[Comparación de la vigilancia centinela de infecciones respiratorias agudas frente a la vigilancia universal en La Rioja en la temporada 2021-2022.] / Comparison of sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infections versus universal surveillance in La Rioja in the 2021-2022 season.

OBJECTIVE: Sentinel surveillance is used to monitor health problems. The COVID detection strategy conducts universal surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can be monitored by sentinel systems, through surveillance of mild acute respiratory infection (IRA) or severe respiratory infection (IRAG). The objective of this study was to compare incidence data obtained through sentinel surveillance against versus universal surveillance in acute respiratory infections. METHODS: A descriptive study of the incidences (cases/100,000 inhabitants) of acute respiratory infection (sudden onset of cough, sore throat, dyspnea or runny nose and clinical judgment of infection) was carried out in the entire population of La Rioja recorded in the primary care medical record, and in a sentinel cohort, by age and sex during the period from weeks 40-2021 to 06-2022. For SARI, the total number of hospitalized cases per 100,000 inhabitants with onset of symptoms in the previous ten days was calculated, as well as the incidence in a systematic selection of all SARI hospitalized one day a week. Weekly incidence rates were calculated in each cohort from week forty of 2021 to week six of 2022 by sex and age group. The characteristics of the population were expressed in their distribution by number and percentage. RESULTS: The data observed for ARI were similar in both systems by sex and age, except for the zero to four-year-old group and the group over seventy-nine years of age, where differences were observed, with the highest ARI figures in the first age group in sentinel surveillance, while in the older group they were superior in universal surveillance. SARIs showed a similar incidence, except in the fifteen/fourty-four age groups, which was higher in universal surveillance than in sentinel surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences. Sentinel surveillance allows optimization of resources, being the most efficient methods for surveillance of high-incidence diseases.

OBJETIVO: La vigilancia centinela se emplea para monitorizar problemas de salud. En la Estrategia de detección de COVID se lleva a cabo vigilancia universal de infección por SARS-CoV-2, que puede pasar a monitorización mediante sistemas centinela, a través de vigilancia de infección respiratoria aguda leve (IRA) o grave (IRAG). El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar datos de incidencia obtenidos mediante vigilancia centinela frente a vigilancia universal en las infecciones respiratorias agudas. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las incidencias (casos por cada 100.000 habitantes) de infección respiratoria aguda (comienzo súbito de tos, dolor de garganta, disnea o rinorrea y juicio clínico de infección) en toda la población de La Rioja, registrados en la historia clínica de Atención Primaria, y en una cohorte centinela, por edad y sexo durante el periodo que incluye la semana 40-2021 hasta la 06-2022. Para IRAG se calcularon los casos hospitalizados totales por cada 100.000 habitantes con inicio de síntomas en los diez días previos, así como la incidencia en una selección sistemática de todos los IRAG hospitalizados un día a la semana. Se calcularon las tasas de incidencia semanales en cada cohorte desde la semana cuarenta del año 2021 a la semana seis del año 2022 por sexo y grupo de edad. Las características de la población se expresaron en su distribución por número y porcentaje. RESULTADOS: Los datos observados para IRA fueron similares en ambos sistemas por sexo y edad, salvo para el grupo de cero a cuatro años y el de más de setenta y nueve años, donde se observaron diferencias, siendo las cifras de IRA más elevadas en el primer grupo de edad en la vigilancia centinela, mientras que en el grupo de mayores fueron superiores en la vigilancia universal. Las IRAG mostraron una incidencia similar, excepto en los grupos de edad de quince a cuarenta y cuatro años, que fue mayor en vigilancia universal que en el centinela. CONCLUSIONES: No se observan diferencias importantes. La vigilancia centinela permite optimización de recursos, siendo los métodos más eficientes para vigilancia de enfermedades de alta incidencia.

Diagnostic study of pertussis using PCR in primary care clinics.

INTRODUCTION: Pertussis is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria of the genus Bordetella, mainly pertussis and parapertussis species. Despite the high vaccination coverage in developed countries, it is considered a re-emerging disease that is also underreported and underdiagnosed, especially in patients who do not require hospital referral. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, prospective and multicentre study of pertussis diagnosis and contact investigation in 17 primary care paediatric clinics through collection of samples for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing over a period of 4 years and after the implementation of routine vaccination against pertussis during pregnancy. RESULTS: Pertussis was diagnosed in a total of 50 patients; the estimated incidence in these years was higher compared to previous rates in the paediatric age group. Fourteen percent of the cases occurred in children aged less than 1 year. The mean age was 6.7 years. Cough was present in 100% of cases, followed in frequency by vomiting and rhinorrhoea. Only 1 patient required hospital admission, and none died or developed complications. B. pertussis was the predominant causative agent. Only 40% knew the source of infection. In 26% of the cases, pertussis was confirmed in contacts of the patient by PCR, and in 46% it was suspected based on the clinical presentation but without microbiological confirmation. CONCLUSIONS: Access to diagnostic tests (PCR) for pertussis in primary care allows us to optimise its diagnosis and treatment, to break the chain of transmission, to know the real incidence rates and to assess the impact of routine vaccination of pregnant women on this disease.