Incorporation of the rapid HIV test in a sexually-transmitted disease clinic in Buenos Aires: Dramatic increase in the frequency of HIV diagnosis.

Improving access to diagnosis constitutes a key step in the control of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic. Rapid testing is increasingly gaining interest as a powerful diagnostic tool to achieve this goal. The purpose of this study was to implement the rapid HIV test (RHT) in a clinical setting in order to evaluate its effectiveness in increasing HIV diagnosis and patient linkage to the healthcare system. The RHT was offered to all patients attending a sexually-transmitted disease clinic in the City of Buenos Aires between March and December 2015. A total of 593 RHT were performed. The implementation of the RHT yielded an increase in frequency of diagnosis from 6.9% to 31.4% (p<0.001). The first steps of the care cascade showed high retention rates around 90%. RHT yielded an HIV prevalence of 6.3% (95% CI: 4.2-8.5) in this population. HIV prevalence tended to be higher in individuals with no previous HIV testing (p=0.09). Linkage to the healthcare system was associated with a higher probability of having been tested for HIV (p=0.008). The incorporation of the RHT resulted in a high retention of patients and an increase in both frequency of diagnosis and results reception when compared to the classic methodology.

High frequency of Nichols-like strains and increased levels of macrolide resistance in Treponema pallidum in clinical samples from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Globally, 94% of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) clinical strains belong to the SS14-like group and 6% to the Nichols-like group, with a prevalence of macrolide resistance of 90%. Our goal was to determine whether local TPA strain distribution and macrolide resistance frequency have changed significantly since our last report, which revealed that Buenos Aires had a high frequency of Nichols-like strains (27%) and low levels of macrolide resistance (14%). Swab samples from patients with suspected syphilis were collected during 2015-2019 and loci TP0136, TP0548, TP0705 were sequenced in order to perform multilocus sequence typing. Strains were classified as Nichols-like or SS14-like. The presence of macrolide resistance-associated mutations was determined by examination of the 23S rDNA gene sequence. Of 46 typeable samples, 37% were classified as Nichols-like and 63% as SS14-like. Macrolide resistance prevalence was 45.7%. Seven allelic profiles were found, five were SS14-like and two were Nichols-like. The frequency of Nichols-like strains increased between studies (26.8% vs. 37%, p = 0.36). A dramatic increase was found in the frequency of macrolide resistant strains between studies (14.3% vs. 45.7%, p = 0.005). Our results are in agreement with international trends and underscore the need to pursue further TPA molecular typing studies in South America.

Evaluation of the utility of a rapid test for syphilis at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Even though syphilis can be easily diagnosed by simple and low-cost laboratory methods, it continues to be an important health problem. Rapid tests (RT) for the detection of treponemal antibodies can facilitate earlier diagnosis, access to treatment and linkage to care. The aim of this study was to analyse the usefulness of the incorporation of a RT in the detection of patients infected with T. pallidum in a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) clinic. Between March and December 2015, a syphilis RT was offered to patients who spontaneously attended the clinic. Conventional serology testing was additionally indicated to every participant. The RT for syphilis was offered to 1887 patients, of whom 31.1% agreed to get tested. VDRL test was performed in 84.0% of patients that were also tested with syphilis RT, with a significantly higher frequency observed among participants with reactive RT (94.3% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001). These results showed that 33.7% of the participants were reactive for the RT and 27.0% were reactive for the VDRL test. Both tests were reactive in 24.9% and non-reactive in 64.3%. A high prevalence of active syphilis was detected in patients attending the clinic. The use of a syphilis RT had a positive impact, which in combination with the VDRL test increased the number of patients that were effectively diagnosed.

Linfogranuloma venéreo / Venereal lymphogranuloma

El Linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) es una infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) ulcerativa poco frecuente causada por la bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), serotipos L1, L2 y L3, originada por el contacto no protegido genital, anal y/u oral. Se asocia con co-infecciones de otras ITS, entre ellas las ocasionadas por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y la sífilis. Endémico en áreas tropicales y subtropicales de África, Sudeste Asiático, Latinoamérica y el Caribe, a partir del 2003 se han registrado nuevos brotes en Europa, América del Norte y Australia, en especial entre la población de hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HsH) y en pacientes VIH positivos. Si bien lo más frecuente de observar en HsH es la proctitis con escasa repercusión ganglionar regional, se debe sospechar LGV ante toda úlcera ano-genital transitoria y linfadenopatías inguinales en esta población. Se presenta un caso de LGV en un paciente HsH no VIH cuya forma de inicio genital permitió el diagnóstico y el tratamiento adecuado.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a rare ulcerative sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), serotypes L1, L2 and L3, caused by unprotected genital, anal and/or oral contact. It is associated with co-infections with other STIs, including those caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. Endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, since 2003 there have been new outbreaks in Europe, North America and Australia, especially among the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) and in HIV positive patients. Although the most common sign to observe in MSM is proctitis with little regional lymph node repercussion, LGV should be suspected in the presence of any transient anogenital ulcer and inguinal lymphadenopathy in this population. We present a case of LGV in a non-HIV MSM patient whose form of genital onset led to diagnosis and treatment.

Consideraciones sobre chancro atípico en un paciente inmunodeprimido / Atypical scabiotic chancre in an immunodepressed patient

Se presenta un paciente de 24 años de edad con lesiones exulceradas e induradas de pene, de 7 meses de evolución, con características totalmente inusuales por su número y expresión clínica, exudado abundante y resistencia a toda terapéutica. Se descartan múltiples patologías chancriformes. Al diagnóstico histopatológico, la lesión es compatible con chancro escabiótico atípico

Linfomas cutaneos ulcerados. Diez años de experiencia / Ulcerated cutaneous lymphoma. 10 years of experience

Las úlceras cutáneas son una complicación tardía de los linfomas. Indican mal pronóstico pudiendo ser fuente de sepsis. Fueron analizados en forma retrospectiva, entre 1990 y 1999, 12 pacientes con linfomas cutáneos ulcerados entre 59 pacientes con linfoma y compromiso en piel. Las úlceras se caracterizaron en su mayoría para asentar sobre tumores y ser múltiples, necróticas e infectadas. La sepsis fue la causa principal de mortalidad en 10 pacientes y generalmente fueron secundarias a Staphyloccus aureus y Psudomonas aeruguinosa. La progresión del linfoma y la neutropenia febril posterior a la adminsitración de quimioterapia fueron factores asociados de mal pronóstico. La sobrevida media de los pacientes fallecidos después del inicio de las úlceras fue 6.27 meses. Se destaca la importancia de un adecuado estudio bacteriológico y un precoz tratamiento.