Dr. Maria L. Avila-Aguero is a doctor of PediatricInfectology at the
Hospital Nacional de Niños, "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera", San José,
Costa Rica. She
served as Head of the Department of Infectology from 2000-2006 and has
currently filled this role once again since September of 2011. She is an
Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Universidad de Costa Rica. She also
serves as Director of Post Graduate Studies in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at
the Universidad de Costa Rica.
Dr. Avila-Aguero served as Minister of Health
for Costa Rica from May of 2006 to August of 2011. Prior to her role as Costa Rican Minister of
Health, Dr. Avila-Aguero was the Director of the committee of Nosocomial
Infections (1999-2005), and Director of the Committee on Epidemiological
Surveillance (2000-20005).
Dr. Avila-Aguero has received several awards,
among them was named one of the 50 most influential women in Central America by
Forbes 2014. Since 2014 coordinates the GREEN initiative (Advisory Board of the Latin American
Pneumococcal Disease Consortium). Member of various scientific and academic organizations
including SLIPE (Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases).
Since 2016, she is Member of the Council of International Society for
Infectious Diseases.Member of REKAMLATINA (Latin America Kawasaki Disease Network). Since
2018 she is Affiliate Researcher, Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and
Analysis (CIDMA), Yale University
Dr. Avila-Aguero is a frequent speaker, and
has published numerous articles in the field of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
- Brenes-Chacón H, Gutiérrez JM, Camacho-Badilla K, Soriano-Fallas A, UlloaGutierrez R, Valverde-Muñoz K, Ávila-Agüero ML. Snakebite envenoming in children: A neglected tropical disease in a Costa Rican pediatric tertiary care center. Acta Trop. 2019 Sep 14;200:105176.
- Torres JR, Falleiros-Arlant LH, Gessner BD, Delrieu I, Avila-Aguero ML, Giambernardino HIG, Mascareñas A, Brea J, Torres CN, Castellanos-Martinez JM Updated recommendations of the International Dengue Initiative expert group for CYD-TDV vaccine implementation in Latin America. Vaccine. 2019 Oct 8;37(43):6291-6298.
- Gentile A, Bricks L, Ávila-Agüero ML, Kfouri RA, Torres JP, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Glover RE, Sarti E. Pertussis in Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean: a systematic review. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2019 Aug;18(8):829-845.
- Arlant LHF, Garcia MCP, Avila Aguero ML, Cashat M, Parellada CI, Wolfson LJ. Burden of varicella in Latin America and the Caribbean: findings from a systematic literature review. BMC Public Health. 2019 May 8;19(1):528.
- Brenes-Chacón H, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Soriano-Fallas A, Camacho-Badilla K, ValverdeMuñoz K, Ávila-Agüero ML. Bacterial Infections Associated with Viperidae Snakebites in Children: A 14-Year Experience at the Hospital Nacional de Niños de Costa Rica. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 May;100(5):1227-1229.
- Brenes H, Herrera ML, Ávila-Aguero ML. Chromoblastomycosis Caused by Phialophora verrucosa in a Costa Rican Child with Skin Sequelae due to Snake Bite. Cureus. 2018 Nov 12;10(11):e3574.
- Ávila-Agüero ML. Requiem aeternam OPV. Rev Chilena Infectol. 2018 Aug;35(4):341-342.
- Rivera-Salgado D, Valverde-Muñoz K, Ávila-Agüero ML Febrile neutropenia in cancer patients: management in the emergency room. Rev Chilena Infectol. 2018;35(1):62-71 9. Caceres A, Avila-Aguero ML, Herrera ML. Fungal infections in pediatric neurosurgery. Childs Nerv Syst. 2018 Oct;34(10):1973-1988 10. Ávila-Agüero ML, Beltrán S, Castillo JBD et al Varicella epidemiology in Latin America and the Caribbean. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2018 Feb;17(2):175-183
- Avila-Aguero ML, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Camacho-Badilla K, Soriano-Fallas A, ArrobaTijerino R, Morice-Trejos A. Varicella prevention in Costa Rica: impact of a onedose schedule universal vaccination. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2016 Oct 27:1-6
- Henao C JA, Valverde-Muñoz K, Ávila-Aguero ML. [Hemolytic anemia as the first clinical presentation of Wilson disease: a pediatric case]. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2016 Dec 1;114(6):e436-e439. Spanish
- Alfaro-Murillo JA, Parpia AS, Fitzpatrick MC, Tamagnan JA, Medlock J, Ndeffo-Mbah ML, Fish D, Ávila-Agüero ML, Marín R, Ko AI, Galvani AP. A Cost-Effectiveness Tool for Informing Policies on Zika Virus Control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 May; 10(5): e0004743.
- Avila-Aguero ML, Camacho-Badilla K, Ulloa-Gutierrez R. Measles outbreaks: what does it represent for the elimination strategy in the region of the Americas? A call for the action. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2015 Jun 11:1-3
- Falleiros-Arlant LH, Berezin EN, Avila-Aguero ML, Pirez MC, et al Epidemiological burden of invasive pneumococcal disease in children and adolescents with predisposing risk factors. Int J Infect Dis. 2015 Sep;38:1-6.
- Camacho-Badilla K; Falleiros-Arlant LH; Brea J; Avila-Agüero ML Challenges in the Surveillance of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in the Postvaccination Era J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2015 4 (2): 91-93
- Camacho-Badilla K; Falleiros-Arlant LH; Brea J; Avila-Agüero ML Pneumococcal disease: new challenges and new proposals for Latin America Rev Chilena Infectol 2015; 32 (2): 211-212
- Falleiros-Arlant LH, Avila-Agüero ML, Brea del Castillo J, Mariño C. El desafío del cambio de la vacuna inactivada?contra poliomielitis en América Latina. Rev Chilena Infectol 2014; 31 (5): 590-596
- Falleiros-Arlant LH, de Colsa A, Flores D, Brea J, Avila-Aguero ML, Hozbor DF. Pertussis in Latin America: epidemiology and control strategies. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2014;12:1265-75.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Aguero ML. Rotavirus vaccination in Central American children. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2014 Jun;13(6):687-90.
- Avila-Aguero ML, Brea-del Castillo J, Falleiros-Arlant LH. Vaccines without borders to Latin America. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2013 Nov;12(11):1239-40
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Gentile A, Avila-Aguero ML. Pertussis cocoon strategy: would it be useful for Latin America and other developing countries? Expert Rev Vaccines. 2012 Dec;11(12):1393-6
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Miño G, Odio C, Avila-Aguero ML, Brea J. Vaccine-preventable diseases and their impact on Latin American children. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011;10(12):1671-3.
- Morice A, Avila-Aguero ML, Salas-Peraza D, Soriano A, Castillo-Solórzano C. Approach to verify the status of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome elimination in Costa Rica. J Infect Dis. 2011;204 S2:S690-7.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Hozbor D, Avila-Aguero ML, Caro J, Wirsing von König CH, Tan T, Plotkin S. The global pertussis initiative: Meeting report from the Regional Latin America Meeting, Costa Rica, 5-6 December, 2008. Hum Vaccin. 2010;6(11):87680.
- Salas-Peraza D, Avila-Agüero ML, Morice-Trejos A. Switching from OPV to IPV: are we behind the schedule in Latin America? Expert Rev Vaccines. 2010;9(5):475-83. Review.
- Morice A, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Agüero ML. Congenital rubella syndrome: progress and future challenges. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2009;8(3):323-31. Review.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Aguero ML. Pertussis in Latin America: current situation and future vaccination challenges. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2008;7(10):1569-80. Review.
- Ulloa-Gutiérrez R, Hernández de Mezerville M, Avila-Agüero ML. [Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) in Latin America: are we aware of the problem?]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2008;69(3):197-9.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Aguero ML. 6th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2008;7(6):725-8.
- Manock SR, Suarez G, Graham D, Avila-Aguero ML, Warrell DA. Neurotoxic envenoming by South American coral snake (Micrurus lemniscatus helleri): case report from eastern Ecuador and review. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008;102(11):1127-32.
- Camacho-Badilla K, Méndez I, Soriano-Fallas A, Ulloa-Gutiérrez R, Avila-Aguero ML. [Postvaricella cerebellar ataxia in children in Costa Rica]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2008;68(1):49-53.
- Avila Aguero ML, Soriano-Fallas A, Umaña-Sauma MA, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Arnoux S. Immunogenicity and tolerability of inactivated flu vaccine in high risk and healthy children. Medicina (B Aires). 2007;67(4):351-9.
- Ciocca M, Moreira-Silva SF, Alegría S, Galoppo MC, Ruttiman R, Porta G, Da Silvera TR, Rubio P, Macias M, Cervantes Y, Avila-Aguero ML, Clemens SA, Clemens R, Weil J. Hepatitis A as an etiologic agent of acute liver failure in Latin America. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(8):711-5.
- Badilla X, Morice A, Avila-Aguero ML, Saenz E, Cerda I, Reef S, Castillo-Solórzano C. Fetal risk associated with rubella vaccination during pregnancy. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(9):830-5.
- Kowalzik F, Barbosa AP, Fernandes VR, Carvalho PR, Avila-Aguero ML, Goh DY, Goh A, de Miguel JG, Moraga F, Roca J, Campins M, Huang M, Quian J, Riley N, Beck D, Verstraeten T. Prospective multinational study of pertussis infection in hospitalized infants and their household contacts. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(3):238-42.
- Jiménez G, Avila-Aguero ML, Morice A, Gutiérrez H, Soriano A, Badilla X, Reef S, Castillo-Solórzano C. Estimating the burden of congenital rubella syndrome in Costa Rica, 1996-2001. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(5):382-6.
- Iturrino-Monge R, Avila-Agüero ML, Avila-Agüero CR, Moya-Moya T, Cañas-Coto A, Camacho-Badilla K, Zambrano-Mora B. Seroprevalence of dengue virus antibodies in asymptomatic Costa Rican children, 2002-2003: a pilot study. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2006;20(1):39-43.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Rodríguez-Calzada H, Quesada L, Arguello A, Avila-Aguero ML. Is it acute omphalitis or necrotizing fasciitis? Report of three fatal cases. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2005;21(9):600-2.
- Camacho-Badilla K, Cañas-Coto A, Soriano-Fallas A, Carranza-Portocarrero A, AvilaAgüero ML. [Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in pediatric population: a case report and a review of literature]. Gac Med Mex. 2005;141(1):53-6. Review. Spanish.
- Avila-Aguero ML, Canas-Coto A, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Caro MA, Alfaro B, Paris MM Risk factors for Candida infections in a neonatal intensive care unit in Costa Rica.. Int J Infect Dis. 2005;9(2):90-5.
- Avila-Agüero ML, Morice-Trejos A, Castillo-Solórzano C, Soriano-Fallas A, UlloaGutiérrez R, Reef S. [Congenital rubella syndrome in Costa Rica: importance of active surveillance]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2005;62(1):43-7. Spanish.
- Tremoulet AH, Avila-Aguero ML, París MM, Canas-Coto A, Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Faingezicht I. Albendazole therapy for Microsporidium diarrhea in immunocompetent Costa Rican children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(10):915-8.
- Badilla-Umaña J, Avila-Agüero ML, Canas-Coto A, Camacho-Badilla K, Sell-Marucco E, Sell-Salazar F. [Neurocysticercosis in Costa Rican children: clinical experience and the importance of epidemiological surveillance]. Rev Neurol. 2004,1630;39(6):590-2. Spanish.
- Avila-Aguero ML, Avila-Aguero CR, Um SL, Soriano-Fallas A, Cañas-Coto A, Yan SB. Systemic host inflammatory and coagulation response in the Dengue virus primoinfection. Cytokine. 2004, 21;27(6):173-9.
- Avila-Aguero ML, German G, Paris MM, Herrera JF. Toys in a pediatric hospital: are they a bacterial source? Safe Toys Study Group. Am J Infect Control. 2004;32(5):287-90.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Moya T, Avila-Aguero ML. Pantoea agglomerans and thornassociated suppurative arthritis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(7):690.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Gutierrez-Alvarez R, Avila-Aguero ML. Kawasaki disease mimicking an acute appendicitis. J Pediatr. 2004;144(5):691.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Agüero ML, Huertas E. Fulminant Listeria monocytogenes meningitis complicated with acute hydrocephalus in healthy children beyond the newborn period. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2004;20(4):233-7. Review.
- Ulloa-Gutierrez R, Avila-Aguero ML, Herrera ML, Herrera JF, Arguedas A. Invasive pneumococcal disease in Costa Rican children: a seven year survey. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003;22(12):1069-74.
- Avila-Agüero ML, Paris MM, Alfaro W, Avila-Agüero CR, Faingezicht I. Ganciclovir therapy in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent pediatric patients. Int J Infect Dis. 2003;7(4):278-81.
- Varicella associated with Staphylococcus aureus purulent pericarditis. UlloaGutierrez R, Avila-Aguero ML. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003;22(10):935-6.
- Ulloa-Gutiérrez R, Avila-Agüero ML, Herrera ML, Herrera JF, Vargas A, Barton T. [Highly-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in Central America]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2003;58(4):396-7. Spanish.
- Mora Y, Avila-Agüero ML, Umaña MA, Jiménez AL, París MM, Faingezicht I. Epidemiological observations of the judicious use of antibiotics in a pediatric teaching hospital. Int J Infect Dis. 2002;6(1):74-7.
- Avila-Agüero ML, París MM, Hu S, Peterson PK, Gutiérrez JM, Lomonte B, Faingezicht I; Systemic cytokine response in children bitten by snakes in Costa Rica. Snakebite Study Group. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2001;17(6):425-9.
- Avila-Agüero ML, Robles-Torres S, París-Coronado MM, Faingezicht-Gutman I. [Diagnosis of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis by ultrasound in pediatric patients]. An Esp Pediatr. 1999;50(4):353-6. Spanish.
- Ulloa R, Avila ML, Soto M, Paris MM, Faingezicht I, Odio C, Carranza A Laryngeal tuberculosis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1998 Aug;17(8):758-60.
- Avila-Agüero ML, Umaña MA, Jiménez AL, Faingezicht I, París MM. Handwashing practices in a tertiary-care, pediatric hospital and the effect on an educational program. Clin Perform Qual Health Care. 1998;6(2):70-2.
