Effectiveness of wearing masks during the COVID-19 outbreak in cohort and case-control studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis / Eficácia do uso de máscaras durante o surto de COVID-19 em estudos de coorte e caso-controle: uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19 infection. Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies, considering the best level of evidence available. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinical Trials.gov) were searched to identify studies that evaluated the effectiveness of wearing masks compared with that of not wearing them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Results: Of the 1,028 studies identified, 9 met the inclusion criteria (2 cohort studies and 7 case-control studies) and were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis using cohort studies alone showed statistically significant differences, wearing a cloth mask decreased by 21% [RD = −0.21 (95% CI, −0.34 to −0.07); I2 = 0%; p = 0,002] the risk of COVID-19 infection, but the quality of evidence was low. Regarding case-control studies, wearing a surgical mask reduced the chance of COVID-19 infection [OR = 0.51 (95% CI, 0.37-0.70); I2 = 47%; p = 0.0001], as did wearing an N95 respirator mask [OR = 0.31 (95% CI, 0.20-0.49); I2 = 0%; p = 0.00001], both with low quality of evidence. Conclusions: In this systematic review with meta-analysis, we showed the effectiveness of wearing masks in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection regardless of the type of mask (disposable surgical mask, common masks, including cloth masks, or N95 respirators), although the studies evaluated presented with low quality of evidence and important biases.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia do uso de máscaras na prevenção da infecção por COVID-19. Métodos: Revisão sistemática e meta-análise de estudos de coorte e caso-controle, considerando o melhor nível de evidência disponível. Bancos de dados eletrônicos (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials e ClinicalTrials.gov) foram pesquisados para identificar estudos que avaliassem a eficácia do uso de máscaras em comparação com ausência de seu uso durante a pandemia de COVID-19. O risco de viés e a qualidade da evidência foram avaliados usando a ferramenta Cochrane risk of bias e Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Resultados: Dos 1.028 estudos identificados, 9 preencheram os critérios de inclusão (2 estudos de coorte e 7 estudos de caso-controle) e foram incluídos na análise. A meta-análise usando apenas estudos de coorte mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas: o uso de máscara de tecido diminuiu 21% [(risk difference = −0,21 (IC 95%: −0,34 a −0,07); I2 = 0%; p = 0,002] o risco de infecção por COVID-19, mas a qualidade da evidência foi baixa. Em relação aos estudos caso-controle, o uso de máscara cirúrgica reduziu a chance de infecção por COVID-19 [OR = 0,51 (IC 95%: 0,37-0,70); I2 = 47%; p = 0,0001], assim como o uso de máscara respiratória N95 [OR = 0,31 (IC 95%: 0,20-0,49); I2 = 0%; p = 0,00001], ambos com baixa qualidade de evidência. Conclusões: Nesta revisão sistemática com meta-análise, demonstramos a eficácia do uso de máscaras na prevenção da infecção por SARS-CoV-2 independentemente do tipo de máscara (máscara cirúrgica descartável, máscaras comuns, incluindo máscaras de tecido, ou respiradores N95), embora os estudos avaliados apresentassem evidências de baixa qualidade e vieses importantes.

Identificação molecular das espécies de leishmânia em lesões cutâneas de pacientes atendidos no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Santarém, Pará / Molecular identification of the species of leishmania in cutaneous injuries of patients taken care in the Center of Zoonoses Control of the City of Santarém, Pará

A leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) é doença endêmica no Brasil onde apresenta aumento contínuo do número de casos bem como expansão da área geográfica de detecção de casos. Na Amazônia, a situação epidemiológica da LTA é ainda mais complexa, pois há várias espécies de leishmânia como agente causal da doença, cada espécie com seus reservatórios e vetores próprios podendo determinar diferentes quadros clínicos com diversas respostas ao tratamento medicamentoso. O município de Santarém situa-se no oeste do estado do Pará, onde há alta endemicidade da LTA. A participação de cada espécie de leishmânia nos casos de leishmaniose cutânea (LC) na região não é ainda conhecida através de estudos definitivos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal identificar as espécies de leishmânia nos casos de pacientes portadores de LC atendidos no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Santarém (CCZS) no ano de 2003, e estudar a possibilidade de diferenças significativas na apresentação clínica das lesões causadas pelas diferentes espécies do parasito. Através de duas técnicas moleculares, uma através de identificação de sequência de nucleotídeos que codifica a subunidade menor do RNA ribossomal e outra que identifica sequência de gene que codifica a enzima glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase, aplicadas em material de biópsia de 93 pacientes atendidos no CCZS, durante o ano de 2003, identificamos espécies de leishmânias. Com os métodos realizados consegue-se diferenciar Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis e o grupo de outras espécies do gênero Leishmania (V.) que não Leishmania (V.) braziliensis a que chamamos Leishmania (L.) outras espécies. As espécies encontradas e suas proporções foram: Leishmania (V.) braziliensis 57%, Leishmania (V.) outras espécies 37% e Leishmania (L.) amazonensis 5%. Encontrou-se maior proporção de lesões em membros inferiores nos casos ocasionados por Leishmania (V.) braziliensis. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas...

Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is an endemic disease in Brazil, where it shows a continual rise in the number of cases, as well as geographic expansion in the area of detected cases. In the Amazon, the epidemiological situation of TL is even more complex because there are several species of leishmania as causal agent of the disease, each species with its own reservoir hosts and sandfly vectors being able to determine different clinical expressions with diverse responses to medical treatment. The municipality of Santarem is located in the western part of the state of Pará, where there are high endemic levels of TL. The participation of each species of leishmania in the cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the region has not yet been determined through definitive studies. The principal object of this study is to identify the species of leishmania in the cases of carriers who were patients at the Santarem Zoonosis Control Center in the year 2003, and to study the possibility of significant differences in the clinical presentation of lesions caused by different species of the parasite. We identified species of Leishmania using two molecular techniques, the first through identifying the sequence of nucleotides that encodes the smaller subunit of ribossomal RNA and another that identifies the gene sequence that encodes the enzyme glicose-6-phosphate desidrogenasis applied to biopsy material from 93 patients of the Santarem Zoonosis Control Center, during the year 2003. Using these methods we were able to differentiate Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and the other species of the genus Leishmania (V.) that were not Leishmania (V.) braziliensis which we call Leishmania (L.) of other species. The species found and their proportions were: Leishmania (V.) braziliensis 57%, Leishmania (V.) other species 37%, and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis 5%. A greater proportion of lesions was found in inferior members in the cases of...

Prevalence of mycobacteremia in patients with AIDS and persistant fever

In the advanced stages of AIDS, characterized by severe immunodepression, tuberculosis (TB) may present with a clinical picture of septic shock, due to typical bacteremia. Hematogenic dissemination of mycobacteria is frequent in immunodepressed patients with TB or disseminated mycobacteriosis, leading to increased positivity in detection by automated blood culture. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of mycobacteremia in patients with AIDS and with prolonged fever seen at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectology. Patients with a history of daily fever (37.8ºC), lasting more than 30 days, and with CD4+ helper lymphocyte counts below 200 cells/mL, were selected from February 2001 to March 2002. A 5 mL peripheral blood sample was collected from each patient for mycobacterial blood culture by an automated method, using the BACTEC 9000 MB and MB/BACT techniques. Forty-five patients aged on average 35 years, most of them males, were included in the study. The mean T CD4+ lymphocyte count was 58 cells/mL. Among the samples submitted to blood culture, 30 percent gave M. tuberculosis growth, with 62 percent sensitivity. Among the patients with a negative blood culture, nine had received a diagnosis of TB by another method. Automated blood culture proved to be a technique of relevant diagnostic value for M. tuberculosis in patients with prolonged fever in advanced stages of AIDS. The method is simple, and it helps the physician to select the best therapeutic option.