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Presentamos un caso de tenosinovitis infecciosa del tendon extensor comAon de los dedos en un adulto jA³ven que consultA³ en urgencias por dolor, tumefacciA³n e impotencia funcional tras hacerse un tatuaje en el pie izaquierdo dos meses antes.

Peliosis hepatis is a rare histopathological entity of unknown etiology. We present a case of peliosis hepatis in a 44-year-old man with disseminated tuberculosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The diagnosis of peliosis hepatis was based on liver biopsy results which were suggestive of tuberculous etiology. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by auramine stain, rRNA amplification and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from synovial fluid of the elbow joint. The patient responded favourably to tuberculostatic treatment with four drugs and the early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Histopathological evidence of peliosis hepatis, without an obvious cause, makes it necessary to rule out tuberculosis, especially in the context of immunodeficiency diseases and immigrants from endemic areas.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of transmission of tuberculosis in a large prison population over an 18-mo period. Restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was performed, using the insertion sequence IS6110 and the plasmid pTBN12. Patients infected with strains having the same fingerprint were grouped in clusters. Medical records were reviewed and movement of inmates among prisons was examined for selected patients. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 216 inmates (case rate = 2,283 per 100,000 per year). Isolates from 210 (97%) patients were fingerprinted, 155 (74%) were grouped in 25 clusters, and 55 (26%) showed a unique fingerprint. Recent infection was inferred in 62% of these patients. Eighty-four percent (161 of 192) of patients tested were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, of whom 121 were in clusters and 40 were not (p = 0.74). Patients in clusters were less adherent with tuberculosis treatment than those not in clusters (p < 0.05), and prison transmission of resistant strains was observed. It is crucial that infection control guidelines be fully implemented in the prison setting to prevent tuberculosis transmission.

The human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) has recently been associated with the genesis of some subacute neurological syndromes and, rarely, with atypical T-lymphoid malignancies. The virus is endemic in some Amerindian and African tribes, and among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in North America and Europe. Given that HTLV-II is transmitted by the same routes as other human retroviruses, the screening of antibodies to HTLV-II in blood donors has became a matter of controversy in some countries. Herein, we describe the clinical, epidemiological and virological features of 113 individuals with HTLV-II infection identified in Spain up to September 1995. Most of them (94/113; 83%) were male, and all but seven were natives. Four were African immigrants living in Madrid and 3 had been born in other European countries. All but six subjects were IDUs, and sexual transmission of HTLV-II and transfusion were involved in five and one individual, respectively. Eighty-four percent of the IDUs infected with HTLV-II were co-infected by HIV-1 (93/107). Clinical manifestations potentially linked to HTLV-II were absent, although an IDU male co-infected by HIV-1 and HTLV-II developed a severe non-inflammatory proximal myopathy. In conclusion, HTLV-II infection is present in Spain, mainly among IDUs, with a growing incidence and a current overall prevalence of 2.0 percent.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection is endemic in West Africa, where it is responsible for many cases of AIDS. HIV-2-infected subjects have been described in other countries, mainly African immigrants, although infection in native individuals has been reported as well. The first cases of HIV-2 infection in Spain were identified in 1988. Through December 1995, 56 HIV-2 infected individuals have been diagnosed, primarily in large urban areas (23 cases in Madrid and 18 in Barcelona). All are African immigrants, except for 12 natives (21.4%), six of whom acquired the infection in endemic areas; the remaining six (2 women with numerous sexual partners and 4 homo/bisexual men) acquired the infection in Spain. Heterosexual transmission was probable in all but seven cases: five homo/bisexual males, a subject who likely acquired infection through parenteral exposure, and a child born to an HIV-2-infected mother. Nine patients (all Spanish born) have developed AIDS (16%), six of whom have died. In conclusion, HIV-2 infection is present in Spain at a low rate, and there is little evidence supporting an emerging ongoing transmission outside the population of African immigrants.

The prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and HTLV-2 infection in 1992 and 1993 was determined by testing 2,152 specimens from injection drug users living in 11 geographic areas in Spain. Results obtained by an authentic HTLV-1 and -2 test were compared with those obtained by an HTLV-1 assay. HTLV infection was identified in 7 of 11 regions, with an overall prevalence of 2.5% (range, 0.4 to 11.5%). Fourty-four (81%) of 54 subjects were infected with HTLV-2; the viral strains in the remaining 10 subjects could not be serologically typed. Underestimation of HTLV infection because of the low sensitivities of HTLV-1 enzyme immunoassays for HTLV-2 antibody was relatively low (< 20%). Therefore, previous epidemiologic findings generated with HTLV-1 enzyme immunoassays appear to be reasonably accurate. Our results suggest that the rate of HTLV infection may have been increasing recently among Spanish drug users.

The objective of the study was to analyse key HIV-related outcomes in migrants originating from Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean (LAC) or sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) living in Spain compared with native Spaniards (NSP).The Cohort of the Spanish AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) is an open, prospective, multicentre cohort of antiretroviral-naïve patients representing 13 of the 17 Spanish regions. The study period was 2004-2010. Multivariate logistic or Fine and Gray regression models were fitted as appropriate to estimate the adjusted effect of region of origin on the different outcomes.Of the 6811 subjects in CoRIS, 6278 were NSP (74.2%), LAC (19.4%) or SSA (6.4%). For these patients, the follow-up time was 15870 person-years. Compared with NSP, SSA and LAC under 35 years of age had a higher risk of delayed diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-2.8) and OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.4-2.1), respectively], as did LAC aged 35-50 years [OR 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.6)]. There were no major differences in time to antiretroviral therapy (ART) requirement or initiation. SSA exhibited a poorer immunological and virological response [hazard ratio (HR) [corrected] 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-1.0) and HR [corrected] 0.7 (95% CI 0.6-0.9), respectively], while no difference was found for LAC. SSA and LAC showed an increased risk of AIDS for ages between 35 and 50 years [HR 2.0 (95% CI 1.1-3.7) and HR [corrected] 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4), respectively], which was attributable to a higher incidence of tuberculosis. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in mortality.Migrants experience a disproportionate diagnostic delay, but no meaningful inequalities were identified regarding initiation of treatment after diagnosis. A poorer virological and immunological response was observed in SSA. Migrants had an increased risk of AIDS, which was mainly attributable to tuberculosis.

Pericardial tuberculosis is an unusual presentation form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, even in HIV-1 infected patients. When complicated with cardiac tamponade the prognosis worsens; therefore, early diagnosis and therapy are essential.A cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out of cases with documented diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis in a cohort of prisoner patients with tuberculosis in the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, during a 4-year period (March 1991-March 1995). The recovery and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in our clinic were made on the basis of standard techniques and DNA probes. The clinical and microbiological features of patients with documented diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis are reported and a bibliographic review on this topic is made (MEDLINE 1985-July 1996).A total of 483 patients were diagnosed of tuberculosis, and 90% were HIV-1 positive. Only four patients, all coinfected with HIV-1, developed tuberculous pericarditis complicated with cardiac tamponade which required drainage and allowed the visualization of acid-fast bacilli and culture of M. tuberculosis in pericardial fluid (in three cases associated with recovery from other specimens). All isolates were initially susceptible to first-line antituberculous drugs. No patient had previously had opportunist infections, although all of them had severe immunosuppression (0.200 x 10(9)/l CD4+ lymphocytes). The clinical outcome was favorable with pericardial drainage and the drug regime prescribed; the survival times were 8, 12, 13 and 28 months. The latter patient, on account of inadequate therapy compliance developed multi-resistant tuberculosis.Tuberculous pericarditis in HIV-1 infected patients usually appears in situations of advanced immunosuppression and usually in the context of disseminated tuberculosis and as a first opportunist infection. Its presentation with cardiac tamponade is unusual and its high morbidity and mortality demand early diagnosis and therapy.

The human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) has recently been associated with the genesis of some subacute neurological syndromes and, rarely, with atypical T-lymphoid malignancies. The virus is endemic in some Amerindian and African tribes, and among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in North America and Europe. Given that HTLV-II is transmitted by the same routes as other human retroviruses, the screening of antibodies to HTLV-II in blood donors has became a matter of controversy in some countries. Herein, we describe the clinical, epidemiological and virological features of 113 individuals with HTLV-II infection identified in Spain up to September 1995. Most of them (94/113; 83%) were male, and all but seven were natives. Four were African immigrants living in Madrid and 3 had been born in other European countries. All but six subjects were IDUs, and sexual transmission of HTLV-II and transfusion were involved in five and one individual, respectively. Eighty-four percent of the IDUs infected with HTLV-II were co-infected by HIV-I (93/107). Clinical manifestations potentially linked to HTLV-II were absent, although an IDU male co-infected by HIV-1 and HTLV-II developed a severe non-inflammatory proximal myopathy. In conclusion, HTLV-II infection is present in Spain, mainly among IDUs, with a growing incidence and a current overall prevalence of 2.0 percent.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent neoplasm found in AIDS patients. The disease is often disseminated and preferentially involves the skin and the lymphatic and digestive systems. Hepatosplenic involvement which is considered as a frequent autopsy finding is rarely diagnosed at life. A 27-year-old male HIV positive patient with severe immunosuppression who developed a rapidly progressive laterocervical cutaneous KS confirmed by pathologic study is presented. Abdominal echography and thoracoabdominal CT scand demonstrated lesions highly suggestive of pulmonary, lymph node, hepatic, splenic and rectal involvement by KS. The administration of 2 chemotherapy cycles produced subjective improvement and remission of the cutaneous lesions. Severe pulmonary superinfection led to death. An autopsy study was not performed. Hepatosplenic involvement by KS, diagnosed while the patient is alive is rare. The imaging techniques are useful to diagnose with high probability visceral involvement of KS. Systemic searching for visceral involvement in KS patients would lead to a marked increase in the cases such as that herein described with evident therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Clinically symptomatic infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans is found in 5-10% of patients with AIDS. It usually appears as meningitis with or without associated blood stream infection. In the last years, severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in HIV (+) patients, with a high morbidity and mortality, are increasingly reported.A 27 year-old male HIV (+) patient, with previous opportunistic infections, was referred because of a nodular lesion on his left wrist, with an axillar homolateral lymph node of long-term evolution. Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans was isolated in pure culture from the lesion. Disseminated infection or affection of other organs was ruled out. Therapy with intravenous amphotericin B was initiated, but the patient developed an early nosocomial bacteremic pneumonia due to P. aeruginosa with a fatal outcome. A review of the literature about both complications in AIDS is carried out.The fungal clinical picture is compatible with primary cutaneous cryptococcosis that is a rare condition (12 clinical reports until 1993), of which only one case report in an AIDS patient has been described in 1994. Since 1990 severe infections due to P. aeruginosa in HIV(+) patients are increasingly reported, and pneumonias, bacteremias, catheter-related sepsis, urinary tract infections, intraabdominal infections, central nervous system and othorrhinolaryngologic infections have been described in patients with AIDS in the English-language literature.Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis is another rare form of infection with C. neoformans in patients with AIDS. The increasingly reported cases of severe infections due to P. aeruginosa could have important implications in the therapy of patients with AIDS.

Campylobacter jejuni is a common etiological agent of diarrhea in the general population. In recent years it has also been involved as etiological agent of intestinal and extraintestinal infections in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical and microbiological features in a series of HIV+ patients infected with C. jejuni in a correctional facility are here reported.Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients who had C. jejuni recovered from clinical samples diagnosed at the Hospital General Penitenciario (HGP), Madrid, for 2 years (10-1-1991 to 9-30-1993). C. jejuni strains were identified at the Clinical Microbiology Department at the HGP following standard methods. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed by the agar dilution and microdilution methods.Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed as being infected with C. jejuni. The mean age was 32.4 years (95% CI: 30.1-34.7). Twenty-seven patients (96%) were males. Twenty-five patients (90%) were intravenous drug users (IVDU). Sixty-one percent of cases clustered in the september and october months. The main clinical symptoms were diarrhea with no pathological products and fever. Mean lymphocyte CD4+ count was 103/mm3 (95% CI: 45-162). Blood cultures were obtained from 13 patients, and bacteremia was detected in three of them (23%), with no associated mortality. Forty-eight percent of C. jejuni strains were resistant to fluorquinolones, and all of them were susceptible to erythromycin. The latter antibiotic was used as therapy in 82% of patients and clinical and microbiological cure was achieved in all 17 patients who were evaluated at follow-up.Campylobacter jejuni is an important enteropathogen in correctional facility population infected with HIV, which in this study involved severely immunosuppressed patients. The main clinical presentation was acute enterocolitis and bacteremia (detected in 23%), a higher percentage than that reported in the literature. An increased quinolone-resistance rate was detected (48%). Erythromycin, and possibly the new macrolides, are currently the antibiotics of choice.

HTLV-II is a human retrovirus considered to be responsible for the genesis of some lymphoproliferative and neurologic syndromes. The virus is endemic in some Amerindian and African tribes as well amongst injecting drug addicts (IDA) in North America and Europe.The clinical, epidemiologic and virologic characteristics of the patients with HTLV-II infection identified in Spain up to November 1994 are described.One hundred thirteen subjects have been identified with HTLV-II infection in Spain with 4 being African immigrants residing in Madrid and the remaining being IDA from other European countries. Most were males (94/113; 83%). All were IDA except six (5 had acquired the infection by sexual contact and one by blood transfusion). Most of the IDA infected with HTLV-II were coinfected with HIV-1 (93/113; 83%). No patient showed clinical manifestations attributable to HTLV-II infection although one drug addict male coinfected with HIV-1 and HTLV-II developed a non-inflammatory proximal myopathy.Infection by HTLV-II is present in Spain and affects with preference to injecting drug addicts. It has been shown to be of growing incidence with a current global prevalence of 2% in IDA.

The natural course of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is very variable. The factors which appear to determine the speed of immunodeficiency progression are multiple, although the virulence of the predominant viral strain seems to be one the main factors. The plasmatic viremia in individuals with rapid and slow HIV-1 progression was analyzed in an attempt to establish the degree of correlation between HIV-1 replication and the natural course of the disease.Forty-two samples from 34 seropositive patients, 11 with rapid progression criteria (5 years from acute infection and CD4+ lymphocytes0.2 x 10(9)/l) and 23 with slow progression (7 years from demonstrated infection and0.5 x 10(9) CD4+ lymphocytes/l) were studied. The plasmatic viremia was quantified by a new method of plasma DNA genetic amplification, denominated the branched DNA (bDNA) technique. As a reference circulating p24 was determined and the presence of several proviral regions were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The presence of RNA molecules was detected in plasma of 7 (58.3%) out of 12 samples of rapid progression (RP) patients by bDNA. To the contrary, this was negative in 30 samples from slow progression (SP) patients. Four of the 5 negative RP samples corresponded to patients who had taken antiretroviral drugs at the time of the study. The p24 antigenemia was positive in 5 (41.6%) from the RP patients and in none of the SP patients. The presence of gag, pol and env sequences was positive by PCR in all RP patients and in most of the SP patients. However, repeatedly negative results by PCR were observed in 5 SP samples for all or some of the genomic regions studied.Patients with rapid progression of HIV-1 have higher plasmatic viremia than subjects with slow disease progression.

Intestinal parasitoses are frequent in populations in tropical and subtropical areas, HIV infection has favoured an increase in the prevalence of some of these parasitoses . Both conditions concur in innate populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the intestinal parasitosis in a penitentiary population from the Madrid area.On the basis of the data from the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology in the Hospital General Penitenciario, patients with the diagnosis of intestinal parasitosis were retrospectively reviewed. The study period covered 29 months (from 1/8/91 to 31/12/93). Samples were taken from patients admitted to, and attended, in the outpatient area of this hospital in addition to those held in dependents prisons. Processing was done by direct macroscopic and microscopic visualization (400x) of the sediment obtained by the formol-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Modified Ziehl staining was carried out. Demographic, clinical-evolutive and microbiologic data of the patients were analyzed.One thousand two hundred eighty-one samples corresponding to 1,033 patients were studied 131 (10.2%) positives corresponding to 96 (9.3%) patients were observed. 88.5% (n = 85) were males. The mean age was 31.2 years (CI 95%: 29.3-32.9). The patients were from Europe in 39.7% of the cases (Spain: 94%), Africa 28.9% and Latin America 28.9%. Twenty-five patients were HIV+ (46%) with a mean CD4 count of 160/mm3 (CI 95%: 65-255) and 29 were HIV-. Globally, the most frequently found parasites were uncinaria (22%), Giardia lamblia (21%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (20%). One case of intestinal capillariasis was diagnosed. Fifteen mixed parasitoses (15.6%) were observed and the most frequent association was Trichuris trichiura and uncinaria in 8 patients (5 HIV+ and 3 unknown HIV). Clinical manifestations were present in 63.7% (42/66) of the patients with diarrhea being the most frequent (25 cases). In patients in whom the clinical evolution could be evaluated, it was favorable in most of the cases except in those with Cryptosporidium parasitosis.Intestinal parasites are of relevance within a prison population, presenting some differences to the intestinal parasites observed in a general population. The most frequently observed parasite was uncinaria in HIV- patients and Cryptosporidium parvum in HIV+ patients. Mixed parasitosis was not infrequent (15.6%). 25% of the intestinal parasitosis are asymptomatic. When symptomatology does exist, diarrhea is the most common clinical manifestation. The clinical evolution is usually favourable with the exception of some cases of diarrhea by Cryptosporidium in severely immunosuppressed HIV+ patients.

To know the prevalence of resistant tuberculosis and the characteristics of the same in the penitentiary medium in the Madrid area (Spain).From March 1, 1991 to August 31, 1993 a prospective study was carried out in patients with isolations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to some of the common antituberculous drugs within the context of tuberculosis in a penitentiary population attended in the Hospital General Penitenciario (Madrid). Demographic, clinical, analytical, and microbiological data were collected as was that on the antituberculous treatment used. The study of sensitivities was performed by the proportions method.Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 275 patients according to strict microbiological criteria (positive Löwenstein culture). The antibiogram was performed in 218 isolations. Twenty strains resistant to some first line antituberculous drug (9%) (confidence interval [CI] p0.05:6-14), 9 of which were found to be multiresistant, were detected in 20 patients. Out of the patients in whom the sensitivity of the isolate was known, 173 had not previously undergone antituberculous treatment. Six of these patients were found to be resistant to isoniazide (3.5%) (CI p0.05:1.4-7.7) and 2 patients were resistant to rifampicin (1.2%) (CI p0.5:0.2-4.5). The other 45 patients had previously undergone antituberculous drugs with 8 isolates presenting resistance to isoniazide and 11 to rifampicin. Eighty-four percent of the patients with resistant tuberculosis and 90% of the sensitive cases were coinfected with HIV infection with the differences not being statistically significant. The HIV positive patients with resistant tuberculosis showed a mean CD4 positive lymphocytes of 0.76 x 10(9)/l (CI p0.5:0.028-0.213) and those with sensitive tuberculosis had 0.165 x 10(9)/l (CI p0.05:0.133-0.196) (p0.01).Tuberculosis resistant to common antituberculous drugs was detected in a Spanish penitentiary population. The level of the resistance of the isolations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be monitored both inside and outside of the penitentiary medium in an attempt to avoid the progression of resistant tuberculosis within the Community.

Staphylococcus aureus is the main causal agent of infectious endocarditis (IE) in intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) with most of the strains, isolated in Spain being resistant to penicillin and sensitive to methycillin, although the latter condition varied in recent years. Two cases of IE caused by S. aureus strains sensitive to penicillin in IVDA are presented.All bacteremia episodes diagnosed in the Hospital General Penitenciario (Madrid) over a 33-month period (March 1991 to December 1993) were prospectively studied. Special attention was given to patients diagnosed of IE. Blood cultures were processed according to the usual technique by a non radiometric system.One hundred and four bacteremias were detected with 14 being produced by S. aureus. Ten episodes of the total number of bacteremias fulfilled criteria for IE with 2 being produced by strains of S. aureus sensitive to penicillin (CMI0.06 mu/ml). Both patients had coinfection by HIV. The clinical evolution prior to diagnosis was prolonged although clinical and microbiologic cure were achieved with intravenous beta-lactam antibiotics treatment, without complications.Despite the low incidence of the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to penicillin (3%) recently observed in Spain, strains producing severe infections, showing patterns of sensitivity such as those found during the preantibiotic era, may still be isolated.

Since the appearance of AIDS, bacteremia by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an event described with ever greater frequency. The isolation of M. tuberculosis in blood cultures in patients coinfected by the human immunodeficiency virus and M. tuberculosis may vary the initial clinical diagnosis and confirm the picture as disseminated tuberculosis.The clinical records of patients admitted to the General Penitentiary Hospital of Madrid with significant bacteremia during the study period (March 1, 1991-September 1992) were retrospectively and prospectively reviewed. Special attention was given to the bacteremias by M. tuberculosis with the most significant clinical evolutive data being collected. The blood cultures were performed according to the routine technique using a non radiometric system with 10-day incubation and posterior processing of the sample for visualization and culture for mycobacteria.In an 18 moth period and out of a total of 284 positive blood cultures (154 significant isolations) 14 episodes of bacteremia by M. tuberculosis were studied in 12 prison patients coinfected by the human immunodeficiency virus with associated severe immunosuppression (mean of CD4 = 0.068 x 10(9)/l). All the patients were intravenous drug addicts. Likewise, 37 other significant bacteremias were reviewed. The positivity of the blood culture as the sole sample or associated to respiratory isolations, changed the initial diagnosis and classified the picture as disseminated tuberculosis on 6 occasions (43%). All the patients presented pictures of disseminated tuberculosis although only four had been previously diagnosed of AIDS.Bacteremia by M. tuberculosis is frequent in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. M. tuberculosis (27.4%) was the most frequently isolated microorganism in blood cultures in this study. The processing of blood cultures for mycobacteria may be useful in patients positive for the human immunodeficiency virus with tuberculosis in order to confirm the diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis. The isolation of M. tuberculosis in the blood may vary the initial diagnosis and could modify the prevalence of AIDS cases in Spain.

Tuberculosis continues to be a disease of great importance in Spain with few data known on prison populations. In the present study an analysis of the incidence and characteristics of tuberculosis in the prison population people is done.The General Penitentiary Hospital attends a prison population from the penitentiary centers of Madrid and its surrounding areas. From 1 March 1991-31 August 1992 a retrospective study of the patients with tuberculosis diagnosed by culture isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was performed. Demographic, clinical, analytical, microbiologic analysis as well as data concerning to associated infections, antituberculous treatment and its possible toxicity as well as the evolution of the patients were collected.During the period studied 138 patients--120 corresponding to the area of Madrid and 18 to patients referred from other penitentiary areas--were diagnosed. The rate of incidence of tuberculosis in the penitentiary population in the area of Madrid was of 1170.5 cases per 100,000 prisoners per year (confidence interval [CI] 95%; 961-1380). The mean age was 30 years (CI 95%; 29-31) and 97% were males. Eighty-four percent were positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 84% were intravenous drug addicts. The clinical form of presentation of the tuberculosis in the HIV positive patients was: pulmonary in 57% of the cases, disseminated in 29% and extrapulmonary in 14% and was pulmonary in all the cases of HIV negative patients. The mean CD4 lymphocytes count was 0.216 x 10(9)/l in HIV positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and in disseminated tuberculosis was 0.062 x 10(9)/l (p0.001). The positivity of acid-alcohol resistant staining in the sputum samples and/or induced sputum was 67.4% in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 77.4% in disseminated tuberculosis. Ten percent of the patients were found to abandon antituberculous treatment in the first trimester.The incidence of tuberculosis in the prison population in much higher than that for the general population in Spain, largely due to the high prevalence of HIV infection in this population.

We describe two patients with acute diffuse external otitis (swimmer's otitis) acquired in the Mediterranean shore, with Vibrio alginolyticus recovered from ear fluid. We describe the biochemical profile and sensitivity pattern (MIC) of both strains, comparing it to previously published data. A literature review was also performed, in which we found evidence for increasing concern of V. alginolyticus as an human pathogen. Also there is a need for considering halophilic vibrio as potential pathogens, specially if there is also epidemiologic support.

The currently accepted empiric antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections in neutropenic patients may not cover the possibility of capnophilic and anaerobic bacteremia. Many of these infections develop in patients with severe mucositis or periodontitis, and the type of organisms recovered also suggests an oral source of infection. We present two cases of bacteremia in neutropenic patients who had been empirically treated with ceftazidime and piperacillin plus amikacin. In the first case a beta-lactamase-producing strain of Capnocytophaga ochracea was isolated; in the second case bacteremia was due to a mixture of Leptotrichia buccalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. These observations emphasize the necessity for a reevaluation of the possible use of antimicrobial agents active against beta-lactamase-producing capnophilic organisms and anaerobic bacteria during empiric therapy in neutropenic patients with an oral source of infection.

A case of Shigella sonnei bacteremia in a 65-year-old patient suffering from diabetes mellitus is discussed. The isolated strain had plasmid-mediated serum resistance and excreted aerobactin. The presence of diabetes mellitus as an underlying disease and the production by the Shigella sonnei isolate of factors related to bacterial invasion may have contributed to the bacteremic episode.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common causative agent of community acquired pneumonia. To assess its epidemiological, clinical and evolutive features in our area, we retrospectively analyzed 88 instances which occurred during 10 years. Both sexes were similarly involved, with a higher incidence in younger patients (mean age: 22 years). A clear seasonal predominance was not detected during the study period. In nearly one half of instance there were similar respiratory episodes in the same household. Cough was a constant symptom, followed by fever and headache. The absence of leukocytosis and the presence of cryoagglutinins were suggestive data. Pulmonary infiltration in the chest radiogram was unilateral in most cases, with a segmental distribution and predominating in the lower lobes. Hilar lymph nodes, pleural effusion and cavitation were present in a limited number of instances. All patients were cured without sequelae. The occurrence of particular epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data may be very helpful in suggesting the diagnosis of pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.