Reduced incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease after introduction of the 13-valent conjugate vaccine in Navarre, Spain, 2001-2013.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) were licensed for use in children and became available for private purchase in Spain in 2001 (PCV7), 2009 (PCV10) and 2010 (PCV13). This study evaluates changes in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and the pattern of serotypes isolated in Navarre, Spain, between the period of use of PCV7 (2004-2009) and that of PCV13 (2010-2013). The percentage of children <2 years who received at least one dose of PCV in these periods ranged from 25 to 61% and 61 to 78%, respectively.

B:2a:p1.5 meningococcal strains likely arisen from capsular switching event still spreading in Spain.

Eighteen clustered cases of meningococcal disease associated with B:2a:P1.5 strains doubled the annual incidence up to 4.3 x 10(5) in Navarra, Spain, in 2007.

[Enhanced quality in a hospital microbiology laboratory: from automation to clinical advice].

Background: Quality policies focussed on the patient and applied to a hospital microbiology laboratory have led us to investigate clinicians' needs when requesting test results. The aim of this study was to analyze these requirements and to implement a plan to improve attention to the clinicians, considered as direct customers, particularly in the process of providing results.

Methods: Phase 1: To determine clinicians' needs, we studied the calls made to the Bacteriology Unit.