[Double-blind clinical trial comparing 5 days of dirithromycin versus 7 days of diacetylmidecamycin in acute bronchitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis].

Background: Dirythromycin has several pharmacokinetic characteristics (long half life and high tissue concentrations) which suggest the possibility of administering shorter treatments than those conventionally used. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the efficacy of a 5 day treatment with dirythromycin once a day, versus diacetylmidecamycin twice a day over 7 days in the treatment of patients with acute bronchitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Methods: A parallel, multicentric, randomized, double blind clinical study was carried out in 8 Spanish hospitals.

Nosocomial outbreak of Burkholderia pickettii infection due to a manufactured intravenous product used in three hospitals.

Forty-six cases of nosocomial infection caused by Burkholderia pickettii were reported between June and November 1993 in three metropolitan hospitals in Madrid. A case-control study of the outbreak was conducted to identify its cause. Seventy-four percent of the patients were males; the mean age +/- SD of the patients was 54 +/- 20 years.

[The stability of antibiotics administered in "and" with a parenteral nutrition mixture enriched with branched-chain amino acids. II. The cephalosporins].

Part I of these stability studies commented on the benefits, in terms of care and therapy, of the Y administration of antibiotics and parenteral nutrition. The aim of this study is to determine the stability of the cephalosporins ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ceftizosime and cefotaxime in vitro, at therapeutic concentrations, infused together with a parenteral nutrition mixture with polyols, enriched in branched chained amino acids, and without lipids. A microbiological stability analysis was carried out on the antibiotics in the parenteral nutrition, and an HPLC aminogram was done to determine the concentration of amino acids in the infusion together with the antibiotic.

[The stability of antibiotics administered in and with a parenteral nutrition mixture enriched with branched-chain amino acids. I. Amikacin and gentamycin].

The combined infusion of antibiotics and parenteral nutrition makes it possible to maintain plasmatic nutrient concentrations over time, in turn facilitating the administration of the antibiotics in the dilution and infusion time recommended according to their pharmacokinetic parameters. On the other hand, this type of administration has care benefits for the patient, reducing the risk of infections, and adding to comfort. The technique is also cost-effective, reducing the cost of drug administration, saving on administrative personnel and nursing staff time.

[Infection by HIV and the hepatitis B, C, and D viruses in intravenous drug addicts. Seroprevalence at 1 year and its follow-up].

Background: The aim of the present article was to study the serology of intravenous drug user patients against the hepatitis B, C, D, and HIV, during 1990 and the follow-up during the same year, and 1991.

Methods: A study of 265 patients (mean age: 25 years, range: 16-45; 206 males and 59 females) was carried out. Forty-two percent came because of detoxication treatment, 30% requested diagnosis for hepatic disturbances and the only data provided in 28% were that they were intravenous drug users.