Gnathostoma infection after ingestion of raw fish is a probable cause of eosinophilic meningitis in the Brazilian Amazon.

We report a case of eosinophilic meningitis associated with the ingestion of raw fish (Cichla sp.) from the Brazilian Amazon, likely caused by Gnathostoma. A 36-year-old male visited Juruena river on a fishing trip. After 50 days, the patient presented with an intense frontal headache. A cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed 63% eosinophilia. Another individual who ingested raw fish developed linear dermatitis on the abdominal wall. Anti-Gnathostoma serum antibodies were detected, and the patient made a full recovery after treatment with corticosteroids and albendazole. To date, autochthonous Gnathostoma spp. infections in Latin American countries have only caused linear panniculitis. This report raises awareness of gnathostomiasis-causing meningitis.

Gnathostoma infection after ingestion of raw fish is a probable cause of eosinophilic meningitis in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT We report a case of eosinophilic meningitis associated with the ingestion of raw fish (Cichla sp.) from the Brazilian Amazon, likely caused by Gnathostoma. A 36-year-old male visited Juruena river on a fishing trip. After 50 days, the patient presented with an intense frontal headache. A cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed 63% eosinophilia. Another individual who ingested raw fish developed linear dermatitis on the abdominal wall. Anti-Gnathostoma serum antibodies were detected, and the patient made a full recovery after treatment with corticosteroids and albendazole. To date, autochthonous Gnathostoma spp. infections in Latin American countries have only caused linear panniculitis. This report raises awareness of gnathostomiasis-causing meningitis.

Increase of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ cells impairs in vitro human microbicidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis during latent and acute pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, modulating host responses while neutralizing excessive inflammation. However, their impact on regulating host protective immunity is not completely understood. Here, we demonstrate that Treg cells abrogate the in vitro microbicidal activity against Mtb. METHODS: We evaluated the in vitro microbicidal activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with active tuberculosis (TB), individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI, TST+/IGRA+) and healthy control (HC, TST-/IGRA-) volunteers. PBMCs, depleted or not of CD4+CD25+ T-cells, were analyzed to determine frequency and influence on microbicidal activity during in vitro Mtb infection with four clinical isolates (S1, S5, R3, and R6) and one reference strain (H37Rv). RESULTS: The frequency of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ cells were significantly higher in Mtb infected whole blood cultures from both TB patients and LTBI individuals when compared to HC. Data from CD4+CD25+ T-cells depletion demonstrate that increase of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ is associated with an impairment of Th-1 responses and a diminished in vitro microbicidal activity of LTBI and TB groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tregs restrict host anti-mycobacterial immunity during active disease and latent infection and thereby may contribute to both disease progression and pathogen persistence.

Differentially culturable tubercle bacteria dynamics during standard anti-tuberculosis treatment: A prospective cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of culture filtrate dependent subpopulations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a prospective cohort study following 17 patients through a standard 6-month anti-tuberculosis regimen, performing monthly sputum collection. We performed the limiting dilution method with culture filtrate supplementation of liquid media in pre- and post-treatment sputum samples to assess the bacillary load and to evaluate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulation dynamics within the 6-months standard anti-tuberculosis regimen. We found that supplementation increased the bacillary load by 30% in pre-treatment samples (p = 0.0005) and 35% in samples after one month of treatment (p = 0.0977). We found a weak linear correlation between the decrease of Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in liquid media with and without culture filtrate supplementation (ρ = 0.54; p = 0.026). None of the patients had bacilli recovery after two months of treatment. Our study constitutes the first follow-up regarding Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulation dynamics throughout a standard 6-month anti-tuberculosis treatment and also supports the use of culture filtrate to increase bacillary load in liquid media. Moreover, it highlights that any new treatment regimens should test the efficacy of the drugs in all Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulations.

Cough-aerosol cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the prediction of outcomes after exposure. A household contact study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures of cough-generated aerosols from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) are a quantitative method to measure infectiousness and to predict secondary outcomes in exposed contacts. However, their reproducibility has not been established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of colony-forming units (CFU) of M. tuberculosis in cough aerosols on secondary infection and disease in household contacts in Brazil. METHODS: Adult sputum smear+ and culture+ pulmonary TB cases underwent a standard evaluation and were categorized according to aerosol CFU. We evaluated household contacts for infection at baseline and at 8 weeks with TST and IGRA, and secondary disease. RESULTS: We enrolled 48 index TB cases; 40% had negative aerosols, 27% low aerosols (<10 CFU) and 33% high aerosols (≥10 CFU). Of their 230 contacts, the proportion with a TST ≥10 mm at 8 weeks was 59%, 65% and 75%, respectively (p = 0.34). Contacts of high aerosol cases had greater IGRA readouts (median 4.6 IU/mL, IQR 0.02-10) when compared to those with low (0.8, 0.2-10) or no aerosol (0.1, 0-3.7; p = 0.08). IGRA readouts in TST converters of high aerosol cases (median 20 IU/mL, IQR 10-24) were larger than those from aerosol-negative (0.13, 0.04-3; p = o.o2). 8/9 (89%) culture+ secondary TB cases occurred in contacts of aerosol+ cases. CONCLUSION: Aerosol CFU predicts quantitatively IGRA readouts among household contacts of smear positive TB cases. Our results strengthen the argument of using cough aerosols to guide targeted preventive treatment strategies, a necessary component of current TB elimination projections.

Sputum sample collected over a period of 5 h: A reliable procedure for early bactericidal activity studies.

Our study was designed to test the hypothesis that an early morning sputum may be sufficient for calculation of early bactericidal activity (EBA). Patients underwent sputum collection randomly (spot, 5 h and 12 h) in consecutive days. The median CFU count in the spot samples group was 5.67 log10 CFU/mL compared to 6.17 log10 CFU/mL in 5 h and 6.23 log10 CFU/mL in 12 h samples. Inter-patient comparison showed low coefficient of variation for both 12 h (11%) and 5 h samples (10%). Intrapatient samples analysis demonstrated that the median bacillary load variation (0.037 log10 CFU/mL and 0.022 log10 CFU/mL for 5 and 12 h samples respectively) was comparable to the other EBA studies and did not vary significantly from one day of collection to another. We concluded that 5 h pooled sputum when collected appropriately in the morning can be sufficient for calculation of EBA.

The impact of ocular tuberculosis on vision after two months of intensive therapy

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis is an infectious disease of global importance with major economic and social burden accounting for 25% of all avoidable deaths in developing countries. Extrapulmonary involvement may occur either in association with clinically apparent pulmonary tuberculosis or in isolation. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to evaluate the impact of ocular tuberculosis in visual acuity at baseline and after two months of intensive anti-tuberculous therapy. A sample of 133 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, seven disseminated tuberculosis, and three pleural tuberculosis patients was evaluated. All patients underwent routine ophthalmic evaluation, including assessment of visual acuity, biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fluorescent angiography as appropriate. None of the patients had impaired visual acuity due to tuberculosis. A rate of 4.2% (6/143) of ocular involvement was found. None of the patients with ocular involvement were HIV-infected. Of the six patients with ocular involvement, five met the diagnostic criteria for probable and one for possible ocular lesions. As for the type of ocular lesions, two patients had bilateral findings: one had sclerouveitis and the second had choroidal nodules. The other four patients presented with unilateral lesions: peripheral retinal artery occlusion in the right eye (one case), choroidal nodules in the left eye (one case), and choroidal nodules in the right eye (two cases). Patients progressed favorably after two month of intensive therapy, with no significant reduction in vision.

The impact of ocular tuberculosis on vision after two months of intensive therapy.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease of global importance with major economic and social burden accounting for 25% of all avoidable deaths in developing countries. Extrapulmonary involvement may occur either in association with clinically apparent pulmonary tuberculosis or in isolation. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to evaluate the impact of ocular tuberculosis in visual acuity at baseline and after two months of intensive anti-tuberculous therapy. A sample of 133 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, seven disseminated tuberculosis, and three pleural tuberculosis patients was evaluated. All patients underwent routine ophthalmic evaluation, including assessment of visual acuity, biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fluorescent angiography as appropriate. None of the patients had impaired visual acuity due to tuberculosis. A rate of 4.2% (6/143) of ocular involvement was found. None of the patients with ocular involvement were HIV-infected. Of the six patients with ocular involvement, five met the diagnostic criteria for probable and one for possible ocular lesions. As for the type of ocular lesions, two patients had bilateral findings: one had sclerouveitis and the second had choroidal nodules. The other four patients presented with unilateral lesions: peripheral retinal artery occlusion in the right eye (one case), choroidal nodules in the left eye (one case), and choroidal nodules in the right eye (two cases). Patients progressed favorably after two month of intensive therapy, with no significant reduction in vision.

Intensity of exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis determines risk of tuberculosis infection and disease.

Household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients are at increased risk of TB infection and disease. However, their risk in relation to the intensity of exposure remains unknown.We studied smear-positive TB cases and their household contacts in Vitória, Brazil. We collected clinical, demographic and radiographic information from TB cases, and obtained tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) results from household contacts. We measured intensity of exposure using a proximity score and sleep location in relation to the TB index case and defined infection by TST ≥10 mm or QFT ≥0.35 UI·mL-1 We ascertained secondary TB cases by reviewing local and nationwide case registries.We included 160 TB index cases and 894 household contacts. 464 (65%) had TB infection and 23 (2.6%) developed TB disease. Risk of TB infection and disease increased with more intense exposures. In an adjusted analysis, the proximity score was associated with TB disease (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.08; p<0.000); however, its diagnostic performance was only moderate.Intensity of exposure increased risk of TB infection and disease among household contacts; however, its diagnostic performance was still suboptimal. A biomarker to target preventive therapy is urgently needed in this at-risk population.

Incident Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in household contacts of infectious tuberculosis patients in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In household contact investigations of tuberculosis (TB), a second tuberculin skin test (TST) obtained several weeks after a first negative result consistently identifies individuals that undergo TST conversion. It remains unclear whether this delay in M. tuberculosis infection is related to differences in the infectious exposure, TST boosting, partial host resistance, or some other factor. METHODS: We conducted a household contact study Vitória, Brazil. Between 2008 and 2013, we identified culture-positive pulmonary TB patients and evaluated their household contacts with both a TST and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), and identified TST converters at 8-12 weeks post study enrollment. Contacts were classified as TST-positive (≥10 mm) at baseline, TST converters, or persistently TST-negative. We compared TST converters to TST-positive and to TST-negative contacts separately, using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: We enrolled 160 index patients and 838 contacts; 523 (62.4%) were TST+, 62 (7.4%) TST converters, and 253 (30.2%) TST-. TST converters were frequently IGRA- at 8-12 weeks. In adjusted analyses, characteristics distinguishing TST converters from TST+ contacts (no contact with another TB patient and residence ownership) were different than those differentiating them from TST- contacts (stronger cough in index patient and contact BCG scar). CONCLUSIONS: The individual risk and timing of M. tuberculosis infection within households is variable and dependent on index patient, contact and environmental factors within the household, and the surrounding community. Our findings suggest a threshold effect in the risk of infection in humans.

Analytical and Clinical Evaluation of the Epistem Genedrive Assay for Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Epistem Genedrive assay rapidly detects the Mycobacterium tuberculosis omplex from sputum and is currently available for clinical use. However, the analytical and clinical performance of this test has not been fully evaluated. The analytical limit of detection (LOD) of the Genedrive PCR amplification was tested with genomic DNA; the performance of the complete (sample processing plus amplification) system was tested by spiking M. tuberculosismc(2)6030 cells into distilled water andM. tuberculosis-negative sputum. Specificity was tested using common respiratory pathogens and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. A clinical evaluation enrolled adults with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, obtained three sputum samples from each participant, and compared the accuracy of the Gene drive to that of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay using M. tuberculosiscultures as the reference standard. The Genedrive assay had an LOD of 1 pg/µl (100 genomic DNA copies/reaction). The LODs of the system were 2.5 × 10(4)CFU/ml and 2.5 × 10(5)CFU/ml for cells spiked into water and sputum, respectively. False-positiverpoBprobe signals were observed in 3/32 (9.4%) of the negative controls and also in few samples containing Mycobacterium abscessus,Mycobacterium gordonae, o rMycobacterium thermoresistibile In the clinical study, among 336 analyzed participants, the overall sensitivities for the tuberculosis case detection of Gene drive, Xpert, and smear microscopy were 45.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.2% to 55.8%), 91.8% (95% CI, 84.4% to 96.4%), and 77.3% (95% CI, 67.7% to 85.2%), respectively. The sensitivities of Gene drive and Xpert for the detection of smear-microscopy-negative tuberculosis were 0% (95% CI, 0% to 15.4%) and 68.2% (95% CI, 45.1% to 86.1%), respectively. The Genedrive assay did not meet performance standards recommended by the World Health Organization for a smear microscopy replacement tuberculosis test. Epistem is working on modifications to improve the assay.

Nosocomial rapidly growing mycobacterial infections following laparoscopic surgery: CT imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the distribution and frequency of computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with nosocomial rapidly growing mycobacterial (RGM) infection after laparoscopic surgery. METHOD: A descriptive retrospective study in patients with RGM infection after laparoscopic surgery who underwent CT imaging prior to initiation of therapy. The images were analyzed by two radiologists in consensus, who evaluated the skin/subcutaneous tissues, the abdominal wall, and intraperitoneal region separately. The patterns of involvement were tabulated as: densification, collections, nodules (≥1.0 cm), small nodules (<1.0 cm), pseudocavitated nodules, and small pseudocavitated nodules. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients met the established criteria. The subcutaneous findings were: densification (88.5%), small nodules (61.5%), small pseudocavitated nodules (23.1 %), nodules (38.5%), pseudocavitated nodules (15.4%), and collections (26.9%). The findings in the abdominal wall were: densification (61.5%), pseudocavitated nodules (3.8%), and collections (15.4%). The intraperitoneal findings were: densification (46.1%), small nodules (42.3%), nodules (15.4%), and collections (11.5%). CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous CT findings in descending order of frequency were: densification, small nodules, nodules, small pseudocavitated nodules, pseudocavitated nodules, and collections. The musculo-fascial plane CT findings were: densification, collections, and pseudocavitated nodules. The intraperitoneal CT findings were: densification, small nodules, nodules, and collections. KEY POINTS: • Rapidly growing mycobacterial infection may occur following laparoscopy. • Post-laparoscopy mycobacterial infection CT findings are densification, collection, and nodules. • Rapidly growing mycobacterial infection following laparoscopy may involve the peritoneal cavity. • Post-laparoscopy rapidly growing mycobacterial intraperitoneal infection is not associated with ascites or lymphadenopathy.

Importance of cough and M. tuberculosis strain type as risks for increased transmission within households.

RATIONALE: The degree to which tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted between persons is variable. Identifying the factors that contribute to transmission could provide new opportunities for TB control. Transmission is influenced by host, bacterial and environmental factors. However, distinguishing their individual effects is problematic because measures of disease severity are tightly correlated, and assessing the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates is complicated by epidemiological and clinical confounders. OBJECTIVES: To overcome these problems, we investigated factors potentially associated with TB transmission within households. METHODS: We evaluated patients with smear-positive (≥2+), pulmonary TB and classified M. tuberculosis strains into single nucleotide polymorphism genetic cluster groups (SCG). We recorded index case, household contact, and environmental characteristics and tested contacts with tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay. Households were classified as high (≥70% of contacts with TST≥10 mm) and low (≤40%) transmission. We used logistic regression to determine independent predictors. RESULT: From March 2008 to June 2012, we screened 293 TB patients to enroll 124 index cases and their 731 contacts. There were 23 low and 73 high transmission households. Index case factors associated with high transmission were severity of cough as measured by a visual analog cough scale (VACS) and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and cavitation on chest radiograph. SCG 3b strains tended to be more prevalent in low (27.3%) than in high (12.5%) transmission households (p = 0.11). In adjusted models, only VACS (p<0.001) remained significant. SCG was associated with bilateral disease on chest radiograph (p = 0.002) and marginally associated with LCQ sores (p = 0.058), with group 3b patients having weaker cough. CONCLUSIONS: We found differential transmission among otherwise clinically similar patients with advanced TB disease. We propose that distinct strains may cause differing patterns of cough strength and cavitation in the host leading to diverging infectiousness. Larger studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.

Multilocus sequence typing scheme versus pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for typing Mycobacterium abscessus isolates.

Outbreaks of infections by rapidly growing mycobacteria following invasive procedures, such as ophthalmological, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, plastic, and cardiac surgeries, mesotherapy, and vaccination, have been detected in Brazil since 1998. Members of the Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group have caused most of these outbreaks. As part of an epidemiological investigation, the isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In this project, we performed a large-scale comparison of PFGE profiles with the results of a recently developed multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for M. abscessus. Ninety-three isolates were analyzed, with 40 M. abscessus subsp. abscessus isolates, 47 M. abscessus subsp. bolletii isolates, and six isolates with no assigned subspecies. Forty-five isolates were obtained during five outbreaks, and 48 were sporadic isolates that were not associated with outbreaks. For MLST, seven housekeeping genes (argH, cya, glpK, gnd, murC, pta, and purH) were sequenced, and each isolate was assigned a sequence type (ST) from the combination of obtained alleles. The PFGE patterns of DraI-digested DNA were compared with the MLST results. All isolates were analyzable by both methods. Isolates from monoclonal outbreaks showed unique STs and indistinguishable or very similar PFGE patterns. Thirty-three STs and 49 unique PFGE patterns were identified among the 93 isolates. The Simpson's index of diversity values for MLST and PFGE were 0.69 and 0.93, respectively, for M. abscessus subsp. abscessus and 0.96 and 0.97, respectively, for M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. In conclusion, the MLST scheme showed 100% typeability and grouped monoclonal outbreak isolates in agreement with PFGE, but it was less discriminative than PFGE for M. abscessus.

The small membrane filter method of microscopy to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis.

We modified microscopy for acid-fast bacilli to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) using small membrane filters (SMFs) after special processing and prefiltration. With the first specimen obtained from each of 335 persons suspected of having TB, the sensitivity of the new SMF method using fluorescence microscopy (FM) was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80%, 95%). This was significantly better (P = 0.0001) than the sensitivity of routine FM of centrifuged specimens of 60% (95% CI: 49%, 71%) or that of direct sputum smears of 56% (95% CI: 40%, 72%).

Evaluation of processing methods to equitably aliquot sputa for mycobacterial testing.

We compared bacillary loads after splitting sputum specimens by chemical (N-acetyl-l-cysteine [NALC]) and mechanical homogenization by vortexing with sterile glass beads. NALC and vortexing with glass beads were equally effective at homogenizing sputum specimens, resulting in an equal distribution of tubercle bacilli in the aliquots.

Epidemic of surgical-site infections by a single clone of rapidly growing mycobacteria in Brazil.

AIM: Our aim is to investigate if the clusters of postsurgical mycobacterial infections, reported between 2004 and 2008 in seven geographically distant states in Brazil, were caused by a single mycobacterial strain. MATERIALS & METHODS: Available information from 929 surgical patients was obtained from local health authorities. A total of 152 isolates from surgical patients were identified by PCR restriction enzyme analysis of the hsp65 gene (PRA-hsp65) and sequencing of the rpoB gene. Isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using two restriction enzymes, DraI and AseI. A total of 15 isolates not related to surgical cases were analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: All isolates were identified as Mycobacterium abscessus ssp. massiliense. Isolates from surgical patients and one sputum isolate grouped in a single PFGE cluster, composed of two closely related patterns, with one band difference. A total of 14 other isolates unrelated to surgical cases showed distinctive PFGE patterns. CONCLUSION: A particular strain of M. abscessus ssp. massiliense was associated with a prolonged epidemic of postsurgical infections in seven Brazilian states, suggesting that this strain may be distributed in Brazilian territory and better adapted to cause surgical-site infections.

[Adverse effects of the new tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health]. / Efeitos adversos causados pelo novo esquema de tratamento da tuberculose preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the principal adverse effects of the tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: A prospective descriptive study involving 79 tuberculosis patients treated at the Clinical Research Center of the Cassiano Antonio Moraes University Hospital, in the city of Vitória, Brazil, between 2003 and 2006. The treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for four months, followed by rifampicin and isoniazid for two months. During the treatment period, the patients were clinically evaluated every week and had a monthly medical visit. RESULTS: The overall incidence of adverse effects was 83.54%. Articular/bone/muscle involvement was the most common, followed by skin involvement (24.94% and 22.09%, respectively). Adverse effects were more common in the second month of treatment (41.59%). Modification of the treatment regimen was unnecessary. One patient required concomitant medication to counter the adverse effects. The cure rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of adverse effects related to the new treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was high. However, none of those effects demanded a change in the regimen, which was effective in the patients evaluated.

Efeitos adversos causados pelo novo esquema de tratamento da tuberculose preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil / Adverse effects of the new tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health

OBJETIVO: Determinar os principais efeitos adversos causados pelo esquema de tratamento da tuberculose preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo e prospectivo envolvendo 79 pacientes com tuberculose tratados no Centro de Pesquisa Clínica do Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes, no município de Vitória, ES, entre 2003 e 2006. O regime de tratamento consistiu em isoniazida, rifampicina, pirazinamida e etambutol por quatro meses, seguido de rifampicina e isoniazida por dois meses. Durante o tratamento, os pacientes foram clinicamente avaliados todas as semanas e tinham uma visita médica mensal. RESULTADOS: A incidência geral de efeitos adversos foi de 83,54 por cento. O envolvimento articular/ósseo/muscular e o envolvimento cutâneo foram mais frequentes (24,94 por cento e 22,09 por cento, respectivamente). Os eventos adversos foram mais comuns no segundo mês de tratamento (41,59 por cento). Não houve necessidade de modificação do esquema de tratamento. Apenas 1 paciente necessitou de medicação para amenizar os efeitos adversos. A taxa de cura foi de 100 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de alta, a incidência de efeitos adversos com o novo esquema de tratamento preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde não exigiu a modificação do esquema de tratamento, que foi eficaz.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the principal adverse effects of the tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: A prospective descriptive study involving 79 tuberculosis patients treated at the Clinical Research Center of the Cassiano Antonio Moraes University Hospital, in the city of Vitória, Brazil, between 2003 and 2006. The treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for four months, followed by rifampicin and isoniazid for two months. During the treatment period, the patients were clinically evaluated every week and had a monthly medical visit. RESULTS: The overall incidence of adverse effects was 83.54 percent. Articular/bone/muscle involvement was the most common, followed by skin involvement (24.94 percent and 22.09 percent, respectively). Adverse effects were more common in the second month of treatment (41.59 percent). Modification of the treatment regimen was unnecessary. One patient required concomitant medication to counter the adverse effects. The cure rate was 100 percent. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of adverse effects related to the new treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was high. However, none of those effects demanded a change in the regimen, which was effective in the patients evaluated.

Household members and health care workers as supervisors of tuberculosis treatment

Objetivo: Comparar os resultados de cura por tuberculose entre pacientes supervisionados pelo membro familiar e pelo profissional de saúde. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectiva de 171 pacientes de Vitória, ES, no período de 2004 a 2007. Cada paciente foi acompanhado por seis meses até a finalização do tratamento. Dos pacientes estudados, 59 pacientes tratados eram supervisionados por um membro familiar e 112 pelos profissionais de saúde. Foram avaliados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos dos pacientes. Diferenças entre os grupos de estudo foram avaliadas utilizando o teste qui-quadrado ou teste t de Student ao nivel de significância de 5 por cento. Resultados: A maioria dos sujeitos do estudo apresentaram bacioscopia positiva e cultura confirmada para tuberculose. Dois pacientes tinham sorologia positiva para HIV. Um número maior de pacientes no grupo supervisionado por profissionais de saúde não eram alfabetizados, comparado com aqueles pacientes do grupo supervisionado por membros familiares (p = 0,01). Todos os pacientes supervisionados por um familiar foram...(AU)Objetivo: Comparar los resultados de cura por tuberculosis entre pacientes supervisados por ele miembro familiar y por el profesional de salud. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de 171 pacientes de Vitória, sureste de Brasil, en el período de 2004 a 2007. Cada paciente fue acompañado por seis meses hasta la finalización del tratamiento. De los pacientes estudiados, 59 pacientes tratados eran supervisados por un miembro familiar y 112 por los profesionales de salud. Fueron evaluados datos sociodemográficos y clínicos de los pacientes. Diferencias entre los grupos de estudio fueron evaluadas utilizando la prueba Chi-cuadrado o prueba t de Student al nivel de significancia de 5 por ciento. Resultados: La mayoría de los sujetos de estudio presentaron bacioscopia positiva y cultivo confirmado...