Prevalence and factors associated with syphilis in a Reference Center

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The implementation of the rapid test (RT) for syphilis increases access of vulnerable populations to early diagnosis and treatment, impacting the outcomes of infection. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with syphilis in a Center for Testing and Counseling (CTC). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a Reference Center for sexually transmitted disease (STD) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Londrina, Northern Paraná State, Southern Brazil. Data regarding the 5,509 individuals who underwent RT from June 2012 to December 2014 were collected from patient records and the CTC Information System and served as the basis to check associations of syphilis cases (346) and cases without syphilis (5,163). Nine patients’ records were not found. OpenEpi was used to perform a prevalence analysis and determine odds ratios to assess the associations between sociodemographic and behavioral variables (independent variables) and cases of syphilis (dependent variable). An alpha value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of syphilis was 6.3%; higher in males (7.5%) than in females (4.3%, p <0.001). Syphilis was associated with an age of 25-34 years, little education, and single marital status. The main associated behavioral factors were men who have sex with men, drug users, STD patients, and those presenting with an STD in the last year. The use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and crack was significantly associated with syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies for prevention and control of syphilis should be intensified, especially in populations identified as most vulnerable.

Mortality and risks related to healthcare-associated infection / Mortalidad y riesgos asociados a la infección relacionada con la asistencia a la salud / Mortalidade e riscos associados a infecção relacionada à assistência à saúde

Healthcare-associated infections are a major cause of morbidity-mortality among hospitalized patients. The aim of this epidemiological study was to determine mortality and risks related to death in adult patients with healthcare-associated infections admitted to a teaching hospital in one year. Patient data were collected from infection medical reports. The mortality rate associated with infections was 38.4%, and it was classified as a contributing factor to deaths in 87.1% of death cases. The correlation between healthcare-associated infection and death was statistically significant among clinical patients (41.3%) presenting comorbidities related to the diagnosis (55.8%), cardiovascular infection (62.2%), pneumonia (48.9%), developing sepsis (69.0%), as well as patients who had been colonized (45.2%) and infected (44.7%) by multidrug resistance microorganisms.

La infección relacionada con la atención sanitaria es una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad entre los pacientes hospitalizados. El objetivo de este estudio epidemiológico fue determinar la mortalidad y los riesgos asociados con el fallecimiento de pacientes adultos con la infección relacionada con la atención sanitaria ingresados en un hospital universitario en el periodo de un año. Los datos de los pacientes se obtuvieron de registros de notificación de infecciones. La tasa de mortalidad asociada con las infecciones fue del 38,4%, y fueron clasificados como un factor que contribuye en el 87,1% de las muertes. La asociación de la infección relacionada con la atención sanitaria con el fallecimiento fue estadísticamente significativa entre pacientes clínicos (41,3%), que presentaron comorbilidad asociadas a el diagnóstico (55,8%), con infección cardiovascular (62,2%), neumonía (48,9%), que desarrollaron sepsis (69,0%), colonizados (45,2%) o infectados (44,7%) por microorganismos multirresistentes. Se concluyó que las infecciones contribuyeron a la muerte de la mayoría de los pacientes.

A infecção relacionada à assistência à saúde é uma das principais causas de morbimortalidade entre pacientes hospitalizados. O objetivo deste estudo epidemiológico foi determinar a mortalidade e os riscos associados ao óbito de pacientes adultos com infecção relacionada à assistência à saúde, internados em um hospital-escola no período de um ano. Dados dos pacientes foram coletados das fichas de notificação de infecções. A taxa de mortalidade associada a essas infecções foi de 38,4%, classificadas como fator contribuinte em 87,1% dos óbitos. A associação das infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde com o óbito foi estatisticamente significativa entre pacientes clínicos (41,3%), que apresentavam comorbirdades associadas ao diagnóstico (55,8%), com infecção cardiovascular (62,2%), pneumonia (48,9%), que evoluíram com sepse (69,0%), colonizados (45,2%) ou infectados (44,7%) por microrganismos multirresistentes. Concluiu-se que as infecções contribuíram para o óbito da maioria dos pacientes.