María Hortal

Global and regional burden of hospital admissions for severe acute lower respiratory infections in young children in 2010: a systematic analysis.

Summary Background The annual number of hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths due to severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in young children worldwide is unknown. We aimed to estimate the incidence of admissions and deaths for such infections in children younger than 5 years in 2010. Methods We estimated the incidence of admissions for severe and very severe ALRI in children younger than 5 years, stratified by age and region, with data from a systematic review of studies published between Jan 1, 1990, and March 31, 2012, and from 28 unpublished population-based studies. We applied these incidence estimates to population estimates for 2010, to calculate the global and regional burden in children admitted with severe ALRI in that year. We estimated in-hospital mortality due to severe and very severe ALRI by combining incidence estimates with case fatality ratios from hospital-based studies. Findings We identified 89 eligible studies and estimated that in 2010, 11·9 million (95% CI 10·3–13·9 million) episodes of severe and 3·0 million (2·1–4·2 million) episodes of very severe ALRI resulted in hospital admissions in young children worldwide. Incidence was higher in boys than in girls, the sex disparity being greatest in South Asian studies. On the basis of data from 37 hospital studies reporting case fatality ratios for severe ALRI, we estimated that roughly 265u2008000 (95% CI 160u2008000–450u2008000) in-hospital deaths took place in young children, with 99% of these deaths in developing countries. Therefore, the data suggest that although 62% of children with severe ALRI are treated in hospitals, 81% of deaths happen outside hospitals. Interpretation Severe ALRI is a substantial burden on health services worldwide and a major cause of hospital referral and admission in young children. Improved hospital access and reduced inequities, such as those related to sex and rural status, could substantially decrease mortality related to such infection. Community-based management of severe disease could be an important complementary strategy to reduce pneumonia mortality and health inequities. Funding WHO.

Hospitalized children with pneumonia in Uruguay: Pre and post introduction of 7 and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccines into the National Immunization Program.

INTRODUCTIONnStreptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia burden in children was poorly defined in Uruguay. A three-year population-based surveillance demonstrated the impact of the pneumonia in hospitalized children of less than five years of age. To control these diseases in March 2008, Uruguayan health authorities decided to incorporate PCV7 to the National Immunization Program administered at 2, 4 and 12 months of age (2+1 schedule).nnnOBJECTIVEnTo compare the incidence of consolidated pneumonia hospitalization in children less than five years of age before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation.nnnMETHODSnSame methodology of the prevaccination study was employed. The surveillance was carried out at the same four hospitals covering a population of 229,128 inhabitants (2004 Census) of whom 10.2% were under five years of age. Clinical data, vaccination status and digitization of their chest X-rays were recorded. A pediatric radiologist blinded to the clinical diagnosis interpreted the digital images according WHO definitions. Bacterial etiology was investigated in blood and/or in pleural fluid.nnnRESULTSnBetween January 1st 2009 and June 30th 2011 patients were enrolled. Out of 23,445 children<5 years of age, 1224 were hospitalized with pneumonia (430 consolidated pneumonias and 794 non consolidated pneumonias). Pleural effusion was recorded in 89 patients. In 48 consolidated pneumonias S. pneumoniae etiology was recognized. Post vaccination incidence rate of consolidated pneumonia in patients aged 12-23 months showed a significant reduction (44.9%) if we compare it with the incidence of pneumonia hospitalization in the previous study. In March 2010, PCV13 replaced PCV7. Compliance of PCV7/13 globally was 92% but the vaccination status varied among the surveyed patients because two catch-ups were carried out in addition to the routine cohort vaccination. From 2009 1st semester to 2011 1st semester incidence rates decline reached 59%.nnnCONCLUSIONnTo date, the ongoing surveillance documented a significant decline on incidence of hospitalizations for consolidated pneumonia in children younger than 24 months of age, confirming the success of the 2+1 vaccination schedule.

Alarma por la resistencia a antimicrobianos: situación actual y desafíos

La creciente resistencia a los antimicrobianos (RAM) es un problema apremiante que de no combatirse a tiempo puede comprometer la salud de las generaciones futuras, con un retorno a la era preantibiótica. Frente a esa amenaza, los organismos sanitarios internacionales convocaron a todos los países para coordinar renovadas estrategias de lucha contra la RAM, promoviendo el enfoque de “una salud” con la participación de diferentes actores e instituciones. Este manuscrito proporciona información actualizada, explicando que la RAM no es más un dilema médico sino un fenómeno complejo que además afecta la producción agroveterinaria, el desarrollo y la economía de los países. La exposición a antibióticos contribuye a la selección de mutantes resistentes y favorece la transferencia horizontal de elementos genéticos móviles como plásmidos, integrones y tranposones que portan varios genes de resistencia contra distintas familias de antibióticos. Las antibioticoterapias, aun en situaciones justificadas, ejercen presiones selectivas que favorecen el predominio de mutantes bacterianas resistentes, por lo que es preciso evitar las infecciones, optimizando la higiene y el empleo de vacunas. También se ensayan terapias alternativas, por ejemplo basadas en bacteriófagos o probióticos. El Plan de Acción Mundial para controlar la RAM propuesto por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, la Organización Mundial de Salud Animal y la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y el Desarrollo comprende cinco objetivos: mejorar la conciencia y el conocimiento sobre la resistencia antimicrobiana; reforzar la vigilancia y la investigación; reducir la incidencia de la infección; optimizar el uso de antimicrobianos, y asegurar una financiación duradera que asegure la persistencia de las acciones de control.