Luis Shimose

Multicenter Evaluation of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam for Serious Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A multicenter, retrospective study of patients infected with carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa who were treated with ceftolozane/tazobactam was performed. Among 35 patients, pneumonia was the most common indication and treatment was successful in 26 (74%). Treatment failure was observed in all cases where isolates demonstrated ceftolozane-tazobactam minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥8 μg/mL.

Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Scabies

Scabies remains a public health problem, especially in developing countries, with a worldwide incidence of approximately 300 million cases each year. Prolonged skin-to-skin contact is necessary to allow the transmission of the causative mite, Sarcoptes scabiei. Classic scabies presents with burrows, erythematous papules, and generalized pruritus. Clinical variants include nodular scabies and crusted scabies, also called Norwegian scabies. The diagnosis is based mainly on history and physical examination, but definitive diagnosis depends on direct visualization of the mites under microscopy. Alternative diagnostic methods include the burrow ink test, video-dermatoscopy, newly serologic tests like PCR/ELISA, and specific IgE directed toward major mite components. Treatment of scabies consists of either topical permethrin or oral ivermectin, although the optimal regimen is still unclear.

Outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Citrobacter freundii at a Tertiary Acute Care Facility in Miami, Florida

OBJECTIVE To describe the investigation and control of a rare cluster of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Citrobacter freundii in a hospital in southern Florida. METHODS An epidemiologic investigation, review of infection prevention procedures, and molecular studies including whole genome sequencing were conducted. RESULTS An outbreak of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase-3-producing C. freundii was identified at a tertiary hospital in Florida in 2014. Of the 6 cases identified, 3 occurred in the same intensive care unit and were caused by the same clone. For 2 of the 3 remaining cases, the isolates had low carbapenem minimum inhibitory concentrations and were unrelated by whole genome sequencing. As a response to the outbreak, supplementary environmental cleaning was implemented, including closure and terminal cleaning of the unit where the 3 cases clustered, in addition to the infection control bundle already in place at the time. No further cases were identified after these additional interventions. CONCLUSIONS Although C. freundii is not a species that commonly demonstrates carbapenem resistance, our findings suggest that carbapenemase-producing C. freundii may be underdetected even when active surveillance is in place and has a potential to cause hospital outbreak. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:320-326.

Contamination of Ambient Air with Acinetobacter baumannii on Consecutive Inpatient Days

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter-positive patients had their ambient air tested for up to 10 consecutive days. The air was Acinetobacter positive for an average of 21% of the days; the rate of contamination was higher among patients colonized in the rectum than in the airways (relative risk [RR], 2.35; P = 0.006). Of the 6 air/clinical isolate pairs available, 4 pairs were closely related according to rep-PCR results.

Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii : Concomitant Contamination of Air and Environmental Surfaces

OBJECTIVE To concomitantly determine the differential degrees of air and environmental contamination by Acinetobacter baumannii based on anatomic source of colonization and type of ICU layout (single-occupancy vs open layout). DESIGN Longitudinal prospective surveillance study of air and environmental surfaces in patient rooms. SETTING A 1,500-bed public teaching hospital in Miami, Florida. PATIENTS Consecutive A. baumannii-colonized patients admitted to our ICUs between October 2013 and February 2014. METHODS Air and environmental surfaces of the rooms of A. baumannii-colonized patients were sampled daily for up to 10 days. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to type and match the matching air, environmental, and clinical A. baumannii isolates. RESULTS A total of 25 A. baumannii-colonized patients were identified during the study period; 17 were colonized in the respiratory tract and 8 were colonized in the rectum. In rooms with rectally colonized patients, 38.3% of air samples were positive for A. baumannii; in rooms of patients with respiratory colonization, 13.1% of air samples were positive (P=.0001). In rooms with rectally colonized patients, 15.5% of environmental samples were positive for A. baumannii; in rooms of patients with respiratory colonization, 9.5% of environmental samples were positive (P=.02). The rates of air contamination in the open-layout and single-occupancy ICUs were 17.9% and 21.8%, respectively (P=.5). Environmental surfaces were positive in 9.5% of instances in open-layout ICUs versus 13.4% in single-occupancy ICUs (P=.09). CONCLUSIONS Air and environmental surface contaminations were significantly greater among rectally colonized patients; however, ICU layout did not influence the rate of contamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:777-781.

Impact of Cytomegalovirus Viral Load on Probability of Spontaneous Clearance and Response to Preemptive Therapy in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients

The optimal viral load threshold at which to initiate preemptive cytomegalovirus (CMV) therapy in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients remains to be defined. In an effort to address this question, we conducted a retrospective study of 174 allogeneic HCT recipients who underwent transplantation at a single center between August 2012 and April 2016. During this period, preemptive therapy was initiated at the discretion of the treating clinician. A total of 109 patients (63%) developed CMV viremia. The median time to reactivation was 17 days (interquartile range, IQR, 7-30 days) post-HCT. A peak viremia ≥150 IU/mL was strongly associated with a reduced probability of spontaneous clearance (relative risk, .16; 95% confidence interval, .1-.27), independent of established clinical risk factors, including CMV donor serostatus, exposure to antithymocyte globulin, and underlying lymphoid malignancy. The median time to clearance of viremia was significantly shorter in those who started therapy at CMV <350 IU/mL (19 days; IQR, 11-35 days) compared with those who started antiviral therapy at higher viremia thresholds (33 days; IQR, 21-42 days; P = .02). The occurrence of treatment-associated cytopenias was frequent but similar in patients who started preemptive therapy at CMV <350 IU/mL and those who started at CMV >350 IU/mL (44% versus 57%; P = .42). Unresolved CMV viremia by treatment day 35 was associated with increased risk of therapeutic failure (32% versus 0%; P = .001). Achieving eradication of CMV viremia by treatment day 35 was associated with a 74% reduction in 1-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], .26; 95% confidence interval [CI], .1-.8; P = .02), whereas therapeutic failure was associated with a significant increase in the probability of 1-year NRM (adjusted HR, 26; 95% CI, 8-87; P <.0001). We conclude that among allogeneic HCT patients, a peak CMV viremia ≥150 IU/mL is associated with a >80% reduction in the probability of spontaneous clearance independent of ATG administration, CMV donor serostatus, and lymphoid malignancy, and is a reasonable cutoff for preemptive therapy. Delaying initiation of therapy until a CMV value ≥350 IU/mL is associated with more protracted CMV viremia, and unresolved viremia by treatment day 35 is associated with a significant increase in NRM.

Air Contamination in the Hospital Environment

In this chapter, we summarize the data related to air contamination of various hospital pathogens outside the operating room. However, at this time, it is unclear if air plays an active role in horizontal transmission of organisms or becomes contaminated only transiently. Additionally, findings might change from one hospital to another depending on room layout, temperature, humidity, and air exchanges.

Pulmonary Nodules in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

Each month, the American Journal of Transplantation will feature Images in Transplantation, a journal-based CME activity, chosen to educate participants on current developments in the science and imaging of transplantation. Participants can earn 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per article at their own pace. This month’s feature article is titled: “Pulmonary Nodules in a Kidney Transplant Recipient.” Accreditation and Designation Statement This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Blackwell Futura Media Services, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and the American Society of Transplantation. Blackwell Futura Media Services is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and fulfills the requirements for the American Board of Surgery (ABS) for Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Blackwell Futura Media Services designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Statement of Need Pulmonary nodules are a common radiological finding in transplant candidates and recipients and represent a clinical challenge for transplant clinicians. The differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in transplant recipients is broad. Establishing a diagnosis is essential to guide effective therapeutic interventions. The case presented outlines an example of the complex diagnostic approach required in this clinical setting. Purpose of Activity This activity was designed to improve the competency of transplant clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules as a complication of solid organ transplantation. Identification of Practice Gap Pulmonary nodules in immunocompromised hosts constitute a diagnostic challenge. The differential diagnosis in this setting is broad and includes both infectious and noninfectious etiologies. Optimal and timely initiation of therapy depends on establishing an accurate diagnosis. This activity will help participants better understand the diagnostic approach for transplant recipients with pulmonary nodules. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this educational activity, participants will be able to: • Identify common infectious and noninfectious etiologies of pulmonary nodules in transplant recipients. • Recognize the utility of noninvasive tests in the diagnostic approach to pulmonary nodules in transplant recipients. • Understand the importance of reduction of immunosuppression in the management of infectious and malignant pulmonary nodules. • Distinguish the histopathological findings of this complication of transplantation. Target Audience This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and surgeons in the field of transplantation. Disclosures No commercial support has been accepted related to the development or publication of this activity. Blackwell Futura Media Services has reviewed all disclosures and resolved or managed all identified conflicts of interest, as applicable. Editor-in-Chief Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Editors Sandy Feng, MD, PhD, discloses stock ownership or equity in Abbott, Amgen, Charles River Labs, Eli Lily, Glaxo-Smith Klein, Hospira, Johnson and Johnson, Express Scripts, Medco, Merck, Pfizer, and Stryker; and research support from Novartis and Quark. Matthew H. Levine, MD, PhD, discloses research support from Pfizer. CME Manager, ASTS Nerissa Legge, MSIMC, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Education Assistant, ASTS Ellie Proffitt, CHES, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Authors Jose F. Camargo, MD, Shweta Anjan, MD, Luis Shimose, MD, and Jacques Simkins, MD, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. This manuscript underwent peer review in line with the standards of editorial integrity and publication ethics maintained by the American Journal of Transplantation. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The peer review process for the American Journal of Transplantation is blinded. As such, the identities of the reviewers are not disclosed in line with the standard accepted practices of medical journal peer review. Instructions on Receiving CME Credit This activity is designed to be completed within an hour. Physicians should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent in the activity. This activity will be available for CME credit for 12 months following its publication date. At that time, it will be reviewed and potentially updated and extended for an additional 12 months. Physicians must correctly answer 75% or more of the post-test items to claim MOC credit. Follow these steps to participate, answer the questions and claim your CME credit: • Log on to https://www.wileyhealthlearning.com/ajt. • Read the learning objectives, target audience, and activity disclosures. • Read the article in print or online format. • Reflect on the article. • Access the CME Exam, and choose the best answer to each question. • Complete the required evaluation and print your CME certificate.