Incidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Illness in Infants in Low- and Middle-Income Regions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Incidence data of respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract illness (RSV-LRTI) are sparse in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated RSV-LRTI incidence rates (IRs) in infants in LMICs using World Health Organization case definitions. Methods: This prospective cohort study, conducted in 10 LMICs from May 2019 to October 2021 (largely overlapping with the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic), followed infants born to women with low-risk pregnancies for 1 year from birth using active and passive surveillance to detect potential LRTIs, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on nasal swabs to detect RSV. Results: Among 2094 infants, 32 (1.5%) experienced an RSV-LRTI (8 during their first 6 months of life, 24 thereafter). Seventeen (0.8%) infants had severe RSV-LRTI and 168 (8.0%) had all-cause LRTI. IRs (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of first RSV-LRTI episode were 1.0 (.3-2.3), 0.8 (.3-1.5), and 1.6 (1.1-2.2) per 100 person-years for infants aged 0-2, 0-5, and 0-11 months, respectively. IRs (95% CIs) of the first all-cause LRTI episode were 10.7 (8.1-14.0), 11.7 (9.6-14.0), and 8.7 (7.5-10.2) per 100 person-years, respectively. IRs varied by country (RSV-LRTI: 0.0-8.3, all-cause LRTI: 0.0-49.6 per 100 person-years for 0- to 11-month-olds). Conclusions: RSV-LRTI IRs in infants in this study were relatively low, likely due to reduced viral circulation caused by COVID-19-related nonpharmaceutical interventions. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT03614676.

Evaluación del impacto de la cuarentena por la pandemia de COVID-19 en la transmisión perinatal del VIH en Buenos Aires, Argentina / Assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on perinatal HIV transmission in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objetivos: Describir variables epidemiológicas clave durante el año 2020 (pandemia de COVID-19) con respecto a la prevención de la transmisión perinatal (TP) del VIH en Ciudad de Buenos Aires (CABA), comparando con períodos previos.Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de los datos agregados de TP de las principales maternidades de CABA. El año pandémico (2020) se comparó con los años no pandémicos 2018 y 2019.Resultados: Se observó una reducción del total de nacimientos en 2020 en comparación con 2019 y 2018 (11.640 vs. 14.031 y 15,978, respectivamente). La proporción de nacidos vivos en madres VIH+ (MEV) fue 0,88% en 2020, sin diferencia con 2019 y 2018 (0,94% y 0,93%), p> 0,05 para todas las comparaciones. Entre las MEV, el diagnóstico intraparto fue del 2,9% para 2020, sin diferencias con 2019 (2,25%) y 2018 (9,3%), p> 0,05 (todas las comparaciones); el 8,8% comenzó el tratamiento antirretroviral con > 28 semanas de edad gestacional en 2020 frente al 16% y el 18,05% en 2018 y 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La prevalencia de la carga viral indetectable en el momento del parto fue del 67% en 2020 frente al 64% en 2018 y del 65,4% en 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones). La transmisión perinatal fue 0% en 2020 vs. 1,33% en 2018 y 2,25% 2019 (p> 0,05, todas las comparaciones).Conclusiones: En la primera ola de la pandemia de COVID-19 no se observaron cambios en la proporción de MEV asistidas, diagnóstico intraparto de VIH, inicio tardío del TARV y TP en CABA

Background: To describe key epidemiological variables in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in Buenos Aires city (CABA) in comparison with previous periods. Methods: Retrospective analysis of aggregated MTCT data was gathered from six principal maternity hospitals in Buenos Aires city. Pandemic year (2020) was compared to non-pandemic years 2018-19 individually considering key epidemiological variables. Results: A reduction of total births was observed in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2018 (11640 vs. 14031 and 15978, respectively). Proportion of live births in HIV-infected women (HPW) was 0.88% in 2020 without difference with 2019 and 2018 (0.94% and 0.93%), p> 0.05 for all comparisons. Among HPW, intrapartum diagnosis was 2.9% for 2020, with no difference between 2019 (2.25%) and 2018 (9.3%), p>0.05 (all comparisons); 8.8% had antiretroviral therapy (ART) started > 28 weeks of gestational age in 2020 vs. 16% and 18.05% in 2018 and 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Prevalence of undetectable viral load at delivery was 67% in 2020 vs 64% in 2018 and 65.4% in 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons). Perinatal transmission was 0% in 2020 vs 1.33% in 2018 and 2.25% 2019 (p> 0.05, all comparisons) Conclusions: In first wave of COVID 19 pandemic no changes in the proportion of HPW assisted, HIV intrapartum diagnosis, late ART initiation and MTCT-rate was observed in CABA

Programa de acompañamiento por pares para personas con diagnóstico reciente de infección por VIH: Experiencia PPP / Peer support program for people with recently diagnosed HIV-infection: PPP experience

Introducción: Para mejorar la retención en el sistema de salud de las personas que viven con VIH (PVVIH) con diagnóstico reciente y promover su adherencia se implementó el programa de acompañamiento de pares "Positivos para Positivos" (PPP).Material y métodos: Se entrenó a PVVIH con excelente adherencia y se les ofreció integrar PPP. Entre 06/2014 y 08/2018 cada individuo con diagnóstico reciente de infección VIH fue invitado a contactar con PPP. Se evaluó prospectivamente la evolución de los pacientes durante un año y se analizaron variables vinculadas a adherencia. Se compararon sus resultados con lo observado entre PVVIH con diagnóstico reciente sin apoyo de pares. Se analizó mediante tablas de 2x2 y la prueba exacta de Fisher (EpiInfo7.2.2.6).Resultados: Se incluyeron 158 PVVIH (40 grupo intervención y 118 grupo control). En el grupo intervención hubo más pacientes que iniciaron TARGA [100% vs 87,3%; RR 1,15 (IC95 1,07-1,23); p=0,024]. Tras excluir a los derivados y fallecidos tempranamente quedaron 37 y 112 pacientes respectivamente. En el grupo intervención se observó mejor control clínico [94,6% vs 75,9%; RR 4,2 (IC95 1,08-16,6); p=0,015] y menos abandono de seguimiento [8,1% vs 25,9%; RR 0,3 (IC95 0,11-0,98); p=0,02]. Entre quienes iniciaron TARGA y tuvieron al menos una consulta con el servicio de Infectología (37 grupo intervención y 97 grupo control) se registraron más pacientes con alta tasa de retiro de TARGA de farmacia [51,4% vs 18,6%; RR 2,77 (IC95 1,64­4,66); p=0,0003]; mayor alcance de CV <50 [100% vs 85,1%; RR 1,18 (IC95 1,06­1,30); p=0,06]; y menos interrupciones RESUMENARTÍCULO ORIGINALISSN 2314-3193. Actualizaciones en sida e infectología. Buenos Aires. noviembre 2020. volumen 28. número 103: 80-92no estructuradas del TARGA [10,8% vs 36,1%; RR 0,3 (IC95 0,11­0,78); p=0,008]. Conclusión: El acompañamiento de pares impactó positivamente en la adherencia de las PVVIH con diagnóstico reciente en el primer año de seguimiento

ntroduction: To improve retention in the health system of recently diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV) and promote their adherence, the "Positive for Positive" peer support program (PPP) was implemented.Materials and methods: PLHIV with excellent adherence were trained and offered to integrate PPP. Between June/2014 and August/2018 each individual with a recent diagnosis of HIV infection was invited to contact PPP. Patients were prospectively evaluated for one year and variables linked to adherence were analyzed. Their results were compared with those observed among recently diagnosed PLHIV without peer support. It was analyzed using 2x2 tables and Fisher's exact test (EpiInfo7.2.2.6).Results: 158 PLHIV were included (40 intervention group and 118 control group). In the intervention group more patients started HAART [100% vs 87.3%; RR 1.15 (IC95 1.07-1.23); p=0.024]. After excluding referrals and early deaths, remained 37 and 112 patients, respectively. In the intervention group there was better clinical control [94.6% vs 75.9%; RR 4.2 (IC95 1.08-16.6); p=0.015] and less dropout from follow-up [8.1% vs 25.9%; RR 0.3 (IC95 0.11-0.98); p=0.02]. Among those who initiated HAART and had at least one visit to the Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic (37 intervention group and 97 control group), more patients showed a high refill rate (51.4% vs. 18.6%); RR 2.77 (IC95 1.64-4.66); p=0.0003]; greater achievement of undetectable viral load [100% vs 85.1%; RR 1.18 (IC95 1.06-1.30); p=0.06]; fewer unstructured HAART interruptions [10.8% vs 36.1%; RR 0.3 (IC95 0.11-0.78); p=0.008].Conclusion: Peer support had a positive impact on adherence among recently diagnosed PLHIV in the first year of follow-up

A scoring system to predict superinfections in high-risk febrile neutropenic children with cancer

Background. No scoring system has been published to date to assess the risk of superinfections (SI) for high-risk children with febrile neutropenia (HRFN). Methods. SI diagnoses during or 1 week after initiating antibiotic therapy in HRFN children were evaluated. Eight hundred and forty-nine episodes of febrile neutropenia (FN) were included in a prospective study to evaluate a scoring system designed to identify SI. Results. In the derivation set (566 episodes), 17% had SI. A multivariate analysis identified the following significant SI-related risk factors: acute lymphoblastic leukemia-acute myeloid leukemia (ALL-AML, OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.13-3.10), central venous catheter (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.23-3.62), and febrile episode occurring within 10 days after chemotherapy (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.09-3.15). A SI scoring system could be built: 1 point for ALL-AML, 1 point for the presence of a central venous catheter, and 1 point for the febrile episode occurring within 10 days after chemotherapy. If patients collected 3 points, then their risk of SI was 25.8%. With 2 points the risk was 16.7%, and with one minimum score of 1 point, their risk was 10.9%. The sensitivity to predict SS was 100% and its negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. In the validation set (283 episodes), 49 (17%) children had SI. For children with scores > 0, the scoring system yielded a sensitivity of 100%, and a NPV of 100% for predicting SI. Conclusions. The use of a SI score for HRFN patients was statistically validated by these results. A better initial predictive approach may allow improved therapeutic decisions for these children.