On the relevance of query definition in the performance of 3D ligand-based virtual screening.

Ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) methods are widely used to explore the vast chemical space in the search of novel compounds resorting to a variety of properties encoded in 1D, 2D or 3D descriptors. The success of 3D-LBVS is affected by the overlay of molecular pairs, thus making selection of the template compound, search of accessible conformational space and choice of the query conformation to be potential factors that modulate the successful retrieval of actives. This study examines the impact of adopting different choices for the query conformation of the template, paying also attention to the influence exerted by the structural similarity between templates and actives.

Healthcare-associated pneumonia: a prospective study in Spain.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics and factors related to outcome in Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP).

Methods: A 3-year prospective observational epidemiological case study of HCAP was conducted in seven Spanish hospitals. Microbiological and patient characteristics and outcomes were collected and classified by causative pathogen into 4 categories: "S.

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.

Antibiotic selection in the treatment of acute invasive infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Guidelines by the Spanish Society of Chemotherapy.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by a notable intrinsic resistance to antibiotics, mainly mediated by the expression of inducible chromosomic β-lactamases and the production of constitutive or inducible efflux pumps. Apart from this intrinsic resistance, P. aeruginosa possess an extraordinary ability to develop resistance to nearly all available antimicrobials through selection of mutations.

Microbiology in burns patients with blood stream infections: trends over time and during the course of hospitalization.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a major cause of mortality in burns patients. Knowledge of the microbiology is crucial to direct empirical therapy. We sought to determine the causative microorganisms and antibiotic resistance in burns patients with BSI.

EPICO 4.0. 'Total quality' in the management of invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients by analysing the integrated process.

Background: A high quality integrated process in the clinical setting of non-neutropenic critically ill patients at risk for invasive candidiasis is a necessary tool to improve the management of these patients.

Aims: To identify the key points on invasive candidiasis in order to develop a set of recommendations with a high level of consensus required for the creation of a total quality integrated process for the management of non-neutropenic critically ill patients at risk of invasive candidiasis.

Methods: After a thorough review of the literature of the previous five years, a Spanish prospective questionnaire, which measured consensus by the Delphi technique, was anonymously conducted by e-mail, including 31 national multidisciplinary experts with extensive experience in invasive fungal infections, from six national scientific societies.

EPICO 3.0. Management of non-neutropenic patients in medical wards.

Background: Although the management of invasive fungal infection (IFI) has improved, a number of controversies persist regarding the approach to invasive fungal infection in non-neutropenic medical ward patients.

Aims: To identify the essential clinical knowledge to elaborate a set of recommendations with a high level of consensus necessary for the management of IFI in non-neutropenic medical ward patients.

Methods: A prospective, Spanish questionnaire, which measures consensus through the Delphi technique, was anonymously answered and e-mailed by 30 multidisciplinary national experts, all specialists (intensivists, anesthesiologists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and specialists in infectious diseases) in IFI and belonging to six scientific national societies.

EPICO 3.0. Recommendations on invasive candidiasis in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection and surgical patients with ICU extended stay.

Background: Although in the last decade the management of invasive fungal infections has improved, a number of controversies persist regarding the management of complicated intra-abdominal infection and surgical extended length-of-stay (LOS) patients in intensive care unit (ICU).

Aims: To identify the essential clinical knowledge and elaborate a set of recommendations, with a high level of consensus, necessary for the management of postsurgical patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection and surgical patients with ICU extended stay.

Methods: A Spanish prospective questionnaire, which measures consensus through the Delphi technique, was anonymously answered and e-mailed by 30 multidisciplinary national experts, all of them specialists in fungal invasive infections from six scientific national societies; these experts were intensivists, anesthesiologists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and specialists in infectious diseases.

EPICO 3.0. Empirical antifungal therapy in critically-ill hematology patients.

Background: Although in the past decade the management of invasive fungal infections has improved, a number of controversies persist regarding empirical antifungal treatment in critically-ill hematology patients.

Aims: To identify key clinical knowledge to elaborate a set of recommendations, with a high level of consensus, necessary for the approach to fungal infections in critically-ill hematology patients.

Methods: A Spanish prospective questionnaire, which measures consensus through the Delphi technique, was anonymously answered and e-mailed by 30 multidisciplinary national experts, all specialists in fungal invasive infections from six scientific national societies; intensivists, anesthesiologists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and specialists in infectious diseases.

Impact of a multifaceted educational intervention including serious games to improve the management of invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients.

Objectives: Infections caused by Candida species are common in critically ill patients and contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. The EPICO Project (Epico 1 and Epico 2.0 studies) recently used a Delphi approach to elaborate guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition in critically ill adult patients.

The use of ertapenem for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in routine hospital practice: a matched cohort study.

Objective: The clinical response to ertapenem in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) at the setting of routine hospital practice has been scarcely evaluated.

Methods: We retrospectively compared CAP cases treated with ertapenem or with other standard antimicrobials (controls) at a tertiary 1,434-bed center from 2005 to 2014.

Results: Out of 6,145 patients hospitalized with CAP, 64 (1%) ertapenem-treated and 128 controls were studied (PSI IV-V 72%, mean age 73 years.

2016 Expert consensus document on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of short-term peripheral venous catheter-related infections in adult.

The use of endovascular catheters is a routine practice in secondary and tertiary care level hospitals. Short peripheral catheters have been found to be associated with the risk of nosocomial bacteremia resulting in morbidity and mortality. Staphyloccus aureus is mostly associated with peripheral catheter insertion.

EPICO 3.0. Antifungal prophylaxis in solid organ transplant recipients.

Background: Although over the past decade the management of invasive fungal infection has improved, considerable controversy persists regarding antifungal prophylaxis in solid organ transplant recipients.

Aims: To identify the key clinical knowledge and make by consensus the high level recommendations required for antifungal prophylaxis in solid organ transplant recipients.

Methods: Spanish prospective questionnaire, which measures consensus through the Delphi technique, was conducted anonymously and by e-mail with 30 national multidisciplinary experts, specialists in invasive fungal infections from six national scientific societies, including intensivists, anesthetists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and specialists in infectious diseases that responded to 12 questions prepared by the coordination group, after an exhaustive review of the literature in the last few years.

Current Epidemiology and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis: A Multicenter, Prospective, Cohort Study.

The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics and identify the risk factors of short-term and 1-year mortality in a recent cohort of patients with infective endocarditis (IE).From January 2008, multidisciplinary teams have prospectively collected all consecutive cases of IE, diagnosed according to the Duke criteria, in 25 Spanish hospitals.Overall, 1804 patients were diagnosed.

EPICO 2.0 PROJECT. Development of educational therapeutic recommendations using the DELPHI technique on invasive candidiasis in critically ill adult patients in special situations.

Introduction: Although there has been an improved management of Invasive Candidiasis in the last decade, still controversial issues remain, especially in different therapeutic critical care scenarios.

Objectives: We sought to identify the core clinical knowledge and to achieve high agreement recommendations required to care for critically ill adult patients with Invasive Candidiasis for antifungal treatment in special situations and different scenarios.

Methods: Second Prospective Spanish survey reaching consensus by the Delphi technique, conducted anonymously by electronic e-mail in the first phase to 23 national multidisciplinary experts in invasive fungal infections from five national scientific societies including Intensivists, Anesthesiologists, Microbiologists, Pharmacologists and Infectious disease specialists, answering 30 questions prepared by a coordination group after a strict review of literature in the last five years.

EPICO 2.0 project. Development of educational therapeutic recommendations using the DELPHI technique on invasive candidiasis in critically ill adult patients in special situations.

Background: Although there has been an improved management of invasive candidiasis in the last decade, still controversial issues remain, especially in different therapeutic critical care scenarios.

Aims: We sought to identify the core clinical knowledge and to achieve high agreement recommendations required to care for critically ill adult patients with invasive candidiasis for antifungal treatment in special situations and different scenarios.

Methods: Second prospective Spanish survey reaching consensus by the DELPHI technique, conducted anonymously by electronic e-mail in the first phase to 23 national multidisciplinary experts in invasive fungal infections from five national scientific societies including intensivists, anesthesiologists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and infectious disease specialists, answering 30 questions prepared by a coordination group after a strict review of literature in the last five years.

[Consensus guidelines for the management of community acquired pneumonia in the elderly patient].

The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia increases with age and is associated with an elevated morbidity and mortality due to the physiological changes associated with aging and a greater presence of chronic disease. Taking into account the importance of this disease from an epidemiological and prognostic point of view, and the enormous heterogeneity described in the clinical management of the elderly, we believe a specific consensus document regarding this patient profile is necessary. The purpose of the present work was to perform a review of the evidence related to the risk factors for the etiology, the clinical presentation, the management and the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients with the aim of producing a series of specific recommendations based on critical analysis of the literature.

Guidelines for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly patient.

The incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) increases with age and is associated with an elevated morbimortality due to the physiological changes associated with aging and a greater presence of chronic disease. Taking into account the importance of this disease from an epidemiological and prognostic point of view, and the enormous heterogeneity described in the clinical management of the elderly, we believe a specific consensus document regarding this patient profile is necessary. The purpose of the present work was to perform a review of the evidence related to the risk factors for the etiology, the clinical presentation, the management and the treatment of CAP in elderly patients with the aim of elaborating a series of specific recommendations based on critical analysis of the literature.

ÉPICO project. Development of educational recommendations using the DELPHI technique on invasive candidiasis in non-neutropenic critically ill adult patients.

Background: Although there has been an improved management of invasive candidiasis in the last decade, controversial issues still remain, especially in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Aims: We sought to identify the core clinical knowledge and to achieve high level agreement recommendations required to care for critically ill adult patients with invasive candidiasis.

Methods: A prospective Spanish survey reaching consensus by the DELPHI technique was made.