Automatic Discrimination of Species within the Enterobacter cloacae Complex Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and Supervised Algorithms.

The Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) encompasses heterogeneous clusters of species that have been associated with nosocomial outbreaks. These species may have different acquired antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms, and their identification is challenging. This study aims to develop predictive models based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) profiles and machine learning for species-level identification. A total of 219 ECC and 118 Klebsiella aerogenes clinical isolates from three hospitals were included. The capability of the proposed method to differentiate the most common ECC species (Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter kobei, Enterobacter hormaechei, Enterobacter roggenkampii, Enterobacter ludwigii, and Enterobacter bugandensis) and K. aerogenes was demonstrated by applying unsupervised hierarchical clustering with principal-component analysis (PCA) preprocessing. We observed a distinctive clustering of E. hormaechei and K. aerogenes and a clear trend for the rest of the ECC species to be differentiated over the development data set. Thus, we developed supervised, nonlinear predictive models (support vector machine with radial basis function and random forest). The external validation of these models with protein spectra from two participating hospitals yielded 100% correct species-level assignment for E. asburiae, E. kobei, and E. roggenkampii and between 91.2% and 98.0% for the remaining ECC species; with data analyzed in the three participating centers, the accuracy was close to 100%. Similar results were obtained with the Mass Spectrometric Identification (MSI) database developed recently (https://msi.happy-dev.fr) except in the case of E. hormaechei, which was more accurately identified with the random forest algorithm. In short, MALDI-TOF MS combined with machine learning was demonstrated to be a rapid and accurate method for the differentiation of ECC species.

Evolución de las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de pacientes adultos del programa nacional al inicio de la terapia anti-retroviral en la Cohorte Chilena de SIDA, 2001-2015 / Evolution of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of adults patients belonging to the national program at start of antiretroviral therapy in the Chilean AIDS Cohort, 2001-2015

Background: Chilean AIDS Cohort is the oldest and extensive in Latin America and one of most numerous and with longer follow up time to international level. Records information from 14,873 patients out of approximately 22,000 in antiretroviral therapy in the public system and its results have allowed to know the national reality and have contributed to the adoption of public policies. Aim: To describe the demographic, clinical and immunological characteristics of patients who have started ART in Chile and its evolution over the past 15 years. Patients and Methods: The cases were stratified by five-year periods: 2001-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. The data analysis included calculating proportions, their respective confidence intervals 95% and X² test for significance analysis was applied. Results: 17.4% of patients starting ART are women and the proportion has remained relatively constant. The highest proportion of new HIV cases are 30 and 39 years old, nevertheless the layer of 15-29 years demonstrates a significant increase from 21.7 to 36.4% in 2011-2015 especially in men. 12.1% of new cases are older than 50 years old with a stable trend over time; however, women over 50 have increased from 11.0 to 15.6%. Antiretroviral therapy initiation with CD4+ T lymphocytes less than 200 cells/mm³ has decreased from 79.7 to 42.4% and in stage C from 45.4 to 22.6%. Late presentation to antiretroviral therapy is higher in men but this gap has narrowed in the last five years. Pneumocystis jiroveci, wasting syndrome, tuberculosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma and esophageal candidiasis are the most common opportunistic diseases without significant changes in the three-year periods analyzed. In the last five years, 15.5% of opportunistic diseases occurs in patients with CD4+ TL > 200 cells/mm3. Discussion: Despite the limitations of observational studies present report describes the characteristics and evolution of the epidemics in Chile in the last 15 years. The infection occurs at younger ages in men, whereas in women there is an increase over 50 years old. Despite advances in treatment access have reduced late presentation to therapy, important challenges remain to achieve more timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy in accordance with WHO 90-90-90 goals.

Introducción: La Cohorte Chilena de SIDA es la más antigua y extensa de Latinoamérica y una de las más numerosas y con mayor tiempo de seguimiento a nivel internacional. Registra información de 14.873 pacientes de los aproximadamente 22.000 en TARV en el sistema público y sus resultados han permitido conocer la realidad nacional y han contribuido a la adopción de políticas públicas. El objetivo de este estudio es describir las características demográficas, clínicas e inmunológicas de los pacientes que han comenzado TARV en Chile y su evolución en los últimos 15 años. Pacientes y Métodos: Los casos fueron estratificados por quinquenios: 2001-2005, 2006-2010 y 2011-2015. El análisis de los datos incluyó el cálculo de proporciones, sus respectivos intervalos de confianza 95% y se aplicó test de X² para análisis de significación. Resultados: El 17,4% de los casos que inician TARV corresponde a mujeres y la proporción se ha mantenido relativamente constante. Por edad, destaca el grupo de adultos entre 30 y 39 años aunque el estrato de 15-29 años evidencia un importante aumento desde 21,7 a 36,4% en 2011-2015, especialmente en hombres. Un 12,1% del total de los inicios de TARV son mayores de 50 años con una tendencia estable en el tiempo; sin embargo, las mujeres mayores de 50 años han aumentado de 11,0 a 15,6%. El inicio de TARV con LT CD4 menor de 200 céls/mm³ ha disminuido desde 79,7 a 42,4% y en etapa C desde 45,4 a 22,6%. La presentación tardía a TARV es mayor en hombres pero esta diferencia se ha reducido en el último quinquenio. Neumonía por Pneumocystis jiroveci, síndrome consuntivo, tuberculosis, sarcoma de Kaposi y candidiasis esofágica son las enfermedades oportunistas más frecuentes sin cambios significativos en los tres quinquenios analizados. En el último quinquenio, 15,5% de las enfermedades oportunistas se presenta en pacientes con LT CD4 > 200 céls/mm³. Discusión: Pese a las limitaciones de los estudios observacionales el presente reporte describe las características y evolución de la epidemia en Chile en los últimos 15 años. La infección se presenta a edades más jóvenes en hombres, mientras que en mujeres hay un aumento en mayores de 50 años. Pese a los avances en acceso a tratamiento que han permitido reducir la presentación a tardía a terapia, aún persisten importantes desafíos para alcanzar un inicio de TARV más oportuno, en concordancia con las metas 90-90-90 de OMS.

[Evolution of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of adults patients belonging to the national program at start of antiretroviral therapy in the Chilean AIDS Cohort, 2001-2015]. / Evolución de las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de pacientes adultos del programa nacional al inicio de la terapia anti-retroviral en la Cohorte Chilena de SIDA, 2001-2015.

BACKGROUND: Chilean AIDS Cohort is the oldest and extensive in Latin America and one of most numerous and with longer follow up time to international level. Records information from 14,873 patients out of approximately 22,000 in antiretroviral therapy in the public system and its results have allowed to know the national reality and have contributed to the adoption of public policies. AIM: To describe the demographic, clinical and immunological characteristics of patients who have started ART in Chile and its evolution over the past 15 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cases were stratified by five-year periods: 2001-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. The data analysis included calculating proportions, their respective confidence intervals 95% and X² test for significance analysis was applied. RESULTS: 17.4% of patients starting ART are women and the proportion has remained relatively constant. The highest proportion of new HIV cases are 30 and 39 years old, nevertheless the layer of 15-29 years demonstrates a significant increase from 21.7 to 36.4% in 2011-2015 especially in men. 12.1% of new cases are older than 50 years old with a stable trend over time; however, women over 50 have increased from 11.0 to 15.6%. Antiretroviral therapy initiation with CD4+ T lymphocytes less than 200 cells/mm³ has decreased from 79.7 to 42.4% and in stage C from 45.4 to 22.6%. Late presentation to antiretroviral therapy is higher in men but this gap has narrowed in the last five years. Pneumocystis jiroveci, wasting syndrome, tuberculosis, Kaposi's sarcoma and esophageal candidiasis are the most common opportunistic diseases without significant changes in the three-year periods analyzed. In the last five years, 15.5% of opportunistic diseases occurs in patients with CD4+ TL > 200 cells/mm3. DISCUSSION: Despite the limitations of observational studies present report describes the characteristics and evolution of the epidemics in Chile in the last 15 years. The infection occurs at younger ages in men, whereas in women there is an increase over 50 years old. Despite advances in treatment access have reduced late presentation to therapy, important challenges remain to achieve more timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy in accordance with WHO 90-90-90 goals.

¿Qué saben los pacientes ambulatorios con anticoagulantes orales sobre su tratamiento? / What do out-patients on oral anticoagulants know about their treatment?

Objetivos: describir qué conocimientos poseen los pacientes sobre su tratamiento con anticoagulantes orales (TAO), así como sobre las interacciones con otros medicamentos, alimentos, alcohol y las complicaciones potenciales; averiguar la influencia del hecho de haber recibido información del profesional sanitario y del tiempo de tratamiento sobredichos conocimientos. Material y método: estudio descriptivo transversal mediante cuestionario en un centro de salud urbano de Madrid sobre una muestra de 220 pacientes. Variables de estudio: conocimientos que los pacientes con TAO tienen acerca de su tratamiento (dependiente), información recibida sobre el tratamiento, tiempo de tratamiento, edad, sexo y nivel educativo. Se realizó análisis univariante y bivariante (Chi cuadrado y t de student)y cálculo de intervalos de confianza (IC) al 95% de seguridad. Resultados: el 42,5% (IC 95%: 35-50) tenían un nivel de conocimientos adecuados. El 72,9% sabía que el alcohol podría interferir con el TAO. Un55,5% aseguraba haber recibido información sobre todo lo relacionado con el TAO por su médico o enfermera. Se encontró asociación con significación estadística del nivel de conocimientos con la edad (más edad en pacientes con conocimiento adecuado; p = 0,0001) y con el número de años en tratamiento (menos años, mejor conocimiento; p = 0,03).Conclusiones: el porcentaje de pacientes con conocimientos adecuados es similar a otros estudios, siendo demasiado escaso para lo que sería deseable, dado que es un tema en el que es fundamental la implicación del paciente. El hecho de que muchos enfermos manifiesten no haber recibido información completa sobre su tratamiento, lleva a pensar sobre si el tipo de información y cómo se transmite está siendo adecuada a las necesidades y características de estos (AU)

Objectives: to describe what knowledge patients taking oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) have regarding interactions with other medicines, foods, alcohol and potential complications and to find out the influence of having received information from the health professional and the treatment time on such knowledge. Material and method: cross-sectional study by means of a questionnaire in a urban health center of Madrid on a sample of 220 patients. Study variables: knowledge that patients on OAT have about their treatment (dependent),information received about treatment, treatment time, age, sex and educational level. Univariate and bivariate (Chi square and student) analyses were performed with calculation of safety confidence intervals(CI) at 95%.Results: 42,5% (95% CI: 35-50) had an appropriate level of knowledge.72,9% knew that alcohol may interfere with the OAT. 55,5% claimed to have received information on everything related to the OAT by their doctor or nurse. A statistically significant association was found between the level of knowledge and age (older patients with adequate knowledge; p = 0,0001) and number of years in treatment (younger patients, better knowledge; p = 0,03).Conclusions: the percentage of patients with adequate knowledge is similar to other studies, but still too low for what would be desirable, since it is an issue for which patient involvement is fundamental. The fact that many patients claim that they have not received complete information about their treatment, raises the question on whether the type of information provided and how it is transmitted is still appropriate for the needs and characteristics of these patients (AU)