Closing gaps in histoplasmosis: clinical characteristics and factors associated with probable/histoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS hospitalized patients, a retrospective cross-sectional study in two tertiary centers in Pereira, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: The HIV pandemic continues to cause a high burden of morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis. Histoplasmosis is prevalent in Latin America and Colombia, is difficult to diagnose and has a high mortality. Here we determined the clinical characteristics and risk factors of histoplasmosis in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Pereira, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study (2014-2019) involving two tertiary medical centers in Pereira, Colombia. People hospitalized with HIV were included. Histoplasma antigen detection was performed in urine samples. Probable histoplasmosis was defined according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria. RESULTS: 172 HIV-infected patients were analyzed. Histoplasmosis was confirmed in 29% (n = 50/172) of patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for histoplasmosis were pancytopenia (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.3, P = 0.002), < 50 CD4 + cells/µL (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.3, P = 0.006) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) levels > 46 IU/L (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3-8, P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Histoplasmosis is highly prevalent in hospitalized patients with HIV in Pereira, Colombia. The clinical findings are nonspecific, but there are some clinical abnormalities that can lead to suspicion of the disease, early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Urine antigen detection is useful for diagnosis, but is not widely available. An algorithmic approach is proposed for low-resource clinical settings.

[Nosocomial infections impact in a hospital in Bogota, Colombia: effects on mortality and hospital costs]. / Impacto de la infección nosocomial en un hospital de Bogotá, Colombia: efectos en mortalidad y costos.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections (NI) are events associated with high impact on hospital costs and mortality. AIM: To evaluate from the health provider's perspective the costs and mortality attributable to NI. METHODS: We selected a sample of patients with and without NI matched by age and diagnosis at admission. Costs were calculated and converted from Colombian pesos to US dollars using the average exchange rate of 2008. We evaluated the mortality rate in both groups. RESULTS: We collected data on 187 patients with NI and 276 without NI. Median total hospitalization cost was US$ 6,329 (95% CI US$5,527-7,934) in NI patients, while in non-infected patients this median was US$1,207 (95% CI US$ 974-1,495). Mortality was higher in the NI group (31.6% versus 5.1%). Patients with NI had longer hospital stays (median 21 days, 95% CI 18-24 days) than non-infected patients (median 5 days, 95% CI 5-6 days). Mortality was also markedly higher in the NI group than in the non-infected group (31.6% versus 5.1%). CONCLUSION: NI are adverse and costly events related to patient attention that affect adversely the quality of attention.

Impacto de la infección nosocomial en un hospital de Bogotá (Colombia): efectos en mortalidad y costos / Nosocomial infections impact in a hospital in Bogota (Colombia): effects on mortality and hospital costs

Background: Nosocomial infections (NI) are events associated with high impact on hospital costs and mortality. Aim: To evaluate from the health provider's perspective the costs and mortality attributable to NI. Methods: We selected a sample of patients with and without NI matched by age and diagnosis at admission. Costs were calculated and converted from Colombian pesos to US dollars using the average exchange rate of 2008. We evaluated the mortality rate in both groups. Results: We collected data on 187 patients with NI and 276 without NI. Median total hospitalization cost was US$ 6,329 (95% CI US$5,527-7,934) in NI patients, while in non-infected patients this median was US$1,207 (95% CI US$ 974-1,495). Mortality was higher in the NI group (31.6% versus 5.1%). Patients with NI had longer hospital stays (median 21 days, 95% CI 18-24 days) than non-infected patients (median 5 days, 95% CI 5-6 days). Mortality was also markedly higher in the NI group than in the non-infected group (31.6% versus 5.1%). Conclusion: NI are adverse and costly events related to patient attention that affect adversely the quality of attention.

Introducción: Las infecciones asociadas a la atención en salud (IAAS) están relacionadas con un incremento en los costos de hospitalización y un mayor riesgo de mortalidad. Objetivo: Establecer los costos y la mortalidad asociados a la presentación IAAS en una institución de cuarto nivel. Métodos: Se hizo una selección pareada de pacientes con IAAS y sin IAAS para calcular el costo por medio de costeo directo y emparejamiento. Los costos fueron calculados en pesos colombianos y convertidos a dólares estadounidenses según la tasa de cambio de 2008. Resultados: Se incluyeron 187 pacientes con IAAS y 276 pacientes sin IAAS. La tasa de IAAS fue de 1,8% La mediana del costo de hospitalización en los pacientes con IAAS fue US$ 6.329 (95% CI US$ 5.527-7.934) y en los no infectados de US$1,207 (95% CI US$ 974-1.495). Los pacientes con IAAS presentaron mayor tiempo de estancia hospitalaria, con una diferencia de 16 días respecto a los no infectados (21 días (IC 95% 18-24) vs 5 días (IC 95% 5-6)). Se encontró una mortalidad atribuible de 26,4%. Conclusiones: Las IAAS son eventos adversos a la atención, que se asocian con mayor mortalidad y generación de costos extra.

[Left-sided infective endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated medically]. / Endocarditis infecciosa izquierda por Pseudomonas aeruginosa tratada médicamente.

Infective endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rare clinical condition, difficult to diagnose and associated with high mortality. Herein we present a case of a 51 years old male without history of intravenous drug use or valvular disease, with past medical history of cholecystectomy in the previous month, who presented to the emergency department with fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and subsequent signs of distant embolization, positive blood cultures for P. aeruginosa and development of multiple complications of the disease. The clinical presentation of infective endocarditis is nonspecific, leading to delayed diagnosis, and preventing early and effective treatment. Valvular replacement is indicated in fungal or P. aeruginosa endocarditis. This case is notable because of the resolution with amikacin combined with meropenem, in a patient with several complications that contraindicated surgery.

Endocarditis infecciosa izquierda por Pseudomonas aeruginosa tratada médicamente / Left-sided infective endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated medically

La endocarditis infecciosa por Pseudomonas aeruginosa es una entidad poco frecuente, de difícil diagnóstico y alta mortalidad. Se presenta a continuación el caso de un hombre de 51 años, sin antecedentes de uso de drogas intravenosas ni enfermedad valvular, con antecedentes de colecistectomía en el mes anterior, quien se presentó a urgencias con un cuadro febril asociado a síntomas gastrointestinales, y, posteriormente mostró signos de embolismo a distancia, hemocultivos positivos para P. aeruginosa y desarrollo de múltiples complicaciones propias de la enfermedad. La presentación clínica de la endocarditis infecciosa es inespecífica, lo cual genera diagnósticos tardíos que impiden la instauración de un tratamiento precoz y eficaz, como el reemplazo valvular, indicado en endocarditis por hongos o por gérmenes como P. aeruginosa. Este caso es fortuito por su resolución solamente con tratamiento médico combinado, con amikacina y meropenem, ya que tuvo varias complicaciones que ontraindicaron el manejo quirúrgico.

Infective endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rare clinical condition, difficult to diagnose and associated with high mortality. Herein we present a case of a 51 years old male without history of intravenous drug use or valvular disease, with past medical history of cholecystectomy in the previous month, who presented to the emergency department with fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and subsequent signs of distant embolization, positive blood cultures for P. aeruginosa and development of multiple complications of the disease. The clinical presentation of infective endocarditis is nonspecific, leading to delayed diagnosis, and preventing early and effective treatment. Valvular replacement is indicated in fungal or P. aeruginosa endocarditis. This case is notable because of the resolution with amikacin combined with meropenem, in a patient with several complications that contraindicated surgery.