Publications by authors named "Claudia E Volpe-Chaves"

Introduction: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) often develops in residual lesions of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Every year, 112,000 to 160,000 people worldwide will develop post-PTB CPA. The simultaneous occurrence of CPA with the first episode of PTB is rare.

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Currently, COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) are the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. Their synergy, form of presentation, morbidity, and mortality are data that have been scarcely explored. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory factors of this co-infection and to analyze the factors associated with the active TB among COVID-19 cases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat, largely due to gaps in care that hinder effective treatment adherence, such as patient abandonment and irregular medication use.
  • The article discusses a case of an immunocompetent patient with pulmonary TB who, despite following treatment protocols from 2017 to 2022, experienced treatment failures and ongoing health issues influenced by added complications like COVID-19 and pregnancy.
  • This case emphasizes the necessity for holistic and patient-centered care strategies, including psychological support, especially for patients identified as high-risk, to improve TB management and outcomes effectively.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients in intensive care units (ICUs) were affected by invasive fungal infections, including aspergillosis, contributing to a high mortality rate. Diagnosing proven COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) requires clinical and radiological evaluations, along with laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage samples or lung biopsies. However, these procedures and equipment are often inaccessible in developing countries or regions with limited resources, including Brazil.

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Background: Data on the prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in patients with active or cured tuberculosis (TB) are scarce, mainly due to diagnostic difficulties. The diagnosis of CPA is based on pulmonary symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) scans and is considered confirmed when there is microbiological or serological evidence of Aspergillus spp.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of CPA in patients treated or undergoing treatment for PTB, seen in two referral hospitals in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

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Introduction: Paradoxical reaction in tuberculosis (TB) is defined as the reappearance of general symptoms, aggravation of pre-existing diseases, or appearance of new lesions despite adequate anti-TB therapy. It may result from the hyperactivity of the immune response, resulting in an intense inflammation. There are few cases of vertebral TB reported as paradoxical reaction, mainly among immunocompetents patients.

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Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a slow and progressive disease that develops in preexisting lung cavities of patients with tuberculosis sequelae, and it is associated with a high mortality rate. Serological tests such as double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID) or counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test have been routinely used for CPA diagnosis in the absence of positive cultures. However, these tests have been replaced with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and, a variety of methods.

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Article Synopsis
  • Nosocomial infections from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) lead to high mortality rates, particularly in neurosurgery patients, with limited literature on CRKP-related meningitis.
  • This study reports two cases of CRKP meningitis following neurosurgery, highlighting multidrug-resistant strains identified using the Vitek Compact System and genetic typing revealing two novel clones (ST1298 and ST2687).
  • Treatment involved intrathecal polymyxin, and the authors recommend this approach for managing meningitis caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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  • Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is an emerging infectious disease in Brazil with high morbidity and mortality rates; only 28 cases were reported until 2015, mainly concentrated in the Northwest region, with the Midwest previously unreported.
  • A 42-year-old man presented with respiratory symptoms and was diagnosed with the first case of pneumonia with sepsis due to B. pseudomallei in Mato Grosso do Sul, highlighting a new occurrence of this disease in the Midwest.
  • The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and meropenem) and survived, underscoring the need to recognize melioidosis in community-acquired infections, especially
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Introduction: Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are difficult to treat and pose a serious threat to public health worldwide. Here, we describe the presence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in intensive care units (ICU) of three major Mato Grosso do Sul hospitals located in the Midwest region of Brazil.

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