The role of viral diagnostic tests in respiratory tract infections: moving forward.

The increased knowledge on virology and the increased potential of their diagnostic has risen several relevant question about the role of an early viral diagnosis and potential early treatment on the management of respiratory tract infections (RTI). In order to further understand the role of viral diagnostic tests in the management of RTI, a panel of experts was convened to discuss about their potential role, beyond what had been agreed in Influenza. The objective of this panel was to define the plausible role of aetiologic viral diagnostic into clinical management; make recommendations on the potential expanded use of such tests in the future and define some gaps in the management of RTI. Molecular Infection Viral Diagnostic (mIVD) tests should be used in all adult patients admitted to Hospital with RTI, and in paediatric patients requiring admission or who would be referred to another hospital for more specialised care. The increased use of mIVD will not only reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics so reducing the antibiotic microbe resistance, but also will improve the outcome of the patient if an aetiologic viral therapy can be warranted, saving resource requirements and improving patient flows. Implementing IVD testing in RTI has various organizational benefits as well, but expanding its use into clinical settings would need a cost-effectiveness strategy and budget impact assessment.

Microbiological and epidemiological features of respiratory syncytial virus.

The properties of the main surface proteins and the viral cycle of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) make it an attractive pathogen from the perspective of microbiology. The virus gets its name from the manner it infects cells, which enables it to produce syncytia, which allow the virus' genetic material to move across cells without having to release viral offspring to the cellular exterior, reducing immune system identification. This causes a disease with a high impact in both children and adults over 60, which has sparked the development of several preventive interventions based on vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for both age groups. The epidemiological characteristics of this virus, which circulates in epidemics throughout the coldest months of the year and exhibits a marked genetic and antigenic drift due to its high mutation capability, must be taken into consideration while using these preventive methods. The most important microbiological and epidemiological elements of RSV are covered in this study, along with how they have affected the creation of preventive medications and their use in the future.

[Importance of National Influenza Centers in the surveillance of highly pathogenic avian viruses. The time for One-Health is now]. / Importancia de los Centros Nacionales de Gripe en la vigilancia de virus aviares de alta patogenicidad. El momento para One-Health es ahora.

Since 1996, the highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype A(H5N1) has been causing almost uninterrupted outbreaks in wild and domestic birds, as well as cases in humans with a mortality rate close to 50%. However, the years of greatest circulation have been precisely the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, in which several cases have been recorded in humans in places where they had never appeared before, in addition to multiple cases in wild, domestic and peri-domestic mammals, which raise some concern about the risk that the virus may jump to humans through chains of transmission of greater or lesser extent. The current outbreak of A(H5N1) shows us that the One-Health concept should be more alive than ever to join efforts between professionals from different sectors of human, animal and environmental health to avoid or minimize these risks, so that reference laboratories such as the National Influenza Centers have the human and material resources to provide rapid and relevant information in the shortest possible time before emergencies of this type. The diagnostic and monitoring tools to be used in these cases must be available for any eventuality, and going beyond the basic data must be an indispensable premise to be able to carry out a detailed monitoring that serves to limit outbreaks, limit the spread of the disease, and help in the design of future pandemic vaccines against avian viruses.

Valor pronóstico del cociente lactato/albúmina para la mortalidad en pacientes mayores de 65 años con infección urinaria complicada / Lactate/albumin ratio prognostic value for mortality in patients older than 65 years with complicated urinary tract infection

Antecedentes El cociente lactato/albúmina (LAR) es un biomarcador emergente de sepsis que se ha evaluado para determinar la mortalidad en pacientes con sepsis de distinto foco. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el valor pronóstico de LAR en pacientes ingresados en el hospital por infecciones urinarias complicadas. Métodos Estudio observacional prospectivo de pacientes mayores de 65 años diagnosticados de ITU. Se calcularon y compararon el área bajo la curva ROC, la sensibilidad y la especificidad para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días para LAR, qSOFA y SOFA. Resultados Se analizaron 341 casos de ITU. La mortalidad a 30 días (20,2 frente a 6,7%, p<0,001) y la mayor estancia hospitalaria (5 [4-8] frente a 4 [3-7], p=0,018) se asociaron con LAR≥0,708. LAR no presenta diferencias estadísticamente significativas en comparación con qSOFA y SOFA para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días (AUROC 0,737 frente a 0,832 y 0,777, respectivamente, p=0,119 y 0,496). La sensibilidad de LAR fue similar a la de qSOFA y SOFA (60,8 frente a 84,4 y 82,2%, respectivamente, p=0,746 y 0,837). Sin embargo, su especificidad fue inferior a la del qSOFA (60,8 frente a 75%, p=0,003), pero similar a la del SOFA (60,8 frente a 57,8%, p=0,787). Conclusiones LAR no presenta diferencias significativas con otras puntuaciones bien establecidas en sepsis, como qSOFA y SOFA, para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días en pacientes con ITU complicada (AU)

Background Lactate to albumin ratio (LAR) is an emerging sepsis biomarker that has been tested for mortality in patients with sepsis of different focus. Our goal is to evaluate the prognostic value of LAR in patients admitted to the hospital due to complicated urinary tract infections. Methods Prospective observational study of patients older than 65 years diagnosed with UTI. Area under the ROC curve, sensibility, and specificity to predict 30-day mortality were calculated for LAR, qSOFA and SOFA. Results Three hundred and forty-one UTI cases were analyzed. Thirty-day mortality (20.2 vs. 6.7%, p<0.001) and longer hospital stay (5 [4–8] vs. 4 [3–7], p=0.018) were associated with LAR≥0.708. LAR has no statistically significant differences compared to qSOFA and SOFA for predicting 30-day mortality (AUROC 0.737 vs. 0.832 and 0.777, respectively, p=0.119 and 0.496). The sensitivity of LAR was similar to the sensitivity of qSOFA and SOFA (60.8 vs. 84.4 and 82.2%, respectively, p=0.746 and 0.837). However, its specificity was lower than the specificity of qSOFA (60.8 vs. 75%, p=0.003), but similar to the specificity of SOFA (60.8 vs. 57.8%, p=0.787). Conclusions LAR has no significant differences with other well-stablished scores in sepsis, such as qSOFA and SOFA, to predict 30-day mortality in patients with complicated UTI (AU)

The PHH-1V HIPRA vaccine: a new tool in the vaccination strategy against COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is essential to mitigate the personal, social and global impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase. Vaccines are now required that offer broad, long-lasting immunological protection from infection in addition to protection from severe illness and hospitalisation. Here we present a review of the evidence base for a new COVID-19 vaccine, PHH-1V (Bimervax®; HIPRA HUMAN HEALTH S.L.U), and the results of an expert consensus. METHODS: The expert committee consisted of Spanish experts in medicine, family medicine, paediatrics, immunology, microbiology, nursing, and veterinary medicine. Consensus was achieved using a 4-phase process consisting of a face-to-face meeting during which the scientific evidence base was reviewed, an online questionnaire to elicit opinions on the value of PHH-1V, a second face-to-face update meeting to discuss the evolution of the epidemiological situation, vaccine programmes and the scientific evidence for PHH-1V and a final face-to-face meeting at which consensus was achieved. RESULTS: The experts agreed that PHH-1V constitutes a valuable novel vaccine for the development of vaccination programmes aimed towards protecting the population from SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease. Consensus was based on evidence of broad-spectrum efficacy against established and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, a potent immunological response, and a good safety profile. The physicochemical properties of the PHH-1V formulation facilitate handling and storage appropriate for global uptake. CONCLUSIONS: The physicochemical properties, formulation, immunogenicity and low reactogenic profile of PHH-1V confirm the appropriateness of this new COVID-19 vaccine.

[Validity and usefulness of the RAE-CMBD studying patients hospitalised with influenza]. / Validez y utilidad del RAE-CMBD en el estudio de los pacientes hospitalizados con gripe.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the hospital impact of influenza requires enriching epidemiological surveillance registries with other sources of information. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of the Hospital Care Activity Record - Minimum Basic Data Set (RAE-CMBD) in the analysis of the outcomes of patients hospitalised with this infection. METHODS: Observational and retrospective study of adults admitted with influenza in a tertiary hospital during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons. We calculated the concordance of the RAE-CMBD with the influenza epidemiological surveillance registry (gold standard), as well as the main parameters of internal and external validity. Logistic regression models were used for risk adjustment of in-hospital mortality and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 907 (97.74%) unique matches were achieved, with high inter-observer agreement (ƙ=0.828). The RAE-CMBD showed a 79.87% sensitivity, 99.72% specificity, 86.71% positive predictive value and 99.54% negative predictive value. The risk-adjusted mortality ratio of patients with influenza was lower than that of patients without influenza: 0.667 (0.53-0.82) vs. 1.008 (0.98-1.04) and the risk-adjusted length of stay ratio was higher: 1.15 (1.12-1.18) vs. 1.00 (0.996-1.001). CONCLUSIONS: The RAE-CMBD is a valid source of information for the study of the impact of influenza on hospital care. The lower risk-adjusted mortality of patients admitted with influenza compared to other inpatients seems to point to the effectiveness of the main clinical and organisational measures adopted.

Complicaciones de la gripe: información sobre eventos cardíacos a través de un sistema de vigilancia hospitalario / Influenza complications: Reporting cardiac events through a hospital surveillance system

Antecedentes y objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las complicaciones de la gripe en todos los adultos hospitalizados con esta enfermedad y, de forma específica, analizar las características de los eventos cardiovasculares posinfección.Metodología: Estudio observacional y descriptivo de los episodios de gripe en adultos hospitalizados durante las temporadas 2017-2018 y 2018-2019, utilizando el registro específico de un hospital terciario. Las complicaciones analizadas fueron: neumonía, fallo multiorgánico, shock séptico, síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo y eventos cardíacos.Resultados: Un total de 928 adultos con gripe precisaron hospitalización, de los que 303 (32,7%) presentaron una o más complicaciones. El 2,5% de los pacientes sufrieron un evento cardíaco posgripe, con mayor probabilidad de ingreso en la UCI y mayor mortalidad. La vacunación antigripal fue un factor protector del evento cardíaco (OR: 0,32; IC 95%: 0,13-0,83).Conclusiones: La gripe presenta importantes complicaciones en los pacientes hospitalizados. La elevada mortalidad de los eventos cardíacos posinfección implica acentuar las medidas preventivas, destacando la vacunación antigripal anual. (AU)

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to determine the complications of influenza in all adults hospitalized with this disease and, specifically, to analyze the characteristics of post-infection cardiovascular events.Methods: Observational and descriptive study of adults hospitalized with influenza during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons using the specific registry of a tertiary hospital. The complications analyzed were pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and cardiac events.Results: A total of 928 adults with influenza required hospitalization and 303 (32.7%) presented with one or more complications. A post-influenza cardiac event occurred in 2.5% of patients; they had a higher probability of ICU admission and higher mortality. Influenza vaccination was a protective factor for cardiac events (OR 0.32; 95%CI 0.13-0.83).Conclusions: Influenza can lead to important complications in hospitalized patients. The high mortality rate associated with post-infection cardiac events means that preventive measures, including annual influenza vaccination, need to be emphasized. (AU)

Influenza complications: Reporting cardiac events through a hospital surveillance system.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the complications of influenza in all adults hospitalized with this disease and, specifically, to analyze the characteristics of post-infection cardiovascular events. METHODS: This work is observational descriptive study of adults hospitalized with influenza during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons using the specific registry of a tertiary hospital. The complications analyzed were pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and cardiac events. RESULTS: A total of 928 adults with influenza required hospitalization and 303 (32.7%) presented with one or more complications. A post-influenza cardiac event occurred in 2.5% of patients; they had a higher probability of ICU admission and higher mortality. Influenza vaccination was a protective factor for cardiac events (OR 0.32; 95%CI 0.13-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza can lead to important complications in hospitalized patients. The high mortality rate associated with post-infection cardiac events means that preventive measures, including annual influenza vaccination, need to be emphasized.

Putative Secondary Structure at 5'UTR as a Potential Antiviral Target against SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus that causes COVID-19, of which the current outbreak has resulted in a high number of cases and fatalities throughout the world, even vaccine doses are being administered. The aim of this work was to scan the SARS-CoV-2 genome in search for therapeutic targets. We found a sequence in the 5'UTR (NC\_045512:74-130), consisting of a typical heptamer next to a structured region that may cause ribosomal frameshifting. The potential biological value of this region is relevant through its low similarity with other viruses, including coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV, and its high sequence conservation within multiple SARS-CoV-2 isolates. We have predicted the secondary structure of the region by means of different bioinformatic tools. We have suggested a most probable secondary structure to proceed with a 3D reconstruction of the structured segment. Finally, we carried out virtual docking on the 3D structure to look for a binding site and then for drug ligands from a database of lead compounds. Several molecules that could be probably administered as oral drugs show promising binding affinity within the structured region, and so it could be possible interfere its potential regulatory role.

[Choice of influenza vaccine in people over 65 years old. Analysis of reports from international vaccination advisory committees]. / Elección de vacuna antigripal en personas mayores de 65 años. Análisis de informes de comités asesores de vacunación internacionales.

OBJECTIVE: Annual recommendations on influenza vaccine use in different countries are developed by influenza-specific working groups within their Immunization Advisory Committees. Adults aged 65 years and over are included in the groups for which vaccination against influenza is particularly recommended due to the morbidity associated. A variety of influenza vaccines are available, some of which boosted immunity, are licensed for use only in this specific age group, where the immune response to traditional influenza vaccines may be suboptimal. We analyze the main annual recommendations on the use of the influenza vaccine issued by advisory committees on immunization for the population over 65 years of age. METHODS: The latest influenza vaccination guidelines have been selected and the recommendations for people over 65 years of age published by the main vaccination advisory committees have been reviewed. RESULTS: The UK Advisory Committee (JCVI) recommends the use of Quadruvalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine with Adjuvant (aQIV) or High Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (QIV-HD). The US committee (ACIP) does not express a preference for any type of vaccine. The Australian committee (ATAGI) preferably recommends adjuvanted influenza vaccine. The advisory committees of Canada and Germany (NACI, STIKO) and the European Center for Disease Control (Ecdc) recommend using any of the age-appropriate flu vaccines available, although they bet on the The UK Advisory Committee (JCVI) recommends the use of Quadruvalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine with Adjuvant (aQIV) or High Dose Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (QIV-HD). The US committee (ACIP) does not express a preference for any type of vaccine. The Australian committee (ATAGI) preferably recommends adjuvanted influenza vaccine. The advisory committees of Canada and Germany (NACI, STIKO) and the European Center for Disease Control (Ecdc) recommend using any of the age-appropriate flu vaccines available, although they bet on the use of inactivated quadrivalent flu vaccine high dose at the individual level for those over 65 years.use of inactivated quadrivalent flu vaccine high dose at the individual level for those over 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary further studies and improvement in their quality that analyze the different vaccines available and their comparability, although the use of reinforced immunity vaccines is generally recommended in the population over 65 years of age.

[Analysis of the demand for detection of SARSCoV-2 in a health area of Spain]. / Análisis de la demanda de detección de SARS-CoV-2 en un área de salud de España.

OBJECTIVE: Since the discovery of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR) has become the fundamental method for diagnosing the disease in its acute phase. The objective is to describe the demand-based series of RT-PCR determinations received at a Microbiology Service at a third-level reference hospital for a health area for three months spanning from the onset of the epidemic by SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the total of the RT-PCR requested in the Microbiology Service analyzed from 02/25/2020 to 05/26/2020 (90 days) has been carried out. They have been grouped by epidemiological weeks and by the petitioner service. A descriptive analysis was carried out by age, gender and number of requests for each patient. In the tests carried out, a confidence level of 95% (p <0.05) was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 27,106 requests was received corresponding to 22,037 patients. Median age 53.7 (RIC 40.9-71.7) years, women: 61.3%. Proportion of patients with any positive RT-PCR: 14%. Of the total requests for RT-PCR, positive 3,710. Week 13 had the highest diagnosis performance (39.0%). The primary care has been the service thar has made the most requests (15,953). Patients with 3 or more RT-PCR: 565, of them, 19 patients had a positive result after previously having a negative one. CONCLUSIONS: Requests have been increasing depending on the evolution of the epidemic. The RT-PCR has a high diagnostic performance in the phases of highest contagiousness and / or transmissibility of the virus.

[Episodes of nontyphoidal salmonellosis in adult patients of the Valladolid West Area in 2017: Evaluation of the suitability of the microbiological culture request and the prescribed treatment]. / Episodios de salmonelosis no tifoidea en pacientes adultos del Área Valladolid Oeste en 2017: Evaluación de la idoneidad de la petición del cultivo microbiológico y del tratamiento pautado.

OBJECTIVE: Gastroenteritic salmonellosis is still the second cause diagnosed of infectious diarrhea, most of these clinical pictures are mild and self-limited and therefore the use of antibiotics is limited to few cases. The aim of the study was to describe the episodes of diarrhea caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, assessing the suitability of the request and the use of antibiotics according to the criteria included in the methodology. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was conducted, collecting data from the clinical history. RESULTS: A total of 122 episodes were included. The reason for consultation was diarrhea, which generated a greater demand in the Hospital Emergency Services (42.6%). The most frequent serotypes isolated were Enteritidis (53.3%), and Typhimurium (40.2%). The adequate request of the stool was 90.2%. Antibiotic was prescribed in 64.6% (79) of the episodes, most patients under 65 years (58 episodes), the average age was 48.43 years. They were treated mainly with ciprofloxacin and azithromycin, in 57 and 14 episodes, respectively. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 6 days. There was an adequate use of antibiotics in 49.1% of episodes. When the origin of the request was the Hospital Emergency Service, it was inadequate in 63.5% (33) of them. It was inadequate in 60.0% (39) of episodes when ser. Enteritidis was isolated. Almost half, 48.85% (42) of the 58 episodes in which antibiotics were prescribed among those under 65 (86), were treated without being indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Training actions should be implemented focused on optimizing the management of antibiotics in this entity.