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Objective: To explore the association between demographic and clinical factors and the presentation of septic shock in patients treated by prehospital emergency services in five Colombian cities between 2015 and 2016., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection. Clinical and demographic data were collected from the medical records of patients diagnosed with sepsis who received prehospital care in five Colombian cities in 2015 and 2016. The diagnosis of septic shock was checked in 20% of the cases, generating two analyzed scenarios: observed and verified. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Student's t test and an adjusted logistic regression model. Covariates with p < 0.05 were considered significant., Results: There was a higher frequency of septic shock in women (62.6%) and in individuals older than 80 years (64.5%), but these were not differentiating factors for septic shock. The most common source of infection was the urinary tract. In the observed scenario, age over 60 (prevalence ratio (PR): 3.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45 - 35.01) and history of cancer (PR: 1.20; 95%CI: 1.2 - 12.87) were the characteristics associated with septic shock, whereas in the verified scenario, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PR: 1.99; 95%CI: 1.26 - 7.14), history of cancer (PR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.11 - 6.62) and presence of hypovolemia (PR: 1.41; 95%CI: 1.02 - 5.50) were observed., Conclusion: The most important risk factors for septic shock in prehospital care patients in five Colombian cities were oncological and pulmonary diseases and hypovolemia.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of LUTS and overactive bladder (OAB) in the Colombian population., Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in men and women ≥18 years using directed interviews and self-administered questionnaires in five main cities in Colombia. A sample size of 1054 subjects was estimated (prevalence of LUTS/OAB 15%, CI 95%, statistical power 80%, precision 3%). We used a multi-stage probabilistic sampling technique to randomly select individuals in the community, stratified by socioeconomic status, gender, and age. We used the 2002 ICS and 2010 IUGA/ICS definitions as well as validated questionnaires in Spanish. Descriptive statistics were employed., Results: A total of 1060 participants were included. Mean age was 42 (range 18-89) years. The prevalence of at least one LUTS was 84%, while overactive bladder was reported by 31.8% participants. Among individuals with at least one LUTS, 13.2% would feel "mostly unsatisfied," "unhappy," or "terrible" to spend the rest of their lives with their current urinary condition. Nocturia was the most prevalent LUTS (55.3%), followed by urgency (46.4%) and frequency (45.8%). Urge, stress, and mixed urinary incontinence were reported by 15.3%, 8.6%, and 7% of participants, respectively., Conclusions: LUTS are highly prevalent in the Colombian population and severely affect quality of life. This is the first study conducted in Colombia and Latin America focused on evaluating LUTS in men and women of all age groups of interest using a multi-stage probabilistic sampling technique. These results may have a significant influence on health decision-making and assessment of future therapies., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aims: To determine the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Colombian newborns from 19 hospital or maternal child health services from seven different cities of five natural geographic regions (Caribbean, Central, Andean, Amazonia and Eastern)., Materials and Methods: We collected 15,333 samples from umbilical cord blood between the period of March 2009 to May 2010 in 19 different hospitals and maternal-child health services from seven different cities. We applied an IgM ELISA assay (Vircell, Spain) to determine the frequency of IgM anti Toxoplasma. The results in blood cord samples were confirmed either by western blot and repeated ELISA IgM assay. In a sub-sample of 1,613 children that were negative by the anti-Toxoplasma IgM assay, the frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgA by the ISAGA assay was determined. All children with positive samples by IgM, IgA, clinical diagnosis or treatment during pregnancy were recalled for confirmatory tests after day 10 of life., Results: 61 positive samples for specific IgM (0.39%) and 9 positives for IgA (0.5%) were found. 143 questionnaires were positive for a clinical diagnosis or treatment for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. 109 out of the 218 children that had some of the criteria for postnatal confirmatory tests were followed. Congenital toxoplasmosis infection was confirmed in 15 children: 7 were symptomatic, and three of them died before the first month of life (20% of lethality). A significant correlation was found between a high incidence of markers for congenital toxoplasmosis and higher mean annual rainfall for the city., Conclusions: Incidence for congenital toxoplasmosis is significantly different between hospitals or maternal child health services from different cities in Colombia. Mean annual rainfall was correlated with incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis.

A small epidemic of tinea corporis due to M. gypseum is reported. There were 13 children affected, ages 1-15 years. These children belonged to 6 neighbouring families and all used a common "playground", an empty lot located nearby. Cultures were positive for M. gypseum in the 13 children and the agent was also isolated from 2 soils collected in the playing-ground. Soil isolates were classified as N. gypsea. Clinically, the lesions were circinated and had active borders, they were preferentially located in the trunk. Most children (8/13) had multiple lesions. These and other pertinent aspects are discussed in the text.