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Biomedical subjects

J J Picazo

Publications and source records attributed to J J Picazo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in the susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis group organisms to various antimicrobial agents 1979-1989.

The in vitro activity of metronidazole, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and 11 beta-lactam antibiotics against 135 clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group was compared. In addition, changes in the resistance patterns of members of the Bacteroides fragilis group isolated at the Hospital Universitario San Carlos in Madrid, Spain, between 1979 and 1989 were documented. The most active beta-lactam drugs were imipenem and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. In 1989, however, two strains were found to be resistant to imipenem and to all other beta-lactam agents tested. There was no emergence of resistance to metronidazole. Chloramphenicol was very effective: only one resistant strain was detected in 1979 and no chloramphenicol-resistant isolates were found during the rest of the study period. An outbreak of clindamycin resistance was noted in 1982, and the first cefoxitin resistant strains were recovered in 1985. The changing patterns of susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria to antimicrobial agents and the emergence of Bacteroides fragilis strains resistant to new beta-lactam agents suggest that periodic antimicrobial susceptibility tests should be performed in order to guide the selection of antimicrobial agents for therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Comparison of epidemiological markers of Salmonella strains isolated from different sources in Spain.

A comparative study of the phage types, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and plasmid profiles of 171 strains of Salmonella isolated from food, epidemic outbreaks, and water-contaminated environments as well as sporadic human isolates was carried out to determine the most adequate marker in epidemiological investigations. Typing based on the plasmid profiles appears to be the most effective method for grouping strains with the same serotype obtained from a single outbreak and from environmental sources. However, none of the three markers tested allow us total discrimination and identification of related strains from a common source for epidemiological tracing. Therefore, the combined use of the three methods is necessary for determining whether common source isolates are related.

Bacterial Typing Techniques

[1st Spanish epidemic of plasmid resistance to 3d generation cephalosporins: the implication of SHV-2].

BACKGROUND: The first spanish outbreak of bacterial strains showing resistance to third generation cephalosporins and due to the presence of the extended spectrum beta-lactamase SHV-2 is reported. This outbreak was observed in Madrid during the years 1988-1990 and involved the San Carlos University Hospital with the same type of isolates at the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital. METHODS: The screening for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases was performed by the double-disk synergy test. Analytical isoelectric focusing and susceptibility tests were performed in all the strains showing a presumptive extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. RESULTS: Fifty-nine strains belonging to four bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 61%; Serratia marcescens, 31%; Klebsiella oxytoca, 5%, and Escherichia coli, 3%) showed a beta-lactamase of point isoelectric 7.6; the susceptibility tests demonstrated more resistance to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone than to ceftazidime and aztreonam. CONCLUSIONS: The biochemical, kinetic and isoelectrofocusing parameters demonstrated the presence of a SHV-2 enzyme. The blind application of NCCLS breakpoints would lead to false "susceptibility" results in over 40% of the cases.

Bacterial Proteins

[Bacteremic pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi and HIV infection. Report of a new case and review of the literature].

Rhodococcus equi (Corynebacterium equi) is able to produce infections not only in animals but also in patients, usually immunosuppressed ones. We report a new case of bacteremic pneumonia in a drug addict who was also infected by HIV. X-ray film of the chest showed a cavitated infiltrate in right upper lobe. R. equi was recovered from blood, respiratory secretions and lung tissue. The patient was with a prolonged course of antibiotics and also surgical treatment. In spite of both therapies, the patient died. We believe that this infection has to be considered in HIV infected patients with cavitated pneumonia and that early surgical treatment, combined with a prolonged course of multiple antibiotics, is advisable. Finally, in view of the severity of this infection, and its relation with other opportunistic infections, we believe that could be included as AIDS diagnostic criteria.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Bacteremia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and HIV infection].

We analyze seven patients with HIV infection that developed community-acquired bacteremic pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Six patients were drug addicts and one was a male homosexual. Five patients have been previously diagnosed of having AIDS. All patients had fever with respiratory tract symptoms and abnormal X-ray films of the chest, in five cases the lesions were located in both lungs. Only four patients showed a pattern of consolidation. The remaining cases showed an interstitial pattern. All but one patient have a CD4 lymphocyte count equal or less than 50 cells/mm3. Clinical evolution was good with antibiotic treatment. In two cases a relapse occur. No deaths were seen directly related to pneumococcal infection. We want to highlight the relative lack of severity of this infection and we suggest the use of antibiotic treatment for at least 14 days.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Evaluation of an agglutination method of latex particles sensitized for the detection of vaginal candidiasis].

We assayed clinically and experimentally a rapid method for detection of Candida in vagina by slide latex agglutination test (SLA). A total of 50 vaginal swabs from women with clinical evidence of candidiasis were examined for yeast by microscopical examination, mycological culture and compared with the Candida antigen test. We also studied experimentally the sensibility of the SLA test. We found better results with SLA than microscopy for rapid diagnosis. Of the women with certain vaginal candidiasis, 60% were diagnosed by microscopy and 100% by SLA. SLA provided similar information than culture, but is faster and the clinician can use its information choosing the appropriate antifungal treatment.

Candida

Susceptibilities of species of the Bacteroides fragilis group to 10 antimicrobial agents.

A total of 94 clinical isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group was tested for susceptibility to metronidazole, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, cefoxitin, cefotetan, cefmetazole, moxalactam, mezlocillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and imipenem. All the strains tested were susceptible to imipenem, metronidazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and chloramphenicol. The rate of resistance to clindamycin was 21%. The results of this study demonstrate a difference in resistance rates from one species of the B. fragilis group to another.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Impact of the BACTEC NR system in detecting Candida fungemia.

As a result of the growing importance of candidemia, various techniques for the detection of Candida spp. in blood have been designed with a view to speeding up the laboratory procedure. We have performed a retrospective comparison of the efficiencies of the conventional VACUTAINER system (Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems) and the BACTEC NR system (Johnston Laboratories, Inc.). During a 4-year period, 88,300 blood cultures were processed, with growth of Candida species in 552. The mean times required for the detection of growth were 7.55 days with the VACUTAINER system and 4.1 days with the BACTEC NR system (P less than 0.05). During the first week of incubation, the VACUTAINER system detected 56.1% of the candidemias and the BACTEC NR detected 93.6% (P less than 0.05). Use of the BACTEC NR therefore permits reduction of the incubation period from the previously established 4 weeks to a more convenient 7 to 14 days.

Candida

[How to stimulate the placental function (author's transl)].

Imminent abortion, habitual abortion and threatened premature labor, all constitute difficult clinical problems. Those cases require on every occasion a diagnosis as acurate as possible, and unfortunately our present methods of biochemical determinations only represent a means to evaluate placental function. On those cases where a faulty placental function is detected thru the tests presently available, the authors recommend the utilization of a placentotropic substance, Gestanon, that is capable to stimulate and normalize the placental function, a is demostrated by the statistical results published in the international medical bibliography.

Abortion, Habitual