Performance of the VITEK® MS system for the identification of filamentous fungi in a microbiological laboratory in Chile.

Filamentous fungi are an emergent cause of severe infections in immunocompromised patients. Timely and accurate identification is crucial to initiate appropriate therapy. Traditional identification methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and operator-dependent.

Salmonella enterica Serovar Abony Outbreak Caused by Clone of Reference Strain WDCM 00029, Chile, 2024.

A Salmonella enterica serovar Abony outbreak occurred during January-April 2024 in Chile. Genomic evidence indicated that the outbreak strain was a clone of reference strain WDCM 00029, which is routinely used in microbiological quality control tests. When rare or unreported serovars cause human infections, clinicians and health authorities should request strain characterization.

Immersive virtual reality for learning about ecosystems: effect of two signaling levels and feedback on action decisions.

Introduction: The goal of the present study was to test the effect of signaling associated with feed-back in learning forest ecosystems in the context of realistic living forest simulator, in IVR conditions for students in agriculture. Two signaling modalities, corresponding to two signaling levels, were investigated: visual of forest elements (tree species, plants, flowers, fungi, wet-areas etc.) and , both with text in pop-up windows, in a 2x2 experimental plan.

Vertical electron cyclotron emission diagnostic on the tokamak à configuration variable.

In this paper, a diagnostic for the measurement of the electron cyclotron emission (ECE) from non-thermal electrons in magnetically confined fusion plasmas is presented. The diagnostic employs a vertical viewing line of sight that allows us to directly infer the energy of the emitting electrons. Previous incarnations of this diagnostic on other machines have been limited by refraction, which can cause stray radiation to enter the line of sight, polluting the signal.

Head-to-head comparison of CAMPYAIR aerobic culture medium versus standard microaerophilic culture for isolation from clinical samples.

spp. are considered the most frequent cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. However, outside high-income countries, its burden is poorly understood.

Scaling up quality-assured psychotherapy: The role of therapist competence on perinatal depression and anxiety outcomes.

Objectives: To examine: (1) the psychometric properties of two therapist competence measures-multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) and standardized role-plays; (2) whether therapist competence differed between non-specialist (NSPs) and specialist (SPs) providers; and (3) the relations between therapist competence and patient outcomes among perinatal patients receiving brief psychotherapy.

Methods: This study is embedded within the SUMMIT Trial-a large, ongoing psychotherapy trial for perinatal women with depressive and anxiety symptoms. We assessed the: (1) psychometric properties of therapist competence measures using Cronbach's alpha and inter-class correlation; (2) differences in therapist competence scores between n = 23 NSPs and n = 22 SPs using a two-sample t-test; and (3) relations between therapist competence measures and perinatal patient outcomes through a linear regression model.

spp. Prevalence in Santiago, Chile: A Study Based on Molecular Detection in Clinical Stool Samples from 2014 to 2019.

spp. is an emerging cause of infectious diarrhea worldwide. In South American countries such as Chile, its prevalence is underestimated due to inadequate detection methods.

Longitudinal study of wound healing status and bacterial colonisation of Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae in epidermolysis bullosa patients.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is an inherited disorder characterised by skin fragility and the appearance of blisters and wounds. Patient wounds are often colonised or infected with bacteria, leading to impaired healing, pain and high risk of death by sepsis. Little is known about the impact of bacterial composition and susceptibility in wound resolution, and there is a need for longitudinal studies to understand healing outcomes with different types of bacterial colonisation.

Trial of a patient-directed eHealth program to ameliorate perinatal depression: the MomMoodBooster2 practical effectiveness study.

Background: Depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth, and is experienced by approximately 17% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women. An estimated 85% of these women go untreated-an alarming statistic given the serious consequences for the mother, her child, other family members, and society. Professional societies (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Academy of Pediatrics) have recommended improvements in screening and treatment.

Culturally sensitive psychotherapy for perinatal women: A mixed methods study.

Objective: There is a critical need to better understand psychological treatments from a culturally sensitive lens. Using a process-oriented model, we examined treatment satisfaction among perinatal patients who received behavioral activation (BA) within a large psychotherapy trial for perinatal depression and anxiety, and explored how to optimize culturally sensitive delivery through a multistakeholder perspective.

Method: In this mixed methods study, we estimated treatment satisfaction through mean client satisfaction scores (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire [CSQ]-8) among perinatal participants ( = 417) using one-way analysis of variance.

Adapting behavioral activation for perinatal depression and anxiety in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice.

Background: We examined the implementation of a brief, behavioural activation (BA) model, via telemedicine, for perinatal populations during a confluence of significant global events in 2020. We conducted a rigorous qualitative study to identify relevant barriers and facilitators from the perspectives of both perinatal participants and treatment providers. We also present two case studies where BA was used and adapted to provide patient-centered care.

Weekly high-dose liposomal amphotericin B prevents invasive aspergillosis after heart transplantation.

Background: Preventive strategies for invasive aspergillosis (IA) have still not been determined in heart transplant recipients whereas IA leads to a high mortality rate at 12 months posttransplantation. The use of voriconazole or echinocandins was proposed but can favor emergence of Aspergillus or Candida sp. resistant strains or promote neurological and liver disorders in some patients.

Longitudinal assessment of SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroconversionamong front-line healthcare workers during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic at a tertiary-care hospital in Chile.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Cross-sectional studies have provided variable rates of seroprevalence in HCWs. Longitudinal assessments of the serological response to Covid-19 among HCWs are crucial to understanding the risk of infection and changes in antibody titers over time.

Scaling Up Maternal Mental healthcare by Increasing access to Treatment (SUMMIT) through non-specialist providers and telemedicine: a study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.

Background: Depression and anxiety impact up to 1 in 5 pregnant and postpartum women worldwide. Yet, as few as 20% of these women are treated with frontline interventions such as evidence-based psychological treatments. Major barriers to uptake are the limited number of specialized mental health treatment providers in most settings, and problems with accessing in-person care, such as childcare or transportation.

Genomic analysis of the diversity, antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of clinical Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from Chile.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the leading cause of human gastroenteritis in the industrialized world and an emerging threat in developing countries. The incidence of campylobacteriosis in South America is greatly underestimated, mostly due to the lack of adequate diagnostic methods. Accordingly, there is limited genomic and epidemiological data from this region.

Evaluation of two fluorescence immunoassays for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-new tool to detect infective COVID-19 patients.

Background: Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the only recommended diagnostic method for SARS-CoV-2. However, rapid immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 antigen could significantly reduce the COVID-19 burden currently weighing on laboratories around the world.

Methods: We evaluated the performance of two rapid fluorescence immunoassays (FIAs), SOFIA SARS Antigen FIA (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA) and STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA (SD Biosensor Inc.

(VGIII) Meningoencephalitis Acquired in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

We describe a case of chronic meningoencephalitis with hydrocephalus caused by (VGIII) in an immunocompetent patient from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This first report of a member of the species complex from Bolivia suggests that (VGIII) is present in this tropical region of the country and complements our epidemiological and clinical knowledge of this group of emerging fungal pathogens in South America.