The impact of pipeline changes and temperature increase in a hospital historically colonised with Legionella.

Healthcare-related Legionnaires' disease has a devastating impact on high risk patients, with a case fatality rate of 30-50%. Legionella prevention and control in hospitals is therefore crucial. To control Legionella water colonisation in a hospital setting we evaluated the effect of pipeline improvements and temperature increase, analysing 237 samples over a 2-year period (first year: 129, second year: 108). In the first year, 25.58% of samples were positive for Legionella and 16.67% for amoeba. Assessing the distance of the points analysed from the hot water tank, the most distal points presented higher proportion of Legionella colonisation and lower temperatures (nearest points: 6.4% colonised, and temperature 61.4 °C; most distal points: 50% and temperature 59.1 °C). After the first year, the hot water system was repaired and the temperature stabilised. This led to a dramatic reduction in Legionella colonisation, which was negative in all the samples analysed; however, amoeba colonisation remained stable. This study shows the importance of keeping the temperature stable throughout the circuit, at around 60 °C. Special attention should be paid to the most distal points of the circuit; a fall in temperature at these weak points would favour the colonisation and spread of Legionella, because amoeba (the main Legionella reservoir) are not affected by temperature.

[Interlocking femoral nail and total knee Arthroplasty in one stage for a patient with a femoral diaphyseal stress fracture]. / Enclavado femoral y artroplastía total de rodilla en un tiempo en una paciente con fractura diafisaria femoral por estrés.

We present the case of an 81-year-old woman who was followed up by the Rheumatology Service for osteoporosis and treated with bisphosphonates for more than five years. She reported a fracture of the distal third of the contralateral femur by a low energy mechanism, treated with retrograde intramedullary nailing the previous year. She presented a clinic of cruralgia and left gonalgia, without previous trauma. A scintigraphy and radiographs were performed to support the diagnosis of stress fracture of the distal third of the left femur and osteonecrosis of the left internal femoral condyle. Thinking about the possible complications of performing two interventions in an elderly patient, we decided to complete the treatment in a single time and by the same surgical approach, trying to resolve the osteonecrosis and the fracture at the same time, with the objective of an early rehabilitation and lower morbidity. A femoral retrograde prophylactic nailing was performed to stabilize the stress fracture and a retentive primary knee prosthesis was implanted for the posterior cruciate ligament by the same surgical approach. There were no incidents in the immediate postoperative period, with ambulation beginning with help 48 hours after the intervention. The fracture consolidated and the patient presented a good functional result of the knee, both in the immediate postoperative period and at three years of follow-up.

Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 81 años de edad, en seguimiento por el Servicio de Reumatología por osteoporosis y tratada con bifosfonatos durante más de cinco años. Refirió una fractura del tercio distal del fémur contralateral por mecanismo de baja energía, tratada con enclavado intramedular retrógrado el año anterior. Presentó una clínica de cruralgia y gonalgia izquierda, sin traumatismo previo. Se le realizó una gammagrafía y radiografías que apoyaron el diagnóstico de fractura de estrés del tercio distal del fémur izquierdo y osteonecrosis del cóndilo femoral interno izquierdo. Pensando en las posibles complicaciones de llevar a cabo dos intervenciones en una paciente de avanzada edad, se decidió efectuar el tratamiento en un tiempo y por el mismo abordaje quirúrgico, tratando de resolver la osteonecrosis y la fractura a la vez, con el objetivo de una rehabilitación precoz y menor morbilidad. Se realizó un enclavado profiláctico retrógrado femoral para estabilizar la fractura de estrés y se implantó una prótesis de rodilla primaria retentiva para el ligamento cruzado posterior por el mismo abordaje quirúrgico. No hubo incidencias en el postoperatorio inmediato; se inició deambulación con ayuda a las 48 horas de la intervención. La fractura consolidó y la paciente presentó un buen resultado funcional de la rodilla, tanto en el postoperatorio inmediato como a los tres años de seguimiento.

Enclavado femoral y artroplastía total de rodilla en un tiempo en una paciente con fractura diafisaria femoral por estrés / Interlocking femoral nail and total knee Arthroplasty in one stage for a patient with a femoral diaphyseal stress fracture

Resumen: Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 81 años de edad, en seguimiento por el Servicio de Reumatología por osteoporosis y tratada con bifosfonatos durante más de cinco años. Refirió una fractura del tercio distal del fémur contralateral por mecanismo de baja energía, tratada con enclavado intramedular retrógrado el año anterior. Presentó una clínica de cruralgia y gonalgia izquierda, sin traumatismo previo. Se le realizó una gammagrafía y radiografías que apoyaron el diagnóstico de fractura de estrés del tercio distal del fémur izquierdo y osteonecrosis del cóndilo femoral interno izquierdo. Pensando en las posibles complicaciones de llevar a cabo dos intervenciones en una paciente de avanzada edad, se decidió efectuar el tratamiento en un tiempo y por el mismo abordaje quirúrgico, tratando de resolver la osteonecrosis y la fractura a la vez, con el objetivo de una rehabilitación precoz y menor morbilidad. Se realizó un enclavado profiláctico retrógrado femoral para estabilizar la fractura de estrés y se implantó una prótesis de rodilla primaria retentiva para el ligamento cruzado posterior por el mismo abordaje quirúrgico. No hubo incidencias en el postoperatorio inmediato; se inició deambulación con ayuda a las 48 horas de la intervención. La fractura consolidó y la paciente presentó un buen resultado funcional de la rodilla, tanto en el postoperatorio inmediato como a los tres años de seguimiento.

Abstract: We present the case of an 81-year-old woman who was followed up by the Rheumatology Service for osteoporosis and treated with bisphosphonates for more than five years. She reported a fracture of the distal third of the contralateral femur by a low energy mechanism, treated with retrograde intramedullary nailing the previous year. She presented a clinic of cruralgia and left gonalgia, without previous trauma. A scintigraphy and radiographs were performed to support the diagnosis of stress fracture of the distal third of the left femur and osteonecrosis of the left internal femoral condyle. Thinking about the possible complications of performing two interventions in an elderly patient, we decided to complete the treatment in a single time and by the same surgical approach, trying to resolve the osteonecrosis and the fracture at the same time, with the objective of an early rehabilitation and lower morbidity. A femoral retrograde prophylactic nailing was performed to stabilize the stress fracture and a retentive primary knee prosthesis was implanted for the posterior cruciate ligament by the same surgical approach. There were no incidents in the immediate postoperative period, with ambulation beginning with help 48 hours after the intervention. The fracture consolidated and the patient presented a good functional result of the knee, both in the immediate postoperative period and at three years of follow-up.

Utility of the rapid antigen detection BinaxNOW Influenza A&B test for detection of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Nasopharyngeal aspirates, collected during outbreaks, of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Barcelona, were used to compare the accuracy of a rapid antigen-based test (Binax) with the real-time RT-PCR assay developed by the CDC. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of the rapid test are higher in patients less than 18 years old and during the acute stage of the epidemic than in adult patients.

Prevalencia de disfunción diastólica en los pacientes hipertensos de nuevo diagnóstico y sin tratamiento / Prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in non-treated, newly diagnosed hypertensive patients

Objetivo. El propósito de este estudio observacional es conocer la prevalencia de disfunción diastólica (DD) en los pacientes hipertensos de nuevo diagnóstico y sin tratamiento. Pacientes y métodos. Se han incluido 105 pacientes (69 varones y 36 mujeres), con una edad media de 51,11 años los hombres y 54,25 años las mujeres, con hipertensión arterial de nuevo diagnóstico y sin tratamiento antihipertensivo. El estudio tuvo lugar entre junio de 2002 y junio de 2003. Fueron excluidos los pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica, hipertrófica, valvular, dilatada, fibrilación auricular y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) evolucionada. A todos los pacientes se les practicó un ecocardiograma doppler. Se consideró que existía DD del ventrículo izquierdo al registrarse al menos dos de los siguientes parámetros ecocardiográficos: tiempo de relajación isovolumétrica (TRIV) > 100 mseg, tiempo de desaceleración de la onda E (TDE) > 250 mseg y cociente E/A 130 g/m2 y en mujeres > 110 g/m2. Resultados. El 60 % de los pacientes estudiados tenían parámetros de DD en el ecocardiograma. El 37,1 % presentaban patrón de DD sin hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (HVI), el 16,2 % presentaban patrón de DD con HVI y un 6,7 % presentaban HVI y patrón de DD por mala relajación del VI. Se observaba una clara correlación entre la presencia de DD y la edad, presión arterial sistólica (PAS), presión del pulso (PP) y el índice de masa corporal (IMC), no encontrándose relación con el sexo y otras variables estudiadas (diabetes, insuficiencia renal, dislipemia, presión arterial diastólica [PAD] y frecuencia cardíaca [FC]). Conclusiones. La prevalencia de la DD valorada por ecocardiograma doppler en pacientes hipertensos de nuevo diagnóstico es muy elevada (60%), observando una correlación directa con la edad de los pacientes, PAS, PP y el IMVI

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without treatment. Patients and method. 105 patients (69 men and 36 women), with a mean age of 51.11 years in men and 54.25 years in women, with newly diagnosed hypertension and without treatment have been included. The study took place between June 2002 and June 2003. Exclusion criteria were ischemic heart disease, hypertrophy, valvular disease, dilated heart disease, atrial fibrillation and fully-developed COPD. A doppler echocardiogram was practiced on all patients. Diastolic dysfunction was considered to exist if two of the following echocardiographic parameters were found: isovolumetric relaxing time (TRI-V) > 100 ms, deceleration time of the E wave (TDE) > 250 ms, early filling rate peak/late filling rate peak ratio (E/A) 130 g/m2 in men and > 110 g/m2 in women. Results. A total of 60 % of patients had DD parameters and 37.1 % had DD without Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH); 6.7 % had LVH and DD due to impaired relaxation of the left ventricle. There is a clear correlation between DD and age, Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Pulse Pressure (PP) and Body Mass index (BMI). We found no relationship with gender and other variables (heart rate, diabetes, renal insufficiency, dyslipidemia, diastolic blood pressure). Conclusion. The prevalence of DD evaluated by doppler echocardiogram is very high in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients (60 %), a direct correlation being observed with the patient's age, SBP, PP and LVMI

El papel del internista más allá de su servicio / The role of the internist beyond the service

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Changes in bloodstream infections in HIV-positive patients in a university hospital in Spain (1995-1997).

OBJECTIVES: The Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol is a 600-bed center serving 700,000 inhabitants including 1800 patients with HIV infection in Catalonia (Spain). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became available at the end of 1996. Thus, the period 1995 1997 was considered appropriate for evaluating possible epidemiological changes in bloodstream infections (BSI) in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: All significant bloodstream infections, including mycobacteremia and fungemia, observed in HIV-positive patients from January, 1995 to December, 1997 have been included in the study. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty six cases were evaluated, in whom a decrease in BSI was observed (68 in 1995, 86 in 1996, 32 in 1997). Over time, we observed an improvement in the immunologic situation of the patients (1995: CD4 <50/mm3 73.8% vs 1997: CD4 <50/mm3 45.5% (P=0.05)). The source of BSI was known in 80.7% of the episodes. BSI secondary to catheter and respiratory infections prevailed in 1995, whereas an increase in bacteremias related to intravenous drug use, with or without endocarditis, was seen in 1997. The most frequent isolates were Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (23) (MAI), M. tuberculosis (20), Staphylococcus aureus (20), coagulase-negative staphylococci (16), Salmonella spp. (16) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (15). In 1997, a decrease was observed in the isolation of Gram-negatives and Mycobacterium spp. with S. aureus and enterococci prevailing. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of bloodstream infections in HIV-positive patients has decreased since the introduction of HAART and the immunologic state has improved. Furthermore there is a trend to a decrease or disappearance of microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, MAI or fungi related to severe immunosuppression. Lastly, bacteremia caused by the active use of intravenous drugs remains stable with the highest percentage in Spain.

[Reduction of hematogenous infection in HIV positive patients following highly active antiretroviral therapy]. / Disminución de la incidencia de la infección hematógena en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tras el inicio del tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections have probably decreased in HIV patients since highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) usage. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Hematogenous infections, including mycobacteria and fungi in HIV patients, stratified into two periods (I: 1995-1996 and II: 1997-1998) were included to evaluate changes attributable to HAART. RESULTS: 226 episodes were attended (incidence: 38.8 in period I and 15.3 in period II; p < 0.01). A significant decrease was observed in immunosuppression related microorganisms. HAART usage increased from 6.4% in period I to 31.2% in period II. Immunological parameters of HIV patients significantly improved in period II. CONCLUSIONS: Hematogenous infections have significantly decreased in HIV patients since the use of HAART.

[Analysis of internal notices to the emergency team of the medical area at a general hospital]. / Análisis de los avisos internos al equipo de guardia del área médica en un hospital general.

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency and characteristics of the hospitalized patients medical emergencies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have collected daily the notice to the emergency room from patients hospitalized and we have analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-one notices were recorded. The daily mean was higher on holidays. There were mostly medical problems (78%). Complementary explorations were performed in the 44% of the patients, and in the 77% the treatment was changed. CONCLUSIONS: The in-patient emergencies account for an important charge of work for the emergency team and involve important diagnosis and therapeutic decisions.

Fiebre prolongada en una mujer de 78 años con leucemia mieloide crónica / Long lasting fever in a 78-year-old woman with chronic myeloid leukemia

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Análisis de los avisos internos al equipo de guardia del área médica en un hospital general / Analysis of the internal notices to the emergency team of the medical area in a general hospital

Fundamento: Valorar la frecuencia y características de las urgencias internas. Pacientes y métodos: Se recogen los avisos diarios al equipo de guardia durante un mes, analizando las características clínicas y epidemiológicas. Resultados: Se documentaron 341 avisos, con una media diaria superior en días festivos. Se trata de problemas fundamentalmente clínicos (78 por ciento), variables según el servicio. Se realizaron exploraciones complementarias al 44 por ciento de los pacientes, y se indicaron modificaciones terapéuticas en el 77 por ciento. Conclusiones: Las urgencias internas suponen un apartado importante de la labor asistencial de los equipos de guardia, y plantean importantes valoraciones diagnósticas y terapéuticas. (AU)

Efficacy and tolerance of interferon-alpha(2b) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in haemodialysis patients. Pre- and post-renal transplantation assessment.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents an important problem for the dialysis population due to its high prevalence and the long-term development of chronic liver disease, particularly following renal transplantation. METHODS: In order to assess the efficacy and tolerance of interferon (IFN) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in haemodialysis (HD) patients and their clinical course following renal transplantation, a multicentre, randomized, open-label study was conducted to compare IFN therapy vs a control group. RESULTS: Nineteen HCV RNA-positive patients received 3 x 10(6) U of IFN s.c., three times a week (post-HD), and 17 HCV RNA-positive patients were assigned to the control group. Tolerance to IFN therapy was good in nine patients, while treatment was discontinued in the other 10 due to the occurrence of side effects. HCV RNA was negative at the end of treatment in 14 out of 19 patients (74%) receiving IFN and in one patient (5%) in the control group. Six out of the 14 patients who initially responded to IFN therapy had a virological relapse (43%). Eight patients (42%) remained HCV RNA-negative, three of them until the day that renal transplantation (RT) was performed (7, 12 and 27 months, respectively), as did five patients on HD during the follow-up (27+/-5 months). Eight out of the nine patients (89%) who completed therapy were HCV RNA-negative at the end of treatment, and seven of them (78%) remained HCV RNA-negative during the follow-up on dialysis (21+/-8 months). Mean transaminase (ALT) values were significantly decreased following IFN therapy, while no changes were observed during the follow-up period in the control group. Fifteen patients (10 in the treatment group and five in the control group) underwent RT. Three patients in the treatment group were HCV RNA-negative at RT, and one of them had a virological relapse 20 months after RT, while the other two remained HCV RNA-negative at 3 months and 24 months after RT, respectively. In contrast to the control group, transaminase (ALT) remained within normal limits in all patients in the treatment group. Finally, during the post-RT follow-up, the transaminase mean values were significantly lower in treated patients vs patients in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the biochemical and virological response to IFN therapy is good in HD patients. In addition, IFN therapy appears to exert a beneficial effect on the course of liver disease following RT, regardless of the virological response. Despite the fact that IFN therapy was discontinued in 10 out of the 19 patients due to the occurrence of side effects, these disappeared following discontinuation of therapy. Therefore, IFN therapy is advisable for HCV-infected dialysis patients who are candidates for RT.

Prospective study of community-acquired pneumonia of bacterial etiology in adults.

The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the bacterial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults in Spain. From May 1994 to February 1996, 392 episodes of CAP diagnosed in the emergency department of a 600-bed university hospital were studied. An etiological diagnosis based on noninvasive microbiological investigations was achieved in 228 cases (58%); 173 of these diagnoses were definitive and 55 probable. Streptococcus pneumoniae, which caused 23.9% of the episodes, was the predominant pathogen observed, followed by Chlamydia pneumoniae (13.5%) and Legionella pneumophila (12.5%). Other less frequent pathogens found were Haemophilus influenzae (2.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.5%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1.3%), Coxiella burnetii (1%), Moraxella catarrhalis (2 cases), Nocardia spp. (2 cases), and Staphylococcus aureus (2 cases). Streptococcus pneumoniae was significantly more frequent in patients with underlying disease and/or age > or =60 years (28% vs. 13%, P = 0.002), while Legionella pneumophila was more frequent in patients below 60 years of age and without underlying disease (20% vs. 9%, P = 0.006). Likewise, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila were the most frequent etiologies in patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit, occurring in 29% and 26.3% of the patients, respectively. In addition to Streptococcus pneumoniae, other microorganisms such as Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella spp. should be seriously considered in adults with community-acquired pneumonia when initiating empiric treatment or ordering rapid diagnostic tests.

Trough-to-peak ratio and circadian blood pressure profile after treatment with once-daily extended-release diltiazem, 240 mg, in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

Once-daily diltiazem extended-release 240 mg (Lacerol-HTA Retard) was evaluated for safety, efficacy, and trough-to-peak ratio in a multicenter open study by using 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After a 4-week washout period, 30 patients (17 men, 13 women) aged 25-76 years, showing a mean daytime diastolic BP (DBP) >90 mm Hg, were treated with diltiazem-ER, 240 mg, given once daily for 8 weeks. Ambulatory BP monitoring was obtained at the end of a 4-week placebo run-in period and during the last week of treatment. A significant reduction of the mean values of clinical BP [161.6 +/- 16.2 to 151.2 +/- 15.6 mm Hg; p < 0.01 for systolic BP (SBP); and 101.1 +/- 4.8 to 93.3 +/- 9.2 mm Hg; p < 0.001 for DBP] was observed at the end of treatment in the group of 30 patients, with no significant changes in heart rate (77.1 +/- 9.9 to 73.1 +/- 11.1 beats/min; p = NS). Likewise, mean values of 24-h SBP, DBP, SBP-load, and DBP-load were significantly reduced. In the group of 21 responders, the average reduction at peak was -18.6 +/- 12.9 mm Hg for SBP and -14.7 +/- 9.5 mm Hg for DBP. The residual effect at trough was -12.2 +/- 14.7 and -8.1 +/- 10 mm Hg, respectively. The trough-to-peak ratio was estimated as 0.66 for SBP and 0.55 for DBP. Long-term variability expressed as the mean standard deviation of BP for the 24-h period was reduced in responders (16.2 +/- 4.3 to 14.6 +/- 2.7 mm Hg for SBP; p = 0.0395; and 12.1 +/- 2.7 to 10.7 +/- 2.5 mm Hg for DBP; p = 0.0019), although no changes were observed in the variation coefficient (10.58-10.57% for SBP and 12.88-12.87% for DBP). We conclude that once-daily diltiazem-ER, 240 mg, was effective and well tolerated. Blood pressure was controlled over the entire period of 24 h, preserving the circadian profile and reducing long-term variability in responders. The significant reduction of both BP values and long-term variability may have implications involving protection from end-organ damage in essential hypertension.

A multicenter, parallel comparative study of the antihypertensive efficacy of once-daily lisinopril vs enalapril with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in essential hypertension.

The aim of the study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of once-daily lisinopril vs enalapril both during normal daily activity and sleep, in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After a 4-week wash-out period, 34 patients (17 M, 17 F) aged 22 to 67 years were randomized in a multicenter, open, parallel fashion: 17 received lisinopril (10-20 mg) and 17 enalapril (10-20 mg) for a 12-week period. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed using an oscillometric non-invasive automated device at both the end of the 4-week drug-free baseline period and during the last week of treatment. With no differences in initial blood pressure (BP) between groups, both drugs significantly reduced office and ABPM values. Lisinopril tended to reduce BP in a greater extension than enalapril, but only the reduction of office systolic BP (SBP) (p = 0.0062), 24-h SBP load (P = 0.0182) and night time SBP load (P = 0.0316) reached statistical significance. We conclude that, in spite of a more prominent reduction of SBP by lisinopril, both drugs have a similar efficacy in reducing BP, assessed by both office and ABPM measurements.