Confronting the challenge: a regional perspective by the Latin American pediatric infectious diseases society (SLIPE) expert group on respiratory syncytial virus-tackling the burden of disease and implementing preventive solutions.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children around the world. The post-pandemic era has resulted in a notable increase in reported cases of RSV infections, co-circulation of other respiratory viruses, shifts in epidemiology, altered respiratory season timing, and increased healthcare demand. Low- and middle-income countries are responsible for the highest burden of RSV disease, contributing significantly to health expenses during respiratory seasons and RSV-associated mortality in children. Until recently, supportive measures were the only intervention to treat or prevent RSV-infection, since preventive strategies like palivizumab are limited for high-risk populations. Advances in new available strategies, such as long-acting monoclonal antibodies during the neonatal period and vaccination of pregnant women, are now a reality. As the Regional Expert Group of the Latin American Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (SLIPE), we sought to evaluate the burden of RSV infection in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, analyze current strategies to prevent RSV infection in children, and provide recommendations for implementing new strategies for preventing RSV infection in children in LAC region.

Eficacia de la cánula nasal de alto flujo en patologías respiratorias / Efficiency of high flow nasal cannula in pediatric respiratory pathologies

Introducción: En la edad pediátrica hay factores predisponentes importantes que hacen a los niños ser más vulnerables a presentar insuficiencia respiratoria aguda (IRA). Objetivo: Demostrar los beneficios del uso de la cánula nasal de alto flujo (CNAF) en pacientes menores de 5 años con IRA secundaria a enfermedades respiratorias y admitidos a la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP). Sujetos y Métodos: Estudio analítico observacional de cohortes mixtas, donde una cohorte esta formada por un grupo expuesto a la CNAF evaluada de manera prospectiva, mientras se comparo con una cohorte histórica. Resultados: 138 pacientes fueron admitidos al estudio de los cuales 69 fueron casos manejados con CNAF y 69 fueron controles que no estuvieron expuestos al uso de la CNAF pero sí a otros modos de ventilación mecánica invasiva. Los días de oxigenoterapia fueron estadísticamente menores en el grupo de casos de 13 (DE 8.01) días a 22 (DE 20.7) días en el grupo control (P = <0.05). Al igual los días de UCIP y los días totales de hospitalización fueron menores en el grupo manejado con CNAF (P = 0.011 y P = 0.001, respectivamente), con una media de tiempo de 10 (DE 7.8) días en UCIP y 17 (DE 9.25) días intrahospitalarios para el grupo de casos versus 14 (DE 10.1) días en UCIP y 28 (DE 23.9) días intrahospitalarios para el grupo control. Conclusión: La CNAF es un método de soporte respiratorio no invasivo, efectivo y fácil de usar en la población pediátrica con IRA secundario a diversas patologías respiratorias.

Introduction: During pediatric ages there are important predisposing factors that make children more vulnerable to present acute respiratory failure (ARF). Objective: Determine the benefits of the use of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients younger than 5 years with ARF, secondary to respiratory diseases and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Subjects and Method: Analytical observational study of mixed type cohorts, where a cohort is formed by the group exposed to HFNC and evaluated prospectively, while it was compared with a historical cohort. Results: 138 patients were admitted to the study of which 69 were cases handled with HFNC and 69 were controls who were not exposed to the use of HFNC but to other types of invasive mechanical ventilation. Oxygen therapy days were statistically shorter in the case group from 13 (SD 8.01) days to 22 (SD 20.7) days in the control group (P = <0.05). The length of stay in PICU and the total inpatient days were lower in the group managed with HFNC (P = 0.011, P = 0.001), with a mean time of 10 (SD 7.8) days in PICU and 17 (SD 9.25) inpatient days for the case group versus 14 (SD 10.1) days in PICU and 28 (SD 23.9) inpatient days for the control group. Conclusion: HFNC system is a non-invasive respiratory support method, simple, effective and easy to use in the pediatric population less than 5 years of age with ARF due to various respiratory diseases.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 1990-2010.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are in the process of implementation in Latin America. Experience in developed countries has shown that they reduce the incidence of invasive and non-invasive disease. However, there is evidence that the introduction of PCVs in universal mass vaccination programs, combined with inappropriate and extensive use of antibiotics, could be associated to changes in non-PCV serotypes, including serotype 19A. We conducted a systematic review to determine the distribution of serotype 19A, burden of pneumococcal disease and antibiotic resistance in the region. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of serotype 19A data from observational and randomized clinical studies in the region, conducted between 1990 and 2010, for children under 6 years. Pooled prevalence estimates from surveillance activities with confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: We included 100 studies in 22 countries and extracted data from 63. These data reported 19733 serotyped invasive pneumococcal isolates, 3.8% of which were serotype 19A. Serotype 19A isolates were responsible for 2.4% acute otitis media episodes, and accounted for 4.1% and 4.4% of 4,380 nasopharyngeal isolates from healthy children and in hospital-based/sick children, respectively. This serotype was stable over the twenty years of surveillance in the region. A total of 53.7% Spn19A isolates from meningitis cases and only 14% from non meningitis were resistant to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Before widespread PCV implementation in this region, serotype 19A was responsible for a relatively small number of pneumococcal disease cases. With increased use of PCVs and a greater number of serotypes included, monitoring S. pneumoniae serotype distribution will be essential for understanding the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease.

Análisis económico de diálisis peritoneal comparada con hemodiálisis en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica, diabética o hipertensiva / Economic analysisof peritoneal dialysis vs hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal desease

Objetivo: Comparamos, mediante un análisis económico de costo-utilidad, dos componentes fundamentales de la terapia de reemplazo renal (TRR): la hemodiálisis (HD) y la diálisis peritoneal (DP). Metodología: Empleamos un modelo teórico de árbol de decisión para comparar HD y DP (incluyendo en esta última tanto la diálisis peritoneal ambulatoria continua [DPAC] como la diálisis peritoneal automatizada [DPA]). La perspectiva fue la de un tercero pagador (un asegurador, por ejemplo), y se calculó un horizonte temporal de un año. El modelo incorpora veinte variables, incluyendo costos locales y frecuencias relacionadas con la enfermedad (algunas locales, otras extraídas de la literatura y discutidas con un grupo de expertos). Ejemplos: días de hospitalización por año, mortalidad de cada terapia y años de vida ajustados por calidad (AVAC) para cada condición. Resultados: La DP tiene un comportamiento dominante en comparación con la HD, ya que, en promedio, cuesta 3 millones de pesos anuales menos, y adicionalmente ofrece al paciente, en promedio, 0,04 AVAC por año de tratamiento. Conclusión: En pacientes seleccionados en terapia crónica de reemplazo renal, la DP puede ayudar a reducir costos al tiempo que ofrece una mejor calidad de vida. [Rosselli D, DeAntonio R, Calderón C. Análisis económico de diálisis peritoneal comparada con hemodiálisis en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica, diabética o hipertensiva. MedUNAB 2008; 11:201-205].

Objective: We compare, through cost-utility analysis, two main components of kidney replacement therapy (KRT): hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) (including under PD both continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis [CAPD] and automated peritoneal dialysis [APD]). Methodology: We use a decision-tree model that compares HD vs PD, from third payer perspective with a one-year timeline. The model incorporated 20 variables, including local costs on one side and epidemiological data (both local and from foreign data) that included days at hospital per year, mortality for each therapy as well as quality adjusted life years (QALY) for each different condition. Results: Compared with HD, PD is dominant; it costs 3 million pesos less per year, and additionally offers on average 0.04 QALY more per patient. Conclusion: In selected patients in KRT, PD therapy can help reduce costs while offering a better quality of life. [Rosselli D, DeAntonio R, Calderón C. Economic Analysis of peritoneal dialysis vs hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal disease. MedUNAB 2008; 11:201-205].