Case-control study of Clostridioides difficile in a rural health care area. / Estudio de casos-controles de la infección por Clostridioides difficile en un área sanitaria rural.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk and prognostic factors for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, case-control study with 61 cases and 64 controls, aged ≥2 years with diarrhoea, carried out in Castilla-La Mancha Health Care Area for 14 months. The diagnosis was made by immunochromatography technics (glutamate dehydrogenase and toxin A/B), confirming discordant cases by isothermal amplification. Demographic variables, comorbidities, type of acquisition, previous administration of antibiotics, antacids and immunosuppressants, and evolution were collected. The data were analysed using the chi-square test and the effect of risk and prognostic factors was quantified using an odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Hospital admission 4 weeks prior to infection, hypoalbuminemia, and previous administration of antibiotics were identified as independent risk factors for CDI. Presenting these 3 factors constitutes nearly 3-fold increase in the risk of becoming infected. A greater number of hospital admissions in the 4-12 weeks prior to CDI were found in the group of nosocomial acquisition. Although there was a greater tendency to recurrence and an unfavourable prognosis among nosocomial cases, these differences were not significant. We found that fever and hospital admission in the 4 weeks prior to infection were unfavourable prognostic factors of CDI. CONCLUSIONS: The independent risk factors for CDI were: Hospital admission in the 4 weeks prior to infection, hypoalbuminemia, and previous administration of antibiotics. Fever and hospitalisation in the previous 4 weeks were also identified as prognostic factors of unfavourable evolution.

Cost-effectiveness study of the microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis using geneXpert MTB/RIF®. / Estudio de coste-efectividad del diagnóstico microbiológico de tuberculosis mediante geneXpert MTB/RIF®.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of a molecular biology technique for the diagnosis of tuberculosis compared to the classical diagnostic alternative. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to evaluate the theoretical implementation of a molecular biology method including two alternative techniques for early detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, and resistance to rifampicin (alternative1: one determination in selected patients; alternative2: two determinations in all the patients). Both alternatives were compared with the usual procedure for microbiological diagnosis of tuberculosis (staining and microbiological culture), and was accomplished on 1,972 patients in the period in 2008-2012. The effectiveness was measured in QALYs, and the uncertainty was assessed by univariate, multivariate and probabilistic analysis of sensitivity. RESULTS: A value of €8,588/QALYs was obtained by the usual method. Total expenditure with the alternative1 was €8,487/QALYs, whereas with alternative2, the cost-effectiveness ratio amounted to €2,960/QALYs. Greater diagnostic efficiency was observed by applying the alternative2, reaching a 75% reduction in the number of days that a patient with tuberculosis remains without an adequate treatment, and a 70% reduction in the number of days that a patient without tuberculosis remains in hospital. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a molecular microbiological technique in the diagnosis of tuberculosis is extremely cost-effective compared to the usual method. Its introduction into the routine diagnostic procedure could lead to an improvement in quality care for patients, given that it would avoid both unnecessary hospitalisations and treatments, and reflected in economic savings to the hospital.

[Evolución de marcadores de laboratorio en pacientes con detección persistente de SARS-CoV-2.] / Laboratory markers evolution in patients with persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVE: The study of the evolution of certain biomarkers in patients with persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2 could determine the profile of the pathology that these patients may suffer. The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of different laboratory markers in patients with persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2, and determining these parameters were into reference values. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups: the control group (G0) included patients with a positive direct test for SARS-CoV-2 followed by 2 negative, while the problem group (G1) included patients with at least 3 consecutive positive tests. The time between consecutive samples was five to twenty days, and only patients with negative serology were included. Demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, radiology and hospitalization were collected, as well as data from analytic and blood gases. The comparison between the study groups was realized using the t-student and U Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables, and the χ2 test for qualitative variables. Results with p<0.05 were taken as significant. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included, thirty-eight in G0 and fifty-two in G1. D-dimer decreased 10.20 times more in G0 patients, and normal levels of this parameter at t1 were 1.46 times more frequent in these patients. The percentage of lymphocytes increased sixteen times more in G0, and the normal values in t1 were 10.40 times more common in these patients. C-reactive protein decreased significantly in both groups, and lactate increased more in G1 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that some biomarkers evolve differently in patients with persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2, which may have significant clinical impact. This information could help to determine the main organs or systems affected, allowing to anticipate socio-sanitary measures to prevent or compensate these alterations.

OBJETIVO: El estudio de la evolución de algunos biomarcadores en pacientes con detección persistente de SARS-CoV-2 permitiría determinar el perfil de las patologías que podrían padecer. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la evolución de distintos marcadores de laboratorio en pacientes con detección persistente de SARS-CoV-2 y estudiar los cambios en la proporción de pacientes con valores considerados como normales. METODOS: Los pacientes se dividieron en dos grupos: el grupo control (G0) incluyó pacientes con una prueba de detección de infección activa positiva para SARS-CoV-2 seguida de dos negativas, mientras que el grupo problema (G1) incluyó pacientes con al menos tres pruebas positivas consecutivas. El tiempo entre muestras consecutivas fue de cinco a veinte días, y se incluyeron solamente pacientes con serología negativa. Se recogieron datos demográficos, comorbilidades, sintomatología, radiología y hospitalización, así como los datos de las analíticas y las gasometrías. La comparación entre los grupos de estudio se realizó mediante el test t-student y U Mann-Whitney para variables cuantitativas, y el test de χ2 para variables cualitativas. Se tomaron como significativos resultados con p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron noventa pacientes, treinta y ocho en G0 y cincuenta y dos en G1. El dímero D descendió 10,20 veces más en pacientes G0, y los niveles normales de este parámetro en t1 fueron 1,46 veces más frecuentes en estos pacientes. El porcentaje de linfocitos se elevó dieciséis veces más en G0, y los valores normales en t1 fueron 10,40 veces más habituales en estos pacientes. La proteína C reactiva descendió de manera importante en ambos grupos, y el lactato aumentó más en pacientes G1. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados del estudio sugieren que algunos biomarcadores evolucionan de manera diferente en pacientes con detección persistente de SARS-CoV-2, lo que podría tener importantes repercusiones clínicas. Esta información podría ayudar a determinar los principales órganos o sistemas afectados, permitiendo anticipar medidas sociosanitarias para prevenir o compensar estas alteraciones.

[Potential usefulness of CT as a marker of persistence of positive PCR in patients with COVID-19.] / Potencial utilidad del CT como marcador de persistencia de PCR positiva en pacientes con COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: One of the problems associated to SARS-CoV-2 was its persistence in nasopharyngeal tract. The existence of markers that help to predict this situation could be useful to management of the patients. The objective of this paper was to determine the relationship between the CT value from the initial PCR of patients with COVID-19 and the persistence of the infection. METHODS: It was performed an observational retrospective study of patients with positive PCR to SARS-CoV-2 attended in emergency department of a general hospital. Data about compatible symptoms, radiological findings and the CT value obtained with each PCR kit were collected. The control group (G0) included patients with a positive PCR followed by two negative PCR results (P-N-N), while problem group (G1) included patients with at least three consecutive positive PCR results (P-P-P). Chronic infections were discarded selecting only patients with negative serology, and only were included those whose PCR were separated by a minimum of five and maximum of twenty days. The comparison between the study groups was carried out using the t-student test for quantitative variables and the χ2 test for qualitative variables. RESULTS: The mean CT value were 30.8 and 21.5 (p<0.001) on G0 and G1, respectively. G0 reported higher CT values than G1, regardless of symptoms, radiological pattern and the PCR kit utilized. CONCLUSIONS: The CT value from the SARS-CoV-2 initial PCR is related to the persistence of its positivity, regardless of the patient´s symptoms or radiological pattern. Thus, low CT values could be related to persistent infections.

OBJETIVO: Uno de los problemas asociados al SARS-CoV-2 es su persistencia en el tracto nasofaríngeo. La existencia de marcadores que ayuden a predecir este fenómeno podría ser útil en el manejo del paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la relación entre el valor CT (umbral de ciclo) de la PCR inicial de pacientes con COVID-19 y la persistencia de la infección. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes con PCR positiva para SARS-CoV-2 atendidos en las Urgencias de un hospital general. Se recogieron datos sobre sintomatología compatible y patrón radiológico de cada paciente, así como el CT obtenido en la PCR con cada equipo utilizado. El grupo control (G0) incluyó pacientes con una PCR positiva seguida de dos negativas (patrón P-N-N), mientras que el grupo problema (G1) incluyó pacientes con al menos tres PCR positivas consecutivas (patrón P-P-P). Se descartaron las infecciones crónicas, considerando únicamente a pacientes con serología negativa, y solo se incluyeron aquellos cuyas tres PCR estuvieron separadas un mínimo de cinco días y un máximo de veinte. La comparación entre los grupos de estudio se realizó mediante el test t-student para variables cuantitativas y el test de χ2 para variables cualitativas. RESULTADOS: La media del valor CT fue de 30,8 en G0 y 21,5 en G1 (p<0,001). G0 reportó CT superiores a G1, independientemente de la sintomatología, el patrón radiológico o el equipo de PCR utilizado. CONCLUSIONES: El valor CT de la PCR inicial de SARS-CoV-2 podría relacionase con la persistencia de su positividad, independientemente de la sintomatología o el patrón radiológico del paciente. Valores bajos de CT en la primera PCR podrían relacionarse con infecciones persistentes.

Interhospital dissemination of KPC-3 producing-Klebsiella pneumoniae ST512. Detection by MALDI-TOF. / Diseminación interhospitalaria de Klebsiella pneumoniae ST512 productora de KPC-3. Detección por MALDI-TOF.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: To describe an outbreak of KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) and determine the diagnostic efficacy of MALDI-TOF in its detection. METHODS: Retrospective study of the KPC-3-KPN isolated in 2 hospitals in Ciudad Real. The peak at 11,109kDa±15 was sought in the KPN spectra provided by MALDI-TOF. RESULTS: We isolated 156 KPN strains that carried the blaKPC-3 gene, with a unique profile belonging to ST512 (31 strains studied). There was 25% of infected patients, 84% were nosocomial or related to health care and 93% had some underlying disease (31% of exitus in the first month). The detection of the peak showed 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: We detected the clonal spread of a KPN ST512 strain producing KPC-3 in 3 hospitals in Ciudad Real. In addition, we show the profitability of MALDI-TOF in the early detection of KPC-KPN.

Trend and seasonality of community-acquired Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance and its dynamic relationship with antimicrobial use assessed by ARIMA models. / Tendencia y estacionalidad de las resistencias de Escherichia coli comunitarios y su relación dinámica con el consumo de antimicrobianos mediante modelos ARIMA.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the trend and seasonality of community-acquired Escherichia coli resistance and quantified its correlation with the previous use of certain antibiotics. METHODS: A time series study of resistant community-acquired E. coli isolates and their association with antibiotic use was conducted in a Primary Health Care Area from 2008 to 2012. A Poisson regression model was constructed to estimate the trend and seasonality of E. coli resistance. RESULTS: A significant increasing trend in mean E. coli resistance to cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin was observed. Seasonal resistance to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was significantly higher in autumn-winter. There was a delay of 7, 10 and 12 months between the use of cotrimoxazole (P<0.038), fosfomycin (P<0.024) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (P<0.015), respectively, and the occurrence of E. coli resistance. CONCLUSIONS: An average delay of 10 months between the previous use of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole and fosfomycin and the appearance of resistant community-acquired E. coli strains was detected.

[Economic impact of the introduction of a technique for early detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in clinical samples in a Spanish hospital]. / Impacto económico de la introducción de una técnica de detección precoz de Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex en las muestras clínicas de un hospital español.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem worldwide. Our objective was to estimate the economic and health care impact of the introduction of an early diagnosis tecnique of TB, the Xpert MTB/RIF® assay (Xpert). METHODS: The savings was estimated on the basis of reduction in the time of TB hospitalization at avoid the false-negative (FN) and false-positive (FP) TB cases diagnosed by auramine staining that could have been detected by Xpert between 2008-2012 in our hospital. The costs analysis was made by adding the cost arising from FN (hospitalization, special tests and equipment for respiratory isolation) and FP (TB treatment, successive medical consultations, analytical and microbiological controls). RESULTS: We detected 19 FP and 22 FN during the 5-year study. Xpert would have detected 19 FP and 15 FN. It was estimated a minimum cost of 3217 euros per FP (treatment, successive medical consultations, analytical and microbiological controls), while each FN has required an extension of hospitalization from 7 days on average (62229 euros), both translated into a global cost of 62229 euros. After an initial investment of 16250 euros (50 cases with high suspicion of TB at 65 euros/test), the hospital would have saved 45979 euros overall in five years. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of Xpert would improve the quality of health care of patients, avoiding both unnecessary hospitalizations and treatments. Also, Xpert carries a saving for our hospital.