Diarrheal disease in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Bangkok, Thailand.

Diarrheal disease and its associated morbidities occur frequently in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and may be associated with a decreased quality of life. We studied the spectrum of symptoms, measures of nutritional status, and the enteric pathogens associated with diarrheal disease in a group of 24 patients infected with HIV in Bangkok, Thailand compared with a group of 19 patients infected with HIV without diarrhea cared for at the same clinic. Patients with diarrhea appeared to have more advanced disease by CD4 cell counts and complained more frequently of symptoms such as anorexia, gas, and bloating than patients without diarrhea. Patients with diarrhea had a tendency toward a lower nutritional status, as measured by body mass index and mid arm circumference. Stool culture and examination revealed that enteric pathogens including Salmonella species and Cryptosporidium parvum sporidia were recovered at equal frequencies in patients with and without diarrhea (27% of the patients with diarrhea and 25% of the patients without diarrhea). Microsporidia was identified in one patient with diarrhea. It was not possible to identify a pathogen in 73% of the patients with diarrhea and 75% of the patients without diarrhea, suggesting that additional agents or factors may be responsible for the diarrheal symptoms in the patients with diarrhea. More extensive studies to identify potentially treatable pathogens in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in Thailand are warranted and further attempts to better define the syndrome of pathogen-negative diarrheal disease in patients infected with HIV might result in the development of more targeted interventions in these patients.     

Human immunodeficiency virus-related lymphocytic alveolitis

We observed 276 HIV-infected patients to determine the frequency, degree, and clinical presentation of the lymphocytic alveolitis in different stages of HIV disease, and also to identify the lymphocyte subsets involved. In 154 patients with proved lung infections or tumors (group A), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed lymphocytosis in 78 percent of cases. In 122 subjects (31 AIDS and 91 HIV-infected non-AIDS patients) without evidence of lung tumor or infection (group B), lymphocytic alveolitis was seen in 72 percent of cases. In 61 of 88 (69 percent) group B lymphocytic patients, we observed respiratory symptoms or diffuse interstitial opacities; however, we also observed such alveolitis in 27 of 46 (59 percent) group B patients free of respiratory symptoms and abnormality of chest x-ray film. This alveolitis was seen not only in AIDS or ARC patients but also at earlier stages of HIV infection. T-lymphocyte analysis showed a large majority (40 to 93 percent) of CD8 positive lymphocytes in the 37 patients tested. A dual fluorescence analysis revealed, in 18 subjects, that those cells were phenotypically cytotoxic (CD8 + D44 +). These findings suggest that, regardless of HIV-infection stages and of opportunistic lung infections, a CD8-positive T-lymphocyte alveolitis may be present in HIV-infected patients and could be responsible for cough, dyspnea, interstitial pneumonitis, and abnormalities of pulmonary function tests.     

Risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts in Bangkok, Thailand

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts aged less than 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand, between August 2002 and September 2003. During the study period, 342 index cases with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited into the study and their 500 household contacts aged under 15 years were identified. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among household contacts was found to be 47.80% (95%CI = 43.41-52.19). In multivariate analysis, a generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to determine the risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts. The results indicated that the risk of tuberculosis infection was significantly associated with close contact (adjusted OR = 3.31, 95%CI = 1.46-7.45), exposure to female index case (adjusted OR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.25-6.08), exposure to mother with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 3.82, 95%CI = 1.44-10.14), exposure to father with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 2.55, 95%CI = 1.19-5.46), exposure to index case with cavitation on chest radiograph (adjusted OR = 4.43, 95%CI = 2.43-8.05), exposure to index case with 3+ sputum smear grade (adjusted OR = 3.85, 95%CI = 1.92-7.70), and living in crowded household (adjusted OR = 2.63, 95%CI = 1.18-5.85). The distribution of tuberculosis infection and risk factors among contact cases are significant for health care staff in strengthening and implementing tuberculosis control programs in Thailand.     

Enterobiasis in primary schools in Bang Khun Thian District,Bangkok, Thailand

A study of enterobiasis and its correlation with various factors that could potentially influence the rate of infection was conducted among 3,621 primary school children (five to ten years old), drawn from sixteen schools in Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok. Diagnosis was by the transparent tape swab technique, which was used to recover Enterobius vermicularis eggs from the perianal region. The transparent tape swabs were then placed on slides for examination by light microscopy. The average rate of infection for the group was 21.57%. No statistically significant differences were found between the male and female children. The younger children had a higher rate of infection. Subjects from schools located in industrial and metropolitan areas showed slightly higher rates of infection than those from agricultural areas. Data from the questionnaires in the study indicated that factors such as parental socio-economic status (occupational, income and education) and the children's personal hygiene contributed to the varying rates of infection.     

Bangkok 2004. In Thailand, drug users have to fight for their rights

Injection drug users have been overlooked in the Thai government's response to HIV/AIDS, but not in its war on drugs. They experience constant police harassment and ineffective services, and face stigma and discrimination in society and in the health-care setting. Paisan Suwannawong, of the Thai Drug Users' Network, was scheduled to speak at the Opening Ceremonies of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok on 11 July 2004. But he was placed last on a very long agenda that included Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Miss Universe. By the time he spoke, all the dignitaries and almost all the delegates had left the hall. In this edited version of his address, Paisan provides a personal testimonial about what it is like to be a drug user living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand, outlines the problems with the government's response, and describes other obstacles to delivering treatment and other services to drug users.     

Effectiveness of DOT for tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a prospective cohort study in Bangkok, Thailand.

SETTING: All health care centres under the Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. OBJECTIVES: To investigate patterns of drug administration for tuberculosis (TB) patients and to determine whether these patterns affect treatment success rates. DESIGN: In a prospective cohort study conducted during May 2004 to November 2005, newly diagnosed TB patients aged >/=15 years were enrolled after giving informed consent. The cohort was followed until treatment outcome. Structured questionnaires were used to interview patients three times: at the first visit, at the end of the intensive phase and at treatment completion. Data were also collected from treatment cards. RESULTS: Five patterns of drug administration were used in the health centres: centre-based directly observed treatment (DOT), family-based DOT, self-administered treatment (SAT), centre-based DOT + SAT and centre- + family-based DOT. The pattern of drug administration had a significant impact on treatment success (P < 0.001). Using unconditional binary multiple logistic regression controlling for confounding factors, centre- + family-based DOT had the highest success rates compared with centre-based DOT (OR 20.9, 95%CI 5.0-88.3). CONCLUSION: The pattern of drug administration impacted on treatment success. Centre- + family-based DOT, family-based DOT and centre-based DOT + SAT achieved higher rates of treatment success than the World Health Organization target. Centre-based DOT had the lowest success.     

Cryptosporidiosis in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

During January to July 1986, 1,500 fecal specimens from out and in-patients attending Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts by modified acid fast technique. Eight were found to be positive. The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 3.7% in children with acute diarrhoea. Medical records of the patients showed that the main clinical presentation was acute diarrhoea with fever for one to 7 days duration. Stool examinations and cultures revealed no white blood cells or parasites or other enteropathogenic bacteria. All recovered within two weeks. The study suggest that Cryptosporidium is a relatively common nonviral cause of acute diarrhoea in young children and routine laboratory study to detect Cryptosporidium may be justified.     

Intestinal parasitic infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -uninfected children hospitalized with diarrhea in Bangkok,Thailand

A prospective observational study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the clinical impact of intestinal parasitic infections in diarrheal illness among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children hospitalized with diarrhea in Bangkok, Thailand. Stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites using a simple smear method, a formalin-ether concentration method, a modified acid-fast stain and a modified trichrome stain. Intestinal parasites (IP) were identified in the stool specimens of 27 of 82 (33%) HIV-infected and 12 of 80 (15%) HIV-uninfected children (p=0.01). Microsporidia and Cryptosporidium were the most common IP found. Eighty-two percent of HIV-infected and 97% of HIV-uninfected groups presented with acute diarrhea and 76% of each group had watery diarrhea. Pneumonia was the most common concurrent illness, found in 22%. Clinical findings were unable to differentiate children infected with IP. Sixty-three percent of HIV-infected and 83% of HIV-uninfected children who had IP made a satisfactory recovery without specific anti-parasitic therapy. However, 9 children (7 HIV-infected and 2 HIV-uninfected) with persistent diarrhea who also had cryptosporidiosis and/or microsporidiosis did not respond to azithromycin and/or albendazole respectively. HIV-infected children with cryptosporidiosis were older and had more advanced HIV infection than those with microsporidiosis. Routine stool examination for IP should be considered due to the absence of clinical markers. The lack of effective therapy for the major IP found underscores the importance of preventive measures.     

Placental abnormalities associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and perinatal transmission in Bangkok, Thailand

The effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 on the placenta and the role of the placenta in mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission are not well understood. Placentas from 78 HIV-infected and 158 HIV-uninfected women were examined as part of a prospective perinatal HIV transmission study in Bangkok. HIV-infected women were more likely than HIV-uninfected women to have chorioamnionitis (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; P=.03), placental membrane inflammation (PMI; OR, 2. 7; P=.02), and deciduitis (OR, 2.3; P=.03) and less likely to have villitis (OR, 0.3; P=.02). However, among HIV-infected women, fewer women who transmitted infection to their child had chorioamnionitis (relative risk [RR], 0.2; P=.03), funisitis (RR, 0.4; P=.1), or PMI (RR undefined; P=.03). These findings suggest that, in this population, HIV-infected women are at increased risk for placental membrane inflammatory lesions, but that placental inflammatory lesions are not associated with increased perinatal HIV transmission.     

Fatal Melioidosis in Goats in Bangkok,Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand, is a city considered to be at low risk for melioidosis. We describe 10 goats that died of melioidosis in Bangkok. Half of them were born and reared in the city. Multilocus sequence typing ruled out an outbreak. This finding challenges the assumption that melioidosis is rarely acquired in central Thailand.Melioidosis, an often fatal infectious disease for humans and animals, is caused by the Gram-negative bacillus and biothreat select agent Burkholderia pseudomallei.¹ This organism is present in soil and water in melioidosis-endemic regions of the world, including much of Asia, northern Australia, regions of South America, some countries in Africa, and various Pacific and Indian Ocean islands.¹ Most infections in humans and animals occur after skin inoculation, inhalation, or ingestion of the organism from the environment. A wide range of animal species are susceptible to melioidosis, including sheep, goats, swine, horses, cats, dogs, and non-human primates.²We recently described the first report of culture-confirmed melioidosis in animals in Thailand, in which goats were the most frequently affected species.³ The regions where animal melioidosis were reported mapped to those areas where melioidosis is endemic in humans, including northeastern, eastern, southern, and western Thailand. To our knowledge, animal melioidosis has not been reported from central Thailand, and melioidosis is not considered to be endemic in humans in this area.^1,4 Here, we describe 10 goats that died of melioidosis in Bangkok in central Thailand.Study animals underwent necropsy as part of a routine service at the Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Mahanakorn University of Technology, Nong Chok District, Bangkok, Thailand. Organs with gross pathologic lesions were cultured on bovine blood agar and MacConkey agar. Presumptive B. pseudomallei colonies were confirmed by using conventional biochemical tests, multiplex polymerase chain reaction,⁵ and latex agglutination tests.⁶ A total of 72 goats and 367 other animals were necropsied during 2006–2012. Ten goats (14%) had at least one specimen that was culture positive for B. pseudomallei, and all other animals were culture negative for this species.The ten goats were from six different farms (range = 1–4 goats/farm) located in two districts in Bangkok (Nong Chok and Khlong Sam Wa). The median age of affected goats was three years (range = 2–4 years), and nine (90%) were female. Common symptoms before death were pneumonia (n = 9), weakness (n = 4), anorexia (n = 2), neurologic symptoms (n = 2), and mastitis (n = 2). All cases had more than one organ involved, and multiple abscesses in the lung, liver, and spleen were common (

Salmonella krefeld in Thailand: I. Epidemiology, infection and drug resistance

Information from the National Salmonella Shigella Center (NSSC), Thailand indicated that the most frequently isolated Salmonella serotype from humans during 1974-1975 was Salmonella typhi (33.1%), during 1976-1982 was S. krefeld (26.6%) and during 1983-1987 was S. derby (12.6%). Antimicrobial susceptibility study of various Salmonella serotypes indicated that S. krefeld was the serotype with multiple drug resistance persisting for the longest period of time. Human salmonellosis due to S. krefeld is very rare. During 1976-1978, a large outbreak of S. krefeld gastroenteritis occurred in Thailand, mainly in children. The outbreak spread countrywide and is currently endemic. Gastrointestinal symptoms are severe in young infants. Systemic invasion with bacteremia, meningitis and pneumonitis were reported. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates varied from sensitive to multiply drug resistant. The common antibiotic resistances were to ampicillin (75-92%), chloramphenicol (33-75%), kanamycin (67-90%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (15-52%). Resistance to gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim declined after the period of the epidemic. Antimicrobial resistance patterns of 150 S. krefeld strains isolated in Thailand during 1978-1987 showed multiple drug resistance with up to seven drugs. The most common patterns were ApCmKmSuTp and ApCmKmSmSuTc.     

Human immunodeficiency virus-related lymphoma: relation between clinical features and histologic subtypes.

PURPOSE: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs frequently in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We determined the association between the clinical and histologic features of HIV-related lymphoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 291 patients with noncerebral HIV-related lymphoma who had been treated in multicenter trials coordinated by the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte between 1988 and 1997. This study was performed mainly before the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: The main histologic subtypes were centroblastic lymphoma in 131 patients (45%), immunoblastic lymphoma in 39 patients (13%), and Burkitt's lymphoma (including the classical form and the variant with plasmacytic differentiation) in 115 patients (40%). Burkitt's lymphoma was the most aggressive form, whereas immunoblastic lymphoma occurred in severely immunodeficient patients. Two-year survival after enrollment was 15% in immunoblastic lymphoma, 32% in Burkitt's lymphoma, and 31% in centroblastic lymphoma (P = 0.006), but multivariate analysis did not confirm the independent prognostic value of histologic subtype. Instead, five independent pretreatment factors increased the risk of mortality: age 40 years or older [relative risk (RR) = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1 to 2.1; P = 0.005], elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level (RR = 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1; P = 0.02), having a diagnosis of AIDS before lymphoma (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.6; P = 0.006), CD4(+) cell count less than 100 x 10(6)/L (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.6; P = 0.0004), and impaired performance status (RR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7 to 3.4; P <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Several pretreatment characteristics of HIV-related lymphoma were linked to the histologic form, but HIV disease parameters other than those of lymphoma were the main determinants of outcome, so the histologic features of the lymphoma were not associated with prognosis.     

Japanese encephalitis in Thai children, Bangkok, Thailand

During a period of 5 years from May 1979 to April 1984, 121 encephalitis patients were admitted to Bangkok Children's Hospital. 79 were proved to be JE. 73.42% of JE patients came from outside Bangkok while the rest came from suburban areas of Bangkok. No distinction could be made between JE and encephalitis caused by other agents by clinical data and cerebrospinal fluid examination. Definite diagnosis of JE could be done by demonstration of specific IgM antibody against JEV in cerebrospinal fluid. Case fatality rate of JE was 25%.     

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in intravenous drug users: a model for primary care.

PURPOSE: Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) often encounter barriers to primary care. To improve access, we developed a primary care clinic--Central Medical Unit (CMU)--for substance abusers in drug treatment. We report outcomes for services offered to IVDUs with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 1990, 24% (120 of 509) of IVDUs eligible for CMU were HIV positive. Diagnostic therapeutic and preventive goals for IVDUs with HIV infection were evaluated for acceptance and compliance by chart review for these 120 patients. RESULTS: On admission, 65% (78 of 120) of patients reported having no source of primary care, 64% (77 of 120) were male, and 77% (92 of 120) were in methadone maintenance. All were screened for tuberculosis, syphilis, and hepatitis; 94% (15 of 16) of eligible patients accepted tuberculosis prophylaxis and 83% (5 of 6) accepted syphilis treatment, but only 36% (5 of 14) accepted hepatitis B vaccine. Of those who accepted therapy, 87% (13 of 15) were compliant with tuberculosis prophylaxis, and 100% (5 of 5) were compliant with syphilis treatment. Influenza vaccine was accepted by 49% (59 of 120) and pneumococcal vaccine by 81% (97 of 120). Ninety-eight percent (118 of 120) accepted T-cell testing: 61% had T-helper counts less than 500/mm3 and 25% were less than 200/mm3. Of those eligible, 89% (70 of 79) accepted antiretroviral therapy, and 100% (35 of 35) accepted Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis. Six-month compliance rates for these therapies were 84% (59 of 70) and 77% (27 of 35), respectively. CONCLUSION: By offering primary care services with drug treatment, the CMU model may be an effective way of providing access to primary care for HIV-infected IVDUs and for facilitating compliance.     

Response to JE vaccine among HIV-infected children, Bangkok, Thailand.

Since 1990, Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine has been part of EPI in northern Thailand, where there is a high prevalence of JE and HIV infection. To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of JE vaccine among HIV-infected children, we conducted a retrospective study of HIV-infected and uninfected children who received 2 doses of JE vaccine at 12 months of age. Pre- and post-immunization plasma specimens were tested by plaque reduction neutralization for antibody levels to JE and dengue(1-4) viruses; titers of > or =10 were considered positive. Excluding 5 children with preimmunization antibodies, 5 of 14 (36%) HIV-infected children and 18 of 27 (67%) uninfected children had positive JE antibody titers after immunization [odds ratio (OR) 0.3, p=0.06]; 31% absolute difference [95% confidence interval (CI) 0-61.7%). The geometric mean titer of HIV-infected children with positive titers was lower than that of control children (15.1 vs, 23.8; p=0.17). No significant vaccine-associated adverse events were noted. We conclude that primary antibody response to JE vaccine was low among HIV-infected children and was approximately half of that seen among uninfected children. In endemic areas, HIV-infected children are likely to be at risk of acquiring JE despite routine immunization with 2 doses.