Peste, uma zoonose esquecida

Abstract

ResumoObjective: to characterize ground epidemiological and clinical aspects of, discuss the methodology of diagnosis and draw recommendations about the management of suspect cases of plague. Methods: literature review and data collection of hospitalizations and deaths due to plague recorded in the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System. Results and conclusions: the existence of mistaken diagnoses of a potentially fatal disease, as well as hypothetical records of hospitalization and deaths, is a challenge to be overcome, because it reflects an unacceptable panorama in which a possible and unusual diagnosis is not investigated and accumulates in the information systems. AbstractObjetivo: caracterizar aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos fundamentais, discutir a metodologia do diagnóstico e tecer recomendações sobre as condutas perante a suspeição de casos de peste. Métodos: revisão bibliográfica e levantamento das internações e mortes por peste registradas no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde. Resultados e conclusões: a existência de diagnósticos equivocados de uma doença potencialmente fatal, além dos registros hipotéticos de internações e mortes, constitui um desafio a ser superado, pois espelha uma situação inaceitável, em que um possível e insólito diagnóstico não é investigado e acumula-se nos sistemas de informação. Palavras-chave:Peste. Yersinia pestis. Focos naturais. Epidemiologia. Diagnóstico.

Does the Plague Still Threaten Us?

“…Some systems do not correctly identify Y. pestis, leading to a false-positive or -negative diagnosis. Because of its weak biochemical reactivity, Y. pestis can be confused for Shigella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and even other enteropathogenic and environmental Yersinia species 5,6 .…”

“…On evaluating any suspected cases, it is crucial to remember that plague is a focal zoonosis. In January 2019, the press reported the occurrence of a presumed plague case in the urban area of São Gonçalo in the State of Rio de Janeiro approximately 70 km away from the plague area of Serra dos Órgãos 5,8 . The hypothesis of spillover was unlikely considering that wild rodents primarily uphold the disease, and no plague activity was recorded among them in that area.…”