Genomic diversity of the human pathogen Paracoccidioides across the South American continent.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a life-threatening systemic mycosis widely reported in the Gran Chaco ecosystem. The disease is caused by different species from the genus Paracoccidioides, which are all endemic to South and Central America. Here, we sequenced and analyzed 31 isolates of Paracoccidioides across South America, with particular focus on isolates from Argentina and Paraguay. The de novo sequenced isolates were compared with publicly available genomes. Phylogenetics and population genomics revealed that PCM in Argentina and Paraguay is caused by three distinct Paracoccidioides genotypes, P. brasiliensis (S1a and S1b) and P. restrepiensis (PS3). P. brasiliensis S1a isolates from Argentina are frequently associated with chronic forms of the disease. Our results suggest the existence of extensive molecular polymorphism among Paracoccidioides species, and provide a framework to begin to dissect the connection between genotypic differences in the pathogen and the clinical outcomes of the disease.

Cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients.

Cytomegalovirus infection is a frequent complication after transplantation. This infection occurs due to transmission from the transplanted organ, due to reactivation of latent infection, or after a primary infection in seronegative patients and can be defined as follows: latent infection, active infection, viral syndrome or invasive disease. This condition occurs mainly between 30 and 90 days after transplantation. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in particular, infection usually occurs within the first 30 days after transplantation and in the presence of graft-versus-host disease. The major risk factors are when the recipient is cytomegalovirus seronegative and the donor is seropositive as well as when lymphocyte-depleting antibodies are used. There are two methods for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection: the pp65 antigenemia assay and polymerase chain reaction. Serology has no value for the diagnosis of active disease, whereas histology of the affected tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage analysis are useful in the diagnosis of invasive disease. Cytomegalovirus disease can be prevented by prophylaxis (the administration of antiviral drugs to all or to a subgroup of patients who are at higher risk of viral replication) or by preemptive therapy (the early diagnosis of viral replication before development of the disease and prescription of antiviral treatment to prevent the appearance of clinical disease). The drug used is intravenous or oral ganciclovir; oral valganciclovir; or, less frequently, valacyclovir. Prophylaxis should continue for 90 to 180 days. Treatment is always indicated in cytomegalovirus disease, and the gold-standard drug is intravenous ganciclovir. Treatment should be given for 2 to 3 weeks and should be continued for an additional 7 days after the first negative result for viremia.

Migração boliviana e doença de Chagas: limites na atuação do Sistema Único de Saúde brasileiro (SUS) / La migración boliviana y la enfermedad de Chagas: límites en la actuación del Sistema de Salud Brasileño (SUS) / Bolivian migration and Chagas disease: boundaries for the action of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS)

Migrações acarretam mudanças nos perfis epidemiológicos, impactando sistemas de saúde dos países receptores. O Brasil atrai imigrantes que se inserem precariamente nas metrópoles. Na Bolívia, a doença de Chagas é endêmica, fato relevante para o SUS brasileiro.O texto analisa a atuação e os limites dos profissionais de saúde no atendimento aos bolivianos no SUS, enfocando a doença de Chagas, por meio de entrevistas aplicadas nos serviços primário, secundário e terciário na região central da cidade de São Paulo, principal destino dos imigrantes bolivianos. As precárias condições de vida dos bolivianos caracterizam iniquidades em saúde. Idioma e cultura limitam a compreensão sobre o cuidado. Constata-se desconhecimento da clínica e epidemiologia da doença de Chagas entre os profissionais que atendem esses imigrantes. Faz-se necessária a revisão de estratégias assistenciais e de controle da doença de Chagas.(AU)

Las migraciones traen consigo cambios en los perfiles epidemiológicos, impactando los sistemas de salud de los países receptores. Brasil atrae a inmigrantes que se insieren de forma precaria en las metrópolis. En Bolivia, la enfermedad de Chagas es endémica, hecho relevante para el SUS. El texto analiza la actuación y los límites de los profesionales de salud en la atención a los bolivianos en el SUS, enfocando la enfermedad de Chagas, por medio de entrevistas realizadas en los servicios primario, secundario y terciario en la región central de la ciudad de São Paulo, principal destino de los inmigrantes bolivianos. Las precarias condiciones de vida de los bolivianos caracterizan iniquidades en salud. El idioma y la cultura limitan la comprensión sobre el cuidado. Se constata el desconocimiento de la clínica y de la epidemiología de la enfermedad de Chagas entre los profesionales que atienden a esos inmigrantes. Es necesaria la revisión de estrategias asistenciales y de control de la enfermedad de Chagas.(AU)

Migration provoke changes in epidemiological profiles impinging on the health care systems of reception countries. Immigrants come to Brazil from neighbor countries usually having precarious insertion in metropolitan areas. Chagas disease is endemic in Bolivia, something that has to be taken into account by the SUS. This paper analyzes both action and limits regarding health professionals who provide services to Bolivians in SUS with a focus on Chagas disease. Interviews were applied to primary, secondary and tertiary health services in the central region of São Paulo, the main destination of Bolivian immigrants. The precarious living conditions of Bolivians are the cause of health inequities. Language and culture also hamper their understanding about care. There is a lack of knowledge about clinic and epidemiology aspects of Chagas disease among the professionals who attend these immigrants. It is necessary to rethink strategies of health care and control of Chagas disease.(AU)

Brazilian guidelines for the management of candidiasis - a joint meeting report of three medical societies: Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia, Sociedade Paulista de Infectologia and Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical.

Candida infections account for 80% of all fungal infections in the hospital environment, including bloodstream, urinary tract and surgical site infections. Bloodstream infections are now a major challenge for tertiary hospitals worldwide due to their high prevalence and mortality rates. The incidence of candidemia in tertiary public hospitals in Brazil is approximately 2.5 cases per 1000 hospital admissions. Due to the importance of this infection, the authors provide a review of the diversity of the genus Candida and its clinical relevance, the therapeutic options and discuss the treatment of major infections caused by Candida. Each topography is discussed with regard to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations based on levels of evidence.

Tuberculosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: case report and review of the literature.

The literature describing tuberculosis (TB) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients is scant, even in countries where TB is common. We describe a case of pulmonary TB in a patient who underwent HSCT and review the English language literature on this subject. An extensive PubMed and Ovid search was undertaken for the period January 1980 to March 2009; the search terms used were 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis' or 'tuberculosis', in combination with 'hematopoietic stem cell transplantation' or 'bone marrow transplantation'. The patient in the present case report underwent allogeneic transplantation and developed TB 8 days after his HSCT. The patient had received vaccination against TB in childhood. During the year prior to the HSCT he had had contact with a relative who had pulmonary TB. On day 3 of anti-TB treatment he developed pericarditis. The patient received anti-TB treatment for 6 months without major problems. From the literature review, we found 34 related studies, 25 on the clinical manifestations of TB. Most of the reports were from Asia (48%), and the incidence of TB varied from 0.0014% in the USA to 16% in Pakistan. TB occurred at between +21 and +1410 days post-HSCT (257.2 days the median), and the lung was the organ most frequently involved. Mortality varied from 0% to 50% and was higher in allogeneic HSCT. There is no consensus regarding screening with the tuberculin skin test or primary prophylaxis for latent TB, and further research into this is necessary in developing countries with a high prevalence of TB.

Cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients

Cytomegalovirus infection is a frequent complication after transplantation. This infection occurs due to transmission from the transplanted organ, due to reactivation of latent infection, or after a primary infection in seronegative patients and can be defined as follows: latent infection, active infection, viral syndrome or invasive disease. This condition occurs mainly between 30 and 90 days after transplantation. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in particular, infection usually occurs within the first 30 days after transplantation and in the presence of graft-versus-host disease. The major risk factors are when the recipient is cytomegalovirus seronegative and the donor is seropositive as well as when lymphocyte-depleting antibodies are used. There are two methods for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection: the pp65 antigenemia assay and polymerase chain reaction. Serology has no value for the diagnosis of active disease, whereas histology of the affected tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage analysis are useful in the diagnosis of invasive disease. Cytomegalovirus disease can be prevented by prophylaxis (the administration of antiviral drugs to all or to a subgroup of patients who are at higher risk of viral replication) or by preemptive therapy (the early diagnosis of viral replication before development of the disease and prescription of antiviral treatment to prevent the appearance of clinical disease). The drug used is intravenous or oral ganciclovir; oral valganciclovir; or, less frequently, valacyclovir. Prophylaxis should continue for 90 to 180 days. Treatment is always indicated in cytomegalovirus disease, and the gold-standard drug is intravenous ganciclovir. Treatment should be given for 2 to 3 weeks and should be continued for an additional 7 days after the first negative result for viremia. .

Brazilian guidelines for the management of candidiasis - a joint meeting report of three medical societies: Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia, Sociedade Paulista de Infectologia and Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Candida infections account for 80% of all fungal infections in the hospital environment, including bloodstream, urinary tract and surgical site infections. Bloodstream infections are now a major challenge for tertiary hospitals worldwide due to their high prevalence and mortality rates. The incidence of candidemia in tertiary public hospitals in Brazil is approximately 2.5 cases per 1000 hospital admissions. Due to the importance of this infection, the authors provide a review of the diversity of the genus Candida and its clinical relevance, the therapeutic options and discuss the treatment of major infections caused by Candida. Each topography is discussed with regard to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations based on levels of evidence.

Pharmacological management of paracoccidioidomycosis.

A systemic and endemic emerging mycosis in Latin America, paracoccidioidomycosis, is characterised by its chronicity and by the severity of the disseminated form in healthy individuals, as well as in immunocompromised individuals co-infected with HIV, resulting, in the latter, in a mortality rate in the range of 30 - 45%. The long (several years) duration of treatment results from the immunosuppression induced by the disease or from the survival capacity of the fungus in tissue. A few controlled studies and case reports have shown that fast-acting azolic and sulfa derivatives are useful treatment alternatives for patients presenting milder forms of the disease. However, when using such drugs, treatment regimens of longer duration are required for the maintenance of patients with more severe forms. The search for new alternatives for treating the most severe forms is an ongoing challenge. Novel treatments may be found among new classes of drugs, drug combinations, or agents capable of modulating the immune response, such as a peptide derived from the 43-kDa Paracoccidioides brasiliensis glycoprotein.

Accidental exposure to biological material in healthcare workers at a university hospital: Evaluation and follow-up of 404 cases.

The care and follow-up provided to healthcare workers (HCWs) from a large teaching hospital who were exposed to biological material between 1 August 1998 and 31 January 2002 is described here. After exposure, the HCW is evaluated by a nurse and doctor in an emergency consultation and receives follow-up counselling. The collection of 10 ml of blood sample from each HCW and its source patient, when known, is made for immunoenzymatic testing for HIV, HBV and HCV. Evaluation and follow-up of 404 cases revealed that the exposures were concentrated in only a few areas of the hospital; 83% of the HCWs exposed were seen by a doctor responsible for the prophylaxis up to 3 h after exposure. Blood was involved in 76.7% (309) of the exposures. The patient source of the biological material was known in 80.7% (326) of the exposed individuals studied; 80 (24.5%) sources had serological evidence of infection with 1 or more agents: 16.2% were anti-HCV positive, 3.8% were HAgBs positive and 10.9% were anti-HIV positive. 67% (273) of the study population completed the proposed follow-up. No confirmed seroconversion occurred. In conclusion, the observed adherence to the follow-up was quite low, and measures to improve it must be taken. Surprisingly, no difference in adherence to the follow-up was observed among those exposed HCW at risk, i.e. those with an infected or unknown source patient. Analysis of post-exposure management revealed excess prescription of antiretroviral drugs, vaccine and immunoglobulin. Infection by HCV is the most important risk of concern, in our hospital, in accidents with biological material.

Método fluorescente (diacetato de fluoresceina e brometo de etidio) para o estudo da viabilidade de Cryptococcus neoformans em líquor / Fluorescent method (fluorescein diacetate and ethidium bromide) to study the viability of Criptococcus neoformans in liquor

Padronizou-se método de fluorescência (soluçäo de diacetato de fluoresccína DF e brometo de etídio BE) para análise de viabilidade de células fúngicas, em 40 amostras de líquor, provenientes de casos comprovados de neurocriptococose. A utilizaçäo de soluçäo aquosa de saponina a 0,3% eliminou fluorescências interferentes emitidas por hemácias e leucócitos. Após o processamento dos materiais biológicos, foram retiradas alíquotas de 0,1ml das supensöes obtidas e misturadas a volumes iguais da soluçäo DF-BE preparada pouco antes do uso. O tempo de coloraçäo ideal foi de 30 minutos, resultando perfeita direnciaçäo entre microrganismos viáveis (fluorescência verde) e näo viáveis (fluorescência vermelha)

Doença de Chagas aguda: vias de transmissäo aspectos clínicos e resposta a terapêutica específica em casos diagnosticados em um centro urbano / Acute Chagas' disease: transmission routes, clinical aspects and response to specific therapy in diagnosed cases in an urban center

Relata-se o quadro clínico de 27 pacientes com doença de Chagas aguda, acompanhados no ambulatório da Clínica de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias do Hospital das Clínicas da FM-USP no período de 1974 a 1987. As vias de transmissäo envolvidas foram: vetorial em 7 casos, transfusional em 9, transplante de rim e/ou transfusional em 4, acidental em 1, via oral em 3, provável alcitamento materno em 1, congênita ou aleitamento materno em 1, congênita ou transfusional em 1. Pacientes com infecçäo por via vetorial eram procedentes da Bahia e Minas Gerais, infectados por via transfusional adquiriram a doença na Grande Säo Paulo, 7 deles após 1983. O quadro clínico foi oligossintomático ou assintomático em 4 pacientes, sendo 3 deles imunodeprimidos por doença de base ou por medicamentos. Em outros 2 pacientes imunodeprimidos ocorreu miocardite grave com insuficiência cardíaca congetiva. O quadro clínico foi também mais grave em 5 de 6 crianças menores de dois anos de idade, qualquer dque fosse a via de transmissäo

Riscos de complicaçöes infecciosas virais para a profissional de saúde gestante / Risks of viral infectious complications for pregnant health professionals

Os autores, mediante revissäo da literatura, estudam as infecçöes virais passíveis de ocasionar complicaçöes à profissional de saúde gestante e propöem precauçöes a serem obedecidas, especialmente em relaçäo à síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida e citomegalovirose

Complemento hemolitico total, C3 e taxa de conversao de C3 nas formas cardiaca e indeterminada da Doenca de Chagas. / Total hemolytic complement, C3 and C3 convertase levels in cardiac and indeterminate forms of Chagas' disease

Os valores de complemento hemolitico total C3 total (nativo + produtos de degradacao) e o grau de conversao de C3 nativo foram estudados em dois subgrupos de pacientes chagasicos, nas formas cardiaca e indeterminada, e em um subgrupo de individuos nao chagasicos, clinicamente sadios.Os niveis de C3 total e as taxas de conversao de C3 em seus produtos de degradacao foram semelhantes nos tres subgrupos. Os valores de complemento hemolitico total foram estatisticamente diferentes nos tres subgrupos (nivel de significancia descritivo p= 0,0757), tendo sido observada media aritmetica mais baixa no subgrupo de cardiacos e mais elevada no subgrupo de controles.Maior amplitude de variacao dos niveis de complemento hemolitico total foi notada no subgrupo de cardiacos, no qual se encontraram os valores extremos (maximo e minimo), considerando-se todos os subgrupos