Acta Dermatovenerol Croat
December 2018
Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infestation caused by the helminth Strongyloides stercoralis. It is essentially gastrointestinal and in general asymptomatic but can sometimes present with skin signs. Immunocompromised patients can develop the disseminated form of the disease due to the parasite's opportunistic behavior, as in cases of coinfection by the human T-lymphotropic type 1 virus (HTLV-1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report two yellow fever cases in unvaccinated French travellers in Brazil in January and March 2018, respectively; one exposed during an excursion in Minas Gerais and the other in Ilha Grande. Both presented with fever, hepatitis, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Yellow fever diagnosis was based on RT-PCR and serological tests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Exposures to sharps injuries occurring in the community are relatively frequent. We describe characteristics of community sharp exposures reported in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 1997 to 2010.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of exposure reports to sharps in the community reported to a surveillance system, designed for health care workers, of the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro.
Sporotrichosis is the most common subcutaneous mycosis in South America and its association with zoonotic transmission remains a relevant public health problem in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The disease most commonly presents as subacute or chronic cutaneous lesions, although dissemination to various organs and systems occurs in rare cases, mainly in immunosuppressed individuals. This report describes a case of sporotrichosis with severe bone and subcutaneous damage in an immunocompetent patient who did not exhibit the characteristic skin lesions of sporotrichosis, including ulcers, nodules, and lymphangitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are the main causes of thyroid dysfunction and the most common autoimmune diseases in the world. An association between AITD and infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in combination with the effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), has been suggested by several research groups. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and AITD in women > 35 years of age infected with HIV, and to identify factors associated with the emergence of these thyroid abnormalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
February 2014
Background: The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected subjects is the combination of alfapeginterferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin. We designed this study to evaluate the rate of SVR and predictors of SVR in a public health setting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study of HCV/HIV co-infected patients treated with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin from 2004 to 2011 in 3 outpatient units in Rio de Janeiro.
After the advent of HAART, the clinical course of HIV infection has dramatically improved. Therefore, it seems appropriate to reevaluate the performance of bone marrow biopsy (BMB) as a diagnostic tool. The aim of the present study was to compare the reasons for performing a BMB and its diagnostic yield in HIV-patients before and after HAART.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the risk factors associated with recent and chronic HIV infections among individual attending a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In a cross-sectional study, recent HIV infections were detected by the sensitive/less-sensitive test, using Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) strategy, and compared to chronic HIV infection and HIV negative individuals. Seroincidence was estimated and risk factors associated with recent and chronic infections were assessed using multinomial logistic regression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Education is a major component of prevention strategies to reduce the risk of occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care personnel.
Methods: This study describes the results of an Internet-based project, "Projeto Riscobiologico.org", for which the main objectives are to disseminate information in the Portuguese language about occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens through a mailing list and Web site as well as to increase case reports of these events in Brazil.
Context: Cervicovaginal secretions represent the primary vehicle in mother to infant and sexual HIV-1 transmission. Understanding the viral dynamics in this compartment is important to improve interventions to decrease HIV transmission.
Objectives: To evaluate the correlation of HIV-1 blood plasma viral load and cervicovaginal HIV-1 viral load and the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on cervicovaginal HIV-1 viral load.