Association between phenotypic characteristics of Escherichia coli and UTI recurrence in immunocompromised patients: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) recurrence is important in immunocompromised patients. There is a trend to study genotypically and phenotypically the role of certain virulence factors of Escherichia coli in the diagnosis of recurrent UTI. The main objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between phenotypic characteristics of E coli and UTI recurrence in immunocompromised patients. METHODS: A case-control study was performed on immunocompromised patients from Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, Mexico. E coli strains isolated from these patients were identificated and antimicrobial susceptibility test were performed. Strains with filamented cell morphology, mucoid colonial phenotype, or biofilm production were considered cases. Strains without the characteristics were considered controls. UTI recurrence was identified based on clinical records. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated to quantify the magnitude of the association. RESULTS: An association between filamented cell morphology and UTI recurrence was found (OR = 2.19 95% CI 1.06-4.51; P = .031). No association was found between mucoid colony morphology (P>.05) or biofilm production (P>.05) and UTI recurrence. An association between mucoid colony morphology and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase production was found (OR = 3.09 95% 1.59-5.99; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Filamented cell morphology and mucoid colonial phenotype may have a possible diagnostic value for the detection of UTI recurrence and antimicrobial resistance. Further diagnostic test studies are needed to fully assess their clinical utility.

Oral colonization by gram-negative bacilli in patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors compared with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Colonization of the oropharynx with gram-negative bacilli (GNB) is considered a negative prognostic factor in immunocompromised individuals. Hemato-oncologic patients represent a high-risk group due to their immunodeficiencies and associated treatments. This study aimed to determine the rates of oral colonization by GNB, associated factors, and clinical outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors compared with healthy subjects. METHODS: We conducted a comparative study of hemato-oncologic patients and healthy subjects from August to October 2022. Swabs were taken from the oral cavity; specimens with GNB were identified and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. RESULTS: We included 206 participants (103 hemato-oncologic patients and 103 healthy subjects). Hemato-oncologic patients had higher rates of oral colonization by GNB (34% vs. 17%, P = 0.007) and GNB resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (11.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.001) compared to healthy subjects. Klebsiella spp. was the predominant genus in both groups. The factor associated with oral colonization by GNB was a Charlson index ≥ 3, while ≥ 3 dental visits per year were a protective factor. Regarding colonization by resistant GNB in oncology patients, antibiotic therapy and a Charlson index ≥ 5 were identified as associated factors, while better physical functionality (ECOG ≤ 2) was associated with less colonization. Hemato-oncologic patients colonized with GNB had more 30-day infectious complications (30.5% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.0001) than non-colonized patients. CONCLUSION: Oral colonization by GNB and resistant GNB are prevalent in cancer patients, especially those with higher scores on the severity scales. Infectious complications occurred more frequently in colonized patients. There is a knowledge gap about dental hygiene practices in hemato-oncologic patients colonized by GNB. Our results suggest that patients' hygienic-dietary habits, especially frequent dental visits, are a protective factor against colonization.

Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Transpedicular Biopsy Versus Posterolateral Endoscopy for Infective Spondylodiskitis Diagnosis: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the concordance in frequency of microbiologic isolation and species identification in specimens obtained by 2 methods. METHODS: Intervertebral disk specimens were taken simultaneously from each patient using percutaneous needle and posterolateral endoscopic biopsies. The isolates were reported in frequencies and concordance using the chi square and Cohen kappa tests. RESULTS: Thirty patients were recruited. The average age was 58.1 years, and 15 patients were women. The clinical evolution time was 7 ± 4 months. The causative organism was identified in 12 (40%) specimens obtained by fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous transpedicular biopsy and in 14 (46.6%) obtained by posterolateral endoscopy. The most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus in 3 patients with the percutaneous technique and in 5 with the endoscopic one; Escherichia coli was isolated in 3 patients with each method. The kappa test showed a high degree of agreement between both methods (kappa = 0.86); the agreement in bacterial species identification was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous biopsy and endoscopic sampling have a good degree of concordance for both, frequency of organism isolation and identification in patients with infectious spondylodiskitis.

Recurrence rate of localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy according to D'amico risk classification in a tertiary referral hospital: association study.

OBJETIVO: Determinar la tasa de recurrencia del cáncer de próstata localizado después de la prostatectomía radical según la clasificación D'Amico. MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo comparativo de 5 años. Se obtuvieron datos de registros clínicos de pacientes con cáncer de próstata localizado, que se sometieron a prostatectomía radical y se evaluó la tasa de recurrencia de la enfermedad. Se analizó con pruebas estadísticas descriptivas y comparativas. Una p < 0.05 se consideró significativo. RESULTADOS: Se analizó 108 pacientes, la edad promedio 65.3 años. Acerca de la clasificación de riesgo de D'Amico, 33.33% de bajo riesgo, 55.56% riesgo intermedio y 11.11% alto riesgo. La tasa de recurrencia de APE fue 14,81%. Los pacientes de bajo riesgo tuvieron recurrencia del 13.89%, riesgo intermedio 18.33% y alto riesgo no tuvieron recurrencia. Sobre piezas quirúrgicas, el 25.93% presentaron características adversas. La escala de Gleason postoperatoria muestra un aumento de 44.44% en bajo riesgo, 26.67% en riesgo intermedio y 41.67% en alto riesgo. CONCLUSIONES: La prostatectomía radical ofrece un control adecuado del cáncer de próstata localizado. La tasa de recurrencia del APE fue menor que otros informes internacionales. Asimismo, la recurrencia bioquímica del riesgo bajo, intermedio y alto fue similar a la tendencia global. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the recurrence rate of localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy according to the D'Amico classification. METHODS: This was a observational and 5-year comparative retrospective cohort study. Data were obtained from clinical records of patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and the recurrence rate of the disease was evaluated. It was analyzed with descriptive and comparative statistical tests, p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were analyzed, and the average age was 65.3 years. About D'Amico's risk classification, 33.33% low risk, 55.56% intermediate risk, and 11.11% high risk. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence rate was 14.81%. Low-risk patients had recurrence of 13.89%, intermediate risk 18.33%, and high risk had no recurrence. Regarding surgical pieces, 25.93% presented adverse characteristics. The post-operative Gleason scale shows an increase of 44.44% in low risk, 26.67% in intermediate risk, and 41.67% in high risk. CONCLUSIONS: Radical prostatectomy offers adequate control of localized prostate cancer. The PSA recurrence rate was lower than other international reports. Likewise, the biochemical recurrence of low, intermediate, and high risk was similar to the global trend.