Rol de la Comisión Honoraria para la Lucha Antituberculosa y Enfermedades Prevalentes en la Estrategia Nacional de Vacunación contra la COVID-19 en Uruguay: período noviembre 2020 - julio 2021 / Role of the Honorary Commission for the Fight against Tuberculosis and Prevalent Diseases (CHLA-EP) in the National Vaccination Strategy against COVID-19 in Uruguay: november 2020 - July 2021 / Papel da Comissão Honorária de Luta contra a Tuberculose e Doenças Prevalentes (CHLA-EP) na Estratégia Nacional de Vacinação contra a COVID-19 no Uruguai: período de novembro de 2020 a julho de 2021

La pandemia por la infección por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 determinó que en Uruguay a inicio de marzo de 2020 el gobierno diseñara el Plan Nacional de Contingencia para la enfermedad COVID-19 causada por este virus. Este plan incluyó medidas preventivas no farmacológicas como: higiene de manos, distanciamiento físico, uso de mascarilla de diferentes tipos de acuerdo al riesgo de quien debía utilizarlos, en algunos períodos restricciones varias sobre circulación de personas, actividades educativas o espectáculos públicos, y tránsitos por tierra, aire o mar. Se apeló fuertemente a la libertad responsable. A partir de diciembre 2020 se decidió incorporar a la prevención primaria una Estrategia de Vacunación. El 1/3/2021 se inició la Campaña Vacunación COVID-19 2021, que fue no obligatoria, poblacional, inicialmente para personas mayores de 18 años y a partir de junio incluyó adolescentes entre 12 y 17 años y mujeres embarazadas. El Grupo Asesor Científico Honorario (GACH) del Gobierno Nacional junto a la Comisión Nacional Asesora de Vacunas (CNAV) del Ministerio de Salud Pública (MSP) que cuenta con largos años de aconsejar a las autoridades sanitarias en decisiones científicas sobre la introducción de vacunas, y una Comisión ad Hoc creada para vacunas COVID-19 reunieron a expertos del país para asesorar sobre la estrategia de vacunación. La Comisión Honoraria para la Lucha Antituberculosa y Enfermedades Prevalentes (CHLA-EP) como brazo operativo del Departamento de Inmunizaciones del MSP estuvo desde el mes de diciembre involucrada con todos los actores para implementar la Campaña de Vacunación poblacional COVID-19 sin descuidar las tareas que le competen en la vacunación para prevenir otras enfermedades infecciosas. Metodología: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de las estrategias implementadas por el Dpto. Operativo de Inmunizaciones (brazo operativo del Departamento de Inmunizaciones del MSP), Laboratorio A. Calmette, Comisión Honoraria, Coordinación General y los departamentos administrativos: entre los meses de noviembre de 2020 a julio de 2021. Fuente de datos: informes difundidos o aportados especialmente para este trabajo por el Dpto. Operativo de Inmunizaciones, Laboratorio A. Calmette, Dpto. de Inmunizaciones del Ministerio de Salud Pública, Recursos Humanos, Recursos Materiales, Servicio de Apoyo, Comunicación y Diseño, Centros Periféricos, Dirección Ejecutiva y Secretaría General. Resultados: se muestran los resultados de 4 períodos: 1) planificación (noviembre-diciembre 2020); 2) capacitación, contratación de recursos humanos y asesoramiento para la adquisición de recursos materiales (enero-febrero 2021); 3) apertura de centros (hubs), puestos de vacunación COVID-19 y puesta en marcha de la Campaña COVID-19 (marzo 2021); 4) superposición campaña antigripal 2021 (abril-junio 2021) y mantenimiento coberturas de las vacunas del (PNI) 1. Planificación: se tomaron en cuenta las características de las vacunas que se recibirían vacunas a virus muertos, vacunas vectoriales y en particular la RNAm con requerimiento de almacenamiento a -70ºC, traslado y distribución a -25ºC, y reconstitución y uso a +28ºC en los diferentes escenarios. Se realizó análisis de riesgo y análisis de costo. Se intercambió con diferentes empresas que brindan dicho servicio, participando de actividades de capacitación con alguna de ellas, fundamentales a la hora de diseñar una cadena de frío sólida y sin fallas (por ejemplo actividad de entrenamiento con Vac-Q-tec). Se diseñó el traslado de las vacunas hacia los hubs, vacunatorios terciarios o centros periféricos de vacunación. Teniendo en cuenta el sitio de llegada de las vacunas, se plantearon los diferentes escenarios posibles, no solo a nivel central (Montevideo-Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco), sino también a nivel nacional utilizando las diferentes terminales aéreas. Así también se planificaron estrategias de distribución de las vacunas por vía terrestre involucrando diferentes actores (públicos o privados), basados en la experiencia de la institución debido al cotidiano trabajo que realizan, tanto en campaña de vacunación como en el mantenimiento del PNI. Se realizó la previsión de compras de insumos para el almacenamiento y distribución de la vacuna, como para la vacunación en sí. Se trabajó en conjunto con Departamento de Compras de Ministerio de Economía y Dirección de Secretaria del MSP. Se participó en la conformación de equipos de vacunación con la consigna de vacunación rápida, universal, gratuita y segura. Se estableciendo roles por equipo de vacunación constituidos por 6 personas. 2. Capacitación, contratación de recursos humanos y asesoramiento para la adquisición de recursos materiales. Se confeccionaron cursos y materiales en calidad y cantidad para que el personal adquiriera conocimientos actualizado sobre SARS-CoV-2 y COVID-19, mecanismos de transmisión, utilización y planificación de uso de equipos de protección personal (EPP) y seguimiento detallado de las vacunas en desarrollo. Análisis minucioso de los posibles candidatos a llegar a Uruguay, focalizándose en tres de ellos (Pfizer BioNtech, CoronaVac, Oxford AZ). Se realizó capacitación por roles (vacunadores, preparadores, administradores, referente de puesto, backup). Especial énfasis tuvo la capacitación en el cuidado de la persona a vacunar, registro del acto vacunal, cadena de frío en todos sus puntos, descarte de materiales utilizados y llenado de planillas de fiscalización. Todos los contenidos y materiales quedaron disponibles en la página web de la institución. Recursos humanos: se destinaron funcionarios para la confección, firma y papeleo de altas de 1.463 nuevos contratos de los equipos de todo el país, RRHH dedicados no sólo a la vacunación en sí, sino a participar activamente en cada uno de los puestos de vacunación. Esto significó que el trabajo se multiplicó por seis para las tareas requeridas durante este período. El Dpto. Recursos Materiales pasó de empaquetar y distribuir de 7 a 15 paquetes a 80 paquetes mensuales para cada centro periférico/vacunatorio. El envío habitual de materiales se cuadruplicó y en los comienzos de la campaña se llegó a quintuplicar y sextuplicar. Algunas de las cifras a destacar son: 3.300.000 jeringas con aguja, 8.800 Litros de alcohol eucaliptado, 852.000 guantes de látex y nitrilo y 141.000 sobreáticos. 3. Apertura de centros (hubs), puestos de vacunación COVID-19 y puesta en marcha de la Campaña COVID-19. Esto generó en forma progresiva la habilitación de centros (hubs) de máxima respuesta (vacunación masiva): ocho en Montevideo, uno en Canelones y uno en Maldonado. Dado que se decidió vacunar de 3 a 5 personas cada 15 minutos, en el hub del Hospital de Clínicas se administaron 211.153 dosis en sus 32 puestos de vacunación y en el hub Antel Arena se administraron 615.637 dosis en sus 15 puestos de vacunación. Al 31 de julio habían 144 puestos de vacunación COVID 19 habilitados en todo el territorio Nacional. La distribución se realizó a nivel nacional: 3.229. 320 dosis de vacuna Sinovac, 97.790 dosis de vacunas AstraZeneca y 1.585452 de vacuna Pfizer. Se participó en la conformación de 60 equipos con un referente (identificación, registro, control), preparador, 2 vacunadores y chofer para la vacunación en los Establecimientos de Larga Estadía de Personas Mayores (ELEPEM) y personas con situaciones especiales. Se participó activamente en la vacunación en ELEPEM, refugios y escuelas especiales, visitándose un total de 1679 Instituciones y se vacunaron 35.006 personas. 4. Superposición campaña antigripal 2021 (abril-junio 2021) y mantenimiento coberturas de las vacunas del (PNI). A partir del 24/04/2021 comenzó la Campaña Antigripal 2021, superponiéndose a la campaña descripta de COVID-19, lo que implicó reforzar las estrategias y ampliar las acciones para poder cumplir con ambas campaña paralelamente, siempre con el objetivo de no desatender el Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones. Dentro de ésta se llevó a cabo la vacunación en los ELEPEM, como anualmente realiza la comisión y vacunación en territorio de vacunas COVID-19, antigripal y del PNI. Según los datos recibidos al 17 de Julio en el informe de la Unidad de Inmunizaciones del MSP (semana 12), fueron 605.802 dosis registradas, de las cuales al menos 87.802 dosis fueron administradas por la institución. Esta diferencia en relación a las campañas anteriores podría ser atribuida al intenso trabajo realizado en la estrategia de vacunación COVID-19. En el marco de la actividad interinstitucional barrio a barrio las personas vacunadas con vacuna antigripal en el móvil de la CHLA-EP en Montevideo fueron 7.225. La CHLA-EP ha contribuido desde la logística y la vacunación con esquema de dos dosis para las tres plataformas y una dosis de refuerzo para los que recibieron vacunas a virus muertos. La CHLA-EP ha contribuido para alcanzar las cifras de la Campaña de Vacunación COVID-19 entre el 1/3 y el 29/8/21: 5.487.181 dosis aplicadas, 2.65.269 personas que recibieron una dosis de vacuna y de ellas 2.496.290 tienen dos dosis y han recibido dosis de refuerzo 333.662. Conclusiones: la planificación, capacitación, provisión de recursos humanos y materiales lograron llevar a cabo dos campañas de vacunación coexistentes en hubs, vacunatorios, ELEPEM y en territorio que se han considerado exitosas e históricas.

The new Coronavirus SARS CoV-2 pandemic was declared at the beginning of March 2020 when the Uruguayan government appointed the National Contingency Plan for the COVID-19 disease caused by this virus. This plan included non-pharmacological preventive measures such as: hand hygiene, physical distancing, use of different types of masks according to the risk of who should wear them, in some periods, restrictions to mobility, educational activities or public shows, and movement by land, air or sea. Responsible freedom was strongly called for. In December 2020, the Vaccination Strategy was included as a primary prevention mechanism. On 3/1/2021, the COVID-19 2021 Vaccination Campaign began, it was non-mandatory, population-based, initially for people over 19 years of age, and for adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age and pregnant women since June. The National Honorary Scientific Advisory Group (GACH) together with the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (CNAV) of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) that has vast experience in advising health authorities in scientific decisions on the introduction of vaccines, and an ad-Hoc Commission created for COVID-19 vaccines, brought together experts to advise on the vaccination strategy. The Honorary Commission for the Fight Against Tuberculosis and Prevalent Diseases (CHLA-EP), as the operational branch of the MSP's Department of Immunizations, has participated with all stakeholders since December to implement the COVID-19 Population Vaccination Campaign without neglecting their tasks regarding the vaccination to prevent other infectious diseases. Methodology: a descriptive, retrospective study was carried out regarding the strategies implemented by the Immunization Operational Department (operational branch of the Ministry of Health's Immunization Department), A. Calmette Laboratory, Honorary Commission, General Coordination and Administrative Departments between November, 2020 and July 2021. Data source: reports were issued or provided specially for this work by the Immunization Operational Department, A. Calmette Laboratory, by the Ministry of Public Health's immunization Department, Human Resources, Material Resources, Support, Communication and Design Service, Peripheral Centers, Executive Board and General secretariat. Results: the results of the 4 periods are as follows: 1- Planning (Period November - December 2020), 2- Training, hiring of human resources and advice for the acquisition of qualitative and quantitative material resources (January - February 2021), 3- Opening of COVID-19 vaccination centers (Hubs), posts and launch of the COVID-19 Campaign (March 2021), 4- Overlap of the 2021 flu campaign (April-June) and maintenance of vaccine coverage (National Immunization Programme - PNI). 1- Planning: The characteristics of the different vaccines (dead virus vaccines, vector vaccines and in particular mRNA vaccines, with storage requirements of -70ºC, transfer and distribution requirements of -25ºC, and reconstitution and use of +2 + 8ºC) were taken into account in the different scenarios. Risk and costs analysis were performed. We interchanged data with different companies that provided this service, we participated in training activities with some of them, mainly in the design of a solid cold chain without failures (e.g. a Vac-Q-tec training activity). The transfer of vaccines to hubs, tertiary vaccination centers or peripheral vaccination centers was designed. The different destination site of the vaccines, the different possible scenarios were taken into account, both at local central level (Montevideo - Carrasco International Airport), but also at National level using the different air terminals. Similarly, strategies for the distribution of vaccines by land were planned involving different public or private actors based on the institutions' experience, both regarding the vaccination campaign and in the PNI maintenance. We made a supply acquisition plan for the vaccine's storage and distribution, for the vaccination itself, and for the purchase of supplies jointly with the Procurement Department of the Ministry of Economy and Executive Secretariat of the MSP. Six-people vaccination teams were created with clear roles and with the slogan of rapid, universal, free and safe vaccination for all. 2- Training: Courses and materials were organized for the staff to acquire updated knowledge about SARS CoV 2 and COVID-19, transmission mechanisms, use and planning of use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and of course, a detailed monitoring of the vaccines being developed. We carried out a thorough analysis of the vaccine companies to arrive in Uruguay, we focused on 3 of them (Pfizer BioNtech, CoronaVac, Oxford AZ). Training was carried out by roles (vaccinators, preppers, administrators, position referents, backups). Special emphasis was placed on the training of the care of the person to be vaccinated, registration of the vaccination act, end-to-end cold chain, disposal of used materials and filing out inspection forms. All the contents and materials were available on the Institution's webpage. Human resources: human resources were allocated for the creation, signature and registration of the paperwork for 1,463 new contracts for teams across the country. These resources were allocated not only to vaccination itself, but also to actively participate in each of the vaccination posts. This meant that the work was multiplied by 6 for the tasks required during this period. The Department of Material Resources, went from packaging and distributing from 7 to 15 packages a month to 80 packages a month for each Peripheral/Vaccination Center. Material shipment quadrupled at the beginning of the campaign and it eventually grew by five and sixfold. Some of the key figures to highlight are: 3, 300,000 needle syringes, 8,800 liters of Eucalyptus Alcohol, 852,000 latex and nitrile gloves and 141,000 isolation gowns. 3. COVID-19 Vaccination Hubs, Posts and Campaigns. We gradually opened maximum response mass vaccination Hubs in Montevideo (8), Canelones (1) and Maldonado (1). Since it was had been decided to vaccinate 3 to 5 people every 15 minutes, the primary results at the Hospital de Clínicas Hub were 211,153 doses administered in 32 vaccination posts, and at Antel Arena Hub 615,637 doses were administered in its 15 vaccination posts. As of July 31, there were 144 COVID 19 vaccination posts throughout the national territory. The distribution was made nationwide: 3,229,320 Sinovac vaccine doses, 97,790 Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine doses, and 1,585,452 Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine doses. We devised 60 teams including a referent (identification, registration, control), a trainer, 2 vaccinators and vaccination driver for Homes for the Elderly at ELEPEM and people needing special care. They actively participated in the vaccination at ELEPEM, Shelters and Schools for Children with Special Needs and visited a total of 1679 Institutions and overall, 35,006 people were vaccinated. 4- Overlap of the 2021 flu campaign (April-June) and the maintenance of the COVID vaccine coverage (National Immunization Programme - PNI). Since 04/24/2021, the Anti-Flu Campaign began, and it overlapped the COVID-19 campaign described above, which meant reinforcing strategies and expanding actions to be able to carry out both campaigns simultaneously, always with the objective of maintaining the National Immunization Program. Vaccination was carried out at the ELEPEM, as it is performed annually by the commission and vaccination of COVID-19, influenza and PNI was performed on the territory. According to the data received on July 17 in the Ministry of Public Health Immunization Unit Report (week 12), there were 605,802 registered doses, of which at least 87,802 had been administered by the Institution. This difference regarding previous campaigns could have been caused by the intense work carried out during the COVID19 Vaccination Campaign. Within the framework of the inter-institutional activity "Barrio a Barrio" (Vaccination in all Neighborhoods), 7,225 people were vaccinated with the influenza vaccine at the CHLA-EP mobile vaccination bus in Montevideo. The CHLA-EP has contributed with logistics and vaccination with a 2-dose schedule for the 3 platforms and a booster dose for those who received virus vaccines. The CHLA-EP has contributed to achieving the target of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign between 1/3 and 8/29/21: 5,487,181 doses were applied, 2,065,269 people received 1 dose of vaccine and 2,496,290 of them received 2 doses and 333,662 have received booster doses. Conclusion: the planning, training, provision of human and material resources has enabled us to successfully carry out two historical simultaneous vaccination campaigns in hubs, vaccination centers, ELEPEM and all along the territory.

A pandemia causada pela infecção pelo novo Coronavírus SARS CoV-2 determinou que no Uruguai no início de março de 2020 o governo elaborasse o Plano Nacional de Contingência para a doença COVID-19 causada por este vírus. Este plano incluía medidas preventivas não farmacológicas como: higiene das mãos, distanciamento físico, uso de diferentes tipos de máscaras dependendo do risco de quem as deve usar, em alguns períodos várias restrições à circulação de pessoas, atividades educativas ou espetáculos públicos e a trânsito por terra, ar ou mar). Foi feito um forte apelo à liberdade responsável. A partir de dezembro de 2020, decidiu-se incorporar uma Estratégia de Vacinação à prevenção primária. Em 01/03/2021 teve início a Campanha de Vacinação COVID-19 2021, não obrigatória, de base populacional, inicialmente para maiores de 18 anos e a partir de junho contempla adolescentes entre 12 e 17 anos e gestantes. O Grupo Honorário de Assessoramento Científico do Governo Nacional juntamente com a Comissão Nacional de Assessoramento de Vacinas (CNAV) do Ministério da Saúde Pública (MSP), que assessora autoridades de saúde em decisões científicas sobre a introdução de vacinas, e uma Comissão ad hoc criada para vacinas contra a COVID-19 reuniu especialistas do país para aconselhar sobre a estratégia de vacinação. A Comissão Honorária de Luta contra a Tuberculose e Doenças Prevalentes (CHLA-EP) como braço operacional do Departamento de Vacinação do MSP envolveu-se desde dezembro com todos os intervenientes na implementação da Campanha de Vacinação da População COVID-19, aliás de realizar as tarefas de vacinação para prevenir outras doenças infecciosas. Metodologia: foi realizado um estudo descritivo e retrospectivo das estratégias implementadas pelo Departamento Operacional de Imunizações (braço operacional do Departamento de Imunizações do MSP), Laboratório A. Calmette, Comissão Honorária, Coordenação Geral e departamentos administrativos: entre os meses de novembro de 2020 a julho de 2021. Fonte de dados: relatórios divulgados ou oferecidos especialmente para este trabalho pelo Departamento Operacional de Imunizações, Laboratório A. Calmette, Departamento de Imunizações do Ministério da Saúde Pública, Recursos Humanos, Recursos Materiais, Serviço de Apoio, Comunicação e Design, Centros Periféricos, Direção Executiva e Secretaria Geral. Resultados: são apresentados os resultados de 4 períodos: 1- Planejamento (novembro - dezembro de 2020), 2- Capacitação, contratação de recursos humanos e assessoria para aquisição de recursos materiais em qualidade e quantidade (janeiro - fevereiro de 2021), 3- Abertura de centros (Hubs), postos de vacinação COVID-19 e implementação da Campanha COVID-19 (março 2021), 4- Sobreposição da campanha da gripe 2021 (abril-junho 2021) e manutenção da cobertura vacinal (PNI) 1- Planejamento: As características das vacinas a receber eram vacinas de vírus mortos, vacinas vetoriais e em particular mRNA com requisitos de armazenamento de temperaturas de -70ºC, transferência e distribuição de -25ºC, e reconstituição e uso de +2 +8ºC nos diferentes cenários. Análise de risco e análise de custo foram realizadas. Realizaram-se intercâmbios com diferentes empresas que prestam este serviço, participando em ações de formação com algumas delas, essenciais na criação de uma cadeia de frio sólida e sem falhas (ex. ação de formação com Vac-Q-tec). Foi projetada a transferência de vacinas para os hubs, centros de vacinação terciários ou periféricos. Tendo em conta o local de chegada das vacinas, foram considerados os diferentes cenários possíveis, não só a nível central (Montevidéu - Aeroporto Internacional de Carrasco), mas também a nível nacional utilizando os diferentes terminais aéreas. Da mesma forma, foram planejadas estratégias de distribuição de vacinas por via terrestre envolvendo diferentes atores (públicos ou privados), com base na experiência da instituição, tanto na campanha de vacinação quanto na manutenção do PNI. A previsão de compra de insumos foi feita tanto para o armazenamento e distribuição da vacina, quanto para a própria vacinação, como também na tomada de decisão na compra de insumos, atuando em conjunto com o Departamento de Compras do Ministério da Economia e Gestão Secretário do MSP. Eles participaram da formação de equipes de 6 pessoas com funções especificas de vacinação com o slogan de vacinação rápida, universal, gratuita e segura. 2- Capacitação, contratação de recursos humanos e assessoria para aquisição de recursos materiais em qualidade e quantidade. Foram organizados cursos e materiais para que os funcionários adquirissem conhecimento atualizado sobre SARS CoV2 e COVID-19, mecanismos de transmissão, uso e planejamento de uso de equipamentos de proteção individual (EPI) e também para o acompanhamento minucioso das vacinas em desenvolvimento. Fizemos a análise minuciosa das possíveis vacinas candidatas para chegar ao Uruguai, e focamos em 3 delas (Pfizer BioNtech, CoronaVac, Oxford AZ). O treinamento foi realizado por funções (vacinadores, treinadores, administradores, posição de referência, backup). Foi dado especial destaque à formação no cuidado da pessoa a vacinar, registo do ato vacinal, rede de frio em todos os seus pontos, eliminação de materiais utilizados e preenchimento de fichas de controlo. Todos os conteúdos e materiais foram disponibilizados na página web da Instituição. Recursos humanos: funcionários foram alocados para a preparação, assinatura e registro de 1.463 novos contratos para complementar as equipes em todo o país, estes recursos humanos estiveram dedicados não apenas à vacinação em si, mas a participar ativamente de cada um dos postos de vacinação. Isso significou que o trabalho se multiplicou por 6 para as tarefas exigidas durante esse período. O Departamento de Recursos Materiais, passou de embalar e distribuir de 7 para 15 embalagens por mês, passando para 80 embalagens para cada Periférico/Centro de Vacinação. A remessa habitual de materiais se quadruplicou e no início da campanha aumentou cinco e seis vezes. Alguns dos números a destacar são: 3.300.000 seringas com agulha, 8.800 litros de álcool de eucalipto, 852.000 luvas de látex e nitrílica e 141.000 túnicas. 3. Abertura de centros e postos de vacinação COVID-19 e lançamento da Campanha COVID-19. Isso gerou progressivamente o estabelecimento de centros de resposta máxima (Hubs) (vacinação em massa) 8 em Montevidéu, um em Canelones e um em Maldonado. Já que decidiu-se vacinar de 3 a 5 pessoas a cada 15 minutos, no Hub. O Hospital de Clínicas administrou 211.153 doses em seus 32 postos de vacinação e na Arena Hub Antel foram administradas 615.637 doses em seus 15 postos de vacinação. Até 31 de julho, havia 144 postos de vacinação contra a COVID 19 habilitados em todo o território nacional. A distribuição foi realizada, 3.229 foram distribuídos em todo o país, 320 doses de vacina Sinovac, 97.790 doses de vacinas AstraZeneca e 1.585452 de vacina Pfizer. Participaram no treinamento de 60 equipes de referência (identificação, registo, controle), treinador, 2 vacinadores e motorista para vacinação em estabelecimentos de longa permanência para idosos (ELEPEM) e pessoas com situações especiais em albergues e escolas especiais, visitando um total de 1.679 Instituições e vacinando a 35.006 pessoas. 4- Sobreposição da campanha de gripe de 2021 (abril a junho de 2021) e manutenção da cobertura vacinal (PNI). A partir de 24/04/2021 teve início a Campanha da Gripe 2021, sobrepondo-se à campanha COVID-19 descrita, o que implicou o reforço de estratégias e ampliação das ações para poder cumprir ambas campanhas em paralelo, sempre com o objetivo de não descurar o Programa Nacional de Imunizações. Foi realizada a vacinação no ELEPEM, conforme anualmente realizada pela comissão e a vacinação no território das vacinas COVID-19, influenza e PNI. De acordo com os dados recebidos até 17 de julho no relatório da Unidade de Imunizações dos Ministérios da Saúde Pública (semana 12), foram registradas 605.802 doses, das quais pelo menos 87.802 doses foram administradas pela Instituição. Essa diferença em relação às campanhas anteriores pode ser atribuída ao intenso trabalho realizado na estratégia de Vacinação COVID19. No âmbito da atividade interinstitucional Bairro a Bairro, 7.225 pessoas foram vacinadas com a vacina contra gripe no celular do CHLAEP de Montevidéu. O CHLA-EP tem contribuído desde a logística e vacinação com um esquema de 2 doses para as 3 plataformas e uma dose de reforço para quem recebeu vacinas de vírus mortos. O CHLA-EP contribuiu para atingir os números da Campanha de Vacinação COVID-19 entre 1/3 e 29/8/21: 5.487.181 doses aplicadas, 2.065.269 pessoas que receberam 1 dose de vacina e delas 2.496.290 têm 2 doses e 333.662 receberam doses de reforço. Conclusões: O planejamento, capacitação, disponibilização de recursos humanos e materiais permitiram a realização de duas campanhas de vacinação coexistentes nos hubs, vacinatórios, ELEPEM e no território, o que pode ser considerado um processo bem sucedido e histórico.

Sobrevida en una cohorte con diagnóstico de tuberculosis en Colombia / Survival at cohort diagnosed with tuberculosis in Colombia

Introducción: La tuberculosis es una patología infecciosa crónica cuya incidencia es elevada en países en vía de desarrollo, sin embargo, es limitada la información y los estudios que analizan la mortalidad y sobrevida a largo plazo. Metodología: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, en pacientes con diagnóstico de tuberculosis mayores de 18 años, el ingreso fue de manera consecutiva hasta completar el periodo de estudio. Se analizó la sobrevida y mortalidad a través del estimador Kaplan ­ Meier por la prueba de log Rank. Resultados: ingresaron 329 sujetos, la mortalidad a los 30 días fue de 11,9% y al año del 24,6%, la tuberculosis pulmonar fue el tipo más frecuente con en el 70,2%. Los hallazgos al examen físico relacionados con mortalidad fueron la caquexia (p<0,001) y el edema en extremidades (p<0,001). La sobrevida general fue del 87,2% a los 30 días y del 72,9% al año. En los pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar la sobrevida fue del 85,8% a los 30 días y del 72,8% al año. Conclusión: La tasa de sobrevida a un año en pacientes hospitalizados por tuberculosis es baja, la edad avanzada, desnutrición, PaO2/FiO2 menor de 300, proteína c reactiva mayor de 45 mg/dL, enfermedad cerebrovascular y enfermedad vascular periférica fueron variables que se asociaron con una mayor mortalidad(AU)

Background: Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious pathology whose incidence is high in developing countries, however, information and studies that analyze mortality and long-term survival are limited. Methodology: retrospective cohort study, in patients with a diagnosis of tuberculosis older than 18 years, admission was consecutive until completing the study period. Survival and mortality were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator by the log Rank test. Results: 329 subjects were admitted, mortality at 30 days was 11.9% and at one year 24.6%, pulmonary tuberculosis was the most frequent type with 70.2%. Physical examination findings related to mortality were cachexia (p<0.001) and extremity edema (p<0.001). Overall survival was 87.2% at 30 days and 72.9% at one year. In patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, survival was 85.8% at 30 days and 72.8% at one year. Conclusion: The one-year survival rate in patients hospitalized for tuberculosis is low, advanced age, malnutrition, PaO2/FiO2 less than 300, c-reactive protein greater than 45 mg/dL, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease were variables that were associated with higher mortality(AU)

COVID-19 en la edad pediátrica: descripción clínico-epidemiológica de pacientes asistidos en el Hospital Británico (Montevideo, Uruguay): período marzo 2020-mayo 2021 / COVID-19 in pediatrics: clinical and epidemiological description of patients assisted at the British Hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay from march 2020 to may 2021 / COVID-19 na idade pediátrica: descrição clínica e epidemiológica dos pacientes assistidos no Hospital Britânico de Montevidéu Uruguai de março de 2020 a maio do 2021

Introducción: el 13/3/2020, se detectaron los primeros casos de infección por SARS-CoV-2 en Uruguay. En 2021 aumentaron sostenidamente los casos, impactando negativamente al sistema de salud, que se reordenó. El Hospital Británico (HB), centro privado con asistencia terciaria, trabaja coordinadamente en sus 3 niveles. Generó un equipo específico para contribuir a mejorar el seguimiento de casos sospechosos/confirmados. Tiene 7.922 usuarios menores de 15 años. Objetivo: describir la evolución de casos de COVID-19 en pacientes de 0 a 15 años asistidos en HB entre 1 de agosto de 2020 al 31 de mayo de 2021, evaluando aspectos demográficos, clínicos y epidemiológicos. Material y método: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Se analizó el registro del seguimiento longitudinal de usuarios pediátricos con COVID-19 confirmados microbiológicamente. Resultados: se incluyeron 370 pacientes (51,5% sexo femenino y 48,5% masculino), distribuidos por grupos etarios (6,5% <1 año, 31,6% 1-5 años, 32,9% 6-10 años, 28,8% 11-15 años). En 2020 se diagnosticaron 50 casos, y 320 en 2021. Presentaron al menos un síntoma 58,9%: fiebre (59%), seguido por rinorrea, tos y odinofagia. Se estableció contagio domiciliario en 66,5%, 16,7% en institución educativa (IE), 11,1% en actividades sociales, 0,8% en clubes deportivos, y 4,8% sin nexo epidemiológico. Caso índice: un adulto en el 80,3% y otro niño en 19,7%. El 9% de los pacientes estudiados generó casos secundarios: intradomiciliario el 90% (madre 66,7%, padre 54,5%, hermano 42,4%). No se pudo obtener información sobre casos secundarios en IE, club o transporte escolar. Todos presentaron buena evolución, dos se hospitalizaron. Sin fallecimientos. Conclusiones: el COVID-19 pediátrico aumentó considerablemente en el segundo trimestre de 2021. Como en otras series, 40% fueron asintomáticos, el contagio fue mayoritariamente intradomiciliario a partir del adulto. El 9% generó casos secundarios mostrando un menor poder de contagio de la población pediátrica.

Summary: Introduction: on 3/13/2020, the first cases of SARS Cov-2 infection were detected in Uruguay. In 2021, cases increased steadily, negatively impacting the health system that was reorganized. The British Hospital (HB), a private health organization at tertiary level started to work in a coordinated way at its 3 levels of care. They created a specific team to help improve the monitoring of suspected/confirmed cases. It has 7,922 users under the age of 15. Objective: describe the evolution of COVID-19 cases in patients aged 0-15 years assisted at the HB between August 1st, 20 and May 31st, 2021, assessing demographic, clinical and epidemiological aspects. Material and methods: retrospective descriptive study. The longitudinal follow-up record of pediatric users with microbiologically confirmed COVID-19 was analyzed. Results: 370 patients were included (51.5% female and 48.5% male), distributed by age groups (6.5% <1 year, 31.6% 1-5, 32.9% 6-10, 28.8% 11-15 years). In 2020, 50 cases were diagnosed, and 320 in 2021. 58.9% presented at least one symptom; fever (59%), followed by rhinorrhea, cough, and sore throat. Home infection in 66.5%, 16.7%, school infections (IE), 11.1% during social activities, 0.8% in sports clubs, and 4.8% with no epidemiological link. Index case: an adult in 80.3% and another child in 19.7%. 9% of the study patients generated secondary case/s, home infections 90% (mother 66.7%, father 54.5%, sibling 42.4%). Information on secondary cases in IE, clubs or school transportations could not be obtained. All presented good evolution, 2 were hospitalized. No deaths. Conclusions: pediatric COVID-19 increased considerably in the 2nd quarter of 2021. As in other series, 40% asymptomatic, mostly home contagion from adults. 9% generated secondary cases showing a lower contagion of the pediatric population.

Introdução: em 13/03/2020, aconteceram os primeiros casos de infecção por SARS Cov-2 no Uruguai. Em 2021, os casos aumentaram de forma constante, impactando negativamente o sistema de saúde que foi reorganizado. No British Hospital (HB), um centro privado com atendimento terciário, seus 3 níveis têm trabalhado de forma coordenada. Criou-se uma equipe específica para ajudar a melhorar o monitoramento de casos suspeitos/confirmados. Atualmente possui 7.922 usuários com menos de 15 anos. Objetivo: descrever a evolução dos casos de COVID-19 em pacientes de 0 a 15 anos atendidos no HB entre 01/agosto/20 - 31/maio/21, avaliando aspectos demográficos, clínicos e epidemiológicos. Material e métodos: estudo descritivo retrospectivo. Analisou-se o registro de acompanhamento longitudinal de usuários pediátricos com COVID-19 confirmado microbiologicamente. Resultados: foram incluídos 370 pacientes (51,5% do sexo feminino e 48,5% do sexo masculino), distribuídos por faixas etárias (6,5% <1 ano, 31,6% 1-5, 32,9% 6-10, 28,8% 11-15 anos). Em 2020, foram diagnosticados 50 casos e 320 em 2021. 58,9% apresentaram pelo menos um sintoma; febre (59%), seguida de rinorreia, tosse e dor de garganta. Infecção domiciliar em 66,5%, 16,7% em instituição de ensino (IE), 11,1% em atividades sociais, 0,8% em clubes esportivos e 4,8% sem vínculo epidemiológico. Caso índice: um adulto em 80,3% e outra criança em 19,7%. 9% dos pacientes do estudo geraram caso(s) secundário(s), domiciliares 90% (mãe 66,7%, pai 54,5%, irmãos 42,4%). Não foi possível obter informações sobre casos secundários nas escolas, clubes ou no transporte escolar. Todos apresentaram boa evolução, 2 foram internados. Sem mortes. Conclusões: a COVID-19 pediátrica aumentou consideravelmente no 2º trimestre de 2021. Como em outras séries, 40% assintomáticos, principalmente contágio domiciliar de adultos. 9% geraram casos secundários mostrando um menor poder de contágio da população pediátrica.

The effects of water sample treatment, preparation, and storage prior to cyanotoxin analysis for cylindrospermopsin, microcystin and saxitoxin.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms occur in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs, and in brackish waters throughout the world. The wide variety of cyanotoxins and their congeners can lead to frequent exposure of humans through consumption of meat, fish, seafood, blue-green algal products and water, accidental ingestion of contaminated water and cyanobacterial scum during recreational activities, and inhalation of cyanobacterial aerosols. Cyanotoxins can also occur in the drinking water supply. In order to monitor human exposure, sensitive analytical methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry are often used. Regardless of the analytical method of choice, some problems regularly occur during sample collection, treatment, storage, and preparation which cause toxin loss and therefore underestimation of the true concentration. To evaluate the potential influence of sample treatment, storage and preparation materials on surface and drinking water samples, the effects of different types of materials on toxin recovery were compared. Collection and storage materials included glass and various types of plastics. It was found that microcystin congeners LA and LF adsorbed to polystyrene, polypropylene, high density polyethylene and polycarbonate storage containers, leading to low recoveries (<70%), cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin did not adsorb to the containers tested. Therefore, this study shows that glass or polyethylene terephthalate glycol containers are the materials of choice for collection and storage of samples containing the cyanotoxins cylindrospermopsin, microcystins, and saxitoxin. This study also demonstrated that after 15 min chlorine decreased the concentration of microcystin LR to <40%, microcystin LA and saxitoxin to <15%, therefore quenching of drinking water samples immediately upon sample collection is critical for accurate analysis. In addition, the effect of various drinking water treatment chemicals on toxin recovery and the behavior of those chemicals in the enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were also studied and are summarized.

Aplicación clínica del ácido hialurónico / Clinical application of hyaluronic acid

El ácido hialurónico es un glicosaminoglicano presente en todos los tejidos del cuerpo, matrizextracelular y revistiendo vasos sanguíneos. El ácido hialurónico es igual en todo el cuerpo y debido a estoes biocompatible al ser aplicado en los seres humanos, tiene diversos usos que lo hacen actualmente objeto de investigaciones. En personas con cáncer de pulmón reduce la propagación de células tumorales e incrementa la regeneración de tejido sano. Tambiénse utiliza en tratamientos para la artritis, ya que resulta beneficioso al regenerar cartílago de las articulaciones y por ende un alivio en personas con dichos problemas. El ácido hialurónico ha tenido aceptación en su utilización para el tratamiento estético, teniendo resultados considerables y con duración semipermanente. Otro uso destacable es su aplicación para el ojo seco, que por su presentación en gotas brinda al paciente una hidratación, permitiendoasí curar este mal. Por los múltiples usos del ácido hialurónico es importante estudiar más sobre él, proponiendo nuevas alternativas en diferentes áreas de salud. La metodología usada en la presente revisión, fue la búsqueda sistemática de artículos actualizadosen revistas médicas nacionales e internacionales; posteriormente se filtró la información obtenida basándose en el objetivo general de la revisión: Descripción de las aplicaciones clínicas del ácido hialurònico, en diferentes áreas de la medicina..(AU).

A cross-sectional study of Colombian University students' self-perceived lifestyle.

BACKGROUND: The Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire was designed for enabling staff working in health sciences and physical activity (PA) areas to measure lifestyles (LS) in the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the lifestyle in a sample of university students. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study involving 5,921 subjects' aged 18- to 30-years-old (3,471 females) from three Colombian cities. Was applied "Fantastic" instrument (that consists of 25 closed items on the lifestyle), translated to Spanish in versions of three and five answers. RESULTS: Having a "good LS" was perceived by 57.4% of the females and 58.5% of the males; 14.0% of the females rating their LS as being "excellent" and males 19.3% (p < 0.001); 20.3% of the females and 36.6% of the males stated that they spent more than 20 min/day on PA (involving four or more times per week). Negative correlations between FANTASTIC score and weight (r = -0.113; p < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.152; p < 0.01) and waist circumference (r = -0.178, p < 0.01) were observed regarding females, whilst the correlation concerning males was (r = -0.143, p < 0.05) between Fantastic score and weight, (r = -0.167 for BMI, p < 0.01) and (r = -0.175, p < 0.01 for diastolic blood pressure). In spite of the students being evaluated referring to themselves as having a healthy LS (i.e. giving a self-perceived view of their LS), stated behaviour involving a health risk was observed in the domains concerning nutrition, PA and smoking. CONCLUSION: Specific diffusion, education and intervention action is thus suggested for motivating the adoption of healthy LS.

Trends of 9,416 multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria / Evolução de 9.416 bactérias Gram-negativas multirresistentes.

Summary Objective: a resistance of hospital-acquired bacteria to multiple antibiotics is a major concern worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate multidrugresistant (MDR) bacteria, clinical specimens, origin of specimen and trends, and correlate these with bacterial sensitivity and consumption of antimicrobials. Methods: 9,416 bacteria of nosocomial origin were evaluated in a tertiary hospital, from 1999 to 2008. MDR was defined for Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) as resistance to two or more classes/groups of antibiotics. Results: GNB MDR increased by 3.7 times over the study period (p<0.001). Acinetobacter baumannii was the most prevalent (36.2%). Over the study period, there were significant 4.8-fold and 14.6-fold increases for A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae (p<0.001), respectively. Sixty-seven percent of isolates of MDR GNB were isolated in intensive care units. The resistance of A. baumannii to carbapenems increased from 7.4 to 57.5% during the study period and concomitant with an increased consumption. Conclusion: that decade showed prevalence of GNB and a gradual increase in MDR GNB. There was an increase in carbapenem resistance of 50.1% during the study. .

Resumo Objetivo: a resistência bacteriana hospitalar a múltiplos antibióticos é uma grande preocupação mundial. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer os agentes multidroga-resistentes (MDR), materiais clínicos, origem e evolução, e correlaciona-los à sensibilidade bacteriana e ao consumo de antimicrobianos. Métodos: foram avaliadas 9.416 bactérias de origem nosocomial, em um hospital terciário, durante o período de 1999 a 2008. Foram definidas como MDR as bactérias Gram-negativas (BGN) que apresentaram resistência a duas ou mais classes/grupos de antibióticos. Resultados: as BGN MDR tiveram um aumento global de 3,7 vezes no final do período (p<0,001). O Acinetobacter baumannii foi o mais prevalente (36,2%). Durante o período do estudo, houve um aumento significativo de 4,8 e 14,6 para A. baumannii e K. pneumoniae (p<0,001), respectivamente. Sessenta e sete por cento das BGN MDR foram isoladas em unidade de terapia intensiva. A resistência do A. baumannii aos carbapenêmicos aumentou de 7,4 para 57,5% durante o período, concomitante ao aumento do consumo. Conclusão: durante essa década, houve uma prevalência de BGN e um aumento gradual das BGN MDR. Houve um aumento da resistência aos carbapenêmicos de 50,1% durante o estudo. .

Pitfalls in microcystin extraction and recovery from human blood serum.

BACKGROUND: Microcystins (MCs) contaminate water bodies due to cyanobacterial blooms all over the world, leading to frequent exposure of humans to MCs through consumption of meat, fish, seafood, blue-green algal products and water, accidental ingestion of contaminated water and scum during recreational activities and inhalation of cyanobacterial aerosols. For monitoring of human exposure, sensitive screening methods are needed. However, during the analytical process of various matrices, such as human serum, some problems appear to regularly occur during sample preparation and storage, leading to MC loss and thus to underestimation of the true MC concentration. The aim of the current study was therefore to assess the pitfalls of the MC-extraction method from human serum with more detail. METHODS: Six MC congeners (MC-LR, -YR, -RR, -LA, -LW, -LF) and defined equimolar MC mixtures thereof were spiked into human serum, and quantified using the commercially available Adda-ELISA subsequent to standard extraction (methanol extraction with subsequent SPE). To detect the potential influence of sample storage and preparation/storage materials, different types of material such as glass, standard polypropylene and surface-treated polypropylene were compared. RESULTS: Loss of MC during preparation and storage is largely dependent on (1) the handling of the stored material, (2) the 'surface' of the storage material and (3) the hydrophobicity of the MCs. CONCLUSIONS: The pitfalls described for MC analysis with the ELISA are primarily associated with sample preparation and clean-up and thus also apply to other analytical techniques for MC detection beyond the ELISA used. It can be concluded that ELISA-based methods are suitable tools for the detection of MCs in human sera and other samples.

The prevalence of barriers for Colombian college students engaging in physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of barriers and their association with Colombia college students engaging in PA. METHODS: A total of 5,663 students (3,348 male) from three cities in Colombia. In fall 2013, students voluntarily completed a demographic questionnaire, Barriers to Being Active Quiz. Logistic regression analysis of each barrier (adjusted for confusion variables: gender, age and BMI) was used for verifying such association. RESULTS: The most prevalent barriers in overweight individuals were "fear of injury" (87.0%), "lack of skill" (79.8%) and "lack of resources" (64.3%). The group of females revealed a protective association regarding "lack of time" (OR=0.53: 0.47-0.60 95%CI), "social influence" (OR=0.67: 0.60-0.75 95%CI), "lack of energy" (OR=0.54: 0.49-0.61 95%CI), "lack of willpower" (OR=0.57: 0.51- 0.64 95%CI), "lack of skill" (OR=0.76: 0.66-0.87 95%CI) and "lack of resources" (OR=0.79: 0.71-0.89 95%CI). Such observation also appeared in the 20- to 23-yearold age group concerning "social influence" (OR=0.83: 0.74-0.94 95%CI) and in those aged over 23-years-old (OR=0.86: 0.74-0.99 95%CI) regarding "lack of energy". CONCLUSION: A significant prevalence was found regarding self-perception of barriers leading to students ceasing to engage in PA.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la prevalencia de barreras y su asociación con la práctica de AF en universitarios de Colombia. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en 5.663 sujetos (3.348 hombres), de tres ciudades de Colombia. Las razones que podrían impedir realizar AF, se evaluaron con el cuestionario de "Percepción de barreras para la práctica de la actividad física" (en inglés, Barriers to Being Active Quiz-21 ítems). Un análisis de regresión logística para cada barrera ajustado por las variables de confusión (sexo, edad e IMC) fue usado para verificar la asociación. Resultados: En la población general, el "miedo a lastimarse" (89,5%) y la "falta de habilidades" (82,1%) eran, en este orden, las razones más frecuentes como barreras auto-percibidas de la práctica de AF. El grupo de mujeres mostró una asociación protectora en relación con las barreras "falta de tiempo" (OR = 0,53 IC95% 0,47-0,60), "influencia social" (OR = 0,67 IC95% 0,60-0,75), "falta de energía" (OR = 0,54 IC95% 0,49-0,61), "falta de voluntad" (OR = 0,57 IC95% 0,51-0,64), "falta de habilidades" (OR = 0,76 IC95% 0,66-0,87) y "falta de recursos" (OR = 0,79 IC95% 0,71-0,89). Esta observación también aparece en el grupo de edades comprendidas entre los 20 y 23 años en la barrera "influencia social" (OR = 0,83 IC95% 0,74-0,94), y en los mayores a 23 años (OR = 0,86 IC95% 0,74-0,99) en la barrera "falta de energía". Conclusión: Se encontró una importante prevalencia en la percepción de las barreras para cesar la práctica de AF. Estos resultados pueden servir de referencia para las acciones específicas para promover la AF y la salud en universitarios de Colombia.

Contaminação por fungos antes e após limpeza e desinfecção de colchões hospitalares / Fungal contamination of hospital mattresses before and following cleaning and disinfection

OBJETIVO: Verificar se existe contaminação por fungos antes e após limpeza e desinfecção terminal de colchões hospitalares utilizados por portadores de candidemia. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal que investigou 25 colchões de diferentes unidades hospitalares e utilizados por pacientes com candidemia, confirmados por hemocultura. Utilizou-se amostragem por conveniência. Após crescimento em Ágar Sabouraud Dextrose as leveduras isoladas foram identificadas pelas características macroscópicas, microscópicas e fisiológicas. RESULTADOS: Totalizou-se 15 (60%) colchões contaminados com Candida spp. Desse total, 10 (66,7%) e cinco (33,3%) corresponderam respectivamente à coleta antes e após a desinfecção dos colchões, sendo que a espécie mais frequentemente isolada foi Candida parapsilosis. CONCLUSÃO: Considerando que a metade dos colchões permaneceram contaminados após o processo de limpeza e desinfecção, pode-se inferir sobre o risco destes atuarem como reservatórios secundários na cadeia de infecção.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the existence of fungal contamination prior to and following the cleaning and disinfection process of hospital mattresses used by patients with Candidemia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study analyzing 25 mattresses used by patients with Candidemia confirmed by blood culture from different hospital wards. The study made use of convenience samples. After growing the samples in an Agar Sabouraud Dextrose environment, isolated yeasts were identified by macroscopic, microscopic and physiologic characteristics. RESULTS: Analyses showed 15 (60%) mattresses contaminated by Candida spp. From these, 10 (66.7%) and five (33.3%) mattresses corresponded respectively to the collection prior to and following disinfection, with Candida parapsilosis being the isolated species with the highest frequency. CONCLUSION: Considering that half of the mattresses remained contaminated after cleaning and disinfection, there is a risk that these mattresses may act as potential secondary reservoirs in the infection chain.

Significance of preimplantation analysis of kidney biopsies from expanded criteria donors in long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of organs has led to expanding the criteria for donors. Histologic evaluations before transplantation may enable the identification of organs unsuitable for single implantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histologic findings as prognostic factors of allograft survival from expanded criteria donors (ECDs). METHODS: We included a cohort of 136 single transplantations with kidneys from ECD and correlated the preimplantation pathologic findings with graft failure. Renal structures from ECD older (n=104) or younger (n=32) than 60 years were evaluated histologically for renal senescence and rated with a total histologic score. A multivariate Cox analysis was performed to identify predictors of graft failure. RESULTS: Glomerulosclerosis was the most prevalent lesion in biopsies from donors older and younger than 60 years (P=0.002); interstitial fibrosis was more severe in biopsies from older donors (P=0.001); older donors showed a higher prevalence of tubular atrophy (P=0.022), and vascular compartment showed no significant differences. Kidney biopsy-based scoring system ranged from 0 to 15 points, indicating the presence of changes in the renal parenchyma. Biopsies with total histologic scores less than or equal to 5 showed significantly better 5-year graft survival than those with scores more than 5 (P<0.001). A preimplantation score more than 5 points remained an independent predictor of graft failure (hazard ratio 6.95; 95% confidence interval 1.57-30). CONCLUSIONS: Histologic analysis of kidney biopsies before transplantation is a valuable tool for facilitating the selection of viable grafts from ECD donors. When the total score is more than 5, single kidney transplantation from ECD should not be recommended for patients similar to this study population.

Fate of sulfamethoxazole, 4-nonylphenol, and 17beta-estradiol in groundwater contaminated by wastewater treatment plant effluent.

Organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) were measured in samples collected from monitoring wells located along a 4.5-km transect of a plume of groundwater contaminated by 60 years of continuous rapid infiltration disposal of wastewater treatment plant effluent. Fifteen percent of the 212 OWCs analyzed were detected, including the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SX), the nonionic surfactant degradation product 4-nonylphenol (NP), the solvent tetrachloroethene (PCE), and the disinfectant 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB). Comparison of the 2005 sampling results to data collected from the same wells in 1985 indicates that PCE and DCB are transported more rapidly in the aquiferthan NP, consistent with predictions based on compound hydrophobicity. Natural gradient in situ tracer experiments were conducted to evaluate the subsurface behavior of SX, NP, and the female sex hormone 17beta-estradiol (E2) in two oxic zones in the aquifer: (1) a downgradient transition zone at the interface between the contamination plume and the overlying uncontaminated groundwater and (2) a contaminated zone located beneath the infiltration beds, which have not been loaded for 10 years. In both zones, breakthrough curves for the conservative tracer bromide (Br-) and SX were nearly coincident, whereas NP and E2 were retarded relative to Br- and showed mass loss. Retardation was greater in the contaminated zone than in the transition zone. Attenuation of NP and E2 in the aquifer was attributed to biotransformation, and oxic laboratory microcosm experiments using sediments from the transition and contaminated zones show that uniform-ring-labeled 14C 4-normal-NP was biodegraded more rapidly 130-60% recovered as 14CO2 in 13 days) than 4-14C E2 (20-90% recovered as 14CO2 in 54 days). There was little difference in mineralization potential between sites.

Suitability of a magnetic particle immunoassay for the analysis of PBDEs in Hawaiian euryhaline fish and crabs in comparison with gas chromatography/electron capture detection-ion trap mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatograph/electron capture detector-ion trap mass spectrometer (GC/ECD-ITMS) was used for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in euryhaline fish and crabs. GC/ECD-ITMS results showed that average recoveries from the spiked fish samples are in a range of 58-123% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 5-19%. PBDE concentrations obtained from GC/ECD-ITMS ranged from 28 ng/g to 1845 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in all aquatic species collected from Hawaiian brackish waters. The general BDE congener concentration profile observed in this study is BDE-47>BDE-100>BDE-154>BDE-99>BDE-153>BDE-28>BDE-183. The ELISA results expressed as BDE-47 equivalents correlated well with those of GC/ECD-ITMS, with a correlation coefficient (R(2)=0.68) and regression coefficient (slope=0.82). Comparison of ELISA with GC/ECD-ITMS results demonstrated that ELISA provides a timely and cost-effective method to screen PBDEs in fish and crab samples.

Mesangial C4d deposition: a new prognostic factor in IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that patients with IgA nephropathy can be divided into two groups on the basis of the pattern of complement activation. Activation of the lectin pathway of complement is associated with more severe renal disease. Glomerular deposition of C4d is a marker of activation of the lectin pathway of complement. The aim of our study was to determine whether C4d staining at the time of the renal biopsy could identify patients with a different long-term prognosis in IgA nephropathy. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with IgA nephropathy who underwent renal biopsy at our centre from January 1992 to December 2006. We evaluated baseline age, sex, presence of macroscopic haematuria, hypertension, serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine protein, mesangial C4d staining, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and extracapillary proliferation. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed, with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) being defined as onset of dialysis or transplantation. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (32.2%) were C4d positive and 40 patients (67.8%) C4d negative. Age, hypertension, absence of macroscopic haematuria, serum creatinine levels, GFR, glomerular sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and C4d-positive staining were all univariately associated with evolution to ESRD. Renal survival at 10 years was 43.9% in C4d-positive patients versus 90.9% in C4d-negative patients (log-rank, P = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Negative mesangial C4d staining in glomeruli in patients with IgA nephropathy helps to identify patients with a good long-term prognostic for whom aggressive treatments are not justified.

Intravenous azithromycin plus ceftriaxone followed by oral azithromycin for the treatment of inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia: an open-label, non-comparative multicenter trial

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a major public health problem. In Brazil it has been estimated that 2,000,000 people are affected by CAP every year. Of those, 780,000 are admitted to hospital, and 30,000 have death as the outcome. This is an open-label, non-comparative study with the purpose of evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability levels of IV azithromycin (IVA) and IV ceftriaxone (IVC), followed by oral azithromycin (OA) for the treatment of inpatients with mild to severe CAP. Eighty-six patients (mean age 56.6 ± 19.8) were administered IVA (500mg/day) and IVC (1g/day) for 2 to 5 days, followed by AO (500mg/day) to complete a total of 10 days. At the end of treatment (EOT) and after 30 days (End of Study - EOS) the medication was evaluated clinically, microbiologically and for tolerability levels. Out of the total 86-patient population, 62 (72.1 percent) completed the study. At the end of treatment, 95.2 percent (CI95: 88.9 percent - 100 percent) reported cure or clinical improvement; at the end of the study, that figure was 88.9 percent (CI95: 74.1 percent - 91.7 percent). Out of the 86 patients enrolled in the study, 15 were microbiologically evaluable for bacteriological response. Of those, 6 reported pathogen eradication at the end of therapy (40 percent), and 8 reported presumed eradication (53.3 percent). At end of study evaluation, 9 patients showed pathogen eradication (50 percent), and 7 showed presumed eradication (38.89 percent). Therefore, negative cultures were obtained from 93.3 percent of the patients at EOT, and from 88.9 percent at the end of the study. One patient (6.67 percent of patient population) reported presumed microbiological resistance. At study end, 2 patients (11.11 percent) still reported undetermined culture. Uncontrollable vomiting and worsening pneumonia condition were reported by 2.3 percent of patients. Discussion and Conclusion Treatment based on the administration of IV azithromycin...

Development of a magnetic particle immunoassay for polybrominated diphenyl ethers and application to environmental and food matrices.

A sensitive magnetic particle enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was developed to analyze polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water, milk, fish, and soil samples. The assay was rapid and can be used to analyze fifty samples in about 1h after sample cleanup. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) below 0.1 ppb towards the following brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) congeners: BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-28, BDE-100, and BDE-153, with the LOD approximately the same as GC-NCI-MS. The congeners most readily recognized in the ELISA were BDE-47 and BDE-99 with the cross-reactivities of BDE-28, BDE-100, and BDE-153 being less than 15% relative to BDE-47. As anticipated, the sensitivities are proportional to the similarities between the hapten structure and the BDE congener structure. Some oxygenated congeners with structural similarity to the hapten showed high to moderate cross-reactivities. Very low cross-reactivity was observed for other PBDEs or chlorinated environmental contaminants. The assay gave good recoveries of PBDEs from spiked water samples and a very small within and between day variance. Comparison with GC-NCI-MS demonstrated the ELISA method showed equivalent precision and sensitivity, with better recovery. The lower recovery of the GC-NCI-MS method could be caused by the use of an internal standard other than an isotopically substituted material that could not be used because of the fragmentation pattern observed by this method. The cleanup methods prior to ELISA were matrix dependent, no pretreatment was needed for environmental water samples, while fish, milk, and soil samples required various degrees of cleanup. Analysis of this wide variety of environmental samples by both ELISA and GC-MS demonstrated ELISA provides a timely and cost-effective method to screen for PBDEs in a variety of samples.

Efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients.

Several formulae have been developed in an attempt to reduce the toxicity of amphotericin B (AmB), but their high costs preclude widespread use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion, i.e. Intralipid (AmB-IL), in 37 AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). We retrospectively reviewed data collected in a non-comparative open study between January 1999 and December 2001. The therapeutic cure was defined as complete resolution or improvement of the clinical symptoms or complete absence or improvement of the mycological alterations of the CSF. The outcomes were evaluated at 2 weeks, induction phase (IP), and at the end of treatment or consolidation phase (CP) with the last available CSF. Prior to the diagnosis of CM, 72% of patients had had one or more OI and 67.57% had a concomitant OI. The median CD4-cell count was 32 cells/mm(3), the median leukocyte count in the CSF was 29 cells/mm(3) and the median cumulative dose of AmB-IL was 1,200 mg (300-2,500). The therapeutic cure was 57.14% in the IP and 64.86% in the CP. During IP, 9 patients died (24.32%) and 4 (10.81%) during the CP (p=0.2). Thus, the overall mortality rate was 35.14%. AmB-IL, an inexpensive preparation, might be an alternative to conventional AmB. Some questions remain such as its compatibility, stability and level of toxicity. The benefit is especially important in developing countries, where no drugs other than AmB are available to treat systemic fungal infections.

Comparative study of an estradiol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry for part-per-trillion analysis of estrogens in water samples.

Estrogens have been often identified as the major contributors to the endocrine-disrupting activity observed in environmental waters. However, their analysis in these, sometimes very complex, matrices is still challenging due to the very low detection limits and the selectivity required for their reliable determination at the very low concentrations at which they are physiologically active. In this work, a polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for 17-beta-estradiol analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) based on triple-quadrupole analyzer (QqQ), and a newly developed method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) have been evaluated in terms of performance for the rapid screening, quantitative analysis, and unequivocal identification of some selected, environmentally relevant estrogens in different water matrices, including urban wastewater, river water, and ground water, after solid phase extraction. Compounds quantified and/or identified included the estrogens 17-beta-estradiol, estrone, 17-alpha-ethynyl estradiol and estriol, and the isoflavones daidzein, genistein, and biochanin A. Except for a moderate overestimation using the ELISA kit, especially in the analysis of complex wastewater samples, results obtained by all the investigated techniques were in very good, general agreement. The instrumental sensitivity achieved increased in the order: UPLC-Q-TOF-MS < polyclonal ELISA kit < HPLC-MS/MS (QqQ). Direct analysis of water samples by using the ELISA kit permitted to reach a limit of detection of 2.5 ng L(-1). However, using an appropriated sample pretreatment method detection limits at nanogram to picogram per liter levels can be obtained with all techniques and the risk for matrix effects is minimized. In terms of selectivity, both HPLC-MS/MS (QqQ) and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS show outstanding performance, but the latter allows, in addition, shorter analysis times (16 min vs. 45 min) and the identification of non-target, unknown compounds. The identification of unknown compounds is based on the accurate mass measurements for the precursor and product ions, that permit the elemental compositions calculation and the chemical structures to be identified searching against different databases.

Genetic relatedness among clinical strains of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in tertiary care hospital settings in São Paulo State, Brazil

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative bacillus, which is becoming widely recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relatedness, by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 86 clinical isolates of S. maltophilia (colonization 22, infection 64) obtained from 79 hospitalized patients, from different geographic regions of São Paulo State. The genotypic analysis performed by RAPD and PFGE was used in 24 isolates for genetic identity confirmation. The results were congruent between the two methods but it was not possible to link genetic profiles with the studied variables, clinical state and geographic area, probably due to the great variability among the strains. The analyses by PFGE confirmed identity in 5 pairs of microorganisms and RAPD, in this study, showed to be a useful tool for investigation of diversity leading the identification of 85 genetic profiles. The genetic diversity shown may be due to re-infection by different strains or co-infection by multiple strains which suggests multiple entry sources of the bacterium in the hospital setting or of acquisition by patient. In this setting, colonization, infection and re-infection occur with unknown frequency, raising the need for the establishment of specific control measures.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia é um bacilo Gram-negativo, conhecido como importante patógeno nosocomial. O principal objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a relação genética, através da análise randômica do polimorfismo de DNA (RAPD) e eletroforese em gel de campo pulsado (PFGE), de 86 isolados clínicos de S. maltophilia (22 de colonização, 64 de infecção) obtidos de 79 pacientes hospitalizados em diferentes regiões geográficas do estado de São Paulo. A análise genotípica foi realizada através da técnica RAPD e o PFGE foi usado em 24 isolados para confirmar a identidade genética dos mesmos. Os resultados foram coerentes entre os dois métodos, mas não foi possível correlacionar um perfil genético com as variáveis estudadas, estado clínico e área geográfica, provavelmente pela ampla variabilidade entre as linhagens. A análise por PFGE confirmou a identidade genética em 5 pares de microrganismos e o RAPD, neste estudo, mostrou ser uma ferramenta útil para investigação da diversidade, possibilitando identificar 85 perfis genéticos. A diversidade genética observada através do RAPD pode ser devido à re-infecção por diferentes linhagens ou co-infecção por linhagens distintas, sugerindo múltiplas fontes de entrada da bactéria no hospital ou de aquisição pelo paciente. Nesse ambiente, a colonização, infecção e re-infecção ocorrem com freqüência, o que leva à necessidade do estabelecimento de medidas de controle específicas.

Efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients

Several formulae have been developed in an attempt to reduce the toxicity of amphotericin B (AmB), but their high costs preclude widespread use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion, i.e. Intralipid (AmB-IL), in 37 AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). We retrospectively reviewed data collected in a non-comparative open study between January 1999 and December 2001. The therapeutic cure was defined as complete resolution or improvement of the clinical symptoms or complete absence or improvement of the mycological alterations of the CSF. The outcomes were evaluated at 2 weeks, induction phase (IP), and at the end of treatment or consolidation phase (CP) with the last available CSF. Prior to the diagnosis of CM, 72 percent of patients had had one or more OI and 67.57 percent had a concomitant OI. The median CD4-cell count was 32 cells/mm³, the median leukocyte count in the CSF was 29 cells/mm³ and the median cumulative dose of AmB-IL was 1,200 mg (300-2,500). The therapeutic cure was 57.14 percent in the IP and 64.86 percent in the CP. During IP, 9 patients died (24.32 percent) and 4 (10.81 percent) during the CP (p=0.2). Thus, the overall mortality rate was 35.14 percent. AmB-IL, an inexpensive preparation, might be an alternative to conventional AmB. Some questions remain such as its compatibility, stability and level of toxicity. The benefit is especially important in developing countries, where no drugs other than AmB are available to treat systemic fungal infections.