[Parents' perceptions and intention to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age against COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Peru]
Despite the proven efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, pediatric vaccination coverage remains low in many countries. There are still doubts and fears in parents about vaccination in their children under 12 years of age.
[Ocular toxoplasmosis in infants 0 to 12 months of age with congenital toxoplasmosis]
Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is a retinochoroiditis that evolves with several episodes of inflammation and can occur both in the congenital or acquired form of the disease, Aim: To describe the frequency and clinical characteristics of OT in infants aged 0 to 12 months, children of mothers with positive serology for toxoplasmosis in the perinatal period.
[Impact of COVID-19 related lockdown on the metabolic profile of people with HIV infection in Argentina]
The spread of SARS-CoV-2 required widespread lockdown to mitigate the pandemic. Argentine authorities imposed preventive social isolation for 234 days (March 20th to November 9th 2020). This measure led to major changes in the population's lifestyle.
[HIV infection in times of pandemic: many setbacks, countless challenges]
Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, countless consequences have been described regarding HIV infection in Chile, both in its diagnosis and prevention, mainly manifested in the decrease in serological tests, the interruption of care, the delay in starting antiretroviral therapy, and the lack of access to preventive methods. Added to this is the deterioration in some conditions related to social aspects and mental health. All this implies, among other consequences, a probable worsening in the epidemiological situation of HIV infection in Chile. Some of the designated impacts are reviewed in this article, and some challenges are raised to confront this problem.
[Is it possible that monkeypox can behave as an opportunistic infection in people living with HIV?]
[First isolates of Enterobacter cloacae complex co-producing KPC and NDM in a second level hospital in City of Panama]
Enterobacterales co-producing carbapenemases have awakened health alerts in Latin America. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales harboring KPC and NDM-1 are resistant to almost all existing antibiotics. Panama reports KPC since 2010, and NDM since 2011, however, Enterobacterales with double carbapenemase production is new to our hospitals. We present the first two isolates of Enterobacter cloacae complex co-producing KPC and NDM, in a second level hospital in Panama City. Strengthening epidemiological surveillance systems in hospitals allows to carry out timely detection of these new combinations of resistance; to implement outbreak prevention and control measures.
[Tuberculosis: the counterpoint of progress]
Along history, infectious diseases have had a direct influence in the development of humanity, with tuberculosis showing a leading role. Despite this disease being the main cause of mortality among infectious diseases, it remains neglected and constitutes a serious public health problem, especially among the poorest countries in the world. Tuberculosis greatest importance goes beyond Medicine, and a holistic view of the disease allows us to comprehend the economic and social development of a nation. Despite a historically successful control program in Chile, current figures are not auspicious and force upon us the need to address this problem with a multidisciplinary approach. The medical physician is required to put again into practice the fundamental principle of Medicine, Semiology to contribute to the control of tuberculosis.
[Evaluation of the Aspergillus Galactomannan ag VircliaR Monotest test as an alternative to Platelia™ Aspergillus EIA kit]
The Aspergillus Galactomannan Ag Virclia® (GMVClia) test is a monotest and automated galactomannan technique based on chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA).
[Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis in anorectal specimen in a men who have sex with men with uretritis and primary syphilis]
Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium frequently associated with invasive diseases with high mortality. Although its natural reservoir is the human nasopharynx, in recent years there have been increasing reports of isolation of this agent in the anorectal mucosa, mainly in men who have sex with men (MSM). We present the case of an HIV-positive MSM who consulted for urethritis and primary syphilis, in which N. meningitidis was isolated in an anorectal specimen. He was treated empirically with ceftriaxone and azithromycin, and a post-treatment control culture was negative. Despite the increase in anogenital infections and colonization by N. meningitidis, its role is unknown as a genital pathogen and in the transmission of other infections and the need for specific therapeutic regimens.
[Lymphogranuloma venerous genital in men who have sex with men: a non-imported case report in Chile]
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. In the past years, it has emerged as a relevant infectious agent, mainly affecting men who have sex with men (MSM), frequently associated with other sexually transmitted infections as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. Even though genital lesions correspond to the classical presentation of LGV, nowadays anorectal syndrome is more frequently reported. We present a MSM patient, HIV infected, being treated with antiretroviral drugs, with a history of recurrent genital herpes, also recently treated for a syphilis in a latent stage. He had no recent trips. He referred inguinal fistulized enlarged lymph nodes, associated with a painful genital ulcer, he denied anorectal or systemic symptoms. He had been treated with multiple antibiotic and antiviral drugs, with no clinical response. Molecular studies from the content of the fistulized lymph node identified C. trachomatis. The patient received doxycycline for 6 weeks, showing good clinical response.
[Chromoblastomycosis. First allochthonous case treated in Chile]
Chromoblastomycosis is a fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, of chronic evolution, caused by dematiaceous fungi. The disease occurs worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but in regions like Chile there is only one report of a human case more than 30 years ago. We present the case of a 46-year-old Haitian man, resident in Chile, with verrucous plaques in the right anterior tibial area of one year of evolution. The diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis was confirmed when muriform cells and dematiaceous colonies were observed in the histopathological analysis and the direct microscopy, respectively. After six months of treatment with systemic antimycotics and cryotherapy, complete remission of the lesions was achieved.
[Colonic perforation and sepsis associated with Clostridium septicum as clinical presentation of colon cancer]
The association between some bacterial infections and colon cancer is well documented. The most described is Streptococcus bovis infection. Another bacteria related to intestinal neoplasms is Clostridium septicum. We present the case of a 62-year-old man who consulted for abdominal pain associated with diarrhea and fever. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis was performed, which revealed thickening of the cecum walls with an apparent break in continuity at its free edge. An exploratory laparotomy was performed which confirmed the presence of peritonitis and cecal perforation. A right hemicolectomy and terminal ileostomy were performed. The histopathological study revealed the presence of signet ring cell type adenocarcinoma associated with ischemia. The blood cultures results demonstrated the presence of C. septicum. The patient died due to fulminant sepsis.
[Pneumonia by Pneumocystis jirovecii after COVID-19 in non-HIV patient]
Infection by Pneumocystis jirovecii in patients with severe respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a situation that we must take into account today. Corticotherapy along with other risk factors predisposes to it. It is a diagnostic challenge and, after treatment, the prognosis is favorable. We report the case of a male with severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 who received corticosteroid treatment, later developing pneumonia due to P. jiroveci.
[Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in students with occupational risk]
Toxoplasmosis is a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world's most common parasites. The zoonotic infection usually occurs by eating undercooked contaminated meat or by contact with contaminated cat feces. A few studies of toxoplasmosis in healthy and immuno-compromised persons were done in Chile, but investigations related to occupational risk groups, such as Veterinary Medicine students were not studied.
[Statins and influenza mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis]
Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, it has been suggested that the use of statins could influence the evolution of influenza virus infection.
[Staphylococcus lugdunensis infection: report of 44 cases]
Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) with virulence and antibiotic sensitivity characteristics which makes it more similar to Staphylococcus aureus than other CNS.
[COVID 19 infection: age-stratified population-based cohort seroepidemiological study in Asunción and Central]
COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus type-2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Seroprevalence studies are useful to estimate the proportion of the population previously infected, quantify the magnitude of transmission, estimate the fatality rate, evaluate the effect of interventions, and estimate the degree of immunity of the population.
[Alfredo Helsby Hazell's antivaccine view. Controversies and debates at the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century in Chile]
This article reconstructs the main arguments against vaccination that circulated in Chile during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For this purpose, we will study the figure of Alfredo Helsby Hazell, who was the primary opponent of vaccination in Chile and published several writings in which he developed and disseminated his ideas. We observe that Helsby argued his rejection of vaccination from the defence of hygienism and distrust of the scientific explanations that began to spread from the germ theory. This was articulated with the defence of health as a private sphere of action, criticizing the intervention of the State in such matters.
[SARS-CoV-2 infection in people living with HIV. Topics on the global panorama and in Chile]
The COVID-19 disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and was declared a pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020. To date, more than 500 million people have been infected and it has caused over 6 million deaths worldwide. People that belong to the most vulnerable risk groups, such as those at the extremes of life, patients with chronic comorbidities and those with severe immunosuppression, are especially susceptible to developing a severe form of COVID-19 infection and death. Subjects living with HIV, especially those in precarious immunological conditions or those in whom antiretroviral therapy is yet to be started, may be at risk of developing complications related to COVID-19, as observed with other infectious diseases. This review aims to determine the magnitude of the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on people living with HIV in Chile.
[Bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care unit]
In this brief communication, we retrospectively describe COVID-19 severe patient's characteristics in ICU, and report 37,6% of secondary bacterial infections, mainly with nosocomial respiratory infections and rarely from community source.