RESUMEN
We report an epidemiologic analysis of 4,210 cases of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and genetic analysis of 313 new near-complete virus genomes in Panama during March 9-April 16, 2020. Although containment measures reduced R0 and Rt, they did not interrupt virus spread in the country.
Asunto(s)
Prueba de Ácido Nucleico para COVID-19/estadística & datos numéricos , COVID-19/transmisión , Transmisión de Enfermedad Infecciosa/estadística & datos numéricos , Genoma Viral/genética , Vigilancia de la Población , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Panamá/epidemiología , Filogenia , Factores de Tiempo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Candida duobushaemulonii, a yeast closely related to Candida auris, is thought to cause infections in rare cases and is often misidentified. In October 2016, the Panamanian Ministry of Health implemented laboratory surveillance for C. auris Suspected C. auris isolates were forwarded to the national reference laboratory for identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and antifungal susceptibility testing. Between November 2016 and May 2017, 17 of 36 (47%) isolates suspected to be C. auris were identified as C. duobushaemulonii. These 17 isolates were obtained from 14 patients at six hospitals. Ten patients, including three children, had bloodstream infections, and MICs for fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B were elevated. No resistance to echinocandins was observed. C. duobushaemulonii causes more invasive infections than previously appreciated and poses a substantial problem, given its resistance to multiple antifungals. Expanded laboratory surveillance is an important step in the detection and control of such emerging pathogens.
Asunto(s)
Antifúngicos/farmacología , Candida/clasificación , Candida/efectos de los fármacos , Candidiasis/microbiología , Farmacorresistencia Fúngica Múltiple , Candida/aislamiento & purificación , Candidemia/microbiología , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Panamá/epidemiología , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización DesorciónRESUMEN
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) fungus associated with invasive infections and high mortality. This report describes 9 patients from whom C. auris was isolated at a hospital in Panama City, Panama, the first such cases in Central America, and highlights the challenges of accurate identification and methods for susceptibility testing.