Elimination or more accurate estimation? Investigation of trends in malaria diagnoses in the Ouest Department of Haiti from 2008 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: According to the 2016 World Malaria Report, the malaria incidence in Haiti declined by > 40% between 2010 and 2015. Though elimination efforts have likely contributed, this time period also corresponded to a national change in diagnostic methods. METHODS: Monthly reports of aggregated patient data were acquired from five clinics in the Ouest Department of Haiti. Generalized linear models were used to compare the number of febrile patients tested, the number of positive tests, and the proportion of tests that were positive (TRP) before and after the national adoption of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). RESULTS: Prior to the earthquake when microcopy was used for diagnosis, a total of 1,727 patients with 557 (32.3%) positive; post-earthquake testing was reduced and the TPR was variable; during the post recovery period when RDTs were used exclusivly, a total of 5,132 patients were tested using RDTs, only 83 (1.62%) were positive. Compared to the pre-earthquake period, there was a 69% increase in the number of patients tested (IRR: 1.69; 95% CI IRR 1.59, 2.79), and a 97.0% decrease in the proportion of patients with a positive test result (IRR: 0.03; 95% CI IRR 0.02, 0.04) in the post-recovery period. CONCLUSIONS: While the decline in malaria indicators between 2010 and 2015 has been cited as evidence of progress towards elimination, these reports derived estimates of the malaria burden in Haiti using two different diagnostic tests. Thus, comparison of these periods in the context of malaria elimination should be made with caution.

Still Searching for a Suitable Molecular Test to Detect Hidden Plasmodium Infection: A Proposal for Blood Donor Screening in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Efforts have been made to establish sensitive diagnostic tools for malaria screening in blood banks in order to detect malaria asymptomatic carriers. Microscopy, the malaria reference test in Brazil, is time consuming and its sensitivity depends on microscopist experience. Although molecular tools are available, some aspects need to be considered for large-scale screening: accuracy and robustness for detecting low parasitemia, affordability for application to large number of samples and flexibility to perform on individual or pooled samples. METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective study, we evaluated four molecular assays for detection of malaria parasites in a set of 56 samples previously evaluated by expert microscopy. In addition, we evaluated the effect of pooling samples on the sensitivity and specificity of the molecular assays. A well-characterized cultured sample with 1 parasite/µL was included in all the tests evaluated. DNA was extracted with QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit and eluted in 50 µL to concentrate the DNA. Pools were assembled with 10 samples each. Molecular protocols targeting 18S rRNA, included one qPCR genus specific (Lima-genus), one duplex qPCR genus/Pf (PET-genus, PET-Pf) and one duplex qPCR specie-specific (Rougemont: Roug-Pf/Pv and Roug-Pm/Po). Additionally a nested PCR protocol specie-specific was used (Snou-Pf, Snou-Pv, Snou-Pm and Snou-Po). RESULTS: The limit of detection was 3.5 p/µL and 0.35p/µl for the PET-genus and Lima-genus assays, respectively. Considering the positive (n = 13) and negative (n = 39) unpooled individual samples according to microscopy, the sensitivity of the two genus qPCR assays was 76.9% (Lima-genus) and 72.7% (PET-genus). The Lima-genus and PET-genus showed both sensitivity of 86.7% in the pooled samples. The genus protocols yielded similar results (Kappa value of 1.000) in both individual and pooled samples. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts should be made to improve performance of molecular tests to enable the detection of low-density parasitemia if these tests are to be utilized for blood transfusion screening.

Diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis in patients attended in routine services of a university hospital

Identification of appropriate laboratory procedures to confirm a clinical hypothesis is important in a routine service for paracoccidioidomycosis patients and constituted the objective of this study. Medical charts and laboratory records of 401 paracoccidioidomycosis patients attended at the Department of Tropical Diseases in the Botucatu Medical School (São Paulo, Brazil) from 1974 to 2008 were reviewed. Direct mycological examination (DM), cell block preparation (CB), histopathological examination (HP) and specific serum antibody levels evaluated through double agar gel immunodiffusion test (ID) were analyzed before treatment. Statistical analysis: the comparison between proportions for dependent or independent populations was performed by the McNemars or binomial test. The agreement between methods was evaluated using the kappa coefficient. The relationship of more than two dependent populations was made by the Cochran test. The comparison of multiple proportions was done by Tukey test and, for two proportions, by Z test. In order to study the association between qualitative variables the chi-square test was employed. For quantitative variables, whose objective was to compare groups, the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used. The Statistical Analysis System software (SAS), version 6.12, was utilized. Significance was set up at p < 0.05. Males (88.0%) and chronic form (76.8%) were predominat. Patient distribution according to the period of assistance presented no differences. Typical P. brasiliensis yeast forms were identified in clinical specimens in 86% of the patients while 14% of them showed only a positive serological test. Direct mycological examination carried out in 51 different tissue specimens showed 74.5% sensitivity.(AU)

Exames pré-operatórios nas cirurgias ginecológicas eletivas / Preoperative exams in elective gynecological surgeries

A solicitação rotineira e sem critérios de exames complementares em pacientesno período pré-operatório não deve ser realizada. A avaliação médica completa com abrangente anamnese eexame clínico permitem ao médico o julgamento dos exames realmente necessários. Quanto mais exames foremsolicitados, maior a chance de serem encontradas alterações nos resultados. Novas consultas, novos exames,atraso no procedimento cirúrgico e aumento do custo são as principais consequências de exame anormal semindicação de realização. Algumas entidades médicas formularam guidelines baseados no porte da cirurgia eno estado clínico da paciente, que servem de apoio para decisão de quais exames são fundamentais. Porém,cada instituição deve possuir seu próprio modelo de avaliação destes pacientes, otimizando o pré-operatório e,indiretamente, reduzindo os custos cada vez maiores dos sistemas de saúde.

The routine and criterionless solicitation of exams for patients in thepreoperative period should not be done. The complete clinical examination with anamnesis and physical examinationallows to the physician the judgment of the real necessary exams. The chances of finding alterations in tests arehigher as numerous exams are solicited. New medical consultations, new laboratory tests, delay in the surgicalprocedure and increase in the costs are the main consequences of an abnormal exam without medical indication.Some medical associations established guidelines according to the grade of the surgery and conditions of thepatient in order to support the decision of which exams are fundamental. However, each institution shouldestablish a model of assessment of these patients, which could optimize the preoperative period and, indirectly,reduce the increasing costs of health insurances.

Exames admissionais e aposentadorias precoces em motoristas de ônibus: influência da hipertensão arterial / Pre-employment screening tests and early retirement of bus drivers: influence of arterial hypertension

Fundamento: Concursos para emprego excluem candidatos com exames anormais e/ou hipertensos e há incentivo à aposentadoria ou exclusão, se empregados.Objetivo: Demonstrar que, em motoristas de ônibus, a seleção e o incentivo à aposentadoria estavam relacionados à HAS.Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico transversal em população pré-definida. Pressão arterial(PA)sistólica(PAS): 1ªfase dos sons de Korotkof e PA diastólica(PAD) na 5ª(esfignomanômetro de coluna de mercúrio). HAS:PA maior igual 140/90 mmhg ou normotensos usando medicação anti-hipertensiva. Estatística:Stata5:Qui quadrado e prevalência.Resultados:Examinados 559 de 610(sexo masculino) motoristas de ônibus. Média de idade 41,3 anos. A prevalência de HAS foi 20,8 por cento(116/559) no grupo estudado, sendo: até 12 meses de trabalho(89,5 por cento maior que 30 anos de idade) de 5,3 por cento(1/19) - este hipertenso tinha PA normal na admissão; na faixa 12-24 meses foi de 9,8 por cento(6/61). Na faixa etária 30-39 anos foi de 10,7 por cento(22/205) e na de maior igual 60 anos de 11,1 por cento(1/9). A prevalência dentro das faixas de tempo de trabalho, elevou-se de faixas etárias menores para maiores, menos na faixa maior igual 300 meses(25 anos), quando ocorreu o contrário. Houve redução abrupta da prevalência (52,4 por cento para 18,4 por cento) na faixa etária 50-59 anos, entre as faixas de 240-299 meses(20-24,9 anos) e maior que 300 meses de trabalho.Conclusão/discussão: A prevalência da HAS deveu-se provavelmente, à não contratação, ao incentivo à aposentadoria ou à demissão dos chamados hipertensos. A redução da prevalência da faixa etária 50-59 anos, entre as faixas 20-25 anos e maior igual 25 anos de trabalho,a baixa prevalência (11,1 por cento) nos idosos (maior igual 60 anos) e a prevalência decrescente com aumento da faixa etária entre os maiores de 25 anos de trabalho, demostram seleção rigorosa nestes. Apesar disso, a prevalência foi elevada (fator laboral?). Deve-se rastrear a HAS visando à prevenção/tratamento e não a exclusão

Progresos en el diagnóstico de Patología Pleural en el Hospital "Gustavo Lanatta Luján" HUACHO / Advances in the diagnosis of pleural patology in the Hospital Gustavo Lanatta Lujan Huacho

Estudio prospectivo de 131 casos de Derrame Pleural atendidos entre junio de 1990 a junio de 1993, se destaca la incorporación del Dosaje de Adenosina Deaminasa (ADA) en el diagnóstico de esta patología. La Asociación ADA-Biopsia Pleural logró diagnósticos etiológicos en el 97.7 por ciento de casos, los autores recomiendan la aplicación de estos procedimientos diagnósticos en todos los hospitales de nivel I, II, III, por ser procedimientos simples que se realizan en pacientes ambulatorios, logrando diagnósticos tempranos y más precisos, evitando transferencias y períodos de hospitalización prolongados. Recomiendan además un sistema de envío de muestras para establecimientos que no cuentan con servicios de Laboratorio y Patología a Hospitales de mayor complejidad. Así como la aguja de Abrams para biopsias pleurales, se destaca los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, los que son superiores a similares, en los que no se realizó el Dosaje de ADA. Reportan como resultados finales por dignósticos etiológicos, un 65.5 por ciento para TBC Pleural; 14.5 por ciento Neoplasias, 11.5 por ciento derrames Piógenos, 6.1 por ciento Congestivos y sólo 2.3 por ciento inespecíficos.