SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in workers from a Colombian University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Antibody (Ab) tests for SARS-CoV-2 virus allows for the estimation of incidence, level of exposure and duration of immunity acquired by a previous infection. In health workers, the hospital setting might convey a greater risk of infection. AIMS: To describe the frequency of immunoglobulin G (IgG) Abs (IgG-Abs) to the SARS-CoV-2 virus among workers at a third-level university hospital in Colombia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included medical and non-medical personnel with at least one real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/antigen test between March 2020 and March 2021. In April 2021, an IgG-Ab test against SARS-CoV-2 was conducted for all participants and replicated 2 weeks later in a random sample (10%). The frequency of IgG-Abs is presented based on status (positive/negative) and time elapsed since RT-PCR/antigen test (<3 months, 3-6 months, >6 months). RESULTS: We included 1021 workers (80% women, median age 34 years (interquartile range 28-42), 73% medical personnel, 23% with previous positive RT-PCR/antigen). The overall seroprevalence was 35% (95% CI 31.6-37.4, 35% in medical and 33% in non-medical personnel). For those with a previous positive RT-PCR/antigen test, the seroprevalence was 90% (<3 months), 82% (3-6 months) and 48% (>6 months). In participants with a previous negative RT-PCR/antigen test, the seroprevalence was 17% (<3 months), 21% (3-6 months) and 29% (>6 months). CONCLUSIONS: High IgG-Ab positivity was found in hospital personnel, regardless of work activities. The prevalence of detectable Abs differed by previous RT-PCR/antigen status and time elapsed since the diagnostic test.

Eficacia y seguridad de la Piperacilina - Tazobactam en el tratamiento de la infección intraabdominal en Colombia / Eficacy and security of piperacillin - Tazobactam in the treatment of intraabdominal infection in Colombia

La infeccion intraabdominal (IIA) es un reto para el cirujano. El tratamiento consiste en la combinacion de cirugia, antibioticos y cuidado intensivo. Los antibioticos Beta-3- lactámicos juegan un papel importante en el tratamiento. Las penicilinas tienen un gran potencial de accion y, en combinacion con inhibidores de Beta-lactamasas, su poder se aumenta. El presente estudio se diseñó multicentrico y prospectivo para evaluar la eficacia de la Piperacilina/Tazobactam (Tazocin,) en el tratamiento de la IIA; 40 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio y tratados con Piperacilina/Tazobactam (4 g/500 mg) cada 8 horas. Todos los pacientes tuvieron peritonitis, 85 por ciento de ellos por causa de apendicitis gangrenosa perforada. La respuesta clinica favorable ocurrio en 97 por ciento de los casos despues de tratamiento con duracion entre 6 y 14 dias. En 71 aislamientos microbiológicos realizados, prevalecio la flora polimicrobiana. Piperacilina/ Tazobactam tuvo una sensibilidad de 93 por ciento para los germenes aislados aerobicos Gram negativos y Gram positivos asi como para anaerobios. Hubo tres cepas resistentes in vitro en los 71 aislamientos: una cepa de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, una cepa de Klebsiella pneumoniae y otra de Citrobacter freundii. La medicacion fue bien tolerada y sus efectos colaterales nulos.

Long-term evolution and growth patterns in a family with Bartter's syndrome.

The five-year evolution of three siblings of a sibship affected by a combined potassium and magnesium wasting abnormality associated with hypocalciuria is presented. Fractional distal chloride reabsorption was low. A number of therapeutic measures were attempted with partial or no success. Consequently, patients were kept on oral potassium and magnesium supplementation only. Special attention was paid to nutritional status. Although the three girls maintained a plasma potassium range of 2.6 to 3 meq/l, sexual and mental maturation were not delayed. Growth remained within the lower limits of normality. Considering the poor results obtained from treatment and the side-effects, we conclude that this long-term approach is sound, at least, in less severe cases of Bartter's syndrome.

[The transfer of critically ill patients]. / El traslado de pacientes en estado crítico.

Critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit or an emergency ward, frequently need to be transported to different areas within the hospital in order to perform diagnostic procedures. An increased mortality and morbidity risk has been found associated with the transportation of these patients. In order to investigate the effect of the intra-hospitalary transport of our patients on their clinical status this study was conducted. We studied 12 patients admitted to the intensive care unit or the emergency ward; all were on mechanical-assisted ventilation and had been stable for at least six hours prior to transportation. Blood gas and hemodynamic measurements were obtained before, immediately after and thirty minutes after transportation. The most significant changes seen immediately in our patients were an increase in PaCO2 (30.8 +/- 7.35 vs 35.6 +/- 7.49, p less than 0.02) and a decrease in pH (7.36 +/- 0.08 vs 7.31 +/- 0.05, p less than 0.02). Patients with higher pH values prior to their transportation had the most significant change towards acidosis (r = -0.79). All changes reversed thirty minutes after reinstallation of the mechanical ventilation. There was no change in the hemodynamic measurements. We conclude that the transportation of critically ill patients within a hospital is fairly safe if patients are previously stabilized.

Oxalate, silicon and vanadium in acquired cystic kidney disease.

We have investigated the importance of several clinical and laboratory parameters on the development of acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) as detected by ultrasonography in 19 patients who had received dialysis therapy for at least three years. We were particularly interested on the possible effect of the serum levels of oxalate and silicon, which can produce tubular obstruction, and that of vanadium, which can affect cell proliferation. The severity of ACKD increased with the duration of dialysis and was greater in men than in women. Positive correlations were observed between the grades of ACKD and the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and parathyroid hormone, while there was a negative correlation between ACKD and serum ferritin levels. The serum levels of oxalate, silicon, and vanadium, pre- and postdialysis, were markedly and significantly higher than those in normal controls, but there was no significant correlation between these levels and the duration of dialysis therapy or severity of ACKD. The pre- and postdialysis levels of vanadium were not significantly different, while the levels of oxalate and silicon were significantly lower in the postdialysis samples. No significant correlations were detected between ACKD and age of the patients, blood pressure, protein catabolic rate, efficiency of dialysis index, or the serum levels of iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, aluminum, and beta 2-microglobulin.

Factors contributing to relapse in rigidly fixed mandibular setbacks.

The incidence of, and factors accounting for, relapse in 25 subjects who underwent mandibular setbacks via a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy with rigid fixation were studied. Fourteen had single-jaw operations, and the remaining 11 had concomitant maxillary procedures. Cephalometric radiographs were reviewed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 6 months to 3 years after surgery. Relapse was defined as forward movement of pogonion during the postoperative period. No difference in the movement of the mandible in one- or two-jaw cases was noted. Even with excellent occlusal results, there was a tendency for the mandible (chin point) to rotate forward. In the one-jaw cases 43.7% relapse was noted, whereas 53.4% was seen in the two-jaw cases. A regression analysis showed that the magnitude of setback was the single factor that significantly predicted relapse in one-jaw cases, whereas alteration of the proximal segment accounted for relapse in two-jaw procedures. These results seem interrelated when considering alterations in the spatial arrangement of the muscular tissues and their attachments.

Serum ferritin in haemodialysis.

A rapid assay for serum ferritin was performed in old and new patients undergoing regular dialysis treatment. The mean values were higher in the patients, especially the older patients, than in the controls. The normal differences in serum ferritin with age and sex were absent in the patients. We attribute these changes to iron loss and multiple transfusions received. Tissue iron was well reflected by serum ferritin concentration even during iron treatment, unless the intravenous route was used. Although an acceptable rise of serum ferritin was obtained, results of the iron administration have been poor.