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IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally, with limited access to mental health care affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the most. In response, alternative strategies to support mental health have been necessary, with access to green spaces being a potential solution. While studies have highlighted the role of green spaces in promoting mental health during pandemic lockdowns, few studies have focused on the role of green spaces in mental health recovery after lockdowns. This study investigated changes in green space access and associations with mental health recovery in Bangladesh and Egypt across the pandemic.MethodsAn online survey was conducted between January and April 2021 after the first lockdown was lifted in Bangladesh (n = 556) and Egypt (n = 660). We evaluated indoor and outdoor greenery, including the number of household plants, window views, and duration of outdoor visits. The quantity of greenness was estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). This index was estimated using satellite images with a resolution of 10x10m during the survey period (January-April 2021) with Sentinel-2 satellite in the Google Earth Engine platform. We calculated averages within 250m, 300m, 500m and 1000m buffers of the survey check-in locations using ArcGIS 10.3. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate relationships between changes in natural exposure and changes in mental health.ResultsThe results showed that mental health improved in both countries after the lockdown period. People in both countries increased their time spent outdoors in green spaces after the lockdown period, and these increases in time outdoors were associated with improved mental health. Unexpectedly, changes in the number of indoor plants after the lockdown period were associated with contrasting mental health outcomes; more plants translated to increased anxiety and decreased depression. Refocusing lives after the pandemic on areas other than maintaining indoor plants may assist with worrying and feeling panicked. Still, indoor plants may assist with depressive symptoms for people remaining isolated.ConclusionThese findings have important implications for policymakers and urban planners in LMICs, highlighting the need to increase access to natural environments in urban areas to improve mental health and well-being in public health emergencies.

Introduction: Alphaviruses may cause arthritis, but there is a lack of studies assessing it in flaviviruses such as dengue. Through the 28 Joint Disease Activity Score (DAS-28), incorporating swollen joint counts, and through the Arthritis Index from Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC), we assessed pain, stiffness, and dimensions of arthritic function in post-DENV patients. Methods: Prospective study of a cohort of participants who were diagnosed with dengue in centres in Honduras from December 2019 to February 2020, with a follow-up period of 4 months to evaluate post-dengue rheumatological disease through the WOMAC and DAS-28 questionnaires. Results: After a four-month follow-up phase with 281 participants, the final cohort comprised 58.8% women and 41.20% men. After the follow-up, 63.02% persisted with the clinical findings. According to WOMAC, joint involvement was higher in women with (58.76%) (p < 0.0001) these symptoms or functional limitations when performing daily activities were limited to pain when walking (34.81% vs. 5.51%), climbing or descending stairs (36.46% vs. 8.66%), and at night at bedtime (28.73% vs. 7.08%). With the DAS-28, we found at least one alteration with inflammation or pain in 14.91% of the participants, primarily women (p < 0.01). Discussion: Joint involvement was high during the dengue epidemic in 2019. We observed a significant proportion of women with inflammation and joint pain, showing that dengue may lead to the development of chronic rheumatological findings, although lower than in CHIKV, still affecting everyday life and, consequently, their quality of life. Additional long-term evaluation studies after dengue are required.

Background: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening invasive fungal infection most commonly observed in immunocompromised patients. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of Mucorales associated infections, now termed COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM), have been reported. Despite an increase in fatality reports, no cases of rhino-orbital CAM complicated with gangrenous bone necrosis have been described in the literature to date. Case: A 56-year-old male with a recent COVID-19 diagnosis developed rhino-orbital mucormycosis after 22 days of treatment with dexamethasone. Cultures and histopathological assessment of tissue biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The patient survived after treatment with amphotericin B. Conclusions: Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection affecting mostly immunocompromised patients. Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the inappropriate use of steroids, in addition to concurrent risk factors, such as diabetes, has led to an increase in the occurrence of these devastating mycoses, leading to the development of severe presentations and complications, as observed in many cases. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in order to avoid dissemination and fatal outcomes.

La introducción de la vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano (VPH) en el Esquema Nacional de Vacunación en la población de niñas entre 9 y 13 años ocurre ante la necesidad de reducir el riesgo de cáncer de cérvix en población femenina (RM Nº 255-2015/MINSA). No obstante, no es la única población en la que la vacuna puede reducir el riesgo de cáncer asociado con este virus...

Introducción. Las infecciones del tracto urinario son un problema común de salud. En Perú se ha encontrado resistencia de Escherichia coli a ciprofloxacino entre 31% y 69,8%. Objetivos. Determinar la frecuencia y características asociadas a infección urinaria alta comunitaria (ITUc) por E coli resistente a ciprofloxacino. Diseño. Estudio transversal. Lugar. Departamento de Emergencia del Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú. Participantes. Pacientes con diagnóstico de ITUc en el 2010. Intervenciones. Se revisó la historia clínica de pacientes con urocultivos positivos a E. coli, con diagnóstico de ITUc confirmado. Se realizó análisis descriptivo (media, frecuencia) y análisis bivariado (chi cuadrado, prueba de Fisher), con un p significativo 0,05) con cefalosporinas y quinolonas, y comorbilidades neurológicas, gastrointestinales y renales. Conclusiones. La resistencia de E. coli a ciprofloxacino en ITUc fue más frecuente comparada con estudios previos, asociada con resistencias a cotrimoxazol, cefalosporinas, aminoglicósidos y producción de BLEE.

Objetivos. Diseñar y validar una escala para evaluar la percepción sobre el primer nivel de atención (PNA) en estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio multicéntrico, observacional, en dos fases: i) Se diseñó un cuestionario autoaplicado referente a la percepción sobre la labor del médico en el PNA, y ii) Se aplicó el cuestionario en estudiantes de medicina de 18 universidades de ocho países hispanohablantes latinoamericanos. Se desarrolló un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) por medio de un análisis de componentes principales con rotación ortogonal varimax. Se evaluó la adecuación y el ajuste de la muestra. La extracción de factores fue hecha en base a los criterios de Kaiser, la pendiente de Catell y la varianza explicada (>5%). La consistencia interna fue medida con el alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Se incluyeron 423 estudiantes, el 53,4% pertenecían a universidades peruanas. Tras el AFE el cuestionario quedo constituido por 11 ítems, los cuales se distribuyen en tres dominios que, en su conjunto, explican el 55,47% de la varianza total. i) Percepciones sobre el médico que trabaja en PNA, ii) Percepciones sobre el trabajo asistencial en PNA y iii) Percepciones sobre las consecuencias económicas de trabajar en PNA. Conclusiones. La escala presenta tres dominios y constituye un instrumento que puede ser usado para medir las percepciones sobre el trabajo médico en el primer nivel de atención en estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos de habla hispana.

Objetivos. Diseñar y validar una escala para evaluar la percepción sobre el primer nivel de atención (PNA) en estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio multicéntrico, observacional, en dos fases: i) Se diseñó un cuestionario autoaplicado referente a la percepción sobre la labor del médico en el PNA, y ii) Se aplicó el cuestionario en estudiantes de medicina de 18 universidades de ocho países hispanohablantes latinoamericanos. Se desarrolló un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) por medio de un análisis de componentes principales con rotación ortogonal varimax. Se evaluó la adecuación y el ajuste de la muestra. La extracción de factores fue hecha en base a los criterios de Kaiser, la pendiente de Catell y la varianza explicada (>5%). La consistencia interna fue medida con el alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Se incluyeron 423 estudiantes, el 53,4% pertenecían a universidades peruanas. Tras el AFE el cuestionario quedo constituido por 11 ítems, los cuales se distribuyen en tres dominios que, en su conjunto, explican el 55,47% de la varianza total. i) Percepciones sobre el médico que trabaja en PNA, ii) Percepciones sobre el trabajo asistencial en PNA y iii) Percepciones sobre las consecuencias económicas de trabajar en PNA. Conclusiones. La escala presenta tres dominios y constituye un instrumento que puede ser usado para medir las percepciones sobre el trabajo médico en el primer nivel de atención en estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos de habla hispana.

Co-occurrence of paracoccidioidomycosis and strongyloidiasis in immunosuppressed patients, particularly those infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1/2, is infrequent. We describe the case of a Peruvian farmer from the central jungle with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1/2 infection, with 2 months of illness characterized by respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms associated with fever, weight loss, and enlarged lymph nodes. Strongyloides stercoralis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were isolated in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage samples, respectively. The clinical evolution was favorable after the patient received ivermectin and amphotericin B. We hypothesize that autoinfestation by S. stercoralis in human T-lymphotropic virus type 1/2-infected patients may contribute to the disseminated presentation of Paracoccidioides spp. Understanding epidemiological context is crucial for suspecting opportunistic regional infections, particularly those that may coexist in immunosuppressed patients.

Background: Post-COVID conditions are characterised by persistent symptoms that negatively impact quality of life after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. While post-COVID risk factors and symptoms have been extensively described in localised regions, especially in the global north, post-COVID conditions remain poorly understood globally. The global, observational cohort study HVTN 405/HPTN 1901 characterises the convalescent course of SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults in North and South America and Africa., Methods: We categorised the cohort by infection severity (asymptomatic, symptomatic, no oxygen requirement (NOR), non-invasive oxygen requirement (NIOR), invasive oxygen requirement (IOR)). We applied a regression model to assess correlations of demographics, co-morbidities, disease severity, and concomitant medications with COVID-19 symptom persistence and duration across global regions., Results: We enrolled 759 participants from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Peru, and the USA a median of 51 (interquartile range (IQR) = 35-66) days post-diagnosis, from May 2020 to March 2021. 53.8% were female, 69.8% were 18-55 years old (median (md) = 44 years old, IQR = 33-58). Comorbidities included obesity (42.8%), hypertension (24%), diabetes (14%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (11.6%) and lung disease (7.5%). 76.2% were symptomatic (NOR = 47.4%; NIOR = 22.9%; IOR = 5.8%). Median COVID-19 duration among symptomatic participants was 20 days (IQR = 11-35); 43.4% reported symptoms after COVID-19 resolution, 33.6% reported symptoms ≥30 days, 9.9% reported symptoms ≥60 days. Symptom duration correlated with disease severity (P < 0.001, NIOR vs NOR; P = 0.003, IOR vs NOR), lung disease (P = 0.001), race (P < 0.05, non-Hispanic Black vs White), and global region (P < 0.001). Prolonged viral shedding correlated with persistent abdominal pain (odds ratio (OR) = 5.51, P < 0.05) and persistent diarrhoea (OR = 6.64, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Post-COVID duration varied with infection severity, race, lung disease, and region. Better understanding post-COVID conditions, including regionally-diverse symptom profiles, may improve clinical assessment and management globally., Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT04403880)., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and declare the following activities and relationships: PG reports funding from HVTN, consulting fees from Johnson & Johnson and DSMB activities. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest: KG, CK, JH, LP, MT, PH, RD, JGC, JM, LC, MJ, SL, VK, JH, MDM, SK, DT, NE, AT, RM., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Colonic cryptococcal infection is unusual in people living with HIV (PLWH) and even more so without concomitant neurological compromise. Published case reports describe diarrhea and other intestinal manifestations that are often confused with systemic tuberculosis infection. We describe an Peruvian woman living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy who presented hypotensive with a 6-month history of fever and epigastric pain, in addition to episodes of sporadic diarrhea. Due to the suspicion of systemic tuberculosis, antituberculosis treatment was started. Days later, without clinical improvement, colonoscopy revealed ulcers in the transverse colon. Histopathological examination of biopsied tissue was compatible with Cryptococcus spp. She received antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and fluconazole. Despite the treatment, the patient died six days later from multiple organ failure.

Objective: To determine the point prevalence and characteristics of antibiotic use in different hospitalization areas of the Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo., Materials and Methods: We carried out a 3-week cross-sectional study with a census approach (using methodology from the World Health Organization) to determine the point prevalence of antibiotic use in inpatients from hospitalization areas, regardless of whether or not they were on an antibiotic regimen., Results: We identified 358 patients, with a mean age of 49 (± 25.3) years, predominantly adults (88%). Antibiotics were used in 51.7% of the hospitalized patients; only 57.3% of the prescriptions followed a regimen based on clinical practice guidelines for antibiotic treatment, while 28.5% did not follow any standardized recommendation. Therapies were empirical in 86.8% and directed in 13.2% of the cases., Conclusions: Antibiotics were used in more than 50% of hospitalized patients. However, about one third of the prescriptions were not based on any clinical practice guidelines. Despite the existence of an antimicrobial control program in the hospital, appropriate antimicrobial use still needs to be optimized.

There is little information on the presence of the Mycobacterium avium-Intracellulare (MAC) complex in Peru. Five cases of MAC infection are described in patients with HIV/AIDS at the National Hospital Dos de Mayo, Lima - Peru. The patients presented, mainly, persistent fever, chronic diarrhea, consumptive syndrome, pancytopenia and citofagocitosis. In all of them, resistant acid-alcohol bacilli were identified in feces, so they received antituberculous treatment. The culture of feces was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, later, in all cases MAC was identified using a molecular test (genotype) in the culture of feces. Three patients received treatment for MAC right after identification; however, they all died. Before presentations similar to the reported, we suggest the use of higher performance methods (blood culture, myeloculture, molecular tests), as well as early associating drugs with activity for MAC to antitubercular scheme with the intention of improving the prognosis of this group of patients.