Objectives: To describe the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and deaths from opportunistic infections in Guatemala.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with HIV at a referral clinic (Clinica Familiar Luis Angel García, CFLAG), as well as the disruption of services at a diagnostic laboratory hub (DLH) which provides diagnosis for opportunistic infections to a network of 13 HIV healthcare facilities. Comparative analysis was undertaken using the months March-August from two different time periods: (i) pre-COVID-19 (2017-2019); and (ii) during the COVID-19 period (2020).
Results: During the COVID-19 period, 7360 HIV tests were performed at Clinica Familiar Luis Angel García, compared with an average of 16,218 tests in the pre-COVID-19 period; a reduction of 54.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 53.8-55.4%],Deaths from opportunistic infections at 90 days were 10.7% higher in 2020 compared with 2019 (27.3% vs 16.6%; P = 0.05). Clinical samples sent to the DLH for diagnosis of opportunistic infections decreased by 43.7% in 2020 (95% CI 41.0-46.2%).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a substantial impact on HIV care in Guatemala. Diagnostic services for HIV have been severely affected and deaths from opportunistic infections have increased. The lessons learnt must guide the introduction of strategies to reduce the impact of the pandemic.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.06.011 | DOI Listing |
BMC Infect Dis
December 2024
Central Laboratory, Chongqing Public Health Medical Centre, Chongqing, China.
Background: In acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients, Talaromyces marneffei infections are mostly disseminated and may involve the skin, mucosa, respiratory system, digestive system, lymphatic system, and as some reports indicate, the nervous system. Mp1p, a cell wall-specific polysaccharide in Talaromyces marneffei, is used for laboratory diagnosis of Talaromyces marneffei in blood and urine samples. However, Cerebrospinal fluid Mp1p diagnosis of Talaromyces marneffei central nervous system infection has not been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Argent Microbiol
December 2024
Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Hospital de Clínicas «José de San Martín», Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address:
Aeromonas spp. are opportunistic pathogens that cause both intra- and extraintestinal infections. The objective of this work was the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of a collection of Aeromonas strains, in addition to determining their sensitivity to different antimicrobials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Dermatol
December 2024
Department of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background: No currently approved treatment for pediatric plaque psoriasis selectively targets interleukin (IL)-23. In adults, guselkumab (a selective IL-23 inhibitor targeting the p19 subunit) demonstrated substantial efficacy with a favorable safety profile in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Objective: PROTOSTAR (NCT03451851) evaluated the efficacy and safety of guselkumab in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat
December 2024
Center for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
This review assesses Poland's activities in preventing and managing human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases, summarizing information from the 2023 HPV Prevention and Control Board meeting. Progress in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention identifies opportunities to strengthen control of cervical cancer. Poland's national HPV vaccination program, launched in June 2023, initially achieved suboptimal coverage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMod Rheumatol Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic vasculitis preceded by bronchial asthma or allergic sinusitis and accompanied by peripheral blood eosinophilia. Immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclophosphamide in addition to high-dose glucocorticoids, are recommended for induction of remission in patients with severe EGPA. Although mepolizumab is widely recognized as remission induction therapy in non-fatal/non-organ disabling or relapsed/refractory EGPA, its efficacy and safety in induction of remission for severe cases have been ambiguous.
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