Diferencias y similitudes clínicas y epidemiológicas de la neumonía viral en dos pandemias

Background: In a decade, we faced two pandemic viruses, influenza A H1N1pdm09 and SARS CoV-2, whose most serious manifestation is pneumonia. Aim: To compare the clinical, epidemiological and management aspects of pneumonias caused by each pandemic virus in adults requiring hospitalization. Material and Methods: Comparative, observational study carried out at a regional Chilean hospital, including 75 patients with influenza A H1N1pdm09 prospectively studied in 2009 and 142 patients with SARS-CoV-2 studied in 2020. Results: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were older (56 and 39.7 years respectively, p < 0.01) and had significantly more comorbidities. Cough, fever and myalgias were more frequent in influenza. Dyspnea was more frequent in COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 had more extensive lung involvement and a longer hospitalization (13.6 and 8.6 days respectively, p = 0.01). There was no difference on ICU admission requirements and mortality attributable to pneumonia. Patients with influenza had greater APACHE scores and a higher frequency of a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 200. During COVID-19pandemic chest sean replaced x-ray examination. Also high-flow nasal cannulas and awake prone position ventilation were added as treatments. Conclusions: COVID-19 patients were older, had fewer classic flu symptoms but more dyspnea and longer hospitalization periods than patients with influenza.

Impacto de la tuberculosis en el hospital de Puerto Montt / Impact of tuberculosis in Puerto Montt hospital, Chile

Resumen Objetivo: Dimensionar la demanda de atención y/u hospitalización de la tuberculosis (TBC) en el Hospital de Puerto Montt (HPM). Método: Revisión retrospectiva de los registros de TBC del Servicio de Salud del Reloncaví (SSDR) y del HPM entre los años 2011 y 2015. Se incluyeron todos los casos de TBC activa vistos en forma ambulatoria u hospitalizada en el HPM. Resultados: Se diagnosticaron en el SSDR 298 casos de TBC, y de ellos un 64% (192/298) fue pesquisado en el HPM. Se presentan datos socioeconómicos, epidemiológicos, clínicos, de laboratorio y forma de diagnóstico de 180 casos, que cumplieron criterios de inclusión: varones 62%, edad media 44 ± 19 años. El 72% correspondieron al estrato social de menores ingresos, 4% indigentes, solo 14% poseía enseñanza media completa, 11% analfabetos, ruralidad 19%. Las principales co-morbilidades fueron alcoholismo (17%), VIH (12%), Diabetes (10%). En aquellos con TBC pulmonar o pleural (128) el tiempo con síntomas con frecuencia era prolongado (15% > 90 días) y la radiología mostraba enfermedad avanzada: infiltrados bilaterales 73%, compromiso > 3 lóbulos 55%, una o más cavitaciones 34%. Se hospitalizó el 71% (126/180), 50% por necesidad de estudio, 48%por gravedad. El 8% necesitó Unidad de Paciente Crítico (UPC). Fallecieron 24 pacientes (13%). Se asoció significativamente a mortalidad el analfabetismo y necesidad de UPC. Conclusiones: En el SSDR la TBC es un problema sanitario que afecta principalmente a poblaciones más pobres y vulnerables.

Backgroud: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a problem that impacts on hospitals of high complexity. Aim: To assess demand for care and/or hospitalization because of TB in Puerto Montt Hospital (PMH), located in the southern of Chile. Patients and Methods: Retrospective study of all Reloncaví Health Service (RHS) and PMH clinical records, between 2011 and 2015. We include all ambulatory or hospitalized cases of active TB registered in PMH during the period of the study. Results: In RHS there were 298 cases of TB and 64% of them (192/298) was detected in HPM. We present social, economic, epidemiological, clinical, laboratory studies, and specific type of diagnosis of 180 cases that met inclusion criteria: men 62%, mean age 45 ± 19 years-old. The population with lower income was 72%, 4% homeless, 14% with complete high school, 11% illiterate and 19% lived at country side. Main co-morbidities were alcoholism 17%, HIV 12%, Diabetes Mellitus 10%. In the specific group of lung/pleural TB (128 cases) the time with symptoms was often prolonged (15% > 90 days) and imagen studies showed advanced pathology: bilateral infiltrates 73%>, affecting three or more lobes 55%, cavitations 34%. 71% (126/180) were hospitalized, because of necessity of more study (50%) or severity (48%), 8% required to enter to the Critical Care Unit (CCU). Twenty-four patients died (13%). Illiteracy and the need for CCU were associated with mortality. Conclusions: In RHS TB is a sanitary problem that affects principally the most poor and vulnerable populations.

Neumonía neumocócica bacteriémica en adultos en hospital regional de Chile / Bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia in adults admitted to a general hospital: experience in 60 cases

Background: Bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia (BPP) is a preventable disease with high morbimortality. Aim: To evaluate clinical aspects and mortality on BPP patients admitted to a Chilean regional hospital. Patients and Methods: We looked for adult patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood cultures between 2010 and 2014 years and reviewed clinical records of those who were admitted with pneumonia. Results: We identified 70 BPP patients: 58% were men, mean age was 56 years, 30% were > 65 years, 70% with basic public health insurance, 26% were alcoholics, 86% had comorbidities. Only two patients were vaccinated against S. pneumoniae. CURB-65 severity index for community acquired pneumonia was > 3 in 37% of patients. Twenty-four patients were admitted to ICU, twenty required mechanical ventilation and twenty-four died (34%). Mortality was associated with an age over 65 years, presence of comorbidities and complications of pneumonia. A total of 22 serotypes of S. pneumoniae were identified, five of them (1,3,7F,14 y 9V) were present in 57% of cases. Conclusions: Elevated mortality of our BNN patients was associated with comorbidities and possibly with socio economic factors, which conditioned a late access to medical care.

Impacto clínico de la influenza A H1N1 pandémica en el hospital de Puerto Montt, Chile / Clinical impact of pandemic influenza A H1N1 in a Chilean regional hospital

Background: Pandemic flu (H1N1 ) strongly affected southern Chile during2009. Aim: To report the logistic and organizational changes implemented at a regional hospital to face the pandemic. Material and Methods: All patients with flu like disease that were hospitalized, were prospectively enrolled at the Puerto Montt hospital. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was obtained in all for influenza virus A and B direct immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All epidemiological and clinical data of patients were recorded. Results: Between May 29 and July 7, 2009, 184 adults were admitted to the hospital and in 117patients aged 41 ± 18 years (56 percent females ), direct immunofluorescence was positive for influenza. In 67 of these patients PCR did not confirm the disease. These unconfirmed patients had a mean age of 49 ± 19 years (p < 0.01, compared with confirmed cases) and had a lower frequency of fever, rhinorrhea and chills. No significant differences in the incidence of community acquired pneumonia or chest X ray findings were observed between confirmed and unconfirmed cases. Hospital stay was over 15 days in 14 percent of confirmed cases and 5 percent of unconfirmed cases (p = 0.03). Fifteen patients, aged 53 ± 18 years, died. Conclusions: Low sensibility of direct immunofluorescence and delay in obtaining PCR confirmation of influenza posed a problem for the management of these patients.