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Introduction: The study of travelers is important and has been a variable significantly associated with the number of covid-19 cases. Objective: To characterize the travelers infected with SARS-CoV-2 according to epidemiologic and sociodemographic variables of interest. Methods: An ecological study of temporary series was carried out, of travelers from abroad, residents in Santiago de Cuba or whose final destination was this province, that arrived at the country between March 11, 2020 and November 11, 2022. The sources of information were the travelers' records established by the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology of this province and the results of polymerase chain reaction tests of the Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology. Results: Sixty-four thousand nine-hundred eighty four travelers were received, of which 568 were positive, with prevalence of the asymptomatic and the diagnosis at the fifth day of arrival. Conclusions: The control on the travelers influenced in the pattern of transmission of the disease; as long as, the realization of a second test at the fifth day allowed to find a high percentage of positivity. Some characteristics of morbidity in this group of cases differed from the incidence in the general population, such as the clinical forms, age and space distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study of travelers is important and has been a variable significantly associated with the number of covid-19 cases. Objective: To characterize the travelers infected with SARS-CoV-2 according to epidemiologic and sociodemographic variables of interest. Methods: An ecological study of temporary series was carried out, of travelers from abroad, residents in Santiago de Cuba or whose final destination was this province, that arrived at the country between March 11, 2020 and November 11, 2022. The sources of information were the travelers’ records established by the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology of this province and the results of polymerase chain reaction tests of the Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology. Results: Sixty-four thousand nine-hundred eighty four travelers were received, of which 568 were positive, with prevalence of the asymptomatic and the diagnosis at the fifth day of arrival. Conclusions: The control on the travelers influenced in the pattern of transmission of the disease; as long as, the realization of a second test at the fifth day allowed to find a high percentage of positivity. Some characteristics of morbidity in this group of cases differed from the incidence in the general population, such as the clinical forms, age and space distribution.

Introduction: Cuban science has offered significant contributions for the confrontation to the COVID-19, what has facilitated, by means of diverse investigations, the prediction, design of confrontation ways, as well as the improvement of therapeutic protocols and performance models. Objective: To characterize suspicious and positive patients to the COVID-19 admitted to an isolation center from Santiago de Cuba. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of the 731 suspicious and positive patients to the COVID-19 was carried out. They were admitted to the Medicine Faculty No. 2 isolation hospital from Santiago de Cuba, from January to March, 2021, aimed at characterizing them according to some selected clinical and epidemiologic variables, that is: age, sex, personal pathological history and symptoms at the moment of the diagnosis. Results: Of the total of patients there was a prevalence of the male sex (50.8 %) and the 21-30 and 51-60 age groups (21.6 and 20.7 %, respectively). In connection with the number of confirmed cases there was a prevalence of females (29.2 %) and the health areas with more affected patients were 28 de Septiembre (22.5 %), 30 de noviembre (16.8 %) and Mario Muñoz Monroy polyclinics (14.6 %); also, hypertension, bronchial asthma and other allergies are notable as personal pathological history, besides cough, fever and diffuse discomfort as clinical signs. It is remarkable that 45.6 % of the patients with positive test were asymptomatic at the moment of the diagnosis. Conclusiones: The COVID-19 constitute a high-priority problem of public health and the confrontation to this terrible pandemic not only has brought in itself to postpone goals and transform objectives of life in all sectors and nations, but it has also implied to constantly redefine strategies and ways of doing in the search of a better control of the disease.

Introduction: The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused an international epidemiologic contingency at the moment. Objective: To characterize the hospitalizations due to the COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional investigation was carried out in Santiago de Cuba, from March to May, 2020, of the 3 491 patients admitted due to the COVID-19 in the different units designated for it according to established categories: "suspected" (presumed case), "confirmed" (patient with positive result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus) or "contact" (someone that had had some type of contact with a contaminated person). Also, demographic variables were analyzed by age and sex and some others were taken into account, such as residence place, number of beds in hospitals, classification of patients and number of polymerase chain reaction tests carried out in real time. Results: It was obtained that the municipality of Santiago de Cuba presented the highest number of people infected by the coronavirus and that Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Clinical Surgical University Hospital admitted a higher percentage of patients (70.7 %); in a same way, most of the series corresponded to the 25 to 59 age group and the female sex. It was outstanding that the polymerase chain reaction test in real time was carried out to 83.3 % of admitted patients. Conclusions: Taking the sociodemographic approach as a starting point, with this study the incidence of cases associated with the COVID-19 in Santiago de Cuba province could be evaluated according to the available beds for the hospitalization and the established classification to such an effect (suspected, confirmed and contacts).

Introduction: The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is presented in an asymptomatic way in up to 80 % of the cases at world level. Objective: To characterize the patients with asymptomatic clinical course of the COVID-19. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in Santiago de Cuba province, with retrospective gathering of the information, from March to May, 2020, belonging to 13 patients with diagnosis of the disease and no symptomatic manifestation of it. Results: Of the patients with positive results for coronavirus in the province, 26,0 % were asymptomatic; there was a predominance of the 20-39 years-old (38,4 %), and the 60 and more years (30,7 %) in these age groups, as well as of the female sex (84,6 %). Equally, 30,7 % suffered from non-communicable chronic diseases and 38,5 % turned out to be infection source to other people. Conclusions: The frequency of asymptomatic patients in Santiago de Cuba was different from that notified in the rest of the country and in other nations, which could not be conditioned by the emergence of episodes or buds and the registered low incidence; nevertheless, in the analysis of the variables, there were no discrepancies with the reports on patients with this clinical form of disease.

Introduction: The new coronavirus specimen (COVID-19), has generated scenarios of sanitary emergencies in many countries from all continents. Objective: To characterize the variability of the PCR evolutionary results in patients with COVID-19. Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in 68 patients with COVID-19 (children and adults from both sexes) admitted in Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from March 12th to April 30th, 2020. To collect the virological, the nasal and pharyngeal use of isotope was carried out, which analysis of PCR-RT was processed in the territorial reference center. Management, social, demographic and epidemiological variables were included, among others. Results: Female sex prevailed in the series (52.9 %). Two PCR-RT fast tests were made to all the patients, through their clinical course, 40.0 % of the children and 10.0 % of the aged patients requiered a third virological test. In the second and third third of the clinical and epidemiological observation period, the report of the result averaged 1.5 days (SD ± 0.6) and 3.2 days (SD±1.6), respectively. After 15 days of treatment there were active positive cases in all populational groups; likewise 60.0 % of those with viral charge between 16-20 days were asymptomatic, as the 66.7 % of those with more than 20 days under medication. Conclusions: Independently from the age and duration of the medical treatment, some patients remained with detectable viral charge. It is not adviced to discharge patients without a negative PCR-RT, above all for asympthomatic cases, in whom the evolutionary clinical course has been less favorable.

Introduction: Cuban science has offered significant contributions for the confrontation to the COVID-19, what has facilitated, by means of diverse investigations, the prediction, design of confrontation ways, as well as the improvement of therapeutic protocols and performance models. Objective: To characterize suspicious and positive patients to the COVID-19 admitted to an isolation center from Santiago de Cuba. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of the 731 suspicious and positive patients to the COVID-19 was carried out. They were admitted to the Medicine Faculty No. 2 isolation hospital from Santiago de Cuba, from January to March, 2021, aimed at characterizing them according to some selected clinical and epidemiologic variables, that is: age, sex, personal pathological history and symptoms at the moment of the diagnosis. Results: Of the total of patients there was a prevalence of the male sex (50.8 %) and the 21-30 and 51-60 age groups (21.6 and 20.7 %, respectively). In connection with the number of confirmed cases there was a prevalence of females (29.2 %) and the health areas with more affected patients were 28 de Septiembre (22.5 %), 30 de Noviembre (16.8 %) and Mario Muñoz Monroy polyclinics (14.6 %); also, hypertension, bronchial asthma and other allergies are notable as personal pathological history, besides cough, fever and diffuse discomfort as clinical signs. It is remarkable that 45.6 % of the patients with positive test were asymptomatic at the moment of the diagnosis. Conclusions: The COVID-19 constitute a high-priority problem of public health and the confrontation to this terrible pandemic not only has brought in itself to postpone goals and transform objectives of life in all sectors and nations, but it has also implied to constantly redefine strategies and ways of doing in the search of a better control of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused an international epidemiologic contingency at the moment. Objective: To characterize the hospitalizations due to the COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional investigation was carried out in Santiago de Cuba, from March to May, 2020, of the 3 491 patients admitted due to the COVID-19 in the different units designated for it according to established categories: "suspected" (presumed case), "confirmed" (patient with positive result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus) or "contact" (someone that had had some type of contact with a contaminated person). Also, demographic variables were analyzed by age and sex and some others were taken into account, such as residence place, number of beds in hospitals, classification of patients and number of polymerase chain reaction tests carried out in real time. Results: It was obtained that the municipality of Santiago de Cuba presented the highest number of people infected by the coronavirus and that Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Clinical Surgical University Hospital admitted a higher percentage of patients (70.7 %); in a same way, most of the series corresponded to the 25 to 59 age group and the female sex. It was outstanding that the polymerase chain reaction test in real time was carried out to 83.3 % of admitted patients. Conclusions: Taking the sociodemographic approach as a starting point, with this study the incidence of cases associated with the COVID-19 in Santiago de Cuba province could be evaluated according to the available beds for the hospitalization and the established classification to such an effect (suspected, confirmed and contacts). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is presented in an asymptomatic way in up to 80 % of the cases at world level. Objective: To characterize the patients with asymptomatic clinical course of the COVID- 19. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in Santiago de Cuba province, with retrospective gathering of the information, from March to May, 2020, belonging to 13 patients with diagnosis of the disease and no symptomatic manifestation of it. Results: Of the patients with positive results for coronavirus in the province, 26,0 % were asymptomatic; there was a predominance of the 20-39 years-old (38,4 %), and the 60 and more years (30,7 %) in these age groups, as well as of the female sex (84,6 %). Equally, 30,7 % suffered from non-communicable chronic diseases and 38,5 % turned out to be infection source to other people. Conclusions: The frequency of asymptomatic patients in Santiago de Cuba was different from that notified in the rest of the country and in other nations, which could be conditioned by the absence of episodes or outbreaks and the low registered incidence; nevertheless, in the analysis of the variables there were no discrepancies with the reports on patients with this clinical form of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The new coronavirus specimen (COVID-19), has generated scenarios of sanitary emergencies in many countries from all continents. Objective: To characterize the variability of the PCR evolutionary results in patients with COVID-19. Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in 68 patients with COVID-19 (children and adults from both sexes) admitted in Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from March 12th to April 30th, 2020. To collect the virological, the nasal and pharyngeal use of isotope was carried out, which analysis of PCR-RT was processed in the territorial reference center. Management, social, demographic and epidemiological variables were included, among others. Results: Female sex prevailed in the series (52.9%). Two PCR-RT fast tests were made to all the patients, through their clinical course, 40.0% of the children and 10.0% of the aged patients requiered a third virological test. In the second and third third of the clinical and epidemiological observation period, the report of the result averaged 1.5 days (SD ± 0.6) and 3.2 days (SD±1.6), respectively. After 15 days of treatment there were active positive cases in all populational groups; likewise 60.0% of those with viral charge between 16-20 days were asymptomatic, as the 66.7% of those with more than 20 days under medication. Conclusions: Independently from the age and duration of the medical treatment, some patients remained with detectable viral charge. It is not adviced to discharge patients without a negative PCR-RT, above all for asympthomatic cases, in whom the evolutionary clinical course has been less favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se realizó una investigación descriptiva y transversal de 93 pacientes con infecciones respiratorias agudas causadas por virus respiratorios, quienes fueron ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos del Hospital General Docente "Juan B. Viñas González" del municipio de Palma Soriano en Santiago de Cuba, durante el quinquenio 2009-2013, a fin de identificar los agentes patógenos más frecuentes en los cultivos de exudado nasofaríngeo, mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. En el estudio predominaron los lactantes, el sexo masculino, las infecciones de las vías respiratorias bajas con complicaciones y el virus respiratorio sincicial como el microorganismo más aislado. Asimismo, se enfatizó la función de los virus en el desarrollo de las infecciones respiratorias agudas, y la importancia de que estos puedan ser aislados, a fin de lograr una mejor prevención y un tratamiento oportuno, para evitar complicaciones que pongan en peligro la vida de los pacientes

A descriptive and cross sectional investigation of 93 patients with acute respiratory infections caused by breathing virus who were admitted in "Juan B. Viñas González" Pediatric Intensive Cares Unit of the Teaching General Hospital from Palma Soriano municipality, Santiago de Cuba was carried out during the five year period 2009-2013, in order to identify the most frequent pathogens in the cultures of nasopharyngeal exudates, by means of the chain reaction technique of polymerase. Infants, the male sex, infections of the low respiratory airways with complications and the syncytial respiratory virus as the most isolated microorganism prevailed in the study. Also, the function of viruses was emphasized in the emergence of acute respiratory infections, and the importance that they can be isolated, in order to achieve a better prevention and an opportune treatment, to avoid complications representing a danger for the life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]