Impact of COVID-19 on paracoccidioidomycosis. Which was the most influential: The pandemic or the virus?

The impact of COVID-19 on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina and the consequences generated by the pandemic are discussed. From 2018 to 3 years after the pandemic declaration, 285 proven PCM patients were registered. No association between both diseases was documented. PCM frequency decreased to extremely low levels in 2020. Mandatory social isolation and the emotional and psychological effects generated under pandemic circumstances led to delays in diagnosis, severe disseminated cases, and other challenges for diagnosis in subsequent years. Probable underdiagnosis should be considered due to the overlap of clinical manifestations, the low index of suspicion and the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools.

Clinical and Demographic Features of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Argentina: A Multicenter Study Analysis of 466 Cases.

Information on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina is fragmented and has historically been based on estimates, supported only by a series of a few reported cases. Considering the lack of global information, a national multicentric study in order to carry out a more comprehensive analysis was warranted. We present a data analysis including demographic and clinical aspects of a historical series of 466 cases recorded over 10 years (2012-2021). Patients were aged from 1 to 89 years. The general male: female (M:F) ratio was 9.5:1 with significant variation according to the age group. Interestingly, the age range 21-30 shows an M:F ratio of 2:1. Most of the cases (86%) were registered in northeast Argentina (NEA), showing hyperendemic areas in Chaco province with more than 2 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The chronic clinical form occurred in 85.6% of cases and the acute/subacute form occurred in 14.4% of cases, but most of these juvenile type cases occurred in northwestern Argentina (NWA). In NEA, the incidence of the chronic form was 90.6%; in NWA, the acute/subacute form exceeded 37%. Diagnosis by microscopy showed 96% positivity but antibody detection displays 17% of false negatives. Tuberculosis was the most frequent comorbidity, but a diverse spectrum of bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic, and other non-infectious comorbidities was recorded. This national multicenter registry was launched in order to better understand the current status of PCM in Argentina and shows the two endemic zones with a highly diverse epidemiology.

[Septic arthritis byAggregatibacteraphrophilus: Case report] / Artritis séptica por Aggregatibacter aphrophilus.

Introduction: Septic arthritis by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus is an uncommon entity, so it's important to diagnose it early, to avoid serious consequences. In adults, the knee is the most affected site. Methods: We present a case of a 17-year-old boy, with pain in the left knee since one month ago. It shows an increase in local temperature, erythema and movement inability. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was performed and empirical treatment was given with cephalothin and clindamycin. A knee arthrotomy was realized, and intramedullary secretion and bone tissue was sent to study. Results: the NMR images were suggestive of an infectious process. In the culture gram-negative coccobacilli were isolated, later identified like as Aggregatibacter aphrophilus. According to this diagnostic, the treatment was changed to ceftriaxone The main conclusions: the rapidity and certainty in the choice of antimicrobial therapy is the most important step for a well evolution of this infection, therefore is very important to emphasize the importance of a correct identification of these rare microorganisms

Introducción: Aunque la artritis séptica es una entidad poco común, es importante debido a las graves consecuencias de un diagnóstico tardío o un incorrecto tratamiento. En adultos, la rodilla es el sitio más afectado. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar un caso clínico de artritis séptica por Aggregatibacter aphrophilus en rodilla en un paciente joven, inmunocompetente, sin antecedentes patológicos. Materiales y métodos: Se estudia el caso de un joven de 17 años, tabaquista, con un cuadro de 1 mes de evolución caracterizado por gonalgia izquierda, aumento de la temperatura local, eritema e impotencia funcional. Se realizan análisis de sangre, una ecografía,y resonancia magnética (RMN).Se solicitan hemocultivos y cultivos de líquido intrarticular de rodilla. En la RMN se observa una lesión expansiva en la región femoral, sugestiva de un proceso infeccioso. Se comienza tratamiento empírico con cefalotina y clindamicina. Se realiza una artrotomia de rodilla enviándose para su estudio secreción endomedular, tejido óseo y endomedular. Resultados: Los hemocultivos y el cultivo del líquido intraarticular fueron negativos, pero los materiales obtenidos por técnica quirúrgica fueron positivos para el cultivo, aislándose cocobacilos gram negativos, posteriormente identificados como Aggregatibacter aphrophilus Se realizó el diagnóstico de artritis séptica por Aggregatibacter aphrophilus y se roto el tratamiento antimicrobiano a ceftriaxona. Conclusión: La rapidez y la certeza en la elección de la terapia antimicrobiana son un paso decisivo para la evolución de la enfermedad, por lo tanto se remarca la importancia de una correcta identificación de estos microorganismos poco frecuentes.