Risk factors associated with Clostridium difficile infection in adult oncology patients.

PURPOSE: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) prevention is particularly important for cancer patients, because diarrhea often results in dose reductions or delays of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We conducted this study to better ascertain the incidence, susceptibility, and risk factors for CDI in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at our hospital. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study among adult cancer patients admitted at "12 de Octubre" University Hospital between January 2009 through April 2013 who were diagnosed with diarrhea. Inpatient data were available on hospital medical records. We screened by immunochromatography system detecting glutamate dehydrogenase antigen, and C. difficile toxins A and B. Later, a polymerase chain reaction for detecting toxin B gene was performed. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients were included in the study, and 39 of them (17.3 %) were diagnosed with CDI. Type of tumor significantly differed between CDI patients, thus relative risk in each type of cancer was calculated after adjusting for age, antibiotic exposure, corticosteroid, and proton-pump inhibitor use. Patients with gastrointestinal tumors were less prone to CDI. Conversely, breast cancer patients have a greater predisposition to CDI. Antibiotic treatment was found to be associated with an increasing risk for CDI in breast cancer patients. Curiously, exposure to proton-pump inhibitors appeared protective in our cohort, except for lung cancer patients. However, we have not been able to find an association between a particular type of chemotherapy and CDI. CONCLUSIONS: We underscore the urgent need for early recognition and diagnosis of CDI in cancer patients. Our findings indicate a probable association between antibiotic use and CDI incidence, at least in certain cancer, such as breast cancer.

Algorithm proposal based on the C. Diff Quik Chek Complete ICT device for detecting Clostridium difficile infection

Objective: To assess a new immunochromatography (ICT) test that detects glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) antigen and Clostridium difficile toxin A/B simultaneously, and to propose an algorithm for the diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI) based on this test. Methods We analysed 970 stool samples. Discrepant results between GDH and toxin A/B were resolved using toxigenic culture as the reference. Results This test enabled us to obtain a conclusive result in <30min in 93.8% of the samples. Among the discrepant results (GDH (+)/Toxin A/B (-)), 41.7% (25/60) were found to be toxigenic C. difficile by toxigenic culture. Conclusion This test has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CDI (AU)

Objetivo: Evaluar una nueva prueba inmunocromatográfica que detecta el antígeno glutamato deshidrogenasa (GDH) y la toxina A/B de Clostridium difficile simultáneamente y proponer un algoritmo para el diagnóstico de infección por C. difficile (ICD) basado en esta prueba. Métodos: Se analizaron 970 muestras. Las discrepancias entre GDH y toxina A/B se resolvieron utilizando el cultivo toxigénico como método de referencia. Resultados: Esta prueba permitió obtener el resultado del 93,8% de las muestras en < 30 minutos. El 41,7%(25/60) de las muestras discrepantes (GDH (+)/Toxina A/B (-)) fueron C. difficile toxigénicos, mediante cultivo toxigénico. Conclusión: Esta prueba es sensible y específica para el diagnóstico de ICD (AU)

¿Qué tratamiento empírico es el más adecuado en pacientes con uretritis? / Which is the best empirical treatment in patients with urethritis?

Objetivo. Conocer el tratamiento empírico más adecuado de uretritis, en pacientes de la zona Centro de Madrid. Métodos. Se analizó el exudado uretral de 2.021 hombres entre Enero 2003-Diciembre 2007. Además de los cultivos tradicionales se determinó la presencia de Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis y Herpes simplex. La sensibilidad de Neisseria gonorrhoeae y Haemophilus spp. se realizó mediante el método de difusión en disco y la sensibilidad de U. urealyticum mediante Micoplasma IST2. Resultados. El porcentaje de muestras positivas fue de 30,6%. Los microorganismos aislados más frecuentemente fueron: U. urealyticum 9,9%, N. gonorrhoeae 7,4%, C. trachomatis 5,1% y Haemophilus spp 3,8%. La resistencia de N. gonorrhoeae en el primer periodo fue: penicilina 11,8%, tetraciclina 5,9%, ciprofloxacino 8,8% y presencia de betalactamasas 11,8%. En el segundo periodo: penicilina 9,7%, amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico 1,4%, tetraciclina 8,3%, ciprofloxacino 23,6% y presencia de betalactamasas 10,5%. La resistencia a ciprofloxacino en no HSH (hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres) 20% y en HSH 56,2% (p<0,05). La resistencia de Haemophilus spp en el primer periodo fue: ampicilina 38,2%, amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico 8,8%, claritromicina 35,3%, cotrimoxazol 64,7%, cefuroxima 5,9%, ciprofloxacino 8,8%, tetraciclina 12,1% y presencia de betalactamasas 26,5%. En el segundo periodo: presencia de betalactamasas 41,9%, ampicilina 53,1%, amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico 9,4%, cefuroxima 9,4%, claritromicina 18,7%, tetraciclina 34,4%, ciprofloxacino 15,6% y cotrimoxazol 68,7%. La resistencia de U. urealyticum fue: 80,7% ciprofloxacino, 32,4% ofloxacino, 17,5% eritromicina, 9,6% azitromicina, 3,5% tetraciclina y 0,8% doxiciclina. Conclusiones. N. gonorrhoeae presentó mayor resistencia a tetraciclina y ciprofloxacino en el segundo periodo, siendo estadísticamente significativo para ciprofloxacino (p<0.05). La resistencia a quinolonas fue más elevada en HSH. Haemophilus spp presentó mayor resistencia a ampicilina, ciprofloxacino y tetraciclina en el segundo periodo; siendo significativo para tetraciclina (p<0,05). U. urealyticum presentó elevada resistencia a ciprofloxacino (80,7%) y ofloxacino (32,4%) y baja para doxiciclina (0,8%) y tetraciclina (3,5%)(AU)

Objective. To know the best empirical treatment of urethritis in patients at the City Center of Madrid. Methods. 2.021 urethral exudates were analyzed in men between January 2003-December 2007. In addition to the traditional cultures, it was determined the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Herpes simplex. The susceptibility of N.gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus spp was performed by disk diffusion method and U. urealyticum by Mycoplasma IST. Results. The percentage of positive samples was: 30.6%. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were: U. urealyticum 9.9%, N. gonorrhoeae 7.4%, C. trachomatis 5.1% and Haemophilus spp 3.8%. The resistance of N. gonorrhoeae in the first period was: penicillin 11.8%, tetracycline 5.9%, ciprofloxacin 8.8% and presence of betalactamase 11.8%. In the second period: penicillin 9.7%, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 1.4%, tetracycline 8.3%, ciprofloxacin 23.6% and presence of betalactamase 10.5%. Resistance to ciprofloxacin in non-MSM (men having sex with men) was 20% and in MSM 56.2% (p <0.05). Resistance of Haemophilus spp in the first period was: 38.2% ampicillin, amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid 8.8%, clarithromycin 35.3%, cotrimoxazole 64.7%, cefuroxime 5.9%, ciprofloxacin 8.8%, tetracycline 12.1% and presence of betalactamase 26.5%. In the second period: presence of betalactamase 41.9%, ampicillin 53.1%, amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid 9.4%, cefuroxime 9.4%, clarithromycin 18.7%, tetracycline 34.4%, ciprofloxacin 15.6%, and cotrimoxazole 68.7%. Resistance of U. urealyticum was: ciprofloxacin 80.7%, ofloxacin 32.4%, erythromycin 17.5%, azithromycin 9.6%, tetracycline 3.5% and doxycycline 0.8%. Conclusions. N. gonorrhoeae showed a level of resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin higher in the second period, being significant for ciprofloxacin (p<0.05). Quinolone resistance was higher in MSM. Haemophilus spp showed a level of resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline higher in the second period, being significant for tetracycline (p <0.05). U.urealyticum showed high level of resistance to ciprofloxacin (80.7%) and ofloxacin (32.4%) and low level of resistance to doxycycline (0.8%) and tetracycline (3.5%)(AU)