Diagnóstico micológico en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana / Mycological diagnosis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Con el descubrimiento del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en 1981, la frecuencia de las infecciones oportunistas en pacientes inmunodeprimidos, especialmente los infectados por el VIH, ha experimentado un notable incremento. Dentro de éstas se encuentran las de etiología fúngica, las cuales presentan un alto grado de mortalidad si no son diagnosticadas y tratadas a tiempo. En nuestro país con la instauración de la terapia antirretroviral altamente efectiva a partir del año 2001, se ha notado una reducción significativa en la morbilidad y la mortalidad por infecciones oportunistas, en particular por las micosis, muy comunes en este tipo de pacientes. En el presente estudio se realizó el diagnóstico micológico procedente de pacientes infectados por el VIH/sida, durante el período comprendido entre enero 2005 y diciembre de 2009. De un total de 1173 muestras biológicas procesadas, solamente resultaron positivas 324 para un 27,6% de positividad. La candidiasis orofaríngea y la meningoencefalitis criptococóccica fueron las infecciones diagnosticadas con una mayor incidencia. En las muestras analizadas la concordancia en la positividad entre el examen directo y el examen por cultivo micológico fue de un 56,2%, lo que confirma la importancia del empleo del examen directo en la visualización de estructuras fúngicas a partir de muestras clínicas

With the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1981, the frequency of the opportunistic infections in the immunosuppressed patients, especially the infected ones by the HIV, it has experienced a notable increase. Inside these there are those of micotic aetiology, which present a high grade of mortality, if they are not diagnosed and treated on time. In our country with the instauration of the highly effective antirretroviral therapy since the year 2001, a significant reduction has been seen in the morbidity and the mortality of the opportunistic infections, specialle those caused by fungus, in this type of patients. In the present study the positividad was analyzed in the mycological diagnosis realized by conventional methods of the different clinical samples received in the National Laboratory of Reference of Mycology, from patients infected with HIV/aids during the period between January 2005 and December 2009. Of a whole of 1173 biological samples processed only 324 turned out positive, for 27, 6 % of positivity, being the oropharingeal candidiasis and the cryptococcal meningoencefalitis, those of major incidence observed. In the clinical samples analyzed, a concordance of 56,2 % was obtained in the positividad of the samples studied by means of direct examination and mycologycal cultures, which confirms the importance of direct preparations of clinical samples for the visualization of fungal elements from clinical samples

Invasive aspergillosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and cardiac postoperative complication / Aspergilose invasiva associada ao lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e a complicação cardíaca pós-operatória

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus which can cause a variety ofclinical syndromes. This fungus has emerged as agent of systemic infections and has therefore gained considerable public health importance. This paper describes two cases of invasive aspergillosis caused by A. fumigatus in immuno-suppressed patients and underscores the importance of early identification of Aspergillus infection associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and cardiac postoperative complications.

Aspergillus é um fungo ubíquito que pode causar uma variedade de síndromes clínicas. Este fungo tem emergido como agente de infecções sistêmicas e tem conquistado considerável importância para saúde pública. Este trabalho descreve dois casos de aspergilose invasiva causada por A. fumigatus em pacientes imunossuprimidos e relata a importância da identificação precoce em infecção por Aspergillus associada ao lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e a complicações cardíacas pós-operatórias.