[Decreasing incidence of perinatal group B streptococcal disease (Barcelona 1994-2002). Relation with hospital prevention policies]. / Declive de la incidencia de la sepsis perinatal por estreptococo del grupo B (Barcelona 1994-2001). Relación con las políticas profilácticas.

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the incidence of perinatal sepsis due to group B streptococcus (GBS) as related to compliance with recommendations for its prevention issued by the Catalan Societies for Obstetrics, for Pediatrics, and for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology in 1997. METHODS: The study was conducted from 1994 to 2001 in 10 Barcelona-area hospitals, where 157,848 live infants were born. RESULTS: GBS disease was diagnosed in 129 neonates. Incidence decreased by 86.1% over the study period, from 1.92 cases per 1000 live births in 1994 to 0.26 per 1000 in 2001 (p < 0.001). Changes in the characteristics of perinatal GBS disease were observed in the 18 cases diagnosed in the last 3 years, the time when prevention policies were operative. The incidence was lower (0.28 per 1000 vs. 1.19 for the previous 5 years, p <.00006), the proportion of mothers without risk factors was greater (77.8% vs. 55.9%, p 5 0.009), and premature neonates were not affected (0% vs. 12.6%, p 5 0.003); nevertheless, mortality was similar (5.5% vs. 4.5%, p 5 0.8). Among these 18 cases of sepsis, 9 can be considered failures inherent to the prevention policy and 9 failures of compliance. Only 3 hospitals had prevention policies in 1994, whereas all 10 used intrapartum prophylaxis based on screening results in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial decrease in the incidence of perinatal GBS disease coinciding with the application of prevention measures for this pathology has been registered in 10 participating hospitals over the 1994-2001 period.

Declive de la incidencia de la sepsis perinatal por estreptococo del grupo B (Barcelona 1994-2001).Relación con las políticas profilácticas / Decreasing incidence of perinatal group B streptococcal disease (Barcelona 1994-2002). Relation with hospital prevention policies

INTRODUCCIÓN. Analizar la incidencia de la sepsis perinatal por estreptococo del grupo B (EGB) y relacionarla con la aplicación de las recomendaciones de prevención consensuadas en 1997 por las sociedades catalanas de Obstetricia, Pediatría y Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. MÉTODOS. El estudio se realizó desde 1994 a 2001 y en él participaron 10 hospitales del área de Barcelona, donde se registraron 157.848 nacidos vivos. RESULTADOS. Fueron diagnosticados 129 recién nacidos de sepsis perinatal por EGB. La incidencia disminuyó el 86,1 por ciento, desde el 1,92/1.000 nacidos vivos en 1994 hasta el 0,26/1.000 en 2001 (p < 0,001). Las características de la sepsis perinatal por EGB son distintas en los 18 casos diagnosticados en los últimos 3 años, cuando las políticas profilácticas estaban consolidadas, puesto que su incidencia es menor (0,28/1.000 frente al 1,19 de los 5 años anteriores, p < 0,00006), el porcentaje de madres sin factores de riesgo es mayor (77,8 por ciento frente a 55,9 por ciento, p 0,009), no afecta a prematuros (0 por ciento frente a 12,6 por ciento, p 0,003), siendo similar la mortalidad (5,5 por ciento frente a 4,5 por ciento, p 0,8). De estas 18 sepsis, 9 podrían considerarse fallos inherentes a la política profiláctica y 9 fallos en la cumplimentación de ésta. En 1994, sólo 3 hospitales practicaban políticas de prevención mientras que en 2001 los diez utilizan profilaxis intraparto basada en estudio de colonización. CONCLUSIONES. En 8 años se ha conseguido una importante disminución de la incidencia de sepsis perinatal por EGB, coincidiendo con la aplicación de protocolos de prevención de esta patología (AU)

Evaluation of a hematology analyzer with canine and feline blood.

A semiautomatic electronic blood cell counter (Sysmex F-800:Toa Medical Electronics Europa Gmbh, Hamburg, Germany) was evaluated using canine and feline blood, following the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology protocol (ICSH, 1984). Precision and overall reproducibility were acceptable for all the parameters studied except for the feline platelet count, in which overlapping of erythrocyte and platelet populations prohibited determination of an accurate platelet count. Since carry-over from canine hematocrit values and platelet counts and from feline hematocrit values was unsatisfactory, the use of a blank diluent sample between different analyses was necessary. Linearity of the analyzer was acceptable in the studied range. Thirty canine and feline blood samples were analyzed using the Sysmex F-800 and a manual method. Correlations between both methods were acceptable for all the parameters, except for feline platelet count and erythrocyte indices for both species. In the storage study, red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration were the parameters with the longest stability (72 hours at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C) in both species. A statistically significant increase in MCV was obtained at 12 hours post-extraction in canine samples stored at 25 degrees C and at 24 hours in refrigerated samples. Feline leucocyte counts showed a downward trend at 12 hours post-extraction at both temperatures. Canine platelet count decreased significantly at 6 hours post-extraction in samples stored at 4 degrees C. During the evaluation period, Sysmex F-800 was user friendly and appeared well suited for routine canine and feline blood cell analysis.