Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection associated with crack cocaine use: the impact on perinatal transmission among 890 pregnancies in Brazil / Infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana em associação ao uso de crack: qual o impacto na transmissão perinatal entre 890 gestantes

Introduction: Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection is a prevalent infection occurring during pregnancy. The implementation of a program to screen and prevent vertical transmission is highly important in Public Healthcare. Pregnant crack users could face difficulties to test and adhere to the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. Objective: The purpose of this research paper was to investigate whether crack cocaine abuse increases Human Immunodeficiency Virus perinatal transmission rates, as well as to evaluate the risk factors associated with such an increase. Methods: Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Universidade Federal do Paraná. Population: pregnancies of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive women who were using crack cocaine (n=64) were compared with that of non-users (n=826) from 2005 to 2013. Prenatal medical records, delivery records, and newborn records were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: The vertical transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the group of crack cocaine users was 9.37% (6) versus 2.54% (21) among non-users (p=0.009744). Results: Over the years of the study, there was a decrease in the vertical transmission rate in non-users, while this number remained constant in the group of users. When analyzing the cases of perinatal transmission, it was found that 83.34% (5) had inadequate prenatal care, and 100% (6) had inadequate Human Immunodeficiency Virus treatment, compared to the group in which there was no vertical transmission, where 65.52% (38) had inadequate prenatal care and 70.86% (41) had inadequate treatment. Conclusion: Vertical transmission is higher among crack cocaine users and did not decrease over the years of the study, as occurred among non-users. Trends that explain this increase were non-adherence to adequate prenatal care, Human Immunodeficiency Virus diagnosis during pregnancy, irregular treatment, absence of intrapartum antiretroviral prophylaxis, and vaginal delivery route.

A contaminação pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana é uma infecção prevalente ocorrida na gravidez. A implantação de um programa de rastreamento e prevenção da transmissão vertical é um campo tão importante na saúde pública. Neste caso, a gestante, usuária de crack, pode estar com alguma dificuldade de testagem e adesão à administração da terapia antirretroviral altamente ativa. Objetivo: Analisar os casos de gestantes vírus da imunodeficiência humana positivas e usuárias de crack atendidas na maternidade do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná entre 2005 e 2013. Propõe-se avaliar se o uso de crack aumenta a transmissão vertical do vírus da imunodeficiência humana e, caso isso ocorra, quais seriam os possíveis fatores que explicariam esse aumento. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo, com análise de prontuários da obstetrícia (prénatal), do atendimento ao parto, da ficha de avaliação do recém-nascido e do prontuário de evolução do recém-nato. Foi comparada a taxa de transmissão perinatal de vírus da imunodeficiência humana de usuárias (n=64) e não usuárias de crack (n=826) no período de 2005 a 2013. Posteriormente, analisando apenas os casos de uso de crack, foram pareados os grupos com e sem transmissão vertical, avaliando condições sociais, condições do recém-nato, tratamento adequado para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana durante a gestação, entre outras variáveis. Resultados: A transmissão vertical de vírus da imunodeficiência humana foi de 9,37% em usuárias de crack e de 2,54% em não usuárias, com alta significância estatística (p=0,009744). Ao longo dos anos do estudo, houve um decréscimo da taxa de transmissão vertical em não usuárias de crack, enquanto nas usuárias esse número permaneceu constante. Nos casos de transmissão vertical, 83,34% das pacientes tiveram um pré-natal inadequado e em 100% o tratamento para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana na gestação foi inadequado em comparação com o grupo no qual não houve transmissão vertical, em que o pré-natal inadequado foi de 65,52% e o tratamento inadequado foi de 70,86%. O uso de adequada profilaxia antirretroviral intraparto se mostrou um dos principais fatores diretamente associados com a proteção contra a transmissão vertical (p=0,065). Conclusão: A transmissão vertical de vírus da imunodeficiência humana é maior em usuárias de crack e não se mostrou em queda ao longo dos anos do estudo, como ocorreu nas não usuárias. Foram encontradas tendências que explicam esse aumento, por exemplo não adesão ao pré-natal adequado, diagnóstico do vírus da imunodeficiência humana durante a gestação, tratamento irregular, ausência de profilaxia antirretroviral intraparto e via de parto vaginal. Prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascer foram maiores nos recém-natos das usuárias em relação aos índices encontrados na literatura do país. Fica evidenciada a necessidade de atendimento diferenciado para essas gestantes, visto que elas não obedecem às medidas adotadas até o momento para o controle da transmissão vertical.

Higher congenital transmission rate of Trypanosoma cruzi associated with family history of congenital transmission

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Congenital transmission (CT) of Trypanosoma cruzi has led to globalization of Chagas disease and its growing relevance as a public health problem. Although the occurrence of CT has been associated with several factors, its mechanisms are still unknown. This study aimed to analyze the geographical and familiar variables of mothers and their association with CT of Chagas disease in a population living in non-endemic areas of Argentina for the last decades. METHODS: We developed a retrospective cohort study in a sample of 2120 mother-child pairs who attended three reference centers in the cities of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Salta between 2002 and 2015. RESULTS: The highest CT rates were observed in children born to Argentinean mothers (10.7%) and in children born to mothers from Buenos Aires (11.7%). Considering the areas of origin of the mothers, those from areas of null-low risk for vector-borne infection had higher CT rates than those from areas of medium-high risk (11.1% vs 8.2%). We also observed a significant intra-familiar "cluster effect," with CT rates of 35.9% in children with an infected sibling, compared to 8.2% in children without infected siblings (RR=4.4 95% CI 2.3-8.4). CONCLUSIONS: The associations observed suggest a higher CT rate in children born to mothers who acquired the infection congenitally, with familiar antecedents, and from areas without the presence of vectors. These observations are considered new epidemiological evidence about Chagas disease in a contemporary urban population, which may contribute to the study of CT and may also be an interesting finding for healthcare professionals.

Transmissão vertical tardia do vírus da imunodeficiência humana via aleitamento materno: análise de casos de infecção pediátrica com história materna soronegativa durante a gestação / Late postnatal mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus through breastfeeding: analysis of infant cases of previously seronegative mothers infected during lactation

Na faixa etária de 0 a 5 anos, considera-se a transmissão vertical o indicador da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). A principal via de exposição pós-natal ocorre pelo aleitamento materno. Quando a infecção aguda materna se dá no período puerperal, há maior risco de infecção infantil, devido à elevada carga viral materna. Objetivo: Avaliar as formas de infecção pediátrica pelo HIV no serviço de Infectologia Pediátrica do Complexo do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), com ênfase na transmissão vertical tardia via aleitamento materno. Métodos: Estudo transversal e analítico, com coleta de dados retrospectiva, avaliando pacientes de 0 a 16 anos infectados pelo vírus HIV, acompanhados de 2010 a 2015. Realizada análise da categoria de exposição por protocolo geral, seguida de protocolo específico para casos sugestivos de transmissão vertical tardia via aleitamento materno, objetivando compreender as características maternas e pediátricas. Resultados: Dos 122 pacientes incluídos, 95,0% foram infectados via transmissão vertical. Desses, 11 (9,5%) casos foram de infecção tardia ­ possível ou confirmada ­ via aleitamento materno. Ao diagnóstico da criança, 72,7% apresentaram sintomas decorrentes da infecção pelo HIV. Em 45,4% desses casos, mães e filhos foram diagnosticados concomitantemente e 72,7% das mães apresentaram categoria de exposição sexual. Conclusão: A transmissão vertical confirmou-se como a principal forma de contaminação pelo vírus HIV, com importante prevalência da infecção tardia pelo aleitamento materno. Essa observação, a gravidade dos sintomas pediátricos, o momento do diagnóstico e categoria de exposição maternos destacam a importância da busca de medidas profiláticas e avanços científicos que objetivem a redução da transmissão do HIV via leite materno

Vertical transmission is considered an indication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children aged below five years. The main postnatal category of exposure is through breastfeeding. When maternal infection occurs in early postnatal period, the risk of infant infection is even higher, due to a high maternal viral rate in this period. Objective: To evaluate HIV infection in infants assisted by the Pediatric Infectology Service of Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, emphasizing the cases where vertical transmission occurred postnatally through breastfeeding. Methods: Transversal, analytical and descriptive study, with quantitative and qualitative approach, analyzing all HIV-infected patients aged 0 to 16 years, assisted between 2010 and 2015. The analysis of category of exposure was carried out by a general protocol, followed by a specific protocol for cases where transmission was suspected to have occurred due to late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding, aiming at understanding pediatric and maternal characteristics. Results: Records from 122 patients were analyzed, with 95.0% of mother-to-child-transmission cases. Between these cases, 11 (9.5%) were considered possible or confirmed late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding, having the presence of breastfeeding as a requirement. By the time of diagnosis, 72.7% presented symptoms of HIV infection. In 45.4% of these cases, mother and children were diagnosed at the same time, and 72.7% of mothers were infected sexually. Conclusion: Mother­to­childtransmission was the main responsible for infant infection and there was a significant prevalence of late postnatal transmission through breastfeeding in our sample. Moreover, the severity of infant symptoms, the moment of diagnosis and mother's category of exposure highlight a gap on HIV prevention, and the importance of finding prophylactic measures and scientific improvement in order to reduce HIV transmission through breastfeeding

Avaliação dos fatores associados à transmissão vertical de HIV-1 / Evaluation of factors associated with vertical HIV-1 transmission

Resumo Objetivo Comparar a prevalência e os fatores associados à transmissão vertical de HIV-1 entre grávidas tratadas de 1998-2004 e de 2005-2011 em um serviço de referência de cuidado de pacientes com HIV no sul do Brasil. Métodos Estudo descritivo e analítico que usou as bases de dados de laboratórios da Rede Nacional de Laboratórios de CD4 e Carga Viral de DST/Aids do Ministério da Saúde. As grávidas com HIV-1 foram selecionadas em uma pesquisa ativa de informações clínicas e dados obstétricos e neonatais em seus prontuários médicos entre 1998-2011. Resultados Foram analisadas 102 grávidas entre 1998 e 2004 e 251 entre 2005-2011, no total 353 crianças nascidas de grávidas com HIV-1. Observou-se que a transmissão vertical foi de 11,8% entre 1998 e 2004 e de 3,2% entre 2005-2011 (p < 0,001). O maior uso de medicamentos antirretrovirais (p = 0,02), a redução na carga viral (p < 0,001) e o tempo de ruptura de membranas menor do que quatro horas (p < 0,001) foram associados à redução nos fatores de transmissão vertical quando os dois períodos são comparados. Conclusão Observou-se uma redução na taxa de transmissão vertical nos últimos anos. De acordo com as variáveis estudadas, sugere-se que os fatores de risco de transmissão vertical de HIV-1 foram ausência de terapia antirretroviral, alta carga viral das grávidas e tempo de ruptura maior do que quatro horas.

Abstract Objective To compare the prevalence and factors associated with vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) among pregnant women treated in the periods of 1998-2004 and 2005-2011 in a reference service for the care of HIV-infected patients in southern Brazil. Methods This was a descriptive and analytical study that used the databases of laboratories from the CD4 and STDs/AIDS Viral Load National Laboratory Network of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. HIV-1-infected pregnant women were selected after an active search for clinical information and obstetric and neonatal data from their medical records between the years of 1998 and 2011. Results 102 pregnant women were analyzed between 1998 and 2004 and 251 in the period between 2005 and 2011, totaling 353 children born to pregnant women with HIV-1. It was observed that the vertical transmission rate was 11.8% between 1998 and 2004 and 3.2% between 2005 and 2011 (p < 0.001). The increased use of antiretroviral drugs (p = 0.02), the decrease in viral load (p < 0.001), and time of membrane rupture lower than 4 h (p < 0.001) were associated with the decrease of vertical transmission factors when comparing the two periods. Conclusion It was observed a decrease in the rate of vertical transmission in recent years. According to the studied variables, is suggested that the risk factors for vertical transmission of HIV-1 were absence of antiretroviral therapy, high viral load in the pregnant women, and membrane rupture time >4 h.

Survey of perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission after Korean National Prevention Program in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea have been organizing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical infection prevention projects since July 2002. In this single-institute study, the results of surveys conducted in target mothers who delivered babies in a tertiary hospital were investigated and analyzed. METHODS: Of the 9,281 mothers and their 9,824 neonates born between July 2002 and December 2012, 308 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and their 319 neonates were selected for this study, and their records were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 308 mothers were HBsAg-positive, with an HBV prevalence of 3.32% (308/9,281). There were 319 neonates born to these HBsAg-positive mothers, and 252 were confirmed to as either HBsAg-positive or -negative. Four were confirmed as HBsAg-positive, with a 1.59% (4/252) HBV vertical infection rate. All the mothers of neonates who had an HBV vertical infection were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Among the HBsAg-positive neonates, three were HBeAg-positive and had an HBV DNA titer of 1.0 x 10(8) copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The HBV prevalence of mothers was 3.32% (308/9,281), and their vertical infection rate was 1.59% (4/252). Thus, the South Korean HBV vertical infection prevention projects are effective, and, accordingly, HBV prevalence in South Korea is expected to decrease continuously.

Infecção experimental de embriões de frango de corte com Salmonella enterica sorovar Enteritidis fagotipo 4 / Experimental infection of broiler embryos with Salmonella enterica sorovar Enteritidis phagotype 4

Avaliou-se a infecção experimental por Salmonella Enteritidis fagotipo 4 (SEpt4) em embriões de frango de corte para averiguar a habilidade de penetração através da casca e o efeito da inoculação no albúmen, considerando-se a mortalidade, a eclodibilidade e a colonização intestinal dos pintos eclodidos. Foram realizados dois experimentos, distribuídos em quatro tratamentos (T) cada, com 200 e 194 ovos incubáveis das linhagens Ross e ISA Label, respectivamente. Utilizaram-se ovos não sanitizados e inoculados na casca com Salmonella Enteritidis (T1) ou com placebo (T2); ou inoculados no albúmen com Salmonella Enteritidis (T3) ou com placebo (T4). Imediatamente após a inoculação, os ovos foram incubados, e a mortalidade embrionária avaliada após 96, 432 e 528 horas. Salmonella Enteritidis inoculada na casca manteve-se viável na casca e nas membranas durante todo o período de incubação e migrou para o interior dos ovos, entretanto não afetou os parâmetros de incubação. O patógeno inoculado no albúmen determinou mortalidade embrionária tardia nas linhagens Ross, 17,0 por cento, e ISA Label, 13,0 por cento, e originou pintos com maior freqüência de colonização intestinal por Salmonella Enteritidis, 76,7 por cento e 26,7 por cento para Ross e ISA Label, respectivamente.

The experimental infection of Salmonella Enteritidis phagotype 4 (SEpt4) was evaluated in broilers embryos to verify the ability of penetration through eggshell and the effect of albumen inoculation considering embryo mortality, hatchability, and intestinal colonization of hatched chicks. Two trials were conducted using in four treatments each, totaling 200 and 194 fertile eggs of Ross and ISA Label lineages, respectively. Non-sanitized eggs were inoculated on the shell with Salmonella Enteritidis (Treatment 1) or placebo (Treatment 2); and eggs were inoculated in albumen with Salmonella Enteritidis (Treatment 3) or placebo (Treatment 4). Immediately after inoculation, the eggs were incubated and embryo mortality was evaluated after 96, 432, and 528 hours. The results showed that Salmonella Enteritidis inoculated on egg shell remained active there and in shell membranes during all incubation period and migrated to the interior of the eggs; however, it did not affect the incubation parameters. It was observed that Salmonella Enteritidis inoculated in albumen caused late embryo mortality in Ross (17.0 percent) and ISA Label (13.0 percent) lineages, and originated chicks with high frequency of intestinal colonization by Salmonella Enteritidis, being 76.7 percent and 26.7 percent for Ross and ISA Label, respectively.

Absence of vertical transmission of Helicobacter pylori in an experimental murine model

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is acquired mainly in early childhood but the precise transmission routes are unclear. This study examined the maternal H. pylori infection status in order to determine the potential of perinatal transmission. These issues were investigated using an experimental murine model, the Mongolian gerbil, which has been reported to be the most suitable laboratory animal model for studying H. pylori. Pregnant Mongolian gerbils, infected experimentally with H. pylori, were divided into two groups. The stomachs of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for the transmission of H. pylori at the prenatal period (2 weeks after pregnancy) and at the parturition day. The bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid urease test were used to examine the presence of the transmitted H. pylori. There was no H. pylori observed in any of the fetuses during pregnancy and in the litters at parturition. This suggests that vertical infection during the prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely to be route of mother-tochild transmission of a H. pylori infection.