Comparison between urine culture profile and morphology classification using fluorescence parameters of the Sysmex UF-1000i urine flow cytometer.

AIMS: To determine the usefulness of the fluorescence parameters generated by Sysmex UF-1000i flow cytometer for the rapid diagnosis of urinary tract infection by bacilli or cocci. METHODS AND RESULTS: Urine samples (n = 1924) were studied by culture and microbiology and subsequently by cytometry, using BACT-Morph software and considering forward-scattered light (FSC) and fluorescent light scatter fluorescence parameters. BACT-Morph software showed moderate diagnostic accuracy (78·4%) to detect rod-shaped bacteria, with sensitivity of 82·4% and specificity of 62·5%. Forward-scattered (B_FSC) values of the bacterial channel were significant higher for the Gram-positive cocci category (P < 0·001). A cut-off of B_FSC ≥24·2, expressed in arbitrary units (analytical channel, ch), provided higher sensitivity (90·0%) but lower specificity (38·9%), and the diagnostic accuracy for Gram-positive cocci classification reached 62·0%. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of BACT-Morph software and bacterial channel fluorescence parameters (B_FSC ≥24·2 ch) offered an approximate discrimination of bacilli and cocci but the specificity was low, especially for FSC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Further research is needed to establish the usefulness of flow cytometry for aetiological diagnosis.

The molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the Pityusic Islands shows multiple introductions and fast replacements of variants in a touristic worldwide hot spot.

The public health emergency caused by the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 encouraged worldwide initiatives to monitor the genetic diversity and features of the SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants, mainly based on the genomic surveillance. However, due to the impossibility to carry out extensive sequencing in resource-limited hospitals, other PCR-based strategies could be applied to efficiently monitor the circulating variants without the need to greatly expand the sequencing capacity. In our case, overpassing the technical limitations inherent to a second level hospital, we were able to characterize the weekly distribution of SARS-CoV-2 by the RT-qPCR amplification patterns visualization, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, and sequencing of randomly selected samples. All these molecular approaches allowed us to trace the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in Ibiza and Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain) during the third to the sixth pandemic waves (January 2021-July 2022), in which three major lineages that were considered as VOCs (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron), and many other non-VOC variants were detected and tracked.

Urinary tract infection by aerococcus sanguinicola. An emerging opportunistic pathogen. / Infección urinaria por Aerococcus sanguinicola. Patógeno emergente oportunista.

Elderly patients with underlying urological disease have a greater risk of urinary tract infections due to uncommon pathogens. The disease caused by Aerococcus has been underestimated, but mass spectrometry could be a simple method for identifying this pathogen. In this study, we report 2 cases of urinary tract infection by Aerococcus sanguinicola. A descriptive clinical-microbiological study was conducted on the presence of A. sanguinicola causing urinary tract infections. The presence of A. sanguinicola occurred in elderly patients with previous urological disease and a significant count in urine obtained through bladder catheterisation. Correct identification was achieved through mass spectrometry, and the clinical outcome of administering amoxicillin and cefuroxime was satisfactory. In this study, we also report the pathogenic capacity of A. sanguinicola. When there is a significant number of alpha-haemolytic microorganisms in the urine cultures, A. sanguinicola should be ruled out before reporting a result as urogenital microbiota.

[Inpatient candiduria: etiology, susceptibility to antifungal drugs and risk factors]. / Candiduria en pacientes hospitalizados: etiología, sensibilidad a los fármacos antifúngicos y factores de riesgo.

OBJECTIVE: Candida could become the second most frequent cause of nosocomial urinary tract infection. Although Candida albicans is the most important species, others have arisen as emerging pathogens. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of candiduria in inpatients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of Candida isolates from adult inpatient urocultures over five years, gathering and tabulating data on: the species; susceptibility to fluconazole, amphotericin B, and voriconazole (Vitek2, BioMerieux); presence of catheter; hospital department of origin; and patient age and sex. RESULTS: We detected 289 yeast episodes, observing an annual increase: 134 (46.4%) were non-C. albicans yeasts, with 57 (19.7%) being Candida glabrata, 37 (12.8%) Candida tropicalis, 25 (8.6%) Candida parapsilosis, and 10 (3.5%) Candida lusitaniae. Most isolates derived from catheterized (240, 83.0%) and Internal Medicine Department (118, 40.8%) patients, observing an annual increase; 152 (52.6%) isolates were from males, and the mean age was >65 years. Susceptibility to antifungals was >85%. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient urocultures should include data on the presence of Candida, which is more prevalent in Internal Medicine Department inpatients, in those with urinary catheter, and in over 65-year-olds. Almost half of the isolates were non-C. albicans yeasts, and we recommend complete identification of the species involved.