Minimum inhibitory concentrations of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains in clients of the Amsterdam sexual health clinic with a Dutch versus an international sexual network.

OBJECTIVES: International travel combined with sex may contribute to dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng). To assess the role of travel in Ng strain susceptibility, we compared minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for five antibiotics (ie, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefixime and ciprofloxacin) in strains from clients with an exclusively Dutch sexual network and clients with an additional international sexual network. METHODS: From 2013 to 2019, we recorded recent residence of sexual partners of clients (and of their partners) with Ng at the Center for Sexual Health of Amsterdam. We categorised clients as having: (1) exclusively sexual partners residing in the Netherlands ('Dutch only') or (2) at least one partner residing outside the Netherlands. We categorised the country of residence of sexual partners by World Bank/EuroVoc regions. We analysed the difference of log-transformed MIC of Ng strains between categories using linear or hurdle regression for each antibiotic. RESULTS: We included 3367 gay and bisexual men who had sex with men (GBMSM), 516 women and 525 men who exclusively had sex with women (MSW) with Ng. Compared with GBMSM with a 'Dutch only' network, GBMSM with: (1) a Western European network had higher MICs for ceftriaxone (ß=0.19, 95% CI=0.08 to 0.29), cefotaxime (ß=0.19, 95% CI=0.08 to 0.31) and cefixime (ß=0.06, 95% CI=0.001 to 0.11); (2) a Southern European network had a higher MIC for cefixime (ß=0.10, 95% CI=0.02 to 0.17); and (3) a sub-Saharan African network had a lower MIC for ciprofloxacin (ß=-1.79, 95% CI=-2.84 to -0.74). In women and MSW, higher MICs were found for ceftriaxone in clients with a Latin American and Caribbean network (ß=0.26, 95% CI=0.02 to 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: For three cephalosporin antibiotics, we found Ng strains with slightly higher MICs in clients with partner(s) from Europe or Latin America and the Caribbean. International travel might contribute to the spread of Ng with lower susceptibility. More understanding of the emergence of AMR Ng is needed.

Aetiological molecular identification of sexually transmitted infections that cause urethral discharge syndrome and genital ulcer disease in Brazilian men: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the aetiology of urethral discharge syndrome (UDS) and genital ulcer disease (GUD) in Brazil due to limited access to laboratory tests and treatment based mainly on the syndromic approach. OBJECTIVES: To update Brazilian treatment guidelines according to the current scenario, the first nationwide aetiological study for UDS and GUD was performed. METHODS: Male participants with urethral discharge (UD) and/or genital ulcer (GU) reports were enrolled. Sample collection was performed by 12 sentinel sites located in the five Brazilian regions. Between 2018 and 2020, 1141 UD and 208 GU samples were collected in a Universal Transport Medium-RT (Copan). A multiplex quantitative PCR kit (Seegene) was used to detect UD: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), M. hominis (MH), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Ureaplasma parvum (UP), U. urealyticum (UU) and another kit to detect GU: cytomegalovirus (CMV), Haemophilus ducreyi (HD), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), Treponema pallidum (TP) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). RESULTS: In UD samples, the frequency of pathogen detection was NG: 78.38%, CT: 25.6%, MG: 8.3%, UU: 10.4%, UP: 3.5%, MH: 3.5% and TV: 0.9%. Coinfection was assessed in 30.9% of samples, with 14.3% of NG/CT coinfection. The most frequent pathogen identified in GU was HSV2, present in 40.8% of the samples, followed by TP at 24.8%, LGV and CMV at 1%, and HSV1 at 0.4%. Coinfection of TP/HSV2 was detected in 4.4% of samples. VZV and HD were not detected. In 27.7% of the GU samples, no pathogen was detected. CONCLUSION: This study provided the acquisition of unprecedented data on the aetiology of UDS and GUD in Brazil, demonstrated the presence of a variety of pathogens in both sample types and reaffirmed the aetiologies known to be most prevalent globally.

Sexual network characteristics and partnership types among men who have sex with men diagnosed with syphilis, gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia in Lima, Peru.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual networks are known to structure sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). We sought to estimate the risks of STI diagnosis for various partnership types within these networks. METHODS: Our cross-sectional survey analysed data from 1376 MSM screened for a partner management intervention in Lima, Peru. Participants were tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea (NG) and chlamydia (CT) and completed surveys on their demographics, sexual identity/role, HIV status, partnership types and sexual network from the prior 90 days. χ2 and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests compared participants without an STI to those diagnosed with (1) syphilis, (2) NG and/or CT (NG/CT) and (3) syphilis and NG/CT coinfection (coinfection). RESULTS: 40.8% (n=561/1376) of participants were diagnosed with an STI (syphilis: 14.9%, NG/CT: 16.4%, coinfection: 9.5%). 47.9% of all participants were living with HIV and 8.9% were newly diagnosed. A greater proportion of participants with syphilis and coinfection were living with HIV (73.5%, p<0.001; 71.0%, p<0.001) compared with those with NG/CT (47.8%) or no STI (37.8%). Participants with syphilis more often reported sex-on-premises venues (SOPVs) as the location of their last sexual encounter (51.7%, p=0.038) while those with NG/CT tended to meet their last sexual partner online (72.8%, p=0.031). Respondents with coinfection were the only STI group more likely to report transactional sex than participants without an STI (31.3%, p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual networks and partnership types of Peruvian MSM are associated with differential risks for STIs. Participants diagnosed with syphilis tended to meet single-encounter casual partners at SOPV, while MSM with NG/CT were younger and often contacted casual partners online. Coinfection had higher frequency of transactional sex. These findings suggest the potential importance of public health interventions through combined syphilis/HIV screening at SOPV, syphilis screening at routine clinic appointments for MSM living with HIV and directed advertisements and/or access to NG/CT testing through online platforms.

Land-cover, land-use and human hantavirus infection risk: a systematic review.

Previous studies suggest that the risk of human infection by hantavirus, a family of rodent-borne viruses, might be affected by different environmental determinants such as land cover, land use and land use change. This study examined the association between land-cover, land-use, land use change, and human hantavirus infection risk. PubMed and Scopus databases were interrogated using terms relative to land use (change) and human hantavirus disease. Screening and selection of the articles were completed by three independent reviewers. Classes of land use assessed by the different studies were categorized into three macro-categories of exposure ('Agriculture', 'Forest Cover', 'Urban Areas') to qualitatively synthesize the direction of the association between exposure variables and hantavirus infection risk in humans. A total of 25 articles were included, with 14 studies (56%) conducted in China, 4 studies (16%) conducted in South America and 7 studies (28%) conducted in Europe. Most of the studies (88%) evaluated land cover or land use, while 3 studies (12%) evaluated land use change, all in relation to hantavirus infection risk. We observed that land cover and land-use categories could affect hantavirus infection incidence. Overall, agricultural land use was positively associated with increased human hantavirus infection risk, particularly in China and Brazil. In Europe, a positive association between forest cover and hantavirus infection incidence was observed. Studies that assessed the relationship between built-up areas and hantavirus infection risk were more variable, with studies reporting positive, negative or no associations.

[Risk management system to reduce COVID-19 infection in health personnelSistema de gestão de riscos para reduzir o contágio de COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde]. / Sistema de gestión de riesgos para reducir el contagio de COVID-19 en el personal de salud.

Objective: To assess the occupational factors associated with the occurrence of COVID-19 in health personnel who were exposed to different magnitudes of risk and who followed the United Nations crisis management policy for COVID-19. Methods: Cross-sectional survey conducted between April and May 2021. The low-risk group (LRG) were considered to be those who had minimal contact with patients; the medium-risk group (MRG) had contact with non-COVID-19 patients and did not perform instrumental airway intervention; and the high-risk group (HRG) were those who cared for COVID-19 patients and performed instrumental intervention with aerosol generation. Diagnosed COVID-19 disease and the presence of positive IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 measured with Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2 were considered as outcomes. Results: Outcome recorded in 43.8% of the LRG, versus 46.7% in the MRG (odds ratio [OR]: 1.125; 95% confidence interval [CI 95% ]: 0.896-1.414; p = 0.311), and 48.6% in the HRG (OR: 1,214; CI 95%: 0.964-1.530; p= 0.10). Conclusion: Belonging to the high-risk group and the medium-risk group, based on the degree of exposure to confirmed COVID-19 patients in the work area, was not associated with a higher occurrence of disease or seroconversion.

Objetivo: Avaliar os fatores ocupacionais associados à ocorrência de COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde expostos a diferentes níveis de risco utilizando a política de gestão de crises elaborada pelas Nações Unidas para a COVID-19. Métodos: Pesquisa transversal realizada entre abril e maio de 2021. O grupo de risco baixo (GRB) consistia em profissionais que tinham contato mínimo com os pacientes; o grupo de risco médio (GRM) incluía profissionais que tinham contato com pacientes sem COVID-19 e não realizavam intervenções instrumentais nas vias aéreas; e grupo de risco alto (GRA), profissionais que cuidavam de pacientes com COVID-19 e realizavam intervenções instrumentais com geração de aerossóis. Para estabelecer o desfecho, considerou-se a história de COVID-19 do profissional de saúde e a detecção de anticorpos IgG anti- SARS-CoV-2 por Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2. Resultados: A doença foi diagnosticada em 43,8% dos profissionais no GRB, 46,7% no GRM (razão de chances ajustada: 1,125; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 0,896-1,414; p = 0,311) e 48,6% no GRA (razão de chances: 1,214; IC95%: 0,964-1,530; p = 0,10). Conclusões: Pertencer ao GRM e ao GRA em função do nível de exposição a pacientes confirmados com COVID-19 no ambiente de trabalho não foi associado a um aumento da ocorrência da doença ou da soroconversão.

Demographic and risk characteristics of healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 from two tertiary care hospitals in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the transmission dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) and their social contacts is crucial to plan appropriate risk-reduction measures. AIM: To analyze the socio-demographic risk factors and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs in two tertiary care hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. METHODS: The demographic and clinical characteristics were available for all HCWs in both facilities from the human resources department. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January-April 2022 among HCWs who tested positive through Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction of the nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and August 2021 in two tertiary-level hospitals. The survey included questions on demographics, work profile, characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and infection among their household or co-workers. The survey also checked the knowledge and perception of participants on the infection prevention measures related to SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Out of a total of 346 HCWs infected with SARS-CoV-2, 286 (82.7%) HCWs consented to participate in this study. From the sample population, 150 (52.5%) of participants were female, and a majority (230, 80.4%) were frontline HCWs, including 121 nurses (121, 42.4%). Only 48 (16.8%) participants were fully vaccinated at the time of infection. Most infected HCWs (85%) were unaware of any unprotected exposure and were symptomatic at the time of testing (225, 78.7%). Nearly half of the participants (140, 49%) had co-infection among household, and nearly one-third (29.5%) had co-infection among three or more household. Another 108 (37.8%) participants reported cross-infection among co-workers. The frontline HCWs were significantly more infected (25.1% vs 8.6%, P < 0.001) compared to non-frontline HCWs. Another significant risk factor for a high infection rate was male sex (P < 0.001). Among the infected frontline HCWs, a significantly higher proportion were male and shared accommodation with family (P < 0.001). COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the infection rate (83.2% vs 16.8, P < 0.001) among HCWs. Most participants (99.3%) were aware about importance of appropriate use of personal protective equipment. However, only 70% agreed with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination in preventing an infection and severe disease. CONCLUSION: The risk profiling of the HCWs infected with SARS-CoV-2 found that working at frontline and being male increase the rate of infection. COVID-19 vaccination can effectively reduce the rate of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs.

MPox virus: an unusual aetiology of peritonitis.

We describe a rare case of severe disseminated monkeypox (MPox) virus infection complicated by peritonitis in a 44-year-old man living with well-controlled HIV. The patient was successfully treated with tecovirimat without requiring surgery. MPox should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-bacterial peritonitis in patients at risk of infection.

Case of apparent mpox reinfection.

We present an apparent second episode of mpox (monkeypox) genital ulcerative disease in a non-immunosuppressed MSM (man who has sex with men) patient who had completely recovered from a primary mpox infection 4 months previously. The patient had also received a complete two-dose course of smallpox vaccination between the two presentations. This case highlights the importance of continuing to include mpox in the differential diagnoses for individuals presenting with genital or mucosal ulceration, regardless of assumed immunity derived from prior infection or vaccination.

Non-B subtypes account for a large proportion of clustered primary HIV-1 infections in Italy.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: Using pol sequences obtained for routine resistance testing, we characterised the molecular patterns of HIV-1 transmission and factors associated with being part of a transmission cluster among individuals who in 2008-2014 presented with primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) at 11 urban centres across Italy. METHODS: Pol sequences were obtained by Sanger sequencing. Transmission clusters were identified by phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood method, confirmed by Bayesian analysis). Multivariable logistic regression explored factors associated with a participant being part of a transmission cluster. RESULTS: The PHI cohort comprised 186 participants (159/186, 85.5% males) with median age 44 years, median CD4 count 464 cells/mm3 and median plasma HIV-1 RNA 5.6 log10 copies/mL. Drug resistance associated mutations were found in 16/186 (8.6%). A diversity of non-B subtypes accounted for 60/186 (32.3%) of all infections. A total of 17 transmission clusters were identified, including 44/186 (23.7%) participants. Each cluster comprised 2-6 sequences. Non-B subtypes accounted for seven clusters and 22/44 (50%) of clustered sequences. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors associated with being part of a transmission cluster comprised harbouring a non-B subtype (adjusted OR (adjOR) 2.28; 95% CI 1.03 to 5.05; p=0.04) and showing a lower plasma HIV-1 RNA (adjOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.99; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: There was a large contribution of diverse non-B subtypes to transmission clusters among people presenting with acute or recent HIV-1 infection in this cohort, illustrating the evolving dynamics of the HIV-1 epidemic in Italy, where subtype B previously dominated.

Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 and Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), an STI, is reported to be highly prevalent in Indigenous communities in Central Australia. HTLV-1 is an incurable, chronic infection which can cause Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL is associated with high morbidity and mortality, with limited treatment options. We studied the prevalence of HTLV-1 and ATL in the state of Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Serum samples stored at healthcare services in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns and at haemodialysis units in Brisbane (2018-2019) were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies using the Abbott ARCHITECT chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) for antibodies against gp46-I, gp46-II and GD21 (Abbott CMIA, ARCHITECT). Reactive samples were confirmed through Western blot. Pooled Australian National Cancer Registry surveillance data reporting on cases coded for ATL (2004-2015) were analysed. RESULTS: Two out of 2000 hospital and health services samples were confirmed HTLV-1-positive (0.1%, 95% CI 0.02% to 0.4%), both in older women, one Indigenous and one non-Indigenous. All 540 haemodialysis samples tested negative for HTLV. All samples were HTLV-2-negative. Ten out of 42 (24.8%) reported cases of ATL in Australia were from Queensland (crude incidence rate 0.025/100 000; 95% CI 0.011 to 0.045); most cases were seen in adult men of non-Indigenous origin. Nineteen deaths due to ATL were recorded in Australia. CONCLUSION: We confirm that HTLV-1 and ATL were detected in Queensland in Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. These results highlight the need for HTLV-1 prevalence studies in populations at risk of STIs to allow the implementation of focused public health sexual and mother-to-child transmission prevention strategies.

Sistema de gestión de riesgos para reducir el contagio de COVID-19 en el personal de salud / Risk management system to reduce COVID-19 infection in health personnel / Sistema de gestão de riscos para reduzir o contágio de COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde

RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar los factores laborales asociados con la ocurrencia de COVID-19 en el personal de salud expuesto a distinta magnitud de riesgo con el uso de la política de gestión de crisis de las Naciones Unidas para COVID-19. Métodos. Encuesta transversal realizada entre abril y mayo del 2021. Se consideraron como grupo de riesgo bajo (GRB) quienes tenían contacto mínimo con pacientes; de riesgo medio (GRM) a quienes tenían contacto con pacientes no-COVID-19 y no realizaban intervención instrumental de vías respiratorias; y de riesgo alto (GRA) a quienes atendían pacientes COVID-19 y realizaban intervención instrumental con generación de aerosoles. Se consideró como desenlace el antecedente de enfermedad diagnosticada de COVID-19 y la presencia de anticuerpos IgG positivos contra el SARS-CoV-2 medida con Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2. Resultados. Desenlace en 43,8% en el GRB; 46,7% en el GRM (razón de momios [RM]: 1,125; intervalo de confianza de 95% [IC95%]: 0,896-1,414; p = 0,311); y 48,6% en el GRA (RM: 1,214; IC95%: 0,964-1,530; p = 0,10). Conclusión. Pertenecer al GRM y al GRA por el grado de exposición a pacientes confirmados de COVID-19 en el área de trabajo no se asoció con mayor ocurrencia de enfermedad o de seroconversión.

ABSTRACT Objective. To assess the occupational factors associated with the occurrence of COVID-19 in health personnel who were exposed to different magnitudes of risk and who followed the United Nations crisis management policy for COVID-19. Methods. Cross-sectional survey conducted between April and May 2021. The low-risk group (LRG) were considered to be those who had minimal contact with patients; the medium-risk group (MRG) had contact with non-COVID-19 patients and did not perform instrumental airway intervention; and the high-risk group (HRG) were those who cared for COVID-19 patients and performed instrumental intervention with aerosol generation. Diagnosed COVID-19 disease and the presence of positive IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 measured with Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2 were considered as outcomes. Results. Outcome recorded in 43.8% of the LRG, versus 46.7% in the MRG (odds ratio [OR]: 1.125; 95% confidence interval [CI 95% ]: 0.896-1.414; p = 0.311), and 48.6% in the HRG (OR: 1,214; CI 95%: 0.964-1.530; p= 0.10). Conclusion. Belonging to the high-risk group and the medium-risk group, based on the degree of exposure to confirmed COVID-19 patients in the work area, was not associated with a higher occurrence of disease or seroconversion.

RESUMO Objetivo. Avaliar os fatores ocupacionais associados à ocorrência de COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde expostos a diferentes níveis de risco utilizando a política de gestão de crises elaborada pelas Nações Unidas para a COVID-19. Métodos. Pesquisa transversal realizada entre abril e maio de 2021. O grupo de risco baixo (GRB) consistia em profissionais que tinham contato mínimo com os pacientes; o grupo de risco médio (GRM) incluía profissionais que tinham contato com pacientes sem COVID-19 e não realizavam intervenções instrumentais nas vias aéreas; e grupo de risco alto (GRA), profissionais que cuidavam de pacientes com COVID-19 e realizavam intervenções instrumentais com geração de aerossóis. Para estabelecer o desfecho, considerou-se a história de COVID-19 do profissional de saúde e a detecção de anticorpos IgG anti- SARS-CoV-2 por Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2. Resultados. A doença foi diagnosticada em 43,8% dos profissionais no GRB, 46,7% no GRM (razão de chances ajustada: 1,125; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 0,896-1,414; p = 0,311) e 48,6% no GRA (razão de chances: 1,214; IC95%: 0,964-1,530; p = 0,10). Conclusões. Pertencer ao GRM e ao GRA em função do nível de exposição a pacientes confirmados com COVID-19 no ambiente de trabalho não foi associado a um aumento da ocorrência da doença ou da soroconversão.

Children wearing face masks to prevent communicable diseases: scoping review / Uso de máscaras faciais por crianças para prevenção de doenças transmissíveis: scoping review

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify and synthesize scientific evidence that the use of face protection masks by children, in the community and at home, is a way of preventing communicable diseases. Data source: A scoping review was made using the Joana Briggs Institute method and PRISMA-ScR. A research was carried out in five electronic databases, at the Cochrane Library and on seven websites of governmental and non-governmental institutions. The data were organized in a spreadsheet and submitted to narrative analysis. Data synthesis: Initially, 658 productions were identified, of which 19 made up the final sample. Studies with higher levels of evidence are scarce. The types of masks identified were professional (surgical and facial respirators with filtration) and non-professional (homemade). The transmissible agents studied were influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses, and the evaluated environments were schools, homes and community spaces. The main discomforts reported were heat, shortness of breath, headache and maladjustment to the face. The indication and acceptability of masks change according to the age group and clinical conditions. There is no consensus on the reduction in the transmissibility of infections. Conclusions: Children older than five can benefit from the correct use of masks, as long as they are supervised, taught and educated to do so and the masks should be well adjusted to the face. The use of masks show better results when associated with other measures such as physical distancing, keeping places ventilated and frequent hand hygiene.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar e sintetizar evidências científicas sobre o uso de máscaras faciais de proteção por crianças, na comunidade e no domicílio, como forma de prevenção de doenças transmissíveis. Fontes de dados: Revisão de escopo seguindo o método Joana Briggs Institute e o PRISMA-ScR. Realizou-se pesquisa em cinco bases de dados eletrônicas, na Biblioteca Cochrane e em sete sites de instituições governamentais e não governamentais. Os dados foram organizados em planilha e submetidos à análise narrativa. Síntese dos dados: Inicialmente foram identificadas 658 produções, das quais 19 compuseram a amostra final. Estudos com melhores níveis de evidência são escassos. Os tipos de máscaras identificadas foram as profissionais (cirúrgicas e respiradores faciais com filtragem) e as não profissionais (caseiras). Os agentes transmissíveis estudados foram os vírus influenza e SARS-CoV-2, e os ambientes avaliados foram escolas, domicílios e espaços comunitários. Os principais desconfortos relatados foram calor, falta de ar, dor de cabeça e desajuste ao rosto. A indicação e a aceitabilidade mudam conforme faixa etária e condições clínicas. Não há consenso sobre a redução da transmissibilidade de infecções. Conclusões: Crianças maiores de 5 anos podem se beneficiar com o uso correto de máscaras, desde que sejam supervisionadas e educadas para isso e que a máscara esteja bem ajustada ao rosto. Há melhores resultados quando seu uso está associado a outras medidas, como distanciamento físico, permanência em locais arejados e higiene frequente das mãos.

Temporal-Spatial Distribution of Vibrio cholerae in Cuba: July 1997-December 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Vibrio cholerae is a microorganism that causes acute diarrheal diseases and cholera, one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality, especially in children under five years old. It is present in many regions and has been isolated from diverse sources such as water, soil and food. Surveillance of this microorganism in Cuba from 1985 through June 1997 showed circulation of non-epidemic non-O1/non-O139 serogroups, but surveillance continued to identify distribution of V. cholerae serotypes and serogroups in the different geographic regions of the country during the following years, due to the risk of introducing cholera-causing serogroups that provoked cholera epidemics in other countries of the region. OBJECTIVE: Describe the temporal‒spatial distribution of serogroups and serotypes of V. cholerae in Cuba. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted that included isolates from passive surveillance of V. cholerae in 16 hygiene and epidemiology centers throughout Cuba from July 1997 through December 2019, submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for Acute Diarrheal Diseases of the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute in Havana, Cuba. The timeline was subdivided into three five-year periods and one eight-year period. The centers submitting isolates were grouped into three geographical regions: western, central and eastern Cuba. A total of 1060 V. cholerae isolates were studied, from the 1438 samples sent from 15 Provincial Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Centers and the Municipal Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Center of the Isle of Youth Special Municipality. Genus, species and serotype of all specimens were studied and reviewed in the context of the outbreaks of acute diarrheal diseases reported in the country. RESULTS: All 1060 isolates were confirmed as V. cholerae. In the distribution by time period and region, the highest percentage occurred in the 2012‒2019 period, and the eastern region contributed the most isolates in all periods. Approximately 63.9% (677/1060) were from outbreaks, and in the 2012‒2019 period, the most epidemic-causing isolates came from the western region. Approximately 52.8% (560/1060) were identified as non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae, and 47.2% (500/1060) as O1 V. cholerae; of these, 96.4% (482/500) corresponded to Ogawa serotype and 3.6% (18/500) to Inaba. Circulation of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae occurred throughout the entire period. The O1 serogroup began to circulate in 2012 and continued through 2016; however, since 2017, it has not been identified again. In the western region, there were smaller percentages of isolates of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae in all periods, except 2012‒2019. In that period, V. cholerae O1 was identified to a lesser degree in the central region. CONCLUSIONS: Vibrio cholerae circulated in all three Cuban regions during the years studied, with a higher percentage of isolates of the non-O1/non-O139 serogroup, which caused outbreaks or sporadic cases of diarrhea in the eastern region, with the exception of the 2012‒2019 period, when epidemic outbreaks of the O1 serogroup (which causes cholera) occurred in all three regions, with higher percentages in the western region.

[A structural method to assess the course of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in school environmentsMétodo estructural para examinar el curso de la pandemia por el SARS-CoV-2 en ambientes escolares]. / Método estrutural para aferir o curso pandêmico do SARS-CoV-2 em ambientes escolares.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed several dilemmas for managers in the public sector, with school reopening being among the most complex decisions. The present article presents a microsimulation model of the pandemic course considering various scenarios within the confines of a classroom in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. For that, a susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) model was integrated with a random graph model, associating epidemiological characteristics with sociometric and sociodemographic factors. Social contact rates projected for Brazil in the European POLYMOD project were adapted for the city of Belo Horizonte to simulate the number of contacts among individuals considering a Poisson distribution. The simulation used as reference a group of 20 students and their families. The projected scenarios discriminated three age groups with their respective rate of daily social contacts: 0 to 5 years (0.01), 6 a 14 years (1.80), and 15 to 19 years (0.20). The simulations showed clear differences between these age groups, depending on the initial number of infected individuals and on the use or not of face masks in the school. The results confirm that the absence of adequate mitigation measures entails a considerable increase in transmission in the school setting.

La pandemia de COVID-19 ha creado una serie de dilemas para los administradores públicos, que ha hecho de la reapertura de las escuelas una de las decisiones más complejas. En el presente artículo se presenta una microsimulación del curso de la pandemia, en la cual se analizan varias situaciones hipotéticas dentro de los límites de un salón de clases en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte (Brasil). Se utilizó un modelo de personassusceptibles, infectadas y recuperadas (SIR) integrado a un modelo de gráficos aleatorios, dentro del cual se asociaron lascaracterísticas epidemiológicas a factores sociométricos y sociodemográficos. Se utilizaron las tasas de contactos sociales previstas para Brasil por el proyecto europeo POLYMOD y adaptadas a la ciudad de Belo Horizonte con el fin de simular el número de contactos entre las personas con una distribución de Poisson. Para la simulación se tomó como referencia un grupo de 20 alumnos y sus familias. En las situaciones hipotéticas proyectadas se distinguieron tres grupos etarios con sus respectivas tasas diarias de contactos sociales: de 0 a 5 años (0,01), de 6 a 14 años (1,80) y de 15 a 19 años (0,20). Las simulaciones demostraron que hay claras diferencias en los grupos etarios analizados, según el número inicial de personas infectadas y el uso o la falta de uso de mascarilla en el ambiente escolar. Los resultados confirman que la falta de medidas adecuadas de mitigación eleva de forma considerable el riesgo de contagio en la comunidad escolar.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against to SARS-CoV 2 in umbilical cord blood in two hospital centers in Córdoba and Sucre, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women continue to be vulnerable to COVID-19, and their immunosuppressed state could put them at greater risk of developing more severe forms of the disease. In Colombia and Latin America, there are few studies on the immune response of the newborn against SARS-CoV-2. AIM: To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in umbilical cord blood in two hospital centers in Córdoba and Sucre. METHODS: Between March and June 2021, a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. Two hospitals from the departments of Córdoba and Sucre, located in the Northwest Caribbean area of Colombia, participated. Three hundred sixty umbilical cord blood samples were taken at the two hospitals. A commercial ELISA was performed to detect total IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against the N protein of SARS-CoV-2. The ethics committee approved the study of the participating institutions. RESULTS: Of 3.291 women who gave birth in the hospital centers included in the study, 360 (11%) participated. Complete clinical data were obtained for 223 women. The mean age of the women was 24 years (range, 15-42). 29.4% (106/360) of the umbilical cord samples had total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Pregnant women did not have blood samples taken. 58% of the women were asymptomatic. There was no association between umbilical cord samples, clinical, epidemiological characteristics, and serological response to antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of umbilical cord blood samples was 29.4% for total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The study provides essential aspects for the epidemiological approach to neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2.