Healthcare-Associated Mycobacterium bovis-Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Infection in Cancer Patients Without Prior BCG Instillation.

Background: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is widely used as adjunctive therapy for superficial bladder cancer. Intravesical administration of BCG has been associated with systemic infection. Disseminated infection due to M. bovis is otherwise uncommon. Methods: After identification of 3 patients with healthcare-associated BCG infection who had never received intravesical BCG administration, an epidemiologic study was performed. All patients with healthcare-associated BCG infection in the Barcelona tuberculosis (TB) program were reviewed from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015, searching for infections caused by M. bovis-BCG. Patients with healthcare-associated BCG infection who had not received intravesical BCG instillation were selected and the source of infection was investigated. Results: Nine oncology patients with infection caused by M. bovis-BCG were studied. All had permanent central venous catheters. Catheter maintenance was performed at 4 different outpatient clinics in the same room in which other patients underwent BCG instillations for bladder cancer without required biological precautions. All patients developed pulmonary TB, either alone or with extrapulmonary disease. Catheter-related infection was considered the mechanism of acquisition based on the epidemiologic association and positive catheter cultures for BCG in patients in whom mycobacterial cultures were performed. Conclusions: Physicians should be alerted to the possibility of TB due to nosocomially acquired, catheter-related infections with M. bovis-BCG in patients with indwelling catheters. This problem may be more common than expected in centers providing BCG therapy for bladder cancer without adequate precautions.

Echinocandins Compared to Fluconazole for Candidemia of a Urinary Tract Source: A Propensity Score Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Whether echinocandins could be used to treat candidemia of a urinary tract source (CUTS) is unknown. We aimed to provide current epidemiological information of CUTS and to compare echinocandin to fluconazole treatment on CUTS outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter study of adult patients with candidemia was conducted in 9 hospitals. CUTS was defined as a candidemia with concomitant candiduria by the same organism associated with significant urological comorbidity. The primary outcome assessed was clinical failure (defined by 7-day mortality or persistent candidemia) in patients treated with either an echinocandin or fluconazole. A propensity score was calculated and then entered into a regression model. RESULTS: Of 2176 episodes of candidemia, 128 were CUTS (5.88%). Most CUTS cases were caused by Candida albicans (52.7%), followed by Candida glabrata (25.6%) and Candida tropicalis (16.3%). Clinical failure occurred in 7 patients (20%) treated with an echinocandin and in 15 (17.1%) treated with fluconazole (P = .730). Acute renal failure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-8.91; P = .047) was the only independent factor associated with clinical failure, whereas early urinary tract drainage procedures (surgical, percutaneous, or endoscopic) were identified as protective (AOR, 0.08; 95% CI, .02-.31; P < .001). Neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed that echinocandin therapy altered the risk of clinical failure. CONCLUSIONS: Initial echinocandin therapy was not associated with clinical failure in patients with CUTS. Notably, acute renal failure predicted worse outcomes and performing an early urologic procedure was a protective measure.

Efficacy of ß-Lactam/ß-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations for the Treatment of Bloodstream Infection Due to Extended-Spectrum-ß-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hematological Patients with Neutropenia.

ß-Lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLIs) were compared to carbapenems in two cohorts of hematological neutropenic patients with extended-spectrum-ß-lactamase (ESBL) bloodstream infection (BSI): the empirical therapy cohort (174 patients) and the definitive therapy cohort (251 patients). The 30-day case fatality rates and other secondary outcomes were similar in the two therapy groups of the two cohorts and also in the propensity-matched cohorts. BLBLIs might be carbapenem-sparing alternatives for the treatment of BSI due to ESBLs in these patients.

Quantitative sensory testing defines the trajectory of sensory neuropathy after severe COVID-19.

AIMS: To assess sensory neuropathy development after severe COVID-19. METHODS: Patients with severe COVID-19 underwent assessment of neuropathic symptoms, tendon reflexes, and quantitative sensory testing to evaluate vibration (VPT), cold (CPT), warm (WPT) and heat perception thresholds (HPT) within 1-3 weeks of admission and after 1-year. RESULTS: 32 participants with severe COVID-19 aged 68.6 ± 12.4 (18.8 % diabetes) were assessed. At baseline, numbness and neuropathic pain were present in 56.3 % and 43.8 % of participants, respectively. On the feet, VPT, WPT, and HPT were abnormal in 81.3 %, CPT was abnormal in 50.0 % and HPT on the face was abnormal in 12.5 % of patients. At 1-year follow-up, the prevalence of abnormal VPT (81.3 % vs 50.0 %, P < 0.01), WPT (81.3 % vs 43.8 %, P < 0.01), and HPT (81.3 % vs 50.0 %, P < 0.01) decreased, with no change in CPT (P = 0.21) on the feet or HPT on the face (P = 1.0). Only participants without diabetes recovered from an abnormal VPT, CPT, and WPT. Patients with long-COVID (37.5 %) had comparable baseline VPT, WPT and CPT with those without long-COVID (P = 0.07-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Severe COVID-19 is associated with abnormal vibration and thermal thresholds which are sustained for up to 1 year in patients with diabetes. Abnormal sensory thresholds have no association with long-COVID development.

Multiplex real-time PCR in non-invasive respiratory samples to reduce antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia: a randomised trial.

We assessed whether multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing is safe and more effective than conventional microbiological testing alone for reducing antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In this randomised trial, we recruited adults hospitalised with CAP at four Spanish hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo either multiplex real-time PCR in non-invasive respiratory samples plus conventional microbiological testing or conventional microbiological testing alone. The primary endpoint was antibiotic use measured by days of antibiotic therapy (DOT). Between February 20, 2020, and April 24, 2023, 242 patients were enrolled; 119 were randomly assigned to multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing and 123 to conventional microbiological testing alone. All but one of the patients allocated to multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing underwent PCR, which was performed in sputum samples in 77 patients (65.2%) and in nasopharyngeal swabs in 41 (34.7%). The median DOT was 10.04 (IQR 7.98, 12.94) in the multiplex PCR plus conventional microbiological testing group and 11.33 (IQR 8.15, 16.16) in the conventional microbiological testing alone group (difference -1.04; 95% CI, -2.42 to 0.17; p = 0.093). No differences were observed in adverse events and 30-day mortality. Our findings do not support the routine implementation of multiplex real-time PCR in the initial microbiological testing in hospitalised patients with CAP. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT04158492.

Whole-Blood Gene Expression Profiles Associated with Mortality in Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

(1) Background: Information regarding gene expression profiles and the prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is scarce. We aimed to examine the differences in the gene expression profiles in peripheral blood at hospital admission between patients with CAP who died during hospitalization and those who survived. (2) Methods: This is a multicenter study of nonimmunosuppressed adult patients who required hospitalization for CAP. Whole blood samples were obtained within 24 h of admission for genome-expression-profile analysis. Gene expression profiling identified both differentially expressed genes and enriched gene sets. (3) Results: A total of 198 samples from adult patients who required hospitalization for CAP were processed, of which 13 were from patients who died. Comparison of gene expression between patients who died and those who survived yielded 49 differentially expressed genes, 36 of which were upregulated and 13 downregulated. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified four positively enriched gene sets in survivors, mainly associated with the interferon-alpha response, apoptosis, and sex hormone pathways. Similarly, GSEA identified seven positively enriched gene sets, associated with the oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative phosphorylation, and angiogenesis pathways, in the patients who died. Protein-protein-interaction-network analysis identified FOS, CDC42, SLC26A10, EIF4G2, CCND3, ASXL1, UBE2S, and AURKA as the main gene hubs. (4) Conclusions: We found differences in gene expression profiles at hospital admission between CAP patients who died and those who survived. Our findings may help to identify novel candidate pathways and targets for potential intervention and biomarkers for risk stratification.

Randomized Clinical Trial of the Need for Antibiotic Treatment for Low-Risk Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection Caused by Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci.

According to clinical guidelines, the management of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) due to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) includes catheter removal and antibiotic treatment for 5 to 7 days. However, in low-risk episodes, it remains uncertain whether antibiotic therapy is necessary. This randomized clinical trial aims to determine whether the non-administration of antibiotic therapy is as safe and effective as the recommended strategy in low-risk episodes of CRBSI caused by CoNS. With this purpose, a randomized, open-label, multicenter, non-inferiority clinical trial was conducted in 14 Spanish hospitals from 1 July 2019 to 31 January 2022. Patients with low-risk CRBSI caused by CoNS were randomized 1:1 after catheter withdrawal to receive/not receive parenteral antibiotics with activity against the isolated strain. The primary endpoint was the presence of any complication related to bacteremia or to antibiotic therapy within 90 days of follow-up. The secondary endpoints were persistent bacteremia, septic embolism, time until microbiological cure, and time until the disappearance of a fever. EudraCT: 2017-003612-39 INF-BACT-2017. A total of 741 patients were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 27 were included in the study; 15 (55.6%) were randomized to the intervention arm (non-antibiotic administration) and 12 (44.4%) to the control arm (antibiotic therapy as per standard practice). The primary endpoint occurred in one of the 15 patients in the intervention group (septic thrombophlebitis) and in no patients in the control group. The median time until microbiological cure was 3 days (IQR 1-3) in the intervention arm and 1.25 days (IQR 0.5-2.62) in the control arm, while the median time until fever resolution was zero days in both arms. The study was stopped due to the insufficient number of recruited patients. These results seem to indicate that low-risk CRBSI caused by CoNS can be managed without antibiotic therapy after catheter removal; efficacy and safety are not affected.

[Aspergillosis. Clinical forms and treatment]. / Aspergilosis. Formas clínicas y tratamiento.

Invasive aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are the clinical forms of aspergillosis. Although there is a great number of Aspergillus species, Aspergillus fumigatus-complex is the more frequent aetiological agent, regardless of clinical form or baseline condition. The increase in immunosuppressive agents and the higher use of corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have led to aspergillosis becoming more prominent in recent years. Galactomannan detection and radiological diagnostic images complement the limitations of microbiology cultures in these patients. Voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B are the gold standard in patients requiring therapy, and posaconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin and other echinocandins are effective alternatives. The prognosis depends of clinical forms and characteristics of the host, but it is particularly poor in the disseminated invasive forms.

[Invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant]. / Infección fúngica invasora en el trasplante de órgano sólido.

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) represent a serious threat for patients undergoing solid organ transplantation (SOT). IFI in SOT has a significant incidence and mortality not due to negligence. The management of IFI in SOT involves specific recommendations and has been individualized to the type of transplant and patient. The current review presents an overview of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IFI in TOS. Depending on risk factors for different IFIs and transplant type, this paper includes the main recommendations based on previous publications and on the opinion of the authors on the prophylaxis and treatment of these patients. These recommendations highlight epidemiology changes and the emergence of new antifungals. The current document has focused mainly on Candidaspp. and Aspergillusspp., with a special mention to the rest of yeasts and moulds that are common in SOT.

Widespread sensory neuropathy in diabetic patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection.

AIMS: To characterize the distribution and severity of sensory neuropathy using a portable quantitative sensory testing (QST) device in diabetic patients (DM) hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Four patients with diabetes and severe SARS-CoV-2 requiring non-invasive ventilation for a protracted duration underwent clinical, laboratory and radiologic assessment and detailed evaluation of neuropathic symptoms, neurological assessment, QST on the dorsum of the foot and face using NerveCheck Master with assessment of taste and smell. RESULTS: All four subjects developed neuropathic symptoms characterized by numbness in the feet with preserved reflexes. QST confirmed symmetrical abnormality of vibration and thermal thresholds in both lower limbs in all patients and an abnormal heat pain threshold on the face of two patients and altered taste and smell. CONCLUSIONS: Severe COVID-19 infection with hypoxemia is associated with neuropathic symptoms and widespread sensory dysfunction in patients with DM.

Long-term outcomes of patients following hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Few data are available regarding follow up of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after their discharge. We aim to describe the long-term outcomes of survivors of hospitalization for COVID-19 followed up first at an outpatient facility and subsequently by telephone. METHODS: Observational prospective study conducted at a tertiary general hospital. Clinical and radiological progression was assessed and data were recorded on a standardized reporting form. Patients were divided into three groups according to Pao2/Fio2 at hospitalization: Pao2/Fio2 >300, Pao2/Fio2 300-200 and Pao2/Fio2 <200. A logistic multivariate regression model was performed to identify factors associated with persistence of symptoms. RESULTS: For facility follow up, 302 individuals were enrolled. Median follow up was 45 days after discharge; 78% (228/294) of patients had COVID-19-related symptoms (53% asthenia, 56% respiratory symptoms) and 40% (122/302) had residual pulmonary radiographic lesions. Pao2/Fio2 <200 was an independent predictor of persistent dyspnoea (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.38-2.52, p < 0.0001). Pao2/Fio2 >300 was associated with resolution of chest radiographic lesions (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42-0.74, p < 0.0001). Fifty per cent of patients required specific medical follow up after the first consultation and were transferred to another physician. A total of 294 patients were contacted for telephone follow up after a median follow-up time of 7 months. Fifty per cent of patients (147/294) still presented symptoms and 49% (145/294) had psychological disorders. Asthenia was identified in 27% (78/294) and dyspnoea in 10% (28/294) of patients independently of Pao2/Fio2. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 require long-term follow up because of the persistence of symptoms; patients with low Pao2/Fio2 during the acute illness require special attention.

Multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase IV-III study to evaluate the efficacy of cloxacillin plus fosfomycin versus cloxacillin alone in adult patients with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: study protocol for the SAFO trial.

INTRODUCTION: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteraemia is a frequent condition, with high mortality rates. There is a growing interest in identifying new therapeutic regimens able to reduce therapeutic failure and mortality observed with the standard of care of beta-lactam monotherapy. In vitro and small-scale studies have found synergy between cloxacillin and fosfomycin against S. aureus. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that cloxacillin plus fosfomycin achieves higher treatment success than cloxacillin alone in patients with MSSA bacteraemia. METHODS: We will perform a superiority, randomised, open-label, phase IV-III, two-armed parallel group (1:1) clinical trial at 20 Spanish tertiary hospitals. Adults (≥18 years) with isolation of MSSA from at least one blood culture ≤72 hours before inclusion with evidence of infection, will be randomly allocated to receive either cloxacillin 2 g/4-hour intravenous plus fosfomycin 3 g/6-hour intravenous or cloxacillin 2 g/4-hour intravenous alone for 7 days. After the first week, sequential treatment and total duration of antibiotic therapy will be determined according to clinical criteria by the attending physician.Primary endpoints: (1) Treatment success at day 7, a composite endpoint comprising all the following criteria: patient alive, stable or with improved quick-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, afebrile and with negative blood cultures for MSSA at day 7. (2) Treatment success at test of cure (TOC) visit: patient alive and no isolation of MSSA in blood culture or at another sterile site from day 8 until TOC (12 weeks after randomisation).We assume a rate of treatment success of 74% in the cloxacillin group. Accepting alpha risk of 0.05 and beta risk of 0.2 in a two-sided test, 183 subjects will be required in each of the control and experimental groups to obtain statistically significant difference of 12% (considered clinically significant). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Bellvitge University Hospital (AC069/18) and from the Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency (AEMPS, AC069/18), and is valid for all participating centres under existing Spanish legislation. The results will be presented at international meetings and will be made available to patients and funders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol has been approved by AEMPS with the Trial Registration Number EudraCT 2018-001207-37. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03959345; Pre-results.

Emergence of cytomegalovirus disease in patients receiving temozolomide: report of two cases and literature review.

Temozolomide chemotherapy has become part of the therapy used to treat glioblastoma multiforme and refractory anaplastic astrocytoma. Temozolomide frequently produces profound lymphopenia. We report 2 cases of cytomegalovirus disease that occurred in patients receiving temozolomide therapy and review 4 additional cases reported in the literature. Narrow monitoring with cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay should be considered for recommendation.

Influenza and Bacterial Coinfection in Adults With Community-Acquired Pneumonia Admitted to Conventional Wards: Risk Factors, Clinical Features, and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Relevance of viral and bacterial coinfection (VBC) in non-intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is poorly characterized. We aim to determine risk factors, features, and outcomes of VBC-CAP in this setting. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort of adults admitted to conventional wards with CAP. Patients were divided into VBC-CAP, viral CAP (V-CAP), and bacterial CAP (B-CAP) groups. Independent risk and prognostic factors for VBC-CAP were identified. RESULTS: We documented 1123 episodes: 57 (5.1%) VBC-CAP, 98 (8.7%) V-CAP, and 968 (86.1%) B-CAP. Patients with VBC-CAP were younger than those with B-CAP (54 vs 71 years; P < .001). Chronic respiratory disease was more frequent in patients with VBC-CAP than in those with V-CAP (26.3% vs 14.3%%; P = .001). Among those with influenza (n = 153), the VBC-CAP group received empirical oseltamivir less often (56.1% vs 73.5%; P < .001). Patients with VBC-CAP also had more respiratory distress (21.1% VBC-CAP; 19.4% V-CAP, and 9.8% B-CAP; P < .001) and required ICU admission more often (31.6% VBC-CAP, 31.6% V-CAP, and 12.8% B-CAP; P < .001). The 30-day case-fatality rate was 3.5% in the VBC-CAP group, 3.1% in the V-CAP group, and 6.3% in the B-CAP group (P = .232). Furthermore, VBC-CAP was associated with severity criteria (odds ratio [OR], 5.219; P < .001) and lack of empirical oseltamivir therapy in influenza cases (OR, 0.401; P < .043). CONCLUSIONS: Viral and bacterial coinfection-CAP involved younger patients with comorbidities and with poor influenza vaccination rate. Patients with VBC-CAP presented more respiratory complications and more often required ICU admission. Nevertheless, 30-day mortality rate was low and related either to severity criteria or to delayed initiation of oseltamivir therapy.

Prevalence of colorectal disease in Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis: results of an observational multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of colorectal disease in Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis (EFIE) patients. METHODS: An observational, retrospective, multicenter study was performed at 4 referral centers. From the moment that a colonoscopy was systematically performed in EFIE in each participating hospital until October 2018, we included all consecutive episodes of definite EFIE in adult patients. The outcome was an endoscopic finding of colorectal disease potentially causing bacteremia. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients with EFIE were included; 83 (81%) were male, the median age was 76 [interquartile range 67-82] years, and the median age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index was 5 [interquartile range 4-7]. The presumed sources of infection were unknown in 63 (61%), urinary in 20 (19%), gastrointestinal in 13 (13%), catheter-related bacteremia in 5 (5%), and others in 2 (2%). Seventy-eight patients (76%) underwent a colonoscopy, and 47 (60%) had endoscopic findings indicating a potential source of bacteremia. Thirty-nine patients (83%) had a colorectal neoplastic disease, and 8 (17%) a nonneoplastic disease. Of the 45 with an unknown portal of entry who underwent a colonoscopy, gastrointestinal origin was identified in 64%. In the subgroup of 25 patients with a known source of infection and a colonoscopy, excluding those with previously diagnosed colorectal disease, 44% had colorectal disease. CONCLUSIONS: Performing a colonoscopy in all EFIE patients, irrespective of the presumed source of infection, could be helpful to diagnose colorectal disease in these patients and to avoid a new bacteremia episode (and eventually infective endocarditis) by the same or a different microorganism.

Effect of albumin administration on outcomes in hypoalbuminemic patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (ALBUCAP): a prospective, randomized, phase III clinical controlled trial-a trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and hypoalbuminemia is associated with worse outcomes. However, it remains uncertain whether albumin administration could have any beneficial effects. We aim to assess whether the administration of albumin in hypoalbuminemic patients with CAP increases the proportion of clinically stable patients at day 5 compared with the standard of care alone. METHODS: This is a trial protocol for a superiority, non-blinded, multicenter, randomized, phase 3, interventional controlled clinical trial. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of clinical stable patients at day 5 (intention to treat), defined as those with stable vital signs for at least 24 h. The secondary endpoints will be time to clinical stability, duration of intravenous and total antibiotic treatment, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, duration of mechanical ventilation and vasopressor treatment, adverse events, readmission within 30 days, and all-cause mortality. The trial has been approved by the Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The investigators commit to publish the data in peer-reviewed journals within a year of the study completion date. Subjects will be recruited from three Spanish hospitals over a planned enrolment period of 2 years. A follow-up visit will be performed 1 month after discharge. We have estimated the need for a sample size of 360 patients at a two-sided 5% alpha-level with a power of 80% based on intention to treat. Eligible participants must be hospitalized, hypoalbuminemic (≤ 30 g/L), non-immunosuppressed, adults, and diagnosed with CAP. They will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive standard care plus albumin (20 g in 100 mL) every 12 h for 4 days or standard care alone. DISCUSSION: If this randomized trial confirms the hypothesis, it should lead to a change in current clinical practice for the management of hypoalbuminemic patients with CAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) 2018-003117-18 . Registered on 12 April 2019. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04071041 . Registered on 27 August 2019.

Impact of comprehensive molecular testing to reduce antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia (RADICAP): a randomised, controlled, phase IV clinical trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be a major health problem worldwide and is one of the main reasons for prescribing antibiotics. However, the causative agent is often not identified, resulting in antibiotic overtreatment, which is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance and adverse events. We aim to test the hypothesis that comprehensive molecular testing, compared with routine microbiological testing, would be effective in reducing antibiotic use in patients with CAP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will perform a randomised, controlled, open-label clinical trial with two parallel groups (1:1) at two tertiary hospitals between 2020 and 2022. Non-severely immunosuppressed adults hospitalised for CAP will be considered eligible. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either the experimental diagnosis (comprehensive molecular testing plus routine microbiological testing) or standard diagnosis (only microbiological routine testing). The primary endpoint will be antibiotic consumption measured as days of antibiotic therapy per 1000 patient-days. Secondary endpoints will be de-escalation to narrower antibiotic treatment, time to switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics, days to reaching an aetiological diagnosis, antibiotic-related side effects, length of stay, days to clinical stability, intensive care unit admission, days of mechanical ventilation, hospital readmission up to 30 days after randomisation and death from any cause by 48 hours and 30 days after randomisation. We will need to include 440 subjects to be able to reject the null hypothesis that both groups have equal days of antibiotic therapy per 1000 patient-days with a probability >0.8. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Bellvitge Hospital (AC028/19) and from the Spanish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, and it is valid for all participating centres under existing Spanish legislation. Results will be presented at international meetings and will be made available to patients, their caregivers and funders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials: NCT04158492. EudraCT: 2018-004880-29.

Tuberculosis in solid-organ transplant recipients: consensus statement of the group for the study of infection in transplant recipients (GESITRA) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology.

Tuberculosis is a particularly important condition in solid-organ transplant recipients because of the delay in treatment caused by the difficulties involved in its diagnosis and because of the pharmacological toxicity associated with this treatment. Both treatment delay and toxicity are responsible for the many clinical complications of and high mortality associated with tuberculosis in this population. The Consensus Statement from the Spanish Group for the Study of Infectious Diseases in Transplant Recipients defines the indications for treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in solid-organ transplant recipients, especially in patients with a high risk of pharmacological toxicity, as is the case with liver recipients. We established a series of recommendations regarding the types of drugs and the duration of treatment of tuberculosis in solid-organ recipients, giving special attention to pharmacological interactions between rifampin and immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine, tacrolimus, rapamycin, and corticosteroids).

Value of serial quantification of fungal DNA by a real-time PCR-based technique for early diagnosis of invasive Aspergillosis in patients with febrile neutropenia.

A study was designed to assess the reliability of the serial detection of Aspergillus sp. DNA to diagnose invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with febrile neutropenia. Two blood and two serum samples were taken weekly from 83 patients. A total of 2,244 samples were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. Twelve (14.4%) patients were diagnosed with IA. Taking two consecutive positive results as the diagnostic criterion, PCR detected 11 cases, with 4 false positives, giving sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of 91.6%, 94.4%, 73.3%, and 98.5%, respectively. On analyzing in conjunction with high-resolution chest tomography (HRCT) and galactomannan (GM) testing, the combination of serial PCR and GM detected 100% of aspergillosis cases, with a positive predictive value of 75.1%. This diagnostic strategy presented, according to CART analysis, a receiver-operator curve with an area under the curve of 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.895 to 1.032; P < 0.01), with a relative risk of IA 6.92 times higher than the control population and with predictive success of 95.2%. As regards early diagnosis, the serial detection of Aspergillus DNA took on average 21 days less than HRCT and 68 days less than GM. The serial detection of Aspergillus DNA using real-time quantitative PCR has great diagnostic applicability, which increases when combined with GM quantification.