Chagas disease reactivation after autologous stem cell transplant. Case report and literature review / Reactivación de la enfermedad de Chagas después de trasplante autólogo de progenitores hematopoyéticos. Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura

Introduction: Chagas disease is an endemic parasitic infection in Latin America transmitted by triatomines. It is associated with risk factors such as poverty and rurality. After acute infection, a third of patients will present target organ involvement (heart, digestive tract, central nervous system). The remaining two thirds remain asymptomatic throughout their life. Pharmacological immunosuppression breaks the balance between the immune system and the parasite, favoring its reactivation. Clinical case: We present the case of a 58-year-old man from a Colombian rural area with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma refractory to the first line of treatment who required a new chemotherapy scheme and consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant. During the post-transplant period, he suffered from febrile neutropenia. Initial microbiological studies were negative but the peripheral blood smear evidenced trypomastigotes in blood. With a diagnosis of acute Chagas disease in a post-transplant patient, benznidazole was started. The evolution of the patient was satisfactory. Conclusions: Positive serology prior to transplantation makes it necessary to rule out reactivation of the pathology in the setting of febrile neutropenia. More studies are required to determine tools for estimating the probability of reactivation of the disease and defining the best cost-risk-benefit relation for the prophylactic therapy.

Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es una parasitosis endémica en Latinoamérica transmitida por triatominos. Está asociada a factores de riesgo como la pobreza y la ruralidad. Después de la infección aguda, un tercio de los pacientes presenta compromiso del corazón, el aparato digestivo o el sistema nervioso central, en tanto que los dos tercios restantes no presentan este tipo de compromiso secundario. La inmunosupresión farmacológica rompe el equilibrio entre el sistema inmunitario y el parásito, lo cual favorece su reactivación. Caso clínico. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 58 años procedente de un área rural colombiana, con diagnóstico de mieloma múltiple resistente a los fármacos de primera línea de tratamiento, que requirió un nuevo esquema de quimioterapia y consolidación con trasplante autólogo de células madre. Después del trasplante, presentó neutropenia febril. Los estudios microbiológicos iniciales fueron negativos. En el frotis de sangre periférica, se demostraron tripomastigotes y se diagnosticó enfermedad de Chagas aguda posterior al trasplante. Se inició el tratamiento con benznidazol. La evolución del paciente fue satisfactoria. Conclusiones. La serología positiva para Chagas previa a un trasplante obliga a descartar la reactivación de la enfermedad en caso de neutropenia febril. Se requieren más estudios para determinar las herramientas que permitan estimar la probabilidad de reactivación de la enfermedad y decidir sobre la mejor opción de relación entre costo, riesgo y beneficio de la terapia profiláctica.

Enfoque clínico del síndrome febril agudo en Colombia / Clinical approach to acute febrile syndome in Colombia

El síndrome febril agudo se refiere a un conjunto de enfermedades que cursan con fiebre en el contexto de exposición en áreas tropicales y que constituyen un motivo de consulta frecuente en el servicio de urgencias. Este artículo revisa el enfoque clínico del síndrome febril agudo en Colombia y de las enfermedades más prevalentes o graves que lo causan. Se presenta el enfoque sindromático y se establece una revisión sucinta de los síntomas principales, signos de alarma, tratamiento, prevención y notificación en el sistema de vigilancia en salud pública.

Acute febrile syndrome refers to a group of diseases with fever as a main symptom, in a context of living in or having been exposed to tropical climates. It is a frequent cause for consultation in the emergency room. This paper reviews the clinical approach to acute febrile syndrome and the most prevalent or severe causes. We present the syndromatic approach to the patient and a short review of the main symptoms, alarm signs, treatment, prevention and notification to the public health surveillance system of the most frequent causes.

Guía de práctica clínica sobre diagnóstico y tratamiento de infección de vías urinarias no complicada en mujeres adquirida en la comunidad / Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

Mediante un proceso de adaptación de guías de práctica clínica se seleccionaron y evaluaron guías de infección de vías urinarias en mujeres premenopáusicas no embarazadas; se identificaron 3 de alta calidad. Con base en las evidencias y las recomendaciones aportadas por estas guías, se realizó un consenso para realizar recomendaciones para personal de salud -médicos, personal de laboratorio y enfermeros- sobre el diagnóstico de las infecciones urinarias -cistitis y pielonefritis-, sus tratamientos y prevención de la recurrencia.

Using a process of adaptation, guidelines for the diagnosis, treament and prevention of urinary tract infection in premenopausal non-pregnant women were chosen and assessed. Three high quality guidelines were identified. Based on the evidence that supported these guidelines and their recommendations, a consensus was made to do recommendations for healthcare workers (physicians, laboratory personnel and nurses) on the diagnosis of urinary tract infections (cystitis and pyelonephritis), their treatment and the prevention of recurrence.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with candidemia in hospitals from Bogotá, Colombia

Background: Bloodstream infection by Candida species has a high mortality in Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients with documented bloodstream infections caused by Candida species in third level hospitals and determine the risk factors for in-hospital-mortality. Methods: Patients from seven tertiary-care hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia, with isolation of a Candida species from a blood culture were followed prospectively from March 2008 to March 2009. Epidemiologic information, risk factors, and mortality were prospectively collected. Isolates were sent to a reference center, and fluconazole susceptibility was tested by agar-based E-test. The results of susceptibility were compared by using 2008 and 2012 breakpoints. A multivariate analysis was used to determinate risk factors for mortality. Results: We identified 131 patients, with a median age of 41.2 years. Isolates were most frequently found in the intensive care unit (ICU). Candida albicans was the most prevalent species (66.4% of the isolates), followed by C. parapsilosis (14%). Fluconazole resistance was found in 3.2% and 17.6% of the isolates according to the 2008 and 2012 breakpoints, respectively. Fluconazole was used as empirical antifungal therapy in 68.8% of the cases, and amphotericin B in 22%. Hospital crude mortality rate was 35.9%. Mortality was associated with age and the presence of shock at the time of Candida detection. Fluconazole therapy was a protective factor for mortality. Conclusions: Candidemia is associated with a high mortality rate. Age and shock increase mortality, while the use of fluconazole was shown to be a protective factor. A higher resistance rate with new breakpoints was noted. .

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with candidemia in hospitals from Bogotá, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infection by Candida species has a high mortality in Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients with documented bloodstream infections caused by Candida species in third level hospitals and determine the risk factors for in-hospital-mortality. METHODS: Patients from seven tertiary-care hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia, with isolation of a Candida species from a blood culture were followed prospectively from March 2008 to March 2009. Epidemiologic information, risk factors, and mortality were prospectively collected. Isolates were sent to a reference center, and fluconazole susceptibility was tested by agar-based E-test. The results of susceptibility were compared by using 2008 and 2012 breakpoints. A multivariate analysis was used to determinate risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: We identified 131 patients, with a median age of 41.2 years. Isolates were most frequently found in the intensive care unit (ICU). Candida albicans was the most prevalent species (66.4% of the isolates), followed by C. parapsilosis (14%). Fluconazole resistance was found in 3.2% and 17.6% of the isolates according to the 2008 and 2012 breakpoints, respectively. Fluconazole was used as empirical antifungal therapy in 68.8% of the cases, and amphotericin B in 22%. Hospital crude mortality rate was 35.9%. Mortality was associated with age and the presence of shock at the time of Candida detection. Fluconazole therapy was a protective factor for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Candidemia is associated with a high mortality rate. Age and shock increase mortality, while the use of fluconazole was shown to be a protective factor. A higher resistance rate with new breakpoints was noted.

[Behavior of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae cases in cancer patients at a third level hospital in Bogotá, D.C]. / Comportamiento de casos de Klebsiella pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasas en pacientes con cáncer de un hospital de tercer nivel de Bogotá, D.C.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospitals is increasingly common. Patients with advanced cancer who require invasive means for diagnosis, treatment or palliative care, and the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials to treat secondary infections show increased susceptibility to infections caused by these bacteria. OBJECTIVE: To report the behavior of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) isolates at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá between January 2010 and December 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By analyzing the database kept by the infection committee of the institution, as well as the records of patients with CPKC isolates, we identified and described the epidemiology of detected cases. Outbreaks were determined by using quality control statistical tools. RESULTS: Between January 2010 and December 2012, we found 45 patients with CPKC isolates recovered from any sample. There were more isolates from patients with malignant solid tumors. CPKC isolates from urine samples were more often recovered; 17.7% of CPKC isolates corresponded to colonization, and 82.3% to infection; 35.5% of patients (16/45) survived. We identified two outbreaks during this period, which were controlled using a multimodal approach. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that CPKC presence is more frequent as infection than as colonization. During the two years of the study we detected two outbreaks, which were controlled by limiting multi-resistant bacteria cross transmission using conventional control strategies.

[The spread of KPC-3 Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospitals in Bogotá over a three-year period (2008-2010)]. / Diseminación de Klebsiella pneumoniae productoras de KPC-3 en hospitales de Bogotá durante un periodo de tres años.

UNLABELLED: Introduction : One of the major worldwide public health problems today are the infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), among which carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), constitutes one of the most common pathogens causing nosocomial infection. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at describing the dissemination of KPC-3 enzyme-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in clinical isolates from hospitals in Bogotá. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two CRKP isolates collected from 10 hospitals in Bogotá from 2008-2010 were analysed; disk diffusion and microdilution were used for phenotypic detection of enzymes and PCR for genotyping. Automated and manual methods were used for determining profiles for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) with 13 agents. PFGE was used for obtaining the isolates´ genetic relationship. RESULTS: This study gives an overview of CRKP patterns in 10 hospitals in Bogota which were found to present resistance to multiple antibiotic families. The CRKPs were grouped in different clones, each having different subtypes, and were spread in the 10 hospitals over the three-year period (2008-2010). CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae nosocomial isolates in Bogota highlights the need for strengthening epidemiological surveillance against this type of microorganism and the development of specific priority activities for preventing and controlling such infection.

Comportamiento de casos de Klebsiella pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasas en pacientes con cáncer de un hospital de tercer nivel de Bogotá, D.C. / Behavior of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae cases in cancer patients at a third level hospital in Bogotá, D.C.

Introducción. La presencia en los hospitales de enterobacterias productoras de carbapenemasas es cada vez más frecuente. Los pacientes con cáncer en estado avanzado requieren medios invasivos para el diagnóstico, el tratamiento o los cuidados paliativos, así como el uso de antimicrobianos de amplio espectro para tratar infecciones secundarias, lo cual aumenta su propensión a las infecciones causadas por estas bacterias. Objetivo. Informar el comportamiento de Klebsiella pneumoniae productora de carbapenemasas de tipo KPC en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Bogotá, entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2012. Materiales y métodos. Mediante el análisis de la base de datos y de los registros de los pacientes con aislamientos de K. pneumoniae productores de carbapenemasas de tipo KPC, a cargo del comité de infecciones de la institución, se identificaron y describieron las características epidemiológicas de los casos detectados. La determinación de brotes se efectuó con herramientas de control estadístico de calidad. Resultados. Entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2012 se identificaron 45 pacientes con aislamiento de K. pneumoniae productor de carbapenemasas de tipo KPC en alguna muestra. Hubo más aislamientos en pacientes de cáncer con tumores sólidos. La identificación se logró más frecuentemente en muestras de orina; el 17,7 % de los casos correspondió a colonización y el 82,3 %, a infección; 35,5 % (16/45) de los pacientes sobrevivió. Durante este periodo se identificaron dos brotes que se controlaron aplicando una estrategia multimodal. Conclusiones. Se encontró que la presencia de KPC fue más frecuente en infecciones que en colonizaciones. Durante estos dos años ocurrieron dos brotes que fueron controlados limitando la transmisión cruzada de bacterias multirresistentes por medio de estrategias de control convencionales.

Introduction: The presence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospitals is increasingly common. Patients with advanced cancer who require invasive means for diagnosis, treatment or palliative care, and the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials to treat secondary infections show increased susceptibility to infections caused by these bacteria. Objective: To report the behavior of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) isolates at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá between January 2010 and December 2012. Materials and methods: By analyzing the database kept by the infection committee of the institution, as well as the records of patients with CPKC isolates, we identified and described the epidemiology of detected cases. Outbreaks were determined by using quality control statistical tools. Results: Between January 2010 and December 2012, we found 45 patients with CPKC isolates recovered from any sample. There were more isolates from patients with malignant solid tumors. CPKC isolates from urine samples were more often recovered; 17.7% of CPKC isolates corresponded to colonization, and 82.3% to infection; 35.5% of patients (16/45) survived. We identified two outbreaks during this period, which were controlled using a multimodal approach. Conclusions: This study found that CPKC presence is more frequent as infection than as colonization. During the two years of the study we detected two outbreaks, which were controlled by limiting multi-resistant bacteria cross transmission using conventional control strategies.

[Tuberculosis of the breast]. / Mastitis tuberculosa.

We report a case of granulomatous mastitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an immunocompetent woman with chronic inflammatory lesions of the breast. It was diagnosed by detection of mycobacteria DNA using polymerase chain reaction technique targeting IS6110 insertion element of M. tuberculosis complex in a paraffin-embedded histological specimen. The primary breast tuberculosis is rare, even in countries where the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis are high. It should be suspected in female patients with chronic granulomatous mastitis with no apparent cause. The cornerstone of treatment is antituberculous chemotherapy, and surgery is rarely required.

Mastitis tuberculosa / Tuberculosis of the breast

Se informa un caso de mastitis granulomatosa causada por Mycobacterium tuberculosis en una paciente inmunocompetente con lesiones inflamatorias crónicas de la mama, diagnosticada por la detección de ADN de la micobacteria mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa de la secuencia de inserción IS6110 presente en el complejo M. tuberculosis , en una biopsia de mama embebida en parafina. La tuberculosis primaria de la mama es rara, incluso en países con alta prevalencia de tuberculosis, y debe sospecharse en pacientes con mastitis granulomatosa crónica de causa no clara. El pilar del tratamiento es la quimioterapia antituberculosa y, ocasionalmente, la cirugía.

We report a case of granulomatous mastitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an immunocompetent woman with chronic inflammatory lesions of the breast. It was diagnosed by detection of mycobacteria DNA using polymerase chain reaction technique targeting IS6110 insertion element of M. tuberculosis complex in a paraffin-embedded histological specimen. The primary breast tuberculosis is rare, even in countries where the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis are high. It should be suspected in female patients with chronic granulomatous mastitis with no apparent cause. The cornerstone of treatment is antituberculous chemotherapy, and surgery is rarely required.

Utilidad de la procalcitonina en pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas y neutropenia febril posquimioterapia: Estado del arte / Usefulness of procalcitonin in the management of adult patients with hematological malignancies with fever and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: State of the art

La procalcitonina ha demostrado ser de utilidad para descartar con alto grado de certeza la presencia de meningitis en niños con fiebre sin foco infeccioso claro, y en el seguimiento de pacientes con neumonía adquirida en comunidad y asociada al cuidado de la salud (incluyendo la asociada a ventilación mecánica) para guiar la terapia antibiótica. En el escenario de neutropenia febril inducida por quimioterapia, se ha estudiado la utilidad de la procalcitonina para predecir bacteriemia y también como predictor de complicaciones infecciosas, con resultados variables, en parte por la heterogeneidad de los pacientes incluidos en los estudios. El objetivo de esta revisión es mostrar cuál es la utilidad de la procalcitonina en el manejo de pacientes adultos con neoplasias hematológicas y neutropenia febril inducida por quimioterapia.

Procalcitonin has proven useful to rule out meningitis in febrile children with unknown source of infection, and in the monitoring of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and health care-associated pneumonia including those with ventilator-associated pneumonia to guide antimicrobial therapy. In patients with fever and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, procalcitonin has been studied to predict bacterial blood-stream infections and poor outcomes, with variable results in part because heterogeneous population included in those studies. Our aim is to describe the utility of procalcitonin in the management of adult patients with hematological malignancies and chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

Risk factors for mortality caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in cancer patients

Introduction Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of 11–33% of nosocomial bloodstream infections and has a complication rate close to 50%. S. aureus accounts for 31% of isolates in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), in Bogotá, Colombia, and is the main etiological agent of bacteremia. This study describes the risk factors for mortality caused by S. aureus bacteremia in cancer patients. Methods This is a retrospective, analytical, observational cohort study of 267 cases of bacteremia caused by S. aureus. Data from all bacteremic patients with proven cancer were extracted, and variables were introduced in a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 354 bacteremic patients were identified between 2001 and 2005, and 267 patients met the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these, death was considered secondary to S. aureus infection in 31%. Independent predictors of mortality related to S. aureus bacteremia in the multivariate analysis were: severity of sepsis at onset of bacteremia (HR 6.5, 95% CI 3.1–13.6), age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.04), non-eradicable source of infection (HR 36.3, 95% CI 5.2–254.1), heart failure (HR 10.6; 95% CI 1.8–63.7), and primary bacteremia (HR 6.3, 95% CI 1.3–31.0).Conclusion Severity of sepsis at the time bacteremia was detected, a non-eradicable source of infection (including primary bacteremia), and comorbid conditions were risk factors for mortality caused by S. aureus bacteremia in cancer patients. These risk factors do not differ considerably from those of patients who do not have cancer (AU)

Introducción Staphylococcus aureus es responsible por el 11 al 33% de las bacteriemias nosocomiales y tiene una tasa de complicaciones cercana al 50%; S. aureus es responsible de 31% de los aislamientos en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC) en Bogotá, Colombia, y es el agente etiológico más importante de las bacteriemias. Este estudio tenía como objetivo describir los factores de riesgo de mortalidad ocasionada por la bacteriemia por S. aureus en pacientes con cáncer. Métodos Este es un estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, analítico, observacion de 267 casos de bacteriemia ocasionada por S. aureus. Los datos clínicos de los pacientes con cáncer fueron obtenidos y las variables introducidas en un análisis multivariado utilizando un modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox.Resultados354 pacientes bacteriemicos fueron detectados entre 2001 y 2005; 267 pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y no fueron excluidos. 31% de los pacientes tuvieron como desenlace mortalidad secundaria a la infección por S. aureus. Los factores de riesgo de mortalidad independientes en el análisis multivariado fueron: estado de sepsis al inicio de la bacteriemia (razón de riesgos RR 6.5), edad (RR 1.03), fuente no erradicable de infección (RR 36.3), falla cardíaca (RR 10.6) y bacteriemia primaria (RR 6.3). Conclusión Los factores de riesgo para mortalidad ocasionada por bacteriemia por S. aureus fueron el estado de la sepsis al momento de la detección de la bacteriemia, una fuente no erradicable de infección (incluyendo bacteriemia primaria) y las patologías comórbidas. Estos factores de riesgo no varían considerablemente con respecto a pacientes sin cáncer (AU)

Risk factors for mortality caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of 11-33% of nosocomial bloodstream infections and has a complication rate close to 50%. S. aureus accounts for 31% of isolates in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC), in Bogotá, Colombia, and is the main etiological agent of bacteremia. This study describes the risk factors for mortality caused by S. aureus bacteremia in cancer patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective, analytical, observational cohort study of 267 cases of bacteremia caused by S. aureus. Data from all bacteremic patients with proven cancer were extracted, and variables were introduced in a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 354 bacteremic patients were identified between 2001 and 2005, and 267 patients met the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these, death was considered secondary to S. aureus infection in 31%. Independent predictors of mortality related to S. aureus bacteremia in the multivariate analysis were: severity of sepsis at onset of bacteremia (HR 6.5, 95% CI 3.1-13.6), age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.04), non-eradicable source of infection (HR 36.3, 95% CI 5.2-254.1), heart failure (HR 10.6; 95% CI 1.8-63.7), and primary bacteremia (HR 6.3, 95% CI 1.3-31.0). CONCLUSION: Severity of sepsis at the time bacteremia was detected, a non-eradicable source of infection (including primary bacteremia), and comorbid conditions were risk factors for mortality caused by S. aureus bacteremia in cancer patients. These risk factors do not differ considerably from those of patients who do not have cancer.

Identifying and controlling a multiresistant pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak in a latin-american cancer centre and its associated risk factors

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important and frightening microorganism for patients suffering from cancer. Multiresistant P. aeruginosa (MRPA) may appear as a consequence of exposure to multiple antibiotics or from a breakdown in infection control practices. This article reports an MRPA outbreak in a cancer treatment centre and the consequent case control study. Mechanical ventilation was identified as being the main risk factor for developing MRPA colonisation or infection; molecular analysis confirmed the outbreak. A multifaceted strategy was adopted, involving reinforcing hand-washing practices, contact isolation, antibiotic restriction and suction devices for mechanically-ventilated patients. MRPA was controlled and the outbreak ended. Such strategy may be effective in controlling MRPS in low-resource environments amongst high risk cancer patients.

Identifying and controlling a multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak in a Latin-American cancer centre and its associated risk factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important and frightening microorganism for patients suffering from cancer. Multiresistant P. aeruginosa (MRPA) may appear as a consequence of exposure to multiple antibiotics or from a breakdown in infection control practices. This article reports an MRPA outbreak in a cancer treatment centre and the consequent case control study. Mechanical ventilation was identified as being the main risk factor for developing MRPA colonisation or infection; molecular analysis confirmed the outbreak. A multifaceted strategy was adopted, involving reinforcing hand-washing practices, contact isolation, antibiotic restriction and suction devices for mechanically-ventilated patients. MRPA was controlled and the outbreak ended. Such strategy may be effective in controlling MRPS in low-resource environments amongst high risk cancer patients.

[Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Bogotá, Colombia: Public Health implications]. / Implicaciones en Salud Pública de Staphylococcus aureus Meticilino Resistente Adquirido en la Comunidad en Bogotá, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Determining the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and susceptibility to erythromycin and clindamycin (resistance profile suggestive of being CA-MRSA) in community isolates from de GREBO's database from 2001-2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GREBO's database has been complied since 2001, using more than 22 hospitals in Bogota. S. aureus resistance profiles were determined from community isolates. Whonet 5.3 software and CLSI breakpoints (2003) were used. RESULTS: 2,308 S. aureus community isolates were identified. 618 (26,8 %) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 74 (3,2 %) MRSA exhibited susceptibility to all other antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin), suggesting that S. aureus belonged to CA-MRSA. CONCLUSIONS: CA-MRSA might have emerged in Bogotá thereby having a profound implication for public health due to possible dissemination in the community and because antibiotic protocols for emergency settings should be changed. The results of our study suggested that CA-MRSA could be more common in Bogotá than currently expected.

Implicaciones en Salud Pública de Staphylococcus aureus Meticilino Resistente Adquirido en la Comunidad en Bogotá, Colombia / Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Bogotá, Colombia: Public Health implications

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina y sensible a eritromicina y clindamicina (perfil de resistencia sugestivo de ser adquirido en la comunidad) (SARM-AC), de aislamientos ambulatorios de la base de datos de Grebo durante el periodo 2001-2005. Materiales y Métodos: La base de datos del grupo Grebo se integró desde 2001 con más de 22 hospitales participantes en Bogotá. A partir de esta base de datos y con la ayuda del programa Whonet 5.3, se determinaron los perfiles de resistencia de los aislamientos ambulatorios de S.aureus. Se tomaron los puntos de corte establecidos por la CLSI (2003). Resultados: Se identificaron 2 308 aislamientos de S. aureus provenientes de aislamientos ambulatorios, de los cuales 618 (26,8 por ciento) eran Staphylococcus aureus meticilino resistente (SARM). Setenta y cuatro (3,2 por ciento) de éstos, presentaban sensibilidad a todos los otros antibióticos (eritromicina, clindamicina), sugestivos de corresponder al fenotipo SARM-AC. Conclusiones: La presencia en Bogotá de aislamiento de S. aureus sugestivos de tener el perfil de SARM -AC, implica un gran problema de salud pública debido a su posibilidad de diseminación en la comunidad y cambios en el empleo de antibióticos en los servicios de urgencias. Los datos de nuestro estudio sugieren que los aislamientos de SARM-AC en nuestro medio, pueden ser más comúnes de lo que pensamos.

Objective: Determining the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and susceptibility to erythromycin and clindamycin (resistance profile suggestive of being CA-MRSA) in community isolates from de GREBO's database from 2001-2005. Materials and Methods: GREBO's database has been complied since 2001, using more than 22 hospitals in Bogota. S. aureus resistance profiles were determined from community isolates. Whonet 5.3 software and CLSI breakpoints (2003) were used. Results: 2 308 S. aureus community isolates were identified. 618 (26,8 percent) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 74 (3,2 percent) MRSA exhibited susceptibility to all other antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin), suggesting that S. aureus belonged to CA-MRSA. Conclusions: CA-MRSA might have emerged in Bogotá thereby having a profound implication for public health due to possible dissemination in the community and because antibiotic protocols for emergency settings should be changed. The results of our study suggested that CA-MRSA could be more common in Bogotá than currently expected.

[Therapeutic approach to Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia]. / Enfoque terapéutico de la bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen, responsible for 11-33% of the bacteremias acquired in the hospital setting and nearly 50% of those acquired in the community at large. The epidemiology of S. aureus bacteremia is discussed, with an special emphasis on the situation in Colombia and the resistance mechanisms against the major drug groups used for the treatment. The clinical keys and laboratory support for the appropriate clinical approaches are presented together with the therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with S. aureus bacteremia.

Enfoque terapéutico de la bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus / Therapeutic approach to Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus es un patógeno importante que causa cerca de 11 por ciento a 33 por ciento de las bacteriemias hospitalarias y un porcentaje importante de las adquiridas en la comunidad, con una tasa de complicaciones cercana a 50 por ciento. En la siguiente revisión se destaca la epidemiología de la bacteriemia por S. aureus, con especial referencia a la situación de este patógeno en Colombia, la frecuencia y los mecanismos de resistencia a los medicamentos más frecuentemente usados en este contexto, y se discuten los elementos semiológicos, clínicos y de laboratorio que influyen en el enfoque diagnóstico y terapéutico de los pacientes con bacteriemia por este microorganismo.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen, responsible for 11-33% of the bacteremias acquired in the hospital setting and nearly 50% of those acquired in the community at large. The epidemiology of S. aureus bacteremia is discussed, with an special emphasis on the situation in Colombia and the resistance mechanisms against the major drug groups used for the treatment. The clinical keys and laboratory support for the appropriate clinical approaches are presented together with the therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with S. aureus bacteremia.

Amebiasis intestinal / Intestinal amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica es el patógeno intestinal más frecuente en nuestro medio -después de Giardia lamblia-, una de las principales causas de diarrea en menores de cinco años y la cuarta causa de muerte en el mundo debida a infección por protozoarios. Posee mecanismos patogénicos complejos que le permiten invadir la mucosa intestinal y causar colitis amebiana. El examen microscópico es el método más usado para su identificación pero la existencia de dos especies morfológicamente iguales, una patógena ( E. histolytica) y una no patógena ( Entamoeba dispar), ha llevado al desarrollo de otros métodos de diagnóstico. El acceso al agua potable y los servicios sanitarios adecuados, un tratamiento médico oportuno y el desarrollo de una vacuna, son los ejes para disminuir la incidencia y mortalidad de esta entidad.

Entamoeba histolytica is the most frequent intestinal pathogen seen in our country, after Giardia lamblia, being one of the main causes of diarrhea in children younger than five years of age, and the fourth leading cause of death due to infection for protozoa in the world. It possesses complex pathogenic mechanisms that allow it to invade the intestinal mucosa, causing amoebic colitis. Microscopy is the most used method for its identification, but the existence of two species morphologically identical, the pathogen one ( E. histolytica), and the non pathogen one ( E. dispar), have taken to the development of other methods of diagnosis. The access to drinkable water and appropriate sanitary services, an opportune medical treatment, and the development of a vaccine are the axes to diminish the incidence and mortality of this entity.