Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):22-27

Microbiological study of infectious endophthalmitis with positive culture within a 13 year-period                                 
 

MARÍA ÁNGELES ASENCIO, MARÍA HUERTAS, RAFAEL CARRANZA, JOSÉ MARÍA TENÍAS, JAVIER CELIS, FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ-DEL VALLE               

Introduction. Our objectives are to describe the microbial spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from patients with culture-proven endophthalmitis.
Material and methods. Retrospective study of patients with microbiological diagnosis of endophthalmitis treated at the Ophthalmology Department of the General Hospital La Mancha Centro in the period 1996-2008. The identification of isolates was performed using the automated VITEK-2® and Api galleries (bioMérieux, Spain SA). The antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by the VITEK-2® system (bioMérieux, Spain SA), E-test strips (MIC Test Strip, Liofilchem, Italy) and Sensititre® YeastOne trading system (Trek Diagnostic Systems, Ohio, USA) for Candida species.
Results. Forty four (70%) of 63 cases of endophthalmitis were culture positive. Gram-positive bacteria were much more common than gram-negative bacteria in both postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) and post-traumatic endophthalmitis (PTE). Staphylococcus epidermidis was predominant in POE, while Bacillus sp. predominated in the PTE; furthermore, the 75% of total fungal isolates corresponded to postraumatic cases. The isolated strains showed 100% susceptibility to vancomycin, ceftazidime and amikacin, while resistance to ciprofloxacin was greater than 15%. The empirical antifungal therapy failed in 50% of cases. The visual prognosis was significantly less favorable in the PTE.
Conclusions. Based on the susceptibility of our isolates, vancomycin, ceftazidime and amikacin are good choices for empirical treatment of endophthalmitis, unlike ciprofloxacin. We recommend conducting antifungal prophylaxis after penetrating ocular trauma in a rural environment.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):22-27 [pdf]

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):28-35

Antibiotic prescribing and changes in antimicrobial resistances in the health area of Segovia (Spain) during the period between 2007 and 2011                                
 

SONIA MIGUÉLEZ-FERREIRO, ELENA MORENO-SÁNCHEZ, MARÍA GUTIÉRREZ-DE ANTONIO, SUSANA HERNANDO-REAL               

Introduction. We analyzed the antibiotic prescribing and resistances of respiratory and urinary pathogens more common in the Health Area of Segovia in the period 2007-2011. The aim of the study was to investigate variability, time trends of antibiotic prescribing and correlation with changes in the antimicrobial resistance patterns.
Material and methods. Retrospective cross-sectional study. Antibiotic consumption was expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DHD). The antimicrobial resistance was expressed in percentages. Trend analysis was performed testing Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Results. The average antibiotic prescribing was 14.17 DHD, the coefficient and low ratio was 38.93% and 17.94. Penicillins was the most prescribed group (73%). Rural localization, lack of training MIR, distance to hospital and percentage of patients >65 years; showed significant association with increased antibiotic prescribing. Resistance of E. coli to cotrimoxazole and resistance of H. influenzae to amoxicillin decreased both by 8%. Resistance of S. pyogenes to erythromycin decreased by 5%. Resistances of S. pneumoniae to penicillin and E.coli to cephalosporins were both increased by 12%. Correlation between antibiotic prescription and resistances did not show singnificative results.
Conclusions. Prescribing of antibiotics decreased by 3.2% during the period. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics was increased. Geographic wide variation in antibiotic prescribing was detected, also between physicians. There were not obtained conclusive data from the correlation between antibiotic prescribing and antimicrobial resistance.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):36-42

Use of Digital Health Records and “WebMovil” corporate service in the communication management of critical results of Microbiology, in the context of a primary health care area                                
 

ANTONIO FRANCISCO GUZMÁN-GONZÁLEZ, FEDERICO NAVAJAS-LUQUE, JOSÉ DE LA TORRE-FERNÁNDEZ               

Introduction. The objective was to describe and evaluate a new communication protocol of reporting critical results applied to Microbiology in a health area of Andalusia.
Material and methods. The size and type of the critical values of Microbiology are analyzed for primary care patients. A new computerized reporting system was analyzed, in real time, through Diraya Digital Health Records, which integrates the analytical test module (MPA). The protocol is complemented, in collaboration with the Information Technology (IT), with the Junta de Andalucía short message service (SMS) “WebMovil”.
Results. The total number of notices of critical results by the new protocol in 2012 was 817. The number of critical values for primary care was 570, of which 90 were for Microbiology. The most frequent notice was by isolation in the stool culture (n = 51; 56.67%). The prevalence of the critical values of Microbiology in primary care was 0.45/100. The average time of notifications was 13 minutes. The success rate of notifications was 97.7% and 0% obtained in the number of withdrawals. In 99.93% of cases the contact with the patient was stated and in 98.55% the medical intervention was also confirmed.
Conclusions. Communication by a computerized system linked to the SMS technology showed a reduction in the time of notification, and produced additional benefits, such as eliminating the risk of error when there is no repetition of information from the recipient received by the laboratory. Furthermore, the use of SMS messages ensures that doctors on duty always receive information immediately.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):43-45

Evaluation of galactomannan antigen and Aspergillus real time PCR for diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis                                
 

MERCEDES CHANZÁ, Mª TERESA FRAILE, CONCEPCIÓN GIMENO, Mª DOLORES OCETE               

Introduction. The aim of the study was to compare the galactomannan antigen (GA) and  molecular biology(PCRrt) tests with the culture in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA). 
Material and methods. Four hundred and seventy two samples were analyzed: 388 respiratory and 84 serum samples from 271 patients. Culture and GA were evaluated in the respiratory samples and GA in the serum samples. PCR was used when discrepancies were observed among culture and GA tests.
Results. The detection of GA in serum was positive in 22 (of 84), 21 had the test positive respiratory sample. Of the 62 sera with negative GA, 45 were also negative respiratory specimens. The culture was positive in 37 of which were positive for GA. Comparing culture with AG, it showed PPV=23%, NPV=100%, S=100% and E=52%. The PCR showed respect to culture: PPV=69%, NPV=89%, S=64% and E=82%. In sera were found in 60% discrepancies between PCRrt and GA.
Conclusions. We consider useful the GA detection in serum combined with culture and GA in respiratory samples, for diagnosis of AI. PCR requires further studies for standardization and set breakpoints.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):46-50

Antimicrobial stewardship in patients recently transferred to a ward from the ICU                                
 

ANTONIO RAMOS, LAURA BENÍTEZ-GUTIERREZ, ANGEL ASENSIO, BELÉN RUIZ-ANTORÁN, CARLOS FOLGUERA, ISABEL SÁNCHEZ-ROMERO, ELENA MUÑEZ               

Purpose. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is an important health problem that is related to increasing bacterial resistance. Despite its relevance, many health institutions assign very limited resources to improving prescribing practices. An antimicrobial stewardship programme (APS) centred on patients discharged from the ICU could efficiently undertake this task.
Methods. During this six month study the main activity was performing a programmed review of antimicrobial prescriptions in patients transferred to the ward from the ICU. In the case of inadequate antimicrobial treatment, a recommendation was included in the medical record.
Results. A total of 437 antimicrobial prescriptions for 286 patients were revised during a six month period. In all, 271 prescriptions (62%) were considered inappropriate in 183 patients. The most common reasons for inappropriateness were treating unconfirmed infection (43%), inadequate antimicrobial coverage (34%) and intravenous administration when the oral route was feasible (11%). Proposed recommendations were addressed in 212 cases (78%). There was no significant difference in adherence with respect to the type of recommendation (p=0.417). There was a 5% lower use of antibiotics during the year the study was conducted compared to the previous one.
Conclusions. ASPs centred on patients discharged from the ICU may be an efficient strategy to ameliorate antimicrobial use in hospitals.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):51-55

In vitro emergence of ertapenem resistance in Escherichia coli producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase                                
 

HUGO E. VILLAR, MÓNICA B JUGO, MATÍAS VISSER, MARIANA HIDALGO, GABRIEL HIDALGO, GUSTAVO CESAR MACCALLINI               

Introduction. The occurrence of community-associated infections due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing worldwide. These organisms are frequently resistant to many of the antimicrobial agents but remain susceptible to carbapenems. We investigated the in vitro emergence of carbapenem resistance in a collection of clinical isolates of ESBL -producing E. coli.
Material and methods. First and second-step resistant mutants were obtained from E. coli with ESBL. Aliquots of 50μl containing > 109 CFU were applied to Mueller-Hinton plates containing meropenem, imipenem or ertapenem. MICs for native strains and mutants were determined using the epsilometric test (E-test).
Results. Resistant mutants were not selected with imipenem or meropenem. E. coli growth was observed on ertapenem (0.5 mg/L)-containing plates in 13 of 57 clinical isolates (22.8 %).The ertapenem MIC for these first-step mutants were ≥ 1 mg/L, remaining susceptible to imipenem and meropenem. The first-step mutants were used as native strains. Six second-step resistant mutants were selected with ertapenem. All were fully resistant (CMI ≥ 8 mg/L) to ertapenem, three were resistant to meropenem and one to imipenem. Four second-step resistant mutants were selected with meropenem. All were resistant to ertapenem, meropenem, and two of them were resistant to imipenem.
Conclusions. Stable resistant mutants were easy to select with ertapenem among ESBL-producing E. coli. Two steps were necessary to select resistant mutants to meropenem or imipenem.The use of ertapenem in high-inoculum infections or in undrained focus of infection should be monitored to reduce the risk on selection of resistance.

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Rev Esp Quimioter 2014:27(1):56-62

C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis invasive infections in the PICU: clinical features, prognosis and mortality                                
 

IOLANDA JORDAN, LLUÏSA HERNANDEZ, MÓNICA BALAGUER, JOSÉ-DOMINGO LÓPEZ-CASTILLA, LIDIA CASANUEVA, CRISTINA SHUFFELMAN, MARÍA-ANGELES GARCÍA-TERESA, JUAN-CARLOS DE CARLOS, PALOMA ANGUITA, LORENZO AGUILAR, ON BEHALF OF THE ERICAP STUDY GROUP               

Candida albicans remains the most common agent associated with invasive Candida infection (ICI), but with increasing
number of non-albicans species. An epidemiological, observational study exploring host criteria, clinical characteristics and mortality of ICI was performed in 24 pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Spain. Patients were analyzed in global and distributed by infecting species (for groups with ≥15 patients). A total of 125 ICI were included: 47 by C. albicans, 37 by C. parapsilosis, 19 by C. tropicalis, 4 C. glabrata, and 18 others. Up to 66% of ICI by C. albicans and 75.7% by C. parapsilosis occurred in children ≤24 months, while the percentage of children >60 months was higher in ICI by C. tropicalis. Bloodstream infection was most common among C. tropicalis (78.9%) or C. parapsilosis (83.8%) ICI, but urinary infections were almost as common as bloodstream infections among C. albicans ICI (31.9% and 38.3%, respectively). Fever refractory to antimicrobials was the most frequent host criterion (46.4% patients), but with equal frequency than prolonged neutropenia in C. tropicalis ICI. Thrombopenia was more frequent (p<0.05) in C. parapsilosis (60.7%) or C. tropicalis (66.7%) ICI than in C. albicans ICI (26.5%). Uremia was more frequent (p<0.05) in C. albicans (78.3%) or C. tropicalis (73.3%) than in C. parapsilosis ICI (40.7%). Multiple organ failure and heart insufficiency was higher in C. tropicalis ICI. Short duration (≤7 days) of PICU stay was more frequent in C. albicans ICI. Mortality rates were: 8.5% (C. albicans ICI), 13.5% (C. parapsilosis ICI) and 23.3% (C. tropicalis ICI). ICI by different Candida species showed different clinical profiles and mortality, making essential identification at species level.

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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(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(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.

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

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