Drug exposure may have a substantial influence on COVID-19 prognosis among residents of long-term care facilities: an exploratory analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between drug exposure and SARS-CoV-2 prognosis among elderly people living in long-term care facilities (LTC) DESIGN: We carried out a cross-sectional study among old people living in LTC that had a proven SARS-CoV-2 infection, including socio-demographic data, comorbidities and drug intake at the moment of the diagnosis. The study was focused on ACE2 inhibitors, ARA-II blockers, inhaled bronchodilators, oral corticoids, platelet antiaggregants, oral anti-coagulants, statins and Vitamin D. RESULTS: 1 306 individuals were included, with a mean age of 86.7 years, and 72.3% were females. The case fatality rate was 24.4%. Among the studied exposures platelet antiaggregants were the most prevalent (24.7%). After adjusting for propensity score, the intake of inhaled corticoids (OR 0.73; p=0.03) and statins (OR 0.65; p=0.03) were found to be protective factors of death, whereas ACE2 inhibitor showed an almost significant association (OR 0.73, p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high prevalence of drug intake among elderly people, drug exposure may be an important Covid-19 disease modifier in LTC residents and should be considered when exploring prognostic risk factors associated to Covid-19.

Cribado ampliado de Trypanosoma cruzi en la descendencia de mujeres infectadas en la zona metropolitana norte de Barcelona, Cataluña (España), 2005-2016 / Extended screening of Trypanosoma cruzi among the offspring of infected women. Barcelona North metropolitan area, Catalonia (Spain), 2005-2016

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existen escasos datos sobre el cribado serológico extenso, familiar, de Trypanosoma cruzi a partir de un infectado-índice. Por tratarse de una parasitosis con posibilidad de transmisión materno-fetal, el estudio de la descendencia de mujeres crónicamente infectadas posee una especial relevancia. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional por método de captura-recaptura que valora el estado serológico en la descendencia de las mujeres diagnosticadas de infección por T. cruzi en el área metropolitana norte de Barcelona durante el periodo 2005-2016. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 238 mujeres son serología positiva para T. cruzi. De ellas, se pudieron localizar 117 (49,2%) y sus 300 descendientes. Entre los descendientes, 192 (64%) tenían registro de serología, con 23 positivas para T. cruzi (11,98%; IC 95%: 8,1-17,3). Hubo 53 niños nacidos en el área de estudio, con 5 casos de transmisión vertical (9,8%; IC 95%: 4,2-20,9). Todos los nacidos a partir de la implementación del programa de cribado materno (en 2010) tenían registro serológico. CONCLUSIONES: La población de descendientes de mujeres con serología positiva para T. cruzi muestra una tasa elevada de seropositividad. La prevalencia de transmisión vertical es notablemente alta, pero comparable a la obtenida en otros estudios europeos. La principal fuente de pérdidas lo constituyen las mujeres ilocalizables. Es razonable incluir la determinación serológica familiar extensa en los protocolos de cribado de enfermedad de Chagas. A fin de evitar pérdidas, se debería implementar un eventual cribado en el momento del diagnóstico materno

INTRODUCTION: To date, very little data is available on the extensive, familiar, serological screening of Trypanosoma cruzi from infected-index cases. As it is a parasite with possibility of mother-to-child fetal transmission, the study of the offspring of chronically infected women has a special relevance. METHODS: An observational study using a capture-recapture method that evaluates the offspring serological status of women diagnosed with T. cruzi infection (positive serology) in the northern metropolitan area of Barcelona during 2005-2016. RESULTS: A total of 238 women with positive serology for T. cruzi were identified. Of these, 117 (49.2%) could be localized. Their offspring summarized 300 individuals, of which 192 (64%) had serology records, with 23 positive for T. cruzi (11.98%; CI95%: 8.1-17.3). Among the 53 children born within the study area, 5 (9.8%, CI95%: 4.2-20.9) cases of vertical transmission were recorded. All children born as of 2010 (the starting year of mother screening) had serological outputs. CONCLUSIONS: Offspring of T. cruzi-seropositive women showed a high rate of seropositivity. The prevalence of vertical transmission is also remarkably high but comparable to that obtained in other European studies. The main source of loss was non-accessible women. It is reasonable to formaly include extensive, familiar, serological assessment in Chagas screening guidelines. In order to avoid losses, any eventual screening should be implemented at the time of the maternal diagnosis

Extended screening of Trypanosoma cruzi among the offspring of infected women. Barcelona North metropolitan area, Catalonia (Spain), 2005-2016. / Cribado ampliado de Trypanosoma cruzi en la descendencia de mujeres infectadas en la zona metropolitana norte de Barcelona, Cataluña (España), 2005-2016.

INTRODUCTION: To date, very little data is available on the extensive, familiar, serological screening of Trypanosoma cruzi from infected-index cases. As it is a parasite with possibility of mother-to-child fetal transmission, the study of the offspring of chronically infected women has a special relevance. METHODS: An observational study using a capture-recapture method that evaluates the offspring serological status of women diagnosed with T. cruzi infection (positive serology) in the northern metropolitan area of Barcelona during 2005-2016. RESULTS: A total of 238 women with positive serology for T. cruzi were identified. Of these, 117 (49.2%) could be localized. Their offspring summarized 300 individuals, of which 192 (64%) had serology records, with 23 positive for T. cruzi (11.98%; CI95%: 8.1-17.3). Among the 53 children born within the study area, 5 (9.8%, CI95%: 4.2-20.9) cases of vertical transmission were recorded. All children born as of 2010 (the starting year of mother screening) had serological outputs. CONCLUSIONS: Offspring of T. cruzi-seropositive women showed a high rate of seropositivity. The prevalence of vertical transmission is also remarkably high but comparable to that obtained in other European studies. The main source of loss was non-accessible women. It is reasonable to formaly include extensive, familiar, serological assessment in Chagas screening guidelines. In order to avoid losses, any eventual screening should be implemented at the time of the maternal diagnosis.

Infección por el virus Zika o el futuro de las enfermedades infecciosas / Zika virus infection or the future of infectious diseases

El virus Zika es un Flavivirus filogenéticamente cercano al de la fiebre amarilla o del dengue, cuyo vector principal es el mosquito Aedes aegypti. El virus procede de un reservorio simiano africano y ha protagonizado una expansión fulminante a través del Pacífico hasta Sudamérica. Provoca una enfermedad leve caracterizada por fiebre con exantema. La mortalidad se circunscribe a casos de Guillain-Barré y de malformación encefálica fetal con microcefalia. Un caso sospechoso será aquel con: a) antecedente epidemiológico de desplazamiento a zona endémica; b) cuadro pseudogripal con exantema, y c) hemograma/bioquímica levemente alteradas o normales. La confirmación diagnóstica requiere identificar al virus por RT-PCR en sangre (hasta el quinto día sintomático), orina (hasta el día 10-14) o IgM específicas a partir del quinto día. Existe alguna evidencia que da soporte a la relación causa-efecto con la microcefalia fetal. A la espera de datos definitivos, las mujeres embarazadas procedentes de Centro y Sudamérica deben ser testadas para descartar la infección (AU)

Zika virus belongs to the Flaviridae, an extended phylogenetic family containing dengue or yellow fever, viruses whose shared main vector are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The virus originally came from Central African simian reservoirs and, from there, expanded rapidly across the Pacific to South America. The disease is an example of exantematic fever usually mild. Mortality is very low and mainly limited to secondary Guillain-Barré or fetal microcephaly cases. Diagnostic confirmation requires a RT-PCR in blood up to the 5th day from the onset or in urine up to the 10-14th day. Specific IgM are identifiable from the 5th symptomatic day. Clinically, a suspected case should comply with: a) a journey to epidemic areas; b) a clinically compatible appearance with fever and skin rash, and c) a generally normal blood count/basic biochemistry. There is some evidence that causally relates Zika virus infection with fetal microcephaly. While waiting for definitive data, all pregnant women coming from Central or South America should be tested for Zika virus (AU)

[Zika virus infection or the future of infectious diseases]. / Infección por el virus Zika o el futuro de las enfermedades infecciosas.

Zika virus belongs to the Flaviridae, an extended phylogenetic family containing dengue or yellow fever, viruses whose shared main vector are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The virus originally came from Central African simian reservoirs and, from there, expanded rapidly across the Pacific to South America. The disease is an example of exantematic fever usually mild. Mortality is very low and mainly limited to secondary Guillain-Barré or fetal microcephaly cases. Diagnostic confirmation requires a RT-PCR in blood up to the 5th day from the onset or in urine up to the 10-14th day. Specific IgM are identifiable from the 5th symptomatic day. Clinically, a suspected case should comply with: a) a journey to epidemic areas; b) a clinically compatible appearance with fever and skin rash, and c) a generally normal blood count/basic biochemistry. There is some evidence that causally relates Zika virus infection with fetal microcephaly. While waiting for definitive data, all pregnant women coming from Central or South America should be tested for Zika virus.

Zika virus infection or the future of infectious diseases.

Zika virus belongs to the Flaviridae, an extended phylogenetic family containing dengue or yellow fever, viruses whose shared main vector are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The virus originally came from Central African simian reservoirs and, from there, expanded rapidly across the Pacific to South America. The disease is an example of exantematic fever usually mild. Mortality is very low and mainly limited to secondary Guillain-Barré or foetal microcephaly cases. Diagnostic confirmation requires a RT-PCR in blood up to the 5th day from the onset or in urine up to the 10-14th day. Specific IgM are identifiable from the 5th symptomatic day. Clinically, a suspected case should comply with: (a) a journey to epidemic areas; (b) a clinically compatible appearance with fever and skin rash, and (c) a generally normal blood count/basic biochemistry. There is some evidence that causally relates Zika virus infection with foetal microcephaly. While waiting for definitive data, all pregnant women coming from Central or South America should be tested for Zika virus.

El virus Zika es un Flavivirus filogenéticamente cercano al de la fiebre amarilla o del dengue, cuyo vector principal es el mosquito Aedes aegypti. El virus procede de un reservorio simiano africano y ha protagonizado una expansión fulminante a través del Pacífico hasta Sudamérica. Provoca una enfermedad leve caracterizada por fiebre con exantema. La mortalidad se circunscribe a casos de Guillain-Barré y de malformación encefálica fetal con microcefalia.Un caso sospechoso será aquel con: a) antecedente epidemiológico de desplazamiento a zona endémica; b) cuadro pseudogripal con exantema, y c) hemograma/bioquímica levemente alteradas o normales.La confirmación diagnóstica requiere identificar al virus por RT-PCR en sangre (hasta el quinto día sintomático), orina (hasta el día 10-14) o IgM específicas a partir del quinto día. Existe alguna evidencia que da soporte a la relación causa-efecto con la microcefalia fetal. A la espera de datos definitivos, las mujeres embarazadas procedentes de Centro y Sudamérica deben ser testadas para descartar la infección.