Characterization of coagulase-positive staphylococci isolated from tank and silo ewe milk.

The prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) was studied among 390 samples of ewe milk. Fifty-seven (14.85%) samples of tank milk and all samples (6) of silo milk gave a positive result on Baird-Parker agar base supplemented with rabbit plasma fibrinogen, whereas amplification of the coagulase (coa) gene was successful in 6 (1.56%) samples of tank milk and in all silo samples. Phenotypic and genetic analysis of 153 isolates identified 151 (98.69%) as Staphylococcus aureus. Amplification of the coa gene was positive for 149 isolates (97.39%). The staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) C gene was detected in 116 strains (75.82%), whereas more than one SE gene was carried in 5 strains (3.26%). None of the isolates harbored the genes for SEE or for methicillin resistance. A high prevalence of CPS carrying enterotoxin genes should be of concern because ewe milk is mainly processed into raw milk cheeses. The detection of the coa gene from milk samples could help to assess the microbiological safety of raw milk intended for direct use in the dairy industry.

Carnosic acid dietary supplementation at 0.12% rates slows down meat discoloration in gluteus medius of fattening lambs.

Thirty-two Merino lambs fed barley straw and a concentrate alone (CONTROL) or enriched with vitamin E (VITE006) or carnosic acid (CARN006; CARN012) were used to assess the effect of these antioxidant compounds on meat quality attributes. The animals were slaughtered after being fed for at least 5weeks with the experimental diets. The longissimus lumborum samples of VITE006, CARN006 and CARN012 groups showed higher values (P<0.001) of L* (lightness) through the complete storage period under modified atmosphere when compared to the CONTROL group. Moreover, the VITE006 and CARN012 samples revealed lower discoloration when compared to the CONTROL group, these differences being more apparent in a less color stable muscle such as gluteus medius (P<0.05 for hue after 14days of refrigerated storage). Meat sensory traits were not significantly affected by carnosic acid and microbiological analyses were not conclusive at the doses administered.

Identification and epidemiological relationships of Aeromonas isolates from patients with diarrhea, drinking water and foods.

A collection of Aeromonas isolates obtained over a three-year period in the same geographic area (León, NW of Spain) was characterized by (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis and gyrB gene sequence analysis. The isolates originated from human diarrheal stools (29 isolates), potable water (13 isolates), rabbit meat (13 isolates) and marine fish (5 isolates). The distribution of Aeromonas species varied with the strain source. Aeromonas caviae HG4 and Aeromonas media HG5 were predominant in clinical and water isolates, respectively, whereas motile Aeromonas salmonicida HG3 strains were most frequently found in fish and meat. Molecular typing revealed several genotypic relationships among specific isolate subsets: (i) two clones of A. media HG5 persisted in drinking water over the study period, (ii) different patients harbored identical or closely related clones during several months, and (iii) clonal relatedness was observed in two sets of water and human isolates. The first of these sets comprised nine water isolates and two human A. media HG5 isolates, whereas the other one included a water isolate and a human isolate of A. caviae HG4. The latter finding suggests that Aeromonas transmission in the studied region followed a waterborne route. Interestingly, the three human isolates closely related to water isolates were recovered in a period of four days in June 2006 from non-related patients without underlying medical conditions that tested negative for other enteric pathogens. The data imply the transmission through contaminated water of strains of the A. caviae group that can produce disease in humans.

Identity, virulence genes, and clonal relatedness of Aeromonas isolates from patients with diarrhea and drinking water.

Among 800 stool specimens from patients with diarrhea submitted by Primary Care Centers for routine analysis to the Hospital of León (NW Spain) Microbiology and Parasitology Service, 32 (4%) were tested positive for Aeromonas spp. Mixed infections with other enteric pathogens occurred in 12 patients. A. caviae was isolated from 23 clinical specimens. There were also patients infected with A. media, A. hydrophila, A. bestiarum, and A. veronii biovar veronii. All but three isolates carried one or more of the virulence genes. The incidence of the alt, hlyA, aerA, ast, and laf genes was 71.9, 28.1, 25.0, 18.8, and 9.4%, respectively. The alt(+)/ast(+) combination was detected in four isolates and the aerA(+)/hlyA(+) combination was detected in the two A. hydrophila isolates. None of the strains harbored the TTSS, stx1, or stx2 genes and nine bore plasmids. Thirty clinical isolates and a collection of 12 A. caviae and A. media strains obtained from León municipal drinking water over the study period were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE patterns revealed genetic relatedness and persistence over time among water isolates and some clinical isolates. Interestingly, one A. caviae (aerA(-)/hlyA(-)/alt(+)/ast(-)/laf(+)) human isolate and two A. caviae (aerA(-)/hlyA(-)/alt(+)/ast(-)/laf(+)) drinking water isolates had indistinguishable PFGE patterns, suggesting waterborne infection.

Foodborne and indicator bacteria in farmed molluscan shellfish before and after depuration.

Galicia's coast (northwestern Spain) is a major producer of bivalve molluscs. Over an 18-month period, the presence of Salmonella, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Clostridium botulinum was determined by PCR methods in mussels (22 batches) and infaunal bivalves (31 batches of clams and cockles) before and after depuration. All batches were harvested from Galician class B harvesting areas where bivalve molluscs must not exceed 4,600 Escherichia coli per 100 g of flesh and liquor in 90% of the samples. Virulence-associated genes of Salmonella (invA), Aeromonas (aerA, hlyA, alt, ast, and laf), P. shigelloides (hugA), V. parahaemolyticus (tdh and trh), and C. botulinum (BoNT) were not detected. The pR72H chromosomal DNA fragment, which is conservative in V. parahaemolyticus strains, was detected in five (4.7%) samples. A number of 192 suspect isolates did not fit the description of clinical Aeromonas phenospecies, pathogenic Vibrio spp., or P. shigelloides. The effectiveness of commercial depuration in reducing bacterial indicators was also examined. E. coli was reduced to < or = 230/100 g of flesh and liquor in 90.9% of mussel lots but in only 70.9% of infaunal bivalve lots. For total coliform elimination, mussels were also more effective. Total counts significantly (P < 0.005) correlated with numbers of Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, and Vibrio. Our data indicate that Salmonella and pathogenic bacteria indigenous to estuarine environments do not appear to be significant hazards in Galician molluscan shellfish. A reason for concern, however, is that clearance of E. coli to acceptable levels was not always achieved especially in infaunal bivalves.

Variation in resistance of natural isolates of Staphylococcus aureus to heat, pulsed electric field and ultrasound under pressure.

AIMS: To study and compare the resistance of 15 Staphylococcus aureus isolates to heat, pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound (UW) under pressure (manosonication, MS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Survival curves to heat (58 degrees C), to PEF (22 kV cm(-1), 2 micros square wave pulses) and to UW under pressure (117 microm, 20 kHz, 200 kPa) were obtained and inactivation parameters (decimal reduction times for heat and UW under pressure, and b-values for PEF) were calculated. A wide resistance variation to heat treatment, but not to PEF and MS, was observed amongst the 15 strains. CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between the resistances to the three physical agents studied. Staphylococcus aureus was relatively resistant to MS but sensitive to PEF. Heat resistance varied with strain and was positively correlated to carotenoid pigment content. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results would help in defining safe food preservation processes. Care should be taken to choose the most adequate strain of S. aureus to model food preservation processing.

Evaluación de la natalidad y mortalidad neonatal y perinatal en el Área de Salud El Bierzo: 1992-2004 / Evolution of natality and neonatal and perinatal mortality in the Health Area El Bierzo: 1992-2004

El estudio de los indicadores demográficos básicos de una población es esencial tanto para el conocimiento de su evolución como para el establecimiento de proyecciones demográficas. Ambos aspectos posibilitan una planificación sanitaria adaptada a la realidad. Objetivos: presentamos un estudio de la evolución de la natalidad y de la mortalidad neonatal y perinatal en el Área de Salud del Bierzo, de la provincia de León, desde 1992 a 2004. Pacientes y métodos: Calculamos tasas de natalidad, la incidencia de partos prematuros y de recién nacidos de bajo peso y las tasas de mortalidad a partir de datos obtenidos de los registros del Hospital El Bierzo y de la Clínica Ponferrada (hospitales donde se atienden los partos del Área de Salud del Bierzo). Comparamos nuestros resultados de natalidad con los mismos indicadores de natalidad de la provincia de León, de la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León, y de España, obtenidos a partir de datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Resultados y conclusiones: observamos un progresivo descenso de la natalidad en el Área de Salud del Bierzo, con valores mínimos en el año 2001, y un pequeño pero mantenido incremento desde esa fecha hasta 2004. Las tasas de natalidad observadas son inferiores a las provinciales, autonómicas y nacionales. La incidencia de partos prematuros y de bajo peso sufre un incremento paralelo a la tendencia nacional y autonómica excepto para el grupo de los muy inmaduros. La mortalidad neonatal y la perinatal mantiene una importante tendencia regresiva

The study of the basic demographic indicators of a population, is essential both for an understanding of its evolution and to establish demographic forecasts. Both aspects allow us to make realistic health plans. Objetive: Our presentation is a study of the evolution of neonatal and perinatal birth and death rates in the health region of Bierzo, in León province between 1992 and 2004. Patients and methods: We have calculated birthrates, incidents of premature births and underweight newborn babies, as well as death rates from statistics obtained from El Bierzo Hospital and the Ponferrada Health Clinic (hospitals that deal with the births in the Bierzo health region). We can compare our birthrate results to the same indicators for birth-rates in the province of León, in the Autonomous Community of Castilla and León, and in Spain, obtained from information of the National Institute of Statistics. Results and conclusions: We have observed a steady decrease in the birthrate for Bierzo, with the lowest figures in 2001, and a small but continuous increase from then until 2004. The birthrates found were less than the Provincial, Autonomous and National ones. The frequency of premature and underweight births experienced an increase parallel to the national and autonomous tendencies except for the group of very immature births. The neonatal and perinatal death rates have maintained an imortant downwards tendency

Apendicitis aguda como causa de abdomen agudo en un niño de 23 meses / No disponible

No disponible

[Diagnostic test in emergency departments for bacterial infections in infants younger than 12 months]. / Orientación diagnóstica en la unidad de urgencias en lactantes menores de 12 meses con infección bacteriana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical and analytic numeric data that may help the emergency departments to identify bacterial infections in infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 430 infants with bacterial growth in cultures (culture from blood, 30; urine, 207; stools, 193, and/or cerebrospinal fluid, n 25) was performed. These patients were compared with a control group (n 430), randomly selected from patients aged less than 12 months with negative cultures who were hospitalized with suspected infection. Neonates and surgical patients were excluded from both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test for independent samples, Levene's test for the study of equality of variances, bivariate correlation and one-factor ANOVA, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and odds ratios were calculated when statistically significant (p < 0.05) results were obtained. These analyses were performed using the SPSS 10.0 statistical software package. RESULTS: Of the infants admitted to the pediatric unit, 11.7 % had at least one positive bacterial culture. Temperature (p 0.005), leucocyte count (p 0.003), percentage of neutrophils (p < 0.0001) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in infants with positive cultures. In invasive infections significant differences were found in sex (more frequent in males) (p 0.03), heart rate (p < 0.0001) and respiratory rate (p 0.003). In the ROC curves, the best diagnostic yield was obtained for C-reactive protein (0.93 for a cutoff value of 29 mg/l, 86 % specificity and 91 % sensitivity). CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein is essential for diagnosis of bacterial infection in infants in the emergency department.

Orientación diagnóstica en la unidad de urgencias en lactantes menores de 12 meses con infección bacteriana / Diagnostic test in emergency departments for bacterial infections in infants younger than 12 months

Objetivo: Analizar los datos clinicoanalíticos relacionados con el diagnóstico de infección bacteriana en la unidad de urgencias en niños con edad inferior a un año. Pacientes y métodos Estudio retrospectivo de 430 niños menores de un año con cultivos centrales positivos (hemocultivos, 30; cultivos de líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR), 25; urocultivos, 207; coprocultivos, 193). Estos pacientes se compararon con un grupo control (n 430), seleccionados de forma aleatoria del resto de pacientes que ingresaron con edad inferior a 12 meses, sospecha de infección y cultivos centrales negativos. Se excluyeron los pacientes de la unidad de neonatología y los niños ingresados para cirugía. Se realizaron el test de la t de Student para muestras independientes, prueba de Levene para estudio de igualdad de varianzas, correlaciones bivariadas y ANOVA de un factor, así como curvas ROC (receiver-operating characteristic) y odds ratio cuando se obtuvieron resultados con significación estadística (p < 0,05). Dichos estudios se obtuvieron con el paquete estadístico SPSS 10,0. Resultados El 11,7 per cent de los niños ingresados con edad inferior a un año tenían algún cultivo central positivo. De las variables analizadas tuvieron significación estadística la temperatura (p 0,005), el recuento leucocitario (p 0,003), el porcentaje de segmentados (p < 0,0001) y proteína C reactiva (PCR) (p < 0,0001). En las infecciones invasivas existió además significación estadística para el sexo (predominio de varones) (p 0,03), frecuencia cardíaca (p < 0,0001) y frecuencia respiratoria (p 0,003). En las curvas ROC el mejor rendimiento diagnóstico se obtuvo con la PCR (con un corte óptimo de 29 mg/l se obtuvo un área bajo la curva de 0,93 con especificidad de 86 per cent y sensibilidad de 91 per cent). Conclusión La PCR es fundamental para el diagnóstico de infección bacteriana en la sala de urgencias en niños menores de un año (AU)

Infecciones bacterianas con cultivos centrales positivos en niños de edad inferior a 1 año. Estudio epidemiológico evolutivo de 14 años / Bacterial infections with positive central cultures in children under 1 year of age. 14 year evolutive epidemiological study

Objetivos: Analizar los cultivos centrales positivos en niños con infección en pacientes ingresados con edad inferior a 1 año. Pacientes y métodos: Los criterios de selección de los pacientes fueron edad inferior a 1 año, y cultivos centrales bacterianos positivos. El período de observación fue de 14 años. Se excluyeron los pacientes de la Unidad de Neonatología y niños de especialidades quirúrgicas que ingresaron en el Servicio. Resultados: De los 3.664 niños ingresados con edad inferior a 1 año, 455 (12,4 por ciento) tenían algún cultivo bacteriano central positivo. Por orden de frecuencia los cultivos centrales positivos fueron: urocultivos (207), coprocultivos (193), hemocultivos (30) y cultivo de LCR (25). Predominaron los gérmenes Gram (-): 96,1 por ciento en urocultivos, 100 por ciento en coprocultivos, 76,6 por ciento en hemocultivos y 88 por ciento en cultivos de LCR. Los gérmenes más frecuentes fueron: E. coli en urocultivos y hemocultivos, Salmonella en coprocultivos y Neiseria meningitidis en cultivos de LCR. Existió un descenso en los últimos años de cultivos para N. meningitidis y H. influenzae; también se observó descenso en los coprocultivos (R2=0,559, p<0,05) relacionado con el descenso de Salmonella. La edad media de los pacientes con hemocultivos positivos (3,26 +/- 3,1 meses) fue estadísticamente inferior al comparar con otros grupos (p<0,0001). El tratamiento inicial, previo al antibiograma, fue: cefalosporina de 3ª generación o tobramicina y ampicilina. Fallecieron 3 pacientes que representan el 0,65 por ciento, en los últimos 10 años del estudio no se observó ningún fallecimiento. Conclusión: Los niños con edas inferior a 1 año con cultivos centrales positivos superaron el 10 por ciento de los niños ingresados de esa misma edad. Esta cifra y la posible gravedad de las infecciones justifican una encuesta bacteriológica amplia y un diagnóstico precoz para lograr una morbi-mortalidad baja (AU)