The health facility as a risk factor for multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in critically ill patients with COVID-19

Abstract Background The relationship between Multidrug Resistant-Gram Negative Bacteria (MDR-GNB) infection and colonization in critically ill COVID-19 patients has been observed, however, it is still poorly understood. This study evaluated the risk factors for acquiring MDR-GNB in patients with severe COVID-19 in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Methods This is a nested case-control study in a cohort of 400 adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with COVID-19, hospitalized in the ICU of 4 hospitals in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Cases were critical COVID-19 patients with one or more MDR GNB from any surveillance and/or clinical cultures were taken during their ICU stay. Controls were patients from the same units with negative cultures for MDR-GNB. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done. Results Sixty-seven cases and 143 controls were included. Independent risk factors for MDR bacteria were: male gender (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.28‒5.33; p = 0.008); the hospital of admission (OR = 3.24; 95% CI 1.39‒7.57; p = 0.006); mechanical ventilation (OR = 25.7; 95% CI 7.26‒91; p < 0.0001); and desaturation on admission (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.27‒5.74; p = 0.009). Conclusions Male gender, desaturation, mechanical ventilation, and the hospital of admission were the independent factors associated with MDR-GNB in patients in the ICU with COVID-19. The only modifiable factor was the hospital of admission, where a newly opened hospital posed a higher risk. Therefore, coordinated actions toward a better quality of care for critically ill COVID-19 patients are essential.

Métodos para avaliação da efetividade de vacinas para COVID-19 com ênfase em abordagens quase-experimentais / Methods to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, with an emphasis on quasi-experimental approaches

Resumo A avalição da efetividade de vacinas é feita com dados do mundo real e é essencial para monitorar o desempenho dos programas de vacinação ao longo do tempo bem como frente a novas variantes. Até o momento, a avaliação da efetividade das vacinas para COVID-19 tem sido baseada em métodos clássicos como estudos de coorte e caso controle teste-negativo, que muitas vezes podem não permitir o adequado controle dos vieses intrínsecos da alocação das campanhas de vacinação. O objetivo dessa revisão foi discutir os desenhos de estudo disponíveis para avaliação de efetividade das vacinas, enfatizando os estudos quase-experimentais, que buscam mimetizar os estudos aleatorizados ao introduzir um componente exógeno para atribuição ao tratamento, bem como suas vantagens, limitações e aplicabilidade no contexto dos dados brasileiros. O emprego de métodos quase-experimentais, incluindo as séries temporais interrompidas, o método de diferença em diferenças, escore de propensão, variáveis instrumentais e regressão descontínua, são relevantes pela possibilidade de gerar estimativas mais acuradas da efetividade de vacinas para COVID-19 em cenários como o brasileiro, que se caracteriza pelo uso de várias vacinas, com respectivos número e intervalos entre doses, aplicadas em diferentes faixas etárias e em diferentes momentos da pandemia.

Abstract The evaluation of vaccine effectiveness is conducted with real-world data. They are essential to monitor the performance of vaccination programmes over time, and in the context of the emergence of new variants. Until now, the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines has been assessed based on classic methods, such as cohort and test-negative case-control studies, which may often not allow for adequate control of inherent biases in the assignment of vaccination campaigns. The aim of this review was to discuss the study designs available to evaluate vaccine effectiveness, highlighting quasi-experimental studies, which seek to mimic randomized trials, by introducing an exogenous component to allocate to treatment, in addition to the advantages, limitations, and applicability in the context of Brazilian data. The use of quasi-experimental approaches, such as interrupted time series, difference-in-differences, propensity scores, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity design, are relevant due to the possibility of providing more accurate estimates of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. This is especially important in scenarios such as the Brazilian, which characterized by the use of various vaccines, with the respective numbers and intervals between doses, applied to different age groups, and introduced at different times during the pandemic.

Cellular infiltrate in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions and therapeutic outcome

Abstract Background: The treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a challenge. A better understanding of the in situ mechanisms involved in the evolution and cure of the disease is essential for the development of new therapies. Objective: Correlate histopathological and immunological characteristics of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions with clinical outcome after different treatment regimens. Methods: The authors analyzed cellular infiltration and immunohistochemistry staining for CD4, CD8 and IL-17 in biopsy samples from 33 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis before treatment. All patients were recruited in a randomized clinical trial at Corte de Pedra (Bahia-Brazil) and assigned to receive Glucantime®, Glucantime® + Oral Tamoxifen or Glucantime® + Topical Tamoxifen. Patients were followed for 2 to 6 months to define disease outcome. Results: A similar expression of CD4, CD8 and IL-17 was observed in lesion samples regardless of clinical outcome. In general, a higher amount of CD8 cells were observed compared with CD4 cells. An important observation was that all patients whose cellular infiltrate did not contain plasma cells were cured after treatment. Study limitations: Isolated quantification of TCD8 and IL-17 using immunohistochemistry is insufficient to analyze the role of these molecules in the immunopathogenesis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In addition, the expansion of the immunohistochemistry panel would allow a more complete analysis of the immune response in situ. Conclusions: The absence of plasma cells in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions was related to a favorable therapeutic outcome.

Análise do conhecimento teórico e prática científica entre otorrinolaringologistas brasileiros / Analysis of theoretical knowledge and the practice of science among Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists

A compreensão dos princípios científicos e a interpretação de artigos é necessária em qualquer especialidade médica. Entretanto, inexistem publicações sobre o conhecimento teórico e prático dos otorrinolaringologistas brasileiros. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a formação e o conhecimento científico de médicos da área de Otorrinolaringologia. MÉTODO: Durante dois congressos nacionais da especialidade, os participantes foram convidados a preencher questionário sobre prática e conhecimento científico para residentes e especialistas dessa área. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: Participaram do estudo 73 médicos (52% otorrinolaringologistas e 38% residentes), com idade entre 18 e 65 anos. Cerca de dois terços envolveram-se em alguma atividade científica durante a graduação e/ou referiram já ter escrito um artigo científico. Os médicos que já participaram de projetos de pesquisa sentem-se mais preparados para interpretar um artigo científico e conduzir um projeto de pesquisa (p = 0,0103 e p = 0,0240, respectivamente). Aqueles que participaram de projetos de pesquisa ou já escreveram um artigo tiveram melhor desempenho nos conceitos científicos teóricos (p = 0,0101 e p = 0,0103, respectivamente). Entretanto, o índice geral de acertos nas questões referentes ao conhecimento científico foi de 46,1%. Dessa forma, identificamos que há deficiências na formação científica dos otorrinolaringologistas brasileiros que podem ser atenuadas pela participação em projetos de pesquisa.

Physicians from all medical specialties are required to understand the principles of science and to interpret medical literature. Yet, the levels of theoretical and practical knowledge held by Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists has not been evaluated to date. OBJECTIVE: To assess the background and level of scientific knowledge of Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists. METHOD: Participants of two national ENT meetings were invited to answer a questionnaire to assess scientific practice and knowledge. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This study included 73 medical doctors (52% otorhinolaryngologists and 38% residents) aged between 18 and 65 years. About two-thirds have been involved in some form of scientific activity during undergraduate education and/or reported to have written at least one scientific paper. Physicians who took part in research projects felt better prepared to interpret scientific papers and carry out research projects (p = 0.0103 and p = 0.0240, respectively). Respondents who claimed to have participated in research or to have written papers had higher scores on theoretical scientific concepts (p = 0.0101 and p = 0.0103, respectively). However, the overall rate of right answers on questions regarding scientific knowledge was 46.1%. Therefore, a deficiency was observed in the scientific education of Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists. Such deficiency may be mitigated through participation in research.

Tratamento cirúrgico de nasoangiofibroma sem embolização / Surgical Treatment of Non-embolized Patients with Nasoangiofibroma

Nasoangiofibroma juvenil (NAFJ) é um tumor incomum que se localiza na região do forame esfenopalatino. A cirurgia combinada à embolização pré-operatória tem sido a opção terapêutica mais empregada nos pacientes com NAFJ sem invasão intracraniana. O objetivo desse estudo é avaliar a viabilidade do tratamento cirúrgico do nasoangiofibroma em pacientes estágios I- III de Fisch, sem uso de embolização pré- operatória. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, utilizando-se dados de revisão de prontuário de quinze pacientes com NAFJ estágio I a III de Fisch submetidos à cirurgia sem embolização pré-operatória, entre os anos de 2000 e 2005. RESULTADOS: Dos quinze pacientes, sete pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia endoscópica, quatro via transmaxilar, três via endoscópica e transmaxilar e um via transmaxilar e transpalatina. Seis pacientes necessitaram de hemotransfusão no intra-operatório, com média geral de 1.3 bolsa/paciente. Nenhum caso de mortalidade ou morbidade significativa foi registrado. Onze dos quinze pacientes foram acompanhados por tempo médio de doze meses com taxa de recidiva de 27 por cento. Quatro pacientes perderam seguimento. CONLUSÃO: A ressecção de NAFJ classes I- III foi realizada com segurança em pacientes não-embolizados, com taxa de sangramento intraoperatório, ocorrência de complicações e taxa de recorrência próximas dos valores pesquisados na literatura para pacientes embolizados.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is an uncommon tumor of the sphenopalatine foramen. Surgery combined with preoperative embolization has been the treatment of choice for JNA patients without intracranial invasion. This study aims to assess the viability of surgically treating non-embolized patients with JNA (types I-III according to Fisch). MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a retrospective, descriptive study based on the medical records of 15 patients with histologically confirmed JNA (Fisch’s types I- III), who underwent surgical treatment without pre-op embolization in our institution between 2000 and 2005. RESULTS: Seven of the fifteen patients were approached endoscopically, four through the transantral approach, three were treated with the combined transmaxillary and endoscopic approach, and one with the combined transmaxillary and transpalatal approach. Six patients required intraoperatory blood transfusion, averaging volumes of 1.3 unit/patient. There were no cases of death or significant morbidity. Eleven of the fifteen patients were followed for an average of twelve months and 27 percent of them relapsed. Four patients did not comply with the follow-up scheme. CONCLUSION: Resection of JNF types I-III was safely completed in non-embolized patients. The observed levels of intraoperative bleeding, occurrence of complications, and rates of recurrence were close to those seen in embolized patients as found in the literature.

Características clínicas dos pacientes alérgicos que vivem em cidade de clima tropical / Clinical characteristics of allergic pacients living in a tropical climate city

A rinossinusite alérgica é uma das principais patologias respiratórias crônicas, pela sua alta prevalência, pela associação com asma e sinusite e pelo impacto na qualidade de vida do portador. Os pacientes portadores de rinossisusite alérgica apresentam reação de hipersensibilidade tipo 1, com inflamação persistente da mucosa nasal...

The alergic rhinosinusitis is one of the main chronic respiratory pathologies, for its high prevalence, the asssociation with asthma and sinusitis and for the impact in the quality of life of the carrier. The carrying patients of allergic rhinosinusitis presents hyper sensibility reaction type 1, with persistent inflammation of the nasal mucous...