Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteremia in Pediatric Patients in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Data on the health impact of carbapenem-resistant bloodstream infections (CRE-BSIs) in pediatric populations from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are limited. This systematic review aims to examine the demographic, clinical, and microbiological aspects and resource utilization of this infection in children from this region. This systematic review investigates the impact of CRE-BSIs in pediatric populations across LAC.

The effect of sample site and collection procedure on identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Sample collection is a key driver of accuracy in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral load may vary at different anatomical sampling sites and accuracy may be compromised by difficulties obtaining specimens and the expertise of the person taking the sample. It is important to optimise sampling accuracy within cost, safety and accessibility constraints.

Correction Rates and Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Adults With Severe Hyponatremia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Hyponatremia treatment guidelines recommend limiting the correction of severe hyponatremia during the first 24 hours to prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS). Recent evidence suggests that slower rates of correction are associated with increased mortality.

Objective: To evaluate the association of sodium correction rates with mortality among hospitalized adults with severe hyponatremia.

Design and Implementation of a Stakeholder Consultation Process for Rapid Health Technology Assessments in Argentina.

Introduction: Health technology assessment (HTA) is a standardized methodology that allows the assessment technologies' value. By incorporating the perspective of stakeholders in a public consultation process, transparency and quality of decisions can be improved.

Objective: To describe the active stakeholder consultation process for rapid HTAs in an Argentinean, independent, academic, non-profit HTA agency, assessing its initial five years.

Economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease in Latin America: A systematic review.

This Systematic Review assesses the economic impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in relation to healthcare resource utilization and associated costs. We searched online databases from January 2012 to November 2022 to identify eligible publications. We identified 12 publications that reported direct costs, indirect costs, and resources associated with RSV and its complications.

Safety and Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Pregnant persons are susceptible to significant complications following COVID-19, even death. However, worldwide COVID-19 vaccination coverage during pregnancy remains suboptimal.

Objective: This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines administered to pregnant persons and shared this evidence via an interactive online website.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: Serotype distribution, disease burden, and impact of vaccination. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health costs worldwide, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Surveillance about the distribution of serotypes causing IPD and the impact of pneumococcal vaccination is an important epidemiological tool to monitor disease activity trends, inform public health decision-making, and implement relevant prevention and control measures.

Objectives: To estimate the serotype distribution for IPD and the related disease burden in LAC before, during, and after implementing the pneumococcal vaccine immunization program in LAC.

Trastuzumab-emtansine versus other anti-HER2 regimens in early or unresectable or metastatic HER-2 positive breast cancer: systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective.: Motivation for the study. Treatment options for HER2-positive breast cancer were evaluated, focusing on the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) compared to other anti-HER2 therapies.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal diseases. Evidence supports nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage as a reservoir for transmission and precursor of pneumococcal disease.

Objectives: To estimate the pneumococcal nasopharyngeal burden in all age groups in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) before, during, and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine conjugate (PVC).

Mortalidad, Secuelas Clínicas y Calidad de Vida Luego del Alta de Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en Pacientes con COVID-19: Estudio Multicéntrico Descriptivo en Argentina.

Objective: Patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization in an intensive care unit, in addition to being at risk of presenting premature death, have higher rates of complications. This study aimed to describe mortality, rehospitalizations, quality of life, and symptoms related to postintensive care syndrome (PICS) and prolonged COVID-19 in patients with COVID-19 discharged from the intensive care unit in hospitals in Argentina.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 centers in the Autonomous City and province of Buenos Aires as of December 2022.

Calcium supplementation for people with overweight or obesity.

Background: Obesity is a major health problem worldwide as it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and insulin resistance. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide across different age groups. There is evidence of an inverse relationship between calcium intake and body weight.

Antimicrobial resistance of from invasive pneumococcal diseases in Latin American countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease has declined since pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns have changed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the frequency of antimicrobial resistance of from invasive disease in LAC.

Progestogens for prevention of luteinising hormone (LH) surge in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle.

Background: Currently, gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are used to prevent premature ovulation in ART cycles. However, their costs remain high, the route of administration is invasive and has some adverse effects. Oral progestogens could be cheaper and effective to prevent a premature LH surge.

Laser-induced molecular contamination de-risking activity for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna.

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory. LISA uses continuous-wave, infrared laser beams propagating among three widely separated spacecrafts to measure their distances with picometer accuracy via time-delay interferometry. These measurements put very high demands on the laser wavefront and are thus very sensitive to any deposits on laser optics that could be induced by laser-induced molecular contamination (LIMC).

What does our region need in order to strengthen public policies on sugar-sweetened beverages? decision-makers' dialogue.

In order to prioritize public policies to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago and to identify information gaps related to the burden of disease attributable to their consumption, a policy dialogue was held with government members, civil society organizations, researchers and communicators from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Presentations and deliberative workshops were conducted using semi-structured data collection tools and group discussions. The prioritized interventions were tax increases, front labeling, restriction of advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and modifications regarding the school environment.

Burden of Disease of Gonorrhoea in Latin America: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhoea, a globally neglected but increasing disease. This systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed the epidemiology and economic burden of gonorrhoea in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBase, Cochrane Library, EconLIT, CINAHL, CRD, LILACS, Global Health, Global Dissertations and Theses, SciELO, Web of Science databases, countries' ministries of health, and the IHME's Global Burden of Disease databases.

Personalized embryo transfer guided by endometrial receptivity analysis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Study Question: Does a personalized embryo transfer (pET) guided by tests for endometrial receptivity (TER) increase the effectiveness of ART procedures?

Summary Answer: The use of TER-guided pET is not supported by current published evidence in women without repeated implantation failure (RIF), while in women with RIF more research is needed to assess a potential benefit.

What Is Known Already: Implantation rates are still far from ideal, especially in some patients that have RIF with good-quality embryos. As a potential solution, a wide range of diverse TER use different sets of genes to identify displacements of the window of implantation to adjust the individual length of progesterone exposure in a pET.

Antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Latin American countries: a systematic review.

Background: Detailed information is needed on the dynamic pattern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of AMR in N. gonorrhoeae in LAC.

Safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Assessment of COVID-19 vaccines safety during pregnancy is urgently needed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including their components and technological platforms used in other vaccines during pregnancy and animal studies to complement direct evidence. We searched literature databases from its inception to September 2021 without language restriction, COVID-19 vaccine websites, and reference lists of other systematic reviews and the included studies.

Safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant persons: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

Introduction: Numerous vaccines have been evaluated and approved for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since pregnant persons have been excluded from most clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines, sufficient data regarding the safety of these vaccines for the pregnant person and their fetus have rarely been available at the time of product licensure. However, as COVID-19 vaccines have been deployed, data on the safety, reactogenicity, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant persons and neonates are becoming increasingly available.

Economic burden of herpes zoster in Latin America: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review describes herpes zoster (HZ) economic burden in terms of healthcare resource use and cost outcomes in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. We searched online databases from 1 January 2000 to 20 February 2020 to identify eligible publications. We identified 23 publications that reported direct costs, indirect costs, and resources associated with HZ and its complications.