Cross-Sectional Analysis of Risk Factors for Outbreak of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes for Older Adults in the Community of Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: Nursing homes for older adults have been hot spots for SARS-CoV-2 infections and mortality. Factors that facilitate COVID-19 outbreaks in these settings need to be assessed. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of a cohort of residents and workers in nursing homes taking occasion of a point seroprevalence survey was done in the Community of Madrid. Factors related to outbreaks in these facilities were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 369 nursing homes for older adults, making a population of 23,756 residents and 20,795 staff members, were followed from July to December 2020. There were 54.2% SARS-CoV-2 IgG+ results in residents and in 32.2% of workers. Sixty-two nursing homes (16.8%) had an outbreak during the follow-up. Nursing homes with outbreaks had more residents than those without (median number of 81 [IQR, 74] vs. 50 [IQR, 56], p < 0.001). Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was lower in facilities with versus without outbreaks, for residents (42.2% [IQR, 55.7] vs. 58.7% [IQR, 43.4], p = 0.002) and for workers (23.9% [IQR, 26.4] vs. 32.8% [IQR, 26.3], p = 0.01). For both residents and staff, the number of infections in outbreaks was larger in centers with lower, as compared with intermediate or high seroprevalence. The size of the facility did not correlate with the number of cases in the outbreak. Taking the incidence of cases in the community as a time-dependent variable (p = 0.03), a Cox analysis (HR [95% CI], p) showed that intermediate or high seroprevalence among residents in the facility was related to a reduction of 55% (0.45 [0.25-0.80], p = 0.007) and 78% (0.22 [0.10-0.48], p < 0.001) in the risk of outbreaks, respectively, as compared with low sero-prevalence. Also, as compared with smaller, medium (1.91 [1.00-3.65], p = 0.05) or large centers (4.57 [2.38-8.75], p < 0.001) had more respective risk of outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the facility and the seroprevalence among residents in nursing homes, and the incidence of infections in the community, are associated with the risk of outbreaks of COVID-19. Facilities with greater proportion of seropositives had smaller number of cases. Monitoring of immunity in nursing homes may help detect those at a greater risk of future cases.

Humoral and Cellular Response after mRNA Vaccination in Nursing Homes: Influence of Age and of History of COVID-19.

Background: Most residents and staff in nursing homes have received full vaccination. Factors related to the immune response to vaccination might be related to the risk of future severe COVID-19 and may guide the need for vaccine boosters. Design: Nursing homes that were tested in a point survey in July-October 2020 were again analyzed after a vaccination campaign in June-July 2021. Immune responses according to IgG against nucleocapsid and spike antigens, and CD4 and CD8 interferon-gamma release assay against spike antigens, were evaluated. Results: A total of 1973 subjects were tested (61.7% residents, 48.3% staff), with a mean (SD) follow-up of 46.4 (3.6) weeks between assessments. More than half of residents and more than a third of staff had evidence of COVID-19 before vaccination; 26.9% and 22.7% had seroreversion of IgG-N, and 8.9% and 4.6% had IgG-N seroconversion at second assessment, respectively. Up to 96.8% of residents and 98.1% of workers had positive IgG-S after a mean of 19.9 (2.1) weeks after vaccination. In residents with vs without a history of COVID-19, IgG-S titers were 4.11 (0.54) vs. 2.73 (0.74) logAU/mL (p < 0.001); in workers these titers were 3.89 (0.61) vs. 3.15 (0.64) logAU/mL (p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that younger age (OR: −0.03 per 10 years-older [95% CI, −0.04 to −0.02], p < 0.001) and evidence of COVID-19 (OR: 1.14 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.20], p < 0.001) are associated with greater IgG-S titers after vaccination. A direct association was found between IgG-S titers and the intensity of IFN-gamma response against spike antigens. Conclusions: Waning of humoral response and reinfection seems to be more frequent in older as compared to younger adults, although cellular responses shortly after vaccination are comparable between these groups. Younger age and prior COVID-19 are related to greater humoral response after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

A Pilot Study for the Evaluation of an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) To Measure T-Cell Immune Responses after SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Vaccination in a Unique Cloistered Cohort.

Assessment of T-cell responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens may be of value to determine long-lasting protection to breakthrough infections or reinfections. Interferon gamma release assay is a validated method to test cellular immunity in mycobacterial infections and has been proposed for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. Quantitative IgG to spike and qualitative IgG to nucleocapsid antigens were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay using the Architect platform (Abbott), and interferon gamma release assays against two Qiagen proprietary mixes of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (antigen 1 and antigen 2) were performed for a selected group of subjects. A total of 121 subjects in a cloistered institution after a COVID-19 outbreak was studied. IgG spike levels and interferon gamma concentrations were highest among subjects after two doses of vaccine, followed by patients with a longer history of past COVID-19 and no vaccination. The best cutoff for the interferon gamma assay was 25 IU/L for all subgroups of individuals and the two sets of SARS-CoV-2 antigens studied. Testing T-cell response may be of clinical utility to determine immunity after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens, with the interferon gamma concentration of 25 IU/L as the best cutoff either after infection or vaccination.

Family Refusal to Consent Donation: Retrospective Quantitative Analysis of Its Increasing Tendency and the Associated Factors Over the Last Decade at a Spanish Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Organ and tissue recovery remains limited by several factors. This study retrospectively analyzes the factors associated with family refusal to consent to donation at a high-donor-volume Spanish hospital. METHODS: Data regarding the annual number of potential donors and family refusal rates at hospital and regional levels were retrieved from 2008 to 2017. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to detect those factors independently associated with family refusal. Results were cross-validated using the data from years 2018 and 2019 as the validation group. To explore potential inter-relations between factors a Multiple Correspondence Analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 601 family interviews for petition of consent were conducted between 2008 and 2017, 531 (88.4%) resulted in acceptance and 70 (11.6%) resulted in refusal of the donation. Lesser experience of the interviewers (odds ratio [OR], 2.980; P = .001), donation after brain death (OR, 2.485; P = .013), number of interviews conducted per family (OR, 1.892; P < .001), age of the main decision maker (OR, 1.025; P = .045), and high or middle attributed cultural levels (OR, 0.142; P < .001 and OR, 0.199; P < .001 respectively) were observed to be independently associated with the family final decision. The logistic regression model displayed good predictive power for both derivation and validation cohorts, with an overall predictive accuracy of 80.9% (95% confidence interval, 0.747-0.870; P < .001) and 74.4% (95% confidence interval, 0.635-0.854; P = .001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant coordination team members having a thorough knowledge of the family decision mechanisms may be a key factor in donation process optimization.

Virological Correlates of IgM-IgG Patterns of Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection According to Targeted Antigens.

The virological meaning of the different patterns of serology in COVID-19 has been little examined in clinical settings. Asymptomatic subjects with IgM-spike (S) and IgG-nucleocapsid (N) determinations by chemiluminescence were studied for SARS-CoV-2 shedding in respiratory secretions by transcription-mediated amplification (TMA). In subjects showing IgM-S positive and IgG-N negative, IgG-S was determined by lateral flow assay. A total of 712 individuals were tested: 30.0% presented IgM-S(+)/IgG-N(-), 25.8% had IgM-S(+)/IgG-N(+) and 44.2% had IgM-S(-)/IgG-N(+); the proportion with TMA(+) were comparable in these three groups: 12.1, 8.7 and 10.5%, respectively. In individuals with IgM-S(+)/IgG-N(-), IgG-S(+) was detected in 66.5%. The frequency of IgM-S(+)/IgG-S(-) in the total population was 10.0%, of whom 24.1% had TMA(+); the chances for TMA(+) in subjects with an IgM-S(+) alone pattern were 2.4%. Targeting of the same SARS-CoV-2 antigen seems to be better for the characterization of IgM/IgG patterns of response. IgM-S(+) alone reactivity is rare, and a small proportion is associated with viral shedding.

The demography and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 seropositive residents and staff of nursing homes for older adults in the Community of Madrid: the SeroSOS study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing homes for older adults have concentrated large numbers of severe cases and deaths for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Point seroprevalence study of nursing homes to describe the demography and characteristic of severe acute respiratory syndrome by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive residents and staff. RESULTS: Clinical information and blood samples were available for 9,332 residents (mean age 86.7 ± 8.1 years, 76.4% women) and 10,614 staff (mean age 45.6 ± 11.5, 86.2% women). Up to 84.4% of residents had frailty, 84.9% co-morbidity and 69.3% cognitive impairment; 65.2% of workers were health-aides.COVID-19 seroprevalence was 55.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 54.4-56.4) for older adults and 31.5% (30.6-32.4) for staff. In multivariable analysis, frailty of residents was related with seropositivity (odds ratio (OR): 1.19, P = 0.02). In the case of staff, age > 50 years (2.10, P < 0.001), obesity (1.19, P = 0.01), being a health-aide (1.94, P < 0.001), working in a center with high seroprevalence in residents (3.49, P < 0.001) and contact with external cases of COVID-19 (1.52, P < 0.001) were factors associated with seropositivity. Past symptoms of COVID-19 were good predictors of seropositivity for residents (5.41, P < 0.001) and staff (2.52, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Level of dependency influences risk of COVID-19 among residents. Individual and work factors, contacts outside the nursing home are associated with COVID-19 exposure in staff members. It is key to strengthen control measures to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into care facilities from the community.

Real-world evidence on spinal cord neuromodulation and pain: Long-term effectiveness analysis in a single-center cohort.

Introduction: Chronic pain inflicts damage in multiple spheres of patient's life and remains a challenge for health care providers. Real-world evidence derived from outcome registries represents a key aspect of the ongoing systematic assessment and future development of neurostimulation devices. Research question: The objective of the present study was to assess the long-term effectiveness of neurostimulation as a treatment for spinal chronic pain. Material and methods: The patients analyzed in the present study represent a singlecenter cohort of 52 individuals. Primary outcome measures included numeric pain rating scale, Beck depression index II and Oswestry disability index variation from baseline to 36-month visits. Secondary outcomes included its evaluation at 6-month, 12-month and 24-month visits. Results: A significant improvement in targeted pain, depression and disability values were observed at 36-month follow-up (P â€‹< â€‹0.001, P â€‹= â€‹0.009 and P â€‹< â€‹0.001 respectively). Those results were consistent in the leg and back pain subgroup but not in the neck, chest and arm pain subgroup. The decrease in pain, depression and disability values happened progressively through time, with the exception of the 12-month visit, where a mild stagnation was observed. Discussion and conclusion: Our results suggest that spinal cord stimulation is an effective long-term treatment for spinal chronic pain in real-world conditions when applied to a variety of patients and conditions usually seen in routine practice. Nevertheless, some fluctuations may occur during treatment so prolonged follow-up periods should be considered before rendering an unsuccessful therapy diagnosis.

Utility of lateral flow tests in SARS-CoV-2 infection monitorization / Utilidad de los test lateral Flow en la monitorización de la infección por SARS-CoV-2

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for medical and public health reasons, to allow the best treatment of cases and the best control of the pandemic. Serology testing allows for the detection of asymptomatic infections and 19-COVID cases once the virus has been cleared. We analyzed the usefulness of the SARS-CoV-2 rapid test of Autobio and tried to correlate its pattern with the severity of COVID19 infection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analyzed the accuracy and clinical usefulness of a point-of-care IgM and/or IgG test for SARS-CoV-2 in 35 COVID-19 patients [12 (34.3%) mild-moderate and 23 (65.7%) severe-critical] admitted to a field hospital in Madrid, as well as in 5 controls. RESULTS: The mean time from the first day of symptoms to the antibody test was 28 days (SD: 8.7), similar according to the severity of the disease. All patients with SARS-CoV-2 PCR+ showed the corresponding IgG positivity, while these results were negative in all control individuals. A total of 26 (74%) cases also presented with positive IgM, 19 (83%) were severe-critical cases and 7 (58%) were mild-moderate cases. The IgM response lasted longer in the severe critical cases (mean: 29.7 days; SD: 8.4) compared to the moderate cases (mean: 21.2 days; SD: 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid serology tests are useful for the diagnosis of patients with COVID-19 (mainly IgG detection) and may also be correlated with the severity of the infection (based on IgM detection)

INTRODUCCIÓN: El diagnóstico de la infección por SARSCoV-2 es crucial por razones médicas y de salud pública, para permitir el mejor tratamiento de los casos y el mejor control de la pandemia. Las pruebas de serología permiten la detección de infecciones asintomáticas y de casos de COVID-19 una vez que se ha logrado la eliminación del virus. El objetivo fue analizar la utilidad del test rápido SARS-CoV-2 de Autobio e intentar correlacionar su patrón con la gravedad de la infección por COVID19. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Hemos analizado la precisión y la utilidad clínica de un test de IgM y/o IgG en el punto de atención para el SARS-CoV-2 en 35 pacientes COVID-19 [12 (34,3%) leves-moderados y 23 (65,7%) severos-críticos] ingresados en un hospital de campaña en Madrid, así como en 5 controles. RESULTADOS: El tiempo medio desde el primer día de síntomas hasta la prueba de anticuerpos fue de 28 días (DE: 8,7), similar según la gravedad de la enfermedad. Todos los pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 PCR+ mostraron la correspondiente positividad de IgG, mientras que estos resultados fueron negativos en todos los individuos de control. Un total de 26 (74%) casos también se presentaron con IgM positiva, 19 (83%) fueron casos severos-críticos y 7 (58%) fueron casos leves-moderados. La respuesta a la IgM duró más tiempo en los casos críticos severos (media: 29,7 días; DE: 8,4) en comparación con los casos moderados (media: 21,2 días; DE: 2,0). CONCLUSIONES: Las pruebas de serología rápida son de utilidad para el diagnóstico de los pacientes con COVID-19 (principalmente la detección de IgG) y también pueden estar correlacionadas con la gravedad de la infección (basada en la detección de IgM)

Update in infectious diseases 2019

The IX Course of Antimicrobials and Infectious Diseases update included a review of the main issues in clinical microbiology, epidemiology and clinical aspects for a current approach of infectious pathology. The present introduction summarizes about the most important meetings related to infectious diseases during 2018 (ECCMID, IAS, ASM and ID Week). In addition, the course provides a practical information to focus on nosocomial infection models, with immunosuppressed patients or complex multidrug-resistant pathogens. The closing lecture of this year reviewed the infection during donation process

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Description of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates in a Spanish tertiary hospital. Epidemiological analysis and clinical impact / Descripción de los aislamientos de enterobacterias productoras de carbapenemasa en un hospital terciario. Análisis epidemiológico e impacto clínico

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to carry out an epidemiological analysis of patients with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolations in our hospital as well as to perform a description of the genotypic temporal evolution of CPE isolated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study was performed involving all patients with CPE isolates from clinical samples during November 2014 to November 2016 in a Spanish teaching hospital. Patients were clinically evaluated and classified either as infected or colonized. Information on the consumption of carbapenems in the hospital during the study period was also analyzed. PCR was used for identification of the carbapenemase genes blaKPC, blaVIM, and blaOXA-48. RESULTS: A total of 301 CPE isolates were obtained (107 in 2014, 89 in 2015 and 105 in 2016). Klebsiella pneumoniae (73.4%) was the most prevalent microorganism. Hundred and seventy (56.7%) of carbapenemases detected were blaOXA-48, 73 (24.3%) were blaKPC and 57 (19%) were blaVIM. In year 2014 KPC was predominant while in 2016 OXA-48 predominated. In 2014 we observed a significant association between the medical wards and the ICU with a higher prevalence of OXA-48 (OR 4.15; p < 0.001) and VIM (OR 7.40; p < 0.001) in the univariate analysis, in the following years there was no association. Regarding the clinical significance of microbiological results after assessing our patients, 60% of isolates represented infection and 40% behaved as colonizers. One third of hospitalized patients with CPE isolation died within 30 days, regardless of whether they were colonized or infected. CONCLUSIONS: We have observed an epidemiological change in the genotypes of our isolates along the study period. A thorough knowledge of the CPE's epidemiological distribution in each hospital is fundamental for optimizing antimicrobial chemotherapy

OBJETIVOS: Se realizó un análisis epidemiológico de aquellos pacientes con aislamiento de Enterobacterias portadoras de carbapenemasas (EPC) en un hospital terciario, así como una descripción temporal de los genotipos de dichas EPC. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo observacional que incluyó todos los aislamientos de EPC obtenidos de muestras clínicas entre noviembre de 2014 y noviembre de 2016 en un hospital universitario. Los pacientes fueron evaluados clínicamente para determinar si el aislamiento era en el contexto de una infección o de una colonización. También se recopiló la información acerca del consumo de carbapenémicos en el hospital durante el periodo de estudio. Se usó la técnica PCR para la identificación de los genes de carbapenemasas blaKPC, blaVIM, and blaOXA-48. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron un total de 301 aislamientos de EPC (107 en 2014, 89 en 2015 y 105 en 2016). Klebsiella pneumoniae (73,4%) fue el microorganismo más prevalente. De las carbapenemasas aisladas, 170 (56,7%) correspondieron a blaOXA-48, 73 (24,3%) a blaKPC y 57 (19%) a blaVIM. En el año 2014 KPC fue la predominante mientras que en 2016 lo fue OXA-48. En 2014 la prevalencia de OXA-48 (OR 4,15;p < 0,001) y de VIM (OR 7,40; p < 0,001) fue significativamente mayor en las áreas médicas y en la UCI en el análisis univariante, sin embargo en los siguientes años no hubo ninguna asociación. Respecto a la significación clínica de los resultados microbiológicos, un 60% de los aislamientos correspondían a una infección y un 40% a una colonización. Un tercio de los pacientes hospitalizados con aislamiento para EPC murieron en los 30 días siguientes al mismo, independientemente de si representaba una colonización o una infección. CONCLUSIONES: Hemos constatado un cambio en el patrón epidemiológico de los genotipos de nuestros aislamientos a lo largo del período de estudio. Un conocimiento pormenorizado de los patrones de distribución epidemiológica de las EPC dentro de cada hospital es fundamental para optimizar la terapéutica antimicrobiana

Update in Infectious Diseases 2018 / Actualización en patología infecciosa 2018

VIII Updating Course of Antimicrobials and Infectious Diseases has reviewed useful microbiological, epidemiological and clinical aspects for a current approach of infectious pathology. Present manuscript summarizes a chronicle about the main infection related meetings during 2017 (ECCMID, IAS, ASM and ID Week). In addition, the course proposed a practical approach for understanding different type of pathogens and our selected topics this year were the epidemiology of bacterial nosocomial infection, a practical approach to Clostridium difficile infection patients, a two year selection of the top ten papers about fungal infection and an update in fungal biofilms. Finally, proffesors made a practical approach by main clinical syndromes like sepsis, infections in oncohematological patients, CNS infections in immunosuppressed patients and reviewed the top ten papers in transplant infectious diseases and infection control during the last two years

El VIII Curso de Actualización en Patología Infecciosa y Antimicrobianos de Uso Clínico revisó aspectos microbiológicos, epidemiológicos y clínicos útiles para un enfoque actual de la patología infecciosa. El manuscrito actual resume una crónica sobre las principales reuniones relacionadas con la infección durante 2017 (ECCMID, IAS, ASM y la Semana de identificación). Además, el curso propuso un enfoque práctico para comprender diferentes tipos de patógenos y nuestros temas seleccionados este año fueron la epidemiología de la infección nosocomial bacteriana, un enfoque practico en pacientes con infección por Clostridium difficile, una selección de los diez mejores artículos sobre infección fungica en los ultimos dos años y una actualización en biofilm fungicos. Finalmente, los profesores realizaron un abordaje de práctico por síndromes clínicos principales como sepsis, las infecciones en pacientes oncolohematológicos, las infecciones del sistema nervioso central en pacientes inmunosuprimidos y revisaron los diez articulos mas importantes en enfermedades infecciosas de trasplantes y control de infecciones en los ultimos 2 años

Useful independent factors for distinguish infection and colonization in patients with urinary carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolation / Factores independientes útiles para distinguir colonización e infección en pacientes con aislamiento urinario de enterobacterias portadoras de carbapenamasas

Objective. The aim of this study is to know epidemiologic and clinical differences among those patients colonized or infected by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and develop a predictive model to facilitate the clinical approach concerning to start antimicrobial therapy. Methods. Observational retrospective cohort study was performed involving all patients with Urine carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolation (UCPEI) between November 2013 and July 2015. Patients were classifieds as colonized or infected considering Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition for urinary tract infection (UTI). Results. A total of 72 patients were included, mean age 76.4 (IQR 23-99) years and 40 (55.6%) were women. Thirty-four (47.2%) were colonized and 38 (52.8%) met the criteria of UTI and were considered infected. The independent variables associated to infection were female sex, peripheral vascular disease, admission in medical ward, permanent urinary catheter carrier, previous antimicrobial therapy, and length of stay. Isolation of OXA-48 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae behaved as a non UTI (colonization) factor in comparison with KPC or VIM CPE. The developed predictive model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.901 (95% CI: 0.832-0.970; p < 0.001). Conclusion. The predictive model that includes all this factors has demonstrated a good accuracy for infection diagnosis in these patients, an important issue considering that establishing the diagnosis of infection is not always easy in the profile of patients in which a CPE is isolated (AU)

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las diferencias epidemiológicas y clínicas entre los pacientes colonizados e infectados por Enterobacterias productoras de carbapenemasa y desarrollar un modelo predictivo para facilitar el abordaje clínico para iniciar la terapia antimicrobiana. Métodos. Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo observacional que incluyó a todos los pacientes con aislamiento de Enterobacterias productoras de carbapenemasa de la orina entre noviembre de 2013 y julio de 2015. Los pacientes fueron clasificados como colonizados o infectados considerando la definición de CDC para la infección del tracto urinario (UTI). Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 72 pacientes, con edad media de 76,4 años (IQR 23-99) y 40 (55,6%) mujeres. Treinta y cuatro (47,2%) fueron colonizados y 38 (52,8%) cumplieron con los criterios de UTI y se consideraron infectados. Las variables independientes asociadas a la infección fueron el sexo femenino, la enfermedad vascular periférica, el ingreso en una planta de medicina, el ser portador de catéter urinario permanente, haber recibido terapia antimicrobiana previa y una estancia media prolongada. El aislamiento de Enterobacterias productoras de carbapenemasa tipo OXA-48 se comportó como un factor de colonización en comparación con el aislamiento de KPC o VIM. El modelo predictivo desarrollado mostró un área bajo la curva (AUC) de 0,901 (IC del 95%: 0,832-0,970, p <0,001). Conclusión. El modelo predictivo que incluye todos estos factores ha demostrado una buena precisión para el diagnóstico de infección en estos pacientes, una cuestión importante teniendo en cuenta que establecer el diagnóstico de infección Eurono siempre es fácil en el perfil clínico de los pacientes con aislamiento de una enterobacteria portadora de carbapenemasa (AU)

Correlation between resistance mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus and cell wall and septum thickening.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to examine cell wall and septum thickening of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and methicillin- and linezolid-resistant S. aureus (MLRSA) isolates by transmission electron microscopy to correlate the association of resistance mechanisms with major changes in the morphology of membrane or septum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MSSA, MRSA, and MLRSA strains obtained from clinical samples of an outbreak that occurred in 2010 at the Intensive Care Unit of our Hospital were thawed and sown at 37°C in blood agar overnight. After that, they were washed, pelleted, and treated with a fixer solution. Pellets were dehydrated and finally embedded in resin. Transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize cell wall and septum thickening in all isolates. The comparison between the measurements obtained for each group was performed by a Kruskal-Wallis test and a post hoc Dunn-Bonferroni's pairwise comparison method. RESULTS: Differences in cell wall and septum thickness were statistically significant (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) between the three groups. Moreover, significant differences were detected in wall and septum thickness between the MSSA and MRSA strains (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) and between the MSSA and MLRSA strains (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) but not between the MRSA and MLRSA strains (P=0.386 and P=0.117). CONCLUSION: In this analysis, we correlate the resistance mediated by alterations in the cell membrane of S. aureus (methicillin-resistant, for example) with a greater thickness of the wall or septum. The resistance added to linezolid did not determine significant changes in the characteristics of the wall or septum with respect to those strains resistant only to methicillin.

Update in Infectious Diseases 2017 / Actualización en patología infecciosa 2017

Antimicrobial resistance in complex models of continuous infection is a current issue. The update 2017 course addresses about microbiological, epidemiological and clinical aspects useful for a current approach to infectious disease. During the last year, nosocomial pneumonia approach guides, recommendations for management of yeast and filamentous fungal infections, review papers on the empirical approach to peritonitis and extensive guidelines on stewardship have been published. HIV infection is being treated before and more intensively. The implementation of molecular biology, spectrometry and inmunology to traditional techniques of staining and culture achieve a better and faster microbiological diagnosis. Finally, the infection is increasingly integrated, assessing non-antibiotic aspects in the treatment (AU)

La resistencia a los antimicrobianos en modelos cada vez más complejos de infección continúa siendo actualidad. El curso de actualización de este año 2017 trata aspectos microbiológicos, epidemiológicos y clínicos útiles para un abordaje actual de la patología infecciosa. Durante el último año se han publicado guías de aproximación a la neumonía nosocomial, recomendaciones sobre el manejo de la infección fúngica por levaduras y filamentosos, documentos de revisión sobre el abordaje empírico de la peritonitis y una extensas guías sobre stewardship. En la infección por el VIH, cada vez se trata antes y más intensamente. La implementación de la biología molecular, la espectrometría y la inmunología a las técnicas tradicionales de tinción y cultivo consiguen un diagnóstico microbiológico mejor y más rápido. Por último, la infección se aborda de forma cada vez más integral, valorando aspectos no antibióticos en el tratamiento (AU)

Plazomicin Activity against 346 Extended-Spectrum-ß-Lactamase/AmpC-Producing Escherichia coli Urinary Isolates in Relation to Aminoglycoside-Modifying Enzymes.

The activity of plazomicin and clinically relevant aminoglycosides was tested against 346 extended-spectrum-ß-lactamase/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli urinary isolates, and the results were correlated with the presence of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs). Data showed that plazomicin was very active against all ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli urinary isolates. Its activity was not related to the AME genes studied.

Activity of linezolid and tedizolid against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant and methicillin and linezolid resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro comparison / Actividad comparativa in vitro entre linezolid y tedizolid frente a aislados clínicos de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a meticilina y aislados resistentes también a linezolid

Introduction. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Spain is approximately 20- 30%. However, resistance to linezolid is rare, and the main reports are from nosocomial outbreaks. The objective of the present study was to compare the in vitro susceptibility of linezolid with that of tedizolid against MRSA isolates and methicillin- and linezolid-resistant isolates (MLRSA) mediated by the cfr gene. Material and methods. The in vitro susceptibility of linezolid and tedizolid was determined using the E-test with 18 MRSA strains and 18 cfr-mediated MLRSA strains obtained from clinical isolates in the microbiology service of a tertiary university hospital. Results. All MRSA strains were susceptible to both antibiotics. Analysis of the MRSA isolates revealed that the MIC50 and MIC90 of linezolid were 1.5 and 2 mg/L, respectively; those of tedizolid were 0.25 and 0.4 mg/L. The MIC50 and MIC90 of tedizolid remained at 0.75 and 1 mg/L against the MLRSA strains (MIC90 ≥ 8 mg/L). Conclusions. Both for MRSA and for MLRSA, the MICs obtained for tedizolid were at least 2 dilutions lower than those of linezolid, thus demonstrating between 2 and 4 times greater activity in vitro than linezolid (AU)

Introducción. La prevalencia de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (SARM) se sitúa en España en torno al 20 y el 30%. Sin embargo, la resistencia a linezolid se reporta de forma excepcional, salvo en algunos brotes nosocomiales. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue realizar un análisis comparativo de la sensibilidad in vitro de linezolid y tedizolid frente a aislados de SARM, así como frente a otros también resistentes a linezolid (SARLM) mediados por el gen cfr. Material y métodos. Se determinó la sensibilidad in vitro a linezolid y tedizolid mediante la técnica de E-test a 18 cepas SARM y a otras 18 que además presentaban resistencia a linezolid (SARLM) mediadas por el gen cfr, procedentes de aislados clínicos en el Servicio de Microbiología de un Hospital terciario Universitario. Resultados. Todas las cepas de SARM fueron sensibles a ambos antibióticos. Analizando los aislados clínicos de SARM, las CMI50-CMI90 de linezolid fueron 1,5 y 2 mg/L respectivamente y en el caso de tedizolid de 0,25 y 0,4 mg/L. Frente a las cepas de SARLM (CMI90 ≥ 8 mg/L) las CMI50-CMI90 de tedizolid se mantuvieron en 0,75 y 1 mg/L. Conclusiones. Tanto en el caso de las SARM como en el de las SARLM, las CMI obtenidas con tedizolid resultaron ser de al menos dos diluciones más bajas, demostrando entre 2 y 4 veces mayor actividad in vitro que linezolid (AU)

In vitro ceftaroline combinations against meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We studied in vitro ceftaroline combinations against 61 meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates; 18 of them were also resistant to linezolid, using overlapping E-test method. Daptomycin-ceftaroline combination obtained lower fractional inhibitory concentration values, in comparison with those including vancomycin or linezolid against meticillin-resistant S. aureus (P<0.05). All meticillin- and linezolid-resistant S. aureus strains were resistant to ceftaroline; nevertheless, combinations with vancomycin or daptomycin showed higher synergy or addition rates than those with linezolid.