Clara Carreras-Abad (Spain)

Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Clara Carreras-Abad is consultant in paediatric infectious diseases in Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (Greater Barcelona, Spain) since May 2021. She graduated from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2011 and undertook a master's in international health at the same institution. Following the paediatric residency in Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí (2012- 2016), she worked as general paediatrician in Barcelona and collaborated as rural paediatrician with a civil association for health and community development in Chiapas (Mexico). In 2018-2019 she undertook a clinical research fellowhip at the Infection and Immunity Institute, St George's University of London (UK), focusing on invasive group b streptococcal infection. In 2019-2020 she completed a clinical fellowship in paediatric infectious diseases in Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona, Spain) where she engaged to research on migrant health and congenital toxoplasmosis.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF IMPORTED DISEASES AND SEROPREVALENCE OF VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES IN UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (ID 310)

Session Name
2205 - ORAL PRESENTATIONS 04: EPIDEMIOLOGY (ID 34)
Lecture Time
11:12 - 11:19
Room
Hall 01
Presenter

Abstract

Background

Unaccompanied minors (UM) are a high-risk group for acquiring infectious diseases and data on their vaccination status is scarce. Different approaches are used to screen newly arrived minors in Europe. The aim of this study is to describe their demographic characteristics, as well as their health status and serological protection against different vaccine preventable diseases in order to homogenize screening protocols.

Methods

Retrospective study of all UM that were visited at a reference centre for International Health in Barcelona from January 2017 to February 2020. After ethical approval, data were obtained from electronic medical records and SPSS v20 was used to undertake the statistical analysis. The screening strategy was adjusted by symptoms and area of origin. Chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of categorical variables.

Results

Among 289 minors (89% males, mean age:16) 74% were asymptomatic and 73% completed follow-up. Most of them (60%) were from Sub-Saharian Africa followed by Maghreb and Asia and mean time to first visit since arrival was 5 months (IQR:1-5). At least 1 diagnosis was made in 127 minors. From those, 70% were asymptomatic. We found a high prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection(23%), intestinal parasites(21%) and hepatitis B infection(6%) even in asymptomatic minors, and especially among those from Sub-Saharan Africa. Protection against hepatitis B virus (36%) and measles (80%) were sub-optimal.

Conclusions

These results highlight the importance of screening and immunization programs for UM arriving to Europe, especially in border European countries. The geographic origin determines the prevalence of diseases, thus efforts in elaborating efficient protocols for screening and immunizing newly arrived migrants should be based on this information. These programs are a Public Health priority and should not be forgotten during the current pandemic.

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