Diagnóstico de la infección tuberculosa en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y/o candidatos a terapias biológicas mediante el uso combinado de dos pruebas IGRA: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus / Diagnosis of Tuberculous Infection in Immunosuppressed Patients and/or Candidates for Biologics Using a Combination of 2 IGRA Tests: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus

Introducción: El diagnóstico de la infección tuberculosa latente (ITL) mediante IGRA sigue generando debate. La experiencia empleando dos pruebas IGRA de manera simultánea es escasa. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar los resultados de dos versiones de QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube/Plus) con los de T-SPOT.TB y analizar la eficacia de esta estrategia dual (T-SPOT.TB + QTF) para el diagnóstico de la ITL en población con alguna condición inmunosupresora.Métodos: Estudio prospectivo (mayo 2015-junio 2017) que incluye 2.999 pacientes inmunodeprimidos y/o candidatos a terapias biológicas, a los que se les realizó de manera simultánea dos IGRA: grupo-1 (1.535 pacientes): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QTF-GIT); grupo-2 (1.464 pacientes): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus).Resultados: La concordancia entre QTF-GIT y T-SPOT.TB fue del 83,19% (κ = 0,532). Las proporciones de resultados positivos, negativos e indeterminados fueron, respectivamente: 14,33 vs. 17,06%; 82,41 vs. 74,46%; y 3,25 vs. 8,46%. La concordancia entre QTF-Plus y T-SPOT.TB fue del 87,56% (κ=0,609). Las proporciones de resultados positivos, negativos e indeterminados fueron, respectivamente: 15,02 vs. 15,36%; 82,92 vs. 79,37%; y 2,04 vs. 5,25%. Las discordancias entre T-SPOT.TB y QTF-Plus fueron del 12,43%, que implicaban que había 103 pacientes positivos y otros 79 pacientes negativos a expensas exclusivamente de uno de los dos IGRA.Conclusiones: Se evidenció una mayor concordancia entre QTF-Plus y T-SPOT.TB que entre QTF-GIT y T-SPOT.TB. Sin embargo, creemos que la proporción de resultados discordantes entre T-SPOT.TB y QTF-Plus es lo suficientemente relevante clínicamente como para justificar el empleo simultáneo de dos IGRA en este grupo específico de pacientes. (AU)

Introduction: The diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection (LTI) by IGRA continues to generate debate. Experience in the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA tests is scant. The aim of this study was to compare the results of 2 versions of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube/Plus) with those of T-SPOT.TB, and to analyse the effectiveness of a dual strategy (T-SPOT.TB + QTF) for the diagnosis of LTI in an immunosuppressed population.Methods: We conducted a prospective study (May 2015-June 2017) that included 2,999 immunosuppressed patients and/or candidates for biologics, in whom 2 simultaneous IGRA tests were performed: Group 1 (1535 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QTF-GIT); Group 2 (1464 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus).Results: The concordance between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB was 83.19% (κ=0.532). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 14.33% vs. 17.06%; 82.41% vs. 74.46%; and 3.25% vs. 8.46%. The concordance between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB was 87.56% (κ=0.609). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 15.02% vs. 15.36%; 82.92% vs. 79.37%; and 2.04% vs. 5.25%. Discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus were 12.43%, suggesting that 103 patients were positive and another 79 were negative due exclusively to 1 of the 2 IGRAs.Conclusions: Greater concordance was found between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB than between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB. However, we believe that the proportion of discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus is sufficiently important from a clinical point of view to justify the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA in this specific patient group. (AU)

[Translated article] Diagnosis of tuberculous infection in immunosuppressed patients and/or candidates for biologics using a combination of 2 IGRA tests: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus / Diagnóstico de la infección tuberculosa en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y/o candidatos a terapias biológicas mediante el uso combinado de dos pruebas IGRA: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus

Introduction: The diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection (LTI) by IGRA continues to generate debate. Experience in the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA tests is scant. The aim of this study was to compare the results of 2 versions of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube/Plus) with those of T-SPOT.TB, and to analyse the effectiveness of a dual strategy (T-SPOT.TB + QTF) for the diagnosis of LTI in an immunosuppressed population.Methods: We conducted a prospective study (May 2015-June 2017) that included 2,999 immunosuppressed patients and/or candidates for biologics, in whom 2 simultaneous IGRA tests were performed: Group 1 (1535 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QTF-GIT); Group 2 (1464 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus).Results: The concordance between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB was 83.19% (κ=0.532). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 14.33% vs. 17.06%; 82.41% vs. 74.46%; and 3.25% vs. 8.46%. The concordance between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB was 87.56% (κ=0.609). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 15.02% vs. 15.36%; 82.92% vs. 79.37%; and 2.04% vs. 5.25%. Discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus were 12.43%, suggesting that 103 patients were positive and another 79 were negative due exclusively to 1 of the 2 IGRAs.Conclusions: Greater concordance was found between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB than between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB. However, we believe that the proportion of discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus is sufficiently important from a clinical point of view to justify the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA in this specific patient group. (AU)

Introducción: El diagnóstico de la infección tuberculosa latente (ITL) mediante IGRA sigue generando debate. La experiencia empleando dos pruebas IGRA de manera simultánea es escasa. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar los resultados de dos versiones de QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube/Plus) con los de T-SPOT.TB y analizar la eficacia de esta estrategia dual (T-SPOT.TB + QTF) para el diagnóstico de la ITL en población con alguna condición inmunosupresora.Métodos: Estudio prospectivo (mayo 2015-junio 2017) que incluye 2.999 pacientes inmunodeprimidos y/o candidatos a terapias biológicas, a los que se les realizó de manera simultánea dos IGRA: grupo-1 (1.535 pacientes): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QTF-GIT); grupo-2 (1.464 pacientes): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus).Resultados: La concordancia entre QTF-GIT y T-SPOT.TB fue del 83,19% (κ = 0,532). Las proporciones de resultados positivos, negativos e indeterminados fueron, respectivamente: 14,33 vs. 17,06%; 82,41 vs. 74,46%; y 3,25 vs. 8,46%. La concordancia entre QTF-Plus y T-SPOT.TB fue del 87,56% (κ=0,609). Las proporciones de resultados positivos, negativos e indeterminados fueron, respectivamente: 15,02 vs. 15,36%; 82,92 vs. 79,37%; y 2,04 vs. 5,25%. Las discordancias entre T-SPOT.TB y QTF-Plus fueron del 12,43%, que implicaban que había 103 pacientes positivos y otros 79 pacientes negativos a expensas exclusivamente de uno de los dos IGRA.Conclusiones: Se evidenció una mayor concordancia entre QTF-Plus y T-SPOT.TB que entre QTF-GIT y T-SPOT.TB. Sin embargo, creemos que la proporción de resultados discordantes entre T-SPOT.TB y QTF-Plus es lo suficientemente relevante clínicamente como para justificar el empleo simultáneo de dos IGRA en este grupo específico de pacientes. (AU)

Diagnosis of Tuberculous Infection in Immunosuppressed Patients and/or Candidates for Biologics Using a Combination of 2 IGRA Tests: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus. / Diagnóstico de la infección tuberculosa en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y/o candidatos a terapias biológicas mediante el uso combinado de dos pruebas IGRA: T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube vs. T-SPOT.TB/QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection (LTI) by IGRA continues to generate debate. Experience in the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA tests is scant. The aim of this study was to compare the results of 2 versions of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (In-Tube/Plus) with those of T-SPOT.TB, and to analyse the effectiveness of a dual strategy (T-SPOT.TB + QTF) for the diagnosis of LTI in an immunosuppressed population. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study (May 2015-June 2017) that included 2,999 immunosuppressed patients and/or candidates for biologics, in whom 2 simultaneous IGRA tests were performed: Group 1 (1535 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QTF-GIT); Group 2 (1464 patients): T-SPOT.TB + QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus). RESULTS: The concordance between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB was 83.19% (κ=0.532). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 14.33% vs. 17.06%; 82.41% vs. 74.46%; and 3.25% vs. 8.46%. The concordance between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB was 87.56% (κ=0.609). The percentage of positive, negative, and indeterminate results were, respectively: 15.02% vs. 15.36%; 82.92% vs. 79.37%; and 2.04% vs. 5.25%. Discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus were 12.43%, suggesting that 103 patients were positive and another 79 were negative due exclusively to 1 of the 2 IGRAs. CONCLUSIONS: Greater concordance was found between QTF-Plus and T-SPOT.TB than between QTF-GIT and T-SPOT.TB. However, we believe that the proportion of discrepancies between T-SPOT.TB and QTF-Plus is sufficiently important from a clinical point of view to justify the simultaneous use of 2 IGRA in this specific patient group.

Vaginosis. Microbiota vaginal / Vaginosis. Vaginal microbiota

Los últimos avances en el microbioma vaginal y el diagnóstico molecular de la vaginosis bacteriana han permitido un mayor conocimiento de esta entidad caracterizando aspectos de su patogenia y el establecimiento de la biocapa vaginal, los modelos y nuevas teorías de la etiología de la misma, cómo se transmite al considerarse hoy como una probable infección de transmisión sexual, la separación de otras entidades como la vaginitis aerobia, el diagnóstico molecular de la misma y el tratamiento y nuevas moléculas que eviten las recaídas frecuentes. Esta entidad y el estudio del microbioma vaginal han permitido considerar estas infecciones como un síndrome polimicrobiano acabando con el dogma: un microorganismo, una enfermedad. Además, se actualiza una entidad menos conocida como es la vaginitis aerobia y los métodos para su detección

The latest advances in the vaginal microbiome and molecular diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis have allowed for a better knowledge of this entity, characterising aspects of its pathogenesis and the establishment of the vaginal biolayer, the models and new theories of its aetiology, how it is transmitted, with it being considered nowadays as a probable sexually transmitted infection, the separation of other entities such as aerobic vaginosis, its molecular diagnosis and treatment with new molecules to prevent frequent relapses. This entity and the study of the vaginal microbiome have made it possible to consider these infections as a polymicrobial syndrome, putting an end to the dogma: one microorganism, one disease. In addition, a lesser-known entity such as aerobic vaginosis and the methods for its detection are updated

Vaginosis. Vaginal microbiota. / Vaginosis. Microbiota vaginal.

The latest advances in the vaginal microbiome and molecular diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis have allowed for a better knowledge of this entity, characterising aspects of its pathogenesis and the establishment of the vaginal biolayer, the models and new theories of its aetiology, how it is transmitted, with it being considered nowadays as a probable sexually transmitted infection, the separation of other entities such as aerobic vaginosis, its molecular diagnosis and treatment with new molecules to prevent frequent relapses. This entity and the study of the vaginal microbiome have made it possible to consider these infections as a polymicrobial syndrome, putting an end to the dogma: one microorganism, one disease. In addition, a lesser-known entity such as aerobic vaginosis and the methods for its detection are updated.

Neuroinvasion of influenza A/H3N2: a fatal case in an immunocompetent adult.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a severe neurologic complication caused by influenza virus that has been infrequently reported in adult population. The diagnosis is made on epidemiological, clinical, and neuroimaging suspicion, but is rarely confirmed by microbiological findings in samples from the central nervous system (CNS), thus making it difficult to define the mechanism of pathogenesis of influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathies (IAE). We report a microbiologically documented case of ANE caused by influenza A/H3N2, in a previously healthy adult patient infected during a flu epidemic in Asturias (Spain). Direct viral invasion of the CNS was demonstrated with the isolation of the virus in a brain biopsy.

Diagnóstico rápido de las infecciones de transmisión sexual / Rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections

Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) suponen una importante carga de morbimortalidad. A nivel mundial todos los años se producen millones de casos de ITS como sífilis, infección por clamidias o gonococia, y actualmente se asiste a un incremento de la resistencia a los antimicrobianos en patógenos como el gonococo. La demora en el diagnóstico es uno de los factores que justifica la dificultad para controlar estas infecciones. Las pruebas de diagnóstico rápido permiten instaurar el tratamiento etiológico en la primera consulta, lo que lleva a tratar a más pacientes, tanto sintomáticos como asintomáticos, de forma más efectiva, e interrumpir sin demoras la cadena epidemiológica de transmisión. La OMS incluye estas pruebas en su estrategia mundial contra las ITS (AU)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are responsible for an enormous burden of morbidity and mortality. Worldwide, millions of cases of STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhoea occur every year, and there is now an increase in antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, such as gonococcus. Delay in diagnosis is one of the factors that justifies the difficulty in controlling these infections. Rapid diagnostic tests allow the introduction of aetiological treatment at the first visit, and also leads to treating symptomatic and asymptomatic patients more effectively, as well as to interrupt the epidemiological transmission chain without delay. The World Health Organisation includes these tests in its global strategy against STIs (AU)

Detection and quantification of Merkel cell polyomavirus. Analysis of Merkel cell carcinoma cases from 1977 to 2015.

This study investigates the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in skin lesions of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). MCPyV was quantified using quantitative Real-Time-PCR (qRT-PCR) in 34 paraffinized MCC samples (resected/biopsied) originally taken between 1977 and 2015, and six non-MCC samples. In 31 (91.2%) MCC-individuals, MCPyV was detected. No virus was observed in any non-MCC tumor. Average age at diagnosis was 78.2 ± 9.35 (55-97) years for women (n = 19) and 69.5 ± 14.7 (45-91) for men (n = 15) (P = 0.04). MCC tumor location, known in 25 cases, was: 11 (44%) in the head region, 6 (24%) in upper limbs, 4 (16%) in lower limbs, and 4 (16%) in the trunk. All but one patient had received some sort of treatment: 15 (45.45%) underwent both radio and chemotherapy, 13 (39.39%) only surgery, 2 (6.06%) surgery, plus radio and chemotherapy, 2 (6.06%) surgery and chemotherapy, and 1 (3.03%) only radiotherapy. Follow up data were available for 21/34 patients: recurrence was recorded for 4 (19.04%), and metastasis for 13 (61.9%). Recorded data showed that 10 men and 5 women (total 44.1%) died during follow up, 7 (46.7%) of them within 2 years of diagnosis. Viral load was 5.8 ± 1.4 log copies/105 cells (3.1-8.6), independent of any variable. MCPyV was very frequent in MCC. It was principally associated with head and limb tumors, it more commonly affected men, who in this study were, on average, younger than women, and had high rates of recurrence and mortality. The amplification techniques described here are easily applied and suitable for detecting the presence of MCPyV virus in MCC.

Bacteriemia por Leptotrichia trevisanii en una paciente sometida a trasplante alogénico de médula ósea / Bacteremia due to Leptotrichia trevisanii after an allogeneic bone marrow transplant

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Rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. / Diagnóstico rápido de las infecciones de transmisión sexual.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are responsible for an enormous burden of morbidity and mortality. Worldwide, millions of cases of STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhoea occur every year, and there is now an increase in antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, such as gonococcus. Delay in diagnosis is one of the factors that justifies the difficulty in controlling these infections. Rapid diagnostic tests allow the introduction of aetiological treatment at the first visit, and also leads to treating symptomatic and asymptomatic patients more effectively, as well as to interrupt the epidemiological transmission chain without delay. The World Health Organisation includes these tests in its global strategy against STIs.