Uso de tecnologías de la información y comunicación por pediatras argentinos / Use of information and communication technologies by argentine pediatricians

Introducción: No existen datos en la Argentina acerca de la adopción de tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC) por parte de los pediatras. Objetivos: Estimar la prevalencia de uso de historia clínica electrónica (HCE) y de mensajería electrónica. Describir percepción de ventajas y desventajas. Población y métodos: Estudio observacional, exploratorio, descriptivo y transversal. Se envió una encuesta autoadministrada al padrón de socios de la Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría entre julio y septiembre de 2017. Resultados: De 14.604 socios, se recibieron 3468 respuestas (el 23,7 %); 2680 fueron completas (el 18,4 %). El porcentaje de uso de HCE fue del 44 %. Se destacaron ventajas: acceso a la información (el 23,2 %), agilización del trabajo (el 20,1 %), resguardo seguro de información (el 14,3 %), disponibilidad (el 11,9 %), cálculo de percentiles (el 11,1 %) y realización de estadísticas (el 9,2 %). Las desventajas percibidas fueron cuestiones técnicas (el 32 %), temor a pérdida de información (el 20 %), dudas sobre cuestiones legales (el 15,8 %). El 49,8 % consideró implementar el uso de HCE en el próximo año.El 76,9 % usaba aplicaciones para recibir consultas de sus pacientes. El WhatsApp (el 46,6 %) fue la plataforma más utilizada. El 74 % consideraba que las consultas no presenciales deberían ser remuneradas. Conclusión: El 44 % de los pediatras que respondieron utilizaba HCE. El 49,8 % consideró implementar algún sistema de HCE durante el año siguiente al estudio. La mensajería electrónica era ampliamente utilizada (el 76,9 %) en todos los rangos etarios.

Introduction: There are not data in Argentina about the percentages of use of Information and Communication Technologies by pediatricians yet. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Messaging. To describe the perception of advantages and disadvantages. Population and methods: Observational, exploratory, descriptive and transversal study. Five submissions of a self-administered survey were made to the list of partners of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría between July and September of 2017. Results: Of 14,604 partners, 3468 responses were received (23.7 %); 2680 were complete (18.4 %). The overall percentage of use of EHR was 44 %. There were advantages: access to information (23.2 %), streamlining work (20.1 %), secure information backup (14.3 %) and availability (11.9 %), calculation of percentiles (11.1 %) and statistics (9.2 %). The perceived disadvantages: technical issues (32 %), fear of information loss (20 %), doubts about legal issues (15.8 %). The use of EHR was going to be implemented by 49.8 % of respondents in the next year. Applications to receive consultations from their patients were used by 76.9 % of pediatricians. WhatsApp (46.6 %) was the most integrated platform. It was considered by 74 % that non face to face consultations should be remunerated. Conclusion: EHR was used by 44 % of pediatricians who responded. And 49.8 % were considering the implementation of some EHR system during the next year. Electronic messaging was widespread (76.9 %) in all age ranges.

Serological based monitoring of a cohort of patients with chronic Chagas disease treated with benznidazole in a highly endemic area of northern Argentina

This study aimed to evaluate well-documented diagnostic antigens, named B13, 1F8 and JL7 recombinant proteins, as potential markers of seroconversion in treated chagasic patients. Prospective study, involving 203 patients treated with benznidazole, was conducted from endemic areas of northern Argentina. Follow-up was possible in 107 out of them and blood samples were taken for serology and PCR assays before and 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after treatment initiation. Reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi lysate and recombinant antigens was measured by ELISA. The rate of decrease of antibody titers showed nonlinear kinetics with an abrupt drop within the first three months after initiation of treatment for all studied antigens, followed by a plateau displaying a low decay until the end of follow-up. At this point, anti-B13, anti-1F8 and anti-JL7 titers were relatively close to the cut-off line, while anti-T. cruzi antibodies still remained positive. At baseline, 60.8% (45/74) of analysed patients tested positive for parasite DNA by PCR and during the follow-up period in 34 out of 45 positive samples (75.5%) could not be detected T. cruzi DNA. Our results suggest that these antigens might be useful as early markers for monitoring antiparasitic treatment in chronic Chagas disease.

Urban Chagas disease in children and women in primary care centres in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of this disease in women of childbearing age and children treated at health centres in underserviced areas of the city of Buenos Aires. Demographic and Chagas disease status data were collected. Samples for Chagas disease serology were obtained on filter paper and the reactive results were confirmed with conventional samples. A total of 1,786 subjects were screened and 73 positive screening results were obtained: 17 were from children and 56 were from women. The Trypanosoma cruziinfection risk was greater in those individuals who had relatives with Chagas disease, who remember seeing kissing bugs, who were of Bolivian nationality or were born in the Argentine province of Santiago del Estero. The overall prevalence of Chagas disease was 4.08%. Due to migration, Chagas disease is currently predominantly urban. The observed prevalence requires health programme activities that are aimed at urban children and their mothers. Most children were infected congenitally, which reinforces the need for Chagas disease screening of all pregnant women and their babies in Argentina. The active search for new cases is important because the appropriate treatment in children has a high cure rate.

Prevention of congenital Chagas through treatment of girls and women of childbearing age

It is currently unknown whether treatment of Chagas disease decreases the risk of congenital transmission from previously treated mothers to their infants. In a cohort of women with Chagas disease previously treated with benznidazole, no congenital transmission of the disease was observed in their newborns. This finding provides support for the treatment of Chagas disease as early as possible.

Costos de la enfermedad por Bordetella pertussis en hospitales terciarios de la Argentina / Cost of Bordetella pertussis illness in tertiary hospitals in Argentina

La Comisión Nacional de Inmunizaciones y el ProNaCEI (Programa Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Inmunoprevenibles) actualizaron la política de vacunación por Bordetella pertussis (BP) a partir del año 2009 con el objetivo de optimizar el control de esta enfermedad, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones internacionales. Para evaluar el impacto económico de esta nueva política de vacunación resulta necesario conocer inicialmente el costo que implica para el sistema de salud un niño internado o ambulatorio con infección por BP. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el perfl de costos en niños internados o tratados ambulatoriamente, con infección confrmada por laboratorio de BP en tres hospitales de la Argentina. Estudio prospectivo de costo de la enfermedad durante el período diciembre de 2010 a marzo de 2012. Resultados. El costo total para toda la cohorte fue de 1 170 663,32 pesos (236 497,64 dólares); los costos médicos directos, de 1 124 052,31 pesos (227 081,27 dólares); los costos indirectos y gastos de bolsillo, de 46611 pesos (9 416,36 dólares), lo que permite inferir un costo total promedio por paciente de 10 546,52 pesos (IC 95% 9009 a 13 840) (2130,60 dólares, IC 95% 1820 a 2795), costos médicos directos por paciente de 10 126,6 pesos (IC 95% 8607 a 13 171) (2045,77 dólares, IC 95%1738 a 2660) y costos indirectos más de bolsillo (viajes y extras) de 419,92 pesos (IC 95% 344,7 a 565,3), (84 dólares, IC 95% 69 a 115). Conclusión. El costo de un caso confrmado hospitalizado por BP es 10 546,52 pesos (IC 95% 9009 a 13 840) (2130,60 dólares, IC 95% 1820 a 2795). Los costos directos no médicos y costos indirectos constituyen el 4% del total, lo que corresponde a 419,91 pesos por familia (84 dólares, IC 95% 69 a 115), un 8% del salario promedio.

The National Immunization Commission and the National Program for the Control of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Programa Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Inmunoprevenibles, ProNaCEI) updated the immunization policy in relation to Bordetella pertussis (BP) in 2009 in order to improve the control of this disease in accordance with international recommendations. To evaluate the fnancial impact of this new immunization policy, we must frst know the cost on the health system of having a hospitalized or outpatient child infected with BP. The objective of this study was to describe the profle of costs of hospitalized or outpatient children with laboratory-confrmed BP infection in three hospitals of Argentina. This was a prospective study of the cost of BP in the period between December 2010 and March 2012. Results. The total cost for the entire cohort was 1 170 663.32 ARS (236 497.64 USD); direct medical costs were 1 124 052.31 ARS (227 081.27 USD); indirect costs and out-of-pocket expenses were 46 611 ARS (9416.6 USD). From this data, it is possible to conclude that the total average cost per patient was 10 546.52 ARS (95% CI: 9009-13 840) (2130.60 USD, 95% CI: 1820-2795), the direct medical cost per patient was 10 126.6 ARS (95% CI: 8607-13 171) (2045.77 USD, 95% CI: 1738-2660), and the indirect plus out-of-pocket costs (transportation and extras) were 419.92 ARS (95% CI: 344.7-565.3) (84 USD, 95% CI: 69-115). Conclusion. The cost of a hospitalized child with confrmed BP is 10 546.52 ARS (95% CI: 9009-13 840) (2130.60 USD, 95% CI: 1820-2795). Direct non-medical costs and overhead costs account for 4% of the total cost, amounting to 419.91 ARS per family (84 USD, 95% CI: 69-115), approximately an 8% of an average salary.

Síndrome mielodisplásico: evaluación de la proteína p53 como factor pronóstico / Myelodysplastic syndrome: evaluation of p53 prognostic factor

Los síndromes mielodisplásicos representan un estado preleucémico en el cual existe una falla de los progenitores hematopoyéticos para diferenciarse normalmente. Se ha observado que estos cuadros clínicos obedecen a un desorden clonal y que el incremento de células blásticas en la médula ósea se correlaciona con un pobre pronóstico. Si bien no se conocen completamente los mecanismos moleculares que subyacen a esta progresión, se han detectado diversas anomalías cromosómicas y mutaciones genéticas. La proteína p53 es el producto de un gen supresor de tumor relacionado con los mecanismos de control de la división celular y en el desarrollo de neoplasias. Para determinar si p53 tiene participación en el proceso mielodisplásico, evaluamos en este estudio las alteraciones de la proteína p53 y de su gen, empleando inmunohistoquímica y polimorfismo conformacional de cadena simple (SSCP) en un grupo de 21 pacientes con mielodisplasia, relacionando los hallazgos con la transformación leucémica, en un seguimiento a 5 años. Se encontraron alteraciones de la proteína en 4/21 casos (19 por ciento) y mutaciones del gen que la codifica también en 4/21 pacientes (19 por ciento). Seis pacientes (sobre 17 evaluables) desarrollaron leucemia aguda. El 50 por ciento de ellos presentó alteraciones de la proteína p53...