Activities of carbapenem and comparator agents against contemporary US Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from the CAPITAL surveillance program.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of contemporary Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates were determined from the CAPITAL 2010 surveillance program. Isolates were collected from 100 sites throughout the USA and Puerto Rico, and included isolates representing a range of patient demographics and infection types. A total of 2722 isolates were tested for susceptibility to a broad spectrum of agents, with susceptibilities ranging from 98.8% for colistin to 74% for levofloxacin. Doripenem was the most active carbapenem agent, with 88.6% of isolates susceptible, in comparison with 78.1% and 84.6% for imipenem and meropenem, respectively. Lower respiratory tract isolates and isolates from the intensive care unit setting were the least susceptible overall. Resistance rates were typically highest in lower respiratory tract isolates, with the exception of urinary tract isolates, which displayed the highest resistance for levofloxacin. Overall, multidrug-resistant isolates comprised 14.8% of the total sample population.

Multidrug resistance among Acinetobacter spp. in the USA and activity profile of key agents: results from CAPITAL Surveillance 2010.

Multidrug resistance among Acinetobacter spp. leaves few effective antibiotic options for treatment. To monitor antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter spp., the US CAPITAL 2010 Surveillance data were evaluated by patient demographics, specimen source, and hospital ward. Isolates (N=514) were collected from 65 sites across the USA and Puerto Rico. Isolates were centrally tested for susceptibility to carbapenems and key antimicrobials by broth microdilution. Colistin was the most effective agent tested, with 95% susceptibility. The overall susceptibility of Acinetobacter spp. was low (39% for piperacillin/tazobactam, 41% for levofloxacin, 45% for ceftazidime, 47-51% for the carbapenems, and 58% for tobramycin). Multidrug resistance (MDR), defined as resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial agent groups, was detected in 54% of the isolates. MDR isolates were most common among elderly patients (65%), lower respiratory tract isolates (62%), and inpatient/intensive care unit isolates (54-58%). These data update trends in the distribution and prevalence of the MDR phenotype in Acinetobacter spp.

Tumores paratesticulares un diagnóstico inusual: Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán / Paratesticular tumors unusual diagnosis: Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán

Introducción: El cáncer testicular representa entre el 1,5 por ciento de los cánceres en varones y el 5 por ciento de los tumores urológicos en general. Los tumores paratesticulares representan el 4 por ciento de los tumores testiculares. Material y Método: Se revisaron informes de anatomía patológica y las fichas clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de patología testicular durante el período entre enero de 2004 a marzo de 2009. Se analizaron las siguientes variables: edad, testículo involucrado, tipo histológico y tratamiento. Objetivo: Es describir los tumores paratesticulares diagnosticados en el Servicio de Urología del Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán. Resultado: Se revisaron 149 casos, de los cuales 110 casos se confirmaron como tumores testiculares. Los tumores germinales representan el 90 por ciento. Los demás tipos histológicos, tres corresponden a metástasis testiculares, dos linfomas y una leucemia. Sólo cuatro casos correspondían a tumores paratesticulares representando el 3,6 por ciento de los tumores tratados. La descripción histológica de los tumores encontrados fue de dos Sarcomas (Rabdomiosarcoma y fibrosarcoma), Hemangiopericitoma y un Linfoma. La mediana de edad es de 62 años. El promedio de evolución de las lesiones fue de 5 meses. Discusión: Las neoplasias paratesticulares del cordón espermático son raras y representan sólo el 4 por ciento de los tumores testiculares. Los más frecuentes son tumores benignos en 2/3 de los casos, siendo el lipoma el tipo histológico más común. Conclusión: Los tumores paratesticulares son neoplasias infrecuentes. La presentación clínica no varía respecto a los demás tumores testiculares excepto en los pacientes inmunodeprimidos.

Introduction: Testicular cancer accounts for 1.5 per cent of cancers in men and 5 per cent of general urologic tumors. Paratesticular tumors represent 4 per cent of testicular tumors. Materials and Methods: We reviewed pathology reports and clinical records of patients diagnosed with testicular pathology during the period January 2004 to March 2009. We analyzed the following variables: age, testicular involvement, histological type and treatment. Aim: You describe paratesticular tumors diagnosed in the urology department of Hospital San BorjaArriarán. Results: We reviewed 149 cases, of which 110 cases were confirmed as malignancy. Germ cell tumors account for 90 percent. Other histologic types, three correspond to metastatic testicular, two lymphomas and leukemia. Only four cases were paratesticular tumors accounting for 3.6 per cent of treated tumors. The histological description of the tumors found were two sarcomas (rhabdomyosarcoma and fibrosarcoma), hemangiopericytoma and a lymphoma. The median age was 62 years. The average evolution of lesions was 5 months. Discussion: Paratesticular neoplasms of the spermatic cord are rare and represent only 4 per cent of testicular tumors. The most common are benign tumors in 2/3 of cases, the lipoma being the most common histologic type. Conclusion: Paratesticular tumors are rare neoplasms. The clinical presentation varies in relation to other testicular tumors except in immunosuppressed patients.

Child and adolescent suicide deaths in New Mexico, 1990-1994.

The suicide death rate in New Mexico is consistently higher than the national rate. Among adolescents, suicide is the third leading cause of death nationally, but in New Mexico it is the second leading cause of death. This study describes the pattern of adolescent suicide deaths in New Mexico. We conducted a retrospective review of all medical examiner autopsies for adolescent suicides (ages 20 years and younger) in New Mexico from 1990-1994. Records were reviewed for demographics and possible contributing factors such as depression, previous attempts, and alcohol and drug use. We identified 184 suicide deaths among children and adolescents ages 9-20 years for an overall rate of 12.9 per 100,000. Our rates for ages 5-9 years (0.2), 10-14 years (3.8), and 15-19 years (22.3) are over twice the U. S. rates. Suicide deaths resulted primarily from firearms (67%), hanging (16%), poisoning (6%), inhalation (4%), and other methods (7%). Method varied by ethnicity (p = .01) and gender (p = .03); males and non-Hispanic Whites were overrepresented among firearm deaths. Firearm ownership was known in 60 (48%) of the firearm deaths. Of these, 53% of the firearms belonged to a family member, 25% to the decedent, and 22% to a friend. Over one-third of decedents (41%) experienced mental disorders, primarily depressed mood and clinical depression. Previous suicide attempts were noted for 15% of the decedents. Some 50% of the decedents had alcohol or drugs present at the time of death; among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 74% had drugs or alcohol present (p = .003). Targeted interventions are needed to reduce adolescent suicide in New Mexico. We suggest raising awareness about acute and chronic contributing factors to suicide; training physicians to look for behavioral manifestations of depression; and involving physicians, teachers, and youth activity leaders in efforts to limit firearm accessibility, such as advising parents to remove firearms from their households.

Guns, alcohol, and intimate partner violence: the epidemiology of female suicide in New Mexico.

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, and in women the second leading cause of injury death overall. Previous studies have suggested links between intimate partner violence and suicide in women. We examined female suicide deaths to identify and describe associated risk factors. We reviewed all reports from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator for female suicide deaths occurring in New Mexico from 1990 to 1994. Information abstracted included demographics, mechanism of death, presence of alcohol/drugs, clinical depression, intimate partner violence, health problems, and other variables. Annual rates were calculated based on the 1990 census. The New Mexico female suicide death rate was 8.2/100,000 persons per year (n = 313), nearly twice the U.S. rate of 4.5/100,000. Non-Hispanic whites were overrepresented compared to Hispanics and American Indians. Decedents ranged in age from 14 to 93 years (median = 43 years). Firearms accounted for 45.7% of the suicide deaths, followed by ingested poisons (29.1%), hanging (10.5%), other (7.7%), and inhaled poisons (7.0%). Intimate partner violence was documented in 5.1% of female suicide deaths; in an additional 22.1% of cases, a male intimate partner fought with or separated from the decedent immediately preceding the suicide. Nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of the decedents had alcohol or drugs present in their blood at autopsy. Among decedents who had alcohol present (34.5%), blood alcohol levels were far higher among American Indians compared to Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites (p = .01). Interpersonal conflict was documented in over 25% of cases, indicating that studies of the mortality of intimate partner violence should include victims of both suicide and homicide deaths to fully characterize the mortality patterns of intimate partner violence.

Multicenter randomized controlled trial of the effects of inhaled nitric oxide therapy on gas exchange in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: To determine whether inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy can attenuate the progression of lung disease in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, we performed a multicenter, randomized, masked, controlled study of the effects of prolonged iNO therapy on oxygenation. We hypothesized that iNO therapy would improve oxygenation in an acute manner, slow the rate of decline in gas exchange, and decrease the number of patients who meet pre-established oxygenation failure criteria. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 108 children (median age 2.5 years) with severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from 7 centers were enrolled. After consent was obtained, patients were randomized to treatment with iNO (10 ppm) or mechanical ventilation alone for at least 72 hours. Patients with an oxygenation index >/=40 for 3 hours or >/=25 for 6 hours were considered treatment failures and exited the study. RESULTS: Patient age, primary diagnosis, pediatric risk of mortality score, mode of ventilation, and median oxygenation index (35 +/- 22 vs 30 +/- 15; iNO vs control; mean +/- SEM) were not different between groups at study entry. Comparisons of oxygenation indexes during the first 12 hours demonstrated an acute improvement in oxygenation in the iNO group at 4 hours (-10.2 vs -2.7, mean values; P <.014) and at 12 hours (-9.2 vs -2.8; P <.007). At 12 hours 36% of the control group met failure criteria in contrast with 16% in the iNO group (P <.05). During prolonged therapy the failure rate was reduced in the iNO group in patients whose entry oxygenation index was >/=25 (P <.04) and in immunocompromised patients (P <.03). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that iNO causes an acute improvement in oxygenation in children with severe AHRF. Two subgroups (immunocompromised and an entry oxygen index >/=25) appear to have a more sustained improvement in oxygenation, and we speculate that these subgroups may benefit from prolonged therapy.

Life-threatening infection in two children with hemoglobin S-beta-thalassemia.

Life-threatening infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and parvovirus occurred in two patients with hemoglobin S-beta-thalassemia. We recommend that acute febrile illnesses in the presence of any hemoglobinopathy be considered potentially life threatening, and managed accordingly.