Microbiological diagnosis of catheter-related infections / Diagnóstico microbiológico de las infecciones asociadas a catéteres intravasculares

This revision describes in detail the different diagnostic techniques of catheter-related infection, both in terms of catheter removal and preservation. Culture techniques based on catheter withdrawal are classified depending on the detection of extraluminal and/or intraluminal colonization, and new methodologies are described. In general, the most important recommendations are: (a) do not send for culture catheter tips without suspicion of infection, (b) Maki's technique is the standard for detecting extraluminal colonization, (c) take 2 pairs of peripheral blood cultures before starting antibiotic treatment, (d) use skin and connections/connectors cultures for the conservative diagnosis due to their high negative predictive value (Gram and culture), and (e) take differential quantitative blood cultures though all catheter lumens and through a peripheral vein

Esta revisión describe con detalle las diferentes técnicas diagnósticas de infección relacionada con el catéter, tanto con la retirada como con la conservación del mismo. Las técnicas de cultivo basadas en la retirada del catéter se clasifican en base a la detección de colonización extraluminal, intraluminal, o ambas, asimismo, se describen nuevas metodologías. De forma general, las recomendaciones más importantes son: a) no enviar para cultivo puntas de catéter retiradas sin sospecha de infección, b) la técnica de Maki es el estándar válido de detección de colonización extraluminal, c) tomar 2 parejas de hemocultivos de sangre periférica antes de iniciar tratamiento antibiótico, d) utilizar cultivos de piel y conexiones/conectores para el diagnóstico conservador por su alto valor predictivo negativo (Gram y cultivo), y e) extraer hemocultivos cuantitativos diferenciales por todas las luces del catéter y por vena periférica

Microbiological diagnosis of catheter-related infections.

This revision describes in detail the different diagnostic techniques of catheter-related infection, both in terms of catheter removal and preservation. Culture techniques based on catheter withdrawal are classified depending on the detection of extraluminal and/or intraluminal colonization, and new methodologies are described. In general, the most important recommendations are: (a) do not send for culture catheter tips without suspicion of infection, (b) Maki's technique is the standard for detecting extraluminal colonization, (c) take 2 pairs of peripheral blood cultures before starting antibiotic treatment, (d) use skin and connections/connectors cultures for the conservative diagnosis due to their high negative predictive value (Gram and culture), and (e) take differential quantitative blood cultures though all catheter lumens and through a peripheral vein.

Diagnóstico microbiológico de la tuberculosis. 20 años en la provincia de Soria. Rendimiento y oportunidades básicas de mejora / (Microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis. 20 years in the province of Soria. Performance and basic opportunities of improvement

Introducción. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer los datos relativos al diagnóstico microbiológico de la tuberculosis en la provincia de Soria, así como analizar la rentabilidad diagnóstica de las técnicas utilizadas y la utilización del laboratorio de microbiología en lo que concierne a la tuberculosis. Métodos. Se diseñó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo, incluyendo todos los pacientes con tuberculosis de cualquier localización que tuviesen su residencia en la provincia de Soria. El periodo de estudio abarcó los casos diagnosticados entre 1994 y 2013 realizando seguimiento durante 24 meses tras el inicio del tratamiento. Resultados. Se detectaron 337 pacientes durante el periodo estudiado. En más del 3% de los pacientes no se envió ninguna muestra al laboratorio de microbiología, porcentaje que ascendió al 23% en tuberculosis osteoarticulares y 33% en tuberculosis linfáticas. Se obtuvo confirmación microbiológica en el 80% y la baciloscopia fue positiva en el 32%. Las muestras se sembraron en medios sólidos y líquidos; el 10% de las cepas sólo se aislaron en un tipo de medio. El porcentaje de cepas resistentes a isoniazida fue de 2,9%, se detectó una cepa multirresistente (0,3%) y una cepa con resistencia únicamente a rifampicina (0,3%). De todos los pacientes bacilíferos con seguimiento, no se envió ninguna muestra para estudiar la negativización en el 36%. Conclusión. Destaca la necesidad de mantener el cultivo combinado en medios líquidos y sólidos. Es necesario potenciar el uso del laboratorio de microbiología, enviando todas las posibles muestras diagnósticas y realizando controles bacteriológicos de seguimiento para objetivar la curación

Introduction. The aim of the study was to describe the bacteriological diagnosis of the tuberculosis in the province of Soria (Spain), as well as to analyse the techniques diagnostic performance and the use of the microbiology laboratory regarding tuberculosis. Methods. An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was designed, including all patients with tuberculosis of any location that had their residence in the province of Soria. The period of study included patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2013 and a 24 months follow-up after the beginning of treatment was realized. Results. A total of 337 patients were detected during the studied period. No sample was sent to the microbiology laboratory in more than 3% of the patients (23% in skeletal tuberculosis and 33% in lymphatic tuberculosis). Bacteriological confirmation was obtained in 80% and 32% were smear-positive. Specimens were culture on solid and in liquid media; 10% of the strains were only isolated in one type of media. There were 2.9% isoniazid-resistant strains, 0.3% multi-drug resistant strains, and 0.3% rifampicin-resistant strains. A total of 36% of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients had no specimens sent for a follow-up study. Conclusion. It is essential to combine the use of a liquid and a solid medium. Physicians should be encouraged to submit specimens for mycobacteriological diagnostic and follow-up

Fiabilidad del conjunto mínimo básico de datos como herramienta epidemiológica de la enfermedad tuberculosa / Reliability of the Minimum Basic Data Set as an Epidemiological Tool in Tuberculosis

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Infradeclaración de la enfermedad tuberculosa / Under-reporting of tuberculosis disease

No disponible

Infestaciones de úlceras por larvas autóctonas / Infested sore by native maggots

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Tularemia: una década en la provincia de Soria / Tularemia: A decade in the province of Soria (Spain)

La tularemia es una enfermedad descrita en España desde hace una década. El presente estudio analiza los casos en los que se sospechó tularemia, así como los casos probables y los casos confirmados de esta enfermedad en la provincia de Soria, en comparación con los datos referidos a la tularemia en Castilla y León. Estos casos, salvo uno esporádico, se agrupan en 2 brotes epidémicos (años 1997–1998 y años 2007–2008). Métodos Se estudiaron todos los pacientes (53) con sospecha clínica de tularemia entre los años 1997 y 2008 (estudio retrospectivo de los años 1997 a 1999). El estudio microbiológico se realizó por serología (63 sueros), cultivo de sangre (10 muestras) y cultivo de líquido de absceso de adenopatía (una muestra). Resultados Durante 10 años se diagnosticaron 19 casos de tularemia en Soria: un caso esporádico en 1996, 5 casos en el brote de 1997–1998 y 13 casos en el brote de 2007–2008. El 95% de los casos tuvo contacto con liebres. La forma clínica más frecuente fue la forma ulceroganglionar (62%). Trece casos se definieron como probables (el 68% con título alto de anticuerpos) y 6 casos se definieron como confirmados (el 32%), 2 por aislamiento de la bacteria y 4 por seroconversión. Conclusión Los casos de tularemia en la provincia de Soria comparten idénticas características clínicas y epidemiológicas (formas ulceroganglionares, manipulación de liebres) con el brote de los años 1997–1998 en la comunidad de Castilla y León y se diferencian de los casos del brote de los años 2007–2008 en la comunidad (predominio de las formas tifoideas de la enfermedad y relación con el aumento de la población de topillos) (AU)

Introduction Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that has been regularly reported in Spain since 1997. This study analyzes suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of tularemia in the province of Soria, and compares them with tularemia cases recorded in the autonomous community of Castilla y Léon, which, with the exception of 1 sporadic case, occurred in 2 epidemic outbreaks in 1997/1998 and 2007/2008. Methods We studied all patients (53) with signs and symptoms of tularemia in the period of 1997 to 2008. Sixty-three serum samples from these patients were tested by a microagglutination assay for antibodies against Francisella tularensis; additionally 10 blood cultures and 1 culture of abscess exudate from an enlarged lymph node were carried out. Results Over the last decade, 19 cases of tularemia have been diagnosed in Soria (1 sporadic case in 1996, 5 associated with an outbreak reported in 1997/98 and 13 associated with an outbreak occurring in 2007/08). In 95% of the cases, previous contact with hares was reported. The ulceroglandular type was most frequently (62%) observed. F. tularensis was isolated on blood culture in 2 cases. The remaining patients were diagnosed by serology (4 confirmed cases, 13 probable cases). Conclusion The cases of tularemia documented in Soria showed clinical and epidemiological features (predominant ulceroglandular clinical presentation and previous contact with hares) identical to the 1997/98 tularemia outbreak in Castilla y Léon, but contrasted with the 2007/08 outbreak in Castilla y León where typhoidal clinical forms of the disease and a relationship with an increased rodent population (Mycrotus spp) were predominant (AU)

[Tularemia: a decade in the province of Soria (Spain)]. / Tularemia: una década en la provincia de Soria.

INTRODUCTION: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that has been regularly reported in Spain since 1997. This study analyzes suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of tularemia in the province of Soria, and compares them with tularemia cases recorded in the autonomous community of Castilla y Léon, which, with the exception of 1 sporadic case, occurred in 2 epidemic outbreaks in 1997/1998 and 2007/2008. METHODS: We studied all patients (53) with signs and symptoms of tularemia in the period of 1997 to 2008. Sixty-three serum samples from these patients were tested by a microagglutination assay for antibodies against Francisella tularensis; additionally 10 blood cultures and 1 culture of abscess exudate from an enlarged lymph node were carried out. RESULTS: Over the last decade, 19 cases of tularemia have been diagnosed in Soria (1 sporadic case in 1996, 5 associated with an outbreak reported in 1997/98 and 13 associated with an outbreak occurring in 2007/08). In 95% of the cases, previous contact with hares was reported. The ulceroglandular type was most frequently (62%) observed. F. tularensis was isolated on blood culture in 2 cases. The remaining patients were diagnosed by serology (4 confirmed cases, 13 probable cases). CONCLUSION: The cases of tularemia documented in Soria showed clinical and epidemiological features (predominant ulceroglandular clinical presentation and previous contact with hares) identical to the 1997/98 tularemia outbreak in Castilla y Léon, but contrasted with the 2007/08 outbreak in Castilla y León where typhoidal clinical forms of the disease and a relationship with an increased rodent population (Mycrotus spp) were predominant.

Comparison of phenotypic with genotypic procedures for confirmation of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus catheter-related bloodstream infections.

We sought here to review the present definition of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) due to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) by comparing the routine phenotypic methods with a genotypic procedure that considers different morphotypes. Our phenotypic characterization of CNS isolates included routine identification with biotype and antibiotype. The genotypic diagnosis was based on longer incubation periods with the consideration of all morphotypes and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis techniques. We prospectively selected 61 episodes of suspected CR-BSI by CNS occurring during 1 year, based on the presence of a compatible clinical setting and the isolation of one or more CNS from blood and catheter tip. Of these episodes, 47 (77%) were identified as true episodes of CR-BSI based on the presence of microorganisms of the same genotype in the blood and on the catheter tip. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive, accuracy, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio values obtained by different phenotypic microbiological approaches to establish the diagnosis of CR-BSI were as follows: identity at species level (78.7%, 85.7%, 94.9%, 54.5%, 80.3%, 5.51, and 0.25, respectively); identity of species and biotype (59.6%, 92.9%, 96.6%, 40.6%, 67.2%, 8.34, and 0.44, respectively); identity of species and antibiotype (61.7%, 92.9%, 96.7%, 41.9%, 68.8%, 8.64, and 0.41, respectively); and identity of species, biotype, and antibiotype (48.9%, 92.9%, 95.8%, 35.1%, 59%, 6.85, and 0.55, respectively). Our study demonstrates the inaccuracy of the diagnosis of CNS CR-BSI when the current definition based on conventional routine microbiological practice is followed. A new definition of CNS CR-BSI is necessary, at least as an epidemiological and research tool.