Effects of SARS-CoV-2 P.1 introduction and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the epidemiological landscape of Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, Brazil

The emergence of the new Brazilian variant of concern, P.1 lineage (Gamma), raised concern about its impact on the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 cases due to its higher transmissibility rate and immune evasion ability. Using 272 whole-genome sequences combined with epidemiological data, we showed that P.1 introduction in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil, was followed by the displacement of eight circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and a rapid increase in prevalence two months after its first detection. Our findings support that the P.1 variant is associated with an increase in mortality risk and severity of COVID-19 cases in younger aged groups, which corresponds to the unvaccinated population at the time. Moreover, our data highlight the beneficial effects of vaccination indicated by a pronounced reduction of severe cases and deaths in immunized individuals, reinforcing the need for rapid and massive vaccination.

The impact of high frequency rapid viral antigen screening on COVID-19 spread and outcomes: a validation and modeling study

High frequency screening of populations has been proposed as a strategy in facilitating control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use computational modeling, coupled with clinical data from rapid antigen tests, to predict the impact of frequent viral antigen rapid testing on COVID-19 spread and outcomes. Using patient nasal or nasopharyngeal swab specimens, we demonstrate that the sensitivity/specificity of two rapid antigen tests compared to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) are 82.0%/100% and 84.7%/85.7%, respectively; moreover, sensitivity correlates directly with viral load. Based on COVID-19 data from three regions in the United States and Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, we show that high frequency, strategic population-wide rapid testing, even at varied accuracy levels, diminishes COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths at a fraction of the cost of nucleic acid detection via qRT-PCR. We propose large-scale antigen-based surveillance as a viable strategy to control SARS-CoV-2 spread and to enable societal re-opening.

Evidence of natural Zika virus infection in neotropical non-human primates in Brazil.

In Africa, Old World Primates are involved in the maintenance of sylvatic circulation of ZIKV. However, in Brazil, the hosts for the sylvatic cycle remain unknown. We hypothesized that free-living NHPs might play a role in urban/periurban ZIKV dynamics, thus we undertook an NHP ZIKV investigation in two cities in Brazil. We identified ZIKV-positive NHPs and sequences obtained were phylogenetically related to the American lineage of ZIKV. Additionally, we inoculated four C. penicillata with ZIKV and our results demonstrated that marmosets had a sustained viremia. The natural and experimental infection of NHPs with ZIKV, support the hypothesis that NHPs may be a vertebrate host in the maintainance of ZIKV transmission/circulation in urban tropical settings. Further studies are needed to understand the role they may play in maintaining the urban cycle of the ZIKV and how they may be a conduit in establishing an enzootic transmission cycle in tropical Latin America.

Zika detection: comparison of methodologies

ABSTRACT Many countries in the Americas have detected local transmission of multiple arboviruses that cause febrile illnesses. Therefore, laboratory testing has become an important tool for confirming the etiology of these diseases. The present study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three different Zika virus detection assays. One hundred serum samples from patients presenting with acute febrile symptoms were tested using a previously reported TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay. We used a SYBR® Green RT-qPCR and a conventional PCR methodologies to compare the results. Of the samples that were determined to be negative by the TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay, 100% (Kappa = 0.670) were also found to be negative by SYBR® Green RT-qPCR based on Tm comparison; however, 14% (Kappa = 0.035) were found to be positive by conventional PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The differences between the ZIKV strains circulating worldwide and the low viremia period can compromise diagnostic accuracy and thereby the accuracy of outbreak data. Therefore, improved assays are required to improve the diagnosis and surveillance of arbovirus.

Zika detection: comparison of methodologies.

Many countries in the Americas have detected local transmission of multiple arboviruses that cause febrile illnesses. Therefore, laboratory testing has become an important tool for confirming the etiology of these diseases. The present study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three different Zika virus detection assays. One hundred serum samples from patients presenting with acute febrile symptoms were tested using a previously reported TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay. We used a SYBR® Green RT-qPCR and a conventional PCR methodologies to compare the results. Of the samples that were determined to be negative by the TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay, 100% (Kappa=0.670) were also found to be negative by SYBR® Green RT-qPCR based on Tm comparison; however, 14% (Kappa=0.035) were found to be positive by conventional PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The differences between the ZIKV strains circulating worldwide and the low viremia period can compromise diagnostic accuracy and thereby the accuracy of outbreak data. Therefore, improved assays are required to improve the diagnosis and surveillance of arbovirus.

Clinical, laboratory and virological data from suspected ZIKV patients in an endemic arbovirus area.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) presents new challenges to both clinicians and public health authorities. Overlapping clinical features between the diseases caused by ZIKV, dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) and the lack of validated serological assays for ZIKV make accurate diagnosis difficult. Brazilian authorities largely rely on clinical and epidemiological data for the epidemiological and clinical classifications of most ZIKV cases. OBJECTIVE: To report the laboratory and clinical profiles of patients diagnosed with Zika fever based only on clinical and epidemiological data. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed 433 suspected cases of ZIKV identified by the attending physician based on proposed clinical criteria. The samples were also screened for ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV using PCR. RESULTS: Of the 433 patients analyzed, 168 (38.8%) were laboratory-confirmed for arboviruses: 96 were positive for ZIKV, 67 were positive for DENV (56 for DENV-2, 9 for DENV-1, and 2 for DENV-4), four were positive for co-infection with ZIKV/DENV-2, and one was positive for CHIKV. The most common signs or symptoms in the patients with laboratory-confirmed ZIKV were rash (100%), arthralgia (77.1%), fever (74.0%), myalgia (74.0%) and non-purulent conjunctivitis (69.8%). In patients with laboratory-confirmed DENV infections, the most frequently observed symptoms were rash (100%), fever (79.1%), myalgia (74.6%), headache (73.1%) and arthralgia (70.1%). The measure of association between clinical manifestations and laboratory manifestations among patients with ZIKV and DENV detected a statistically significant difference only in abdominal pain (p=0.04), leukopenia (p=0.003), and thrombocytopenia (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that clinical and epidemiological criteria alone are not a good tool for ZIKV and DENV differentiation, and that laboratory diagnosis should be mandatory.

Caracterização dos idosos internados por doença respiratória aguda em um hospital escola terciário / Characterization of elderly inpatient with acute respiratory disease in a tertiary medical school hospital

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico, clínico e de fatores de risco de idosos internados por Doença Respiratória Aguda (DRA) no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto. Metodologia: Pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva e retrospectiva, com dados coletados através da análise de 94 prontuários médicos de idosos com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, internados no período de agosto de 2012 a setembro de 2013 por DRA no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto. Resultados: O estudo identificou que entre os 94 idosos internados por DRA, 56,4% eram homens (n=53), com 76 anos de idade ou mais (55,3%), brancos (88,3%), casados (54,2%), com baixa escolaridade (19,1% não alfabetizados e 53,3% com até 4 anos de estudo), portadores de pelo menos uma comorbidade (83%), e apresentavam pelo menos um fator de risco para DRA como tabagismo e/ou desnutrição. Dos classificados com dependência funcional, a maioria eram idosos acima dos 75 anos. Quanto à situação cognitiva, menos da metade dos idosos apresentava algum déficit relatado em prontuário, e entre estes a maioria era maior de 75 anos. Mais de 70% dos pacientes (n=68) receberam alta com melhora, sendo que mais da metade (n=38) tinham 75 anos de idade ou menos. Do total, 17 pacientes evoluíram a óbito, sendo que destes, 88,2% (n=15) tinham acima de 75 anos. Após a alta médica, um pequeno número de pacientes (n=11) foram contra-referenciados às suas Unidades Básicas de Saúde de origem. Conclusão: Os resultados do estudo apontam para a importância de se reforçar as redes de cuidados voltadas aos idosos comprometidos por DRA, especialmente aqueles com idade avançada, fatores de risco presentes, comorbidades associadas, dependência funcional e déficit cognitivo, devido à alta probabilidade de má evolução. A capacitação dos profissionais de saúde dos diferentes níveis de atenção à saúde e a criação de estratégias para educação da população são ações fundamentais para a consolidação destas redes de cuidados e, consequentemente, auxiliar na prevenção e no diagnóstico precoce, visando à redução das internações e a mortalidade por DRA

Objective: To characterize the sociodemographic and clinic profiles and risk factors of elderlies hospitalized by acute respiratory disease (ARD) in Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto. Metodology: A quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study, with data collected through the analysis of 94 medical records of elderly inpatient, 60 years or older, hospitalized from August 2012 to September 2013 due to ARD. Results: This study identified that among 94 elderly inpatient with acute respiratory disease, major were men (n = 53), 76 years old or more (n = 52), white (n = 83), and had at least one risk factor for ARDs, such as smoking and/or bad nutrition. Most of the elderly over 75 years were dependent on daily life activities. Less than a half had cognitive deficit reported in their medical records, and most of them were more than 75 years old. More than 70% of the patients were discharged with improvement (n = 68), and more than half were 75 years old or less (n = 38). Among the 94 patients, 17 have died, being 88.2% over 75 years old (n = 15). After discharge, a small number of patients were referred to their Primary Care Unit (n = 11). Conclusions: The results of this study appoint to the importance of increasing care networks for elderly people affected by ARD, especially the oldiest, with risk factors, associated comorbidities, functional dependence and cognitive deficit, due to the high probability of bad prognosis. Training professionals at different levels of health care and creation of strategies to instruct the population about ARD are fundamental actions, in order to consolidate these care networks and, consequently, support prevention and early diagnosis, targeting the reduction of hospitalizations and mortality due to ARD.

Fatores de risco e complicações em usuários cadastrados no hiperdia de São José do Rio Preto / Risk factors and complications among patients registered in the hiperdia in São José do Rio Preto

As condições crônicas ocupam lugar de destaque entre os problemas de saúde pública, representando as principais causas de internações e mortalidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar variáveis sociodemográficas, fatores de risco e complicações dos usuários cadastrados no Sistema de Cadastramento e Acompanhamento de Hipertensos e Diabéticos (HIPERDIA) de São José do Rio Preto.Trata-se de estudo descritivo transversal que utilizou dados secundários,no qual foram estudados 45.723 cadastrados no HIPERDIA de 2002 a 2012. A análise estatística foi realizada de forma univariada (teste qui quadrado).Destes, 31.547(69%) eram hipertensos, 2867(6,27%) diabéticos e 11.309 (24,73%) hipertensos e diabéticos. A maioria era feminina, idade média 59 ± 13,8 anos, ensino fundamental incompleto, branca, e conviviam com companheiro(a) e filhos. Observou-se associação estatisticamente significante das condições clinicas com: fatores de risco; tabagismo e Sedentarismo (p<0,0001) com Diabetes e Hipertensão com diabetes; Sobrepeso (p<0,0001) nas três condições clínicas e antecedentes Familiares (p<0,0001) com hipertensão e diabetes; com as complicações: Outras coronariopatias, Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio e Doença Renal (p < 0,01) com as três condições clínicas; e Acidente Vascular Cerebral (p<0,0001) na diabetes e diabetes com hipertensão. 59,57% apresentavam fator de risco e 16,58% complicações. Os dados deste estudo darão subsídios para elaborar estratégias de intervenções na melhoria do atendimento aos hipertensos e diabeticos prevenindo assim as complicações.

Chronic conditions stand out among public health problems, representing the primary cause of hospitalizations and mortality. This study's objective was to identify sociodemographic variables, risk factors and complications among patients enrolled in the HIPERDIA (Registration and Monitoring System of Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients) in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted including 45,723 patients enrolled in the HIPERDIA between 2002 and 2012: 31,547 (69%) were hypertensive, 2,867 (6.27%) were diabetic, and the remaining 11,309 (24.73%) had hypertension and diabetes. Most were women aged 59 ± 13.8 years old on average, had incomplete primary education, were Caucasians and lived with a partner and children. Statistically significant associations were observed between clinical conditions and risk factors: smoking (p<0.0001) and diabetes, and hypertension with diabetes; being overweight (p<0.0001) in the three clinical conditions; and family history and sedentariness (p<0.0001) with hypertension and diabetes and withthe following complications: other heart diseases, Acute Myocardial Infarction and Kidney Disease (p < 0.01) with the three clinical conditions; and stroke (p<0.0001) with diabetes, and diabetes with hypertension. Among the patients, 59.57% presented a risk factor and 16.58% experienced complications. The study's results support interventions intended to decrease risk factors among hypertensive and diabetic patients, consequently preventing complications.

Hypertension and diabetes-related morbidity and mortality trends in a municipality in the countryside of São Paulo.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the main causes for hospital admissions and deaths related to systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM), and to analyze morbidity and mortality trends, in a municipality in São Paulo's countryside, by comparing two three-years periods, 2002 to 2004 and 2010 to 2012. METHODS: Cross-sectional study which used secondary data regarding deaths from the Information System on Mortality and concerning hospital admissions from the DataSus Hospital Information System. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2012, 325,439 people were admitted to hospitals, 14.7% of them due to circulatory system diseases (CSD) and 0.7% due to DM. The deaths distributed as the following: 29,027 deaths (31.5%) were due to CSD; 8.06% due to cerebrovascular diseases (CVD); and 2.75% due to DM. There was a significant association between admittance and death causes and patients' gender and age in the three-year periods (p<0.001). The highest lethality in hospital admissions was found to be due to CVD (10%). That trend showed that mortality rates dropped, younger patients were admitted due to DM, and older patients were admitted due to CVD - they were more often females. CONCLUSION: The main causes for hospital admissions were the CSDs; main mortality causes were the CVDs in hypertensive and diabetic women. Those findings can back public policies which prioritize the promotion of health.

Hypertension and diabetes-related morbidity and mortality trends in a municipality in the countryside of São Paulo / Tendência da morbimortalidade associada à hipertensão e diabetes em município do interior paulista / Propensión a la morbimortalidad asociada a hipertensión y a diabetes en un municipio del interior paulista

Objectives: to identify the main causes for hospital admissions and deaths related to systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM), and to analyze morbidity and mortality trends, in a municipality in São Paulo's countryside, by comparing two three-years periods, 2002 to 2004 and 2010 to 2012. Methods: cross-sectional study which used secondary data regarding deaths from the Information System on Mortality and concerning hospital admissions from the DataSus Hospital Information System. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. Results: from 2002 to 2012, 325,439 people were admitted to hospitals, 14.7% of them due to circulatory system diseases (CSD) and 0.7% due to DM. The deaths distributed as the following: 29,027 deaths (31.5%) were due to CSD; 8.06% due to cerebrovascular diseases (CVD); and 2.75% due to DM. There was a significant association between admittance and death causes and patients' gender and age in the three-year periods (p<0.001). The highest lethality in hospital admissions was found to be due to CVD (10%). That trend showed that mortality rates dropped, younger patients were admitted due to DM, and older patients were admitted due to CVD - they were more often females. Conclusion: the main causes for hospital admissions were the CSDs; main mortality causes were the CVDs in hypertensive and diabetic women. Those findings can back public policies which prioritize the promotion of health.

Objetivo: identificar o perfil epidemiológico, o conhecimento sobre a doença e a taxa de adesão ao tratamento de pacientes com hipertensão arterial sistêmica, internados no serviço de emergência. Métodos: estudo transversal, realizado com 116 pacientes internados no Serviço de Emergência de um Hospital Universitário, de ambos os gêneros e idade superior a 18 anos, no período de março a junho 2013. As variáveis pesquisadas foram os dados sociodemográficos, comorbidades, atividade física e conhecimento sobre a doença. A adesão do paciente ao tratamento e a identificação das barreiras foi avaliada pelo teste de Morisky e Brief Medical Questionnaire, respectivamente. Resultados: a maioria dos pacientes era de mulheres (55%), cor da pele branca (55%), casados (51%), aposentados ou pensionistas (64%) e com baixa escolaridade (58%). A adesão ao tratamento, na maioria das vezes (55%), foi moderada e a barreira de adesão mais prevalente foi a de recordação (67%). Quando a aquisição de medicamento era integral, houve maior adesão ao tratamento. Conclusão: os pacientes deste estudo apresentaram moderado conhecimento sobre a doença. A alta correlação entre o número de fármacos utilizados e a barreira de recordação sugere que a monoterapia seja uma opção para facilitar a adesão ao tratamento, para diminuir a taxa de esquecimento.

Objetivos: identificar las principales causas de ingresos y mortalidad por hipertensión arterial sistémica y Diabetes Mellitus (DM) y analizar la propensión a la morbimortalidad, comparando los trienios 2002-2004 y 2010-2012, de un municipio del interior paulista, en Brasil. Métodos: estudio transversal que utilizó datos secundarios de defunciones del Sistema de Información sobre Mortalidad y los ingresos del Sistema de Información Hospitalaria del Datasus. El análisis estadístico se realizó de forma univariada y multivariada. Resultados: de 2002 a 2012 ocurrieron 325.439 ingresos, el 14,7% por Enfermedades del Aparato Circulatorio (EAC) y el 0,7% por DM. Las defunciones fueron: 29.027, el 31,5% por EAC, el 8,06% por Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares (ECV) y el 2,75% por DM. Hubo asociación significativa entre las causas del ingreso y de las defunciones con respecto al sexo y a la edad de los pacientes en los trienios (p<0,001). La mayor letalidad en los pacientes ingresados fue por ECV (el 10%). La propensión mostró que hubo disminución de la mortalidad, los pacientes más jóvenes fueron ingresados debido a la DM y los de edad avanzada por ECV, con mayor frecuencia en el sexo femenino. Conclusión: las principales causas de ingresos hospitalarios fueron las EAC y de mortalidad, las ECV en las mujeres hipertensas y diabéticas. Estos hallazgos ofrecen subsidios a las políticas públicas que prioricen a la promoción de la salud.

Dengue-4 false negative results by Panbio® Dengue Early ELISA assay in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a serious public health problem in numerous countries. The ability to rapidly diagnosis dengue is important for patient triage and management. Detection of dengue viral protein, NS1, represents a new approach to dengue diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to evaluate if there are false negative results using the NS1 Ag rapid assay (Panbio(®) Dengue Early ELISA) in two different epidemiological situations (epidemic and non-epidemic). STUDY DESIGN: 220 serum samples from patients with clinical symptoms of classical dengue fever were tested by NS1 antigen capture ELISA and Multiplex-Nested-PCR. RESULTS: In samples collected in a non-epidemic period we found a 100% agreement of ELISA and RT-PCR in dengue negative samples and 85% agreement of ELISA and RT-PCR in dengue positive samples. But when we tested samples during an epidemic period (large DENV-4 outbreak) we found 15% false negative results (p<0.05) in dengue negative samples. CONCLUSIONS: Due to false negative results for DENV-4, the sole use of the Panbio(®) Dengue Early ELISA assay as a screening method for monitoring circulating dengue serotypes must be reevaluated.