Associations between COVID-19 and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Brazil.

Glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) was suggested as a risk factor for severe disease in patients with COVID-19. We evaluated clinical outcomes and glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity during and after illness in patients with COVID-19. This prospective cohort study included adult participants (≥ 18 years old) who had clinical and/or radiological COVID-19 findings or positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results. Epidemiological and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase activity was measured using SD Biosensor STANDARD G6PD® equipment on admission and 1 year after discharge. Samples were genotyped for the three most common single nucleotide polymorphisms for G6PDd in the Brazilian Amazon. Seven hundred fifty-three patients were included, of whom 123 (16.3%) were G6PD deficient. There was no difference between groups regarding the risks of hospitalization (P = 0.740) or invasive mechanical ventilation (P = 0.31), but the risk of death was greater in patients with normal G6PD levels (P = 0.022). Only 29 of 116 participants (25%) carried the African G6PDd genotype. Of 30 participants tested as G6PD deficient during disease, only 11 (36.7%) results agreed 1 year after discharge. In conclusion, this study does not demonstrate an association of G6PDd with severity of COVID-19. Limitations of the test for detecting enzyme levels during COVID-19 illness were demonstrated by genotyping and retesting after the disease period. Care must be taken when screening for G6PDd in patients with acute COVID-19.

Operational effectiveness of tafenoquine and primaquine for the prevention of Plasmodium vivax recurrence in Brazil: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of Plasmodium vivax malaria recurrence is essential for malaria elimination in Brazil. We evaluated the real-world effectiveness of an updated treatment algorithm for P vivax radical cure in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: In this non-interventional observational study, we used retrospective data from the implementation of a P vivax treatment algorithm at 43 health facilities in Manaus and Porto Velho, Brazil. The treatment algorithm consisted of chloroquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) and point-of-care quantitative glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing followed by single-dose tafenoquine 300 mg (G6PD normal, aged ≥16 years, not pregnant and not breastfeeding), 7-day primaquine 0·5 mg/kg per day (G6PD intermediate or normal, aged ≥6 months, not pregnant, and not breastfeeding or breastfeeding for >1 month), or primaquine 0·75 mg/kg per week for 8 weeks (G6PD deficient, aged ≥6 months, not pregnant, and not breastfeeding or breastfeeding for >1 month). P vivax recurrences were identified from probabilistic linkage of routine patient records from the Brazilian malaria epidemiological surveillance system. Recurrence-free effectiveness at day 90 and day 180 was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and hazard ratios (HRs) by multivariate analysis. This clinical trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05096702, and is completed. FINDINGS: Records from Sept 9, 2021, to Aug 31, 2022, included 5554 patients with P vivax malaria. In all treated patients of any age and any G6PD status, recurrence-free effectiveness at day 180 was 75·8% (95% CI 74·0-77·6) with tafenoquine, 73·4% (71·9-75·0) with 7-day primaquine, and 82·1% (77·7-86·8) with weekly primaquine. In patients aged at least 16 years who were G6PD normal, recurrence-free effectiveness until day 90 was 88·6% (95% CI 87·2-89·9) in those who were treated with tafenoquine (n=2134) and 83·5% (79·8-87·4) in those treated with 7-day primaquine (n=370); after adjustment for confounding factors, the HR for recurrence following tafenoquine versus 7-day primaquine was 0·65 (95% CI 0·49-0·86; p=0·0031), with similar outcomes between the two treatments at day 180 (log-rank p=0·82). Over 180 days, median time to recurrence in patients aged at least 16 years who were G6PD normal was 92 days (IQR 76-120) in those treated with tafenoquine and 68 days (52-94) in those treated with 7-day primaquine. INTERPRETATION: In this real-world setting, single-dose tafenoquine was more effective at preventing P vivax recurrence in patients aged at least 16 years who were G6PD normal compared with 7-day primaquine at day 90, while overall efficacy at 180 days was similar. The public health benefits of the P vivax radical cure treatment algorithm incorporating G6PD quantitative testing and tafenoquine support its implementation in Brazil and potentially across South America. FUNDING: Brazilian Ministry of Health, Municipal and State Health Secretariats; Fiocruz; Medicines for Malaria Venture; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Newcrest Mining; and the UK Government. TRANSLATION: For the Portuguese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Development and validation of a minimum requirements checklist for snakebite envenoming treatment in the Brazilian Amazonia.

BACKGROUND: Currently, antivenoms are the only specific treatment available for snakebite envenoming. In Brazil, over 30% of patients cannot access antivenom within its critical care window. Researchers have therefore proposed decentralizing to community health centers to decrease time-to-care and improve morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is no evidence-based method to evaluate the capacity of health units for antivenom treatment, nor what the absolute minimum supplies and staff are necessary for safe and effective antivenom administration and clinical management. METHODS: This study utilized a modified-Delphi approach to develop and validate a checklist to evaluate the minimum requirements for health units to adequately treat snakebite envenoming in the Amazon region of Brazil. The modified-Delphi approach consisted of four rounds: 1) iterative development of preliminary checklist by expert steering committee; 2) controlled feedback on preliminary checklist via expert judge survey; 3) two-phase nominal group technique with new expert judges to resolve pending items; and 4) checklist finalization and closing criteria by expert steering committee. The measure of agreement selected for this study was percent agreement defined a priori as ≥75%. RESULTS: A valid, reliable, and feasible checklist was developed. The development process highlighted three key findings: (1) the definition of community health centers and its list of essential items by expert judges is consistent with the Brazilian Ministry of Health, WHO snakebite strategic plan, and a general snakebite capacity guideline in India (internal validity), (2) the list of essential items for antivenom administration and clinical management is feasible and aligns with the literature regarding clinical care (reliability), and (3) engagement of local experts is critical to developing and implementing an antivenom decentralization strategy (feasibility). CONCLUSION: This study joins an international set of evidence advocating for decentralization, adding value in its definition of essential care items; identification of training needs across the care continuum; and demonstration of the validity, reliability, and feasibility provided by engaging local experts. Specific to Brazil, further added value comes in the potential use of the checklist for health unit accreditation as well as its applications to logistics and resource distribution. Future research priorities should apply this checklist to health units in the Amazon region of Brazil to determine which community health centers are or could be capable of receiving antivenom and translate this expert-driven checklist and approach to snakebite care in other settings or other diseases in low-resource settings.

Severe Hemolysis during Primaquine Radical Cure of Plasmodium vivax Malaria: Two Systematic Reviews and Individual Patient Data Descriptive Analyses.

Primaquine (PQ) kills Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites but can cause severe hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. We conducted two systematic reviews. The first used data from clinical trials to determine the variety of definitions and frequency of hematological serious adverse events (SAEs) related to PQ treatment of vivax malaria. The second used data from prospective studies and case reports to describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of severe PQ-associated hemolysis necessitating hospitalization. In the first review, SAEs were reported in 70 of 249 clinical trials. There were 34 hematological SAEs among 9,824 patients with P. vivax malaria treated with PQ, nine of which necessitated hospitalization or blood transfusion. Criteria used to define SAEs were diverse. In the second review, 21 of 8,487 articles screened reported 163 patients hospitalized after PQ radical cure; 79.9% of whom (123 of 154) were prescribed PQ at ≥ 0.5 mg/kg/day. Overall, 101 patients were categorized as having probable or possible severe PQ-associated hemolysis, 96.8% of whom were G6PD deficient (< 30% activity). The first symptoms of hemolysis were reported primarily on day 2 or 3 (45.5%), and all patients were hospitalized within 7 days of PQ commencement. A total of 57.9% of patients (77 of 133) had blood transfusion. Seven patients (6.9%) with probable or possible hemolysis died. Even when G6PD testing is available, enhanced monitoring for hemolysis is warranted after PQ treatment. Clinical review within the first 5 days of treatment may facilitate early detection and management of hemolysis. More robust definitions of severe PQ-associated hemolysis are required.

Quantitative G6PD Deficiency Screening in Routine Malaria Diagnostic Units in the Brazilian Amazon (SAFEPRIM): An Operational Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency testing is not routinely performed before primaquine treatment in most Plasmodium vivax endemic areas, despite the risk of primaquine-associated hemolysis. This is due to the operational challenges associated with pragmatic G6PD testing and as such needs to be addressed. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This mixed-methods operational study was aimed at implementing the quantitative point-of-care StandardTM G6PD (SD Biosensor, Korea) screening test in malaria treatment units (MTUs) in the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Mâncio Lima, in the Brazilian Amazon, between mid-January 2020 and December 2020. In total, 1286 P. vivax cases were treated based on the Standard G6PD test: 1230 had activity equal to or greater than 4.0 U/g Hb, and 56 less than 4.0 U/g Hb. No G6PD deficient (G6PDd) genotypes were found in 96 samples from the 1230, and only 21 of the 56 G6PDd cases had confirmed G6PDd genotypes. Evaluations were conducted on the proficiency of health care professionals (HCPs) training to perform the test, the reliability of testing performed in the field, and the perceptions of HCPs and patients about the implementation. Post-training proficiency was 73.4% after a 4-hour training session. This study revealed that locations with lower malaria caseloads will need regular refresher training. The test was well accepted by both HCPs and patients. Signs and symptoms of hemolysis were not always associated with malaria treatment drugs by HCPs and patients. INTERPRETATION: Point-of-care quantitative G6PD testing can be performed at MTUs in the Brazilian Amazon to inform treatment decisions with primaquine. Limitations related to technical and cultural aspects need to be addressed further when expanding screening to larger areas.

Pharmacokinetics of chloroquine in patients with malaria by P. vivax from the Western Brazilian Amazon basin.

The western Amazon basin is an important endemic area for malaria by P. vivax. In recent years, several reports showed the treatment failure with chloroquine, which can be related to resistance. The assessment of chloroquine resistance requires the evaluation of drug exposure, and when possible, the estimation of the pharmacokinetic parameters. However, there is no data on the pharmacokinetics of chloroquine in this endemic area. Moreover, the influence of the early reappearance of parasites in blood on the exposure to the drug was low exploited in the literature. The present study described the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine in whole blood of adult patients with P. vivax malaria from the western Brazilian Amazon basin and compared the area under the curve (AUC) with the parasitological outcome at day 28. A total of 19 patients with parasite recurrence within 28 days and 20 patients with no recurrence were included in the study. Chloroquine was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental modeling. The maximum concentration ranged from 1285 to 2030 ng/mL. The terminal half-life varied from 5.3 to 12.8 days. The volume of distribution from 1090 to 2340 L/kg, and the area under the curve to the last measurable concentration from 247 to 432 ng/mL.h. The pharmacokinetic parameters were similar in both groups, which suggests the lack of influence of early reappearance of parasites on chloroquine pharmacokinetics.

Prevalence and force of Plasmodium vivax blood-stage infection and associated clinical malaria burden in the Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the epidemiology of malaria through the molecular force of the blood-stage infection of Plasmodium vivax (molFOB) may provide a detailed assessment of malaria transmission. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated risk factors and spatial-temporal patterns of incidence of Plasmodium infection and clinical malaria episodes in three peri-urban communities of Manaus, Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Monthly samples were collected in a cohort of 1,274 individuals between April 2013 and March 2014. DNA samples were subject to Plasmodium species. molFOB was calculated by counting the number of genotypes observed on each visit, which had not been present in the preceding two visits and adjusting these counts by the respective times-at-risk. FINDINGS: Respectively, 77.8% and 97.2% of the population remained free of P. vivax and P. falciparum infection. Expected heterozygosity for P. vivax was 0.69 for MSP1_F3 and 0.86 for MS2. Multiplicity of infection in P. vivax was close to the value of 1. The season was associated with P. vivax positivity [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.6 (1.9-5.7)] and clinical disease [aHR 10.6 (2.4-47.2)]. P. falciparum infection was associated with previous malarial episodes [HR 9.7 (4.5-20.9)]. Subjects who reported possession of a bed net [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.6 (1.2-2.2)] or previous malaria episodes [IRR 3.0 (2.0-4.5)] were found to have significantly higher P. vivax molFOB. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Overall, P. vivax infection prevailed in the area and infections were mostly observed as monoclonal. Previous malaria episodes were associated with significantly higher P. vivax molFOB.

Effect of weekly versus daily primaquine on Plasmodium vivax malaria recurrences: A real-life cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although primaquine (PQ) is indicated for G6PD-deficient patients, data on weekly PQ use in Brazil are limited. METHODS: We aimed to investigate malaria recurrences among participants receiving daily and weekly PQ treatments in a real-life setting of two municipalities in the Amazon between 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: Patients receiving weekly PQ treatment had a lower risk of recurrence than those receiving daily PQ treatment (risk ratio: 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.94), using a model adjusted for study site. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly PQ use did not increase the risk of malaria recurrence. Further studies with larger populations are warranted.

Real-life quantitative G6PD screening in Plasmodium vivax patients in the Brazilian Amazon: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: As quantitative glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) screening tools are evaluated in operational studies, questions remain as to whether they are cost-effective. Here, a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed to estimate the Incremental Cost-effectiveness Ratio (ICER) of the introduction of quantitative screening test to detect G6PDd among P. vivax carriers in two municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This cost-effectiveness analysis evaluated the use of the Standard G6PD quantitative screening test in vivax malaria treatment units in two municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon. Using the perspective of the Brazilian public health system, the analysis was performed for the outcome 'PQ-associated hospitalization avoided', based on a decision tree model. The results indicated that the G6PDd screening strategy compared with the routine strategy was highly cost-effective, with an ICER of US$495 per additional hospitalization avoided, which represented less than 8% of one Brazilian gross domestic product per capita (US$6,822). The uncertainties evaluated in the sensitivity analysis did not significantly affect the ICER identified in the base-case. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This cost-effectiveness analysis showed the quantitative G6PD testing was effective in avoiding PQ-associated hospitalizations. The incorporation of G6PD screening is of paramount importance towards P. vivax malaria elimination in the Amazon to promote the safe use of primaquine and tafenoquine.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Series of Complete Autopsies from the Brazilian Amazon.

Between April and July 2020, and, therefore, prior to the broad recommendation of corticosteroids for severe COVID-19, a total of 50 full autopsies were performed in Manaus. We confirmed two invasive cases of aspergillosis through histopathology and gene sequencing (4%) in our autopsy series. The confirmed invasive aspergillosis incidence seems much lower than expected based on the "probable and possible" definitions, and an individualized approach should be considered for each country scenario. Interestingly, a prolonged length of stay in the intensive care unit was not observed in any of the cases. Timely diagnosis and treatment of fungal infection can reduce mortality rates.

Prevalence of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in highly malaria-endemic municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon: A region-wide screening study.

Background: Difficulties associated with the assessment of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd), particularly in remote areas, hinders the safe use of 8-aminoquinolines such as primaquine (PQ) and tafenoquine against Plasmodium vivax malaria due to the risk of haemolysis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 41 malaria-endemic municipalities of six states in the Brazilian Amazon, between 2014 and 2018. Male individuals were screened for G6PDd using the qualitative Fluorescent Spot Test using fingerpick-collected whole blood samples. Point and interval estimates of the G6PDd prevalence were calculated for each state. Deficient samples were genotyped for the most prevalent variants in the Amazon. Frequencies of P. vivax malaria recurrences were estimated for G6PDd and non-G6PDd patients. Interpretation: This is one of the largest surveys ever conducted in Latin America, covering the entire malaria endemic area in the Brazilian Amazon. These results indicate that an important proportion of the population is at risk of hemolysis if exposed to PQ and its congener drug tafenoquine. The adoption of G6PDd screening protocols is essential to ensure the safety of individuals treated with those drugs and should also be considered when implementing malaria elimination strategies. Findings: A total of 14,847 individuals were included, of which 5.6% presented G6PDd. The state of Acre had the highest G6PDd prevalence (8.3%), followed by Amapá (5.8%), Pará (5.7%), Rondônia (5.4%), Roraima (4.2%) and Amazonas (4.0%). From 828 genotyped samples, African A+ (6.2%), African A- (39.3%) and wild-type (non-African non-Mediterranean; 54.2%) variants were found. A greater proportion of malaria recurrences was found among G6PD deficient individuals [16.7% vs 4.1%, Risk ratio 3.52 (2.16-5.74) p < 0.01]. Funding: Brazilian Ministry of Health; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM).

Prevalence and force of Plasmodium vivax blood-stage infection and associated clinical malaria burden in the Brazilian Amazon

BACKGROUND Understanding the epidemiology of malaria through the molecular force of the blood-stage infection of Plasmodium vivax (molFOB) may provide a detailed assessment of malaria transmission. OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated risk factors and spatial-temporal patterns of incidence of Plasmodium infection and clinical malaria episodes in three peri-urban communities of Manaus, Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS Monthly samples were collected in a cohort of 1,274 individuals between April 2013 and March 2014. DNA samples were subject to Plasmodium species. molFOB was calculated by counting the number of genotypes observed on each visit, which had not been present in the preceding two visits and adjusting these counts by the respective times-at-risk. FINDINGS Respectively, 77.8% and 97.2% of the population remained free of P. vivax and P. falciparum infection. Expected heterozygosity for P. vivax was 0.69 for MSP1_F3 and 0.86 for MS2. Multiplicity of infection in P. vivax was close to the value of 1. The season was associated with P. vivax positivity [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.6 (1.9-5.7)] and clinical disease [aHR 10.6 (2.4-47.2)]. P. falciparum infection was associated with previous malarial episodes [HR 9.7 (4.5-20.9)]. Subjects who reported possession of a bed net [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.6 (1.2-2.2)] or previous malaria episodes [IRR 3.0 (2.0-4.5)] were found to have significantly higher P. vivax molFOB. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Overall, P. vivax infection prevailed in the area and infections were mostly observed as monoclonal. Previous malaria episodes were associated with significantly higher P. vivax molFOB.

Effect of weekly versus daily primaquine on Plasmodium vivax malaria recurrences: A real-life cohort study

ABSTRACT Background: Although primaquine (PQ) is indicated for G6PD-deficient patients, data on weekly PQ use in Brazil are limited. Methods: We aimed to investigate malaria recurrences among participants receiving daily and weekly PQ treatments in a real-life setting of two municipalities in the Amazon between 2019 and 2020. Results: Patients receiving weekly PQ treatment had a lower risk of recurrence than those receiving daily PQ treatment (risk ratio: 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.94), using a model adjusted for study site. Conclusions: Weekly PQ use did not increase the risk of malaria recurrence. Further studies with larger populations are warranted.

Short-Course of Methylprednisolone Improves Respiratory Functional Parameters After 120 Days in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients (Metcovid Trial): A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The use of corticosteroids may help control the cytokine storm occurring in acute respiratory failure due to the severe form of COVID-19. We evaluated the postacute effect of corticosteroids used during the acute phase, such as impairment in pulmonary function parameters, on day 120 (D120)-follow-up, in participants who survived over 28 days. Methods: This is a parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIb clinical trial carried out between April 18 and October 9, 2020, conducted in hospitalized patients with clinical-radiological suspicion of COVID-19, aged 18 years or older, with SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air or requiring supplementary oxygen, or under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in a referral center in Manaus, Western Brazilian Amazon. Intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) (0.5 mg/kg) was given two times daily for 5 days to these patients. The primary outcome used for this study was pulmonary function testing at day 120 follow-up visit. Results: Out of the total of surviving patients at day 28 (n = 246) from the Metcovid study, a total of 118 underwent satisfactory pulmonary function testing (62 in the placebo arm and 56 in the MP arm). The supportive treatment was similar between the placebo and MP groups (seven [11%] vs. four [7%]; P = 0.45). At hospital admission, IL-6 levels were higher in the MP group (P < 0.01). Also, the need for ICU (P = 0.06), need for IMV (P = 0.07), and creatine kinase (P = 0.05) on admission also tended to be higher in this group. In the univariate analysis, forced expiratory volume on 1st second of exhalation (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) at D120 follow-up were significantly higher in patients in the MP arm, being this last parameter also significantly higher in the multivariate analysis independently of IMV and IL-6 levels on admission. Conclusion: The use of steroids for at least 5 days in severe COVID-19 was associated with a higher FVC, which suggests that hospitalized COVID-19 patients might benefit from the use of MP in its use in the long-term, with less pulmonary restrictive functions, attributed to fibrosis. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04343729.

Malaria Trigram: improving the visualization of recurrence data for malaria elimination.

BACKGROUND: Although considerable success in reducing the incidence of malaria has been achieved in Brazil in recent years, an increase in the proportion of cases caused by the harder-to-eliminate Plasmodium vivax parasite can be noted. Recurrences in P. vivax malaria cases are due to new mosquito-bite infections, drug resistance or especially from relapses arising from hypnozoites. As such, new innovative surveillance strategies are needed. The aim of this study was to develop an infographic visualization tool to improve individual-level malaria surveillance focused on malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Action Research methodology was employed to deal with the complex malaria surveillance problem in the Amazon region. Iterative cycles were used, totalling four cycles with a formal validation of an operational version of the Malaria Trigram tool at the end of the process. Further probabilistic data linkage was carried out so that information on the same patients could be linked, allowing for follow-up analysis since the official system was not planned in such way that includes this purpose. RESULTS: An infographic user interface was developed for the Malaria Trigram that incorporates all the visual and descriptive power of the Trigram concept. It is a multidimensional and interactive historical representation of malaria cases per patient over time and provides visual input to decision-makers on recurrences of malaria. CONCLUSIONS: The Malaria Trigram is aimed to help public health professionals and policy makers to recognise and analyse different types of patterns in malaria events, including recurrences and reinfections, based on the current Brazilian health surveillance system, the SIVEP-Malária system, with no additional primary data collection or change in the current process. By using the Malaria Trigram, it is possible to plan and coordinate interventions for malaria elimination that are integrated with other parallel actions in the Brazilian Amazon region, such as vector control management, effective drug and vaccine deployment strategies.

Hemorrhagic and thrombotic manifestations in the central nervous system in COVID-19: A large observational study in the Brazilian Amazon with a complete autopsy series.

SARS-CoV-2 affects mainly the lungs, however, other manifestations, including neurological manifestations, have also been described during the disease. Some of the neurological findings have involved intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage, strokes, and other thrombotic/hemorrhagic conditions. Nevertheless, the gross pathology of hemorrhagic lesions in the central nervous system has not been previously described in Brazilian autopsy cases. This study aimed to describe gross and microscopic central nervous system (CNS) pathology findings from the autopsies and correlate them with the clinical and laboratory characteristics of forty-five patients with COVID-19 from Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Forty-four patients were autopsied of which thirty-eight of these (86.36%) were positive by RT-PCR for COVID-19, and six (13.3%) were positive by the serological rapid test. Clinical and radiological findings were compatible with the infection. The patients were classified in two groups: presence (those who had hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic manifestations in the CNS) and absence (those who did not present hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic manifestations in the CNS). For risk assessment, relative risk and respective confidence intervals were estimated. Macroscopic or microscopic hemorrhages were found in twenty-three cases (52,27%). The postmortem gross examination of the brain revealed a broad spectrum of hemorrhages, from spots to large and confluent areas and, under microscopy, we observed mainly perivascular discharge. The association analyses showed that the use of corticosteroid, anticoagulant and antibiotic had no statistical significance with a risk of nervous system hemorrhagic manifestations. However, it is possible to infer a statistical tendency that indicates that individuals with diabetes had a higher risk for the same outcome (RR = 1.320, 95% CI = 0.7375 to 2.416, p = 0.3743), which was not observed in relation to other comorbidities. It is unknown whether the new variants of the virus can cause different clinical manifestations, such as those observed or indeed others. As a result, more studies are necessary to define clinical and radiologic monitoring protocols and strategic interventions for patients at risk of adverse and fatal events, such as the extensive hemorrhaging described here. It is imperative that clinicians must be aware of comorbidities and the drugs used to treat patients with COVID-19 to prevent CNS hemorrhagic and thrombotic events.

SARS-CoV-2/DENV co-infection: a series of cases from the Federal District, Midwestern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Since the novel coronavirus disease outbreak, over 179.7 million people have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, including the population living in dengue-endemic regions, particularly Latin America and Southeast Asia, raising concern about the impact of possible co-infections. METHODS: Thirteen SARS-CoV-2/DENV co-infection cases reported in Midwestern Brazil between April and September of 2020 are described. Information was gathered from hospital medical records regarding the most relevant clinical and laboratory findings, diagnostic process, therapeutic interventions, together with clinician-assessed outcomes and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 13 cases, seven patients presented Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Syndrome and six had pre-existing co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension and hypopituitarism. Two patients were pregnant. The most common symptoms and clinical signs reported at first evaluation were myalgia, fever and dyspnea. In six cases, the initial diagnosis was dengue fever, which delayed the diagnosis of concomitant infections. The most frequently applied therapeutic interventions were antibiotics and analgesics. In total, four patients were hospitalized. None of them were transferred to the intensive care unit or died. Clinical improvement was verified in all patients after a maximum of 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: The cases reported here highlight the challenges in differential diagnosis and the importance of considering concomitant infections, especially to improve clinical management and possible prevention measures. Failure to consider a SARS-CoV-2/DENV co-infection may impact both individual and community levels, especially in endemic areas.

Evaluation of the effect of supervised anti-malarial treatment on recurrences of Plasmodium vivax malaria.

BACKGROUND: Relapses in vivax malaria have posed great challenges for malaria control, and they also account for a great proportion of reported cases. Knowing the real effectiveness of a 7-day primaquine (PQ) scheme is crucial in order to evaluate not only the cost-effectiveness of implementing new anti-hypnozoite drugs, but also how health education strategies can guarantee better compliance and be reinforced. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of daily treatment with chloroquine and PQ supervised by health workers versus prescription without supervision. METHODS: The outcome was the passive detection of new positive thick blood smears up to 180 days, based on the official data records from the National Malaria Control Programme. The recurrences seen in the real life were, therefore, used as a surrogate for true relapses. RESULTS: Patients under supervised treatment had a lower risk of recurrence up to day 180 when compared to the unsupervised treatment (17.9% vs. 36.1%; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of supervision in the non-supervised group (which followed standard of care in the real life) enabled proper comparison, as consent itself would have lead to greater compliance in this group. Future studies should scale such an analysis to different settings in the Brazilian Amazon.

Real-life implementation of a G6PD deficiency screening qualitative test into routine vivax malaria diagnostic units in the Brazilian Amazon (SAFEPRIM study).

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency greatly hinders Plasmodium vivax malaria radical cure and further elimination due to 8-aminoquinolines-associated hemolysis. Although the deleterious health effects of primaquine in G6PD deficient individuals have been known for over 50 years, G6PD testing is not routinely performed before primaquine treatment in most P. vivax endemic areas. METHOD/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The qualitative CareStart G6PD screening test was implemented in 12 malaria treatment units (MTUs) in the municipality of Rio Preto da Eva, Western Brazilian Amazon, a malaria endemic area, between February 2019 and early January 2020. Training materials were developed and validated; evaluations were conducted on the effectiveness of training health care professionals (HCPs) to perform the test, the interpretation and reliability of routine testing performed by HCPs, and perceptions of HCPs and patients. Most HCPs were unaware of G6PD deficiency and primaquine-related adverse effects. Most of 110 HCPs trained (86/110, 78%) were able to correctly perform the G6PD test after a single 4-hour training session. The test performed by HCPs during implementation showed 100.0% (4/4) sensitivity and 68.1% (62/91) specificity in identifying G6PD deficient patients as compared to a point-of-care quantitative test (Standard G6PD). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: G6PD screening using the qualitative CareStart G6PD test performed by HCPs in MTUs of an endemic area showed high sensitivity and concerning low specificity. The amount of false G6PD deficiency detected led to substantial loss of opportunities for radical cure.