A novel assessment, diagnostic and treatment system for diabetic foot.

Background: This report aims to present a novel system for the management of foot lesions in patients with diabetes. It was developed in the diabetic foot unit (DFU) of the Mutua de Terrassa University Hospital (HUMT) by primary care professionals, the Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC), and during emergency cases treated by our group based on daily activities in patients with neuropathy or neuroischemia. BODY: This system considers five degrees of action based on two fixed variables: presence of infection and lesion depth.

Intervention to reduce the incidence of non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia: A pilot study.

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce the incidence of non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and determine compliance with preventive measures.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental before-after study involving patients in the 53-bed Internal Medicine ward in a university hospital in Spain. The preventive measures included hand hygiene, dysphagia detection, head-of-bed elevation, withdrawal of sedatives in the event of confusion, oral care, and sterile or bottled water use.

Low risk of environmental contagion by SARS-CoV-2 in non-sanitary spaces.

Objective: To study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces (high, medium and low contact) and airs in non-sanitary spaces with high public influx to evaluate the risk of environmental contagion.

Methods: Surfaces and airs were analysed by RT-qPCR to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2.

Results: 394 surfaces and air samples were obtained from spaces with high public influx such as offices, shopping centres and nursing homes.

[Low risk of environmental contagion by SARS-CoV-2 in non-sanitary spaces].

Objective: To study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces (high, medium and low contacts) and airs in non-sanitary spaces with high public influx to evaluate the risk of environmental contagion.

Method: Surfaces and airs were analysed by RT-qPCR to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2.

Results: A total of 394 surfaces and air samples were obtained from spaces with high public influx such as offices, shopping centres and nursing homes.

Rapid Detection of in Drinking Water, Based on Filter Immunoassay and Chronoamperometric Measurement.

is a pathogenic bacterium, ubiquitous in freshwater environments and able to colonise man-made water systems from which it can be transmitted to humans during outbreaks. The prevention of such outbreaks requires a fast, low cost, automated and often portable detection system. In this work, we present a combination of sample concentration, immunoassay detection, and measurement by chronoamperometry.

Legionella SBT applied directly to respiratory samples as a rapid molecular epidemiological tool.

Legionnaires' disease (LD) is an atypical pneumonia caused by the inhalation of Legionella. The methods used for the diagnosis of LD are direct culture of respiratory samples and urinary antigen detection. However, the sensitivity of culture is low, and the urinary antigen test is specific only for L.

Role of hot water temperature and water system use on Legionella control in a tertiary hospital: An 8-year longitudinal study.

Although measures to minimize Legionella colonization in sanitary hot water installations are well established, there is little evidence of their long-term effectiveness in hospital buildings. During an 8-year period, hot water in a large hospital building was sampled monthly in areas with suitable dimensioning and recirculation and in areas with dead legs and low-use taps. In the former areas, the percentage of Legionella-negative samples was 83.

New system for the detection of Legionella pneumophila in water samples.

Waterborne pathogens are a global concern for public health worldwide. Despite continuing efforts to maintain water safety, water quality is still affected by deterioration and pollution. Legionella pneumophila colonizes man-made water systems and can infect humans causing Legionnaire's disease (LD), pneumonia.

Population structure of Environmental and Clinical Legionella pneumophila isolates in Catalonia.

Legionella is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease (LD). In Spain, Catalonia is the region with the highest incidence of LD cases. The characterisation of clinical and environmental isolates using molecular epidemiology techniques provides epidemiological data for a specific geographic region and makes it possible to carry out phylogenetic and population-based analyses.

Antibody test for Legionella pneumophila detection.

Legionella pneumophila is responsible for Legionnaires' disease (LD). Its detection in both environmental and clinical samples is mainly performed by culture plate method which requires up to 10days to obtain results. Nowadays, there are commercial antibodies against this bacterium, but they have not been tested against all subgroups of L.

Prevalence of MRSA ST398 Carriage in Nursing Home Residents in an Area of Spain With a High Density of Pig Farming.

MRSA nasal carriage was detected in 15.7% of 204 residents from 6 nursing homes (NHs) in the Osona region (Barcelona, Spain), and the MRSA-ST398 lineage was identified in 15.6% of MRSA-positive residents and in 2.

Development of an integrated method of concentration and immunodetection of bacteria.

The microbial quality of water is a key aspect to avoid environmental and public health problems. The low pathogen concentration needed to produce a disease outbreak makes it essential to process large water volumes and use sensitive and specific methods such as immunoassays for its detection. In the present work, we describe the development of a device based on microfiltration membranes to integrate the concentration and the immunodetection of waterborne bacteria.

Differential Proteome Between Patient-Related and Non-related Environmental Isolates of Legionella pneumophila.

Molecular epidemiologic studies of Legionella have shown different molecular types coexisting in the same environment, with only one having the ability to trigger an outbreak. We therefore studied the proteome of isolates of these different molecular types in search of the proteins responsible for infection. In this study, we performed a differential proteomic analysis between patient-related and non-patient-related environmental isolates using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) combined with mass spectrometry.

Prevalence of colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 in pigs and pig farm workers in an area of Catalonia, Spain.

Background: A livestock-associated clonal lineage (ST398) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been identified causing colonization or infection in farm workers. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of MRSA-ST398 colonization in pigs and in pig farmers in an area with a high pig population (Osona, Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional prevalence study in Osona (Catalonia, Spain), from June 2014 to June 2015.

Characterization of unrelated clinical Legionella pneumophila isolates in Catalonia by monoclonal subgrouping and sequence-based typing.

Aim: To characterize the genetic diversity of unrelated Legionella pneumophila clinical isolates in Catalonia and compare with other European regions.

Methods: 95 unrelated isolates were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies and sequence-based typing, 1989-2013.

Results: The isolates showed a high diversity (IOD 0.

Discriminatory usefulness of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and sequence-based typing in Legionella outbreaks.

Aim: To compare the discriminatory power of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequence-based typing (SBT) in Legionella outbreaks for determining the infection source.

Materials & Methods: Twenty-five investigations of Legionnaires' disease were analyzed by PFGE, SBT and Dresden monoclonal antibody.

Results: The results suggested that monoclonal antibody could reduce the number of Legionella isolates to be characterized by molecular methods.

Arboviral infections diagnosed in a European area colonized by Aedes albopictus (2009-2013, Catalonia, Spain).

Background: The invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus, with proven vectorial ability to transmit European autochthonous cycles of dengue and chikungunya virus, has currently colonized every coastal department of Eastern Spain. The main objective of the study was to define the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the trends of these two arboviral diseases in a European area heavily colonized by Ae. albopictus.

[Proteomics in infectious diseases].

Infectious diseases have a high incidence in the population, causing a major impact on global health. In vitro culture of microorganisms is the first technique applied for infection diagnosis which is laborious and time consuming. In recent decades, efforts have been focused on the applicability of "Omics" sciences, highlighting the progress provided by proteomic techniques in the field of infectious diseases.

Impact of the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic on invasive pneumococcal disease in adults.

Background: The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) appears to be associated with influenza. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in IPD incidence and clinical data as well as the trends in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in adults during the peak period of the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic (IAP).

Methods: We performed a prospective multicentre study on IPD from week 42 to 48, 2009 in an area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) covering 1,483,781 adult inhabitants.

Risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia outside the intensive care unit: a case-control study.

Background: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is one of the leading nosocomial infections and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies on HAP have been performed in intensive care units (ICUs), whereas very few have focused on patients in general wards. This study examined the incidence of, risk factors for, and outcomes of HAP outside the ICU.

Strongyloides stercoralis, the hidden worm. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 70 cases diagnosed in the North Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain, 2003-2012.

Background: The nematode Strongyloides stercoralis has a very particular autoinfection life-cycle which leads to chronic infections remaining undetected for decades. However, hyperinfection can occur in patients receiving immunotherapy resulting in high mortality rates. The main objective of this study was to assess the results of a 10-year multicenter surveillance program performed in an area with dense immigration in Barcelona, Spain.

[Epidemiology and risk factors associated with religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Results of a prospective cohort 2008-2009].

Introduction: Religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, or Hajj, is a basic tenet of the Islamic doctrine and, after Ramadan, annually represents the largest human concentration (with up to 5% of from the EU) around the world. Such a gathering entails health risks.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted of a cohort of pilgrims attended for pre-travel preventive activities in the North Metropolitan International Health Unit (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain) from 2009-2010.