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Intestinal parasitic diseases constitute a cosmopolitan public health concern, with greater prevalence in developing countries, and mainly affecting children. The aim of this study was to develop an educational intervention aimed at mothers/guardians of children attending three child development centers (CDI) in Santa Fe, Argentina, during 2018. An educational intervention was conducted using a descriptive, quasi-experimental design, with pre- and post-intervention assessment. This intervention included 36 mothers, and was carried out in three stages: diagnosis, intervention and final evaluation. Simultaneously, a coproparasitological study was performed on 48 children under 5 years of age, who were assisted in the CDI, with the aim to understand and address the parasitic infections prevalent in the child population. It was possible to compare the correct answers before and after the educational intervention, observing a statistically significant increase (p=0.008742) in the average number of correct answers. Enteroparasites were identified in 54% of the population of children analyzed, 10% were biparasitized and 6% had more than two parasitic species. The most frequently detected parasites were Blastocystis spp., Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides. The educational intervention was positive, resulting in an improvement in the level of knowledge related to intestinal parasitosis and its prevention. This educational intervention experience highlights the importance of ongoing education in promoting a healthy lifestyle and preventing parasitosis in vulnerable populations.

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Introducción: La bronquiolitis constituye una de las principales causas de Infecciones Respiratorias Agudas Bajas en Pediatría, y es responsable de una proporción significativa de hospitalizaciones en lactantes, fundamentalmente, en menores de 1 año. Su diagnóstico es clínico, caracterizado por síntomas y signos de amplio grado de gravedad. Objetivo: Describir las características clínico-etiológicas de casos de bronquiolitis en menores de 1 año, internados en un hospital de niños de la ciudad de Santa Fe, durante un periodo de un año. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal. Se analizaron datos demográficos, clínicos y de laboratorio de fichas médicas de vigilancia epidemiológica. Las técnicas diagnósticas usadas según el agente viral fueron RT-PCR en tiempo real, PCR-punto final e Inmunofluorescencia Indirecta. Resultados: Sobre un total de 108 casos, 90,7% tuvo de 1 a 6 meses de edad. La mediana de internación fue de 5 días, y el nacimiento prematuro fue la condición médica previa más frecuente. Un 78,7% (85) tuvo diagnóstico viral positivo, siendo Rinovirus (hRV) y Virus Sincicial Respiratorio (VSR) los agentes más prevalentes, tanto en infección única como en coinfección. El tiempo de oxigenoterapia fue mayor en los pacientes más graves (p<0,001). El 32,4% (35) recibió alguna medicación que fue, en mayor frecuencia, antibiótico. Se encontró asociación positiva y significativa entre la edad menor de 3 meses y una hospitalización mayor a 5 días (OR=2,5; IC: 1,1-5,8; p=0,02); y entre un diagnóstico VSR positivo y un cuadro grave (OR: 7,7; IC: 1,95-39,6; p<0,001). Conclusión: Las características y condiciones médicas consideradas por la literatura como factores de riesgo para el padecimiento y la gravedad de una IRAB, fueron halladas con mayor frecuencia en la población de estudio. El hRV y el VRS fueron los agentes de mayor rescate viral, encontrándose una asociación positiva entre la infección por VSR y la gravedad del cuadro.

Introduction: Bronchiolitis is one of the main causes of Acute Lower Respiratory Infections in pediatrics, and is responsible for a significant proportion of hospitalizations in infants, mainly in children under 1 year of age. Its diagnosis is clinical. The disease is characterized by a wide variety and degree of signs and symptoms. Objective: To describe the clinical-etiological characteristics of cases of bronchiolitis in children under 1 year of age, admitted to a children's hospital in the city of Santa Fe, over a period of one year. Materials and Methods: This was an observational and cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data from epidemiological surveillance medical records were analyzed. The diagnostic techniques used, based on the viral agent, were real-time RT-PCR, end-point PCR and Indirect Immunofluorescence. Results: Out of a total of 108 cases, 90.7% were between 1 and 6 months old. The median hospital stay was 5 days, and premature birth was the most common prior medical condition. 78.7% (85) had a positive viral diagnosis, with Rhinovirus (hRV) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) being the most prevalent agents, both in single infection and coinfection. Oxygen therapy time was longer in the most seriously ill patients (p<0.001). 32.4% (35) received some medication, which was, most frequently, antibiotics. A positive and significant association was found between age less than 3 months and hospitalization longer than 5 days (OR=2.5; CI: 1.1-5.8; p=0.02); and between a positive RSV diagnosis and a severe condition (OR: 7.7; CI: 1.95-39.6; p<0.001). Conclusions: The characteristics and medical conditions considered by the literature as risk factors for the morbidity and severity of a lower respiratory tract infection were found more frequently in the study population. hRV and RSV were the most commonly-detected viral agents. We found a positive association between RSV infection and the severity of the condition.

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En el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19, a partir de 2020, la Unidad Centinela de Enfermedades Tipo Influenza (UC-ETI) (Santa Fe, Argentina) integró la vigilancia clínica y por laboratorio de SARS-CoV-2 y rinovirus (HRV) a la habitual vigilancia de influenza y otros virus respiratorios (OVR). El objetivo de este estudio transversal y retrospectivo fue describir las características clínico-epidemiológicas de casos de ETI de la ciudad de Santa Fe, con diagnóstico de HRV confirmado durante 2020-2021, en el marco de la UC-ETI. Del total de 600 casos de ETI cuyas muestras fueron analizadas, más del 50,0% fueron mujeres; y la mayor proporción se concentró en el grupo de 15 a 39 años (40,2%). El 33,7% registró al menos una comorbilidad o factor de riesgo, siendo la hipertensión arterial, asma, diabetes, obesidad y EPOC las más frecuentes. Además de fiebre y tos, los signos/síntomas predominantes fueron odinofagia, mialgia y cefalea. El porcentaje de positividad fue de 41,3% en 2020, 27,8% en 2021 y 35,5% en 2020-2021. De las muestras positivas del bienio (213), 59,0% fue SARS-CoV-2, 40,0% HRV y 1,0% OVR. La mayor proporción de diagnósticos positivos de SARS-CoV-2 se concentró en pacientes de 15 años y más, y la de HRV en menores de 15. Los periodos en los que predominó la circulación de HRV no lo hizo la de SARS-CoV-2, y viceversa. El aporte a la carga real de las infecciones virales respiratorias y su impacto en la salud pública destaca la importancia de sostener la vigilancia de HRV

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, the influenza-like illness Sentinel Unit (ILI-SU) (Santa Fe, Argentina), integrated clinical and laboratory surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and Rhinovirus (HRV) to the usual surveillance of Influenza and other respiratory viruses (ORV). The objective of this cross-sectional and retrospective study was to describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of ILI cases of Santa Fe city, who had a confirmed HRV diagnosis during 2020-2021, by the ILI-SU. Of a total of 600 ILI cases whose samples were analyzed, more than 50.0% were women; and the highest proportion was concentrated in the group between 15 and 39 years of age (40.2%). 33.7% of the cases registered at least one comorbidity or risk factor, among which arterial hypertension, asthma, diabetes, obesity and COPD were the most frequent. In addition to fever and cough, the predominant signs/symptoms were sore throat, myalgia and headache. The percentage of positivity was 41.3% in 2020, 27.8% in 2021, and 35.5% in 2020-2021. Of the biennium positive samples (213), 59.0% were SARS-CoV-2, 40.0% HRV, and 1.0% ORV. The highest proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positive diagnoses were concentrated in patients 15 years of age and older, while the highest proportion of HRV positive diagnoses were concentrated in patients under 15 years of age. The periods in which the circulation of HRV predominated did not predominated SARS-CoV-2, and vice versa. The contribution to the real burden of respiratory viral infections and its impact on public health, highlight the importance of sustaining HRV surveillance

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Candida spp. includes more than 160 species but only 20 species pose clinical problems. C. albicans and C. parapsilosis account for more than 75% of all the fungemias worldwide. In 1995 and 2005, one C. albicans and two C. parapsilosis-related species were described, respectively. Using phenotypic traits, the identification of these newly described species is inconclusive or impossible. Thus, molecular-based procedures are mandatory. In the proposed educational experiment we have adapted different basic molecular biology techniques designed to identify these species including PCR, multiplex PCR, PCR-based restriction endonuclease analysis and nuclear ribosomal RNA amplification. During the classes, students acquired the ability to search and align gene sequences, design primers, and use bioinformatics software. Also, in the performed experiments, fungal molecular taxonomy concepts were introduced and the obtained results demonstrated that classic identification (phenotypic) in some cases needs to be complemented with molecular-based techniques. As a conclusion we can state that we present an inexpensive and well accepted group of classes involving important concepts that can be recreated in any laboratory.

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