Endemismo urbano por COVID-19 en Petrópolis: Detección de un foco endémico mediante análisis espacial / Urban COVID-19 endemism in Petrópolis: detection of an endemic focus by spatial analysis

RESUMEN Se realizó un estudio con el objetivo de identificar un ecosistema de endemismo urbano que explique la persistencia del SARS-CoV-2 durante los primeros 18 meses de la pandemia en el municipio de Petrópolis, Río de Janeiro, Brasil. Se analizaron los registros oficiales de casos mensuales de COVID-19, georreferenciados según el domicilio de residencia de cada caso confirmado y se elaboraron mapas de calor mensuales que identifican puntos con diferentes densidades espaciales de la enfermedad mediante la aplicación de la metodología de kernel. Se identificaron puntos de calor con cinco niveles de intensidad para la densidad espacial de casos. Los puntos de mayor intensidad, conocidos como «hotspots¼, se mantuvieron constantes durante todo el período en un polígono de aproximadamente 4 km2 ubicado en el centro de la ciudad de Petrópolis. En conclusión, se encontró que la mayor concentración de casos se mantuvo en la misma ubicación a lo largo del tiempo, a pesar de la dispersión esporádica de los casos en el territorio municipal.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify an ecosystem of urban endemism that explains the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 during the first 18 months of the pandemic in the municipality of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We analyzed official records of monthly COVID-19 cases, georeferenced according to the residence address of each confirmed case. Monthly heat maps identifying points with different spatial densities of the disease were constructed by applying the kernel methodology. Heat spots with five intensity levels were identified for the spatial density of cases. The points of highest intensity, known as hotspots, remained constant throughout the period in a polygon of approximately 4 km2 located in the center of the city of Petrópolis. In conclusion, we found that the highest concentration of cases remained in the same location over time, despite the sporadic dispersion of cases within the municipal territory.

Spatial analysis of the distribution of reported dengue incidence in the National Capital Region, Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:</strong> With an aim of developing an effective disease monitoring and surveillance of dengue fever, this study intends to analyze the spatial distribution of dengue incidences in the National Capital Region (NCR), across four years of reported dengue cases.<br /><strong>MATERIALS AND METHODS:</strong> Data used was provided by the Department of Health (DOH) consisting of all reported dengue cases in NCR from 2010-2013. For mapping and visualization, a shapefile of NCR was made readily available by www.philgis.org. Both Moran's I and Kulldorff's spatial scan statistics (SaTScan) were used to identify clusters across the same time period.<br /><strong>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:</strong> The analyses identified significant clustering of dengue incidence and revealed that the northern cities of NCR, such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, exhibited high spatial autocorrelation using local Moran's I and Kulldorff's SaTScan. A temporal analysis of the results also suggested movement in increased dengue incidence through time, from the northwest cities to the northeast cities. Presence of spatial autocorrelation in dengue incidence suggests possible enhancements of early detection schemes for dengue surveillance. Moreover, the results of these analyses will be of interest to both policymakers and health experts in providing a basis for which they can properly allocate resources for the prevention and treatment of dengue fever.</p>

Riesgo de contagio y prevención de brotes hospitalarios por Sarcoptes scabiei / Contagion risk and prevention of nosocomial outbreaks due to Sarcoptes scabiei

Introducción. Los brotes por Sarcoptes scabiei son frecuentes en todo tipo de instituciones sanitarias, iniciándose sobre todo a partir de pacientes con sarna noruega. En forma cada vez más contundente, se recomiendan medidas agresivas y precoces, incluso en casos equívocos. Materiales y métodos. Este artículo describe un brote en el que se actuó de forma rotunda, pero sólo cuando se había demostrado la transmisión hospitalaria. Objetivos. Describir y valorar las consecuencias de esta decisión. Resultados y discusión. Ocurrió un brote pequeño pero, dada la levedad de las consecuencias de la infestación y que se evitó desde un inicio la dispersión de casos por toda la institución, los autores consideran que una demora en la aplicación de medidas agresivas, si permite valorar inequívocamente el riesgo y es de corta duración, favorece un uso más juicioso de los recursos.

Introduction. Sarcoptes scabiei outbreaks are common in all types of health institutions, starting mostly from patients with Norwegian scabies. Recommendations for action are growing stronger, such as early and aggressive action even in unclear cases. Materials and methods. This article describes an outbreak where aggressive action was taken, but only when nosocomial transmission was demonstrated. Objectives. To describe and assess the consequences of this decision. Results and discussion. A small epidemic occurred, but given the lightness of the infestation consequences and that the spread of cases across the institution was avoided from the beginning, the authors believe that a delay in the implementation of aggressive measures favors a more judicious use of resources, if it allows to assess the risk unambiguously and is short termed.