Screening for Chagas' disease in HIV-positive immigrants from endemic areas.

Chagas' disease is an opportunistic infection in the setting of HIV/AIDS. The arrival of HIV-positive immigrants from endemic areas to non-endemic countries makes possible the detection of Chagas' disease in this group of patients. We describe the results of a screening programme conducted in the HIV-positive immigrant population arriving from endemic areas who attended the Tropical Medicine Unit of Hospital Universitario Central of Asturias during 2008. We determined anti-T. cruzi antibodies in all HIV patients arriving from endemic areas who were followed up. The ID-Chagas antibody test was used as a screening assay. The positive cases were confirmed with ELISA, IFAT and PCR. We analysed 19 HIV-positive immigrants, of which two (10·5%) had a positive antibody test for Chagas' disease confirmed. PCR was positive in both cases. There was no difference between the co-infected and the non-co-infected patients with respect to race, place of birth and residence, CD4+ cell count, and HIV viral load count. Direct microscopic examination of blood was negative in both positive cases. The positive patients were a man from Bolivia and woman from Paraguay. The overlap of HIV and T. cruzi infection occurs not only in endemic areas but also in non-endemic areas of North America and Europe where the diagnosis may be even more difficult due to low diagnostic suspicion. The implementation of screening programmes in this population group is needed for the early diagnostic of Chagas' disease.

Asociación entre el polimorfismo genético de la interleucina-1Beta (3953 T/C) y la hernia discal lumbar sintomática / Association between the genetic polymorphism of interleukin-1Beta (3953 T/C) and symptomatic lumbar herniated disc

Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre la presencia en el genotipo de determinados polimorfismos genéticos (PG) de las citocinas y del óxido nítrico sintasa (NOS) y el desarrollo de la hernia discal lumbar (HDL) sintomática.Material y método. Se revisaron 179 pacientes en un estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles. El grupo de casos estaba formado por 50 pacientes con HDL confirmada mediante resonancia magnética. El grupo control lo componían pacientes ingresados para cirugía protésica de la cadera o de la rodilla que no presentaban ni habían presentado nunca clínica compatible con HDL. Se realizó una extracción de sangre a todos los participantes del estudio. Se genotiparon los PG de las citocinas que pretendíamos estudiar: interleucina (IL)-1 (IL-1alfa [−889 C/T] e IL-1Beta [+3953 T/C]) y factor de necrosis tumoral-alfa (TNF-alfa´ [−308 G/A] y TNF-alfa´ [−238 G/A]). Resultados. El genotipo CC y la frecuencia del alelo C del PG IL-1Beta (+3953 T/C) fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo de pacientes con HDL respecto a la población control. Por el contrario, los pacientes del grupo control portaban los PG de NOS endotelial (−768 T/C) y de NOS inducible 22 G/A con mayor frecuencia que el grupo de pacientes con HDL, esta diferencia es estadísticamente significativa para ambos polimorfismos. Conclusiones. Encontramos que ser portador del alelo C del PG IL-1Beta (+3953 T/C) puede ser un factor de predisposición para desarrollar una HDL. Por otro lado, ser portador del PG NOS endotelial (−768 T/C) y del NOS inducible 22 G/A parece comportarse como un factor protector frente al desarrollo de esta enfermedad (AU)

Objective. To evaluate the association between the presence of the genotype of certain genetic polymorphisms (GP) of the cytokine and oxide nitric synthase (NOS) and the development of lumbar herniated disc (LHD). Materials and methods. We reviewed 179 patients in a retrospective case-control study. The case group was made up of 50 patients with confirmed lumbar herniated disc diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The control group was made up of patients admitted for hip and knee prosthetic surgery who did not have or had not had any symptoms consistent with LHD. Blood was drawn from all of the study participants. The genotypes of the GP were obtained of the cytokines to be studied: Interleukin-1 [IL-1alpha(−889 C/T), IL-1Beta(+3953 T/C)], Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha [TNF-alpha (−308 G/A) and (−238G/A)]. Results. The CC genotype and C allele frequency of the IL-1Betaβ PG (+3953T/C) polymorphism were significantly more frequent in patients with LDH compared to the controls. On the contrary, the control group patients carried eNos GPs (−768 T/C) and iNOS22 G/A polymorphisms more frequently than the LHD group, this difference being statistically different for both polymorphisms. Conclusions. We found that individuals who were carriers of the CC genotype of the IL-1b(+3953T/C) polymorphism showed higher susceptibility to suffer lumbar disc herniation. Furthermore, being a carrier of ENOS (−786 T/C) and iNOS (22 G/A) polymorphisms suggests that this could behave as a protection factor against disc herniation (AU)

[Postsurgical meningitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: study of 15 cases and review of the literature]. / Meningitis postquirúrgica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa: estudio de 15 casos y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis is a rare condition which is usually associated with pathology in the ORL field, neurosurgery or local neurologic manipulations. The characteristics, epidemiology, and course of this entity were determined. METHODS: Fifteen episodes of nosocomial postsurgical Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis occurred between 1989 and 1996 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A previous cranioencephalic trauma was recorded in 46.6% of patients. The portals of entry included: intraventricular catheter (IC) (12 cases), CSF fistula (2 cases), and craniotomy (1 case). In five occasions (41.6%) the microorganism was also recovered from the intraventricular catheter. Once culture results were available, therapy with active drugs against Pseudomonas was instituted and in 7 occasions was accompanied by the removal of IC. Eight patients eventually cured and two patients relapsed. The absence of cure was significantly associated with non-removal of the IC (p < 0.01). The infection resulted in death in 26.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postsurgical Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis is an entity of growing relevance. It is associated with relevant morbi-mortality. Catheter removal is essential to obtain a favorable outcome.

Meningitis postquirúrgica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa: estudio de 15 casos y revisión de la literatura / Postsurgical Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis: report of 15 cases and review of the literature

Objetivo. La meningitis por Pseudomonas aeruginosa es una entidad poco frecuente que suelen asociarse a patología del área otorrinolaringológica, intervenciones neuroquirúrgicas o manipulaciones neurológicas locales. Se determinaron las características, epidemiología y evolución de esta entidad.Métodos. Se analizaron de forma retrospectiva entre 1989-1996 quince episodios de meningitis nosocomial postquirúrgica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Resultados. En un 46,6 por ciento de los pacientes se recogió el antecedente de un traumatismo craneoencefálico.Las puertas de entrada fueron: catéter intraventricular (doce casos), en dos una fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo y en uno la craniotomía. En cinco ocasiones (41,6 por ciento) el microorganismo se cultivó también en el catéter intraventricular. Tras la llegada del cultivo se instauró tratamiento con fármacos activos frente a Pseudomonas, que en siete ocasiones se acompañó de la retirada del catéter intraventricular. En ocho casos se produjo la curación y dos enfermos recidivaron. La ausencia de curación se asoció de forma significativa (p < 0,01) a la no retirada del catéter. El 26,6 por ciento de los pacientes falleció a consecuencia de la infección. Conclusiones. La meningitis postquirúgica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa es una entidad de importancia creciente. Se asocia a una importante morbimortalidad. La retirada del catéter es fundamental en su curación (AU)

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[Pyogenic hepatic abscess. Review of 59 cases and experience with imipenem]. / Abscesos hepáticos piogénicos. Revisión de 59 casos y experiencia con imipenem.

OBJECTIVES: To study the different etiopathogenic, microbiological, clinical, evolutive, and therapeutic aspects in patients with pyogenic liver abscesses, with a special emphasis in the usefulness of imipenem-cilastatin therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 59 patients with liver abscesses (45 single abscess and 14 multiple abscesses) diagnosed at our institution in the last eleven years were studied. RESULTS: The most common predisposing conditions included biliary (35.6%) and colon (15.3%) diseases, and abdominal trauma (15.3%). The microorganisms responsible for these abscesses included E. coli, Bacteroides spp., and different streptococci. CT and/or abdominal echography were the diagnostic techniques most commonly used. Twenty-three patients were treated with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics, 22 with surgical drainage and antibiotics, 6 with both types of drainage and antibiotics, and 8 exclusively with antibiotics. Twenty-three patients received imipenem (1 g/IV/8 h) and 29 other antibiotics. Twelve patients died and 9 required admission at the ICU. With regard to patients treated with imipenem, 17 (73.9%) cured, 3 of them (one single abscess and two multiple abscesses) without drainage. Two patients treated with imipenem (8.7%) and 4 treated with other antibiotics (13.8%) relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: Imipenem can be a useful antibiotic in association with percutaneous or surgical drainage for the treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses.

[Native valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci. A comparative study]. / Endocarditis sobre válvula natural producidas por Staphylococcus aureus y estreptococos. Estudio comparativo.

OBJECTIVE: To know the validity and current prognosis of clinical prototypes assigned to streptococcal endocarditis (STREPEND) and Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis (SAE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with SAE were compared with 43 patients with STREPEND diagnosed from 1984 to 1994 following a retrospective cohort study model. RESULTS: The incidence of SAE and STREPEND was 0.21 and 0.17, respectively, per 1,000 hospital admissions. The acquisition of community endocarditis (non drug abusers vs. drug abusers) and nosocomial endocarditis was 74% (31% vs. 43%) and 26% for SAE; the corresponding values for STREPEND: 89% (70% vs. 19%) and 11%, respectively. The overall mortality rate for STREPEND/SAE was 9%/26% (among drug abusers there were no fatalities recorded), whereas in non drug abusers the mortality rate reached 41% and for nosocomial forms 36%. SAE was independently associated with drug abuse habits, right-sided heart infection, development of embolism and a high mortality rate. In contrast, by means of the multivariant analysis, STREPEND was independently associated with a subacute onset form, left-sided heart infection, cardiac surgery, and a low mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional stereotypes of the two main etiologies for endocarditis are still valid, although at present it is important to differentiate nosocomial endocarditis and in non drug abusers. Chemoprophylaxis compliance is low for STREPEND: Given the poor prognosis of SAE at the left heart side a more aggressive surgical attitude would be warranted.

[Immunological changes in chronic osteomyelitis]. / Alteraciones immunológicas en la osteomielitis crónica.

We have studied several aspects of cellular and humoral immunity in 19 patients with chronic osteomyelitis (CO) compared with 11 healthy controls of similar characteristics. Patients with CO showed significantly higher values of GSR, reactive protein C (RPC), IgG and lymphocytes CD3+ and lower values of the CD4+/CD3+ ratio, as well as an hypoergic response to 7 antigens in the different cutaneous hypersensibility tests, compared with healthy controls. The rate of "in vitro" blastic stimulation by different lectins was significantly lower in the group of patients, compared with controls. These changes in the cellular immunity are not correlated with the extent, chronicity and prognosis of the disease, although we did not performed sequential studies of the immunitary condition. None of these immunological markers seem to be a better predictor of the bone infectious activity than the traditional GSR or RPC.