Incidence of and associated factors for bacterial colonization of intravenous catheters removed from dogs in response to clinical complications.

BACKGROUND: Infection rate associated with intravenous (IV) catheter placement is emerging as an important issue in small animal veterinary medicine, mostly because of the economic costs associated with these infections. Identification of possible associated factors may provide useful information for the surveillance and prevention of such infections. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of positive bacterial cultures obtained from IV catheters used in dogs hospitalized for at least 48 hours and removed because of clinical complication. To identify the bacteria involved and factors associated with bacterial colonization. ANIMALS: One-hundred eighty-two dogs that underwent IV catheterization from January 2015 to July 2015 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Alfonso X el Sabio University of Madrid were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: The bacterial colonization rate of all IV catheters removed in response to clinical complications was 39.6%, the cumulative proportion of catheters that remained in place at 24, 48, and 72 hours after placement was 89.5, 78, and 59.4%, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression indicated significant associations for staff who performed catheterization (junior, P = .002; student, P = .034) and use of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P = .036). The most frequently isolated bacterium was Acinetobacter spp. (21.7%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The bacterial colonization incidence related to IV catheter placement was slightly higher than the incidence described in other veterinary studies. Associated factors not previously described in veterinary medicine were found. The most frequently isolated organism was Acinetobacter spp., indicating its importance as an emerging pathogen in catheter colonization.

Threonines at position 174 and 235 of the angiotensinogen polypeptide chain are related to familial history of hypertension in a Spanish-Mediterranean population.

This study investigates the association between the allelic distribution of two polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene (T174M and M235T in the polypeptide chain) and blood pressure (BP) in a Mediterranean population in the south-west of Europe. The sample consists of 1322 participants from urban and rural areas, from the province of Albacete (218,462 inhabitants), located in the south-east of Spain. The subsample of this study, adjusted by age (over 18 years old) and sex, consists of 401 individuals. A case-control study is conducted which analyses 205 individuals from the group with the highest BP (fifth quintile) and 196 from the group with the lowest BP (first quintile). In addition, a comparative and associated analysis of these polymorphisms with BP level and family history of hypertension is carried out. The T174 allele proved to be more common in the fifth quintile group, although not statistically so. When the presence of threonine was analysed in both polymorphism positions (174 and 235), the TTTT genotype was found to be more common in the fifth quintile than in the first quintile. Moreover, the TTTT genotype was significantly more common in individuals with a family history of hypertension, indicating that it could be considered a predisposing factor to high BP in individuals from such families. In addition, the T174M-T235T genotype was more common in the first quintile group, and showed significant association (P=0.05) with the group that had no family history of hypertension.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms, serum ACE activity and blood pressure in a Spanish-Mediterranean population.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels and ACE gene polymorphisms have been related with hypertension but with contradictory results between populations. We have investigated the association among the allelic distribution of the insertion-deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene, identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serum ACE activity determined by spectrophotometry, and the blood pressure (BP), in a Mediterranean population in the southwest of Europe. A total of 1322 randomised individuals were analysed, and a comparative study was conducted analysing 205 individuals from the group with highest BP (fifth quintyl) and 196 from the group with lowest BP (first quintyl). In addition we have studied the frequencies of alleles in separated groups of women and men. We conclude that in this population there is no association between I/D polymorphism and hypertension. However, we have found a statistically significant association between the presence of the D allele in the genotypes and an elevation of serum ACE activity.