Adriana Correa

First Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Producing a KPC-Type Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing β-Lactamase

ABSTRACT In Medellin, Colombia, three Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with high-level carbapenem resistance (MIC ≥ 256 μg/ml) and an isolate of Citrobacter freundii with reduced susceptibility to imipenem produced the plasmid-mediated class A carbapenemase KPC-2. This is the first report of a KPC-type β-lactamase identified outside of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Wide Dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Producing β-Lactamase blaKPC-2 Gene in Colombia

ABSTRACT Ten blaKPC-2-harboring Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from hospitals located in five different Colombian cities have been characterized. Isolates were multidrug resistant, belonged to five different pulsotypes, and possessed naturally chromosome-encoded blaAmpC and blaOXA-50 genes and the acquired blaKPC-2 gene. In most cases, the blaKPC-2 genes were carried by plasmids of different sizes and were associated with Tn4401b or a new structure containing only part of the Tn4401 sequence. This study revealed that several clones of P. aeruginosa producing blaKPC-2 are disseminating in Colombia.

Emergence of KPC-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT In 2006, the first isolate of KPC-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the world was identified in Colombia. Recently, similar strains have been reported in Puerto Rico. We now report KPC-2-producing P. aeruginosa in Trinidad and Tobago. Surveillance for similar strains is warranted, considering their wide geographic spread and known association with mobile genetic elements.

Malaria en niños: relaciones entre nutrición e inmunidad

OBJECTIVE To explore some relationships among immunity, nutrition, and malaria in a group of children from a population with a high endemic incidence of malaria. METHODS This pilot descriptive prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 1998 in the municipality of El Bagre, Antioquia, Colombia. Both boys and girls were studied in two groups: one group of 51 children had malaria and another group of 49 did not have malaria. The children with malaria had symptoms or signs of malaria and a positive thick blood film. The comparison group of 49 children without malaria (no signs or symptoms of malaria and a negative thick blood film) were chosen at random at government schools or childrens centers. For the study the following indices were calculated: weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height. Also measured were the blood-serum concentrations of: albumin, prealbumin, apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), transferrin, zinc, vitamin A, immunoglobulins G and M, interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and lymphocyte populations. RESULTS Of the children studied, 69% presented some risk of malnutrition, and 63% had some risk of chronic malnutrition. With regard to the immunity and biochemical variables, the children with malaria had less apoA1 and albumin and more IL-10 than did the children without malaria. All the biochemical variables showed lower averages in the group with malaria, risk of malnutrition, and immune or biochemical changes, while all the immunity variables had higher averages in that same group of children. CONCLUSIONS 1) The high frequency of chronic malnutrition found clearly indicates the need for food supplementation measures. 2) The low values of prealbumin found could be due to the frequent bacterial or viral infections reported. 3) The serious vitamin A deficiency found calls for a supplementation program. 4) An association was found between low apoA1 values and the presence of malaria, but which one follows from the other is not known. 5) No relationship was observed between the anthropometric indicators of risk of malnutrition and the possible biochemical markers of malnutrition. 6) We found high levels of IL-10 in the children with malaria; this is the first time that this has been reported for Plasmodium vivax.

First Characterization of CTX-M-15-Producing Escherichia coli ST131 and ST405 Clones Causing Community-Onset Infections in South America

ABSTRACT CTX-M-15-producing Escherichia coli has emerged worldwide as an important pathogen associated with community-onset infections, but in South America reports are scarce. We document the presence of CTX-M-15-producing E. coli of the international ST131 and ST405 clones in Colombia and present the first molecular characterization of these isolates in South America.

First Detection of Metallo-β-Lactamase VIM-2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Colombia

ABSTRACT Carbapenem resistance rates in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Colombia, as in many South American countries, are high for reasons that remain unclear. From our nationwide network, we describe the first detection of the metallo-β-lactamase VIM-2 in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from multiple cities within Colombia. Metallo-β-lactamases were not detected in the two centers with the highest imipenem resistance rates. Clonality was noted in five of the eight centers with strains meeting the criteria for molecular typing. The high carbapenem resistance in P. aeruginosa in Colombia may be attributable to a combination of factors, including the presence of metallo-β-lactamases and nosocomial transmission.

First Report of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolate Coharboring KPC and VIM Carbapenemases

Carbapenemases, such as KPC and VIM, are the most powerful β-lactamases, being able to hydrolyze nearly all β-lactams ([12][1]). Since the first identification of KPC-producing ([15][2]) and VIM-producing ([16][3]) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Colombia, their interhospital clonal

First Identification of OXA-72 Carbapenemase from Acinetobacter pittii in Colombia

ABSTRACT OXA-72 has been reported in few countries around the world. We report the first case in Colombia in an Acinetobacter pittii clinical isolate. The arrival of a new OXA, into a country with high endemic resistance, poses a significant threat, especially because the potential for widespread dissemination is considerable.

Emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae Coharboring KPC and VIM Carbapenemases in Colombia

Klebsiella pneumoniae strains coharboring KPC and VIM carbapenemases have been reported, to the best of our knowledge, only in Greece ([1][1][–][2][5][3]) and Germany ([6][4]). The coexpression of these two resistance determinants poses a major threat to antibiotic utility worldwide. Herein we

Identifying and controlling a multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak in a Latin-American cancer centre and its associated risk factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important and frightening microorganism for patients suffering from cancer. Multiresistant P. aeruginosa (MRPA) may appear as a consequence of exposure to multiple antibiotics or from a breakdown in infection control practices. This article reports an MRPA outbreak in a cancer treatment centre and the consequent case control study. Mechanical ventilation was identified as being the main risk factor for developing MRPA colonisation or infection; molecular analysis confirmed the outbreak. A multifaceted strategy was adopted, involving reinforcing hand-washing practices, contact isolation, antibiotic restriction and suction devices for mechanically-ventilated patients. MRPA was controlled and the outbreak ended. Such strategy may be effective in controlling MRPS in low-resource environments amongst high risk cancer patients.