ABSTRACT
Although whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable disease (VPD), its epidemiologic characteristics in Latin America shows persistence of outbreaks in the region. This persistence is due, at least in part, to the presence of antivaccine movements, the diversity of the surveillance systems, and the lack of a uniform case definition for the region. Given the importance of whooping cough in Latin America and the changes in vaccine recommendations, this manuscript aims to review epidemiologic data and recent changes in the vaccination calendars and their impact on the pediatric disease by Bordetella pertussis in Latin America. Recent epidemiological data reveal that between regions, countries, and administrative units within each country there is a marked heterogeneity of vaccine coverage, with different outbreak patterns. Efforts in the region have tried to improve this situation by introducing acellular pertussis vaccines (aP) in the vaccine calendars, which are less reactogenic than whole-cell pertussis vaccines (wP). Moreover, some countries have improved the case definition. Some countries have implemented a confirmed case definition by introducing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic criterion. As a response to the heterogeneities observed within and between countries and the regional epidemiologic profiles, a Steering Committee from the Latin American Society for Pediatric Infectiology (SLIPE) and the Latin American Association of Pediatrics (ALAPE) propose a unified case definition and recommendations to improve vaccine coverage and reduce the outbreaks of whooping cough in Latin America.
Subject(s)
Bordetella pertussis , Whooping Cough , Child , Humans , Latin America/epidemiology , Pertussis Vaccine , Vaccination , Whooping Cough/epidemiology , Whooping Cough/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Resumen A pesar de que la tosferina (coqueluche) es una enfermedad prevenible por vacunas (EPV), la epidemiología latinoamericana muestra que hay persistencia de brotes en la región. Esta persistencia se debe, al menos en parte, a factores tales como la cobertura vacunal, la presencia de movimientos anti vacunas, la diversidad de los sistemas locales de vigilancia y la falta de una definición de caso unificada para la región. Dada la importancia de la tosferina en Latinoamérica y los cambios ocurridos en las recomendaciones para la vacunación, este manuscrito tiene como objetivo revisar los datos epidemiológicos y los cambios recientes en los calendarios de vacunación y su impacto sobre la enfermedad pediátrica por Bordetella pertussis en Latinoamérica. Los datos epidemiológicos más recientes muestran que entre regiones, países, y segmentos dentro de cada país hay heterogeneidad en la cobertura vacunal, con distintos rebrotes. Esfuerzos en la región han tratado de mejorar esta situación al introducir vacunas acelulares (aP), menos reactogénicas que las vacunas de células enteras (wP) en los calendarios vacunales. Además, algunos países han mejorado la definición de caso confirmado, al introducir la reacción de polimerasa en cadena (RPC) como criterio diagnóstico. En respuesta a las heterogeneidades de cada país y a la epidemiología actual de la región, un Comité de Expertos de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Infectología Pediátrica (SLIPE) y la Asociación Latinoamericana de Pediatría (ALAPE) propone una definición unificada de caso y recomendaciones para mejorar la cobertura vacunal y reducir los brotes de tosferina en Latinoamérica.
Abstract Although whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable disease (VPD), its epidemiologic characteristics in Latin America shows persistence of outbreaks in the region. This persistence is due, at least in part, to the presence of antivaccine movements, the diversity of the surveillance systems, and the lack of a uniform case definition for the region. Given the importance of whooping cough in Latin America and the changes in vaccine recommendations, this manuscript aims to review epidemiologic data and recent changes in the vaccination calendars and their impact on the pediatric disease by Bordetella pertussis in Latin America. Recent epidemiological data reveal that between regions, countries, and administrative units within each country there is a marked heterogeneity of vaccine coverage, with different outbreak patterns. Efforts in the region have tried to improve this situation by introducing acellular pertussis vaccines (aP) in the vaccine calendars, which are less reactogenic than whole-cell pertussis vaccines (wP). Moreover, some countries have improved the case definition. Some countries have implemented a confirmed case definition by introducing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic criterion. As a response to the heterogeneities observed within and between countries and the regional epidemiologic profiles, a Steering Committee from the Latin American Society for Pediatric Infectiology (SLIPE) and the Latin American Association of Pediatrics (ALAPE) propose a unified case definition and recommendations to improve vaccine coverage and reduce the outbreaks of whooping cough in Latin America.
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Bordetella pertussis , Whooping Cough/prevention & control , Whooping Cough/epidemiology , Pertussis Vaccine , Vaccination , Latin America/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly evolving, highly transmissible, and potentially lethal pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of June 11 2020, more than 7,000,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, and more than 400,000 patients have died, affecting at least 188 countries. While literature on the disease is rapidly accumulating, an integrated, multinational perspective on clinical manifestations, immunological effects, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19 can be of global benefit. We aimed to synthesize the most relevant literature and experiences in different parts of the world through our global consortium of experts to provide a consensus-based document at this early stage of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori, the main cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer in adult populations, is generally acquired during the first years of life. Infection can be persistent or transient and bacterial and host factors determining persistence are largely unknown and may prove relevant for future disease. METHODS: Two cohorts of healthy Chilean infants (313 total) were evaluated every 3 months for 18-57 months to determine pathogen- and host-factors associated with persistent and transient infection. RESULTS: One-third had at least one positive stool ELISA by age 3, with 20% overall persistence. Persistent infections were acquired at an earlier age, associated with more household members, decreased duration of breastfeeding, and nonsecretor status compared to transient infections. The cagA positive strains were more common in persistent stools, and nearly 60% of fully characterized persistent stool samples amplified cagA/vacAs1m1. Persistent children were more likely to elicit a serologic immune response, and both infection groups had differential gene expression profiles, including genes associated with cancer suppression when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that persistent H. pylori infections acquired early in life are associated with specific host and/or strain profiles possibly associated with future disease occurrence.
