[Determinants of HIV mother-to-child transmission in Catalonia, Spain [1997-2001]: is it possible to eliminate it?]. / Determinantes de la transmisión vertical del VIH en Cataluña (1997-2001): ¿es posible su eliminación?

OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe the factors that have led to new cases of HIV infection through mother-to-child transmission since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-seropositive pregnant women (1997-2001) in Catalonia. METHODS: Systematic review of cases identified in the pediatric services of all the hospitals in Catalonia. RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases of pediatric HIV infection were identified: 9, 9, 8, 2 and 0 per year of birth from 1997 to 2001, respectively. Of 16 mothers with a diagnosis of known HIV infection before or during pregnancy, nine underwent antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy (compliance was good in five, unknown in one and poor in one) and seven did not undergo prophylaxis (six refused it and no information was available in one). Of 12 mothers diagnosed after delivery, pregnancy was not monitored in five and was little or well-monitored in the remaining seven. Of mothers with well-monitored pregnancy, a serological HIV test was not performed in six and was negative in the first trimester in one. CONCLUSIONS: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV has decreased in the last few years in Catalonia, but infections have sometimes occurred through poor implementation of preventive measures. Pregnant women should be offered an HIV diagnostic test not only in the first trimester but also at the end of pregnancy if HIV exposure is suspected. In women with unmonitored pregnancies, rapid diagnostic tests for HIV should be used in the delivery room.

Determinantes de la transmisión vertical del VIH en Cataluña(1997-2001): ¿es posible su eliminación? / Determinants of HIV mother-to-child transmission in Catalonia, Spain [1997-2001]: is it possible to eliminate it?

Objetivos: Identificar y describir los factores que han hecho posible la existencia de nuevas infecciones de VIH por transmisión vertical desde la implementación del tratamiento antirretroviral en la gestante seropositiva (1997-2001) en Cataluña.Métodos: Revisión sistemática de casos identificados en servicios de pediatría de todos los hospitales de Cataluña.Resultados: Se identificaron 28 casos de infección pediátrica por VIH: 9, 9, 8, 2 y 0 por año de nacimiento de 1997 a 2001, respectivamente. De 16 madres con diagnóstico de infección por VIH conocido antes o durante el embarazo, 9 realizaron profilaxis antirretroviral durante éste (5 con buena adhesión, uno desconocido y el resto con mala adhesión) y 7 no realizaron profilaxis (6 por rechazo y uno no se conoce).De 12 diagnosticadas después del parto, 5 fueron embarazos no controlados y el resto poco o bien controlados. De estos últimos, en 6 no se practicó serología para VIH y en uno fue negativa en el primer trimestre.Conclusiones: La transmisión vertical del VIH en Cataluña ha disminuido en los últimos años, pero se han producido infecciones por la mala implementación en algún caso de las medidas preventivas conocidas. Debería ofrecerse la prueba diagnóstica para VIH a toda gestante no sólo en el primer trimestre de embarazo sino también al final, si se sospecha exposición al virus, y en caso de gestaciones no controladas hay que usar pruebas diagnósticas de lectura rápida en la sala de partos. (AU)

Aplicación de los métodos de amplificación molecular para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la infección por el VIH-1 en niños infectados por transmisión vertical / Application of molecular amplification methods to the diagnosis and follow-up of HIV-1 infection in children infected by vertical transmission

Fundamento: Describir mediante métodos moleculares la transmisión vertical por el VIH-1. Pacientes y métodos: Seguimiento prospectivo realizado durante 1995-1998 en dos grupos de pacientes: grupo A, 107 recién nacidos hijos de madre que sabían que estaban infectadas por el VIH-1, y grupo B, 11 lactantes con sospecha clínica de infección por el VIH y desconocimiento de la infección en la madre. Se estudiaron ADN y ARN mediante PCR (reacción en cadena de la polimerasa). Estudio de mutaciones genotípicas del gen RT. Resultados: Se diagnosticaron 11 pacientes infectados, 4 del grupo A y 7 del B. Todos presentaban carga viral superior a 100.000 copias/ml. En 10 pacientes no se detectaron mutaciones. Conclusión: El diagnóstico de la transmisión vertical por el VIH-1 puede realizarse de forma precoz y urgente mediante métodos de amplificación molecular. (AU)

[Neonatal sepsis by Malassezia furfur.]. / Sepsis neonatal por Malassezia furfur.

We report one case of neonatal sepsis caused by Malassezia furfur in an infant who had been in the Intensive Care Unit for 64 days. She had received prolonged therapy with intravenous fat emulsion. We used Sabouraud's medium with an overlay of sterile olive oil for the blood culture, because we had observed yeast forms in one smear of peripheral blood. M. furfur was isolated after three days of incubation. The patient recovered following removal of the port-a-cath and antifungal treatment, and had no further evidence of fungal infection. The skin colonization by the same yeast was demonstrated.

[Study of the viral etiology of lower respiratory tract infections in a neonatal unit]. / Estudio de la etiología viral de las infecciones del tracto respiratorio inferior en una unidad de lactantes.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible viral etiology in 139 infants with lower respiratory tract infection who required hospitalization in the Infant Unit of our hospital, from October 1994 to June 1995. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 139 patients were admitted, aged from 13 days to 14 months, during this period. The etiological agent was detected by direct immunofluorescence from nasopharyngeal secretions. Monoclonal antibodies were used against Respiratory Syncitial Virus, Influenza A Virus, Influenza B Virus, Adenovirus and Parainfluenza 3 Virus. Antibody detection against these viruses by Complement Fixation Test was done on 29 of these patients, with paired sera (acute and convalescent phase). RESULTS: In 82 patients (59%) we found at least one viral agents from the nasopharyngeal specimens, but in 64 of these only one was detected, in the remaining 18, there were more than one. Significant levels of antibodies were detected in only six of the 29 patients tested. Serology was negative in the remaining 23 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Syncitial Respiratory Virus is the first virus responsible for the lower respiratory tract infection in this age group (49%). There was no correlation between serological diagnosis and antigen detection.