Urgent need for a rapid microbiological diagnosis in critically ill pneumonia.

Severe lower respiratory tract infection is a common issue in Intensive Care Units that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The traditional diagnostic-therapeutic approach has been grounded on taking respiratory samples and/or blood cultures as soon as possible and starting empirical antibiotic therapy addressed to cover most likely pathogens based on the presence of the patient's risk factors for certain microorganisms, while waiting for the culture results in the following 48-72 hours to adequate the antibiotic treatment to the sensitivity profile of the isolated pathogen. Unfortunately, this strategy leads to use broad-spectrum antibiotics more times than necessary and does not prevent possible therapeutic failures. The recent development of rapid molecular diagnostic techniques, based on real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), makes it possible to determine the causative agent and its main resistance pattern between 1 and 5 hours after sampling (depending on each tecnique), with high precision, some of them reaching a negative predictive value greater than 98%, facilitating the very early withdrawal of unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics. Its high sensitivity can also detect unsuspected pathogens based on risk factors, allowing adequate treatment in the first hours of stay. This short review discusses the potential usefulness of these techniques in critically ill patients with lower respiratory tract infection and advocates their immediate implementation in clinical practice.

Ventilatory support and corticosteroid therapy in SARS-CoV-2.

It has been almost two years since COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The entire scientific and medical community was put to the test during the following months to find the best therapeutic strategy to save lives. Although some antivirals and anti-inflammatory drugs are being tested in different clinical trials with some controversial results, this short review will focus on corticosteroids usefulness and ventilatory support principles, as they have become two essential therapeutic pillars for those patients who need hospital admission due to respiratory failure.

Metástasis intraoculares: comparación entre las formas de presentación clínica con tumor primario conocido y desconocido / Intraocular metastasis: comparison of clinical presentation with a known and unknown primary tumour

OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente estudio es revisar la frecuencia de metástasis intraoculares como primera manifestación de enfermedad sistémica e identificar las características clínicas y tumorales. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo y consecutivo de casos diagnosticados como metástasis intraoculares en una unidad de referencia de tumores intraoculares entre 1993 y 2014. Se registraron las características generales, epidemiológicas y oftalmológicas. RESULTADOS: Entre 1993 y 2014, se diagnosticaron 21 pacientes con metástasis intraoculares. Edad media de 62,7 años (31-89). Se observó bilateralidad en 4 casos y localización coroidea en 20 casos. El tumor intraocular fue la primera manifestación de la enfermedad sistémica en 13 pacientes (61,9%). El tumor primario fue la mama en el 47,5% de los casos y el pulmón en el 23,8%. El diagnóstico del tumor primario se realizó mediante estudios sistémicos y solo un paciente requirió biopsia intraocular. Respecto al tratamiento, la mayoría de los casos se controlaron mediante terapia sistémica; 4 casos precisaron radioterapia externa adicional y solamente un caso, enucleación. No se encontraron diferencias clínicas entre los casos de cáncer sistémico conocido o desconocido, excepto respecto al desprendimiento de retina exudativo, más frecuente en el segundo grupo. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque las metástasis intraoculares son el tumor intraocular más frecuente, no son un motivo frecuente de consulta. En más de la mitad de los casos es la forma de presentación de una neoplasia sistémica desconocida como una masa intraocular solitaria no pigmentada. El diagnóstico precoz es crucial para establecer el tratamiento adecuado, preservar la función visual y mejorar el pronóstico vital del paciente

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to review the frequency of intraocular metastases as first presentation of systemic disease, and to identify clinical and tumour characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive cases diagnosed of intraocular metástasis at a referral intraocular tumours unit between 1993 and 2014. General, epidemiological and ophthalmological characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients, with a mean age 62.7 years (31-89) were diagnosed with intraocular metástasis between 1993 and 2014. Both eyes were affected in 4 cases. Location was choroid in 20 cases. The intraocular tumour was the first manifestation of the systemic disease in 13 patients (61.9%). Primary tumour was breast in 47.6% and lung in 23.8%. Diagnosis of the primary tumour was performed by systemic studies, and only 1 patient required intraocular biopsy. Regarding the treatment, the majority of cases were controlled with systemic therapy, with 4 cases requiring additional external beam radiotherapy, and only one enucleation. No clinical differences were found between the cases with known and unknown systemic neoplasia, except in exudative retinal detachment, which was more frequent in the second group. CONCLUSIONS: Although intraocular metastases are the most frequent intraocular tumour, they are not a frequent cause of consultation. In more than half of the cases it is the first presentation of unknown systemic neoplasia as a solitary non-pigmented intraocular mass. Early diagnosis is crucial to establish the appropriate treatment, preserve visual function, and improve the prognosis of the patient

Intraocular metastasis: comparison of clinical presentation with a known and unknown primary tumour. / Metástasis intraoculares: comparación entre las formas de presentación clínica con tumor primario conocido y desconocido.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to review the frequency of intraocular metastases as first presentation of systemic disease, and to identify clinical and tumour characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive cases diagnosed of intraocular metástasis at a referral intraocular tumours unit between 1993 and 2014. General, epidemiological and ophthalmological characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients, with a mean age 62.7 years (31-89) were diagnosed with intraocular metástasis between 1993 and 2014. Both eyes were affected in 4 cases. Location was choroid in 20 cases. The intraocular tumour was the first manifestation of the systemic disease in 13 patients (61.9%). Primary tumour was breast in 47.6% and lung in 23.8%. Diagnosis of the primary tumour was performed by systemic studies, and only 1 patient required intraocular biopsy. Regarding the treatment, the majority of cases were controlled with systemic therapy, with 4 cases requiring additional external beam radiotherapy, and only one enucleation. No clinical differences were found between the cases with known and unknown systemic neoplasia, except in exudative retinal detachment, which was more frequent in the second group. CONCLUSIONS: Although intraocular metastases are the most frequent intraocular tumour, they are not a frequent cause of consultation. In more than half of the cases it is the first presentation of unknown systemic neoplasia as a solitary non-pigmented intraocular mass. Early diagnosis is crucial to establish the appropriate treatment, preserve visual function, and improve the prognosis of the patient.

Melanoma uveal: características clínicas, tratamiento y supervivencia en una serie de 500 pacientes / Uveal melanoma: Clinical characteristics, treatment and survival in a series of 500 patients

Objetivo: Analizar las características clínicas, tratamiento y supervivencia de los pacientes diagnosticados de melanoma uveal en una unidad de referencia de tumores intraoculares en un periodo de 20 años. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo de 500 pacientes entre enero de 1992 y diciembre de 2011. Se recogieron las características clínicas del tumor y el tratamiento recibido en una base de datos en Microsoft@ Access@. Las variables numéricas se analizaron con medias de frecuencia y desviación estándar, y las cualitativas con tablas de media de frecuencia. Resultados: La edad media de la muestra fue de 62,19 años, siendo un 51,2% mujeres. Se diagnosticaron por la presencia de síntomas visuales el 64,2% de los casos. Los tumores eran pequeños en el 31,12% de los casos y grandes en el 23,09% según criterios del COMS. El color de iris fue el verde-avellana en el 44,2% de los ojos. El tratamiento inicial fue la braquiterapia epiescleral en el 42,4%. La mortalidad global fue del 17 y 31,3% y la específica por melanoma del 11,6 y 14,8%, a los 5 y 10 años, respectivamente. Conclusiones: En la serie estudiada los melanomas son más frecuentes en mujeres y en iris más oscuros comparados con estudios previos. Los tumores detectados son sintomáticos y en estadios poco avanzados, lo que permite tratamientos conservadores, siendo la braquiterapia el más importante. Se observa una disminución de la mortalidad específica por melanoma comparada con otras series publicadas. Sin embargo, son necesarios más estudios sobre los factores que influyen en la supervivencia (AU)

Objective: To analyse the clinical features, treatment and survival of uveal melanoma patients diagnosed in a referral Intraocular Tumours Unit over a twenty-year period. Methodology: A prospective study was performed including five hundred patients, diagnosed between January 1992 and December 2011. Clinical tumour characteristics and treatment were collected in a database in Microsoft@ Access@. The numeric variables were expressed as means of frequency and standard deviation, and the quantitative variables using frequency tables. Results: The mean age of the sample was 62.19 years, with 51.2% females, and 64.2% presented with symptoms. The tumours were small in 31.12% of cases, and large in 23.09%, according to COMS criteria. Hazel green was the iris colour in 42.2% of the cases. The initial treatment was episcleral brachytherapy in 42.4% of the total. The overall mortality ratewas 17% and 31.3%, and melanoma-related mortality rate was 11.6% and 14.8%, at 5 and10 years, respectively. Conclusions: In the serie studied melanomas were more frequent in women, and a higher proportion of darker irides were observed than in other previous studies. Mostof the tumours were diagnosed when they became symptomatic and in the early or medium stages, allowing conservative therapies to be used, with brachytherapy being the predominant treatment. The melanoma-related mortality appeared to be lower than previously data published. However, further studies are required on the factors influencing survival (AU)

[Uveal melanoma: clinical characteristics, treatment and survival in a series of 500 patients]. / Melanoma uveal: características clínicas, tratamiento y supervivencia en una serie de 500 pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical features, treatment and survival of uveal melanoma patients diagnosed in a referral Intraocular Tumours Unit over a twenty-year period. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study was performed including five hundred patients, diagnosed between January 1992 and December 2011. Clinical tumour characteristics and treatment were collected in a database in Microsoft@ Access@. The numeric variables were expressed as means of frequency and standard deviation, and the quantitative variables using frequency tables. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 62.19 years, with 51.2% females, and 64.2% presented with symptoms. The tumours were small in 31.12% of cases, and large in 23.09%, according to COMS criteria. Hazel green was the iris colour in 42.2% of the cases. The initial treatment was episcleral brachytherapy in 42.4% of the total. The overall mortality rate was 17% and 31.3%, and melanoma-related mortality rate was 11.6% and 14.8%, at 5 and 10 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the serie studied melanomas were more frequent in women, and a higher proportion of darker irides were observed than in other previous studies. Most of the tumours were diagnosed when they became symptomatic and in the early or medium stages, allowing conservative therapies to be used, with brachytherapy being the predominant treatment. The melanoma-related mortality appeared to be lower than previously data published. However, further studies are required on the factors influencing survival.