Development and Performance of Dengue Diagnostic Clinical Algorithms in Colombia.

Diagnosing dengue in endemic areas remains problematic because of the low specificity of the symptoms and lack of accurate diagnostic tests. This study aimed to develop and prospectively validate, under routine care, dengue diagnostic clinical algorithms. The study was carried out in two phases. First, diagnostic algorithms were developed using a database of 1,130 dengue and 918 non-dengue patients, expert opinion, and literature review. Algorithms with > 70% sensitivity were prospectively validated in a single-group quasi-experimental trial with an adaptive Bayesian design. In the first phase, the algorithms that were developed with the continuous Bayes formula and included leukocytes and platelet counts, in addition to selected signs and symptoms, showed the highest sensitivities (> 80%). In the second phase, the algorithms were applied on admission to 1,039 consecutive febrile subjects in three endemic areas in Colombia of whom 25 were laboratory-confirmed dengue, 307 non-dengue, 514 probable dengue, and 193 undetermined. Including parameters of the hemogram consistently improved specificity without affecting sensitivity. In the final analysis, considering only confirmed dengue and non-dengue cases, an algorithm with a sensitivity and specificity of 65.4% (95% credibility interval 50-83) and 40.1% (34.7-45.7) was identified. All tested algorithms had likelihood ratios close to 1, and hence, they are not useful to confirm or rule out dengue in endemic areas. The findings support the use of hemograms to aid dengue diagnosis and highlight the challenges of clinical diagnosis of dengue.

Verificación de la lista de chequeo para seguridad en cirugía desde la perspectiva del paciente / Checklist verification for surgery safety from the patient’s perspective

Introducción: La campaña «Cirugía segura salva vidas¼ de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), basada en la lista de verificación, busca mejorar la seguridad de las cirugías. El Hospital General de Medellín (HGM) implemento la lista de chequeo en junio de 2009. Objetivo: Describir la aplicación de la lista de verificación en cirugía de la OMS, a partir de ítems verificables por el paciente, y describir el comportamiento de eventos adversos antes y después de implementar la lista de verificación en el HGM (Colombia). Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes de cirugía mayor del HGM atendidos en febrero y marzo de 2011. Se preguntó por aspectos de la lista, verificables por el paciente, y por la percepción de seguridad en este hospital. Se comparó el número de eventos adversos en cirugía antes y después de la implementación de la lista de verificación. Resultados: Un total de 246 pacientes aceptaron participar en el estudio. Los ítems de la lista de verificación se cumplieron en más del 90%, según los pacientes. El ítem de menor cumplimiento (86%) fue el de la presentación completa de los miembros del equipo quirúrgico, incluidas sus funciones. El 97% de los pacientes recomendaron este hospital para intervenciones quirúrgicas. Se observó una reducción de los eventos adversos en cirugía luego de la implementación de la lista de verificación (7,26% en 2009 vs. 3,29% en 2010). Conclusiones: La aplicación de la lista de verificación de la OMS se cumple en el HGM. La incidencia de eventos adversos disminuyó con su implementación.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Saves Lives Campaign based on the checklist is aimed at improving surgical safety. The Hospital General de Medellin (HGM) implemented the checklist in June 2009. Objective: To describe the application of WHO's surgical checklist based on patient-verifiable items and to describe the behavior of adverse events, before and after the implementation of the checklist at the HGM (Colombia). Methods: Cross-sectional study. All major surgery patients of the HGM operated on between February and March 2011 were included. Questions were addressed on patient-verifiable aspects on the checklist and about the perception of safety about the hospital. The number of surgical adverse events prior to, and after the implementation of the checklist, was compared. Results: 246 patients agreed to take part in the trial. According to the patients over 90% of the items on the checklist were complied with. The lowest performing item (86%) was the complete introduction of the surgical team members and their roles. 97% of the patients recommended this hospital for surgical procedures. A decline in the number of adverse events following the implementation of the checklist was observed (7.26% in 2009 vs. 3.29% in 2010). Conclusions: The HGM administers the WHO checklist. The incidence of adverse events decreased following its implementation.

Prevalencia de sintomáticos respiratorios en instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud de Bogotá, D.C., junio de 2005 a marzo de 2006 / Prevalence of respiratory symptomatic in health institutions of Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. Una de las mayores dificultades en el control de la tuberculosis es la detección tardía de casos, lo que obedece, entre otros motivos, a la poca búsqueda activa de casos sintomáticos respiratorios entre los consultantes y al reducido número de baciloscopias ordenados por el personal de salud. Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de casos sintomáticos respiratorios entre usuarios de la red de prestadores de servicios de salud de Bogotá mayores de 15 años, y la proporción a quienes se les solicita baciloscopia de manera oportuna.Materiales y métodos. Se trató de una encuesta transversal en una muestra probabilística, estratificada, multietápica, de conglomerados sin reemplazo, de 113 instituciones de salud y 3.710 usuarios. Se hizo seguimiento telefónico y revisión de registros de laboratorio para saber a quiénes se les solicitó baciloscopia en la consulta médica. Resultados. La prevalencia de casos sintomáticos respiratorios en instituciones de salud de Bogotá entre junio de 2 005 y marzo de 2006 fue de 7,49% (IC95% 6,40-8,59), y fue mayor en instituciones públicas (9,48%) (IC95% 8,04-10,92), en instituciones de primer nivel (8,61%) (IC95% 7,40-9,82), en mayores de 60 años (15,79%) (IC95% 12,36-19,23) y en personas afiliadas al Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (7,57%) (IC95% 6,42-8,72). No se solicitó baciloscopia al 47% de los casos sintomáticos respiratorios.Conclusiones. La proporción de casos sintomáticos respiratorios estimada en este estudio con alta precisión (menos de 2% de error estándar relativo), es la cifra más actualizada en Colombia y permite hacer inferencias para las instituciones prestadoras de salud de Bogotá, dada la expansión de la muestra. Se podrán ajustar las metas del programa de control de la tuberculosis en Bogotá, cuya base hasta ahora es un estudio de 1977 (prevalencia de 10%). Es importante sensibilizar al personal médico para la búsqueda de casos de tuberculosis mediante baciloscopias.

Introduction. One of the greatest challenges in tuberculosis control is the early detection of cases. Detection is hindered by low level of active search for respiratory symptoms by health consultants and the small number of tubercular smear tests ordered by health personnel. Objective. The prevalence of individuals with respiratory symptoms was estimated in Bogotá Health Service Institutions, along with the proportion of those receiving diagnostic baciloscopies (smear or culture tests). Materials and methods. A cross sectional survey was carried out in 113 health service institutions located in the city of Bogotá, involved 3,170 users and covered a 10-month period between June 2005 and March 2006. Sampling design was based on a probabilistic, stratified, multistage, cluster–without-replacement strategy. A telephone follow-up and review of laboratory registers was done to identify symptomatic individuals for whom baciloscopy was requested.Results. The prevalence of symptomatic individuals was 7.5% (95%CI 6.4-8.6%). A higher prevalence occurred in public institutions, 9.5% (95%CI 8.0-10.9%), in institutions of first level, 8.6% (95%CI 7.4-9.8), in persons ≥60 years of age 15.8% (95%CI 12.4-19.2%) and in health users with social security, 7.6% (95% CI 6.4-8.7%). In 47% of symptomatic cases, a baciloscopic procedures were not ordered. Conclusions. The study updated the prevalence of respiratory symptomatic individuals in Colombia and due to the large sample size (and small confidence interval), inferences can be generalized to the entire health service system in Bogotá. The current tuberculosis program goals in Bogotá require adjustment based on the current prevalence of 7.5% compared with a 1977 estimate of 10%.. The study recommends an awareness program for physicians to use TB diagnostic tests in suspect cases.

[Prevalence of respiratory symptomatic in health institutions of Bogotá, Colombia]. / Prevalencia de sintomáticos respiratorios en instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud de Bogotá, D.C., junio de 2005 a marzo de 2006.

INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest challenges in tuberculosis control is the early detection of cases. Detection is hindered by low level of active search for respiratory symptoms by health consultants and the small number of tubercular smear tests ordered by health personnel. OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of individuals with respiratory symptoms was estimated in Bogotá Health Service Institutions, along with the proportion of those receiving diagnostic baciloscopies (smear or culture tests). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional survey was carried out in 113 health service institutions located in the city of Bogotá, involved 3,170 users and covered a 10-month period between June 2005 and March 2006. Sampling design was based on a probabilistic, stratified, multistage, cluster-without-replacement strategy. A telephone follow-up and review of laboratory registers was done to identify symptomatic individuals for whom baciloscopy was requested. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptomatic individuals was 7.5% (95%CI 6.4-8.6%). A higher prevalence occurred in public institutions, 9.5% (95%CI 8.0-10.9%), in institutions of first level, 8.6% (95%CI 7.4-9.8), in persons ≥ 60 years of age 15.8% (95%CI 12.4-19.2%) and in health users with social security, 7.6% (95% CI 6.4-8.7%). In 47% of symptomatic cases, a baciloscopic procedures were not ordered. CONCLUSIONS: The study updated the prevalence ofrespiratory symptomatic individuals in Colombia and due to the large sample size (and small confidence interval), inferences can be generalized to the entire health service system in Bogotá. The current tuberculosis program goals in Bogotá require adjustment based on the current prevalence of 7.5% compared with a 1977 estimate of 10%.. The study recommends an awareness program for physicians to use TB diagnostic tests in suspect cases.

Surveillance and screening of American cutaneous leishmaniasis by Colombian primary health care workers using a clinical prediction rule.

Confirmed cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and other dermatological diseases were evaluated in Colombia with a clinical prediction rule independently by 3 types of evaluators: community health volunteer (CHV), practical nurse (PN) and programme physician (PP). The adapted prediction rule included 6 variables based upon clinical-historical information. The screening instrument was a rotating tower of coloured squares, one colour for each variable. A score ranging from 0 to 7, and a cutoff point of > or = 4 was selected for ACL classification (sensitivity 94.3%, specificity 53.3% and efficiency 80.3%). Disease classification, total score, and variable-specific score obtained by CHVs and PNs were compared to those obtained by a PP. The impact on case detection in the study area was assessed. Both types of primary health worker had a high agreement with the PP (sensitivity) on the classification of patients with ACL by score, CHV (92.3%) and PN (93.3%). Case detection of ACL increased 3-fold over that observed one year earlier. This screening instrument and prediction rule, when incorporated into a community surveillance programme for ACL, can facilitate greater case detection and appropriate referral for more-specific diagnostic procedures.