Accuracy of leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests for diagnosing bacteriuria in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Urine dipsticks are commonly used for the diagnosis of bacteriuria and/or urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Objectives: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of positive leukocyte esterase and/or nitrite results from dipsticks (index test) for diagnosing bacteriuria in older individuals, using urine culture as the reference standard.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from the inception date up to April 2025.

Comparison of the effectiveness of first-line preventive treatment of migraine in primary care: study protocol for a pragmatic clinical trial (PREMI study).

Background: Migraine is a neurological disorder affecting approximately 12% of the population, more frequent in women, causing disability. Preventive treatment is recommended to prevent chronification and analgesics' abuse and to improve quality of life, but not all candidates receive it. Common preventive drugs include amitriptyline, flunarizine, propranolol, and topiramate.

Clinicians' perspectives on a primary healthcare intervention to reduce antibiotic prescription for acute lower respiratory tract infections in Barcelona (Spain): a qualitative study.

Background: Interventions based on testing and communication training have been developed to reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare (PHC) for the treatment of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRTIs). However, research based on the experiences of PHC clinicians participating in ALTRIs interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing in Barcelona is scanty.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of clinicians (physicians and nurses) on an intervention to reduce antibiotic prescription in PHC in Barcelona (Spain).

The impact of a multifaceted intervention on antibiotic use for common infections in nursing homes in Spain. A before and after study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a multifaceted intervention aimed at nursing home staff on antibiotic use and hygiene elements for nursing home residents with common infections.

Methods: Before-and-after study carried out in nursing homes in five areas of Spain. Nursing staff registered residents with common infections and documented hygiene practices over three months, before and after a 2-h educational intervention in autumn 2023.

Assessment of potentially unnecessary antibiotic use for suspected urinary tract infections in nursing homes using a simplified algorithm.

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents are frequently treated with antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs), often due to overdiagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of potentially unnecessary antibiotic use for suspected UTIs in NHs across eight European countries.

Research Design And Methods: Over a three-month period (February to April 2024), NH professionals recorded information on all antibiotic treatments for UTIs using a specific registration chart.

[Clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment of patients with heart failure in a primary health care cohort].

Objective: To characterise patients with heart failure (HF) in Primary Health Care (PHC) and describe their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment.

Design: Descriptive cohort study. SITE: Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP), which captures information from the electronic health records of PHC of the Catalan Institute of Health (approximately 80% of the Catalan population).

Appropriateness of urine culture requests in primary care in Spain: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Objective: Studies evaluating urine culture requests in our country have highlighted a high rate of requests that fall outside the indications specified in clinical guidelines. We evaluated the current degree of inadequacy in the request of urine cultures and how this influences the therapeutic decisions of general practitioners.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Preventive Intake of a Multiple Micronutrient Supplement during Mild, Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection to Reduce the Post-Acute COVID-19 Condition: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of vitamins and trace elements. This could lead to a post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) that can worsen a patient's quality of life. We aimed to study the baseline micronutrient status of patients and assess whether a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) taken for 2 weeks at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms would be able to reduce the incidence of PCC.

Effects of C-reactive protein rapid testing and communication skills training on antibiotic prescribing for acute cough. A cluster factorial randomised controlled trial.

This cluster randomised clinical trial carried out in 20 primary care centres in Barcelona was aimed at assessing the effect of a continuous intervention focused on C-reactive protein (CRP) rapid testing and training in enhanced communication skills (ECS) on antibiotic consumption for adults with acute cough due to lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). The interventions consisted of general practitioners and nurses' use of CRP point-of-care and training in ECS separately and combined, and usual care. The primary outcomes were antibiotic consumption and variation of the quality-adjusted life years during a 6-week follow-up.

Antimicrobial Agent Use for Urinary Tract Infection in Long-Term Care Facilities in Spain: Results from a Retrospective Analytical Cohort Analysis.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent in long-term care facilities, constituting the most common infection in this setting. Our research focuses on analyzing clinical characteristics and antimicrobial prescriptions for UTIs in residents across nursing homes (NH) in Spain. This is a retrospective analytical cohort analysis using a multifaceted approach based on the normalization process theory to improve healthcare quality provided by nursing staff in 34 NHs in Spain.

Urinary Tract Infections in Men in Primary Care in Catalonia, Spain.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global problem that is primarily driven by the excessive and inappropriate utilization of antibiotics. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are frequent in primary health care (PHC) and are typically treated with antibiotics. There is ample evidence on the management of this condition in women but not in men.

Longitudinal treatment patterns in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Catalonia.

Aim: To investigate initial and subsequent treatments prescribed to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: Data from SIDIAP (Information System for Research in Primary Care) including all recorded incident T2DM patients in primary care between 2015 and 2020. We used descriptive statistics and different graphical techniques to describe the most frequent longitudinal patterns.

induces trained immunity in vitro.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a global health crisis, with new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants weakening vaccine-driven protection. Trained immunity could help tackle COVID-19 disease. Our objective was to analyze whether heat-killed (hkMm), an environmental mycobacterium, induces trained immunity and confers protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Impact of Second-Line Combination Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Disease Control: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Achieving and maintaining glycemic control is essential to prevent or delay complications and different strategies are available as second-line treatment options for patients with type 2 diabetes who do not achieve glycemic control with metformin monotherapy.

Objective: The aim of this work is to describe the impact of initiating a combination treatment to reduce glycated hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes with insufficient glycemic control.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Catalonia, Spain: Protocol for an Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is an individual and public health problem; multidrug-resistant infections could cause an estimated 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. Unnecessary use of antimicrobials is the most important cause of resistance generation in the community, and an estimated 80% of antimicrobials are prescribed in primary health care, frequently for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Objective: This paper presents the protocol for the first phase of the Urinary Tract Infections in Catalonia (Infeccions del tracte urinari a Catalunya) project.

Effectiveness of antitussives, anticholinergics, and honey versus usual care in adults with uncomplicated acute bronchitis: a multiarm randomized clinical trial.

Background: Despite the frequent use of symptomatic therapies in cough, evidence of their benefits is lacking.

Objective: We compared the effectiveness of 3 symptomatic therapies and usual care in acute bronchitis.

Methods: Multicenter, pragmatic, multiarm parallel group, open randomized trial in primary care (ClinicalTrials.

Best methods for urine sample collection for diagnostic accuracy in women with urinary tract infection symptoms: a systematic review.

Background: Most guidelines recommend a midstream urine (MSU) or a midstream clean-catch (MSCC) sample for urinalysis. However, whether this sample is better than others is still controversial.

Objectives: To assess the most adequate non-invasive method to collect a urine specimen for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTI) in symptomatic non-pregnant women.

Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of montelukast in mild to moderate respiratory symptoms of patients with long COVID: E-SPERANZA COVID Project study protocol.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect the globe. After 18 months of the SARS-CoV-2 emergence, clinicians have clearly defined a subgroup of patients with lasting, disabling symptoms. While big strides have been made in understanding the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the pathophysiology of long COVID is still largely unknown, and evidence-based, effective treatments for this condition remain unavailable.

A Co-Design Process to Elaborate Educational Materials to Promote Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Healthcare in Catalonia (Spain).

Purpose: Co-design processes with patients allow developing health education materials, that are adapted to the population's knowledge and use of language, to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.

Patients And Methods: This study presents a co-design process of educational material with patients (over 18 years old) with a previous diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection. The co-design was framed within a qualitative study (Phase I, interviews; Phase II, focus group) conducted in Barcelona between April and September 2019.

Autonomy, power dynamics and antibiotic use in primary healthcare: A qualitative study.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Although numerous strategies have tried to reduce inadequate antibiotic prescribing, antibiotics are still prescribed in 60% of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) cases in Catalonia (Spain). This study aims to explore service users' experiences of ALRTIs, the quality and access to healthcare services, and health education.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Improving clinicians' diagnostic and communication Skills on Antibiotic prescribing Appropriateness in patients with acute Cough in primary care in CATalonia (the ISAAC-CAT study): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite their marginal benefit, about 60% of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) are currently treated with antibiotics in Catalonia. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a continuous disease-focused intervention (C-reactive protein [CRP]) and an illness-focused intervention (enhancement of communication skills to optimise doctor-patient consultations) on antibiotic prescribing in patients with ALRTIs in Catalan primary care centres.

Methods/design: A cluster randomised, factorial, controlled trial aimed at including 20 primary care centres (N = 2940 patients) with patients older than 18 years of age presenting for a first consultation with an ALRTI will be included in the study.

Effectiveness of antitussives, anticholinergics or honey versus usual care in adults with uncomplicated acute bronchitis: a study protocol of an open randomised clinical trial in primary care.

Introduction: Despite the frequent use of therapies in acute bronchitis, the evidence of their benefit is lacking, since only a few clinical trials have been published, with low sample sizes, poor methodological quality and mainly in children. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three symptomatic therapies (dextromethorphan, ipratropium or honey) associated with usual care and the usual care in adults with acute bronchitis.

Methods And Analysis: This will be a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, open randomised trial.