Rev Esp Quimioter 2010:23(4):206-209

Rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from broth cultures by immunochromatographic assay   

P. GARCÍA-MARTOS, L. GARCÍA-AGUDO, M. J. RODRÍGUEZ-JIMÉNEZ, M. RODRÍGUEZ-IGLESIAS    

 

Background: Recently, a simple and rapid commercial assay (BD MGIT TBc ID) has been developed using a monoclonal antibody anti-MPT64 for the differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from other mycobacteria by immunochromatography.

Methods: We evaluate in this work the clinical usefulness of the test for the identification of 51 strains of M. tuberculosis complex and 24 strains of other mycobacteria belonging to 14 different species, compared with the method of hybridization with DNA probes.

Results: Immunochromatographic method performance was excellent, with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 98, 100, 96.1, and 98.7%, respectively.

Conclusions: These results indicate that immunochromatographic assay can be safely used for rapid identification of M. tuberculosis complex in combination with culture in liquid media. The test is extremely simple, provides results in just 15 minutes, requires no complex equipment or specialized personnel and may be a good alternative to molecular methods, especially in small laboratories.    

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2010:23(4):206-209 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(3):123-126

Side effects of benznidazole treatment in a cohort of patients with Chagas disease in non-endemic country    

B. CARRILERO, L. MURCIA, L. MARTINEZ-LAGE, M. SEGOVIA           

 

Chagas disease is a disease endemic in Latin America, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Benznidazole is the most commonly used drug for the etiological treatment of the disease although its effectiveness varies according to the phase of the same and toxic side effects are frequent. This prospective study describes the side effects of benznidazole treatment of a cohort of 373 chronic patients. Of these 40.2% presented adverse reactions. The most frequent side effect were dermatological reactions 32.4% (121 of 373) followed by digestive intolerance 9.1% (34 of 373). Surprisingly, three cases of migratory arthritis were observed. Patients treated with benznidazole must be followed up so that the long term incidence of side effects can be studied.

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(3):123-126 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(4):233-262

Consensus document on treatment of infections in diabetic foot             

J.I. BLANES Y REPRESENTANTES DE LA ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE CIRUJANOS (AEC); SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE ANGIOLOGÍA Y CIRUGÍA VASCULAR Y (SEACV); SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA DE URGENCIAS Y EMERGENCIAS (SEMES); SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA MEDICINA INTERNA (SEMI); SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA INTENSIVA, CRÍTICA Y UNIDADES CORONARIAS (SEMICYUC) Y SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE QUIMIOTERAPIA (SEQ)                      

Diabetic foot infection, particularly if it is associated to ischaemia, is the most common cause of lower limb amputation, in the general population, of hospital admissions, and a decrease in the quality of life in diabetics. Of all diabetics, 15% of them are going to suffer from a foot infection during their life, with an annual incidence of 1-4%, preceded by a foot ulcer in more than 80% of cases. They are complex infections and the prognosis is influenced by many factors, depending on the ulcer (location, extension, whether chronic or not, previous amputation, ischaemia grade), and the patient (age, renal impairment, time of onset of diabetes, associated comorbidity). All these must be taken into account when establishing its treatment. The infections must be classified according to their severity (mild, moderate-mild, moderatesevere, and severe). Their treatment is complex and must be multidisciplinary and must include debridement, discharge, adequate antibiotic therapy, revascularisation, and treatment of the ulcer.
In this consensus document, produced in collaboration with the Spanish Angiology and Vascular Surgery Society (SEACV), the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), the Spanish Chemotherapy Society (SEQ), the Spanish Surgeons Association (AEC), the Spanish Society of Urgent Medicine and Emergencies (INFURG-SEMES) and the Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Medicine and Coronary Care (SEMICYUC), the guidelines are developed based on the best available evidence on diabetic foot infections, aimed at achieving greater clinical efficacy. 

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(4):233-262 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):129-133

Peripheral venous catheter-related bacteremia in a general hospital     

M. DELGADO-CAPEL, A. GABILLO, L. ELIAS, J. C. YÉBENES, G. SAUCA, J. A. CAPDEVILA                                
                              
 

 
Introduction. Catheter sepsis is a constant and serious problem in our hospitals for the cost it generates, both in terms of morbidity and economics. It’s becoming more frequent also in peripherally inserted catheters. Our study aims to know the importance and characteristics of peripheral venous catheter bacteremia in a general hospital.
Material and methods. Prospective and comparative analysis of all episodes of central and peripheral venous catheter-related bacteraemia, in 2009.
Results. Twenty-eight episodes of catheter-related bacteraemia in a total of 25 patients. Sixteen episodes originated in central catheter (57.2%), 11 in peripheral (39.3%) and 1 in peripherally inserted central catheter (3.5%). Two cases of exitus directly related to the peripheral catheter infection. Etiology: 13 episodes of S. aureus (3 MRSA), including 8 in peripheral catheter (8/13, 61.5%), 12 episodes of plasma coagulase negative staphylococcus, including 2 in peripheral catheter (2/12, 16.6%).
Conclusions. Peripheral catheter-related bacteraemia is an emerging health problem with important clinical and prognostic connotations for patients. It is necessary continuous training on correct handling measures to prevent intravascular catheters infections including peripheral catheters in every hospital ward.
 

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):129-133 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):256-260

Evaluation of the Sensititre Yeast One microdilution method for susceptibility testing of Candida species to anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin                    

L. GARCÍA-AGUDO, P. GARCÍA-MARTOS, J. MARTOS-CAÑADAS, P. AZNAR-MARÍN, P. MARÍN-CASANOVA, M. RODRÍGUEZ-IGLESIAS                                                  
                              
 


Introduction. Echinocandins represent a new antifungal group with potent activity against Candida species. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the utility of the Sensititre Yeast One method to determine the in vitro activity of anidulafungin, micafungin, and caspofungin against Candida species isolated from clinical specimens.
Methods. A total of 131 Candida strains were tested using Sensititre Yeast One colorimetric microdilution method. They belonged to the following species: 42 C. albicans, 36 C. glabrata, 21 C. parapsilosis, 12 C. tropicalis, 10 C. krusei, 3 C. guilliermondii, 2 C. famata, 3 C. kefyr, 1 C. lusitaniae, 1 C. zeylanoides, and 1 C. lipolytica. For being considered susceptible the strains had to be inhibited by concentrations ≤2 mg/L of anidulafungin, caspofungin or micafungin.
Results. The 80.1% of the strains tested were inhibited by concentrations ≤0.25 mg/L of anidulafungin and micafungin. The activity of caspofungin was slightly lower (78.6% of strains inhibited by concentrations ≤0.25 mg/L). The 96.9% of strains turned out susceptible to concentrations ≤2 mg/L against the three echinocandins. Two strains of C. parapsilosis (9.5%), one of C. guilliermondii, and two of C. famata showed non-susceptible to one or more echinocandins.
Conclusions. In our series, anidulafungin, micafungin, and caspofungin were effective against C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. kefyr, C. lusitaniae and C. lipolytica. The 96.9% of strains were susceptible to all three echinocandins. Thus, echinocandins are proved to exhibit excellent activity to the Candida species most frequently involved in human infections, except Candida parapsilosis.  

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(4):256-260 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2010:23(2):93-99

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of Panton-Valentin leukocidin positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

N. COBOS-TRIGUEROS, C. PITART, F. MARCO, J. A. MARTÍNEZ, M. ALMELA, J. LÓPEZ, M. ORTEGA, A. SORIANO, J. MENSA 

 

Introduction: the aim of our study was to review the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of infections due to Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MRSA).
Material and methods: Medical history of patients infected by MRSA-PVL admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to July 2009 was reviewed. PVL and the type of cromosomic cassette were determined in all strains by PCR.
Results: A total of 37 cases were included. Seventy percent were males and the median age was 39 years. Sixtytwo percent were Spanish, 14 (37.8%) were HIV-positive and 11 (29.7%) were homosexual. The source of the infection was the skin and soft tissue in 36 cases and pneumonia in 1. Sixteen patients were hospitalized, 5 had bacteremia and 5 developed septic metastasis. The relapse rate was 24% (9 cases). The prevalence during the study period was 11.2% of all MRSA isolated (37 out of 329). All the strains had a cromosomic cassette type IV and were susceptible to cotrimoxazole, rifampin, vancomyin, daptomycin and linezolid. The MIC of vancomycin, measured by E-test, was ≥1.5 mg/L in 28 out of 34 cases (82.3%).
Conclusions: Eleven percent of the MRSA strains isolated in our hospital are PVL positive. In general, skin and soft tissue infections are the most common and bacteremia or septic metastasis are frequent. In contrast to previous Spanish studies, more cases are observed in patients born in Spain and the infections are more severe.

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2010:23(2):93-99 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(1):4-12

Proton pump inhibitors and infection risk 

E. PALENCIA-HERREJÓN, B. SÁNCHEZ, I. ESCOBAR, M. L. GÓMEZ-LUS   

 

Gastric antisecretory drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors, are among the most used drugs both in ambulatory and hospital settings, and prescription does not always follows approved indications. Experimental data suggest that gastric acid inhibition and the effects of proton pump inhibitors on the immune system can promote the development of infections. In recent years a number of observational studies have found an independent association between the use of proton pump inhibitors and an increased risk of gastrointestinal infections, including those caused by Clostridium difficile, and community and nosocomial pneumonia. This review discusses the current evidence, raises the potential pathogenic mechanisms involved and makes recommendations for current clinical practice and future research.    

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(1):4-12 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(3):127-130

In vitro activity of retapamulin against linezolid and methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates       

F. J. CANDEL, G. MORALES, J. J. PICAZO           

 

 

Objectives: To determine the in vitro activity of retapamulin and other topical antibiotics (mupirocin, bacitracin, and fusidic acid) usually employed for nasal decolonization, against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and linezolid and methicillin–resistant S. aureus.
Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined on Mueller-Hinton agar according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and of the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Presence of the cfr gene in linezolid and methicillin–resistant S. aureus isolates was detected using polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Retapamulin inhibited all the isolates of MSSA and MRSA at 0.125 mg/L, but the 18 linezolid-resistant-MRSA strains proved resistant, with MICs over 32 mg/L. Most MSSA isolates (9/10) were susceptible to mupirocin with MICs under 0.19 mg/L, although this value decreased to half against MRSA, and almost all linezolid-resistant MRSA (17/18) strains were resistant to mupirocin with an MIC range of between 8 mg/L and 28 mg/L. The MIC of fusidic acid increased substantially against linezolid-resistant MRSA, whereas that of bacitracin showed no differences.
Conclusions: Retapamulin demonstrated excellent in vitro activity against MSSA and MRSA strains, but not against MRSA isolates harbouring the cfr gene. The results of this in vitro study support cut-off values for retapamulin of ≤ 0.5, 1, and ≥ 2 mg/L for susceptible, intermediate, and resistant strains, respectively.

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(3):127-130 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(4):263-270

Recommendations for the treatment of invasive fungal infection caused by filamentous fungi in the hematological patient                

J. BARBERÁN, J. MENSA, J. C. VALLEJO, I. JARQUE, J. C. GARCÍA, J. R. CABRERA, P. BALTASAR, J. BESALDUCH, J. M. CALVO, F.  J.  CAPOTE, E. CARRERAS, M. L. DÍAZ, F. ESCALANTE, P. FERNÁNDEZ, S. GARZÓN, C. GRANDE, D. HERNÁNDEZ, A. LÓPEZ, J. LÓPEZ, E. MARTÍN, M. OLAVE, J. PÉREZ, G. RAMÍREZ, R. ROJAS, A. ROMÁN, M. ROVIRA, D. RUBIO, P. SÁNCHEZ , A. SÁNCHEZ, J. DE LA SERNA, C. SOLANO, D. VALCÁRCEL, J. M. AGUADO, J. R. AZANZA, R. CANTÓN , R. CISTERNA, J. DÍAZ, J. FORTÚN, J. GARCÍA, J. GÓMEZ, E. GÓMEZ, J.  M. MONTEJO, F. J. PEMÁN, I. RUIZ, M. SALAVERT, M. A. SANZ, J. DE LA TORRE, L. VÁZQUEZ                        

Antifungal treatment in the hematological patient has reached a high complexity with the advent of new antifungals and diagnostic tests, which have resulted in different therapeutic strategies. The use of the most appropriate treatment in each case is essential in infections with such a high mortality. The availability of recommendations as those here reported based on the best evidence and developed by a large panel of 48 specialists aimed to answer when is indicated to treat and which agents should be used, considering different aspects of the patient (risk of fungal infection, clinical manifestations, galactomanann test, chest CT scan and previous prophylaxis) may help clinicians to improve the results. 

 
Rev Esp Quimioter 2011:24(4):263-270 [pdf]

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):134-138

Rifampin breakpoint for Acinetobacter baumannii based on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models with Monte Carlo simulation     

J. A LEPE, E. GARCÍA-CABRERA, M.V. GIL-NAVARRO, J. AZNAR                                                                

 
Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) rifampin breakpoint for Acinetobacter baumannii based on Monte Carlo simulation and to compare it with the reference value establish by the French Society for Microbiology (SFM).
Methods: A 10,000 subject’s Monte Carlo simulation for rifampin with intravenous dose of 10 mg/Kg/day and 20 mg/Kg/day was performed. The distribution of MIC was calculated using unique clinical isolates of A. baumannii. The PK–PD parameter calculated was Cmaxfree/MIC.
Results: The isolates rifampin MIC50 and MIC90 were 2 and 32 mg/L respectively, ranging between 0.023-32 mg/L. According to interpretive criteria established by the SFM: 468 (75.8%) isolates were susceptible (MIC ≤ 4 mg/L) and 150 (24.2%) were non susceptible (MIC > 4 mg/L).
For 10 mg/Kg/day dose: the probability (%) of attaining Cmaxfree/ MIC ratio values = 8 by Monte Carlo simulation in the study population was 0.4%, the rifampin MIC cut off value obtained from an optimal treatment (target ≥ 90%), was 0.125 mg/L. The probability of obtaining a Cmaxfree/MIC ratio equal to 10 was 0.2% and the MIC cut off value obtained <0.125 mg/L.
At doses of 20 mg/kg/day: the probability of obtaining a Cmaxfree/MIC ratio equal to 8 was 0.8%, the rifampin MIC cut off value obtained was 0.25 mg/L. For a Cmaxfree/MIC = 10, it was 0.6% and 0.125 mg/L, respectively. The percentage of susceptible isolates ranging 0% to 1%, depending on the dose and therapeutic target used.
Conclusion: the rifampin breakpoints obtained from our PK/PD Monte Carlo simulation differ from those established by SFM, although further clinical studies in patients are needed to confirm our findings and improve the use of this antibiotic.
 

 

Rev Esp Quimioter 2012:25(2):134-138 [pdf]