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Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) is the major form of acquiring the disease among children. The loss to follow-up (LTF) of mothers and their children is a problem that affects the effectiveness of programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). The aim of this study is to identify risk factors associated with the LTF of HIV-exposed children in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out with 1200 HIV-exposed children born between 2000 and 2009, registered up to the age of 2 months in a public health PMTCT program. Children were considered LTF if they did not return for scheduled visits to monitor infection status. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for LTF., Results: A total of 185 children (15.4%; CI: 95%: 13.4-17.4%) met the case definition of LTF before the determination of serological HIV status. Risk factors independently associated with LTF were mother-child pairs who reside in rural and remote areas (OR 1.86; 95% CI: 1.30-2.66) and mothers who use illicit drugs (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.08-3.0). Initiation of the PMTCT during pregnancy was a protective factor for LTF (OR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49-0.96)., Conclusions: The decentralization of support services for HIV-exposed children to other cities in the state seems to be crucial for the accurate monitoring of outcomes. It is also important to introduce additional measures addressing mothers who are drug users so that they remain in the program: an intensive follow-up program that actively searches for absentee mother-child pairs, support from social services and treatment for drug-dependency. The findings of this study highlight the importance of diagnosing mothers as early as possible in order to conduct a more complete follow-up period of the children. Solving the above-mentioned problems is a challenge, which must be overcome so as to improve the quality of PMTCT.

Elevated levels of inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers are related to chronic diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed at evaluating the association of inflammatory cytokines and endothelial adhesion molecules with immunological, virological, and cardiometabolic disease in HIV-infected individuals. A cross-sectional study was initiated to evaluate the association of CD4 lymphocyte count, viral load, antiretroviral therapy, and metabolic and cardiovascular disease with inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)], adhesion molecules [soluble intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (sICAM) and soluble Vascular Adhesion Molecule 1 (sVCAM)], and highsensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in 125 HIV-infected patients. The associations between independent variables and biomarkers were analyzed by means of multivariate logistic regression. A viral load ≥100,000 copies/mL had a stronger association with high levels of sVCAM-1 (P=0.026; OR=2.54; CI=1.12-5.78) and TNF-α (P=0.048; OR=2.42; CI=1.01-5.85) than the current viral load using a multivariate analysis. Antiretroviral treatment was associated with lower levels of sVCAM-1 (P=0.20; OR=0.20; CI=0.05-0.78), TNF-α (P=0.060; OR=0.22; CI=0.05-1.07), and hs-CRP (P=0.093; OR=0.44; CI=0.17-1.15). CD4 counts <200 cells/mm(3) were associated with high IL-6 levels (P=0.013; OR=3.17; CI=1.27-7.91); however, antiretroviral treatment was not associated with IL-6 levels. Metabolic syndrome was associated with high hs-CRP levels, systolic hypertension was associated with IL-6 levels, and family history of coronary disease was associated with TNF-α levels. High biomarker levels were associated not only with viral and immunological characteristics but also with cardiometabolic factors. The maximum viral load attained was an important risk factor for high levels of TNF-α and sVCAM-1. Treatment protected patients from high biomarker levels, except IL-6.

Objective: This study aims at working on a systematic review of articles published on social determinants associated with the elderly mortality., Methods: We searched articles published in Portuguese, English and Spanish language periodicals from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2009, by means of Lilacs and Pubmed databases. Twenty cohort studies were identified, having most of them been developed in European, North-American and Asian countries., Results: The articles analysed provided determinant social factors significantly associated with the elderly mortality: urban/rural and intercontinental variation, be part of ethnic minorities, financial stress, living conditions, schooling, social participation, gender and race discrimination, smoking, alcoholism, physical activities, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure, marital status, equality and healthy lifestyle., Conclusion: Mortality amongst the elderly is influenced by social determinants in many levels of reach, from determinants linked to lifestyle to socioeconomic macro-determinants. The actions on these determinants must be guided by the intersectorial perspective and regarded as a priority in the health sector, seeking to provide extended longevity with good quality of life for the population.

Cardiovascular disease has emerged as a crescent problem among HIV-infected population. This study aimed to determine the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using the Framingham risk score among HIV-infected patients from three regions of Brazil. This is a pooled analysis of three cohort studies, which enrolled 3,829 individuals, 59% were men, 66% had white skin color, and mean age 39.0 ± 9.9 years. Comparisons among regions showed that there were marked differences in demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and HIV-related characteristics. Prevalence of Framingham score ≥10 was 4.5% in the Southern, 4.2% in the Midwest, and 3.9% in the Northeast of Brazil. The Framingham score ≥10 was similar between regions for males, patients aged ≥60 years, with obesity, central obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Women were three times more likely to have coronary heart disease in 10 years than men. Hypertension and diabetes increased more than four times the risk of coronary heart disease, followed by central obesity, obesity, and prehypertension. The use of antiretroviral agents and time since HIV diagnosis were not risk factors for coronary artery disease in 10 years. In conclusion, hypertension and diabetes are the strongest independent predictors of 10-year risk of coronary heart disease among HIV-infected population.

Introduction: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. The prevalence of smoking is higher in people infected with HIV than in the general population. Although it is biologically plausible that smoking increases the morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV/AIDS, few studies in developing countries have analyzed the determinants and consequences of smoking in HIV infected people., Objective: To estimate the prevalence of smoking and identify the socioeconomic factors associated with smoking and smoking cessation in patients with HIV by sex., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with baseline data, obtained from an ongoing prospective cohort study of patients with HIV attending two referral centers in Recife, Northeast Region of Brazil, between July 2007 and October 2009., Results: The prevalence of current smoking was 28.9%. For both sexes, smoking was independently associated with heavy alcohol drinking and marijuana use. Among women, smoking was associated with living alone, not being married and illiteracy; and among men, being 40 years or older, low income and using crack. Compared with ex-smokers, current smokers were younger and more likely to be unmarried, heavy drinkers and marijuana users., Conclusions: It is important to incorporate smoking cessation interventions for the treatment of heavy alcohol drinkers and marijuana users with HIV/AIDS, which may increase life expectancy and quality of life, as smoking is related to risk of death, relapse of tuberculosis, and non communicable diseases.

Objective: To identify the incidence of and risk factors for tuberculosis in people living with HIV (PLHIV)., Design: Observational, prospective cohort study., Methods: A total of 2069 HIV-infected patients was observed between July 2007 and December 2010. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the probability of survival free of tuberculosis, and Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with the development of tuberculosis., Results: Survival free of tuberculosis (TB) was 91%. The incidence rate of tuberculosis was 2.8 per 100 persons/years. Incidence of tuberculosis was higher when subjects had CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm(3); were not on antiretroviral therapy; in those who had, a body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2), anemia (or were not tested for it), were illiterate or referred previous tuberculosis treatment at entry into the cohort. Those not treated for latent TB infection had a much higher risk (HR = 7.9) of tuberculosis than those with a negative tuberculin skin test (TST). Having a TST≥5 mm but not being treated for latent TB infection increased the risk of incident tuberculosis even in those with a history of previous tuberculosis., Conclusions: Preventive actions to reduce the risk of TB in people living with HIV should include an appropriate HAART and treatment for latent TB infection in those with TST≥5 mm. The actions towards enabling rigorous implementation of treatment of latent TB infection and targeting of PLHIV drug users both at the individual and in public health level can reduce substantially the incidence of TB in PLHIV.

The factors which contribute to an exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) during the exercise treadmill test (ETT) are not wholly understood. The association between the insertion/deletion polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and M235T of the angiotensinogen with EBPR during ETT still remains unstudied. To identify and compare the risk factors for hypertension between normotensive subjects with EBPR and those who exhibit a normal curve of blood pressure (BP) during ETT. In a series of EBPR cases from a historical cohort of normotensive individuals, a univariate analysis was performed to estimate the association of the studied factors with BP behavior during ETT. Additionally, logistic multivariate regression was conducted to analyze the joint effects of the variables. P-values above 0.05 were considered statistically significant. From a total of 10,027 analyzed examinations, only 219 met the criteria employed to define EBPR, which resulted in a prevalence of 12.6%. For the systolic component of the BP, hyperreactive subjects displayed a mean age and body mass index (BMI) significantly higher than the others (P=0.002 and <0.001, respectively). No association was observed between the polymorphisms cited above and EBPR. An analysis of the joint effect of variables has indicated that only age (P< 0.001) and BMI (P=0.001) were specifically associated with systolic BP during exercise. Age and BMI were the only factors that independently influenced EBPR during ETT.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and risk factors for health care-associated pneumonia in a pediatric intensive care unit., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit with 16 medical and surgical beds in a tertiary teaching hospital in Recife, northeast Brazil., Patients: Patients aged <18 yrs were consecutively enrolled between January 2005 and June 2006 into a cohort set to investigate health care-associated infections. Newborns and patients admitted for surveillance and those staying for <24 hrs were excluded. Patients were followed up daily throughout the stay and until 48 hrs after discharge from the unit., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: This report focuses on health care-associated pneumonia, defined as pneumonia that occurs >48 hrs after admission but that was not incubating at the time of admission, as the primary outcome. Intrinsic and extrinsic variables were prospectively recorded into a standardized form. Statistical analyses, including multivariable logistic regression, were performed in Stata version 9.1. There were 765 eligible admissions. Health care-associated pneumonia occurred in 51 (6.7%) patients with an incidence density of 13.1 episodes/1,000 patient-days. There were 366 (47.8%) patients on mechanical ventilation, of whom 39 (10.7%) presented with ventilator-associated pneumonia with an incidence density of 27.1/1,000 days on ventilation. Longer stay on ventilation (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.08), use of gastric tube (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.41-5.87), and of sedatives/analgesics (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.27-4.72) were identified as independent risk factors for healthcare-associated pneumonia., Conclusion: Identification of independent predictors of health care-associated pneumonia may inform preventive measures. Strategies to optimize use of sedatives/analgesics, reduce the use of gastric tubes, and reduce the time on ventilation should be considered for inclusion in future intervention studies.

The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to compare the 1977 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards to determine the nutritional status of children attending the pediatric outpatient clinic at a university hospital in Alagoas, Brazil. We reviewed 252 hospital charts of children younger than 24 months and determined the height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height using the two standards. The sample was of low socioeconomic level and exclusively or predominantly breastfed children. TheZ-scores for both standards indicated that the children in this sample were healthy, but the WHO standard was more sensitive for the detection of growth limitations in the first 6 months of life.

Background: The Framingham score is used in most studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients to estimate the risk for coronary heart disease; however, it may have some limitations for detecting risk among these individuals., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between the Framingham and Prospective Cardiovascular of Münster (PROCAM) scores among HIV-positive individuals and to investigate the factors associated with disagreement between the two scores., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients attending the outpatient's clinics of two reference centers for HIV/AIDS in Pernambuco, Brazil. Agreement between the Framingham and PROCAM scores was evaluated using the kappa index. From this analysis, a variable called "disagreement between scores" was created, and univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the factors associated with this variable., Results: The prevalence of low, moderate, and high risk were, respectively, 78.7%, 13.5%, and 7.8% by Framingham score and 88.5%, 4.3%, and 7.2% by PROCAM (kappa = 0.64, P ≤ 0.0001). Agreement in the subgroup with metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (kappa = 0.51, P ≤ 0.0001) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) (kappa = 0.59, P ≤ 0.0001) criteria was moderate. The Framingham score identified greater proportion of women with moderate risk. Factors independently associated with disagreement were: smoking, sex, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome., Conclusion: There was a good agreement between the Framingham and PROCAM scores in HIV-positive patients, but a higher proportion of moderate-high risk was identified by the Framingham score. This disagreement should be evaluated in cohort studies to observe clinical outcomes over the course of time.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia associated with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and hypercholesterolemia is the most common metabolic disorder among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients using antiretroviral therapy. This atherogenic profile is associated with increased cardiovascular risk among these patients. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is a better parameter than low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for evaluating lipids and cardiovascular risk among patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, but studies of apoB among HIV-infected patients are scarce., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate hyperapolipoprotein B (hyperapoB) prevalence and its association with other factors among HIV-infected patients attended in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil., Results: The prevalence of hyperapoB was 32.4% among 256 patients (62.1% male), with 90 mg/dL as the cutoff point. It was associated with prolonged use (>3 years) of antiretroviral therapy [odds ratio (OR), 3.63; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-10.6], hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.22-4.91), insulin resistance according to homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.03-4.35), past history of diabetes (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.0-12.7), and hypertension (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.92-4.28). It was not associated with low HDL levels or self-report lipodystrophy. ApoB was higher in patients with metabolic syndrome according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria and in those with higher Framingham scores., Conclusions: ApoB is a good parameter for evaluating lipid levels in HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia, among whom LDL measurements may not be appropriate. ApoB might be useful for diagnosing and treating hypertriglyceridemia in this population. The association between hyperapoB and hypertriglyceridemia and diseases relating to insulin resistance among HIV-infected patients suggests that this group of patients presents higher cardiovascular risk.

Background: Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy has been reported for more than a decade, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis., Methods: A case-control study was performed that aimed to identify the risk factors for lipodystrophy in HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Pernambuco, Brazil., Results: Between July and November, 2007, a total of 332 patients were enrolled in the study: 182 cases and 150 controls. The following factors were independently associated with lipodystrophy: Use of stavudine [odds ratio (OR), 4.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3-6.9], use of didanosine (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.4), use of lopinavir/ritonavir for less than 3 years (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.0) and use of nucleoside/nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NTRIs) for more than 3 years (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6-5.2). Other associated factors were: duration of antiretroviral therapy (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 2.4-7.9) and duration of HIV infection (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8-4.7). There was no association with the use of protease inhibitor when it was adjusted for the use of NRTIs., Conclusion: In this study, factors related to antiretroviral therapy were the main risk factors for lipodystrophy, corroborating the literature, but the findings also point to the need for further exploration into some of these associations, especially with the use of didanosine and lopinavir/ritonavir, which are less frequently reported. Future studies with a larger number of patients and a prospective design could provide valuable information for understanding this disorder.

Objective: Identify risk factors for first-onset healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Medical-surgical PICU in a hospital for patients in the public healthcare system., Patients: From January 2005 to June 2006, daily surveillance was carried out on 870 patients ages 0 to 18 yrs during their stay in the PICU through to 48 hrs after discharge (5773 patient-days)., Measurements and Main Results: In 256 admissions, there were 363 episodes of HAI, with a cumulative incidence of 41.7% and a density of 62.9 of 1000 patient-days. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors were investigated and measured until occurrence of first-onset HAI (diagnosed according to Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System criteria) or until discharge or death. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, risk factors for first-onset HAI in the PICU (controlled for length of stay) were as follows: age under 2 years (odds ratio [OR]), 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]), 1.30-2.49); days on ventilator duration (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25); transfused blood products (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.08-2.06), glucocorticoids (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04-2.02) and H2 blockers (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.06)., Conclusions: Efforts toward a reduction in the exposure to extrinsic risk factors should be made, as each of these factors separately explains 30% of the risk of HAI. Interventions directed at processes related to the use of a ventilator and limitations on its duration of use should be a priority in HAI control strategies, as each day of ventilator use increases the risk of HAI.

Brazil currently accounts for the majority of dengue cases reported in the Americas, with co-circulation of DENV 1-3. Striking variation in the epidemiological pattern of infection within cities has been observed. Therefore, investigation of dengue transmission in small areas is important to formulate control strategies. A population-based household survey was performed in three diverse socio-economic and environmental areas of Recife, a large urban center of Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. Dengue serostatus and individual- and household-level risk factors for infection were collected in residents aged between 5 and 64 years. A total of 2833 individuals were examined, and their residences were geo-referenced. Anti-dengue IgG antibodies were measured using commercial ELISA. The dengue seroprevalence and the force of infection were estimated in each area. Individual and household variables associated with seropositivity were assessed by multilevel models for each area. A spatial analysis was conducted to identify risk gradients of dengue seropositivity using Generalized Additive Models (GAM). The dengue seroprevalence was 91.1%, 87.4% 74.3%, respectively, in the deprived, intermediate and high socio-economic areas, inversely related to their socio-economic status. In the deprived area, 59% of children had already been exposed to dengue virus by the age of 5 years and the estimated force of infection was three times higher than that in the privileged area. The risk of infection increased with age in the three areas. Not commuting away from the area was a risk factor for seropositivity in the deprived area (OR=2.26; 95% CI: 1.18-4.30). Number of persons per room was a risk factor for seropositivity in the intermediate (OR=3.00; 95% CI: 3.21-7.37) and privileged areas (OR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.07-3.04). Living in a house, as opposed to an apartment, was a risk factor for seropositivity in the privileged area (OR=3.62; 95% CI: 2.43-5.41). The main difference between the privileged and other areas could be attributed to the much larger proportion of apartment dwellers. Intensive vector control, surveillance and community education should be considered in deprived urban areas where a high proportion of children are infected by an early age., (Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors that influence time to acquisition of a laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (LCBI)., Design: Prospective cohort study with an 18-month follow-up., Setting: A 16-bed medical and/or surgical pediatric intensive care unit that cares for patients of the Brazilian Public Health System exclusively., Patients: We included children from 0 to 18 years old who were represented by 875 consecutive admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit from January 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006. The children from all but 5 (0.6%) of the admissions were followed up until discharge or death. The majority (506 [58.2%]) were hospitalized for surgical pathology, and 254 (29.2%) underwent heart surgery., Methods: We used a standardized questionnaire and data collection from daily charts. Information on risk factors was collected before the onset of first LCBI. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The effect of the variables on the risk of LCBI each day was estimated through a Cox model fitting., Results: Fifty-seven children (6.6%) developed an LCBI, 54 (94.7%) of whom made use of a central venous catheter. LCBI incidence was 11.27 episodes/1,000 patient-days and 17.92 episodes/1,000 patient-days when associated with a central venous catheter. Factors associated with time to the first LCBI in the Cox model were age less than 2 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.89), malnutrition (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.01-3.00), use of a central venous catheter (HR, 4.36; 95% CI, 1.30-14.64), use of antibiotics before admission (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.33-0.98), and use of transfused blood products (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.74)., Conclusion: Factors associated with time to acquisition of LCBI were age less than 2 years, weight-for-age z score less than -2, and the use of a central venous catheter. Therefore, intensification of LCBI prevention efforts in patients with these characteristics is fundamental.

BCG scar has been used as an indicator of vaccination with BCG in the past, but the validity of scar among HIV-positive children is still unknown. The validity of BCG scar reading among such children was estimated, using three different gold standards. The sensitivity ranged from 81.3% (95%-CI: 78.0-84.2) to 91.6% (95%-CI: 88.4-94.0), when the gold standards were, respectively, information from the adult responsible for the child and the vaccination card. The specificity ranged from 90.5% (95% CI: 81.6-95.5) to 94.1% (95% CI: 87.7-97.4), when the gold standards were, respectively, the vaccination card and information from the adult responsible for the child. Reading of BCG scar was shown to be a good indicator for vaccination in the past, among HIV-infected children., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe alterations in spirometric variables and its disturbances and to study the existence of a relationship between extent of the residual lung lesion at the end of treatment for tuberculosis and alteration of the lung function measured by spirometry., Methods: Analyzed were 96 patients with diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, treated in three health centers in the metropolitan area of Recife, from January, 2003 to November, 2005. Patients of both genders, 15 years of age or older were included, whose chest x-rays at end of the treatment were classified according to criteria of the National Tuberculosis Association (NTA) for extent of lung lesion. Patients replied to a questionnaire at the beginning of the survey, and were submitted to spirometry after conclusion of treatment., Results: Of the 96 patients, 89.6% presented with radiographic sequels. About 54% had moderate to severe sequels. These radiographic alterations correspond to 24.6% and 73.8% respectively of alterations in the pulmonary function., Conclusion: The large number of residual radiographic lesionss (89.6%) and breathing dysfunction (66,7%) identified in this survey call attention to the fact that treatment of a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis must not be restricted to bacteriological healing of the disease. Identification of the residual lung lesions and of the breathing dysfunction in patients who conclude treatment will promote early actions to treat these sequels, improving the quality of life of these patients.

A cohort of cases initiating tuberculosis treatment from May 2001 to July 2003 was followed in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, to investigate biological, clinical, social, lifestyle, and healthcare access factors associated with three negative tuberculosis treatment outcomes (treatment failure, dropout, and death) separately and as a group. Treatment failure was associated with treatment delay, illiteracy, and alcohol consumption. Factors associated with dropout were age, prior TB treatment, and illiteracy. Death was associated with age, treatment delay, HIV co-infection, and head of family's income. Main factors associated with negative treatment outcomes as a whole were age, HIV co-infection, illiteracy, alcoholism, and prior TB treatment. We suggest the following strategies to increase cure rates: further training of the Family Health Program personnel in TB control, awareness-raising on the need to tailor their activities to special care for cases (e.g., literacy training); targeting use of directly observed therapy for higher risk groups; establishment of a flexible referral scheme to handle technical and psychosocial problems, including alcoholism; and increased collaboration with the HIV/AIDS program.

Background: In most case control studies the hardest decision is the choice of the control group, as in the ideal control group the proportion exposed is the same as in the population that produced the cases., Methods: A comparison of two control groups in a case control study of the efficacy of BCG revaccination. One group was selected from subjects presenting to the heath unit the case attended for routine prevention and care; the second group was selected from the neighbourhood of cases. All Health Units from which controls were selected offered BCG revaccination. Efficacy estimated in a randomized control trial of BCG revaccination was used to establish that the neighbourhood control group was the one that gave unbiased results., Results: The proportion of controls with scars indicating BCG revaccination was higher among the control group selected from Health Unit attenders than among neighbourhood controls. This excess was not removed after control for social variables and history of exposure to tuberculosis, and appears to have resulted from the fact that people attending the Health Unit were more likely to have been revaccinated than neighbourhood controls, although we can not exclude an effect of other unmeasured variables., Conclusion: In this study, controls selected from people presenting to a Health Unit overrepresented exposure to BCG revaccination. Had the results from the HU attenders control group been accepted this would have resulted in overestimation of vaccine efficacy. When the exposure of interest is offered in a health facility, selection of controls from attenders at the facility may result in over representation of exposure in controls and selection bias.

To assess the prevalence of primary resistance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to antiretrovirals, 84 patients chronically infected with HIV without prior antiretroviral treatment from Northeast Brazil were studied. Genotyping was performed using the ViroSeq Genotyping System. Thimidine analog mutations occurred in 3 (3.6%) patients. Accessory mutations related to NRTI occurred in 6 (7.1%) and related to PI in 67 (79.8%). Subtypes B (72.6%), F (22.6%), B/F 3 (3.6%), and C (1.2%) were detected. A low prevalence of major mutations related to NRTI in patients chronically infected by HIV was observed.

Hansen disease or leprosy is a major endemic disease in Brazil. Well-designed strategies, including decentralization of basic care, are needed to reduce its prevalence. The article begins by describing the structure and supply of services for treating leprosy cases in the country, after which it analyzes the trends in epidemiological and operational indicators, comparing the periods before and after decentralization of services to the municipal (local) level. Finally, spatial analysis allowed identifying the territorial distribution of this endemic and analyzing the pattern of geographic areas according to care provided by health facilities and its evolution. Based on the location of the geographic centers in the census tracts by place of residence, and using spatial smoothing technique based on Kernel estimation, the study constructed domain areas of care for each health facility or unit. Following municipalization of care, there was an increase in the detection and treatment by the municipalities themselves, reducing patient evasion to neighboring counties and causing changes in demand trends, with an increase in use of services by the clientele and important alterations in the epidemiological and operational indicators.

Objective: To describe the demographic characteristics, everyday habits, socio-economic conditions, clinico-epidemiological profiles and access to health care services among the elderly patients with tuberculosis diagnosed and treated in the city of Recife, Brazil, comparing them to those observed in young adults with tuberculosis., Methods: A case-control type strategy was used to evaluate a cohort of patients with tuberculosis, all of whom were treated in public health care facilities in Recife between May of 2001 and July of 2003., Results: The final cohort consisted of 1127 patients: 136 elderly patients (cases) and 991 young adults (controls). In both groups, males predominated, and the most common form of tuberculosis was the pulmonary form. Alcoholism was more common in the control group, whereas illiteracy was more common in the case group. There were fewer complaints of cough, sweats and chest pain among the patients in the case group than among those in the control group. Serological testing for the human immunodeficiency virus was performed in only 29 patients (2.6%). The percentage of positive sputum smear microscopy results, as well as that of positive cultures, was higher in the controls. Prior to being diagnosed with the disease, patients in both groups had sought treatment at more than two health care facilities and had waited more than two months (after first seeking treatment). The elderly patients presented higher indices of cure and were more often compliant with the treatment regimen, yet presented higher mortality rates., Conclusion: In the population studied, the elderly presented less cough, fewer episodes of night sweats and less chest pain, as well as less often presenting positivity on complementary exams. Nevertheless, the mortality rate was higher among the elderly patients than among the young adult patients. Elderly patients with tuberculosis constitute a population that should be given special attention in public health care facilities.

Setting: Metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil., Objective: To estimate the additional protection against tuberculosis (TB) provided by a second dose of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine., Design: Case-control study. Cases were cases of TB newly diagnosed by the TB control programme, independent of clinical form. Three matched neighbourhood controls were selected using a systematic routine, starting from the case's address. The matching was within the age groups 7-9, 10-14 and 15-19 years., Results: Analysis was conducted among 169 cases and 477 controls. For the efficacy of BCG revaccination against TB overall, matched (crude) vaccine effectiveness (VE) was -3 (95% CI -50-29) and matched (adjusted) VE was 8 (95% CI -77-52)., Conclusions: This study suggests that a second dose of BCG does not offer additional protection. Revaccination should not be offered. As large numbers of subjects are already vaccinated and vaccine appears to offer some protection in older subjects, further studies with larger sample sizes could investigate the potential efficacy of revaccination with BCG in the age group > or = 15 years.

Objectives: To analyze the spatial distribution of homicide mortality rates among males 15 to 49 years old in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, for the periods of 1980 to 1984 and 1995 to 1998, and to identify violence clusters., Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System. The mean homicide mortality rate was estimated for each municipality in the state for the two periods. The Moran coefficient was calculated to determine spatial autocorrelation. (The Moran coefficient ranges from -1 to +1, with a positive coefficient indicating a cluster of similar values, and a negative coefficient indicating adjacent dissimilar values.) To identify clusters of municipalities with either high or low homicide mortality rates, the local indicator of spatial association (LISA) was used. Finally, a Moran map was constructed to identify municipalities with statistically significant LISA values and to identify clusters of municipalities with either high or low homicide mortality rates., Results: The Moran coefficient for 1980-1984 was 0.392, and for 1995-1998 it was 0.291 (P < 0.001). In the 1980-1984 period, one cluster of high homicide mortality rates was found in the Mata Sul region of the state, close to the metropolitan region of the state capital, Recife. In the 1995-1998 period, two violence clusters were identified: a predominantly urban one in the Recife metropolitan region, and the other in the state interior, in an area known as the "Marijuana Polygon" (Polígono da Maconha)., Conclusion: This study suggests that the violence clusters are not the result of the socioeconomic conditions per se, but rather the consequence of the interaction between poor economic conditions and drug trafficking.

Objective: To investigate the association between homicide rates and socio-economic variables taking into account the spatial site of the indicators., Methods: An ecological study was conducted. The dependent variable was the rate of homicides among the male population aged 15 to 49 years, residing in the districts of the State of Pernambuco from 1995 to 1998. The independent variables were an index of the living conditions, per capita family income, Theil inequality index, Gini index, average income of the head of the family, poverty index, rate of illiteracy, and demographic density. The following techniques were used in the analysis: a spatial autocorrelation test determined by the Moran index, multiple linear regression, a spatial regression model (CAR) and a generalized additive model for the detection of spatial trend (LOESS)., Results: The illiteracy and the poverty index explained 24.6% of the total variability of the homicide rates and there was an inverse relationship. Moran's I statistics indicated spatial autocorrelation between municipalities. The multiple linear regression model best fitted for the purposes of this study was the Conditional Auto Regressive (CAR) model. The latter confirmed the association between the poverty index, illiteracy and homicide rates., Conclusions: The inverse association observed between socio-economic indicators and homicides may be expressing a process that propitiates improvement in living conditions and that is linked predominantly to conditions that generate violence, such as drug traffic.

This case-control study analyses the association between the tuberculin response and the neonatal BCG vaccine in 330 children under 15 who are home contacts of tuberculosis patients, taking into account risk factors for the transmission of infection. Interviews were conducted with 330 children, their parents or legal guardians. Chest X-rays were taken and the tuberculin test (TT) applied using 0.1 ml of PPD RT23, taking an induration reading of > or = 10 mm as the cut-off point for a positive test result. Prior BCG vaccination was ascertained by observing the presence of a scar on the deltoid region of the right arm. Six children were excluded because they had signs/symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, thereby reducing the final sample to 324 children. The multivariate analysis showed that being exposed to a patient with pulmonary lesions with cavities (OR = 3.14; CI: 1.59-6.20; p = 0.000), a positive sputum smear (OR = 3.65; CI: 1.52-8.78; p = 0.002) or a positive culture (OR = 4.42; CI: 1.39-14.1; p = 0.005), being under five (OR = 0.47; CI: 0.22-0.99; p = 0.045) are independently associated with a positive TT. The fact that a prior BCG scar is not associated with a positive response to the TT indicates the need to re-open discussion of the guidelines which exist in many poor countries where tuberculosis is still a serious public health problem. Such guidelines include those issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, which considers the child under 15 in contact with a tuberculosis case to be infected only if there is a TT of 10 mm or more and the child received no prior BCG vaccination.

The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical, epidemiological and bacteriological features present in 60 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were also infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to compare these with 120 TB patients who were not infected with HIV. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV coinfection were mostly male (p = 0.001), showed a higher frequency of weight loss >10 kilos (p <0.001), had a higher rate of non-reaction result to the tuberculin skin test (p <0.001), a higher frequency of negative sputum smear examination for acid-fast bacilli (p = 0.001) and negative sputum culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (p = 0.001). Treatment failure was more common in those who were HIV positive (p <0.000). No higher frequency of resistance to antituberculosis drugs was found to be associated with TB/HIV coinfection (p = 0.407). Association between extrapulmonary and pulmonary tuberculosis was more frequent in those seropositive to HIV than those without HIV virus, 30% and 1.6% respectively. These findings showed a predominance of atypical clinical laboratory features in co-infected patients, and suggest that health care personnel should consider the possibility this diagnosis.

PCR-based approaches targeting kinetoplast DNA were evaluated for the diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in regions of endemicity in northeastern Brazil. A total of 119 cutaneous biopsy specimens from patients with ACL and nonleishmaniasis cutaneous lesions were studied. Two PCR-based systems were used; one was specific for the subgenus Viannia, and the other was specific for the genus Leishmania. The PCR specific for the subgenus Viannia had a sensitivity of 95.4%, whereas the genus-specific PCR detected the target DNA in 88.2% of the samples tested. The specificities of the assays, determined with samples from a group with nonleishmaniasis cutaneous lesions, was 100%. The results of the conventional tests indicate that the sensitivities of the PCR-based methods were significantly higher than those of smear examination, histological staining, and isolation by culture (P < 0.05). Antibodies specific for Leishmania braziliensis were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 82.9% of the patients tested. Parasites were isolated from 40 of 86 patients (46.5%). Sixty-seven percent of dermal scrapings and 66.2% of stained tissue sections were positive by microscopy. Amplified products from the subgenus-specific PCR hybridized with the Leishmania panamensis minicircle, confirming infection consistent with L. braziliensis. The evidence available at present incriminates L. braziliensis as the only causative agent of ACL in the state of Pernambuco in Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the magnitude and growth of homicides among male population according to the geopolitical areas., Methods: An ecological study including a time series analysis was carried out among 15 to 49 year-old males living in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Mortality data was collected from the Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System. Data on population was from the 1980 and 1991 censuses and the 1996 Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics' census. For inter-census years, the population size was estimated by interpolation, and for the period 1997-1998 it was estimated by projection, using the geometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using mobile mean and regression analysis techniques., Results: In the 1980s, the greatest increase in homicide rates was in the state capital (390%). In the 1990s, the greatest increase occurred in the metropolitan region (68.5%) suggesting violence spread from the capital to other municipalities of greater Recife. Homicide rates tended to grow linearly in the interior, whilst there was an exponential growth in the capital and metropolitan region. A striking feature is the high rates of homicides with firearms in the three areas., Conclusions: The progression of homicides in the three areas of study shows a characteristic increase. It should be stressed that even though it is the same phenomenon - male homicides -, the generating dynamic of this process has geographical particularities between more urban and interior areas and they should be taken into account while developing local policies for supporting victims and preventing these events.

This study aimed to compare the radiographic characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with those of HIV-negative patients. In all, 275 TB patients attending the outpatients clinics at the University Hospital/UFPE, were studied from January 1997 to March 1999. Thirty nine (14.2%) of them were HIV(+), with a higher frequency of males in this group (p=0.044). Seventy-five percent of the HIV(+) patients and 19% of the HIV(-) had a negative tuberculin test (PPD) (p < 0.001). The proportion of positive sputum smears in the two groups was similar. The radiological finding most strongly associated with co-infection was absence of cavitation (p < 0.001). It may therefore be concluded that the lack of cavitation in patients with pulmonary TB may be considered a useful indicator of the need to investigate HIV infection. This approach could contribute to increasing the effectiveness of local health services, by offering appropriate treatment to co-infected patients.

A decreasing trend in the prevalence rate of leprosy was reached in Brazil only after the introduction of the World Health Organization multidrug therapy (WHO/MDT) program in 1990. This paper analyzes leprosy morbidity indicators and the prevalence rate, and their utilization in monitoring the progress of leprosy elimination in Brazil. Since these indicators are modified by changes in health service procedures, comparing prevalence rates from different endemic countries or current prevalence rates with old ones from the same endemic region needs careful attention. The current official prevalence rate of 6.72/10,000 inhabitants in Brazil could be considered high when compared with rates from other countries, but it is important to remember that defaulters and patients being treated with old regimens are kept on the active registers in Brazil, while in most other endemic countries they are not.

Bancroftian filariasis is spreading in towns of endemic areas in Recife, northeastern Brazil, where it is a major public health problem. This paper deals with the prevalence of microfilaraemia and filarial disease in two urban areas of Recife, studying their association with individual characteristics and variables related to the exposure to the vectors. The parasitologic survey was performed through a "door-to-door" census and microfilaraemia was examined by the thick-drop technique using 45 microliters of peripheral blood collected between 20:00 and 24:00 o'clock. 2,863 individuals aged between 5 and 65 years were interviewed and submitted to clinical examination. Males aged between 15 and 44 years old presented the greatest risk of being microfilaraemic. Microfilaraemia was also significantly associated with no use of bednet to sleep. The risk of being microfilaraemic was greater among those who had lived in the studied areas for more than 5 years. The overall disease prevalence was 6.3%. Males presented the greatest risk of developing acute disease. The risk of developing chronic manifestations was also greater among males and increased with age. We found no association between time of residence, bednet use, microfilaraemia and acute and chronic disease. We may conclude that in endemic areas there are subgroups of individuals who has a higher risk of being microfilariae carriers due to different behaviours in relation to vector contact.