Mucosal leishmaniasis: the experience of a Brazilian referral center

Abstract INTRODUCTION Pentavalent antimonials (Sbv) are the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), despite their high toxicity and only moderate efficacy. The aim of this study was to report therapeutic responses with different available options for ML. METHODS This study was based on a review of clinical records of 35 patients (24 men and 11 women) treated between 2009 and 2015. RESULTS The median age of patients was 63 years, and the median duration of the disease was 24 months. Seventeen patients received Sbv, while nine patients were treated with liposomal amphotericin B (AmB), and another nine patients were treated with fluconazole. Patients treated with AmB received a total median accumulated dose of 2550mg. The mean duration of azole use was 120 days, and the daily dose ranged from 450 to 900mg. At the three-month follow-up visit, the cure rate was 35%, 67%, and 22% for Sbv, AmB, and azole groups, respectively. At the six-month follow-up visit, the cure rates for Sbv, AmB, and azole groups were 71%, 78%, and 33%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS There is a scarcity of effective ML treatment alternatives, and based on our observations, fluconazole is not a valid treatment option.

Towards a standard protocol for antimony intralesional infiltration technique for cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment

BACKGROUND Despite its recognised toxicity, antimonial therapy continues to be the first-line drug for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment. Intralesional administration of meglumine antimoniate (MA) represents an alternative that could reduce the systemic absorption of the drug and its side effects. OBJECTIVES This study aims to validate the standard operational procedure (SOP) for the intralesional infiltration of MA for CL therapy as the first step before the assessment of efficacy and safety related to the procedure. METHODS The SOP was created based on 21 trials retrieved from the literature, direct monitoring of the procedure and consultation with experts. This script was submitted to a formal computer-aided inspection to identify readability, clarity, omission, redundancy and unnecessary information (content validation). For criterion and construct validations, the influence of critical condition changes (compliance with the instructions and professional experience) on outcome conformity (saturation status achievement), tolerability (pain referred) and safety (bleeding) were assessed. FINDINGS The median procedure length was 12 minutes and in 72% of them, patients classified the pain as mild. The bleeding was also classified as mild in 96.6% of the procedures. Full compliance with the SOP was observed in 66% of infiltrations. Despite this, in 100% of the inspected procedures, lesion saturation was observed at the end of infiltration, which means that it tolerates some degree of modification in its execution (robustness) without prejudice to the result. CONCLUSIONS The procedure is reproducible and can be used by professionals without previous training with high success and safety rates.

Meglumine antimoniate intralesional infiltration for localised cutaneous leishmaniasis: a single arm, open label, phase II clinical trial

BACKGROUND Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a world-wide health problem which currently lacks effective, affordable and easy to use therapy. Recently, the meglumine antimoniate (MA) intralesional infiltration was included among the acceptable therapies for New World leishmaniasis. While this approach is attractive, there is currently little evidence to support its use in Americas. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to provide information about effectiveness and safety of a standardised MA intralesional infiltration technique for the treatment of CL. METHODS It is a single-arm phase II clinical trial conducted at a Brazilian referral centre. CL cases with parasitological confirmation presenting a maximum of three CL-compatible skin lesions were treated with weekly MA intralesional infiltration by using a validated technique, up to a maximum of eight infiltrations. RESULTS A total of 53 patients (62 lesions) were included. Overall, patients received a median of seven infiltrations (IQR25-75% 5-8) over a median treatment period of 43 days (IQR25-75% 28-52 days). The definitive cure rate at D180 was 87% (95% CI:77-96%). The majority of adverse events were local, with mild or moderate intensity. Bacterial secondary infection of the lesion site was observed in 13% of the treated patients, beside two intensity-three adverse events (hypersensitivity reactions).

Intralesional meglumine antimoniate for the treatment of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis: a retrospective review of a Brazilian referral centre

Although intralesional meglumine antimoniate (MA) infiltration is considered an option for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) therapy and is widely used in the Old World, there have been few studies supporting this therapeutic approach in the Americas. This study aims to describe outcomes and adverse events associated with intralesional therapy for CL. This retrospective study reviewed the experience of a Brazilian leishmaniasis reference centre using intralesional MA to treat 31 patients over five years (2008 and 2013). The median age was 63 years (22-86) and the median duration time of the lesions up to treatment was 16 weeks. In 22 patients (71%), intralesional therapy was indicated due to the presence of contraindications or previous serious adverse events with systemic MA. Other indications were failure of systemic therapy or ease of administration. Intralesional treatment consisted of one-six infiltrations (median three) for a period of up to 12 weeks. The initial (three months) and definitive (six months) cure rates were 70.9% and 67.7%, respectively. Most patients reported mild discomfort during infiltration and no serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, these results show that the intralesional MA efficacy rate was very similar to that of systemic MA treatment, and reinforce the need for further studies with adequate design to establish the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic approach.

Emergência do vírus Influenza A-H1N1 2009 no Brasil: a propósito do primeiro caso humano de doença respiratória aguda grave em Minas Gerais / Emergency in influenza A-H1N1 in 2009 in Brazil: about the first human case of severe acute respiratory disease in Minas General

Este relato apresenta as características clínico-epidemiológicas do primeiro caso de doença respiratória aguda grave pelo vírus Influenza A-H1N1 2009 registrado em Minas Gerais, com melhora após 68 dias de internação hospitalar. O paciente era do gênero masculino, Terceira década de vida, com índice de massa corpórea entre 30 e 40, sem outras comorbidades. A internação hospitalar foi necessária devido ao desenvolvimento, em uma semana desde o início de sua sintomatologia, de dispneia de rápida progressão para insuficiência respiratória e necessidade de suporte de ventilação mecânica (VM) devido à síndrome de angústia respiratória do adulto. Houve também o surgimento de rabdomiólise e insuficiência renal aguda. O início da sintomatologia ocorreu por volta da 24a semana epidemiológica, em Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), sem contato aparente com caso suspeito ou comprovado. A característica sintomatológica inicial foi de aumento da temperatura corpórea, tosse, mialgia, e rinorreia. A telerradiografia de tórax revelou inicialmente consolidação na base direita, com progressão rápida para múltiplas consolidações em vários lobos, sem aumentoda área cardíaca. Os parâmetros necessários para a VM, que perdurou por 40 dias, foram de pressão expiratória final positiva de 20 cmH2O, fração inspirada de oxigênio de 100 por cento, pressão inspiratória de 37 cmH2O, relação inspiração/expiração de 1:1,5 e saturimetria de pulso de 75 por cento. Surgiu hipotensão após a sedação para a intubação, revertida pela infusão de 1.000 mL de NaCl 0,9 por cento e norepinefrina. A terapia de substituição da função renal foi necessária durante 27 dias e realizada por intermédio da hemodiálise. O oseltamivir foi administrado por sete dias. Houve o desenvolvimento de infecções hospitalares associadas aos seguintes agentes: Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter baumannii meticilina-resistente e Candida albicans. Os antibióticos e antifúngicos usados, em algum momento de sua evolução, foram...

Emergência do vírus influenza A-H1N1 no Brasil: a propósito do primeiro caso humano em Minas Gerais / Emergence of influenza A-H1N1 virus in Brazil: the purpose of the first human case in Minas Gerais

Este relato apresenta as características clínico-epidemiológicas do primeiro caso de infecção pelo vírus influenza A-H1N1 registrado em Minas Gerais. A internação hospitalar foi realizada com todos os cuidados de controle respiratório, em quarto com pressão negativa e de contacto. A paciente esteve em Cancun (México) em viagem de lazer, retornando a Belo Horizonte com sintomatologia caracterizada por tosse, rinorreia, mal-estar, permanecendo 36 horas em contacto com seus familiares até procurar atenção médica, quando foi internada. Evoluiu com melhora progressiva, permanecendo internada por 10 dias. Ao final desse período, estava restabelecida, sem queixas ou anormalidades. Não houve sintomatologia em seus familiares em Belo Horizonte. Seu marido, que esteve sempre ao seu lado, também apresentou sintomatologia semelhante, sem ter sido isolado o vírus influenza A H1N1.

This report presents the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the first case of infection with influenza A virus H1N1-registered in Minas Gerais. The hospital has carefully conducted the respiratory control in room with negative pressure and contact. The patient has been in Cancun (Mexico) on a leisure trip, returning to Belo Horizonte with symptoms characterized by cough, rhinorrhea, malaise, staying for 36 hours in contact with relatives to seek medical attention when she was hospitalized. Evolved with progressive improvement and remained in hospital for 10 days. At the end of this period she was recovered, without complaints or abnormalities. There was no report of symptoms in the relatives in Belo Horizonte. Her husband who has always been at her side has also presented similar symptoms and has been isolated with the virus influenza A H1N1.