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Bordetella pertussis not expressing pertactin has increased in countries using acellular pertussis vaccines (ACV). The deficiency is mostly caused by pertactin gene disruption by IS481. To assess the effect of the transition from whole-cell vaccine to ACV on the emergence of B. pertussis not expressing pertactin in Spain, we studied 342 isolates collected during 1986-2018. We identified 93 pertactin-deficient isolates. All were detected after introduction of ACV and represented 38% of isolates collected during the ACV period; 58.1% belonged to a genetic cluster of isolates carrying the unusual prn::del(-292, 1340) mutation. Pertactin inactivation by IS481 insertion was identified in 23.7% of pertactin-deficient isolates, arising independently multiple times and in different phylogenetic branches. Our findings support the emergence and dissemination of a cluster of B. pertussis with an infrequent mechanism of pertactin disruption in Spain, probably resulting from introduction of ACV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most available information on carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is usually associated with specific types of infection or patient or with descriptions of outbreaks. The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyse the clinical epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of colonisation and infections due to CPE in Spain.Methods: A multicentre prospective cohort study was carried out in 34 Spanish hospitals from February to May 2013. All new patients testing positive for CPE in clinical samples were included. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of mortality.Results: Overall, 245 cases were included. The most frequent organism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (74%) and the carbapenemases belonged to the OXA-48 (74%), metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) (24%) and KPC (2%) groups. Acquisition was nosocomial in 145 cases (60%) and healthcare-associated (HCA) in 91 (37%); 42% of the latter were nursing home residents, in whom OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae ST405 predominated. MBLs and OXA-48 predominated in ICU and medical patients, respectively. Overall, 67% of patients had infections. The most frequent infections identified in this study were urinary tract (43%) and skin structure (21%) infections, and 10% of infections were bacteraemic. Crude mortality was 20%. Inappropriate antibiotic therapy was independently associated with an increased risk of death (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1.34-8.11).Conclusions: We found some differences in the epidemiology of CPE depending on the type of carbapenemase produced. Although a low proportion of CPE infections were bacteraemic, active antibiotic therapy was a protective factor for reducing mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The high mortality index due to sepsis and the lack of an effective treatment requires the search for new compounds that can serve as therapy for this disease. Resveratrol, a well-known anti-inflammatory natural compound, might be a good candidate for the treatment of sepsis. The aim of this work was to study the effects of oral administration of resveratrol, before and after sepsis initiation, on inflammation markers in a murine model of endotoxin-induced sepsis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were treated with resveratrol the 3 days prior to LPS administration and 45 min later. Hematological parameters, TNF-α, IL-1β and CINC-1, FRAP and TBARS levels were determined. Resveratrol and resveratrol-derived metabolites profile in plasma was compared after oral and intraperitoneal administration. Results: Oral treatment with resveratrol had no apparent systemic protective effects. However, resveratrol reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation in the small intestine and colon. Importantly, the administration of LPS caused a decrease in resveratrol absorption. When resveratrol bioavailability after i.p. administration was compared to that observed after oral administration, a different profile of resveratrol metabolites was found in plasma. Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of studying the bioavailability of the assayed compounds in the experimental models used to be able to choose the best route of administration depending on the target organ and to determine which compounds or derived metabolites are effective treating the studied disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of typhoid fever in a traveler returning to Spain from Guatemala that was caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi which produced an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). This finding demonstrates the presence of ESBL-producing S. enterica ser. Typhi strains in the Americas. Enhanced surveillance is necessary to prevent further spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of acquired AmpC #x03B2;-lactamases and carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from 35 hospitals in Spain," that was published in the 2012 issue is presented.

Presents an abstract of the study "Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Patients With Hip Fractures in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain," by J. Marti, O. Nolasco, M. Vilarmau, M. Larrosa and R. Girvent.

To describe the secular trend and seasonality of the incidence of hip fracture (HF) and its relationship with climatic variables during the period 2010-2019 in Catalonia in people aged ≥ 65 years. The results were analyzed by sex, age groups (65-74, 75-84, and ≥ 85), and types of fracture (extracapsular and intracapsular). Data on sex, age, type of fracture, year, and month of hospitalization of patients admitted with a diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019 were collected. Crude and standardized HF incidence (HFi) rates were obtained. Data on the monthly mean of climatological variables (temperature, insolation, icy days, rain, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind force) were obtained from the network of meteorological stations in Catalonia. Time series analytical statistics were used to identify trends and seasonality. Linear regression and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) were used to analyze the relationship of each climatic parameter with fracture rates. In addition, generalized additive models were used to ascertain the best predictive model. The total number of HF episodes was 90,149 (74.1% in women and 25.9% in men). The total number of HFs increased by 6.4% between 2010 and 2019. The median age (SD) was 84.5 (7.14) and 54% of patients were ≥ 85 years of age. Extracapsular fractures were the most common (55%). The standardized incidence rates decreased from 728.1/100,000 (95% CI 738.6-769.3) to 624.5/100,000 (95% CI 648.7-677.0), which represents a decrease of 14.2% (p < 0.05). The decline was greater at older ages. There were seasonal variations, with higher incidences in autumn (27.2%) and winter (25.7%) and lower rates in summer (23.5%) and spring (23.6%). Seasonality was more pronounced in elderly people and men. In the bivariate regression analysis, high temperatures and greater insolation were negatively associated with the HF rate, while the number of icy days, rainy days, and high relative humidity were associated with a higher incidence of fractures in all age groups and sexes. In the regression analysis using the seasonal ARIMA model, only insolation had a consistently significant association with overall HFi, after adjusting by trend and other climatic parameters. While the global number of HFs grew in Catalonia due to increases in the elderly population, the standardized HF rate decreased during the years 2010-2019. There was a seasonal trend, with predominance in the cold months and correlations with climatic parameters, especially with insolation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To estimate the impact of first major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) on health resource use and healthcare expenditures in people aged ≥50 years in Catalonia, Spain., Design: Observational, retrospective study. The Catalan Health Surveillance System (CHSS) registry was used to obtain sociodemographic, clinical and expenditure data from all public centres in Catalonia (Spain)., Setting and Participants: Males and females aged ≥50 years who sustained a first major osteoporotic fracture between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020., Methods: Data on admissions to the emergency department, hospitalization and skilled nursing facilities, primary and specialized care visits, nonemergency medical transport, outpatient rehabilitation and pharmacy prescriptions were retrieved for each patient. Monthly and yearly mean usage rates, expenditure in euros (€) and incremental costs one and two years after fracture were calculated., Results: There were 64,403 patients with first MOF: 47,555 females and 16,848 males with a mean age (standard deviation) of 76.5 (12.0) years. The average annual expenditure increased from €4564 in the year before to €12,331 in the year following a hip fracture. For forearm fractures, the expenditure increased from €2511 to €4251, for vertebral fractures from €4146 to €6659, for pelvic fractures from €4442 to €7124, for humerus fractures from €3058 to €5992, and for multiple fractures from €4598 to €12,028. The average cost for overall fractures experienced a 110.3 % increase. The leading cause of health expenditure in the year following MOF was hospital admission. Expenditure in the second year post-fracture returned to pre-fracture levels. The use of some healthcare resources, especially visits to emergency services, increased in the prefracture month. Male sex, older age and high previous comorbidities were associated with a higher expenditure., Conclusions: In people with a first MOF, healthcare expenditure doubled during the first-year post-facture, mostly in relation to inpatient care. The healthcare resource use increased during the previous month. This increase could potentially be attributed to the worsening of pre-existing comorbidities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is little information on how the COVID-19 lockdown influenced the epidemiology of major osteoporotic fractures (MOF). We analyzed the incidence and mortality of MOF in 2020 compared with 2018-2019 in Catalonia, Spain. The incidence of MOF decreased steeply, and post-fracture mortality increased during the lockdown and throughout 2020., Purpose: To analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) incidence and mortality in Catalonia in 2020 and describe how age, sex, and the prior comorbidity burden influenced the epidemiology of MOF types., Methods: In this retrospective observational study, data on age and sex in people aged ≥ 50 years with a new diagnosis of MOF in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were collected. Average daily rates (ADR) were estimated overall and for five MOF: hip, distal forearm, proximal humerus, vertebrae, and pelvis. Morbidity was assessed using Adjusted Morbidity Groups. ADR in 2020 and the previous years were compared for overall and site-specific MOF in four consecutive time periods: pre-confinement, lockdown, deconfinement, and post-confinement. Thirty-day post-fracture mortality was assessed. COVID-19-related mortality was obtained from the Catalan COVID-19 register., Results: From 2018 to 2020, there were 86,412 MOF. The ADR of MOF initially increased in 2020 before the pandemic, decreased steeply during lockdown, and remained lower in the rest of the year. The decrease was steeper in vertebral, pelvic and arm fractures, and lower in hip fractures. Differences were more pronounced in younger age groups and people with fewer comorbidities. Mortality increased throughout 2020, reaching a 2.5-fold increase during lockdown. Excess mortality was directly associated with COVID-19., Conclusions: Mobility restrictions due to COVID-19 were associated with a reduction in MOF incidence in Catalonia, especially in younger people and in non-hip fractures. Post-fracture mortality was higher than in previous years due to the high COVID-19 mortality in the elderly., (© 2022. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Background: Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators have been recently revised by international public health agencies. The aim of the study is to describe and analyse contact tracing indicators based on Catalonia's (Spain) real data and proposing to update them according to recommendations., Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis including Catalonia's contact tracing dataset from 20 May until 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics are performed including sociodemographic stratification by age, and differences are assessed over the study period., Results: We analysed 923,072 contacts from 301,522 SARS-CoV-2 cases with identified contacts (67.1% contact tracing coverage). The average number of contacts per case was 4.6 (median 3, range 1-243). A total of 403,377 contacts accepted follow-up through three phone calls over a 14-day quarantine period (84.5% of contacts requiring follow-up). The percentage of new cases declared as contacts 14 days prior to diagnosis evolved from 33.9% in May to 57.9% in November. All indicators significantly improved towards the target over time (p < 0.05 for all four indicators)., Conclusions: Catalonia's SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators improved over time despite challenging context. The critical revision of the indicator's framework aims to provide essential information in control policies, new indicators proposed will improve system delay's follow-up. The study provides information on COVID-19 indicators framework experience from country's real data, allowing to improve monitoring tools in 2021-2022. With the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic being so harmful to health systems and globally, is important to analyse and share contact tracing data with the scientific community., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Chronic back pain is one of the main health problems reported by the adult population and its prevalence is influenced by different sociodemographic, work and lifestyle-related factors. The aim of this study was to describe the trend in the lifetime prevalence of chronic back pain in the adult Catalan population between 2011 and 2018 and its associated factors., Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Secondary analysis of a health survey., Methods: Trend in lifetime prevalence of chronic back pain by age and sex groups was estimated from the Catalan Health Survey. Association of chronic back pain with sex, age, health status, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, socio-economic and work-related variables was analysed., Results: A total of 31,823 people were interviewed between 2011 and 2018. The prevalence of chronic back pain decreased from 29.7% to 24.2% between 2011-2014 and 2015-2018 in the total population with higher prevalence and a greater difference in women (35%-28.50%) than in men (24.2%-19.7%). Factors associated with higher prevalence of chronic back pain were female sex, older age, poor health status, smoking, alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, overweight or obesity, mental health problems, lower educational level or social class, dissatisfaction at workplace, poor social support and family financial problems., Conclusions: The analysis shows a decreasing prevalence of chronic back pain from 2011 to 2018 in the adult population of Catalonia in all age groups and more significantly in women. An improvement of healthy lifestyle habits, social and occupational determinants, could have reduced the burden of chronic back pain in our community., (Copyright © 2022 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of major osteoporotic fractures in Catalonia, Spain, in 2018 and 2019 and their association with age, sex, income, climate and a set of comorbidities., Methods: Data on age, sex, smoking, alcohol abuse, comorbidities (obesity, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, multiple myeloma and epilepsy) and income levels in people aged ≥ 50 years with a new diagnosis of major osteoporotic fractures in 2018 and 2019 were collected from the Catalan Health Surveillance System (CHSS). Climatological variables were obtained from the Catalan Meteorological Service. Incidence rates were estimated for five major osteoporotic fractures (MOF). Associations between osteoporotic fractures and age, sex, income, comorbidities and climate variables were ascertained through multilevel generalized linear model analysis (Poisson's regression)., Results: There were 60,671 MOF. The annual incidence rate per 1000 persons/years at risk (PYAR) was 10.6 (3.1 for hip, 2.3 for distal forearm, 2.2 for vertebrae, 1.7 for pelvis and 1.5 for proximal humerus). Female sex, older age, lower income, smoking, alcohol abuse and some common comorbidities were associated with a higher incidence of MOF while obesity was a protective factor., Conclusions: MOF are frequent in the adult Catalan population, especially in older women and people on low incomes. Hip fracture is the most frequent, followed by forearm and vertebral fractures. Smoking, alcohol abuse and some comorbidities were associated with an increased incidence of fracture., (© 2022. International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Background: In high-income countries, shigellosis is mainly found in travellers to high-risk regions or in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study investigated the genomic characteristics and the features of antimicrobial resistance of MSM-associated Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei circulating in Barcelona, Spain, elucidating their connectivity with contemporaneous Shigella spp. from other countries., Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility, whole-genome sequencing, genomic characterization and phylogenetic analysis were performed in MSM-associated Shigella spp. recovered from 2015 to 2019. Reference genomes of MSM-associated Shigella spp. were included for contextualization and to determine their connection with international outbreaks., Results: In total, 44 S. flexneri and 26 S. sonnei were identified among MSM. Overall, 80% showed resistance to azithromycin, 65.7% showed resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 32.8% showed resistance to ciprofloxacin; 27.1% were resistant to all three antimicrobials. mphA and/or ermB, and qnrS and mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions were found in the azithromycin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates, respectively. Additionally, two isolates carried bla CTX-M-27. Single-nucleotide-polymorphism-based analysis revealed that the isolates were organized into different lineages, most of which were closely related to dominant MSM-associated lineages described previously in the UK and Australia., Conclusions: This study investigated the circulation of lineages of S. flexneri and S. sonnei among MSM in Spain that were mainly resistant to first-/second-line oral treatments, and closely related to dominant MSM-associated lineages described previously in the UK and Australia. These data reinforce the urgent need for the implementation of public health measures focusing on the early detection and prevention of transmission of this emerging pathogen, which is contributing to the antimicrobial resistance crisis in sexually transmitted infections., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) differs depending on the population studied. The main objective of the EPISER2016 study was to estimate the prevalence of FM in adults in Spain. The secondary objective was to evaluate the association with sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and smoking., Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional multicentre study. The random selection was based on multistage stratified cluster sampling. The final sample comprised 4916 persons aged ≥20 years. Participants were contacted by telephone for completion of a screening survey. Investigating rheumatologists evaluated positive results (review of medical records and/or telephone interview, with medical visit if needed) to confirm the diagnosis. Prevalence and 95% confidence interval were calculated, taking into account the sample design. Weighing was applied based on age, sex, and geographic origin. Predictive models were constructed to analyse which sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables in the call centre questionnaire were associated with the presence of FM., Results: 602 subjects (12.25%) had a positive screening result for FM, of which 24 were missing (3.99%). A total of 141 cases of FM were recorded. The estimated prevalence was 2.45% (95% CI, 2.06-2.90). Female sex was the variable most associated with FM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.156 (95% CI, 5.068-20.352). Peak prevalence was at 60-69 years (p=0.009, OR=6.962). FM was 68% more frequent in obese individuals (OR, 1.689; 95% CI, 1.036-2.755)., Conclusions: The prevalence of FM in adults in Spain barely changed between 2000 and 2016 and it is similar to that observed in Europe as a whole.

Aims: To describe the methodology of the EPISER 2016 (study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in adult population in Spain), as well its strengths and limitations. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), osteoarthritis (knee, hip, hands, and cervical and lumbar spine), fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture., Material and Method: Population-based, multicenter, cross-sectional study, with the participation of 45 municipalities in the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. The reference population will consist of adults aged 20 years and over residing in Spain. A computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system will be used for data collection. Diagnostic suspicions and diagnoses received by the participants will be studied by rheumatologists in the referral hospitals in the selected municipalities., Statistical Analysis: the prevalence of the rheumatic diseases will be calculated using estimators and their 95% confidence intervals. Weights will be calculated in each of the sampling stages in accordance with the probability of selection. The distribution of the population in Spain will be obtained from the Spanish Statistics Institute., Conclusions: Sociodemographic and lifestyle changes over the last 16 years justify EPISER 2016. This study will provide current data about the prevalences of RA, AS, PsA, SLE, SS, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and clinical osteoporotic fracture. The results will allow comparisons with studies from other countries and EPISER 2000., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess HLA-B27 influence on the clinical phenotype of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients., Method: An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study of AS patients from the Spanish REGISPONSER database was performed. Demographic, clinical, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)), and radiographic data (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI) score) were compared regarding HLA-B27 status. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables independently related to the presence of HLA-B27., Results: Data from 1235 patients (74.8% male) were analyzed; 1029 were HLA-B27 positive (83%). HLA-B27-positive patients showed higher family aggregation and an earlier onset of disease compared with those who were HLA-B27 negative. HLA-B27-negative patients presented statistically higher BASDAI and BASFI scores and higher prevalence of arthritis, dactylitis, and extra-articular manifestations (psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)) but not anytime uveitis compared with those who were HLA-B27 positive. In the multivariate analysis, family history (odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.49), younger age at diagnosis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98), presence of peripheral arthritis (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.89), dactylitis (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.56), psoriasis (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.78), and IBD (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.12-0.40) were the main variables independently related to the presence or not of HLA-B27., Conclusion: In Caucasian AS patients, the presence of HLA-B27 is related to an earlier disease onset and higher family aggregation. Absence of HLA-B27 is related to a higher frequency of peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, and extra-articular manifestations. Being HLAB27 positive is not related to a higher burden of disease or anytime uveitis.

Objective: To identify the main problems affecting general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in the care of the main musculoskeletal problems in Catalonia., Method: Cross-sectional, self-administered survey in a representative sample of GPs and all specialists in four areas (orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain units). Variables evaluated in the survey were related to socio-demographic data, attention to musculoskeletal diseases, self-declared expertise, referral process, coordination mechanisms and major constraints to provide high quality care., Results: GPs value well their expertise in the management of musculoskeletal diseases (6,7±1,0 on a scale of 1 to 10). Less than 25% of GPs are coordinated with hospital specialists. For them, waiting lists are the main problem (8.2±1,6/10) followed by lack of feedback (8±1,9/10) and poor coordination (7.8±1,9/10). Referenced specialties should change for some diseases (back pain and osteoarthritis). Specialists are critical for GPs. For specialists, the main problems are excessive workload (7,8±2/10) and the inefficiency of healthcare information systems (7.4±2/10)., Conclusions: The vision of the problems affecting the care of musculoskeletal diseases differs between GPs and hospital specialists. The limited accessibility and workload excess, deficiencies in the flow of information and poor coordination are the most important problems in the proper care for musculoskeletal diseases., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine whether primary drug prevention of osteoporotic hip fracture is a useful measure in Catalonia and what would be their budgetary impact., Material and Methods: We performed a cost-utility social perspective study with a time horizon of 10 to 20 years. Univariate sensitivity analysis was performed. Doing nothing is compared with an intervention that includes screening for osteoporosis in women> 64 years and in those diagnosed and who received treatment with generic alendronate for 10 years. Decision trees are developed for groups of 65-69, 70-74 and 75-79. HF data is from 2009 hospital discharges .Costs are derived from fees paid by public insurance., Results: In 2009 there were 9262 HF. The direct cost was € 55 million (€ 5,943.4/patient). The total cost was € 227 million for 10 years. The intervention dominates in all age groups in a 20 year perspective. In any horizon and age group, the different scenario puts the value per QALY below or within the proposed values for Spain. The budgetary impact is estimated at € 8.9 million which increased by 31% the actual direct cost, and 0.5% of the public pharmacy budget. Considering the total costs and the prospect of 20 years, annual savings of 7.4 million € were seen., Conclusions: The prevention of HF with alendronate in osteoporotic women>64 years is cost-useful in the long term (20 years) with a low budgetary impact in the 75-79 year group., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are among the most common chronic health problems of the Catalan adult population. They cause important problems for individuals, their families and for the society overall, with high direct and indirect economic costs. The Department of Health of Catalonia promoted the creation of a Master Plan for the rheumatic diseases, as a tool for planning an integral approach to these problems., Objective: To present the work methodology that has been used in the development of the Master Plan and its final proposals., Methods: First an analysis of the burden caused by these problems in our community was performed and the objectives of the Plan were established. Later, strategic lines were defined and work groups organized to analyze proposals for improvement, which after consensus were accepted., Results: The proposals of the Plan comprise actions in the scope of prevention, rationalization in the use of resources and the formation of professionals among others. Changes in the health care model for RDs were proposed in order to improve specialized and primary care coordination with clinics and musculoskeletal functional units., Conclusions: The Master Plan recommends actions to improve the attention of the population through operative planning and the services to different providers. The Master Plan will establish the health policy action lines directed against these disorders., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of qnr genes among enterobacterial isolates carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Barcelona, Spain., Methods: Screening for the qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes was carried out by PCR amplification with specific primers in 305 non-duplicate, clinically relevant ESBL-producing enterobacterial isolates obtained from February 2003 to August 2004. ESBLs from all qnr-positive isolates were characterized by isoelectric focusing, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. Plasmid analysis was performed by S1 digestion and hybridization with specific probes for the qnr and bla genes. Plasmids containing qnr genes were transferred by conjugation or transformation. The genetic environment of qnrA1 in selected isolates was characterized by cloning experiments., Results: Fifteen isolates, each from a different individual, carried qnr. Among them, 14 had qnrA1 (6 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 6 Enterobacter cloacae and 2 Escherichia coli isolates) and 1 had qnrS1 (K. pneumoniae). None of the isolates carried qnrB. Among the qnrA1-carrying isolates, 10 possessed both bla(CTX-M-9) and bla(SHV-12), 2 had both bla(CTX-M-9) and bla(SHV-92) and 2 had bla(CTX-M-9) alone. The isolate with qnrS1 possessed bla(SHV-12). The qnrA1 and ESBL genes were located together on plasmids ranging in size from 40 to 320 kb. qnrS1 and bla(SHV-12) were not located on the same plasmid. Transfer of quinolone resistance was successfully achieved from all but three isolates. The cloned region surrounding qnrA in two K. pneumoniae isolates revealed a novel genetic organization., Conclusions: The prevalence of qnr among enterobacterial clinical isolates carrying ESBLs between 2003 and 2004 in Barcelona was 4.9%. qnrA1 was the most prevalent, whereas only one qnrS and no qnrB were detected.