C. auris is an emerging and opportunistic multidrug-resistant human pathogen. It is necessary to strengthen measures to achieve an accurate and quick identification and also to avoid its dissemination. This will require improvements in health and infection control measures, as well as the promotion of antifungal stewardship in healthcare facilities.

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Background The introduction of MALDI-TOF MS in the clinical microbiology laboratory has modified the approaches for the identification of fungi. Thanks to this tool, it is possible to identify cryptic species, which possess critical susceptibility patterns. Clinical strains were identified using the MicroScan and MALDI-TOF MS systems. Discrepant results from both methods were investigated using ITS rDNA barcoding. Finally, these isolates were also tested for in vitro susceptibility. Results The percentage of agreement between both methods to 498 yeast isolates was of 93.6% (32 discrepant isolates). The concordance of ITS sequencing with MALDI-TOF MS was higher (99%) than that of MicroScan (94%). Several of these discordant yeasts displayed high MICs for antifungal agents. Conclusions Our study highlights the need of the MS and molecular approaches such as MALDI-TOF MS and ITS rDNA barcoding for the correct identification of emerging or cryptic yeast species; besides, some of these could be multidrug resistant. This work was the first experience in the implementation of the MALDI-TOF MS technology in Colombia. We found the first uncommon yeasts including Candida auris and we could identify Trichosporon faecalis . Our work highlights a clear necessity of an accurate yeast identification as a much more pertinent technique than the susceptibility profiles, because the most unusual yeasts exhibit resistance profiles to the few available antifungals.

IntroductionPatients with febrile neutropenia (FN) exhibit changes in extracellular fluid that may alter the plasma concentrations of beta-lactams and result in therapeutic failure or toxicity. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin/tazobactam in patients with hematological malignancies and FN after receiving chemotherapy at a primary public cancer center.MethodsThis was an open, nonrandomized, observational, descriptive, and prospective study. Samples from 15 patients with hematological malignancies and FN were evaluated after the administration of chemotherapy. Five blood samples were taken from each patient when the antibiotic level was at steady-state 10, 60, 120, 180, and 350 min after each dose. Antibiotic concentrations were measured using gel diffusion with Bacillus subtilis. All study participants provided written informed consent.ResultsWe investigated the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in 14 patients between the ages of 18 years and 59 years and with a mean absolute neutrophil count of 208 cells per mm3 (standard deviation (SD) ± 603.2). The following pharmacokinetic measurements were obtained: maximum concentration, 94.1–1133 mg/L; minimum concentration, 0.47–37.65 mg/L; volume of distribution, 0.08–0.65 L/kg (mean, 0.34 L/kg); drug clearance (CL), 4.42–27.25 L/h (mean, 9.93 L/h); half-life (t1/2), 0.55–2.65 h (mean, 1.38 h); and area under the curve, 115.12–827.16 mg · h/L.ConclusionPatients with FN after receiving chemotherapy exhibited significant variations in the pharmacokinetic parameters of piperacillin compared with healthy individuals; specifically, FN patients demonstrated an increase in t1/2 and decreased CL.

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Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas, demográficas, frecuencia, tipo de aislamientos microbiológicos y resistencia a los antimicrobianos de pacientes con neoplasias hematológicas que presentaron como complicación neutropenia febril en el Hospital Universitario de San IgnacioMétodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional, se tomaron datos de historias clínicas de los pacientes adultos hospitalizados en la Unidad de Hematología y Trasplante de Médula Ósea, que cumplieron criterios de neutropenia febril entre enero de 2013 y diciembre de 2014Resultados: se recolectaron 345 episodios de neutropenia febril, correspondientes a 193 pacientes. Se documentó foco infeccioso en el 68,1% de los episodios, con aislamiento microbiológico en el 62.9% de los episodios, con predominio de bacilos gram negativos, en 63,7% de los casos, seguido por los cocos gram positivos en 27,9% y hongos en 4,9%. En cuanto a los mecanismos de resistencia, en los aislamientos Escherichia coli y Klebsiella peumoniae se encontró producción de Beta Lactamasas de Espectro Extendido (BLEEs) en 17,5 y 13,8%; Carbapenemasas tipo KPC en 1,25 y 2,8% respectivamente. En cuanto a Staphylococcus aureus, se encontró resistencia a meticilina en 6,8% de los aislamientos. Mortalidad asociada a infección en 16,5% de los casos.Conclusión: En pacientes con Neoplasias Hematológicas con neutropenia febril post quimioterapia en el Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio encontramos alta probabilidad de documentación de foco infeccioso, con predominio de microorganismos gram negativos, especialmente enterobacterias; con comportamiento similar en pacientes post trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos.

Los pacientes con infección por VIH tienen una mayor incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares en comparación con la población general; los factores que contribuyen al incremento del riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares son la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular tradicionales (FRCV), la infección por VIH que condiciona tanto un proceso de inflamación crónica como alteración de la función endotelial y la exposición a los antirretrovirales. Los factores que deben ser objeto de intervención son los FRCV tradicionales, en especial la alta tasa de fumadores entre este grupo de pacientes, la tamización y tratamiento de HTA, el síndrome metabólico y el acceso temprano a la terapia antirretroviral con medicamentos con mayor perfil de seguridad. Esta guía pretende proveer información y recomendaciones en el ámbito nacional acerca de la relación entre la infección por VIH/SIDA (Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida), uso de antirretrovirales y riesgo cardiovascular.

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