Manejo urológico y procedimientos quirúrgicos en migrantes del África Subsahariana con esquistosomiasis urogenital / Urological management and surgical procedures in migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa with urogenital schistosomiasis

Introducción y objetivos: Tras el flujo migratorio procedente del África Subsahariana (ASS) en Europa, el número de diagnósticos de esquistosomiasis urogenital (EUG) es cada vez mayor. Este fenómeno representa un desafío para los urólogos que trabajan en zonas no endémicas. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el tratamiento urológico y los procedimientos quirúrgicos de los pacientes con EUG en un centro de referencia terciarioPacientesTodos los sujetos del ASS diagnosticados con EUG entre enero del 2011 y noviembre del 2018 fueron inscritos retrospectivamente. Se recogió y analizó la información detallada de los pacientes con EUG tratados mediante procedimientos urológicos.ResultadosTreinta pacientes fueron diagnosticados con EUG, 12 (42,8%) fueron tratados mediante cirugía. El procedimiento quirúrgico más común fue la resección transuretral de vejiga (RTUV) para las lesiones sospechosas persistentes después del tratamiento con praziquantel administrado en 7 casos (58%). Otros procedimientos quirúrgicos (realizados una vez) fueron RTUV combinada con ureteroscopia láser por sospecha de neoplasia de vejiga con cálculos renales, litotricia endoscópica y nefrolitotomía percutánea para cálculos vesicales y renales, nefrectomía laparoscópica para enfermedad renal terminal, colocación de nefrostomía bilateral para hidroureteronefrosis, cirugía testicular exploratoria por sospecha de torsión testicular. Cuatro pacientes (33%) se perdieron en el seguimiento.ConclusiónSe ha observado un número cada vez mayor de migrantes del ASS diagnosticados con EUG. Algunos pacientes requirieron intervención quirúrgica por sospecha de lesiones neoplásicas o daños en órganos en fase terminal. En varios pacientes fue particularmente difícil realizar un seguimiento regular. Se necesitan más estudios multicéntricos para lograr un manejo estándar en términos de diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de los sujetos con EUG. (AU)

Introduction and objectives: An increasing number of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is being diagnosed in Europe following the unprecedented migratory flux from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This phenomenon represent a challenge for urologists working in a non-endemic area. The aim of this study is to describe the urological management and the surgical procedures of patients with UGS in a tertiary referral centre.PatientsAll subjects from SAA diagnosed with UGS from January 2011 to November 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. Detailed data of patients with UGS undergoing to urological procedures were collected and analysed.ResultsThirty patients were diagnosed with UGS, among them 12 (42.8%) were submitted to surgery. The most common surgical procedure was trans urethral resection of bladder (TURB) for suspected lesions persisted after praziquantel treatment performed in 7cases (58%). Other surgical procedure were TURB and concomitant ureteroscopy with laser fragmentation for suspected bladder neoplasm with renal stone, endoscopic lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy for bladder and renal stones, laparoscopic nephrectomy for end-stage kidney disease, placement of bilateral nephrostomy for hydroureteronephrosis, explorative testicular surgery for a suspected testicular torsion in one case each. Four patients (33%) were lost at the follow up.ConclusionAn increasing number of migrants from SSA diagnosed with UGS has been observed. Some patients required a surgical intervention for suspected neoplastic lesions or end-stage organ damage. It was particularly difficult to perform a regular follow-up in several patients. Further multicentric studies are needed to reach a proper standard in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of subjects with UGS. (AU)

Urological management and surgical procedures in migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa with urogenital schistosomiasis. / Manejo urológico y procedimientos quirúrgicos en migrantes del África Subsahariana con esquistosomiasis urogenital.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is being diagnosed in Europe following the unprecedented migratory flux from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This phenomenon represent a challenge for urologists working in a non-endemic area. The aim of this study is to describe the urological management and the surgical procedures of patients with UGS in a tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: All subjects from SAA diagnosed with UGS from January 2011 to November 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. Detailed data of patients with UGS undergoing to urological procedures were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Thirty patients were diagnosed with UGS, among them 12 (42.8%) were submitted to surgery. The most common surgical procedure was trans urethral resection of bladder (TURB) for suspected lesions persisted after praziquantel treatment performed in 7cases (58%). Other surgical procedure were TURB and concomitant ureteroscopy with laser fragmentation for suspected bladder neoplasm with renal stone, endoscopic lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy for bladder and renal stones, laparoscopic nephrectomy for end-stage kidney disease, placement of bilateral nephrostomy for hydroureteronephrosis, explorative testicular surgery for a suspected testicular torsion in one case each. Four patients (33%) were lost at the follow up. CONCLUSION: An increasing number of migrants from SSA diagnosed with UGS has been observed. Some patients required a surgical intervention for suspected neoplastic lesions or end-stage organ damage. It was particularly difficult to perform a regular follow-up in several patients. Further multicentric studies are needed to reach a proper standard in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of subjects with UGS.

Management of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy: is it time for valacyclovir?

BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading infectious cause of neurological impairment for which, currently, there are no approved antenatal treatment options. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to summarize the available evidence on the use of valacyclovir during pregnancy to prevent and treat congenital CMV infection and disease. SOURCES: Two databases (PubMed and ClinicalTrial.gov) were reviewed. CONTENT: Six relevant documents were identified, namely one observational study, three clinical trials, two case reports. Most relevant findings were those from two clinical trials. A phase 2/3 placebo-controlled study showed a decrease of 71% (5 of 45 vs 14 of 47) in rate of CMV vertical transmission in women treated with 8 g/day valacyclovir following primary CMV infection in pregnancy. A phase 2, single-arm clinical trial, showed that 8 g/day valacyclovir administered to mothers of symptomatic infected foetuses increased the portion of asymptomatic neonates to 82% (34 of 41), compared with 43% (20 of 47) in untreated pregnancies from a historical cohort. IMPLICATIONS: Studies in favour of using valacyclovir during pregnancy for prevention and treatment of congenital CMV infection are emerging but are still few. Randomized clinical trials on large cohorts of patients investigating the efficacy on prevention and treatment of congenital CMV are required. Unfortunately, this will be probably not be feasible at least in the short period. In the meantime, data on the 'off label' use of valacyclovir for CMV in pregnancy could be collected within a multicentre observational study.

Seroprevalence of five neglected parasitic diseases among immigrants accessing five infectious and tropical diseases units in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This multicentre cross-sectional study aims to estimate the prevalence of five neglected tropical diseases (Chagas disease, filariasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis and toxocariasis) among immigrants accessing health care facilities in five Italian cities (Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Rome, Verona). METHODS: Individuals underwent a different set of serological tests, according to country of origin and presence of eosinophilia. Seropositive patients were treated and further followed up. RESULTS: A total of 930 adult immigrants were enrolled: 477 men (51.3%), 445 women (47.9%), eight transgender (0.8%); median age was 37.81 years (range 18-80 years). Most of them had come from the African continent (405/930, 43.5%), the rest from East Europe, South America and Asia, and 9.6% (89/930) were diagnosed with at least one of the infections under study. Seroprevalence of each specific infection varied from 3.9% (7/180) for Chagas disease to 9.7% (11/113) for toxocariasis. Seropositive people were more likely to be 35-40 years old and male, and to come from South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa or South America. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study confirm that neglected tropical diseases represent a substantial health problem among immigrants and highlight the need to address this emerging public health issue.

Zika virus infection in a traveller returning to Europe from Brazil, March 2015.

We report a case of laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection imported into Europe from the Americas. The patient developed fever, rash, and oedema of hands and feet after returning to Italy from Brazil in late March 2015. The case highlights that, together with chikungunya virus and dengue virus, three major arboviruses are now co-circulating in Brazil. These arboviruses represent a burden for the healthcare systems in Brazil and other countries where competent mosquito vectors are present.