In 2016, Venezuela faced a large diphtheria outbreak that extended until 2019. Nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal samples were prospectively collected from 51 suspected cases and retrospective data from 348 clinical records was retrieved from 14 hospitals between November 2017 and November 2018. Confirmed pathogenic Corynebactrium isolates were biotyped. Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) was performed followed by next-generation-based core genome-MLST and minimum spanning trees were generated. Subjects between 10 and 19 years of age were mostly affected (n = 95; 27.3%). Case fatality rates (CFR) were higher in males (19.4%), as compared to females (15.8%). The highest CFR (31.1%) was observed among those under 5, followed by the 40 to 49 age-group (25.0%). Nine samples corresponded to C. diphtheriae and 1 to C. ulcerans. Two Sequencing Types (ST), ST174 and ST697 (the latter not previously described) were identified among the eight C. diphtheriae isolates from Carabobo state. Cg-MLST revealed only one cluster also from Carabobo. The Whole Genome Sequencing analysis revealed that the outbreak seemed to be caused by different strains with C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans coexisting. The reemergence and length of this outbreak suggest vaccination coverage problems and an inadequate control strategy.

No abstract

In Venezuela, PAHO has reported an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases since 2016. The goal of this work was to assess vaccination coverage in children hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas (HUC). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study included 0 to 12 years old children hospitalized in HUC admitted between January 2015 and December 2019, and verified immunization scheme. The patient data were compared with the schedule of the Ministry of Health of Venezuela and analyzed by comparing immunization coverage by year of patient hospitalization and patient age. Results: A total of 2903 patients were surveyed, corresponding to 53.2% male, 37.4% infants. A coverage level above 95% was found only for BCG. Comparing vaccination coverage with the vaccination schedule vs year of patient hospitalization, it was observed a mean decrease in vaccine coverage of 21.5% in 2019 relative to 2015 (p = 0.0000). Vaccination rates in children under one year old were lower than in children older than 6 years for all vaccines (p = 0.0000) Conclusions: There is a decline in vaccination coverage in 2019 in relation to previous years, being the most affected children less than one year old

No abstract

No abstract

Objetivo: describir las causas de morbilidad, mortalidad y de falla antirretroviral y relacionarlo con el mecanismo de adquisición del virus en adolescentes con VIH / SIDA atendidos en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas, período 2009 - 2013.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de tipo retrospectivo a través del seguimiento de una cohorte. Se recolectaron los datos de las historias clínicas de pacientes con infección por VIH/SIDA con edades comprendidas entre 10 y 19 años del Hospital Universitario de Caracas durante el período 2009 - 2013.Resultados: se analizaron 79 historias y registros, según el mecanismo de transmisión, 29 (36,71 %) fueron de transmisión vertical (TV) y 50 (63,29 %) de transmisión horizontal (TH). La principal enfermedad oportunista encontrada fue tuberculosis, y no se encontró diferencias significativas para padecerla según el mecanismo de transmisión (p: 0,54). Al considerar los factores demográficos y diagnóstico inicial se observó que a una mayor edad de diagnóstico hay menor probabilidad de falla antirretroviral (OR: 0,75). Así mismo, independientemente del mecanismo de transmisión, sexo y tratamiento inicial el 50% de los pacientes presentará falla virológica luego de 90 meses de tratamiento.Discusión: el aumento en el número de casos de VIH en la población adolescente en Venezuela es un tema de relevancia en Salud Pública. Se necesita realizar un estudio en donde se apliquen estrategias dirigidas a mejorar las causas asociadas a la poca adherencia a los medicamentos antirretrovirales en esta población y determinar si dicha estrategia permite disminuir el número de fallas.