Predictive factors for disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients with fever admitted to a reference hospital in Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: In many settings, the lack of sensitive biomarkers of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) leads to a clinical reliance on older diagnostic methods and delayed treatment initiation. The early recognition of DH is critical for survival, especially in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study aimed to identify clinical and laboratory findings associated with the definitive diagnosis of DH in low-income HIV patients in endemic areas. METHODS: Febrile AIDS patients with suspected DH who were admitted to a reference hospital in northeastern Brazil from January 2006 to January 2007 were evaluated for clinical and laboratory findings associated with DH diagnosis. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen patients with fever were included, and 48 (41%) cases of DH were determined by Histoplasma capsulatum identification. A higher fever (≥38.5ºC), maculopapular/papular rash, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, wheezing, hemoglobin ≤9.5g/dL, platelets ≤80,000/µL, CD4 count ≤75/µL, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level ≥2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥5times the ULN; and international normalized ratio (INR) >2 times the ULN were significantly associated with DH. A multivariable analysis identified hepatomegaly [adjusted (a) prevalence ratio (PR)= 1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-3.16), CD4 count ≤75/µL (aPR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.06-3.83), LDH ≥5 times the ULN (aPR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.44-3.48), and maculopapular/papular rash (aPR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.02-2.83) were independent risk factors for DH. CONCLUSIONS: These easily assessed parameters can facilitate clinical decision-making for febrile AIDS patients with suspected DH in low socioeconomic and Histoplasma-endemic regions.

Whipple disease without joint involvement in a patient with chronic diarrhea and HIV seropositive partner: case report / Doença de Whipple sem envolvimento articular em paciente com diarréia crônica e parceira HIV-soropositiva: Relato de caso

Introduction: Whipple's disease is a rare, infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei that affects multiple organs and systems. It is difficult to identifyand frequently presents as a diagnosis of exclusion due existence of conditions causing most prevalent chronic diarrhea, as AIDS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Case report: Herein we report the clinical findings of a 38-year-old male patient, married with a HIV seropositive woman, with a four-year course of chronic diarrhea until he received a definitive diagnosis. Treatment was started with a 15-day penicillin G regimen, followed by continued trimethoprim­sulfamethoxazole 80/400mg after hospital discharge up to current days. Conclusion: Currently, the patient remains asymptomatic and has completed clinical remission after two years of treatment. (AU)

Introdução: A doença de Whipple é uma doença infecciosa rara causada pela bactéria Tropheryma whipplei que afeta múltiplos órgãos e sistemas. É difícil de identificar e freqüentemente se apresenta como um diagnóstico de exclusão devido à existência de condições que causam diarréia crônica mais prevalentes, como AIDS e Doença Infçamatória Intestinal. Relato do Caso: Aqui, relatamos os achados clínicos de um paciente do sexo masculino de 38 anos, casado com uma mulher HIV-soropositiva, com um curso de quatro anos de diarréia crônica até receber o diagnóstico definitivo. O tratamento foi iniciado com penicilina G por 15 dias, seguido de sulfametoxazol- trimetoprim 400/80 mg após a alta hospitalar até os dias atuais. Conclusão: Atualmente, o paciente permanece assintomático e apresentado remissão clínica completa após dois anos de tratamento. (AU)

Fatores associados à tuberculose pulmonar em pacientes que procuraram serviços de saúde de referência para tuberculose / Factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis among patients seeking medical attention at referral clinics for tuberculosis

OBJETIVO: A identificação de fatores comportamentais e clínicos associados à tuberculose pulmonar pode melhorar a detecção e o tratamento dessa doença, consequentemente reduzindo sua duração e transmissão. Nosso objetivo foi identificar fatores sociodemográficos, clínicos e comportamentais associados à tuberculose pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado entre abril de 2008 e março de 2009 em três unidades de saúde na cidade de Fortaleza (CE). Foram selecionados 233 pacientes maiores de 14 anos que procuraram atendimento médico espontaneamente e que apresentavam tosse por > 2 semanas. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos e comportamentais. Foram realizadas baciloscopia direta para BAAR e cultura de micobactérias, bem como testes tuberculínicos e radiografias de tórax. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos (com e sem tuberculose pulmonar). As variáveis categóricas foram comparadas com o teste do qui-quadrado, seguido de análise de regressão logística quando as variáveis foram consideradas significativas. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de tuberculose pulmonar foi 41,2%. As OR não ajustadas indicaram que as seguintes variáveis foram fatores de risco significativos para tuberculose pulmonar: febre (OR = 2,39; IC95%: 1,34-4,30), anorexia (OR = 3,69; IC95%: 2,03-6,75) e perda de peso (OR = 3,37; IC95%: 1,76-6,62). Na análise multivariada, apenas perda de peso (OR = 3,31; IC95%: 1,78-6,14) associou-se significativamente com tuberculose pulmonar. CONCLUSÕES: Em áreas com elevada prevalência de tuberculose, a perda de peso poderia ser utilizada como um indicador de tuberculose pulmonar em pacientes com tosse crônica por > 2 semanas.

OBJECTIVE: The identification of behavioral and clinical factors that are associated with pulmonary tuberculosis might improve the detection and treatment of the disease, thereby reducing its duration and transmission. Our objective was to identify sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors that are associated with the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between April of 2008 and March of 2009 at three health care clinics in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. We selected 233 patients older than 14 years of age who spontaneously sought medical attention and presented with cough for > 2 weeks. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data were collected. Sputum smear microscopy for AFB and mycobacterial culture were also carried out, as were tuberculin skin tests and chest X-rays. The patients were divided into two groups (with and without pulmonary tuberculosis). The categorical variables were compared by the chi-square test, followed by logistic regression analysis when the variables were considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 41.2%. The unadjusted OR showed that the following variables were statistically significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis: fever (OR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.34-4.30), anorexia (OR = 3.69; 95% CI, 2.03-6.75), and weight loss (OR = 3.37; 95% CI, 1.76-6.62). In the multivariate analysis, only weight loss (OR = 3.31; 95% CI, 1.78-6.14) was significantly associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: In areas with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, weight loss could be used as an indicator of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with chronic cough for > 2 weeks.

Tuberculose em ambiente hospitalar: perfil clínico em hospital terciáriodo Ceará e grau de conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde acerca das medidas de controle / Tuberculosis in hospital environment: clinical profile in a tertiary hospital from Ceará and level of knowledge of health personnel about control measures

Descrever características epidemiológicas e clínicas de pacientes internados com tuberculose (TB), além de avaliar o grau de conhecimento de profissionais de saúde acerca de conceitos fundamentais sobre TB e medidas de controle para pacientes com tuberculose pulmonar em ambiente hospitalar. Métodos: Estudo realizado em hospital terciário de Fortaleza-CE envolvendo pacientes internados com TB e profissionais de saúde responsáveis pela assistência. Uma primeira fase caracterizou-se por estudo retrospectivo com revisão de prontuários de pacientes admitidos com suspeita de TB. Em uma segunda etapa, estudo transversal com aplicação de questionário estruturado avaliou conhecimentos dos profissionais de saúde sobre o controle da TB em ambiente hospitalar. Resultados: Sessenta e sete pacientes admitidos com suspeita de TB tiveram seus prontuários avaliados. Entre os casos confirmados, a forma clínica mais freqüente foi a pulmonar (81,3%). Dos 55 pacientes internados com suspeita de tuberculose pulmonar, apenas 29 (52,7%) foram admitidos em leito de isolamento respiratório. Vinte e seis pacientes com suspeita de tuberculose pulmonar à admissão totalizaram 148 dias internados fora de isolamento respiratório (média de 4,1 dias/paciente). Avaliou-se o conhecimento de 159 profissionais de saúdeacerca de TB. Em relação à transmissão da TB, 107 (67,2%) desconheciam a transmissão por aerossóis e 109 (68,5%) desconheciam as formas clínicas que requerem isolamento respiratório. Conclusões: Tuberculose pulmonar é a forma clínica mais freqüente entre pacientes internados em hospital terciário de Fortaleza-CE. Parcela considerável de profissionais de saúde desconhece conceitos fundamentais relativos à tuberculose e essenciais para a assistência adequada e segura. Descritores: Tuberculose; Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa; Exposição a Agentes Biológicos; Pessoal de saúde.

To describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of inpatients with tuberculosis (TB) and to assess the knowledge of health personnel on fundamental concepts about TB and control measures for pulmonary tuberculosis in a hospital environment. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza-CE and involved patients admitted with TB and health professionals responsible for assistance. A first phase was characterized by a retrospective study of medical records of patients admitted with suspected TB. In a second stage, a cross-sectional study with application of a structured questionnaire assessed the knowledge of health personnel on TB control measures in a hospital environment. Results: Sixty-seven patients admitted with suspected TB had their medical records assessed. Among the confirmed cases, the most frequent clinical form was pulmonary (81.3%). Out of 55 patients admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, only 29 (52.7%) were admitted in a respiratory isolation bed. Twenty-six patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis on admission stayed a total of 148 days out of a respiratory isolation bed (average 4.1 days / patient). The knowledge of 159 health professionals about TB was assessed. Regarding the transmission of TB, 107 (67.2%) were unaware of airborne transmission and 109 (68.5%) ignored the clinical forms that require respiratory isolation. Conclusions: Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent clinical form among inpatients in a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza-CE. Considerable fraction of health personnel doesn?t know key concepts related to tuberculosis and essential for the proper and safe care. Descriptors: Tuberculosis; Infectious Disease Transmission; Exposure to Biological Agents; Health personnel.