Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact tracing of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic could have negative effects on tuberculosis (TB) control. The objective was to assess the impact of the pandemic in contact tracing, TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in contacts of patients with pulmonary TB in Catalonia (Spain). Methods: Contact tracing was carried out in cases of pulmonary TB detected during 14 months in the pre-pandemic period (1 January 2019 to 28 February 2020) and 14 months in the pandemic period (1 March 2020 to 30 April 2021). Contacts received the tuberculin skin test and/or interferon gamma release assay and it was determined whether they had TB or LTBI. Variables associated with TB or LTBI in contacts (study period and sociodemographic variables) were analyzed using adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The pre-pandemic and pandemic periods showed, respectively: 503 and 255 pulmonary TB reported cases (reduction of 50.7%); and 4676 and 1687 contacts studied (reduction of 36.1%). In these periods, the proportion of TB cases among the contacts was 1.9% (84/4307) and 2.2% (30/1381) (P = 0.608); and the proportion of LTBI was 25.3% (1090/4307) and 29.2% (403/1381) (P < 0.001). The pandemic period was associated to higher LTBI proportion (aOR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.1–1.5), taking into account the effect on LTBI of the other variables studied as sex, age, household contact and migrant status. Conclusions: COVID-19 is affecting TB control due to less exhaustive TB and LTBI case detection. An increase in LTBI was observed during the pandemic period. Efforts should be made to improve detection of TB and LTBI among contacts of TB cases.This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Institute of Health Carlos III (Project PI18/01751) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER-Una manera de hacer Europa)

Factors Associated to Duration of Hepatitis A Outbreaks: Implications for Control

Even though hepatitis A mass vaccination effectiveness is high, outbreaks continue to occur. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between duration and characteristics of hepatitis A outbreaks. Hepatitis A (HA) outbreaks reported between 1991 and 2007 were studied. An outbreak was defined as ≥2 epidemiologically-linked cases with ≥1 case laboratory-confirmed by detection of HA immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Relationships between explanatory variables and outbreak duration were assessed by logistic regression. During the study period, 268 outbreaks (rate 2.45 per million persons-year) and 1396 cases (rate 1.28 per 105 persons-year) were reported. Factors associated with shorter duration were time to intervention (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94–0.98) and school setting (OR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16–0.92). In person-to-person transmission outbreaks only time to intervention was associated with shorter outbreak duration (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95–0.98). The only variables associated with shorter outbreak duration were early administration of IG or vaccine and a school setting. Timely reporting HA outbreaks was associated with outbreak duration. Making confirmed HA infections statutory reportable for clinical laboratories could diminish outbreak duration

Association between outbreak duration and independent variables in the multivariable analysis: all outbreaks and person-to-person outbreaks.

<p>Association between outbreak duration and independent variables in the multivariable analysis: all outbreaks and person-to-person outbreaks.</p

Factors Associated to Duration of Hepatitis A Outbreaks: Implications for Control

Even though hepatitis A mass vaccination effectiveness is high, outbreaks continue to occur. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between duration and characteristics of hepatitis A outbreaks. Hepatitis A (HA) outbreaks reported between 1991 and 2007 were studied. An outbreak was defined as ≥2 epidemiologically-linked cases with ≥1 case laboratory-confirmed by detection of HA immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Relationships between explanatory variables and outbreak duration were assessed by logistic regression. During the study period, 268 outbreaks (rate 2.45 per million persons-year) and 1396 cases (rate 1.28 per 105 persons-year) were reported. Factors associated with shorter duration were time to intervention (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94-0.98) and school setting (OR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16-0.92). In person-to-person transmission outbreaks only time to intervention was associated with shorter outbreak duration (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95-0.98). The only variables associated with shorter outbreak duration were early administration of IG or vaccine and a school setting. Timely reporting HA outbreaks was associated with outbreak duration. Making confirmed HA infections statutory reportable for clinical laboratories could diminish outbreak duration

Association between outbreak duration and independent variables in the multivariable analysis of person-to-person outbreaks.

<p>Association between outbreak duration and independent variables in the multivariable analysis of person-to-person outbreaks.</p

Viaje al universo neuronal : unidad didáctica

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónLa FECYT edita una unidad didáctica dirigida a profesores de enseñanza secundaria para apoyar sus labores docentes. En este caso tiene como tema central la Neurociencia. Hace más de cien años, Santiago Ramón y Cajal estableció las bases de la transmisión de la información en el sistema nervioso; el interés por explicar el funcionamiento del cerebro y las neuronas sigue vivo. Los conocimientos sobre el cerebro avanzan a tal ritmo, que cada día se percibe más su impacto social. ¿Qué son la conciencia y la mente humana? ¿Por qué experimentamos emociones? ¿Por qué aparecen las enfermedades psiquiátricas o neurológicas? Son algunas preguntas básicas que la neurociencia intenta contestar en beneficio de la humanidad. La unidad didáctica, elaborada en colaboración con instituciones y expertos, tiene una doble aspiración: servir de apoyo al profesorado e incrementar entre los estudiantes el interés por la ciencia. Se pretende implicar a la sociedad en el progreso y las posibilidades de investigación sobre el cerebro.ES

“En los bordes del archivo: escrituras periféricas, escrituras efímeras en los Virreinatos de Indias”

En los bordes del archivo es el sitio web de "En los bordes del archivo: escrituras periféricas, escrituras efímeras en los Virreinatos de Indias”, proyecto coordinado entre dos equipos de investigación de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) y del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).© En los bordes del archivo - 2017. Algunos derechos reservados. Licencia Creative Commons.. Consulta realizada en 2019-03-22.La finalidad que orienta el Proyecto Coordinado “En los bordes del archivo: escrituras periféricas, escrituras efímeras en los Virreinatos de Indias” queda definida en la voz que encabeza su título, estudiada en relación con la escritura hispanoamericana colonial y abordada desde una comprensión amplia del término, no sólo en su sentido más positivista, en tanto acumulación o repositorio de documentos para la conformación de la verdad historiográfica y la imposición del poder imperial, sino en las acepciones paralelas de “lugar de la memoria” y de “metáfora epistémica”, de herramienta que permite la interpretación “arqueológica” de los saberes.Peer reviewe