[Seroepidemiology of Bartonella henselae infection in HIV-infected patients]. / Seroepidemiología de la infección por Bartonella henselae en pacientes infectados por el VIH.

BACKGROUND: Bartonella henselae infections are closely related to numerous clinical infections of growing interest in Spain. Since immunosuppressed patients are a potential risk group for infection by this bacteria, the aim of the present was to study the seroepidemiology of B. henselae infection in a risk group (patients with HIV infection) and in a control group (donors). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In October, 1997, antibodies versus B. henselae were determined at different dilutions (cut off > or = 1:64) by immunofluorescence in 52 patients with HIV infection and 85 donors. An epidemiologic study included age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, INVDA, HIV infection, AIDS stage, cutaneous anergy, CD4 lymphocyte count, antiretroviral treatment and chemoprophylaxis versus P. carinii. RESULTS: Nine of the patients with HIV infection (17.3%) and five donors (5.88%) presented titers > or = 1:64 with no significant differences (p = 0.06) (adjusted OR: 1.7; CI 95%: 0.34-8.54). Moreover, multiple logistic regression analysis did not show any risk or protection factor associated with B. henselae infection in patients with HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of seroprevalence of antibodies versus B. henselae was observed in patients with HIV infection. No risk or protection factors associated with B. henselae infection in patients with HIV infection were found.

[A prevalence study of tuberculous infection in the schoolchild population in the 1st year of general basic education in Logroño]. / Estudio de prevalencia de infección tuberculosa en población escolar de 1. de EGB de Logroño.

OBJECTIVE: To find the extent and spread of endemic tuberculosis in La Rioja and assess its tuberculosis control programme. DESIGN: Prevalence study. SETTING: Both public and private EGB (general basic education) schools in Logroño. PATIENTS AND OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: All students registered for the first year of EGB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A tuberculin test, consisting of two international units (IU) of PPD-23 with tween 80, was carried out. We obtained a prevalence of tubercular infection of 1.12 +/- 0.58%, with a 95% confidence interval and standard error calculated at 0.29%. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of prevalence of tubercular infection in children doing the first year of EGB in La Rioja is high, as seen in the high rates of incidence and carriers. The findings support the appropriateness of continuing with this type of study, for two reasons. The first is the need to establish the annual risk of infection (ARI) in order to monitor how endemic tuberculosis evolves in our community and assess the tuberculosis control programme. The second reason is that, by checking infected children, it becomes possible to prevent or treat new cases of tuberculosis and find possible unknown sources and future reservoirs of infection.