High hydrostatic pressure in association to disinfectant agents on the inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus

• Grant number: 13/07819-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Francisco Sampaio Bonafe
• Grantee: Ana Luísa Silva Sampaio Moreira da Costa Demonte
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the environment and hospital supplies, it is frequent the use of disinfectant agents, which are important for controlling infections from microorganisms. Nevertheless, these agents do not warranty the total elimination of microorganisms often found in nosocomial infection cases. Invasive procedures as plastic, cardiac and ophthalmologic surgery and esthetic surgery as mesotherapy and liposuction are common sources of contamination of patients. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium often in nosocomial infections, and it is associated with the development of cutaneous infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and meningitis. For the control of nosocomial infections, it is necessary several procedures like the use of disinfectants agents in medical-surgical supplies and sterilizing techniques. An emergent technique for the elimination of pathogens is the high hydrostatic pressure, which is advantageous for applying in materials that are sensitive to conventional treatments. The present project aims to study the pressure inactivation of S. aureus associated with chemical agent disinfectants, and the possibility of using such methodology in specific sterilizing procedures in hospitals. (AU)