ABSTRACT
Plasmodium vivax has high morbidity, it is the Plasmodium species with the greatest worldwide distribution, and its ability to trigger severe symptoms is currently recognized. The present study aims to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with P. vivax malaria, with and without complication criteria, in an endemic area for malaria transmission in northwest Colombia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between 2017 and 2019, patients with P.vivax severe malaria (n = 50), non-severe malaria (n = 56) and healthy controls (n = 50) were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical characteristics were analyzed. Clinical follow-up was carried out in a group of patients with severe malaria. The statistical analysis was carried out in GraphPad Prism; the Chi-square test analyzed categorical variables, comparisons of variables for the three groups were carried out by the Kruskal-Wallis test and comparison between two groups by the Mann-Whitney test. A multiple correspondence analysis described the relationship between variables, which was carried out through the R software. One hundred fifty-six individuals were linked to the study, 76 women and 80 men, between 3 and 71 years old. For 50% of the patients, it was their first malaria episode; 42% of the patients classified with severe malaria required hospitalization, compared to 7.1% of the patients with non-severe malaria. Parasitaemia was similar in both clinical groups; however, 10% of severe patients presented high parasitemia, between 20,000-135,000. The most frequent clinical characteristics in patients with severe malaria were severe thrombocytopenia in 54%, hypoglycemia in 48%, and liver and kidney failure in 30%. Biochemical and hematological parameters returned to normal in 90% of the patients with severe malaria on the third day after starting treatment. Thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia, and liver and kidney dysfunctions were the most frequent P. vivax malaria complications in this study. Hemoglobin concentration and parasite count were not related to the clinical condition of patients. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent finding in patients with malaria, and its severity presented an inverse relationship with the number of previous malaria episodes.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM) puede colonizar el cuerpo humano, con mayor frecuencia en las fosas nasales, pero también en las manos, el periné y la faringe. Además, se ha propuesto que la colonización puede ser un factor de riesgo para adquirir infecciones futuras. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia y las características microbiológicas y moleculares del SARM en una población infantil sana. Metodología: se hizo un estudio descriptivo transversal para determinar la tasa de colonización nasal por SARM en 150 niños pertenecientes a 13 hogares infantiles de la ciudad de Montería. Los aislamientos se hicieron a partir de hisopados nasales y faríngeos, se identificaron mediante pruebas microbiológicas convencionales y se confirmaron y caracterizaron por métodos moleculares. Resultados: la tasa de colonización por SARM fue del 9,3% (14/150). El 62,5% de los aislamientos portaban el SCCmec subtipo IVc; 87,5% de los aislamientos presentaron los genes que codifican para PVL y Sek, mientras que 81,2% portaban el gen bsaB. Conclusión: el porcentaje de colonización hallado es uno de los más altos reportados para la población infantil de la región Caribe colombiana, y los aislamientos presentaron factores de virulencia relacionados con cuadros clínicos agresivos.
Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is able to colonize the human body, most frequently the nostrils, but also the hands, perineum and throat. Such colonization has been proposed as a risk factor to acquire future infections. Objective: To determine the prevalence, and the microbiological and molecular characteristics of MRSA in healthy children. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done of 150 children from 13 day care centers in Montería, Colombia. Nasal and throat swabs were obtained. The isolates were identified and characterized by microbiological and molecular methods. Results: The MRSA colonization rate was 9.3% (14/150). 62.5% of the isolates carried the subtype IVc of SCCmec, and 87.5% had the genes encoding for PVL and Sek, while 81.2% carried the gene bsaB. Conclusion: The percentage of colonization found is one of the highest reported among children from the Colombian Caribbean region, and the isolates have virulence factors that have been associated with an aggressive clinical course.
Introdução: Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM) pode colonizar o corpo humano, com maior frequência nas fossas nasais, mas também nas mãos, o períneo e a faringe. Ademais, propôs-se do que a colonização pode ser um fator de risco para adquirir infecções futuras. Objetivo: determinar a prevalência e as características microbiológicas e moleculares do SARM numa população infantil sã. Metodologia: fez-se um estudo descritivo transversal para determinar a taxa de colonização nasal por SARM em 150 crianças pertencentes a 13 lares infantis da cidade de Montería. Os isolamentos se fizeram a partir de amostras com suabe nasais e faríngeos, identificaram-se mediante provas microbiológicas convencionais e se confirmaram e caracterizaram por métodos moleculares. Resultados: a taxa de colonização por SARM foi de 9,3 % (14/150). 62,5% dos isolamentos portavam o SCCmec subtipo IVc; 87,5% dos isolamentos apresentaram os genes que codificam para PVL e Sek, enquanto 81,2% portavam o gene bsaB. Conclusão: a porcentagem de colonização achado é um dos mais altos reportados para a população infantil da região Caribe colombiana, e os isolamentos apresentaram fatores de virulência relacionados com quadros clínicos agressivos.
