Unresolved issues in the diagnosis of catheter related candidemia: A position paper.

The incidence and recent trends of candidemia and the contribution of the COVID-19 pandemic to its evolution are not well documented. The catheter is a major focus of Candida spp. infections, but the methods used to confirm the origin of candidemia are still based on the data generated for bacterial infection. The presence of Candida spp. on the tip of a removed catheter is the gold standard for confirmation but it is not always possible to remove it. Conservative methods, without catheter removal, have not been specifically studied for microorganisms whose times of growth are different from those of bacteria and therefore these results are not applicable to candidemia. The different Candida species do not have a particular tropism for catheter colonization and fungal biomarkers have not yet been able to contribute to the determination of the origin of candidemia. Techniques such Candida T2 Magnetic Resonance (T2MR) has not yet been applied for this purpose. Finally, there is not yet a consensus of how to proceed when Candida spp. is isolated from an extracted catheter and blood cultures obtained from simultaneous peripheral veins are negative. In this lack of firm data, a group of experts has formulated a series of questions trying to answer them based on the literature, indicating the current deficiencies and offering their own opinion. All authors agree with the conclusions of the manuscript and offer it as a position and discussion paper.

Rapid AST: Possibility of inferring resistance mechanisms with complex phenotypes.

The new automated systems designed for rapid performance of AST have significantly reduced the response time for susceptibility testing of microorganisms causing bacteremia and sepsis. The Accelerate Pheno® system (AAC) is one such system. Our objective for this study was to determine whether the AAC system is capable of providing an accurate susceptibility profile to infer resistance mechanisms in different carbapenemase-producing isolates when compared to the MicroScan WalkAway System (MWS). Disk diffusion method was also performed on all isolates as a reference method. Additionally, we compared the results obtained with the routine AST production system. We selected 19 isolates from the cryobank of the Microbiology department, all of which were carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacilli. AAC was able to identify and infer the resistance of a total of 10 isolates, with an EA and CA of 84.2% for meropenem and 88.2% and 64.7% for ertapenem EA and CA, respectively. If we consider the disk diffusion technique, the CA was 57.9% and 76.5% for meropenem and ertapenem. However, in the presence of carbapenemases, AAC was not able to provide adequate MICs or infer the resistance mechanisms of the isolates accurately. Further studies with a larger number of isolates, including the new antibiotics ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam, are needed for a more comprehensive comparison.

Epidemiology and prevalence of mutations associated with resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Mycoplasma genitalium in a tertiary hospital from Madrid, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Mycoplasma genitalium causes persistent sexually transmitted infections. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of resistances to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in M. genitalium and the sexually transmitted coinfections in patients at Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid, Spain). METHODS: Patients attended between January and October 2021 were studied. Screening for sexually transmitted pathogens and detection of 23S rRNA and parC genes mutations were performed by real-time PCR (Allplex,SeegeneTM). RESULTS: A total of 1,518 females and 1,136 males were studied. The prevalence of M. genitalium was 2.1%. The macrolides resistance rate was 51.8%. The mutations found were A2059G, A2058T and A2058G. The rate of resistance to fluoroquinolones was 17.8% being the G248T mutation (S83I) the most frequent. Seven males had some sexual transmitted coinfection. CONCLUSIONS: Although the percentage of M. genitalium infections is low, the high rate of resistance to macrolides makes it necessary to revise the protocols for diagnosis and empirical treatment of sexually transmitted infections. The use of fluoroquinolones is appropriate after screening of macrolide resistance profile.

The factors associated with the trend in incidence of Bacteraemia and associated mortality over 30 years.

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported increased incidence of BSI over the past decades and indicate that it is necessary to investigate the causes. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting trends in the incidence of bacteraemias and associated mortality. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study assessing prospectively collected data of all clinically significant bacteraemias between 1991 and 2020 in a 450-bed hospital. We determined the evolution of bacteraemia-associated incidence, adjusted 30-day mortality and performed multivariable logistic regression to compare the evolution of variables associated with mortality between 5-year periods. RESULTS: 6777 episodes were included, 59.7% males, age 66.5 ± 18.2, 39.4% ≥ 75 years. The incidence total increased: 43.8/100,000/year in 1991-1995 to 205 in 2016-2020; community-acquired bacteraemia (24.9 to 139) and hospital-acquired (0.36/1000 inpatients-days to 1.09). Bacteraemia with source in vascular catheter, urinary and biliary tract increased. The 30-day mortality rate of patients was 1179/6777 (17.4%) in the whole series and population-adjusted mortality incidence increased from 11.4/100,000 in 1991-1996 to 28.4 in 2016-2020 (RR 2.49, 95% CI 2.01-3.08). Mortality was higher in men (18.2% vs 16.3%) and those over 74 years (22.2% vs 14.3%). Appropriate empirical antimicrobial treatment improved (66.5% to 73.1%), 30-day mortality of patients decreased from 26.1 to 13.9%. When comparing the evolution of the factors associated with mortality between 1991 and 1996 vs 2016-2020, the frequency of some variables associated with higher mortality increased: male sex (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10-1,74), age (OR 1.02, 1.01-10.3), immunosuppressive treatment (OR 3.1, 2.09-4.6), polymicrobial bacteraemia (OR 1.76, 1.12-2.79), and others decreased: severe sepsis/septic shock (OR 0.70, 0.52-0.93), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis (OR 0.06, 0.02-0.23), endocarditis (OR 0.54, 0.35-0.83); on the other hand, the frequency of factors associated with lower mortality increased: urinary (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.23-2.27) and bile tract source (OR 1.59, 1.04-2.43), and adequate empirical treatment (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bacteraemia increased due to more elderly, co-morbid patients undergoing procedures and more device related bacteraemia. The percentage of mortality decreased because adequate empirical treatment improved, decreased spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis and endocarditis, and increased bacteraemia of urinary and biliary tract source.

Optimized identification of microorganisms directly from positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF to improve antimicrobial treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Bacteriemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. Early identification of microorganisms from blood culture can lead to improvement of treatment and outcomes. METHODS: The study was divided into two phases. The first phase when a comparison of the methods was made to check the concordance between them, using as a reference the standard method implemented in the laboratory. In a second phase, both methods are combined. We used the rapid identification method and when it could not identify we used the standard method. The microorganisms that were not identified by either of the two methods were identified from colony at 24 hours. RESULTS: A total of 589 microbial positive blood cultures have been included in the present study. With the rapid method we obtained 96% and 88% identification results for Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) and Gram-positive cocci (GPC) respectively. In this study we observed that the combination of the rapid and standard method achieved identifications of 98% and 97% for GNB and GPC respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The data analysed shows that both methods combined perform better than individually. We achieved an optimization of the identification of microorganisms directly from positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF. This combination identified 98% of the microorganisms in between ten minutes to one hour and a half since the blood culture flagged positive.

Correction to: Early Stepdown From Echinocandin to Fluconazole Treatment in Candidemia: A Post Hoc Analysis of Three Cohort Studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab250.].

Evaluation of a lateral flow immunoassay to detect CTX-M extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) directly from positive blood cultures for its potential use in Antimicrobial Stewardship programs.

OBJECTIVE: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are associated with high rates of treatment failure and increased mortality, especially when appropriate antimicrobial therapy is delayed. Our aim was to evaluate the anticipation of ESBLs detection and the potential improvement of the time response of the Vitek 2 System (BioMérieux; France). METHODS: We compared this lateral flow immunoassay when used directly on fluid from positive blood cultures to the VITEK2 AST system. We evaluated 80 isolates, 61 tested directly on fluid from positive blood cultures and 19 tested on fluid from blood cultures spiked with known ESBL positive and negative organisms. RESULTS: The concordance between the CTX-LFIA and the reference method (Vitek 2) had a Cohen´s Kappa coefficient of 0.97, indicating a particularly good correlation between both compared methods. CONCLUSIONS: This lateral flow immunoassay can be more rapid than the Vitek 2 for earlier presumptive identification of CTX-M ESBLs and can be useful to anticipate results and the adjustment of antimicrobial therapy.

Treatment for T1DM patients by a neuro-fuzzy inverse optimal controller including multi-step prediction.

Diabetes Mellitus is a serious metabolic condition for global health associations. Recently, the number of adults, adolescents and children who have developed Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) has increased as well as the mortality statistics related to this disease. For this reason, the scientific community has directed research in developing technologies to reduce T1DM complications. This contribution is related to a feedback control strategy for blood glucose management in population samples of ten virtual adult subjects, adolescents and children. This scheme focuses on the development of an inverse optimal control (IOC) proposal which is integrated by neural identification, a multi-step prediction (MSP) strategy, and Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy inference to shape the convenient insulin infusion in the treatment of T1DM patients. The MSP makes it possible to estimate the glucose dynamics 15 min in advance; therefore, this estimation allows the Neuro-Fuzzy-IOC (NF-IOC) controller to react in advance to prevent hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events. The T-S fuzzy membership functions are defined in such a way that the respective inferences change basal infusion rates for each patient's condition. The results achieved for scenarios simulated in Uva/Padova virtual software illustrate that this proposal is suitable to maintain blood glucose levels within normoglycemic values (70-115 mg/dL); furthermore, this level remains less than 250 mg/dL during the postprandial event. A comparison between a simple neural IOC (NIOC) and the proposed NF-IOC is carried out using the analysis for control variability named CVGA chart included in the Uva/Padova software. This analysis highlights the improvement of the NF-IOC treatment, proposed in this article, on the NIOC approach because each subject is located inside safe zones for the entire duration of the simulation.

Cambios en el manejo ambulatorio de pacientes con cáncer de próstata durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Revisión bibliográfica y aporte de nuestro grupo en atención telemática / Changes in the ambulatory care of prostate cancer patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Literature review and contribution of our group in telematic care

Introducción y objetivo: La pandemia por COVID-19ha supuesto un cambio en la atención a pacientes en el ámbito urológico, especialmente con cáncer de próstata.El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar los cambios en el manejo a nivel ambulatorio individualizando para cada perfil de paciente la atención telemática.Materiales y métodosSe han revisado artículos publicados desde marzo del 2020 hasta enero del 2021. Se han seleccionado aquellos que aportaban los mayores niveles de evidencia en cuanto al riesgo en distintos aspectos: cribado, diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento del cáncer de próstata.ResultadosDesarrollamos una clasificación según prioridades, en diferentes etapas de la enfermedad (cribado, diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento) adaptando a esta el tipo de control: presencial o telefónico. Establecemos 4 opciones: prioridad A o baja, en la que la atención será telefónica en todos los casos; prioridad B o intermedia, en la que si el paciente valorado telefónicamente se considera subsidiario de visita presencial, esta se citará dentro de los 3 meses posteriores; prioridad C o alta, el paciente será visto presencial con un margen para la visita de 1 a 3 meses, y prioridad D o muy alta, la visita deberá ser siempre presencial con un margen de hasta 48 h y considerada muy preferente.ConclusionesLa atención telemática en cáncer de próstata representa una oportunidad para desarrollar nuevos protocolos de actuación y seguimiento que deberán ser analizados exhaustivamente en futuros trabajos con el fin de conformar un entorno seguro y garantizar resultados oncológicos para los pacientes. (AU)

Introduction and objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in the management of urology patients, especially those with prostate cancer.The aim of this work is to show the changes in the ambulatory care practices by individualized telematic care for each patient profile.Materials and methodsArticles published from March 2020 to January 2021 were reviewed. We selected those that provided the highest levels of evidence regarding risk in different aspects: screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prostate cancer.ResultsWe developed a classification system based on priorities, at different stages of the disease (screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up) to which the type of care given, in-person or telephone visits, was adapted. We established 4 options, as follows: in priority A or low, care will be given by telephone in all cases; in priority B or intermediate, if patients are considered subsidiary of an in-person visit after telephone consultation, they will be scheduled within 3 months; in priority C or high, patients will be seen in person within a margin from 1 to 3 months and in priority D or very high, patients must always be seen in person within a margin of up to 48hours and considered very preferential.ConclusionsTelematic care in prostate cancer offers an opportunity to develop new performance and follow-up protocols, which should be thoroughly analyzed in future studies, in order to create a safe environment and guarantee oncologic outcomes for patients. (AU)

Changes in the ambulatory care of prostate cancer patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Literature review and contribution of our group in telematic care.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in the management of urology patients, especially those with prostate cancer. The aim of this work is to show the changes in the ambulatory care practices by individualized telematic care for each patient profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles published from March 2020 to January 2021 were reviewed. We selected those that provided the highest levels of evidence regarding risk in different aspects: screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prostate cancer. RESULTS: We developed a classification system based on priorities, at different stages of the disease (screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up) to which the type of care given, in-person or telephone visits, was adapted. We established 4 options, as follows: in priority A or low, care will be given by telephone in all cases; in priority B or intermediate, if patients are considered subsidiary of an in-person visit after telephone consultation, they will be scheduled within 3 months; in priority C or high, patients will be seen in person within a margin from 1 to 3 months and in priority D or very high, patients must always be seen in person within a margin of up to 48 h and considered very preferential. CONCLUSIONS: Telematic care in prostate cancer offers an opportunity to develop new performance and follow-up protocols, which should be thoroughly analyzed in future studies, in order to create a safe environment and guarantee oncologic outcomes for patients.

[Changes in the ambulatory care of prostate cancer patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Literature review and contribution of our group in telematic care]. / Cambios en el manejo ambulatorio de pacientes con cáncer de próstata durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Revisión bibliográfica y aporte de nuestro grupo en atención telemática.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in the management of urology patients, especially those with prostate cancer.The aim of this work is to show the changes in the ambulatory care practices by individualized telematic care for each patient profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles published from March 2020 to January 2021 were reviewed. We selected those that provided the highest levels of evidence regarding risk in different aspects: screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prostate cancer. RESULTS: We developed a classification system based on priorities, at different stages of the disease (screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up) to which the type of care given, in-person or telephone visits, was adapted. We established 4 options, as follows: in priority A or low, care will be given by telephone in all cases; in priority B or intermediate, if patients are considered subsidiary of an in-person visit after telephone consultation, they will be scheduled within 3 months; in priority C or high, patients will be seen in person within a margin from 1 to 3 months and in priority D or very high, patients must always be seen in person within a margin of up to 48 hours and considered very preferential. CONCLUSIONS: Telematic care in prostate cancer offers an opportunity to develop new performance and follow-up protocols, which should be thoroughly analyzed in future studies, in order to create a safe environment and guarantee oncologic outcomes for patients.

Early Stepdown From Echinocandin to Fluconazole Treatment in Candidemia: A Post Hoc Analysis of Three Cohort Studies.

BACKGROUND: There are no clear criteria for antifungal de-escalation after initial empirical treatments. We hypothesized that early de-escalation (ED) (within 5 days) to fluconazole is safe in fluconazole-susceptible candidemia with controlled source of infection. METHODS: This is a multicenter post hoc study that included consecutive patients from 3 prospective candidemia cohorts (2007-2016). The impact of ED and factors associated with mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Of 1023 candidemia episodes, 235 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 54 (23%) were classified as the ED group and 181 (77%) were classified as the non-ED group. ED was more common in catheter-related candidemia (51.9% vs 31.5%; P = .006) and episodes caused by Candida parapsilosis, yet it was less frequent in patients in the intensive care unit (24.1% vs 39.2%; P = .043), infections caused by Nakaseomyces glabrata (0% vs 9.9%; P = .016), and candidemia from an unknown source (24.1% vs 47%; P = .003). In the ED and non-ED groups, 30-day mortality was 11.1% and 29.8% (P = .006), respectively. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48-10.61), Pitt score > 2 (OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 1.94-9.20), unknown source of candidemia (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.14-5.86), candidemia caused by Candida albicans (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.48-10.61), and prior surgery (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.08-0.97) were independent predictors of mortality. Similar results were found when a propensity score for receiving ED was incorporated into the model. ED had no significant impact on mortality (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.16-1.53). CONCLUSIONS: Early de-escalation is a safe strategy in patients with candidemia caused by fluconazole-susceptible strains with controlled source of bloodstream infection and hemodynamic stability. These results are important to apply antifungal stewardship strategies.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis management in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB) patients is unknown. METHODS: Participating centres completed a structured web-based survey regarding changes to TB patient management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also included data from participating centres on patients aged ≥18 diagnosed with TB in 2 periods: March 15 to June 30, 2020 and March 15 to June 30, 2019. Clinical variables and information about patient household contacts were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: A total of 7 (70%) TB units reported changes in their usual TB team operations. Across both periods of study, 169 patients were diagnosed with active TB (90 in 2019, 79 in 2020). Patients diagnosed in 2020 showed more frequent bilateral lesions in chest X-ray than patients diagnosed in 2019 (P = 0.004). There was a higher percentage of latent TB infection and active TB among children in households of patients diagnosed in 2020, compared with 2019 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial changes in TB care. TB patients diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic showed more extended pulmonary forms. The increase in latent TB infection and active TB in children of patient households could reflect increased household transmission due to anti-COVID-19 measures.

Bloodstream infection due to Herbaspirillum sp.: case series and review of literature.

Herbaspirillum species are Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the class Betaproteobacteria, order Burkholderiales. The phylogenetic and phenotypic similarities among these groups easily lead to species misidentification. Herbaspirillum bacteraemia is an uncommon clinical entity. The objective of this review is to collect information to contribute to the management of this infection. We describe our own case series and review the cases reported in the literature. Cancer appears as the major underlying disease. The main source of bacteraemia was respiratory. Phenotypic identification methods often misidentify this species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and molecular methods identify at genus level, but species assignment is not reliable. Herbaspirillum spp. showed a highly susceptible antimicrobial profile. ß-Lactams showed good activity with low MIC values, except ampicillin. All isolates were resistant to colistin, suggesting an intrinsic resistance mechanism. Herbaspirillum spp. is an uncommon pathogen. MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods are necessary to achieve a reliable genus identification. These species are not multidrug resistant. Piperacillin/tazobactam or ceftazidime might be a good treatment for this microorganism.

Recommendations for use of antigenic tests in the diagnosis of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in the second pandemic wave: attitude in different clinical settings.

The high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 before and shortly after the onset of symptoms suggests that only diagnosing and isolating symptomatic patients may not be sufficient to interrupt the spread of infection; therefore, public health measures such as personal distancing are also necessary. Additionally, it will be important to detect the newly infected individuals who remain asymptomatic, which may account for 50% or more of the cases. Molecular techniques are the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the massive use of these techniques has generated some problems. On the one hand, the scarcity of resources (analyzers, fungibles and reagents), and on the other the delay in the notification of results. These two facts translate into a lag in the application of isolation measures among cases and contacts, which favors the spread of the infection. Antigen detection tests are also direct diagnostic methods, with the advantage of obtaining the result in a few minutes and at the very "pointof-care". Furthermore, the simplicity and low cost of these tests allow them to be repeated on successive days in certain clinical settings. The sensitivity of antigen tests is generally lower than that of nucleic acid tests, although their specificity is comparable. Antigenic tests have been shown to be more valid in the days around the onset of symptoms, when the viral load in the nasopharynx is higher. Having a rapid and real-time viral detection assay such as the antigen test has been shown to be more useful to control the spread of the infection than more sensitive tests, but with greater cost and response time, such as in case of molecular tests. The main health institutions such as the WHO, the CDC and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Spain propose the use of antigenic tests in a wide variety of strategies to respond to the pandemic. This document aims to support physicians involved in the care of patients with suspected SC2 infection, in the context of a growing incidence in Spain since September 2020, which already represents the second pandemic wave of COVID-19.

Terapia de privación de andrógenos en pacientes con enfermedad localizada: comparación de las opciones de tratamiento y tiempo hasta la resistencia a la castración. Resultados del Registro Español de Cáncer de Próstata / Androgen deprivation therapy in patients with localized disease: Comparison with curative intent treatments and time to castration resistance. Results of the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry

ANTECEDENTES: El efecto del tratamiento primario de privación androgénica (TPA) en pacientes con cáncer de próstata (CP) localizado no está bien documentado. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar el resultado de los tumores tratados con TPA como terapia primaria en el Registro Español de Cáncer de Próstata (19,4% de la serie). PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Los pacientes se clasificaron en tres grupos: 1) con tumores clínicamente localizados de riesgo bajo/intermedio; 2) con tumores de alto riesgo y localmente avanzados (T3-4); 3) con tumores metastásicos. Se analizó el tiempo hasta la resistencia a la castración y la supervivencia general específica del cáncer. En tumores no metastásicos, las supervivencias en pacientes tratados con TPA se compararon con los datos de pacientes que recibieron tratamientos locales del Registro Español de Cáncer de Próstata. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 703 casos. Hubo diferencias significativas en el tiempo de resistencia a la castración, que fue menor en el grupo de tumores metastásicos. Durante el seguimiento hubo 179 muertes (25,5%), de las cuales 89 (12,6%) se debieron a CP. Después de 3 años de TPA, solo el 14,6% de los pacientes en el grupo 1 fallecieron (1% debido a CP), el 20,5% en el grupo 2 y el 46,8% en el grupo 3 (9,2% y 31,3% debido a CP, respectivamente). La supervivencia específica del cáncer fue significativamente peor en el grupo 1 tratado con TPA que en el que recibió prostatectomía radical o radioterapia. En los tumores de alto riesgo y localmente avanzados, la TPA también tuvo una menor supervivencia específica al cáncer que los tratamientos locales. CONCLUSIÓN: Se observó un tiempo más largo hasta la resistencia a la castración en pacientes con tumores localizados de riesgo intermedio y bien tratados con TPA. Los pacientes con tumores metastásicos mostraron el menor tiempo hasta la resistencia a la castración

BACKGROUND: The effect of primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well documented. The objective of the present study was to analyze the outcome of tumors treated with ADT as primary therapy in the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry (19.4% of the series). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were classified in three groups: 1) with low/intermediate risk clinically localized tumors; 2) with high risk and locally advanced (T3-4) tumors; 3) with metastatic tumors. Time to castration resistance and overall cancer-specific survival were analyzed. In non-metastatic tumors, survivals in patients treated with ADT were compared with data from patients who underwent local treatments from the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry. RESULTS: 703 cases were analyzed. There were significant differences in the time to castration resistance, which was lower in the group of metastatic tumors. During follow-up, there were 179 deaths (25.5%) of which 89 (12.6%) were due to PCa. After 3 years of ADT, only 14.6% of patients in group 1 had died (1% due to PCa), 20.5% in group 2 and 46.8% in group 3 (9.2% and 31.3% due to PCa, respectively). Cancer-specific survival was significantly worse in group 1 using ADT than radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. In high-risk and locally advanced tumors, ADT also had a lower cancer-specific survival than local treatments. CONCLUSIÓN: A longer time until the castration resistance was observed in patients with well- and intermediate-risk localized tumors treated with ADT. Patients with metastatic tumors showed the shortest time to castration resistance

Androgen deprivation therapy in patients with localized disease: Comparison with curative intent treatments and time to castration resistance. Results of the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry. / Terapia de privación de andrógenos en pacientes con enfermedad localizada: comparación de las opciones de tratamiento y tiempo hasta la resistencia a la castración. Resultados del Registro Español de Cáncer de Próstata.

BACKGROUND: The effect of primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well documented. The objective of the present study was to analyze the outcome of tumors treated with ADT as primary therapy in the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry (19.4% of the series). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were classified in three groups: 1) with low/intermediate risk clinically localized tumors; 2) with high risk and locally advanced (T3-4) tumors; 3) with metastatic tumors. Time to castration resistance and overall cancer-specific survival were analyzed. In non-metastatic tumors, survivals in patients treated with ADT were compared with data from patients who underwent local treatments from the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry. RESULTS: 703 cases were analyzed. There were significant differences in the time to castration resistance, which was lower in the group of metastatic tumors. During follow-up, there were 179 deaths (25.5%) of which 89 (12.6%) were due to PCa. After 3 years of ADT, only 14.6% of patients in group 1 had died (1% due to PCa), 20.5% in group 2 and 46.8% in group 3 (9.2% and 31.3% due to PCa, respectively). Cancer-specific survival was significantly worse in group 1 using ADT than radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. In high-risk and locally advanced tumors, ADT also had a lower cancer-specific survival than local treatments. CONCLUSION: A longer time until the castration resistance was observed in patients with well- and intermediate-risk localized tumors treated with ADT. Patients with metastatic tumors showed the shortest time to castration resistance.