Accuracy of Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis in a low TB burden country: a prospective multicentre study.

Introduction: Childhood pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a diagnostic challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children in a low TB prevalence setting.

Methods: Prospective, multicentre, diagnostic accuracy study.

Diagnostic pre-screening method based on N-gene dropout or delay to increase feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 VOC B.1.1.7 detection.

To compare the RT-PCR Allplex SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV Assay (Allplex assay) with other methods of detection of VOC B.1.1.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube as a Confirmatory Test for Tuberculin Skin Test in Tuberculosis Contact Tracing: A Noninferiority Clinical Trial.

Background: Screening strategies based on interferon-γ release assays in tuberculosis contact tracing may reduce the need for preventive therapy without increasing subsequent active disease.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized trial to test the noninferiority of a 2-step strategy with the tuberculin skin test (TST) followed by QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) as a confirmatory test (the TST/QFT arm) to the standard TST-alone strategy (TST arm) for targeting preventive therapy in household contacts of patients with tuberculosis. Participants were followed for 24 months after randomization.

A cost-saving strategy for processing isolated uropathogens in community-acquired urinary tract infections.

Outpatient urine samples are among the most commonly processed in a microbiology laboratory, which involves a high economic burden. The aim of this study was compare cost and efficiency to process uropathogens between MicroScan system (2010-2011) versus a chromogenic medium and the disk diffusion method (2013-2014). In the first period, a total 9918 bacterial populations were isolated from urine samples.

Predictors of early mortality in very elderly patients with bacteremia: a prospective multicenter cohort.

Objectives: The proportion of very elderly people in the population is increasing, and infectious diseases in this patient group may present with specific characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome predictors of bacteremia among the very elderly.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study of bloodstream infections (BSI) in patients ≥ 80 years old in 15 hospitals in Spain.

Reappraisal of the outcome of healthcare-associated and community-acquired bacteramia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Healthcare-associated (HCA) bloodstream infections (BSI) have been associated with worse outcomes, in terms of higher frequencies of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and inappropriate therapy than strict community-acquired (CA) BSI. Recent changes in the epidemiology of community (CO)-BSI and treatment protocols may have modified this association. The objective of this study was to analyse the etiology, therapy and outcomes for CA and HCA BSI in our area.

Impact of inadequate empirical therapy on the mortality of patients with bloodstream infections: a propensity score-based analysis.

The impact of the adequacy of empirical therapy on outcome for patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) is key for determining whether adequate empirical coverage should be prioritized over other, more conservative approaches. Recent systematic reviews outlined the need for new studies in the field, using improved methodologies. We assessed the impact of inadequate empirical treatment on the mortality of patients with BSI in the present-day context, incorporating recent methodological recommendations.