Accuracy of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection in outpatients and their household contacts during the circulation of the Omicron variant of concern.

BACKGROUND: While nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs are considered the gold standard for severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection, several studies have shown that saliva is an alternative specimen for COVID-19 diagnosis and screening. METHODS: To analyze the utility of saliva for the diagnosis of COVID-19 during the circulation of the Omicron variant, participants were enrolled in an ongoing cohort designed to assess the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults and children. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and Cohen's kappa coefficient were calculated to assess diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Overall, 818 samples were collected from 365 outpatients from January 3 to February 2, 2022. The median age was 32.8 years (range: 3-94 years). RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in 97/121 symptomatic patients (80.2%) and 62/244 (25.4%) asymptomatic patients. Substantial agreement between saliva and combined nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal samples was observed with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.81]. Sensitivity was 77% (95% CI: 70.9-82.2), specificity 95% (95% CI: 91.9-97), PPV 89.8% (95% CI: 83.1-94.4), NPV 87.9% (95% CI: 83.6-91.5), and accuracy 88.5% (95% CI: 85.0-91.4). Sensitivity was higher among samples collected from symptomatic children aged three years and older and adolescents [84% (95% CI: 70.5-92)] with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.35-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Saliva is a reliable fluid for detecting SARS-CoV-2, especially in symptomatic children and adolescents during the circulation of the Omicron variant.

Construction and validation of an interprofessional simulated scenario for the identification and management of sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: Build and validate a realistic interprofessional simulation scenario for the identification and management of sepsis by doctors and nurses. METHOD: Methodological study developed in 2021, in two stages: construction of the guide and content validation by expert judges; and development of the simulation and validation of the scenario by doctors and nurses. 15 specialists participated in the research in the first stage and eight care professionals in the second stage. 0.8 was adopted as a parameter for the Content Validation Index (CVI). RESULTS: The scenario guide addressed nosocomial sepsis with an abdominal focus in an adult patient and its validation obtained a total CVI of 0.97. All areas evaluated in the simulation scenario obtained agreement indices greater than 0.8. CONCLUSION: The construction and validation of the guide allowed the elaboration of guiding material for the development of an interprofessional simulated scenario, whose execution and validation process demonstrated its suitability in approaching the identification and management of sepsis by doctors and nurses. It is recommended to carry out future research evaluating its applicability to other situational contexts.

Construction and validation of an interprofessional simulated scenario for the identification and management of sepsis / Construcción y validación de un escenario simulado interprofesional para la identificación y manejo de la sepsis / Construção e validação de cenário simulado interprofissional de identificação e manejo da sepse

ABSTRACT Objective: Build and validate a realistic interprofessional simulation scenario for the identification and management of sepsis by doctors and nurses. Method: Methodological study developed in 2021, in two stages: construction of the guide and content validation by expert judges; and development of the simulation and validation of the scenario by doctors and nurses. 15 specialists participated in the research in the first stage and eight care professionals in the second stage. 0.8 was adopted as a parameter for the Content Validation Index (CVI). Results: The scenario guide addressed nosocomial sepsis with an abdominal focus in an adult patient and its validation obtained a total CVI of 0.97. All areas evaluated in the simulation scenario obtained agreement indices greater than 0.8. Conclusion: The construction and validation of the guide allowed the elaboration of guiding material for the development of an interprofessional simulated scenario, whose execution and validation process demonstrated its suitability in approaching the identification and management of sepsis by doctors and nurses. It is recommended to carry out future research evaluating its applicability to other situational contexts.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Construya y valide un escenario de simulación interprofesional realista para la identificación y el tratamiento de la sepsis por parte de médicos y enfermeras. Método: Estudio metodológico desarrollado en 2021, dividido en dos etapas: construcción del guion y validación de contenido por jueces expertos; y desarrollo de la simulación y validación del escenario por parte de médicos y enfermeras. En la investigación participaron 15 especialistas en la primera etapa y ocho profesionales asistenciales en la segunda etapa. Se adoptó 0,8 como parámetro para el Índice de Validación de Contenido (CVI). Resultados: El guión de escenario abordó la sepsis nosocomial con foco abdominal en un paciente adulto y su validación obtuvo un CVI total de 0,97. Todas las áreas evaluadas en el escenario de simulación obtuvieron índices de acuerdo superiores a 0,8. Conclusión: La construcción y validación del guion permitió la elaboración de material orientador para el desarrollo de un escenario simulado interprofesional, cuyo proceso de ejecución y validación demostró su idoneidad en el abordaje de la identificación y manejo de la sepsis por parte de médicos y enfermeros. Se recomienda realizar futuras investigaciones evaluando su aplicabilidad a otros contextos situacionales.

RESUMO Objetivo: Construir e validar um cenário de simulação realística interprofissional de identificação e manejo da sepse por médicos e enfermeiros. Método: Estudo metodológico desenvolvido em 2021, dividido em duas etapas: construção do roteiro e validação do conteúdo por juízes especialistas; e desenvolvimento da simulação e validação do cenário por médicos e enfermeiros. Participaram da pesquisa 15 especialistas na primeira etapa e oito profissionais assistenciais na segunda etapa. Adotou-se 0,8 como parâmetro do Índice de Validação de Conteúdo (IVC). Resultados: O roteiro do cenário abordou a sepse nosocomial com foco abdominal em paciente adulto e sua validação obteve IVC total de 0,97. Todas as áreas avaliadas no cenário de simulação obtiveram índices de concordância superiores a 0,8. Conclusão: A construção e validação do roteiro permitiu a elaboração de material norteador para o desenvolvimento de cenário simulado interprofissional, cujo processo de execução e validação demonstrou a sua adequabilidade na abordagem da identificação e manejo da sepse por médicos e enfermeiros. Recomenda-se realizar pesquisas futuras avaliando sua aplicabilidade a outros contextos situacionais.

Evaluation and genotyping of multidrug-resistant cases of tuberculosis in southern Brazil.

Sixty isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis identified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) at a reference laboratory in Rio Grande do Sul State during the years 1999 and 2000 were analyzed using the IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. We also genotyped 202 susceptible strains to compare the genotyping results, as well as the clinical and demographic data. Spacer oligotyping (spoligotyping) analysis was performed for isolates presenting low IS6110 copy number. Patients with identical DNA pattern strains were considered clustered. From 262 isolates, 94 (36%) belonged to 20 distinct RFLP clusters, and after spoligotyping analysis, 89 of the isolates (34%) remained in cluster. MDR isolates did not differ statistically in clustering proportion from susceptible strains. A significant association between the occurrence of MDR and previous tuberculosis (TB) treatment was observed (p < 0.001), as well as failure on TB treatment (p < 0.001). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients were associated with susceptible tuberculosis (p = 0.024). We also identified that unmarried patients were more likely to develop TB due to recent transmission than married patients (p < 0.005). The introduction of directly observed therapy short-course (DOTS) strategy will be important in decreasing default and failure rates and avoiding the development of new MDR strains.

Metabolic changes associated with antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate metabolic changes associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-positive patients, and to identify risk factors associated. METHODS: Retrospective study that included 110 HIV-positive patients who where on HAART in the city of Porto Alegre (Southern Brazil) between January 2003 and March 2004. Data on demographic variables, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, stage of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy and HCV coinfection were collected. General linear models procedure for repeated measures was used to test the interaction between HAART and HCV coinfection or protease inhibitor treatment. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels significantly increased after receiving HAART (p<0.001 for all variables), but no interaction with protease inhibitors was seen for total cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride levels (interaction treatment*protease inhibitors p=0.741, p=0.784, and p=0.081, respectively). An association between total cholesterol levels and HCV coinfection was found both at baseline and follow-up (effect of HCV coinfection, p=0.011). Glucose levels were increased by HAART (treatment effect, p=0.036), but the effect was associated to HCV coinfection (treatment*HCV effect, p=0.018). Gender, smoking habit, intravenous drug use and age were not significantly associated with cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose changes. CONCLUSIONS: HCV-infected patients at baseline were significantly less likely to develop hypercholesterolemia. The results provide further evidence of the role of HAART for the development of metabolic disturbances.

Metabolic changes associated with antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients / Alterações metabólicas associadas à terapia anti-retroviral em pacientes HIV-positivos / Alteraciones metabólicas asociadas a la terapia anti-retroviral en pacientes HIV-positivos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate metabolic changes associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-positive patients, and to identify risk factors associated. METHODS: Retrospective study that included 110 HIV-positive patients who where on HAART in the city of Porto Alegre (Southern Brazil) between January 2003 and March 2004. Data on demographic variables, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, stage of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy and HCV coinfection were collected...

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações metabólicas associadas à terapia anti-retroviral potente em pacientes HIV-positivos e identificar fatores de risco associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com 110 pacientes HIV-positivos que estavam sob terapia anti-retroviral potente (HAART) na cidade de Porto Alegre (RS), entre janeiro de 2003 e março de 2004. Os dados coletados incluem variáveis demográficas, tabagismo, diabetes mellitus, níveis de colesterol e triglicerídeos, estágio da infecção viral, terapia anti-retroviral e co-infecção com hepatite C...

OBJETIVO: Evaluar las alteraciones metabólicas asociadas a la terapia anti-retroviral potente en pacientes HIV-positivos e identificar factores de riesgo asociados. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo con 110 pacientes HIV-positivos que estaban en terapia anti-retroviral potente (HAART) en la ciudad de Porto Alegre (Sur de Brasil), entre enero de 2003 y marzo de 2004. Los datos colectados incluyen variables demográficas, tabaquismo, diabetes mellitas, niveles de colesterol y triglicéridos, fase de la infección viral, terapia anti-retroviral y co-infección con hepatitis C...

Análise molecular de cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis provenientes de um centro de saúde ambulatorial em Porto Alegre, (RS) / Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from an outpatient clinic in Porto Alegre, (RS)

INTRODUÇAO: A tuberculose é uma doença antiga que ainda se mantém como um dos maiores males da humanidade no século XXI. Nas últimas décadas, o advento de novas tecnologias utilizando os conhecimentos de biologia molecular tem levado a um aumento na investigação da etiologia, detecção e epidemiologia da tuberculose. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o grau de similaridade entre as cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis provenientes do setor de tisiologia do Centro de Saúde Navegantes, de Porto Alegre (RS). MÉTODO: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo utilizando 55 amostras de escarro de pacientes atendidos ambulatorialmente no Centro de Saúde Navegantes para realização da técnica de RFLP. Os resultados obtidos pela genotipagem foram correlacionados com os dados gerados a partir da epidemiologia convencional. RESULTADOS: Trinta e nove isolados (70,9 por cento) apresentaram padrão único, enquanto dezesseis isolados (29,1 por cento) apresentaram padrões agrupáveis e formaram 8 clusters, com 2 pacientes em cada. Foi encontrada relação epidemiológica em 6 (37,5 por cento) dos 16 pacientes em cluster. CONCLUSAO: A associação adequada entre epidemiologia convencional e genotipagem de M. tuberculosis contribui para um melhor entendimento da dinâmica de transmissão da tuberculose mesmo quando o estudo é realizado em um único local.