Description of eight human infections caused by Bacteroides pyogenes in a tertiary hospital of northern Spain.

Bacteroides pyogenes is a Gram-negative obligate anaerobe, saccharolytic, non-motile, non-pigment-producing and non-spore-forming rod. Reports of human infections caused by B. pyogenes are scarce, with approximately 30 cases documented in scientific literature. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of 8 different patients and to study the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of the strains, as well as to evaluate the in vivo activity of the prescribed treatments. We conducted a descriptive retrospective study by searching all B. pyogenes isolates from January 2010 to March 2023 at the Basurto University Hospital. This included all cases, both in monomicrobial or polymicrobial cultures. Among the eight patients, three experienced severe infections such as bacteremia and osteomyelitis. All the strains were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, meropenem, clindamycin, metronidazole and moxifloxacin.

A case of septic arthritis caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus in an HIV patient.

Invasive infections caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus , a Gram-negative rod found in the oral cavity of healthy dogs and cats, are rare but they are increasing worldwide. We report a case of septic arthritis in a native knee joint due to this micro-organism. A 57-year-old man, with a well-controlled chronic HIV infection, attended the Emergency Department because of left knee pain and shivering without measured fever. A knee arthrocentesis and a computed tomography scan were performed, revealing septic arthritis with collections in the left leg posterior musculature. He was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department for antibiotic treatment. Initial synovial fluid was inoculated in blood culture bottles, and the anaerobic one was positive after 63 h. Gram stain revealed fusiform Gram-negative rods, identified as C. canimorsus by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) directly from the bottle. Identification was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing and serotyping was performed by PCR, with serovar A as the outcome. Due to an unfavourable clinical course, the patient required two surgical cleanings and after appropriate antibiotic treatment he was discharged 2 months later.

Evaluation of Vitek-MS™ and Microflex LT™ commercial systems for identification of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex.

INTRODUCTION: Acinetobacter is a genus that comprises a group of opportunistic pathogens responsible for a variety of nosocomial infections. The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (Acb) complex includes some species of clinical importance, mainly A. baumannii, A. pittii and A. nosocomialis, which share phenotypic similarities that make it very difficult to distinguish between them using a phenotypic approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate two commercial matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems for the identification of different Acinetobacter species, with a special focus among those belonging to the Acb complex. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six Acinetobacter spp. clinical strains, identified by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and rpoB gene sequencing, were analysed by two different MALDI-TOF systems. RESULTS: Considering only the 144 strains of the Acb complex evaluated in this study, the Vitek-MS™ and Microflex LT™ systems correctly identified 129 (89.6%) and 143 (99.3%) strains, respectively. CONCLUSION: After analysing 156 strains belonging to Acinetobacter spp., both Vitek-MS™ and Microflex LT™ proved to be rapid and accurate systems for the identification of Acb complex species showing a good correlation. However, both manufacturers should improve their databases to include new species in them.

Meningitis neumocócica en Cantabria (España) en la era de las vacunas conjugadas antineumocócicas (2001-2015) / Pneumococcal meningitis in Cantabria (Spain) in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era (2001-2015)

Objetivo. Analizar las características de la meningitis neumocócica en < 14 años tras la comercialización de vacunas antineumocócicas conjugadas en nuestra comunidad. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de los casos de meningitis neumocócica en el que se analizaron dos períodos: pre vacuna antineumocócica trecevalente (VNC13v) (2001-2010) y post-VNC13v (2010-2015). Se recogieron datos demográficos y clínicos de los pacientes y datos microbiológicos. Resultados. Se diagnosticaron 18 casos. La incidencia media pre-VNC13v fue de 2,3/100 000, y disminuyó a 0,5/100 000 tras la VNC13v. Los serotipos más frecuentemente identificados fueron 6A y 10A (pre-VNC13v); 6B y 15B (post-VNC13v, solo dos casos). Trece de dieciocho pacientes ingresaron en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Todos los casos fueron tratados con cefotaxima y recibieron dexametasona 14/18. Seis pacientes sobrevivieron con secuelas y uno falleció. Conclusión. Se observa un importante descenso en la incidencia de meningitis neumocócica desde la comercialización de la VNC13v, por lo que cabe esperar que tras su introducción sistemática se produzca un descenso aún mayor.

Objective. To analyze the characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in children < 14 years old following the market introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in our community. Methods. Retrospective study of pneumococcal meningitis cases with a two-period analysis: pre-13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) (2001-2010) and post-PCV13 (2010-2015). Patient demographic and clinical data, and microbiological data were collected. Results. Eighteen cases were diagnosed. The mean incidence in the pre-PCV13 period was 2.3/100 000, which reduced to 0.5/100 000 after the PCV13 introduction. The most commonly identified serotypes were 6A and 10A (pre-PCV13); 6B and 15B (post-PCV13, only 2 cases). Out of 18 patients, 13 were admitted to the intensive care unit. All cases were treated with cefotaxime, and 14/18 received dexamethasone. Six patients survived with sequelae, and 1 died. Conclusion. A major reduction has been observed in the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis since the introduction of the PCV13 to the market, so an even greater reduction is expected following its systematic introduction.

Pneumococcal meningitis in Cantabria (Spain) in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era (2001-2015). / Meningitis neumocócica en Cantabria (España) en la era de las vacunas conjugadas antineumocócicas (2001-2015).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in children ≤ 14 years old following the market introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in our community. METHODS: Retrospective study of pneumococcal meningitis cases with a two-period analysis: pre-13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) (2001-2010) and post-PCV13 (2010-2015). Patient demographic and clinical data, and microbiological data were collected. RESULTS: Eighteen cases were diagnosed. The mean incidence in the pre-PCV13 period was 2.3/100 000, which reduced to 0.5/100 000 after the PCV13 introduction. The most commonly identified serotypes were 6A and 10A (pre-PCV13); 6B and 15B (post-PCV13, only 2 cases). Out of 18 patients, 13 were admitted to the intensive care unit. All cases were treated with cefotaxime, and 14/18 received dexamethasone. Six patients survived with sequelae, and 1 died. CONCLUSION: A major reduction has been observed in the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis since the introduction of the PCV13 to the market, so an even greater reduction is expected following its systematic introduction.

Analizar las características de la meningitis neumocócica en ≤ 14 años tras la comercialización de vacunas antineumocócicas conjugadas en nuestra comunidad.