First-trimester cesarean scar pregnancy: a comparative analysis of treatment options from the international registry.

BACKGROUND: A cesarean scar pregnancy is an iatrogenic consequence of a previous cesarean delivery. The gestational sac implants into a niche created by the incision of the previous cesarean delivery, and this carries a substantial risk for major maternal complications. The aim of this study was to report, analyze, and compare the effectiveness and safety of different treatments options for cesarean scar pregnancies managed in the first trimester through a registry. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluated the ultrasound findings, disease behavior, and management of first-trimester cesarean scar pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: We created an international registry of cesarean scar pregnancy cases to study the ultrasound findings, disease behavior, and management of cesarean scar pregnancies. The Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Registry collects anonymized ultrasound and clinical data of individual patients with a cesarean scar pregnancy on a secure, digital information platform. Cases were uploaded by 31 participating centers across 19 countries. In this study, we only included live and failing cesarean scar pregnancies (with or without a positive fetal heart beat) that received active treatment (medical or surgical) before 12+6 weeks' gestation to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the different management options. Patients managed expectantly were not included in this study and will be reported separately. Treatment was classified as successful if it led to a complete resolution of the pregnancy without the need for any additional medical interventions. RESULTS: Between August 29, 2018, and February 28, 2023, we recorded 460 patients with cesarean scar pregnancies (281 live, 179 failing cesarean scar pregnancy) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were registered. A total of 270 of 460 (58.7%) patients were managed surgically, 123 of 460 (26.7%) patients underwent medical management, 46 of 460 (10%) patients underwent balloon management, and 21 of 460 (4.6%) patients received other, less frequently used treatment options. Suction evacuation was very effective with a success rate of 202 of 221 (91.5%; 95% confidence interval, 87.8-95.2), whereas systemic methotrexate was least effective with only 38 of 64 (59.4%; 95% confidence interval, 48.4-70.4) patients not requiring additional treatment. Overall, surgical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancies was successful in 236 of 258 (91.5%, 95% confidence interval, 88.4-94.5) patients and complications were observed in 24 of 258 patients (9.3%; 95% confidence interval, 6.6-11.9). CONCLUSION: A cesarean scar pregnancy can be managed effectively in the first trimester of pregnancy in more than 90% of cases with either suction evacuation, balloon treatment, or surgical excision. The effectiveness of all treatment options decreases with advancing gestational age, and cesarean scar pregnancies should be treated as early as possible after confirmation of the diagnosis. Local medical treatment with potassium chloride or methotrexate is less efficient and has higher rates of complications than the other treatment options. Systemic methotrexate has a substantial risk of failing and a higher complication rate and should not be recommended as first-line treatment.

Características de pacientes con exacerbación aguda grave de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica que requirieron ventilación mecánica invasiva en un hospital de Santander durante 2014-2020

Introducción: la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica es una limitación del flujo de aire por anomalías alveolares. En una exacerbación aguda, la ventilación mecánica no invasiva es la primera línea en el manejo, sin embargo, existen ciertos factores de riesgo que hacen más probable el uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva en estos pacientes, que no están apropiadamente descritos en la literatura científica y que pueden guiar hacia una elección de soporte ventilatorio apropiado. Objetivo: describir los factores que se asociaron con mayor necesidad de ventilación mecánica no invasiva en una cohorte de pacientes hospitalizados con exacerbación aguda de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Métodos: estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal, con muestreo no probabilístico que incluye todos los pacientes que consultaron a urgencias y fueron hospitalizados por exacerbación aguda de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en un hospital de tercer nivel de Santander, Colombia, durante el período 2014-2020. Resultados: fueron incluidos 81 pacientes, 36 requirieron ventilación mecánica no invasiva y 12 ventilación mecánica invasiva; 25 % de los pacientes con ventilación mecánica no invasiva fallaron a la terapia inicial y demandaron el uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron hipertensión arterial (70,3 %) y cardiopatía (49,38 %); 70 % había tenido exposición al tabaquismo como fumador directo. Conclusiones: el uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva estuvo relacionado de forma estadísticamente significativa en pacientes con perfil de disnea severa, acidosis por parámetros gasométricos, escalamiento antibiótico, uso de corticoides intravenosos, requerimiento de unidad de cuidado intensivo, infecciones asociadas al cuidado de la salud y estancia hospitalaria prolongada.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is airflow limitation due to alveolar abnormalities. In an acute exa- cerbation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation is the first line of management, however, there are certain risk factors that make the use of invasive mechanical ventilation more likely in these patients, which are not adequately described in the scientific literature and that can guide towards a choice of appropriate ventilatory support. Objective: To describe the factors that were associated with an increased need for invasive mechanical ventilation in a cohort of hospitalized patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical observational study, with non-probabilistic sampling including all patients who consulted the emergency room and were hospitalized for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a tertiary care hospital in Santander-Colombia during the period 2014-2020. Results: 81 patients were included, 36 required non-invasive mechanical ventilation and 12 invasive me- chanical ventilation. 25 % of the patients with non-invasive mechanical ventilation failed the initial therapy and demanded the use of invasive mechanical ventilation. The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (70.3 %) and heart disease (49.38 %). 70 % had been exposed to smoking as direct smokers. Conclusions: The use of invasive mechanical ven- tilation was associated in a statistically significant way in patients with a profile of: severe dyspnea, acidosis by gasometric parameters, antibiotic escalation, use of intravenous corticosteroids, intensive care unit requirement, infections associa- ted with health care and prolonged hospital stay.

Síndrome de Insensibilidad Androgénica: presentación de un caso de discordancia entre ecografía pre y postnatal y estudios genéticos moleculares

Introducción: El síndrome de insensibilidad androgénica es un desorden genético y un tipo de trastorno del desarrollo sexual. Es la feminización de los genitales externos evaluados al nacimiento cuando el genotipo es 46, XY. Objetivo: Presentar la clínica, estudios moleculares, ultrasonidos durante el embarazo y del recién nacido con trastorno de diferenciación sexual. Caso Clínico: Femenina de 35 años con tercer embarazo, feto único, con resultado de cribado genético prenatal no invasivo ampliado de aneuploidías cromosómicas y determinación del sexo fetal a la semana 11 de gestación con sexo genético masculino, ultrasonido con ángulo del tubérculo genital de menos de 30° indicativo de sexo fenotípico femenino y ecografía postnatal con sexo gonadal masculino. Panel molecular genético con una variante patogénica para el Gen AR, en hemicigosis, asociado a Síndrome de Insensibilidad Androgénica. Conclusión: La discordancia sexual fenotipo-genotipo puede indicar una condición genética, cromosómica o bioquímica subyacente. El manejo conjunto interdisciplinario y el consejo genético permite el diagnóstico molecular neonatal temprano de la condición. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Introduction: Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a genetic disorder and a type of sexual development disorder. It is characterized by the evident feminization of the external genitalia at birth in an individual with the 46, XY genotype. Aim: To present the clinic, molecular studies, obstetric ultrasonography of the first trimester and ultrasound of the newborn with sexual differentiation disorder. Clinic case: 35-year-old female with third pregnancy, singleton fetus, with extended non-invasive prenatal genetic screening for chromosomal aneuploidies and fetal sex determination at week 11 of gestation with male genetic sex, ultrasound with genital tubercle angle less than 30° indicative of female phenotypic sex and postnatal ultrasound with male gonadal sex. Genetic molecular panel with a pathogenic variant for the AR gene, in hemi zygosis. Conclusion: Early detection of phenotype-genotype sexual discordance is important as it may indicate an underlying genetic, chromosomal, or biochemical condition, allowing timely critical counseling and postnatal treatment. (provided by Infomedic International)

Diagnostic accuracy of prenatal imaging for the diagnosis of congenital Zika syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of prenatal imaging for the diagnosis of congenital Zika syndrome. Data sources: Medline (via Pubmed), PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to March 2022. Two researchers independently screened study titles and abstracts for eligibility. Study eligibility criteria: Observational studies with Zika virus-infected pregnant women were included. The index tests included ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The reference standard included (1) Zika infection-related perinatal death, stillbirth, and neonatal death within the first 48 h of birth, (2) neonatal intensive care unit admission, and (3) clinically defined adverse perinatal outcomes. Synthesis methods: We extracted 2 × 2 contingency tables. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were estimated using the random-effects bivariate model and assessed the summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS 2 tool. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated with grading of recommendations. Results: We screened 1,459 references and included 18 studies (2359 pregnant women, 347 fetuses with confirmed Zika virus infection). Twelve studies (67%) were prospective cohorts/case series, and six (37%) were retrospective cohort/case series investigations. Fourteen studies (78%) were performed in endemic regions. Ten studies (56%) used prenatal ultrasound only, six (33%) employed ultrasound and fetal MRI, and two studies (11%) used prenatal ultrasound and postnatal fetal MRI. A total of six studies (ultrasound only) encompassing 780 pregnant women (122 fetuses with confirmed Zika virus infection) reported relevant data for meta-analysis (gestation age at which ultrasound imagining was captured ranged from 16 to 34 weeks). There was large heterogeneity across studies regarding sensitivity (range: 12 to 100%) and specificity (range: 50 to 100%). Under a random-effects model, the summary sensitivity of ultrasound was 82% (95% CI, 19 to 99%), and the summary specificity was 97% (71 to 100%). The area under the ROC curve was 97% (95% CI, 72 to 100%), and the summary diagnostic odds ratio was 140 (95% CI, 3 to 7564, P < 0.001). The overall certainty of the evidence was "very low". Conclusion: Ultrasound may be useful in improving the diagnostic accuracy of Zika virus infection in pregnancy. However, the evidence is still substantially uncertain due to the methodological limitations of the available studies. Larger, properly conducted diagnostic accuracy studies of prenatal imaging for the diagnosis of congenital Zika syndrome are warranted. Systematic review registration: Identifier [CRD42020162914].

Intestinal volvulus in the pump twin of a twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence after laser therapy at 18 weeks: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence is a rare and potentially lethal condition affecting approximately 1% of monochorionic twin pregnancies and 1 in 35,000 pregnancies overall. An apparently normal (pump) twin perfuses its severely malformed cotwin with deoxygenated blood via retrograde flow in direct arterioarterial anastomoses between the umbilical arteries of each twin. Fetal intestinal volvulus is a rare condition usually manifesting after birth. We report a unique case of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in association with intestinal volvulus in the surviving pump twin. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old Hispanic primigravida was referred to our clinic after a fetoscopy procedure of laser photocoagulation of anastomoses at 18 weeks of gestation. Follow up scans in the ex-pump twin revealed dilated bowel loops and a typical "whirlpool sign" at 26 weeks of gestation, and intrauterine intestinal volvulus was suspected. At 29 weeks of gestation, preterm premature rupture of membranes occurred, and an emergency cesarean section was performed. The newborn was diagnosed in the early neonatal period with intestinal perforation. The diagnosis was postnatally confirmed by surgery and histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: The type of fetal intervention and late gestational age of the procedure increase the risk of complications. This case alerts health providers to be vigilant in the follow-up of patients with complicated monochorionic pregnancies.

[Worsening situation of tuberculosis in Chile]. / El deterioro de la tuberculosis en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest an increase in tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Chile. AIM: To evaluate recent epidemiological trends, geographic extension and potential factors associated with TB reemergence in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data analysis from official sources and trend analysis. RESULTS: TB incidence rate increased from 12.3 (2014) to 14.7 (2017) per 100,000 inhabitants. Morbidity rates also increased in nine out of 15 regions. The proportion of TB cases in specific groups has also increased in the last six years: HIV/AIDS (68%), immigrants (118%), drug users/alcoholics (267%) and homeless people (370%). Several indicators of the national TB program performance have deteriorated including TB case detection, HIV co-infection study and contact tracing activities. Overall results indicate a higher than expected case-fatality ratio (> 3%), high rates of loss from follow-up (> 5%), and low percentage of cohort healing rate (< 90%). This decline is associated with a Control Program with scarce human resources whose central budget decreased by 90% from 2008 to 2014. New molecular diagnostic tools and liquid media culture were only recently implemented. CONCLUSIONS: TB trends and overall program performance indicators have deteriorated in recent years in Chile and several factors appear to be involved. Multiple strategies will be required to rectify this situation.

El deterioro de la tuberculosis en Chile / Worsening situation of tuberculosis in Chile

Background: Recent data suggest an increase in tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Chile. Aim: To evaluate recent epidemiological trends, geographic extension and potential factors associated with TB reemergence in Chile. Material and Methods: Data analysis from official sources and trend analysis. Results: TB incidence rate increased from 12.3 (2014) to 14.7 (2017) per 100,000 inhabitants. Morbidity rates also increased in nine out of 15 regions. The proportion of TB cases in specific groups has also increased in the last six years: HIV/AIDS (68%), immigrants (118%), drug users/alcoholics (267%) and homeless people (370%). Several indicators of the national TB program performance have deteriorated including TB case detection, HIV co-infection study and contact tracing activities. Overall results indicate a higher than expected case-fatality ratio (> 3%), high rates of loss from follow-up (> 5%), and low percentage of cohort healing rate (< 90%). This decline is associated with a Control Program with scarce human resources whose central budget decreased by 90% from 2008 to 2014. New molecular diagnostic tools and liquid media culture were only recently implemented. Conclusions: TB trends and overall program performance indicators have deteriorated in recent years in Chile and several factors appear to be involved. Multiple strategies will be required to rectify this situation.

[Hansen disease, an emergent condition in Chile]. / Enfermedad de Hansen. Una condición emergente en Chile.

Hansen's disease (HD) is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It has a chronic course and preferentially affects the skin and the peripheral nerves. It's an emergent infection in Chile due to migration waves. This case report affecting a migrant worker from Haiti that presented several compatible skin lesions, with hypoesthesia and unilateral madarosis that appeared before arrival. The diagnosis of a multibacillary form was established by clinical findings, presence of fast acid bacilli on a direct skin smear, and inflammatory cell surrounding nerve endings and granulomas on skin biopsy. Besides, specific rpoB and hsp65 gene segments from M. leprae were amplified from skin samples. Patient was treated with the WHO standard combined regimen for multibacillary forms during one year showing partial regression of skin lesions. Nasopharyngeal samples showed the presence of M. leprae rpoB copies detected by PCR decreasing until six months of therapy. Notifiable diseases databases showed a recent increment of cases, all related to migrant population. Hansen's disease is a new condition in Chile and clinicians should be aware of this possibility. Molecular tools may facilitate diagnosis and follow up.

Enfermedad de Hansen. Una condición emergente en Chile / Hansen disease, an emergent condition in Chile

Resumen La enfermedad de Hansen (EH) es una infección secundaria a Mycobacterium leprae, de curso crónico y que afecta preferentemente la piel y los nervios periféricos. Es una condición emergente en Chile debido a la migración humana. Presentamos un caso que afectó a un trabajador inmigrante desde Haití, que presentó antes de su arribo múltiples lesiones cutáneas en placas, con hipoestesia y madarosis unilateral. El diagnóstico de la forma multibacilar se estableció por los hallazgos clínicos, la presencia de bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes en una muestra cutánea y la detección de células inflamatorias alrededor de los terminales nerviosos y granulomas en una biopsia de piel, desde donde se amplificaron segmentos específicos de los genes rpoB y hsp65 de M. leprae. El paciente fue tratado con el esquema combinado estándar de la OMS para la forma multibacilar durante un año, con regresión parcial de las lesiones. Durante el seguimiento se detectó por RPC una disminución del número de copias del gen rpoB de M. leprae en muestras nasofaríngeas hasta el sexto mes. El registro de enfermedades de notificación obligatoria demuestra un incremento reciente de casos de EH en Chile, todos relacionados con población migrante. La enfermedad de Hansen es una nueva condición clínica y los clínicos deben estar atentos a esta posibilidad diagnóstica. Las pruebas moleculares pueden ayudar en el diagnóstico y seguimiento.

Hansen's disease (HD) is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It has a chronic course and preferentially affects the skin and the peripheral nerves. It's an emergent infection in Chile due to migration waves. This case report affecting a migrant worker from Haiti that presented several compatible skin lesions, with hypoesthesia and unilateral madarosis that appeared before arrival. The diagnosis of a multibacillary form was established by clinical findings, presence of fast acid bacilli on a direct skin smear, and inflammatory cell surrounding nerve endings and granulomas on skin biopsy. Besides, specific rpoB and hsp65 gene segments from M. leprae were amplified from skin samples. Patient was treated with the WHO standard combined regimen for multibacillary forms during one year showing partial regression of skin lesions. Nasopharyngeal samples showed the presence of M. leprae rpoB copies detected by PCR decreasing until six months of therapy. Notifiable diseases databases showed a recent increment of cases, all related to migrant population. Hansen's disease is a new condition in Chile and clinicians should be aware of this possibility. Molecular tools may facilitate diagnosis and follow up.

Factores asociados con la presencia de secuelas fibrocavitarias torácicas en pacientes con antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar del Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia / Factors associated with the presence of thoracic fibrocavitary sequelae in patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis from Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Objetivo: Determinar las variables relacionadas con el desarrollo de secuelas fibrocavitarias torácicas en pacientes con antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar en Santander. Métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva de 141 pacientes con diagnóstico previo de tuberculosis, captados mediante muestreo no probabilístico de casos consecutivos en consulta de neumología (Hospital Universitario de Santander). Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, bivariado y multivariado a las variables recolectadas de las historias clínicas. Resultados: El 66% de los pacientes pertenecían al sexo masculino, con una edad promedio de 52 ± 16,91 años, evidenciando un tiempo promedio desde el contagio hasta el momento de la captación de 69 meses y un antecedente de tabaquismo del 46%. El 68% referían tos y se realizó fibrobroncoscopia al 41%. El 89% mostraron algún tipo de secuelas, distribuidas así: Torácicas parenquimatosas 88%, Pleurales 30%, Vías respiratorias 45%, Mediastinales 38% y Vasculares 5%. Fueron variables asociadas a la presencia de alguna secuela la edad del paciente; el tiempo mayor a 17 meses desde el diagnóstico de tuberculosis; la edad de diagnóstico de tuberculosis; la confirmación diagnóstica de tuberculosis por fibrobroncoscopia y síntomas como disnea, cianosis y tos. Discusión: El presente estudio estableció la prevalencia de secuelas de tuberculosis en el 88,65% de los sujetos con tuberculosis curada en Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. Es el primer estudio en la región en el que se evaluaron factores asociados con el desarrollo de secuelas de tuberculosis, encontrando como factor importante el uso de fibrobroncoscopia como método diagnóstico.

Factors associated with the presence of thoracic fibrocavitary sequelae in patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis from Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Objective: To determine the variables associated with the development of thoracic fibrocavitary sequelae in patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis in Santander. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 141 patients previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling at pneumology consultations (Hospital Universitario de Santander). A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed with all the variables collected from the medical records. Results: Sixty-six percent of the patients were males, with an average age of 52+/-16.91 years, evidencing an average time span of 69 months from the moment of the infection to the moment they were recruited, and a history of tobacco use of 46%. Sixty-eight percent stated they had cough and a fibrobronchoscopy was performed in 41%. Eighty-nine percent exhibited some type of sequelae, classified as follows: Parenchymal thoracic 88%, pleural 30%, respiratory tract 45%, mediastinal 38% and vascular 5%. The variables associated with the presence of a sequela were the age of the patient; a period of time exceeding 17 months since the moment of the tuberculosis diagnosis; the age of diagnosis; the diagnostic confirmation of tuberculosis by fibrobronchoscopy and symptoms such as dyspnea, cyanosis and cough. Discussion: This study establishes the incidence of tuberculosis sequelae in 88.65% of the subjects with tuberculosis treated in Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. It is the first study in the region evaluating the factors associated with the development of tuberculosis sequelae, in which the use of fibrobronchoscopies as a diagnostic method was found to be an important factor.

Blood-based biomarkers of adverse perinatal outcomes in maternal obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing maternal weight has been shown to predict adverse perinatal outcome, including increases in the relative risk of fetal death, stillbirth, neonatal death, perinatal death and infant death. In order to better understand the pathophysiological factors associated with obesity during pregnancy, the role of biomarkers associated with adverse outcomes in obese pregnant women is under investigation. The purpose of this review study was to examine potential biomarkers that could serve as effective screening strategies in obese pregnant women to reduce fetal and neonatal morbidity, as well as maternal morbidity. METHODS: Electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase) were searched for previously published research studies that investigated biomarkers associated with perinatal outcomes in obese pregnant women and the putative mechanisms underlying biomarker effects on pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: It is evident that while several biomarkers predict perinatal complications in obese pregnant women, none fulfilled the criteria to be considered clinically useful. CONCLUSION: There is a critical need for reliable blood-based biomarkers associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in obese pregnant women.

Secuelas estructurales y funcionales de tuberculosis pulmonar: una revisión de tema / Structural and Functional Sequelae of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: a Review

Las características biológicas del bacilo mycobacterium tuberculosis le permiten afectar casi cualquier tejido. Al ser la tuberculosis pulmonar la entidad más frecuente, se presenta la posibilidad de diseminación de la enfermedad a nivel torácico, lo que genera la aparición de secuelas que pueden afectar los órganos vitales de la caja torácica, tales como la vía aérea, el parénquima pulmonar, el sistema vascular pulmonar, el espacio pleural y la región mediastinal. Esto genera, además, la manifestación de trastornos funcionales que afectan directamente el pronóstico y la calidad de vida de los pacientes. La presente revisión trata de las secuelas torácicas encontradas en pacientes con antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar. Estas se clasificaron así: secuelas de la vía aérea, secuelas parenquimatosas, secuelas pleurales, secuelas mediastinales, secuelas vasculares y secuelas funcionales.

Because of its biologic characteristics, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis can affect any tissue of the human body. Since the lungs are the most frequently affected organs, it is common the dissemination of the infection in the thorax with the development of sequelae in the pulmonary parenchyma, the airways, the vascular pulmonary system, the pleural space and the mediastinum. The sequelae lead to functional disturbances with a direct effect on the prognosis and the quality of life of the patients. This is a review of the thoracic sequelae in patients with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. The sequelae were classifed as airways, parenchymal, pleural, mediastinal, vascular and functional sequelae.

[Primary resistance to anti tuberculosis drugs in Chile 2011-2012]. / Resistencia primaria a fármacos anti-tuberculosos en Chile 2011-2012.

UNLABELLED: This publication presents the results of the Chilean initial study of resistance to first line anti-tuberculous drugs. The study was carried out between 2011 and 2012 by the National Reference Laboratory of the Institute of Public Health, as part of the Drug Surveillance Resistance in tuberculosis (TB) promoted by the World Health Organization. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study performed using cluster sampling, representative of the entire country as recommended by the World Health Organization. Susceptibility testing to isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide was performed through the proportion method or Wayne's enzymatic method, as appropriate. RESULTS: 594 susceptibility tests were performed, showing an overall level of TB drug resistance of 8.6% and a prevalence of multidrug resistance of 1.3%. Indeed, the study showed a decrease in streptomycin resistance and an increase of isoniazid resistance in both mono-resistance and accumulated resistance compared to previous studies. No cases of mono-resistance to rifampicin were detected. CONCLUSION: An increased resistance to anti-TB drugs in Chile is observed, which despite being still low, is no less worrisome. Since 2014 the monitoring of drug resistance to TB is universally performed to avoid sub - diagnosis and treat each case according to the susceptibility profile.

Tratamiento de la tuberculosis en pediatrí­a: actualización de la normativa / Treatment of tuberculosis in pediatrics: update

We present a summary of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program’s guidelines, which were updated in2014, and are related to tuberculosis infection management in children under 15 years old, and their treatment in the case of active tuberculosis.

Este es un resumen de las normas técnicas del Programa de Control y Eliminación de la Tuberculosis actualizadas el año 2014 y que tienen relación con el manejo de la infección de la tuberculosis en menores de 15 años y su tratamiento cuando se trata de una tuberculosis activa.

Resistencia primaria a fármacos anti-tuberculosos en Chile 2011-2012 / Primary resistance to anti tuberculosis drugs in Chile 2011-2012

This publication presents the results of the Chilean initial study of resistance to first line anti-tuberculous drugs. The study was carried out between 2011 and 2012 by the National Reference Laboratory of the Institute of Public Health, as part of the Drug Surveillance Resistance in tuberculosis (TB) promoted by the World Health Organization. Methodology: Cross-sectional study performed using cluster sampling, representative of the entire country as recommended by the World Health Organization. Susceptibility testing to isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide was performed through the proportion method or Wayne's enzymatic method, as appropriate. Results: 594 susceptibility tests were performed, showing an overall level of TB drug resistance of 8.6% and a prevalence of multidrug resistance of 1.3%. Indeed, the study showed a decrease in streptomycin resistance and an increase of isoniazid resistance in both mono-resistance and accumulated resistance compared to previous studies. No cases of mono-resistance to rifampicin were detected. Conclusion: An increased resistance to anti-TB drugs in Chile is observed, which despite being still low, is no less worrisome. Since 2014 the monitoring of drug resistance to TB is universally performed to avoid sub - diagnosis and treat each case according to the susceptibility profile.

Esta publicación presenta los resultados del estudio de resistencia inicial a fármacos anti-tuberculosos de primera línea realizado entre los años 2011 y 2012 en Chile por el Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional del Instituto de Salud Pública, estudio que forma parte de la vigilancia de la fármaco-resistencia en tuberculosis (TBC) promovida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Metodología: Estudio transversal realizado mediante un muestreo por conglomerado, representativo de todo el país según recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se realizó prueba de susceptibilidad a isoniacida, rifampicina, estreptomicina, etambutol y pirazinamida a través del método de las proporciones o método enzimático de Wayne según corresponda. Resultados: Se realizó test de susceptibilidad a 594 casos de TBC, observándose una resistencia inicial global de 8,6% y una prevalencia de multi-resistencia de 1,3%. Además destaca la caída en la resistencia a estreptomicina y el aumento de la resistencia a isoniacida, tanto en mono-resistencia como en resistencia acumulada para ambos fármacos comparada con los estudios anteriores. No se observaron casos de mono-resistencia a rifampicina. Conclusión. Se observa un aumento de la resistencia a fármacos anti-tuberculosos en Chile la que, a pesar de ser aún baja, no deja de ser preocupante. Desde el año 2014 la vigilancia de fármaco-resistencia para TBC se hace en forma universal, de modo de evitar el sub-diagnóstico y realizar un tratamiento de acuerdo al perfil de susceptibilidad de cada caso.

[Risk groups for tuberculosis in Chile]. / Grupos de riesgo para tuberculosis en Chile.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global and national problem. In Chile the incidence rate has remained at 13 per 100,000 inhabitants for several years without tendency to the expected decline that would allow their elimination by 2020. As a low prevalence country, TB cases have been concentrated in risk groups, reaching 33% in 2013, and this proportion increases as younger people are analyzed. The main risk groups in Chile are HIV co-infection, foreigners and population of prisons. By 2013, the proportion of cases for these three groups was 8.7%, 8.4% and 3.9% respectively, and these percentages vary significantly when regional situation is analyzed. In addition, many of these patients have more than one risk factor, demons-rating the existence of clusters more vulnerable to TB.

Exacerbaciones agudas por agentes infecciosos en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar estructural / Acute exacerbations by infectious agents in patients with structural lung disease

La enfermedad pulmonar estructural se define como toda patología que altera la arquitectura de la vía aérea inferior y el parénquima pulmonar, lo que predispone a colonización microbiológica. Entre las enfermedades catalogadas como enfermedad pulmonar estructural se encuentran la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, las bronquiectasias y las cavitaciones como secuelas de enfermedades necrosantes. La manifestación aguda de síntomas respiratorios bajos constituye una exacerbación que deteriora el estado basal clínico, por lo que es indispensable reconocer el papel de las infecciones como causantes de estas exacerbaciones; los agentes infecciosos más comunes son: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae y patógenos virales en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catharralis y Pseudomonas aeruginosa en las bronquiectasias. En las exacerbaciones de secuelas fibrocavitarias se encuentran los mismos gérmenes de las otras alteraciones estructurales, además de hongos y micobacterias en cerca del 40%...

The structural pulmonary disease is defined as any pathology that alters the architecture of lower airway and lung parenchyma, which predisposes to microbial colonization. Among the diseases classified as structural pulmonary disease we find chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and caverns as sequelae of necrotizing diseases. Acute manifestation of lower respiratory symptoms constitutes an exacerbation that deteriorates clinical baseline condition, so it is essential to establish the role of infections as cause of these exacerbations; the most common infectious agents are: Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and viral pathogens in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bronchiectasis. In exacerbations of fibrocavitary sequelae are the same germs than other structural alterations, besides fingi and mycobacteria in about 40%...