Optimising antibacterial utilisation in Argentine intensive care units: a quality improvement collaborative.

Background: There is limited evidence from antimicrobial stewardship programmes in less-resourced settings. This study aimed to improve the quality of antibacterial prescriptions by mitigating overuse and promoting the use of narrow-spectrum agents in intensive care units (ICUs) in a middle-income country.

Methods: We established a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) model involving nine Argentine ICUs over 11 months with a 16-week baseline period (BP) and a 32-week implementation period (IP).

Neonatal jaundice incidence, risk factors and outcomes in referral-level facilities in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of babies with neonatal jaundice in a network of referral-level hospitals in Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional analysis of perinatal data collected over a 1-year period.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals (48 public and 6 private) across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Pregnancies without Congenital Transmission Is Associated with Reduced Fetal Growth: A Cross-Sectional Study in Argentina, Honduras, and Mexico.

We aimed to measure the association between Trypanosoma cruzi infection in pregnancy and reduced fetal growth in the absence of T. cruzi congenital transmission. We conducted a cross-sectional study of secondary data of all singleton live births between 2011 and 2013 in five hospitals from Argentina, Honduras, and Mexico.

Quality improvement collaborative for improving patient care delivery in Argentine public health sector intensive care units.

Background: The demand for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was excessive for less-resourced settings, with intensive care units (ICUs) taking the heaviest toll.

Objective: The aim was to achieve adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) use in 90% of patient encounters, to reach 90% compliance with objectives of patient flow (OPF) and to provide emotional support tools to 90% of healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design in 14 ICUs in Argentina.

A simulation study to improve calcium intake through wheat flour fortification.

Objective: To simulate the impact on calcium intake - effectiveness and safety - of fortifying wheat flour with 200, 400 and 500 mg of calcium per 100 g of flour.

Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected through repeated 24 h dietary recalls using the Iowa State University Intake Modelling, Assessment and Planning Program.

Setting: Urban cities in the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Argentina (ENNyS 2018-2019).

Outcomes and quality of care for women and their babies after caesarean section in Nigeria.

Objective: To describe the outcomes and quality of care for women and their babies after caesarean section (CS) in Nigerian referral-level hospitals.

Design: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Setting: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals.

Comparison of mortality in patients on chemotherapy or immunotherapy during and before COVID-19 pandemic. Multicenter matched cohort study in Argentina.

Objectives.: Motivation for the study. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the risk of death in cancer patients on chemotherapy and immunotherapy is controversial.

Neurodevelopmental assessment of normocephalic children born to Zika virus exposed and unexposed pregnant people.

Background: Studies examining the association between in utero Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes have produced varied results.

Methods: We aimed to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes among normocephalic children born from pregnant people enrolled in the Zika in Pregnancy in Honduras (ZIPH) cohort study, July-December 2016. Enrollment occurred during the first prenatal visit.

"Factors associated with provider unwillingness to perform induced abortion in Argentina: A cross-sectional study in four provinces following the legalization of abortion on request".

Background: The 2020 Law on Access to the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy is a landmark piece of legislation regarding access to abortion in Argentina. Under the new law, abortion is legal up to 14 weeks and 6 days gestation, with exceptions made to the gestational age limit to save a woman´s life, to preserve a woman´s health, and in case of rape. However, widespread refusal to provide care by authorized health providers (due to conscientious objection or lack of awareness of the new law) could hinder access to legal abortion.

Effectiveness of peer mentoring and self-monitoring to improve blood pressure control in a vulnerable population in Argentina: Pragmatic randomized open-label controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring and peer mentoring to improve the control of hypertension in clinical practice in primary care centers (PCCs) located in low-resource settings in Argentina.

Methods: An individual randomized controlled trial was carried out to test two different approaches based on behavioral interventions in PCCs in Argentina. Hypertensive adults were randomly assigned to one of three arms: BP self-monitoring, peer mentoring, and usual care.

Blood Pressure Association with the 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale in Hypertensive Adults from Low-Resource Primary Care Settings: Results from a Prospective Cohort Nested within a Randomised Controlled Trial.

Introduction: One of the self-report adherence scales most widely used is the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8).

Aim: To evaluate construct validity and reliability of the MMAS-8 in hypertensive adults from low-resource settings within the public primary care level in Argentina.

Methods: Prospective data from hypertensive adults under antihypertensive pharmacological treatment that participated in the "Hypertension Control Program in Argentina" study was analyzed.

Vulnerable newborn types: Analysis of population-based registries for 165 million births in 23 countries, 2000-2021.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of novel newborn types among 165 million live births in 23 countries from 2000 to 2021.

Design: Population-based, multi-country analysis.

Setting: National data systems in 23 middle- and high-income countries.

Calcium concentration of drinking water to improve calcium intake: A simulation study.

The risk of inadequate calcium intake is a worldwide problem. We performed a simulation exercise on the impact, effectiveness, and safety of increasing calcium levels in drinking water using the 2019 Health and Nutrition National Survey of Argentina, which provides water intake and water sources data at the individual level. We simulated the distribution of calcium intake assuming a calcium concentration of 100 mg of calcium per liter of tap water and 400 mg of calcium per liter of bottled water.

Calculation of the contribution of water to calcium intake in low- and middle-income countries.

Dietary calcium intake is low in many countries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Water is often overlooked as a source of dietary calcium despite it being universally consumed and providing good calcium bioavailability. Our objective was to assess water distribution systems in LMICs and to develop a formula to simulate the contribution of different water sources to calcium availability.

Effectiveness of a diabetes program based on digital health on capacity building and quality of care in type 2 diabetes: a pragmatic quasi-experimental study.

Unlabelled: Health systems in Latin America face many challenges in controlling the increasing burden of diabetes. Digital health interventions are a promise for the provision of care, especially in developing countries where mobile technology has a high penetration. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a Diabetes Program (DP) that included digital health interventions to improve the quality of care of persons with type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) in a vulnerable population attending the public primary care network.

Implementing the WHO Labour Care Guide to reduce the use of Caesarean section in four hospitals in India: protocol and statistical analysis plan for a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized pilot trial.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) Labour Care Guide (LCG) is a paper-based labour monitoring tool designed to facilitate the implementation of WHO's latest guidelines for effective, respectful care during labour and childbirth. Implementing the LCG into routine intrapartum care requires a strategy that improves healthcare provider practices during labour and childbirth. Such a strategy might optimize the use of Caesarean section (CS), along with potential benefits on the use of other obstetric interventions, maternal and perinatal health outcomes, and women's experience of care.

Rotavirus Vaccine Impact since Its Introduction in the National Immunization Program of Argentina.

Introduction: Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of childhood diarrhea. Argentina introduced RV vaccination in the National Immunization Program in January 2015. This study evaluates the impact of RV vaccine implementation on the burden of acute diarrheal disease (ADD) and RV positive cases, and hospitalizations among children in Argentina.

Direct evidence gap on fixed versus adjusted-dose benznidazole for adults with chronic Chagas disease without cardiomyopathy: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Objectives: To determine the comparative efficacy and safety of a fixed dose of benznidazole (BZN) with an adjusted-dose for Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive adults without cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis following Cochrane methods, and the PRISMA-IPD statement for reporting. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) allocating participants to fixed or adjusted doses of BZN for T.

Comparison of central venous minus arterial carbon dioxide pressure to arterial minus central venous oxygen content ratio and lactate levels as predictors of mortality in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The central venousarterial carbon dioxide pressure to arterial-central venous oxygen content ratio (Pcv-aCO2/Ca-cvO2) is frequently used as a surrogate for tissue oxygenation. We aimed to identify and synthesize literature and quality of evidence supporting Pcv-aCO2/Ca-cvO2 as a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients compared with lactate.

Methods: We searched several databases for studies measuring Pcv-aCO2/Ca-cvO2 in critically ill patients.

Developing a New Generic Health and Wellbeing Measure: Psychometric Survey Results for the EQ-HWB.

Objectives: The development of measures such as the EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing) requires selection of items. This study explored the psychometric performance of candidate items, testing their validity in patients, social carer users, and carers.

Methods: Article and online surveys that included candidate items (N = 64) were conducted in Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The EQ-HWB: Overview of the Development of a Measure of Health and Wellbeing and Key Results.

Objectives: Existing measures for estimating quality-adjusted life-years are mostly limited to health-related quality of life. This article presents an overview of the development the EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing), which is a measure that encompasses health and wellbeing.

Methods: Stages: (1) Establishing domains through reviews of the qualitative literature informed by a conceptual framework.

The Development of a New International Generic Measure (EQ-HWB): Face Validity and Psychometric Stages in Argentina.

Objectives: This study aimed to present the face validity and psychometric stages performed in Spanish in Argentina, the only Spanish-speaking country of an international collaboration that undertook the construction of a new measure that can be used in economic evaluation across health, social care, and public health, the EQ EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing). We also explored the relationship among 3-level version EQ-5D (EQ-5D-3L), 5-level version EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), and EQ-HWB.

Methods: Face validity was based on semistructured face to face interviews of a purposive sample to explore translatability of language and concepts of 97 candidate items, translated into Argentina Spanish.