Acute Hepatitis in Children Due to Rat Hepatitis E Virus.

Two of 11 children with acute hepatitis of unknown origin were found to have rat hepatitis E virus infection. This infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with acute hepatitis of unknown origin.

Hepatitis C virus point-of-care microelimination approach in a vulnerable population in the South of Spain.

Background: Since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, thousands of chronic hepatitis C patients have been successfully treated. However, vulnerable populations have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and face barriers that impede their access to antivirals. We carried out an HCV microelimination program focused on vulnerable population groups in Malaga. Methods: People in drug addiction treatment centers and homeless shelters in Malaga who participated in the program between October 2020 and October 2021 were included. After providing participants with educational information on HCV, a dry drop test (DDT) was used to collect blood for subsequent screening for HCV infection. The participants who were diagnosed with HCV infection were scheduled for comprehensive healthcare assessments, including blood tests, ultrasonography, elastography, and the prescription of antivirals, all conducted in a single hospital visit. Sustained viral response (SVR) was analysed 12 weeks after end of treatment. Results: Of the 417 persons invited to participate, 271 (65%) agreed to participate in the program. These participants were screened for HCV infection and 28 of them were diagnosed with HCV infection (10%). These hepatitis C-infected patients had a mean age of 53 ± 9 years; 86% were males and 93% were or had been drug users. Among 23 patients with HCV infection, HCV genotype 1a predominated (74%). Medical exams showed that 19% (4/21) had advanced fibrosis (F3-4), and 5% (1/21) had portal hypertension. Finally, 23 infected patients received treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and SVR was confirmed in 22 patients (96%). Conclusions: Drug users and homeless people have a higher prevalence of HCV infection than the general population. The microelimination program with educational activity and screening tools achieved a high participation rate, easy healthcare access, and a high rate of SVR despite the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Towards the elimination of hepatitis C: implementation of reflex testing in Andalusia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and/or inadequate access to care are barriers to the elimination of HCV. Reflex testing has proven to facilitate referral to care, treatment and viral elimination. In this study, a reflex testing program was implemented in Andalusia and its impact on access to care was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: an observational, retrospective and prospective study was performed across diagnostic laboratories responsible for HCV diagnosis in southern Spain. After surveying the barriers to performing reflex testing, the number of patients that were not referred for care in 2016 was retrospectively studied (pre-reflex cohort). Subsequently, several measures were proposed to overcome the identified barriers. Finally, reflex testing was implemented and its impact evaluated. RESULTS: the pre-reflex cohort included information from 1,053 patients. Slightly more than half of the patients (n = 580; 55%) visited a specialist for treatment evaluation during a median period of 71 days (interquartile range = 35-134) since the date of diagnosis. The post-reflex cohort (September 2017 to March 2018) included 623 patients. Only 17% (n = 106) of the patients had not been referred for care or evaluated for treatment in a median period of 52 days (interquartile range = 28-86). CONCLUSIONS: in 2016, nearly half of new HCV diagnoses in southern Spain were not referred for care. Barriers to the implementation of reflex testing were overcome in our study. Moreover, this strategy was effectively implemented in 2017. Reflex testing contributed to improving referral for care. This program will contribute to the micro-elimination of hepatitis C in Spain

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Mutaciones de la región precore, promotor basal del core y polimerasa viral en pacientes con hepatitis B crónica / Mutations in precore/basal core promoter regions and viral polymerase in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Introducción Las variaciones del gen C originan las mutaciones precore y las core, que influyen en la producción de AgHBe. El fallo en los tratamientos antivirales se debe a la presencia de las variaciones en el gen P, que originan las mutaciones de la polimerasa viral. Método Hemos realizado estudio genotípico del VHB mediante secuenciación del gen P, y del gen C en pacientes con hepatitis crónica por virus B durante un periodo de cinco años. Resultados El 75% presentaron alguna mutación en la región precore, core o en ambas. El 37% mostró mutaciones de resistencia al tratamiento antiviral. Los genotipos más frecuentes fueron el A y el D. Conclusiones La presencia de mutaciones core/precore en pacientes con hepatitis crónica hace obligado un control más estrecho de estos enfermos. La detección de resistencias debe hacerse lo más rápido posible antes de que se produzca un aumento de la carga viral (AU)

Background Variations of C gene give rise to precore and basal core mutations, which influence HBeAg expression The antiviral treatment failure is due to the presence of variations in the gene P, which cause mutations in the viral polymerase. Methods We performed genotyping of HBV P gene by sequencing, and gene C in patients with chronic hepatitis B over a period of five years. Results A total of 75% of the patients had some mutation in precore or in basal core promoter regions, and 37% demonstrated resistance mutations to antiviral treatment. The most frequent genotypes were A and D. Conclusions The presence of mutations in core/precore regions in patients with chronic hepatitis has led to tighter control of these patients. Detecting for resistance should be done as quickly as possible before there is an increase in viral load(AU)

Prevalencia de mutaciones de resistencia primaria en los nuevos diagnósticos de infección por el VIH en la provincia de Málaga / Prevalence of primary resistance mutations in patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection in the province of Málaga (Spain)

Introducción. La prevalencia de mutaciones primarias de resistencia varía según los estudios. Analizamos dicha prevalencia, así como los subtipos del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en nuestra área. Métodos. Estudio prospectivo en el que se realiza un test genotípico (Trugene HIV-1 genotyping kit; Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics) de resistencias e identificación del subtipo de VIH a todos los pacientes diagnosticados de infección por VIH en la provincia de Málaga durante el año 2005. Resultados. Se diagnosticaron 172 casos, 6 de ellos seroconversores recientes. Presentaron mutaciones de resistencia el 7,8% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 3,5; 12,0%) de los 153 pacientes en los que se pudo tener un test genotípico (6 a los inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa no análogos de los nucleósidos [ITINAN], 4 a los inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa análogos de los nucleósidos [ITIAN], y 3 a los inhibidores de la proteasa [IP]). El 81,8% de los pacientes tenían subtipo B del VIH y el 18,1% no B (51,8% de ellos eran subsaharianos en los que la prevalencia de este subtipo fue del 73,6%). Entre los pacientes europeos sólo los españoles presentaron subtipo no B (prevalencia del 7,7%). El único factor que se asoció con mutaciones de resistencia fue la seroconversión (odds ratio [OR]: 9,2; IC 95%: 1,3-61,9; p < 0,02). Conclusiones. La prevalencia de mutaciones de resistencia en pacientes con nuevo diagnóstico de infección por el VIH en la provincia de Málaga no es despreciable, y la seroconversión es el único factor que se asoció a su presencia. Destaca la alta prevalencia de VIH subtipo no B en la población española. Con estos datos se debe recomendar la realización de tests genotípicos de resistencia en todos los nuevos diagnósticos de nuestra área (AU)

Introduction. The reported prevalence of primary resistance mutations differs between studies. An analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of primary resistance mutations and HIV subtypes in our area. Methods. Prospective study performed in all patients diagnosed with HIV in the year 2005 in the province of Malaga (Spain). Plasma samples from these patients were tested for genotypic resistance (TruGene HIV-1 genotyping kit; Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics) and HIV subtype. Results. A total of 172 cases were diagnosed, 6 of them recent seroconvertors. Genotype resistance testing disclosed resistance mutations in 7.8% (95% CI 3.5-12.0%) of 153 patients in which it was performed (6 to NNRTIs, 4 to NRTIs, and 3 to PIs). HIV subtype was B in 81.8% of patients, and non-B in 18.1% (51.8% of them of sub-Saharan origin, in whom the prevalence of this subtype was 73.6%). Among European patients, only those from Spain presented the non-B subtype (prevalence 7.4%). The only factor related with the presence of resistance mutations was seroconversion (OR 9.2; 95% CI 1.3-61.9; P < .02). Conclusions. There was a considerable prevalence of primary resistance mutations in patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection in Malaga province, with seroconversion being the only related factor. The high prevalence of the non-B HIV subtype in the Spanish population is noteworthy. Genotype resistance testing is recommendable in all newly diagnosed HIV patients in our area (AU)

Evolución temporal de la tuberculosis e infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en la población atendida por un hospital de Málaga / Course of tuberculosis and HIV infection in the population attended at a Málaga hospital

Fundamento: Analizar la incidencia de enfermedad tuberculosa y de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), así como la coinfección de ambas, en un período de 6 años a partir de muestras remitidas al laboratorio de un hospital de tercer nivel. Material y métodos: Entre 1993 y 1998 se procesaron 21.242 muestras para diagnóstico de micobacterias y 63.425 para detectar anticuerpos frente a VIH. El protocolo seguido para el diagnóstico de micobacterias fue: baciloscopia mediante tinción de Ziehl-Neelsen, cultivo en Löwenstein-Jensen, hemocultivos e identificación por tests bioquímicos y sondas de ADN. El diagnóstico de la infección por VIH se realizó mediante ELISA mixto VIH 1 + 2 y Western-blot como confirmatorio. Para estudiar la tendencia utilizamos el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. Resultados: Se detectaron 1.613 muestras positivas (7,5 por ciento) para micobacterias, pertenecientes a 556 enfermos (428 varones y 98 mujeres) con edades entre 31 y 40 años (46,9 por ciento). La incidencia máxima de tuberculosis se alcanzó en 1995 (49,2 * 105), seguida de una tendencia lineal decreciente. El 96 por ciento de los aislados eran Mycobacterium tuberculosis y el 2,7 por ciento M. bovis. Encontramos 2.295 pacientes (3,6 por ciento) con infección por VIH (1.889 varones y 406 mujeres). Entre los 21-40 años se encontraron el 54,1 por ciento de los infectados. La incidencia fue máxima en 1994, siguiendo un descenso significativo (p < 0,05). El porcentaje de pacientes con tuberculosis coinfectados por VIH fue del 39,7 por ciento, alcanzando el máximo en 1995 y disminuyendo hasta la actualidad. Conclusiones: La incidencia de ambas infecciones, así como la coinfección, fueron muy elevadas en el primer trienio, seguido de un descenso progresivo, precediendo la disminución de la infección por el VIH a la tuberculosis. Los resultados sugieren una posible relación epidemiológica entre estas infecciones (AU)