Prevalence and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in tuberculosis case contacts

INTRODUCTION : The tuberculin test is a diagnostic method for detecting latent tuberculosis (TB) infection, especially among disease contact cases. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among TB contact cases. METHODS : A retrospective cohort study was performed in a reference center for TB. The study population consisted of 2,425 patients who underwent a tuberculin test from 2003 to 2010 and whose results indicated contact with individuals with TB. The data were collected from the registry book of the tuberculin tests, patient files and the Information System Records of Notification Grievance. To verify the evolution of TB, case records through September 2014 were consulted. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In all hypothesis tests, a significance level of 0.05 was used. RESULTS : From the studied sample, 435 (17.9%) contacts did not return for reading. Among the 1,990 contacts that completed the test, the prevalence of latent TB infection was 35.4%. Of these positive cases, 50.6% were referred to treatment; the dropout rate was 42.5%. Among all of the contacts, the TB prevalence was 1.8%, from which 13.2% abandoned treatment. CONCLUSIONS : The collected data indicate the need for more effective public policies to improve TB control, including administering tests that do not require a return visit for reading, enhancing contact tracing and encouraging actions that reinforce full treatment adherence

Prevalence and factors associated with syphilis in a Reference Center

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The implementation of the rapid test (RT) for syphilis increases access of vulnerable populations to early diagnosis and treatment, impacting the outcomes of infection. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with syphilis in a Center for Testing and Counseling (CTC). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a Reference Center for sexually transmitted disease (STD) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Londrina, Northern Paraná State, Southern Brazil. Data regarding the 5,509 individuals who underwent RT from June 2012 to December 2014 were collected from patient records and the CTC Information System and served as the basis to check associations of syphilis cases (346) and cases without syphilis (5,163). Nine patients’ records were not found. OpenEpi was used to perform a prevalence analysis and determine odds ratios to assess the associations between sociodemographic and behavioral variables (independent variables) and cases of syphilis (dependent variable). An alpha value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of syphilis was 6.3%; higher in males (7.5%) than in females (4.3%, p <0.001). Syphilis was associated with an age of 25-34 years, little education, and single marital status. The main associated behavioral factors were men who have sex with men, drug users, STD patients, and those presenting with an STD in the last year. The use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and crack was significantly associated with syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies for prevention and control of syphilis should be intensified, especially in populations identified as most vulnerable

Infecção latente por tuberculose entre pessoas com HIV/AIDS, fatores associados e progressão para doença ativa em município no Sul do Brasil

Resumo: Propôs-se levantar a prevalência de infecção latente por tuberculose (ILTB) entre pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA), fatores associados e se entre os casos identificados houve progressão para tuberculose ativa. Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico e descritivo. A população foi composta de PVHA, atendidas entre 2003 e 2014 em um centro de referência para HIV/AIDS. Os dados foram coletados com base em prontuários e fichas do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Procedeu-se à estatística bivariada, com aplicação do teste qui-quadrado, em que as variáveis com valores de p < 0,2 foram selecionadas para entrar no modelo de regressão múltipla. Foi fixado em todos os testes o erro tipo I em 5% (p < 0,05). No estudo, 690 casos foram analisados, sendo que 66 (9,4%) apresentaram o diagnóstico de ILTB, tendo uma prevalência de 7,5 casos para cada 100 pacientes. Dos 53 (80,3%) casos de ILTB que tiveram o tratamento indicado com isoniazida, apenas 26 (39,4%) concluíram e 10 (15,1%) abandonaram. Observou-se que as variáveis sexo masculino (OR ajustado = 1,8; IC95%: 1,1-3,3), situação prisional (OR ajustado = 7,6; IC95%: 2,35-24,9) e contagem de linfócitos mais altos são fatores associados ao diagnóstico de ILTB (OR ajustado = 1,1; IC95%: 1,1-1,2). Verificou-se que 47 (6,7%) dos casos de ILTB progrediram para TB ativa. O diagnóstico e o tratamento de ILTB nas PVHA não foram priorizados, o que contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de doença ativa entre os casos. O trabalho contribuiu para o avanço do conhecimento acerca da ILTB entre PVHA, demonstrando aspectos cruciais no que tange ao manejo de PVHA e ainda a importância da detecção da ILTB e a instituição precoce da isoniazida, visando à melhor qualidade de vida e prognóstico das PVHA