Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):69-86

Guidelines for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly patient                                 
 

JUAN GONZÁLEZ-CASTILLO, FRANCISCO JAVIER MARTÍN-SÁNCHEZ, PEDRO LLINARES, ROSARIO MENÉNDEZ, ABEL MUJAL, ENRIQUE NAVAS, JOSÉ BARBERÁN               

The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) increases with age and is associated with an elevated morbimortality due to the physiological changes associated with aging and a greater presence of chronic disease. Taking into account the importance of this disease from an epidemiological and prognostic point of view, and the enormous heterogeneity described in the clinical management of the elderly, we believe a specific consensus document regarding this patient profile is necessary. The purpose of the present work was to perform a review of the evidence related to the risk factors for the etiology, the clinical presentation, the management and the treatment of CAP in elderly patients with the aim of elaborating a series of specific recommendations based on critical analysis of the literature. This document is the fruit of the collaboration of different specialists representing the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine and Emergency Care (SEMES), the Spanish Society of Geriatrics (SEG), the Spanish Society of Chemotherapy (SEQ), the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) and the Spanish Society of Home Hospitalization (SEHAD).

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(4):244-251

Prospective follow-up of results of tuberculosis treatment                                 
 


MARTA MORENO-GÓMEZ, MONTSERRAT ALONSO-SARDÓN, HELENA IGLESIAS-DE-SENA, LUCIANA LUCENA ARANHA DE MACÈDO               

Objective. The aim of the study was to analyze tuberculosis treatment outcomes in a health area of the National Health System.
Material and Methods. Analytical cohort study of tuberculosis’ cases treated in the hospital care of the health area of Salamanca (Spain) 6 months. The clinical record constituted the basic source of data, whose information was complemented by a clinical interview to the patient. The microbiological records were additionally used for classifying the therapeutic outcomes in satisfactory outcome (SO), potentially unsatisfactory outcome (PUO) and death. A total of 146 patients met the inclusion criteria; 108 patients were interviewed. Their average age was 49 years. Out of them, 29.6% (32/108) showed some social risk factor (SRF).
Results. The SO level was 55.6% (IC 95%: 55.6±9); the variables associated with the SO were young elderly patients, living in family and patterns of 6 months. The PUO proportion stood at 40.7% (IC 95%: 40.7±9); the variables which increased the PUO probability were adulthood, residing in other provinces, living alone, comorbidity, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), alcoholism and social maladjustment. The variables included in the final model for PUO in logistic regression were adult, comorbidity and SFR, while the institutional conditions associated the mortality.
Conclusions. The SO rates can be improved. The PUO level is conditioned by high loss rates, 31.5% (95% CI: 31.5 ± 9), so measures should be established for reduction and improve the effectiveness of the overall treatment.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):87-92

Detection of antibacterial resistance by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry                                 
 

YULIYA ZBOROMYRSKA, MARIO FERRER-NAVARRO, FRANCESC MARCO, JORDI VILA               

In the last decade we have witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of strains isolated in hospitals that are producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) or, more recently, carbapenemases. This makes clear the need for a system for rapid detection of these resistance mechanisms that allow the selection of the most suitable antibiotic treatment in order to improve patient care. Recent data support the possibility of using mass spectrometry (MS), specifically MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization, Time-of-Flight ) systems to identify specific resistance mechanisms and their use offers several advantages. First, the economic cost of each determination is clearly inferior to the classical molecular techniques for detection of resistance genes. Second, detection of resistance by MALDI-TOF reduces the time for obtaining results compared to the routine methods currently employed. Finally, the possibility that this method allow us to detect enzymes not previously characterized, that there is no information about the genes that encode them. Therefore, we believe that this may be a good tool to implement in clinical microbiology laboratories. This review aims to present the latest developments in this field.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(4):252-260

Empirical antimicrobial therapy in ICU admitted patients. Influence of microbiological confirmation on the length of treatment                                 
 


XAVIER NUVIALS, ELENA ARNAU, JOAQUIM SERRA, ROSA ALCARAZ, JESÚS CABALLERO, CÉSAR LABORDA, MARCOS PÉREZ, M. NIEVES LARROSA, MERCEDES PALOMAR               

Introduction. Most patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICU) receive antimicrobial treatment. A proper therapeutic strategy may be useful in decreasing inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatments. When the infection is not microbiologically confirmed, the antimicrobial streamlining may be difficult. Nevertheless, there is scant information about the influence of the microbiological confirmation of the infections on empirical antimicrobial treatment duration.
Method. Post-hoc analysis of prospective data (ENVIN-UCI register) and observational study of patients admitted (> 24 hours) in a medico-surgical ICU, through the three-months annual surveillance interval for a period of ten years, receiving antimicrobial treatment for treating an infection. Demographic, infection and microbiological data were collected as well as empirical antimicrobial treatment and causes of adaptation. The main goal was to establish the influence of microbiological confirmation on empirical antimicrobial treatment duration.
Results. During the study period 1,526 patients were included, 1,260 infections were diagnosed and an empirical antibiotic treatment was started in 1,754 cases. Infections were microbiologically confirmed in 1,073 (62.2%) of the empirical antibiotic treatment. In 593 (55.3%) cases, the antimicrobial treatment was considered appropriate. The main cause of treatment adaptation in the microbiologically confirmed infections was streamlining (39%). The microbiological confirmation of the infection was not associated with significantly shorter empirical antibiotic treatments (6.6 ± 5.2 VS. 6.8 ± 4.5 days).
Conclusion. The microbiological confirmation of infections in patients admitted to UCI was associated with a higher reduction of antimicrobial spectrum, although had no effect on the length of empirical antimicrobial therapy.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):93-97

Reasons for antiretroviral treatment change in HIV+ patients in Spain in 2010-2011. SWITCH AUDIT Study                                 
 

ENRIC PEDROL, POMPEYO VICIANA, ALBERTO ARRANZ, JUAN PASQUAU, ELISABETH DEIG, MARIONA TASIAS Y EL GRUPO DE ESTUDIO SWITCH AUDIT               

Survey in 349 HIV infected subjects in 19 Spanish Hospitals in 2010-2011, to assess the reasons for antiretroviral treatment change. Simplification was the most frequent reason for change (37%), followed by toxicity (30%) and treatment failure (21%). There were statistically significant differences according to treatment line and transmission category. In conclusion, in many patients treatment is changed in order to obtain the benefits of a regimen easier to follow.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(4):261-268

Trend in the susceptibility of the most frequent bacterial pathogens isolated at Hospital General La Mancha Centro over 2010-2012 period                                 
 


MARÍA ÁNGELES ASENCIO, MARÍA HUERTAS, RAFAEL CARRANZA, MARÍA FRANCO, JESÚS CASTELLANOS, JOSÉ RAMÓN BARBERÁ, MARÍA DEL CARMEN CONDE, JOSÉ MARÍA TENÍAS              

Introduction. Our objective was to determine the trend of the antimicrobial susceptibility of the most common bacterial
pathogens isolated in La Mancha Centro Hospital (MCH) between 2010-2012.
Material and methods. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients admitted to MCH were studied. These data and their antibiotic susceptibility were obtained from the database OBSERVA (BioMérieux).
Results. The percentages of susceptibility for S. aureus were: 50% methicillin-resistant-S. aureus (MRSA) (higher co-resistance to erythromycin and levofloxacin), 46% erythromycin, 73% clindamycin, 45% levofloxacin, 99% rifampin and 100% cotrimoxazole, glycopeptides, linezolid and daptomycin. Increased resistance in ICU was observed (63% MRSA), with 50% of S. aureus (susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains) with vancomycin MIC values ≥ 0.5 mg/L. E. coli susceptibility: 62% amoxicillin-clavulanate, 55% ciprofloxacin, 60% cotrimoxazole, 84% gentamicin and 95% fosfomycin. K. pneumoniae susceptibility: 74% amoxicillin-clavulanate, 71% ciprofloxacin, 78% cotrimoxazole, 94% gentamicin and 87% fosfomycin. The percentage of BLEE strains was 17% and 21% for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively, without detection of resistance to carbapenems. P. aeruginosa susceptibility: 80% ceftazidime and carbapenems, 63% ciprofloxacin and higher than 90% aminoglycosides. A decreasing trend of susceptibility to ceftazidime and carbapenems was observed in ICU and increasing trend to ciprofloxacin.
Conclusions. Resistance percentages were higher in ICU than in the rest of the hospital, highlighting 63% of MRSA strains. Our percentage of BLEE and MRSA strains were higher than the Spanish media. Rifampicin and cotrimoxazole maintain good susceptibility to S. aureus, fosfomycin and aminoglycosides to Enterobacteriaceae and carbapenems to P. aeruginosa.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):98-101

Seroprevalence of measles, rubella, mumps and varicella in health workers in the Community of Madrid                                 
 

Mª LUISA RODRÍGUEZ, DAVID MARTÍNEZ, JUANA MARÍA SANTOS-SANCHO, JENRY RICARDO BORDA, ANA ORERO               

Background. The vaccination of health workers has a large repercussion on the health of the workers, the patients and the population in general. Due to this, we proposed to discover the serological status for varicella, rubella, mumps and measles in the workers of a tertiary hospital in Madrid.
Methods. We have conducted a retrospective epidemiological study of 1060 health workers, obtaining information such as age, sex, service area, employment status, pre-exposure vaccination and post-vaccination serology and vaccination status.
Results. In the population studied, 90.1% were protected against varicella, 65.6% against mumps, 95.6% against rubella and 92.9% against measles. There is no better protection against these illnesses for workers who treat patients directly, workers who treat immunosuppressed patients or for workers in services or units with a higher risk of infection.
Conclusion. There is no better protection against varicella, rubella, mumps and measles for the workers who have higher risk of infection at work; and the workers who treat patients, that if they suffer these diseases, this could put their health at risk.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):102-105

Sensitivity of three inmunocromathographic tests in faeces samples for Campylobacter and Salmonella detection in comparison to culture                                 
 

Mª DEL CARMEN LIÉBANA-MARTOS,  JOSÉ GUTIERREZ, CRISTINA RIAZZO, JOSÉ Mª NAVARRO               

Introduction. Campylobacter sp. and Salmonella enterica are two of the main organisms causing gastroenteritis in our environment. Immunochromatographic tests for antigen detection performed directly on stool samples for its simplicity and rapid results may make them useful diagnostic elements in the context of primary care.
Method. During October 2012 we selected all feces in which enteropathogenic bacteria are isolated from those received for stool culture in the laboratory of Microbiology of the University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves of Granada. After standard management of faeces samples and isolation of any enteropathogen, the commercial kits: Campy Leti, Ridaquick Campylobacterscreen and Salmonella Leti were tested for simultaneous research of Campylobacter and Salmonella antigens. Sensitivity and specificity were determined.
Results. Two hundred and thirty five stool samples were received in which 8 Salmonella enterica (7 B serogroup and 1 D serogroup), 7 Campylobacter jejuni, 4 Aeromonas hydrophila and 1 Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated. Campy Leti, Ridaquick Campylobacterscreen and Salmonella Leti presented a sensitivity of 100%, 100% and 75%, respectively. Specificities corresponded to 46%, 69% and 100%, respectively.
Conclusion. Immunocromatographic tests can be useful for a first screening of enteropathogen in primary care.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):106-109

First clinical isolate in Europe of clindamycin-resistant group B Streptococcus mediated by the lnu(B) gene                                 
 

 DAVID M ARANA, BEATRIZ ROJO-BEZARES, CARMEN TORRES, JUAN IGNACIO ALÓS               

We characterize the mechanisms implicated in an unusual phenotype of resistance to macrolides-lincosamides (no halos of inhibition around clindamycin and lincomycin discs, and a 15 mm halo around erythromycin disc) in a Streptococcus agalactiae isolate recovered in Spain. The presence of macrolide or lincosamide resistance genes [erm(A),erm(B), erm(C), erm(T), mef(A), mrs(A), lnu(A), lnu(B), lsa(B), lsa(C) and vga(C)] was investigated by PCR and sequencing. The strain showed a resistant phenotype to erythromycin and clindamycin (MIC = 2 mg/L and MIC = 8 mg/L, respectively) and the presence of lnu(B) and mef(A) genes was demonstrated. Clinical microbiology laboratories should be aware of this unusual phenotype due to the association of two mechanisms mediated by lnu(B) and mef(A) genes. This constitute, to our knowledge, the first report of lnu(B) in S. agalactiae in human isolates in Europe.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(2):110-114

Report of 38 cases of tracheobronchitis in non-immunocompromised patients with dual isolation of Aspergillus in lower respiratory tract samples                                 
 

JOSE BARBERÁN, ELOY SÁNCHEZ-HAYA, DANIEL DEL CASTILLO, FRANCISCO SANZ, BERNARDINO ALCÁZAR, EDUARDO MALMIERCA, ON BEHALF OF THE ASP INVESTIGATOR GROUP               

Introduction. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an uncommon manifestation of Aspergillus infection. This study retrospectively analysed patients presenting tracheobronchitis among non-neutropenic/non-transplant adult patients with at least two valuable cultures of respiratory samples yielding Aspergillus spp. in Spanish hospitals.
Methods. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. Simple tracheobronchitis was considered when the bronchoscopy report described mucosal inflammation and mucus secretions and invasive tracheobronchitis when ulceration and pseudomembrane formation was reported. Cases were considered “proven” (histopathological confirmation) or “probable” aspergillar tracheobronchitis.
Results. A total of 38 cases of tracheobronchitis (26 simple, 12 invasive) were identified, all considered probable aspergillar tracheobronchitis. Patients were elderly (89.5% patients were ≥65 years), males (76.3%), presented advanced COPD (GOLD III+IV in 81.3%) and heart insufficiency (55.3%), with higher APACHE II score in those with invasive tracheobronchitis (10.17±7.38 vs. 4.32±4.39, p=0.019). Up to 50% patients were taking steroids (accumulated doses >100 mg in 89.5% of them) and 34.2% antibiotics pre-admission. Antifungals were administered to 60.5% patients (57.7% with simple and 66.6% with invasive tracheobronchitis). Voriconazole was the most frequent antifungal (alone or in combination): 69.6% in the 23 treated patients (60.0% simple and 87.5% invasive tracheobronchitis). Mortality was 23.7% (15.4% in simple and 41.7% in invasive tracheobronchitis).
Conclusions. The results of the present studty suggest that aspergillar tacheobronchitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-immunocompromised patients with deteriorating chronic airway limitation.

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