Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania sp. and transmitted by sandfly vectors. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most frequent form of presentation. Clinically, chronic and painless ulcers are observed, which usually occur at the site of the sandfly bite. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease is specially challenging in non-endemic countries such as Chile, requiring the use of diverse laboratory techniques as well as the support of expert physicians. Herein we report an imported case of a healthy 42-year-old male with CL caused by L. braziliensis with successful response to liposomal amphotericin B.

In Chile, there are few studies about seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against hepatitis E virus (HEV) in blood banks, between 4 and 8%. The development of new techniques with greater sensitivity and specificity, account for an increase in the seroprevalence of HEV in various countries, the current status in Chile being unknown. In the present study, we determined the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in blood donors of the Clinical Hospital University of Chile, with last generation ELISA techniques. Out of a total of 186 samples, collected in 2014, 56 (30.1%) were positive, without gender differences, but with a significant increase with age (p < 0.001). These results show an increase in the seroprevalence of HEV in blood donors performed with immunoassays of greater sensitivity.

El término “ameba” engloba a las especies pertenecientes a los géneros Entamoeba, Endolimax y Iodamoeba, incluidas dentro de la familia Entamoebidae. Iodamoeba bütschlii es de distribución mundial, La identificación de las amebas intestinales patógenas y no patógenas se basa en reconocer sus estadios: trofozoíto y quistes (1). La especie Iodamoeba bütschlii, recibe así su nombre de la característica masa de glucógeno presente en su forma quística, es considerada una ameba no patógena, relacionada como un parásito comensal exclusivo del intestino grueso del hombre en el cual vive a expensas sin ocasionarle algún tipo de daño, de otros primates y del cerdo, (1), sirve como un tipo de marcador de contaminación oral-fecal de alimentos y agua en estado no higiénico. 

Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease of global distribution with a higher incidence in developing countries, where it represents one of the main causes of meningitis, associated with high morbidity and mortality. It mainly occurs in patients with immunosuppression (due to HIV infection, glucocorticoid treatment, transplants, cancer, etc.). However, in recent years there has been an increase in cases in immunocompetent, which is as serious or more severe than in immunocompromised. We report two cases of cryptococcal meningitis. A 48-year-old male with no pathological history, in whom HIV infection or another cause of immunosuppression was ruled out, and a 67-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. The above mentioned highlights the importance of always considering Cryptococcus spp. as possible causative agent of meningitis, in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.

Listeriosis is an uncommon but potentially serious infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. The main route of transmission is through the consumption of contaminated food. It generally affects elderly people, pregnant women and immunosuppressed hosts, although cases are also seen in immunocompetent adults and children. Listeria monocytogenes is a short, anaerobic, non-spore-forming gram-positive bacillus that causes a narrow zone of hemolysis in blood agar. It is a facultative intracellular pathogen, and therefore it shows a complex pathogenesis. This bacterium has the ability to cross the intestinal barrier, the placenta and the blood-brain barrier producing gastroenteritis, maternal-fetal infections and meningoencephalitis. It is most commonly diagnosed from a positive culture of a sterile site. The treatment of choice includes the use of intravenous ampicillin alone or in combination with gentamicin.

Introduction: Nosocomially acquired urinary tract infections (NAUTI) represent an important public health issue, but its characteristics when they are not catheter associated (CA-UTI) or when they take place outside intensive care units (ICU) are poorly understood. Objectives: To determine the patients’ characteristics, etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of NAUTI, both CA-UTI and no CA-UTI, in general ward and ICU. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analytic cross-sectional study, between 2009 and 2013, in a third level universitary hospital. All NAUTI episodes were identified, classifying them as CA-UTI and no CA-UTI. Results: We included 253 episodes of NAUTI, being CA-UTI (60,9%) more frequent than no CA-UTI. A 37,4% of no CA-UTI and 59,7% of CA-UTI were identified in ICU. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae y Enterococcus sp. A 19% of extended spectrum betalactamase producing gram negative bacilli were found, without differences between groups. Conclusion: Patients’s comorbidities, microorganisms associated to NAUTI and its antimicrobial susceptibility were similar in CA-UTI and no CA-UTI, as in general ward and ICU.