Outbreak of Fusarium solani Meningitis in Immunocompetent Persons Associated With Neuraxial Blockade in Durango, Mexico, 2022-2023.

Background: Fungal meningitis can be associated with epidural anesthesia procedures. Fusariosis is a rare infection typically affecting immunocompromised patients and rarely causes meningitis. During 2022-2023, public health officials responded to a large outbreak of Fusarium solani meningitis associated with epidural anesthesia in Durango, Mexico. Methods: The public health response and epidemiological and clinical features of patients affected by this outbreak were described. Coordinated actions were addressed to identify the etiological agent, determine its drug susceptibility, develop diagnostic tests, and implement clinical and epidemiological protocols. Retrospective analyses of clinical variables and outcomes were performed to determine association with better patient survival. Results: A total of 1801 persons exposed to epidural anesthesia were identified, of whom 80 developed meningitis. Fusarium solani was found in 3 brain biopsies and showed susceptibility to voriconazole and amphotericin B. After F solani polymerase chain reaction (PCR) implementation, 57 patients with meningitis were PCR-screened, and 31 (38.8%) had a positive result. Most patients were female (95%), and cesarean section was the most common surgical procedure (76.3%). The case fatality rate was 51.3% (41 patients) and the median hospitalization duration was 39.5 days (interquartile range, 18-86 days). Seventy-one patients (88.8%) received voriconazole/amphotericin B and 64 subjects (80%) additionally received steroids. Cox regression analysis showed an increased lethality risk in patients who received antifungal treatment after 5 days (hazard ratio, 2.1 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-4.48], P < .05). Conclusions: The F solani meningitis outbreak in Durango was an unprecedented medical challenge. Timely treatment and effective healthcare management were associated with better survival outcomes.

[Interinstitutional Command Mexico: organizational decision-making in the face of COVID-19]. / Comando interinstitucional México: toma de decisiones organizacionales ante COVID-19.

Background: The third wave of COVID-19 in Mexico produced a high demand for hospital care, which is why it was created a multidisciplinary group to optimize decision-making: the Interinstitutional Command for the Health Sector (COISS, according to its initials in Spanish). So far, there is no scientific evidence of the COISS processes or their effect on the behavior of epidemiological indicators and the hospital care needs of the population in the context of COVID-19 in the entities involved. Objectives: To analyze the trend on epidemic risk indicators throughout the COISS group's management in the third wave of COVID-19 in Mexico. Material and methods: Mixed study: 1) non-systematic review of information from technical documents issued by COISS, 2) secondary analysis of open-access institutional databases through the description of healthcare needs of cases notified with COVID-19 symptoms, and an ecological analysis by each Mexican state on the behavior of hospital occupancy, RT-PCR positivity, and COVID-19 mortality in two-time points. Results: The COISS activity in identifying states with epidemic risk generated actions aimed at a reduction in hospital occupancy of beds, positivity by RT-PCR, and mortality from COVID-19. Conclusions: The decisions of the COISS group reduced the indicators of epidemic risk. Continuing the work of the COISS group is an urgent need. Conclusions: The decisions of the COISS group reduced the indicators of epidemic risk. Continuing the work of the COISS group is an urgent need.

Introducción: la tercera ola por COVID-19 en México provocó una alta demanda de atención hospitalaria, por lo cual se conformó un grupo multidisciplinario para optimizar la toma de decisiones sanitarias: Comando Interinstitucional del Sector Salud (COISS). Hasta el momento, no hay evidencia científica de los procesos del COISS ni de su efecto sobre el comportamiento de indicadores epidemiológicos y las necesidades de atención hospitalaria de la población bajo el contexto de COVID-19 en entidades federativas involucradas. Objetivos: analizar la tendencia de indicadores de riesgo epidémico durante la gestión del grupo COISS en la tercera ola por COVID-19 en México. Material y métodos: estudio mixto: 1) revisión no sistemática de documentos técnicos del COISS, 2) análisis secundario de bases de datos de libre acceso, mediante la descripción de necesidades de atención hospitalaria de los casos notificados con síntomas de la COVID-19 y un análisis ecológico por entidades federativas sobre el comportamiento de la ocupación hospitalaria, positividad y mortalidad por COVID-19 en dos cortes temporales. Resultados: la actividad del COISS en la identificación de entidades federativas de riesgo epidémico generó acciones encaminadas a una reducción en la ocupación hospitalaria de camas generales, positividad por RT-PCR y mortalidad por COVID-19. Conclusiones: las decisiones del grupo COISS disminuyeron los indicadores de riesgo epidémico. Continuar el trabajo del grupo COISS es una necesidad apremiante.

The Association of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Hypertension with Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Admission Among Mexican Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study's aim was to explore the association of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on admission. METHODS: In the present study, a total of 23,593 patient samples were evaluated by a laboratory from the Mexican Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference. Of these, 18,443 were negative for COVID-19, 3,844 were positive for COVID-19, and 1,306 were positive for other respiratory viruses. Severe types of respiratory disease were defined by the presence of pneumonia and other organ failure that requires intensive care. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with severe COVID-19 on admission. RESULTS: Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had a higher proportion of obesity (17.4%), diabetes (14.5%), and hypertension (18.9%) compared with those without a confirmed diagnosis. Compared with patients without obesity, those with obesity showed a 1.43-fold higher odds of developing severe COVID-19 on admission, whereas subjects with diabetes and hypertension showed a 1.87-fold and 1.77-fold higher odds of developing severe COVID-19 on admission, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension were significantly associated with severe COVID-19 on admission and the association of obesity was stronger in patients < 50 years of age.