Epidemiological and clinical aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis in Espírito Santo state, Brazil

In a serie of cases of paracoccidioidomycosis we retrospectively reviewed the records of 546 patients treated at the Hospital Universitario Cassiano Antonio Moraes (HUCAM), Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES, from 1978 to 2012. The patients ages ranged from 7 to 83 years, with 512 males and 34 females in a ratio of 15:1. Most of the patients( 81,34%) were from the state of Espírito Santo (ES), 18,66% came from other states, mainly from rural areas and 77,6% of them were farmers. The map of geographical distribution in ES showed higher concentration of cases in counties in the western border, along Minas Gerais state.Looking at the clinical features 60 (10.99%) patients presented the acute / subacute form of the disease, 485 (88.83%) the chronic form and one patient the subclinical form. The organs most often affected were the lungs, oropharyngeal mucosa, lymph nodes, skin and larynx. Several other organs were also affected less frequently. The diagnosis was established by histopathology in 252 (46.15%), direct examination in 168 (30.77%), direct examination and histopathology in 111 (20.33%) and serology in 15 (2.75%) patients. The infectious diseases more frequently associated were tuberculosis, AIDS, leishmaniasis and intestinal parasites. Patients were treated with sulfonamides, or azole in mild to moderate forms and amphotericin B in severe forms. The length of the treatment was analysed in 366 patients. Only 146 (40%) completed the minimum of 18 months needed when taking sulphonamides. The most common sequelae were residual pulmonary lesions and scars on skin and mucous membranes. The number of cases in this serie highlights the state of Espírito Santo as important endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil and the results follow the clinical and epidemiological patterns demonstrated in other seriesEm série histórica de casos de Paracoccidioidomicose, foram analisados retrospectivamente os prontuários de 546 pacientes atendidos no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antonio Moraes (HUCAM) da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - UFES, no período de 1978 a 2012. A idade dos pacientes variou de 7 a 83 anos, sendo 512 do gênero masculino e 34 do feminino, com proporção 15:1. Em relação à procedência, 81,34% eram do Espírito Santo (ES) e 18,66% procediam de outros estados, predominantemente de área rural, sendo 77,6% dos pacientes lavradores. O mapeamento da distribuição geográfica no ES revelou maior concentração de casos em municípios situados na faixa oeste, junto à divisa de Minas Gerais. Quanto à apresentação clínica, 60 (10,99%) pacientes eram da forma aguda/subaguda da doença, 485 (88,83%) da forma crônica e um paciente apresentou a forma subclínica. Os órgãos mais frequentemente acometidos foram os pulmões, mucosa de orofaringe, linfonodos, pele e laringe. Vários outros órgãos se mostraram comprometidos, com menor frequência. O diagnóstico foi firmado através de exame histopatológico em 252 (46,15%), exame direto em 168 (30,77%), exame direto e histopatológico em 111 (20,33%) e sorologia em 15 (2,75%) pacientes. As doenças infecciosas mais frequentemente associadas foram: Tuberculose, AIDS, Leishmaniose e as parasitoses intestinais. Os pacientes foram tratados com sulfonamidas ou azólicos nas formas leves e moderadas e anfotericina B nas formas graves. A duração do tratamento foi analisada em 366 pacientes, sendo que, somente 146 (40%) completaram o tempo mínimo previsto de 18 meses de medicação com sulfonamidas. As sequelas mais comuns foram lesões residuais pulmonares e cicatrizes em pele e mucosas. O número de casos desta série destaca o ES como importante área endêmica de Paracoccidioidomicose no Brasil e os resultados seguem os padrões clínicos e epidemiológicos demonstrados em outras série

Paracoccidioidomycosis: What We Know and What Is New in Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. In the last two decades, enhanced understanding of the phylogenetic species concept and molecular variations has led to changes in this genus’ taxonomic classification. Although the impact of the new species on clinical presentation and treatment remains unclear, they can influence diagnosis when serological methods are employed. Further, although the infection is usually acquired in rural areas, the symptoms may manifest years or decades later when the patient might be living in the city or even in another country outside the endemic region. Brazil accounts for 80% of PCM cases worldwide, and its incidence is rising in the northern part of the country (Amazon region), owing to new settlements and deforestation, whereas it is decreasing in the south, owing to agriculture mechanization and urbanization. Clusters of the acute/subacute form are also emerging in areas with major human intervention and climate change. Advances in diagnostic methods (molecular and immunological techniques and biomarkers) remain scarce, and even the reference center’s diagnostics are based mainly on direct microscopic examination. Classical imaging findings in the lungs include interstitial bilateral infiltrates, and eventually, enlargement or calcification of adrenals and intraparenchymal central nervous system lesions are also present. Besides itraconazole, cotrimoxazole, and amphotericin B, new azoles may be an alternative when the previous ones are not tolerated, although few studies have investigated their use in treating PCM

Primeira descrição de singamose brônquica ocorrida no Estado do Espírito Santo

Relatamos o caso de um homem de 48 anos, que evoluiu durante 4 meses com quadro de tosse seca associada à dor torácica. Após serem descartadas as etiologias mais prováveis, realizou-se uma broncofibroscopia que revelou a presença de um casal de Syngamus laringeus no brônquio do lobo superior esquerdo. O paciente tornou-se assintomático após a retirada do nematóide

Pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: a case report of reactivation in a patient receiving biological therapy

Abstract Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease in Latin America that is rarely associated with immunosuppression and biological therapy. Herein, we report for the first time a case of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis reactivation after infliximab treatment. A 47-year-old man from Brazil received infliximab to treat psoriatic spondyloarthropathy and presented with cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and fever. Chest computed tomography revealed a pulmonary nodule and biopsy confirmed paracoccidioidomycosis. Treatment with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was initiated for fungal infection and infliximab was reintroduced two months later. Considering his clinical improvement and favorable radiologic evolution, antifungal therapy was discontinued after 29 months

Pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: a case report of reactivation in a patient receiving biological therapy

<div><p>Abstract Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease in Latin America that is rarely associated with immunosuppression and biological therapy. Herein, we report for the first time a case of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis reactivation after infliximab treatment. A 47-year-old man from Brazil received infliximab to treat psoriatic spondyloarthropathy and presented with cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and fever. Chest computed tomography revealed a pulmonary nodule and biopsy confirmed paracoccidioidomycosis. Treatment with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was initiated for fungal infection and infliximab was reintroduced two months later. Considering his clinical improvement and favorable radiologic evolution, antifungal therapy was discontinued after 29 months.</p></div

Factors influencing treatment adherence in paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil

Abstract Introduction Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America, with frequent reports of poor treatment adherence resulting in worse clinical outcomes. The present study evaluated factors related to treatment adherence in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. Methods This cross‐sectional study included data from medical records of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis treated between 2005 and 2018 in a reference hospital in southeastern Brazil. Clinical variables, demographic characteristics, and smoking and alcohol consumption were collected and analyzed. Results Of the 198 cases included, most were adults (median age = 51 years), males (93.4%), presented chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (83.8%), reported smoking (90.4%) and alcohol consumption (84.8%), and 56.6% adhered to treatment. Treatment adherence was associated with the discontinuation of alcohol consumption (odds ratios (OR) = 5.227; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.697–10.129) and smoking (OR = 3.365; 95% CI = 1.781–6.358) during therapy. Conclusions Patients' continued consumption of alcohol and tobacco was associated with non‐adherence to treatment, suggesting that a joint therapeutic approach that addresses alcohol and tobacco use alongside paracoccidioidomycosis treatment may hold promise for improving adherence and patients' quality of life

Manifestações neurológicas nas endocardites infecciosas - revisão de 103 casos estudados - 84 casos do Hospital dos Servidores do Estado-R.J. (1947-1978) e 19 casos do Hospital Estadual São Sebastião-R.J. (1975-1978)

Os autores fazem uma revisão de 103 casos de endocardites infecciosas, dos quais 52 apresentaram manifestações neurológicas. Dos 52 que não tiveram problemas neurológicos, 39 faleceram 175%), enquanto que dos 51 que não tiveram alterações do sistema nervoso, apenas 18 evoluíram para o óbito 135,3%). A endocardite infecciosa com manifestações neurológicas, na presente série, foi dominante no sexo masculino. Os grupos etários mais envolvidos foram as crianças, adolescentes e adultos jovens. Houve outro pico importante em pacientes acima de 50 anos. Os critérios para o diagnóstico de endocardite infecciosa utilizados no presente estudo, foram os clássicos, acrescidos de outros considerados de extrema utilidade, à medida que a experiência foi sendo acumulada, acompanhando paralelamente as modificações dos padrões etiológicos, assim como as alterações dos espectros clínicos da doença, conseqüentes a muitos fatores aqui discutidos. Os principais distúrbios neurológicos observados foram as manifestações meningeias, 25/52 148,1%), alterações do comportamento, 20/52 (38,4%), fenômenos motores (paralisias e paresias), 20/52 (38,4%). Alterações do nível de consciência (torpor ou coma), ao lado de outras menos comuns, como cefaléia 16/52 (26,9%), convulsões, 10/52 (19,2%), afasia 7/52 (13,5%) e manchas de Roth, 7/53 (13,5%). As manifestações neurológicas frequentemente foram múltiplas em um mesmo paciente. Nas formas de endocardite, foram em muitos casos praticamente as alterações que abriram e dominaram a cena clínica. As mais comuns foram: síndrome meningeia, síndrome vascular e encefalopatia tóxica. Foi difícil, em conseqüência de múltiplas manifestações neurológicas num mesmo paciente, estabelecer critérios entre a lesão neurológica e o prognóstico, embora o coma profundo, as convulsões, os distúrbios motores acentuados, a meningite e as alterações do comportamento, isoladamente ou em associação, façam com que o mesmo seja bem mais sério. O germe mais encontrado em nossa série foi oStaphylococcus aureus, relacionado com formas agudas da infecção endocárdica, aliado a processos destrutivos valvulares e a sérias alterações neurológicas tais como meningite, encefalite, infartos, hemorragias e abcessos cerebrais. Os principais achados neurológicos referentes à patologia, no estudo de 15 casos, são apresentados ao lado de conclusões tiradas de reflexões sobre o material analisado e da experiência vivida. Uma revisão da literatura é feita desde os trabalhos iniciais sobre a doença até os dias de hoje, ficando evidenciada a importância do tema pelas grandes contribuições apresentadas pelos diferentes autores.<br>The authors make a revision of 103 cases of infectious endocarditis, 52 of which brought about neurologic manifestations. In the 52 cases showing neurologic problems, 39 died (75%), while in the other 51 cases showing no alterations of the nervous system only 18 evolved to death (35,3%). The present series of infectious endocarditis with neurologic manifestations was dominat in the mate sex. The more affected age groups were children, adolescents and young adults. Another significant peak was shown by patients more than 50 years old. For the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis in the present study, classical criteria were adopted in addition to a few other ones which were recognized to be extremely useful in the process of accumulating experience, as paralel observation was applied to those changes of etiological patterns and to those alterations of clinical specters of the disease, which resulted from many of the factors here described. The major neurologic diserders detected were meningeal manifestations, 25/52 (48,1%), behavior alterations, 20/52 (38,4%) motor phenomena (paralysis and paresis), 20/52 (38,4%), alterations of the level of consciousness (torpor or coma), plus a few less commonones, such as cephalea, 16/52 (30,7%), alterations of cranial pai rs, 14/52 (26,9%), convulsions, 10/52 (19,2%),aphasia, 7/52 (13,5%). Multiple neurologic manifestations were frequent in the same patient. These alterations were practically the opening and dominant feature of the clinical scene in many cases of acute endocardites. Most common were: meningeal syndrome, vascular syndrome and toxic encephalopathy. Due to multiple neurologic manifestations in the same patient it was difficult to establish criteria linking the neurologic lesion to the prognostic although in states of profound coma, convulsion, pronounced motor disorders, meningitis and behavior alterations, isolated or in association, this prognostic becomes rather more serious. The germ more often found in our series was the staphylococcus aureus, related to acute forms of endocardiac infection, associated with valve destructive process and serious neurologic alterations, such as meningitis, encephalitis, infarcts, hemorrhages and cerebral abscesses. A description is given of the major neurologic findings related to the pathology and of the conclusions draw upon reflexion over the material analysed and the experience collected. A review of the existing literature on the disease, from the initial to the lates studies, clearly points out to the importance of the theme to which different authors have made remarkable contributions