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.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(2):127-130  [pdf]

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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.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):118-122

Pneumococcal arthritis in paediatric population                     

GEMA BARBEITO-CASTIÑEIRAS, MARÍA GUINDA-GIMÉNEZ, OLAIA CORES-CALVO,  MANUELA HERNÁNDEZ-BLANCO, FERNANDA PARDO-SÁNCHEZ           

Introduction. Cases of septic arthritis in paediatric population by Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Health Area of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) were reviewed.
Material and methods. A retrospective study from January 2005 to March 2014 was conducted for all S. pneumoniae isolates obtained from joint fluids in children.
Results. From the 7,416 joint fluids received in the Microbiology Department, 77 belonged to paediatric patients, and of these, only 8 had positive culture. In total, there were three positive cases for S. pneumoniae, two with positive culture and a third with positive antigen detection. In the three patients (two of them under 15 months) the affected joint was hip, antibiotic treatment was combined with surgical drainage and evolution was favourable.
Conclusions. We conclude that pneumococcal arthritis is an entity that must be taken into account since most cases of arthritis in paediatric population appear as a complication of bacteraemia after a common cold or an ear infection. The greatest risk of sequel is associated with delays in diagnosis, so it is essential clinical and microbiological early diagnosis.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(1):34-39

Is it necessary to prescribe antibiotics in impacted third molar surgical removal?: comparative study between prescribing patterns                     

ISABEL IZUZQUIZA, KENT ARE JAMTØY, NILS PETTER FOSSLAND, IRENE MARTÍNEZ-PADILLA, FARZIN FALAHAT, LUIS ALOU, JOSÉ PRIETO, MARÍA LUISA GÓMEZ-LUSO           

Objective. To assess whether there is a significant difference in infection rate after surgery tooth extraction in two different hospitals from Norway and Spain where different surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis protocols are applied.
Methods. An analytical observational study was conducted, retrospective cohorts type, analyzing healthy patients with no risk factors, who were third molar tooth operated in maxillofacial services of two different hospitals: St. Olav in Trondheim (Norway) and Clínico San Carlos in Madrid (Spain). The collected variables were: age, number of tooth removed, anesthesia type, and observations about the course of the operation registered in the clinical history. To assess the development of postoperative infection, patient’s data of those who chose the hospital as the place to remove the suture thread were collected in Norway, whereas in Spain a telephone survey was conducted to determine the course of the operation months later.
Results. In St. Olav Hospital 11.1% of patients operated received antibiotic regimen after surgery, while in Hospital San Carlos were 100%. The infection rate was 15% in St.Olav Hospital and 7.5% in Hospital San Carlos. These differences were no statistically significant.
Conclusions. The routine administration of antibiotics to healthy patients with no risk factors undergoing impacted third molar surgical removal is a common clinical practice which it does not seem to be justified.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):142-168

Consensus document on pneumococcal vaccination in adults at risk by age and underlying clinical conditions. 2017 Update                     

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ-ROMO, JUAN JOSÉ PICAZO,  AMÓS GARCÍA ROJAS, MOISÉS LABRADOR HORRILLO, VIVENCIO BARRIOS, MARÍA CARMEN MAGRO, PEDRO GIL GREGORIO, RAFAEL DE LA CÁMARA, ALEJANDRO RODRÍGUEZ, JOSÉ BARBERÁN, FRANCISCO BOTÍA MARTÍNEZ, MANUEL LINARES RUFO, ISABEL JIMENO SANZ, JOSÉ MARÍA PORTOLÉS, FRANCISCO SANZ HERRERO,  JAVIER ESPINOSA ARRANZ, VALLE GARCÍA-SÁNCHEZ, MARÍA GALINDO IZQUIERDO, ENRIQUE MASCARÓS           

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) represent an important health problem among aging adults and those with certain underlying pathologies and some diseases, especially immunosuppressed and some immunocompetent subjects, who are more susceptible to infections and present greater severity and worse evolution. Among the strategies to prevent IPD and PP, vaccination has its place, although vaccination coverage in this group is lower than desirable. Nowadays, there are 2 vaccines available for adults. Polysacharide vaccine (PPV23), used in patients aged 2 and older since decades ago, includes a greater number of serotypes (23), but it does not generate immune memory, antibody levels decrease with time, causes an immune tolerance phenomenon, and have no effect on nasopharyngeal colonization. PCV13 can be used from children 6 weeks of age to elderly and generates an immune response more powerful than PPV23 against most of the 13 serotypes included in it. In the year 2013 the 16 most directly related to groups of risk of presenting IPD publised a series of vaccine recommendations based on scientific evidence regarding anti-pneumococcal vaccination in adults with underlying pathologies and special conditions. A commitment was made about updating it if new scientific evidence became available. We present an exhaustive revised document focusing mainly in recommendation by age in which some more Scientific Societies have been involved.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):9-13

Time-to-positivity, type of culture media and oxidase test performed on positive blood culture vials to predict Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with Gram-negative bacilli bacteraemia                     

NAZARET COBOS-TRIGUEROS, YULIYA ZBOROMYRSKA, LAURA MORATA, IZASKUN ALEJO, CRISTINA DE LA CALLE, ANDREA VERGARA, CELIA CARDOZO, MARIA P. ARCAS, ALEX SORIANO, FRANCESC MARCO, JOSEP MENSA, MANEL ALMELA, JOSE A. MARTINEZ           

Introduction. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of oxidase test and time-to-positivity (TTP) in aerobic and anaerobic blood culture vials to detect the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bacteraemia.
Material and methods. TTP was recorded for each aerobic and anaerobic blood culture vial of monomicrobial bacteraemia due to GNB. Oxidase test was performed in a pellet of the centrifuged content of the positive blood culture. An algorithm was developed in order to perform the oxidase test efficiently taking into account TTP and type of vial.
Results. A total of 341 episodes of GNB bacteraemia were analysed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the oxidase test performed on positive vials with GNB to predict P. aeruginosa were 95%, 99%, 91%, and 99%, respectively.  When growth was first or exclusively detected in anaerobic vials, P. aeruginosa was never identified hence the performance of the oxidase test could be avoided. When growth was only or first detected in aerobic vials, a TTP≥8h predicted P. aeruginosa in 37% or cases (63 of 169), therefore oxidase test is highly recommended.
Conclusions. Oxidase test performed onto positive blood culture vials previously selected by TTP and type of vials is an easy and inexpensive way to predict P. aeruginosa. In most cases, this can lead to optimization of treatment in less than 24 hours.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, 30(2):96-102

Non-febrile syndromes in the traveler returning from tropical regions admitted in a monographic unit                     

ÁLVARO ANULA-MORALES, BÁRBARA MARTIN-GINER, MICHELE HERNÁNDEZ-CABRERA, CRISTINA CARRANZA-RODRÍGUEZ, ELENA PISOS-ÁLAMO, NIEVES JAÉN-SÁNCHEZ, JOSÉ-LUIS PÉREZ-ARELLANO           

 

Background. The aim was to analyse those syndromes without fever in travellers who return from tropical regions evaluated at our Department of Infectology and Tropical Medicine. Clarifying these conditions intends to reach earlier diagnoses and, perhaps, to avoid the emergence and spread of imported diseases, as well as to establish appropriate preventive measures. 
Methods. An observational descriptive transversal study was performed, selecting those patients who returned from tropical regions without fever (n = 281), amongst all travellers evaluated in our department between 1998 and 2013. We analysed demographic features, information related to the trip, as well as the presenting complaints and the diagnoses.
Results. A total of 281 international travellers presenting without fever were analysed. Only 39% had received health counsel prior to travelling. The most visited regions were Lat-in America (38.8%), Africa (37.8%) and Asia (13.6%). 15% of patients were asymptomatic or suffered from non-infectious conditions. Among the rest, most had either gastrointestinal (46%) or cutaneous (34%) syndromes. The main gastrointestinal condition was diarrhoea, with a microbiological diagnosis reached in almost 50% of cases. Regarding cutaneous syndromes, arthropods bites (31%) and different bacterial lesions (20%) were most common.
Conclusions. Approximately 10% of patients in Travel Medicine are international travellers returning from tropical regions, half of them with no fever. Most are diagnosed with infectious diseases, mainly gastrointestinal or cutaneous syn-dromes. Eosinophilia is the third problem in frequency among this group of patients, and sexually transmitted infections are rare in our cohort. It is important to emphasize in preventive activities.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(2):96-102  [pdf]

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