Study on the approach to HIV: health management and the healthcare process in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: HIV continues to represent a problem of great relevance for public health in Spain. This study aims to carry out an analysis that will provide in-depth knowledge of the resources, clinical care, and management during the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment phases of HIV infection in Spain. METHODS: In the first phase, a multidisciplinary Scientific Committee designed an information collection tool in the form of a survey. In the second phase, carried out in the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Catalonia, and La Rioja, a multidisciplinary group of 42 experts, representatives of the public administration, clinical profiles, and representatives of NGOs in the field of HIV answered the survey. RESULTS: The assessment of HIV resources is generally positive. As regards diagnosis, the experts considered that there was good coordination between Primary and Hospital care. Regarding treatment, the evaluations reflected good opinions on therapeutic conciliation and adherence, with a negative opinion in the evaluation of drug interactions with antiretroviral treatment. Regarding follow-up, the perception expressed was disparate concerning the coordination between Hospital and Primary Care as well as the adaptation of care to chronicity, aging, fragility, mental health, and oncological processes. CONCLUSION: There are certain processes that can be improved in the management of HIV infection in people with HIV in Spain, including protocols for follow-up and coordination between primary and hospital care in the treatment and follow-up of the disease.

Blood culture-negative infective endocarditis: a worse outcome? Results from a large multicentre retrospective Spanish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To assess the impact of blood cultures negative infective endocarditis (BCNIE) on in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Prospective multicentre study with retrospective analysis of a Spanish cohort including adult patients with definite IE. Cardiac implantable devices infection were excluded. Comparisons between blood cultures positive and BCNIE groups were performed to analyse in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 1001 cases were included of which 83 (8.3%) had BCNIE. Alternative microbiological diagnosis was achieved for 39 (47%) out 83 cases. The most frequent identifications were: Coxiella burnetii (11; 28.2%), Tropheryma whipplei (4; 10.3%), Streptococcus gallolyticus (4;10.3%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (3; 7.7%). Surgery was performed more frequently in BCNIE group (57.8 vs. 36.9%, p < .001). All-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 26.7% without statistical difference between compared groups. BCNIE was not associated to worse mortality rate in Cox regression model (aHR = 1.37, 95% CI 0.90-2.07, p = .14). Absence of microbiological diagnosis was also not associated to worse in-hospital prognosis (aHR = 1.62, 95% CI 0.99-2.64, p = .06). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, BCNIE was not associated to greater in-hospital mortality based in multivariate Cox regression models. The variables most frequently associated with mortality were indicated but not performed surgery (aHR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.73-3.56, p < .001), septic shock (aHR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.68-2.99, p < .001), age over 65 years (aHR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.40-2.52, p < .001) and complicated endocarditis (aHR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.36-2.37, p < .001).

Clinical and prognostic differences between methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: S. aureus (SA) infective endocarditis (IE) has a very high mortality, attributed to the age and comorbidities of patients, inadequate or delayed antibiotic treatment, and methicillin resistance, among other causes. The main study objective was to analyze epidemiological and clinical differences between IE by methicillin-resistant versus methicillin-susceptible SA (MRSA vs. MSSA) and to examine prognostic factors for SA endocarditis, including methicillin resistance and vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values > 1 µg/mL to MRSA. METHODS: Patients with SA endocarditis were consecutively and prospectively recruited from the Andalusia endocarditis cohort between 1984 and January 2017. RESULTS: We studied 437 patients with SA endocarditis, which was MRSA in 13.5% of cases. A greater likelihood of history of COPD (OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.41-7.23), invasive procedures, or recognized infection focus in the 3 months before IE onset (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.14-7.65) and of diagnostic delay (OR 3.94; 95% CI 1.64-9.5) was observed in patients with MRSA versus MSSA endocarditis. The one-year mortality rate due to SA endocarditis was 44.3% and associated with decade of endocarditis onset (1985-1999) (OR 8.391; 95% CI (2.82-24.9); 2000-2009 (OR 6.4; 95% CI 2.92-14.06); active neoplasm (OR 6.63; 95% CI 1.7-25.5) and sepsis (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.053-4.9). Methicillin resistance was not associated with higher IE-related mortality (49.7 vs. 43.1%; p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: MRSA IE is associated with COPD, previous invasive procedure or recognized infection focus, and nosocomial or healthcare-related origin. Methicillin resistance does not appear to be a decisive prognostic factor for SA IE.

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. RESULTS: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32-3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39-1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16-1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group.

Left endocarditis, changes in the new millennium. / Endocarditis infecciosas izquierdas, cambios con el nuevo milenio.

INTRODUCTION: a description of infective left endocarditis at the turn of the millennium. METHOD: A multicentre prospective study into the left endocarditis using data collected from the Andalusian cohort for the study of cardiovascular infections during 1984-2014. RESULTS: Of the 1,604 endocarditis cases collected, 382 belonged to G1 (group-1, period 1983-1999) and 1,222 to G2 (group-2, 2000-2014). Patients in the new millennium have a significantly higher mean age, have more comorbidity and concomitant diseases, and nosocomial and health-related endocarditis are more frequent, as well as complications. An increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., Gram-negative bacilli and Streptococcus bovis was noted. Regarding treatment, there is an increase in the use of cephalosporins and a decrease in penicillins; there is more surgery when admitted to hospital and less delay. Mortality stands at around 30% in both millennia. In the multivariate analysis, mortality was associated with: previous millennium (G1), age, Charlson index, renal failure and septic shock, and aetiologically with Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality remains stable, despite diagnostic and therapeutic improvements, because patients are older, have greater comorbidity, a closer relationship with the health care system (nosocomial) and microorganisms are more aggressive.

Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Like Reactive Hemophagocytic Syndrome Associated with Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a HIV Patient.

We describe an unusual clinical association of disseminated histoplasmosis with reactive hemophagocytic syndrome. We report the case of a new HIV-positive patient with reconstitution inflammatory syndrome like reactive hemophagocytic syndrome associated with disseminated histoplasmosis. We describe the clinical case, the procedures performed, the treatment provided and the patient's evolution. A figure of liver biopsy Grocott's silver methenamine stain that shows lots of uniform ovoid yeasts in portal spaces' macrophages that supports the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis in our case.

[Effectiveness of human papillomavirus genotyping for detection of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia compared to anal cytology]. / Efectividad del genotipado del virus del papiloma humano frente a la citología anal en la identificación de neoplasia intraepitelial de alto grado.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN) -with an aetiological based on high-risk types of human papillomavirus- is increasing in some high-risk groups. Screening for HGAIN includes routine anal cytology and, more recently, HPV genotyping. The main objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of anal cytology and HPV genotyping for the detection of HGAIN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a study to determine the correlation of cytological and microbiological findings with anal biopsy findings in a cohort of patients at high risk of developing AIN referred to the department of sexually transmitted infections of the Hospital Costa del Sol, Spain, between January 2008 and December 2014. RESULTS: Of the 151 patients subjected to screening, a total of 92 patients, all of them with the result of three screening test (anal cytology, genotyping and biopsy) were included in the study. Just under two-thirds (62%) of them were HIV-positive. The sensitivity and specificity of anal cytology to detect HGAIN were 52.8 and 85.7%, respectively (k: 0.328), and 78 and 62.8% to detect two or more HPV oncogenic genotypes (k: 0.417). The detection of oncogenic HPV genotypes allowed the identification of 23 new cases of HGAIN that had been underdiagnosed with anal cytology, with 14 cases containing at least three high-risk genotypes. CONCLUSION: Anal cytology did not show enough sensitivity in HGAIN screening. HPV genotyping has shown to be a useful tool to detect HGAIN cases, although it could lead to an over-diagnosis as a solitary screening procedure.

Neurological complications of infective endocarditis: risk factors, outcome, and impact of cardiac surgery: a multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis, the risk factors for their development, their influence on the clinical outcome, and the impact of cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on a multicenter cohort of 1345 consecutive episodes of left-sided infective endocarditis from 8 centers in Spain. Cox regression models were developed to analyze variables predictive of neurological complications and associated mortality. Three hundred forty patients (25%) experienced such complications: 192 patients (14%) had ischemic events, 86 (6%) had encephalopathy/meningitis, 60 (4%) had hemorrhages, and 2 (1%) had brain abscesses. Independent risk factors associated with all neurological complications were vegetation size ≥3 cm (hazard ratio [HR] 1.91), Staphylococcus aureus as a cause (HR 2.47), mitral valve involvement (HR 1.29), and anticoagulant therapy (HR 1.31). This last variable was particularly related to a greater incidence of hemorrhagic events (HR 2.71). Overall mortality was 30%, and neurological complications had a negative impact on outcome (45% of deaths versus 24% in patients without these complications; P<0.01), although only moderate to severe ischemic stroke (HR 1.63) and brain hemorrhage (HR 1.73) were significantly associated with a poorer prognosis. Antimicrobial treatment reduced (by 33% to 75%) the risk of neurological complications. In patients with hemorrhage, mortality was higher when surgery was performed within 4 weeks of the hemorrhagic event (75% versus 40% in later surgery). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to severe ischemic stroke and brain hemorrhage were found to have a significant negative impact on the outcome of infective endocarditis. Early appropriate antimicrobial treatment is critical, and transitory discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy should be considered.

[Enterococcal endocarditis: a multicenter study of 76 cases]. / Endocarditis por enterococo: análisis multicéntrico de 76 casos.

BACKGROUND: Although enterococci occupy the third position among microorganisms producing infectious endocarditis (IE) following streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus, few multicenter studies have provided an in-depth analysis of enterococcal IE. METHODS: Description of the characteristics of 76 cases of enterococcal left-sided infectious endocarditis (LSIE) (native: 59, prosthetic: 17) retrieved from the database of the Cardiovascular Infections Study Group of the Andalusian Society of Infectious Diseases, with emphasis on the comparison with non-enterococcal LSIE. RESULTS: Enterococci were the causal agent in 76 of the 696 episodes of LSIE (11%). Compared with non-enterococcal LSIE, enterococcal LSIE was more commonly seen in patients older than 65 (47.4% vs. 27.6%, P<0.0005), and those with chronic diseases (75% vs. 54.6%, P<0.001), calcified valves (18.6% vs. 10%, P<0.05), and previous urinary (30.3% vs. 2.1%, P<0.00001) or abdominal (10.5% vs. 3.1%, P<0.01) infections, and produced a higher rate of relapses (6.6% vs. 2.3%, P<0.05). Enterococcal LSIE was associated with fewer peripheral vascular or skin manifestations (14.5% vs. 27.1%, P<0.05) and fewer immunological phenomena (10.5% vs. 24%, P<0.01). Among the total of patients with enterococcal LSIE, 36.8% underwent valve surgery during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality was 32.9% for enterococcal LSIE, 9.3% for viridans group streptococci (VGS) LSIE and 48.6% for S. aureus LSIE (enterococci vs VGS: P<0.0001; enterococci vs S. aureus: P=0.02). Enterococcal LSIE patients treated with the combination of a penicillin or vancomycin plus an aminoglycoside (n=60) and those treated with ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (n=6) showed similar in-hospital mortality (26.7% vs 33.3%, P=0.66). High-level resistance to gentamicin was detected in 5 of 38 episodes of enterococcal LSIE (13.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcal LSIE appears in patients with well-defined clinical characteristics, and causes few peripheral vascular or skin manifestations and few immunological phenomena. The relapse rate is higher than in non-enterococcal LSIE. Mortality due to enterococcal LSIE is lower than that of S. aureus LSIE, and much higher than that of VGS LSIE. Mortality due to enterococcal LSIE is similar in patients treated with ampicillin plus ceftriaxone or with a combination of penicillin or vancomycin plus an aminoglycoside. High-level resistance to gentamicin remains uncommon in enterococci causing LSIE.

[Clinical and therapeutic management of respiratory tract infections. Consensus document of the Andalusian Infectious Diseases Society and the Andalusian Family and Community Medicine Society]. / Aproximación clínica y terapéutica a las infecciones de las vías respiratorias. Documento de Consenso de la Sociedad Andaluza de Enfermedades Infecciosas y de la Sociedad Andaluza de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria.

Respiratory tract infections are frequent and they are one of the commonest causes of antibiotic prescription. However, there are few clinical guidelines that consider this group of infections. This document has been written by the Andalusian Infectious Diseases Society and the Andalusian Family and Community Medicine Society. The primary objective has been to define the recommendations for the diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of respiratory tract infections apart from pneumonia. The clinical syndromes evaluated have been: a) pharyngitis; b) sinusitis; c) acute otitis media and otitis externa; d) acute bronchitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis; e) acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis; and f) respiratory infectious in patients with bronchiectasis. This document has focused on immunocompetent patients.