Objective: In order to study the scenario of respiratory infections in pediatrics after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, this study aimed to compare characteristics of children admitted for SARS or upper airway infection caused by either RSV or SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving children up to 48 months of age admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital with a diagnosis of SARS or upper airway infection between April of 2020 and April of 2021. Respiratory secretion samples were collected 2-5 days after hospitalization, and antigen/PCR tests for viral etiologies were performed. In this analysis, patients with laboratorial diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and/or RSV were selected, and their clinical and epidemiological characteristics were compared using logistic regression. Results: Our sample initially comprised 369 participants. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV infections were confirmed in 55 (15%) and 59 children (16%), respectively. Mean age was 12 months (0-48 months), and 47 were female. The following characteristics were significantly more frequent in patients with RSV when compared with those with COVID-19: younger age (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.98); lower frequency of fever (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05-0.66); and more frequent upper airway symptoms: cough (OR = 7.36; 95% CI: 1.04-52.25); and tachypnea (OR = 6.06; 95% CI: 1.31-28.0). Conclusions: Children with RSV-related SARS were younger, had lower frequency of fever at admission, but had a higher frequency of signs of upper airway infection and lower systemic inflammation when compared with children hospitalized for COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Respiratory syncytial virus infections; Pediatrics; Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and evolution of a group of patients with positive sputum cultures for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated at a referral center in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: Based on the positive results in sputum cultures for MDR M. tuberculosis, 50 patients were selected, and their clinical data were obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health MDR-TB Database. The frequencies of noncompliance, relapses, failures and previous treatments for TB up to diagnosis of MDR-TB were compiled. The radiological patterns were classified as unilateral or bilateral, and with or without cavitation. Two years after the end of the standard treatment for MDR-TB, the outcome (cure, failure, noncompliance or death) for each patient was evaluated and reassessed every two years. The post-treatment follow-up period was eight years. Results: The mean number of previous treatments was 2.3 ± 0.9. The mean interval between the initial diagnosis and the development of MDR-TB was 2.0 ± 1.7 years. Two years after the initial treatment for MDR-TB, 2 patients had abandoned treatment, 8 had died, 18 had been cured, and 22 had presented treatment failure. The bivariate analysis showed that bilateral pulmonary involvement and cavitary pattern markedly reduced the chances for cure, with a relative risk of 1-0.6 (40%) and 1-0.7 (30%), respectively. At the end of the follow-up period, 2 patients had abandoned treatment, 9 had presented treatment failure, 17 had been cured, and 22 had died. Conclusions: Bilateral pulmonary involvement and cavity pattern greatly reduced the chances for cure of the patients with MDR-TB. Most patients who presented treatment failure died within the 8-year follow-up period.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant; Treatment outcome; Disease-free survival; Treatment refusal; Treatment failure.

Objective: To determine whether the concentrations of inflammatory mediators (CCL5, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 [sICAM-1], TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) in the nasopharyngeal secretion and in the serum of children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) correlate with the clinical markers of disease severity. Methods: Between July of 2004 and December of 2005, 30 children less than three months of age, diagnosed with LRTI caused by RSV and admitted to a neonatal ICU, were included in this study. Results: The severity of disease at hospital admission, as determined with a modified clinical scoring system, presented a significant positive correlation with sICAM-1 and IL-10 concentrations in the nasopharyngeal secretion, as well as with IL-6 concentrations in the serum, of the patients. In addition, serum IL-6 concentrations presented a significant positive correlation with the duration of oxygen therapy and with the length of hospital stay. Conclusions: At hospital admission, the concentrations of sICAM-1 and IL-10 in the nasopharyngeal secretion, as well as the concentration of IL-6 in the serum, could be used as markers of severity in patients with LRTI caused by RSV. The serum levels of IL-6 determined at admission could also be used to predict prolonged oxygen supplementation and hospital stay.

Keywords: Respiratory syncytial virus, human; Chemokine CCL5; Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-10; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological profile of inpatients at a TB referral hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of the medical charts of patients with TB hospitalized at the Hospital Estadual Santa Maria (HESM), in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between January of 2002 and December of 2003. Data were collected using a standardized form. Results: Of the 451 patients included in the study, 313 (69.4%) had been referred to the HESM from health care clinics, and 302 (67.0%) were male. Most of the patients were in the 30-59  year age bracket, 443 (98.2%) lived in the greater metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, and 298 (66.1%) lived in the city of Rio de Janeiro itself. The most common reason for hospitalization was poor health status (in 237, 52.5%). The most common comorbidity was AIDS (in 137, 30.4%). The most common signs and symptoms at admission were weight loss, fever and productive cough. Sputum smear microscopy was positive in 122 (71.0%) of the patients presenting with productive cough at admission. Of the 212 patients being retreated, 156 (73.6%) reported noncompliance with previous treatment. Regarding the outcome, 273 (65.8%) of the patients were referred to municipal health care centers, 83 (18.4%) died, 44 (9.8%) were cured, and 27 (6%) were discharged against medical advice. Conclusions: Providing hospitals specializing in TB is relevant for TB control, especially in metropolitan regions. In addition to taking biosafety measures, these hospitals must be prepared to treat patients with TB-related comorbidities and social problems. This study has resulted in improvements at the HESM.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Epidemiology; Hospitalization.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of tuberculous uveitis (TBU) at a referral center in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A total of 16 consecutive patients (≥15 years of age) who underwent diagnostic evaluation of uveitis between January of 2001 and July of 2004 at the Minas Gerais State Referral Center were selected for study. Demographic and clinical data, as well as data related to screening for toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and rheumatologic diseases, together with the results of tuberculin skin testing and HIV testing, were collected. Results: Of the16 patients evaluated, 11 (69%) were found to have TBU. A history of contact with pulmonary tuberculosis was reported by 8 (72%) of the 11 patients with TBU and by 1 (20%) of the 5 with non-TBU. Although the odds ratio for this association was 10.67 (95% CI: 0.59-398.66), the p value was borderline significant (p = 0.078). There was no difference between the patients with TBU and those with non-TBU in terms of the status of ocular inflammation or the tuberculin skin testing results. All of the patients were HIV negative and were monitored for two years. Conclusion: In this study, a history of contact with pulmonary tuberculosis proved to be useful in diagnosing TBU.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Uveitis; Diagnosis; Brazil.

Background: Tuberculosis become important challenge to health care settings. Brazil has high prevalence of the disease and Rio de Janeiro has high incidence rates with 30% of cases notified at hospitals. Objective: To evaluate prevalence of initial and acquired drug resistance at a general hospital, reference for aids treatment in Rio de Janeiro and to identify associated factors. Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from 165 patients were analyzed, between August 1996 and February 1998. Results: Twenty per cent (33/165) were resistant to at least one drug; 13% (12/165) to isoniazid; 3.64% (6/ 165) to rifampin and 3.64% (6/165) to both. Among HIV seropositive subjects (52/165); 28.85% (15/52) were resistant to at least one drug. Acquired resistance occurred in 15.79% of 19 patients that mentioned previous antiTB treatment. Association statistically significant was found with non cavitation on X-ray in bivariate analyses ( P=0.05). Eighty four patients refereed no previous treatment (NPT). Resistance to 1 or more drugs was found in 28.57% (24/84) of NPT patients. Association statistically significant with initial resistance was found with health care workers (P=0.004), unemployment (P=0.03), and diarrhea (P=0.01) in bivariate analyses. On multivariate analyses, health care workers ( P=0.002) remained significantly associated with initial resistance. Conclusions: High resistance rates was found. It corroborates that hospitals needs attention for TB control especially which concerns to health care works infection.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Drug resistance. Disease transmission, patient to professional. Hospitals.

Objective: In view of the relevance of co-infection with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus, this study was designed to determine tuberculosis prevalence and identify factors related to tuberculosis in patients residing in a region in which both infections are highly prevalent. Methods: All patients treated during 1999 at the HIV/AIDS Clinic of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (Rio Grande Federal University) University Hospital were evaluated retrospectively, from the time of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis, in terms of the incidence of tuberculosis and its relationship to sociodemographic, behavioral and immunological factors. Results: The sample included 204 patients, and tuberculosis prevalence was found to be 27%. The multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the development of tuberculosis and being of African descent (odds ratio: 4.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.93-11.72) and an inverse correlation between the development of tuberculosis and the TCD4+ lymphocyte count at the time of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis (odds ratio: 0.995; 95% confidence interval: 0.993-0.997). When analyzed separately, other variables were found to be potential risk factors: being of the male gender (odds ratio: 2.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.15-5.39); and using illicit drugs (odds ratio: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-4.31). Conclusion: The factors responsible for the development of tuberculosis among patients who are human immunodeficiency virus seropositive include immunological, socioeconomic and demographic factors. The high rate of tuberculosis prevalence among the seropositive patients underscores the urgent need to implement strategies that combine rapid identification and prompt treatment of individuals with active or latent infection, as well as of those with whom they have been in contact.

Keywords: HIV Infections/complications; AIDS-related opportunistic infections/complications; Tuberculosis/etiology; Tuberculosis/epidemiology

Objective: To evaluate the evolution of clinical and epidemiological data, as well as data related to diagnosis, staging, treatment, and survival, among patients undergoing curative surgery for lung cancer at a tertiary referral center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This was a retrospective study of cases in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer database. We selected only cases of patients undergoing curative surgery between January of 2011 and April of 2018. We determined overall and disease-free survival at 36 months and compared the data between two periods (2011-2014 and 2015-2018). Results: Comparing the two periods (N = 437 cases), we observed trends toward increases in the number of female patients, as well as in the proportions of former smokers (44.09% vs. 53.59%), of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (52.21% vs. 59.72%), and of patients diagnosed at an earlier pathological stage, together with a decrease in 30-day mortality (4.05% vs. 2.39%). There were significant increases in the proportions of cases diagnosed at an earlier clinical stage (p = 0.002) or incidentally (p = 0.003). Although lobectomy was the main surgical technique employed, there was a proportional increase in segmentectomies (2.67% vs. 7.11%; p = 0.026). Overall and disease-free survival rates were 79.4% (95% CI: 74.0-83.9%) and 75.1% (95% CI: 69.1-80.1%), respectively. The difference in overall survival between the periods lost statistical significance when adjusted for pathological stage, the only factor that affected survival (log-rank: p = 0.038 to p = 0.079). Conclusions: The clinical and epidemiological evolution presented in this study corroborates global trends. The decrease in 30-day mortality was probably due to better patient selection and improved surgical techniques.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms/surgery; Lung neoplasms/epidemiology; Lung neoplasms/therapy; Survival analysis; Thoracic surgery; Thoracic surgery, video-assisted.

Objective: The clinical, functional, radiological and genotypic descriptions of patients with an alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) gene mutation in a referral center for COPD in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with an A1AT gene mutation compatible with deficiency. We evaluated the A1AT dosage and genotypic, demographic, clinical, tomographic, and functional characteristics of these patients. Results: Among the 43 patients suspected of A1AT deficiency (A1ATD), the disease was confirmed by genotyping in 27 of them. The A1AT median dosage was 45 mg/dL, and 4 patients (15%) had a normal dosage. Median age was 54, 63% of the patients were male, and the respiratory symptoms started at the age of 40. The median FEV1 was 1.37L (43% predicted). Tomographic emphysema was found in 77.8% of the individuals. The emphysema was panlobular in 76% of them and 48% had lower lobe predominance. The frequency of bronchiectasis was 52% and the frequency of bronchial thickening was 81.5%. The most common genotype was Pi*ZZ in 40.7% of participants. The other genotypes found were: Pi*SZ (18.5%), PiM1Z (14.8%), Pi*M1S (7.4%), Pi*M2Z (3.7%), Pi*M1I (3.7%), Pi*ZMnichinan (3.7%), Pi*M3Plowell (3.7%), and Pi*SF (3.7%). We did not find any significant difference in age, smoking load, FEV1, or the presence of bronchiectasis between the groups with a normal and a reduced A1AT dosage, neither for 1 nor 2-allele mutation for A1ATD. Conclusions: Our patients presented a high frequency of emphysema, bronchiectasis and bronchial thickening, and early-beginning respiratory symptoms. The most frequent genotype was Pi*ZZ. Heterozygous genotypes and normal levels of A1AT also manifested significant lung disease.

Keywords: Alpha-1 antitrypsin; Emphysema; Alleles.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the risk of infection in patients with chronic kidney disease treated at a hemodialysis center. Methods: We included 307 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis at the Mineiro Institute of Nephrology, located in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. All of the patients were submitted to tuberculin skin tests (TSTs). We investigated the booster effect and TST conversion. If the initial TST (TST1) was negative, a second TST (TST2) was performed 1-3 weeks later in order to investigate the booster effect. If TST2 was also negative, a third TST (TST3) was performed one year after TST2 in order to determine whether there was TST conversion. Results: When we adopted a cut-off induration of 5 mm, the prevalence of LTBI was 22.2% on TST1, increasing by 11.2% on TST2. When we adopted a cut-off induration of 10 mm, the prevalence of LTBI was 28.5% on TST1, increasing by 9.4% on TST2. The prevalence of LTBI increased significantly from TST1 to TST2 (booster effect), as well as from TST2 to TST3 (p < 0.01 for both). In our sample, the mean annual risk of infection was 1.19%. Conclusions: In the population studied, the prevalence of LTBI was high, and the mean annual risk of infection was similar to that reported for the general population of Brazil, which suggests recent infection.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Renal insufficiency, chronic; Tuberculin test.

Abstract Objective: To determine the rate of adherence to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with severe asthma, to identify predictive factors for adherence and to evaluate the relationship between adherence to treatment and parameters of clinical and functional response. Methods: Prospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the Program for the Control of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The study comprised 160 patients with severe asthma, monitored for 180 days in order to evaluate adherence (dependent variable) to the prescribed inhaled corticosteroid. Independent variables were assessed at baseline and for a six-month follow-up period by means of interviews and the completion of a standardized questionnaire. Patients recorded the missed doses in a diary. Results: Of the 160 patients, 158 completed the study. Adherence rate was 83.8%. Of the 158 patients, 112 (70.9%) were considered adherent (cut-off point: 80% of prescribed doses administered). There was a significant association between asthma control and adherence to treatment. Predictors of poor adherence were adverse effects, living far from the referral center, limited resources to pay for transportation and dose schedule. Other factors, such as depressive symptoms, religion and economic status, were not associated with poor adherence. Conclusions: Adherence to asthma treatment was high and was associated with the clinical response to treatment, in a sample of patients with severe asthma enrolled in a public program that provides free medication and the assistance of a multiprofessional specialized team in a referral center.

Keywords: Asthma; Directly observed therapy; Treatment outcome; Patient compliance; Pharmacy.

Objective: To describe the profile of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study involving CF patients ≤ 18 years of age, evaluated between March and July of 2006 at a referral center in northeastern Brazil. Nutritional assessment was performed using Z scores for height/age (H/A), weight/age (W/A) and weight/height (W/H), as well as %weight/height (%W/H) and body composition measurements. Socioeconomic and clinical data were obtained. Results: Twenty-one patients were evaluated, 12 (57.1%) of whom were female. Mean age at diagnosis was 3.8 ± 3.9 years. The principal features at diagnosis were respiratory infection (85.7%), steatorrhea (66.7%) and nutritional deficit (47.6%). The mean Z scores for W/A, H/A and W/H were 0.73 ± 0.28, 0.34 ± 0.21 and 0.73 ± 0.35, respectively. Mean %W/H was 94.52 ± 1.58. The percentage of malnourished children assessed by Z score differed from that assessed by %W/H (nutritional deficit in 66.7% and 33.3%, respectively; p > 0.05). Socioeconomic status, clinical status and Shwachman score were better among well-nourished patients than among those classified as malnourished (p < 0.05 for Shwachman score). Conclusions: Normal nutritional status was identified based on nutritional indicators (W/A, H/A and W/H), whereas nutritional deficit was identified by assessing body composition. Socioeconomic factors proved favorable, especially maternal education and per capita income. Age at diagnosis was higher than that reported in the literature, although the Shwachman score and the incidence of respiratory infections demonstrated that the patients presented good clinical status.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Nutritional assessment; Symptoms, clinical; Socioeconomic factors.

Objective: To describe our experience with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for anatomic pulmonary resection at a referral center for thoracic surgery in Brazil. Methods: All patients who underwent anatomic pulmonary resection by VATS between 2010 and 2015 were included. Clinical and pathological data, as well as postoperative complications, were analyzed. Results: A total of 117 pulmonary resections by VATS were performed, of which 98 were lobectomies and 19 were anatomic segmentectomies. The mean age of the patients was 63.6 years (range, 15-86 years). Females predominated (n = 69; 59%). The mean time to chest tube removal was 2.47 days, and the mean length of ICU stay was 1.88 days. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.48 days. Bleeding ≥ 400 mL occurred in 15 patients. Conversion to thoracotomy was required in 4 patients. Conclusions: Our results are similar to those published in major international studies, indicating that VATS is an important strategy for pulmonary resection. They also show that VATS can be safely performed with adequate training. This technique should be used more often for the treatment of lung diseases in Brazil.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms/therapy; Lung neoplasms/complications; Thoracic surgery, video-assisted.

Objective: To describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis and compare the adverse effects of the treatment and its outcome in elderly and nonelderly patients. Methods: This was a case-control study of 117 elderly individuals (over the age of 60 years) and 464 nonelderly individuals (aged 15-49 years). All subjects presented pulmonary tuberculosis that had been diagnosed and treated at the Thoracic Diseases Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro between 1980 and 1996. Results: In the elderly group, pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be correlated with diabetes (OR = 3.98; 95% CI = 2.07-7.65; p = 0.001), lung disease (OR = 7.24; 95% CI = 3.64‑14.46; p = 0.001) and heart disease (OR = 5.86; 95% CI = 2.88-11.95; p = 0.001). Smoking (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.26‑3.42; p = 0.002) and alcohol abuse (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.01-2.68; p = 0.041) were also more common in the elderly group. In the elderly group, the treatment more frequently resulted in adverse reactions (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.04-2.54; p = 0.024), especially gastrointestinal reactions (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.01-2.77; p = 0.047), and treatment efficacy was lower: cure rate, 51%; mortality rate, 24%. Treatment adherence was low (approximately 77%) in both groups. Conclusions: In the elderly group, adverse reactions were more common, treatment outcomes were less favorable, there was a greater frequency of clinical complications and deaths related to drug toxicity, and the prevalence of concomitant diseases was higher.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, pulmonary; Aged; Drug therapy; Treatment outcome.

Background: Asthma is considered the most common chronic childhood disease. However, there have been few studies on the prevalence of asthma in Brazil. Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms in school-age children and adolescents living in the city of Duque de Caxias, located in the greater metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. Method: Cross-sectional transversal study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The sample comprised students of 6, 7, 13 and 14 years of age. Results: One group of 2334 students between the ages of 6 and 7 and another composed of 4040 students between the ages of 13 and 14 were evaluated. The prevalence of wheezing within the last 12 months in the younger children was 27.7%, vs. 19% among the adolescents (p < 0.0001). There was a predominance of males in the 6-7 age group (29.9% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.01) and of females in the 13-14 age group (21.9% vs. 15.8%; p < 0.0001). The proportion of previously diagnosed cases of asthma was similar (approximately 10%) for both age brackets. Wheezing upon physical exertion was more prevalent among the adolescents (21.4% vs. 7.8%; p < 0.0001). Symptom severity was higher among female adolescents (severe asthma: 6.6% vs. 4.4%; p = 0.001), although no differences among genders were seen in the 6-7 age group. Conclusion: Asthma prevalence in Duque de Caxias is high, as it is in other Brazilian and Latin American cities. Values are higher in the 6-7 age group, in which symptoms were seen predominantly in males. Among the adolescents, the prevalence and severity of symptoms were higher in females, a recent observation that seems to be a new epidemiological trend of asthma.

Keywords: Key words: Asthma. Epidemiology. Severity of illness index. Cross-sectional studies.

In 2005 and 2006, 8,121 clinical specimens submitted to the Mycobacteriology Laboratory of the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital/Thoracic Diseases Institute, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were inoculated on Löwenstein-Jensen medium containing glycerol and pyruvate. There were 79 mycobacteria isolates that presented growth only on pyruvate-containing medium, and those isolates were selected for the presumptive identification of Mycobacterium bovis. The selected isolates were screened with biochemical tests, PCR amplification (with the specific primers Rv0577 and Rv1510), and pyrazinamide susceptibility tests. All of the strains isolated showed specific phenotypical and genotypical patterns characteristic of M. tuberculosis, and no M. bovis strains were detected.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium bovis; Polymerase chain reaction.

Objective: To determine the relative frequency of hypomagnesemia among patients with chronic airflow limitation treated as outpatients at a referral center in the northern part of the state of Paraná between 2000 and 2001, as well as to determine whether hypomagnesemia correlates with hypoxia, with other electrolyte disturbances and with the severity of airflow limitation. Methods: This was a descriptive study of the relative frequency of hypomagnesemia in 72 patients with chronic airflow limitation. All of the patients were submitted to blood tests to determine serum levels of magnesium and other electrolytes, as well as to staging of the underlying disease. Results: The prevalence of hypomagnesemia was 27.8%. The mean age was 65 ± 9.9 years, and there was a predominance of males. The mean forced expiratory volume in one second was 1.31 ± 0.52 L. Most of the patients (68.1%) were found to be in the advanced stages of the disease. Hypomagnesemia was not found to correlate with other electrolyte disturbances, hypoxemia or disease stage. Conclusion: The high frequency of patients in the advanced stages is likely attributable to the fact that the outpatient facility is a referral center for the region. Further studies should be conducted in order to determine the probable causes of this high prevalence of hypomagnesemia.

Keywords: Magnesium/blood; Pulmonary ventilation; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Respiratory insufficiency

Objective: To evaluate the use of inhaler devices by patients with severe asthma treated via the Programa para o Controle da Asma e Rinite Alérgica na Bahia (ProAR, Bahia State Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Control Program), recording the frequency of their errors in performing key steps and the relationship between such errors and the lack of asthma control. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 467 patients enrolled in the ProAR in the city of Salvador, Brazil. The devices evaluated were metered dose inhalers (MDIs), with or without a spacer, and dry powder inhalers (DPIs; Pulvinal® or Aerolizer®). For the assessment of the inhalation technique, a checklist was used; the patients were asked to demonstrate the technique so that an interviewer could observe all of the steps performed. For the assessment of asthma control, we used the 6-item asthma control questionnaire. Results: Most of the patients showed appropriate inhalation techniques when using the devices. When using an MDI, few patients made mistakes in the key step of "coordinating activation and inhalation" (5.2% and 9.1% with and without the use of a spacer, respectively). During Pulvinal® use, 39% of the patients did not inhale quickly and deeply, compared with only 5.8% during Aerolizer® use. Of the patients that made use of Aerolizer® alone, 71.3% appropriately performed all of the essential steps, and their asthma was controlled. Conclusions: Most of the patients in this sample, all of whom had been submitted to periodic checks of their inhalation technique (as part of the program), used the devices appropriately. Proper inhalation technique is associated with asthma symptom control.

Keywords: Asthma; Administration, inhalation; Metered dose inhalers; Dry powdered inhalers.

Objective: To identify transmitted or primary resistance among cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and predictive factors for cure in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis after the first treatment. Method: Descriptive study of a cohort from 2006 to 2010, in a reference unit of tuberculosis in São Paulo, Brazil. The data were obtained by the revision of medical records. Clinical criteria were used to classify transmitted and acquired resistance. Extended primary resistance was also defined, in this study, as cases initially treated with a standardized scheme, but with no therapeutic success, and the pre-treatment drug susceptibility test (DST) showed presence of resistance. Results: 156 patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and their respective sputum samples were eligible for the study. Only 7% of the patients were positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous treatment occurred in 95% of the sample. The cure rate after the first treatment was 54%. The median bacteriological conversion time of those who healed was one month. Bacillary resistance was considered acquired resistance in 100 (64%) and transmitted resistance in 56 (36%). By logistic regression, patients who presented primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (odds ratio-OR = 6,29), without comorbidity (OR = 3,37) and with higher initial weight (OR = 1.04) were associated with cure after the first treatment. Conclusion: The early detection of bacillary resistance and appropriate treatment are in favor of healing. Thus, it is crucial to know exactly the primary resistance rate avoiding the use of inadequate treatments, amplification of bacillary resistance and its transmission.

Keywords: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; Drug resistance; Treatment outcome.

Objective: To assess the determining factors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis multidrug resistance at a referral center for infectious diseases in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted using data collected from September of 2000 to January of 2004. During this period, 473 cultures presenting growth of M. tuberculosis, corresponding to 313 patients, were submitted to susceptibility tests at the Central Laboratory of Minas Gerais. Cases presenting resistance to at least rifampin and isoniazid were classified as cases of multidrug resistance and were selected for study. These cases were paired to control group cases of drug-susceptible tuberculosis at a ratio of 1:3. Clinical and demographic data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: During the study period, 12 (3.83%) cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis were identified. In the univariate analysis, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was found to be more common among male patients, as well as among those testing positive in the sputum smear microscopy, those with cavitations larger than 4 cm in diameter and those having been previously treated for tuberculosis (p = 0.10 for all). After the multivariate analysis, only previous treatment for tuberculosis remained statistically significant (p = 0.0374), with an odds ratio of 14.36 (1.96-176.46). Conclusion: In the present study, previous treatment for tuberculosis was found to be an independent risk factor for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant; Tuberculosis; Microbial sensitivity tests; Risk factors