Evaluation of a strategy for identification of hepatitis C virus carriers in outpatient and emergency units: contribution to the microelimination of hepatitis C in Brazil

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Despite the availability of drugs that promote the cure of infection in more than 95% of cases, the identification of HCV carriers remains a major challenge. Objective: To evaluate a strategy for identifying HCV carriers based on combined criteria: screening in emergency units and specialty outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital and among older adults (≥45 years), both suggested as efficient in epidemiological studies. Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical and descriptive study was conducted on individuals of both sexes, aged 45 years and older, attending the emergency department and specialty outpatient clinics of a University Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2016 to June 2018. After giving formal consent, the patients were submitted to a standardized interview and rapid testing for the identification of HCV antibodies (SD BIOLINE® anti-HCV). Results: A total of 606 adult patients (62% women and 37% men) were evaluated. The mean age was 62 ± 10 years. Four positive tests were identified, with confirmation by conventional serology and HCV-RNA determination. Thus, the prevalence of HCV identified in the sample was 0.66%. All patients had a history of risk factors for infection. Conclusion: The strategies of birth-cohort testing and screening in emergency medical services for the identification of HCV carries, both suggested in the literature as efficient for the diagnosis of hepatitis C, resulted in a low rate of HCV infection. These findings highlight the magnitude of the challenge of identifying asymptomatic HCV carriers in Brazil.

Especificidad de pruebas rápidas y confirmatorias de vih/sida de pacientes femeninas en edades reproductivas del hospital general esmeraldas sur / Specificity of rapid and confirmatory hiv / aids tests of female patients in reproductive ages of the General Hospital Esmeraldas Sur

EL Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana, constituye un grave problema de salud a nivel mundial. El VIH, es una patología que ataca las células CD4 del sistema inmunitario, ocasionando un desperfecto en el sistema inmune, lo cual hace más fácil la llegada de infecciones o enfermedades oportunistas. Objetivo: Conocer la especificidad de las pruebas rápidas y pruebas confirmatorias de pacientes con VIH en edades reproductivas del Hospital General Esmeraldas Sur, en el área de laboratorio clínico. Metodología: Es un estudio Cuantitativo, de corte longitudinal retrospectivo, con alcance descriptivo, que permitió ordenar, interpretar y tabular los resultados de las pruebas rápidas y pruebas confirmatorias de VIH/sida de pacientes femeninas en edades reproductivas. Evidenciándose la falta de información en el registro de pacientes con VIH/sida del HGES, de los datos estadísticos, en 49 pacientes femeninas registras en el HGES. Resultados: El estudio indica que existe un predominio de pacientes con VIH/sida 30 casos corresponde a pacientes al grupo etario ≤ 30 años, seguido por 12 casos que corresponde a pacientes del grupo etario ≤ 40 años, mientras que los pacientes del grupo etario ≤ 45 representan un 8% (4 casos) y el 6% (3 casos) corresponde a pacientes ≤ 20. El 61% corresponde a ≤ 30 años, en segundo lugar, con el 25% las ≤ 40 años. Conclusiones: Los registros observados en el HGES, durante el proceso de investigación, no fueron suficientes para alcanzar el objetivo propuesto, para tal efecto es necesario disponer de los registros completos de los pacientes con VIH/sida en todas las pruebas, según en algoritmo de la OMS. Además, de brindar confianza a la ciudadanía con resultados de calidad, se debe utilizar recursos tecnológicos y demás instrumentos que permitan al profesional de salud, dar un diagnóstico correcto y oportuno. Todo enmarcado en la ética principal, la conservación de la vida(AU)

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus constitutes a serious health problem worldwide. HIV is a pathology that attacks the CD4 cells of the immune system, causing damage to the immune system, which makes it easier for infections or opportunistic diseases to arrive. Objective: To know the specificity of the rapid tests and confirmatory tests of patients with HIV in reproductive ages of the General Hospital Esmeraldas Sur, in the clinical laboratory area. Methodology: It is a quantitative study, retrospective longitudinal section, with descriptive scope, which allowed ordering, interpreting and tabulating the results of rapid tests and confirmatory tests of HIV / AIDS of female patients of reproductive ages. Evidence of the lack of information in the registry of patients with HIV / AIDS of the HGES, of the statistical data, in 49 female patients registered in the HGES. Results: The study indicates that there is a predominance of patients with HIV / AIDS. 30 cases correspond to patients in the age group ≤ 30 years, followed by 12 cases corresponding to patients in the age group ≤ 40 years, while patients in the age group ≤ 45 represent 8% (4 cases) and 6% (3 cases) correspond to patients ≤ 20. 61% correspond to ≤ 30 years, secondly, with 25% those ≤ 40 years. Conclusions: The records observed in the HGES, during the research process, were not sufficient to achieve the proposed objective, for this purpose, it is necessary to have complete records of patients with HIV / AIDS in all tests, according to the algorithm of The OMS. In addition, to provide confidence to the public with quality results, technological resources and other instruments must be use that allow the health professional to give a correct and timely diagnosis. All framed in the main ethic, the conservation of life(AU)

HIV prevalence in recently incarcerated adult males in the Federal District, Brasilia, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study intends to describe a HIV intake screening strategy in recently incarcerated adults in Distrito Federal, Brasilia, Brazil. METHODS: We tested 455 recently incarcerated adults in Distrito Federal in 2016 using rapid tests (RT) applied to oral samples (OS). RESULTS: The estimated frequency of positive tests was 0.88% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34% to 2.24%). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings reveal the potential significance of detecting new HIV infection cases in a vulnerable population using point-of-care rapid diagnostic tests.

Contribución de la prueba rápida NS1 e IgM al diagnóstico de dengue en Colombia en el periodo pre-zika / Contribution of NS1 and IgM based-rapid tests to dengue diagnosis in Colombia before zika emergence

Objetivo: Se considera que el diagnóstico del dengue es fundamentalmente clínico; sin embargo, las pruebas rápidas basadas en la detección de IgM o NS1/IgM están siendo utilizadas en los servicios de salud. Este estudio determinó la contribución de las pruebas rápidas al diagnóstico de dengue en un área endémica antes de la introducción del virus zika. Metodología: Diseño de corte transversal de pruebas diagnósticas realizado a partir del análisis secundario de un estudio previo en 14 instituciones de salud del Valle del Cauca. Se obtuvo información de 632 participantes con resultados de prueba rápida, diagnóstico clínico y pruebas de referencia ELISA NS1, ELISA IgM y RT-PCR. Se compararon la sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos y razones de verosimilitud del uso solo, en serie, y paralelo de los componentes NS1, IgM, NS1/IgM de la prueba rápida y el diagnóstico clínico con las pruebas Q de Cochran y McNemar para datos pareados. Resultados: La sensibilidad del diagnóstico clínico (61,4% IC95% 56%-66,7%) fue superior a la de las pruebas rápidas (37% IC95% 29,6%-44,7%) (P Conclusión: El diagnóstico clínico tiene una mayor sensibilidad que las pruebas rápidas, pero por si solo no es suficiente para confirmar o descartar dengue. Un resultado positivo en pruebas rápidas en pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de dengue es útil para confirmarlo, pero un resultado negativo no lo descarta.

Objective: Dengue diagnosis is considered to be mainly clinical; however, rapid tests that detect IgM or NS1/IgM are being used in health services. This study assessed the contribution of rapid tests to dengue diagnosis in an endemic area before the emergence of zika virus in Colombia. Methods: Cross-sectional study of diagnostic tests based on a secondary analysis of a previous study in 14 health care institutions in Valle del Cauca department. Results of dengue rapid test, clinical diagnosis, and reference tests ELISA NS1, ELISA IgM, and RT-PCR were obtained for 632 participants. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios of the use alone, serial and parallel combinations of NS1, IgM, NS1/IgM of the rapid test and clinical diagnosis were compared using Cochran´s Q and MacNemar tests for paired data. Results: The sensitivity of clinical diagnosis (61.4% 95%IC 56-66.7) was higher than the sensitivity of rapid tests (37% 95% IC 29.6-44.7) (P<0.001). The serial used of NS1/IgM rapid test when clinical diagnosis was negative increased the sensitivity to 79.5% and, the serial use when clinical diagnosis was positive increased the specificity (from 66.3% to 98.7%). However, the latter decreased the sensitivity to 32.2%. While all negative likelihood ratios (LR-) were close to 1, the serial use of rapid tests when clinical diagnosis was positive had LR+ higher than 10. Conclusion: The clinical diagnosis is more sensitive than rapid tests, but by itself does not confirm or rule out dengue. A positive result in rapid tests is useful to confirm dengue but a negative result does not rule it out.

Development of an evidence-based model of rapid testing, counseling and referral patients with HIV, HVC and other STDs in Mexican addiction treatment centers / Desarrollo de un modelo basado en evidencia de pruebas rápidas, orientación y derivación de pacientes con VIH, VHC y otras ITS en centros mexicanos de tratamiento de adicciones

Abstract Introduction Efforts to identify new cases of HIV, HVC and other STIs, through the application of quick tests, focus on people who inject drugs, without taking into account the fact that the use of alcohol and other drugs of abuse inhibits decision making, increasing the transmission of STIs through risky sexual practices. Accordingly, it is necessary to have detection algorithms that consider people who use multiple drugs to improve the identification of new cases and their subsequent linkage with health services. Objective This paper describes the development process of the OPB-APR model for the detection, counseling and referral of people with HIV and other STIs at addiction treatment centers. Method The procedure is divided into three phases: 1. A literature review to identify the basic concepts of HIV and other STIs, substance use, risky sexual behaviors, quick tests, and specialized psychological counseling; 2. A feasibility study in which a health professional is trained to implement the OPB-APR model; 3. Drafting of the final version. Results The final version of the OPB-APR model was obtained, which describes standardized procedures for detection, counseling and referral to health services. Discussion and conclusions The OPB-APR model aims to strengthen the public health system by increasing the coverage of services for the detection of HIV, HCV and other STIs. The above through the implementation of standardized procedures among specialized and non-specialized health professionals of addiction care centers.

Resumen Introducción Los esfuerzos para la identificación de nuevos casos de VIH, VHC y otras ITS, mediante la aplicación de pruebas rápidas, se centra en personas que se inyectan drogas, sin considerar que el consumo de alcohol y otras drogas de abuso inhiben la toma de decisiones incrementando el riesgo de contagio de ITS durante prácticas sexuales de riesgo. Por este motivo, es necesario contar con algoritmos de detección que consideren a personas con múltiples consumos para incrementar la identificación de nuevos casos y su posterior vinculación a servicios de salud. Objetivo Describir el proceso de desarrollo del modelo OPB-APR para la detección, orientación y referencia de personas con VIH y otras ITS en centros de tratamiento de adicciones. Método El procedimiento se dividió en tres fases: 1. Revisión de literatura para identificar conceptos básicos sobre el VIH y otras ITS, consumo de sustancias, conductas sexuales de riesgo, pruebas rápidas, y orientación psicológica especializada; 2. Estudio de factibilidad en el que se entrenó a profesionales de la saludpara implementar el modelo OPB-APR; 3. Integración de la versión final. Resultados Se obtuvo la versión final del modelo OPB-APR el cual describe procedimientos estandarizados para la detección, orientación y referencia a servicios de salud. Discusión y conclusión El modelo OPB-APR pretende fortalecer al sistema público de salud al incrementar la cobertura de servicios para la detección del VIH, VHC y otras ITS. Lo anterior mediante la implementación de procedimientos estandarizados entre los profesionales de la salud especializados y no especializados de centros para la atención de adicciones.

Validation of Two Rapid Serological Tests for Human Brucellosis Detection

As brucellosis have several non-specific clinical phases, the search for reliable diagnosis of the disease is necessary. Therefore, for serological determination of brucellosis, rapid immunofiltration tests designated as ERIFA and NERIFA and ELISAs were developed and evaluated for diagnostic purposes. The sera were collected from Clinical Microbiology Department of Kars State Hospital between 2007 and 2009. These sera were used for determination of sensitivity of ELISAs, ERIFA and NERIFA in comparison to rose bengal test, Brucellacapt and serum agglutination tests. In the study, highest sensitivity was detected by ELISA, ERIFA and NERIFA, respectively. Specificity was highest with ELISA as 95.2% and with both ERIFA and NERIFA as 92.9% and the lowest was with RBT as 90.5%. When two ELISAs were compared based on the IgG sensitivity, there was no difference (p0.05) when IgM was accepted as a criteria for comparison. The current study reports the first evaluation of ERIFA and NERIFA in human beings. It is concluded that the RIFA models can be accepted as an ancillary test for diagnosis of human brucellosis in endemic countries.

Performance of rapid tests for carbapenemase detection among Brazilian Enterobacteriaceae isolates

ABSTRACT The global emergence of carbapenemases led to the need of developing new methods for their rapid detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the rapid tests for carbapenemase-producing and non-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae from a surveillance study submitted to a multiplex real time PCR for carbapenemase detection were included in this study. The isolates were subjected to the rapid phenotypic tests Carba NP, Blue-Carba and Carbapenem Inactivation Method (CIM). A total of 83 carbapenemase-producing (43) and non-producing (40) isolates were included in the study. The sensitivity/specificity were 62.7%/97.5%, 95.3%/100%, and 74.4%/97.5% for Carba NP, Blue-Carba and CIM, respectively. Both Carba NP and Blue-Carba presented their final results after 75 min of incubation; the final results for CIM were obtained only after 8 h. Failure to detect OXA-370 carbapenemase was the main problem for Carba NP and CIM assays. As the Blue-Carba presented the highest sensitivity, it can be considered the best screening test. Conversely, CIM might be the easiest to perform, as it does not require special reagents. The early detection of carbapenemases aids to establish infection control measures and prevent carbapenemases to spread reducing the risk of healthcare associated infections and therapeutic failure.

Validation and reliability of the rapid diagnostic test 'SD Bioeasy Dengue Duo' for dengue diagnosis in Brazil: a phase III study

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of dengue is complex. Until recently, only specialised laboratories were able to confirm dengue infection. However, this has changed with the newly available immunochromatographic rapid tests. Early diagnosis is of great interest, and point-of-care rapid tests have been increasingly used in Brazil. Most of those tests have not undergone validation in the Brazilian population. In this context, we decided to evaluate a rapid test introduced in the Federal District (FD). OBJECTIVES To estimate the accuracy and reliability of the SD Bioeasy Dengue Duo rapid test and its components to detect dengue infections in a consecutive sample of symptomatic residents in the FD, Brazil. METHODS In total, 1353 venous blood samples were collected between 2013 and 2014. Two hundred and six positive samples (cases) and 246 negative samples (non cases) were required for sensitivity and specificity estimation, respectively; for agreement evaluation, we used 401 samples. The reference standard used was a composite of MAC-ELISA, virus isolation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The evaluation was conducted prospectively under field conditions in the public health units of the FD. FINDINGS The results for the overall accuracy of the rapid test (NS1/IgM combined) showed 76% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The sensitivity for the NS1 component (67%) was better than that for the IgM component (35%). The positive likelihood ratio was 46, and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.24. The reliability of the test (NS1/IgM combined) demonstrated crude agreement of 98% (Kappa index 0.94). MAIN CONCLUSIONS The present phase III, large-scale validation study demonstrates that the rapid test SD Bioeasy Dengue Duo has moderate sensitivity (NS1/IgM combined) and high specificity. Therefore, the test is useful in confirming the diagnosis of dengue, but not enough to rule out the diagnosis. Our results also suggest that Dengue virus (DENV) viral load estimated through the RT-qPCR and antibody level measured through the MAC-ELISA could have had a direct influence on the accuracy of the rapid test.

Poor sensitivity of rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis B virus: implications for field studies

Rapid tests (RTs) can be used as an alternative method for the conventional diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study aims to evaluate antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBe) RTs under different Brazilian settings. The following three groups were included: GI: viral hepatitis outpatient services; GII: low resource areas; and GIII: crack users and beauticians. Imuno-rápido anti-HBsAg™ and Imuno-rápido anti-HBeAg™ RTs were evaluated and showed specificities greater than 95% in all groups. The sensitivity values to anti-HBs were 50.38%, 51.05% and 46.73% and the sensitivity values to anti-HBe were 76.99%, 10.34% and 11.76% in the GI, GII and GIII groups, respectively. The assays had a low sensitivity and high specificity, which indicated their use for screening in regions endemic for HBV.

Comportamiento de pesquisas parasitológicas y entomológicas en un área meso endémica inestable de malaria en Angola / Behavior of parasitological and entomological screenings in an area of unstable (mesoendemic) malaria in Angola

Introducción: la malaria es uno de los mayores problemas de salud en Angola. Esta enfermedad es endémica en todo el país, el cual está dividido en varios estratos epidemiológicos según la intensidad de transmisión. Objetivo: describir las acciones desarrolladas en cuatro localidades del municipio Menongue en la provincia de Kuando Kubango, en Angola ante un aumento del número de casos de malaria en las mismas. Métodos: se realizaron pesquisas parasitológicas a través, de testes rápidos y pesquisas en sitios de cría y capturas de mosquitos adultos vectores de malaria en cuatro localidades del municipio Menongue en enero del 2014. Resultados: se encontró que un 49,3 por ciento de la población pesquisada resultó ser positiva a malaria en específico, con Plasmodium falciparum. Los grupos de edades con mayor positividad fueron los de 1 a 4 y de 5 a 14 años. En el grupo mayor de 14 años la positividad fue mayor en el sexo femenino. Las densidades relativas larvales para Anopheles sp. encontradas fueron, relativas altas y se colectaron adultos en el 40 por ciento de las casas muestreadas. Conclusiones: en todos los grupos de edades hubo positividad a la malaria, lo que corrobora la carencia de inmunidad en la población característica de una zona meso endémica inestable a malaria, este aspecto unido a la presencia de vectores de la enfermedad nos permite afirmar la ocurrencia de una epidemia en las áreas pesquisadas en el momento del muestreo, a pesar de las limitaciones que tuvo el estudio(AU)

External quality assessment in the voluntary counseling and testing centers in the Brazilian Amazon using dried tube specimens: results of an effectiveness evaluation

INTRODUCTION : In 2011, the Brazilian Ministry of Health rolled out a program for the external quality assessment of rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests using the dried tube specimen (DTS) method (EQA-RT/DTS-HIV). Our objective was to evaluate the implementation of this program at 71 voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCTCs) in the Brazilian Legal Amazonian area one year after its introduction. METHODS : Quantitative and qualitative study that analyzed secondary data and interviews with healthcare workers (HCWs) (n=39) and VCTC coordinators (n=32) were performed. The assessment used 18 key indicators to evaluate the three dimensions of the program's logical framework: structure, process, and result. Each indicator was scored from 1-4, and the aggregate results corresponding to the dimensions were expressed as proportions. The results were compared to the perceptions of the HCWs and coordinators regarding the EQA-RT/DTS-HIV program. RESULTS: The aggregate scores for the three dimensions of structure, process, and result were 91.7%, 78.6%, and 95%, respectively. The lowest score in each dimension corresponded to a different indicator: access to Quali-TR online system 39% (structure), registration in Quali-TR online system 38.7% (process), and VCTC completed the full process in the program's first round 63.4% (result). Approximately 36% of the HCWs and 52% of the coordinators reported enhanced trust in the program for its rapid HIV testing performance. CONCLUSIONS: All three program dimensions exhibited satisfactory results (>75%). Nevertheless, the study findings highlight the need to improve certain program components. Additionally, long-term follow-ups is needed to provide a more thorough picture of the process for external quality assessment. .

Performance of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (QuickVue) for Influenza A and B Infection in India.

Background: Rapid point-of-care (POC) tests provide an economical alternative for rapid diagnosis and treatment of infl uenza, especially in public health emergency situations. Objectives: To test the performance of a rapid infl uenza diagnostic test, QuickVue (Quidel) as a POC test against a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for detection of infl uenza A and B in a developing country setting. Study Design: In a prospective observational design, 600 patients with infl uenza-like illness (ILI) or with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) who were referred to the Infl uenza Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Srinagar, India from September 2012 to April 2013, were enrolled for diagnostic testing for infl uenza using QuickVue or RT-PCR. All infl uenza A-positive patients by RT-PCR were further subtyped using primers and probes for A/H1pdm09 and A/H3. Results: Of the 600 patients, 186 tested positive for infl uenza A or B by RT-PCR (90 A/ H1N1pdm09, 7 A/H3 and 89 infl uenza B), whereas only 43 tested positive for infl uenza (infl uenza A = 22 and infl uenza B = 21) by QuickVue. Thus, the sensitivity of the QuickVue was only 23% (95% confi dence interval, CI: 17.3-29.8) and specifi city was 100% (95% CI: 99.1-100) with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% (95% CI 91.8-100) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 74.3% (95% CI: 70.5-77.9) as compared to RT-PCR. Conclusions: The high specifi city of QuickVue suggest that this POC test can be a useful tool for patient management or triaging during a public health crisis but a low sensitivity suggests that a negative test result need to be further tested using RT-PCR.

The Role of the Family Doctor in HIV Medicine

The outlook of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has changed for the better. With the discovery of effective drugs HIV is more like a chronic disease. The family doctor has several roles in HIV medicine: find, test, treat, and retain. Find - at risk individuals, and reduce their HIV risks. Test – to diagnosis those with acute HIV infection, to identify the asymptomatic patients, and to identify those with AIDS defining illnesses. Treat - participate in shared care management with HIV specialists. Retain – retain wellbeing of PLHIV - monitor for complications, provide patient education to help them minimise complications. Routine testing for HIV infection is now the practice. For treatment, A combination ART regimen consisting of two NRTIs + one active drug from one of the classes: NNRT, PI, INSTI, or a CCRS antagonist. Retaining the wellbeing of PLHIV requires monitoring for complications, and providing patient education to help them minimise complications.

HIV testing in developing countries: What is required.

HIV diagnostic and follow up testing are usually done in laboratory settings. However, in developing countries there is a need to decentralize testing as the majority of the population lives in rural settings. In developing countries stringent quality assurance (QA) practices, which include appropriate training, development of standard operating procedures, maintenance of operator proficiency, routine use of quality control (QC) specimens, standardized data management, equipment calibration and maintenance, and biohazard safety with proper disinfection/disposal procedures are not routinely followed to ensure reliability of results and a safe work environment. The introduction of point-of-care testing technologies involving the use of non-laboratorians in routine testing has further increased the complexity of QA. Therefore, a careful approach towards improvement of laboratories that encourages best practices, coupled with incentives, and review of government policies in point-of-care testing is needed to improve quality of testing as decentralization takes place. Development of a functional laboratory tiered network that facilitates communication, referral, training and problem solving could further enhance confidence in laboratory testing. There is also a need for special considerations in implementing a stepwise approach towards quality improvement, strengthening of the supply chain management, human capacity development, infrastructure upgrade, and strong public private partnerships to ensure long term sustainability of these efforts.

Bacterial identification in the diagnostic laboratory: How much is enough.

The major impetus for bacterial identification came after the advent of solid culture media. Morphological appearance of bacterial colonies was often sufficient for their identification in the laboratory. Even in modern times, preliminary identification of most cultivable bacteria is based on such morphological characters. Advances have been made media for the presumptive identifi cation of common organisms encountered in clinical samples. Phenotypic characterisation of bacteria with, physiological tests with a battery of biochemical tests differentiate related bacterial genera as well as confirm their identity. . Each laboratory can select its own method(s) of identification, provided they are based on scientific / epidemiological evidence; clinical laboratory and standards institute (CLSI) is a widely accepted organization and laboratories in many parts of the world follow its recommendations for bacterial identification. Some of the latest advances in identification include Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization - Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF) is a state of art facility used for fast and reliable species-specific identification of bacteria including Mycobacteria and fungi including yeasts. However the single most important factor that decides the method of bacterial identification in any laboratory is the cost involved. In the final analysis, selection of tests for bacterial identification should be based on their standardization with proper scientific basis. Considering the cost and lack of easy availability of commercial kits, we have put forward a simplified and rapid method of identification for most commonly encountered bacterial pathogens causing human infection in India

Prevalência de sífilis e HIV utilizando testes rápidos em parturientes atendidas nas maternidades públicas de Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo / Prevalence of syphilis and HIV using rapid tests among parturients attended in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, State of Espírito Santo

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a prevalência de sífilis e HIV em parturientes atendidas nas maternidades públicas, Vitória, ES. No período de janeiro a maio 2007, elas responderam a entrevista contendo dados sócio-demográficos, comportamentais e clínicos e realizaram teste rápido, ELISA e imunofluorescência indireta para HIV; e teste rápido, VDRL e MHA-TP para sífilis. Um total de 1.380 parturientes foi incluído. A média de idade foi 24,2 (DP 6,1) anos e escolaridade 8,5 (DP 2,6) anos. A prevalência de HIV foi 0,6 por cento (IC95 por cento 0,2 por cento-1,1 por cento) e sífilis 0,4 por cento (IC95 por cento 0,2 por cento-0,9 por cento). O teste rápido para HIV foi concordante com o ELISA e a imunofluorescência indireta em todos os casos. O teste rápido para sífilis foi positivo em seis parturientes, sendo que dois resultados não foram confirmados pelo VDRL e MHA-TP. Entre 71 (5,1 por cento) parturientes que não realizaram pré-natal, o teste rápido para sífilis foi positivo em uma e o HIV em duas delas. Os resultados indicam a importância do teste rápido para o diagnóstico de sífilis e HIV, pois há parturientes que não realizam pré-natal ou que não tem acesso ao resultado ou ao tratamento durante o pré-natal.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of syphilis and HIV among parturients attended at public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Espírito Santo. Between January and May 2007, interviews were conducted to obtain demographic, behavioral and clinical data. The subjects were tested for HIV using a rapid test, ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay; and for syphilis using a rapid test, VDRL and MHA-TP. A total of 1,380 women were included. Their mean age was 24.2 years (SD 6.1) and their mean schooling level was 8.5 years (SD 2.6). The HIV prevalence rate was 0.6 percent (95 percent CI: 0.2 percent-1.1 percent) and the syphilis rate was 0.4 percent (95 percent CI: 0.2 percent-0.9 percent). The rapid test for HIV was in agreement with ELISA and the indirect fluorescence assay in all cases. The rapid test for syphilis was positive in six women, but two cases were not confirmed by VDRL and MHA-TP. Among the 71 (5.1 percent) women who had not had antenatal care, the rapid test on one woman was positive for syphilis and two for HIV. The results show the importance of the rapid test for diagnosing syphilis and HIV because there are parturients without antenatal care or without access to test results and treatment during antenatal care.

Estudio de la incidencia y evaluación de los métodos de prevención de la transmisión vertical del VIH, hospital materno infantil Mariana de Jesús, Guayaquil – Ecuador / Study of the incidence and evaluation of the prevention methods of HIV vertical transmition

Estudio realizado en el servicio de ginecología y pediatría del hospital Materno-Infantil del Guasmo y en el hospital Materno-Infantil “Mariana de Jesús” durante el año 2004 hasta julio de 2005. Tipo de estudio: Retrospectivo. Objetivos: Determinar la incidencia de mujeres VIH+ embarazadas, en los hospitales materno-infantiles del Ministerio de Salud Pública. Establecer la eficacia de las pruebas rápidas (pruebas de tamizaje y test de ELISA) usadas para diagnosticar la infección por VIH. Comprobar si la presencia de la infección no afecta el crecimiento ni desarrollo de los niños nacidos de mujeres VIH+ embarazadas. Resultados: La incidencia de mujeres VIH+ embarazadas atendidas en los hospitales materno-infantiles del Ministerio de Salud Pública durante el año 2004 hasta julio de 2005, es del 0.49. La eficacia de las pruebas rápidas usadas para el diagnóstico de la infección por VIH en los hospitales mencionados es del 90 con las pruebas de tamizaje y 90.9 con el test de ELISA; la presencia de VIH no afecta ni el peso ni el desarrollo de los niños nacidos de madres VIH+, pero sí la biometría hemática, (neutropenia y linfocitosis). Conclusiones: Con este estudio se logró puntualizar los métodos utilizados en nuestra provincia para detectar la infección del VIH y por lo tanto la enfermedad del SIDA; obtuvimos una incidencia regional significativa; pudimos obtener un porcentaje de eficacia de las pruebas rápidas utilizadas y se demostró que la presencia de VIH afecta la biometría hemática más no el peso ni el crecimiento.

Type of Study: Retrospective done in the gynecology and pediatric service of the Materno-Infantile Hosptial of Guasmao and Materno Infantile Hospital of Mariana de Jesus during 2004 until July of 2005 Objective: Determine the incidence of HIV + pregnant women in the materno infantile hospital of the department of public health. Establish the how efficient are the tests to diagnose HIV infection. Determine if the presence of the infection affects the growth of children born from HIV + mothers. Results: The incidence of HIV positive pregnant women that were treated at Materno Infantile Hospital of department of Public Health during year 2004 until July 2005 is 0.49. The efficiency of the tests to diagnose HIV infections at the hospital was 90 for ELISA and 90 for other screening tests. The presence of HIV did not affect weight or growth of newborns of HIV positive mothers. The newborn had abnormal blood works with neurtopenia and lympocitosis. Conclusions: In this study we could determine the methods used at our hospital to detect HIV infection. We obtained the rate of efficiency of the tests.