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Manuel Casal

Publications and source records attributed to Manuel Casal.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Risk factors for pulmonary Aspergillus terreus infection in patients with positive culture for filamentous fungi.

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a common fungal infection in immunocompromised patients and has a high mortality rate. Among patients with IA, Aspergillus terreus infections have become a growing concern in the past few years. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical risk factors for isolation of and respiratory infection by A terreus in patients with culture findings positive for filamentous fungi. METHODS: Cohort study of 505 consecutive isolates of filamentous fungi in 332 patients from one center. A terreus was present in 46 isolates from 40 patients (9.1%). Clinical histories were reviewed to identify the risk factors related to isolation of and infection by A terreus, which were grouped into three categories (ie, host factors, factors related to immunosuppression, and factors related to hospitalization), and were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 192 of 505 isolates studied (38%) were due to invasive respiratory infection. A total of 27 of 46 cultures (58.7%) that were positive for A terreus were due to invasive infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37 to 4.69; p = 0.034). The factors associated with invasive A terreus infection were prophylactic use of amphotericin B aerosols (OR, 27.8; 95% CI, 6.7 to 109.7; p = 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.02 to 10.9; p = 0.04). Transplantation was associated with a lower risk of A terreus infection (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.046 to 0.789; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with culture findings positive for filamentous fungi, the prophylactic use of amphotericin B aerosols and mechanical ventilation are associated with a higher risk of A terreus infections. In these patients, transplantation is associated with a lower risk of isolation and respiratory infection by A terreus.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Multicenter laboratory validation of the BACTEC MGIT 960 technique for testing susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to classical second-line drugs and newer antimicrobials.

The BACTEC MGIT 960 system, a fully automated, nonradiometric, noninvasive system for detection and drug susceptibility testing of mycobacteria, was evaluated for the ability to test susceptibilities to second-line drugs. In this study, which was carried out in three phases (phase I, mostly susceptible strains; phase II, mostly resistant strains; phase III, final testing of the optimal drug concentrations found in phases I and II), we established the critical concentrations for seven drugs to be tested in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system compared to the BACTEC 460TB system. The critical concentrations for the seven drugs used in the MGIT 960 system are as follows: amikacin, 1.0 microg/ml; capreomycin, 2.5 microg/ml; ethionamide, 5.0 microg/ml; protionamide, 2.5 microg/ml; ofloxacin, 2.0 microg/ml; rifabutin, 0.5 microg/ml; linezolid, 1.0 microg/ml. Our results demonstrate that the BACTEC MGIT 960 system is an accurate method for rapid testing of the susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to second-line drugs.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2005

In vitro activity of voriconazole against Prototheca wickerhamii: comparative evaluation of sensititre and NCCLS M27-A2 methods of detection.

A total of 104 Prototheca wickerhamii isolates and two control strains were tested for susceptibility to voriconazole using the Sensititre YeastOne colorimetric antifungal plate and NCCLS reference method. Voriconazole was highly active against all isolates, with an MIC at which 90% of isolates were inhibited of < or = 0.5 microg/ml. Comparison of MICs obtained with the Sensititre product and the NCCLS method demonstrated agreement (100% +/- 2 log2 dilutions) between the two methods. Voriconazole may offer an option for the treatment of Prototheca sp. infections, and its efficacy should be established through clinical experience.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of the COBAS TaqMan 48 real-time PCR system for quantitation of hepatitis B virus DNA.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the new real-time PCR COBAS TaqMan 48 analyzer, comparing it to the existing COBAS AMPLICOR HBV MONITOR based on conventional PCR technology. The study used 104 samples from different patients. No differences were found in the sensitivity of the tests. There was an excellent correlation between the sample with a viral load within the dynamic range of the two tests (r = 0.938). The COBAS TaqMan test has a wider linear range, and this fact enables quantifying of the viral load without diluting the sample.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of two microdilution methods for testing susceptibility of Candida spp. to voriconazole.

The growing number of fungal infections, coupled with emerging resistance to classical antifungal agents, has led to the development of new agents, among them voriconazole. Susceptibility to voriconazole was tested by using two microdilution techniques: the reference method described in National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-A2 and a colorimetric method, Sensititre YeastOne. A total of 272 Candida isolates (132 of Candida albicans, 62 of C. parapsilosis, 33 of Candida glabrata, 21 of C. krusei, 15 of C. tropicalis, and 9 of C. lusitaniae) and two control strains (C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 and C. krusei ATCC 6258) were tested. There was a high rate of agreement between the two methods used (97 to 100%).

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2004

[Eight centuries of the death of a great doctor: "Maimonides El Español"].

Eight hundred years have gone by since the death of Maimonides. An extraordinaire Jewish Spanish physician. This review of his life and achievements provides insight into the world of a remarkable 12th-century physician and may offer valuable lessons for physicians today. His descriptions of many diseases such as hepatitis, pneumonia, and many others are remarkably modern by current standards. His legacy as a physician, lives on for posterity. He was a physician of whom modern medicine would be proud if he were alive today.

Clinical Medicine↗
PubMed2003

[CHROMAgar Candida with fluconazole: comparison with microdilution techniques].

INTRODUCTION: The increasing incidence of fungal infections and the reported emergence of resistance to antifungal agents call for the development of techniques for in vitro measurement of antifungal susceptibility that will enable prediction of clinical outcome in patients suffering from these infections. METHODS. Susceptibility to fluconazole was tested in 156 clinical yeast isolates (109, Candida albicans; 19, C. parapsilosis; 12, C. glabrata; 11, C. tropicalis; 2, C. krusei; 1, C. pelliculosa; 1, C. lambica, and 1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and two control strains (C. krusei ATCC 6258 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019) using a simple screening method, CHROMAgar Candida with fluconazole (8 micro g/ml). This method was compared with two broth microdilution techniques: the reference method (NCCLS, document M27-A) and Sensititre(TM) YeastOne. RESULTS: Sensititre(TM) YeastOne showed close agreement with NCCLS M27-A results for all species (C. albicans and non albicans). CHROMAgar Candida with fluconazole (8 micro g/ml) yielded results matching those of the two broth microdilution methods for sensitive strains and strains highly resistant to fluconazole (C. krusei and C. glabrata), but performed less well with strains displaying dose-dependent susceptibility. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that CHROMAgar Candida with fluconazole (8 micro g/ml), appears to be a rapid, simple and sensitive screening method for detection and identification of fluconazole-susceptible and -highly resistant yeasts. However, additional methods should be used to determine whether positive growth in this medium is due to resistant strains (MIC > or = 64 micro g/ml) or to strains displaying dose-dependent susceptibility (MIC 16-32 micro g/ml). The usefulness of CHROMAgar Candida with fluconazole depends on the sample source and the species under study.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2002

[Salmonella spp. serotypes isolated at the Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía in Córdoba during an 8-year period, 1993-2000].

BACKGROUND: As a producer of gastro-enteritis and other symptoms, Salmonella spp. Remains an important problem for world public health. Epidemiological knowledge at both general and local level by means of serotypification is considered one of the fundamental aspects for its control. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 15.181 stool samples, and the others specimens. Isolation using the usual routine media, agar MacConkey, Salmonella-Shigella, selenito F. Identification using the automated Microscan and wider I method, serotypification with multi-purpose and monospecific serums (Difco), and confirmation of Salmonella and Shigella by the National Reference Laboratory, from the LNRSSE. RESULTS: Although 96.6% of Salmonella spp. Is detected in cultures of faeces and blood, it is also noted in LCR, sputum, rectal biopsy and vaginal secretions among other sites. In total of 1290 patients, 37 different serotypes were isolated, the most frequent of which were Enteritidis and Typhimurium. The presence of Virchow, isolated in both faeces and LCR, was notable in the years 94-99, as was as the presence of less typical serotypes, such as Blockley, London, Give and Mikawasima, among others.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[What terms can be applied to mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis and M. leprae].

A review of the terms used to name mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis and M. leprae was performed. A system using binomial nomenclature is defended. The author comments on the various names applied to mycobacteria over the history of medicine, from 1899 to the present, and the reasons why terms such as environmental mycobacteria or nontuberculous mycobacteria are incorrect and should not be used. In the case that a general name must be chosen for these mycobacteria, the term atypical mycobacteria is advocated.

Mycobacterium↗