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Background: Knowledge regarding the risks associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in pregnancy has relied on individual studies with relatively small sample sizes and variable risk estimates of adverse outcomes, or on surveillance or routinely collected data. Using data from the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium, this study aims, to estimate the risk of adverse outcomes among offspring of women with RT-PCR-confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy and to explore heterogeneity between studies. Methods: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis of the offspring of 1548 pregnant women from 13 studies, using one and two-stage meta-analyses to estimate the absolute risks. Findings: Of the 1548 ZIKV-exposed pregnancies, the risk of miscarriage was 0.9%, while the risk of stillbirth was 0.3%. Among the pregnancies with liveborn children, the risk of prematurity was 10,5%, the risk of low birth weight was 7.7, and the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) was 16.2%. For other abnormalities, the absolute risks were: 2.6% for microcephaly at birth or first evaluation, 4.0% for microcephaly at any time during follow-up, 7.9% for neuroimaging abnormalities, 18.7% for functional neurological abnormalities, 4.0% for ophthalmic abnormalities, 6.4% for auditory abnormalities, 0.6% for arthrogryposis, and 1.5% for dysphagia. This risk was similar in all sites studied and in different socioeconomic conditions, indicating that there are not likely to be other factors modifying this association. Interpretation: This study based on prospectively collected data generates the most robust evidence to date on the risks of congenital ZIKV infections over the early life course. Overall, approximately one-third of liveborn children with prenatal ZIKV exposure presented with at least one abnormality compatible with congenital infection, while the risk to present with at least two abnormalities in combination was less than 1.0%.

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Fourteen asymptomatic normocephalic newborns with confirmed congenital Zika infection were investigated. All newborns presented Zika virus (ZIKV) positivity on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Following ZIKV-specific NS5 gene fragment sequencing in one child, phylogenetic analysis revealed that this isolate belonged to the Asian genotype, and clustered closely with other sequences previously isolated in north-east and northern regions of Brazil.

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The 2015-2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil was remarkably linked to the incidence of microcephaly and other deleterious clinical manifestations, including eye abnormalities, in newborns. It is known that ZIKV targets the placenta, triggering an inflammatory profile that may cause placental insufficiency. Transplacental lipid transport is delicately regulated during pregnancy and deficiency on the delivery of lipids such as arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids may lead to deficits in both brain and retina during fetal development. Here, plasma lipidome profiles of ZIKV exposed microcephalic and normocephalic newborns were compared to non-infected controls. Our results reveal major alterations in circulating lipids from both ZIKV exposed newborns with and without microcephaly relative to controls. In newborns with microcephaly, the plasma concentrations of hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE), primarily as 13-HODE isomer, derived from linoleic acid were higher as compared to normocephalic ZIKV exposed newborns and controls. Total HODE concentrations were also positively associated with levels of other oxidized lipids and several circulating free fatty acids in newborns, indicating a possible plasma lipidome signature of microcephaly. Moreover, higher concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine in ZIKV exposed normocephalic newborns relative to controls suggest a potential disruption of polyunsaturated fatty acids transport across the blood-brain barrier of fetuses. The latter data is particularly important given the neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental abnormalities observed in follow-up studies involving children with antenatal ZIKV exposure, but normocephalic at birth. Taken together, our data reveal that plasma lipidome alterations associated with antenatal exposure to ZIKV could contribute to identification and monitoring of the wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes at birth and further, during childhood.

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BACKGROUND: Salvador was one of the Brazilian cities most affected during the 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with enrolment of parturients and their newborns. RESULTS: Positive IgM antibodies for ZIKV, dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) were present in 6.9, 11.9 and 22.8% of the parturients, and IgG antibodies were detected in 72.3, 92.3 and 38.6%, respectively. No cases of DENV congenital infection were identified. ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections were observed in 16.5 and 13% of newborns, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High exposure rates to the three arboviruses and the identification of newborns with ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections reinforces the necessity of ZIKV and CHIKV prenatal and neonatal screening in endemic regions.

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Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the application of hand hygiene technique, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, in the neonatal intensive care unit, at a Maternity in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Methods: cross-sectional study. Hand hygiene technique by professional category and alcohol solution consumption were systematically registered. For this task an adapted instrument created by the WHO was used and applied using factsheets. The sample was taken from medical physicians, physiotherapists, nurses and nursing technicians. Results: hand hygiene adherence regarding WHO recommendations was deficient in terms of technique and in terms of frequency (adequate technique ranged from 0% to 13.3% between professional categories). Hand hygiene was frequently ignored (27% between physicians and 51.8% between nursing technicians). The moment right after touching surfaces next to patients was the most ignored one. Alcohol gel solution monthly use was only 35% of the expected value for the unit. Conclusions: despite the international investigations and efforts for better results, the adherence and compliance to the hand hygiene guidelines is still deficient and continues to be a major problem.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar aplicação da técnica de higienização das mãos numa unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal em uma maternidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Métodos: estudo transversal no qual foi avaliada a técnica de higienização das mãos com água e sabão e álcool gel e o consumo de solução de álcool gel e por categoria profissional. Um instrumento adaptado da OMS foi usado e aplicado usando questionários. A amostra foi composta por médicos, fisioterapeutas, enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem. Resultados: a aderência à higienização das mãos foi deficiente em termos de técnica e de frequência (a execução correta da técnica variou de 0 a 13,3% entre as categorias profissionais). A higienização das mãos foi ignorada por 27% dos médicos e 51,8% dos técnicos de enfermagem. Depois de tocar superfícies próximas aos pacientes foi o momento mais ignorado. O uso mensal de álcool gel foi 35% do valor esperado. Conclusões: apesar das investigações internacionais e esforços para melhores resultados, a adesão e o cumprimento das diretrizes de higienização das mãos ainda é deficiente.

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BACKGROUND: This systematic review evaluated the incidence, etiology, and use of resources in bacterial, non-tuberculosis community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in immune-competent children aged <5 years. METHODS: Systematic searches (1980-2008) were performed using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, generic, and academic Internet searches. Regional health ministries, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), regional proceedings, doctoral theses, and the reference lists of included studies were also searched, and experts were consulted. Arcsine transformations and the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model were used for proportion meta-analyses. RESULTS: The search yielded 1220 references; 60 were included in the meta-analysis, giving a total 23 854 CAP episodes with an incidence of 919/100 000 child-years in children aged <5 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated agent (11.08%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.63-15.08), and pneumococcal serotype 14 was most prevalent (33.00%; 95% CI 25.95-40.45). Other common agents were Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Health economics data on CAP in the region were scarce. About one-fourth of CAP patients required hospitalization (median length of stay 11 days, range 5-13.5 days). CONCLUSIONS: The burden of CAP was substantial, with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. pneumoniae being the most common pathogens identified. High quality primary studies on disease incidence, use of health resources, and standardized data collection on disease burden and circulating strains are essential to provide baseline data for the future evaluation of vaccine impact.

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Chronic hepatitis B infection represent a significant disease burden in Argentina and worldwide. New therapeutic strategies are emerging, including entecavir, a nucleosid analogue. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of entecavir vs. lamivudine in Argentina (both in HBeAg positive and negative patients). Thus, a decision model that incorporated the main health outcomes associated to chronic hepatitis B infection was used, from the main Argentina's health system and social perspectives over a ten years time horizon. We combined efficacy data from randomized controlled trials, relative risk of long-term disease-related complications from observational studies, and life tables from Argentine vital statistics. Cost included those of drugs, clinical events and their complications. One way sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate uncertainty. Entecavir showed a higher reduction in viral load than lamivudine, that implied fewer disease complications such as compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma. HBeAg positive and negative patients treated with entecavir (discounted results) had 0.49 and 0.57 years of life gained and 0.44 and 0.51 quality of life adjusted years gained per patient in comparison with lamivudine. Results were robust, and showed that the most influential parameter was that of entecavir cost. Finally, entecavir showed to be from "cost-saving" to "cost-effective" according to the perspective.

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