OBJETIVES: To evaluate the sensitivity and specifity of a nitrocellulose membrane-based immunoassay for dengue IgM, with respect to capture enzyme immunoassay, for the diagnosis of dengue virus infection. METHODS: 101 serum samples were processed and divided into 2 groups: 53 from dengue serotype 1 (DEN1) infected patients, and 48 from healthy subjects. Both groups were tested with a nitrocellulose membrane-based IgM capture enzyme immunoassay (NMB-EIA) and also with an ELISA as referential pattern. RESULTS: NMB-EIA testing detected IgM anti-DEN1 in 94,34% of samples from infected patients, and in 14,58% of control samples, whereas ELISA fails to report false positive or false negative results. CONCLUSION: NMB-EIA appears to be a good alternative for dengue infection diagnosis.

Experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months because it protects against deadly childhood illness, including respiratory tract infections and diarrhea. We hypothesized that exclusive breastfeeding would decrease the risk of active tuberculosis (TB) in children. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 279 children in Lima, Peru aged 6 to 59 months with TB symptoms and a close adult contact with TB. Mothers self-reported breastfeeding, and children were evaluated for TB per national guidelines. To quantify the association between exclusive breastfeeding and TB, we estimated prevalence ratios using a generalized linear model with a log link, binomial distribution, and robust variance. Twentytwo percent of children were diagnosed with TB and 72% were exclusively breastfed for six months. We found no evidence that six months of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with T...

We examined Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection from buccal swab samples collected from children in Lima, Peru. DNA was extracted and amplified via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Sensitivity was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7%–42%) in 24 culture-confirmed tuberculosis cases and 4.6% (95% CI: 1%–13%) in 65 clinically diagnosed unconfirmed cases. Sensitivity was highest for smear-positive tuberculosis. Specificity was 99% in the 199 controls (95% CI: 96%–100%).

Con el objetivo de detectar y caracterizar molecularmente las metalo-β-lactamasas (MβL) en aislamientos clínicos de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, se realizó un estudio trasversal en seis hospitales de referencia de Lima (Perú) en agosto de 2011. Se evaluó 51 aislamientos de P. aeruginosa, resistentes a ceftazidima y con sensibilidad reducida a carbapenémicos. El ensayo fenotípico se realizó con el método de aproximación de discos con sustratos (ceftazidima, imipenem y meropenem) y con ácido etilendiaminotetraacético (EDTA). La detección de genes MβL se realizó mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de polimerasa multiplex. A través del método fenotípico se detectaron MβL en el 15,7% de los aislamientos, en todos ellos la detección de genes mostró la presencia del gen blaIMP. La descripción del primer reporte de MβL en aislamientos de P. aeruginosa en el Perú deber...