Aumento en la positividad del biomarcador galactomanano durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en la Quinta Región: Valparaíso / Increase in the positivity of the galactomannan biomarker during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fifth Region: Valparaíso

INTRODUCCIÓN: La actual pandemia provocada por SARS-CoV-2 ha provocado una alta carga en la salud pública y privada. Se han descrito casos y series de aspergilosis invasora asociada a pacientes con COVID-19 en ventilación mecánica. OBJETIVO: Describir el aumento en la positividad del biomarcador galactomanano (GM) durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en la Quinta Región: Valparaíso. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo. Se revisó la cantidad y los resultados de GM, tanto de lavado bronco-alveolar (LBA) como en suero y los cultivos de LBA enviados al laboratorio de Micología de la Universidad de Valparaíso, desde enero y hasta septiembre del año 2020; luego se compararon con los exámenes recibidos en el mismo período del año 2019. RESULTADOS: Se observó un aumento significativo de los GM realizados en LBA, concentrándose principalmente entre los meses de julio y septiembre. El 29% de las muestras del año 2020 tenía el antecedente de ser de pacientes con COVID-19. Del total de muestras positivas durante el año de la pandemia, 5/12 fueron en pacientes con COVID-19. CONCLUSIONES: Hubo un aumento significativo de los GM realizados en LBA durante la pandemia, concentrándose principalmente entre los meses de julio-septiembre.

BACKGROUND: The current pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 has caused a high burden on health. Cases and series of invasive aspergillosis associated with COVID-19 patients (CAPA) on mechanical ventilation have been described. AIM: To describe the increase in the positivity of the galactomannan (GM) biomarker during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fifth Region: Valparaíso. METHOD: Retrospective descriptive study. The GM results in both broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and serum and the BAL cultures that were sent to the Mycology Laboratory of the University of Valparaíso from January to September 2020 were reviewed; then they were compared with the examinations of the same period of 2019. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in GMs carried out in LBA during the pandemic, concentrating mainly between the months of July-September. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in GM carried out in LBA during the pandemic, concentrating mainly between the months of July-September.

Role of some biochemical changes in congenital cataract

This study was done on 25 infants with congenital cataract aging 3-18 months and their parents. Another group of 14 infants of same age with no ophthalmic and/or congenital diseases were included as control group with their parents. All cases and their parents were examined clinically and ophthalmologically. Levels of galactose, serum sodium and potassium were determined. A significant elevation was found in blood galactose, in infants with congenital cataract as compared with control group, while no significant changes in blood galactose levels of their parents as compared with parents of control group. Significant elevation of serum sodium in infants with congenital cataract as compared with control group, while no significant change in serum sodium levels of their parents as compared with parents of control group. Significant decrease of serum potassium infants with congenital cataract as compared with control group, while no significant change in serum potassimn levels of their parents as compared with parents of control group. Early valuable genetic counseling, with estimation of galactose, sodium and potassium are recommended. Infants with congenital cataract had different etiological causes, so not all cases need restriction of milk and milk products. Parental estimation of galactose, sodium and potassium had no value