Andre Raposo – SARINET

Taller de Manejo Clínico fortalece la respuesta ante Enfermedades Respiratorias Graves en Latinoamérica y el Caribe

Andre Raposo — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 08:38:08 +0000

Entre el 12 y el 14 de septiembre de 2023, Bogotá, Colombia, fue el epicentro del “Taller de Manejo Clínico de Casos Graves de Influenza (Estacional y Zoonótica), COVID-19 y Virus Sincitial Respiratorio”, que reunió a profesionales clínicos provenientes de 15 países de América Latina y el Caribe.

Durante este evento de tres días, se emplearon diversas metodologías, que incluyeron desde conferencias hasta sesiones prácticas, y se contó con la destacadaa presencia de expertos en enfermedades respiratorias graves, brindando así una oportunidad única de aprendizaje intensivo.

El primer día del taller se dedicó a proporcionar una visión general del manejo clínico y de las estrategias de preparación ante epidemias graves y potenciales pandemias. Se actualizó a los participantes sobre la epidemiología de enfermedades como la influenza estacional, la influenza aviar, COVID-19 y el Virus Sincitial Respiratorio en las Américas. El día concluyó con sesiones prácticas que abordaron el diagnóstico, el triaje de pacientes y el uso de equipos de protección personal como parte de la prevención y el control de las infecciones.
El segundo día se centró en el manejo clínico e intensivo de pacientes críticos, abordando temas como la terapia antimicrobiana, la terapia con oxígeno, el manejo de trastornos de perfusión, la sepsis, la prevención de complicaciones en unidades de cuidados intensivos, la ventilación pulmonar protectora y la liberación de la ventilación mecánica invasiva. Las sesiones prácticas se desarrollaron en el hospital simulado e incluyeron ejercicios sobre ventilación mecánica y la inserción de catéteres venosos centrales con guía ecográfica.
El último día del taller se enfocó en la integración de redes clínicas en la vigilancia de enfermedades respiratorias, la epidemiología y el tratamiento clínico de la influenza zoonótica, el manejo de adenovirus y el virus sincitial respiratorio en población pediátrica, la COVID-19 grave y manejo de situaciones especiales como pacientes embarazadas y pediátricos. La jornada concluyó con un ejercicio práctico de reorganización de servicios de salud para abordar brotes epidémicos de influenza estacional, COVID-19 y el Virus Sincitial Respiratorio.

Este taller representó un hito en la colaboración regional para fortalecer las capacidades de respuesta ante enfermedades respiratorias graves. Los participantes regresaron a sus países y equipos de salud con un conjunto ampliado de conocimientos y habilidades que, sin duda, beneficiarán a sus comunidades y sistemas sanitarios en el futuro. La experiencia compartida y las relaciones forjadas en Bogotá servirán como un sólido fundamento para enfrentar los desafíos que puedan surgir en el ámbito de la salud respiratoria en América Latina y el Caribe.

Red SARINET Plus de Manejo Clínico: Fortaleciendo la Respuesta ante Enfermedades Respiratorias en las Américas

Durante el evento, se planteó la propuesta de crear dentro de la Red SARINET Plus el grupo técnico de Manejo Clínico en la región de las Américas. Esta red se aprovechará de la ya existente red SARINET PLUS de la OPS, dedicada a la vigilancia de virus respiratorios y le incorporará un componente esencial de manejo clínico con una agenda de prioridades técnicas y de investigación operativa. La iniciativa contemplaría la designación de representantes nacionales de los Ministerios de Salud y permitiría el intercambio de datos clínicos electrónicos de casos de Infecciones Respiratorias Agudas Graves. Asimismo, se ha propuesto el Grupo de Trabajo SARINET Plus de Investigación Operativa de Manejo Clínico que permitiría abordar objetivos clave en la investigación de virus respiratorios y fomentar una colaboración más sólida y una atención clínica de las enfermedades respiratorias en la región, impulsando el fortalecimiento de la respuesta ante epidemias de enfermedades respiratorias.

SARINET Plus & REVELAC-i’s 10th Anniversary: Advancing Vaccine Effectiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean

Andre Raposo — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:33:30 +0000

Antigua Guatemala, a city renowned for its cultural heritage and scenic beauty, recently witnessed a remarkable medical event that marked the 10th anniversary of REVELAC-i. Dedicated to evaluating vaccine effectiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean, REVELAC-I celebrated a decade of achievements and discuss critical goals for the future. The event brought together 120 participants from 23 countries, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among experts in the field of respiratory virus prevention and control.

Organized by SARInet Plus in collaboration with REVELAC-i, one of the primary goals of the event was to define and strengthen the framework for preventing and controlling influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses. In the context of the ongoing pandemic transition and preparedness for future outbreaks, experts engaged in robust discussions to develop comprehensive strategies to safeguard public health in the Region of the Americas. The collective expertise of participants from diverse backgrounds helped shape a stronger framework to address the challenges posed by respiratory viruses.

The vibrant city of Antigua Guatemala had the privilege of hosting not only the 10th anniversary event but also the inaugural REVELAC-i meeting. This symbolic return to the birthplace of REVELAC-i infused the event with a sense of nostalgia and reminded participants of the network’s remarkable journey over the past decade.

This meeting brought together experts from 23 countries to celebrate a decade of advancements in vaccine effectiveness evaluation. The event focused on strengthening prevention and control measures, enhancing immunization efforts, adapting surveillance frameworks, empowering operational research, and fortifying pandemic planning. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, this important meeting paved the way for continued progress in improving public health outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Strengthening Respiratory Virus Surveillance in the Caribbean Sub-region

Andre Raposo — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:27:56 +0000

A workshop organized by PAHO’s influenza and other respiratory viruses team was held in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos with the goal to address the integration of SARS-CoV-2 into routine surveillance systems for respiratory viruses in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands. The workshop aimed to enhance the surveillance systems for respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other respiratory pathogens, by aligning existing and planned surveillance strategies with the proposed Sub-Regional Integrated Respiratory Sentinel Surveillance Guidelines. With the participation of 24 epidemiology and laboratory professionals from nine countries and one territory, the workshop successfully achieved its objectives.During the workshop, participants were sensitized to global and regional respiratory surveillance strategies and introduced to the proposed Sub-regional Integrated Respiratory Sentinel Surveillance Guidelines. Validation of the guidelines was obtained, and country-specific needs for technical cooperation in respiratory virus surveillance were identified for the next 12 to 24 months.

Key outcomes of the workshop included the recognition of the importance of strengthening surveillance systems, optimizing syndromic surveillance at sentinel sites, and developing diagnostic capacity for multiplex testing. Collaboration between government, private sector, and non-governmental agencies was emphasized, along with the need for enhanced awareness and training among healthcare professionals and the general public. Resource and budgetary needs were acknowledged, with a focus on ensuring the availability of necessary supplies and affordable testing kits. The workshop also emphasized the importance of adapting to the changing landscape of respiratory surveillance and incorporating best practices through knowledge sharing and networking.

The workshop concluded with recommendations for enhancing surveillance systems, maintaining collaboration, increasing awareness and training, addressing resource and budgetary needs, adapting to the changing landscape, optimizing sentinel surveillance, improving reporting and information sharing, incorporating workshop outcomes into national guidelines, and improving information management. By implementing these recommendations, countries in the Caribbean and Atlantic Islands subregion will strengthen their surveillance capabilities, better respond to public health threats, and build resilient and adaptable capacities for routine respiratory virus surveillance.

The effectiveness and impact of public health and social measures (PHSMs)

Andre Raposo — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:50:08 +0000

Public health and social measures (PHSMs) are a key strategy to reduce the transmission of pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. PHSMs include non-pharmaceutical interventions that can be taken by individuals, institutions, communities, local and national governments and international bodies to slow or stop the spread of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19. Individuals can, for example, engage in behaviours such as frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask and keeping a physical distance from other people. Authorities and communities can enact measures such as contact tracing, isolation of cases and contacts, school measures, business closures, restricting public gatherings, travel bans and cordon sanitaire.

These measures can prevent individuals from being exposed to the virus, decreasing the number of people who will become sick, require hospitalization or die from the disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been referred to as flattening the curve because of its role in reducing the pressure on the healthcare system and buying time to develop pharmaceutical interventions like vaccines and medication.

PHSMs have significant consequences for individuals and societies, including on health, social and economic aspects. To ensure the burden does not outweigh their benefits, decision-makers need to have a thorough understanding of how the measures work in different contexts, combinations and durations.

The World Health Organization has launched a new multi-year initiative to measure the effectiveness and social, health and economic impact of PHSMs during health emergencies. It aims at strengthening the global evidence to inform the development of action-oriented guidance, mechanisms and tools for decision-makers.