volatile organic compounds were collected on TENAX Tubes (Ref. 25054, Supelco) using SKC personal pumps calibrated to 0.05 L/min and analyzed after thermal desorption according to ISO 16000-part 6 using gas chromatography. Duplicate samples of viable airborne bacteria and fungi were collected using the Microbiological Air Sampler (Merck) and TSA, McK and MEA for total bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. Whole-body thermal comfort evaluation was based on PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) indices, according to the ISO 7730:2005. Considering the obtained results for environmental indoor quality it is possible to conclude that thermal comfort was not reached in more than 30% of the rooms. In winter, carbon dioxide concentrations were above the reference in 20% of the rooms. PM10 and PM2,5 mean concentrations were above the reference levels in approximately 25% and 30% of the rooms, respectively. Microbiological contamination (total bacteria and fungi) was above the reference levels in more than 35% of the rooms. Indoor environmental quality should be improved by controlling contamination sources, ventilation and thermal parameters (or clothing) in order to obtain healthier environments for the elderly.
- Auditorias à Qualidade do Ar InteriorPublication . Cano, ManuelaA Qualidade do Ar Interior teve avanços significativos durante as décadas anteriores a 2006 e que levaram ao reconhecimento da QAI como um determinante da saúde. Assim, os legisladores entenderam que deveria ser assegurada a Qualidade do Ar Interior: Como garante da saúde e produtividade dos ocupantes; Sem recurso a elevados consumos de energia; Criando condições objetivas de implementação e monitorização.
- Avaliação da qualidade do ar interior em lares de idosos, 2013-2014: projeto GERIAPublication . Cano, Manuela; Nogueira, Susana; Alves, Marta; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Aguiar, Fátima; Rosa, Nuno; Brás, Maria Clementina; Quintas, Maria do Carmo; Pinhal, Hermínia; Nogueira, Ana; Proença, Carmo; Teixeira, João PauloO risco da população idosa desenvolver efeitos adversos em virtude da exposição a contaminantes químicos e microbiológicos do ar interior é mais elevado tanto pelo facto do seu sistema imunitário ser mais débil, como por este grupo etário permanecer no interior de edifícios por períodos mais longos. O objetivo deste estudo foi a caraterização da qualidade do ar interior numa amostra representativa de lares de idosos de modo a estudar a sua relação com a ventilação dos locais e a saúde/qualidade de vida dos utentes. O estudo apresentado incidiu sobre a avaliação da qualidade do ar interior em 18 lares de idosos situados em Lisboa (116 locais avaliados), em duas campanhas, uma no inverno e outra na primavera/verão e incluiu a avaliação de contaminação do ar por agentes químicos - dióxido de carbono (CO2 ), monóxido de carbono (CO), formaldeído (HCHO), compostos orgânicos voláteis totais (COVT), PM10 e PM2,5; por agentes microbiológicos – bactérias e fungos. Os resultados indicam que, de um modo geral a contaminação do ar por compostos orgânicos voláteis totais e formaldeído é baixa. Contudo, os valores de referência são excedidos para o dióxido de carbono, microrganismos e as partículas em 20%, 35% e 25-30% dos locais estudados respetivamente. Assim, há que identificar as fontes de contaminação do ar por partículas por forma e reduzir os efeitos adversos associados à exposição e melhorar a ventilação dos lares, particularmente no inverno, por forma a conseguir ambientes interiores mais saudáveis.