Received: September 9, 2004, Accepted: March 29, 2005, Published online: October 30, 2005.

Listeria monocytogenes IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS IN A HOSPITAL OF

NOVA IGUAÇU, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

NORBERG A. N. (1), MAURE E. A. P. (2, 3), SVAITER N. (1),

GONÇALVES A. S. (1), SANCHES F. G. (1, 4)

(1) Iguaçu University (UNIG), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (2) Volta Redonda Universitary Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (3) National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (INIDA), Cape Verde; (4) Souza Marques Technical-Educational Foundation, 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 Listeria monocytogenes 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.

KEY WORDS: Listeriosis, HIV, diarrhea.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

ANTONIO NERES NORBERG, Rua Barão de Bom Retiro, 2600, Apto. 1001, 20540-340, Grajaú, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Email: norberg@uol.com.br.