Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(3):116-124

Hydatidosis: epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects                                 
 


CARLOS ARMIÑANZAS, MANUEL GUTIÉRREZ-CUADRA, MARÍA CARMEN FARIÑAS      
        

Hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Its life cycle involves dogs, sheep and sometimes other animals. CE has a worldwide distribution, with greater prevalence in temperate zones. In Spain, Castile and León, La Rioja, Navarre, Aragón, and the Mediterranean coast are the areas where it is most commonly diagnosed, although there have also been published cases in other regions, such as Cantabria. Clinical signs and symptoms of EC may be related to the mass effect of the cyst, its superinfection or anaphylactic reactions secondary to its rupture. Because of its slow growth, diagnosis is usually made in adulthood by combining clinical symptoms with imaging and serological tests. There is no universal consensus on the management of CE. Treatment is based mainly on three pillars: medical treatment (mainly albendazole), surgery, and percutaneous drainage. The choice of the most appropriate approach is based on the patient’s symptoms and the characteristics of the cysts.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(3):116-124 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):8-11

Laboratory detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae     

                        
EMILIA CERCENADO              

Detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the laboratory requires an exhaustive analysis of the antibiogram and susceptibility to all beta-lactams, the implementation with phenotypic methods of screening as well as confirmatory procedures including the detection of the carbapenem hydrolysis, the inhibition of the enzyme activity with several specific inhibitor compounds and by molecular methods.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):8-11 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(5):256-262

Bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and other beta-lactamases (ampC and carbapenemase) producing Enterobacteriaceae: association with health-care and cancer)     

                        
MIRIAM GARCÍA-GÓMEZ, LAURA GUÍO, JOSÉ LUIS HERNÁNDEZ, BEGOÑA VILAR, JOSÉ IGNACIO PIJOÁN, JOSÉ MIGUEL MONTEJO              

Introduction. Bloodstream infections due to multire-sistant Enterobacteriaceae are a major matter of concern nowadays. The present study evaluated the impact of these infections in our area.
Methods. Prospective observational study of a cohort of patients with bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and other beta-lactamases producing organisms among hospitalized patients in Cruces Hospital for 2 years. We conducted a descriptive analysis, a subgroup analysis (cancer vs. non-cancer patients) and a mortality analysis.
Results. During the study period, 3409 episodes of bacteraemia were diagnosed, of which 124 (3.6%) were ESBL and other beta-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae. 40.3% of the cases were nosocomial, 15.3% community acquired and 44.4% were health-care associated. 44.4% of the cohort had cancer as underlying disease. The most commonly isolated organism was E. coli (83% of cases), regardless of the source of infection. 58.1% of patients received inadequate empirical therapy. 7 day-mortality was 10.5% and 30 day-mortality was 21.8%. None of the analyzed variables showed association with 7 and 14 day-mortality, but the presence of solid cancer (p= 0.032) and advanced HIV infection (p = 0.027), were significantly associated with higher 30 day-mortality.
Conclusions. More than half of bacteraemia episodes affected outpatients and most of them were health-care associated episodes. Even though more than half of the patients received inadequate empirical treatment, this was not related to higher mortality. We only found an association between 30 day-mortality and the presence of underlying solid malignancy or advanced HIV infection.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(5):256-262 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(2):69-75

A comparison of the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam and cefoperazone-sulbactam therapies in the empirical treatment of patients with febrile neutropenia     

                        

AYNUR AYNIOGLU, BIRSEN MUTLU, ABDULLAH HACIHANEFIOGLU             

  

Introduction. Empirical antibiotic therapy in neutropenic patients presenting with fever plays a significant role in reducing mortality related to infection. Empirical therapies with broad-spectrum intravenous bactericidal, anti-pseudomonal antibiotics are accepted treatments for febrile neutropenic patients. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam (PIP-TAZO) and cefoperozone-sulbactam (CS) therapies in adult patients with haematological malignancies presenting with neutropenic fever in a prospective study design.
Methodology. Patients with haematological malignancies (leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndrome) were recruited from June 2010–May 2013.  Participants were over 18 years old, with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500/mm³ following chemotherapy or expected to have an ANC less than 500/mm³ in the first 48 h post-chemotherapy, and with an oral body temperature ≥ 38.3°C at a single measurement or 38.0°C after 1-h monitoring. Patients were randomised to the two treatment groups. The initial empirical therapy comprised PIP-TAZO (4.5 g/6 h/day, IV) and CS (2 g/8 h/day, IV).
Results. The overall success rate was 61% with CS and 49% with PIP-TAZO (p =0.247). Factors affecting the treatment success included a neutrophil count <100/mm3, being in the relapse/refractory stage of malignancy, and the presence of a microbiologically documented infection (p <0.05).
Conclusion. PIP-TAZO and CS monotherapies are equally effective and safe for the empirical treatment of febrile neutropenic patients.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(2):69-75 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(4):220-223

Development of a PCR for the detection and quantification of parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation in biopsies of skin neoplasms periocular area                     

ALBERTO TENORIO-ABREU, JUAN CARLOS SÁNCHEZ-ESPAÑA, LIGIA ESPERANZA NARANJO-GONZÁLEZ, MARÍA CARMEN GONZÁLEZ-GALLEGO, CARLOS HIDALGO-GRASS, CARLOS RUÍZ-FRUTOS          

Objective. To standardize the relative quantification by mass of tissue parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation from neoplastic skin biopsies periocular using molecular amplification to study the possible relationship of the appearance of eyelid basal cell carcinoma with the presence and density of the mite in later works.
Methods. A quantitative PCR was developed real-time probes TaqMan. PCR was tested in a pilot 46 actual biopsy samples nodular basal cell carcinoma series.
Results. The sensitivity was placed with a detection limit of between 1 and 10 copies / μl. 50% (23/46) of the biopsies were positive for D. folliculorum. The specificity was 100% confirmed by sequencing.
Conclusion. The technique shows good results for sensitivity and specificity that can make it useful as a tool for studies of cause and effect D. folliculorum and basal cell carcinoma.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(4):220-223 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(Suppl. 1):26-30

Resistant gram-negative bacteria. Therapeutic approach and risk factors                     

PATRICIA SALGADO, FERNANDO GILSANZ, EMILIO MASEDA          

The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a serious threat, especially in critical care units, thereby prolonging the hospital stay. Enterobacteriaceae have a high capacity to adapt to any environment. Plasmids are the reason behind their expansion. The choice of empiric therapy for intra-abdominal or urinary infections requires knowledge of the intrinsic microbiological variability of each hospital or critical care unit, as well as the source of infection, safety or antibi-tic toxicity, interaction with other drugs, the dosage regimen and the presence of risk factors. Carbapenems are the drug of choice in the case of suspected infection by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The new ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam drugs are opening up promising new horizons in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(Suppl. 1):26-30 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(6):302-307

Demographic and clinical features of diagnosed individuals of enterobiasis in the southern Gran Canaria: sampling assessment                     

DEYANIRA CARRILLO-QUINTERO, LAURA DEL OTERO SANZ, SARA HERNÁNDEZ-EGIDO, ANTONIO MANUEL MARTÍN SÁNCHEZ          

Introduction. Enterobius vermicularis, also known as pinworn, is the responsible agent for Human Enterobiasis. It is one of the most prevalent, but underrated, parasitic disease in children population. Diagnosis involves demonstration of either eggs or adult worms by Graham test. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, demographic and microbiological features of patients with suspected diagnosis of Enterobiasis in southern Gran Canaria.
Material and methods. Descriptive and prospective study of perianal samples evaluated by Graham test in the Microbiology Department of `Insular de Gran Canaria´ University Hospital between November 2014 and November 2015. Descriptive analysis to evaluate the correlation between clinical and demographic variables and the results of Graham test microbiological observation.
Results. 1,128 samples were analyzed. E. vermicularis was found in 11.4% of the samples. Among the positives samples, 88.4% belonged to children under 14 years, and 53.5% were male. Abdominal pain (18.6%), anal itching (11.6%), eosinophilia (8.5%) and intestinal parasitosis suspicion (7.8%) were the reasons of parasitological investigation request in positive samples. Nevertheless, a high proportion of the requests was not founded in a suspicious diagnosis or was unrelated to Enterobiasis.
Conclusions. Enterobiasis is a common disease in primary health care and is of great importance in Gran Canaria. Quality in sample collection as well as diagnosis suspicious information are necessary for a good microbiological analysis.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(6):302-307  [pdf]

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.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; Feb 11  [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(3):125-131

The late media emergency of smallpox vaccine, news coverage of Spanish press (1999-2004)                                 
 


PEDRO JAVIER MARTÍNEZ-MARTINEZ,  JOSÉ TUELLS, GEMA COLMENAR-JARILLO      
        

 

Introduction. Discussions on the need for smallpox virus preservation in 1999 focused attention on an eradicated disease 20 years ago. Smallpox was replaced as a potential candidate to be used as a bioterrorist weapon because of the international alarm scenario produced after the 11/9 events in USA. The reactivation of a vaccine which remained forgotten was the direct consequence. The initial target groups were the security forces of America. Spain was also among the countries that were interested in acquiring the smallpox vaccine. The aim of this study is to analyze the considerable media coverage of smallpox obtained in our country.
Methods. Systematic review of published news in the four largest national daily newspapers (ABC, El Mundo, El País and La Vanguardia) for the period 1999-2004 of the Dow Jones Factiva document database. “Smallpox” were used as a key word. From the obtained data, a qualitative and quantitative analysis was done.
Results. 416 reviews were analyzed; the newspaper El Mundo was the most interested in these news (158 citations, 37.98%). Most of the news were published in 2003 (152, 36.5%) The year with more news about smallpox (2003) coincides with the purchase of vaccines in Spain. The type of messages in the news was highly changeable over this six-year period. Those related to “politics and diplomacy”, “epidemiological risk”, “bioterrorism” and “vaccine” were predominant.
Conclusions. The alarm raised around the smallpox vaccination was a media phenomenon due to political strategy issues rather than a real public health problem.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(3):125-131 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):12-15

Therapeutic options for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae    

                        
PATRICIA SALGADO, FERNANDO GILSANZ, EMILIO MASEDA              

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) has spread worldwide becoming a threat to public health. However, no randomized clinical trials about the efficacy of optimizing antibiotic treatment have been published. Experimental studies have been designed to find combinations of antibiotics with synergistic activity. Their main aim has been increasing the speed of bacterial destruction and decreasing resistance. The latest guidelines recommend combination therapy. The carbapenems has been chosen as the basis of such therapy. We face limited therapeutic options. Polymyxins, fosfomycin and gentamicin have reemerged in this context, becoming the basis of multiple combination regimens, with beneficial effects both in vitro and in murine models of infection.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):12-15 [pdf]