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L Matas

Publications and source records attributed to L Matas.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Assessment of a new test to detect Legionella urinary antigen for the diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease.

Given that the rate of mortality by Legionella pneumonia increases in incorrectly treated patients, rapid diagnosis and early antibiotic treatment are needed. We have assessed the performance of a new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test (Bartels Inc. Trinity Biotech Company, Wicklow, Ireland) to detect Legionella pneumophila antigen in urine comparing it to Binax EIA (Binax, Portland, Maine). We also evaluated the capability of both EIAs to detect extracted soluble antigens of Legionella strains. Using nonconcentrated urine samples (NCU) the sensitivity of Bartels EIA was 74.1% (66/89) and the sensitivity of Binax EIA was 51.7% (46/89). The sensitivity of both EIA tests were 91.5% (54/59) using concentrated urine samples (CU). Specificity of both EIA tests was 100% in NCU and CU. Bartels EIA was able to detect all serogroup L. pneumophila antigens, achieving a higher sensitivity in the case of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 soluble antigen. The new EIA was found to be a useful test for the rapid diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia, being a better alternative to the Binax EIA if NCU is used.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2001

Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen by a rapid immunochromatographic assay in urine samples.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of a newly available rapid (15 min) immunochromatographic membrane test (ICT) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in urine samples, in order to assess its utility in the diagnosis of bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: We studied urine samples from 51 patients with bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumonia due to S pneumoniae diagnosed by blood culture and pneumococcal polysaccharide capsular antigen detection by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in urine samples, 16 patients with probable pneumococcal pneumonia, 71 patients with nonpneumococcal pneumonia, and 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. Urine samples were collected and frozen at - 20 degrees C until used. The ICT test was performed following the instructions of the manufacturer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: S. pneumoniae antigen was detected in 41 of 51 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (80.4%); results were positive in 23 of 28 bacteremic cases (82.1%) and in 18 of 23 nonbacteremic cases (78.3%). From patients with a diagnosis of presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia, antigen was detected in seven urine samples (43.7%) and also in one case of the 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. The specificity of the ICT test was 97.2%. CONCLUSION: The ICT assay is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia, especially for the nonbacteremic cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Spastic paraparesias by HTLV-1: early identification of a new case. Review of the Spanish casuistics].

This is a study of the early identification of a new case of tropical spastic paraparesis/HLTV-1-associated myelopathy in a Spanish patient not previously reported on. The patient is 48 years of age, and he has been living in Sierra Leone for the past seventeen years, where he has worked as a surgeon. On first examination, he had been suffering from symptoms of a spastic paraparesis for the previous five months. This diagnosis was confirmed using serological tests (EIA and Western-blot) on the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We have studied the cases outlined in medical literature, paying special attention to the time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and the date on which the diagnosis was made.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of a fluorescence hybridisation assay using peptide nucleic acid probes for identification and differentiation of tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in liquid cultures.

The performance was evaluated of a fluorescence in situ hybridisation assay using peptide nucleic acid probes (Dako Probe MTB Culture Confirmation Test; Dako, Denmark) for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms and differentiation between tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in material taken directly from Bactec 12B (Becton Dickinson, USA) and MB/BacT (Organon Teknika, USA) bottles. The test was applied to 129 smear-positive (Ziehl-Neelsen stain) clinical specimens, 48 previously identified clinical strains of mycobacteria (12 MTC and 36 NTM), and 51 reference strains (7 MTC and 44 NTM) which were all previously inoculated into Bactec 12B and MB/BacT bottles. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for MTC-positive cultures was 87.6% and 100%, respectively, for Bactec 12B, and 100%, respectively, for MB/BacT. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for NTM-positive cultures was 100% for both media.

Culture Media↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of in-vitro efficacy of 1% Virkon against bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores by means of AFNOR guidelines.

Peroxygenic acid, under the brand name Virkon, has unleashed great debate following contradictory reports of its efficacy and spectrum of activity. The aim of this study was to test the biocidal activity of the compound against 10 different micro-organisms, following standard in-vitro test procedures. Bactericidal, fungicidal and sporicidal activities were determined using quantitative suspension and germ carrier tests and virucidal activity was assessed using a simple dilution suspension test, following the Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) guidelines. One percent Virkon demonstrated bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae and Mycobacterium smegmatis in the suspension test and against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus and E. hirae in the carrier test. One percent Virkon showed virucidal activity against poliovirus in the suspension test. However, this concentration did not comply with sporicidal and fungicidal activity guidelines. In conclusion, 1% Virkon is effective only against vegetative bacteria, yeasts and viruses, and should therefore be considered a low-level disinfectant.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of a new serodiagnostic tuberculosis test based on immunoglobulin A detection against Kp-90 antigen.

We evaluated a new serological test for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which detects the presence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in human serum, the Kreatech TB IgA EIA test. The study was performed using 166 serum samples collected in the city of Barcelona, Spain. Fifty-six serum samples were from TB patients and 111 from controls, 40 of which were non-TB pneumonia patients. The test sensitivity was 70.58% in the adult group with pulmonary TB and 50% in the group with extra-pulmonary TB. These sensitivities were similar to those previously reported by others. However, we found that the test had a low specificity of only 68.68%, while specificities of 90% and 95% have been reported. This discrepancy may be attributable to differences in the respective study populations. In our control group we included 40 non-TB pneumonia patients (36% of the entire control group), in whom test specificity dropped to 47.22%. In those studies in which specificities of 90% and above were achieved, very few serum samples from non-TB pneumonia patients were tested (6-12% of the entire control group).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Pneumonias in patients with malignant hemopathies. Their etiology, response to treatment and prognostic factors in 69 patients (88 episodes)].

BACKGROUND: To analyze the etiology, treatment response and prognostic factors in 88 episodes of pneumonia in patients with hematological malignancies diagnosed in one center during a period of 30 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 88 episodes of pneumonia in 69 adult patients were studied. Age, sex, hematological malignancy and its treatment, existence of neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, administration of immunosuppressive agents, type (hospital or community-acquired) and localization of pneumonia, presence of respiratory failure and treatment response were reported. For etiologic diagnosis of pneumonias, cultures of blood, sputum, pleural fluid and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), as well as Legionella pneumophila, Aspergillus fumigatus and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection in urine were performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors for pneumonia evolution were carried out. RESULTS: The median age was 63 years. Acute leukemias (AL) were the predominant hematological malignancies. Microbiologic documentation was obtained in 40 (45%) of pneumonias. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BAL (71%) was the diagnostic procedure with highest yield followed by blood cultures (25%). Streptococcus pneumoniae (13) was the most frequent isolated pathogen, followed by Legionella pneumophila (6) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6). A significantly higher prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae was observed in community-acquired pneumonia. The overall mortality rate was 20%. Respiratory failure (p = 0.0009), existence of neutropenia (p = 0.0023), age equal or higher than 60 years (p = 0.012) and prolonged administration of immunosuppressive agents (p = 0.015) were the prognostic factors associated with unfavourable evolution of pneumonias in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in patients with hematological malignancies was only achieved in a half of cases. In our series, the high prevalence of Legionella pneumophila can be attributed to the special epidemiologic characteristics of our hospital. Prognostic factors of pneumonia are related to individual factors as well as to the hematological status of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Prospective study of community-acquired pneumonia of bacterial etiology in adults.

The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the bacterial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults in Spain. From May 1994 to February 1996, 392 episodes of CAP diagnosed in the emergency department of a 600-bed university hospital were studied. An etiological diagnosis based on noninvasive microbiological investigations was achieved in 228 cases (58%); 173 of these diagnoses were definitive and 55 probable. Streptococcus pneumoniae, which caused 23.9% of the episodes, was the predominant pathogen observed, followed by Chlamydia pneumoniae (13.5%) and Legionella pneumophila (12.5%). Other less frequent pathogens found were Haemophilus influenzae (2.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.5%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1.3%), Coxiella burnetii (1%), Moraxella catarrhalis (2 cases), Nocardia spp. (2 cases), and Staphylococcus aureus (2 cases). Streptococcus pneumoniae was significantly more frequent in patients with underlying disease and/or age > or =60 years (28% vs. 13%, P = 0.002), while Legionella pneumophila was more frequent in patients below 60 years of age and without underlying disease (20% vs. 9%, P = 0.006). Likewise, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila were the most frequent etiologies in patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit, occurring in 29% and 26.3% of the patients, respectively. In addition to Streptococcus pneumoniae, other microorganisms such as Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella spp. should be seriously considered in adults with community-acquired pneumonia when initiating empiric treatment or ordering rapid diagnostic tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for the detection of Legionella antigen in urine samples.

A new immunochromatographic membrane assay for detecting Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine samples (Binax Now Legionella Urinary Antigen Test; Binax, USA) was evaluated. Its sensitivity, specificity and level of agreement with the Binax enzyme immunoassay were compared using nonconcentrated and concentrated urine samples. The overall agreement between the two tests was 98.1%; the specificity of both was 100%. The sensitivity of the immunochromatographic assay was 55.5% in nonconcentrated urine and 97.2% in concentrated urine in comparison with the enzyme immunoassay, using concentrated urine as the reference test. This immunochromatographic assay screens successfully for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 soluble antigen in concentrated urine samples.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[The epidemiological surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a hospital population of Catalonia. Collaborators in the VIHHOSP project].

BACKGROUND: AIDS is one of the most important problems of public health in our setting. The surveillance of HIV infection in sentinel population is an important alternative to the use of the AIDS cases registries, to obtain a dynamic and updated information about HIV/AIDS epidemic. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among the patients from 5 sentinel hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Unlinked anonymous screening of serum from patients aged 15-49 from 5 sentinel hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. Samples were broken by age, sex, in-patients or out-patients and clinical specialities related to HIV/AIDS or not related. Samples were analyzed in pools of five and were tested by the OMS strategy II, for the epidemiological surveillance purposes. RESULTS: HIV testing was developed in 9,524 patients, with a prevalence of 1.6% (153 samples). The overall prevalence in men was twice that of women (2.3% vs. 1.1%). Ages between 25 to 34 had the higher prevalence (3.1%). Clinical specialities related with HIV/AIDS had a prevalence twice that of non related (2.3% vs. 1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The HIV prevalence found in this population is the highest compared to similar studies performed in other western european countries. Our data confirm the pattern of HIV infection for age and sex observed in other studies in Catalonia, Spain. This is the first study of sentinel surveillance in sentinel hospitals in Spain and give us the base line which will serve as a reference to assess the evolution of HIV infection in further studies in sentinel hospital populations in Catalonia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[The impact of bronchial colonization in the quality of life of patients with chronic, stable bronchitis].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of respiratory function and bacterial colonization of the lower airway on the quality of life of patients with chronic, stable bronchitis (CB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 41 patients with stable CB was studied (age: 63.8; standard deviation (SD) 9.1 years; FVC% 91.0 (18.9); FEV1% 74.6 (23.7); FEV1/FEC 62.8 (11.2) with normal thoracic radiography. Patients with previous diagnosis of bronchiectasia, bronchial asthma and/or positive bronchodilatory tests (> 15%) were not included in the study. Bacterial growth in a sputum sample of grade 4-5 of the Murray-Washington scale was considered diagnostic of bronchial colonization. Measurement of the quality of life was performed with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: The patients presented a moderate alteration in their quality of life with scores over 25 in most of the dimensions of the NHP and the SGRQ. In 9 out of 41 cases (22%), the sputum cultures demonstrated bronchial colonization with the most frequently isolated bacterias being Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Multivariate analysis performed with the quality of life as the dependent variable showed an association between FEV1/FEC1 and the SGRQ score (R2 = 0.18), and energy (R2 = 0.09) and physical mobility (R2 = 0.05) of NHP. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchial obstruction is the main determinant in the quality of life in patients with stable CB. Colonization of the lower airway is observed in 22% of the patients and also influences the quality of life of the patients but to a much lesser extent.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Prevalence of maternal HIV infection in Catalonia (1994): results of non-related anonymous neonatal screening. VIHNADO Group].

BACKGROUND: Spain has the highest incidence rate of AIDS in Europe. Catalonia contributes with around 30% of the AIDS cases detected in Spain. From 1990 to 1994 the AIDS heterosexual transmission category increased from 9.6% to 14.6% in Catalonia. The objective of the study was to determine the HIV prevalence in a heterosexual population of pregnant women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Unlinked anonymous HIV screening by means of an agglutination assay and an enzyme immunoassay of eluates of dried blood spots from nearly half of the neonates born in Catalonia during 1994. RESULTS: HIV testing was done on 21,074 neonates. Overall HIV prevalence was 0.32% (95% CI: 0.25-0.40). It varied from 0.45% in Barcelona, 0.38-0.29% in the health regions around Barcelona, to 0.20-0.09% in the rest. The mean age of HIV infected women was younger (27) than that of the seronegative ones (29) (p < 0.001). The highest prevalence was 0.61% in women aged 20-24 years. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV prevalence in the heterosexual population of pregnant women in Catalonia is among the highest in Europe. Preventive efforts must begin with schoolchildren and be directed to adolescents and young women. It is convenient that women who want to become pregnant and mothers receiving antenatal care have access to voluntary confidential HIV testing.

Adult↗