Brote de toxiinfección alimentaria por Norovirus: estudio epidemiológico y medidas sanitarias aplicadas para evitar su recurrencia / Foodborne outbreak of norovirus: Epidemiologycal study and Health measures implemented to prevent recurrence

Objetivo: Debido a que las Toxiinfecciones alimentarias (TIA) originan daños para la salud, pérdidas económicas y requieren la intervención directa sobre la fuente de contaminación, el objetivo fue realizar un estudio clínico, epidemiológico e higiénico sanitario de un brote de TIA, sin posibilidad de análisis microbiológico. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo y de casos-controles. Emplazamiento: Comunidad de Munera. Albacete (España). Participantes: Población compuesta por las personas asistentes a tres comidas de celebración de comunión. Mediciones Principales: Se realizó una encuesta telefónica epidemiológica y se calcularon odds ratio (OR) crudas y ajustadas con intervalos de confianza al 95 %. Se realizó un modelo de regresión logística multivariante e inspección sanitaria del restaurante. Resultados: Se expusieron 204 personas y fueron encuestadas 62 (32 afectados y 30 sanos). La tasa global de ataque fue de 51,6 % y el periodo de incubación de 33 horas. Los síntomas principales: dolor abdominal, vómitos y diarreas. El tiempo de duración de la enfermedad fue 38 horas. Se observó asociación con la "Ensalada" (OR-cruda: 7,5; IC95: 1,48-37,91), resultando al borde de la significación estadística la relación con "Sepia" (ORc: 4,15; IC95: 1,00-17.18) y "Marisco" (ORc: 4,57; IC95: 0,87-24,08). La OR-ajustada para la "Ensalada" fue 5,41 (IC95: 1,00-29,23). La inspección sanitaria comprobó la existencia de deficiencias de estructura, limpieza, desinfección y formación de manipuladores. Conclusiones: La Ensalada fue el único alimento asociado estadísticamente, pero no podemos descartar la Sepia y Mariscos; mediante la inspección sanitaria y los criterios de Kaplan, es posible clasificarla como una infección por Norovirus. Se aplicaron medidas especiales de funcionamiento en el restaurante para evitar reincidencia del brote (AU)

Objective: Because Foodborne diseases (FBD) cause health damage, financial losses, and require direct intervention at the source of contamination, our aim was to carry out a clinical, epidemiological, and hygienic study of an outbreak of FBD, without the possibility of conducting a microbiological analysis. Design: A descriptive and case-control study. Location: Community of Munera, Albacete (Spain). Participants: Population composed of the attendees to three first communion celebrations. Main measurements: An epidemiological telephone survey was made, and crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated with confidence intervals of 95%. A multivariate logistic regression model, and restaurant health inspection were also performed. Results: 204 people exposed, 62 respondents (32 affected and 30 healthy); global infection rate: 51.6%, and incubation period: 33 hours; main symptoms: abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea; duration of disease: 38 hours. Statistical analysis showed associations with the consumption of three foodstuff. "Salad" crude OR 7.5 IC95(1.48-37.91), "Cuttlefish" crude OR 4.15 IC95(1,00-17.18) and "Seafood" crude OR 4.57 IC95(0.87-24.08). The adjusted-OR for the "Salad" is 5.41 IC95(1.00-29.23). The health inspection found the existence of deficiencies in structure, cleaning, disinfection and food handling training. Conclusions: The Salad was the only food statistically associated with the infection, but Cuttlefish and Seafood cannot be ruled out. Through sanitary inspection and Kaplan’s criteria, this can be classified as a Norovirus infection. Special performance measures were applied in the restaurant to prevent recurrence of the outbreak (AU)

Estudio de un brote poblacional de hepatitis A. Efectividad de la vacunación como medida de control / Study of a population outbreak of hepatitis A. Effectiveness of vaccination as a control measure

ObjetivoDescribir un brote de hepatitis A en la ciudad de Albacete y valorar la efectividad de las medidas de control adoptadas.MétodosConstatada la existencia del brote, se establecieron las definiciones de caso. Se recogieron los datos clínicos y epidemiológicos de los casos mediante encuesta. Se describió la distribución temporoespacial, mediante la localización de los casos y la curva epidémica. Se pusieron en marcha, como medidas de control y prevención inmediatas, la administración de inmunoglobulina (IG) y educación sanitaria a la población en riesgo.ResultadosDesde enero de 2005 a enero de 2006 se declararon 62 casos. Los grupos de edad más afectados fueron los escolares y los adultos jóvenes. El mecanismo de transmisión fue de persona a persona. La curva epidémica presenta dos periodos. Las medidas de control iniciales fueron higiénicas y administración de IG a los contactos; en el segundo periodo se complementaron con la vacunación contra la hepatitis A, administrada a los alumnos de los centros de enseñanza de los dos barrios inicialmente implicados. La extensión del brote a los barrios colindantes y la alarma social que ocasionó hicieron que se ampliara la vacunación a los centros de enseñanza próximos a aquellos en que se habían detectado casos. Después de la última vacunación, en enero de 2006, no se notificó ningún caso.ConclusionesEl uso de la vacuna postexposición frente al virus de la hepatitis A en la población escolar y los adultos jóvenes parece ser una medida efectiva para el control de un brote (AU)

ObjectiveTo describe an outbreak of hepatitis A in the city of Albacete (Spain) and to assess the effectiveness of the control measures implemented.MethodsWhen the outbreak was noted, definitions of a case were established. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected through a survey. The temporal-spatial distribution was identified through mapping and the epidemic curve. Health education and immunoglobulin (IG) administration were conducted as immediate prevention and control measures in the population at risk.ResultsFrom January 2005 to January 2006, 62 cases were reported. The most affected age groups were school children and young adults. Transmission was person to person. The epidemic curve was divided into two periods. Initial control measures consisted of hygiene measures and IG administration to contacts. In the second period, these measures were complemented with vaccination against hepatitis A in students of the school centers of the two neighborhoods initially involved. Due to public alarm and spread of the outbreak to adjacent neighborhoods, vaccination was extended to schools close to those where cases had been detected. No cases were notified after the last vaccination in January 2006.ConclusionsThe use of vaccination after exposure to the hepatitis A virus in young adults and the school population seems to be an effective outbreak control measure (AU)

[Study of a population outbreak of hepatitis A. Effectiveness of vaccination as a control measure]. / Estudio de un brote poblacional de hepatitis A. Efectividad de la vacunación como medida de control.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an outbreak of hepatitis A in the city of Albacete (Spain) and to assess the effectiveness of the control measures implemented. METHODS: When the outbreak was noted, definitions of a case were established. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected through a survey. The temporal-spatial distribution was identified through mapping and the epidemic curve. Health education and immunoglobulin (IG) administration were conducted as immediate prevention and control measures in the population at risk. RESULTS: From January 2005 to January 2006, 62 cases were reported. The most affected age groups were school children and young adults. Transmission was person to person. The epidemic curve was divided into two periods. Initial control measures consisted of hygiene measures and IG administration to contacts. In the second period, these measures were complemented with vaccination against hepatitis A in students of the school centers of the two neighborhoods initially involved. Due to public alarm and spread of the outbreak to adjacent neighborhoods, vaccination was extended to schools close to those where cases had been detected. No cases were notified after the last vaccination in January 2006. CONCLUSIONS: The use of vaccination after exposure to the hepatitis A virus in young adults and the school population seems to be an effective outbreak control measure.

[Clinical usefulness of biochemical markers of bone turnover in early postmenopausal women: two years longitudinal study]. / Utilidad clínica de los marcadores bioquímicos de remodelado óseo en la mujer posmenopáusica reciente: estudio longitudinal a 2 años.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Many studies have been performed on the ability of bone turnover markers (BTM) for the prediction of bone loss and to assess the correlation of BTM with bone mineral density (BMD). However, the results from these studies have been mixed. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of BTM to predict bone loss and to analize the correlation of BTM with BMD in early postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: 183 healthy women, aged 50 to 55 years, with natural menopause of 6 to 36 months were randomly selected. We measured bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), intact osteocalcine (OC) and C-telopeptide (sCTx) in serum, and calcium, deoxipiridinoline (DPD) and N-telopeptide (NTx) in urine. Bone densitometry of the spine (L(2)-L(4)) was performed at the start of the study and two years later. Student t test, ANOVA, chi2 test and ROC curves were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Bone markers, mainly OC and CTx, correlated with BMD and discriminated osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal bone mass (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curves, OC had a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 80.6% for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and sCTx, 83.3% and 74.5%, respectively. Regarding the relation to bone loss, only sCTx showed difference between the lowest and the highest quartile (p = 0.042), but we did not find an association between high turnover and fast bone losers. CONCLUSIONS: Bone markers, mainly OC and sCTx, are useful for identification of osteoporotic and osteopenic early postmenopausal women. However, regarding the bone loss, only CTx has a weak predictive value.

Utilidad clínica de los marcadores bioquímicos de remodelado óseo en la mujer posmenopáusica reciente: estudio longitudinal a 2 años / Clinical usefulness of biochemical markers of bone turnover in early postmenopausal women: two years longitudinal study

FUNDAMENTO Y OBJETIVO: Los estudios sobre la capacidad de los marcadores del remodelado óseo (MRO) para la predicción de la pérdida ósea y sobre la correlación de los MRO con la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) han mostrado resultados dispares. Los objetivos del trabajo han sido evaluarla utilidad de los MRO para predecir la pérdida de masa ósea y estudiar la correlación entre los MRO y la DMO en las mujeres posmenopáusicas recientes. SUJETOS Y MÉTODO: Seleccionamos al azar a 183 mujeres sanas de 50-55 años, con menopausia natural en los últimos 6-36 meses. En suero analizamos fosfatasa alcalina ósea (FAO), osteocalcinaintacta (OC) y C-telopéptido (sCTx), y en orina, calcio, de oxipiridinolina (DPD) y N-telopéptido (NTx). Realizamos una densitometría ósea (L2-L4) basal y otra de control a los 2 años. El análisis estadístico se ha hecho mediante la t de Student, ANOVA, prueba de X2 y curvas ROC. RESULTADOS: Los MRO correlacionaron con la DMO y permitieron diferenciar entre osteoporosis, osteopenia y masa ósea normal, principalmente OC y sCTx (p < 0,001). Según las curvas ROC, la OC tuvo una sensibilidad del 77,8% y una especificidad del 80,6% para el diagnóstico de osteoporosis, mientras que la de sCTx, fue del 83,3 y el 74,5%, respectivamente. En cuanto ala relación con la pérdida ósea, solamente hubo diferencia entre el cuartil inferior y el superior de sCTx (p = 0,042). No encontramos asociación entre recambio óseo alto y pérdidas rápidas de masa ósea. CONCLUSIONES: Los MRO son de utilidad para la identificación de mujeres posmenopáusicas recientes con osteoporosis y osteopenia, principalmente OC y sCTx, pero respecto a la pérdida ósea tan sólo sCTx tiene un valor predictivo débil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Many studies have been performed on the ability of bone turnover markers (BTM) for the prediction of bone loss and to assess the correlation of BTM with bone mineral density (BMD). However, the results from these studies have been mixed. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of BTM to predict bone loss and to analize the correlation of BTM with BMD in early postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: 183 healthy women, aged 50 to 55 years, with natural menopause of 6 to36 months were randomly selected. We measured bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), intact osteocalcine(OC) and C-telopeptide (sCTx) in serum, and calcium, de oxipiridinoline (DPD) and N-telopeptide (NTx) in urine. Bone densitometry of the spine (L2-L4) was performed at the start of the study and two years later. Student t test, ANOVA, X2 test and ROC curves were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Bone markers, mainly OC and CTx, correlated with BMD and discriminated osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal bone mass (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curves, OC had a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 80.6% for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and sCTx,83.3% and 74.5%, respectively. Regarding the relation to bone loss, only sCTx showed difference between the lowest and the highest quartile (p = 0.042), but we did not find an association between high turnover and fast bone losers. CONCLUSIONS: Bone markers, mainly OC and sCTx, are useful for identification of osteoporoticand osteopenic early postmenopausal women. However, regarding the bone loss, only CTx has a weak predictive value