Neutralizing antibody titers elicited by CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines in health care workers with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

We report neutralizing antibody titers (NAbTs) elicited by CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines in healthcare workers with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection using both a pseudotype-based assay and a commercial kit. NAbTs were higher for the mRNA vaccine and increased in all previously infected. Good correlation between both assays was found.

[Support of the laboratory of microbiology and pathological anatomy in the diagnosis and management of infections in cancer patients and transplantation of hematopoietic stem cell transplant receptors].

The confrontation of the differential and etiological diagnosis of the infectious diseases of cancer patients, including hematopoietic stem cells transplant (HSCT) recipients, must correspond to an informed, timely decision that directly affects medical behavior that determines a better survival and quality of life for patients. The main goal of this work was to contribute to the management of these patients developing a useful tool for the clinician to make these decisions. For that, infections were grouped by compromised systems, differentiating the possible etiological agents in bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, highlighting the relevant diagnostic tests, mentioning the recommended techniques together with the optimal sample type for proper processing.

A Multicenter Study To Evaluate Ceftaroline Breakpoints: Performance in an Area with High Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sequence Type 5 Lineage.

Ceftaroline (CPT) is a broad-spectrum agent with potent activity against methicillin-resistant (MRSA). The sequence type 5 (ST5) Chilean-Cordobés clone, associated with CPT nonsusceptibility, is dominant in Chile, a region with high rates of MRSA infections. Here, we assessed the activity of CPT against a collection of MRSA isolates collected between 1999 and 2018 from nine hospitals ( = 320) and community settings ( = 41) in Santiago, Chile, and evaluated performance across testing methodologies.

Head-to-head comparison of Microflex LT and Vitek MS systems for routine identification of microorganisms by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in Chile.

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a new and revolutionary identification method for microorganisms and has recently been introduced into clinical microbiology in many industrialized countries in Europe and North America.

Objectives: Our study aimed to compare the performance and practicality of two commercial MALDI-TOF MS platforms in a head-to head manner at a routine laboratory in Chile.

Methods: During a five-month period in 2012-13, the diagnostic efficiency (correct identification rate) and agreement between Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek MS (bioMérieux) was compared in a parallel manner to conventional identification including genotypic analysis for difficult-to-identify strains.

[Prophylaxis against tuberculosis in pediatric and adult patients undergoing solid organ and hematopoietic stem cells transplantation].

Recipients of SOT and HSCT constitute a risk group for becoming ill with tuberculosis (TB). The prevalence of active TB in patients undergoing TOS is higher than in patients undergoing HSCT, probably for the shortest period of immunosuppression of the latter. Most TB cases occur in transplant patients by reactivation of latent infection after immunosuppression, which occurs most often within the first year post-transplant, causing graft loss and in some cases death.

[Asymptomatic bacteriuria in type 2 diabetics women ].

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is frequent among diabetics, especially women. It may be preceded by asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Aim: To study the frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria in type 2 diabetic women.