Meglumine antimoniate was associated with a higher cure rate than liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of American tegumentary leishmaniasis: A retrospective cohort study from a Leishmania braziliensis-endemic area.

Background: Pentavalent antimonials (PAs) are the primary therapeutic option for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). However, the use of these drugs is complicated by adverse events (AEs), resistance and contraindications. Alternative therapies relative effectiveness is not well established. Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of liposomal amphotericin B (LAB) with intravenous meglumine antimoniate (NMG) in the treatment of ATL. We also analysed and compared associated AEs and treatment interruption rates. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from Brazil. The potential risk factors for the primary outcome were age, sex, total cutaneous lesion area, presence of mucosal lesions, AEs and treatment interruption. The primary outcome was lesion healing within 6 months of treatment. AEs and treatment interruption were also analysed. Multiple analytic strategies were employed to evaluate the reliability of the results. Results: Before propensity score (PS) matching, patients in the LAB group were older and had a higher frequency of mucosal lesions. The NMG group had a higher cure rate than the LAB group (cure rate 88% versus 55% respectively) in the adjusted analysis (relative risk (RR)=1.55 95% CI: 1.19 - 2.02) and after PS matching (RR=1.63 95% CI: 1.20 - 2.21). NMG group had a higher AE rate (event rate 52% versus 44%) in the adjusted analysis (RR= 1.61, 95% CI: 1.06 - 2.43, p=0.02), but this result was not observed after PS matching (RR= 0.87, 95% CI: 0.49 -1.52, p= 0.61). Conclusions: We observed that the NMG group had a higher cure rate than the LAB group, with an equivocally higher EV rate in the adjusted analysis.

The interference of polypharmacy and the importance of clinical pharmacy advice in the treatment of leprosy: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Although supervised doses are essential for reducing leprosy treatment failure, the impact of specific drug interactions has rarely been assessed. This study aimed to estimate the risk of leprosy treatment suspension in patients receiving polypharmacy. METHODS We performed this case-control study in which the primary outcome was defined as the need to discontinue multibacillary leprosy treatment for at least one supervised dose, and the main risk factor was the detection of polypharmacy. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression was used for calculating odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: This study included 103 patients, of whom 43 needed to discontinue leprosy treatment (hemolysis = 26, hepatitis = 2, hemolysis associated with hepatitis = 6, and suspected treatment resistance = 9) and the rest did not. The severity of drug interactions had no effect on treatment discontinuation. Patients who used five or more drugs in addition to leprosy treatment had almost a 4-fold greater risk of treatment suspension (OR, 3.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.79-9.12; p < 0.001). The number of drugs used also positively influenced the occurrence of hemolysis (p < 0.001). No patient presented evidence of molecular resistance to rifampicin, dapsone, or ofloxacin treatment, as evidenced by genetic sequencing detection of rpoB, folp1, and gyrA mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy has deleterious effects on the already difficult-to-adhere-to treatment of leprosy and polypharmacy induces hemolysis. Additional measures must be taken to avoid the undesirable effects of inadequate polypharmacy.

The interference of polypharmacy and the importance of clinical pharmacy advice in the treatment of leprosy: a case-control study

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Although supervised doses are essential for reducing leprosy treatment failure, the impact of specific drug interactions has rarely been assessed. This study aimed to estimate the risk of leprosy treatment suspension in patients receiving polypharmacy. METHODS We performed this case-control study in which the primary outcome was defined as the need to discontinue multibacillary leprosy treatment for at least one supervised dose, and the main risk factor was the detection of polypharmacy. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression was used for calculating odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: This study included 103 patients, of whom 43 needed to discontinue leprosy treatment (hemolysis = 26, hepatitis = 2, hemolysis associated with hepatitis = 6, and suspected treatment resistance = 9) and the rest did not. The severity of drug interactions had no effect on treatment discontinuation. Patients who used five or more drugs in addition to leprosy treatment had almost a 4-fold greater risk of treatment suspension (OR, 3.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.79-9.12; p < 0.001). The number of drugs used also positively influenced the occurrence of hemolysis (p < 0.001). No patient presented evidence of molecular resistance to rifampicin, dapsone, or ofloxacin treatment, as evidenced by genetic sequencing detection of rpoB, folp1, and gyrA mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy has deleterious effects on the already difficult-to-adhere-to treatment of leprosy and polypharmacy induces hemolysis. Additional measures must be taken to avoid the undesirable effects of inadequate polypharmacy.

Implantação de grupos operativos na Estratégia Saúde da Família de Presidente Bernardes

A Atenção Básica à Saúde apresenta como uma de suas diretrizes estimular a participação popular, visando sua autonomia e capacidade de autocuidado. Para tal, as ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde são essenciais, especialmente as atividades de grupos operativos. Por ocasião do diagnóstico situacional, observou-se que a Unidade Básica de Saúde prestava atendimento somente de demanda espontânea e de visitas domiciliares e inexistiam grupos operativos, apesar da necessidade educativa de usuários portadores de doenças crônico-degenerativas, mães participantes da puericultura e gestantes. Portanto, este trabalho objetiva elaborar um plano de intervenção para a implantação de grupos operativos voltados para usuários do hiperdia, pré-natal e puericultura, na Estratégia de Saúde da Família Anjos da Saúde do Município de Presidente Bernardes. Foram realizadas uma série de atividades de educação dentro dos grupos operativos criados. A partir dos resultados, pode ser observada mudança satisfatória com a presença de grande parte dos pacientes cadastrados nos grupos operativos, inclusive com relatos de satisfação por parte dos presentes. No Pré-Natal, os grupos operativos fomentaram uma melhor participação das gestantes nas consultas, proporcionando uma assistência clínica mais periódica e humanizada, a aprendizagem da técnica correta de amamentação e a obtenção de orientações gerais. Com o grupo operativo de mães, devido à maior sensibilização sobre os benefícios da puericultura, as crianças passaram a ter acompanhamento do seu crescimento e desenvolvimento de forma seriada e programada, e não mais compareciam à unidade somente se houvesse alguma queixa clínica. No Hiperdia, com a realização do grupo operativo, observou-se maior articulação das atividades de promoção e prevenção de doenças, melhor controle dos níveis pressóricos e da glicemia, bem como melhoria da qualidade de vida. Assim, conclui-se que a implantação dos grupos operativos foi de suma importância para a efetivação dos programas de prevenção e promoção da saúde, devendo estar atrelada à participação efetiva de todos os profissionais da rede para realizar ações integrais e não fragmentadas.