Low Levels of Complement Factor H in the First Trimester of Pregnancy Are Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant public health concern, and prediction is an important objective, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy. Many studies have relied on cervical characteristics in the mid-trimester, with limited results. It is therefore crucial to identify novel biomarkers to enhance the ability to identify women at risk. The complement pathway is implicated in the process of placentation, and recent proteomics studies have highlighted the potential roles of some complement proteins in the pathophysiology of PTB. To determine the association between the occurrence of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and the concentration of complement C3, factor B, and factor H in the blood of pregnant women during the first trimester. This prospective cohort study included women with singleton pregnancies, both with and without a history of sPTB, from two health institutions in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The outcome was sPTB before 37 weeks. A blood sample was obtained between 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks. ELISA immunoassay was performed to quantify the levels of C3, factor B, and factor H. A total of 355 patients were analyzed, with a rate of sPTB of 7.6% (27/355). The median plasma concentration for C3, factor B, and factor H were 488.3 µg/mL, 352.6 µg/mL, and 413.2 µg/mL, respectively. The median concentration of factor H was found to be significantly lower in patients who delivered preterm compared to patients who delivered at term (382 µg/mL vs. 415 µg/mL; p = 0.034). This study identified a significant association between low first-trimester levels of factor H and sPTB before 37 weeks. These results provide relevant information about a new possible early biomarker for sPTB. However, the results must be confirmed in different settings, and the predictive value must be examined.

Health-Related Quality of Life after Dengue Fever, Morelos, Mexico, 2016-2017.

We adapted the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire and visual analog scale to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and persistent symptoms in 79 patients with laboratory-confirmed dengue in Morelos, Mexico. The lowest HRQOLs were 0.53 and 38.1 (febrile phase). Patients recovered baseline HRQOL in ≈2 months.

Association between the level of education and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue in the Caribbean region of Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Community integration in dengue control requires assessments of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs), which can vary widely according to demographic and educational factors. We aimed to describe and compare the KAPs according to level of education in municipalities in the Caribbean region of Colombia. METHODS: A survey was administered from October to December 2015, including families selected through probabilistic sampling in eleven municipalities. The analysis focused on the comparative description of the responses according to level of education. The KAP prevalence ratios (PR) according to education were estimated using Poisson regression (robust), including age and sex as adjustment variables. RESULTS: Out of 1057 participants, 1054 (99.7%) surveys were available for analysis, including 614 (58.3%) who had a high school level of education or higher and 440 (41.7%) who had a lower level of education (not high school graduates). The high school graduates showed a higher frequency of correct answers in relation to knowledge about dengue symptoms and transmission. On the other hand, graduates showed a higher probability of practices and attitudes that favor dengue control, including not storing water in containers (PR: 2.2; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.42-3.43), attend community meetings (PR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.65), educate family members and neighbors in prevention measures (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.15-1.59). CONCLUSIONS: Level of education could be a key determinant of knowledge of the disease and its transmission, as well as attitudes and practices, especially those that involve the integration of community efforts for dengue control.

Zika Virus Infection as a Cause of Congenital Brain Abnormalities and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in March 2016 that there was scientific consensus that the mosquito-borne Zika virus was a cause of the neurological disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and of microcephaly and other congenital brain abnormalities based on rapid evidence assessments. Decisions about causality require systematic assessment to guide public health actions. The objectives of this study were to update and reassess the evidence for causality through a rapid and systematic review about links between Zika virus infection and (a) congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly, in the foetuses and offspring of pregnant women and (b) GBS in any population, and to describe the process and outcomes of an expert assessment of the evidence about causality. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study had three linked components. First, in February 2016, we developed a causality framework that defined questions about the relationship between Zika virus infection and each of the two clinical outcomes in ten dimensions: temporality, biological plausibility, strength of association, alternative explanations, cessation, dose-response relationship, animal experiments, analogy, specificity, and consistency. Second, we did a systematic review (protocol number CRD42016036693). We searched multiple online sources up to May 30, 2016 to find studies that directly addressed either outcome and any causality dimension, used methods to expedite study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, and summarised evidence descriptively. Third, WHO convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts who assessed the review findings and reached consensus statements to update the WHO position on causality. We found 1,091 unique items up to May 30, 2016. For congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly, we included 72 items; for eight of ten causality dimensions (all except dose-response relationship and specificity), we found that more than half the relevant studies supported a causal association with Zika virus infection. For GBS, we included 36 items, of which more than half the relevant studies supported a causal association in seven of ten dimensions (all except dose-response relationship, specificity, and animal experimental evidence). Articles identified nonsystematically from May 30 to July 29, 2016 strengthened the review findings. The expert panel concluded that (a) the most likely explanation of available evidence from outbreaks of Zika virus infection and clusters of microcephaly is that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities including microcephaly, and (b) the most likely explanation of available evidence from outbreaks of Zika virus infection and GBS is that Zika virus infection is a trigger of GBS. The expert panel recognised that Zika virus alone may not be sufficient to cause either congenital brain abnormalities or GBS but agreed that the evidence was sufficient to recommend increased public health measures. Weaknesses are the limited assessment of the role of dengue virus and other possible cofactors, the small number of comparative epidemiological studies, and the difficulty in keeping the review up to date with the pace of publication of new research. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid and systematic reviews with frequent updating and open dissemination are now needed both for appraisal of the evidence about Zika virus infection and for the next public health threats that will emerge. This systematic review found sufficient evidence to say that Zika virus is a cause of congenital abnormalities and is a trigger of GBS.

Determinants of felt demand for dengue vaccines in the North Caribbean region of Colombia.

BACKGROUND: The increasing burden associated with dengue in Latin America makes it essential to understand the community's interest in acquiring vaccines, as an input to plan its introduction in endemic regions. The objective of this study is to learn the felt demand for dengue vaccines by estimating the willingness to pay and its associated factors in endemic communities of the North Caribbean region of Colombia. METHODS: A population survey was administered from October to December 2015, including 1037 families in 11 municipalities in Colombia. One adult per family was interviewed on their perception and history of dengue. Participants received a description of four hypothetical scenarios of dengue vaccines, administered in a single dose or in 3 doses, with an effectiveness of 70% for 5 years or 95% for 30 years. The willingness to pay for each one of these vaccines was inquired vs. 5 hypothetical prices in Colombian pesos. RESULTS: Most participants recognized dengue as a serious disease in children (99.3%) and adults (98.6%). 33 (3.2%) of the total respondents reported having suffered dengue and 19 (57.6%) of them required hospitalization. The price of the vaccine was inversely related to the willingness to pay. In addition, single dose vaccines (compared to 3 doses) and one with a protection of 95% for 30 years (compared to an effectiveness of 70% for 5 years), were associated with greater willingness to pay. Greater willingness to pay was observed among the respondents who considered it likely to get the disease, either themselves (OR 1.56; CI 95% 1.08-2.26) or their children (OR 1.89; CI 95% 1.28-2.81), in the next 5 years. The participants who have been diagnosed with dengue also showed greater willingness to pay (OR 1.89; CI 95% 1.01-3.54) compared to those who did not have this history. CONCLUSION: Factors such as price, number of doses and effectiveness can independently influence the decision to purchase a vaccine against an endemic disease, such as dengue. Additionally, this study reveals that background and perceptions of the disease can affect individuals' interest in acquiring this type of preventive interventions.

A prospective cohort study to assess seroprevalence, incidence, knowledge, attitudes and practices, willingness to pay for vaccine and related risk factors in dengue in a high incidence setting.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in the world, causing significant morbidity and economic impact. In Colombia, dengue is a major public health problem. Departments of La Guajira, Cesar and Magdalena are dengue endemic areas. The objective of this research is to determine the seroprevalence and the incidence of dengue virus infection in the participating municipalities from these Departments, and also establish the association between individual and housing factors and vector indices with seroprevalence and incidence. We will also assess knowledge, attitudes and practices, and willingness-to-pay for dengue vaccine. METHODS: A cohort study will be assembled with a clustered multistage sampling in 11 endemic municipalities. Approximately 1000 homes will be visited to enroll people older than one year who living in these areas, who will be followed for 1 year. Dengue virus infections will be evaluated using IgG indirect ELISA and IgM and IgG capture ELISA. Additionally, vector indices will be measured, and adult mosquitoes will be captured with aspirators. Ovitraps will be used for continuous estimation of vector density. DISCUSSION: This research will generate necessary knowledge to design and implement strategies with a multidimensional approach that reduce dengue morbidity and mortality in La Guajira and other departments from Colombian Caribbean.

Day-to-Day Population Movement and the Management of Dengue Epidemics.

Dengue is a growing public health problem in tropical and subtropical cities. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, and the main strategy for epidemic prevention and control is insecticide fumigation. Effective management is, however, proving elusive. People's day-to-day movement about the city is believed to be an important factor in the epidemiological dynamics. We use a simple model to examine the fundamental roles of broad demographic and spatial structures in epidemic initiation, growth and control. We show that the key factors are local dilution, characterised by the vector-host ratio, and spatial connectivity, characterised by the extent of habitually variable movement patterns. Epidemic risk in the population is driven by the demographic groups that frequent the areas with the highest vector-host ratio, even if they only spend some of their time there. Synchronisation of epidemic trajectories in different demographic groups is governed by the vector-host ratios to which they are exposed and the strength of connectivity. Strategies for epidemic prevention and management may be made more effective if they take into account the fluctuating landscape of transmission intensity associated with spatial heterogeneity in the vector-host ratio and people's day-to-day movement patterns.

Microclimate factors related to dengue virus burden clusters in two endemic towns of Mexico.

In dengue-endemic areas, transmission control is limited by the difficulty of achieving sufficient coverage and sustainability of interventions. To maximize the effectiveness of interventions, areas with higher transmission could be identified and prioritized. The aim was to identify burden clusters of Dengue virus (DENV) infection and evaluate their association with microclimatic factors in two endemic towns from southern Mexico. Information from a prospective population cohort study (2·5 years of follow-up) was used, microclimatic variables were calculated from satellite information, and a cross-sectional design was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the outcome and microclimatic variables in the five surveys. Spatial clustering was observed in specific geographic areas at different periods. Both, land surface temperature (aPR 0·945; IC95% 0·895-0·996) and soil humidity (aPR 3·018; IC95% 1·013-8·994), were independently associated with DENV burden clusters. These findings can help health authorities design focused dengue surveillance and control activities in dengue endemic areas.

Performance of the First-Trimester Cervical Consistency Index to Predict Preterm Birth.

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant global health challenge. Previous attempts to predict preterm birth in the first trimester using cervical length have been contradictory. The cervical consistency index (CCI) was introduced to quantify early cervical changes and has shown promise across various clinical scenarios in the mid-trimester, though testing in the first trimester is lacking. This study aims to assess the cervical consistency index performance in predicting preterm birth during the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, focused exclusively on research, women with singleton pregnancies, both with and without a history of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), were included. The primary outcome was sPTB before 37 weeks, with a secondary outcome of sPTB before 34 weeks. CCI measurements were taken between 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the optimal cut-off and for the 5th, 10th, and 15th percentile. Intraobserver and interobserver agreements were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Among the 667 patients analyzed, the rates of sPTB before 37 and 34 weeks were 9.2% (61/667) and 1.8% (12/667), respectively. The detection rates (DRs) for CCI predicting PTB before 37 and 34 weeks were 19.7% (12/61) and 33.3% (4/12). Negative predictive values were 91.8% (546/595) and 98.7% (588/596), while the areas under the curve (AUC) for sPTB before 37 and 34 weeks were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.54-0.69) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71-0.89), respectively. Of the 61 patients with preterm birth, 13 (21.3%) had a preterm birth history; in this group, the CCI percentile 10th identified 39% (5/13). Intraobserver ICC was 0.862 (95% CI: 0.769-0.920), and interobserver ICC was 0.833 (95% CI: 0.722-0.902). Conclusions: This study suggests that utilizing CCI in the first trimester of pregnancy could serve as a valuable tool for predicting preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation, demonstrating robust intraobserver and interobserver reliability.

Post-migration infection with SARS-CoV-2 in Venezuelan migrants: A laboratory-based epidemiological observational study.

BACKGROUND: Since 2015, over 6 million Venezuelans migrated to Colombia and neighboring countries. While most people adhered to lockdown measures, migrants kept moving during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: To investigate the extent of migration-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections, we interviewed 1209 adult Venezuelan migrants upon arrival to Bucaramanga, Colombia, 200 km from the Colombian-Venezuelan border along the main migration route during April-September 2021, collected individual-level socio-economic and clinical data, sampled blood and saliva, and assessed SARS-CoV-2 infection by serological, molecular and phylogenetic tools. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity was 1.9 % (95 % Confidence Interval (CI), 1.2-2.9) without varying significantly over the study period (chi-square, p = 0.922) and significantly associated with stay in Colombia >14 days (p = 0.018; prevalence ratio 3.3, 95 % CI, 1.2-8.7). Pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were neither significantly associated with preventing infection (Chi-square, p = 0.188), nor symptom development (Fisher, p = 0.246). Predominance and time of detection of SARS-CoV-2 Mu and Gamma variants in migrants in comparison to available genomic data suggested infection predominantly in Colombia. SARS-CoV-2 IgG-based seroprevalence was 34.2 % (95 % CI, 31.5-36.9). Detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies was significantly associated with previous contact with infected individuals (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred predominantly after immigration, potentially facilitated by densely populated border camps. Improved infrastructure and health care will prevent migration-associated spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Scoping review on mental health standards for Black youth: identifying gaps and promoting equity in community, primary care, and educational settings.

BACKGROUND: Youth mental health is a growing concern in research, practice, and policy. Practice standards, guidelines, or strategies provide an invisible infrastructure that fosters equity, quality, and safety, potentially addressing inconsistencies and more effectively attending to the mental wellness of Black youth as a particular population of concern. This scoping review aimed to address the following question: What standards exist for the delivery of mental health services to Black youth in community, primary care, and educational settings? Due to a limited initial search yield on publications about standards for the delivery of mental health services for Black youth population, our goal was then to identify and map mental health standards, recommendations, or guidelines for the delivery of mental health services using the same settings to all youth. METHODS: Searches were conducted in various databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, SocINDEX, CINAHL, Gender Studies Database, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Screening was independently conducted by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third. Information extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Out of the 2,701 screened publications, 54 were included in this scoping review. Among them, 38.9% were published between 2020 and 2023, with 40.7% originating from the United States of America, 20.4% from the United Kingdom, and 13% from Canada. Concerning the settings, 25.9% of the publications focused on primary care, 24.1% on health care services, 20.4% on educational settings, and 3.7% on the community. Additionally, 25.9% were classified as general because recommendations were applicable to various settings. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (11.1%) was the most frequently considered specific condition, followed by autism spectrum disorder (9.3%) and depression (9.3%). However, 31.5% of the included references addressed mental health in general. Only three references provided specific recommendations for the Black population. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations, guidelines, or standards for Black youth mental health services in community, primary care, or educational settings are scarce and limited to North American countries. This scoping review emphasizes the need to consider ethnicity when developing guidelines or standards to improve racial equity and reduce disparities in access to mental health services.

House Condition Scoring Scale as a Risk Indicator of Infestation by Aedes in Two Mexican Localities.

Mexico has shown an increase in dengue incidence rates. There are factors related to the location that determine housing infestation by Aedes. This study aimed to determine factors associated with housing infestation by immature forms of Aedes spp. in the dengue endemic localities of Axochiapan and Tepalcingo, Mexico, from 2014 to 2016. A cohort study was carried out. Surveys and inspections of front- and backyards were conducted every 6 months, looking for immature forms of Aedes spp. A house condition scoring scale was developed using three variables (house maintenance, tidiness of the front- and backyards, and shading of the front- and backyards). Multiple and multilevel regression logistic analysis were conducted considering the housing infestation as the outcome and the household characteristics observed 6 months before the outcome as factors; this was adjusted by time (seasonal and cyclical variations of the vector). The infestation oscillated between 5.8% of the houses in the second semester of 2015 and 29.3% in the second semester of 2016. The factors directly associated with housing infestation by Aedes were the house condition score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.40-1.91) and the previous record of housing infestation (aOR: 2.99; 95% CI: 2.00-4.48). Moreover, the breeding-site elimination done by house residents reduced the housing infestation odds by 81% (95% CI: 25-95%). These factors were independent of the seasonal and cyclical variations of the vector. In conclusion, our findings could help to focalize antivectorial interventions in dengue-endemic regions with similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Association Between Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence Genes and Severity of Infection and Resistance to Antibiotics.

Purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most frequent bacterial infection. Some uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) genes have been associated with disease severity and antibiotic resistance. The aim was to determine the association of nine UPEC virulence genes with UTI severity and antibiotic resistance of strains collected from adults with community-acquired UTI. Patients and Methods: A case-control study (1:3) (38 urosepsis/pyelonephritis and 114 cystitis/urethritis) was conducted. The fimH, sfa/foc, cvaC, hlyA, iroN, fyuA, ireA, iutA, and aer (the last five are siderophore genes) virulence genes were determined by PCR. The information of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the strains was collected from medical records. This pattern was determined using an automated system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) was defined as resistance to three or more antibiotic families. Results: fimH was the most frequently detected virulence gene (94.7%), and sfa/foc was the least frequently detected (9.2%); 55.3% (83/150) of the strains were MDR. The evaluated genes were not associated with UTI severity. Associations were found between the presence of hlyA and carbapenem resistance (Odds ratio [OR] = 7.58, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-35.42), iutA and fluoroquinolone resistance (OR = 2.35, 95% CI, 1.15-4.84, and aer (OR = 2.8, 95% CI, 1.20-6.48) and iutA (OR = 2.95, 95% CI, 1.33-6.69) with penicillin resistance. In addition, iutA was the only gene associated with MDR (OR = 2.09, 95% CI,1.03-4.26). Conclusion: There was no association among virulence genes and UTI severity. Three of the five iron uptake genes were associated with resistance to at least one antibiotic family. Regarding the other four non-siderophore genes, only hlyA was associated with antibiotic resistance to carbapenems. It is essential to continue studying bacterial genetic characteristics that cause the generation of pathogenic and multidrug-resistant phenotypes of UPEC strains.

A prospective cohort study to evaluate peridomestic infection as a determinant of dengue transmission: protocol.

BACKGROUND: Vector control programs, which have focused mainly on the patient house and peridomestic areas around dengue cases, have not produced the expected impact on transmission. This project will evaluate the assumption that the endemic/epidemic transmission of dengue begins around peridomestic vicinities of the primary cases. Its objective is to assess the relationship between symptomatic dengue case exposure and peridomestic infection incidence. METHODS/DESIGN: A prospective cohort study will be conducted (in Tepalcingo and Axochiapan, in the state of Morelos, Mexico), using the state surveillance system for the detection of incident cases. Paired blood specimens will be collected from both the individuals who live with the incident cases and a sample of subjects residing within a 25-meter radius of such cases (exposed cohort), in order to measure dengue-specific antibodies. Other subjects will be selected from areas which have not presented any incident cases within 200 meters, during the two months preceding the sampling (non-exposed cohort). Symptomatic/asymptomatic incident infection will be considered as the dependent variable, exposure to confirmed dengue cases, as the principal variable, and the socio-demographic, environmental and socio-cultural conditions of the subjects, as additional explanatory variables. DISCUSSION: Results indicating a high infection rate among the exposed subjects would justify the application of peridomestic control measures and call for an evaluation of alternate causes for insufficient program impact. On the other hand, a low incidence of peridomestic-infected subjects would support the hypothesis that infection occurs outside the domicile, and would thus explain why the vector control measures applied in the past have exerted such a limited impact on cases incidence rates. The results of the present study may therefore serve to reassess site selection for interventions of this type.

Validation of RT-qPCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in saliva specimens.

BACKGROUND: Saliva samples may be an easier, faster, safer, and cost-saving alternative to NPS samples, and can be self-collected by the patient. Whether SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR in saliva is more accurate than in nasopharyngeal swaps (NPS) is uncertain. We evaluated the accuracy of the RT-qPCR in both types of samples, assuming both approaches were imperfect. METHODS: We assessed the limit of detection (LoD) of RT-qPCR in each type of sample. We collected paired NPS and saliva samples and tested them using the Berlin Protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein (E). We used a Bayesian latent class analysis (BLCA) to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of each test, while accounting for their conditional dependence. RESULTS: The LoD were 10 copies/mL in saliva and 100 copies/mL in NPS. Paired samples of saliva and NPS were collected in 412 participants. Out of 68 infected cases, 14 were positive only in saliva. RT-qPCR sensitivity ranged from 82.7 % (95 % CrI: 54.8, 94.8) in NPS to 84.5 % (50.9, 96.5) in saliva. Corresponding specificities were 99.1 % (95 % CrI: 95.3, 99.8) and 98.4 %(95 % CrI: 92.8, 99.7). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test in saliva specimens has a similar or better accuracy than RT-qPCR test in NPS. Saliva specimens may be ideal for surveillance in general population, particularly in children, and in healthcare or other personnel in need of serial testing.

[Reducing hospitalization with the use of a dengue management algorithm in Colombia]. / Reducción de la hospitalización mediante un algoritmo de manejo del dengue en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the impact of a dengue management algorithm on the hospitalization rate of patients with suspected disease in a primary care health facility in an endemic area of Colombia. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the local hospital in Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia, based on comparison of two periods (18 weeks each), before and after use of the algorithm. This included recommendations for clinical diagnosis of dengue and the planning of follow-up visits and hemograms, as well as criteria for hospitalization and the discontinuation of follow-up. Hospitalization rates in the two periods were compared using the Poisson analysis. The population analyzed consisted of patients seen in the facility for acute febrile syndrome. For adjustment purposes, the number of dengue cases (IgM positive) identified in the municipality was included. RESULTS: Information was obtained on 964 patients in the first period and 1350 patients in the second. There were 44 and 13 hospitalizations during the respective periods. Use of the algorithm was associated with a significant reduction in the hospitalization rate (ratio: 0.21; 95% confidence interval; 0.11-0.39). This association did not change when adjusted for the number of dengue cases identified in the city. There were no significant differences in the rate of follow-up visits (P = 0.85) and hemograms (P = 0.24) in the two periods. There were no case fatalities. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that health care resources for dengue management can be optimized with the use of the algorithm.

Phylogenomic analysis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibiotic resistance prediction by whole-genome sequencing from clinical isolates of Caldas, Colombia.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) was the pathogen responsible for the highest number of deaths from infectious diseases in the world, before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has contributed to the understanding of genetic diversity, the mechanisms involved in drug resistance and the transmission dynamics of this pathogen. The object of this study is to use WGS for the epidemiological and molecular characterization of M. tuberculosis clinical strains from Chinchiná, Caldas, a small town in Colombia with a high incidence of TB. Sputum samples were obtained during the first semester of 2020 from six patients and cultured in solid Löwenstein-Jensen medium. DNA extraction was obtained from positive culture samples and WGS was performed with the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform for subsequent bioinformatic analysis. M. tuberculosis isolates were typified as Euro-American lineage 4 with a predominance of the Harlem and LAM sublineages. All samples were proven sensitive to antituberculosis drugs by genomic analysis, although no phenotype antimicrobial tests were performed on the samples, unreported mutations were identified that could require further analysis. The present study provides preliminary data for the construction of a genomic database line and the follow-up of lineages in this region.

Risk Prediction of Death in Inpatient Adults With COVID-19 from Mexico.

Background: There is substantial variation in COVID-19 lethality across countries. In addition, in countries with populations with extreme economic inequalities, such as Mexico, there are regional and local differences in risk factors for COVID-19 death. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the risk of death in Mexican COVID-19 patients was associated with the time between symptom onset and hospitalization and/or with the healthcare site. Also, death prognostic models were developed. Methods: The study included two COVID-19 inpatient cohorts, one prospective and one retrospective from Chiapas, Mexico. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were collected, and the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed using RT-qPCR in samples collected seven days since symptom onset. The 30-day mortality, since symptom onset, was the outcome, and clinical variables at the first 48 hours of hospitalization were independent factors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Of the 392 patients included, 233 died (59.4%). The time between symptom onset and hospitalization, the healthcare site and sex were not related to the 30-day mortality. Three death prognostic models were developed (AUC between 0.726 and 0.807). Age, LDH, AST, and lymphocyte count were included in all models, OSI-WHO Classification (Non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen, and mechanical ventilation with or without organ support/ECMO) and leukocyte count in two models, and diabetes and diarrhea in one model. Conclusion: The population evaluated had underlying deteriorated health before COVID-19 compared with regional and country population. The factors that determine the COVID-19 mortality risk in a relatively healthy population are sex, age and comorbidities. However, as this study shows, when populations have underlying poor health, some of these factors lose their associations with mortality risk, and others become more important.

A Novel Strategy for Cervical Cancer Prevention Using Cervical-Vaginal Self-Collected Samples Shows High Acceptability in Women Living in Low-Income Conditions from Bucaramanga, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Human papillomavirus molecular detection prevents cervical cancer (CC). To widen its use, cervical-vaginal self-collection devices are proposed. Our aim was to determine the acceptability of self-sampled cervical-vaginal protocol and the reproducibility of results using HPV detection brushes in a low-income Colombian population between 35 and 65 years old. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including women classified as medium to high-risk for developing CC by using a short-standardized survey. After receiving instructions, women self-collected a cervical-vaginal sample. Subsequently, a perception survey was conducted. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-three women performed self-collected sampling. The median age was 46.5 years (IQR 40-52), 56.5% were housewives, and 55.1% had finished elementary school. About 99% of the population (n=419) considered that they understood the instructions, 19.4% (n=82) reported having concerns about the self-collected sample, 9.2% (n=39) distrusted the results because of the self-collection, 7.3% (n=31) felt uncomfortable with the procedure, and 9.7% (n=41) reported some pain. The majority would recommend the procedure to others (99%), 88.5% of the sampled population preferred the self-collected method, 4% preferred conventional cytology, and 7.3% were not sure. The reasons behind favoring the self-collected procedure included privacy (n= 149, 40.1%), comfort (n=110, 29.7%), easiness (n=52, 14%), reliability (n=46, 12.4%), and less painful (n=110, 29.7%). The percentage of HPV detection agreement between the self-collected and the healthcare professional-collected procedures was 98.99% (Cohen's Kappa=0.9774). CONCLUSION: Women living in low-income households in Bucaramanga, Colombia preferred the self-sampling procedure because it was easy to use, convenient, and private, resulting in 98% acceptability, and positioning it as an excellent tool for CC prevention.

Experience and perception of risk associated with knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue in Riohacha, Colombia. / Experiencia y percepción del riesgo asociados a conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre dengue en Riohacha, Colombia.

Recognition of the determinants of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP), which could be conditioned by the experiences and perceptions of the population at risk, is essential for the control of dengue. The scope of this article is to estimate the relationship between the risk perception and dengue diagnosis experiences with KAPs on dengue in an endemic Colombian population. A cross-sectional study with multi-stage random sampling was conducted. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were estimated using regression models as measures of association. Of the 206 families interviewed, 7% know dengue is caused by a virus and less than 40% recognize other symptoms besides fever. As control strategies, 31% eliminate hatchery sites and 58% use fumigation, though 73% perceive the risk of dengue. The association was identified between the perception of the risk of dengue and knowledge about the vector (aPR = 3.32 CI95% 1.06-10.36), and the experience of diagnosis of dengue with the attitude towards dengue control (aPR = 1.61 CI95% 1.09-2.37). Risk perception and experience with dengue could become determinants of KAPs in relation to this disease.

Para el control del dengue es esencial el reconocimiento de los determinantes de los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas (CAP), los cuales podrían estar condicionados por las experiencias y percepciones de la población a riesgo. El propósito de este artículo es estimar la asociación entre la percepción del riesgo y la experiencia de dengue con los CAP sobre dengue, en una población endémica de Colombia. Estudio analítico de corte transversal y muestreo probabilístico, polietápico por conglomerados. Como medidas de asociación se estimaron las razones de prevalencia ajustadas (RPa) usando modelos de regresión. Se entrevistaron 206 familias. El 7% saben que la enfermedad del dengue es causada por un virus y menos del 40% reconocen otros síntomas diferentes a la fiebre. El 31% practica la eliminación de criaderos y el 58% fumiga como estrategias de control. El 73% percibe el riesgo de dengue. Se estimó una asociación significativa de la percepción del riesgo de dengue con el conocimiento sobre el vector (RPa = 3,32 IC95% 1,06-10,36). Además, el antecedente de diagnóstico de dengue se asoció con la actitud frente a su control (RPa = 1,61 IC95% 1,09-2,37). La percepción del riesgo y la experiencia con dengue podrían ser determinantes de los CAP en relación a esta enfermedad.