Identification of Chagas disease biomarkers using untargeted metabolomics.

Untargeted metabolomic analysis is a powerful tool used for the discovery of novel biomarkers. Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease that affects 6-7 million people with approximately 30% developing cardiac manifestations. The most significant clinical challenge lies in its long latency period after acute infection, and the lack of surrogate markers to predict disease progression or cure. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed sera from 120 individuals divided into four groups: 31 indeterminate CD, 41 chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), 18 Latin Americans with other cardiomyopathies and 30 healthy volunteers. Using a high-throughput panel of 986 metabolites, we identified three distinct profiles among individuals with cardiomyopathy, indeterminate CD and healthy volunteers. After a more stringent analysis, we identified some potential biomarkers. Among peptides, phenylacetylglutamine and fibrinopeptide B (1-13) exhibited an increasing trend from controls to ICD and CCC. Conversely, reduced levels of bilirubin and biliverdin alongside elevated urobilin correlated with disease progression. Finally, elevated levels of cystathionine, phenol glucuronide and vanillactate among amino acids distinguished CCC individuals from ICD and controls. Our novel exploratory study using metabolomics identified potential biomarker candidates, either alone or in combination that if confirmed, can be translated into clinical practice.

Epidemiology of Travel-Associated Dengue from 2007 to 2022: A GeoSentinel Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a leading cause of febrile illness among international travellers. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of imported dengue in returning travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel sites from 2007-2022. METHODS: We retrieved GeoSentinel records of dengue among travellers residing in non-endemic countries. We considered dengue confirmed when diagnosed by a positive DENV-specific RT-PCR, positive NS-1 antigen, and/or anti-DENV IgG seroconversion, and probable when diagnosed by single anti-DENV IgM or high titre anti-DENV IgG detection. Severe dengue was defined as evidence of clinically significant plasma leakage or bleeding, organ failure, or shock, according to the 2009 WHO guidance. Complicated dengue was defined as either severe dengue or dengue with presence of any warning sign. Analyses were descriptive. RESULTS: This analysis included 5958 travellers with confirmed (n = 4859; 81.6%) or probable (n = 1099; 18.4%) dengue. The median age was 33 years (range: < 1-91); 3007 (50.5%) travellers were female. The median travel duration was 21 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 15-32). The median time between illness onset and GeoSentinel site visit was 7 days (IQR: 4-15). The most frequent reasons for travel were tourism (67.3%), visiting friends or relatives (12.2%), and business (11.0%). The most frequent regions of acquisition were Southeast Asia (50.4%), South-Central Asia (14.9%), the Caribbean (10.9%), and South America (9.2%). Ninety-five (1.6%) travellers had complicated dengue, of whom 27 (0.5%) had severe dengue, and one died. Of 2710 travellers with data available, 724 (26.7%) were hospitalized. The largest number of cases (n = 835) was reported in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of international travellers should be aware of the risk of acquiring dengue and receive appropriate pretravel counselling regarding preventive measures. Prospective cohort studies are needed to further elucidate dengue risk by destination and over time, as well as severe outcomes and prolonged morbidity (long-dengue) due to travel-related dengue.

Screening blood donors for malaria, can we increase the number of eligible donors? An observational retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In non-endemic countries, malaria can be transmitted through blood donations from imported cases. To ensure standards of quality and safety of human blood, the European Union and Spanish national law, requires a deferral period, or a screening by immunological or genomic test among those donors with potential risk of malaria. Scientific societies, European Committee on Blood Transfusion, and Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy, refer only to the result of the immunological test. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was performed in potential donors with a positive immunological test for malaria done in the Regional Transfusion Center in Madrid and referred to the National Reference Unit for Tropical Diseases in Madrid between 2015-2020. At consultation a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for malaria was performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 121 possible donors attended for consultation at NRU-Trop. Median age: 38.5 (IQR:33-48); median time to consultation was 32 months (IQR:12.5-110). Eighty-two (67.8%) donors were migrants and thirty-nine were travellers (32.2%). ELISA values were available for 109 subjects (90.1%), 56 individual left malaria endemic area > 3 years before. All donors tested negative for Plasmodium spp PCR test (n = 121, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: None of the subjects with a positive immunologic test deferred as blood donors had a positive genomic test. The presence of Plasmodium spp in collected blood was not detected by molecular techniques. To avoid the loss of potential blood donors, especially those with low incidence red blood cell antigens, as more precise microbiology techniques become available, updating the existing legislation becomes necessary to increase the availability of donated blood.

Real-life application of a stratification model for HIV care.

INTRODUCTION: HIV infection has become a chronic disease with a good long-term prognosis, necessitating a change in the care model. For this study, we applied a proposal for an Optimal Care Model (OCM) for people with HIV (PHIV), which includes tools for assessing patient complexity and their classification into profiles to optimize care provision. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. Adult PHIV treated at the Tropical Medicine consultations at Ramón y Cajal Hospital from January 1 to June 30, 2023, were included. The complexity calculation and the stratification into profiles for each patient were done according to the OCM. RESULTS: Ninety-four participants were included, 76.6% cisgender men, with a median age of 41 years (range 23-76). Latin America and Africa were the main regions of origin (72.4%). 98% had an undetectable HIV viral load. The degree of complexity was 78.7% low, 11.7% medium, 1% high, and 8.5% extreme. The predominant profile was blue (64.9%), followed by lilac (11.7%), purple (6.3%), and green (4.3%). 7.4% were unclassifiable, of whom 57.2% had high/extreme complexity. Among the unclassifiable, mental health problems were the most common. CONCLUSIONS: The OCM tools for People Living with HIV (PLWH) allow for the classification and stratification of most patients in a consultation with a non-standard population. Patients who did not fit into the pre-established profiles presented high complexity. Creating a profile focused on mental health or mixed profiles could facilitate the classification of more patients.

Trends in imported infections among migrants and travellers to Spain: a decade of analysis through the +Redivi network (2012-2022).

BACKGROUND: High-speed global travel, increased trade, world population growth, migration, urbanization and climate change have favoured the emergence and spread of pathogens. We aimed to analyse the evolution of imported infections in Spain during 2012-2022 and the potential impact of some of the abovementioned factors on differential morbidity patterns. METHODS: In this retrospective study (January 2012 to December 2022), we analysed data collected by the +Redivi network across 25 health centres. The network's standardised database records new cases of imported infections, including patient demographics, travel history, pre-travel advice and diagnostic information. To assess outcome rates over time and potential interactions, we constructed penalized weighted models to reduce the bias related to a low event rate and used weighted logistic regression for morbidity outcomes. RESULTS: We recorded 25 632 episodes, comprising 13 913 migrants, 4047 visiting friends and relatives (VFR) immigrants, 392 VFR travellers and 7280 travellers. Most immigrants came from South America (48.3%), Sub-Saharan Africa (28.5%), North Africa (6.6%), South Central Asia (5.4%) and Central America/Caribbean (5.3%). The most common regions visited by travellers were Sub-Saharan Africa (33.5%), South America (24.5%), Central America/Caribbean (13.5%), Southeast Asia (12%) and South Central Asia (10%). The proportion of diagnoses of malaria, strongyloidiasis and unspecified self-limiting febrile syndrome < 3 weeks remained unchanged during the study period. An increased frequency of diagnosis was reported for schistosomiasis, blastocystosis, giardiasis, dengue, diarrhoea, new cases of HIV, latent and pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas a decrease was reported for syphilis, chikungunya fever, Chagas disease and eosinophilia. We detected interactions between time and sex or type of participant across the different diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscores the importance of epidemiological data in understanding infectious diseases dynamics among travellers and migrants, emphasizing how demographic shifts, migration trends and healthcare policies affect disease profiles. Comprehensive data play an essential role in enhancing public health policies and travel advice.

Travel surveillance uncovers dengue virus dynamics and introductions in the Caribbean.

Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in humans, and cases are continuing to rise globally. In particular, islands in the Caribbean have experienced more frequent outbreaks, and all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been reported in the region, leading to hyperendemicity and increased rates of severe disease. However, there is significant variability regarding virus surveillance and reporting between islands, making it difficult to obtain an accurate understanding of the epidemiological patterns in the Caribbean. To investigate this, we used travel surveillance and genomic epidemiology to reconstruct outbreak dynamics, DENV serotype turnover, and patterns of spread within the region from 2009-2022. We uncovered two recent DENV-3 introductions from Asia, one of which resulted in a large outbreak in Cuba, which was previously under-reported. We also show that while outbreaks can be synchronized between islands, they are often caused by different serotypes. Our study highlights the importance of surveillance of infected travelers to provide a snapshot of local introductions and transmission in areas with limited local surveillance and suggests that the recent DENV-3 introductions may pose a major public health threat in the region.

Pulmonary infections in the returning traveler.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the epidemiology of other infectious diseases globally. International tourist arrivals are increasing and recovering to prepandemic levels. This review focuses on respiratory infections in travelers, highlighting the characteristics of the main imported viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections with pulmonary involvement. RECENT FINDINGS: A recent systematic review estimated a prevalence of respiratory symptoms in travelers of around 35%, increasing to nearly 65% in the context of mass gatherings. Common viral and bacterial pathogens account for the majority of respiratory infections with an identified cause; however, recent data focus on the need for surveillance of emerging infections such as MERS-CoV, henipaviruses and multidrug resistant bacteria, which may be spread through travel. Fungal and parasitic respiratory infections are less common, and acquisition is usually associated with specific risk factors or exposure in endemic areas. Special risk groups, such as immunocompromised travelers, may be particularly vulnerable, presenting with severe disease or reactivation of latent infections. SUMMARY: The next significant international epidemic could involve another new infectious agent causing respiratory disease and spreading via mobile populations. Official protocols should be adhered to, and public health interventions implemented for effective control. Continued and globally coordinated investments in research for new vaccines, therapeutic agents, disease modeling, and digital tracking strategies are essential.

Chikungunya infection in returned travellers: results from the geosentinel network, 2005-2020.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an important travel-related disease because of its rapid geographical expansion and potential for prolonged morbidity. Improved understanding of the epidemiology of travel-related chikungunya infections may influence prevention strategies including education and vaccination. METHODS: We analysed data from travellers with confirmed or probable chikungunya reported to GeoSentinel sites from 2005 to 2020. Confirmed chikungunya was defined as a compatible clinical history plus either virus isolation, positive nucleic acid test or seroconversion/rising titre in paired sera. Probable chikungunya was defined as a compatible clinical history with a single positive serology result. RESULTS: 1202 travellers (896 confirmed and 306 probable) with chikungunya were included. The median age was 43 years (range 0-91; interquartile range [IQR]: 31-55); 707 (58.8%) travellers were female. Most infections were acquired in the Caribbean (28.8%), Southeast Asia (22.8%), South Central Asia (14.2%) and South America (14.2%). The highest numbers of chikungunya cases reported to GeoSentinel were in 2014 (28.3%), 2015 (14.3%) and 2019 (11.9%). The most frequent reasons for travel were tourism (n = 592; 49.3%) and visiting friends or relatives (n = 334; 27.7%). The median time to presentation to a GeoSentinel site was 23 days (IQR: 7-52) after symptom onset. In travellers with confirmed chikungunya and no other reported illnesses, the most frequently reported symptoms included musculoskeletal symptoms (98.8%), fever/chills/sweats (68.7%) and dermatologic symptoms (35.5%). Among 917 travellers with information available, 296 (32.3%) had a pretravel consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Chikungunya was acquired by international travellers in almost 100 destinations globally. Vector precautions and vaccination where recommended should be integrated into pretravel visits for travellers going to areas with chikungunya or areas with the potential for transmission. Continued surveillance of travel-related chikungunya may help public health officials and clinicians limit the transmission of this potentially debilitating disease by defining regions where protective measures (e.g. pretravel vaccination) should be strongly considered.

Intestinal protozoa in returning travellers: a GeoSentinel analysis from 2007 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged diarrhoea is common amongst returning travellers and is often caused by intestinal protozoa. However, the epidemiology of travel-associated illness caused by protozoal pathogens is not well described. METHODS: We analysed records of returning international travellers with illness caused by Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora cayetanensis or Cystoisospora belli, reported to the GeoSentinel Network during January 2007-December 2019. We excluded records of travellers migrating, with an unascertainable exposure country, or from GeoSentinel sites that were not located in high-income countries. RESULTS: There were 2517 cases, 82.3% giardiasis (n = 2072), 11.4% cryptosporidiosis (n = 287), 6.0% cyclosporiasis (n = 150) and 0.3% cystoisosporiasis (n = 8). Overall, most travellers were tourists (64.4%) on long trips (median durations: 18-30 days). Cryptosporidiosis more frequently affected people < 18 years (13.9%) and cyclosporiasis affected people ≥ 40 years (59.4%). Giardiasis was most frequently acquired in South Central Asia (45.8%) and sub-Saharan Africa (22.6%), cryptosporidiosis in sub-Saharan Africa (24.7%) and South-Central Asia (19.5%), cyclosporiasis in South East Asia (31.3%) and Central America (27.3%), and cystoisosporiasis in sub-Saharan Africa (62.5%). Cyclosporiasis cases were reported from countries of uncertain endemicity (e.g. Cambodia) or in countries with no previous evidence of this parasite (e.g. French Guiana). The time from symptom onset to presentation at a GeoSentinel site was the longest amongst travellers with giardiasis (median: 30 days). Over 14% of travellers with cryptosporidiosis were hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides new insights into the epidemiology and clinical significance of four intestinal protozoa that can cause morbidity in international travellers. These data might help optimize pretravel advice and post-travel management of patients with travel-associated prolonged gastrointestinal illnesses. This analysis reinforces the importance of international travel-related surveillance to identify sentinel cases and areas where protozoal infections might be undetected or underreported.

Chagas Disease in Europe.

Chagas disease is currently present in many non-endemic countries and remains a neglected tropical disease globally. A review of the literature identified significant gaps and scarcity of updated information from European countries, with most studies reporting data from Spain and Italy. The index of underdiagnosis may be as high as 70%, affecting mainly females of child-bearing age. Standardized screening of fertile, non-pregnant, women from endemic countries and subsequent treatment is considered an essential strategy to control transmission and prevent new cases, yet no uniform legislation for screening risk groups exists. There is heterogeneity in Europe in terms of preventive strategies to avoid transfusion-related transmission of Chagas disease, not necessarily in line with the European directives, with some countries conducting systematic screening for T. cruzi infection in blood donors, whilst others rely on pre-transfusion questionnaires. The growing burden of the infection in resource-rich areas may provide an opportunity for progress in certain aspects of control and prevention. Options for improving screening strategies, management and linkage to care are reviewed.

Executive summary of the Consensus Statement of the Transplant Infection Study Group (GESITRA) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and the National Transplant Organization (ONT) on the Selection Criteria of Donors of Solid Organs in relation to Infectious Diseases / Resumen ejecutivo de la Declaración de consenso del Grupo de Estudio de la Infección en el Trasplante (GESITRA) de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC) y la Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT) sobre los criterios de selección de donantes de órganos sólidos en relación con las enfermedades infecciosas

The immunosuppressive treatment that recipients receive from a solid organ transplantation hinders the defensive response to infection. Its transmission from the donor can cause dysfunction or loss of the graft and even death of the recipient if proper preventive measures are not established. This potential risk should be thoroughly evaluated to minimise the risk of infection transmission from donor to recipient, especially with organ transplantation from donors with infections, without increasing graft dysfunction and morbidity and mortality in the recipient. This document aims to review current knowledge about infection screening in potential donors and offer clinical and microbiological recommendations about the use of organs from donors with infection based on available scientific evidence

El tratamiento inmunosupresor que recibe el receptor de un trasplante de órgano sólido dificulta la respuesta defensiva frente a la infección. La transmisión de la misma desde un donante puede provocar la disfunción o pérdida del injerto e, incluso, la muerte del receptor si no se establecen las medidas preventivas oportunas. Este riesgo potencial debe ser evaluado minuciosamente para minimizar el riesgo de transmisión de infección del donante al receptor, especialmente con el trasplante de órganos de donantes con infecciones, sin aumentar la disfunción del injerto y la morbimortalidad en el receptor. Este documento pretende revisar los conocimientos actuales sobre la detección sistemática de infecciones en los donantes potenciales y ofrecer recomendaciones clínicas y microbiológicas acerca del uso de órganos procedentes de donantes con infección basadas en la evidencia científica disponible

Executive summary of imported infectious diseases after returning from foreign travel: Consensus document of the Spanish Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) / Resumen ejecutivo de las enfermedades infecciosas importadas después de regresar de viajes en el extranjero: Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica

In a global world, knowledge of imported infectious diseases is essential in daily practice, both for the microbiologist-parasitologist and the clinician who diagnoses and treats infectious diseases in returned travelers. Tropical and subtropical countries where there is a greater risk of contracting an infectious disease are among the most frequently visited tourist destinations. The SEIMC considers it appropriate to produce a consensus document that will be useful to primary care physicians as well as specialists in internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine who help treat travelers returning from tropical and sub-tropical areas with infections. Preventive aspects of infectious diseases and infections imported by immigrants are explicitly excluded here, since they have been dealt with in other SEIMC documents. Various types of professionals (clinicians, microbiologists, and parasitologists) have helped produce this consensus document by evaluating the available evidence-based data in order to propose a series of key facts about individual aspects of the topic. The first section of the document is a summary of some of the general aspects concerning the general assessment of travelers who return home with potential infections. The main second section contains the key facts (causative agents, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic measures) associated with the major infectious syndromes affecting returned travelers [gastrointestinal syndrome (acute or persistent diarrhea); febrile syndrome with no obvious source of infection; localized cutaneous lesions; and respiratory infections]. Finally, the characteristics of special traveler subtypes, such as pregnant women and immunocompromised travelers, are described (AU)

En el mundo global, el conocimiento de las enfermedades infecciosas importadas es esencial en la práctica diaria, tanto para el microbiólogo-parasitólogo como para el clínico en enfermedades infecciosas que atiende a viajeros internacionales. Entre los destinos turísticos más visitados se encuentran muchos países tropicales o subtropicales, donde el riesgo de contraer una enfermedad infecciosa es más elevado. La SEIMC ha considerado pertinente la elaboración de un documento de consenso que sirva de ayuda tanto a médicos de Atención Primaria como a especialistas en Medicina Interna, Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical que atienden a viajeros que regresan con infecciones tras un viaje a zonas tropicales y subtropicales. Se han excluido de forma explícita los aspectos de prevención de estas y las infecciones importadas por inmigrantes, objeto de otros documentos de la SEIMC. Varios tipos de profesionales (clínicos, microbiólogos y parasitólogos) han desarrollado este documento de consenso tras evaluar los datos disponibles basados en la evidencia para proponer una serie de datos clave acerca de este aspecto. Inicialmente se revisan los aspectos generales acerca de la evaluación general del viajero que regresa con una potencial infección. En un segundo bloque se señalan los datos clave (agentes causales, procedimientos diagnósticos y medidas terapéuticas) de los síndromes infecciosos principales en el viajero que regresa (síndrome gastrointestinal (diarrea aguda o persistente), síndrome febril sin foco aparente, lesiones cutáneas localizadas e infecciones respiratorias). Finalmente se describen las características en viajeros especiales como la viajera embarazada y el viajero inmunodeprimido (AU)

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la eosinofilia importada en viajeros e inmigrantes: recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional (SEMTSI) / Diagnosis and treatment of imported eosinophilia in travellers and immigrants: Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI)

Los datos sobre prevalencia de la eosinofilia importada entre viajeros e inmigrantes la sitúan entre un 8%-28,5%. El estudio etiológico es en ocasiones complejo, y en función de lo exhaustivo del estudio y de la población analizada, se ha podido identificar una causa parasitaria en el 17%-75,9% de los individuos. Entre las dificultades que se encuentran para comparar los estudios están la heterogeneidad de las poblaciones estudiadas, el tipo de recogida (prospectiva/retrospectiva) y distintos protocolos diagnósticos. En este documento se detallan las recomendaciones del grupo de expertos de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional (SEMTSI) para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la eosinofilia importada (AU)

According to published data, prevalence of imported eosinophilia among travellers and immigrants is set between 8% and 28.5%. Etiological diagnosis is often troublesome, and depending on the depth of the study and on the population analyzed, a parasitic cause is identified in 17% to 75.9% of the individuals. Among the difficulties encountered to compare studies are the heterogeneity of the studied populations, the type of data collection (prospective/retrospective) and different diagnostic protocols. In this document the recommendations of the expert group of the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI) for the diagnosis and treatment of imported eosinophilia are detailed (AU)

Characteristics of HIV infected individuals traveling abroad. Results from the +REDIVI Collaborative Network / Características de los individuos infectados por el VIH que viajan al extranjero. Los resultados de la red +REDIVI

INTRODUCTION: The improvement in the prognosis of HIV infection, coupled with the increase in international travel and migration, has led to a rising number of HIV infected travelers. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of returning travelers, according to their HIV status. METHODS: An observational prospective study was conducted including travelers and immigrants who traveled to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) registered in the +REDIVI collaborative network (January-2009; October-2014). +REDIVI is a national network that registers information regarding infections imported by travelers and immigrants at 21 different centers using a standardized protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3464 travellers were identified: 72 were HIV+ (2.1%) and 3.392 HIV− (98%). HIV+ vs. HIV− travelers were often older (40.5y vs. 34.2y P = .001), VFRs (79.1% vs. 44.4%; P < .001), and consulted less for pre-travel advice (27% vs. 37%; P = .078). The main destinations for both groups were sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The most frequent reasons for consultation after travel were fever, request for a health examination, gastrointestinal complaints, and abnormal laboratory tests (mainly eosinophilia and anemia), which differed between groups. The most frequent diagnoses in HIV+ travelers were malaria (38.8%), newly diagnosed HIV infection (25%), and intestinal parasites (19.4%), while for HIV− travelers the main diagnoses were "healthy" (17.9%), malaria (14%), and intestinal parasites (17.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The typical profile of an HIV+ traveler in +REDIVI was that of a VFR traveler who did not seek pre-travel advice and made high-risk trips. This may increase the chance of acquiring travel-related infections which may pose a special risk for HIV-infected travelers. The post-travel visit was a good opportunity for HIV infection screening

INTRODUCCIÓN: La mejoría en el pronóstico de la infección por el VIH, sumada al incremento de los viajes y la inmigración, han aumentado la frecuencia del binomio viajero-VIH+. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la epidemiología y hallazgos clínicos de los viajeros VIH+ en comparación con los VIH-. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y prospectivo, de los viajeros e inmigrantes viajeros que se desplazan para visitar familiares y amigos (VFR) incluidos en la red +REDIVI (enero-2009; octubre-2014). +REDIVI es una red nacional que recopila información sobre infecciones importadas por viajeros e inmigrantes en 21 centros mediante un protocolo estandarizado de recogida de datos. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 3.464 viajeros: 72 VIH+ (2,1%) y 3.392 VIH− (98%). Los VIH+ en contraste con los VIH−, eran mayores (40 vs. 34 años; p = 0,001), predominantemente VFR (79,7% vs 44,4%. p < 0,001), y solicitan menos consejo pre-viaje (27% vs 37%. p = 0,078). Los destinos predominantes para ambos grupos fueron África Subsahariana y Latinoamérica. Los motivos de consulta más frecuentes al retorno del viaje fueron la fiebre, solicitar un examen de salud, molestias gastrointestinales, y anomalías en los resultados de laboratorio (principalmente eosinofilia y anemia) los cuales variaron según el grupo. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes en los VIH+ fueron la malaria (38,8%), nuevo diagnóstico de VIH (25%) y parasitosis intestinales (19,4%), mientras que en los sujetos VIH− los principales diagnósticos fueron "sano" (17,9%), parásitos intestinales (17,3%) y malaria (14%). CONCLUSIONES: El perfil más común del viajero VIH+ atendido en +Redivi es el de un inmigrante VFR que no solicita consejo pre-viaje y hace viajes de alto riesgo. Esto puede suponer un mayor riesgo de adquisición de infecciones relacionadas con el viaje, las cuales en un viajero VIH+ pueden tener un efecto deletéreo adicional. La consulta tras el viaje es una buena oportunidad para el cribado de la infección por VIH

Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico, seguimiento y tratamiento de la embarazada y del niño con enfermedad de Chagas / Recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the pregnant woman and child with Chagas disease

La enfermedad de Chagas en zonas no endémicas, como nuestro país, se adquiere fundamentalmente por transmisión vertical. La prevalencia de la enfermedad en embarazadas latinoamericanas oscila entre el 0,7 y el 54% en función del país de origen, la procedencia rural o la edad de la madre, situándose la tasa de transmisión vertical entre el 5 y el 6%. Se sabe que el tratamiento en fases precoces y en concreto en el niño < 15 años tiene altas tasas de curación y parece que el tratamiento de la embarazada tras el parto podría prevenir la transmisión en otros embarazos. Todo ello justificaría el diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de esta entidad en ambos grupos. En este documento se exponen las recomendaciones actuales de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad en el niño y la embarazada. Estas recomendaciones han sido elaboradas por un grupo de trabajo formado por especialistas en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Microbiología Clínica, Ginecología y Pediatría (AU)

Congenital transmission of Chagas disease now occurs in areas where the disease is non-endemic, and also from one generation to another. According to epidemiological data from Latin America, the prevalence of the disease in pregnant women is 0.7%-54%, and the prevalence of vertical transmission is around 5%-6%.Congenital T. cruzi infection is an acute infection in newborns that should be treated with anti-parasitic therapy. The treatment of pregnant women could also have an impact on the control of the disease. This article has been prepared following the recommendations suggested by a group of experts in Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Gynaecology and Paediatrics (AU)

Infections in solid organ transplantation in special situations: HIV-infection and immigration

Con la introducción de la terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad en el año 1996, los pacientes infectados con el VIH están viviendo más tiempo y mueren por otras enfermedades que el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (sida). La cirrosis hepática debida al virus de la hepatitis C es ahora la principal causa de mortalidad entre los pacientes coinfectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) en el mundo desarrollado. La prevalencia de la enfermedad en fase terminal renal y cardíaca también está aumentando entre los pacientes infectados por VIH. Para estos pacientes, el trasplante de órgano sólido (TOS) es la única opción terapéutica y la infección por VIH por sí sola no es una contraindicación. La experiencia acumulada en América del Norte y Europa en los últimos años indica que a los 3-5 años del trasplante la supervivencia en los receptores de hígado coinfectados por el VIH y el VHC es menor que la de los monoinfectados por el VHC. Por el contrario, la supervivencia a los 3-5 años de los trasplantes de hígado en pacientes no coinfectados por el VHC y de los trasplantes de riñón es similar a la de los pacientes VIH negativos. Las infecciones en el período postrasplante en los receptores infectados por (..) (AU)

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy in 1996, patients infected with HIV are now living longer and are dying from illnesses other than acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C is now a leading cause of mortality among HIV-infected patients in the developed world. The prevalence of end-stage kidney or heart disease is also increasing among HIV-infected patients. For these patients, solid organ transplantation (SOT) is the only therapeutic option and HIV infection alone is not a contraindication. Accumulated experience in North America and Europe in the last few years indicates that 3- to 5-year survival in liver recipients coinfected with HIV and HCV is lower than that of HCV-monoinfected recipients. Conversely, 3- to 5-year survival of non-HCV-coinfected liver recipients and kidney recipients was similar to that of HIV-negative patients. Infections in the post-transplant period in HIV-infected recipients are similar to those seen in HIV-negative patients, although the incidence of some of them (e.g. tuberculosis and fungal infections) is higher. In the USA and Europe the number of immigrants from areas with endemic geographically-restricted infections has increased significantly in recent years. These changes in the population profile have led to an increase in the percentage of foreign-born transplant candidates and donors. Organ transplant recipients may develop endemic diseases in four (..)(AU)

Las filariasis en la práctica clínica / Filariasis in clinical practice

Las filariasis son un conjunto de enfermedades infecciosas que afectan fundamentalmente al tejido linfático y la piel. Están causadas por distintas especies de nematodos y son transmitidas mediante la picadura de insectos. Están catalogadas como enfermedad desatendida, afectan a millones de personas, y producen gran invalidez y problemas sociosanitarios. Para su desarrollo suelen precisar de la permanencia en zona endémica durante largos períodos, por lo que son infrecuentemente diagnosticadas en viajeros de corta estancia. Aunque habitualmente cursan de manera asintomática, la aparición de sintomatología viene determinada, fundamentalmente, por el grado de respuesta inmune del huésped a la infección y por la carga parasitaria. El diagnóstico se basa en la demostración de las microfilarias correspondientes en muestras de sangre o de piel, aunque otros métodos pueden apoyar el diagnóstico. El tratamiento individual es efectivo, pero las medidas a nivel comunitario, sobre todo la administración de tratamiento en masa, son las más efectivas para disminuir la incidencia de las filariasis (AU)

Filariases are infections caused by distinct species of nematodes. These infections are transmitted through insect bites and primarily affect lymph nodes and skin. Filariases are classified as neglected diseases and affect millions, producing severe disability and social stigma. This type of infection is rarely diagnosed in travellers, as prolonged stays in endemic areas are usually required acquire infection. Infections may be asymptomatic, and clinical manifestations depend on the host immune response to the infection and the parasite burden. Diagnosis is based on the demonstration of microfilariae in blood or skin, but there are other methods that support the diagnosis. Individual treatment is effective, but community interventions, mostly mass drug administration, have helped to diminish the incidence of filariases (AU)