Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):28-33

Epidemiology and risk factors of patients with intra-abdominal postsurgical infection treated with tigecycline: a cohort study                    

GLORIA TORRES, MIRIAM PAREDES, ALICIA HERNÁNDEZ, CRISTINA GARCÍA, FRANCISCO SÁNCHEZ BUENO, MANUEL CANTERAS, PASCUAL PARRILLA, JOAQUÍN GÓMEZ           

Objectives. To study a cohort of patients with intra-abdominal postsurgical infection treated with tigecycline to analyze its effectiveness and mortality related factors.
Patients and methods.  Prospective study of patients with intra-abdominal postsurgical infection with microbiological isolation and treated with tigecycline.
Results. Out of 103 patients only 61 full fit inclusion criteria. Mean age was 67 year-old and 72% were male. Charlson score was ≥ 3 in 65.5%, being diabetes and colon cancer the most prevalent diseases. Cancer surgery was the most frequent procedure (n=44, 72%) and previous antibiotic administration was present in 43 cases (69%). Pitt score was ≥ 3 in 69% and most prevalent bacteria were Escherichia coli (38 %), Enterococcus spp. (34%; mainly Enterococcus faecium) and Klebsiella pneumoniae together with Enterobacter cloacae (28%). Tigecycline was prescribed alone (17; 28%) or in combination with other antibiotics (44; 72%), mainly meropenem (25; 57%) or amikacin (19, 43%). 11 patients died (18%), all of which suffered extended cancer surgery and isolation of extended-spectrum betalactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae. Factors statistically associated to death in univariate analysis were Charlson score >3, pH <7.3 and leucocyte count >20.000 cells/mm3.
Conclusions. As being a cohort of patients treated with tigecycline, E. faecium isolation was very frequent. Non-fatal evolution was achieved in 82% cases, being tigecycline a potentially good option in the empiric treatment of very severe infections.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):28-33 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, Mar 31

Clinical presentation of candidaemia in elderly patients: experience in a single institution                     

ANA LERMA, ELENA CANTERO, MARÍA SORIANO, BEATRIZ ORDEN, ELENA MUÑEZ, ANTONIO RAMOS-MARTINEZ           

Objective. To analyse the clinical presentation of candidaemia in elderly patients.
Methods. A comparison of clinical presentation of candidaemia cases was carried out in a Spanish tertiary hospital between January 2010 and September 2015.
Results. Forty-five cases (32%) corresponded to elderly patients (≥ 75 years) and 95 cases (68%) to non-elderly patients (16-74 years). A higher proportion of elderly patients presented solid tumour (51% versus 32%, p=0.026) and a lower proportion had undergone solid or hematopoietic transplantation (0% versus 28%, p<0.001). Fewer elderly patients (16 patients, 36%) had a central venous line inserted than non-elderly patients (81 patients, 85%, p<0.001). Isolation of Candida parapsilosis was significantly lower among elderly (13.3%) than among non-elderly patients (32%, p=0.015). Fundoscopy was carried out in 20 elderly (44%) and in 64 younger patients (67%, p=0.009). The proportion of patients who underwent echocardiography was similar in both groups (56% vs 66%, respectively; p=0.218). Adequate antifungal treatment within the first 48 hours was administered in16 elderly patients (36%) and 58 younger patients (61%, p=0.005). Catheter removal was carried out in 9 elderly patients (68.1%) and in 40 non-elderly patients (49%, p=0.544). Mortality was higher among elderly patients (55.6%) than non-elderly patients (36.8%; p=0.037).
Conclusions. Elderly patients account for a substantial proportion of patients suffering from candidaemia in recent years. The clinical management of these patients was less appropriate than in younger patients with respect to fundus examination and the prescription of appropriate antifungal treatment. Mortality in elderly patients was higher than in younger patients.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; Mar 31 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):62-78

Diagnosis and treatment of imported eosinophilia in travellers and immigrants: Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI)                    

JOAQUÍN SALAS-CORONAS, GERMÁN RAMÍREZ-OLIVENCIA, JOSÉ LUIS PÉREZ-ARELLANO, MONCEF BELHASSEN-GARCÍA, CRISTINA CARRANZA-RODRÍGUEZ, MAGDALENA GARCÍA-RODRÍGUEZ, JUDIT VILLAR-GARCIA, BEGOÑA TREVIÑO-MARURI, NURIA SERRE-DELCOR, ROGELIO LÓPEZ-VÉLEZ, FRANCESCA NORMAN, JOAN GÓMEZ-JUNYENT, MANUEL JESÚS SORIANO-PÉREZ, GERARDO ROJO-MARCOS, ESPERANZA RODRÍGUEZ DE LAS PARRAS, MARÍA DEL MAR LAGO-NÚÑEZ, ANTONIO MURO, JOSÉ MUÑOZ           

According to published data, prevalence of imported eosinophilia among travellers and immigrants is set between 8% and 28.5%. Etiological diagnosis is often troublesome, and depending on the depth of the study and on the population analyzed, a parasitic cause is identified in 17% to 75.9% of the individuals. Among the difficulties encountered to compare studies are the heterogeneity of the studied populations, the type of data collection (prospective/retrospective) and different diagnostic protocols. In this document the recommendations of the expert group of the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI) for the diagnosis and treatment of imported eosinophilia are detailed.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):62-78  [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, Apr 5

Epidemiological surveillance for multidrug-resistant microorganisms in a general ICU                     

ANA FERNÁNDEZ-VERDUGO, JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ, DOLORES ESCUDERO, LUIS COFIÑO, LORENA FORCELLEDO,  MAURICIO TELENTI, EMILIO GARCÍA-PRIETO, RAQUEL RODRÍGUEZ-GARCÍA, LAURA ÁLVAREZ-GARCÍA, ANA PÉREZ-GARCÍA, CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ-LUCAS, FERNANDO VAZQUEZ           

Introduction. Multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms represent a threat for patients admitted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The objective of the present study is to analyse the results of epidemiological surveillance cultures for these microorganisms in one of these units.
Material and methods. General ICU. Retrospective analysis, descriptive statistics. Analysis of epidemiological surveillance cultures for MDR microorganisms in 2015. Studied microorganisms: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), ESBL-and/or carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CESBL-KP) and MDR Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB).
Results. One thousand, two hundred and fifty nine patients admitted. A total of 2,234 specimens from 384 patients were analysed (690, 634, 62 and 286 were rectal, throat, nasal and skin swabs respectively). Global APACHE II was 18.3 ± 8 versus 21.7 ± 7.8 in patients colonized/infected on admission. Global mortality was 19.7% versus 22.3% in patients colonized/infected on admission. The higher sensitivities achieved with the different samples for the different microorganism detection were as follows. MRSA: 79% and 90% for nasal and nasal + throat swabs, respectively. MDRAB: 80% and 95% for throat and throat + rectal swabs, respectively. CESBL-KP: 95% and 98% for rectal and rectal + throat swabs, respectively. 94 out of the 384 patients (24.4%) were colonized/infected with MDR at admission. 134 patients (10.6% of the total patients admitted) were colonized/infected with a total of 169 MMR during the hospital stay. MRSA has the earliest colonization/infection (9.2 ± 6.4days) and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, the latest (18.7± 16.4 days).
Conclusions. 24.4% of patients were colonized/infected by MDR at admission. Nasal, throat and rectal swabs were the most effective specimens for recovering MRSA, MDRAB and CESBL-KP, respectively. The combination of two specimens improves MDR detection except for CESBL-KP. Skin swabs are worthless. The most prevalent MDR at admission were ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae while the most frequent hospital acquired MDR was MDRAB.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; Apr 5 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):79-83

Favipiravir, a new concept of antiviral drug against influenza viruses                     

JORDI REINA, NURIA REINA           

Favipiravir (T-705) is a new antiviral drug with strong inhibitory activity on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of most RNA virus genome. All the influenza viruses have been shown fully sensitive to this new antiviral, including genetic strains to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir) resistance. Its mechanism of action lies in blocking viral replication and induction of lethal mutagenesis which determines the loss of infective activity of influenza viruses. Its activity is particularly intense in the respiratory tract, decreasing the viral load to non-infectious levels. Clinical trials in humans have not yet completed but have very favourable results. It seems that the best therapy would be the combination of favipiravir with oseltamivir; both antivirals are synergistic and avoid the emergence of resistance.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(2):79-83  [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):123-126

Pulmonary co-infection due to Nocardia cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus fumigatus                     

ROCÍO TRASTOY, TAMARA MANSO, XANA GARCÍA, GEMA BARBEITO, DANIEL NAVARRO, PEDRO RASCADO, Mª LUISA PÉREZ DEL MOLINO           

Introduction. Pulmonary nocardiosis is an uncommon pulmonary infection caused by aerobic gram-positive bacteria of the genus Nocardia.  Nocardia sp. are environmental organisms spread worldwide. Approximately 50 Nocardia species have been described to date, about 30 of which are known to cause human disease. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica was first reported in 2001.
Case report. We report a case of infection caused by N. cyriacigeorgica in a patient with B-cells non-Hodgkin lymphoma and diabetes mellitus. The microbiological findings reflect a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus fumigatus.
Conclusions. Patient’s background and information related to risk factors are essential to detect the growth of Nocardia sp. in the laboratory. Furthermore, diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is particularly controversial, especially in intensive care units patients.  Taking everything into account, we will discuss a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and A. fumigatus in a critically ill patient.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(2):123-126  [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):127-130

Fluconazole-containing agar Sabouraud dextrose plates are not useful when screening for susceptibility in Candida albicans                     

MARÍA ÁNGELES BORDALLO-CARDONA, LAURA JUDITH MARCOS-ZAMBRANO, ELIA GÓMEZ G. DE LA PEDROSA, PILAR ESCRIBANO, EMILIO BOUZA, JESÚS GUINEA, RAFAEL CANTÓN           

Introduction. Fluconazole is an alternative for candidemic patients who are not critically ill. Fluconazole is mainly fungistatic and does not completely inhibit visual Candida albicans growth. We studied the usefulness of fluconazole-containing Sabouraud dextrose agar plates for detecting susceptibility to fluconazole in C. albicans.
Material and methods. Adjusted inocula of 19 isolates were transferred directly onto fluconazole-containing Sabouraud dextrose plates (concentrations ranging from 0.125 mg/L to 128 mg/L). The fluconazole MIC in fresh isolates and after growth on the fluconazole-containing plate at 128 mg/L was recorded following the EUCAST EDef 7.2 guidelines. Then isolates were classified according to their degree of trailing production, based on microdilution procedure.
Results. All isolates were able to grow on all fluconazole-containing plates, even those isolates susceptible to fluconazole. In fact, we selected isolates with different degrees of trailing based on microdilution procedures. 50% of isolates classified as heavy trailers, 35.71% as moderate trailers, and 14.28% as slight trailers.
Conclusions. The use of fluconazole-containing Sabouraud dextrose agar plates was not a reliable method to detect fluconazole susceptibility in C. albicans isolates; growth of the isolates was a trailing effect rather than true resistance.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, Feb 11

Prevalence of human papilloma virus in women in a population screening program                     

JOSÉ Mª EIROS, MÓNICA DE FRUTOS, LUIS LÓPEZ-URRUTIA, LOURDES VIÑUELA, CARMEN RAMOS, JOSÉ Mª JIMÉNEZ           

Introduction. The human papillomavirus (HPV), is necesary to cause a woman developing cervical cancer. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of women with HPV infection, belonging to the program of prevention and early detection of cervical cancer of Castilla y León (Spain).
Material and methods. Samples of women included in the screening program were analyzed. Including a total of 120,326 cervical swab samples, collected in the period from January 2012 to December 2014.
Results. A total of 12,183 positive samples were obtained, showing a prevalence of 9.6 ‰, in the female population, with 95.0% confidence interval (CI) between 9.48 and 9.82. The prevalence undergoes a linear decrease with increasing age of women. And by studying the prevalence of different genotypes depending on the risk of cell transformation it is higher in high-risk genotypes at low risk.
Conclusions. The screening system for cervical cancer in Castilla y León is the only screening program implemented in Spain, including the detection of HPV, so that the study results are of great significance for future studies of prevalence of infection and evolution.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):84-89

Antibacterial effect of sevoflurane and isoflurane                     

MARÍA MARTÍNEZ-SERRANO, MANUEL GERÓNIMO-PARDO, ÁNGEL MARTÍNEZ-MONSALVE, MARÍA DOLORES CRESPO-SÁNCHEZ           

Introduction. Multidrug resistant bacteria are increasing worldwide and therapeutic options are limited. Some anaesthetics have shown antibacterial activity before. In this study, we have investigated the antibacterial effect of the halogenated anaesthetic agents sevoflurane and isoflurane against a range of resistant pathogens.
Methods. Two experiments were conducted. In the first, bacterial suspensions of both ATCC and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exposed to liquid sevoflurane and isoflurane during 15, 30 and 60 minutes. In the second experiment clinical resistant strains of E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, P. aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecium were studied. Previously inoculated agar plates were irrigated with the halogenated anaesthetic agents and these were left to evaporate before the plates were incubated. In both experiments colony forming units were counted in resultant plates.
Results. In the first experiment, isoflurane showed faster and higher antimicrobial effect than sevoflurane against all the strains studied. Gram-negative organisms were more susceptible. In the second experiment, E. faecium was found to be resistant to both halogenated agents; only isoflurane showed statistically significant activity against the rest of the strains studied.
Conclusions. Both halogenated agents, but particularly isoflurane, showed in vitro antibacterial activity against pathogens resistant to conventional antibiotics. Further investigation is required to determine whether or not they also exhibit this property in vivo. This might then allow these agents to be considered as rescue treatment against multidrug resistant patho-gens, including a topical use in infected wounds.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):103-117

Delphi-based study and analysis of key risk factors for invasive fungal infection in haematological patients                     

LOURDES VÁZQUEZ, MIGUEL SALAVERT, JORGE GAYOSO, MANUEL LIZASOAÍN, ISABEL RUIZ CAMPS, NICOLÁS DI BENEDETTO, ON BEHALF OF THE STUDY GROUP OF RISK FACTORS FOR IFI USING THE DELPHI METHOD           

Introduction. Mortality caused by invasive fungal infections due to filamentous fungi (IFI-FF) is high. Predisposing factors to IFI-FF are multiple and should be stratified. The objective of this study was to identify key risk factors for IFI-FF in onco-haematological patients in different clinical settings.
Methods. Prospective national Delphi study. Risk factors for IFI-FF in patients with onco-haematological diseases were identified by a systematic review of the literature. An anonymous survey was sent by e-mail to a panel of experts. A key risk factor was defined when at least 70% of the surveyed participants assigned a “maximal” or “high” risk.
Results. In allogenic stem cell transplantation, 18 of the 42 risk factors analyzed were classified as key risk factors, including neutropenia, previous IFI-FF, grade III/IV acute or extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), umbilical cord blood transplantation, HLA mismatching transplantation, graft failure, absence of HEPA filters, absence of laminar air  flow, diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia, haploidentical transplantation, anti-TNF-α drugs, alemtuzumab, anti-thymocyte globulin, immunosuppressive prophylaxis for GVHD, lymphocytopenia, cytomegalovirus infection, and proximity to construction areas. In acute leukaemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (AL/MDS), 7 of 25 risk factors were defined as key risk factors, including neutropenia, consolidation therapy without response, induction therapy, antifungal prophylaxis with azoles, proximity to construction areas, and absence of HEPA filters. In lymphoma/multiple myeloma (MM), the five key risk factors among 21 analyzed were use of steroids, neutropenia, progressive disease, anti-CD52 therapies, and proximity to construction areas.
Conclusions. The Delphi method was useful for the classification and stratification of risk factors for IFI-FF in patients with onco-haematological diseases. Identifying key risk factors will contribute to a better management of IFI-FF in this group of patients at high or changing risk.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(2):103-117  [pdf]

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