Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers Before and After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cohort Study in a Primary Care Unit of Brazil.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral surveillance for early detection of COVID-19 is a critical strategy to understand this population's infection dynamics and prevent transmission. The study examines SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection among HCWs vaccinated against COVID-19 working at a primary healthcare unit serving a disenfranchised community in Brazil.

Acquired syphilis in the context of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV: a systematic review of the scientific literature.

The aim of this study was systematically review the acquired syphilis before and during follow-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. We analyzed articles that studied PrEP users with the outcome of acquired syphilis. The eligibility criteria were studies retrieved from the United States National Library of Medicine (Pubmed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (Lilacs), Embase and Scopus databases, published between 2012 and 2023, in English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Molecular characterization and frequency of human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) in kidney transplant recipients from Central-West Brazil.

Human Pegivirus Type 1 (HPgV-1), a ubiquitous commensal virus, has been recently suggested as a marker of immunologic function. There is scarce data for the presence, genotypes, and molecular characteristics of HPgV-1 among kidney transplant recipients. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and the molecular characteristics (cycle threshold, genotypes) of this viral infection among kidney transplant recipients from the Brasília, Federal District of Brazil.

Incidence and risk factors associated with acquired syphilis in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users.

Background: Acquired syphilis continues to affect millions of people around the world. It is crucial to study it in the context of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda since the literature suggests increased risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and factors associated with acquired syphilis among PrEP users.

Effect of vaccination against Covid-19 one year after its introduction in Brazil.

Background: Worldwide, several efforts have been made to develop, distribute and administer safe and effective vaccines to reduce morbidity and mortality and control the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze the effect of vaccination against Covid-19, one year after its introduction in Brazil.

Methods: An ecological study that analyzed the general effect of vaccination against Covid-19 on disease morbidity and mortality indicators among the Brazilian population aged 18 years or older per epidemiological week (EW), comparing the pre and postvaccination period.

The role of pets in SARS-CoV-2 transmission: an exploratory analysis.

Purpose: There is evidence that humans can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to cats and dogs. However, there is no evidence that they can transmit it back to humans or play any role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here, we present an exploratory analysis on that matter.

Change in covid-19 risk over time following vaccination with CoronaVac: test negative case-control study.

Objective: To estimate the change in odds of covid-19 over time following primary series completion of the inactivated whole virus vaccine CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech) in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Design: Test negative case-control study.

Setting: Community testing for covid-19 in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Chikungunya virus seroprevalence in asymptomatic blood donors during an outbreak in the Federal District of Brazil.

Introduction: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus belonging to the Togaviridae family. The symptomatic infection is characterised by acute febrile disease which generally results in severe arthralgia and myalgia, however, most of the CHIKV infections remain asymptomatic. CHIKV RNA detection in asymptomatic volunteers may be responsible for the transfusion transmission of this infection, especially during outbreaks.

Change in COVID-19 risk over time following vaccination with CoronaVac: A testnegative case-control study.

Objective: To estimate the change in odds of covid-19 over time following primary series completion of the inactivated whole virus vaccine, CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech) in São Paulo state, Brazil.

Design: Test negative case-control study.

Setting: Community testing for covid-19 in São Paulo state, Brazil.

Environmental spreading of clinically relevant carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli: the occurrence of bla strains relates to local hospital activities.

Background: Aquatic matrices impacted by sewage may shelter carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) harboring resistance genes of public health concern. In this study, sewage treatment plants (STPs) servicing well-defined catchment areas were surveyed for the presence of CR-GNB bearing carbapenemase genes (bla or bla).

Results: A total of 325 CR-GNB were recovered from raw (RS) and treated (TS) sewage samples as well as from water body spots upstream (UW) and downstream (DW) from STPs.

Evidence of co-circulation of multiple arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species based on laboratory syndromic surveillance at a health unit in a slum of the Federal District, Brazil.

Background: Vector-borne diseases, especially arboviruses transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitos, should be a health policy priority in Brazil. Despite this urgency, there are significant limitations in the traditional surveillance system, mainly in vulnerable areas.

Effectiveness of ChAdOx1 vaccine in older adults during SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant circulation in São Paulo.

A two-dose regimen of the Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) Covid-19 vaccine with an inter-dose interval of three months has been implemented in many countries with restricted vaccine supply. However, there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of ChAdOx1 by dose in elderly populations in countries with high prevalence of the Gamma variant of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we estimate ChAdOx1 effectiveness by dose against the primary endpoint of RT-PCR-confirmed Covid-19, and secondary endpoints of Covid-19 hospitalization and Covid-19-related death, in adults aged ≥60 years during an epidemic with high Gamma variant prevalence in São Paulo state, Brazil using a matched, test-negative case-control study.

Brazilian cohort study of risk factors associated with unsuccessful outcomes of drug resistant tuberculosis.

Background: Treatment outcomes were evaluated of a cohort of new pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases that were rifampicin resistant, multidrug-resistant, or extensively resistant during 2013 and 2014 in Brazil. The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes for drug-resistant TB cases.

Methods: The Brazilian Special Tuberculosis Treatment Information System (SITE-TB) was the main data source.

Unexpected slowdown in the decline of tuberculosis mortality rates in Brazil from 1997 to 2017: an ecological study.

Background: Brazil is a signatory to the World Health Organization End TB Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study aims to characterize tuberculosis (TB) deaths and TB mortality rates in Brazil for the period 1997-2017.

Methods: We performed an ecological study based on information for TB deaths between 1997 and 2017 extracted from the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Effectiveness of the CoronaVac vaccine in older adults during a gamma variant associated epidemic of covid-19 in Brazil: test negative case-control study.

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of the inactivated whole virus vaccine, CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech), against symptomatic covid-19 in the elderly population of São Paulo state, Brazil during widespread circulation of the gamma variant.

Design: Test negative case-control study.

Setting: Community testing for covid-19 in São Paulo state, Brazil.

Effectiveness of CoronaVac among healthcare workers in the setting of high SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant transmission in Manaus, Brazil: A test-negative case-control study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, Gamma, emerged in the city of Manaus in late 2020 during a large resurgence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and has spread throughout Brazil. The effectiveness of vaccines in settings with widespread Gamma variant transmission has not been reported.

Methods: We performed a matched test-negative case-control study to estimate the effectiveness of an inactivated vaccine, CoronaVac, in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Manaus, where the Gamma variant accounted for 86% of genotyped SARS-CoV-2 samples at the peak of its epidemic.

Costs of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the Brazilian Federal District: the patients' perspective.

Background: Although rare, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has a high economic burden, with consequences for families and society. This study aimed to estimate the total cost of GBS, per individual and per variant of the disease, as well as its effect on household income, from the perspective of patients.

Methods: This was a cost-of-illness study from the perspective of patients and their families, with a time horizon from disease onset to 6 mo after discharge.

Leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological, and gastroenterological diseases: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Background: Recently developed immunosuppressive drugs, especially TNF antagonists, may enhance the risk of granulomatous infections, including leprosy. We aimed to evaluate the leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression due to rheumatological, dermatological and gastroenterological diseases.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science and Scielo databases through 2018.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the diagnostic accuracy and screening of tests to detect antimicrobial resistance in leprosy.

Although multidrug therapy is considered an effective treatment for leprosy, antimicrobial resistance is a serious concern. We performed a systematic review of studies on the diagnostic accuracy and screening of tests for antimicrobial resistance in leprosy. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020177958).

Factors influencing endothelial cell density of corneas for transplantation.

To evaluate factors affecting corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) under enucleation and preservation time studies at Eye Bank of the Federal District of Brazil. We conducted a case-control study collecting data from 1128 corneas where death-to-enucleation time and enucleation-to-preservation time were within 24 h. Low cell count were those corneas with an ECD less than 2000 cells/mm and high cell count was defined as those with ECD greater than 2000 cells/mm.