Epidemiological markers of Serratia marcescens isolates causing nosocomial infections in Spain (1981-1991).

The distribution of epidemiological markers (serotyping and phage-typing) of Serratia marcescens isolates from nosocomial episodes (63 nosocomial cutbreaks with 475 isolates, and 1208 sporadic cases) received in our laboratory during the period 1981-1991 was studied. The records for 1683 isolates from Spanish hospitals have been analyzed. In relation with the sporadic cases, the predominant types were serotype O6 (13.

An international investigation of an outbreak of Legionnaires disease among UK and French tourists.

Five cases of legionnaires disease and one death were associated with four members of a tour group from the United Kingdom (UK) and one French tourist who all visited Spain in the spring of 1993. The UK group stayed at four hotels, one of which was also used by the French tourist. Phenotypic and genotypic comparison of isolates of Legionella pneumophila obtained from one of the UK cases and the French patient demonstrated that they were indistinguishable from each other and from environmental isolates obtained from the water supply of the hotel at which all five cases had stayed.

[Characterization of clinical and environmental isolates of Legionella associated with outbreaks and study of the infection sources].

Background: The study of isolates of Legionella related with six outbreaks of community-acquired legionellosis and seven nosocomial outbreaks is presented.

Methods: The isolates were serogrouped by indirect immunofluorescence testing and those belonging to serogroup (SG) 1 L. pneumophila strains were subtyped using the international panel of monoclonal antibodies.

Hospital infections in Spain. I. Staphylococcus aureus (1978-91).

This study was undertaken to determine the distribution of phage types of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital outbreaks or sporadic cases received in our laboratory during the past 14 years. The records for 15,803 isolates from 55 Spanish hospitals have been analysed. In relation to sporadic isolates we have been able to detect the predominance of phage group I and non-typable staphylococcal strains.

[Prevalence of serotype 0:12 among strains of P. aeruginosa causing nosocomial infection in Spain (1980-1991)].

Background: The aim of the present study was to characterize P. aeruginosa strains causing nosocomial infection in Spain between 1980-1990 with special emphasis on the incidence of serotype 0:12 strains.

Methods: 11,411 strains of P.

Evidence of the presence of spotted fever group rickettsiae in dogs and dog ticks of the central provinces in Spain.

To assess canine exposure to spotted fever group rickettsiae in the central provinces of Spain, ticks removed from dogs were studied by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Twenty-eight out of 65 (43.0%) samples from ticks were positive.

Isolation of an agent of the spotted fever group rickettsia from tick eggs in Madrid, Spain.

Ticks recovered from dogs in rural villages around Madrid (Spain) were processed to isolate rickettsiae. One sample containing mixtures of ticks and four containing eggs, in which rickettsiae had been detected by indirect immunofluorescence with a human serum highly reactive to Rickettsia conorii, were decontaminated, homogenized and inoculated onto Vero cells. Two egg samples yielded a cytopathic agent that reacted positively by immunofluorescence.

Legionellae isolated from clinical and environmental samples in Spain (1983-90): monoclonal typing of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates.

Legionella isolates recovered in 21 different Spanish provinces over 8 years from both clinical (67 isolates) and environmental (181) samples, mostly from case-associated buildings, are described; 92.5% of clinical isolates were L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (SG1), only five isolates belonging to other species or serogroups: two L.

Serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing systemic infections in Spain, 1979-1989.

Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 2,197 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from patients with systemic infections over an 11-year period. The predominant serogroups and serotypes, in order of decreasing frequency, were 3, 6, 23, 19, 9, 1, 5, 8, 7, 14, 4, and 15; these types accounted for more than 75% of the strains studied. Altogether, 93% of the pneumococci belonged to groups or types included in the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine.

Analysis of protein antigens as a potential marker for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Protein antigens of the five more common Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Spain-1, 3, 4, 5 and 23 -were studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Most protein antigens defined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis appeared to be common to the five serotypes studied since the degree of cross-reaction was high. Using gel electrophoresis a considerable degree of similarity in the patterns of protein bands was also observed.

Characterization of non-typable strains of Staphylococcus aureus from cases of hospital infection.

A high percentage of non-typable (NT) Staphylococcus aureus strains was isolated in Spanish hospitals during 1984 and 1985. Several alternative methods of typing were employed to study these isolates. These were: phage-typing at 1000 X RTD, phage-typing after heat-treatment (48 degrees C), thermal shock (56 degrees C), reverse-typing and induction of additional phages.

Phage-typing of Staphylococcus aureus from cases of bacteraemia.

Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from 98 cases of bacteraemia from 16 different hospitals were phage-typed. Fifty-six isolates were associated with sporadic infections and 42 with hospital outbreaks. In the sporadic cases, group I strains, particularly types 29, 52, or 29/52, were very frequent (39.

Hospital infection caused by non-typable Staphylococcus aureus: application of reverse typing.

Hospital infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus non-typable (NT) by phages have occurred in three Spanish hospitals since 1981. Reverse typing allowed characterization of the strains in all three cases.