Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) clones from Paraguayan children.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus is considered one of the most important human pathogens, and its levels of resistance to methicillin have increased even in strains isolated from people without nosocomial risk factors. Molecular analysis is essential for understanding the patterns of dissemination. The objective of this study was to identify community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) clones that infected Paraguayan children patients in two periods of time. METHODOLOGY: An observational, descriptive study was designed to determine the genetic variability of 115 isolates of CA-MRSA recovered from children who attended four reference centers in Paraguay between 2009-2010 and 2012-2013. RESULTS: The combined use of Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), Multi-Locus Sequencing Typing, Multi-Locus Variable Analysis (MLVA) and Spa typing techniques allowed the identification of two dominant clones: ST30-IV-t019 (77%) and ST5-IV-t311 (10%), and the establishment of the former as the leading cause of CA-MRSA infections in children during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that provides epidemiological information as well as microbiological and molecular characteristics of CA-MRSA isolates recovered from children from Asunción and the Central Department of Paraguay.

Severity of Pneumonia in Under 5-Year-Old Children from Developing Countries: A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children. The objectives were to evaluate the microbiological agents linked with hypoxemia in hospitalized children with pneumonia from developing countries, to identify predictors of hypoxemia, and to characterize factors associated with in-hospital mortality. A multicenter, observational study was conducted in five hospitals, from India (Lucknow, Vadu), Madagascar (Antananarivo), Mali (Bamako), and Paraguay (San Lorenzo). Children aged 2-60 months with radiologically confirmed pneumonia were enrolled prospectively. Respiratory and whole blood specimens were collected, identifying viruses and bacteria by real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Microbiological agents linked with hypoxemia at admission (oxygen saturation < 90%) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, and factors associated with 14-day in-hospital mortality were assessed by bivariate Cox regression. Overall, 405 pneumonia cases (3,338 hospitalization days) were analyzed; 13 patients died within 14 days of hospitalization. Hypoxemia prevalence was 17.3%. Detection of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in respiratory samples was independently associated with increased risk of hypoxemia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.0-5.8 and aOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1-5.3, respectively). Lower chest indrawing and cyanosis were predictive of hypoxemia (positive likelihood ratios = 2.3 and 2.4, respectively). Predictors of death were Streptococcus pneumoniae detection by blood PCR (crude hazard ratio [cHR] = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.5-14.0), procalcitonin ≥ 50 ng/mL (cHR = 22.4, 95% CI = 7.3-68.5) and hypoxemia (cHR = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.6-14.4). These findings were consistent on bivariate analysis. hMPV and RSV in respiratory samples were linked with hypoxemia, and S. pneumoniae in blood was associated with increased risk of death among hospitalized children with pneumonia in developing countries.

Global, regional, and national disease burden estimates of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children in 2015: a systematic review and modelling study.

BACKGROUND: We have previously estimated that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was associated with 22% of all episodes of (severe) acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) resulting in 55 000 to 199 000 deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2005. In the past 5 years, major research activity on RSV has yielded substantial new data from developing countries. With a considerably expanded dataset from a large international collaboration, we aimed to estimate the global incidence, hospital admission rate, and mortality from RSV-ALRI episodes in young children in 2015. METHODS: We estimated the incidence and hospital admission rate of RSV-associated ALRI (RSV-ALRI) in children younger than 5 years stratified by age and World Bank income regions from a systematic review of studies published between Jan 1, 1995, and Dec 31, 2016, and unpublished data from 76 high quality population-based studies. We estimated the RSV-ALRI incidence for 132 developing countries using a risk factor-based model and 2015 population estimates. We estimated the in-hospital RSV-ALRI mortality by combining in-hospital case fatality ratios with hospital admission estimates from hospital-based (published and unpublished) studies. We also estimated overall RSV-ALRI mortality by identifying studies reporting monthly data for ALRI mortality in the community and RSV activity. FINDINGS: We estimated that globally in 2015, 33·1 million (uncertainty range [UR] 21·6-50·3) episodes of RSV-ALRI, resulted in about 3·2 million (2·7-3·8) hospital admissions, and 59 600 (48 000-74 500) in-hospital deaths in children younger than 5 years. In children younger than 6 months, 1·4 million (UR 1·2-1·7) hospital admissions, and 27 300 (UR 20 700-36 200) in-hospital deaths were due to RSV-ALRI. We also estimated that the overall RSV-ALRI mortality could be as high as 118 200 (UR 94 600-149 400). Incidence and mortality varied substantially from year to year in any given population. INTERPRETATION: Globally, RSV is a common cause of childhood ALRI and a major cause of hospital admissions in young children, resulting in a substantial burden on health-care services. About 45% of hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths due to RSV-ALRI occur in children younger than 6 months. An effective maternal RSV vaccine or monoclonal antibody could have a substantial effect on disease burden in this age group. FUNDING: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Microorganisms Associated With Pneumonia in Children <5 Years of Age in Developing and Emerging Countries: The GABRIEL Pneumonia Multicenter, Prospective, Case-Control Study.

Background: Pneumonia, the leading infectious cause of child mortality globally, mainly afflicts developing countries. This prospective observational study aimed to assess the microorganisms associated with pneumonia in children aged <5 years in developing and emerging countries. Methods: A multicenter, case-control study by the GABRIEL (Global Approach to Biological Research, Infectious diseases and Epidemics in Low-income countries) network was conducted between 2010 and 2014 in Cambodia, China, Haiti, India (2 sites), Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, and Paraguay. Cases were hospitalized children with radiologically confirmed pneumonia; controls were children from the same setting without any features suggestive of pneumonia. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from all subjects; 19 viruses and 5 bacteria were identified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Associations between microorganisms and pneumonia were quantified by calculating the adjusted population attributable fraction (aPAF) after multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, time period, other pathogens, and site. Results: Overall, 888 cases and 870 controls were analyzed; ≥1 microorganism was detected in respiratory samples in 93.0% of cases and 74.4% of controls (P < .001). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus 1, 3, and 4, and influenza virus A and B were independently associated with pneumonia; aPAF was 42.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.5%-48.2%) for S. pneumoniae, 18.2% (95% CI, 17.4%-19.0%) for RSV, and 11.2% (95% CI, 7.5%-14.7%) for rhinovirus. Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae, RSV, and rhinovirus may be the major microorganisms associated with pneumonia infections in children <5 years of age from developing and emerging countries. Increasing S. pneumoniae vaccination coverage may substantially reduce the burden of pneumonia among children in developing countries.

Estandarización del análisis multi-locus de número variable de repeticiones en tándem para el estudio de staphylococcus aureus resistentes a meticilina aislados de la comunidad en Paraguay / Multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeat analysis standardization for community isolates methicilineresistant staphylococcus aureus study in Paraguay

Staphylococcus aureus es un patógeno capaz de causar infecciones con amplio rango de severidad y adaptarse a diferentes tejidos. Su epidemiología es compleja, por circulación de cientos de clones a nivel mundial, lo que requiere de métodos moleculares reproducibles y de alto poder discriminatorio para la identificación de los mismos. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo principal la estandarización del análisis multi-locus de número variable de repeticiones en tándem (MLVA) para análisis de variabilidad genética de aislados de S. aureus previamente tipificados por electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado (PFGE), gold standard para tipificación de aislados. La MLVA se realizó por amplificación de 7 locus VNTR (clfA, clfB, sdrC, sdrD, sdrE, sspA y spA) por PCR. Se alcanzó un alto nivel de reproducibilidad. El empleo de cepas previamente tipificadas por análisis de secuencias multi-locus (MLST), PFGE, locus spa y cassette SCCmec, permitió validar de forma comparativa el agrupamiento generado por MLVA. Los aislados que fueron agrupados como idénticos por MLVA presentaron resultados congruentes con la totalidad de las otras técnicas moleculares y esta demostró ser más sensible que PFGE para distinguir entre aislados que presentaron patrones PFGE idénticos. La MLVA cumple todos los criterios de un método de tipificación útil.

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen that can produce several infections with a wide range of severity and it has the ability to adapt to different tissues. The epidemiology is complex, due to circulation of many different clones worldwide, so the analysis for its identification requires reproducible and high discriminatory power molecular methods. The aim of this study was to standardize the molecular technique multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) for the genetic variability analysis of S. aureus isolates, previously characterized by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The MLVA was made by PCR amplification of seven VNTR locus (clfA, clfB, sdrC, sdrD, sdrE, sspA y spA). A high level of reproducibility has been reached in the study. The use of isolates previously typified by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), PFGE, locus spa and cassette SCCmec, allowed to validate the MLVA clusters comparatively. The isolates that were clustered by MLVA as the same isolate, showed the same results by other molecular techniques, and the MLVA can distinguish isolates with identical PFGE patterns. This technique meets all the criteria of a useful molecular typification technique.

Viral and bacterial co-infection in severe pneumonia triggers innate immune responses and specifically enhances IP-10: a translational study.

Mixed viral and bacterial infections are widely described in community-acquired pneumonia; however, the clinical implications of co-infection on the associated immunopathology remain poorly studied. In this study, microRNA, mRNA and cytokine/chemokine secretion profiling were investigated for human monocyte-derived macrophages infected in-vitro with Influenza virus A/H1N1 and/or Streptococcus pneumoniae. We observed that the in-vitro co-infection synergistically increased interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (CXCL10, IP-10) expression compared to the singly-infected cells conditions. We demonstrated that endogenous miRNA-200a-3p, whose expression was synergistically induced following co-infection, indirectly regulates CXCL10 expression by targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling-6 (SOCS-6), a well-known regulator of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Additionally, in a subsequent clinical pilot study, immunomodulators levels were evaluated in samples from 74 children (≤5 years-old) hospitalized with viral and/or bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. Clinically, among the 74 cases of pneumonia, patients with identified mixed-detection had significantly higher (3.6-fold) serum IP-10 levels than those with a single detection (P = 0.03), and were significantly associated with severe pneumonia (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that viral and bacterial co-infection modulates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and leads to exacerbated IP-10 expression, which could play a major role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia.

Staphylococcus aureus adquiridos en la comunidad: caracterización clínica, fenotípica y genotípica de aislados en niños paraguayos / Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Paraguayan children: clinical, phenotypic and genotypic characterization

Introduction: The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the community has increased, being the pediatric population the most affected. This fact highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance. Aim: To characterize clinical, phenotypic and genotypic isolates of S. aureus children’s samples with community-acquired infections, collected in hospitals of Asuncion and the Central Department, between November 2009 and December 2010. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and transverse analysis with analytical component. Clinical data collected by medical records, antibiotic susceptibility according to CLSI criteria and detection of mecA (encoding methicillin resistance) and luk-PV genes (encoding Panton Valentine leucocidin) by PCR using specific oligonucleotides. Results: 123 isolates of S. aureus, 76% came from skin and soft tissue infections and 20% from sepsis. 18.7% (n = 23) were resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The presence of the mecA gene, a variant there and the PVL was detected in 12.2 and 48 isolates respectively. 43% of MRSA (n = 10) was carrying luk-PV. The clinical and demographic differences between patients infected with MRSA or MSSA were not statistically significant. Discussion: This study constitutes the first phenotypic and genotypic characterization of S. aureus associated with pediatric patients in Paraguay.

Introducción: La prevalencia de infecciones por Staphylococcus aureus en la comunidad ha aumentado, siendo la población pediátrica la más afectada; poniendo de relieve la necesidad de una vigilancia epidemiológica. Objetivo: Caracterizar clínica, fenotípica y genotípicamente aislados de S. aureus de muestras de niños con infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad, recolectadas en hospitales de Asunción y el Departamento Central, entre noviembre de 2009 y diciembre de 2010. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte trasverso. Datos clínicos fueron recabados de fichas, la susceptibilidad a antimicrobianos se hizo según criterio del CLSI y la detección de genes mecA y luk-PV se realizó por RPC empleando oligonucleótidos específicos. Resultados: De 123 aislados de S. aureus, 76% provenían de infecciones de piel y tejidos blandos y 20% de pacientes con bacteriemias. 18,7% (n: 23) fueron resistentes a meticilina (SARM). Se detectó la presencia de genes mecA, una variante del mismo y luk-PV en 9,8%, 1,6 y 39% de los aislados, respectivamente. El 43% de los SARM (n: 10) fue portador de luk-PV. Las diferencias clínicas y demográficas entre pacientes infectados por SARM o SASM no fueron estadísticamente significativas. Discusión: Este estudio constituye la primera caracterización clínica, fenotípica y genotípica de S. aureus asociados a la comunidad en población pediátrica realizada en Paraguay.

[Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Paraguayan children: clinical, phenotypic and genotypic characterization]. / Staphylococcus aureus adquiridos en la comunidad: caracterización clínica, fenotípica y genotípica de aislados en niños paraguayos.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the community has increased, being the pediatric population the most affected. This fact highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance. AIM: To characterize clinical, phenotypic and genotypic isolates of S. aureus children's samples with community-acquired infections, collected in hospitals of Asuncion and the Central Department, between November 2009 and December 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive and transverse analysis with analytical component. Clinical data collected by medical records, antibiotic susceptibility according to CLSI criteria and detection of mecA (encoding methicillin resistance) and luk-PV genes (encoding Panton Valentine leucocidin) by PCR using specific oligonucleotides. RESULTS: 123 isolates of S. aureus, 76% came from skin and soft tissue infections and 20% from sepsis. 18.7% (n = 23) were resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The presence of the mecA gene, a variant there and the PVL was detected in 12.2 and 48 isolates respectively. 43% of MRSA (n = 10) was carrying luk-PV. The clinical and demographic differences between patients infected with MRSA or MSSA were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: This study constitutes the first phenotypic and genotypic characterization of S. aureus associated with pediatric patients in Paraguay.

En Dengue con signos de alarma ¿Podemos predecir evolución a grave desde la emergencia? / Can Progression to Severe Dengue in Dengue with Warning Signs Be Predicted in the Emergency Room?

Introducción: El dengue se ha convertido en un serio problema de salud pública en Paraguay. La existencia de factores clínicos o laboratoriales que puedan predecir la evolución de la enfermedad, durante su evaluación en los Servicios de Urgencias, puede favorecer la identificación temprana de individuos con mayor riesgo y así optimizar los recursos en época de epidemias. Objetivos: Determinar los factores de riesgo clínicos y laboratoriales de Dengue Grave (DG) al ingreso, en pacientes hospitalizados por Dengue con Signos de Alarma (DSA). Materiales y Métodos: Estudio de casos y controles, llevado a cabo en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital General Pediátrico "Niños de Acosta Ñu" de febrero a junio de 2012. Para identificar los aspectos asociados a la evolución a Dengue Grave se realizó el análisis univariado de las variables clínicas y laboratoriales al ingreso hospitalario. De las variables con significancia estadística se procedió al análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: 217 niños fueron incluidos, 57 casos de DG y 160 controles. La media de edad fue de 11 años (p: 0,719). Los días de enfermedad al ingreso fueron similares 3,4 versus 3,6 (p: 0,643). Presentó asociación con Dengue Grave: la hemoconcentración y descenso de plaquetas (OR: 3,3 IC 95% 2,0-11,3 p: 0,027) y el antecedente de vómitos (OR: 3,2 IC 95% 1,7-7,2 p: 0,007). Para la hemoconcentración y caída de plaquetas la sensibilidad fue del 26% y la especificidad 93%, VPP 57,7% y VPN 78%. La presencia de vómitos, tuvo una sensibilidad del 78,9% y especificidad del 48,8%, con un VPP 35,4% y VPN 86%. La extravasación se produjo entre el 3º y 6° día de enfermedad, media: 5,3 ± 0,9. Conclusiones: La hemoconcentración con descenso de plaquetas aumentó 3,3 veces la posibilidad de tener Dengue Grave cuando está presente, pero su ausencia no implicó que no lo desarrollarían. Ninguna de las variables permitió predecir con suficiente solvencia la evolución a Dengue Grave en el momento del ingreso hospitalario.

Introduction: Dengue has become a serious public health problem in Paraguay. Knowledge of clinical or laboratory test parameters that could predict progression of the disease during assessment in emergency services could improve early identification of individuals at greater risk and optimize use of resources during epidemics. Objectives: We sought to determine the clinical and laboratory test risk factors for severe dengue (SD) on admission in patients hospitalized for dengue with warning signs (DWS). Materials and Methods: We conducted a case-control study in the emergency department of the general pediatric hospital Niños de Acosta Ñu in Paraguay between February and June of 2012. Univariate analysis of clinical and laboratory test values at admission was done to identify characteristics associated with progression to severe dengue. Statistically significant variables were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Results: We included 217 children, 57 with SD and 160 controls with a mean age of 11 years (p= 0.719). Days of illness preceding admission were similar: 3.4 versus 3.6 (p= 0.643). Severe dengue was associated with hemoconcentration and decreased platelet count (OR: 3.3, CI 95% 2.0-11.3, p= 0.027) and a history of vomiting (OR: 3.2, CI 95% 1.7-7.2, p= 0.007). Sensitivity was 26% and sensitivity 93% for hemoconcentration and platelet decrease with a PPV of 57.7% and NPV of 78%. Vomiting showed a sensitivity of 78.9% and specificity of 48.8% with a PPV of 35.4% and NPV of 78%. Extravasation occurred between the third and sixth day of illness, with a mean of 5.3 ± 0.9. Conclusions: Hemoconcentration with decreased platelet count predicted a 3.3 times greater possibility of severe dengue, but its absence did not indicate that it would not occur. None of the associations allowed prediction of severe dengue at time of admission with sufficient certainty.

Multicenter case-control study protocol of pneumonia etiology in children: Global Approach to Biological Research, Infectious diseases and Epidemics in Low-income countries (GABRIEL network).

BACKGROUND: Data on the etiologies of pneumonia among children are inadequate, especially in developing countries. The principal objective is to undertake a multicenter incident case-control study of <5-year-old children hospitalized with pneumonia in developing and emerging countries, aiming to identify the causative agents involved in pneumonia while assessing individual and microbial factors associated with the risk of severe pneumonia. METHODS/DESIGN: A multicenter case-control study, based on the GABRIEL network, is ongoing. Ten study sites are located in 9 countries over 3 continents: Brazil, Cambodia, China, Haiti, India, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, and Paraguay. At least 1,000 incident cases and 1,000 controls will be enrolled and matched for age and date. Cases are hospitalized children <5 years with radiologically confirmed pneumonia, and the controls are children without any features suggestive of pneumonia. Respiratory specimens are collected from all enrolled subjects to identify 19 viruses and 5 bacteria. Whole blood from pneumonia cases is being tested for 3 major bacteria. S. pneumoniae-positive specimens are serotyped. Urine samples from cases only are tested for detection of antimicrobial activity. The association between procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and pathogens is being evaluated. A discovery platform will enable pathogen identification in undiagnosed samples. DISCUSSION: This multicenter study will provide descriptive results for better understanding of pathogens responsible for pneumonia among children in developing countries. The identification of determinants related to microorganisms associated with pneumonia and its severity should facilitate treatment and prevention.

Phylogeny-based classification of human rhinoviruses detected in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory infection in Paraguay, 2010-2011.

Human rhinovirus (HRV), a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus, is associated with mild upper respiratory tract infections in children. The aim of this study was to carry out a molecular characterization and phylogeny-based classification of the circulating genotypes of HRV in hospitalized children with clinical manifestations of acute lower respiratory infection in Paraguay. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 101 children under 5 years of age, hospitalized with symptoms of acute lower respiratory infection, between May 2010 and December 2011, at the largest public pediatric hospital in the Central Department of Paraguay. Detection was performed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction, followed by conventional amplification of the VP4/VP2 genomic region, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Rhinovirus was detected in 33.7% of the samples. Amplification of 18 samples showed the presence of all three species (HRV-A, -B, and -C). Different genotypes were found for each species: 11 for HRV-A (-9, -12, -22, -30, -36, -43, -59, -61, -68, -88, and -89), one for HRV-B (-4), and four for HRV-C (-C2, -C3, -C6, and -C9). In South America, information about HRV diversity is scarce. This is the first report on HRV genotype diversity in South America.

Miositis aguda benigna por Dengue: reporte de un caso en un paciente pediátrico / Benign Acute Dengue Myositis: a pediatric case report

Introducción: La miositis es una forma de presentación no frecuente del Dengue. Caso clínico: Niño de 10 años que al 4to día de un cuadro febril, presenta dolor intenso en pantorrilla derecha acompañada de impotencia funcional e hinchazón. Laboratorio: El hemograma mostró leucopenia que llegó a 3000/mm3, con plaquetopenia con un nadir de 136.000/mm3. Se descartó oclusión vascular por ecografía doppler. GOT de 149mU/ml, GPT 41 U/ml, la CK fue de 3775 U/ml, (rango hasta 174) la serología para Dengue al 6to día (IgG 5,3 e IgM 4,2). Se descartó Influenza A y B y Adenovirus. El tratamiento fue sintomático y la evolución fue benigna con recuperación total a los 10 días. Discusión: El virus del dengue afecta numerosos órganos y sistemas. En las fibras musculares, produce un cuadro inflamatorio, caracterizada por infiltración mononuclear y acumulación de lípidos. En la primera serie de casos (n=40) publicada en 2005, la mayoría eran varones con edad promedio de 5 años y la evolución en todos fue buena. Considerando que en nuestro país el Dengue es endémico, debemos estar atentos a la posibilidad de formas de presentación clínica no muy frecuentes y a edades más tempranas. La miositis como síntoma predominante es una de estas formas de presentación y el diagnóstico se basa en la presentación clínica, y las cifras de CK aumentada.

Colonización intestinal por enterococo resistente a la vancomicina en pacientes oncológicos con factores de riesgo / Intestinal colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci in cancer patients with risk factors

Los objetivos del estudio fueron determinar la prevalencia de colonización intestinal por enterococo resistente a la vancomicina (EVR) en pacientes oncológicos con factores deriesgo y describir sus características clínicas y demográficas. Estudio longitudinal, realizado desde el 1 de diciembre del año 2008 al 30 de marzo del 2010, en =18 años de edad. 33 pacientes fueron incluidos. Se aislaron EVR en 94% (31/33), 39% (12/31)tenían entre 10 a 14 años. 58% (18/31) del sexo masculino, 21/31presentan Leucemia Linfoblástica aguda (LLA). Todos recibieron antibióticos previos, 90% (28/31) vancomicina. 84% (26/31) portaban catéteres venosos centrales (CVC), sometidosa cirugía 2/31, ARM 1/31. Se implementó precauciones de contacto. En conclusión, se observó alto porcentaje de colonización por EVR. CVC y uso de vancomicina predominaron. Es importante proseguir con la vigilancia, las medidas establecidas y el uso prudente de vancomicina.

The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of intestinal colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE) in cancer patients with risk factors and describe their clinical and demographic characteristics. A longitudinal study conducted between December 1, 2008 and March 30, 2010, in patients aged =18 years. A total of 33 patients were included. VRE were isolated in 94% (31/33), of whom 39% (12/31) were age 10—14 years. 58% (18/31) were male, and 21/31 presented acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All had previously received antibiotics, 90% (28/31) vancomycin. 84% (26/31) had central venous catheters (CVC), 2/31 had surgery, and 1/31 MV. Contact precautions were implemented. In conclusion, a highrate of VRE colonization was observed. CVC and use of vancomycin were predominant. It is important to continue the established measures, monitoring, and the prudent use of vancomycin.

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in children in Paraguay.

BACKGROUND: In Paraguay, as in most Latin American countries, data on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) diseases are scarce and incomplete. METHODS: To address this issue, we performed a retrospective analysis of 102 patients admitted to the Instituto de Medicina Tropical, a referral hospital in Asunción, Paraguay, between January 1991 and September 1995 with diagnosis of invasive Hib infection. This study included patients 15 years of age and under-identified with positive cultures for Hib in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or other sterile body fluids. RESULTS: Eighty three (81%) patients presented with meningitis as principal focus of infection with median age of 9 months. Forty five (54%) patients with Hib meningitis were <12 months of age and 20 (24% of total cases) were <6 months of age. Overall mortality rate of meningitis was 13%. Of 11 patients who died, 10 (91%) were <12 months of age (p <0.02). Risk for mortality was correlated with presence of coma during admission (p <0.007) and CSF glucose level of <10 mg/dL (p <0.05). Severe sequelae such as bilateral hearing loss, hydrocephalus, and mental retardation were observed in 39% (28/72) of surviving patients, of whom 18 (51%) patients were <12 months of age (p <0.02). Thirty percent of isolated strains of Hib were resistant to ampicillin, 20% were resistant to chloramphenicol, and 10% to both drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This information provides evidence concerning the importance of continued support for Hib vaccine supplies in immunization programs in countries with limited resources such as Paraguay.