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C Latorre

Publications and source records attributed to C Latorre.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Characterisation of invasive pneumococcal isolates in Catalan children up to 5 years of age, 1989-2000.

Ninety-six Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated between January 1989 and December 2000 from usually sterile sites of children aged < 5 years of age were included in the study. Resistance to penicillin (38.6% intermediate, 10.4% high-level), cefotaxime (20.8%), tetracycline (41.7%), chloramphenicol (33.3%) and erythromycin (27.1%), as well as serogroup/type, were related to age and pathology. Strains from children aged < 2 years showed the highest penicillin resistance rate. Resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and erythromycin was the most common pattern (18.8% of strains). Most isolates (80.2%) belonged to serogroups/types included in the heptavalent conjugate vaccine.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

[Evaluation of dipstick for diagnosis of urinary tract infection in children and adults].

BACKGROUND: Dipstick is used as a first test for screening urinary tract infection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 1087 urine samples from paediatric and adult patients were processed with dipstick and direct microscopic observation of pellet as well as of a Gram stain. A culture was also performed in all of them and was considered as the reference method in order to evaluate all other tests. RESULTS: Sensitivity of dipstick and of Gram stain was higher in urines from adults than in those from children, but direct examination of pellet was better in paediatrics. Specificity of the three screening tests previous to culture presented few variations in both groups. Predictive positive value of dipstick and direct pellet was slightly better in children's urines; on the contrary, Gram stain was better in adults. Negative predictive value was similar for the three parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The dipstick here evaluated is a good method for screening of urinary tract infection, though its positivity obliges to a bacteriologic follow up in order to get a certainty diagnosis. Nevertheless, in children less than 2 year old we recommend universal urine culture.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Helicobacter pylori infections: antigen detection in stool samples].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate a new diagnostic test to detect Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool samples (HpSA), and compare the results with those obtained by standard techniques (rapid urease test,culture, histological examination of gastric biopsy specimens,13C-urea breath test and serology), in a paediatric population with gastrointestinal symptomatology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with dyspeptic symptoms (37 females and 23 males;mean age 10.9 years) attending the Gastroenterology Service were included in the study. Exclusion criterium was previous treatment with proton pump inhibitors, bismuth compounds or antibiotics. Rapid urease test, culture and histologic study of gastric biopsies,13C-urea breath test and serology, as well as HpSA, were performed to all patients. RESULTS: Forty seven patients were considered infected by H.pylori on the basis of bacterium isolation and 13C-urea breath test positivity. HpSAwas detected in 45 of the 47 H.pylori positive patients(95.7%). There were no HpSA false positive. CONCLUSION: Our results show that this new test is highly sensitive (95%) and specific(100%) for detection of H. pylori infection. It has some advantages over other non invasive techniques: it is easy to perform,requires no blood samples and its cost is lower than that of 13C-urea breath test.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A 22,000-Year Record of Monsoonal Precipitation from Northern Chile's Atacama Desert.

Fossil rodent middens and wetland deposits from the central Atacama Desert (22 degrees to 24 degrees S) indicate increasing summer precipitation, grass cover, and groundwater levels from 16.2 to 10.5 calendar kiloyears before present (ky B.P.). Higher elevation shrubs and summer-flowering grasses expanded downslope across what is now the edge of Absolute Desert, a broad expanse now largely devoid of rainfall and vegetation. Paradoxically, this pluvial period coincided with the summer insolation minimum and reduced adiabatic heating over the central Andes. Summer precipitation over the central Andes and central Atacama may depend on remote teleconnections between seasonal insolation forcing in both hemispheres, the Asian monsoon, and Pacific sea surface temperature gradients. A less pronounced episode of higher groundwater levels in the central Atacama from 8 to 3 ky B.P. conflicts with an extreme lowstand of Lake Titicaca, indicating either different climatic forcing or different response times and sensitivities to climatic change.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae carriers in the Catalan preschool population. Working Group on Invasive Disease Caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of healthy Haemophilus influenzae carriers in a random sample of the preschool population in Catalonia. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected and cultured on chocolate agar supplemented with 260 microg/ml of bacitracin. Four hundred two of the 734 (54.8%) children studied were detected as Haemophilus influenzae carriers: 7 (0.9%) carried serotype b, 14 (1.9%) serotype e, 6 (0.8%) serotype f, and 375 (51%) carried nontypable strains. The results show that, although the prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae carriers is similar to figures reported from other countries, the prevalence of Haemophillus influenzae serotype b carriers is lower and corresponds with the low incidence of invasive disease observed in the Catalan community.

Carrier State↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae pharyngeal carriers in the school population of Catalonia. Working Group on invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of healthy Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) pharyngeal carriers in a representative sample of the Catalonian school population, as well as the factors associated. A two-stage cluster sampling was carried out. Parents were given a questionnaire to collect information on sociodemographic and epidemiological variables. A pharyngeal swab was performed on children when informed consent was given by parents, and was cultured on chocolate agar with 260 microg/ml bacitracin. Of the 1212 children studied, 316 (26%) H. influenzae carriers were detected: 5 (0.4%) serotype b, 1 (0.08%) serotype c, 6 (0.5%) serotype e, 5 (0.4%) serotype f, and 299 (24.7%) non-typable. Age, gender and geographical location were the only variables associated with H. influenzae carrier status. The prevalence of non-typable H. influenzae carriers was similar to that of studies carried out in other countries, while that of serotype b carriers was similar to the remainder of H. influenzae capsulates, and lower than that described in previous studies. These data are in accordance with the low incidence of the disease observed in our context, although the possibility that the vaccine coverage may have affected the results of this study cannot be dismissed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Neisseria meningitidis: evolution of penicillin resistance and phenotype in a children's hospital in Barcelona, Spain.

UNLABELLED: Neisseria meningitidis is the most prevalent micro-organism involved in paediatric bacterial meningitis in the Barcelona area in children over 3 mo of age and it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Spain. A total of 498 strains of N. meningitidis, obtained between the years 1986 and 1997 from children with sepsis and/or meningitis, were characterized according to their serogroup and penicillin resistance; their distribution in serotypes and subtypes was studied from 1990. A decreasing tendency in the number of annual isolates was observed in this period. Most isolates belonged to serogroups B (403 strains) and C (77 strains). Serogroup C accounted for 1.8% of the strains in 1986 and 57.1% in 1997. The most prevalent phenotype between 1990 and 1996 was B:4:P1.15. but C:2b:P1.2,5 was the most prevalent in 1997. Overall penicillin-resistance rates ranged from 9.1% in 1986 (when a non-susceptible strain was isolated for the first time in the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain) to 71.4% in 1997, and it was more common among strains belonging to serogroup C (52% of resistant strains) than to serogroup B (22.1 % of resistant strains). The penicillin-resistance level was low, MIC always < or = 0.5 microg/ml. The present increase in N. meningitidis group C isolates, mainly C:2b:P1.2,5, and the availability of preventive measures for this highly pathological and resistant phenotype, argues strongly for the establishment of an epidemiological monitoring system. Detection of penicillin resistance should be standardized worldwide in order to unify data from all laboratories. CONCLUSION: A shift between serogroups B and C is observed in Barcelona from 1986 to 1997, as well as a rapid distribution of decreased penicillin susceptibility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Haemophilus influenzae type b invasive disease in Catalonia (1996)].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find out the incidence and characteristics of H. influenzae type b invasive disease (HibID) in Catalonia, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An active surveillance of H. influenzae isolated from normally sterile sites was carried out during 1996. Microbiology laboratories of hospitals of Catalonia were periodically contacted by telephone. The serotype of all the strains was studied. RESULTS: The incidence of H. influenzae invasive disease (HIID) was 7.1 per 100,000 in children under 5 years and 1.0 per 100,000 in those over 5 years. The incidence of serotype b was 6.4 per 100,000 children under 5 years and 0.2 above this age. Only three strains belonged to types other than b (d, e and f). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of HIbID is uncommon in Catalonia, lower than that registered in the prevaccine era in other countries and regions of the same geographical area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction technique for the diagnosis of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae].

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection of the central nervous system (CNS), most frequently caused by Neisseria meningitidis in our setting. Microbiologic diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is not enough sensitive because its efficiency can be affected by the therapeutic regimen given to the patient. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide a more sensitive diagnosis and allow us to get an earlier result. OBJECTIVES: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of a PCR technique for the diagnosis of meningitis caused by N. meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients who were attended because of suspected bacterial meningitis on the Hospital de Sant Joan de Déu, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí and Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and had negative results by conventional laboratory methods, were selected for the study. A total of 99 cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) were obtained and evaluated for PCR. DNA extracts of the CSF samples were amplified by universal primers. Amplification products were hybridized with specific probes for Haemophilus genus and N. meningitidis. Positive and negative controls were included to asses the reliability of PCR. RESULTS: Eight of the 99 CSF samples (8%) were positive by PCR and subsequent hybridization with the specific probe of N. meningitidis. None of the amplicons hybridized with the probe of Haemophilus genus. Thirteen percent of the patients (8/59) with clinical suspicious of non-neonatal sepsis or meningitis were diagnosed by PCR, amongst them, 36% of the cases (4/11) with initial diagnosis of meningococcal sepsis or meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and the specificity of the PCR technique afford a complementary method to conventional ones, in special for the diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis in the group of pediatric patients.

Child↗
PubMed1999

[Evaluation of a simple rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applied to the diagnosis Helicobacter pylori infection in the pediatric population, by means of a rapid and simple method of extraction and posterior detection by a colorimetric hybridation of amplified H. pylori DNA. METHODS: Fifty three gastric biopsies, obtained through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from 53 patients with gastric pathology (45 recidivant abdominal pain and eight hematemesis), were processed from october 1995 to july 1996. Three non invasive tests were performed: detection of IgG by (Cobas) Core Anti-H. pylori EIA (Roche), breath test with 13C-urea and PCR of dental plaque, as well as four invasive ones: histologic study, culture into selective (Pylori Agar, bioMérieux) and non selective media (Columbia Agar with 5% sheep blood, bioMérieux), test of rapid urease and PCR of gastric biopsies. A 20% solution of Chelex 100 resin (DNA Extraction Reagen, Perkin Elmer) was used for DNA extraction, amplification was performed from gen ureA (Clayton, 1992) and amplified DNA was detected by colorimetric hybridation (PCR ELISA, Boehringer, Mannheim). Duration of the PCR process was: extraction 25 min, amplification two hours and detection three hours. RESULTS: Results of culture and PCR from gastric biopsies agreed in 84.3% of cases (27 positives, 16 negatives and two not determined). Two samples were positive by culture and negative by PCR, and were considered as PCR false negatives due to positivity of three or more other tests. Six samples were negative by culture and positive by PCR, being considered as culture false negatives due to positivity of three or more other tests. Sensitivity of PCR and culture was 94.2 and 82.8%. Specificity was 100% for both tests. None of the dental plaque samples was positive. CONCLUSIONS: When invasive techniques are to be done for microbiologic diagnose of H. pylori, PCR increases the confirmation rate of infection; the present procedure enables daily routine work due to its simplicity and its short turnaround time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Perinatal listeriosis: a population-based multicenter study in Barcelona, Spain (1990-1996).

The aim off this study was to describe the incidence, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcome of perinatal listeriosis for a 7-year period (1990-1996) based on data of an active population-based surveillance project implemented in the city of Barcelona, Spain. There were 30 cases (20.8%) associated with pregnancy (15 pregnant women, 13 neonates, and 2 fetal deaths). The incidence of perinatal listeriosis varied from 4.1 to 0 per 10,000 live births. The proportion of perinatal cases in relation to the total number of cases of listeriosis varied between 0 and 42%. Early-onset neonatal sepsis accounted for 12 of 13 live births. The mean age of infected pregnant women with listeriosis was 30.1+/-2.0 years. Chorioamnionitis was the predominant clinical form (86.7%). Only two mothers had primary bacteremia by L. monocytogenes in the second trimester of pregnancy. Both infants were born healthy, without signs of infection. One of these mothers was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since January 1994, 12 strains were available for serotyping and phagotyping; 9 belonged to serovar 4b, 2 to serovar 1/2b, and 1 to serovar 1/2a. No outbreaks of L. monocytogenes infection occurred during the study period. The overall neonatal mortality rate was 7.7% among infected live births. All pregnant women were treated with ampicillin and none died. Early antenatal treatment with ampicillin improves neonatal outcome and can result in the birth of healthy babies.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from a paediatric population: changes in 10 years.

Susceptibility to penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin and chloramphenicol, as well as serotypes of 100 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated between 1984 and 1985, were compared to those of the same number of strains isolated between 1994 and 1995. The strains were obtained in Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, and were thought to be the cause of a variety of infectious diseases in paediatric patients attending this centre. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin were higher in strains of the second period (51% of resistant strains during the first period vs 61% during the second one), as were those of cefotaxime (12% vs 18%) and erythromycin (6% vs 36%), while chloramphenicol MICs showed a light decrease (65% vs 46%). Serotypes 6, 19 and 23 were the most prevalent. Five new serotypes (4, 10, 18, 22 and 31) were detected in 10 penicillin-susceptible strains during the second period. Because of the increase in resistance to antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of systemic and localized infections, therapeutic alternatives must be studied and suggested in order to offer oral and percutaneous treatment for our children's infections caused by pneumococci.

Cefotaxime↗
PubMed1998

A case-control study of diarrhoea in children caused by Escherichia coli producing heat-stable enterotoxin (EAST-1).

Escherichia coli strains associated with diarrhoeal disease have been classified into several types according to the pathogenic mechanism. Among these, enteroaggregative E. coli strains (EAggEC) have been associated with persistent childhood diarrhoea. Some strains of EAggEC produce a heat-stable toxin (EAST-1) that differs from others described previously. The main goal of this case-control study was to determine the prevalence of EAggEC and EAST-1-producing E. coli strains as a cause of diarrhoea in children in Spain and to study their in-vitro susceptibility to 21 antimicrobial agents. In the case group (115 children) 22 (19%) isolates and four (3.5%) isolates were EAST-1-producing E. coli and EAggEC, respectively, whereas in the control group (79 children) four (5%) isolates produced EAST-1 (p = 0.005) and three (3.8%) isolates were EAggEC. The present study suggests that EAST-1-producing E. coli strains are associated with diarrhoeal diseases in Spanish children, whereas EAggEC strains are not. Moreover, EAST-1-producing E. coli strains showed a high susceptibility to all the antimicrobial agents tested except for ampicillin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

[Recurrent infection by Streptococcus agalactiae].

BACKGROUND: To study the factors implicated in the infectious process (host, microorganism and antibiotic) of a newborn early sepsis by S. agalactiae that suffered a reactivation at day five from discharge. METHODS: Description of two episodes of newborn sepsis by S. agalactiae corresponding to the same patient and microbiologic study of the isolated strain: typing by "genomic macrorestriction" and antibiotic tolerance by "timed killing curves". RESULTS: It was demonstrated that both strains of S. agalactiae type la/c belonged to the same clone as well as the tolerance to ampicillin of the strain. DISCUSSION: This sort of infections processes in the newborn are very serious and there is possibility of relapse. Thus, it is important to study the ethiologic agent and its relationship with antibiotics, in order to stablish the best treatment regimes, avoiding the possibility of relapses as the case we have described.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Study of the viral etiology of lower respiratory tract infections in a neonatal unit].

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible viral etiology in 139 infants with lower respiratory tract infection who required hospitalization in the Infant Unit of our hospital, from October 1994 to June 1995. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 139 patients were admitted, aged from 13 days to 14 months, during this period. The etiological agent was detected by direct immunofluorescence from nasopharyngeal secretions. Monoclonal antibodies were used against Respiratory Syncitial Virus, Influenza A Virus, Influenza B Virus, Adenovirus and Parainfluenza 3 Virus. Antibody detection against these viruses by Complement Fixation Test was done on 29 of these patients, with paired sera (acute and convalescent phase). RESULTS: In 82 patients (59%) we found at least one viral agents from the nasopharyngeal specimens, but in 64 of these only one was detected, in the remaining 18, there were more than one. Significant levels of antibodies were detected in only six of the 29 patients tested. Serology was negative in the remaining 23 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Syncitial Respiratory Virus is the first virus responsible for the lower respiratory tract infection in this age group (49%). There was no correlation between serological diagnosis and antigen detection.

Antigens, Viral↗