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Objective: It is necessary to establish the evolution that the pandemic has had in Panama by weeks and months and to clearly establish the existence of surges or peaks, according to cases and deaths and the relationship with age groups. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all confirmed COVID-19 cases reported by the Ministry of Health of Panama during the first 3 years of the epidemic (March 9, 2020, March 11, 2023). All cases were obtained from information provided by the Ministry of Health. We obtained daily information of the population at the national level reported as new cases, deaths, admission to hospitals, admission to intensive care units and by age groups. The information is classified by epidemiological week and by month from the diagnosis of the first case until March 2023. Results: During the three years of the study, 1,032,316 cases of COVID-19 were registered in the Republic of Panama, and the number of deaths reported was 8,621, for a fatality rate of 0.83 % throughout that period. The number of deaths decreased over the 3 years of the pandemic; however, similar to the cases, there were periods of surges (peaks) per year in June/July and in December/January. The lethality progressively increased according to the age of the affected patients. During the first year, the lethality in those under 20 years of age was 0.05 %, and in those over 80 years old, it was 17.54 %. This pattern was maintained during the second year; however, there was a large decrease in all age groups. Conclusion: the highest lethality rate in Panama occurred in the first year of the pandemic, with a great decrease in the third year; the impact of lethality is proportional to the age of the individual, with a high possibility of death in those over 80 years of age. During each pandemic year, there are two peaks (surges of new cases and deaths) per year, which are important times to take into account to generate strategies aimed at reducing the impact.
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INTRODUCTION Actually, there are more than 200 different causes of unknown fever, it is necessary for the doctor to identify the most prevalent causes of unknown fever in our Clinical boar. PRESENTATION A 52-year-old male patient with no history of chronic diseases, which was received in the Emergency Service of the Hospital San Pablo, Coquimbo, on 02/03/20 began a clinical picture characterized by fever up to 39 ºC associated with diaphoresis, evaluated several times in primary health care without response to symptomatic treatment. He denies dyspnea, cough, sputum production, headache, muscle weakness, myalgia, fainting, decreased visual acuity, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, altered bowel movements, weight loss, dysuria, bladder tenesmus, pain lumbar, skin lesions. As relevant information, the patient reports having taken amoxicillin/clavulanate for 2 days on his own account. DISCUSSION Physicians should be aware of the rare extent of an unusual presentation of knowledge origin fever, probably associated with Still disease, as well as medical options for treatment. The literature does not conclude on a gold standard for the method of approach. CONCLUSION In our case, the etiological agent that could cause Fever of unknown origin (FUO) was Sars cov-2 given the presence of elevated inflammatory factors and acute phase proteins and the presence of neutrophilic infiltration
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Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Febre de Causa Desconhecida/etiologia , COVID-19/complicações , Exantema Súbito , Febre de Causa Desconhecida/diagnósticoRESUMO
Background and Objectives: Measures to prevent the emergence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) include a daily bath with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of patients bathing daily with CHG on the bacterial colonization on patient surfaces, environmental surrounding areas, and attending healthcare workers (HCWs). Materials and Methods: Patients were randomized by a 1:1 in two groups. Patients in group 1 were bathed daily with CHG; patients in group 2 were bathed with a placebo. Microbiological sampling of patients, environment, and HCWs were carried out on days 0, 3, and 10. The clonal relatedness of selected isolates collected was determined through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical files. Results: Thirty-three patients were included (18 in group 1 and 15 in group 2). The more common species was Acinetobacter baumannii (n=144), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=81). A. baumannii was isolated more frequently on environmental surfaces in group 2 than group 1 (day 0 vs. day 3 vs. day 10; p = 0.0388). Twelve clones of A. baumannii were detected, with predominant clone A detected in patients and environmental surfaces. No pathogens were detected in HCWs. Conclusion: Our data support that CHG bathing decreases A. baumannii surviving on the environmental surfaces of critically ill patients.
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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an androgen synthesized by the adrenal cortex, which is an intermediary in the biosynthesis of sex hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol. DHEA mostly circulates as a conjugated ester, in the form of sulfate (DHEA-S). There exist several endogenous factors able to influence its synthesis, the most common ones being the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), growth factors, and proinflammatory cytokines, among others. Like other steroid hormones, DHEA, can alter the functioning of immune cells and therefore the course of diseases exhibiting an immune-inflammatory component, mostly from autoimmune or infectious nature. We herein review the role played by DHEA during a major infectious disease like tuberculosis (TB). Data recorded from TB patients, mouse models, or in vitro studies show that DHEA is likely to be implied in better disease control. This provides a stimulating background for carrying out clinical studies aimed at assessing the usefulness of DHEA as an adjuvant in TB patients.
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Córtex Suprarrenal , Tuberculose , Córtex Suprarrenal/metabolismo , Hormônio Adrenocorticotrópico/metabolismo , Androgênios/metabolismo , Animais , Sulfato de Desidroepiandrosterona/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Tuberculose/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
The Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a major public health concern in Brazil and worldwide, being a rapidly spreading disease with possible severe complications for pregnant women and neonates. There is currently no preventative therapy or specific treatment available. Within this context, drug repositioning is a very promising approach for the discovery of new treatment compounds, since old drugs may become new ones. Therefore, this paper aims to perform a literature mini-review to identify promising compounds to combat this virus. The mechanism of action at the molecular level and the structure-activity relationship of prototypes are discussed. Among the candidates identified, we highlight sofosbuvir, chloroquine and suramin, which present a greater quantity of experimental data to draw on for our discussion. The current treatment is palliative; therefore, this study is of paramount importance in identifying drug candidates useful for combating ZIKV.
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Antivirais/farmacologia , Infecção por Zika virus/tratamento farmacológico , Zika virus/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antivirais/síntese química , Antivirais/química , Reposicionamento de Medicamentos , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estrutura Molecular , Infecção por Zika virus/virologiaRESUMO
Immune responses are fundamental for protecting against most infectious agents. However, there is now much evidence to suggest that the pathogenesis and tissue damage after infection are not usually related to the direct action of the replication of microorganisms, but instead to altered immune responses triggered after the contact with the pathogen. This review article discusses several mechanisms necessary for the host to protect against microbial infection and focuses in aspects that cause altered inflammation and drive immunopathology. These basic findings can ultimately reveal pathways amenable to host-directed therapy in adjunct to antimicrobial therapy for future improved control measures for many infectious diseases. Therefore, modulating the effects of inflammatory pathways may represent a new therapy during infection outcome and disease.