Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu Leonardo

Procedure for microbial identification based on Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization‐Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry from screening‐positive urine samples

Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization‐Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry is a widely used proteomic technique in clinical microbiology laboratories, and enables microbial identification directly from clinical samples. This study seeks to establish a protocol for bacterial identification from monomicrobial urine samples that have tested positive in the screening with Sysmex UF‐1000i (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan). Sysmex UF‐1000i counts ≥1 × 107 bacteria/mL indicate a sufficient bacterial concentration to allow direct identification from urine, with 87.5% sensitivity. Microbial identification from urine with Sysmex UF‐1000i counts between 1 × 105 and 1 × 107 bacteria/ml requires preincubation to obtain the adequate amount of bacteria needed for analysis, and 91.7% sensitivity thus being achieved.

New procedure for rapid identification of microorganisms causing urinary tract infection from urine samples by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF)

INTRODUCTION Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is widely established as a technique in clinical microbiology laboratories for the identification of microorganisms. Using this technique, it is also possible to obtain the identification of microorganisms from untreated urine samples. METHODS In this study, a differential centrifugation protocol and a criterion for validation of the results in order to achieve microbial identification from untreated urine samples are proposed. Additionally, the sensitivity of the analytical procedure in monobacterial urine samples has been evaluated. RESULTS A 90% sensitivity (confidence interval of 81.96%-94.84%) was obtained in urine samples with bacterial counts of ≥1×10(5)CFU/ml, and it was possible to improve the percentages of direct identifications from urine samples with bacterial counts of <1×10(5)CFU/ml. CONCLUSION It is concluded that the MALDI-TOF system is both fast and reliable in the identification of individual microorganisms from untreated urine samples with counts of ≥1×10(5)CFU/ml.

Immunopathogenesis of 2009 pandemic influenza

Abstract Three years after the pandemic, major advances have been made in our understanding of the innate and adaptive immune responses to the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and those responses’ contribution to the immunopathology associated with this infection. Severe disease is characterized by early secretion of proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines. This cytokine secretion persisted in patients with severe viral pneumonia and was directly associated with the degree of viral replication in the respiratory tract. Cytokines play important roles in the antiviral defense, but persistent hypercytokinemia may cause inflammatory tissue damage and participate in the genesis of the respiratory failure observed in these patients. An absence of pre-existing protective antibodies was the rule for both mild and severe cases. A role for pathogenic immunocomplexes has been proposed for this disease. Defective T cell responses characterize severe cases of infection caused by the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Immune alterations associated with accompanying conditions such as obesity, pregnancy or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may interfere with the normal development of the specific response to the virus. The role of host immunogenetic factors associated with disease severity is also discussed in this review. In conclusion, currently available information suggests a complex immunological dysfunction/alteration that characterizes the severe cases of 2009 pandemic influenza. The potential benefits of prophylactic/therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing/correcting such dysfunction warrant investigation.

Estudio comparativo de la prevalencia de virus de papiloma humano en las mujeres españolas y extranjeras, participantes en un programa de cribado poblacional en Castilla y León

INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in Spanish and foreign women in a cervical cancer screening programme of Castilla y León and foreign women living in the community who participated in the programme. METHODS This was an observational, descriptive, cross - sectional, retrospective study of period prevalence. The sample consisted of all the women included in the cervical cancer prevention programme of the Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Castilla y León who were screened for cervical cancer during the period from 2012 to 2014, aged between 25 and 64 years of age. RESULTS Of the 190,203 cervical smear samples collected, 10.2% were foreign (n=19,329). The prevalence of HPV in the foreign women was 23.51%, significantly higher than in the Spanish women (P<.001). The presence of morphological and microbiological changes in the foreign women was also greater. CONCLUSIONS This study makes an important contribution, since it comprised a voluminous population screening sample. The prevalence of HPV in the foreign women was significantly higher than in the women born in Spain. It is important to continue studying this type of population, who are difficult to recruit for cultural reasons.