Prevalence of toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis and rubella in a population of puerperal women using Whatman 903® filter paper

OBJECTIVES: to determine the seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis and rubella in a population of puerperal women. METHODS: a prospective, cross-sectional study was performed from February 2007 to April 2008 at Hospital Geral, Universidade de Caxias do Sul in a population of 1,510 puerperal women. Women that gave birth to live born or stillborn infants were included in the study; maternal and perinatal variables were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square with occasional Fisher's correction were used for comparisons. Alpha was set in 5 percent. RESULTS: a total of 148 cases of congenital infection (9.8 percent) were identified: 66 cases of syphilis (4.4 percent), 40 cases of HIV (2.7 percent), 27 cases of toxoplasmosis (1.8 percent) and 15 cases of rubella (1.0 percent). In ten cases there was co-infection (four cases of HIV and syphilis, two cases of HIV and rubella, one case of HIV and toxoplasmosis, two cases of rubella and syphilis, and one case of toxoplasmosis and rubella). In a comparison between puerperal women with and without infection there was no statistical significance in relation to incidence of abortions, small for gestational age, prematurity, live births and stillbirths, and prenatal care. Need of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), maternal schooling, maternal age higher than 35 years and drug use (alcohol, cocaine and crack) had statistical significance. CONCLUSION: the prevalence rate of infections was 9.8 percent. Need of NICU, maternal schooling lower than eight years, maternal age higher than 35 years and drug use were significantly associated with occurrence of congenital infection.

Avaliação do InstantScreen na rotina, um ensaio ultra rápido para detecção de anticorpos anti-HIV-1/2 / Evaluation of InstantScreen under routine, an ultra rapid HIV-1/2 assay for the detection of HIV antibodies

Objetivo: Avaliar o InstantScreen Rapid HIV-1/2(GAIFAR GmbH, Alemanha), em condições de rotina em Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil. Métodos: 781 amostras de soro coletadas de doadores de sangue, de pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (SIDA), de gestantes e de crianças (<12 meses de idade) atendidas em instituições de saúde locais. Os testes foram realizados entre o dia 1 de abril até 20 de dezembro de 2001. O soro foi pesquisado para a presença de anticorpos anti HIV pelo InstantScreen assim como por testes de referência (Genscreen HIV 1/2 Vrsion 2, sanofi Pasteur; ICE HIV 1.0.2, Murex Diagnostics e Abbott Axsym HIV-1/HIV-2, Abbott Diagnostics. Resultados: 780 amostras testadas obtiveram os seguintes dados de desempenho: sensibilidade (IC = 95%) 160/160 = 100% (98-100%), especificidade (IC = 95%) 620/620 = 100% (99-100%). conclusão: O teste se mostrou de alta confiabilidade. As membranas do teste podem ser removidas, servindo de opção para a documentação permanente. Devido à facilidade de execução, o teste é adequado para ser utilizado nas mais variadas condições de trabalho.