Jung-Jr Ye

Influence of Third-generation Cephalosporin Resistance on Adult In-hospital Mortality From Post-neurosurgical Bacterial Meningitis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE To investigate the clinical features, etiology and predictors of in-hospital mortality in adults with post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis. METHODS This retrospective analysis included 60 adult patients with culture-proven post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis hospitalized between September 2006 and August 2008. RESULTS Of the 60 patients, 88.3% had monomicrobial infection and 11.7% had mixed infection. The mean duration from the first neurosurgical procedure to the diagnosis of meningitis was 21 days (range, 1-134 days). The median frequency of neurosurgical procedure before meningitis was 1 (range, 1-5). A total of 69 isolates were identified from the cerebrospinal fluid, the most common pathogens were Gram-negative bacilli (43, 62.3%), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (24, 34.8%). The three most common Gram-negative bacilli were Serratia marcescens (7, 10.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6, 8.7%), and Enterobacter cloacae (4, 5.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates comprised less than 3%. Notably, glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli other than Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas spp. accounted for 11.6% of the total. Of the Gram-negative bacilli, resistance rates to the third-generation cephalosporins, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, were 58.1% and 34.9%, respectively. The two most common Gram-positive pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (10, 14.5%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (including S. epidermidis) (10, 14.5%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 15.0%, which was significantly related to Gram-negative bacilli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins in multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio = 33.65; p = 0.047). CONCLUSION These findings may portend the spread of serious resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in nosocomial Gram-negative bacilli throughout the neurosurgical units, suggestive of the need to reassess the empirical use of third-generation cephalosporins in post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis.

Characteristics and outcomes of Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteremia—a 6-year experience at a tertiary care hospital in northern Taiwan

Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteremia is critical and not well defined. To identify the clinical characteristics and outcomes, we conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized patients from January 2004 to December 2009 at a tertiary center in northern Taiwan. Fifty-seven patients were enrolled. The mean age was 58.1 years, and the mean Pitt bacteremia score was 4.7. Males predominated (59.6%), and the overall 30-day mortality rate was up to 47.4%. Malignancy was the major comorbidity (26/57, 45.6%), especially oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal cancers (19/26, 73.1%). Pneumonia (17/57, 29.8%) was the most common presentation with high rates of respiratory failure (15/17, 88.2%) and mortality (11/17, 64.7%), followed by intra-abdominal infections (7/57, 12.3%). In multivariate analysis, higher Pitt bacteremia score, nosocomial infection, anemia, and intensive care unit stay were the independent factors for 30-day mortality. Nosocomial F. nucleatum bacteremia was a significant mortality predictor independent to other parameters of disease severities.

Molecular concordance of concurrent Candida albicans candidemia and candiduria

The significance of candiduria remains unclear. We correlated Candida albicans candidemia with candiduria by molecular genotyping. 33 pairs of concurrent blood and urine C. albicans isolates from 31 adult (≥ 18 years) were genotyped with infrequent-restriction-site PCR. The molecular concordance rates of three major genotypes were 100% for I, 82% for II, and 71% for III. The molecular concordance between concurrent C. albicans candidemia and candiduria was frequent. Our findings substantiate the importance of candiduria in appropriate clinical context as the majority of our patients were from intensive care units.

Sulbactam treatment for pneumonia involving multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii complex

Abstract Background: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii (Acb) complex has become an important cause of nosocomial pneumonia. Sulbactam is a β-lactamase inhibitor with antimicrobial activity against MDR Acb complex. Methods: To investigate outcomes of pneumonia involving MDR Acb complex treated with sulbactam or ampicillin/sulbactam for at least 7 days, we conducted a retrospective study of 173 adult patients over a 34 month period. Results: Of 173 patients, 138 (79.8%) received combination therapy, mainly with carbapenems (119/138, 86.2%). The clinical response rate was 67.6% and the 30 day mortality rate was 31.2%. The independent predictors of clinical failure were malignancy, bilateral pneumonia and shorter duration of treatment. In patients with sulbactam-susceptible strains, there was no difference in clinical and microbiological outcome between combination therapy and monotherapy. Compared to the sulbactam-susceptible group, the sulbactam-resistant group had a lower rate of airway eradication, a longer duration of treatment and a higher rate of combination therapy with predominantly carbapenems (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in clinical resolution and 30 day mortality rates. Conclusions: Sulbactam could be a treatment option for pneumonia involving MDR Acb complex, and combination therapy with carbapenems could be considered for sulbactam-resistant cases.

Syndromic recognition of influenza A infection in a low prevalence community setting.

Background With epidemics of influenza A virus infection, people and medical professionals are all concerned about symptoms or syndromes that may indicate the infection with influenza A virus. Methodology/Principal Findings A prospective study was performed at a community clinic of a metropolitan area. Throat swab was sampled for 3–6 consecutive adult patients with new episode (<3 days) of respiratory tract infection every weekday from Dec. 8, 2005 to Mar. 31, 2006. Demographic data, relevant history, symptoms and signs were recorded. Samples were processed with multiplex real time PCR for 9 common respiratory tract pathogens and by virus culture. Throat swab samples were positive for Influenza A virus with multiplex real time PCR system in 12 of 240 patients. The 12 influenza A positive cases were with more clusters and chills than the other 228. Certain symptoms and syndromes increased the likelihood of influenza A virus infection. The syndrome of high fever plus chills plus cough, better with clustering of cases in household or workplace, is with the highest likelihood (positive likelihood ratio 95; 95% CI 12–750). Absence of both cluster and chills provides moderate evidence against the infection (negative likelihood ratio 0.51; 95% CI 0.29–0.90). Conclusions/Significance Syndromic recognition is not diagnostic but is useful for discriminating between influenza A infection and common cold. In addition to relevant travel history, confirmatory molecular test can be applied to subjects with high likelihood when the disease prevalence is low.

The clinical outcomes of oldest old patients with tuberculosis treated by regimens containing rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide

Objectives To investigate the clinical characteristics, adverse drug reactions, and outcomes of the oldest old patients (aged ≥80 years) with tuberculosis (TB) treated with rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide (RIP)-containing regimens. Design A retrospective chart review study. Setting A 1,200-bed tertiary teaching hospital in southwest Taiwan. Participants We conducted a retrospective observational study between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. Seven hundred adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with TB treated with RIP-containing anti-TB regimens were reviewed, including 161 oldest old patients. Outcome measures Clinical outcomes included clinical responsiveness and microbiological eradication. Adverse outcomes included drug-induced hepatitis, and other symptoms included gastrointestinal upset (eg, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or dyspepsia), skin rash, joint pain, and hyperuricemia. Results Compared with the non-oldest old adult patients, the oldest old patients more frequently had hepatitis (P=0.014), gastrointestinal upset (P=0.029), and unfavorable outcomes (P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, hepatitis during treatment (adjusted odds ratio: 3.482, 95% confidence interval: 1.537–7.885; P<0.003) and oldest old age (adjusted odds ratio: 5.161, 95% confidence interval: 2.294–11.613; P<0.010) were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. In the oldest old patients with hepatitis, rifampicin use was more common in the favorable outcome group than in the unfavorable outcome group (100% vs 37.5%; P=0.001). Conclusion The oldest old age and hepatitis during RIP treatment were associated with unfavorable outcomes. For the oldest old patients with TB having hepatitis during treatment, rifampicin rechallenge and use might benefit the treatment outcome.