Abdelhay Lemnouer

Acinetobacter infections prevalence and frequency of the antibiotics resistance: comparative study of intensive care units versus other hospital units

Introduction This study aims to determine the Acinetobacter sp clinical isolates frequency and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern by comparing results obtained from the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to that of other units at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat. Methods This is a retrospective study over a 2-years period where we collected all clinical isolates of Acinetobacter sp obtained from samples for infection diagnosis performed on hospitalized patients between 2012 to 2014. Results During the study period, 441 clinical and non-repetitive isolates of Acinetobacter sp were collected representing 6.94% of all bacterial clinical isolates (n = 6352) and 9.6% of Gram negative rods (n = 4569). More than a half of the isolates were from the ICUs and were obtained from 293 infected patients of which 65, 2% (191 cases) were males (sex ratio = 1.9) and the median age was 56 years (interquartile range: 42-68 years). Acinetobacter clinical isolates were obtained from respiratory samples (44.67%) followed by blood cultures (14.51%). The resistance to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, piperacillin / tazobactam, imipenem, amikacin, tobramycin, netilmicin, rifampicin and colistin was respectively 87%, 86%, 79%, 76%; 52%, 43%, 33% 32% and 1.7%. The difference in resistance between the ICUs and the other units was statistically significant (p <0.05) except for colistin, tetracycline and rifampicin. Conclusion This paper shows that solving the problem of prevalence and high rate of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter infection which represents a therapeutic impasse, requires the control of the hospital environment and optimizing hands hygiene and antibiotics use in the hospital.

In vitro evaluation of the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates to antiseptics and disinfectants: comparison between clinical and environmental isolates

BackgroundThis study aims to assess the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates to the antiseptics and disinfectants commonly used, and to the non-approved product.MethodsThis is a prospective study carried out from February to August 2015, in the Bacteriology department of Mohammed V Military Teaching hospital of Rabat on A.baumannii isolates collected from colonized and/or infected patients and environmental samples. The antiseptics and disinfectants susceptibility testing was assessed using the micromethod validated in our department. The antiseptics and disinfectants studied were: 70% ethyl alcohol, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, didecyldimethylammonium chloride and a commercial product which was presented as a hospital disinfectant (non-registered product).ResultsPovidone-iodine, 0.5% chlorhexidine digluconate, 70% ethyl alcohol and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in combination with N- (3-aminopropyl) -N-dodecylpropane-1, 3-diamine were effective against all the 81 A.baumannii isolates tested, and their logarithmic reduction ≥ 5 were observed in 100% of the isolates in their undiluted form. The strains isolated from patients were more resistant than environmental strains: at a dilution of ½ for 70% ethyl alcohol (37.77% vs 11.11%, p = 0.007) and at a dilution of 1/10 (100% vs 69.44%, p < 0.001) for povidone iodine. The non-registered product was ineffective with a resistance rate of 96.29% at a dilution of 1/50, 45.67% at a dilution of 1/10 and 13.58% in its purest form.ConclusionOur study revealed the effectiveness of the main disinfectants and antiseptics used in Morocco; three antiseptics tested were effective in their purest form against the 81 A.baumannii isolates. Regarding disinfectants, our results showed an efficacy of didecyl dimethyl ammonium at the recommended use concentration and in its purest form. This study emphasizes the need for using disinfectants and antiseptics in dilutions recommended by the manufacturer because the insufficient dilutions of these products are not effective. Our findings also demonstrated an inefficiency of the non-registered product against A.baumanii isolates. However, the non-registered products should be prohibited.

Place of Colistin-Rifampicin Association in the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Meningitis: A Case Study

Treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis is an important challenge due to the accumulation of resistance of this bacteria and low meningeal diffusion of several antimicrobial requiring use of an antimicrobial effective combination to eradicate these species. We report a case of Acinetobacter baumannii multidrug-resistant nosocomial meningitis which was successfully treated with intravenous and intrathecal colistin associated with rifampicin.

Postoperative mediastinitis due to Candida tropicalis: First reported case in Morocco

Mediastinitis is a rare and serious nosocomial complication of cardiac surgery. It is estimated at less than 2% of cases of median sternotomy. We report the case of a postoperative mediastinitis due to Candida tropicalis. A 9-month-old baby was operated for complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot in which we isolated C. tropicalis from sternal purulent fluid and blood culture. The child did not survive, despite the initiation of antifungal therapy. The management of this type of infection requires an early diagnosis and an appropriate prolonged treatment, associated with effective preventive measures.

Bacteraemia in Intensive Care Unit: Clinical, Bacteriological, and Prognostic Prospective Study

Objectives. We conducted a one-year observational study from December 2012 to November 2013 to describe the epidemiology of bacteraemia in intensive care units (ICU) of Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital of Rabat (Morocco). Methods. The study consisted of monitoring all blood cultures coming from intensive care units and studying the bacteriological profile of positive blood cultures as well as their clinical significance. Results. During this period, a total of 46 episodes of bacteraemia occurred, which corresponds to a rate of 15,4/1000 patients. The rate of nosocomial infections was 97% versus 3% for community infections. The most common source of bacteraemia was the lungs in 33%, but no source was identified in 52% of the episodes. Gram negative organisms were isolated in 83,6% of the cases with Acinetobacter baumannii being the most frequent. Antibiotic resistance was very high with 42,5% of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Enterobacteriaceae and 100% of carbapenemase in Acinetobacter baumannii. The antibiotherapy introduced in the first 24 hours was adequate in 72% of the cases. Conclusions. Bloodstream infections in ICU occur most often in patients over 55 years, with hypertension and diabetes. The bacteria involved are mainly Gram negative bacteria multiresistant to antibiotics. Early administration of antibiotics significantly reduces patients mortality.

Navicular tuberculosis: A rare localization of bone tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem endemic to Morocco. While extrapulmonary TB uncommonly presents in osteoarticular anatomic locations, tarsal or metatarsal osteitis can occur when TB presents in the tarsal bones. Clinical symptoms are often insidious causing a delay in diagnosis that may lead to bone destruction. While diagnosis can be guided by X-ray imaging, bacteriologic and histologic examination of the tissue allows for pathogen isolation, identification of the bacillus and strain sensitivity to antibacillary treatment. We report a rare case of navicular osteitis associated with tarso-metatarsal arthritis caused by tuberculosis in a 68-year-old man. This case illustrates an exceptional location of osteoarticular TB and support diagnostic difficulties encountered: (i) imaging is not specific; (ii) lesions are paucibacillary which reduces conventional microbiological methods sensitivity and (iii) the peripheral location of the Koch bacillus within the lesion dictates surgical biopsy than percutaneous puncture. We recommend testing for tuberculosis in any case of chronic osteolysis and/or arthritis of the foot, especially in TB endemic countries.

Serious phlegmonous lesion of the hand following an injury by vegetal thorn: Never forget Pasteurella multocida!

Pasteurella multocida can cause serious infections after dog or cat bite. We report here a rare case of hand infection caused by P. multocida consecutive to an injury by a thorn of the prickly pear. It caused an amputation of the distal phalanx of the thumb in a trisomic patient. It is about a 27-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital with swelling and intense pain of the left hand. He reported a sting by a thorn of prickly pear 15 days before. The patient was admitted to proceed with operative irrigation and debridement. The pus was collected for microbiological examination. Microscopic examination after Gram staining revealed small Gram-negative coccobacilli, associated to polymorphonuclear reaction. Culture have objectivated Pasteurella multocida. The isolated strain was susceptible to betalactamins. Patient was treated with ampicillin. Well-conducted antibiotics and repetitive local cares have not prevented local lesions from progressing to necrosis of the soft parts of the thumb and osteitis of the distal phalanx of the thumb. The patient underwent a necrosectomy and an amputation of the distal phalanx. Ampicillin was replaced by amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and after 15 days, progression was clinically and microbiologically favorable. In the case we report, since the patient does not report any exposure or contact with animals, the thorn prick is the source of infection. It was contaminated from the animal reservoir. Taking into account the monomicrobism of the infection, treatment with aminopenicillins was sufficient. Our propositus came to the hospital 15 days after the inoculation of the bacterium. This duration appears to be very late in relation to the acute character of pasteurellosis. This was probably the main reason why the local infection evolved towards osteoarticular complications. Thats why, we should consider Pasteurella multocida in case of infection by inoculation, even in the absence of contact with the animals.

Exceptional association of two species of bacteria causing mediastinitis: Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus (A. aphrophilus)

BackgroundPost cardiac surgery mediastinitis is the major infectious complication, despite the development of surgical techniques and the application of strict preventive measures.The Haemophilus influenzae mediastinitis is very rare. The mediastinitis caused by the association between Haemophilus influenzae and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus has never been described to our knowledge.Case presentationWe report the case of an exceptional combination of Haemophilus influenzae and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a patient operated for single bypass which is complicated by mediastinitis the 10th day after the surgical act.ConclusionThe conclusion to be drawn from this work is to think in unusual seeds in case of mediastinitis post cardiac surgery for the elaboration of recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis.

Bacteriological Aspects of Late Pneumonia in Ventilated Patient in Intensive Care Units: A Single Center Study in Morocco

Background: The resistance to antimicrobial among patients with late Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has become increasingly more common in many ICUs in Morocco. There are scarce studies assessing VAP importance in Morocco. The aim of this study is to determine the bacterial ecology and resistance profile of late VAP in intensive care units in an academic hospital of Rabat. Methods: A total of 215 sputum samples were collected from endotracheal aspirate in patients with diagnosis of late VAP during the study period, defined from April 1st 2012 to April 2013. The bacteriology interpretations was done following the Referential of Medical Microbiology (REMIC 2010) and were quantitatively cultured with a cut-off of ≥ 10 UFC/ml for endotracheal aspiration samples. Results: Overall, the Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) represent 81.42% of isolates, while Gram-positive was less represented with a rate of 18.56%. Non-lactose fermenting GNB made up the half of pathogens with the rate of 55.23% and the prevalence of Enteric GNB reaches 26.19%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most isolates with the rate of 28.57%, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (24.76%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.5%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (8.09%). A high level of multi-drug resistance pathogens was found with a rate of 39.52%. They included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.28%), Acinetobacter baumannii (19.04%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (5.71%) whereas all S. aureus were methicillin-sensitive. Conclusion: The local bacterial pathogens isolates displayed high levels of antibiotic resistance. Enteric GNB naturally resistant to Polymyxin E and Corynebacterium species are likely to be emerging pathogens. This study significantly highlights the need to take into account these potentially drug-resistant isolates when making empiric antibiotic treatment.

Brucellosis: A cause of meningitis not to neglect

Brucellosis is the most frequent bacteria zoonosis in the world, with more than half a million new cases each year [1]. It is also the most significant zoonos in the edge of the Mediterranean Sea [2]. This zoonosis is capable of affecting humans and cause polymorphic clinical manifestations. In Morocco, the southern regions are the main affected areas [3]. We are reporting the observation of a 17-year-old male patient, who presented a febrile meningeal syndrome for 9 months without sensitivo-motor deficit. Tuberculosis is frequently evoked in such clinical presentations because Morocco is an endemic country, brucellosis is therefore often forgotten. The results of lumbar puncture, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and especially serology aided to conclude to a neuro-brucellosis. The outcome was favourable with antibiotic therapy.