Prevalence of HIV, Treponema pallidum and Their Coinfection in Men Who Have Sex with Men, Medellín-Colombia.

Introduction: In Colombia, HIV and gestational syphilis are notifiable events; however, they are poorly investigated infections in men who have sex with men (MSM). Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV, Treponema pallidum, and their co-infection in MSM treated at a Health Services Provider Institution (HSPI) specialized in infectious diseases from Medellín. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 3454 MSM. Prevalence was determined with its 95% confidence interval; associated factors were identified using Fisher's Exact test, Pearson's Chi-square, and trend Chi-square. Multivariate adjustment was performed using logistic regression. Analyses were performed using SPSS 29.0. Results: The prevalence of HIV was 5.7%, T. pallidum 0.7%, and co-infection 0.6%. The prevalence of HIV was higher in MSM aged between 24-40 years (7.5%), with technical or university studies (10.0%), without health insurance affiliation (12.4%), and those who have had a sexual partner with HIV (36.2%). T. pallidum was higher in MSM without health insurance affiliation (3.4%), who had sexual relations with people diagnosed with an STI (5.9%), and a sexual partner with HIV (12.1%). Co-infection was higher in MSM without health insurance affiliation (2.7%), and those who had a partner with HIV (11.2%). Conclusion: Compared with the general Colombian population, MSM have a higher risk of HIV, but are similar to T. pallidum. The identification of the main associated factors in each infection demonstrates the need to prioritize subgroups of MSM that show greater vulnerability to these events. This research demonstrates the urgency of implementing health education strategies in MSM who have a sexual partner with HIV or other STIs. Large gaps were also evident in the magnitude of the three events according to the health insurance affiliation regime, which demonstrates problems of social and health injustice, especially with MSM without health insurance affiliation.

Comparison of Survival and Clinical Profile of Adults with COVID-19 Hospitalized in Two Clinics in Medellín, Colombia.

Purpose of Review: This study compares the survival and clinical profile of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 in two clinics in the city of Medellín, Colombia, with a prospective study with 198 patients in clinic A and 201 in clinic B. Comparisons were made with chi-square and Mann-Whitney U, factors associated with survival were identified with a Cox regression. Recent Findings: The proportion of deaths was 7.1% in clinic A with a mean survival of 51.9 days (95% CI = 45-59); in clinic B 13.9% of patients died with mean survival of 37.8 days (95% CI = 32-43). The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (41.6%), diabetes (23.8%), obesity (15.0%), hypothyroidism (13.0%), dyslipidemia (11.0%), and chronic lung disease (10.8%) with similar proportions in both clinics. There were also differences by the clinic in the most prevalent complications: bacterial pneumonia (18.8%), acute renal failure (14.3%), and encephalopathy (9.5%). There were no differences in the days of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation (clinic A 23.7% and clinic B 29.4%) and admission to the ICU (25.3% in A and 32.3% in B). Summary: We evidence the heterogeneity of the survival and the clinical profile of the patients who are cared for by two institutions of the same city. These findings demonstrate the need to conduct unique studies for each institution, which poses a significant challenge for hospital epidemiology programs due to the impossibility of extrapolating evidence from other healthcare institutions and the need to implement personalized medicine programs given the clinical diversity of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Prevalencia de infección por Treponema pallidum en individuos atendidos en un centro especializado de Medellín, Colombia / Prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in individuals treated in a specialized center in Medellín, Colombia / Prevalência de infecção por Treponema pallidum em indivíduos atendidos em um centro especializado em Medellín, Colômbia

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de infección por Treponema pallidum en individuos atendidos en un centro especializado de Medellín, Colombia, 2019. Metodología: Estudio de corte, con 776 sujetos de población general (aparentemente sanos-asintomáticos y sin factores de riesgo para sífilis), 126 hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (hsh) y 190 jóvenes vulnerables (estrato socioeconómico bajo, desempleados y sin finalizar educación básica), captados intramural y extramuralmente en espacios de concentración de hsh y organizaciones no gubernamentales. Se empleó fuente de información primaria basada en un encuesta y prueba de detección de anticuerpos IgG, IgM e IgA específicos para T. pallidum, Resultados: La prevalencia de infección por T. pallidum fue 0,53 % en jóvenes vulnerables, 2,19 % en población general y 16,67 % en hsh. La razón de odds de infección en los sujetos con edad entre 51-60 años fue 13,8 (ic 95 % = 3,5-51,5) respecto a la hallada en los jóvenes entre 21-30 años; 12,0 (ic 95 % = 1,8-79,2) en quienes no tienen escolaridad frente a los universitarios; 3,3 (ic 95 % = 1,1-9,9) en las personas sin afiliación en salud, comparadas con las del régimen contributivo, y 8,1 (ic 95 % = 2,8-23,0) en quienes tiene relaciones sexuales con grupos clave versus quienes no refieren estas prácticas. Conclusión: Se halló una menor prevalencia de infección por T. pallidum en los jóvenes, seguida de los sujetos de población general y fue mayor en hsh. Se identificaron los grupos de mayor riesgo (entre los tres subgrupos estudiados), que incluyen sujetos excluidos de los programas de prevención, con confluencia de factores de riesgo sexual y privación socioeconómica

Abstract Objective: To describe the prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in individuals treated in a specialized medical center in Medellín, Colombia in 2019. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 776 subjects of the general population (apparently healthy-asymptomatic and without risk factors for syphilis), 126 men who have sex with men (msm) and 190 vulnerable young people (low socioeconomic strata, unemployed and low educational level) which were identified within and beyond spaces of concentration of msm and non-governmental organizations. A survey and a detection test for IgG, IgM and IgA for T. pallidum specific antibodies were used as the primary information source. Results: Prevalence of T. pallidum infection was 0.53 % in vulnerable young participants, 2.19% in the general population and 16.67 % in msm. The odds ratio of infection in subjects aged between 51 and 60 years was 13.8 (95% ci = 3.5-51.5) compared to that found in young people aged between 21 and 30 years; 12.0 (95% ci = 1.8-79.2) comparing those with low educational level to university students; 3.3 (95% ci = 1.1-9.9) for people without health insurance compared to those belonging to the contributory health insurance regime; and 8.1 (ci 95 % = 2.8- 23.0) in those who have sex with key groups versus those who do not report these practices. Conclusion: A low prevalence of T. pallidum infection was found in young participants, followed by subjects belonging to the general population and was higher in msm. Groups with the highest risk were identified (among the three subgroups studied), including subjects excluded from prevention programs, with a confluence of sexual risk factors and socioeconomic deprivation.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência de infecção por Treponema pallidum em indivíduos atendidos num centro especializado de Medellín, Colômbia, 2019. Metodologia: Estudo de coorte, com 776 pessoas da população em geral (aparentemente saudáveis-assintomáticos e sem fatores de risco para sífilis), 126 homens que fazem sexo com outros homens (HSH) e 190 jovens vulneráveis (classe socioeconômica baixa, desempregados e sem finalizar o ensino fundamental I e II), captados intramural e extramuralmente em espaços de concentração de HSH e organizações não governamentais. Foi usada uma fonte de informação primária baseada numa pesquisa e teste de detecção de anticorpos IgG, IgM e IgA específicos para T. pallidum. Resultados: A prevalência de infecção por T. pallidum foi de 0,53% em jovens vulneráveis, 2,19% na população geral e 16,67% em HSH. A razão de odds ratio de infecção nos indivíduos na faixa etária de 51-60 anos foi 13,8 (IC95% = 3,5-51,5) em relação a que foi encontrada nos jovens entre 21-30 anos; 12,0 (IC95% = 1,8-79,2) em quem não tem escolaridade comparada com os universitários; 3,3 (IC95% = 1,1-9,9) nas pessoas sem acesso aos serviços de saúde comparadas com as do regime contributivo, e 8,1 (IC95% = 2,8-23,0) em quem tem relações sexuais com grupos-chave vs. quem não tem estas preferências. Conclusão: Foi encontrada uma menor prevalência de infecção por T. pallidum nos jovens seguida dos indivíduos da população geral e foi maior em HSH. Foram identificados os grupos de maior risco (entre os três subgrupos estudados), que incluem sujeitos excluídos dos programas de prevenção, com confluência de fatores de risco sexual e privação socioeconômica.

The OLGA-OLGIM staging and the interobserver agreement for gastritis and preneoplastic lesion screening: a cross-sectional study.

Stomach cancer (SC) incidence and mortality are relevant public health issues worldwide. In Colombia, screening for preneoplastic lesions (PNL) and the presence of H. pylori is not routinely performed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate OLGA-OLGIM staging and the interobserver agreement in gastritis and preneoplastic lesions in patients with gastroduodenal symptoms from Colombia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 272 patients with gastroduodenal symptoms. Gastric biopsies were taken following the Updated Sydney System with the OLGA-OLGIM classification, and the results were evaluated by two pathologists. Chronic gastritis and PNL were reported in 76% and 24% of the patients, respectively. Furthermore, 25% of the patients with PNL displayed gastric atrophy (GA) and 75% intestinal metaplasia (IM). Agreement in the histopathological reading for IM was good, whereas for OLGA was variable, and for the H. pylori quantity was poor. OLGA-OLGIM stages 0-II were the most frequent (96%), while stage III (4%) and SC (4%) were the least frequent. Age and coffee consumption were associated with a higher prevalence of PNL. This work determined that 4% of the population is at high risk of developing SC and would benefit from follow-up studies. Reinforcement of training programs to improve the agreement in histopathology readings is required.

Bacterial superinfection in adults with COVID-19 hospitalized in two clinics in Medellín-Colombia, 2020.

COVID-19 represents high morbidity and mortality, its complications and lethality have increased due to bacterial superinfections. We aimed to determine the prevalence of bacterial superinfection in adults with COVID-19, hospitalized in two clinics in Medellín-Colombia during 2020, and its distribution according to sociodemographic and clinical conditions. A cross sectional study was made with 399 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by RT-PCR. We determined the prevalence of bacterial superinfection and its factors associated with crude and adjusted prevalence ratios by a generalized linear model. The prevalence of superinfection was 49.6%, with 16 agents identified, the most frequent were Klebsiella (pneumoniae and oxytoca) and Staphylococcus aureus. In the multivariate adjustment, the variables with the strongest association with bacterial superinfection were lung disease, encephalopathy, mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, and steroid treatment. A high prevalence of bacterial superinfections, a high number of agents, and multiple associated factors were found. Among these stood out comorbidities, complications, days of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and steroid treatment. These results are vital to identifying priority clinical groups, improving the care of simultaneous infections with COVID-19 in people with the risk factors exposed in the population studied, and identifying bacteria of public health interest.

HIV Prevalence and Associated Factors in Key Groups and General Population Treated at a Health Care Institution in Colombia in 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Research conducted on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and its associated factors among key groups in Colombia is scarce. The few available studies show heterogeneity in their results and increasing trends of infection. This study analyses the prevalence of HIV and associated factors in key groups served at a health care institution in Colombia in 2019. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with the sample comprised of 5771 subjects from the general population, the LGBTI community, sex workers, people who inject drugs and prisoners. The diagnosis was based on a fourth-generation ELISA. Variables related to sociodemographics, healthcare, sexual risk factors and biological measures of infected subjects were analysed. Prevalence and odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals, and logistic regression models were performed to identify confounding variables and interactions between independent variables using SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV was 0.27% among the general population, 0.53% among sex workers, 0.66% among the homeless, 2.44% among transgender persons, 2.44% among prisoners, 5.36% among men who have sex with men and 7.92% among injection drug users. The explanatory model showed higher prevalence among men, those with higher education levels, those with no health coverage, those who have sex with people from key groups and those with sexually transmitted infections, with some interactions between the latter variables. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of infection was found in the key groups, while the main explanatory factors for high infection rates were identified. The data show that national and global goals related to controlling HIV have not been achieved mainly in groups that are at a higher risk of obtaining and transmitting it and, paradoxically, also that are excluded from the national health coverage.

Conferencia clínico patológica (CPC): paciente previamente sana con insuficiencia respiratoria debida a neumonía intersticial / Clinico-pathological conference (CPC): a previously healthy patient with respiratory insuficiency due to intersticial pneumonia

Se presenta y discute el caso de una mujer de 40 años, sin antecedentes relevantes, quien ingresó al hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación, por presentar síntomas respiratorios durante 20 días. Se diagnosticó sida de novo y neumonía intersticial asociada, todo lo cual progresó hasta la falla ventilatoria, que fue refractaria al tratamiento dirigido hacia los oportunistas identificados, debido a lo cual se produjo una falla orgánica múltiple que causó la muerte.

We present the case of a 40-year-old woman, with no remarkable past medical history, who was admitted to San Vicente Foundation University Hospital, in Medellín, Colombia; she complained of respiratory symptoms lasting 20 days. Interstitial pneumonia associated with AIDS was diagnosed, which progressed to respiratory failure that did not respond to therapy directed against the opportunistic infections that were identified. She finally developed multiorgan failure that caused death.

Conferencia clínico patológica (CPC): insuficiencia corticosuprarrenal debida a infiltración crónica granulomatosa con necrosis de caseificación / Clinico-pathological conference (CPC): adrenal insufficiency due to chronic granulomatous infiltration with caseous necrosis

Se presenta y discute el caso de una paciente de 39 años de edad, en embarazo, quien consultó el 29/07/2010, hacia la semana 28 de la gestación, por dolor en el hemiabdomen superior de 20 días de evolución. Entre sus antecedentes de importancia tenía los de una comunicación interauricular tipo ostium secundum, corregida quirúrgicamente el 20/07/2009, y prolapso leve de la válvula mitral. A su ingreso al hospital se le encontró actividad uterina, por la que había estado hospitalizada durante 13 días en otra institución en la que le administraron medicamentos para útero-inhibición y maduración pulmonar fetal; se le diagnosticaron además diabetes gestacional e hidropesía fetal no inmune. Evolucionó tórpidamente con irritabilidad uterina, dolor abdominal, taquicardia y taquipnea, y al tercer día de estancia en la unidad de cuidado intensivo tuvo parto vaginal difícil, que requirió el uso de fórceps; posterior al alumbramiento presentó dolor lumbar y colapso hemodinámico que obligaron a la administración de tratamiento vasopresor con norepinefrina y vasopresina; sin embargo, siguió acidótica e hipotensa, con tendencia a la bradicardia, y finalmente falleció.

We present the case of a 39-year-old woman who came to Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl (HUSVP), in Medellín, Colombia, on July 29, 2010, around the 28th week of her first pregnancy, because of upper abdominal pain during the last 20 days. She had suffered from an ostium secundum atrial sept deffect that was surgically corrected on July 20, 2009. A mild prolapse of the mitral valve was also present. On admission, she was found to have uterine activity for which she had been treated with different drugs, during 13 days, at another institution; medication to induce fetal lung maturation had also been administered. During her hospital stay diagnoses of gestational diabetes and non-immune fetal hydrops were made. At HUSVP she continued to have uterine irritability and abdominal pain, and developed tachycardia and tachypnea. On the third day of stay in the ICU she had a difficult vaginal delivery requiring the use of forceps. After childbirth, she experienced pain in the back and hemodynamic collapse. Despite vasopressor treatment with norepinephrine and vasopressin, she remained acidotic, hypotensive and bracycardic, and died.

conferencia clínico-patológica (CPC): diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y absceso esplénico / Clinicopathological conference (CPC): diabetes mellitus type 2 and splenic abscess

El CPC o reunión de correlación clínico-patológica ha sido una actividad académica tradicional de los departamentos de Patología y Medicina Interna de la Facultad de Medicina (Universidad de Antioquia), en la que un especialista (internista, cirujano, etc.) presenta un caso interesante que haya llegado a la autopsia, y posteriormente el patólogo expone los hallazgos histológicos más relevantes hasta aclarar la causa de la muerte. A continuación se expone el caso de una mujer diabética de novo que ingresó con úlceras genitales y absceso esplénico.

CPC or Clinicopathological Conference has been a traditional academic activity of the departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine at the Medical Faculty, University of Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia). In it, an interesting case in which necropsy was done is presented by a specialist (internist, surgeon, etc.). Then a pathologist explains the most relevant histopathological findings, in order to clarify the cause of death. We present the case of a de novo diabetic woman, admitted to the hospital with genital ulcers and spleen abscess.

Klebsiella pneumoniae como patógeno intrahospitalario: epidemiología y resistencia / Klebsiella pneumoniae as a nosocomial pathogen: epidemiology and drug resistance

La resistencia bacteriana es un problema serio, de magnitud creciente y presentación universal, que reviste gran importancia, especialmente en los ambientes hospitalarios; los microorganismos más frecuentemente aislados de pacientes con infecciones intrahospitalarias son Staphylococcus aureus y Escherichia coli. En Medellín, sin embargo, Klebsiella pneumoniae ha cobrado gran importancia en años recientes debido a su gran incremento como agente causal de ese tipo de infecciones, lo que motiva esta revisión. Se incluyen los siguientes aspectos: microbiología, epidemiología, diseminación, resistencia a los beta-lactámicos y sus mecanismos, impacto clínico e importancia del problema en la ciudad.

Worldwide, bacterial resistance is an increasingly serious problem, especially in hospital environments. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are the most frequently isolated microorganisms in patients with nosocomial infections. In Medellín, Colombia, however, Klebsiella pneumoniae has become increasingly important in this kind of infection, for which reason this review was carried out. It includes the following aspects: microbiology, epidemiology, dissemination, resistance to betalactamic antibiotics and its mechanisms, clinical impact and importance of the problem in this city.

Impacto económico y ecológico del infectólogo en los hospitales / The economic and ecologic impact of infectious diseases specialists in hospitals

Introducción: los infectólogos en nuestro país han desempeñado un papel importante en la prescripción hospitalaria de antibióticos, pero no se ha realizado una evaluación de la costo-efectividad de tener infectólogo en los hospitales. Objetivos: determinar el impacto de varias medidas de control en la prescripción de antibióticos implementadas por un infectólogo en una clínica de tercer nivel de Medellín, con respecto a las tasas de infección nosocomial, la sensibilidad de los gérmenes nosocomiales aislados, el consumo y costos del uso de antibióticos. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo y prospectivo, en el cual un infectólogo implementó una política de restricción en el uso de varios antibióticos durante un año. Los resultados se expresan en porcentajes y números absolutos para ser comparados utilizando diferentes métodos estadísticos. Resultados: con la implementación de esta política, se logró recuperar o mantener la sensibilidad de varios de los gérmenes nosocomiales a antibióticos de bajo impacto biológico, logrando además disminuir el consumo general de antibióticos en un 28 porciento, representando un ahorro neto de $551'492.934. También se evidenció una disminución en el consumo de antibióticos por dosis diarias definidas administradas y finalmente todo esto hizo posible disminuir la tasa de infección nosocomial de 2,4 a 1,44.Conclusión: contar con la asesoría de un infectólogo en los hospitales de alta complejidad, es una medida costo-efectiva para disminuir las tasas de infección nosocomial y los costos de la atención en salud, logrando mejorar o mantener los patrones de susceptibilidad de los gérmenes nosocomiales.

Cáncer anal en la era del VIH: papel de la citología anal / Anal cancer in the HIV era

El cáncer anal solía ser una neoplasia infrecuente que afectaba principalmente a mujeres y personas mayores de 65 años, pero recientemente su incidencia ha venido en aumento debido a la pandemia de VIH, fenómeno que tiende a empeorar porque la terapia antirretroviral altamente activa (HAART, por su sigla en inglés) no solo alarga la vida de los pacientes, sino que al mismo tiempo hace posible una prolongada evolución de las lesiones precancerosas que conducen a cáncer anal; además, está plenamente demostrado que la HAART no evita la evolución de las lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas hacia cáncer anal.La citología anal ha demostrado ser una prueba de tamización poblacional útil y costoefectiva para el diagnóstico de las lesiones precancerosas producidas por Papilomavirus humano en el canal anal de hombres homosexuales y bisexuales, principalmente de aquellos positivos para VIH.Esta revisión tiene como objetivo llamar la atención sobre la creciente incidencia de cáncer anal en la población de pacientes VIH positivos, y sobre la utilidad del diagnóstico temprano utilizando la citología anal en este grupo de pacientes de riesgo.

Anal cancer used to be an uncommon neoplasia that affected mainly women and people aged over 65 years, but recently its incidence has been growing, mostly due to the HIV pandemic, and it will become worse because highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the same time that lengthens life expectancy in HIV positive subjects, will increase the possibility to develop anal cancer; it has already been demonstrated that HAART does not prevent the evolution of intraepithelial squamous lesions to anal cancer. Anal cytology has demonstrated to be an useful and cost-effective screening tool for detection of precancerous lesions associated with human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the anal canal of homosexual and bisexual men, specially in those that are HIV positive. This article is an update of the state of the art about anal cancer, highlighting the benefits of anal cytology for high-risk populations