Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(4):183-192

Variability in antibiotic consumption within a regional health service, according to health area and model of healthcare coverage: national health system vs. civil servants’ mutual insurance society                                 
 

DIEGO PABLO SÁNCHEZ-MARTÍNEZ, JOSÉ JESÚS GUILLÉN-PÉREZ, FERNANDO IGNACIO SÁNCHEZ-MARTÍNEZ, ALBERTO MANUEL TORRES-CANTERO              

Introduction. The aim of this study is to describe antibiotic consumption in the Region of Murcia in 2011, within the Spanish and European context, as well as to analyze the differences within the Region, both between health areas, and between users of the regional health service and those protected by the civil servants’ mutual insurance society (MUFACE).
Methods. Retrospective observational study of prescriptions dispensed by the pharmacies in the Region of Murcia during 2011. Consumption rates were expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants/day and standardized consumption ratios (SCR).
Results. Overall antibiotics consumption rate in the Region of Murcia in 2011 was 30.05 DDD/1000/ day (DID), which is much above the average rate for Spain (20.9 DID) and for the European Union (21.57 DID). Health areas within the Region with the highest and lowest consumption rate are, respectively, Vega Alta (SCR: 124.44; CI95% 124.26 to 124.61) and Cartagena (SCR:84.16; CI95% 84.10 to 84.22). Civil servants covered by the mutual society have higher consumption rates than users of the regional health service (SCR: 105.01; CI95% 104.86 to 105.17).
Conclusions. There is a high level of antibiotic prescription in the Region of Murcia Region in relative terms. A great variability in antibiotics consumption was observed between the different health areas, which might be related to the higher rate of the frequency of visits. The highest amount of variability in antibiotics prescription was found in cephalosporins and macrolides.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(4):183-192 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):43-47

Update on Ebola virus infection     

                        
JUAN C. HURTADO, MIGUEL J. MARTÍNEZ              

Ebola virus disease became a major global public health concern after the last outbreak originated in West Africa in 2014. The epidemic has affected 10 countries in 3 continents, with an estimated global mortality of 41%, highlighting how a disease known to be restricted to the African continent can affect directly or indirectly many countries in the world. In this work, we review different aspects of the virus, the disease and the current outbreak.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(Suppl. 1):43-47 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(6):314-316

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in patients with hepatitis C and / or infected with HIV     

                        
Mª FÁTIMA LÓPEZ-FABAL, JOSÉ LUÍS GÓMEZ-GARCÉS              

Introduction. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause chronic infection and cirrhosis. The seroprevalence data of anti-HEV IgG in the patients infected with HIV or with chronic liver disease are scarce.
Methods. To document the seroprevalence of HEV infection in HIV patients or with chronic liver disease population, a retrospective study in serum samples from 625 patients was carried on: 200 HIV infected, 200 HCV infected, 25 coinfected by HIV and HCV and 200 healthy controls. Anti-HVE IgG antibodies were determined in serum samples by a commercial immunoassay (EIA) and all positive samples were studied further for the presence of anti-HEV IgM antibodies (HEV IgM 3.0; DiaSorin, Turín, Italy). Positive HEV IgM antibody specimens were examined for HEV RNA by polymerase chain reaction.
Results. Anti-HEV IgG were reactive in 25 (12.5%) of the 200 HIV-infected patients, in 47 out of 200 HCV infected patients (23.5%), 10 out of 25 coinfected HIV-HCV group (40%) and 24 out of 200 healthy controls (12%). According to EIA anti-HEV IgM, 11 patients could be considered as acute hepatitis E cases but in only one of them was confirmed recent HEV infection by RT-PCR.
Conclusions. The higher seroprevalence was found in HIV-HCV coinfected patients. The only patient with HEV RNA was HIV-HCV coinfected.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015;28(6):314-316 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(3):155-158

Clinical interest of Streptococcus bovis isolates in urine 

                    
JAVIER DE TERESA-ALGUACIL, MIGUEL GUTIÉRREZ-SOTO, JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ-GRANGER, ANTONIO OSUNA-ORTEGA, JOSÉ MARÍA NAVARRO-MARÍ, JOSÉ GUTIÉRREZ-FERNÁNDEZ             

Introduction. Streptococcus bovis includes variants related to colorectal cancer and non-urinary infections. Its role as urinary pathogen is unknown. Our objective was to assess the presence of urinary infection by S. bovis, analysing the patients and subsequent clinical course.
Material and Methods. Observational study, with longitudinal data collection, performed at our centre between all the cultures requested between February and April 2015. Clinical course of the patients and response to treatment were analysed.
Results. Two thousand five hundred and twenty urine cultures were analysed, of which 831 (33%) had a significant microbial count. S. bovis was isolated in 8 patients (0.96%). In 75% of these cases the urine culture was requested because of urinary tract infection symptoms; the remaining 25% because of fever of uncertain source; during the follow-up period no evidence of cancer or endocarditis was detected. S. gallolyticus subspecie pasteurianus was the only variant observed (100%). The clinical response to initial treatment was favourable in all cases.
Conclusions. S. bovis bacteriuria may have clinical significance, especially when S. gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus is isolated in cases with underlying urinary tract disease.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(3):155-158 [pdf]

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(5):265-268

Correlation between MALDI-TOF Vitek-MSTM system and conventional identification methods of gastrointestinal infection causing bacteria                     

CARLOS RUIZ DE ALEGRÍA-PUIG, AMAIA AGUIRRE-QUIÑONERO, JESÚS AGÜERO-BALBÍN, Mª PIA ROIZ-MESONES, LUIS MARTÍNEZ-MARTÍNEZ          

Introduction. Rapid identification of pathogens is essential for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has shown to be effective and fast for the identification of microorganisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between Vitek-MSTM and conventional methods for bacterial identification causing gastrointestinal infection.
Material and methods. A total of 329 gastrointestinal pathogens were identified using Vitek-MSTM (v2 SARAMIS MS -ID, bioMérieux, Marcy-I´Étoile, France) and routine diagnostic methods simultaneously. In cases of discrepancy 16SrRNA gene sequencing was performed.
Results. The correlation between Vitek-MSTM and diagnostic methods was 100% except for Yersinia enterocolitica (94.1%), Helicobacter pylori (10%) and Aeromonas veronii (0 %).
Conclusions. Vitek-MSTM is a quick and useful method for identification of enterophatogenic bacteria. It is necessary to improve the performance of the system for the identification of H. pylori and A. veronii.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(5):265-268 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016, 29(Suppl. 1):56-58

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-neutropenic patients                     

Mª ISABEL TEJEDA, SANTIAGO SALSO, JOSÉ BARBERÁN          

The incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is increasing among non-neutropenic patients in recent years. The difficulty of early diagnosis in these patients involves a delay in the onset of adequate treatment and higher mortality.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2016; 29(Suppl. 1):56-58 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):19-27

Design and implementation of an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program in primary care: the experience at a second level hospital                     

MARÍA RUIZ-CAMPUZANO, ELISA GARCÍA-VÁZQUEZ, JOSÉ JOAQUÍN HERNÁNDEZ-ROCA, JOAQUÍN GÓMEZ-GÓMEZ, MANUEL CANTERAS-JORDANA, ENRIQUE MENÉ-FENOR, ALICIA HERNÁNDEZ-TORRES, ANA PELÁEZ-BALLESTA           

Introduction. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs are a good assistance option in a wide variety of infectious diseases. Our aim was to design and implement an OPAT program in the area of influence of a second-level hospital, with no Home Hospitalization Service available, being necessary close collaboration between hospitalization and Primary Care teams, describe our cohort, analyse the antimicrobial treatment indicated and evaluate the prognostic and risk factors associated with readmission and mortality. 
Material and methods. Prospective study cohorts of patients admitted to the OPAT programme, from 1 January 2012 to 31 May 2015.
Results. During the period of study a total of 98 episodes were recorded. The average age of the cohort was 66 years. The most frequent comorbidity was immunosuppression (33.67 %), with an overall average of Charlson index of 5.21 ± 3.09. The most common source of infection was respiratory (33.67 %). Microbiological isolation was achieved in fifty-eight patients (59.18 %) being Escherichia coli the most frequently isolated (25%). The average number of days of antibiotics administration at home was 10.42 ± 6.02 (SD), being carbapenems (43.48%) the more administered. Eighty-six patients (87.75%) completed the treatment successfully. Thirty-two patients (32.65%) were readmitted within 30 days after being discharged and seven patients (7.14%) died. A statistically significant association was only found in the readmission with variables: elderly patients (p=0.03), being carriers of Porth-a-Cath (p=0.04) and treatment termination related with infection (p<0.05).
Conclusions. This is the first programme of OPAT administration not dependent on Home Hospitalization Service in Spain, which could allow to optimize the hospital and primary care resources available. Nevertheless this pilot study results are poor in terms of optimization of antibiotics choice, transition to oral administration, de-escalation and duration.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(1):19-27  [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017, Mar 8

Usefulness of biomarkers to predict bacteraemia in patients with infection in the emergency department                     

AGUSTÍN JULIÁN-JIMÉNEZ, FRANCISCO JAVIER CANDEL, JUAN GONZÁLEZ-DEL CASTILLO, EN REPRESENTACIÓN DEL GRUPO INFURG-SEMES (GRUPO DE ESTUDIO DE INFECCIONES DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA DE URGENCIAS Y EMERGENCIAS)           

Between all patients attended in the Emergency Department (ED), 14.3% have an infectious disease diagnosis. Blood cultures (BC) are obtained in 14.6% of patients and have a profitability of 20%, whereas 1% are considered as contaminated and 1-3% of positive cultures correspond to discharge patients (“hidden bacteraemia”). The highest number of confirmed bacteraemias comes from the samples of patients with urinary tract infections, followed by community-acquired pneumonia. The suspicion and detection of bacteraemia have an important diagnostic and prognostic significance and could modify some important making-decisions (admission, BC request, administration of appropriate and early antimicrobial, etc). Therefore, finding a predictive model of bacteraemia useful and applicable in ED has become the objective of many authors that combine different clinical, epidemiological and analytical variables, including infection and inflammatory response biomarkers (IIRBM), as they significantly increase the predictive power of such models. The aim of this review is to highlight the evidence showed in recent published articles, to clarify existing controversies, and to compare the accuracy of the most important IIRBM to predict bacteremia in patients attended due to infection in the ED. Finally, to generate different recommendations that could help to define the role of IIRBM in improving the indication to obtaining BC, as well as in immediate decision-making in diagnosis and treatment (early and adequate antibiotic treatment, complementary tests, other microbiological samples, hemodynamic support measures, need for admission, etc.).

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; Mar 8 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(1):39-46

Burden of influenza virus type B and mismatch with the flu vaccine in Spain                                 
 


JOSE Mª EIROS-BOUZA, ALBERTO PÉREZ-RUBIO      
        

 

Introduction. Since the 80s two lineages of type B viruses are co – circulating in the world. Antigenic differences between them are important and it leads to lack of cross-reactivity. The impact on the burden of disease due to influenza B virus, poor foresight in estimating which of the two lineages of B viruses circulate in the season, and the consequent lack of immunity in case of including the wrong strain make that the availability of the quadrivalent vaccine is very useful. The aim of this paper is to analyze the past influenza seasons in Spain to assess the burden of disease, divergence between the vaccine strain and the circulating B and viral characteristics associated with type B in each seasonal epidemic.
Material and methods. Review of all reports issued by the Influenza Surveillance System in Spain since the 2003-2004 season to 2012-2013.
Results. Over the past influenza seasons, although type A was present mostly, circulation of influenza B virus in each season was observed, even being co – dominant in some of them. In a high number of seasons the divergence between the vaccine strain and the circulating strain lineage has been observed
Conclusions. The protective effect of influenza vaccine has varied depending on the type / subtype of influenza virus studied. The vaccine effectiveness against influenza infection by influenza B virus has varied greatly depending on the season analyzed.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(1):39-46 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(4):193-199

Safety of influenza vaccines in risk groups: analysis of adverse events following immunization reported in Valencian Community from 2005 to 2011                                 
 

ANA MARÍA ALGUACIL-RAMOS, TERESA Mª GARRIGUES-PELUFO, JULIO MUELAS-TIRADO, ANTONIO PORTERO-ALONSO, JORDI PEREZ-PANADÉS, JAIME FONS-MARTÍNEZ              

Objective. To evaluate reports of adverse events following influenza immunization by sex, risk and age groups in Valencian Community from 2005 to 2011.
Methods. A pharmacoepidemiological descriptive cross-sectional observational study based on the reports of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) against influenza, registered through the Vaccination Information System (SIV) of Valencian Community from 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2011 was done.
Results. During the study period 5,107,790 doses of vaccine against influenza were reported, with an AEFI incidence of 1.94 per 100,000 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.36), and 228,094 doses of vaccine for influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 (96.45 per 100,000, 95%CI 84.52-110.06). The 70.71% (70) and 64.55% (142), respectively, of AEFI were in women. The healthcare workers group had a higher reporting rate for seasonal influenza (25.35 per 100,000; 95%CI: 17.65-36.40) and for influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 (864.13 per 100,000; 95%CI 714.38-1044.93) during the study period.
Conclusions. Vaccines against influenza administered during the study had a high safety profile in both populations with disease risk and other susceptible target groups of vaccination. Adverse reactions reported during the study mostly coincide with those described in the summary of product characteristics of vaccines.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2015:28(4):193-199 [pdf]