Disease burden and vaccination priorities in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination is considered a potentially effective strategy for controlling the disease. The objective of this study is to estimate the number of people with a high risk of morbidity and those who should be prioritized in immunization planning in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population at risk by age was identified from the national census data of 2018. Various sources were identified to obtain information on the number of patients with different comorbidities, including heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney failure, cancers, HIV infection, and obesity. Sources were also identified to estimate the number of health workers, teachers and military and police force personnel. RESULTS: By 2021, Colombia is estimated to have a total of 51,049,498 inhabitants, of whom 14% will be people over 60 years of age. Additionally, of the people with comorbidities younger than 60 years old, 5,233,241 inhabitants are expected to be obese, 592,726 are expected to have diabetes mellitus, 216,389 are expected to have chronic kidney disease, and 521,263 are expected to have heart failure, totaling 15,055,697 individuals. Combining the high-priority groups and health workers, a projected 20 million people will have mortality risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: For Colombia's vaccination strategy to have an impact on reducing mortality, population groups with risk factors, corresponding to approximately 15 million inhabitants, as well as essential workers should be prioritized.

[Cross-cultural adaptation of the community-acquired pneumonia score questionnaire in patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia in Colombia].

INTRODUCTION: One of the strategies for the rational use of antibiotics is the use of the score for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP Score). This instrument clinically evaluates patients with community-acquired pneumonia, thereby facilitating decision making regarding the early and safe withdrawal of antibiotics. OBJECTIVE: To generate a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire in Spanish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authorization for cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire was obtained; the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were carried out through the following stages: forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, harmonization, obtaining a provisional questionnaire, and applying the questionnaire in a pilot test. The pilot test was conducted at a second-level public hospital in Bogotá after the study was approved by the ethics and research institutional boards. RESULTS: The changes suggested by the forward translators were applied. There were no discrepancies between the backward and forward translations, consequently, no revisions were necessary. Five items had modifications based on suggestions made by eleven patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia during the pilot test. CONCLUSIONS: A Spanish version of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score was crossculturally adapted and is now available.

Adaptación transcultural del cuestionario de puntuación de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en pacientes con neumonía leve a moderada en Colombia / Cross-cultural adaptation of the community-acquired pneumonia score questionnaire in patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia in Colombia

Resumen Introducción. Entre las estrategias para el uso racional de antibióticos se encuentra el cuestionario de puntuación de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad, instrumento de evaluación clínica de los pacientes que ayuda a tomar la decisión de retirar los antibióticos de forma segura y temprana. Objetivo. Traducir al español y hacer la adaptación transcultural del cuestionario de puntuación de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad. Materiales y métodos. Se obtuvo la autorización para la adaptación transcultural del cuestionario de puntuación de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad; se acogieron las recomendaciones del International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research y de la European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, siguiendo las siguientes fases: traducción directa, conciliación, traducción inversa, armonización, obtención de la versión provisional en español y aplicación de esta en una prueba piloto. La prueba piloto se hizo en un hospital público de segundo nivel en Bogotá, previa aprobación de los comités de ética e investigación. Resultados. Se introdujeron las modificaciones sugeridas por los traductores en la fase de traducción directa; en la traducción inversa no se encontraron discordancias que requirieran la revisión de la traducción inicial. Se modificaron cinco ítems del cuestionario, con base en las sugerencias de los 11 pacientes hospitalizados con diagnóstico de neumonía adquirida en la comunidad participantes en la prueba piloto. Conclusiones. Se dispone de una versión en español del cuestionario de puntuación de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad adaptada a las condiciones culturales locales.

Abstract Introduction: One of the strategies for the rational use of antibiotics is the use of the score for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP Score). This instrument clinically evaluates patients with community-acquired pneumonia, thereby facilitating decision making regarding the early and safe withdrawal of antibiotics. Objective: To generate a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire in Spanish. Materials and methods: Authorization for cross-cultural adaptation of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score questionnaire was obtained; the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were carried out through the following stages: forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, harmonization, obtaining a provisional questionnaire, and applying the questionnaire in a pilot test. The pilot test was conducted at a second-level public hospital in Bogotá after the study was approved by the ethics and research institutional boards. Results: The changes suggested by the forward translators were applied. There were no discrepancies between the backward and forward translations, consequently, no revisions were necessary. Five items had modifications based on suggestions made by eleven patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia during the pilot test. Conclusions: A Spanish version of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Score was crossculturally adapted and is now available.

Micosis en Colombia, un momento para discutir sobre el tema / Micosis in Colombia

Las enfermedades micóticas han sido importantes en el país desde hace muchos años. Colombia, por su situación geográfica y desarrollo económico, ha tenido un impacto importante de los hongos endémicos (Histoplasma capsulatum y Paraccoccidiodes brasiliensis, entre otros)(1-3), amén de importantes contribuciones en el tema de la criptococosis (4).

Fungal diseases have been important in the country for many years. Colombia, due to its geographical location and economic development, has had an important impact of endemic fungi (Histoplasma capsulatum and Paraccoccidiodes brasiliensis, among others)(1-3), in addition to important contributions in the field of cryptococcosis (4).