ABSTRACT
Introducción: Las quemaduras son lesiones de gravedad variable causadas por exceso de calor. En Chile, son causa importante de hospitalización y muerte, especialmente en niños, lo que ha llevado a la implementación de medidas como su adición a las Garantías Explícitas en Salud, y la creación de un registro nacional para mejorar la atención. El siguiente estudio busca describir las tasas de egresos hospitalarios y mortalidad de pacientes con quemaduras y corrosiones en Chile, durante el período 2018-2022, con la finalidad de contribuir a la epidemiología actual. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo utilizando datos del DEIS sobre quemaduras y corrosiones en la población chilena entre 2018 y 2022. Se analizaron los datos por año, sexo y rango etario. No requirió consentimiento informado ni revisión ética debido a la disponibilidad pública de los datos. Resultados: Se observó una tendencia a la disminución de los egresos hospitalarios desde 2018 hasta 2022, con el máximo en 2019. En cuanto a la mortalidad, se registró la mayor cifra en 2022 y la menor en 2019, con una tendencia al alza a lo largo del periodo. Los hombres presentaron una mayor proporción de egresos hospitalarios y mortalidad en comparación con las mujeres. Discusión: Las quemaduras y corrosiones mostraron una disminución en los egresos hospitalarios durante el periodo estudiado, mientras que la mortalidad aumentó. Se destacaron eventos específicos que podrían explicar los años con mayores egresos hospitalarios y mortalidad, como ataques incendiarios e incendios forestales. Con tal de reducir la incidencia y mortalidad de estas lesiones, se resalta la importancia de promover medidas de prevención y educación, y fortalecer los protocolos de atención y tratamiento.
Introduction: Burns are injuries of variable severity caused by excessive heat. In Chile, they are an important cause of hospitalization and death, especially in children, which has led to the implementation of measures such as their addition to the Explicit Health Guarantees, and the creation of a national registry to improve care. The following study seeks to describe the hospital discharge and mortality rates of patients with burns and corrosions in Chile, during the period 2018-2022, with the aim of contributing to the current epidemiology. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted using DEIS data on burns and corrosions in the Chilean population between 2018 and 2022. Data were analyzed by year, gender, and age range. Informed consent and ethical review were not required due to the public availability of the data. Results: A decreasing trend in hospital discharges for burns was observed from 2018 to 2022, with a peak in 2019. For mortality, the highest number of deaths was recorded in 2022 and the lowest in 2019, with an upward trend throughout the period. Males had a higher proportion of hospital discharges and mortality compared to females. Discussion: Burns and corrosions showed a decrease in hospital admissions during the period studied, while mortality increased. Specific events that could explain the years with higher hospital admissions and mortality were highlighted, such as arson attacks and forest fires. In order to reduce the incidence and mortality of these injuries, the importance of promoting prevention and education measures and strengthening care and treatment protocols is highlighted.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Burns/mortality , Burns/epidemiology , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Chile/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Age and Sex DistributionABSTRACT
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has complex and dynamic interactions with the human host, and subpopulations of Mtb that emerge during infection can influence disease outcomes. This study implicates zinc ion (Zn2+) availability as a likely driver of bacterial phenotypic heterogeneity in vivo. Zn2+ sequestration is part of "nutritional immunity", where the immune system limits micronutrients to control pathogen growth, but this defense mechanism seems to be ineffective in controlling Mtb infection. Nonetheless, Zn2+-limitation is an environmental cue sensed by Mtb, as calprotectin triggers the zinc uptake regulator (Zur) regulon response in vitro and co-localizes with Zn2+-limited Mtb in vivo. Prolonged Zn2+ limitation leads to numerous physiological changes in vitro, including differential expression of certain antigens, alterations in lipid metabolism and distinct cell surface morphology. Furthermore, Mtb enduring limited Zn2+ employ defensive measures to fight oxidative stress, by increasing expression of proteins involved in DNA repair and antioxidant activity, including well described virulence factors KatG and AhpC, along with altered utilization of redox cofactors. Here, we propose a model in which prolonged Zn2+ limitation defines a population of Mtb with anticipatory adaptations against impending immune attack, based on the evidence that Zn2+-limited Mtb are more resistant to oxidative stress and exhibit increased survival and induce more severe pulmonary granulomas in mice. Considering that extracellular Mtb may transit through the Zn2+-limited caseum before infecting naïve immune cells or upon host-to-host transmission, the resulting phenotypic heterogeneity driven by varied Zn2+ availability likely plays a key role during early interactions with host cells.
