[Streptococcus agalactiae late-onset neonatal infections in Barcelona (1996-2010)]. / La infección neonatal tardía por Streptococcus agalactiae en el área de Barcelona (1996-2010).

OBJETIVE: To study the characteristics and evolution of group B Streptococcus (GBS) late-onset diseases, over a period of 15years in 8hospitals the Barcelona area and analyze the possible impact of prophylactic measures for the prevention of early-onset neonatal infections. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with late-onset neonatal disease due to GBS from 1996 to 2010. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were diagnosed. Of these, 51 were born in others hospitals. The overalll incidence was 0.42 per 1000 live births, varying between 0.14‰ in the year 2000 and 0.80‰ in 2009. A slight but sustained tendency of increased risk was observed over the years, 6.9% in the overall disease (with no statistical significance). Sepsis/bacteremia was detected in 63.6% of the newborns, meningitis in 32.8%, and arthritis/osteomyelitis in 3.5%. In cases with known obstetrics dates, 53% of mothers had been colonized by GBS during pregnancy, 53.8% received intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, and 41.2% had some obstetric risk factors, particularly premature birth in 35.9%. There was a 2.8% mortality rate in the neonates, and predominant serotypes were III and Ia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of GBS late-onset disease has not decreased despite the control practices of early-onset disease, and possibility of this appearing must be taken into account.

[Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy. Multicenter study of 16,362 pregnant women in Barcelona]. / Toxoplasmosis y embarazo. Estudio multicéntrico realizado en 16.362 gestantes de Barcelona.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to know: 1) the prevalence of antibodies against toxoplasma in pregnant women, 2) the incidence of primary infection during pregnancy and 3) the prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Seroprevalence was prospectively analyzed in 16,362 pregnant women visited in 8 hospitals and 2 day care centers in Barcelona during 1999. Each participant laboratory included their own assays to detect toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulins IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG avidity antibodies. In case of positive specific IgM, a second serum sample was requested, which was processed in parallel with the first one. Three infection stages were defined: acute, possible and past (latent). Congenital infection was determined prenatally by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in amniotic fluid or postnatally by serology in the newborn. RESULTS: Seroprevalence was 28.6%. The incidence of primary infection during pregnancy was 1.02/1,000 susceptible pregnant women. Nine women out of 12 with an acute toxoplasma infection became seroconverted during their pregnancies and five of them had infants with congenital toxoplasmosis (vertical transmission: 41.6%). All four children born alive had no symptoms during their follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis was low. Acute toxoplasmosis was detected mainly by seroconversion during pregnancy. The frequency of maternal-fetal transmission was near half of cases.

Pediatric Chagas disease in Europe: 45 cases from Spain and Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease, a potentially fatal parasitic infection, is emerging in Europe in the context of international migration but there is little public health attention and frequent lack of clinicians' awareness. To date, there is no published information about clinical characteristics in children. METHODS: We reviewed the medical files of all children (<18 years) with Chagas disease managed in 2 hospitals in Barcelona, Spain and Geneva, Switzerland between January 2004 and July 2012. RESULTS: Forty-five cases were identified. Two children (4.4%) were diagnosed during the acute phase and the remaining 43 (95.6%) were in the chronic phase of the infection. All but 1 were asymptomatic. Of the 41 treated children, 40 (97.6%) completed 60 days of treatment. Thirty-five (85.4%) received benznidazole, 5 (12.2%) nifurtimox and 1 (2.4%) both drugs consecutively. There were 2 (4.9%) treatment interruptions due to adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were rash (24.4%), anorexia or insufficient weight gain (14.6%) and anemia (2.4%). Twenty-nine (64.4%) children were followed up by serology after 2 years. Five (17.2%) were cured. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric Chagas disease is an emerging health issue in Europe that requires enhanced attention. Greater emphasis should be put on screening pregnant women at risk and their newborns in case of infection along with older children and relatives. Pediatricians have a central role to play in providing families with information and offering testing in situations of risk.

La infección neonatal tardía por Streptococcus agalactiae en el área de Barcelona (1996-2010) / Streptococcus agalactiae late-onset neonatal infections in Barcelona (1996-2010)

OBJETIVO: Analizar las características de la sepsis neonatal tardía (SNT) por estreptococo del grupo B (EGB) y la evolución de su incidencia en 8 hospitales del área de Barcelona a lo largo de los 15 años de consolidación de las medidas de prevención de la infección neonatal precoz. MÉTODOS: Revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes diagnosticados de SNT por EGB desde 1996 a 2010. RESULTADOS: Se diagnosticaron 143 pacientes, de los que 51 habían nacido en otros centros. La incidencia global fue del 0,4 2‰ de recién nacidos vivos (RNV), oscilando entre el 0,14‰ en 2000 y el 0,80‰ en 2009. Se observó una tendencia al incremento del riesgo discreta pero sostenida a lo largo de los años, del 6,9% en las SNT totales, aunque sin la suficiente significación estadística. El 63,6% de los pacientes presentaron sepsis/bacteriemia, el 32,8% meningitis y el 3,5% artritis/osteomielitis. De los casos en los que se pudo obtener información sobre los antecedentes obstétricos, el 53% de las madres presentaron cultivo positivo a EGB al final del embarazo, el 53,8% recibieron profilaxis antibiótica intraparto y el 41,2% presentaron algún factor de riesgo, principalmente parto prematuro en el 35,9% de los casos. La mortalidad fue del 2,8%, y los serotipos mayoritarios, el III y el Ia. CONCLUSIONES: La incidencia de SNT por EGB no ha disminuido a pesar de las medidas de prevención de la SNP, y la posibilidad de su aparición debe ser tenida en cuenta

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics and evolution of group B Streptococcus (GBS) late-onset diseases, over a period of 15 years in 8 hospitals the Barcelona area and analyze the possible impact of prophylactic measures for the prevention of early-onset neonatal infections. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with late-onset neonatal disease due to GBS from 1996 to 2010. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were diagnosed. Of these, 51 were born in others hospitals. The overalll incidence was 0.42 per 1000 live births, varying between 0.14‰ in the year 2000 and 0.80‰ in 2009. A slight but sustained tendency of increased risk was observed over the years, 6.9% in the overall disease (with no statistical significance). Sepsis/bacteremia was detected in 63.6% of the newborns, meningitis in 32.8%, and arthritis/osteomyelitis in 3.5%. In cases with known obstetrics dates, 53% of mothers had been colonized by GBS during pregnancy, 53.8% received intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, and 41.2% had some obstetric risk factors, particularly premature birth in 35.9%. There was a 2.8% mortality rate in the neonates, and predominant serotypes were III and Ia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of GBS late-onset disease has not decreased despite the control practices of early-onset disease, and possibility of this appearing must be taken into account

Aplicación de los métodos de amplificación molecular para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la infección por el VIH-1 en niños infectados por transmisión vertical / Application of molecular amplification methods to the diagnosis and follow-up of HIV-1 infection in children infected by vertical transmission

Fundamento: Describir mediante métodos moleculares la transmisión vertical por el VIH-1. Pacientes y métodos: Seguimiento prospectivo realizado durante 1995-1998 en dos grupos de pacientes: grupo A, 107 recién nacidos hijos de madre que sabían que estaban infectadas por el VIH-1, y grupo B, 11 lactantes con sospecha clínica de infección por el VIH y desconocimiento de la infección en la madre. Se estudiaron ADN y ARN mediante PCR (reacción en cadena de la polimerasa). Estudio de mutaciones genotípicas del gen RT. Resultados: Se diagnosticaron 11 pacientes infectados, 4 del grupo A y 7 del B. Todos presentaban carga viral superior a 100.000 copias/ml. En 10 pacientes no se detectaron mutaciones. Conclusión: El diagnóstico de la transmisión vertical por el VIH-1 puede realizarse de forma precoz y urgente mediante métodos de amplificación molecular. (AU)