Publications by authors named "Rodriguez-Valero N"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness of a modified severe malaria classification for patients in non-endemic areas, as the current WHO definition may misclassify cases.
- Among 506 malaria patients, 34.8% were classified with severe malaria, with only 7.3% developing life-threatening conditions, primarily in the very severe malaria group.
- The findings suggest that existing severity criteria need reevaluation in non-endemic settings, as less severe malaria cases show a low risk of severe outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is prevalent in Latin America and spreading due to migration, with recommended screenings for at-risk Latin American populations in non-endemic countries like the U.S. and Spain.
- A study of 2,820 Latin American individuals visiting a hospital in Barcelona from 2002 to 2019 reported that 81.5% had prior exposure to the triatomine vector, with 1,382 confirmed cases of T. cruzi infection.
- Among those infected, 17.1% were diagnosed with Chagasic cardiomyopathy, showcasing the need for increased testing and awareness among at-risk communities in endemic and non-endemic regions.
Host biomarkers for early identification of severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Travel Med Infect Dis
November 2023
Background: Severe imported P. falciparum malaria is a source of morbi-mortality in non-endemic regions. WHO criteria don't accurately classify patients at risk of complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Identifying the causes of Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness (AUFI) is key to improve the management of returning travellers with fever. We evaluated a BioFire®FilmArray® prototype panel of multiplex nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) targeting different relevant pathogens in travellers returning with fever.
Methods: Prospective, multicentre study to evaluate a prototype panel in whole blood samples of adult international travellers presenting with AUFI in three European travel Clinics/Hospitals (November 2017-November 2019).
Background: Diagnosis of undifferentiated non-malaria fevers (NMF) in returning travellers is a great challenge. Currently, there is no consensus about the use of empirical antibiotics in returning travellers with undifferentiated NMF. Although studies in endemic areas showed that a wide range of pathogens implicated in undifferentiated NMF are treatable with doxycycline, the role of doxycycline in returning travellers with fever still has to be explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Overall, more than 50% of international travelers develop symptoms while traveling and 55% of them seek medical assistance during the trip. We conducted a study to evaluate the usefulness of a Smartphone app called TRIP Doctor® to provide telemedicine to international travelers.
Methods: Participants over 18 years old attending our travel clinic at Hospital Clinic in Barcelona were invited to participate during 2017-2019.
Background: Etiological diagnosis of febrile illnesses in returning travelers is a great challenge, particularly when presenting with no focal symptoms [acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses (AUFI)], but is crucial to guide clinical decisions and public health policies. In this study, we describe the frequencies and predictors of the main causes of fever in travelers.
Methods: Prospective European multicenter cohort study of febrile international travelers (November 2017-November 2019).
Background: Although tick-borne pathogens have been reported as an important cause of imported fever, the incidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), in travellers is unknown.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to investigate the aetiologies of fever in returning travellers (November 2017-July 2019). Polymerase chain reaction for msp2 gene amplification and indirect immunofluorescence assay for A.
Background: The emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) represents a threat with consequences on maternal and children's health. We aimed to assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pregnant women returning from ZIKV affected areas, and the effects of maternal ZIKV infection on birth outcomes and children's health.
Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective observational study conducted at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain, from January 2016 to February 2020.
Objectives: Given the scarcity of data regarding prevalence of various infectious diseases in Latin-American countries, our study aims to assess the burden of T. cruzi, S. stercoralis, HIV and viral hepatitis in Latin-American migrants, with a focus on Bolivian migrants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Delayed haemolysis is a frequent adverse event after treatment with artesunate (AS). Removing once-infected "pitted" erythrocytes by the spleen is the most accepted mechanism of haemolysis in these cases. However, an increasing number of cases with positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) haemolysis after AS have been reported.
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