Browsing by Author "et al."
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Acute HIV infection detection: rapid fourth-generation test or rapid molecular point-of-care HIV test?Publication . Rocha, Miguel; Medina, D.; Guerreiro, R.; Correia, H.; Rojas, J.; Ferreira, F.; Verissimo, L.; et al.
- Automated Remote Control of Cheese Ripening Chambers: Increasing Economic Value Added While Reducing the Risk of Transmission During the PandemicPublication . Ferreira, Paulo; Teixeira, Nuno; Dias, João; Pires, Clara; Pacheco De Carvalho, Maria Da Graça; Santos, Rute; Mondragão-Rodrigues, Francisco; et al.A new prototype of a ripening chamber was proposed aiming to evaluate the application of computational fluid dynamics in the optimization of traditional cheeses ripening conditions. With the purpose of evaluating the possible impact in the production of cheese in three Portuguese regions, the potential economic benefits of the prototype were demonstrated. The proposed automation process would imply higher production efficiency, increasing sales, decreasing stock levels and a significant reduction in the consumption of water and electricity. Based on average values, it was estimated potential increases of 133 010 € in sales and an individual net present value of almost 560 000 €. In addition to the economic impact in firms, which are mostly small and medium firms, the results also contribute to an increase on the sustainable use of natural resources. However, it is important to highlight the contribution of the project in a pandemic situation to develop a better financial situation of the firms based on a higher margin of the business.
- Increasing and sustaining blood-borne virus screening in Spain and Portugal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-center quality improvement interventionPublication . Vaz-Pinto, Inês; Ortega, Enrique; Chivite, Ivan; Butí, María; Turnes-Vázquez, Juan; Magno-Pereira, Vítor; Rocha, Miguel; et al.Background: Around 57,000 people in Spain and Portugal currently living with HIV or chronic hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted screening efforts for these infections. We designed an intervention to increase and sustain opportunistic blood-borne virus (BBV) screening and linkage to care (SLTC) by implementing the TEST model. Methods: The Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) method of quality improvement (QI) was implemented in 8 healthcare organizations (HCOs), including four hospitals, two clusters of community health centers, and two community-based organizations (CBOs). Baseline assessment included a review of BBV SLTC practices, testing volume, and results 12 months before the intervention. Changes in BBV testing rates over time were measured before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. A mixed ANOVA model was used to analyze the possible effect on testing volumes among HCOs over the three study periods. Intervention: BBV testing was integrated into normal clinical flow in all HCOs using existing clinical infrastructure and staff. Electronic health record (EHR) systems were modified whenever possible to streamline screening processes, implement systemic institutional policy changes, and promote QI. Results: Two years after the launch of the intervention in screening practices, testing volumes increased by 116%, with formal healthcare settings recording larger increases than CBOs. The start of the COVID-19 lockdowns was accompanied by a global 60% decrease in testing in all HCOs. Screening emergency department patients or using EHR systems to automate screening showed the highest resilience and lowest reduction in testing. HCOs recovered 77% of their testing volume once the lockdowns were lifted, with CBOs making the fullest recovery. Globally, enhanced screening techniques enabled HCOs to diagnose a total of 1,860 individuals over the research period. Conclusions: Implementation of the TEST model enabled HCOs to increase and sustain BBV screening, even during COVID-19 lockdowns. Although improvement in screening was noted in all HCOs, additional work is needed to develop strong patient linkage to care models in challenging times, such as global pandemics.
- Orogenital and anal infection by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and other sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men in LisbonPublication . Minetti, Corrado; Rocha, Miguel; Duque, Luís Miguel; Meireles, Paula; Correia, Cristina; Cordeiro, Dora; João, Inês; et al.Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but more data on extragenital carriage are needed. Aim: We assessed the genital and extragenital prevalence of bacterial and other STIs in MSM in a Lisbon sexual health clinic. Methods: We screened oral, anal, and urine samples of MSM visiting the GAT-CheckpointLX clinic June 2017-December 2021 for Chlamydia trachomatis (including lymphogranuloma venereum, LGV), Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and U. parvum. Ano-oro-genital lesions were tested for LGV, Treponema pallidum, and Herpes Simplex Virus. Blood was tested for HIV and T. pallidum antibodies. Results: N. gonorrhoeae was found in 16.6% of the MSM followed by C. trachomatis (13.2%), M. genitalium (10.3%) and T. vaginalis (0.2%). The most frequent occurrence was anorectal (C. trachomatis, M. genitalium) and oral (N. gonorrhoeae). We found high carriage of U. urealyticum (36.1%) and M. hominis (22.1%). LGV was detected in 21.8% of chlamydia-positive anorectal swabs. Syphilis was detected in 22.6% of tested MSM, while 13.8% had HIV. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia were significantly more prevalent in MSM with concomitant HIV or syphilis. Conclusion: The substantial extragenital prevalence of bacterial STIs in MSM, and HIV and syphilis coinfections, suggest screening has value in identifying hidden carriage and in contributing for providing better care.
- PrEP users among Lisbon MSM Cohort participants – A first look after PrEP implementation in PortugalPublication . F Fernandes; P Meireles; Rocha, Miguel; J Rojas; H Barros; Fernandes, F; Paula Meireles; et al.
- Prevalence of gonorrhea and chlamydia in a community clinic for men who have sex with men in Lisbon, PortugalPublication . Ribeiro, S.; de Sousa, D.; Medina, D.; Castro, R.; Lopes, Â.; Rocha, Miguel; Ribeiro, S; et al.Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data on MSM chlamydia and gonorrhea prevalence estimates and associated risk factors are scarce. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the prevalence and the determinants of both chlamydia and gonorrhea infections in MSM in Portugal. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 1832 visits to CheckpointLX, a community-based center for screening blood-borne viruses and other STIs in MSM. Overall prevalence of chlamydia or gonorrhea in our sample was 16.05%, with 14.23% coinfection and 40.73% asymptomatic presentation among those testing positive. Anorectal infection was most common for chlamydia (67.26%), followed by urethral (24.78%) and oral (19.47%) infection. Oral infection was most common for gonorrhea (55.63%), followed by anal (51.25%) and urethral (17.50%) infection. In multivariate analyses, young age (U = 94684, p = 0.014), being foreign-born (χ2 = 11.724, p = 0.003), reporting STI symptoms (χ2 = 5.316, p = 0.021), inhaled drug use (χ2 = 4.278, p = 0.039) and having a higher number of concurrent (χ2 = 18.769, p < 0.001) or total (χ2 = 5.988, p = 0.050) sexual partners were each associated with higher rates of chlamydia or gonorrhea infection. Young and migrant MSM are a vulnerable population to STIs, as are those who use inhaled drugs and those with a higher number of concurrent or total sexual partners. Although Portugal has no guidelines on chlamydia and gonorrhea screening, our results point toward a need for greater awareness about the importance of high-frequency screening for those at increased risk (i.e., every three to six months).
- A Rede de Rastreio Comunitária: resultadosPublication . Simões, Daniel; Freitas, Rosa; Mendão, Luís; Rocha, Miguel; Paula Meireles; Ana Aguiar; Raquel Lucas; et al.
- Risk of HIV infection in a cohort of men who have sex with men attending CheckpointLX in Lisbon, PortugalPublication . P. Meireles; C. Moreira; Rocha, Miguel; Brito, João; Mendão, Luís; H. Barros; Paula Meireles; et al.