The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infections surveillance data: incidence drop or artefact?

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were increasing in Europe, and Spain and Catalonia were not an exception. Catalonia has been one of the regions with the highest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Spain. The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of the decline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the number of STI confirmed cases in Catalonia during the lockdown and de-escalation phases.

Epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 cases: mortality inequalities by socio-economic status, Barcelona, Spain, 24 February to 4 May 2020.

BackgroundPopulation-based studies characterising outcomes of COVID-19 in European settings are limited, and effects of socio-economic status (SES) on outcomes have not been widely investigated. AimWe describe the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 cases, highlighting incidence and mortality rate differences across SES during the first wave in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.MethodsThis population-based study reports individual-level data of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases diagnosed from 24 February to 4 May 2020, notified to the Public Health Agency of Barcelona and followed until 15 June 2020.

The Experience of Implementing Urban HEART Barcelona: a Tool for Action.

Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (HEART) is a tool developed by the World Health Organization whose objective is to provide evidence on urban health inequalities so as to help to decide the best interventions aimed to promote urban health equity. The aim of this paper is to describe the experience of implementing Urban HEART in Barcelona city, both the adaptation of Urban HEART to the city of Barcelona, its use as a means of identifying and monitoring health inequalities among city neighbourhoods, and the difficulties and barriers encountered throughout the process. Although ASPB public health technicians participated in the Urban HEART Advisory Group, had large experience in health inequalities analysis and research and showed interest in implementing the tool, it was not until 2015, when the city council was governed by a new left-wing party for which reducing health inequalities was a priority that Urban HEART could be used.

Prevention of sexually transmitted infections using mobile devices and ubiquitous computing.

Background: Advances in the development of information and communication technologies have facilitated social interrelationships, but also sexual contacts without appropriate preventive measures. In this paper, we will focus on situations in which people use applications to meet sexual partners nearby, which could increase their chance of exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STI). How can we encourage users to adopt preventive measures without violating their privacy or infringing on the character of the application?

Methods: To achieve the goal of preventing STI, we have used the design and creation methodology and have developed a prototype software package.

Long-term mortality in HIV-positive individuals virally suppressed for >3 years with incomplete CD4 recovery.

Background: Some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with low CD4 counts achieve viral suppression but not CD4 cell recovery. We aimed to identify (1) risk factors for failure to achieve CD4 count >200 cells/µL after 3 years of sustained viral suppression and (2) the association of the achieved CD4 count with subsequent mortality.

Methods: We included treated HIV-infected adults from 2 large international HIV cohorts, who had viral suppression (≤500 HIV type 1 RNA copies/mL) for >3 years with CD4 count ≤200 cells/µL at start of the suppressed period.

Time series analysis comparing mandatory and voluntary notification of newly diagnosed HIV infections in a city with a concentrated epidemic.

Background: In Catalonia, a law was passed in 2010 to incorporate HIV infection as a mandatory disease and to reduce under-reporting, perform follow-up and to improve prevention. Currently, there are studies that describe the surveillance of new diagnoses of HIV infection. However, there are no studies that compare the change from voluntary to mandatory notification.

Factors that influence current tuberculosis epidemiology.

According to WHO estimates, in 2010 there were 8.8 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) and 1.5 million deaths.

Hepatitis A among men who have sex with men in Barcelona, 1989-2010: insufficient control and need for new approaches.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a known group at risk for hepatitis A and outbreaks among this group are frequent. In Barcelona, vaccination for MSM has been recommended since 1994. In 1998 a vaccination campaign among preadolescents was implemented and an immunization program in gay bathhouses began in 2004.

Epidemiology of imported malaria among children and young adults in Barcelona (1990-2008).

Background: Increasing international travel and migration is producing changes in trends in infectious diseases, especially in children from many European cities. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and determine the trends of imported malaria in patients under 20 years old in the city of Barcelona, Spain, during an 18-year period.

Methods: The study included malaria cases that were laboratory confirmed and reported to the malaria register at the Public Health Agency of Barcelona from 1990 to 2008, residing in Barcelona and less than 20 years old.

Uptake of combination antiretroviral therapy and HIV disease progression according to geographical origin in seroconverters in Europe, Canada, and Australia.

Background: We examined differences by geographical origin (GO) in time from HIV seroconversion (SC) to AIDS, death, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods: Data from HIV seroconverter cohorts in Europe, Australia and Canada (CASCADE) was used; GO was classified as: western countries (WE), North Africa and Middle East (NAME), sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America (LA), and Asia (ASIA). Differences by GO were assessed using Cox models.

Predictors of death among patients who completed tuberculosis treatment: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Mortality among patients who complete tuberculosis (TB) treatment is still high among vulnerable populations. The objective of the study was to identify the probability of death and its predictive factors in a cohort of successfully treated TB patients.

Methods: A population-based retrospective longitudinal study was performed in Barcelona, Spain.

Epidemiological characteristics and predictors of late presentation of HIV infection in Barcelona (Spain) during the period 2001-2009.

Background: Early diagnosis of HIV infection can prevent morbidity and mortality as well as reduce HIV transmission. The aim of the present study was to assess prevalence, describe trends and identify factors associated with late presentation of HIV infection in Barcelona (Spain) during the period 2001-09.

Methods: Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of cases reported to the Barcelona HIV surveillance system were analysed.

Short-term effects of extreme hot summer temperatures on total daily mortality in Barcelona, Spain.

The summer of 2003 was exceptionally hot, leading to an excess of mortality in Europe. Here, we assess the short-term effects of extreme hot summer temperatures on total daily mortality in Barcelona (Spain). Daily mortality from burial records, maximum temperature, relative humidity and photochemical pollutants, were collected for the period 1999-2003.

Imported malaria among African immigrants: is there still a relationship between developed countries and their ex-colonies?

Background: The objective of this study was to compare cases of imported malaria originating from the Spanish ex-colony of Equatorial Guinea (EG) with those originating from the rest of Africa (RA).

Methods: All the African cases detected in Barcelona between 1989 and 2007 were investigated in a retrospective analysis. Clinical-epidemiological variables such as sex, age, visiting friends and relatives (VFR), species, hospital admission and chemo-prophylaxis were compared.

HIV infection late detection in AIDS patients of an European city with increased immigration since mid 1990s.

The study goal is to identify predictors of HIV infection late detection in an European city with increased immigration, and determine the effects of HAART era in HIV infection detection. We used Barcelona city AIDS registry (1987-2006). Late testers were those diagnosed of AIDS defining illness within less than 3 months from time of testing positive for HIV infection.

Increase in the non-HIV-related deaths among AIDS cases in the HAART era.

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with survival and to describe the specific causes of death in a large cohort of individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) era.

Methods: Subjects over 13 years old recorded in the AIDS registry of Barcelona and diagnosed between 1997-2005 were included. Survival analysis was performed.

[Community outbreak of pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila: importance of monitoring hospital cooling towers].

Objective: Description of an outbreak of legionnaires' disease originating in one of the cooling towers of a hospital.

Patients And Methods: This study included patients with confirmed pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and related to the Vallcarca neighborhood of Barcelona (Spain) in August 2004. Exposure was determined by a standardized questionnaire.

Changes in the incidence of tuberculosis in a cohort of HIV-seroconverters before and after the introduction of HAART.

Objective: To analyse incidence and determinants of tuberculosis in HIV-seroconverters before and after the introduction of HAART.

Methods: Data from a multicenter cohort study of 2238 HIV-seroconverters between the 1980s and 2004 were analysed and censored by December 2004. Calendar year at risk intervals were pre-1992, 1992-1996 and 1997-2004.

Group A streptococcal infections in injection drug users in Barcelona, Spain: epidemiologic, clinical, and microbiologic analysis of 3 clusters of cases from 2000 to 2003.

An unexplained resurgence of Group A streptococci (GAS) infections has been observed since the mid-1980s in the United States and Europe, particularly among intravenous drug users (IDUs). Several risk factors have been identified. Mutations in the capsule synthesis regulator genes (csrRS) have been associated with an increase in virulence.

Survival and progression to AIDS in a seroconverter cohort in the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era: effectiveness goes on.

Progression to AIDS and death for 1129 HIV seroconverters from the GEMES cohort were analysed by calendar period (1996-1997, 1998-1999, 2000 onwards). A further hazard reduction was observed for a later period for both. Intravenous drug users (IDU) had a faster progression.