José a Navarro Marí

Sequential outbreaks in a Spanish hospital caused by multiresistant OXA-58-producing Acinetobacter baumannii ST92.

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology and molecular basis of the infection and dissemination of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) in three sequential outbreaks at the intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary university hospital in Granada, Spain, between 2009 and 2011. Strains from all patients infected and/or colonized by MDRAB during outbreak periods were characterized using PFGE and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The first outbreak appeared in the summer of 2009 involving 38 ICU patients: 25 from a Traumatology-Rehabilitation hospital (TRH) and 13 from a Medical-Surgery hospital (MSH). Between 2010 and 2011, outbreaks were limited to the MSH-ICU, affecting 9 and 11 patients, respectively. Two PFGE types were detected. In the 2009 outbreak, two clones were identified: profile 1 strains were isolated at the TRH, whilst profile 2 was isolated at the MSH. Only one clone was identified in the 2010 and 2011 outbreaks: the profile 2 clone detected at the MSH in 2009. After MLST analysis, a single sequence type (ST92) was identified. This suggested that an endemic strain could evolve and cause localized outbreaks in vulnerable patients. Multiplex PCR for OXA group enzymes yielded a positive result for blaOXA-58-like and blaOXA-51-like genes, and gene sequencing showed the presence of blaOXA-58. However, the absence of ISAba1 upstream of the blaOXA-51-like gene suggested the absence of OXA-51 expression. The susceptibility pattern was not an appropriate method for MDRAB surveillance, as several susceptibility patterns were identified in a single clone. Consequently, molecular methods of characterization are recommended for epidemiological surveillance of MDRAB.

Fungal Keratitis Due to Beauveria bassiana in a Contact Lenses Wearer and Review of Published Reports

AbstractFungal keratitis is a severe ocular infection that primarily affects subjects engaged in outdoor activities. Risk factors include allergic conjunctivitis, previous eye surgery, previous treatment with wide-spectrum antimicrobial agents and corticosteroids and using contact lenses. Corneal infection is usually secondary to trauma involving organic material, which is often the only predisposing factor. Early diagnosis based on clinical examination and microbiological investigation (microscopy, cultures and molecular techniques) is crucial to selecting the appropriate antifungal therapy and prevent progression. We report the case of a patient with keratitis due to Beauveria bassiana, an opportunistic and entomopathogenic filamentous fungus that is used as a biological insecticide and which is a rare cause of corneal infection. We review previous cases reports of B. bassiana keratitis published and its main features to compare with our case, a female occasional agriculture worker who had not suffered any trauma involving organic material. The patient received topical and oral antifungal therapy and debridement surgery, with a satisfactory outcome.