Publications by authors named "Azucena Rodriguez-Guardado"

Article Synopsis
  • High-speed global travel, migration, and climate change have contributed to the rise of imported infections in Spain from 2012 to 2022, necessitating analysis of these trends.
  • The study used data from the +Redivi network, involving 25 health centres, to assess demographics and diagnostic outcomes related to these infections among various groups, including migrants and travelers.
  • Findings revealed stable rates for some infections like malaria, while others such as schistosomiasis and tuberculosis saw increased diagnoses, highlighting significant interactions based on time and participant demographics.
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Article Synopsis
  • * The Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI) collaborated to create a consensus document for effectively screening, diagnosing, and treating schistosomiasis.
  • * Experts from both societies contributed to the document by identifying critical questions and forming evidence-based recommendations, which were then approved by their members.
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Background: Rickettsioses are emerging zoonotic diseases with worldwide prevalence, recognized as a cause of imported fever in travellers and migrants. Our objective is to describe the microbiological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of imported rickettsioses in travellers and migrants included in a Spanish collaborative network database.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective observational study was nested in +Redivi, the Cooperative Network for the Study of Infections Imported by Immigrants and Travellers.

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Introduction: The generalization of treatment with dexamethasone or other immunosuppressants in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the risk of occurrence of severe forms of strongyloidiasis. A nationwide survey was conducted to better understand the diagnostic and therapeutic situation of strongyloidiasis in SARS-CoV-2 co-infected patients in Spain.

Materials And Methods: A survey was designed and sent to all SEIMC members during February and March 2021.

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted malaria prevention and management worldwide, leading to limited data on travel-related malaria infections during this time.
  • An analysis of 1751 malaria cases in Spain from 2009 to 2021 revealed that most infections were among males, particularly impacting visiting friends and relatives (VFR) immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, with a significant increase in severe malaria cases noted in 2021.
  • Despite a temporary decline in cases due to travel restrictions, there has been a resurgence of imported malaria, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and management strategies going forward.
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Background: The clinical and epidemiological implications of abnormal immune responses in COVID-19 for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening are unclear.

Methods: We reviewed QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) results (36,709 patients) from July 2016 until October 2021 in Asturias (Spain). We also studied a cohort of ninety hospitalized patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and a group of elderly hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent serial QFT-Plus and immune profiling testing.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study focused on the characteristics of migrants diagnosed with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infections within the Redivi Spanish network from 2009 to 2020.
  • Out of 17,007 cases, only 107 were confirmed to have HTLV, with most infected individuals being women and originating from South America.
  • The majority of patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis, with a low prevalence of HTLV-related conditions, and many patients had other concomitant infections, highlighting potential oversight in screening for contact cases.
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Introduction: The generalization of treatment with dexamethasone or other immunosuppressants in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the risk of occurrence of severe forms of strongyloidiasis. A nationwide survey was conducted to better understand the diagnostic and therapeutic situation of strongyloidiasis in SARS-CoV-2 co-infected patients in Spain.

Materials And Methods: A survey was designed and sent to all SEIMC members during February and March 2021.

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Given the high prevalence of imported diseases in immigrant populations, it has postulated the need to establish screening programs that allow their early diagnosis and treatment. We present a mathematical model based on machine learning methodologies to contribute to the design of screening programs in this population. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional screening program of imported diseases in all immigrant patients who attended the Tropical Medicine Unit between January 2009 and December 2016.

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Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in China at the end of 2019. Because of the severe immunomodulation and lymphocyte depletion caused by this virus and the subsequent administration of drugs directed at the immune system, we anticipated that patients might experience fungal superinfection. We collected data from 186 patients who had coronavirus disease-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) worldwide during March-August 2020.

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The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of immunosuppressed patients with imported strongyloidiasis in a non-endemic setting, and to compare these results with non-immunosuppressed patients. This is a case-control substudy from a larger observational retrospective study that included all patients with strongyloidiasis registered in the +REDIVI Spanish Collaborative Network. Overall, 1245 patients with imported strongyloidiasis were included.

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Background: Linezolid has good penetration to the meninges and could be an alternative for treatment of meningitis. We assessed the efficacy and safety of linezolid therapy for this infection.

Methods: Retrospective multicenter cohort study of 26 adults treated with linezolid, derived from a cohort of 350 cases of meningitis diagnosed at 11 university hospitals in Spain (1981-2015).

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the availability of different procedures, diagnostic tests, and treatments, as well as the procedures and techniques used in the management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Spain. This was a cross-sectional study performed from September to December 2018 in Spain. A survey directed to CE-treating clinicians was conducted to collect information regarding the center characteristics and the different protocols of management followed.

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The female immigrant population is especially vulnerable to imported diseases. We describe the results of a prospective screening program for imported diseases performed in immigrant female patients. The protocol included tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), , , and spp.

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Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic neurological disease worldwide and a major cause of epilepsy. Spain is the country reporting the highest number of NCC imported cases in Europe.

Methodology: Retrospective case series of NCC patients registered in the +REDIVI Network from October 1, 2009 to July 2018.

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To determine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients in Spain with imported arbovirus infections, we analyzed 22,655 records from a collaborative network for January 2009-December 2018. Among 861 arbovirus infections, 845 were monoinfections (456 [53%] dengue, 280 [32.5%] chikungunya, 109 [12.

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The Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI), the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC), the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery (SECT), the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI), and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP) considered it pertinent to issue a consensus statement on the management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) to guide healthcare professionals in the care of patients with CE. Specialists from several fields (clinicians, surgeons, radiologists, microbiologists, and parasitologists) identified the most clinically relevant questions and developed this Consensus Statement, evaluating the available evidence-based data to propose a series of recommendations on the management of this disease. This Consensus Statement is accompanied by the corresponding references on which these recommendations are based.

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Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa neurosurgical meningitis is a rare entity, usually related with intraventricular catheters and associated with high mortality rates. We describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of a series of neurosurgical meningitis caused by P. aeruginosa along 1990-2016.

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Background: Imported strongyloidiasis is increasingly being diagnosed in non-endemic areas. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with imported strongyloidiasis in Spain.

Methodology: This is an observational retrospective study that included all patients diagnosed of strongyloidiasis registered in the +REDIVI Collaborative Network from 2009 to 2017.

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Introduction: The characteristics of D. fragilis infection are described, with special focus on the clinical and epidemiological aspects.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was performed, including all the patients with Dientamoeba fragilis infection who attended a specialized unit between January 2012 and December 2017.

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Introduction: The results of a study on the household contacts of patients with D. fragilis infection are presented.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive study was carried out on all Dientamoeba fragilis-infected patients treated at the Tropical Medicine Unit of Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias between 2012- 2017 and their household contacts.

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In a global world, knowledge of imported infectious diseases is essential in daily practice, both for the microbiologist-parasitologist and the clinician who diagnoses and treats infectious diseases in returned travelers. Tropical and subtropical countries where there is a greater risk of contracting an infectious disease are among the most frequently visited tourist destinations. The SEIMC considers it appropriate to produce a consensus document that will be useful to primary care physicians as well as specialists in internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine who help treat travelers returning from tropical and sub-tropical areas with infections.

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Objectives: Dientamoeba fragilis is a pathogenic protozoan of the human gastrointestinal tract with a worldwide distribution, which has emerged as an important and misdiagnosed cause of chronic gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea and 'irritable-bowel-like' gastrointestinal disease. Very little research has been conducted on the use of suitable antimicrobial compounds. Furthermore, higher rates of co-infection with Enterobius vermicularis have been described, suggesting that E.

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