Over 3,000 yearly cases of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) are reported in Brazil. Brazilian Public Health System provides universal free access to antileishmania therapeutic options: Meglumine Antimoniate, Amphotericin B deoxycholate, and Liposomal Amphotericin B. Even though Amphotericin formulations have been advised for severe disease, this recommendation is mostly based on the opinion of experts and on analogy with studies conducted in other countries. Presently, there are two ongoing multicenter clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of the available therapeutic options. Some other issues require further clarification, such as severity markers and the approach to VL/AIDS coinfection. Brazil is facing the challenge of providing access to diagnosis and adequate treatment, in order to avoid VL-related deaths.

Fortaleza CR, Melo EC, Fortaleza CMCB. Nasopharyngeal colonization with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and mortality among patients in an intensive care unit. Rev Latino-am Enfermagem 2009 setembrooutubro; 17(5):677-82. (OR=1.02; p=0.97) o por causas infecciosas (OR=0.96; p=0.96 (OR=1,02; IC95%=0, p=0,97) ou por infecção (OR=0,96; IC95%=0,89; p=0,96 Nasopharyngeal colonization with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is common in critically ill

Oropharyngeal carriage of

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Nasopharyngeal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) often precedes the development of nosocomial infections. In order to identify risk factors for MRSA colonization, we conducted a casecase-control study, enrolling 122 patients admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU). All patients had been screened for nasopharyngeal colonization with S. aureus upon admission and weekly thereafter. Two casecontrol studies were performed, using as cases patients who acquired colonization with MRSA and methicillinsusceptible S. aureus (MSSA), respectively. For both studies, patients in whom colonization was not detected during ICU stay were selected as control subjects. Several potential risk factors were assessed in univariate and multivariable (logistic regression) analysis. MRSA and MSSA were recovered from nasopharyngeal samples from 27 and 10 patients, respectively. Independent risk factors for MRSA colonization were: length-of-stay in the ICU (Odds Ratio [