Pulmonary aspergilloma in immunocompromised patients in a Respiratory Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary aspergilloma is commonly associated with comorbidities that cause immunodeficiency such as diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and/or a pre-existing parenchymal lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Predisposing factors can further increase the risk of acquiring this mycosis. Our objective was to determine the frequency, clinical and microbiological characteristics of pulmonary aspergilloma in immunocompromised patients. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with pulmonary aspergilloma in a respiratory care unit in Mexico City from 2000 to 2019 was studied. Bronchoalveolar lavage cultures on Sabouraud-dextrose agar and serum galactomannan determination were performed on each patient. RESULTS: We identified twenty-four patients with pulmonary aspergilloma (sixteen male and eight female), thirteen had a history of tuberculosis (54%), seven of diabetes mellitus (29%), three of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (13%) and one of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4%). The most commonly reported symptoms were hemoptysis in eighteen patients (75%), dyspnea in sixteen patients (67%) and chest pain in thirteen patients (54%). Aspergillus fumigatus was identified in all cultures and galactomannan was positive in 21 serum samples (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of diseases that could suppress the immune system predispose to pulmonary aspergilloma; clinical presentation is often confused with other systemic diseases. A high degree of clinical suspicion is important for early detection.

[Pulmonary mycosis in patients with diabetes mellitus. Clinical characteristics and risk factors]. / Micosis pulmonares en pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Características clínicas y factores de riesgo.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem in Mexico, and the trend of the disease is increasing. From 2000 to 2017, 7.32 million new cases were diagnosed, with pulmonary mycoses being one of the most serious complications. AIMS: To describe the frequency and the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with pulmonary mycoses, and to identify the risk factors associated with this entity. METHODS: Case-control study, paired by gender (1:1-3) and age (± 5 years), that analyzed patients with pulmonary mycosis (mucormycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis) and studied the risk factors present in each patient. RESULTS: From the 162 patients studied, 56 suffered pulmonary mycosis and 106 were controls. The median of the age was 51 and 50 years for the cases and for the controls, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that patients with diabetes mellitus had an odds ratio of 8,3 (p < 0.001), and patients with a history of tuberculosis had an odds ratio of 8,8 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that 52% of the patients with pulmonary mycoses had a history of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a relevant risk factor for pulmonary mycoses, which are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and have a high mortality.

Clinical performance and resource utilization in the start of a totally new Intensive Care Unit. Same staff, new area.

BACKGROUND: There is little information of intensive care unit (ICU) performance when it's relocated to a totally new and equipped area. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical performance and use of resources of a new respiratory-ICU (nRICU) in a large third-level care hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional, comparative study using prospective data of patients admitted from July 17, 2017 to July 17, 2018. The Rapoport adjusted method was used to obtain the standardized clinical performance index (SCPI) and the standardized resource use index (SRUI). RESULTS: Out of 354 patients, those who were readmissions or remained hospitalized and those whose treatment was withheld or withdrawn where excluded from the analysis. In 301 patients, the observed survival at hospital discharge was 63% while the expected survival was 67.7%. Values of SCPI and SRUI were -1.03 and 0.05 respectively, placing results in coordinates within two standard deviations when plotted in the Rapoport chart. There was a statistically significant difference in survival when comparing the study period with outcomes obtained in the RICU before its relocation (63% vs. 55%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In its 1st year of operation, the nRICU had better clinical performance compared to the former RICU, with no change in the use of resources.

ANTECEDENTES: Existe poca información acerca del desempeño de una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) cuando es reubicada en un área totalmente nueva y equipada. OBJETIVO: Analizar el rendimiento clínico y el uso de recursos de la nueva UCI respiratoria (UCIR) de un hospital grande de tercer nivel. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal, comparativo, con datos prospectivos de pacientes ingresados del 17 de julio de 2017 al 17 de julio de 2018. Se usa el método ajustado de Rapoport para obtener el índice de rendimiento clínico estandarizado (IRCE) y el índice de uso de recursos estandarizado (IRURE). RESULTADOS: De 354 pacientes fueron excluidos los reingresos, los pacientes aún hospitalizados y aquellos a quienes se limitó o retiró el tratamiento. En 301 pacientes la sobrevida hospitalaria fue del 63%, mientras que la sobrevida esperada fue del 67.7%. El IRCE fue −1.03 y el IRURE fue 0.05, situando el resultado en coordenadas dentro de dos desviaciones estándar en el gráfico de Rapoport. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la sobrevida comparando el periodo de estudio con resultados de la UCIR obtenidos antes de su reubicación (63 vs. 55%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONES: En su primer año de funcionamiento, la nueva UCIR tuvo mejor rendimiento clínico que la antigua, sin modificación en el uso de recursos.

Micosis pulmonares en pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Características clínicas y factores de riesgo / Pulmonary mycosis in patients with diabetes mellitus. Clinical characteristics and risk factors

ANTECEDENTES: La diabetes mellitus es un problema de salud pública en México. La tendencia de la enfermedad es creciente y del año 2000 al 2017 se confirmaron 7,32 millones de casos nuevos. Las micosis pulmonares son una de las posibles complicaciones de mayor gravedad. OBJETIVOS: Describir la frecuencia y las características clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de micosis pulmonar e identificar los factores de riesgo implicados en esta entidad. MÉTODOS: Estudio de casos-controles pareado 1:1-3 para género y edad (± 5 años). Se incluyeron pacientes con micosis pulmonares (mucormicosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomicosis, blastomicosis, aspergilosis, criptococosis, paracoccidioidomicosis) y se estudiaron los factores de riesgo presentes en cada uno de ellos. RESULTADOS: De los 162 pacientes, 56 presentaban una micosis pulmonar y 106 fueron controles; la mediana de la edad fue 51 y 50 años para los casos y controles, respectivamente. En el modelo de regresión logística múltiple los pacientes con diabetes mellitus presentaron una razón de momios (RM) de 8,3, p < 0,001, y el antecedente de tuberculosis una RM de 8,8, p <0,001. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran que el 52% de los casos con micosis pulmonares tuvieron la diabetes mellitus como factor de riesgo, siendo relevante para estas micosis, que se diagnostican en etapas avanzadas y tienen una alta mortalidad

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem in Mexico, and the trend of the disease is increasing. From 2000 to 2017, 7.32 million new cases were diagnosed, with pulmonary mycoses being one of the most serious complications. AIMS: To describe the frequency and the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with pulmonary mycoses, and to identify the risk factors associated with this entity. METHODS: Case-control study, paired by gender (1:1-3) and age (± 5 years), that analyzed patients with pulmonary mycosis (mucormycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis) and studied the risk factors present in each patient. RESULTS: From the 162 patients studied, 56 suffered pulmonary mycosis and 106 were controls. The median of the age was 51 and 50 years for the cases and for the controls, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that patients with diabetes mellitus had an odds ratio of 8,3 (p < 0.001), and patients with a history of tuberculosis had an odds ratio of 8,8 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that 52% of the patients with pulmonary mycoses had a history of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a relevant risk factor for pulmonary mycoses, which are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and have a high mortality

[A brief review of respiratory diseases in pre-Hispanic times in Mexico]. / Una breve mirada a las enfermedades respiratorias en la época prehispánica en México.

It is known that, in ancient Mexico, diseases of the respiratory system were a major cause of death in the population. Severe epidemics in the XVI Century ravaged and killed nine out of ten indigenous persons. Pre-Hispanic physicians served as medical sorcerers and dealt with the physical and spiritual diseases that afflicted the population. Important medical knowledge pertaining to each culture has been identified; this knowledge explained the diseases depending on the religious beliefs of each culture, and it tried to solve the health problems that afflicted the population at that time.

En el México antiguo se tiene conocimiento de enfermedades propias del sistema respiratorio que fueron una causa importante de mortalidad en la población. Severas epidemias en el siglo XVI asolaron y produjeron la muerte a nueve de cada 10 indígenas. Los médicos prehispánicos se desempeñaban como médicos-hechiceros y atendían las enfermedades físicas y espirituales que aquejaban a la población. Se ha identificado un conocimiento médico importante propio de cada cultura, que explicaba las enfermedades dependiendo de las creencias religiosas e intentaba resolver los problemas de salud que aquejaban a la población en esa época.

Eventos adversos en una nueva unidad de cuidados intensivos. Influencia del diseño y la tecnología de las instalaciones en las tasas de incidencia.

INTRODUCTION: New hospitals are replacing old facilities. There is little information on the performance of an intensive care unit (ICU) when it is relocated in a new and equipped area. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the change of ICU facilities from a shared environment to individual beds on the occurrence of adverse events. METHOD: Cross-sectional, comparative study, with prospectively collected data from patients admitted from March 01, 2014 to February 28, 2017 to the former ICU (f-ICU) and from July 17, 2017 to January 17, 2019 to the new ICU (n-ICU) of a public teaching hospital. The rate of adverse events was measured in events per 1,000 patient-days. RESULTS: Among 1,188 patients (f-ICU, n = 681 vs. n-ICU, n = 507), a reduction in the rate of unforeseen cardiac arrest (rate ratio: 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-0.80) and an increase in the rate of unplanned extubation (rate ratio: 2.49; 95% CI = 1.24-5.01) were observed, with both being statistically significant. The other nine monitored adverse events showed no changes. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the f-ICU, most of the monitored adverse events did not significantly change within the first 18 months of activities at the n-ICU.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Nuevos hospitales están reemplazando a instalaciones antiguas. Existe poca información del desempeño de una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) cuando es reubicada en un área nueva y equipada. OBJETIVO: Analizar el impacto del cambio de instalaciones de un ambiente compartido a camas individuales en la ocurrencia de eventos adversos en la UCI. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal, comparativo, con datos prospectivos de pacientes ingresados del 1 de marzo de 2014 al 28 de febrero de 2017 a la antigua UCI (aUCI) y del 17 de julio de 2017 al 17 de enero de 2019 a la nueva UCI (nUCI) de un hospital-escuela público. La tasa de eventos adversos se midió en eventos por 1000 días-paciente. RESULTADOS: En 1188 pacientes (aUCI, n = 681 versus nUCI, n = 507) se observó reducción en la tasa de paro cardiaco no previsto (razón de tasas 0.31, IC 95 % = 0.12-0.80) e incremento en la tasa de extubación no planeada (razón de tasas 2.49, IC 95 % = 1.24-5.01), estadísticamente significativos; los otros nueve eventos adversos monitoreados no mostraron cambios. CONCLUSIONES: Comparada con la aUCI, la mayor parte de eventos adversos monitoreados no se modificaron significativamente en los 18 meses de inicio de actividades de la nUCI.

Identificación de Mycobacterium bovis en pacientes con diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar y extrapulmonar.

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, there is an alarming increase in the number of cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection on pulmonary and extrapulmonary presentations. The lack of timely identification triggers complications and increases mortality. OBJECTIVE: To know the frequency of M. bovis infections in clinical samples of patients with tuberculosis in the mycobacteria laboratory of a reference hospital in Mexico City. METHOD: Prospective, descriptive study. Strains isolated from biological material were studied in Löwestein-Jensen and MGITI960 cultures. M. bovis was identified by amplifying the RD9 fragment with end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Eight-hundred and fifty tuberculosis-diagnosed patients were included; in 441 cases, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by positive culture (250 pulmonary, 65 ganglionic, 39 renal, 34 meningeal, 25 miliary, 14 pleural, 8 peritoneal, 4 bone and 2 pericardial cases). Forty-eight strains (10.8%) were typified as M. bovis by amplification of the RD9 fragment with end-point PCR. CONCLUSIONS: M. bovis is not currently thought of a causative agent of tuberculosis, which could be the cause of pharmacological treatment failure. In this study, the main extrapulmonary form was observed to be cervical lymphadenopathy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En México existe un incremento alarmante de casos de infección pulmonar y extrapulmonar por Mycobacterium bovis. La falta de identificación oportuna deriva en complicaciones y eleva la mortalidad. OBJETIVO: Conocer la frecuencia de infecciones por Mycobacterium bovis en muestras clínicas de pacientes con tuberculosis, identificadas en el laboratorio de micobacterias en un hospital de concentración de la Ciudad de México. MÉTODO: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo. Se estudiaron cepas aisladas de material biológico en cultivos Löwestein-Jensen y MGITI960. La identificación de Mycobacterium bovis se realizó mediante la amplificación del fragmento RD9 por PCR punto final. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 850 pacientes con diagnóstico de tuberculosis, en 441 casos se confirmó Mycobacterium tuberculosis por cultivo positivo (250 casos pulmonares, 65 ganglionares, 39 renales, 34 meníngeos, 25 miliares, 14 pleurales, ocho peritoneales, cuatro óseos y dos pericárdicos). Se tipificaron 48 cepas (10.8 %) como Mycobacterium bovis por amplificación del fragmento RD9 por PCR punto final. CONCLUSIONES: Actualmente no se piensa en Mycobacterium bovis como agente causal de tuberculosis, lo que pudiera ser la causa del fracaso del tratamiento farmacológico. En este estudio se observó que la principal forma extrapulmonar es la linfadenopatía cervical.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in cervical lymphadenopathies of HIV positive and HIV-negative adults / Micobacterias no tuberculosas en linfadenopatías cervicales de adultos VIH positivos y VIH negativos

Background: Tuberculosis is a global public health problem, especially in emerging countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main cause of cervical lymphadenopathy; nontuberculous mycobacteria are relatively common in children and rare in adults. Objective: To identify and establish the frequency of infectious etiology by nontuberculous mycobacteria in Mexican adult patients with cervical lymphadenopathy. Methods: The study included 85 patients over 18 years with cervical lymphadenopathy; 45 were HIV-positive, 40 were HIV-negative; they had no history of tuberculosis treatment and were selected from a third-level hospital. It was carried out a biopsy of the lymph node for the histopathological study, a search for acid-fast bacilli, a tube culture to indicate growth of Mycobacterium BACTEC (MGIT-960) and identification of mycobacterial strain by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorfism) of hsp65. Results: In 42 HIV-positive patients (93%), strains corresponded to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, two (4.4%) to M. intracellulare and one (2.2%) to M. gordonae. Among HIV-negative patients, 39 of strains (97.5%) corresponded to patients with M. tuberculosis complex and one strain (2.5%) to M. fortuitum. Conclusion: The presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria was found in 4.7% of all cases. Despite this low frequency, it must be taken into account as a possible cause of lymphadenopathy, since its prompt identification enables introducing specific treatment.

Introducción: la tuberculosis es un problema de salud pública mundial, sobre todo en países emergentes. El Mycobacterium tuberculosis es el principal causante de las adenopatías cervicales; las micobacterias no tuberculosas son relativamente frecuentes en el niño y raras en adultos. Objetivo: identificar y establecer la frecuencia de la etiología infecciosa por micobacterias no tuberculosas (MNT) en pacientes adultos mexicanos con linfadenopatias cervicales. Métodos: se estudiaron 85 pacientes mayores de 18 años, con linfadenopatía cervical, 45 con positividad al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y 40 VIH negativos, sin antecedentes de tratamiento antituberculoso, seleccionados en un hospital de concentración de especialidad de tercer nivel. Se realizó biopsia de nodo linfático para su estudio histopatológico, búsqueda de bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes, cultivo en el tubo indicador del crecimiento de Mycobacterium BACTEC (MGIT-960) y la identificación de cepa micobacteriana por PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment lenght polymorfism) de hsp65. Resultados: las cepas correspondieron al complejo Mycobacterium tuberculosis en 42 pacientes VIH positivos (93%), dos (4.4%) a M. intracellulare y una (2.2%) a M. gordonae. Las cepas correspondieron al complejo M. tuberculosis en 39 pacientes VIH negativos (97.5%) y una a M. fortuitum (2.5%). Conclusión: la presencia de MNT se encontró en 4.7% de todos los casos. A pesar de su baja frecuencia, deben ser tomadas en cuenta como posible causa de linfadenopatías, porque su identificación oportuna permite instaurar un tratamiento específico.

Comparative analysis of antibodies and lymphocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with negative and positive cultures.

INTRODUCTION: The sputum smear or the culture are the definitive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Only a fraction of clinical patients are culture-confirmed. METHODOLOGY: A total of 24 clinical cases (40 ± 14 years old) with positive smear and negative co-morbidity were studied. Cases were selected from 600 patients who attended the pneumology service over two years. A sputum sample was cultured in Löwenstein-Jensen medium with consequent amplification of the rrnA V2 promoter, the differentiation region 4, and the IS6110 insertion sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After the culture result, the patients were divided into negative (n = 14) or positive (n = 10) culture groups. In addition, 30 samples from healthy donors (45 ± 10 years) were studied. The numbers of CD4, CD8 and CD19 lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of IgA and IgG to M. tuberculosis were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: IgG and IgA levels were detected in patients with positive culture, while only IgA was found in patients with negative cultures. The lymphocyte populations in the two groups were similar.  The presence of a pleural apical cap was found more frequently in patients with negative- (57%) than with positive cultures (10%). CONCLUSIONS: The isotype profile in patients with positive cultures was both IgA and IgG positive, while in patients with negative culture, only IgA was found. The results will contribute to improve the diagnostic algorithm and appropriate treatment of patients with clinical tuberculosis. Further studies are needed to determine if this profile is predictive of the outcome of isolation.

Mycobacterium kumamotonense in the cervical region in an immunocompetent patient, clinical case report in Mexico.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection has increased significantly in recent years, especially in emerging countries. We present the case of a 25-year-old male patient, immunocompetent, with cervical lymphadenopathy, identifying Mycobacterium kumamotonense, a rare species in extrapulmonary forms and with a high drug resistance index.

Impact of strategic planning, organizational culture imprint and care bundles to reduce adverse events in the ICU.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of adverse events during a multifaceted program implementation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional secondary analysis. SETTING: The respiratory-ICU of a large tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Retrospectively collected data of patients admitted from 1 March 2010 to 28 February 2014 (usual care period) and from 1 March 2014 to 1 March 2017 (multifaceted program period) were used. INTERVENTIONS: The program integrated three components: (1) strategic planning and organizational culture imprint; (2) training and practice and (3) implementation of care bundles. Strategic planning redefined the respiratory-ICU Mission and Vision, its SWOT matrix (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) as well as its medium to long-term aims and planned actions. A 'Wear the Institution's T-shirt' monthly conference was given in order to foster organizational culture in healthcare personnel. Training was conducted on hand hygiene and projects 'Pneumonia Zero' and 'Bacteremia Zero'. Finally, actions of both projects were implemented. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of adverse events (episodes per 1000 patient/days). RESULTS: Out of 1662 patients (usual care, n = 981; multifaceted program, n = 681) there was a statistically significant reduction during the multifaceted program in episodes of accidental extubation ([Rate ratio, 95% CI] 0.31, 0.17-0.55), pneumothorax (0.48, 0.26-0.87), change of endotracheal tube (0.17, 0.07-0.44), atelectasis (0.37, 0.20-0.68) and death in the ICU (0.82, 0.69-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted program including strategic planning, organizational culture imprint and care protocols was associated with a significant reduction of adverse events in the respiratory-ICU.

Identification of risk factors and diagnostic methodology in serositis by M. tuberculosis / Identificación de factores de riesgo y metodología diagnóstica en serositis por M. tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis is a public health problem, extrapulmonary presentations have increased, it is difficult to diagnose because of the low bacillary load. Objective: To identify risk factors and to evaluate the efficiency of diagnostic methods in pleural, meningeal, peritoneal and pericardial tuberculosis. Methods: Prospective study of cases and controls. A multiple conditional logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors. Biopsy was performed and 7 mL of fluid was extracted from the affected site, Löwestein-Jensen and MGITI960 culture, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, adenosine deaminase and endpoint PCR directed to the insertion sequence 1S6110 for M. tuberculosis were performed. Results: 116 patients were included, in 58 M. tuberculosis was confirmed by positive culture (meningeal Tb 34 cases, pleural 14, peritoneal 8, pericardial 2 cases) and 58 serositis of non-tuberculous etiology. Being a carrier of HIV and living with people infected with tuberculosis were the main risk factors OR = 3.6 and OR = 6.8. The staining had sensitivity of 25.9%, PCR of 65.5% and adenosine deaminase with 82.8% Conclusions: Conventional diagnostic methods had low efficacy, adenosine deaminase and molecular biology techniques are the most useful, in our environment these tests should be performed immediately in patients with risk factors and suspected serositis of tuberculous origin.

Introducción: la tuberculosis es un problema de salud pública, las presentaciones extrapulmonares han aumentado, siendo de difícil diagnóstico por su baja carga bacilar. Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo y evaluar la eficacia de los métodos diagnósticos en la tuberculosis pleural, meníngea, peritoneal y pericárdica. Métodos: estudio prospectivo de casos y controles. Se empleó un modelo de regresión logística condicional múltiple para identificar factores de riesgo. Se realizó biopsia y se extrajeron siete mL de líquido presente del sitio afectado, se realizó cultivo Löwestein-Jensen y MGITI960, tinción Ziehl-Neelsen, adenosina deaminasa y PCR en punto final dirigida a la secuencia de inserción 1S6110 para M. tuberculosis. Resultados: se incluyeron 116 pacientes, en 58 se confirmó M. tuberculosis por cultivo positivo (Tb meníngea 34 casos, pleural 14, peritoneal 8, pericárdica 2 casos) y 58 serositis de etiología no tuberculosa. Ser portador de VIH y convivir con personas infectadas con tuberculosis fueron los mayores factores de riesgo OR = 3.6 y OR = 6.8. La tinción tuvo sensibilidad de 25.9%, PCR de 65.5% y adenosina deaminasa con 82.8%. Conclusiones: los métodos diagnósticos convencionales tuvieron baja eficacia, la adenosina deaminasa y las técnicas de biología molecular son los de mayor utilidad, en nuestro medio estos estudios deben realizarse de inmediato en pacientes con factores de riesgo y sospecha de serositis de origen tuberculoso.

[Inicio del tratamiento farmacológico de la tuberculosis].

The appearance of new anti-tuberculosis drugs such as bedaquiline and delamanid makes it impossible not to remember that the first strictly controlled medical trials of tuberculosis treatment were published in two rigorously researched outstanding articles that can be qualified as historical. In 1948, streptomycin was formally studied as an efficacious anti-tuberculosis drug. In 1952, another trial compared streptomycin-paramino salicylic acid with isoniazid, by means of which the first bases of pharmacological tuberculosis treatment were established.

La aparición de nuevos fármacos antituberculosos, como la bedaquilina y el delaminid, hace inevitable recordar que los primeros ensayos estrictamente controlados del tratamiento médico de la tuberculosis se publicaron en dos artículos de excelente y rigurosa investigación científica que pueden calificarse como históricos. En 1948 se estudió formalmente la estreptomicina como medicamento antituberculoso eficaz. En 1952, en otro ensayo se comparó estreptomicina-ácido paraaminosalicílico con isoniacida, con lo que se establecieron las primeras bases del tratamiento farmacológico de la tuberculosis.

Sera from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and their household contacts induce nuclear changes in neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Resident alveolar macrophages, dendritic cells, and immigrating neutrophils (NEU) are the first cells to contact Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung. These cells, and additional lymphoid cells in the developing granuloma, release a series of components that may concentrate in the serum and affect disease progression. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the serum from tuberculosis (TB) patients and their household contacts (HHC) on the nuclear morphology of NEU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NEU from healthy (HLT) people were incubated with sera from patients with active pulmonary TB, their HHC, and unrelated people. Changes in the nuclear morphology of NEU were analyzed by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Sera from patients with TB induced changes in the nuclear morphology of NEU that included pyknosis, swelling, apoptosis, and netosis in some cases. Sera from some HHC induced similar changes, while sera from HLT people had no significant effects. Bacteria did not appear to participate in this phenomenon because bacteremia is not a recognized feature of nonmiliary TB, and because sera from patients that induced nuclear changes maintained their effect after filtration through 0.22 µm membranes. Neither anti-mycobacterial antibodies, TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ, or IL-8 participated in the phenomenon. In contrast, soluble mycobacterial antigens were likely candidates, as small quantities of soluble M. tuberculosis antigens added to the sera of HLT people led to the induction of nuclear changes in NEU in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results might help to detect subclinical TB within HHC, thus leading to a recommendation of prophylactic treatment.

Mucormicosis pulmonar en un paciente con trasplante renal y hemoptisis incoercible / Pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with kidney transplant and uncontrolled haemoptysis

Antecedentes. La mucormicosis pulmonar es una infección oportunista rara con alta mortalidad causada por hongos Mucorales. Los más frecuentes son Rhizopus, Mucor, Lichtheimia y Rhizomucor. Caso clínico. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 56 años con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y enfermedad renal crónica, receptora de un trasplante de riñón cadavérico dos años antes de su ingreso. Por este motivo recibió tratamiento inmunomodulador con timoglobulina, micofenolato de mofetilo, tacrolimus y prednisona. La paciente ingresó por un cuadro neumónico con tos, expectoración y disnea; una tomografía computarizada mostró una lesión cavitada en el lóbulo superior derecho. Con la sospecha de una aspergilosis pulmonar invasiva se comenzó un tratamiento antifúngico con voriconazol, sin mejoría. Se realizó una biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina, y en el cultivo de la misma creció Rhizomucor pusillus. La identificación se confirmó por PCR. A pesar del tratamiento con anfotericina B, la paciente presentó hemoptisis masiva incoercible, que provocó su fallecimiento. Conclusiones. La mucormicosis pulmonar es una infección rara que suele ser fatal en receptores de trasplante renal con terapia antirrechazo. Los mucorales producen fenómenos trombóticos, necrosis y destrucción tisular, que provocaron en nuestra paciente una hemoptisis incoercible. Es importante un diagnóstico preciso que permita instaurar un tratamiento quirúrgico adecuado y la administración de anfotericina B (AU)

Background. Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic infection with high mortality that is caused by species of Mucorales. The most common species involved are Rhizopus, Mucor, Lichtheimia, and Rhizomucor. Case report. A 56 year-old woman presented with a clinical history of diabetes mellitus type 2 and chronic renal disease. She underwent a cadaveric kidney transplantation two years before her admission, for which immunomodulating therapy with thymoglobulin, tacrolimus, mofetil-microphenolate and prednisone was established. The patient suffered a pneumonic process with cough, expectoration, and dyspnoea. The computed tomography scan showed a cavitation in the right upper lobe. With all these findings an invasive broncopulmonary aspergillosis was suspected and the patient began an antifungal treatment with voriconazole without improvement. Rhizomucor pusillus was isolated from a clinical specimen obtained by fine needle aspiration, and its identification was confirmed by PCR. After this finding amphotericin B was administered, but the patient had an uncontrolled haemoptysis and died. Conclusions. Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare infection, usually fatal in kidney transplant recipients with anti-rejection therapy. Mucorales species usually produce thrombotic phenomena, associated with necrosis and parenchymal destruction that caused a fatal uncontrolled haemoptysis in our patient. Early diagnosis is important in order to perform any surgical treatment and to administer amphotericin B (AU)

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical samples with negative acid-fast bacilli.

BACKGROUND: There is a progressive increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections that might cause confusion with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. To determine the frequency of finding NTM in clinical samples from patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis, with negative acid-alcohol-resistant bacilli (acid-fast bacillus [AFB]) in a third-level specialty hospital's mycobacterial laboratory between January 2013 and December 2014. METHODS: This is a prospective, descriptive study where isolated strains of biological material were studied in Lowenstein-Jensen and BACTEC MGIT 960 cultures. RESULTS: Clinical samples of 120 patients were studied, with pulmonary samples of 99/120 (82%) and extrapulmonary samples of 21/120 (18%). We identified NTM in 37/120 samples (30.8%), of which 16 in pulmonary, 13 in genitourinary, 3 in bone marrow, and 5 in various specimens. Mycobacterium avium was isolated in 20 samples, Mycobacterium intracellulare in seven samples, and various other species of NTM in the other 10 samples. CONCLUSION: To establish adequate treatment, we point out the importance of identifying the presence of NTM in the clinical samples of active tuberculosis patients with negative AFB, as possibly becoming confused with M. tuberculosis and which is essential in deciding which treatment is the most adequate.

[Pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with kidney transplant and uncontrolled haemoptysis]. / Mucormicosis pulmonar en un paciente con trasplante renal y hemoptisis incoercible.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic infection with high mortality that is caused by species of Mucorales. The most common species involved are Rhizopus, Mucor, Lichtheimia, and Rhizomucor. CASE REPORT: A 56 year-old woman presented with a clinical history of diabetes mellitus type 2 and chronic renal disease. She underwent a cadaveric kidney transplantation two years before her admission, for which immunomodulating therapy with thymoglobulin, tacrolimus, mofetil-microphenolate and prednisone was established. The patient suffered a pneumonic process with cough, expectoration, and dyspnoea. The computed tomography scan showed a cavitation in the right upper lobe. With all these findings an invasive broncopulmonary aspergillosis was suspected and the patient began an antifungal treatment with voriconazole without improvement. Rhizomucor pusillus was isolated from a clinical specimen obtained by fine needle aspiration, and its identification was confirmed by PCR. After this finding amphotericin B was administered, but the patient had an uncontrolled haemoptysis and died. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare infection, usually fatal in kidney transplant recipients with anti-rejection therapy. Mucorales species usually produce thrombotic phenomena, associated with necrosis and parenchymal destruction that caused a fatal uncontrolled haemoptysis in our patient. Early diagnosis is important in order to perform any surgical treatment and to administer amphotericin B.

[Bronchogenic cysts. Importance of infection in adults. Study of 12 cases]. / Quistes broncogénicos. Importancia de la infección en adultos. Estudio de 12 casos.

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic cyst is a rare congenital malformation and commonly located in the mediastinum and lung parenchyma. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics of the patients with diagnosis of bronchogenic cysts, their location and the infectious bacteria when the cysts are infected. The cases were collected from 1 January 2005 to 1 January 2013, in a third level hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cases with bronchogenic cysts resected by thoracotomy were confirmed by histological study. Age, sex, admission diagnosis, location, size, imagenologic studies, and bacteriological cultures were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 12 cases with diagnosis of bronchogenic cysts surgically resected by thoracotomy, six were male and six female, with 50% located in lung parenchyma and 50% in mediastinum, one of the latter was para-oesophageal. Bacteriological study of the cystic content demonstrated bacterial infection in seven (58%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital benign lesions. They must be resected because their content might be infected. The histopathology study is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, together with bacteriological examination. Thoracotomy is a safe procedure to resect bronchogenic cysts.