Mean Platelet Volume as a Predictor of COVID-19 Severity: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Highlands of Peru.

INTRODUCTION: Although 80% of symptomatic individuals with COVID-19 develop mild forms, it is the severe (15%) and critical (5%) forms that have the greatest impact in the hospital setting. Recognizing markers that can predict severe forms is essential, especially in high-altitude populations. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study at 3200 masl (meters above sea level) in a city in Peru to determine if MPV (mean platelet volume) level is a predictor of COVID-19 severity. Patients with mild/moderate disease were enrolled and followed for 21 days or until the development of severe disease (primary outcome). A bivariate analysis was used to identify variables associated with severe disease. A ROC analysis determined the best MPV (mean platelet count) cut-off to predict COVID-19 severity, and then, a multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: 64 patients were enrolled. The median age was 48.5 years (IQT 39-64.5) and the proportion of women was 51.6%, the most frequent symptoms were chest pain (73%), fever (71%), and dyspnea (67%). The median time to develop a severe form from the onset of symptoms was 11 days (IQT 10.5-13). The most common radiographic phase on CT scan (computed tomography) was progressive (60.38%). We observed that an MPV of more than 10.15 fL in the first week of disease predicted severity regardless of age and sex at high altitudes. CONCLUSIONS: MPV in the first week of the disease may predict severity in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at high altitudes; however, we need prospective studies with a larger population and at a different altitude, levels to confirm these findings.

Prevalencia de bacterias multidrogoresistentes en un hospital público ubicado en la sierra del Perú

Introducción. La resistencia antibiótica es una de las mayores amenazas para la salud global. Una de las estrategias para su control, es la vigilancia microbiológica. Objetivo. Describir la variación de la prevalencia de cepas multidrogoresistentes (MDR) de las bacterias más frecuentemente aisladas en muestras clínicas de pacientes atendidos en un hospital de tercer nivel de una ciudad de altura en el Perú, y determinar los factores asociados a su aislamiento. Además, evaluar la prevalencia de otros fenotipos de resistencia. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal a partir de una cohorte histórica de aislamientos entre los años 2012 y 2019. Resultados. La prevalencia general de cepas MDR fue 74,1%, observándose una tendencia a la disminución de la prevalencia anual de cepas de MDR en cinco de las nueve bacterias analizadas. Los factores asociados a cepas MDR se correspondían con los descritos previamente: sexo masculino, edad mayor a 75 años y hospitalización en servicios de cuidados intensivos. Además, se observó un incremento en la prevalencia de otros fenotipos de resistencia. Conclusión. Se encontró una alta prevalencia de cepas MDR en todas las bacterias evaluadas, asociadas a factores previamente descritos.

Introduction. Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health. One of the strategies for its control is microbiological surveillance. Objective. To describe the variation of the prevalence of multidrug resistant strains (MDR) of the most frequently isolated bacteria in clinical samples of patients treated at a tertiary care hospital in a high-altitude city in Perú and the factors associated with its isolation. Also, to assess the prevalence of other resistance phenotypes. Results. The general prevalence of MDR strains was 74,1%, observing a downward trend in the annual prevalence of MDR strains in five of the nine bacteria included. The factors associated with MDR strains corresponded to those previously described: male sex, age over 75 years, and hospitalization in intensive care services. In addition, an increase in the annual prevalence of other resistance mechanisms was evidenced. Conclusions. A high prevalence of MDR strains was found in all the bacteria evaluated, associated with previously described factors.

Hiponatremia severa por meningitis tuberculosa: complicación frecuente pero olvidada

Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 55 años que ingresó por alteración del estado de conciencia por una hiponatremia severa secundaria a una meningitis tuberculosa. No hubo mejoría de la hiponatremia al tratamiento con solución salina hipertónica, por lo cual se planteó el diagnóstico de síndrome de secreción inapropiada de hormona antidiurética (SIADH) y se evidenció mejoría con la restricción hídrica. El interés del presente caso es reportar una complicación frecuente pero olvidada de la meningitis tuberculosa.

We present the case of a 55-year-old male patient who was admitted due to an altered state of consciousness due to severe hyponatremia secondary to tuberculous meningitis. There was no improvement in hyponatremia after treatment with hypertonic saline solution, therefore the diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was proposed, and improvement was evidenced with fluid restriction. The interest of this case is to report a common but forgotten complication of tuberculous meningitis.

Laryngeal Tuberculosis in Pregnant Women: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Tuberculosis is the most frequent granulomatous disease but the involvement of the larynx is rare. Immunosuppressed patients have a higher risk of developing this clinical form due to primoinfection or reactivation of latent tuberculosis. It is common to confuse the diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis with laryngeal cancer because they have similar macroscopic lesions and both produce dysphonia of chronic evolution. We present the case of a pregnant woman with chronic dysphonia, dysphagia, and odynophagia, diagnosed initially with laryngeal cancer after the first laryngoscopy. However, the patient also presented with fever, productive cough, weight loss, and dyspnea. The sputum sample showed a positive result for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) test; chest X-ray was showed bibasal nodular lesions with a predominance of right hemithorax and reticular opacities in left apex. A new laryngoscopy revealed a mamelonated tumor in the arytenoid cartilage, which led to the initiation of the antituberculous treatment without confirming the diagnosis by biopsy, with clinical improvement and no serious sequelae at the end of treatment. The reason for presenting this case is to consider the possibility of tuberculosis in areas of high endemicity, in patients who have a laryngeal tumor of probable neoplastic etiology, and that a biopsy is not necessary for the diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis in cases associated with pulmonary symptomatology.

Insuficiencia respiratoria y hemoptisis en paciente con dengue: Hemorragia alveolar difusa como presentación inusual de dengue grave / Respiratory insufficiency and hemoptysis in a patient with dengue: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage as an unusual presentation of severe dengue

Introducción: La infección por el virus del dengue es una enfermedad endémica en ciertas regiones del Perú. La mayoría de estos casos se clasifican como dengue sin signos de alarma y la mortalidad reportada es menor de 1%. Sin embargo, existen ciertas condiciones asociadas a la enfermedad que podrían incrementar la mortalidad. Reporte de caso: Se presenta el caso de una paciente mujer de 48 años procedente de área endémica de esta infección con cuadro clínico y hallazgos laboratoriales compatibles con enfermedad por dengue con signos de alarma. Durante la hospitalización, cursa con hemoptisis e insuficiencia respiratoria produciendo su posterior fallecimiento. Conclusión: Es importante reconocer la hemorragia alveolar difusa como parte del compromiso respiratorio por dengue y diferenciarlo de otras posibilidades infecciosas y no infecciosas para poder brindar el manejo adecuado de forma temprana.

Background: Dengue virus infection is an endemic disease in some regions of Peru. Most of these cases are classified as dengue without warning signs and the reported mortality is less than 1%. However, there are certain conditions associated with the disease that could increase mortality. We Case report:present the case of a 48-year-old female patient from a dengue endemic area with clinical and laboratory compatible with dengue disease with warning signs. During hospitalization, she presents hemoptysis and respiratory insufficiency, leading to death. It is important to recognize diffuse alveolar Conclusion:hemorrhage as part of dengue respiratory manifestations and to differentiate it from other infectious and non-infectious possibilities in order to provide appropriate and early management.