Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(3):206-215


Impact of liposomal amphotericin B on renal function in critically ill patients with renal function impairment                   

F. ÁLVAREZ-LERMA, M. C. SORIANO, M. RODRÍGUEZ, M. CATALÁN, A. M. LLORENTE, N. VIDART, M. GARITACELAYA, E. MARAVÍ, E. FERNÁNDEZ, F. ALVARADO, M. LÓPEZ, B. ÁLVAREZ-SÁNCHEZ, J. ESPINOSA, E. QUINTANA AND THE STUDY GROUP OF LIPOSOMAL AMPHOTERICIN B IN THE ICU                                                                          

 
Objetive: To assess the tolerability of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) in critically ill patients with elevated serum creatinine concentrations (Cr) (> 1.5 mg/dL) at starting L-AmB therapy.
Methods: Retrospective, multicenter, comparative study of two cohorts of critically ill patients treated with L-AmB during 3 or more days, the difference between them was the level of Cr at the beginning of treatment. A cutoff value of Cr of 1.5 mg/dL was established. Patients undergoing extrarenal depuration procedures before or 48 hours after starting L-AmB were excluded. The primary endpoint was the difference between Cr values at the end of treatment as compared with Cr at starting L-AmB. Secondary endpoints were treatment-related withdrawals, need of extrarenal depuration techniques, and treatment-related severe adverse events. Demographic data, underlying illness, indication of L-AmB therapy, concomitant risk factors of nephrotoxicity, and vital status at ICU and hospital discharge were recorded.
Results: A total of 122 patients admitted to 26 ICUs (16 with Cr > 1.5 g/dL; 106 with normal Cr levels) were recruited. Main reasons for the use of L-AmB in both groups were the broad spectrum of the drug and the presence of hemodynamic instability. L-AmB was administered as first-line treatment in 68.8% of patients with elevated Cr and in 52.8% with normal Cr. The APACHE II score on ICU admission was 25 in patients with elevated Cr and 17 in those with normal Cr values (p < 0.001). Duration of treatment with L-AmB was 16 and 12 days in patients with elevate and normal Cr values, respectively, with a mean dose of 3.5 vs 3.9 mg/kg/day. The use of concomiImpact tant nephrotoxic drugs, mortality rate, and ICU and hospital length of stay were similar in both cohorts. In patients with renal function impairment at the initiation of L-AmB treatment, an absolute decrease of Cf-Ci of 1.08 mg/dL was observed (P < 0.001). A decrease of Cr levels to normal limits was observed in 50% of the patients; in 37.5% of patients there was a decrease but normal levels were not achieved, whereas a Cr increased occurred in only one (6.25%) patient. None of the patients required withdrawal of L-AmB or use of extrarenal depuration procedures. Treatment-related severe adverse events were not reported.
Conclusions: In critically ill patients with impaired renal function, the impact of L-AmB on renal function was minimal. L-AmB can be used for the treatment of fungal infections in critically ill patients independently of renal function at the initiation of treatment.

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(3):206-215 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(1):79-88


Prevention of perinatal group B Streptococcal disease. Updated Spanish recommendations 
                

J. I. ALÓS, A. ANDREU, L. ARRIBAS, L. CABERO, M. CUETO, J. LÓPEZ, J. C. MELCHOR, A. PUERTAS, M. DE LA ROSA, S. SALCEDO, M. SÁNCHEZ, M. J. SÁNCHEZ, R. TORREJÓN                                                          

It has been a significant reduction in neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in Spain following the widespread application of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. In 2010, new recommendations have been published by the CDC and this fact, together with the new knowledge and experience available, has driven to the participating scientific societies publishing these new recommendations. In these recommendations is advised to study all pregnant women at 35-37 gestation weeks` to determine if they are colonized by GBS and to administer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to all colonized mothers. Microbiological methods to identify pregnant GBS carriers are updated and intrapartrum antibiotic prophylaxis in preterm labour and premature rupture of membranes and the management of the newborn in relation to GBS carrier status of the mother are also revised.
  

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(1):79-88 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(3):226-239

Consensus Document on vaccination against influenza in health care workers                   

J. J. PICAZO, L. M. ALONSO, J. ARÍSTEGUI, J. M. BAYAS, J. SANZ, P.  DEL AMO, J. L. COBOS, J. RODRÍGUEZ-SALAZAR, M. SÁNCHEZ-PASTOR, R. DE LA CÁMARA, J. CARRATALÁ, J. L. CAÑADA, J. GONZÁLEZ-DEL CASTILLO, P. ALDAZ, F. PÉREZ-ESCANILLA, J. BARBERÁN, A. RODRÍGUEZ, D. VIGIL-ESCRIBANO, J. ESPINOSA-ARRANZ, J. BLANQUER, F. GONZÁLEZ-ROMO                                                                          

 
Health care workers (HCW) are included each year among risk groups for vaccination against influenza. However, vaccination coverage among this group in our country is very low, not exceeding 25%. Convinced that one of the best tools to increase this coverage among professionals in our country are the scientific evidence, 19 scientific societies and associations professionals bringing together health professionals more directly related to influenza as an health problem, and the General Nursing Council, met to discuss and develop this consensus document in order to inform HCW about the appropriateness of their vaccination against influenza and the benefits that flow from it for themselves, for their patients and for the rest of the population. This recommendation is based on 3 pillars: argument of necessity, ethics and exemplary.

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(3):226-239 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):89-99


Emergence of plasmid mediated AmpC β-lactamasas: Origin, importance, detection and therapeutical options 
                 
C. SERAL, M. J GUDE, F. J. CASTILLO                                                            

 
AmpC β-lactamases can hydrolyze penicillins, oxyimino-, 7-α-methoxycephalosporins and monobactams. Susceptibility to cefepime or cefpirome is little affected and is unchanged for carbapenems. Originally such genes are thought to have been mobilized to mobile genetic elements from the chromosomal ampC genes from members of Enterobacteriaceae facilitating their spread and now they can appear in bacterial lacking or poorly expressing a chromosomal ampC gene. The prevalence of infection by plasmid mediated AmpC (pAmpC) varies depending on the type of enzyme and geographical location and blaCMY-2 is the most frequently detected worldwide. Typically, pAmpC producing isolates are associated with resistance to multiple antibiotics making the selection of an effective antibiotic difficult. Phenotypic and molecular methods to detect pAmpC are described and the role of different antibiotics in the treatment of these infections is examined. Surveillance studies about the evolution of this emerging resistant mechanism are important in clinical isolates. Evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of these isolates and the clinical efficacy of other therapeutic options is required.
   

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):89-99 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):240-244

Echinocandins: searching for differences. The example of their use in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy                   

N. DE LA LLAMA-CELIS, R. HUARTE-LACUNZA, C. GÓMEZ-BARAZA, I CAÑAMARES-ORBIS, M. SEBASTIÁN- ALDEANUEVA, R. ARRIETA-NAVARRO                                                                            

The echinocandins have a growing role in the treatment of fungal infections because of their novel mechanism of action. This is reflected in recently published management guidelines, but available in vitro data, animal studies, and clinical studies do not clearly differentiate the three agents in class. Comparative clinical efficacy among agents within the class, pharmacokinetic profiles in special populations, pharmacoeconomics justifications, and place in therapy have been largely unanswered. They share many common properties but marketing strategies of drug manufacturers are engaged in product differentiation. Although exist similarities in the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of the echinocandins, limited data have been published regarding their pharmacokinetics in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) patients. The pharmacokinetics of drug removal in critically ill patients receiving CRRT is very complex, with multiple variables affecting clearance. This review outlines the basic principles that determine whether a dose adjustment is required. Two studies with data on PK parameters of micafungin and anidulafungin in CRRT patients have been published and are compared following that basic principles in the review.

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):240-244 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):100-121

Antibiotheraphy in the 21st century, antibacterials for the second decade. Posibilities or realities in the future? 
           
J. E. GARCÍA-SÁNCHEZ, E. GARCÍA-MERINO, Á.  MARTÍN-DEL-REY, E. GARCÍA-SÁNCHEZ                                                             

 
A review of some antibacterial products is done motivated by the serious situation arisen by the antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. The attention is focus on those drugs with suitable antimicrobial properties that have prospects to be commercialized in the next years because of they are undergoing a clinical development phase (I, II, III). The search for these antibacterial products has been done by an exhaustive study of conference proceedings and web pages of international congresses on chemotherapy, infectious diseases and new antimicrobial drugs. Some of the new antibacterial products acts on known targets, and they belong to already used families. Furthermore, the great majority acts against the gram-positive bacterium. There is also some limited-spectrum antimicrobial drug whose use would minimize the adverse biological effects.
  

 

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):245-251

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic evaluation of respiratory fluoroquinolones. Guideline to selection of the most appropriate fluoroquinolone                   

J. PARRA-RUIZ, J. HERNÁNDEZ-QUERO                                                                               


Since its approval, fluoroquinolones have become one of the most prescribed antibacterial agents. Because of its widespread use, serious concerns about the emergence of resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp, and entrobacteriaceae, has arisen, especially because of cross-resistance between fluoroquinolones.
Huge efforts has been done to identify pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters like maximum serum concentration (Cmax), area under the curve of serum concentrations (AUC) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters like the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) or the mutant prevention concentration (MPC), to optimize the use of the new fluoroquinolones, especially against these difficult to treat microorganisms.
The new fluoroquinolones commercially available in Spain, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, have significant differences in their PK (Cmax, half-life, volume of distribution, etc), PD (MIC, MPC,) and in their PK/PD parameters (AUC/MIC; AUC/MPC) that allow clinicians to establish clear preference for the utilization of one of them.
Proper use of these new fluoroquinolones according to these PK/PD parameters will result in better management of respiratory infections with a reduction in the emergence of resistance. Based on data reviewed in this paper moxifloxacin use, with best PK/PD characteristics, should be preferred over levofloxacin. Should levofloxacin be used, alternative dosing strategies would be recommended to avoid selection of resistant variants.  

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):245-251 [pdf]

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