Practice determinants for adherence to the Guide for the Comprehensive Clinical Care of Dengue Patients, Urabá (Colombia). A multifaceted approach to implementation research.

Introduction: Dengue is a significant public health issue in the Urabá region, accounting for 37.5% of morbidity and 41.7% of mortality resulting from dengue in the department of Antioquia (Colombia) in 2018.

The feasibility of establishing parent support groups for children with congenital Zika syndrome and their families: a mixed-methods study.

The 2015 - 2016 Zika epidemic highlighted gaps in health and social care services for parents of children with developmental disabilities. In response, we developed the 'Juntos' intervention, a 10 week community-based early intervention support group for parents of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The intervention's components include participatory learning sessions, practical skill acquisition, peer support, and psychological support, aiming to improve caregiver's knowledge and confidence in caring for their children.

Randomized trial evaluating an mHealth intervention for the early community-based detection and follow-up of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Colombia.

Background: In Latin America, cutaneous leishmaniasis primarily affects dispersed rural communities, that have limited access to the public health system and medical attention. Mobile health (mHealth) strategies have shown potential to improve clinical management and epidemiological surveillance of neglected tropical diseases, particularly those of the skin.

Methods: The Guaral +ST app for Android was designed to monitor cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment and assess therapeutic response.

Adaptation and performance of a mobile application for early detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: Detection and management of neglected tropical diseases such as cutaneous leishmaniasis present unmet challenges stemming from their prevalence in remote, rural, resource constrained areas having limited access to health services. These challenges are frequently compounded by armed conflict or illicit extractive industries. The use of mobile health technologies has shown promise in such settings, yet data on outcomes in the field remain scarce.

HLA-B*57:01 allele prevalence in treatment-Naïve HIV-infected patients from Colombia.

Background: The HLA-B*57:01 allele is associated with a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir. Due to the lack of knowledge of HLA-B*57:01 prevalence in Colombia, routine screening is not performed and is not recommended by the national guidelines. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HLA-B*57:01 in HIV population from Colombia.

Developing mobile health applications for neglected tropical disease research.

Mobile applications (apps) can bring health research and its potential downstream benefits closer to underserved populations. Drawing on experience developing an app for detecting and referring cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, called Guaral/app, we review key steps in creating such mobile health (mHealth) tools. These require consideration of the sociotechnical context using methods such as systems analysis and human-centered design (HCD), predicated on engagement and iteration with all stakeholders.

[Educating health workers is key in congenital syphilis elimination in Colombia].

Introduction: Colombia promotes the diagnosis and treatment of gestational syphilis in a single visit using rapid diagnostic tests to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Additionally, integrated health programs pursue the coordinated prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis/HIV.

Objective: To identify knowledge gaps among health workers in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis/HIV and to provide recommendations to support these programs.

Parasitological Confirmation and Analysis of Leishmania Diversity in Asymptomatic and Subclinical Infection following Resolution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Background: The contribution of individuals with subclinical infection to the transmission and endemicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is unknown. Immunological evidence of exposure to Leishmania in residents of endemic areas has been the basis for defining the human population with asymptomatic infection. However, parasitological confirmation of subclinical infection is lacking.

First report of Warileya rotundipennis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) naturally infected with Leishmania (Viannia) in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia.

The expansion of transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis from sylvatic ecosystems into peri-urban and domestic settings has occurred as sand flies have adapted to anthropogenic environmental modifications. Assessment of the intradomiciliary presence of sand flies in households of the settlement "La Cabaña", in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia, revealed an abundance of Warileya rotundipennis. This unexpected observation motivated further analyses to evaluate the participation of this species in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Gestational and congenital syphilis epidemic in the Colombian Pacific Coast.

Background: Congenital syphilis (CS) is a major global public health problem. Buenaventura, a socioeconomically deprived municipality in the Colombian Pacific Coast, accounts for 6.6% of all CS cases in Colombia.

Treatment failure and miltefosine susceptibility in dermal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania subgenus Viannia species.

Treatment failure and parasite drug susceptibility in dermal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) species are poorly understood. Prospective evaluation of drug susceptibility of strains isolated from individual patients before drug exposure and at clinical failure allows intrinsic and acquired differences in susceptibility to be discerned and analyzed. To determine whether intrinsic susceptibility or loss of susceptibility to miltefosine contributed to treatment failure, we evaluated the miltefosine susceptibility of intracellular amastigotes and promastigotes of six Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and six Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis strains isolated sequentially, at diagnosis and treatment failure, from two children and four adults ≥55 years old with concurrent conditions.

Possible links between sickle cell crisis and pentavalent antimony.

For over 60 years, pentavalent antimony (Sb(v)) has been the first-line treatment of leishmaniasis. Sickle cell anemia is a disease caused by a defect in red blood cells, which among other things can cause vasooclusive crisis. We report the case of a 6-year-old child with leishmaniasis who during treatment with meglumine antimoniate developed a sickle cell crisis (SCC).

Noninferiority of miltefosine versus meglumine antimoniate for cutaneous leishmaniasis in children.

Background: Children have a lower response rate to antimonial drugs and higher elimination rate of antimony (Sb) than adults. Oral miltefosine has not been evaluated for pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: A randomized, noninferiority clinical trial with masked evaluation was conducted at 3 locations in Colombia where Leishmania panamensis and Leishmania guyanensis predominated.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of DTPw-HB/Hib vaccine administered to colombian infants after a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

Objective: To evaluate, in an open study, the immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine followed by a three-dose course of diphtheria-tetanus whole-cell pertussis-hepatitis B vaccine, extemporaneously mixed with Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine.

Methods: At 2, 4 and 6 months of age, a single group of 120 Colombian infants were enrolled in this study to receive a regimen consisting of three doses of the combination vaccine following a dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

Results: Seroprotection/vaccine response rates to all vaccine antigens was 98-100% 1 month after completion of the full vaccination course.