Sustentabilidad hospitalaria, calidad y seguridad del paciente en el Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile / Hospital sustainability, quality and patient safety in Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile

The sustainability of the Universidad de Chile Clinical Hospital must be understood comprehensively; providing higher quality and safety for our patients, ensuring highest standards of medical care. The quality of care must be understood not only in complying with the minimum standards to accredit and grant GES benefits, establish agreements with health insurers and be financially competitive; It must be incorporated into its management the dimensions of quality - effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility, safety, equity and patient-centered care- minimizing the costs of non-quality work. Our Clinical Hospital, as our country's main training center in healthcare professions, must include training at the undergraduate students' curriculum in quality and patient safety issues. (AU)

[Bacteriological quality of air in a ward for sterile pharmaceutical preparations]. / Calidad microbiológica del aire de una unidad de preparados farmacéuticos estériles.

BACKGROUND: An extremely clean area is required for preparation of sterile pharmaceutical compounds, in compliance with international standards, to minimize the probability of microbial contamination. AIM: To evaluate the bacteriological quality of the air in the Sterile Pharmaceutical Preparation Unit of the University of Chile's Clinical Hospital and to set up alerts and action levels of bacterial growth. METHODS: We studied eight representative sites of our Unit on a daily basis from January to February 2005 and twice a week from June 2005 to February 2006. We collected 839 samples of air by impact in the Petri dish. RESULTS: 474 (56.5%) samples were positive; 17 (3.5%) of them had an inappropriate bacterial growth (2% of total samples). The samples from sites 1 and 2 (big and small biosafety cabinets) were negative. The countertop and transfer area occasionally exceeded the bacterial growth limits. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus spp and Corynebacterium spp, from skin microbiota, and Bacillus spp, an environmental bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: From a microbiological perspective, the air quality in our sterile preparation unit complied with international standards. Setting institutional alerts and action levels and appropriately identifying bacteria in sensitive areas permits quantification of the microbial load and application of preventive measures.

Calidad microbiológica del aire de una unidad de preparados farmacéuticos estériles / Bacteriological quality of air in a ward for sterile pharmaceutical preparations

Introducción: La elaboración de preparados farmacéuticos estériles requiere áreas limpias que deben cumplir estándares internacionales para minimizar la contaminación microbiana. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad bacteriológica del aire de la Unidad de Preparados Farmacéuticos Estériles del Servicio de Farmacia del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile y establecer niveles de alerta y acción. Material y Métodos: Se monitorearon ocho puntos representativos de la unidad, diariamente entre enero y febrero de 2005 y bisemanal-mente de junio a febrero de 2006. Se estudiaron 839 muestras de aire, recolectadas mediante el método de impacto en placa (equipo MAS-100). Resultados: De las muestras estudiadas, 474 (56,5 por ciento) fueron positivas; de éstas, sólo 17 (3,5 por ciento) estuvieron fuera del rango permitido, porcentaje que representa el 2 por ciento del total. Las muestras de los sitios 1 y 2 (flujo laminar grande y pequeño), que corresponden al área de preparación de preparados estériles fueron negativas. Los sitios 3 (mesón) y 4 (transfer) presentaron ocasionalmente valores superiores a los límites. Los microorganismos más frecuentes fueron Staphylococcus coagulasa negativa, Micrococcus spp y Corynebacterium spp, agentes de la microbiota de la piel y, menor porcentaje, Bacillus spp, agente de la microbiota ambiental. Conclusiones: Desde el punto de vista microbiológico, la calidad del aire de la zona de preparaciones estériles descrita presenta niveles ajustados a estándares internacionales. El establecer niveles de alerta y acción institucionales y la identificación de los microorganismos obtenidos en las áreas más sensibles de la unidad permite cuantificar la carga microbiana y conocer sus componentes para determinar las intervenciones a realizar cuando ellas estén indicadas.

Background: An extremely clean area is required for preparation of sterile pharmaceutical compounds, in compliance with international standards, to minimize the probability of microbial contamination. Aim: To evaluate the bacteriological quality of the air in the Sterile Pharmaceutical Preparation Unit of the University of Chile's Clinical Hospital and to set up alerts and action levels of bacterial growth. Methods: We studied eight representative sites of our Unit on a daily basis from January to February 2005 and twice a week from June 2005 to February 2006. We collected 839 samples of air by impact in the Petri dish. Results: 474 (56.5 percent) samples were positive; 17 (3.5 percent) of them had an inappropriate bacterial growth (2 percent of total samples). The samples from sites 1 and 2 (big and small biosafety cabinets) were negative. The countertop and transfer area occasionally exceeded the bacterial growth limits. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus spp and Corynebacterium spp, from skin microbiota, and Bacillus spp, an environmental bacteria. Conclusions: From a microbiological perspective, the air quality in our sterile preparation unit complied with international standards. Setting institutional alerts and action levels and appropriately identifying bacteria in sensitive areas permits quantification of the microbial load and application of preventive measures.

Recomendaciones para el análisis de datos acumulados de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana en instituciones de salud / Recommendations for the analysis of cumulated data in antimicrobial susceptibility in health institutions

Due to the great variability in antimicrobial resistance patterns, local reports of cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility data are necessary in every health center. The purpose is to guide clinical decisions and the early detection of patterns that allow preventive measures to avoid dissemination of resistant strains. The main objective of this guide is to provide recommendations for the analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility data and elaboration of a local report. Recommendations provided in this guide are based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) document "Analysis and Presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data" (3). Key aspects related to information gathering and data processing, analysis and presentation are described.

Considerando la gran variabilidad en la distribución de la resistencia microbiana, es una necesidad que cada centro de salud genere reportes locales de datos acumulados de susceptibilidad, con el propósito de guiar las decisiones clínicas y detectar tendencias que permitan establecer medidas de prevención para evitar la diseminación de cepas resistentes. Esta guía tiene como objetivo entregar recomendaciones para el análisis de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y aportar datos útiles para la elaboración del informe local. Las recomendaciones que contenidas em este documento están basadas en el documento "Analysis and Presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data de Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (3). Se describen aspectos claves relacionados con los requerimientos de la información, el procesamiento de los datos, el análisis y presentación de éstos.

[Multicenter study on the monitoring of in vitro susceptibility to tigeeyeline in Santiago, Chile]. / Estudio multicéntrico de la vigilancia de la susceptibilidad in vitro a tigeciclina en Santiago de Chile.

The objective of this multicenter study was to determine tigecycline susceptibility rates, measured by agar diffusion, in nine hospitals in Santiago and to compare these rates with other antimicrobials. Each center studied 20 strains per month. All intermediate and fully resistant strains as well as 10% of susceptibile strains were also studied by the broth microdilution method. Overall, 2301 strains were studied displaying the following susceptibility rates for tigecycline: 100% for Streptococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, and E. coli respectively, 99.8% for Staphylococcus sp, 93% for Klebsiella and 80% for Acinetobacter baumarmii. For Proteus, Providencia and Morganella the susceptibility rates were 4%. For cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella and imipenem-resistant A. baumarmii susceptibility rates were 95% and 80% respectively. The agar diffusion and broth dilution method were 100% concordant for tigecycline susceptible strains but only 27% for resistant or intermediate strains represented mostly by Acinetobacter baumannii. The majority of these strains (57/59) proved to be susceptible after retesting. The great majority (96,6%) of strains tested from nine Chilean hospitals proved to be susceptible to tigecycline with exception for Proteus, Providencia and Morganella (66% resistance). Using the agar diffusion method for measuring tigecycline susceptibility to A. baumannii may be misleading.

Estudio multicéntrico de la vigilancia de la susceptibilidad in vitro a tigeciclina en Santiago de Chile / Multicenter study on the monitoring of in vitro susceptibility to tigeeyeline in Santiago, Chile

The objective of this multicenter study was to determine tigeeyeline susceptibility rates, measured by agar diffusion, in nine hospitals in Santiago and to compare these rates with other antimicrobials. Each center studied 20 strains per month. All intermedíate and fully resistant strains as well as 10 percent of susceptibile strains were also studied by the broth microdilution method. Overall, 2301 strains were studied displaying the foliowing susceptibility rates for tigeeyeline: 100 percent for Streptococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, and E. coli respectively, 99.8 percent for Staphylococcus sp, 93 percent for Klebsiella and 80 percent for Acinetobacter baumarmii. For Proteus, Providencia and Morganella the susceptibility rates were 4 percent. For cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella and imipenem-resistant A. baumarmii susceptibility rates were 95 percent and 80 percent respectively. The agar diffusion and broth dilution method were 100 percent concordant for tigeeyeline susceptible strains but only 27 percent for resistant or intermedíate strains represented mostly by Acinetobacter baumannii. The majority of these strains (57/59) proved to be susceptible after retesting. The great majority (96,6 percent) of strains tested from nine Chilean hospitals proved to be susceptible to tigeeyeline with exception for Proteus, Providencia and Morganella (66 percent resistance). Using the agar diffusion method for measuring tigeeyeline susceptibility to A. baumannii may be misleading.

Para conocer la susceptibilidad a tigeciclina por difusión en agar en nueve hospitales de Santiago y comparar la susceptibilidad con otros antimicrobianos, se diseñó este estudio multicéntrico. Cada centro estudió 20 cepas mensualmente. Las intermedias, resistentes y 10 por cientoo de las susceptibles se re-testearon y estudiaron por microdilución en caldo. Se incluyeron 2.304 cepas. Fueron susceptibles a tigeciclina Strep-tococcus sp (100 por cientoo), Enterococcus sp (100 por ciento), E. coli (100 por cientoo), Staphylococcus sp (99,8 por ciento), Klebsiella pneumoniae (93 por ciento) y Acinetobacter baumannii (80 por ciento). En Proteus, Providencia y Morganella la susceptibilidad fue 4 por cientoo. Klebsiella resistente a cefotaxima y Acinetobacter resistente a imipenem, 95 por cientoo y 80 por cientoo fueron susceptibles a tigeciclina, respectivamente. La concordancia en cepas susceptibles y en las enviadas como resistentes o intermedias (A. baumannii) fue 100 por cientoo y 27 por cientoo respectivamente. El re-testeo confirmó que la mayoría eran susceptibles. Los patrones de susceptibilidad bacteriana muestran muy buena actividad in vitro a tigeciclina. La resistencia in vitro de A. baumannii por difusión en agar debe interpretarse con precaución.

Emergencia de infecciones por Enterococcus sp resistente a vancomicina en un hospital universitario en Chile / Emergency of vancomycm-vesistant Enterococcus infections in a teaching hospital in Chile

Introducción. En Chile, se desarrolla una vigilancia activa de portación intestinal de Enterococcus resistente a vancomicina (ERV) desde el año 2000. Sin embargo, no hay publicaciones sobre casos clínicos. Objetivo: Describir casos de infección por ERV en un hospital de nivel terciario. Pacientes y Método: Se obtuvieron de los registros del laboratorio las muestras clínicas o intestinales positivas para ERV (2001 al 2006) y se analizaron en los pacientes afectados los factores de riesgo potenciales, manifestaciones clínicas, tratamiento y evolución. Resultados: Se identificaron 23 casos (tasa de incidencia año 2005 de 0,07 y año 2006 de 0,09/1.000 días camas ocupadas). El promedio de edad fue 62,0 ± 17 años. Antecedentes: cáncer (39,l por cientoo), procedimientos quirúrgicos recientes (54,1 por ciento), hemodiálisis (26,1 por ciento), corticoterapia (26,1 por ciento). El 87 por cientoo había recibido dos o más antimicrobianos, casi un tercio fue transferido desde otros hospitales y 22 por ciento había reingresado antes de 30 días. Los pacientes habían estado principalmente en UCI (60,9 por ciento), el resto en salas nefrológicas u onco-hematológicas. Los cuadros clínicos incluyeron bacteriemias (30,4 por ciento), infecciones del sitio quirúrgico o abscesos (26,1 por ciento), infecciones urinarias (26,1 por ciento) u otros. Tres pacientes fueron asintomáticos (13 por ciento). Los aislados fueron identificados como E. faecium en 82,6 por cientoo del total, el resto como Enterococcus sp. El 66,7 por cientoo de las cepas mostró susceptibilidad intermedia a vancomicina. En 14 cepas con estudio completo para vancomicina y teicoplanina, predominó el fenotipo VanB (85,7 por ciento), seguido de los fenotipos VanA (7,1 por ciento) y VanB/VanD (7,1 por ciento). Quince pacientes fueron tratados en forma médica o médico-quirúrgica, hubo respuesta favorable en 80 por cientoo de ellos. Ocho pacientes no recibieron tratamiento (34,8 por ciento), en dos...

An active surveillance of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) intestinal colonization in selected group of patients has been developed in Chile since year 2000. Nevertheless, no reports of clinical cases have been published. Aim. To describe main clinical and microbiological features of patients infected by VRE in a tertiary-level teaching Hospital. Patients and methods. Intestinal and clinical samples positive to VRE were provided by laboratory, and a retrospective analysis of potential risk factors, clinical features, treatment and outcomes was performed. Study encompassed years 2001 to 2006. Main results. 23 cases of infections were identified, all cases occurring during 2005 and 2006. Incidence rate was 0.07 and 0.09 cases per 1000 occupied bed-days, respectively. The mean age was 62.0 ± 17 years. A significant proportion of patients had cancer (39.1 percent), recent surgical procedures (54.1 percent), were on dialysis (26.1 percent), or were using steroids (26.1 percent). Most patients had received 2 or more antimicrobial (87 percent), almost a third represented transfers from other hospitals and an additional 22 percent readmissions before 30 days of latest discharge. Patients were mainly hospitalized in the ICU (60.9 percent) but nearly 30 percent were associated exclusively to nephrological or onco-hematological wards. Clinical manifestations included bacteremia (30.4 percent), surgical site infections or abscesses (26.1 percent), urinary tract infections (26.1 percent) and others. . Three patients (13 percent) did not have symptoms. After identification was possible, all isolates were identified as E. faecium (82.6 percent of total), the rest as Enterococcus sp. Most strains showed intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin (66.7 percent). For 14 strains studied both with vancomycin and teicoplanin, , phenotype Van B was predominant (85.7 percent), followed by VanA (7.1 percent) and VanB/VanD type (7.1 percent). No molecular...

[Intravenous colistin in the treatment of infections due to pan-resistant Gram negative bacilli]. / Colistín en infecciones nosocomiales por bacilos gramnegativos pan-resistentes.

UNLABELLED: Emergence of panresistant gram negative bacilli has lead to the progressive reintroduction of intravenous colistin. AIM: To describe the clinical experience observed with this compound. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis was performed for all treatments lasting >/= 48 hours. Medical records were analyzed to obtain clinical parameters and microbiological data, evaluate clinical response and evolution until discharge. MAIN RESULTS: 24 treatments lasting >/= 48 hours were applied between June 2005 and September 2006. Intravenous colistin was indicated to treat cases of ventilator-associated (VA) pneumonia (n = 10; 41.7%), abscess or collections (12.5%), bloodstream infections, non-VA pneumonia or urinary tract infections (4.2% each one, respectively). Treatment was initiated on average at 3.2 days (+/- 2.85) from diagnosis of infection. All courses were microbiologically-guided, and involved P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii isolates. Susceptibility was evaluated by E-test in 11 isolates (MIC90 3.6 nicrog/mL, range 0.38 to 4 microg/mL). One isolate was resistant to colistin (9%). A favorable response was observed in 12 treatments (50%) with a relapse in 5 cases (41.7%). Being treated for pneumonia was the only factor associated to failure, (p = 0.04) Eradication was documented in 8 cases (33.3%) and persistence in 11 (45.8%). In 5 cases a microbiological follow-up was not available. Survival at time of discharge was 45.5%. (n = 10) None of the treatment courses was associated with nefrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous colistin is a safe compound useful to treat various nosocomial infections due to pan-resistant gram negative bacilli. Nonetheless, its clinical efficacy is limited, especially among patients treated for nosocomial pneumonia.

Colistín en infecciones nosocomiales por bacilos gramnegativos pan-resistentes / Intravenous colistin in the treatment of infections due to pan-resistant Gram negative bacilli

La emergencia de bacilos gramnegativos pan-resistentes ha obligado a la reutilización progresiva de colistín. Objetivo: Describir la experiencia clínica con este compuesto. Metodología: Se efectuó un análisis retrospectivo de todos los tratamientos con colistín endovenoso administrados por más de 48 horas, analizando datos clínicos, microbiológicos, la respuesta terapéutica y evolución hasta el egreso. Resultados: Se aplicaron 24 tratamientos entre junio de 2005 y septiembre de 2006. Colistín endovenoso fue utilizado en eventos de neumonía asociada a VM (n = 10; 41,7 por ciento), colecciones o abscesos (12,5 por ciento), bacteriemias, neumonía no asociada a VM e infección urinaria (4,2 por ciento cada una, respectivamente). El tratamiento fue iniciado en promedio a 3,2 (± 2,85) días desde el diagnóstico de infección. Todos los pacientes tenían infecciones por Pseudomonas aeruginosa o Acinetobacter baumannii. Se evaluó la susceptibilidad por E-test en once aislados (CIM90 3,6 µg/mL, rango 0,38 a 4 µg/mL). Una cepa (9 por ciento) presentó resistencia. Se observó una respuesta favorable en 50 por cientoo de los casos (n = 12) con recaída en cinco de estos casos (41,7 por ciento). El único factor asociado a fracaso fue la presencia de neumonía (p = 0,04). Se observó erradicación en ocho casos (33,3 por ciento) y persistencia en once (45,8 por ciento). En cinco casos el resultado microbiológico no fue evaluable. Sobrevivió a la hospitalización 45,5 por ciento de los pacientes (n = 10). No se observó nefrotoxicidad. Conclusiones: Colistín endovenoso es un compuesto seguro para el tratamiento de infecciones por bacilos gramnegativos pan-resistentes. Sin embargo, su eficacia terapéutica es limitada, especialmente, entre aquellos pacientes tratados por neumonía.

Emergence of panresistant gram negative bacilli has lead to the progressive reintroduction of intravenous colistin. Aim: To describe the clinical experience observed with this compound. Methodology: A retrospective analysis was performed for all treatments lasting ≥ 48 hours. Medical records were analyzed to obtain clinical parameters and microbiological data, evaluate clinical response and evolution until discharge. Main results: 24 treatments lasting ≥ 48 hours were applied between June 2005 and September 2006. Intravenous colistin was indicated to treat cases of ventilator-associated (VA) pneumonia (n = 10; 41.7 percent), abscess or collections (12.5 percent), bloodstream infections, non-VA pneumonia or urinary tract infections (4.2 percent each one, respectively). Treatment was initiated on average at 3.2 days (± 2.85) from diagnosis of infection. All courses were microbiologically-guided, and involved P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii isolates. Susceptibility was evaluated by E-test in 11 isolates (MIC90 3.6 µg/mL, range 0.38 to 4 µg/mL). One isolate was resistant to colistin (9 percent). A favorable response was observed in 12 treatments (50 percent) with a relapse in 5 cases (41.7 percent). Being treated for pneumonia was the only factor associated to failure, (p = 0.04) Eradication was documented in 8 cases (33.3 percent) and persistence in 11 (45.8 percent). In 5 cases a microbiological follow-up was not available. Survival at time of discharge was 45.5 percent. (n = 10) None of the treatment courses was associated with nefrotoxicity. Conclusions: Intravenous colistin is a safe compound useful to treat various nosocomial infections due to pan-resistant gram negative bacilli. Nonetheless, its clinical efficacy is limited, especially among patients treated for nosocomial pneumonia.

[Bacteraemia due to Campylobacter fetus in an immune suppressed patient]. / Bacteriemia por Campylobacter fetus subsp fetus en un paciente inmunosuprimido.

We report a case of bacteraemia by Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus in a 77 year-old woman with immunosuppression secondary to steroid use. Diagnosis was suspected by finding Gram negative curved rods in blood cultures taken after 4 days of a febrile illness without local findings. Diarrhea was not present. There was no consumption of undercooked meat or non-pasteurized milk and no contact with pets. The patient was treated with sulbactam-cefoperazone due to the coexistence of urinary tract infection by multiresistant E. coli. The outcome was favorable and albeit susceptibility was not assessed, quinolone resistance was presumed because illness appeared during ciprofloxacin prophylaxis for urinary tract infection. In contrast to C. jejuni infections, C. fetus infections are associated to debilitated or immunosuppressed patients, bacteraemia is predominant, diarrhea is rarely observed and disease is not self-limited.

[Leuconostoc infections in patients with short gut syndrome, parenteral nutrition and continuous enteral feeding]. / Infección por Leuconostoc en pacientes con síndrome de intestino corto, nutrición parenteral y alimentación enteral continua.

Leuconostoc is a gram-positive cocci, quite ubiquitous in nature. It is used in wine industry, and for aroma and texture of dairy products. Occasionally it has been isolated from humans in cases of bacteremia, catheter associated infections, sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, UTI, osteomyelitis and hepatic dysfunction. Short bowel syndrome, patients with CVC and patients with gastrostomy undergoing enteral feeding, are described amongst the factors associated with this infection. The isolation of a gram-positive cocci, that does not hydrolyze arginine and that is resistant to vancomycin leads to this diagnostic possibility. Antibiotic treatment: penicillin or ampicillin.

Bacteriemia por Campylobacter fetus subsp fetus en un paciente inmunosuprimido / Bacteraemia due to Campylobacter fetus in an immune suppressed patient

We report a case of bacteraemia by Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus in a 77 year-old woman with immunosuppression secondary to steroid use. Diagnosis was suspected by finding Gram negative curved rods in blood cultures taken after 4 days of a febrile illness without local findings. Diarrhea was not present. There was no consumption of undercooked meat or non-pasteurized milk and no contact with pets. The patient was treated with sulbactam-cefoperazone due to the coexistence of urinary tract infection by multiresistant E. coli. The outcome was favorable and albeit susceptibility was not assessed, quinolone resistance was presumed because illness appeared during ciprofloxacin prophylaxis for urinary tract infection. In contrast to C. jejuni infections, C. fetus infections are associated to debilitated or immunosuppressed patients, bacteraemia is predominant, diarrhea is rarely observed and disease is not self-limited.

Comunicamos un caso de bacteriemia por Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus en una paciente inmunosuprimida de 77 años, usuaria de corticoesteroides. La sospecha fue planteada por el hallazgo de bacilos gramnegativos curvos en los hemocultivos tomados al cuarto día de evolución de un cuadro febril sin diarrea. La paciente fue tratada con sulbactam/ cefoperazona debido a la coexistencia de una infección urinaria por Escherichia coli multiresistente. No hubo antecedentes de consumo de alimentos crudos o parcialmente cocidos en las semanas recientes y tampoco había contacto con mascotas. La evolución fue favorable. Aunque no se estudió la susceptibilidad del aislado, se presumió resistencia a quinolonas ya que el cuadro apareció durante el uso profiláctico de ciprofloxacina para infección urinaria. En contraste con C. jejuni, las infecciones por C. fetus se asocian a pacientes debilitados o inmunosuprimidos, se manifiestan predominantemente como bacteriemias sin diarrea y no tiene un perfil autolimitado.

Infección por Leuconostoc en pacientes con síndrome de intestino corto, nutrición parenteral y alimentación enteral continua / Leuconostoc infcctions in patients with short gut syndrome, parenteral nutrition and continuous enteral feeding

Leuconostoc is a grampositive cocci, quite ubiquitous in nature. It is used in wine industry, and for aroma and texture of dairy products. Occasionally it has been isolated from humans in cases of bacteremia, catheter associated infections, sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, UTI, osteomyelitis and hepatic dysfunction. Short bowel syndrome, patients with CVC and patients with gastrostomy undergoing enteral feeding, are described amongst the factors associated with this infection. The isolation of a grampositive cocci, that does not hydrolyze arginine and that is resistant to vancomycin leads to this diagnostic possibility. Antibiotic treatment: penicillin or ampicillin.

Leuconostoc es una cocácea grampositiva parecida a los Streptococcus, que se encuentra ampliamente distribuida en la naturaleza; es usada en la industria de vinos, productos lácteos y quesos para la producción de aromas y texturas. Leuconostoc causa ocasionalmente infecciones en humanos, puede producir bacteriemia, infección asociada a catéter, síndrome séptico, meningitis, neumonía, infección del tracto urinario, osteomielitis y compromiso hepático, entre otros. Se describen como factores de riesgo para una infección por este agente: el síndrome de intestino corto, uso de catéter venoso central y la alimentación enteral por gastrostomía. Orientan a la presencia de este agente el aislamiento de una cocácea grampositiva, catalasa negativa, PYR y LAP negativas, resistente a vancomicina. El tratamiento de elección es penicilina o ampicilina.

Evaluación comparativa del método automatizado BACTEC MGIT 960 con el método de las proporciones para determinar susceptibilidad a drogas antituberculosas en Chile / Comparative evaluation of automated BACTEC MGIT 960 for testing susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antituberculous drugs in Chile

The automated BACTEC MGIT 960 system was compared with the method of proportion (MP) for testing susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to antituberculous drugs. 275 strains of M. tuberculosis isolated in Chile from 270 patients between 2001 and 2003 were tested. Concordance of BACTEC MGIT 960 with MP depending on the antituberculous drug tested was the following: 97.0% for streptomycin, 98,9% for rifampicin, 97,4% for isoniazid and 98,1% for ethambutol. Total resistance to antituberculous drugs of the 275 strains of M. tuberculosis tested varied from 20.4 % assessed by MP to 25.1% evaluated by BACTEC MGIT 960. These differences were not significant (p: ns; t test). BACTEC MGIT 960 yielded 17 strains as resistant. These same 17 strains were detected as sensitives by MP. Therefore, BACTED MGIT overestimates the number of resistant strains. In our study BACTEC MGIT 960 showed a very good concordance with MP and besides it allowed to get the results in a much shorter period of time than MP. Additional analysis are needed to know the factors envolved in BACTED MGIT overestimation of resistant strains.

Se comparó el método automatizado BACTEC MGIT 960 con el método de las proporciones (MP) para la determinación de la susceptibilidad a drogas anti tuberculosas de 275 cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis aisladas de 270 pacientes en Chile entre 2001 y 2003. La concordancia del BACTEC MGIT 960 con el MP según las drogas estudiadas fue de: 97,0% para estreptomicina, 98,9% para rifampicina, 97,4% para isoniazida y 98,1% para etambutol. Los porcentajes globales de resistencia a drogas anti-TBC de las 275 cepas de M. tuberculosis estudiadas, determinados por el BACTEC MGIT960 y el MP fueron de 25,1% y 20,4% respectivamente. Esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. El BACTEC MGIT 960 dió como resistentes 17 cepas que fueron sensibles por el MP, sobrestimándose por este método la información de cepas resistentes. El BACTEC MGIT 960 en nuestra experiencia presentó una muy buena concordancia con el MP permitiendo un notable acortamiento en el tiempo de obtención de los resultados. Sin embargo, la mayor determinación de cepas resistentes por parte de este método requiere de nuevos análisis que permitan conocer los factores que inciden en este fenómeno.

Implementación de una red nacional para la vigilancia de resistencia de agentes patógenos a antimicrobianos según sÝndromes clÝnicos / Starting a national surveillance network on antibiotic resistance

El Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile y la Sociedad Chilena de InfectologÝa han aunado sus esfuerzos para coordinar y co-dirigir una red nacional para la vigilancia de resistencia de agentes patógenos a antimicrobianos según sÝndromes clÝnicos. El objetivo de esta red es establecer un sistema nacional de vigilancia de la resistencia a antimicrobianos, estandarizado y coordinado, que proporcione información actualizada acerca de los agentes infecciosos mßs relevantes por sÝndromes clÝnicos bien definidos, por edad y por lugar de origen: hospitalaria o de la comunidad. Nos parece fundamental la participación de todos los Servicios de Salud del paÝs en esta red, para obtener datos de calidad, representativos de nuestra realidad nacional, que sean de real utilidad en el manejo de los pacientes.

Caracterización fenotípica de la resistencia antibiótica en aislamiento de klebsiella pneumoniae asociadas a infecciones intrahospitalarias / Phenotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance in isolated klebsiella pneumoniae associated to hospital infections

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important agent of nosocomial infections, and is often associated to multidrug antibiotic resistance that limit therapeutic options. A study was performed to characterize antibiotic resistance among K. pneumoniae isolates identified in nosocomial infection at our hospital. 18 isolates (from 17 patients) collected between January and July 1997 were analyzed according to the Kirby-Bauer procedure, and characterized according to antibiotyping, cluster analysis and phenotypic identification of known 13-lactamases. Results showed a high percentage of resistance against trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazol, cloramphenicol, ciprofioxacin, gentamicin and cephalosporins. Furthermore, a high percentage of isolates demonstrated resistance against 13-lactams-13-lactamase inhibitors combinations. Antibiotyping and cluster analysis indicated 3 phenotypic grups, characterized by a minor group (22 percent) of highly susceptible strains and two multiresistant groups, being one of these, associated with an outbreak in an intensiva care unit. Phenotypic identification of known 13-lactamases suggests that extended spectrum 13-lactamases are prevalent and hyperproduced in highly resistant isolates