In vitro activity of ceftaroline against bacterial isolates causing skin and soft tissue and respiratory tract infections collected in Latin American countries, ATLAS program 2016-2020.

Objectives: Ceftaroline, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, has activity against Gram-positive and several Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ceftaroline and comparators against isolates causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) collected in Latin America (LATAM) in 2016-2020 as part of the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance program (ATLAS).

Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using both Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria.

In vitro activity of ceftazidime-avibactam against Gram-negative strains in Chile 2015-2021.

Objectives: Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) combines ceftazidime and a reversible β-lactamase inhibitor that has shown activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa. Using data from the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance program (ATLAS), this study examined the in vitro antimicrobial activity of CAZ-AVI and other antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria collected from Chilean hospitals between 2015 and 2021.

[Cost-effectiveness of ceftazidime/avibactam versus colistin + meropenem for treatment of carbapenemic-resistant enterobacteria infections in Chile].

Background: Ceftazidime-avibactam (C/A), has shown reduction in mortality rates and risk of nephrotoxicity, compared to colistin, conventional therapy.

Aim: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of C/A versus colistin + meropenem in the treatment of infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Chile.

Methods: An economic decision tree type model was adapted.

Characterization of Salmonella from Commercial Egg-Laying Hen Farms in a Central Region of Colombia.

Salmonellosis affects humans more frequently than any other foodborne disease, and it causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry. A cross-sectional study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in laying hen farms in the Tolima region of Colombia.

Hematologic values among Warao indians with tuberculosis from the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health problem in Venezuelan indian communities. This study describes differences in hematological parameters in TB patients from two populations, Warao indians (WP) and creoles (CP). Control groups included Warao adults (WC) and children (WCh) as well as creole adults (CC).

Study of the antibody response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in Warao Amerindian children in Venezuela.

This study was aimed at investigating alternate methods for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), which are needed because bacteriologic diagnosis of childhood TB is difficult. A selection of 80 serum and saliva samples were tested from Warao indigenous children under 15 years of age; 34 high TB suspects (28 positive and 6 negative for the tuberculin skin test, TST) and 46 healthy contact children (32 positive and 14 negative for the TST). Several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serological tests were developed to test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antibodies, including serum IgA, IgG, IgE, and secretory IgA (sIgA) in saliva against 3 specific antigens (PPD, HSP60, 38 kDa).

[Study of immune response in Warao children from communities with high tuberculosis prevalence].

The present study was carried out in a Warao childhood population with extremely high tuberculosis (TB) rate of 3190/100,000 in 0-15 years old children. One hundred seven serum and saliva samples were tested, 32 from patients with active TB (27 positive and 5 negative for the tuberculin skin test, TST) and 75 apparently healthy contact children (45 positive and 30 negative for the TST). The innate, immunoglobulin and cellular responses were studied.

[Tuberculosis in subjects under 15 years of age in the population of Warao in Venezuela].

It is difficult to establish a definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis in rural areas where there is no access to a large hospital. The Warao people of the Delta Amacuro State in Venezuela, have a very high prevalence of adult TB, and we suspected that the Warao children would also have a high prevalence of the disease, almost entirely undiagnosed. We applied a simple methodology to select children suspicious for tuberculosis that is based on a rating system using clinical criteria, reactivity to tuberculin and intradomicilliary contacts.

Clinical and radiographic response of fourth ventricle cysticercosis to praziquantel therapy.

A case of fourth ventricle cysticercosis treated with praziquantel is presented. The disappearance of the lesion six months after the treatment was demonstrated by CT scan. A review of the literature indicates that this is a very exceptional result, because with recently intraventricular cysticercosis was considered to be non-responsive to praziquantel treatment, making surgery necessary.