Significance of a polymerase chain reaction method in the detection of Clostridioides difficile.

OBJECTIVE: Clostridioides difficile (CD) is the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Detection of CD toxin in patients' faecal samples is the traditional rapid method for the diagnosis of CD infection. Various testing algorithms have been proposed: an initial screening test using a rapid test, and a confirmatory test (cytotoxicity neutralization assay, toxigenic culture, nucleic acid amplification test) for discordant results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-step algorithm using an immunochromatographic test followed of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: The specimens have been tested according to the following schedule: 1) Step one: All samples were tested for detection of glutamate dehydrogenase antigen (GDH) and toxin A/B using the C. diff QUIK CHEK Complete test. All GDH and toxins positive results were considered CD positives; 2) Step two: When the results were discrepant (only GDH+ or toxins+), the samples were confirmed using the PCR test BD MAX Cdiff. All PCR positive results were considered CD positives. RESULTS: A total of 2,138 specimens were initially tested. 139 were positive for GDH and toxins. 160 discrepant results (148 GDH+ and 12 toxins+) were tested by PCR, 117 were positive (107/148 GDH+ and 10/12 toxins+). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a PCR method showed an increase de 117 positive results (73.1% of discrepant). Considering the sensitivity of C.diff QUIK CHEK (instructions of manufacturer), the GDH discrepant results may be false negatives, y the samples PCR and toxins positives may be real positives results.

[Epidemiology and etiology of vulvovaginal candidiasis in Spanish and immigrants' women in Fuenlabrada (Madrid)]. / Epidemiología y etiología de la candidiasis vaginal en mujeres españolas e inmigrantes en Fuenlabrada (Madrid).

OBJECTIVE: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common vaginal infection. Risk factors include diabetes, antibiotic use and pregnancy. Candida albicans is the most common species identified but non-C. albicans species appear to be more commonly associated with VVC in some Asian and African countries. We had studied the distribution of Candida species in Spanish and immigrants' women residents in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective study of vaginal yeast cultures between 2015 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 2,283 vaginal yeast cultures were collected. Candida spp. was detected in 25.7% from Spanish women and in 28.5% from immigrants (no significant differences). Immigrants have higher rates of vaginal candidiasis compared other studies in Spain. C. albicans was the most common species isolated (82.4%). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in vaginal candidiasis rate between Spanish and immigrants' women. Immigrants consulted proportionally more compared with the Spanish women.

[Colonization rates by Streptococcus agalactiae in Spanish and foreign pregnant women in the Fuenlabrada University Hospital]. / Tasas de colonización por Streptococcus agalactiae en gestantes españolas y extranjeras en el Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada.

OBJECTIVE: In pregnant women, the rectovaginal colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is related with geographic area of origin (6.5% to 36%). It was analysed GBS carriage in pregnant women in 2012-2014 in our hospital. METHODS: Observational retrospective study about GBS isolates from rectovaginal samples (RVS) and urine cultures of Spanish and immigrant pregnant women in 2012-2014. It was considered only a single isolation for patient. There were excluded women with GBS in urine samples of RVS study. RESULTS: A total of 4,648 Spanish and 1,405 immigrant women were analysed. GBS was detected in urine samples in 231 Spanish (5%) and 106 immigrant (7.6%). A total of 5,716 RVS were analysed, GBS was detected in 10.5% of Spanish women and in 18.9% of immigrant women. CONCLUSIONS: The overall colonization in immigrant women is higher than in Spanish with the exception of Asian women. Cases of GBS detected in urine samples might serve as a possible explanation for the high rate of GBS carriage.

Artritis sépticas causadas por Streptococcus pneumoniae / Septic arthritis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae

Antecedentes: Streptococcus pneumoniae es una causa poco documentada de artritis infecciosa. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir nuestra experiencia con 5 casos de artritis neumocócica a lo largo de 14 años. Métodos: Se revisaron de manera retrospectiva las historias clínicas correspondientes a artritis de etiología infecciosa recogidas en nuestro centro entre enero de 1986 y diciembre de 2000, excluyendo el período neonatal y los pacientes con postoperatorio inmediato, analizando los casos de etiología neumocócica. Resultados: De las 39 artritis sépticas documentadas microbiológicamente, cinco (12,8 por ciento) correspondieron a infección neumocócica. Cuatro de los pacientes eran menores de 15 meses. En cuatro existió fiebre sin focalidad como antecedente y en uno de ellos otitis media como enfermedad asociada a bacteriemia. La localización más frecuente fue la cadera en 4 casos y en uno resultó afectada la rodilla. La radiología simple no mostraba alteraciones en tres de los casos, en tanto que la ecografía resultó patológica en cuatro de ellos. El diagnóstico etiológico se estableció en 1 caso mediante aislamiento en el hemocultivo y líquido sinovial, en 1 caso mediante hemocultivo, en dos se demostró la presencia de neumococo en el líquido articular y en 1 caso mediante la detección de antígeno de neumococo en orina. De los cultivos positivos, 2 casos tenían susceptibilidad disminuida a penicilina (concentración mínima inhibitoria [CMI], 0,125-1 mg/l) y todos resultaron sensibles a cefotaxima. Se realizó drenaje quirúrgico en todos los casos de afectación de la cadera. En ningún caso la enfermedad evolucionó con secuelas. Conclusiones: En nuestra experiencia, el neumococo es una causa que debe tenerse en cuenta de artritis séptica, que afecta principalmente a niños menores de 15 meses y con localización frecuente en la cadera. El cultivo del líquido fue el método con mayor rentabilidad diagnóstica. Un alto porcentaje de cepas tienen susceptibilidad disminuida a penicilina. El diagnóstico y el tratamiento precoces se acompañan de un buen pronóstico articular (AU)

[Septic arthritis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae]. / Artritis sépticas causadas por Streptococcus pneumoniae.

INTRODUCTION: There are few reports of Streptococcus pneumoniae as a cause of septic arthritis. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with five documented cases of pneumococcal arthritis over 14 years. METHODS: The medical histories of infectious septic arthritis in our center between January 1986 and December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases of pneumococcal etiology were analyzed while those occurring in the neonatal and immediate postoperative periods were excluded. RESULTS: Among the 39 documented cases of septic arthritis, 5 (12.8 %) were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Four of the patients were younger than 15 months old. Fever without localizing signs as an antecedent was present in four patients; of these, one patient had concurrent otitis media. The most common localization was the hip (four patients) and the knee (one patient). In three patients simple radiology showed no abnormalities while in four ultrasonography showed abnormalities. Etiologic diagnosis was established by isolation of S. pneumoniae from blood culture and synovial fluid (one patient), from blood culture (one patient), from synovial fluid (two patients), and by detection of pneumococcal antigen in urine (one patient). Of the germs isolated, two showed reduced susceptibility to penicillin (CMI 0.125-1 mg/l) and all were susceptible to cefotaxime. Open drainage was performed in all patients with hip involvement. None of the patients presented sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, S. pneumoniae should be taken into account as a cause of septic arthritis that mainly affects children younger than 15 months. The hip was the most frequently involved joint. Joint fluid culture was the method providing the best diagnostic yield. A high proportion of strains are not susceptible to penicillin. Early diagnosis and management lead to a good prognosis.