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Introduction: Diagnosis of HSV-1 keratitis (HK) is frequently based on clinical findings. Invasive specimens (corneal scrapings, biopsies) are required for microbiological diagnosis., Methods: Corneal scrapings and conjunctival swabs were collected on patients with/without clinical suspicion of HK from 2007 to 2012., Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for conjunctival swabs by PCR was 77.8, 92.1, 84.4 and 88.3, respectively., Discussion: Conjunctival swabs by PCR may help in the diagnosis of HK, despite the limited sensitivity., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Viral infections are a major cause of morbidity and even mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. This article reviews key aspects of infections in solid organ transplant recipients from respiratory viruses, such as influenza, polyomavirus, erythrovirus B19 and measles., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España S.L. All rights reserved.)

We have evaluated 44 cases of Serratia marcescens bacteremia (SB). Most took place in surgical services (57%) and the ICU (34%). In one occasion, the cases developed as an epidemic outbreak. SB basically developed in patients with underlying diseases (neoplasia in 32%, heart disease in 16%, chronic bronchitis in 14% and miscellaneous in 20%) in whom some invasive procedure had been carried out (98%). The most common complication was septic shock. In 17 cases the infection was polymicrobial. The most common serogroup was 0:5 (41%). 98% of strains were resistant to cephalothin, 78% to ampicillin and 29% to tobramycin. The mortality rate was 39% and the most common cause of death was septic shock. The factors which adversely influenced prognosis were as follows, in order of decreasing importance: leukocytosis, thrombopenia, associated gram-positive infection, age older than 65 years, "non-typable" serogroup, unknown portal of entry, epidemic case and septic shock.