ABSTRACT
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)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Communicable Diseases/epidemiology , Communicable Diseases/microbiology , Consensus , Eosinophilia/epidemiology , Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology , Societies, Medical/organization & administration , Societies, Medical/standards , Microbiology , Microbiology/organization & administration , Travelers' Health , Travel Medicine/organization & administrationABSTRACT
Introduction: Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, although mother-to-child and sexual transmission have also been described. The presence of Zika virus in semen after infection seems to be not uncommon, but the duration of viral persistence has not been well-determined. Methods: Molecular, serological and cell culture methods were used for the diagnosis and follow up of a case of Zika virus infection imported from Venezuela. Serial samples of serum, urine and semen were analyzed to investigate the persistence of the Zika virus. Results: Zika virus was detected in semen samples up to 93 days after the onset of symptoms. Conclusions: Our results confirm the persistence of Zika virus in semen samples for long periods after infection (AU)
Introducción: El virus Zika se transmite fundamentalmente por la picadura de mosquitos Aedes infectados, aunque también es posible la transmisión de madre a hijo y la transmisión sexual. La presencia del virus Zika en semen tras la infección parece ser algo relativamente frecuente, pero la duración de la persistencia viral no es bien conocida. Métodos: Mediante técnicas moleculares, serológicas y cultivo celular se diagnosticó un caso de Zika importado de Venezuela y se tomaron muestra seriadas de suero, orina y semen para investigar la persistencia del virus. Resultados: El virus Zika fue detectado en muestras de semen recogidas 93días después del inicio de los síntomas. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados confirman la persistencia del virus Zika en semen por períodos prolongados de tiempo después de la infección (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis , Zika Virus Infection/transmission , Semen/microbiology , Semen , Zika Virus Infection/microbiology , Prostatitis/complications , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methodsABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases, Imported/diagnosis , Communicable Diseases, Imported/therapy , Humans , TravelABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, although mother-to-child and sexual transmission have also been described. The presence of Zika virus in semen after infection seems to be not uncommon, but the duration of viral persistence has not been well-determined. METHODS: Molecular, serological and cell culture methods were used for the diagnosis and follow up of a case of Zika virus infection imported from Venezuela. Serial samples of serum, urine and semen were analyzed to investigate the persistence of the Zika virus. RESULTS: Zika virus was detected in semen samples up to 93 days after the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the persistence of Zika virus in semen samples for long periods after infection.
Subject(s)
Semen/virology , Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis , Zika Virus Infection/virology , Zika Virus/isolation & purification , Adult , Humans , Male , Time Factors , VenezuelaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) contributes significantly to child morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the minimum community-based incidence rate of TB among children <3 years of age in Southern Mozambique. METHODS: Between October 2011 and October 2012, in the Manhiça District Health and Demographic Surveillance System, we enrolled prospectively all presumptive TB cases younger than 3 years of age through passive and active case finding. Participants included all children who were either symptomatic or were close contacts of a notified adult smear-positive pulmonary TB. Children were clinically evaluated at baseline and follow-up visits. Investigation for TB disease included chest radiography, HIV and tuberculin skin testing as well as gastric aspirate and induced sputum sampling, which were processed for smear, culture and mycobacterial molecular identification. RESULTS: During the study period, 13,764 children <3 years contributed to a total of 9575 person-year. Out of the 789 presumptive TB cases enrolled, 13 had TB culture confirmation and 32 were probable TB cases. The minimum community-based incidence rate of TB (confirmed plus probable cases) was 470 of 100,000 person-year (95% confidence interval: 343-629 of 100,000). HIV co-infection was present in 44% of the TB cases. CONCLUSION: These data highlight the huge burden of pediatric TB. This study provides one of the first prospective population-based incidence data of childhood tuberculosis and adds valuable information to the global effort of producing better estimates, a critical step to inform public health policy.
Subject(s)
Rural Population , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Male , Mozambique/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Radiography, Thoracic , Sputum/microbiology , Tuberculin TestABSTRACT
Drug failure is a common cause of symptom persistence after treatment of imported Giardia duodenalis. In this retrospective study we describe a high prevalence of refractory giardiasis in people attended in a travel clinic in Spain, especially those with infections acquired in Asia. Moreover, we discuss various treatment strategies to tackle G. duodenalis that is refractory to nitroimidazoles.
Subject(s)
Giardia lamblia/isolation & purification , Giardiasis/epidemiology , Travel , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Algorithms , Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use , Feces/parasitology , Female , Giardiasis/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nitroimidazoles/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Spain/epidemiology , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to detect the seroprevalence of chagasic infection in children and women of child-bearing age in a primary care health centre in Barcelona (Spain). Serological screening was performed with an immunochromatography (IC) test (Stat Pak Chagas de Chembio) and all positive and doubtful results were confirmed by two ELISA tests using recombinant and whole Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Prevalence of 4.3% was detected in the child-bearing age group women. General practitioners and paediatricians are concerned by Chagas disease, now an emergent health disease in non-endemic countries.
