Listeria monocytogenes in HIV-infected patients in a hospital of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

A survey was carried out in a hospital of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the period from July 1999 to March 2002, to determine the infection rate of Listeriamonocytogenes in HIV+ patients with diarrhea symptoms; 134 samples were processed by microbiological methods. The results demonstrated 12.68% of positive samples. However, no statistical differences were observed for age or sex in the studied group, suggesting that this microorganism should be regarded in the differential diagnosis of infectious processes in HIV+ patients in the area.

Keywords

• Listeriosis
• HIV
• diarrhea