Kinetic modelling of colour and turbidity formation in aqueous solutions of sulphamethoxazole degraded by UV/HO.

The oxidation of sulphamethoxazole medicine (SMX) has been studied by means of UV/HO conducting at a controlled pH between 2.0 and 12.0 and oxidant ratios of 500 mol HO/mol SMX.

The efficacy of suppressive antibiotic treatment in patients managed non-operatively for periprosthetic joint infection and a draining sinus.

: Patients with prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) not suitable for curative surgery may benefit from suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT). However, the usefulness of SAT in cases with a draining sinus has never been investigated. : A multicentre, retrospective observational cohort study was performed in which patients with a PJI and a sinus tract were eligible for inclusion if managed conservatively and if sufficient follow-up data were available (i.

SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome.

The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at first patient's hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log copies/mL.

Blood culture-negative infective endocarditis: a worse outcome? Results from a large multicentre retrospective Spanish cohort study.

Background: To assess the impact of blood cultures negative infective endocarditis (BCNIE) on in-hospital mortality.

Methods: Prospective multicentre study with retrospective analysis of a Spanish cohort including adult patients with definite IE. Cardiac implantable devices infection were excluded.

Repeated Pulses of Methyl-Prednisolone in Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Preliminary Before-After Study (CortiCOVID Study).

Introduction: The use of systemic corticosteroids in severely ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid pulses in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study, before and after, was performed in a tertiary referral hospital, including admitted patients showing COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

Clinical and prognostic differences between methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis.

Background: S. aureus (SA) infective endocarditis (IE) has a very high mortality, attributed to the age and comorbidities of patients, inadequate or delayed antibiotic treatment, and methicillin resistance, among other causes. The main study objective was to analyze epidemiological and clinical differences between IE by methicillin-resistant versus methicillin-susceptible SA (MRSA vs.

Higher MICs (>2 mg/L) Predict 30-Day Mortality in Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Caused by Multidrug- and Extensively Drug-Resistant Treated With Ceftolozane/Tazobactam.

Background: Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) efficacy and safety in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is being evaluated at a double dose by several trials. This dosing is based on a pharmacokinetic (PK) model that demonstrated that 3 g q8h achieved ≥90% probability of target attainment (50% ƒT > minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC]) in plasma and epithelial lining fluid against C/T-susceptible . The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different C/T doses in patients with lower respiratory infection (LRI) due to MDR- or XDR- considering the C/T MIC.

Changes of dissolved oxygen in aqueous solutions of caffeine oxidized by photo-Fenton reagent.

Formation of oxygen in the caffeine aqueous solutions occurs through self-decomposition reactions of the hydrogen peroxide, used as an oxidant in the photo-Fenton treatment. The total concentration of hydrogen peroxide used in the treatment would be the contribution of the stoichiometric concentration that reacts with the organic matter ([HO]= 2.0 mM) and the excess of oxidant that decomposes to oxygen, through radical mechanisms, according to a ratio of 0.

Effect of ultrasonic waves on the water turbidity during the oxidation of phenol. Formation of (hydro)peroxo complexes.

Analysis of the kinetics of aqueous phenol oxidation by a sono-Fenton process reveals that the via involving ortho-substituted intermediates prevails: catechol (25.0%), hydroquinone (7.7%) and resorcinol (0.

The role of iron species on the turbidity of oxidized phenol solutions in a photo-Fenton system.

This work aims at establishing the contribution of the iron species to the turbidity of phenol solutions oxidized with photo-Fenton technology. During oxidation, turbidity increases linearly with time till a maximum value, according to a formation rate that shows a dependence of second order with respect to the catalyst concentration. Next, the decrease in turbidity shows the evolution of second-order kinetics, where the kinetics constant is inversely proportional to the dosage of iron, of order 0.

Influence of early surgical treatment on the prognosis of left-sided infective endocarditis: a multicenter cohort study.

Objective: To analyze the influence of early valve operation on mortality in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis (IE).

Patients And Methods: A multicenter cohort study was carried out between 1990 and 2010. Data from consecutive patients with definite IE and possible left-sided IE were collected.

Changes of turbidity during the phenol oxidation by photo-Fenton treatment.

Turbidity presented by phenol solutions oxidized with Fenton reagent shows the tendency of a first order intermediate kinetics. Thus, turbidity can be considered a representative parameter of the presence of intermediate oxidation species, which are generated along the decomposition of toxic and reluctant contaminants, such as phenol. Moreover, that parameter presents a linear dependence with the catalyst dosage, but is also determined by the initial contaminant load.

Impact of an evidence-based bundle intervention in the quality-of-care management and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Several aspects of clinical management have been shown to have significant impact on prognosis. The objective of the study was to identify evidence-based quality-of-care indicators (QCIs) for the management of SAB, and to evaluate the impact of a QCI-based bundle on the management and prognosis of SAB.

Neurological complications of infective endocarditis: risk factors, outcome, and impact of cardiac surgery: a multicenter observational study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis, the risk factors for their development, their influence on the clinical outcome, and the impact of cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on a multicenter cohort of 1345 consecutive episodes of left-sided infective endocarditis from 8 centers in Spain. Cox regression models were developed to analyze variables predictive of neurological complications and associated mortality.

Prognostic factors in left-sided endocarditis: results from the Andalusian multicenter cohort.

Background: Despite medical advances, mortality in infective endocarditis (IE) is still very high. Previous studies on prognosis in IE have observed conflicting results. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in a large multicenter cohort of left-sided IE.

[Left-sided native valve endocarditis by coagulase-negative staphylococci: an emerging disease].

Objectives: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic characteristics of patients with left-sided native valve endocarditis (LNVE) caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS).

Patients And Method: Prospective multicenter study of endocarditis cases reported in the Andalusian Cohort for the Study of Cardiovascular Infections between 1984 and 2005.

Results: Among 470 cases of LNVE, 39 (8.

[Empirical antifungal therapy in selected patients with persistent fever and neutropenia].

Empirical antifungal treatment (EAT) in neutropenia is mainly aimed at improving the poor prognosis of patients with invasive fungal infection through early treatment. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends initiating EAT in patients with persistent fever after 5-7 days of antibacterial treatment, and in those in whom remission of neutropenia is not imminent. Nevertheless, EAT has not been shown to be more effective than a placebo, it does not show better results than directed antifungal treatment, its effectiveness is minimal, it is not innocuous, and it is not very efficient with the use of most antifungal agents.