Laura Barcelona

Publications (4)2.33 Total impact

• Article: Antimicrobial stewardship program in a developing country: the epidemiological barrier.

  Gustavo Lopardo, Paola Titanti, Verónica Berdiñas, Laura Barcelona, Daniel Curcio
  Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública 12/2011; 30(6):667-8. · 0.85 Impact Factor
• Article: Indications of a new antibiotic in clinical practice: results of the tigecycline initial use registry.

  Daniel Curcio, Francisco Fernández, Alejandro Cané, Laura Barcelona, Daniel Stamboulian
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  ABSTRACT: Tigecycline is the first of a new class of antibiotics named glycylcyclines and it was approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections and complicated skin and skin structure infections. Notwithstanding this, tigecycline's pharmacological and microbiological profile which includes multidrug-resistant pathogens encourages physicians' use of the drug in other infections. We analyzed, during the first months after its launch, the tigecycline prescriptions for 113 patients in 12 institutions. Twenty-five patients (22%) received tigecycline for approved indications, and 88 (78%) for "off label" indications (56% with scientific support and 22% with limited or without any scientific support). The most frequent "off label" use was ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) (63 patients). The etiology of infections was established in 105 patients (93%). MDR-Acinetobacter spp. was the microorganism most frequently isolated (50% of the cases). Overall, attending physicians reported clinical success in 86 of the 113 patients (76%). Our study shows that the "off label" use of tigecycline is frequent, especially in VAP. due to MDR-Acinetobacter spp., where the therapeutic options are limited (eg: colistin). Physicians must evaluate the benefits/risks of using this antibiotic for indications that lack rigorous scientific support.
  The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases: an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 07/2008; 12(3):198-201. · 0.55 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: scielo.org.ar

  Article: [Betalactam antibiotics combined with bectalactamases inhibitors. Amoxicillin-sulbactam].

  Laura Barcelona, Marcelo Marín, Daniel Stamboulian
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  ABSTRACT: Betalactamases production is one of the main bacterial resistance mechanisms to betalactam antibiotics. The use of bectalactamases inhibitors combined with betalactam antibiotics allows the inactivation of certain betalactamases produced by Gram positive, Gram negative and anaerobic organisms, and even by mycobacteria. Betalactamases inhibitors are an improved therapeutic alternative compared with the other betalactam since, in most cases, they cover a wider antimicrobial spectrum than their analogues. Betalactamases enzimatic activity is specifically directed to the betalactam ring hydrolisis, producing a compound without antibacterial activity. According to their genomic position within microorganisms, betalactamases can be either chromosomic or plasmidic. Currently there are three betalactamases inhibitors locally available: clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam. Of them, only sulbactam has an intrinsic antimicrobial activity against penicillin binding proteins. The clinical experience from over 20 years confirms that the combination of betalactam antibiotics is effective in the empirical initial treatment of respiratory, intraabdominal, urinary tract and gynecologic infections, including those of polymicrobial origin. In the specific case of amoxicillin-sulbactam, experiences have shown the effectiveness of the combination in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess, otitis media, sinusitis, community acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonar disease (COPD), urinary tract infection and obstetric/gynecologic infections. The spectrum and pharmacologic properties of this combination makes it also an excellent option for the treatment of skin/soft tissue and intraabdominal infections.
  Medicina 02/2008; 68(1):65-74. · 0.47 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: scielo.org.ar

  Article: [Cytomegalovirus infection with hepatic involvement in immunocompetent adults].

  Claudia Vujacich, Gabriela Vidiella, Laura Barcelona, Edgardo Sturba, Daniel Stamboulian
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  ABSTRACT: We retrospectively evaluated 73 immunocompetent adult patients assisted at our Infectious Diseases Clinic between March 1999 and March 2004 who presented fever and asthenia, mild to moderate increase of transaminases and serological findings compatible with recent cytomegalovirus infection. We excluded patients with a history of transfusions, drug abuse, immunodeficiencies, preexistent hepatic impairment or serological findings compatible with acute hepatitis A, B and C (HAV, HBV, HCV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The laboratory diagnosis of recent cytomegalovirus infection was made by especific IgM detection (ELISA) or a significant increase of specific IgG. The most frequent symptoms were fever (85%) and asthenia (83%), followed by cephalea (25%), splenomegaly (20%), adenomegalies (22%), pharyngitis (25%), myalgias (25%) and hepatomegaly (19%). All the patients showed moderate increase of transaminases and lymphomonocytosis (73/73). In average, ALT was increased by 6 fold and AST by 3.5 fold. The clinical characteristics that differentiate CMV infection from Epstein-Barr infection are the lesser frequency of adenomegalies and pharyngitis in the former. The differential diagnosis of CMV infection with hepatic involvement from acute hepatitis A and B, is based on the absence of jaundice, the lower elevation of transaminases, the intense lymphomonocytosis and the presence of specific IgM against CMV that are characteristic of CMV infection. In conclusion, in previously healthy young adults with fever, intense asthenia, lymphomonocytosis and moderate increase in transaminases levels, cytomegalovirus infection should be investigated.
  Medicina 02/2006; 66(3):206-10. · 0.47 Impact Factor