Outcome of treatment of MDR-TB or drug-resistant patients treated with bedaquiline and delamanid: Results from a large global cohort.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends countries introduce new anti-TB drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The aim of the study is to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of bedaquiline (and/or delamanid)- containing regimens in a large cohort of consecutive TB patients treated globally. This observational, prospective study is based on data collected and provided by Global Tuberculosis Network (GTN) centres and analysed twice a year. All consecutive patients (including children/adolescents) treated with bedaquiline and/or delamanid were enrolled, and managed according to WHO and national guidelines. Overall, 52 centres from 29 countries/regions in all continents reported 883 patients as of January 31st 2021, 24/29 countries/regions providing data on 100% of their consecutive patients (10-80% in the remaining 5 countries). The drug-resistance pattern of the patients was severe (>30% with extensively drug-resistant -TB; median number of resistant drugs 5 (3-7) in the overall cohort and 6 (4-8) among patients with a final outcome). For the patients with a final outcome (477/883, 54.0%) the median (IQR) number of months of anti-TB treatment was 18 (13-23) (in days 553 (385-678)). The proportion of patients achieving sputum smear and culture conversion ranged from 93.4% and 92.8% respectively (whole cohort) to 89.3% and 88.8% respectively (patients with a final outcome), a median (IQR) time to sputum smear and culture conversion of 58 (30-90) days for the whole cohort and 60 (30-100) for patients with a final outcome and, respectively, of 55 (30-90) and 60 (30-90) days for culture conversion. Of 383 patients treated with bedaquiline but not delamanid, 284 (74.2%) achieved treatment success, while 25 (6.5%) died, 11 (2.9%) failed and 63 (16.5%) were lost to follow-up.

Factors associated with bronchiectasis in patients with uncontrolled asthma; the NOPES score: a study in 398 patients.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have reported a high prevalence of bronchiectasis in patients with uncontrolled asthma, but the factors associated with this condition are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of bronchiectasis in uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma and to identify risk factors and their correlation with bronchiectasis in these patients. METHODS: This is a prospective study of data from consecutive patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma. Diagnosis of bronchiectasis was based on high-resolution computed tomography. A prognostic score was developed using a logistic regression model, which was used to determine the factors associated with bronchiectasis. RESULTS: A total of 398 patients (60% with severe asthma) were included. The prevalence of bronchiectasis was 28.4%. The presence of bronchiectasis was associated with a higher frequency of chronic expectoration (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.49-5.84; p = 0.002), greater severity of asthma (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.29-4.57; p = 0.006), at least one previous episode of pneumonia (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.03-5.69; p = 0.044), and lower levels of FeNO (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99; p = 0.016). The NOPES score was developed on the basis of these variables (FeNO[cut off point 20.5 ppb], Pneumonia, Expectoration and asthma Severity), and it ranges from 0 to 4 points, where 0 means "no risk" and 4 corresponds to "high risk". The NOPES score yielded an AUC-ROC of 70% for the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, with a specificity of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Almost a third of the patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma had bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis was related to the severity of asthma, the presence of chronic expectoration, a previous history of pneumonia, and lower levels of FeNO. The NOPES score is an easy-to-use scoring system with a high prognostic value for bronchiectasis in patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma.

[Analysis of admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Andalusia in 2000]. / Análisis de los ingresos por enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en Andalucía, año 2000.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Andalusia during 2000. METHODS: All patients with DRG codes 088 and 541, which would receive ICD-9 codes 491, 492, 493.2, 494 and 496 in the cause of admission field, were extracted from the Minimum Basic Data Set for Andalusia. We compiled descriptive statistics from these data, calculated the cost per day of hospitalization for our own hospital, and then extrapolated to estimate the cost for Andalusia. RESULTS: COPD exacerbations generated 10,386 admissions in 2000, leading to 117,011 days of hospitalization. Eighty-three percent of the patients were men and the mean age was 70 12 years. The average hospital stay was 11 10 days. Huelva was the province with the shortest hospital stay (9 days). Mortality was 6.7%. The minimum expenditure generated was E 27 million, not counting the cost of intensive care unit admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Admissions due to COPD have great impact on the Andalusian health care system. Further studies are needed to evaluate alternatives to hospitalization.

[Community-acquired bacteremic pneumonia in the elderly]. / Neumonía bacteriémica de origen comunitario en el anciano.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors associated with the development of bacteremic community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly (BCPE) and its clinical and prognostic aspects. METHODS: We studied 36 BCPE and 72 patients with community-acquired pneumonia and negative blood cultures as control group. RESULTS: The presence of the following risk factors was more common in cases than in control subjects: alcoholism, malnutrition, diabetes and chronic renal insufficiency. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the malnutrition (OR:3.3; CI95%:1.4-7.8) and diabetes (OR:2.5; CI95%:1.1-6.7) were independent risk factors significantly related to the development of BCPE. The presence of chills, tachycardia, tachypnea, decreased level of consciousness and hypotension blood pressure were more common in case subjects. The microbial agents implicated more frequently were S. pneumoniae and gram-negative bacilli. The bilateral involvement and two or more affected lobes on chest radiograph were more common in the cases of BCPE. The mortality rate was higher in case subjects (22.2% vs. 2.8%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We stress the relevance of the bacteremia as prognostic factor in the community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.