Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Nieves Sopena

Publications and source records attributed to Nieves Sopena.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Community-acquired legionella pneumonia in elderly patients: characteristics and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk factors, clinical and laboratory features, and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Legionella pneumophila in elderly (aged > or =65) and younger patients. DESIGN: Prospective enrollment of subjects with retrospective data analysis. SETTING: A 630-bed tertiary center in Badalona (Barcelona), Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 158 patients diagnosed with CAP caused by L. pneumophila from 1994 to 2004: 104 younger than 65 and 54 aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data and the outcome of the two groups were compared using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Underlying diseases, such as chronic pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, neuromuscular diseases, and heart failure; risk of aspiration; and therapy with corticosteroids were significantly more frequent in patients aged 65 and older. Patients younger than 65 were more likely to be male and have toxic habits (cigarette smoking, alcoholism) and human immunodeficiency virus infection than older patients. Fever, nonrespiratory symptoms (diarrhea and headache), and some laboratory abnormalities (hyponatremia (serum sodium concentration <130 mmol/L) and high aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine kinase levels) were significantly less frequent in patients aged 65 and older than in younger patients. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the frequency of higher-severity risk classes and intensive care unit admission or in outcome (complications and mortality). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with CAP caused by L. pneumophila had a higher frequency of underlying comorbidities and presented less frequently with fever and classical nonrespiratory symptoms and laboratory abnormalities of Legionnaires' disease than younger patients, although greater severity of illness at onset and higher mortality were not significantly different between the two age groups.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Hospital-acquired legionnaires disease in a university hospital: impact of the copper-silver ionization system.

We evaluated the impact of the copper-silver ionization system in a hospital where hyperendemic nosocomial legionellosis and was present and all previous disinfection measures had failed. After implementation of the copper-silver ionization system, environmental colonization with Legionella species decreased significantly, and the incidence of nosocomial legionellosis decreased dramatically, from 2.45 to 0.18 cases per 1000 patient discharges.

Air Ionization↗
PubMed2006

[Superheat-and-flush effect on the control of hospital-acquired Legionella infection].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Superheat-and-flush is one of the methods of disinfection used against Legionella in hospital water distribution systems. An outbreak of nosocomial legionellosis (NL) was detected in the hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in January 1996. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of this disinfection technique at an environmental and clinical level. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Water samples were collected daily from central and tap water points 3 days prior to 15 days after superheating and flushing. Clinical surveillance of NL was performed 30 consecutive days following disinfection. RESULTS: After superheat-and-flush, the inoculum of Legionella pneumophila decreased in the central points but increased after day 11, achieving maximum values at 15 days. On the other hand, L. pneumophila was not detected in tap water points after 4 days but recolonization was observed after day 7, achieving 66% at day 9. No clinical cases of NL were detected during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Superheat-and-flush is an effective albeit transitory method of rapid disinfection in outbreaks of NL.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2005

[Hospital-acquired pneumonia in the non-ventilated patient].

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is one of the main causes of nosocomial infection. Although its incidence is higher in intubated patients, around half of all cases occur outside the intensive care unit (ICU). However, few studies have been performed in this setting and consequently most data come from hospitalized series that include patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The epidemiological differences between intubated patients and non-ICU patients suggest that the etiology and therapeutic approach differ between these two groups. The present article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of nosocomial pneumonia in general wards.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Multicenter study of hospital-acquired pneumonia in non-ICU patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To know the incidence, epidemiology, etiology, and outcome of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in non-ICUs adult patients. SETTING: Twelve Spanish teaching hospitals. INTERVENTIONS: From April 1999 to November 2000, non-ICU HAP was prospectively studied by active, bimonthly 1-week surveillance. Epidemiologic data, etiology, and evolution of pneumonia were recorded. Blood and sputum cultures and Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen tests were performed. RESULTS: We included 186 patients, with complete data available in 165 patients (70.3% male gender; mean age, 63.7 +/- 16.9 years [ +/- SD]) The mean incidence of HAP was 3 +/- 1.4 cases/1,000 hospital admissions. Most patients (64.2%) were in medical wards, had severe underlying diseases (66.6%), and had a hospital stay > 5 days (76.4%). Blood cultures were performed in 139 patients (84.2%), sputum cultures were performed in 89 patients (53.9%), and urinary antigen detection was performed in 123 patients (74.5%). An etiologic diagnosis was obtained in 60 cases (36.4%), and 31 were definitive. The most frequent etiologies were S pneumoniae (16 cases, 14 definitive), L pneumophila (7 cases, 7 definitive), Aspergillus sp (7 cases, 3 definitive), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7 cases, 2 definitive), and several Enterobacteriaceae (8 cases, 4 definitive). Clinical complications occurred in 52.1% of the cases, and mortality was 26% (13.9% attributed to pneumonia). CONCLUSIONS: Non-ICU HAP is an important cause of hospital morbidity, observed most frequently in medical wards and elderly patients with severe underlying diseases. In this setting, S pneumoniae and Legionella sp should be considered in addition to other nosocomial pathogens; urinary antigen detection is useful in determining the prevalence of these microorganisms.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Fluoroquinolones vs macrolides in the treatment of Legionnaires disease.

BACKGROUND: Erythromycin has been the treatment of choice for Legionnaires disease (LD). However, treatment failure and experimental evidence of its bacteriostatic effect have led to evaluation of new drugs such as fluoroquinolones. This study compared the evolution of patients with LD treated with macrolides and fluoroquinolones. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed, and 130 patients from three centers were included. Diagnoses were made using Legionella urinary antigen assay in all patients. Patients receiving any antibiotic > 36 h before starting the study therapy were excluded. Group 1 included 76 patients who received macrolides (33 patients with erythromycin and 43 patients with clarithromycin), and group 2 included 54 patients treated with fluoroquinolones (50 patients with levofloxacin and 4 patients with ofloxacin). RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between the two groups regarding age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, underlying diseases, or community/hospital acquisition. The time from onset of LD symptoms until the initiation of antibiotic treatment was 78.5 h and 92.7 h in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.1). Time to apyrexia was significantly longer in the macrolide group (77.1 h vs 48 h for groups 1 and 2, respectively; p = 0.000). There were no differences according to radiology, clinical complications, or mortality. Nevertheless, a trend to a longer hospital stay was observed in the macrolide group (9.9 days vs 7.6 days in groups 1 and 2, respectively; p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroquinolones were as effective as erythromycin in the treatment of LD. It is of note that time to apyrexia was significantly shorter and hospital stay tended to be shorter in patients receiving fluoroquinolones.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Legionnaires' disease and HIV infection: an opportunistic infection?].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Legionella infections are not frequent in HIV-infected patients, although clinical manifestations and outcome are particularly severe in this subset. This manuscript analyzes the clinical features and immunological situation of HIV-infected patients with Legionnaires' disease (LD). PATIENTS AND METHOD: The clinical files of HIV-infected patients diagnosed with LD from 1983 to December 2003 were reviewed. The incidence of hospital-acquired Legionella pneumonia (HALP) from 1997-2000 in HIV-infected patients was compared with that of non infected patients. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included. 72.2% were diagnosed by the Legionella urinary antigen assay. The incidence of HALP in HIV-infected and non infected patients was 0.3 and 0.25/1000 admissions/year, respectively (p = 0.42). 83.3% received appropriate antibiotic treatment at the Emergency department. The mean lymphocyte CD4 count was 348.1/microl, 53.8% had an undetectable viral load and 64.7% were on antiretroviral therapy. 72.2% were smokers, 38.8% had cancer and 16.7% were on chemotherapy. 93.8% had cough, 75% dyspnea, 62.5% extrarespiratory symptoms, 76.5% increased AST, 50% increased CK and 56.3% hyponatremia. Moreover, 50% developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, 83.3% respiratory failure and 22.2% died. CONCLUSIONS: Although LD is not more frequent in HIV-infected than in non infected patients, its clinical severity suggests that it is an opportunistic infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Comparative study of community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila or Chlamydia pneumoniae.

The objective of this study was to compare epidemiological data and clinical presentation of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila or Chlamydia pneumoniae. From May 1994 to February 1996, 157 patients with S. pneumoniae (n = 68), L. pneumophila (n = 48) and C. pneumoniae (n = 41) pneumonia with definitive diagnosis, were prospectively studied. The following comparisons showed differences at a level of at least p < 0.05. Patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia had more frequently underlying diseases (HIV infection and neoplasm) and those with C. pneumoniae pneumonia were older and had a higher frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while L. pneumophila pneumonia prevailed in patients without comorbidity, but with alcohol intake. Presentation with cough and expectoration were significantly more frequent in patients with S. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae pneumonia, while headache, diarrhoea and no response to betalactam antibiotics prevailed in L. pneumophila pneumonia. However, duration of symptoms > or = 7 d was more frequent in C. pneumoniae pneumonia. Patients with CAP caused by L. pneumophila presented hyponatraemia and an increase in CK more frequently, while AST elevation prevailed in L. pneumophila and C. pneumoniae pneumonia. In conclusion, some risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with CAP may help to broaden empirical therapy against atypical pathogens until rapid diagnostic tests are available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Environmental cultures and hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease: a 5-year prospective study in 20 hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether environmental cultures for Legionella increase the index of suspicion for legionnaires' disease (LD). DESIGN: Five-year prospective study. SETTING: Twenty hospitals in Catalonia, Spain. METHODS: From 1994 to 1996, the potable water systems of 20 hospitals in Catalonia were tested for Legionella. Cases of hospital-acquired LD and availability of an "in-house" Legionella test in the previous 4 years were assessed. After the hospitals were informed of the results of their water cultures, a prospective 5-year-study was conducted focusing on the detection of new cases of nosocomial legionellosis and the availability and use of Legionella testing. RESULTS: Before environmental cultures were started, only one hospital had conducted active surveillance of hospital-acquired pneumonia and used Legionella tests including Legionella urinary antigen in all pneumonia cases. Only one other hospital had used the latter test at all. In six hospitals, Legionella tests had been completely unavailable. Cases of nosocomial LD had been diagnosed in the previous 4 years in only two hospitals. During prospective surveillance, 12 hospitals (60%) used Legionella urinary antigen testing in house and 11 (55%) found cases of nosocomial legionellosis, representing 64.7% (11 of 17) of those with positive water cultures. Hospitals with negative water cultures did not find nosocomial LD. CONCLUSIONS: The environmental study increased the index of suspicion for nosocomial LD. The number of cases of nosocomial LD increased significantly during the prospective follow-up period, and most hospitals began using the Legionella urinary antigen test in their laboratories.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2003

Legionnaires disease and HIV infection.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcome of Legionnaires disease (LD) in patients with and without HIV infection. DESIGN: Retrospective review of clinical charts. SETTING: Six hundred-bed university hospital. PATIENTS: We studied the clinical findings of 64 patients without HIV and 15 patients with HIV. Patients with a serologic diagnosis only were not included. Patients with previous immunosuppressive therapy or transplant recipients were excluded from the former group. In the HIV group, the mean CD4 cell count was 347.5/ microL, plasma viral load was undetectable in 50% of the patients, and only one patient (7%) was receiving cotrimoxazole as prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii at the time of pneumonia. No differences were observed in the two groups with respect to community or nosocomial acquisition, delay in the initiation of appropriate treatment, the use of macrolides or fluoroquinolones, and Fine score in cases of community-acquired LD. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that time to apyrexia was longer, and respiratory symptoms, bilateral infiltrates in chest radiograph, hyponatremia, increase in aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase (CK), and respiratory failure were more frequent in the HIV group. Mortality was greater in patients with HIV, achieving a statistically significant value of 20%; however, multivariate analysis only confirmed these differences with respect to the increase in CK. CONCLUSIONS: LD has a more severe clinical presentation and worse evolution in patients with HIV.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

Environmental legionellosis and oropharyngeal colonization by Legionella in immunosuppressed patients.

Inhalation of contaminated aerosols is considered the most common route of Legionella transmission. The aim of this study was to determine whether contact with water contaminated by Legionella was related to oropharyngeal colonization in immunosuppressed patients. Eighty-five oropharyngeal swabs (April 1996 to June 1996) were seeded on selective and nonselective buffered charcoal-yeast extract media. Legionella was not isolated.

Adult↗