Rapid and accurate identification and differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria using PCR kits available in a high-burden setting.

Infections caused by mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), are a major public health issue worldwide. An accurate diagnosis of mycobacterial species is a challenge for surveillance and treatment, particularly in high-burden settings usually associated with low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the clinical performance of two commercial PCR kits designed for the identification and differentiation of MTBC and NTM, available in a high-burden setting such as Ecuador. A total of 109 mycobacteria isolates were included in the study, 59 of which were previously characterized as M. tuberculosis and the other 59 as NTM. Both kits displayed great clinical performance for the identification of M. tuberculosis, with 100% sensitivity. On the other hand, for NTM, one of the kits displayed a good clinical performance with a sensitivity of 94.9% (CI 95%: 89-100%), while the second kit had a reduced sensitivity of 77.1% (CI 95%: 65-89%). In conclusion, one of the kits is a fast and reliable tool for the identification and discrimination of MTBC and NTM from clinical isolates.

An Unusual Case of Severe Pneumonia Caused Due Candida Tropicalis With a Favorable Clinical Response to Antifungals in a Nonimmunocompromised Patient From the Community.

Severe pneumonia due to Candida tropicalis infection mainly occurs in immunosuppressed patients or those currently receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. Herein, we report a case of severe pneumonia caused due to C tropicalis in an elderly patient. A 72-year-old man with a previous history of hypertension, ischemic stroke, and facial paralysis sequelae treated with the botulinic toxin, was admitted to the hospital for dyspnea. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection was negative. Computed tomography of the chest revealed bilateral consolidation with left predominance. A bronchoalveolar lavage sample was sent to molecular biology, but no microorganisms were detected using a FilmArray respiratory panel. However, mamanocandidas test for candida was 166 pg/mL (positive), and fungal structures were identified by the MALDI-TOF Biotyper mass spectrometry and attributed to C tropicalis. Antifungal therapy was started using caspofungin 75 mg as the initial dose followed by 50 mg daily. After 10 days of treatment, ventilatory weaning was achieved. By day 14, the patient was decannulated from the tracheostomy. Oral antifungal treatment with voriconazole was continued, and he was discharged from intensive care in good clinical condition. Severe pneumonia due to C tropicalis might occur in specific cases, especially in those patients with risk factors, and must thus be considered when approaching such cases.

[First identification in Ecuador of Comamonas kerstersii as an infectious agent]. / Primera identificación en Ecuador de Comamonas kerstersii como agente infeccioso.

We report the first identification in Ecuador of the microorganism Comamonas kerstersii, a strain isolates from a sample of fluid from the abdominal cavity and identified by the technique of mass spectrometry MALDITOF. It was obtained during the surgical act of a patient with the diagnosis of acute peritonitis, secondary to a perforated appendicitis. This microorganism is considered a rare pathogen. Even though the genus to which it belongs has a wide geographical distribution, this pathogen is considered an opportunistic agent.

Utilidad del panel FilmArray® BCID en la detección de bacteriemia: estudio multicéntrico latinoamericano / Usefulness of the FilmArray® BCID panel in the detection of bacteremia: Latin American multicenter study

Resumen Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar el desempeño del panel BCID de FilmArray® y establecer el impacto de estos resultados en el tratamiento antimicrobiano de pacientes con bacteriemia en 11 hospitales de Latinoamérica. Se incluyeron 397 episodios de bacteriemia y se documentaron 551 microorganismos aislados de hemocultivos. La identificación microbiana fue correcta en el 91,4% (504/551) de los aislados y en el 98,6% (504/511) si se consideran solo los microorganismos incluidos en el panel BCID. La sensibilidad en la detección de los genes mecA, vanA/B y blaKPC fue del 100% y la especificidad fue del 97%, 100% y 99,6% respectivamente. La notificación temprana del resultado permitió cambios terapéuticos en 242 episodios (60,9%). El panel BCID es un método confiable y rápido para la detección de mecanismos críticos de resistencia y de los microorganismos más frecuentemente aislados de bacteriemias y permite la optimización temprana del tratamiento antimicrobiano.

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the performance of the BCID panel and to establish the impact of these results on the antimicrobial treatment of patients with bacteremia in 11 hospitals in Latin America. Three hundred and ninety-seven episodes of bacteremia were included and 551 microorganisms isolated from blood cultures were documented. Microbial identification was correct in 91.4% (504/551) of the isolates and in 98.6% (504/511) if only the microorganisms included in the BCID panel are considered. The sensitivity in the detection of the genes mecA, vanA/B and blaKPC was 100% and the specificity was 97%, 100% and 99.6% respectively. Early notification of the outcome allowed therapeutic changes in 242 episodes (60.9%). The BCID panel is a reliable and rapid method for the detection of critical resistance mechanisms and of the microorganisms most frequently isolated from bacteremia and it enables early optimisation of antimicrobial treatment.

Resumo Os objetivos deste estudo foram determinar o desempenho do painel BCID do FilmArray® e estabelecer o impacto desses resultados no tratamento antimicrobiano de pacientes com bacteremia em 11 hospitais da América Latina. Trezentos e noventa e sete episódios de bacteremia foram incluídos e 551 microrganismos isolados de hemoculturas foram documentados. A identificação microbiana foi correta em 91,4% (504/551) dos isolados e em 98,6% (504/511) considerando apenas os microrganismos incluídos no painel BCID. A sensibilidade na detecção dos genes mecA, vanA/B e blaKPC foi de 100% e a especificidade foi de 97%, 100% e 99,6% respectivamente. A notificação precoce do desfecho permitiu mudanças terapêuticas em 242 episódios (60,9%). O painel BCID é um método confiável e rápido para a detecção de mecanismos críticos de resistência e dos microrganismos mais frequentemente isolados da bacteremia e permite a otimização precoce do tratamento antimicrobiano.

Primera identificación en Ecuador de Comamonas kerstersii como agente infeccioso / First identification in Ecuador of Comamonas kerstersii as an infectious agent

Resumen Comunicamos la primera identificación en Ecuador del microorganismo Comamonas kerstersii, cepa aislada a partir de una muestra de líquido de la cavidad abdominal e identificada mediante la técnica de espectrometría de masas MALDITOF. Fue obtenida durante el acto quirúrgico de un paciente con el diagnóstico de una peritonitis aguda, secundaria a una apendicitis perforada. Este microorganismo es considerado un patógeno poco común. Pese a que el género al que pertenece tiene una amplia distribución geográfica, es considerado un agente oportunista.

Abstract We report the first identification in Ecuador of the microorganism Comamonas kerstersii, a strain isolates from a sample of fluid from the abdominal cavity and identified by the technique of mass spectrometry MALDITOF. It was obtained during the surgical act of a patient with the diagnosis of acute peritonitis, secondary to a perforated appendicitis. This microorganism is considered a rare pathogen. Even though the genus to which it belongs has a wide geographical distribution, this pathogen is considered an opportunistic agent.

Primer reporte de Cryptococcus gattii en Ecuador / First report of Cryptococcus gattii in Ecuador

El presente es el reporte de un caso de un paciente masculino de 37 años, con manifestaciones clínicas de aproximadamente 1 año de evolución caracterizadas por cefalea holocraneana de gran intensidad, fotofobia, diplopía, que se exacerban en los últimos tres meses con alucinaciones, pérdida de audición de oído izquierdo, refirió exposición de 4 años a heces de aves (palomas) por su trabajo en el puerto marítimo.Acudió por consulta privada a valoración y manejo, se le efectúa el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, por lo cual se prescribió metformina oral, una vez iniciado el tratamiento presentó exacerbación de los síntomas neurológicos, por lo que se indicó internación hospitalaria y se sometió a investigación para diagnóstico de su enfermedad, con presunción de meningitis bacteriana, se le realizó punción lumbar para estudios microbiológicos y se inició tratamiento empírico con glucopeptido y carbapenemico. Con el esquema antimicrobiano presentó leve mejoría en la intensidad de sus síntomas, en el estudio microbiológico del líquido cefalorraquídeo se observaron estructuras micóticas compatibles con Cryptococcus, por lo cual se realizó una segunda punción lumbar para conseguir una muestra adecuada para cultivo y estudio con biología molecular, a fin de establecer el diagnóstico definitivo del microorganismo.

The present is a report of a 37-year-old male patient, who present clinical manifestations of approximately 1 year, by high-intensity holocranial headache, photophobia, diplopia, which were exacerbated in the last three months with hallucinations, loss of Hearing from the left ear, hereported exposure of 4 years to feces of birds (pigeons) for his work in the seaport.The patient was refer to a private consultation to assessment and management, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, for which oral metformin was prescribed, once the treatment had begun, exacerbation of the neurological symptoms, so hospitalization was indicated, and He underwent research to diagnose his disease, with presumed bacterial meningitis, he underwent lumbar puncture for microbiological studies and began empirical treatment with glucopeptide and carbapenemic; With the antimicrobial scheme, there was a slight improvement in the intensity of its symptoms. In the microbiological study of the preliminary cerebrospinal fluid, fungal structures compatible with Cryptococcus were observe; a second lumbar puncture was performed to obtain an adequate sample for culture and study with molecular biology, in order to establish the definitive diagnosis of the microorganism.