Management of an outbreak of botulism with benign clinical presentation.

Botulism is a life-threatening presynaptic disorder of the neuromuscular transmission produced by the neurotoxin elaborated by the botulinum neurotoxin-producing clostridia. We describe the management of a case series of 14 patients, members of 5 different families that were exposed to home-canned tuna and developed symptoms compatible with a mild clinical presentation of foodborne botulism. The electrophysiological study of the index case represented a reliable diagnostic test as it demonstrated a slight presynaptic dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction. Definite diagnosis was later confirmed by microbiological tests. Out of 14, only 3 patients presenting with a shorter period from symptom onset and with signs of multiple cranial neuropathies received botulinum antitoxin. All the patients remained stable and recovered progressively. Treatment with antitoxin may not be necessary in patients with late-presenting disease and mild and stable clinical picture.

Comparison of three statistical methods for establishing tentative wild-type population and epidemiological cutoff values for echinocandins, amphotericin B, flucytosine, and six Candida species as determined by the colorimetric Sensititre YeastOne method.

The Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method is a widely used method to determine the susceptibility of Candida spp. to antifungal agents. CLSI clinical breakpoints (CBP) have been reported for antifungals, but not using this method. In the absence of CBP, epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) are useful to separate wild-type (WT) isolates (those without mechanisms of resistance) from non-WT isolates (those that can harbor some resistance mechanisms), which is the goal of any susceptibility test. The ECVs for five agents, obtained using the MIC distributions determined by the SYO test, were calculated and contrasted with those for three statistical methods and the MIC(50) and modal MIC, both plus 2-fold dilutions. The median ECVs (in mg/liter) (% of isolates inhibited by MICs equal to or less than the ECV; number of isolates tested) of the five methods for anidulafungin, micafungin, caspofungin, amphotericin B, and flucytosine, respectively, were as follows: 0.25 (98.5%; 656), 0.06 (95.1%; 659), 0.25 (98.7%; 747), 2 (100%; 923), and 1 (98.5%; 915) for Candida albicans; 8 (100%; 352), 4 (99.2%; 392), 2 (99.2%; 480), 1 (99.8%; 603), and 0.5 (97.9%; 635) for C. parapsilosis; 1 (99.2%; 123), 0.12 (99.2%; 121), 0.25 (99.2%; 138), 2 (100%; 171), and 0.5 (97.2%; 175) for C. tropicalis; 0.12 (96.6%; 174), 0.06 (96%; 176), 0.25 (98.4%; 188), 2 (100%; 209), and 0.25 (97.6%; 208) for C. glabrata; 0.25 (97%; 33), 0.5 (93.9%; 33), 1 (91.9%; 37), 4 (100%; 51), and 32 (100%; 53) for C. krusei; and 4 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 54), 1 (100%; 90), and 0.25 (93.4%; 91) for C. orthopsilosis. The three statistical methods gave similar ECVs (within one dilution) and included ≥ 95% of isolates. These tentative ECVs would be useful for monitoring the emergence of isolates with reduced susceptibility by use of the SYO method.

Variación de la epidemiología de las fungemias y de la sensibilidad al fluconazol de los aislamientos de hemocultivos en los últimos 10 años en España: resultados del estudio FUNGEMYCA / Changes in the epidemiology of fungaemia and fluconazole susceptibility of blood isolates during the last 10 years in Spain: results from the FUNGEMYCA study

Antecedentes. Recientemente se ha observado un incremento de las fungemias causadas por especies diferentes de Candida albicans y una disminución de la sensibilidad de los microorganismos responsables al fluconazol. Objetivos. Evaluar la epidemiología y la sensibilidad al fluconazol de los casos de fungemia en España en 2009, comparando los resultados con los obtenidos entre los años 1997-1999 (Pemán J, et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005). Métodos. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico con 44 centros participantes realizado desde enero de 2009 a febrero de 2010. Los aislamientos fúngicos procedentes de hemocultivo fueron recogidos en cada centro, donde se realizó el estudio de sensibilidad antifúngica mediante microdilución colorimétrica (Sensititre Yeast One). Resultados. Desde enero de 2009 a febrero de 2010 se recogieron 1.377 aislamientos en hemocultivos, correspondientes a 1.357 episodios de fungemia. Las fungemias se observaron principalmente en mayores de 64 años (46,7%) y el 8,6% en menores de 1 año. C. albicans (44,7%), Candida parapsilosis (29,1%), Candida glabrata (11,5%), Candida tropicalis (8,2%) y Candida krusei (1,9%) fueron las especies más frecuentes, pero su distribución no fue geográficamente homogénea. En los últimos 10 años la incidencia de C. albicans ha aumentado significativamente en Cataluña (39,1 vs. 54,7%, P=0,03) y reducido en la Comunidad Valenciana (49,1 vs. 34,6%, P=0,01). C. parapsilosis ha disminuido en Cataluña (29 vs. 12,4%, P=0,002) y Extremadura (58,3 vs. 20%, P=0,01). La sensibilidad a fluconazol fue similar en toda España pero en los aislamientos de C. albicans la resistencia fue diez veces superior en mayores de 64 años. Sin embargo, la tasa de resistencia (CMI > 32 mg/L) global ha disminuido con respecto a la obtenida hace 10 años (3,7 vs. 2,5% actual), sobre todo en C. albicans (3 vs. 1,6%). Conclusiones. En los últimos 10 años la distribución de las especies causantes de fungemia en España y la sensibilidad al fluconazol no han variado significativamente, aunque se observa una menor tasa de resistencia. La distribución de las especies varía según la unidad de hospitalización, hospital y Comunidad Autónoma(AU)

Background. Recent epidemiological surveillance studies have reported an increase in fungaemia caused by non-Candida albicans species, as well as a decrease in fluconazole susceptibility. Objectives. To evaluate changes in the epidemiology of fungaemia in Spain comparing data from a new surveillance epidemiological study conducted in 2009 with a previous study carried out from 1997 to 1999 (Pemán J, et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005). Methods. From January 2009 to February 2010, 44 Spanish hospitals participated in a prospective multicentre fungaemia surveillance study to ascertain whether there have been changes in the epidemiology and fluconazole susceptibility. Susceptibility was determined by the colorimetric method Sensititre Yeast One. Demographic and clinical data and the first isolate of each episode were gathered. Results. A total of 1,377 isolates from 1,357 fungaemia episodes were collected, 46.7% from patients older than 64years and 8.6% from children less than 1 year old. C. albicans (44.7%), Candida parapsilosis (29.1%), Candida glabrata (11.5%), Candida tropicalis (8.2%), and Candida krusei (1.9%) were the most frequent species isolated. Distribution varied with the geographical area. C. albicans incidence has increased significantly in the last 10years in Cataluña (39.1 vs. 54.7%, P =0.03) and decreased in the Valencian Community (49.1 vs. 34.6%, P =0.002) and Extremadura (58.3 vs. 20%, P =0.01). Susceptibility to fluconazole was similar for all geographical areas, although resistance in C. albicans was ten times greater for patients aged more than 64years. The overall rate of fluconazole resistance (MIC > 32 mg/L) has decreased with respect to that obtained 10years ago (3.7 vs. 2.5%) mainly in C. albicans (3 vs. 1.6%). Conclusions. In the last ten years, species distribution and fluconazole susceptibility have not significantly changed, although a lower rate of fluconazole resistance has been observed. Species distribution varies with hospital, hospitalization Unit and geographical area(AU)

[Changes in the epidemiology of fungaemia and fluconazole susceptibility of blood isolates during the last 10 years in Spain: results from the FUNGEMYCA study]. / Variación de la epidemiología de las fungemias y de la sensibilidad al fluconazol de los aislamientos de hemocultivos en los últimos 10 años en España: resultados del estudio FUNGEMYCA.

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological surveillance studies have reported an increase in fungaemia caused by non-Candida albicans species, as well as a decrease in fluconazole susceptibility. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in the epidemiology of fungaemia in Spain comparing data from a new surveillance epidemiological study conducted in 2009 with a previous study carried out from 1997 to 1999 (Pemán J, et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005). METHODS: From January 2009 to February 2010, 44 Spanish hospitals participated in a prospective multicentre fungaemia surveillance study to ascertain whether there have been changes in the epidemiology and fluconazole susceptibility. Susceptibility was determined by the colorimetric method Sensititre Yeast One. Demographic and clinical data and the first isolate of each episode were gathered. RESULTS: A total of 1,377 isolates from 1,357 fungaemia episodes were collected, 46.7% from patients older than 64years and 8.6% from children less than 1 year old. C. albicans (44.7%), Candida parapsilosis (29.1%), Candida glabrata (11.5%), Candida tropicalis (8.2%), and Candida krusei (1.9%) were the most frequent species isolated. Distribution varied with the geographical area. C. albicans incidence has increased significantly in the last 10years in Cataluña (39.1 vs. 54.7%, P=0.03) and decreased in the Valencian Community (49.1 vs. 34.6%, P=0.002) and Extremadura (58.3 vs. 20%, P=0.01). Susceptibility to fluconazole was similar for all geographical areas, although resistance in C. albicans was ten times greater for patients aged more than 64years. The overall rate of fluconazole resistance (MIC > 32 mg/L) has decreased with respect to that obtained 10years ago (3.7 vs. 2.5%) mainly in C. albicans (3 vs. 1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In the last ten years, species distribution and fluconazole susceptibility have not significantly changed, although a lower rate of fluconazole resistance has been observed. Species distribution varies with hospital, hospitalization Unit and geographical area.