Current situation of endemic mycosis in the Americas and the Caribbean: Proceedings of the first international meeting on endemic mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA)

Background: The Americas are home to biologically and clinically diverse endemic fungi, including Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Emergomyces, Histoplasma, Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix. In endemic areas with high risk of infection, these fungal pathogens represent an important public health problem. Objectives: This report aims to summarise the main findings of the regional analysis carried out on the status of the endemic mycoses of the Americas, done at the first International Meeting on Endemic Mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA). Methods: A regional analysis for the Americas was done, the 27 territories were grouped into nine regions. A SWOT analysis was done. Results: All territories reported availability of microscopy. Seventy percent of territories reported antibody testing, 67% of territories reported availability of Histoplasma antigen testing. None of the territories reported the use of (1–3)-β-d-glucan. Fifty two percent of territories reported the availability of PCR testing in reference centres (mostly for histoplasmosis). Most of the territories reported access to medications such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B (AMB) deoxycholate. Many countries had limited access to liposomal formulation of AMB and newer azoles, such as posaconazole and isavuconazole. Surveillance of these fungal diseases was minimal. Conclusions: A consensus emerged among meeting participants, this group concluded that endemic mycoses are neglected diseases, and due to their severity and lack of resources, the improvement of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance is needed.Fil: Caceres, Diego H.. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; Colombia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Echeverri Tirado, Laura C.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Bonifaz, Alexandro. Hospital General de Mexico; MéxicoFil: Adenis, Antoine. Inserm; FranciaFil: Gomez, Beatriz L.. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Bnada Flores, Claudia Lizett. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Canteros, Cristina Elena. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Daniel Wagner. Universidade Federal do Maranhao; BrasilFil: Arathoon, Eduardo. Asociación de Salud Integral; GuatemalaFil: Ramirez Soto, Elia. Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales; BoliviaFil: Queiroz-Telles, Flavio. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Schwartz, Ilan S.. University of Alberta; CanadáFil: Zurita, Jeannete. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Serra Damasceno, Lisandra. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Garcia, Nataly. Sociedad Venezolana de Microbiología; VenezuelaFil: Fernandez, Norma B.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Chincha, Omayra. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Araujo, Patricia. Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social; ParaguayFil: Rabagliati, Ricardo. No especifíca;Fil: Chiller, Tom. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Giusiano, Gustavo Emilio. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentin

Older age does not influence CD4 cell recovery in HIV-1 infected patients receiving Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of HIV infection is recently occurring with increasing frequency in middle-aged and in older individuals. As HAART became available, a minimal beneficial effect on immunological outcome in older in respect of younger subjects has been reported. In fact, both the intensity and the rapidity of the immunological response appeared to be reduced in elderly subjects. On the contrary, only few reports have indicated a similar immunological outcome both in older and younger HIV-positive subjects. Interestingly, older age did not seem to significantly affect the long-term virological outcome of HAART treated subjects. METHODS: To characterise epidemiological and clinical features of older HIV+ subjects, a prospective case-control study was performed: 120 subjects ≥ 50 and 476 between 20 and 35 years were initially compared. Subsequently, to better define the impact of HAART on their viro-immunological response, 81 older were compared with 162 younger subjects. RESULTS: At baseline cases presented significantly lower TCD4+ cell number and were more frequently affected by comorbid conditions. Under HAART a statistically significant increase in TCD4+ cell number was observed in cases and controls. At multivariate analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding viro-immunological response. CONCLUSIONS: Although older subjects present a more severe HIV infection, they can achieve, under HAART, the same viro-immunological success as the younger individuals

Prophylaxis against fungal infections in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cells transplantation Profilaxis antifúngica en niños y adultos sometidos a trasplante de órganos sólidos y de precursores hematopoyéticos

Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in SOT and HSCT recipients. The main species involved are Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp, less frequently Cryptococcus spp., causal agents of mucormycosis and Fusarium spp. Usually occur within the first six months post-transplant, but they do it later, especially during episodes of rejection, which maintains the state of immune system involvement. Prophylaxis recommendations are specific to each type of transplant. In liver transplantation use of fluconazole is recommended only in selected cases by high risk factor for invasive fungal infections (A1). If the patient has a high risk of aspergillosis, there are some suggestions for adults population to use amphotericin B-deoxycholate, liposomal amphotericin B or caspofungin (C2) without being validated none of these recommendations in pediatric population. In adult lung transplant patients where the risk of aspergillosis is higher than in other locations, w

HOSPITALIZACIÓN POR INFLUENZA EN EL SERVICIO DE OBSTETRICIA DEL HOSPITAL CLÍNICO DE LA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA, DURANTE EL PRIMER AÑO DE RECOMENDACIÓN DE VACUNA ANTI-INFLUENZA PARA EMBARAZADAS EN CHILE

Introducción: En embarazadas, la influenza ha sido reconocida como factor de riesgo de morbilidad respiratoria grave, por ello se les incorporó en el Programa Nacional de Vacunación de Chile en 2004. Existe evidencia de la seguridad de la vacuna en el embarazo. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo de las embarazadas hospitalizadas por influenza en Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica de Chile, en el invierno de 2004. Se analizaron los antecedentes epidemiológicos, el cuadro clínico y las complicaciones. Resultados: De los 45 ingresos por influenza al Hospital, 6 eran embarazadas (13%). Sólo una de ellas había sido vacunada. 5 de 6 no tenían morbilidad cardiorrespiratoria predisponente. La edad gestacional promedio al ingreso fue 28 semanas. Tres pacientes (50%) presentaron complicaciones respiratorias (neumonía, rinosinusitis) y no hubo complicaciones obstétricas. Conclusión: Las embarazadas con influenza tienen riesgo de complicaciones respiratorias y de hospitalización. Una mayor cobertura de vacunación, de acuerdo a la indicación del Ministerio de Salud, podría disminuir este riesg

Basic requirements of facilities for hospitals that treat hemato-oncological patients: hospital environment, diagnostic protocols and therapeutic arsenal

The care of cancer patients, including recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, has numerous challenges for hospitals that must provide safe environments in which exposure to pathogens that generate morbidity and mortality is reduced at maximum. At the same time, they must have established protocols that allow a rational study of the possible infectious etiologies and the existence of an adequate therapeutic arsenal together with timely treatment algorithms, updated according to consensus guidelines and effective according to the suspected or confirmed infection. This article introduces some of the arguments that support these requirements, then that are developed in three successive articles dedicated to the hospital environment, diagnostic protocols and therapeutic arsenal

HOSPITALIZACIÓN POR INFLUENZA EN EL SERVICIO DE OBSTETRICIA DEL HOSPITAL CLÍNICO DE LA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA, DURANTE EL PRIMER AÑO DE RECOMENDACIÓN DE VACUNA ANTI-INFLUENZA PARA EMBARAZADAS EN CHILE

Introducción: En embarazadas, la influenza ha sido reconocida como factor de riesgo de morbilidad respiratoria grave, por ello se les incorporó en el Programa Nacional de Vacunación de Chile en 2004. Existe evidencia de la seguridad de la vacuna en el embarazo. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo de las embarazadas hospitalizadas por influenza en Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica de Chile, en el invierno de 2004. Se analizaron los antecedentes epidemiológicos, el cuadro clínico y las complicaciones. Resultados: De los 45 ingresos por influenza al Hospital, 6 eran embarazadas (13%). Sólo una de ellas había sido vacunada. 5 de 6 no tenían morbilidad cardiorrespiratoria predisponente. La edad gestacional promedio al ingreso fue 28 semanas. Tres pacientes (50%) presentaron complicaciones respiratorias (neumonía, rinosinusitis) y no hubo complicaciones obstétricas. Conclusión: Las embarazadas con influenza tienen riesgo de complicaciones respiratorias y de hospitalización. Una mayor cobertura de vacunación, de acuerdo a la indicación del Ministerio de Salud, podría disminuir este riesgoIntroduction: Influenza has been recognized as a risk factor for severe respiratory illness in pregnant women, therefore, in 2004, they were included in the Chilean National Vaccination Program. There is evidence demonstrating the safety of the vaccine during pregnancy. Patients and Methods: It is a descriptive study about pregnant women diagnosed with influenza admitted to the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Clinical Hospital for treatment, during winter period of 2004. Epidemiological antecedents, clinical manifestations and complications were analyzed. Result: Six of forty five patients admitted with influenza were pregnant women (13%). Only one of them had been vaccinated. Five of six did not present cardiorrespiratory underlying disease. The average gestational age at admission was 28 weeks. Three patients presented respiratory complications (pneumonia, rhinosinusitis) and no obstetrical complications were observed. Conclusion: Pregnant women with influenza are in risk for respiratory complications and hospitalization. Extended vaccination coverage, according to the Ministry of Health guidelines, could lower this ris