Dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 lineage BA.5.1.25 and its descendants in Peru during two COVID-19 waves in 2022.

During the third year of the pandemic in Peru, the persistent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 led to the appearance of more transmissible and immune-evasive Omicron sublineages; in that context, the National Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 performed by the Peruvian National Institute of Health detected spike mutations in the circulating Omicron BA.5.1.25 sublineage which was later designated as DJ.1 and increased during the fourth COVID-19 wave, this eventually branched into new sublineages. The introduction, emergence, and timing of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of BA.5.1.25 and its descendants (DJ.1, DJ.1.1, DJ.1.2, and DJ.1.3) were investigated in this paper as well as the time lags between their emergence and identification by the Peruvian National Institute of Health. Our findings show that ongoing genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for understanding its phylogenetic evolution and the emergence of novel variations.

Candida parapsilosis endocarditis without vegetations at Echocardiography: a case report / Endocarditis por Candida parapsilosis sin vegetaciones ecocardiográficas: Un reporte de caso

ABSTRACT Candida endocarditis is a very serious manifestation of candida infections, and it has increased in incidence over the past years. Of these, C. parapsilosis has been described as a cause of endocarditis in native valves of intravenous drug users and prosthetic valves. We report the case of a female that developed a cerebrovascular accident secondary to emboli from aortic prosthetic valve C. parapsilosis endocarditis, despite apparently normal echocardiography. She received antifungal therapy without surgical intervention.

RESUMEN La endocarditis por Candida spp. es una manifestación muy grave de las infecciones por este patógeno y su incidencia ha ido aumentando en los últimos años. La Candida parapsilosis se ha descrito como causa de endocarditis en válvulas nativas de usuarios de drogas intravenosas y prótesis valvulares. Presentamos el caso de una mujer que desarrolló un accidente cerebrovascular secundario a émbolos fúngicos procedentes de una prótesis valvular aórtica infectada por C. parapsilosis, a pesar de un ecocardiograma sin vegetaciones. La paciente recibió tratamiento antifúngico sin necesidad de intervención quirúrgica.

Asociación entre el miedo al COVID-19 y la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en personas con VIH-SIDA

Introducción. Una de las consecuencias psicológicas más frecuentes del COVID-19 es el miedo. Éste podría ocasionar una adherencia terapéutica no óptima y permitir la progresión de la enfermedad en personas con VIH. Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre el miedo a contraer COVID-19 y la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en personas con VIH entre la tercera y cuarta ola epidémica de COVID-19 en el Perú. Métodos. Estudio transversal analítico en adultos con VIH del centro especializado Vía Libre enrolados por muestreo no probabilístico. Se empleó la escala Fear of COVID-19 Scale para medir el miedo a contraer COVID-19, y el cuestionario SMAQ para evaluar la adherencia terapéutica. Los resultados se presentaron de forma descriptiva, usando chi cuadrado para el análisis bivariado y modelos lineales generalizados familia Poisson para estimar razones de prevalencia crudas y ajustadas (RPa). Resultados. Entre febrero - julio del 2022, se enrolaron 149 personas con una mediana de edad de 35 años, el 91,3% fueron varones, y el 75,2% con carga viral indetectable. No se halló asociación entre el miedo a contraer COVID-19 y la adherencia terapéutica (RPa: 0,99; IC95%: 0,97 a 1,02). Adicionalmente, encontramos que las personas que presentaban alguna comorbilidad fueron 89% más adherentes que los que no las presentaban (RPa: 1,89; IC95%: 1,52 a 2,35). Conclusión. El miedo a contraer COVID-19 no se asoció a la adherencia al TARGA durante la tercera ola de pandemia en el Perú. Sin embargo, el presentar alguna comorbilidad se asoció a una adherencia terapéutica óptima. Se debe poner énfasis en los posibles factores que afecten la adherencia en personas con VIH durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Introduction. One of the most frequent psychological consequences of COVID-19 is fear, which could lead to non-optimal therapeutic adherence and, therefore, to the disease progression. Objectives. To evaluate the possible association between the fear of contracting COVID-19 and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in persons with HIV during the period between the third and fourth epidemic wave of COVID-19 in Peru. Methods. Analytical cross-sectional study in adults with HIV from the specialized center "Vía Libre" enrolled by non-probabilistic sampling. The validated "Fear of COVID-19 Scale" was used to measure the fear of getting sick from COVID-19, and the "SMAQ" questionnaire to assess therapeutic adherence. Results were presented descriptively, using chi-square for bivariate analysis and generalized linear models, Poisson family to calculate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). Results. Between February and July of 2022, 149 adults with a median age of 35 years were enrolled, 91.3% being male, and 75,2% had undetectable viral load levels. No association was found between fear of contracting COVID-19 and HAART adherence (aPR: 0,99; 95% CI 0,97 to 1,02). Persons with a comorbidity were 89% more adherent than persons withoutcomorbidities (RPa: 1,89; 95% CI 1,52 to 2,35). Conclusion. The fear of contracting COVID-19 was not associated with adherence to HAART during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. However, presenting a comorbidity was associated with optimal HAART adherence. Emphasis should be placed on potential factors affecting medication adherence in people with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a third dose of BNT162b2 vaccine for COVID-19 after a primary regimen with BBIBP-CorV or BNT162b2 vaccines in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: The administration of a third (booster) dose of COVID-19 vaccines in Peru initially employed the BNT162b2 (Pfizer) mRNA vaccine. The national vaccination program started with healthcare workers (HCW) who received BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine as primary regimen and elderly people previously immunized with BNT162b2. This study evaluated the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the "booster" dose in these two groups in Lima, Peru. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study, recruiting participants from November to December of 2021 in Lima, Peru. We evaluated immunogenicity and reactogenicity in HCW and elderly patients previously vaccinated with either two doses of BBIBP-CorV (heterologous regimen) or BTN162b2 (homologous regimen). Immunogenicity was measured by anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels immediately before boosting dose and 14 days later. IgG geometric means (GM) and medians were obtained, and modeled using ANCOVA and quantile regressions. RESULTS: The GM of IgG levels increased significantly after boosting: from 28.5±5.0 AU/mL up to 486.6±1.2 AU/mL (p<0.001) which corresponds to a 17-fold increase. The heterologous vaccine regimen produced higher GM of post-booster anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels, eliciting a 13% increase in the geometric mean ratio (95%CI: 1.02-1.27) and a median difference of 92.3 AU/ml (95%CI: 24.9-159.7). Both vaccine regimens were safe and well tolerated. Previous COVID-19 infection was also associated with higher pre and post-booster IgG GM levels. CONCLUSION: Although both boosting regimens were highly immunogenic, two doses of BBIBP-CorV boosted with BTN162b2 produced a stronger IgG antibody response than the homologous BNT162b2 regimen in the Peruvian population. Additionally, both regimens were mildly reactogenic and well-tolerated.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates From Peru, 2018 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Currently, in Latin America, including Peru, the treatment of gonorrhea is still empiric and information regarding antimicrobial resistance is scarce in some countries because of the limited resources, which can contribute to the rising rates of reported multidrug-resistant gonococcal strains. In that context, it is mandatory to continuously monitor and report antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae to update treatment recommendations. METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed genital and anal samples from symptomatic patients who attended 15 sexually transmitted infections health facilities from 8 different regions in Peru during the years 2018 to 2019 within the framework of Sentinel Surveillance. After establishing the presumptive diagnosis, the isolates were sent to the Laboratory of Sexually Transmitted Bacteria of the National Institute of Health of Peru in Lima where the species were confirmed (N = 165) and susceptibility profiles were determined. RESULTS: Among the 165 isolates, 95.2% corresponded to male patients, between 18 and 22 years of age (40.6%), half reported having a sexual partner and being heterosexual. Clinically, 89.7% manifested the presence of urethral exudate. Microbiology showed 95.2% of the isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin and 9.1% non-susceptible to azithromycin. Reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime was observed in 1.2% and 3.6% of the isolates respectively. All strains tested were susceptible to spectinomycin. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that in Peru, fluoroquinolones should not be recommended or used in N. gonorrhoeae infections due to the high percentage of resistant strains. In addition, nationwide access to gonococcal resistance testing, molecular diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship should be implemented to control the spread of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance.

Genomic surveillance of the Lambda SARS-CoV-2 variant in a global phylogenetic context.

The massive sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and global genomic surveillance strategies allowed the detection of many variants of concern and interest. The variant of interest Lambda (C.37), which originated in South America, has been the most prevalent in Peru and Chile, but its dispersion in other continents still remains unknown. The current study aims to determine the phylogenetic relationship among C.37 isolates worldwide, focusing on spike mutations to understand the spread of Lambda in pandemics. A total of 7441 sequences identified as C.37 were downloaded from the GISAID database; local analysis was carried out to identify spike mutations and phylogenetic analysis was carried out to determine the rate of spread of the virus. Our results showed some spike mutations of Lambda that allowed us to detect small local outbreaks in different countries that occurred in the past and identify several clades that have not yet been designated. Although the lineage C.37 is not epidemiologically relevant in Europe or North America, the endemic behavior of this variant in Peru had a major impact on the second SARS-CoV-2 wave.

Confirmed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfections After a Second Wave With Predominance of Lambda in Lima and Callao, Peru.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is a major public health problem in the world and reinfections are becoming more frequent. Our main objective was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and genomic characteristics of the confirmed cases of reinfection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the capital of Lima and Callao, Peru. Methods: We searched in the Peruvian laboratory information system from April 2020 up to May 2021, looking for cases having 2 positive molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2 with more than 90 days between them. We performed genomic sequencing to the available pairs of samples and described the clinical characteristics, epidemiological impact, and genomic analysis of the confirmed reinfections. Results: There were 1 694 164 people with a positive diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 in Lima/Callao during the study period. Of these, 1695 had 2 positive molecular tests with more than 90 days between them. Two hundred eleven had both samples available for genomic analysis according to our selection criteria, and these were retrieved and submitted to sequencing. Thirty cases were confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 reinfections with 2 different lineages in the 2 episodes. The variant Lambda (C.37) was the most common during the second infection and accounted for 19 (63.3%) of the 30 cases. Conclusions: We report 30 cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 reinfections. The Lambda variant was the most common cause of the second infections, in concordance with its predominant circulation during Peru's second wave. This report describes the largest series of confirmed reinfections by SARS-CoV-2 in Latin America.We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and genomic characteristics of the confirmed cases of reinfection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in Lima and Callao, durante la segunda ola en Peru. The Lambda variant (C.37) was the most common cause of the second infections.

Hantavirus en la selva peruana: una revisión sistemática de series y casos reportados / Hantavirus in the peruvian jungle: a systematic review of series and cases reported

La hantavirosis es una infección zoonótica transmitida principalmente por roedores. En el Perú, se calcula una letalidad del 40­60% en pobladores de la selva amazónica peruana, especialmente en Loreto. A pesar de ello, esta enfermedad continúa siendo sub-diagnosticada a pesar que representa un problema serio para la salud pública en Latinoamérica. Presentamos una revisión sistemática de reportes y series de casos de infección por Hantavirus procedentes de la selva peruana. Las características más importantes de los casos presentados son: media de edad 25.7 años, predominio del sexo femenino (5/6), presentación clínica de cefalea, mialgias, nausea y vómitos (6/6), y evolución desfavorable a distrés respiratorio agudo (SDRA), falla renal, shock séptico y falla multiorgánica en 3 de los casos presentados.

Hantavirosis is a zoonotic infection transmitted mainly by rodents. In Peru, a lethality of 40­60% is calculated in inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon jungle, especially in Loreto. Despite this, this disease continues to be under-diagnosed despite the fact that it represents a serious problem for public health in Latin America. We present a sistematic revision of case reports and seris of cases of Hantavirus infection in the Peruvian jungle. The most important characteristic of the cases presented are mean age 25.7 years, predominance of females (5/6), clinical presentation of headache, myalgias, nausea and vomiting (6/6) and unfavorable evolution to acute respiratory to acute respiratory distress (ARDS), renal failure, septic shock and multiple organ failure in 3of the cases presented.

Genomic analysis reveals a rapid spread and predominance of lambda (C.37) SARS-COV-2 lineage in Peru despite circulation of variants of concern.

The pandemic generated by SARS-Cov-2 has caused a large number of cases and deaths in the world, but South America has been one of the continents that were most hard hit. The appearance of new variants causes concern because of the possibility that they may evade the protection generated by vaccination campaigns, their greater capacity to be transmitted, or their higher virulence. We analyzed the circulating variants in Peru after improving our Genomic Surveillance program. The results indicate a steep increase of the lambda lineage (C.37) until becoming predominant between January and April 2021, despite the cocirculation of other variants of concern or interest. Lambda lineage deserves close monitoring and could probably become a variant of concern in the near future.

Loxoscelismo cutáneo-visceral en una zona rural con desenlace favorable / Viscerocutaneous loxoscelism with a favorable outcome in a rural area

En el Perú los accidentes por mordedura de araña representan un problema de salud colectiva; de estos, el producido por la araña Loxosceles ha sido causa de numerosas muertes sobre todo en la costa. Esta tiende a ocasionar, ya sea una lesión cutánea o un cuadro sistémico, que puede llevar a la muerte del individuo si no es tratado a tiempo. Hasta la fecha no se cuenta con un protocolo de diagnóstico, predicción ni manejo a nivel internacional, por lo que se utilizan opciones terapéuticas sin respaldo de evidencia. Sin embargo, el manejo de soporte oportuno y adecuado es crucial para los cuadros severos. Se presenta el caso inusual de un loxoscelismo cutáneo-visceral o también llamado sistémico ocurrido en una zona rural. Hubo un compromiso renal severo que requirió hemodiálisis con un desenlace favorable a pesar del no uso de suero antiloxoscélico, lo que evidencia la importancia del manejo oportuno con las medidas de soporte adecuadas(AU)

Accidents caused by spider bites are a public health problem in Peru. Of these, those related to Loxosceles spider bites have been the cause of numerous deaths, mainly on the coast. These bites generally result in a cutaneous lesion or systemic involvement, which may threaten the person's life if not treated timely. An international protocol is not yet available for the diagnosis, prediction or management of Loxosceles spider bites. Therefore, therapeutic options are applied which are not supported by evidence. Still, timely and appropriate support management is crucial in severe cases. An unusual case of viscerocutaneous loxoscelism is presented, also known as systemic loxoscelism, which occurred in a rural area. The case was characterized by severe renal involvement requiring hemodialysis, but its outcome was favorable, despite not using antiloxoscelic serum, which shows the importance of timely management based on appropriate support measures(AU)

Mucormicosis diseminada en un paciente diabético: un reporte de caso / Disseminated mucormycosis in a diabetic patient: a case report

La mucormicosis es una infección fúngica altamente mortal que se presenta en pacientes con algún grado de inmunosupresión, siendo la forma rinocerebral la más común. Es el primer reporte en el Perú de mucormicosis diseminada con compromiso multisistémico en un paciente con cetoacidosis diabética. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 47 años diabético procedente de la selva peruana con cuadro de insuficiencia respiratoria en ventilación mecánica. A su ingreso presenta leucocitosis, acidosis metabólica anion gap elevado, hiperglicemia e hipoalbuminemia. Posteriormente, es intervenido quirúrgicamente en tres oportunidades por presentar abdomen agudo con hallazgos en la patología de necrosis y perforación de varios órganos, falleciendo a los pocos días. Paciente se encontraba recibiendo su quinta dosis de anfotericina B deoxicolato. Se observaron hifas con angulación recta compatible con mucormicosis en estómago, intestino y pulmón.

Mucormycosis is a highly lethal fungal infection occurring in patients with some degree of immunosuppression. The rhinocerebral form is the most frequent presentation. This is the first report in Peru of a case of disseminated mucormycosis in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a 47-year-old diabetic male subject who was referred from the Amazon jungle and presented with respiratory insufficiency receiving mechanical ventilation. On admission, the patient had leukocytosis, metabolic acidosis with high anion gap, hyperglycemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Soon afterwards, the patient underwent surgery because of acute abdomen, and the anatomopathological examination revealed necrosis and hollow viscus perforation, and he ultimately died. At this time, he was receiving amphotericin B deoxycholate. Straight angle hyphae compatible with mucormycosis were found in stomach, intestine, and lungs.

Loxoscelismo escrotal / Scrotal loxoscelism

Loxoscelismo es el cuadro clínico originado por la mordedura de araña del género Loxosceles. Es considerado un accidente que ocurre con mayor frecuencia en las noches, debido al hábito nocturno de la araña y buena adaptación a los ambientes domésticos, preferentemente en espacios oscuros y secos. Clínicamente presenta dos escenarios, cutáneo (83,3 %) y visceral o sistémico (16 %), con una variación del cuadro cutáneo denominado loxoscelismo predominantemente edematoso. El objetivo es informar un caso inusual de loxoscelismo escrotal. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante las características clínicas y epidemiológicas del accidente. En conclusión, el loxoscelismo escrotal es una entidad muy infrecuente, el manejo del paciente influye mucho en su evolución y progresión; el tratamiento exhaustivo con sulfadiazina 2 veces al día y antibióticos intravenosos, muestra resultados muy favorables.

Loxoscelism is a condition produced by the bite of spiders from the genus Loxosceles. It is considered to be an accident that occurs mostly in the night, due to the spider's nocturnal habits and good adaptation to domestic environments, preferably dark, dry spaces. It presents in two clinical scenarios: cutaneous (83.3 %) and visceral or systemic (16 %), with a variation in the cutaneous manifestation known as predominantly edematous loxoscelism. The objective of the study was to report an unusual case of scrotal loxoscelism. Diagnosis was based on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the accident. It is concluded that scrotal loxoscelism is a very infrequent condition. Management of the patient greatly influences its evolution and progress. Exhaustive treatment with sulfadiazine twice daily and intravenous antibiotics yields very favorable results.