Avaliação para o manejo da úlcera neuropática associada à hanseníase: produção e validação de vídeo educativo / Evaluation for the management of leprosy-associated neuropathic ulcer: production and validation of educational video

A hanseníase é uma das maiores causas de complicações neuropáticas no mundo. Dentre estas, estão as úlceras neuropáticas, consideradas uma das causas mais comuns de amputações, morbidade e mortalidade, consequência de uma assistência à saúde embasada em procedimentos fragmentados com baixa resolutividade. Estudo de delineamento metodológico, com abordagem quali-quantitativa dos dados, que objetivou desenvolver um vídeo para intervenção educativa sobre avaliação para manejo da úlcera neuropática associada à hanseníase, a ser disponibilizado a enfermeiros. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa e foi realizada em 4 etapas: 1: Produção do roteiro e storyboard; 2:Validação do roteiro e storyboard; 3: Edição do vídeo e 4: Estudo piloto. A produção do conteúdo do roteiro e storyboard seguiu as recomendações do Ministério da Saúde e da Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses. A validação de conteúdo e aparência foi realizada por um comitê de especialistas. O instrumento apresentou os seguintes quesitos: objetivo; conteúdo; relevância; ambiente; funcionalidade, usabilidade e eficiência, os quais foram considerados validados a partir da concordância de 78% entre os avaliadores, calculada por meio do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo. Entre os especialistas na temática, houve maior prevalência do sexo feminino (88,9%), com idade entre 29 e 62 anos (média de 42,3 anos e desvio padrão de 11,0 anos), sendo a maior titulação acadêmica o doutorado (55,6%), e tempo de atuação profissional entre seis e 30 anos (média de 14,9 anos e desvio padrão de 8,2 anos). Dos especialistas em vídeo, a maioria era do sexo feminino (62,5%), com idade entre 30 e 46 anos (média de 37,5 anos e desvio padrão de 6,4 anos), com maior número de mestres (50%) e tempo de atuação profissional entre 2 e 24 anos (média de 10,8 anos e desvio padrão de 7,3 anos). Para todos os quesitos avaliados, obteve-se um Índice de Validade de Conteúdo superior ao mínimo preconizado. Após a adequação do roteiro e storyboard em face da validação, o vídeo foi gravado e, a partir de uma préedição, um estudo piloto (validação semântica) foi realizado por meio da técnica de grupo focal, com a participação de nove enfermeiros que atuavam na assistência à pessoa com hanseníase. Houve prevalência do sexo feminino (88,9%), com idade entre 29 e 50 anos e maior titulação acadêmica em nível de mestrado (55,6%), sendo que a maioria (55,6%) atuava na Estratégia Saúde da Família. A partir da análise de conteúdo do grupo focal, emergiram as categorias: dialogar sobre os objetivos propostos; identificar a aplicabilidade do vídeo na prática clínica do enfermeiro e valorizar a consulta de enfermagem na avaliação de pessoas com úlcera neuropática associada à hanseníase. Acredita-se que o vídeo educativo validado poderá auxiliar na realização de uma avaliação de enfermagem eficaz, segura e com qualidade à pessoa com úlcera neuropática decorrente da hanseníase

Leprosy is one of the major causes of neuropathic complications in the world. Among the complications most commonly found are neuropathic ulcers, considered one of the most common causes of amputations, morbidity and mortality in the world, as a consequence of health care based on fragmented procedures with low resolution. This is a methodological design study with qualitative and quantitative data, aiming to develop a video for educational intervention on evaluation for the management of neuropathic ulcer associated with leprosy, to be made available to nurses. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and was carried out in 4 stages: 1: Production of the script and storyboard; 2: Script and storyboard validation; 3: Video editing and 4: Pilot study. The production of script content and storyboard followed the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses. Validation of content and appearance was performed by a committee of experts. The instrument presented the following requirements: objective; content; relevance; environment; functionality, usability and efficiency, which were considered validated from the agreement of 78% between the evaluators, calculated through the Content Validity Index Among the specialists in the subject, there was a higher prevalence of female (88.9%), aged between 29 and 62 years (mean of 42.3 years and standard deviation of 11.0 years), the highest academic qualification being the doctoral degree (55.6%), and professional performance time between six and 30 years (mean of 14.9 years and standard deviation of 8.2 years). Of the video specialists, the majority were female (62.5%), aged between 30 and 46 years (mean of 37.5 years and standard deviation of 6.4 years), with a greater number of masters (50%) and time of professional activity between 2 and 24 years (mean of 10.8 years and standard deviation of 7.3 years). For all evaluated items, a Content Validity Index higher than the recommended minimum was obtained. After the adaptation of the script and storyboard in the face of validation, the video was recorded and, from a pre-edition, a pilot study (semantic validation) was performed through the focal group technique, with the participation of nine nurses who assisted the person with leprosy. There was a prevalence of females (88.9%), aged between 29 and 50 years, and a higher academic degree at the master's level (55.6%), with the majority (55.6%) working in the Family Health Strategy. From the content analysis of the focus group, the following categories emerged: dialogue about the proposed objectives; to identify the applicability of the video in the clinical practice of the nurse and to value the nursing consultation in the evaluation of people with neuropathic ulcer associated with leprosy. It is believed that the validated educational video can help in the performance of an effective, safe and quality nursing assessment to the person with neuropathic ulcer due to leprosy

Acute genital ulcers.

Acute genital ulcers, also known as acute vulvar ulcers, ulcus vulvae acutum or Lipschütz ulcers, refer to an ulceration of the vulva or lower vagina of non-venereal origin that usually presents in young women, predominantly virgins. Although its incidence is unknown, it seems a rare entity, with few cases reported in the literature. Their aetiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. The disease is characterised by an acute onset of flu-like symptoms with single or multiple painful ulcers on the vulva. Diagnosis is mainly clinical, after exclusion of other causes of vulvar ulcers. The treatment is mainly symptomatic, with spontaneous resolution in 2 weeks and without recurrences in most cases. We present a case report of a 13-year-old girl with two episodes of acute ulcers that fit the clinical criteria for Lipschütz ulcers.

Mononeuritis multiplex and painful ulcers as the initial manifestation of hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B virus infection leads to multisystem manifestations owing to involvement of kidney, skin, vasculature, haematopoietic and nervous system. The hepatitis B infection can cause neuropathy either to vasculitis associated with polyarteritis nodosa or immune-mediated neural damage. In this submission, we report a young woman, who presented with mononeuritis multiplex and painful ulcerations as the first manifestation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The antiviral therapy along with steroids led to remarkable recovery. The clinical settings of hepatitis B virus infection should not be ignored in the presentation of mononeuritis multiplex with ulcers, although the commonest cause is leprosy in the Indian sub-continent.

The pattern of bacterial isolates and drug sensitivities of infected ulcers in patients with leprosy in ALERT, Kuyera and Gambo hospitals, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy remains a public health problem, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Leprosy has many complications that include leprosy reactions, development of plantar and hand ulcerations, lagophthalomus and corneal anesthesia. OBJECTIVES: In Ethiopia there is scarce information on the pattern of bacterial isolates and drug sensitivities of infected ulcers in patients with leprosy. This study was undertaken to identify the bacteriology of infected ulcers and to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 245 informed and consented leprosy patients with infected ulcers visiting ALERT, Kuyera and Gambo hospitals during the period August 2006 to May 2007. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Wound aspirate specimens were collected from ulcers of each patient aseptically and inoculated into standard bacteriological media. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for all isolates according to the criteria of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) by disk diffusion method. RESULTS: Of the 245 patients investigated, 64.1% were males and 35.9% females (P < 0.05). The average age of the patients was 50 years (age range 13 to 92 years). According to Ridley-Jopling classifications, patients presented with TT (3.7%), BT, (31.4%), BL (44.5%) and LL (15.9%) types of leprosy. Plantar and hand ulcers were observed in 92.2% and 7.8% of patients, respectively. According the patients, the commonest cause of their ulcers was 'spontaneous' (56.7%). There were 44% Gram-positive and 56% Gram negative bacteria (P > 0.05). Proteus spp. accounted for 29.5% of the total isolates followed by Staphylococcus spp. (28.8%), beta-hemolytic streptococci (15.1%) and different types of Gram-negative bacteria (26.2%). Multiple organisms (two or three) were isolated from 19.6% patients. Of the 212 wound samples cultured anaerobically, 5.2% were positive for anaerobic culture. In this study both Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria showed decreased sensitivity to most antimicrobial agents tested. CONCLUSION: Proteus spp. was the most common isolate from infected ulcers. Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and gentamicin were the most effective drugs against the tested bacteria mainly for Gram-negative bacteria. This refers to the in vitro-sensitivity during the study period. The results of this study may help inform clinicians about the selection of an antibiotic in situations where use of an antibiotic may be indicated.

Vulvar ulcer as a presentation of systemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

We report a 38-year-old housewife with systemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) presenting as a chronic vulvar and peri-anal ulcer. She had systemic involvement in the form of diabetes insipidus and bone "hot-spots". She responded favorably to etoposide, 6-mercaptopurine, and systemic steroids, and has been in remission since 10 years. Chronic vulvar ulcers not responding to routine therapy should not be neglected and need to be biopsied repeatedly to come to a specific diagnosis. The vulvar ulcer in our case provided a vital clue to a systemic LCH, with a successful outcome.

Amoebiasis cutis in HIV positive patient.

Protozoan infections of the skin, particularly cutaneous amoebiasis, are rare in HIV-positive patients. We report a case of amoebiasis cutis in an HIV-positive truck driver with a history of frequent unprotected sexual exposures. He presented with multiple painful ulcers and sinuses with purulent discharge, necrotic slough and scarring in the perianal and gluteal region for the last 2 years. He was positive for HIV-1 and -2. Cutaneous biopsy revealed numerous Entamoeba histolytica in the trophozoite form, in addition to an inflammatory infiltrate and necrotic debris. He responded well to oral metronidazole and chloroquine. Amoebiasis cutis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of perianal ulcers, particularly in HIV-positive patients.

The promise of thalidomide: evolving indications.

Thalidomide was first used in the late 1950s but it was withdrawn from the market in the 1960s for its notorious teratogenic effects. This drug was more recently rediscovered as a powerful immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory agent and was approved by the FDA in 1998 for treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum. Thalidomide has shown great promise in advanced or refractory multiple myeloma either alone or in combination with other agents. It has also demonstrated benefits in a wide variety of disparate conditions such as aphthous and genital ulcers, cancer cachexia, HIV, tuberculosis and chronic graft versus host disease. Thalidomide is being investigated for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, and liver and thyroid cancers. Better understanding of its many mechanisms of action has provoked great interest in its potential use for treatment of various disorders. This review focuses on thalidomide's mechanisms of action, biochemistry, pharmacokinetics and its use in erythema nodosum leprosum as well as multiple myeloma, graft versus host disease, and renal cell carcinoma.

Disabilities in multibacillary leprosy following multidrug therapy with and without immunotherapy with Mycobacterium w antileprosy vaccine.

A vaccine based on autoclaved Mycobacterium w was administered, in addition to standard multidrug therapy (MDT), to 157 bacteriologically positive, lepromin-negative, multibacillary leprosy patients supported by a well-matched control group of 147 patients with similar type of disease who received a placebo injection in addition to MDT. The MDT was given for a minimum period of 2 years and continued until skin-smear negativity, while the vaccine/placebo was given at 3-month intervals up to a maximum of 8 doses in the initial 2 years. The overall incidence of type 1 and type 2 reactions and neuritis during treatment and follow up was nearly equal in the patients in the vaccine and placebo groups; the differences were not statistically significant. The occurrence of disabilities, such as anesthesia, trophic ulcers, claw hand and grade 3 deformities, were not different statistically in the vaccine and placebo groups, an observation valid both for deformities present at induction and for those which developed during the course of therapy and surveillance. A statistically significant difference was observed in the recovery of newly developed trophic ulcers; recovery was quicker in the vaccine group. The recovery rate for motor deformities was marginally higher in the vaccine group, although not significant (p = 0.068) statistically. There was a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of grade 3 deformities following MDT with and without immunotherapy. To conclude, the addition of vaccine to MDT did not precipitate neuritis or deformities over and above that encountered with MDT alone, although it did accelerate bacteriological clearance, histopathological upgrading, conversion to lepromin positivity, and clinical improvement.

[Lamprene in ano-perineal lesions of Crohn's disease. A retrospective study]. / Le Lamprène dans les localisations ano-périnéales de la maladie de Crohn. Une étude rétrospective.

UNLABELLED: The efficacy of clofazimine (Lamprene) was analysed retrospectively in twenty one patients with anoperineal lesions (APL) of Crohn's disease. Clofazimine is known for its antimycobacterial, antiinflammatory and immunomodifier properties. It is used with success in leprosy and certain dermatological disorders. A number of clinical and laboratory arguments suggest the probability of a role of mycobacteria in the etiology of Crohn's disease. METHODS: twenty one patients with ileo-colono-anal or bucco-colono-anal Crohn's disease formed the basis of this study. They had been treated in various ways for APL, without success. They had APL of varying degrees of advancement (primary lesions: seven cases; secondary lesions: ten cases; major advanced lesions: four cases). Treatment with Lamprene was given for three to 38 months (mean: 12 months), the mean cumulative dose being 40 grams (4 to 146). Other therapeutic measures were started simultaneously in twelve patients: medical in six cases, medico-surgical in four cases and surgical only in two cases. The aim of treatment in fourteen cases was to obtain the healing of ulcerated lesions and/or fistulas, in three patients to delay dilatation sessions and in four patients to avoid proctectomy in the short-term. RESULTS: ten patients showed no improvement while eleven were improved (with regression of primary lesions in ten cases). Taking combined treatment into consideration, the link between the result obtained and Lamprene was considered probable in five cases, possible in four cases and uncertain in one case. Lamprene was well tolerated in general. It was not possible to evaluate the efficacy of treatment regarding intestinal disease. CONCLUSION: the efficacy of Lamprene in ano-perineal lesions of Crohn's disease is possible and is worthy of evaluation in a controlled trial.

El Bactrim en el mal perforante plantar hanseniano

As a first step, two groups of 34 leprosy patients with perforating ulcers were included in this...

Treatment of trophic ulcers of leprosy with roniacol

1- A double-blind study of the use of Roniacol, a vasodilator, with respect to its effect on the healing time of plantar trophic ulcers, was made in four cases. 2- The drug is a harmless adjunct to other methods of therapy. 3- In some cases there may be benefit from its use, either subjectively or objectively, if collateral conditions of excessive fibrosis do not interfere with augmented circulation.

Influence of tyrothricin in the sterilization and cicatrization of leprous ulcers: report of treatment in fifteen patients

Topical treatment with tyrothricin of ulcers on the lower limbs of 15 patients with lepromatous leprosy was successful in 14 cases with a relative failure in one case. The relative failure was due to resistance offered by one third of the ulcers on the lower limbs of a woman after the others had become cicatrized. The resistant ulcers were situated in anesthetic zones. Cicatrization occurred after abundant administration of liver extract, ferrum, vitamins B and C, and general treatment with promin. For the 14 successful cases a maximum of 75 days and a minimum of 19 days was necessary to obtain cicatrization of ulcers, with a maximum of 33 and a minimum of 13 applications of tyrothricin. In all instances the ulcers became bacteriologically negative before complete cicatrization. In the experience of the authors, topical treatment with tyrothricin has proved to be the best treatment for leprous ulcers.