Risks of low vaccination coverage and strategies to prevent the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in infants in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario: recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean by the group of experts on infant immunization for Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: The WHO 2030 Immunization Agenda (IA-2030) harmonizes immunization activity plans at community, national, regional and global levels. Additionally, medical societies play an important role. The Latin American Group of Experts on Infant Immunization, established in 2018, advises on the harmonization, update, and optimization of infant vaccination programs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). In September 2021, 41 such experts from 13 LAC countries met to develop recommendations for increasing regional vaccination coverage to avoid the reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases and/or the occurrence of outbreaks. AREAS COVERED: The following items were evaluated: (i) immunization challenges before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) the status of current immunization programs, particularly infant pertussis and polio vaccination; (iii) possible solutions for overcoming vaccination challenges and achieving regional vaccination coverage targets. EXPERT OPINION/COMMENTARY: Medical societies provide valuable recommendations to guide and update vaccination schedules. In the LAC region, possible strategies to achieve target vaccination rates include the use of combination vaccines, strengthening surveillance systems, improving school attendance, advancing vaccine education and confidence, striving for vaccination equity, widening operational capacity, creating strategic alliances, and strengthening the role of medical groups. It is hoped that these recommendations will be implemented in the LAC region.

Influenza vs. COVID-19: Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Pediatric Patients in Mexico City.

Introduction: Respiratory viruses are among the leading causes of disease and death among children. Co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV2 can lead to diagnostic and management difficulties given the similarities in the clinical picture. Methods: This is a cohort of all children hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection from March to September 3rd 2020, and all children admitted with influenza throughout five flu-seasons (2013-2018) at a pediatric referral hospital. Patients with influenza were identified from the clinical laboratory database. All hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection were followed-up prospectively. Results: A total of 295 patients with influenza and 133 with SARS-CoV2 infection were included. The median age was 3.7 years for influenza and 5.3 years for SARS-CoV2. Comorbidities were frequent in both groups, but they were more common in patients with influenza (96.6 vs. 82.7%, p < 0.001). Fever and cough were the most common clinical manifestations in both groups. Rhinorrhea was present in more than half of children with influenza but was infrequent in those with COVID-19 (53.6 vs. 5.8%, p < 0.001). Overall, 6.4% percent of patients with influenza and 7.5% percent of patients with SARS-CoV2 infection died. In-hospital mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation among symptomatic patients were similar between groups in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Influenza and COVID-19 have a similar picture in pediatric patients, which makes diagnostic testing necessary for adequate diagnosis and management. Even though most cases of COVID-19 in children are asymptomatic or mild, the risk of death among hospitalized patients with comorbidities may be substantial, especially among infants.

Safety of Administering Live Vaccines During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes.

Live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) are currently contraindicated during pregnancy, given uncertain safety records for the mother-infant pair. LAV might, however, play an important role to protect them against serious emerging diseases, such as Ebola and Lassa fever. For this systematic review we searched relevant databases to identify studies published up to November 2019. Controlled observational studies reporting pregnancy outcomes after maternal immunization with LAV were included. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were obtained under a random-effects model. Of 2831 studies identified, fifteen fulfilled inclusion criteria. Smallpox, rubella, poliovirus, yellow fever and dengue vaccines were assessed in these studies. No association was found between vaccination and miscarriage (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.87-1.10), stillbirth (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.74-1.48), malformations (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.98-1.21), prematurity (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.90-1.08) or neonatal death (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.68-1.65) overall. However, increased odds of malformations (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03-1.49) and miscarriage after first trimester immunization (OR 4.82; 95% CI 2.38-9.77) was found for smallpox vaccine. Thus, we did not find evidence of harm related to LAV other than smallpox with regards to pregnancy outcomes, but quality of evidence was very low. Overall risks appear to be small and have to be balanced against potential benefits for the mother-infant pair.

Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia: Don't Forget About Respiratory Viruses!

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, are among the most common adverse events in healthcare, and of them, pneumonia is the most commonly reported. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence and clinical outcome of respiratory viruses in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, include patients aged between 0 and 18 who fulfilled Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for HAP. Demographic and clinical data were obtained, and a nasopharyngeal swab specimen was taken for the detection of respiratory viruses. All included patients were monitored until discharge to collect data on the need for mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. All-cause 30-day mortality was also ascertained. Results: Four thousand three hundred twenty-seven patients were followed for 42,658 patient-days and 5,150 ventilator-days. Eighty-eight patients (2.03%) met the CDC criteria for HAP, 63 patients were included, and clinical and epidemiological characteristics showed no statistically significant differences between patients with virus associated healthcare-associated pneumonia (VAHAP) and those with non-viral healthcare-associated pneumonia (NVHAP). At least one respiratory virus was detected in 65% [95% CI (53-77)] of episodes of HAP, with a single viral pathogen observed in 53.9% and coinfection with 2 viruses in 11.1% of cases. The outcome in terms of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and the 30-day mortality did not show a significant difference between groups. Conclusions: In two-thirds of the patients a respiratory virus was identified. There was no difference in mortality or the rest of the clinical outcome variables. About half of the patients required mechanical ventilation and 10% died, which emphasizes the importance of considering these pathogens in nosocomial infections, since their identification can influence the decrease in hospital costs and be taken into account in infection control policies.

Seroprevalencia de Bordetella pertussis en el personal de enfermería y médicos residentes del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez / Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis in pediatric healthcare workers at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez

Resumen Introducción Bordetella pertussis es el agente causal de la tosferina, una enfermedad de alta letalidad, especialmente en menores de 6 meses, pero prevenible mediante la vacunación. Los reportes en hospitales de brotes de tosferina muestran que el caso índice suelen ser personas adultas. En adultos, la enfermedad se manifiesta principalmente con tos persistente. El propósito de este estudio fue conocer la seroprevalencia de B. pertussis en el personal de salud de un hospital pediátrico en un país donde aún no se considera la vacunación obligatoria para los empleados. Métodos Participaron personal de enfermería y médicos residentes en trato directo con pacientes hospitalizados. A cada participante se le realizó detección de anticuerpos inmunoglobulina G, antitoxina de pertussis (anti-TP) y se le aplicó un cuestionario para datos clínicos y demográficos. Resultados Se incluyeron 93 individuos, el 85% de personal de enfermería con mediana de edad de 35 años (rango intercuartil: 29-42.5). El 21.5% de los participantes laboraban en el Servicio de Urgencias, el 8.6%, en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica, el 6.5%, en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales. Se encontraron títulos detectables de anticuerpos anti-TP en el 18.3%, de los cuales, el 53% presentaron títulos de infección reciente y solamente el 23.5%, historia de tos de más de dos semanas de evolución. Conclusiones El personal de salud está en riesgo de sufrir la enfermedad y de transmitirla a los lactantes, quienes pueden fallecer por esta causa. Este estudio sugiere que las políticas actuales de vacunación en personal de salud se deben de modificar para determinar obligatoriedad de la vacuna, especialmente en quienes atienden a la población pediátrica.

Abstract Background Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis, a disease that is preventable by vaccination but has a high mortality, particularly in children < 6 months. Reports of pertussis outbreaks in hospitals show that the index case is usually an adult. In adults, the disease manifests mainly with persistent cough. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. pertussis in the health personnel of a pediatric hospital in a country where vaccination of this staff is not considered mandatory. Methods Nursing staff and resident doctors who were involved in direct treatment with hospitalized patients participated in the study. Each participant was screened for immunoglobulin G anti-pertussis toxin antibodies (anti-PT), and a questionnaire was applied for clinical and demographic data. Results Ninety-three individuals were included, of which 85% were nurses, median age 35 years (interquartile range: 29-42.5). The participants worked in the emergency department (21.5%), in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (8.6%), and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (6.5%). Detectable titers of anti-TP antibodies were found in 18.3%, of which 53% presented titles suggestive of recent infection and only 23.5% cough > 2 weeks of duration. Conclusions Health personnel are at risk of suffering from the disease and be potential transmitters to infants, who may die from this cause. This study suggests that the current vaccination policies in health personnel should be modified to determine the compulsory nature of the vaccination, especially in those individuals in charge of the care of the pediatric population.

Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis in pediatric healthcare workers at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.

Background: Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis, a disease that is preventable by vaccination but has a high mortality, particularly in children < 6 months. Reports of pertussis outbreaks in hospitals show that the index case is usually an adult. In adults, the disease manifests mainly with persistent cough. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. pertussis in the health personnel of a pediatric hospital in a country where vaccination of this staff is not considered mandatory. Methods: Nursing staff and resident doctors who were involved in direct treatment with hospitalized patients participated in the study. Each participant was screened for immunoglobulin G anti-pertussis toxin antibodies (anti-PT), and a questionnaire was applied for clinical and demographic data. Results: Ninety-three individuals were included, of which 85% were nurses, median age 35 years (interquartile range: 29-42.5). The participants worked in the emergency department (21.5%), in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (8.6%), and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (6.5%). Detectable titers of anti-TP antibodies were found in 18.3%, of which 53% presented titles suggestive of recent infection and only 23.5% cough > 2 weeks of duration. Conclusions: Health personnel are at risk of suffering from the disease and be potential transmitters to infants, who may die from this cause. This study suggests that the current vaccination policies in health personnel should be modified to determine the compulsory nature of the vaccination, especially in those individuals in charge of the care of the pediatric population.

Introducción: Bordetella pertussis es el agente causal de la tosferina, una enfermedad de alta letalidad, especialmente en menores de 6 meses, pero prevenible mediante la vacunación. Los reportes en hospitales de brotes de tosferina muestran que el caso índice suelen ser personas adultas. En adultos, la enfermedad se manifiesta principalmente con tos persistente. El propósito de este estudio fue conocer la seroprevalencia de B. pertussis en el personal de salud de un hospital pediátrico en un país donde aún no se considera la vacunación obligatoria para los empleados. Métodos: Participaron personal de enfermería y médicos residentes en trato directo con pacientes hospitalizados. A cada participante se le realizó detección de anticuerpos inmunoglobulina G, antitoxina de pertussis (anti-TP) y se le aplicó un cuestionario para datos clínicos y demográficos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 93 individuos, el 85% de personal de enfermería con mediana de edad de 35 años (rango intercuartil: 29-42.5). El 21.5% de los participantes laboraban en el Servicio de Urgencias, el 8.6%, en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica, el 6.5%, en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales. Se encontraron títulos detectables de anticuerpos anti-TP en el 18.3%, de los cuales, el 53% presentaron títulos de infección reciente y solamente el 23.5%, historia de tos de más de dos semanas de evolución. Conclusiones: El personal de salud está en riesgo de sufrir la enfermedad y de transmitirla a los lactantes, quienes pueden fallecer por esta causa. Este estudio sugiere que las políticas actuales de vacunación en personal de salud se deben de modificar para determinar obligatoriedad de la vacuna, especialmente en quienes atienden a la población pediátrica.

Whole-Genome Sequences of Five Acinetobacter baumannii Strains From a Child With Leukemia M2.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen and is one of the primary etiological agents of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). A. baumannii infections are difficult to treat due to the intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of strains of this bacterium, which frequently limits therapeutic options. In this study, five A. baumannii strains (810CP, 433H, 434H, 483H, and A-2), all of which were isolated from a child with leukemia M2, were characterized through antibiotic susceptibility profiling, the detection of genes encoding carbapenem hydrolyzing oxacillinases, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), adherence and invasion assays toward the A549 cell line, and the whole-genome sequence (WGS). The five strains showed Multidrug resistant (MDR) profiles and amplification of the bla OXA-23 gene, belonging to ST758 and grouped into two PFGE clusters. WGS of 810CP revealed the presence of a circular chromosome and two small plasmids, pAba810CPa and pAba810CPb. Both plasmids carried genes encoding the Sp1TA system, although resistance genes were not identified. A gene-by-gene comparison analysis was performed among the A. baumannii strains isolated in this study and others A. baumannii ST758 strains (HIMFG and INCan), showing that 86% of genes were present in all analyzed strains. Interestingly, the 433H, 434H, and 483H strains varied by 8-10 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), while the A2 and 810CP strains varied by 46 SNVs. Subsequently, an analysis using BacWGSTdb showed that all of our strains had the same resistance genes and were ST758. However, some variations were observed in relation to virulence genes, mainly in the 810CP strain. The genes involved in the synthesis of hepta-acylated lipooligosaccharides, the pgaABCD locus encoding poly-ß-1-6-N-acetylglucosamine, the ompA gene, Csu pili, bap, the two-component system bfms/bfmR, a member of the phospholipase D family, and two iron-uptake systems were identified in our A. baumannii strains genome. The five A. baumannii strains isolated from the child were genetically different and showed important characteristics that promote survival in a hospital environment. The elucidation of their genomic sequences provides important information for understanding their epidemiology, antibiotic resistance, and putative virulence factors.

Everybody hands-on to avoid ESKAPE: effect of sustained hand hygiene compliance on healthcare-associated infections and multidrug resistance in a paediatric hospital.

PURPOSE: Hand hygiene is the most important strategy for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); however, the impact of hand hygiene in middle-income countries has been poorly described. In this work, we describe the impact of the programme 'Let's Go for 100' on hand hygiene adherence, HCAIs rates and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including the molecular typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. METHODOLOGY: A multimodal, hospital-wide hand hygiene programme was implemented from 2013. 'Let's Go for 100' involved all healthcare workers and encompassed education, awareness, visual reminders, feedback and innovative strategies. Monthly hand hygiene monitoring and active HCAI surveillance were performed in every ward. Molecular typing of MRSA was analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results/Key findings. Hand hygiene adherence increased from 34.9 % during the baseline period to 80.6 % in the last 3 months of this study. The HCAI rate decreased from 7.54 to 6.46/1000 patient-days (P=0.004). The central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSIs) rate fell from 4.84 to 3.66/1000 central line-days (P=0.05). Negative correlations between hand hygiene and HCAIs rates were identified. The attack rate of MDR-ESKAPE group bloodstream infections decreased from 0.54 to 0.20/100 discharges (P=0.024). MRSA pulsotypes that were prevalent during the baseline period were no longer detected after the 5th quarter, although new strains were identified. CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal hand hygiene programme in a paediatric hospital in a middle-income country was effective in improving adherence and reducing HCAIs, CLABSIs and MDR-ESKAPE bloodstream infections. Sustaining hand hygiene adherence at a level of >60 % for one year limited MRSA clonal transmission.

Influenza-like illness in healthcare personnel at a paediatric referral hospital: Clinical picture and impact of the disease.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare personnel (HP) are frequently exposed to influenza and can be a source of transmission to patients and other workers, resulting in high-cost outbreaks for healthcare institutions. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the presentation of HP with influenza-like illness (ILI) and the differences between individuals with influenza confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and those with a negative test. The secondary objective was to evaluate the duration of symptomatology and work absenteeism as well as the vaccination rate of HP at a paediatric referral hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at a paediatric referral hospital. Clinical and epidemiological data on HP with ILI were collected between January and April 2016. Nasopharyngeal swab for influenza PCR was obtained from one in every three workers with ILI. Telephone follow-up was conducted to document duration of symptoms, complications and absenteeism. RESULTS: A total of 164 ILI episodes were evaluated in 162 HP. A swab was obtained in 59 cases, and influenza was detected in 30 cases. The clinical picture of HP with confirmed influenza was similar to that of HP with a negative PCR. Arthralgia was more common in those with influenza (90% vs 58%), with a tendency towards statistical significance. No HP required hospitalization, and 78.5% were absent from work at least 1 day. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza causes significant morbidity and absenteeism among HP. Influenza infection was confirmed in only half of HP with an ILI on whom a PCR was performed, suggesting that other respiratory viruses can cause a similar pattern.

[Prevalence, risk factors and consecuences of late nephrology referral]. / Prevalencia, factores de riesgo y consecuencias de la referencia tardía al nefrólogo.

BACKGROUND: Late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to specialized care by the nephrologist is associated with worse patient outcomes while on dialysis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of late nephrology referral at a Mexican tertiary care hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all adult patients who began chronic hemodialysis between 2002 and 2006 at the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chavez" (NICICh), Mexico City. Timing of referral to Nephrology Department was classified as early, late or very late if the time elapsed between referral and initiation of dialysis was < 1 month, between 1-6 months or > or = 6 months, respectively. Socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic characteristics were compared according to timing of referral. RESULTS: Eighty four out of 150 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 56% were referred < 1 month, and an additional 15% between 1-6 months prior to the initiation of chronic hemodialysis. In univariate analysis, being referred by a relative or friend was associated with a higher risk (p = 0.04), and being employed with a lower risk of late referral (p = 0.05). Late referred patients were more likely to require emergency dialysis and hospitalization, and of not having a permanent vascular access for their first dialysis. They also had a higher prevalence of severe anemia (hematocrit < 28%) and of residual kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 5 mL/min/1.73 m2), as well as increased left ventricular mass. CONCLUSIONS: Late nephrology referral is highly prevalent in our population and is associated with markers of suboptimal predialysis care at the onset of chronic dialysis.