The recommendations and the way forward to fight human infections caused by influenza A (H1N1) in Brazil.

Many recent outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) in the world, especially in Brazil, it has become clear that the severity of the disease is not known in the same form. On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Brazil notified the WHO of a fatal case of human infection with a variant of the influenza A(H1N1) virus of swine origin, this case was confirmed in a laboratory in the region of the interior state of Paraná. This is the first human infection caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus reported in 2023 nationwide in Brazil. To mitigate H1N1 flu in Brazil, we urge the Brazillian government through its Ministry of Health to improve on mass awareness about the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu among the Brazillians. The Brazillian government should also implement the One Health approach towards the control of H1N1 flu in Brazil, as we believe that these recommendations would go a long way in preventing future cases and the spread of H1N1 flu in Brazil. This article aims to present the clinical presentations of the H1N1 flu and the implications, recommendations and the way forward to protect the Brazilian population against the H1N1 flu.

Evaluating the performance of WHO and CDC case definitions for influenza-like illness in diagnosing influenza during the 2022-2023 flu season in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definitions for influenza-like illness (ILI) in diagnosing influenza during the 2022-2023 flu season in Mexico. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of national epidemiological surveillance data in Mexico, focusing on respiratory viral pathogens. METHODS: We analyzed data from 6027 non-hospitalized patients between 5 and 65 years old who underwent molecular testing for respiratory viral pathogens. The performance of both case definitions was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. RESULTS: Overall, the diagnostic accuracy of the evaluated ILI definitions in identifying influenza patients was low, particularly among older patients. When compared to the CDC, the WHO definition had a lower sensitivity but a higher specificity, resulting in a higher AUROC (P = 0.031) for the WHO criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the WHO and CDC ILI case definitions have limited accuracy for diagnosing influenza in non-hospitalized patients and highlight the need for more specific diagnostic tools to improve the detection of influenza cases during the flu season.

Ethical considerations on placebo-controlled vaccine trials in pregnant women / Consideraciones éticas sobre los ensayos de vacunas controlados con placebo en mujeres embarazadas / Considerações éticas sobre estudos de vacina controlada com placebo em gestantes

Abstract Placebo use in clinical trials, whenever a proven effective treatment exists, is one of the most debated topics in contemporary research ethics. This article addresses the ethical framework for placebo use in clinical trials assessing vaccine efficacy in pregnant women. Vaccine trial participants are healthy at the outset and some must be infected during the study to demonstrate the product's efficacy, meaning that placebo-treated participants are under risk of serious and irreversible harm. If effective vaccines exist, such risk precludes placebo use. This interdiction should be extended to any clinical trial of vaccine efficacy in pregnant women, because a demonstration of clinical efficacy in nonpregnant individuals and comparable immunogenic responses in pregnant women are predictors of efficacy in pregnancy as well. Moreover, product effectiveness in real-world use scenarios can be ascertained by observational studies conducted after its inclusion in vaccination campaigns.

Resumen El uso de placebo en ensayos clínicos es uno de los principales temas debatidos sobre la ética en investigación contemporánea cuando existe un tratamiento eficaz probado. Este artículo aborda la ética en el uso de placebo en ensayos clínicos sobre la eficacia de vacuna en mujeres embarazadas. Las participantes en los ensayos de vacunas estaban sanas al inicio del estudio, y algunas fueron vacunadas durante el estudio para demostrar la eficacia del producto. Las participantes tratadas con placebo corren el riesgo de sufrir daños graves e irreversibles. Si existen vacunas efectivas, este riesgo impide el uso de placebo. Este impedimento debe extenderse a cualquier ensayo clínico de eficacia de vacuna en embarazadas, pues la eficacia clínica demostrada en mujeres no embarazadas y las respuestas inmunogénicas comparables con las embarazadas son predictores de eficacia en el embarazo. Además, la efectividad del producto se constata en estudios observacionales realizados tras las campañas de vacunación.

Resumo O uso de placebo em ensaios clínicos, quando um tratamento comprovadamente eficaz existe, é um dos principais tópicos debatidos na ética em pesquisa contemporânea. Este artigo aborda o quadro ético para o uso de placebo em ensaios clínicos que avaliam a eficácia de vacina em gestantes. Participantes em ensaios de vacina são saudáveis no início e alguns devem ser inoculados durante o estudo para demonstrar a eficácia do produto. Ou seja, participantes tratados com placebo estão sob risco de danos graves e irreversíveis. Se existirem vacinas eficazes, esse risco impede o uso de placebo. Essa interdição deve ser estendida a qualquer ensaio clínico de eficácia de vacina em gestantes, pois a demonstração de eficácia clínica em não gestantes e as respostas imunogênicas comparáveis em gestantes também são preditoras de eficácia na gravidez. Ademais, a eficácia do produto em cenários reais de uso pode ser verificada por estudos observacionais realizados após sua inclusão em campanhas de vacinação.

Scientific publication speed and retractions of COVID-19 pandemic original articles.

Objective: To describe the editorial processing time of published COVID-19 research articles and compare this with a similar topic, human influenza, and analyze the number of publications, withdrawals, and retractions. Methods: A descriptive-analytical study using PubMed on research articles with the MeSH terms human influenza and COVID-19. Time to acceptance (from submission to acceptance) and time to publication (from acceptance to publication) were compared. Retractions and withdrawals were reviewed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: There were 31 319 research articles on COVID-19 and 4 287 on human influenza published during 2020. The median time to acceptance for COVID-19 was lower than that for human influenza (8 vs. 92 days). The median time to publication for COVID-19 articles was shorter than those on human influenza (12 vs. 16 days); 47.0% of COVID-19 research articles were accepted within the first week of submission, and 19.5% within one day. There were 82 retractions and withdrawals for COVID-19 articles, 1 for human influenza, and 5 for articles that contain both terms; these were mainly related to ethical misconduct, and 27 (31.0%) were published by the same group of authors in one highest-quartile journal. Conclusions: The conundrum between fast publishing and adequate standards is shown in this analysis of COVID-19 research articles. The speed of acceptance for COVID-19 manuscripts was 11.5 times faster than for human influenza. The high number of acceptances within a day or week of submission and the number of retractions and withdrawals of COVID-19 papers might be a warning sign about the possible lack of a quality control process in scientific publishing and the peer review process.

Cobertura vacinal contra influenza em gestantes da região Sudeste do Brasil: análise de 2010­2020 / Influenza vaccination coverage in pregnant women in the Southeast region of Brazil: analysis from 2010 to 2020

Objetivo: Analisar a cobertura vacinal contra a influenza em gestantes na região Sudeste do Brasil, nos anos de 2010 a 2020. Métodos:Estudo ecológico, de série temporal, realizado com dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunizações (SI-PNI), referentes aos registros de doses da vacina contra influenza em gestantes no estado de Minas Gerais. Resultados: A cobertura vacinal adequada foi alcançada em apenas quatro dos 11 anos estudados, variando de 49,75% em 2011 a 88,5% em 2015. No ano de 2020 foi alcançado 80,82%. Possíveis determinantes são discutidos em uma perspectiva ampliada, que pode subsidiar planejamento de ações em todo o país. Conclusão: A cobertura vacinal contra Influenza nas gestantes apresentou, em sua maior parte, uma tendência estacionária, apontando para a possível necessidade de educação permanente dos profissionais de saúde envolvidos no pré-natal, qualificação de suas ações na área de educação em saúde para esclarecer dúvidas das gestantes sobre a temática.

Objective: To analyze the influenza vaccination coverage in pregnant women in the Southeast region of Brazil between years 2010 and 2020. Methods: An ecological, time series study conducted with data from the National Immunization Program Information System (SI-PNI) referring to records of doses of influenza vaccine in pregnant women in the state of Minas Gerais. Results:Adequate vaccination coverage was achieved in only four out of the 11 years studied, ranging from 49.75% in 2011 to 88.5% in 2015. In 2020, the rate of 80.82% was reached. Possible determinants are discussed in an expanded perspective that can support the planning of actions across the country. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination coverage in pregnant women showed a stagnation trend for the most part, pointing to the possible need for continuing education of health professionals involved in antenatal care and qualification of their actions in the area of health education to clarify pregnant women's doubts on the subject.

Scientific publication speed and retractions of COVID-19 pandemic original articles / Velocidad de publicación y retractación de artículos originales sobre la pandemia de COVID-19 / Velocidade de publicação científica e retratação de artigos originais sobre a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective. To describe the editorial processing time of published COVID-19 research articles and compare this with a similar topic, human influenza, and analyze the number of publications, withdrawals, and retractions. Methods. A descriptive-analytical study using PubMed on research articles with the MeSH terms human influenza and COVID-19. Time to acceptance (from submission to acceptance) and time to publication (from acceptance to publication) were compared. Retractions and withdrawals were reviewed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results. There were 31 319 research articles on COVID-19 and 4 287 on human influenza published during 2020. The median time to acceptance for COVID-19 was lower than that for human influenza (8 vs. 92 days). The median time to publication for COVID-19 articles was shorter than those on human influenza (12 vs. 16 days); 47.0% of COVID-19 research articles were accepted within the first week of submission, and 19.5% within one day. There were 82 retractions and withdrawals for COVID-19 articles, 1 for human influenza, and 5 for articles that contain both terms; these were mainly related to ethical misconduct, and 27 (31.0%) were published by the same group of authors in one highest-quartile journal. Conclusions. The conundrum between fast publishing and adequate standards is shown in this analysis of COVID-19 research articles. The speed of acceptance for COVID-19 manuscripts was 11.5 times faster than for human influenza. The high number of acceptances within a day or week of submission and the number of retractions and withdrawals of COVID-19 papers might be a warning sign about the possible lack of a quality control process in scientific publishing and the peer review process.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Describir el tiempo de procesamiento editorial de los artículos de investigación sobre la COVID-19 publicados, compararlo con un tema similar, la gripe humana, y analizar el número de publicaciones realizadas, el de artículos retirados y el de retractaciones. Métodos. Usando PubMed, se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo y analítico sobre artículos de investigación con los términos en inglés correspondientes a "gripe humana" y "COVID-19" en el MeSH. Se compararon el tiempo de aceptación (desde la presentación hasta la aceptación) y el tiempo de publicación (desde la aceptación hasta la publicación). Se examinaron las publicaciones retiradas y las retractaciones de manera cualitativa y cuantitativa. Resultados. Hubo 31 319 artículos de investigación sobre la COVID-19 y 4 287 sobre la gripe humana publicados en el año 2020. La mediana del tiempo de aceptación de los artículos sobre la COVID-19 fue inferior que la mediana de la gripe humana (8 días en contraste con 92 días). La mediana del tiempo de publicación de los artículos sobre la COVID-19 fue menor que la de los artículos sobre la gripe humana (12 días en contraste con 16 días). El 47,0 % de los artículos de investigación sobre la COVID-19 se aceptaron en la primera semana de presentación, y el 19,5 %, en un día. Hubo 82 retractaciones y retiradas de artículos sobre la COVID-19, una sobre la gripe humana y 5 de artículos que contenían ambos términos; estas retractaciones y retiradas estuvieron relacionadas principalmente con faltas de conducta ética. Además, hubo 27 artículos (31,0 %) publicados por el mismo grupo de autores en una revista de cuartil más alto. Conclusiones. El dilema entre la publicación rápida y unas normas adecuadas se muestra en este análisis de artículos de investigación sobre la COVID-19. La velocidad de aceptación de los manuscritos sobre la COVID-19 fue 11,5 veces mayor que la velocidad de aceptación de los artículos sobre la gripe humana. El alto número de aceptaciones en un día o una semana desde la presentación y el número de retractaciones y retiradas de artículos sobre la COVID-19 podría ser un signo de advertencia acerca de la posible falta de un proceso de control de calidad en las publicaciones científicas y especialmente en el proceso de arbitraje.

RESUMO Objetivo. Descrever o tempo de processamento editorial dos artigos de pesquisa publicados sobre COVID-19, compará-lo com o de artigos sobre um tema semelhante (gripe humana) e analisar o número de publicações, suspensões e retratações. Métodos. Estudo descritivo-analítico. Foi realizada uma busca no PubMed usando os descritores MeSH "human influenza" e "COVID-19". O tempo até a aceitação (da submissão à aceitação) e o tempo até a publicação (da aceitação à publicação) foram comparados. Retratações e suspensões foram analisadas qualitativa e quantitativamente. Resultados. Foram publicados 31 319 artigos de pesquisa sobre a COVID-19 e 4 287 sobre a gripe humana em 2020. O tempo médio de aceitação de artigos sobre COVID-19 foi menor que o de artigos sobre gripe humana (8 versus 92 dias). O tempo médio até publicação dos artigos sobre COVID-19 foi menor que o de artigos sobre gripe humana (12 versus 16 dias); 47,0% dos artigos sobre COVID-19 foram aceitos na primeira semana após a submissão, e 19,5%, dentro de um dia. Houve 82 retratações e suspensões de artigos sobre COVID-19, 1 sobre gripe humana, e 5 de artigos que continham ambos os termos, principalmente relacionadas a má conduta ética; 27 (31,0%) desses artigos foram publicados pelo mesmo grupo de autores, em uma revista do mais alto quartil. Conclusões. O dilema entre publicar rapidamente e manter padrões adequados fica claro nesta análise de artigos sobre COVID-19. Manuscritos sobre COVID-19 foram aceitos 11,5 vezes mais rapidamente do que artigos sobre gripe humana. O alto número de aceitações em um dia ou semana após a submissão e o número de retratações e suspensões de artigos sobre COVID-19 alertam sobre uma possível falta de controle de qualidade na publicação científica e no processo de revisão por pares.

Epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness outbreaks in long-term care facilities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil / Características epidemiológicas dos surtos de síndrome gripal em instituições de longa permanência para idosos no estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Long-term care facilities for older adults present a high risk of outbreaks since they concentrate often more frail and vulnerable individuals. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness outbreaks and cases among older people in long-term care facilities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METODS: The analysis was performed through an exploratory and descriptive approach, with records from the outbreak module of the National System of Notifiable Diseases between January 2020 and June 2021. RESULTS: Outbreaks of influenza-like illness in this department represented 24.93% of all notifications. The highest concentration was seen in the state capital and metropolitan area. A total of 1 018 confirmed outbreaks were observed, involving 6 110 cases and 1 240 deaths among older people. Of these cases, 71.67% were confirmed for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), 12.77% for the influenza virus, and 15.56% for other respiratory viruses. The percentages regarding death outcomes were similar, with a 20.29% lethality of influenza-like illness. Within the studied group, the older adults were the most affected. A statistical difference was observed between cases and deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the current scenario and the known vulnerabilities of these facilities, there is an urgent need for joint and articulated action by various administrative levels in order to minimize the devastating effects of influenza-like illness outbreaks (especially of COVID19) in older adults at long-term care homes. The strengthening of information systems and their interoperability are considered of utmost importance in order to improve the quality of information on outbreaks, which is essential during a pandemic.

Instituições de longa permanência para idosos são locais que apresentam um alto risco de surtos epidêmicos, visto que concentram indivíduos, frequentemente mais frágeis e vulneráveis. OBJETIVO: Descrever as características epidemiológicas de surtos de síndrome gripal entre idosos em instituições de longa permanência no estado de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: A análise foi realizada através de uma abordagem exploratória e descritiva, utilizando-se de registros do Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação, módulo surto, entre janeiro de 2020 e junho de 2021. RESULTADOS: Surtos de síndrome gripal neste departamento representaram 24,93% do total de notificações. A maior concentração de surtos ocorreu na capital e região metropolitana. Foram observados 1018 surtos confirmados, envolvendo 6110 casos e 1240 óbitos em idosos. Entre estes casos, 71,67% foram confirmados para COVID-19, 12,77% para o vírus Influenza e 15,56%, para outros vírus respiratórios. Óbitos apresentaram porcentagens semelhantes, com a letalidade de síndrome gripal sendo de 20,29%. No grupo estudado, idosos mais longevos foram os mais acometidos. Houve diferença estatística entre casos e óbitos. CONCLUSÕES: Devido ao cenário atual e às conhecidas vulnerabilidades destas instituições, há a necessidade urgente de uma ação conjunta e articulada por parte de diversas esferas administrativas para minimizar os efeitos devastadores de surtos de síndrome gripal, especialmente os de COVID-19, em instituições de longa permanência. O fortalecimento de sistemas de informação e sua interoperabilidade são considerados de vital importância para melhorar a qualidade da informação sobre surtos institucionais, a qual é essencial durante uma pandemia.

Fundamentos moleculares de la exclusión competitiva durante la coinfección de virus respiratorios: a propósito del COVID-19 / Molecular foundations of competitive exclusion during coinfection of respiratory viruses: about COVID-19

Introducción: La idea de exclusión competitiva es indiscutible cuando se trata de animales y bacterias que intentan ocupar el mismo nicho ecológico, pero su aplicación a la coinfección viral no es tan sencilla de interpretar. La interferencia viral es un fenómeno en el que un virus suprime competitivamente la replicación de otros virus coinfectantes y es el resultado más común de las coinfecciones virales. Objetivo: Comprender mejor el comportamiento de las infecciones respiratorias concomitantes en escenarios de brotes comunitarios y de forma individual en entornos hospitalarios e individuos con comorbilidades. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda de información en las bases de datos MEDLINE / PubMed, SciELO y LILACS. También se consideraron artículos publicados en el repositorio de preimpresión medRxiv y los informes de los Centros para el Control y Prevención de enfermedades de los Estados Unidos de América. Mediante el gestor de referencias Mendeley, se eliminaron los duplicados y aquellos que no se ajustaban al objetivo del estudio, seleccionando 48 artículos para la revisión. Análisis y síntesis de la in formación: En la literatura científica se encontró evidencia que sustenta la exclusión competitiva viral entre virus relacionados que comparten células susceptibles y permisivas. Conclusión: La exclusión competitiva impide que dos virus que comparten rutas de transmisión similares y el mismo órgano diana, infecten no sólo al mismo tiempo, sino que también se propaguen con éxito. Por lo tanto, la sindemia producida por virus que comparten estas características podría ser un evento improbable(AU)

Introduction: The idea of competitive exclusion is undisputed when it comes to animals and bacteria trying to occupy the same ecological niche, but its application to viral coinfection is not so simple to interpret. Viral interference is a phenomenon in which one virus competitively suppresses the replication of other co-infecting viruses and is the most common outcome of viral co-infections. Objective: To better understand the behavior of concomitant respiratory infections in community outbreak settings and individually in hospital settings and individuals with comorbidities. Methods: A search for information was performed in the MEDLINE / PubMed, SciELO and LILACS databases. Articles published in the preprint repository medRxiv and reports from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also considered. Using the Mendeley reference manager, duplicates and those that did not fit the study objective were eliminated, selecting 48 articles for the review. Analysis and synthesis of information: Evidence supporting viral competitive exclusion between related viruses sharing susceptible and permissive cells was found in the scientific literature. Conclusion: Competitive exclusion prevents two viruses that share similar transmission routes and the same target organ from infecting not only at the same time, but also from spreading successfully. Therefore, syndemia produced by viruses sharing these characteristics could be an unlikely event(AU)

Willingness to vaccinate against influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 among Brazilian civil servants: Pró-Saúde cohort study / Disposição para vacinar contra influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 entre funcionários técnico-administrativos universitários: estudo de coorte Pró-Saúde

ABSTRACT: Objective: To investigate sociodemographic factors associated with the willingness to take the pandemic influenza vaccine. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of Brazilian civil servants participating in the fourth wave (2012-2013) of the longitudinal Pró-Saúde Study. Associations were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), estimated by multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Among 2,828 participants, 15.9% would not be willing to vaccinate in the future if the Brazilian Ministry of Health promoted a new vaccination campaign against pandemic influenza. Not willing to vaccinate in the future was strongly associated with not taking the pandemic influenza vaccine in 2010 (OR = 9.0, 95%CI 6.9 - 11.6). Among the unvaccinated, females, those aged > 60 years, and non-health care workers were less willing to vaccinate in the future. Again, in the vaccinated group, females were less willing to vaccinate. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary efforts should be encouraged in order to identify reasons for refusing vaccination, focusing on the individual and group perceptions of susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers to vaccination. Such information is needed to identify target groups for the delivery of customized interventions towards preventing emerging pandemics, such as avian influenza and COVID-19.

RESUMO: Objetivo: Investigar fatores sociodemográficos associados à disposição em adotar a vacina contra influenza pandêmica. Métodos: Estudo transversal entre servidores técnico-administrativos participantes da quarta onda (2012-2013) do estudo longitudinal Pró-Saúde. Associações foram expressas como razões de chances (RC) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC 95%), estimados mediante modelos de regressão logística multivariada. Resultados: Entre os 2.828 participantes, 15,9% não estariam dispostos a serem vacinados no futuro se o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil promovesse uma nova campanha de vacinação contra influenza pandêmica. Não estar disposto a ser vacinado no futuro foi fortemente associado a não receber a vacina contra influenza pandêmica em 2010 (RC = 9,0, IC95% 6,9 - 11,6). Entre os não vacinados, mulheres, maiores de 60 anos e profissionais de outras áreas que não a saúde estavam menos dispostos a serem vacinados no futuro. Novamente, para aqueles vacinados, as mulheres estavam menos dispostas a serem vacinadas. Conclusão: Abordagens multidisciplinares devem ser estimuladas para identificar as razões para recusa vacinal, com foco nas percepções individual e coletivas sobre suscetibilidade, gravidade, benefícios e barreiras à vacinação. Essas informações são necessárias para identificar grupos-alvo para a oferta de intervenções particularizadas para a prevenção de pandemias emergentes, como a de influenza aviária e de covid-19.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: can PrEP prevent COVID-19-related symptoms?

It has been speculated that some drugs can be used against SARS-CoV-2. As for antiretrovirals, the follow-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak may help to understand the potential protective effect of PrEP against SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to identify associations between oral PrEP use and COVID-19-related symptoms self-reporting. Phone call interviews or digital investigation (through WhatsApp® or e-mail) about oral PrEP regular use, social distancing, exposure to suspected or confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related symptoms. Among 108 individuals, the majority were cisgender, white and gay men. Although most of the individuals engaged in social distancing (68.52%), they kept on taking PrEP (75.93%). Few people have had contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 (12.04%), but some had COVID-19-related symptoms the month before the interview (27.78%) including rhinorrheoa (56.67%), cough (53.33%), asthaenia (50.00%) and headache (43.33%). Also, oral PrEP was associated with lower self-reporting COVID-19-symptoms (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.07-0.96, P = 0.04; h = 0.92) even after controlling confounders as social distancing, age, body-mass index and morbidities . In our sample, the regular use of oral PrEP was associated with lower self-reporting of COVID-19-related symptoms during the outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil.

Patrón electrocardiográfico Brugada tipo I asociado a un cuadro febril por Influenza B. A propósito de la pandemia de COVID-19. Caso clínico

We report a 44-year-old male who was admitted for Influenza B and fever, presenting a type I Brugada pattern on the electrocardiogram. He evolved without cardiovascular symptoms. The pharmacological test with intravenous Procainamide reproduced type I Brugada pattern and the programmed electrical stimulation was negative for ventricular arrhythmias. He was discharged without incidents. Clinical aspects of Brugada syndrome and the importance of fever are discussed in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Construção de materiais educativos digitais para uma capacitação online sobre influenza: relato de experiência / Construction of digital educational materials for online training on influenza: experience report

Este estudo buscou descrever o processo de desenvolvimento dos materiais educativos digitais utilizados na Capacitação sobre Influenza, ofertado por um Núcleo de Educação à Distância de instituição pública federal. Trata - se de um relato de experiência fundamentado no modelo de Falkembach, o qual estrutura o processo de desenvolvimento de materiais educativos digitais em cinco etapas: análise e planejamento, modelagem, implementação, avaliação e distribuição. Os resultados advindos remetem a descrição do processo de produção de material educativo em formato Hypertext mark-up language (html), com design responsivo, composto de infográficos, hiperlinks para material de apoio em PDF, jogos educativos e casos simulados. Na etapa de análise e planejamento, realizou ­se o levantamento das necessidades da oferta do curso. Na etapa de modelagem definiu ­se os modelos conceituais, de navegação e de interface do curso. Na etapa de implementação ocorreu a produção dos conteúdos didáticos e recursos avaliativos em diferentes formatos midiáticos. A etapa de avaliação consistiu na validação do curso por meio de instrumento sobre aspectos relacionados ao planejamento, produção e oferta do curso aplicados aos juízes especialistas na área de Vigilância da Influenza, Educação a Distância e Tutores da Capacitação. A etapa de distribuição constituiu na oferta do curso para o público ­alvo. Por fim, conclui­ se este estudo obtendo resultados positivos quanto à utilização do modelo de Falkembach para o desenvolvimento dos materiais educativos digitais aplicados quando aplicados a modelos educacionais de ofertas de cursos na área da saúde na modalidade a distância.

This study aimed to describe the development process of the digital educational materials used in the Influenza Training offered by the Nucleus of Technology and Distance Education in Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Ceará (NUTEDS/ FAMED/ UFC) in partnership with the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health (SVS/ MS). This is a methodological study based on the Falkembach model, which structures the process of developing digital educational materials in five stages: analysis and planning, modeling, implementation, evaluation and distribution. The results refer to the description of the production process of educational material in Hypertext markup language (HTML) format, with a responsive design, composed of infographics, hyperlinks to PDF support material, educational games and simulated cases. In the analysis and planning stage, the needs of the course offer were surveyed. In the modeling stage the conceptual, navigation and interface models of the course were defined. In the implementation phase, the production of didactic content and evaluation resources in different media formats took place. The evaluation stage consisted in validating the course through an instrument about aspects related to the planning, production, and offer of the course applied to the specialized judges in the area of Influenza Surveillance, Distance Education and Training Tutors. The distribution stage constituted of the course offer to the target audience. It is concluded that the Falkembach method worked effectively in the development of the digital educational materials used in the ongoing training of health surveillance professionals, promoted by the Influenza Training in the distance modality.

H1N1: perfil clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes atendidos em um hospital / H1N1: clinical and epidemiological profile of patients treated in a hospital

Objetivo: Avaliar casos de suspeita de gripe H1N1, bem como comparar aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos dos pacientes com gripe H1N1 confirmada em relação àqueles não confirmados; analisar os critérios de gravidade clínica com relação à confirmação (ou não) da gripe H1N1 e seu desfecho (mortalidade); e criar um banco de dados para fins de comparação com a literatura nacional e mundial. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de coorte transversal realizado no período sazonal (outono e inverno) no ano de 2016. Foram analisados os prontuários, acessíveis e completos, de pacientes com suspeita clínica de H1N1, além daqueles com resultados definidos na sorologia. A partir dos dados coletados, foi elaborada tabela de análise epidemiológica, com informações clínicas, laboratoriais e sorológicas. Resultados: Destacam-se a média das faixas etárias mais acometidas de 48 anos, além dos sintomas mais comuns que foram dispneia, tosse e mialgia; as comorbidades foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, cardiopatias, diabetes e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. Conclusão: Este trabalho contribuiu com a caracterização do perfil epidemiológico regional e auxiliou na definição de indicadores de diagnóstico e gravidade, além de agregar à literatura conteúdos de caráter relevante. Este estudo está registrado como CAAE 58664016.2.0000.5515 na Plataforma Brasil. (AU)

Objective: To evaluate cases of suspected H1N1 flu, as well as to compare epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients with confirmed H1N1 influenza to those who were not confirmed; to analyze the criteria of clinical severity regarding the confirmation (or not) of H1N1 influenza, and its outcome (mortality); and to create a database to be compared with the national and world literature. Methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study, carried out in the seasonal period ( fall/winter) of 2016. Accessible and complete medical records of patients with clinical suspicion of H1N1 were analyzed along with those with defined serology results. Based on the collected data, a table of epidemiological analysis was elaborated with clinical, laboratory and serological information. Results: The mean age of the most affected age groups was 48 years; the most common symptoms were dyspnea, cough and myalgia; and the comorbidities were systemic arterial hypertension, cardiopathies, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusion: This work contributed to the characterization of the regional epidemiological profile, and helped in the definition of indicators of diagnosis and severity, besides adding relevant content to the literature. This study is registered as CAAE 58664016.2.0000.5515 at Plataforma Brasil. (AU)

Vigilancia, prevención y control del virus de la influenza en Perú / Surveillance, prevention, and control of influenza virus in Peru

RESUMEN La importancia de la vigilancia de la circulación del virus de influenza y la vacunación oportuna a las diferentes poblaciones del Perú, fue analizada en tres sesiones por un grupo de clínicos expertos de diferentes especialidades. En Perú, en los últimos años, el sistema nacional de vigilancia de influenza tiene muchos establecimientos seleccionados que son ineficaces en la notificación oportuna. La mayoría de las muestras provienen de Lima. La distribución viral es inadecuadamente analizada. El norte y la selva tienen estaciones climáticas diferentes a Lima y la sierra sur. Esta descoordinación se acentúa con la oportunidad de la llegada de la vacuna de influenza al país. El Ministerio de Salud utiliza una vacuna trivalente pero la posibilidad de una vacuna tetravalente con los dos linajes de tipo B, debe ser analizada desde el punto de vista de costo-beneficio. Se debería evaluar la pertinencia de vacunar en dos momentos anuales, regionalmente.

ABSTRACT The importance of surveilling the circulation of the influenza virus and timely vaccination of different populations in Peru was analyzed in three sessions by a group of clinical experts from different specialties. The Peruvian national influenza surveillance system has many selected establishments that have become currently ineffective in terms of a timely report. Most of the samples come from Lima. The viral distribution is inadequately analyzed. The northern and jungle areas of the country have weather and season conditions different to those in Lima and on the southern highlands. This lack of coordination is accentuated by the opportunity of arrival of the influenza vaccine in the country. The Ministry of Health uses a trivalent vaccine but the possibility of a tetravalent vaccine with the two type-B lineages must be analyzed from a cost-benefit standpoint. The appropriateness of vaccinating two times a year, regionally, should be assessed.

Encefalitis por virus influenza B en un paciente adulto: reporte de caso / Encephalitis caused by type B influenza virus in an adult: report of one case

Neurological manifestations associated with influenza virus infection include encephalitis, encephalopathy, acute necrotizing encephalitis, transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, mild encephalitis with reversible splenial syndrome (MERS), and Guillaín Barré syndrome. We report a 16-year-old female who was admitted at our emergency department with seizures, confusion, nystagmus and motor clumsiness five days after an upper a respiratory tract infection. Influenza type B virus infection was confirmed by chain polymerase reaction analysis. The initial electroencephalogram demonstrated a pattern of global slowness without epileptic discharges. One week later, it showed a progression to slow-wave focal bilateral discharges at both temporal and occipital lobes. The patient had a favorable evolution and was discharged 19 days after admission with phenytoin to prevent seizures.

Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) from influenza in adult patients in Chile: the experience of a sentinel hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To 1) describe clinical characteristics of adult patients in Chile with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) associated with influenza viruses, and 2) analyze virus subtypes identified in specimens collected from those patients, hospital resources used in clinical management, clinical evolution, and risk factors associated with a fatal outcome, using observational data from the SARI surveillance network (SARInet). METHODS: Adults hospitalized from 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2015 with influenza-associated SARI at a SARI sentinel surveillance hospital in Santiago were identified and the presence of influenza in all cases confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using respiratory samples. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients (mean age: 74.1 years) were hospitalized with influenza-associated SARI during the study period. Of this study cohort, 91.4% had risk factors for complications and 34.3% had been vaccinated during the most recent campaign. Pneumonia was the most frequent clinical manifestation, occurring in 57.0% of the cohort; other manifestations included influenza-like illness, exacerbated chronic bronchitis, decompensated heart failure, and asthmatic crisis. Cases occurred year-round, with an epidemic peak during autumn-winter. Both influenza A (H1N1pdm09 and H3N2) and B virus co-circulated. Critical care beds were required for 26.7% of the cohort, and 19.5% needed ventilatory assistance. Multivariate analysis identified four significant factors associated with in-hospital mortality: 1) being bedridden (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 22.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.0-164); 2) admission to critical care unit (aOR: 8.9; CI: 1.44-55); 3) Pa02/Fi02 ratio < 250 (aOR: 5.8; CI: 1.02-33); and 4) increased serum creatinine concentration (> 1 mg/dL) (aOR: 5.47; CI: 1.20-24). Seasonal influenza vaccine was identified as a significant protective factor (aOR: 0.14; CI: 0.021-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza-associated SARI affected mainly elderly patients with underlying conditions. Most patients evolved to respiratory failure and more than one-quarter required critical care beds. Clinical presentation was variable. Death was associated with host characteristics and disease-associated conditions, and vaccine was protective. Virus type did not influence outcome.

[Mortality attributable to influenza in pre-vaccination and post-vaccination periods in Argentina: an ecological study (2002-2016)Mortalidade atribuível à gripe no período pré-vacinal e pós-vacinal na Argentina: estudo ecológico (2002-2016)]. / Mortalidad atribuible a gripe en los períodos prevacunación y posvacunación en Argentina: estudio ecológico (2002-2016).

OBJECTIVES: Compare mortality from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) attributable to influenza between pre-vaccination (pre-V) and post-vaccination (post-V) periods, to determine the historical evolution and seasonality of time series between 2002 and 2016, and to estimate the risk of death in children between 6 and 23 months of age, using a statistical model. METHODS: Time-series study using official mortality data from the official statistical database on deaths. ICD-10 codes between J09-18.9 and J22X were considered to represent SARI. Crude rates and age-adjusted rates (AAR) were calculated, and pre-V (2002-2009) and post-V (2010-2016) periods were compared using the chi-squared (χ2) test. The best statistical model was the one that compared deaths from SARI in children during 2002 with other years. The data were analyzed with R programming (p <0.05). RESULTS: 4.6% of deaths (301,747) were from SARI, with a median age of 82 years. The percentage of deaths under age 2 declined in the post-V period (from 2.34% to 0.99%, p < 0.05). Marked seasonality was observed in winter. The AAR in persons over age 64 rose from 259.8 per 100,000 population (pre-V) to 328.6 (post-V) (p < 0.05). In children, the crude rate dropped significantly. Compared with the year 2002, there was a significantly lower estimated risk of dying from SARI during the three years post-V. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in mortality from influenza in Argentina was more pronounced in children, with an estimated 3.5 fewer child deaths from SARI per month.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar o índice de mortalidade por infecção respiratória aguda grave atribuível à gripe nos períodos pré-vacinal e pós-vacinal, conhecer a evolução temporal e a sazonalidade da série temporal entre 2002 e 2016 e estimar o risco de morte em crianças entre 6 e 23 meses de idade com o uso de um modelo estatístico. MÉTODOS: Estudo de série histórica com base em dados oficiais de mortalidade obtidos do informe estatístico de óbitos. Os códigos da CID-10 entre J09-18.9 e J22X foram considerados como sendo infecção respiratória aguda grave atribuível à gripe. Foram calculados os índices de mortalidade brutos e ajustados por idade e feita uma comparação entre os períodos pré-vacinal (2002­2009) e pós-vacinal (2010­2016) com o teste de χ2. O melhor modelo estatístico foi o que comparou os índices de mortalidade por infecção respiratória aguda grave atribuível à gripe em crianças em 2002 com os outros anos. Os dados foram analisados com o programa R, a um nível de significância P<0,05. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que 4,6% (301.747) das mortes foram por infecção respiratória aguda grave atribuível à gripe, com idade mediana de 82 anos. Houve queda no percentual de mortes em crianças menores de dois anos no período pós-vacinal (2,34% a 0,99%, P< 0,05). Verificou-se uma acentuada sazonalidade no inverno. Os índices ajustados por idade em idosos variaram entre 259,8 por 100 mil no período pré-vacinal e 328,6 por 100 mil no período pós-vacinal (P<0,05). Nas crianças, houve queda significativa nos índices brutos, estimando-se um risco significativamente menor de morte por infecção respiratória aguda grave atribuível à gripe nos 3 anos pós-vacinais em comparação a 2002. CONCLUSÕES: A redução da mortalidade pela gripe na Argentina foi mais evidente em crianças, com uma redução estimada de 3,5 mortes por mês.

Improved Real-Time Influenza Surveillance: Using Internet Search Data in Eight Latin American Countries.

BACKGROUND: Novel influenza surveillance systems that leverage Internet-based real-time data sources including Internet search frequencies, social-network information, and crowd-sourced flu surveillance tools have shown improved accuracy over the past few years in data-rich countries like the United States. These systems not only track flu activity accurately, but they also report flu estimates a week or more ahead of the publication of reports produced by healthcare-based systems, such as those implemented and managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous work has shown that the predictive capabilities of novel flu surveillance systems, like Google Flu Trends (GFT), in developing countries in Latin America have not yet delivered acceptable flu estimates. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to show that recent methodological improvements on the use of Internet search engine information to track diseases can lead to improved retrospective flu estimates in multiple countries in Latin America. METHODS: A machine learning-based methodology that uses flu-related Internet search activity and historical information to monitor flu activity, named ARGO (AutoRegression with Google search), was extended to generate flu predictions for 8 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) for the time period: January 2012 to December of 2016. These retrospective (out-of-sample) Influenza activity predictions were compared with historically observed flu suspected cases in each country, as reported by Flunet, an influenza surveillance database maintained by the World Health Organization. For a baseline comparison, retrospective (out-of-sample) flu estimates were produced for the same time period using autoregressive models that only leverage historical flu activity information. RESULTS: Our results show that ARGO-like models' predictive power outperform autoregressive models in 6 out of 8 countries in the 2012-2016 time period. Moreover, ARGO significantly improves on historical flu estimates produced by the now discontinued GFT for the time period of 2012-2015, where GFT information is publicly available. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate here that a self-correcting machine learning method, leveraging Internet-based disease-related search activity and historical flu trends, has the potential to produce reliable and timely flu estimates in multiple Latin American countries. This methodology may prove helpful to local public health officials who design and implement interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of influenza outbreaks. Our methodology generally outperforms both the now-discontinued tool GFT, and autoregressive methodologies that exploit only historical flu activity to produce future disease estimates.

Initial chest X-ray findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with H1N1 virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate chest X-ray findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed chest X-ray findings in 17 cases of pulmonary infection with the H1N1 virus (in 7 males and 10 females) examined between 2012 and 2016. The mean age of the patients was 14 months (range, 2-89 months). The diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical and radiographic criteria, and the virus was detected by polymerase chain reaction. The radiographic findings were categorized by type/pattern of opacity and by lung zone. The patients were divided into two groups: those not requiring ventilatory support; and those requiring ventilatory support or evolving to death. RESULTS: The abnormality most often seen on chest X-rays was that of peribronchovascular opacities, the majority of which affected less than 25% of the lung, the involvement being bilateral and asymmetric. The lung zone most frequently involved was the middle third, with central and peripheral distribution, without pleural effusion. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the symmetry of pulmonary involvement, asymmetric findings predominating in the group that required ventilatory support (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients with H1N1 virus infection, the main alterations on the initial chest X-rays are peribronchovascular opacities, nonspecific alveolar opacities, and consolidations. Although the definitive diagnosis of H1N1 virus infection cannot be made on the basis of imaging characteristics alone, using a combination of clinical and radiographic findings can substantially improve the diagnostic accuracy.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os achados na radiografia de tórax de pacientes com diagnóstico de infecção pelo vírus influenza. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Revisamos, retrospectivamente, os achados na radiografia de tórax de 17 casos de infecção pulmonar pelo vírus influenza (7 do sexo masculino e 10 do sexo feminino; idade média de 14 meses, variação de 2 a 89 meses). Os pacientes foram examinados entre 2012 e 2016 e o diagnóstico foi estabelecido por critérios clinicorradiológicos e detecção do vírus por reação em cadeia de polimerase. Os achados radiológicos foram caracterizados por tipo e padrão de opacidade e distribuição por zonas pulmonares. A população estudada foi dividida em dois grupos: sem suporte ventilatório e com suporte ventilatório e/ou óbito. RESULTADOS: A anormalidade encontrada com maior frequência na radiografia de tórax foram as marcas peribroncovasculares, a maioria delas com extensão menor de 25% do pulmão, envolvimento bilateral e assimétrico. A região mais frequentemente envolvida foi o terço médio, com distribuição central e periférica e ausência de derrame pleural. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante na simetria do envolvimento pulmonar, entre os grupos, havendo preponderância de achado assimétrico (p = 0,029) no grupo que necessitou de suporte ventilatório. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes pediátricos com infecção pelo H1N1 apresentam como alterações principais na radiografia do tórax inicial marcas peribroncovasculares, opacidades alveolares inespecíficas e consolidações. Embora o diagnóstico definitivo não possa ser feito com base em imagens características isoladas, uma combinação dos achados clínicos e radiográficos pode melhorar substancialmente a acurácia do diagnóstico nessa doença.