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The state of alarm was declared in Spain due to the COVID-19 epidemic on March 14, 2020, and established population confinement measures. The objective is to describe the process of lifting these mitigation measures.The Plan for the Transition to a New Normality, approved on April 28, contained four sequential phases with progressive increase in socio-economic activities and population mobility. In parallel, a new strategy for early diagnosis, surveillance and control was implemented. A bilateral decision mechanism was established between the Spanish Government and the autonomous communities (AC), guided by a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators capturing the epidemiological situation and core capacities. The territorial units were established ad-hoc and could be from Basic Health Zones to entire AC.The process run from May 4 to June 21, 2020. AC implemented plans for reinforcement of core capacities. Incidence decreased from a median (50% of territories) of 7.4 per 100,000 in 7 days at the beginning to 2.5 at the end. Median PCR testing increased from 53% to 89% of suspected cases and PCR total capacity from 4.5 to 9.8 per 1000 inhabitants weekly; positivity rate decreased from 3.5% to 1.8%. Median proportion of cases with traced contacts increased from 82% to 100%.Systematic data collection, analysis, and interterritorial dialogue allowed adequate process control. The epidemiological situation improved but, mostly, the process entailed a great reinforcement of core response capacities nation-wide, under common criteria. Maintaining and further reinforcing capacities remained crucial for responding to future waves.El 14 de marzo de 2020 España declaró el estado de alarma por la pandemia por COVID-19 incluyendo medidas de confinamiento. El objetivo es describir el proceso de desescalada de estas medidas.Un plan de transición hacia una nueva normalidad, del 28 de abril, incluía 4 fases secuenciales incrementando progresivamente las actividades socioeconómicas y la movilidad. Concomitantemente, se implementó una nueva estrategia de diagnóstico precoz, vigilancia y control. Se estableció un mecanismo de decisión bilateral entre Gobierno central y comunidades autónomas (CCAA), guiado por un panel de indicadores cualitativos y cuantitativos de la situación epidemiológica y las capacidades básicas. Las unidades territoriales evaluadas comprendían desde zonas básicas de salud hasta CCAA.El proceso se extendió del 4 de mayo al 21 de junio y se asoció a planes de refuerzo de las capacidades en las CCAA. La incidencia disminuyó de una mediana inicial de 7,4 por 100.000 en 7 días a 2,5 al final del proceso. La mediana de pruebas PCR aumentó del 53% al 89% de los casos sospechosos, y la capacidad total de 4,5 a 9,8 pruebas semanales por 1.000 habitantes; la positividad disminuyó del 3,5% al 1,8%. La mediana de casos con contactos trazados aumentó del 82% al 100%.La recogida y análisis sistemático de información y el diálogo interterritorial logaron un adecuado control del proceso. La situación epidemiológica mejoró, pero sobre todo, se aumentaron las capacidades, en todo el país y con criterios comunes, cuyo mantenimiento y refuerzo fue clave en olas sucesivas.

Background: Identifying risk factors for complications or death associated with influenza remains crucial to target preventive interventions. Scores like the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) may be of help. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of vaccination and comorbidities on severe influenza disease and influenza-related death among hospitalized patients during the season 2016/17; and to evaluate the validity of the CCI to predict death among these patients. Methods: Data from adult patients (≥18 years old) with influenza infection admitted to La Paz University Hospital (LPUH) were recorded during the 2016/17 epidemic. The effect of influenza vaccine to prevent severe influenza or death was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. The area under the curve of the CCI and the age-adjusted CCI were compared to assess the predictive effect on mortality. Results: A total of 342 adult patients with influenza infection were admitted, of which 83 developed severe influenza and 25 died during hospitalization. There were no differences between patients who survived and those who died concerning the CCI, but the age-adjusted CCI was higher in fatal cases (p-value = 0.005). Influenza vaccine had no statistically significant effect on the risk of mortality (p-value = 0.162) while age (OR: 1.12, p-value

Background Socioeconomic status (SES)—education, income level, and occupation—is associated with cardiovascular risk. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between SES and subclinical atherosclerosis and the potential mechanisms involved. Methods SES, lifestyle habits (smoking, dietary patterns, physical activity, and hours of sleep), traditional risk factors, and subclinical atherosclerosis extent were prospectively assessed in 4,025 individuals aged 40 to 54 years without known cardiovascular disease enrolled in the PESA (Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis) study. After factors associated with atherosclerosis were identified, a multiple mediation model was created to quantify the effect of SES on subclinical atherosclerosis as explained by lifestyle behaviors. Results Although education level was significantly associated with the presence of atherosclerosis, no differences were found according to income level in this population. Participants with lower education presented with a higher risk of generalized atherosclerosis than those with higher education (odds ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.15 to 1.85; p = 0.002). Lifestyle behaviors associated with both education level and atherosclerosis extent were: smoking status, number of cigarettes/day, and dietary pattern, which explained 70.5% of the effect of SES on atherosclerosis. Of these, tobacco habit (smoking status 35% and number of cigarettes/day 32%) accounted for most of the explained differences between groups, whereas dietary pattern did not remain a significant mediator in the multiple mediation model. Conclusions Despite the relative economic homogeneity of the cohort, lower education level is associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis, mainly mediated by the higher and more frequent tobacco consumption. Smoking cessation programs are still needed, particularly in populations with lower education level.

Background We describe the investigation undertaken and the measures adopted to control a Serratia marcescens outbreak in the neonatology unit of La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, Spain. Methods Weekly rectal and pharyngeal screenings for S marcescens were performed in the neonates starting after detection of the outbreak. Environmental samples and samples from health care workers (HCWs) were obtained for microbiological analysis. An unmatched case-control study was carried out to investigate risk factors for infection/colonization. Results The outbreak began in June 2016 and ended in March 2017, affecting a total of 59 neonates. Twenty-five (42.37%) neonates sustained an infection, most frequently conjunctivitis and sepsis. Multivariate logistic regression identified the following risk factors: parenteral nutrition (odds ratio [OR], 103.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9-894.8), history of previous radiography (OR, 15.3; 95% CI, 2.4-95.6), and prematurity (OR, 5.65; 95% CI, 1.5-21.8). Various measures were adopted to control the outbreak, such as strict contact precautions, daily multidisciplinary team meetings, cohorting, allocation of dedicated staff, unit disinfection, and partial closure. Hands of HCWs were the main suspected mechanism of transmission, based on the inconclusive results of the environmental investigation and the high number of HCWs and procedures performed in the unit. Conclusions S marcescens spreads easily in neonatology units, mainly in neonatal intensive care units, and is often difficult to control, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Strict measures, including cohorting and medical attention by exclusive staff, are often needed to get these outbreaks under control.