Epidemiological profile and follow-up of patients with pulmonary disease by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Baixada Santista area, São Paulo.

Objective: To present the frequency and species diversity of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, estimate the prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, describe the epidemiological profile, and determine the follow-up of patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease living in a region with a high burden of tuberculosis.

Methods: This a retrospective cohort observational study using data records obtained from the Instituto Adolfo Lutz - Santos and from the São Paulo Sistema de Vigilância de Tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo in the period between 2000 and 2009. The studied variables were: socio-demographic characteristics, current and past history of tuberculosis, aspects related to diagnosis, and treatment and associated diseases.

Epidemiological and laboratorial profile of patients with isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Background: An increase in NTM diseases in the international scenario has been observed in recent years.

Aims: To analyze the epidemiological and laboratory profiles of patients with isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) over one decade. A retrospective analysis of records of a mycobacterial reference laboratory found 135 cases with isolation of NTM.

Molecular assessment of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 in Brazil: evidence of clonal replacement.

In Brazil, serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most prevalent causes of severe infection. This study investigated the genetic relatedness of 134 serotype 1 isolates obtained from invasive diseases during the period 1977-2005. Molecular typing by PFGE revealed two major lineages using visual inspection and computer analysis.