title: Serological diagnosis of Chagas disease in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the rate of request for the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients treated at the Specialized Care Service of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used secondary data obtained from the medical records of 252 patients aged between 18 and 75 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serological diagnosis of Chagas disease was requested only in 3.2% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate poor adherence to protocols on the part of healthcare professionals, indicating the need to reevaluate the procedures applied to HIV-infected patients from endemic regions for both diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stauffert
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariângela Freitas
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilia Arndt
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mesenburg
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriane Brod
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Lucas de Oliveira
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bicca
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Marreiro
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Villela
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests