Pan-American Guidelines for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: a joint evidence-based guideline of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API).

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, therapeutic options for treating COVID-19 have been investigated at different stages of clinical manifestations. Considering the particular impact of COVID-19 in the Americas, this document aims to present recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 specific to this population. METHODS: Fifteen experts, members of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API) make up the panel responsible for developing this guideline. Questions were formulated regarding prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 in outpatient and inpatient settings. The outcomes considered in decision-making were mortality, hospitalisation, need for mechanical ventilation, symptomatic COVID-19 episodes, and adverse events. In addition, a systematic review of randomised controlled trials was conducted. The quality of evidence assessment and guideline development process followed the GRADE system. RESULTS: Nine technologies were evaluated, and ten recommendations were made, including the use of tixagevimab + cilgavimab in the prophylaxis of COVID-19, tixagevimab + cilgavimab, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir + ritonavir, and remdesivir in the treatment of outpatients, and remdesivir, baricitinib, and tocilizumab in the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19. The use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine and ivermectin was discouraged. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides recommendations for treating patients in the Americas following the principles of evidence-based medicine. The recommendations present a set of drugs that have proven effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19, emphasising the strong recommendation for the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in outpatients as the lack of benefit from the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

Pan-American Guidelines for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: a joint evidence-based guideline of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API) [Pré-print]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, therapeutic options for treating COVID-19 have been investigated at different stages of clinical manifestations. Considering the particular impact of COVID-19 in the Americas, this document aims to present recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 specific to this population. Fifteen experts, members of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API) make up the panel responsible for developing this guideline. Questions were formulated regarding prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 in outpatient and inpatient settings. The outcomes considered in decision-making were mortality, hospitalisation, need for mechanical ventilation, symptomatic COVID-19 episodes, and adverse events. In addition, a systematic review of randomised controlled trials was conducted. The quality of evidence assessment and guideline development process followed the GRADE system. Nine technologies were evaluated, and ten recommendations were made, including the use of tixagevimab + cilgavimab in the prophylaxis of COVID-19, tixagevimab + cilgavimab, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir + ritonavir, and remdesivir in the treatment of outpatients, and remdesivir, baricitinib, and tocilizumab in the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19. The use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine and ivermectin was discouraged. This guideline provides recommendations for treating patients in the Americas following the principles of evidence-based medicine. The recommendations present a set of drugs that have proven effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19, emphasising the strong recommendation for the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in outpatients as the lack of benefit from the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin

The Natural Course of Adult-Onset Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Adult-onset food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Adult FPIES differs from pediatric FPIES in terms of dietary triggers and symptoms, thus further broadening the clinical phenotypes of the disease. The natural history of FPIES in adulthood is poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the natural course of FPIES in adults. METHODS: We performed an ambispective study of adults diagnosed with acute FPIES during 2016-2021. Data on age, sex, symptoms, implicated food, and oral food challenge (OFC) outcomes at baseline and during follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-two adults were included (83.3% female; median age at diagnosis, 40 years). The predominant symptoms were diarrhea (92.9%) and abdominal cramps (71.4%); vomiting was reported by 59% of patients. The most common triggers were shellfish (n = 19, 45.2%) and fish (n = 19, 45.2%). The mean number of reactions before diagnosis was 6.3 (2-15). Twenty-one OFCs were carried out with the offending food in 15 patients. Six patients achieved tolerance (40%) after a mean of 17.8 months (range, 6-36 months). Twelve of all OFCs performed were positive (57.1%). The absolute leukocyte and neutrophil counts measured before and 1 to 2 hours after the positive challenge showed a mean increase of 3045 and 2736 cells/µL, respectively. Serum tryptase, C-reactive protein, and eosinophil and platelet values did not change significantly after the OFC. CONCLUSION: Some patients may outgrow adult-onset FPIES.

Hábitos alimentarios, calidad nutricional y concentraciones de hierro sérico en escolares con y sin anemia / Dietary habits, nutritional quality and serum iron concentrations in school children with and without anemia / Hábitos alimentares, qualidade nutricional e concentrações de ferro sérico em crianças anêmicas e não anêmicas em idade escolar

El inicio de buenos hábitos alimenticios en el aspecto nutricional contribuye en el desarrollo del niño escolar, evitando con ello, la anemia la cual se estima que posee un impacto a nivel mundial de 600 millones de niños que padecen de esta enfermedad según datos registrados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Con este estudio se busca demostrar los hábitos alimenticios, calidad nutricional y concentración de hierro sérico en estudiantes con anemia por deficiencia de hierro en el Cantón Jipijapa en Ecuador. La metodología empleada en el análisis del estudio fue de tipo descriptiva observacional, de corte transversal. Para ello, se aplicó un muestreo no probabilístico voluntario, se contó con la participación de 63 escolares del Cantón con previa autorización. Entre los resultados se encontraron que en los 63 escolares predomina el consumo diario (76,4%) en los hábitos alimenticios, mientras tanto que en la calidad nutricional se observó poco saludable (24 y 37 ME) en ciertos alimentos necesarios para el consumo estudiantiles en los rangos establecido, en la anemia se obtuvo un resultado de (10,2%) de escolares con anemia, mientras que para la deficiencia de hierro el (11,1%) de los niños. Se concluye que en los escolares es prevalente los malos hábitos alimenticios, sin embargo, hay casos en los que escolares muestran anemia con deficiencia de hierro y escolares sin anemia con déficit del mismo lo que es elemental las practicas alimenticia tanto en los hábitos como en la calidad nutricional.

The initiation of good nutritional eating habits contributes to the development of school children, thus avoiding anemia, which is estimated to have a worldwide impact of 600 million children suffering from this disease according to data recorded by the World Health Organization. This study seeks to demonstrate the dietary habits, nutritional quality and serum iron concentration in students with iron deficiency anemia in the Jipijapa Canton in Ecuador. The methodology used in the analysis of the study was descriptive observational, cross-sectional. For this purpose, a voluntary non-probabilistic sampling was applied, with the participation of 63 schoolchildren from the Canton with previous authorization. Among the results, it was found that in the 63 schoolchildren there was a predominance of daily consumption (76.4%) in eating habits, while in nutritional quality, unhealthy was observed (24 and 37 ME) in certain foods necessary for student consumption in the established ranges, in anemia a result of (10.2%) of schoolchildren with anemia was obtained, while for iron deficiency (11.1%) of the children. It is concluded that bad eating habits are prevalent in schoolchildren, however, there are cases in which schoolchildren show anemia with iron deficiency and schoolchildren without anemia with iron deficiency, which is elementary in the nutritional habits as well as in the nutritional quality.

O início de bons hábitos alimentares no aspecto nutricional contribui para o desenvolvimento das crianças em idade escolar, evitando assim a anemia, que se estima ter um impacto mundial de 600 milhões de crianças que sofrem desta doença, segundo dados registrados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. Este estudo procura demonstrar os hábitos alimentares, qualidade nutricional e concentração sérica de ferro em estudantes com anemia ferropriva no Cantão de Jipijapa, no Equador. A metodologia utilizada na análise do estudo foi descritiva, observacional e transversal. Para este fim, foi aplicada uma amostragem voluntária não-probabilística, com a participação de 63 crianças escolares do cantão com autorização prévia. Entre os resultados, verificou-se que nas 63 crianças em idade escolar havia uma predominância do consumo diário (76,4%) nos hábitos alimentares, enquanto que na qualidade nutricional, observou-se uma deficiência alimentar pouco saudável (24 e 37 EM) em certos alimentos necessários para o consumo dos alunos nas faixas estabelecidas, na anemia foi obtido um resultado de (10,2%) das crianças em idade escolar com anemia, enquanto que na deficiência de ferro (11,1%) das crianças foram encontradas deficiências. Conclui-se que os maus hábitos alimentares são predominantes em crianças em idade escolar, porém, há casos em que as crianças em idade escolar apresentam anemia com deficiência de ferro e crianças em idade escolar sem anemia com deficiência de ferro, razão pela qual é essencial melhorar as práticas alimentares tanto em termos de hábitos alimentares quanto de qualidade nutricional.

The Effect of Wearing White Coats on Patients' Appreciation of Physician Communication during Postpartum Rounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Wearing a white coat (WC) has been associated with risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. Also, studies have shown that physicians' attire in general affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient-physician relationship. Our objective is to evaluate the hypothesis that not wearing a WC during physician postpartum rounds does not affect patient-physician communication scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an unblinded, randomized, parallel arms, controlled trial of postpartum women at a single university hospital. Women were randomly assigned to having their postpartum physicians' team wear a WC or not (no-WC) during rounds. Our primary outcome was "patient-physician communication" score. Univariable and multivariable analysis were used where appropriate. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were enrolled (87 in WC and 91 in no-WC groups). Note that 40.4% of patients did not remember whether the physicians wore a WC or not. There was no difference in the primary outcome (p = 0.64) even after adjusting for possible confounders. CONCLUSION: Not wearing a WC during postpartum rounds did not affect the patient-physician communication or patient satisfaction scores. In the setting of prior reports showing a risk of WC pathogen transmission between patients, our findings cannot support the routine wearing of WCs during postpartum rounds.

Cardiomiopatía de tako-tsubo en un paciente con estenosis aórtica moderada. Caso clínico y revisión bibliográfica / Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with moderate aortic stenosis. Case report and literature review

El síndrome de tako-tsubo (STT) o cardiomiopatía inducida por estrés es una afección cardíaca que se manifiesta de manera similar a un infarto de miocardio, aunque tiene características particulares: estrés agudo físico y/o psíquico, como causa desencadenante, cambios del segmento ST y onda T en el electrocardiograma, elevación moderada de los biomarcadores de mionecrosis (troponina ultrasensible), trastorno de la movilidad miocárdica de los segmentos medios y apicales del ventrículo izquierdo y arterias coronarias sin lesiones angiográficamente evidentes (obstrucción o ruptura de placa). El presente artículo describe a una paciente de sexo femenino de 67 años de edad, que ingresó al hospital por dolor precordial opresivo característico de un síndrome coronario agudo, cambios electrocardiográficos inespecíficos de isquemia y arterias coronarias normales, cuyo diagnóstico fue síndrome de tako-tsubo y, concomitantemente, estenosis aórtica moderada secundaria a válvula aórtica bivalva de patrón típico (fusión de la coronaria derecha e izquierda); esta asociación patológica no está descrita en la literatura médica. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica poniendo hincapié en el diagnóstico de esta infrecuente patología.

Tako-tsubo syndrome (STT) or stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a cardiac condition with a clinical presentation similar to a myocardial infarction and specific features of this syndrome, such as: causes triggering of acute physical and / or psychic stress, ST segment changes, and T wave on the electrocardiogram, moderate elevation of myonecrosis biomarkers (ultrasensitive troponin), myocardial mobility disorder of the mid and apical segments of the left ventricle and coronary arteries without any evident angiographical lesions (obstruction or plaque rupture). This article will describe a female patient of 67 years old, who entered in the hospital due to oppressive precordial pain characteristic of an acute coronary syndrome, non-specific electrocardiographic changes of ischemia and normal coronary arteries, which we concluded with takotsubo syndrome; concomitantly moderate aortic stenosis secondary to a trival aortic valve with raphe confirmed by echocardiography; Clinical association is not described in medical literature. Later we will make a bibliographical review on the subject with emphasis on the diagnosis of this infrequent pathology.Key words: urethra, foreign body.

Anaphylaxis in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Analysis of 133 Cases After an Allergy Workup.

BACKGROUND: Data on the incidence and characteristics of pediatric anaphylaxis are scarce. Reported causes of anaphylaxis are mostly those suspected by the physician in the emergency department (ED), which may not coincide with the real triggers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence, management, and etiology of pediatric anaphylaxis in the ED of a Spanish tertiary hospital and to determine the concordance between the suspected etiology in the ED and diagnosis after the allergy workup. METHODS: We performed an observational, descriptive study of all patients with anaphylaxis attended in the pediatric ED from 2012 to 2014. Cases were considered anaphylaxis based on National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network criteria. We recorded data on clinical characteristics, management, etiology suspected by the ED physician and patient (or relatives), and the workup performed in the allergy department. RESULTS: We recorded 133 cases of anaphylaxis (incidence, 0.12%), with 20 cases (15%) recorded in children younger than 12 months. Anaphylaxis was correctly diagnosed in the ED in 70 cases (53%). Food allergy was the cause of anaphylaxis in 106 out of 118 studied in the allergy department (AD) (90%). The final etiology differed from the etiology initially suspected in the ED in 42 cases (39%). After the study, the frequency of patients with unidentified triggers decreased by 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of anaphylaxis is higher in children than previously reported in adults from the same center, and food is the trigger in most cases. To prevent erroneous diagnoses, the etiology of anaphylaxis should be established after an appropriate workup.