MARÍA MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ, ALBERTO VÁZQUEZ BLANQUIÑO, ROCÍO MORÓN, LUCÍA PÉREZ RODRÍGUEZ, NATALIA CHUECA PORCUNA
Published: 21 July 2023
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/012.2023
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 536-538 [Full-text PDF]
ANDRÉS CANUT-BLASCO, CARMEN GÓMEZ-GONZÁLEZ, RAQUEL BARBERO-HERRANZ, ISMAEL BARBERO-MARTÍNEZ, EIDER ABASOLO-OSINAGA, ON BEHALF OF ARABA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL GROUP ON COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Published: 21 July 2023
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/033.2023
Objectives. The aim of this work was to estimate the conditioned probability for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),
viral antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT), and antibody detection tests depending on the prevalence in the specific healthcare settings in Spain in 2020, and on the pre-test probability (PTP) according to the clinical situation, age and unknown or close contacts of the patient.
Material and methods. Performance parameters of tests were obtained from literature. Prevalence data and PTP were obtained from Spanish sources and a survey, respectively. The post-test probability is the positive predictive value (PPV) when test is positive. For negative result, we also calculated the probability of having the infection (false negatives).
Results. For both RT-PCR and viral Ag-RDT, the lowest PPV values were for the population screenings. This strategy proved to be useful in ruling out infection but generates a high number of false positives. At individual level, both tools provided high PPV (≥ 97%) when the PTP values are over 35%. In seroprevalence studies, though the specificity of IgG alone tests is high, under low seroprevalence, false positives cannot be avoided. Total antibodies tests are useful for diagnosis of COVID-19 in those doubtful cases with RT-PCR or Ag-RDT tests being repeatedly negative.
Conclusions. The interpretating of results depends not only on the accuracy of the test, but also on the prevalence of the infection in different settings, and the PTP associated to the patient before performing the test.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 498-506 [Full-text PDF]
JORDI REINA, CARLA IGLESIAS
Published: 19 July 2023
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/041.2023
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 547-548 [Texto completo PDF]
EMILIO BOUZA, ÁNGEL ASENSIO, JOSÉ AUGUSTO GARCÍA NAVARRO, PEDRO GONZÁLEZ, MIGUEL ÁNGEL ACOSTA BENITO, JESÚS AGUILAR, JOSÉ BARBERÁN, JULIANA CABRERA, JESÚS DÍEZ-MANGLANO, CARLOS FERNÁNDEZ, MARÍA FERNANDEZ-PRADA, GUADALUPE FONTÁN, JOSÉ MIGUEL CISNEROS, BELÉN LORENZO-VIDAL, ADELA MARTÍN OLIVEROS, PALOMA NAVAS, ESTEBAN PALOMO, MARTHA KESTLER
Published: 19 July 2023
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/078.2023
Nursing homes (NH) conceptually should look as much like a home as possible. However NH have unquestionable similarities with a nosocomium as they are places where many patients with underlying diseases and comorbidities accumulate. There is evidence of transmission of microorganisms between residents and between residents and caregivers. We have not found any recommendations specifically aimed at the prevention of nosocomial infections in NH by the major Public Health Agencies and, therefore, the Health Sciences Foundation (Fundación de Ciencias de la Salud) has convened a series of experts and 14 Spanish scientific societies to discuss recommendations that could guide NH personnel in establishing written programs for the control and reduction of these infections. The present document is the result of these deliberations and contains suggestions for establishing such control programs on a voluntary and flexible basis in NH. We also hope that the document can help the health authorities to encourage this control activity in the different territorial areas of Spain. In our opinion, it is necessary to draw up a written plan and establish the figure of a coordinator or person responsible for implementing these projects. The document includes
measures to be implemented and ways of quantifying the reality of different problems and of monitoring the impact of the measures established.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(6): 552-561 [Full-text PDF] [Supplementary material PDF]
ANTONIO MASTROIANNI, VALERIA VANGELI, MARIA VITTORIA MAURO, ROBERTO MANFREDI, SONIA GRECO
Published: 18 July 2023
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/126.2022
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 531-532 [Full-text PDF]
ESTELA GIMÉNEZ, MANUEL GUERREIRO, ROBERTO GOZALBO-ROVIRA, CRISTOBAL AGUILAR, ELISEO ALBERT, JOSÉ LUIS PIÑANA, CARLOS SOLANO, DAVID NAVARRO
Published: 28 June 2023
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/016.2023
Introduction. Letermovir (LMV) is used for prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and end-organ disease in adult CMV-seropositive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). In turn, sirolimus (SLM) which displays in vitro anti-CMV activity, is frequently employed for prophylaxis of Graft vs. Host disease in allo-HSCT. Here, we aimed at assessing whether LMV and SLM used in combination may act synergistically in vitro on inhibiting CMV replication.
Material and methods. The antiviral activity of LMV and SLM alone or in combination was evaluated by a checkerboard assay, using ARPE-19 cells infected with CMV strain BADrUL131-Y. LMV and SLM were used at concentrations ranging from 24 nM to 0.38 nM and 16 nM to 0.06 nM, respectively.
Results. The mean EC50 for LMV and SLM was 2.44 nM (95% CI, 1.66-3.60) and 1.40 nM (95% CI, 0.41-4.74), respective. LMV and SLM interaction yielded mainly additive effects over the range of concentrations tested.
Conclusion. The additive nature of the combination of LMV and SLM against CMV may have relevant clinical
implications in management of CMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients undergoing prophylaxis with LMV.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 526-530 [Full-text PDF]
IGNACIO PÉREZ CATALÁN, ADRIANA GASCÓN BUJ, SERGIO GARCÍA MUÑOZ, IRIS GÓMEZ ALFARO, CELIA ROIG MARTÍ, MIGUEL TORRES GARCÍA, ROBERTO REIG VALERO, RAÚL FERRANDO PIQUERES, LIDÓN MATEU CAMPOS, JOSÉ MANUEL RAMOS RINCÓN, JORGE USÓ BLASCO
Published: 27 June 2023
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/028.2023
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 545-546 [Full-text PDF]
JUDITH DÍAZ-GARCÍA, ANA GÓMEZ, MARINA MACHADO, LUIS ALCALÁ, ELENA REIGADAS, CARLOS SÁNCHEZ-CARRILLO, ANA PÉREZ-AYALA, ELIA GÓMEZ-GARCÍA DE LA PEDROSA, FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ-ROMO, MARÍA SOLEDAD CUÉTARA, CORAL GARCÍA-ESTEBAN, INMACULADA QUILES-MELERO, NELLY DANIELA ZURITA, MARÍA MUÑOZ-ALGARRA, MARÍA TERESA DURÁN-VALLE, AÍDA SÁNCHEZ-GARCÍA. PATRICIA MUÑOZ, PILAR ESCRIBANO, JESÚS GUINEA, ON BEHALF OF THE CANDIMAD STUDY GROUP
Published: 26 June 2023
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/025.2023
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 541-544 [Full-text PDF]
JORGE DEL ROMERO, SANTIAGO MORENO GUILLÉN, FERNANDO RODRÍGUEZ-ARTALEJO, JULIÁN RUIZ-GALIANA, RAFAEL CANTÓN, PILAR DE LUCAS RAMOS, ALEJANDRA GARCÍA-BOTELLA, ALBERTO GARCÍA-LLEDÓ, TERESA HERNÁNDEZ-SAMPELAYO, JAVIER GÓMEZ-PAVÓN, JUAN GONZÁLEZ DEL CASTILLO, MARI CRUZ MARTÍN-DELGADO, FRANCISCO JAVIER MARTÍN SÁNCHEZ, MANUEL MARTÍNEZ-SELLÉS, JOSÉ MARÍA MOLERO GARCÍA, JAVIER GÓMEZ CASTELLÁ, MARÍA PALOMO, ROCÍO GARCÍA BERRIO, ALDINA COUSO GONZÁLEZ, CÉSAR SOTOMAYOR, EMILIO BOUZA
Published: 19 June 2023
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/038.2023
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are a major public health problem. The problems inherent to their diagnosis, treatment and prevention have to do not only with their nature, but also with organizational issues and overlapping competencies of the different health authorities in Spain.
The real situation of STI in Spain, at present, is poorly known. For this reason, the Scientific Committee on COVID and Emerging Pathogens of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has formulated a series of questions on this subject which were distributed, not only among the members of the Committee, but also among experts outside it. The central health authorities provide very high and increasing figures for gonococcal infection, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Both HIV infection and Monkeypox are two important STI caused by viruses in our environment, to which it should be added, mainly, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Emerging microorganisms such as Mycoplasma genitalium pose not only pathogenic challenges but also therapeutic problems, as in the case of N. gonohrroeae.
The pathways that patients with suspected STI follow until they are adequately diagnosed and treated are not well known in Spain. Experts understand that this problem is fundamentally managed in public health institutions, and that Primary Care and Hospital Emergency Services, together with some institutions that deal monographically with this problem, are the recipients of most of these patients. One of the most serious difficulties of STI lies in the availability of the microbiological tests necessary for their diagnosis, particularly in this era of outsourcing of microbiology services. Added to this is the increased cost of implementing the latest generation of molecular techniques and the difficulties of transporting samples.
It is clear that STI are not diseases to which the entire population is equally exposed and it is necessary to have a better knowledge of the risk groups where to focus the necessary interventions adapted to their characteristics. It should not be forgotten that STI are also a problem in the pediatric age group and that their presence can be a marker of sexual abuse with all that this implies in terms of health care and medicolegal activity.
Finally, STI are infections that are associated with a high cost of care for which we have very little information. The possibility of expanding the automatic performance of laboratory tests for STI surveillance through laboratory routines is encountering ethical and legal problems that are not always easy to solve.
Spain has created a ministerial area of specific attention to STI and there are plans to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these problems, but we still lack the necessary evidence on their impact. We cannot forget that these are diseases that transcend the individual and constitute a Public Health problem.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 440-465 [Full-text PDF]
CRISTINA BORRALLERAS, JAVIER CASTRODEZA SANZ, PILAR ARRAZOLA, CARMEN CÁMARA HIJÓN, JOSÉ Mª EIROS, MARÍA FERNÁNDEZ-PRADA, ÁNGEL GIL DE MIGUEL, GLORIA MIRADA MASIP, FERNANDO MORAGA-LLOP, DANIEL OCAÑA RODRÍGUEZ, JOAN PUIG-BARBERÀ, JORGE VÁZQUEZ, JÚLIA VERGARA-ALERT, SALOMÉ DE CAMBRA
Published: 12 June 2023
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/046.2023
Objectives. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is essential to mitigate the personal, social and global impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase. Vaccines are now required that offer broad, long-lasting immunological protection from infection in addition to protection from severe illness and hospitalisation. Here we present a review of the evidence base for a new COVID-19 vaccine, PHH-1V (Bimervax®; HIPRA HUMAN HEALTH S.L.U), and the results of an expert consensus.
Materials and methods. The expert committee consisted of Spanish experts in medicine, family medicine, paediatrics, immunology, microbiology, nursing, and veterinary medicine. Consensus was achieved using a 4-phase process consisting of a face-to-face meeting during which the scientific evidence base was reviewed, an online questionnaire to elicit opinions on the value of PHH-1V, a second face-to-face update meeting to discuss the evolution of the epidemiological situation, vaccine programmes and the scientific evidence for PHH-1V and a final face-to-face meeting at which consensus was achieved.
Results. The experts agreed that PHH-1V constitutes a valuable novel vaccine for the development of vaccination programmes aimed towards protecting the population from SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease. Consensus was based on evidence of broad-spectrum efficacy against established and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, a potent immunological response, and a good safety profile. The physicochemical properties of the PHH-1V formulation facilitate handling and storage appropriate for global uptake.
Conclusions. The physicochemical properties, formulation, immunogenicity and low reactogenic profile of PHH-1V confirm the appropriateness of this new COVID-19 vaccine.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2023; 36(5): 507-515 [Full-text PDF]
