Markku Koskela

A cluster of Candida krusei infections in a haematological unit

BackgroundCandida krusei infections are associated with high mortality. In order to explore ways to prevent these infections, we investigated potential routes for nosocomial spread and possible clonality of C. krusei in a haematological unit which had experienced an unusually high incidence of cases.MethodsWe searched for C. krusei contamination of the hospital environment and determined the level of colonization in patients and health care workers. We also analyzed the possible association between exposure to prophylactic antifungals or chemotherapeutic agents and occurrence of C. krusei. The C. krusei isolates found were genotyped by pulsed-field electrophoresis method in order to determine possible relatedness of the cases.ResultsTwelve patients with invasive C. krusei infection and ten patients with potentially significant infection or mucosal colonization were documented within nine months. We were unable to identify any exogenic source of infection or colonization. Genetic analysis of the isolates showed little evidence of clonal transmission of C. krusei strains between the patients. Instead, each patient was colonized or infected by several different closely related genotypes. No association between medications and occurrence of C. krusei was found.ConclusionLittle evidence of nosocomial spread of a single C. krusei clone was found. The outbreak may have been controlled by cessation of prophylactic antifungals and by intensifying infection control measures, e.g. hand hygiene and cohorting of the patients, although no clear association with these factors was demonstrated.

True bacteremias caused by coagulase negative Staphylococcus are difficult to distinguish from blood culture contaminants

Our aim was to test whether or not true bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) can be distinguished from blood culture contaminants based on simple clinical and laboratory parameters. Patients with blood cultures positive for CoNS (nu2009=u2009471) were categorized into community acquired infection (CAI), hospital acquired infection (HAI), infections in patients with haematological conditions (HAEI), or culture contaminants (CON) based on the judgement of a clinician. The cases were further analyzed according to widely accepted criteria for true BSI and whether or not vancomycin treatment was initiated. Simple clinical and laboratory parameters, surgical procedures, mortality, central venous catheters, and other foreign materials were registered. Our study demonstrates that the decision about the significance of positive blood culture finding made by the clinician may differ from that indicated by accepted criteria for BSI. Simple clinical findings such as heart rate, body temperature, or systolic blood pressure may not distinguish a culture contaminant from true infections. In addition, the laboratory parameters were surprisingly similar in the different patient cohorts. A blood culture positive for CoNS remains a clinical challenge; our study demonstrates that judging the significance of the finding is difficult.

Comparison of the epidemiology, risk factors, outcome and degree of organ failures of patients with candidemia acquired before or during ICU treatment

INTRODUCTIONnThe aim of this study was to compare the epidemiology, risk factors, severity and outcome of two types of ICU-treated candidemias: namely, ICU-acquired candidemia (acquired after 48-hour ICU stay) (ICUAC group), and those needing ICU treatment for candidemia acquired before ICU admission or during the first 48-hour ICU stay (non-ICUAC group).nnnMETHODSnA retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2000 and 2009 in a mixed tertiary ICU among patients with blood-culture-confirmed candidemia.nnnRESULTSnThe study involved 82 patients (53 men). The ICUAC group consisted of 38 patients (46.3%) and the non- ICUA group included 44 patients (53.6). The ICUAC group had undergone previous surgery more often and had ICU stays that were 3.7 times longer than the non-ICUAC group, whose members more often had co-morbidities (95.6% versus 73.7%, P = 0.001). The ICUAC group had significantly more frequent organ failures with cardiovascular, renal, central nervous and coagulation systems than the non-ICUAC group. ICU, hospital and one-year mortality rates did not differ between the groups (23%, 36.8% and 65.8%, respectively, in the ICUAC group and 26%, 44.4% and 64.4%, respectively, in the non-ICUAC group). Among patients with APACHE II scores greater than 25, the ICUAC group had lower one-year mortality (65.0% versus 87.5%). Among patients with APACHE II scores of 25 or less, the ICUAC group had higher mortality (66.7% versus 50.0). Candida albicans was most common cause of candidemia in both groups (76.3% and 68.9%, respectively).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMore than half of the ICU-treated candidemias were acquired prior to admission to the ICU. Patients with ICU- and non-ICU-acquired candidemias had different risk factors and different needs for ICU resources. Hospital mortality was similar in both groups; however, the groups had different mortality rates when the severity of disease and underlying diseases were taken into account.

Continuous-Monitoring Blood Culture Screening System Improves the Detection of Bacteremia in Neutropenic Patients

One reason for the underdiagnosis of bacteremia as an etiology of fever in neutropenic patients might lie in inefficient blood culture techniques. This possibility was investigated in a retrospective study by comparing the efficacies of a manual and an automated blood culture system used to detect bacteremia in such patients. All neutropenic fever episodes accompanying all 93 intensive chemotherapy cycles of 26 consecutive patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) enrolled in Finnish Leukemia Group AML 86 trial and treated in Oulu University Hospital over 3 1/2 years were analyzed. The chemotherapy protocol and the supportive care of the patients remained the same during the whole period. In 1990-91 the blood cultures were made manually and in 1992-93 with an automated continuous-monitoring culture screening system. Evaluable febrile episodes numbered 53 during 1990-91 and 73 during 1992-93. There was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) of culture-positive episodes, from 21% to 40%, when the continuous-monitoring system was adopted. The new method proved to be better than the manual one in detecting bacteremia of neutropenic patients.

Comparison of antigen and two molecular methods for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxins.

Abstract Background: Clostridium difficile (CD) is considered an important cause of diarrhoea associated with the antimicrobial treatment of infections. The pathogenicity of CD is due to toxins A and B, produced by toxigenic CD strains. Methods: We evaluated 3 methods for detecting CD toxins: the RIDASCREEN® enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (R-Biopharm) – one detecting toxins directly in the stool specimens and another detecting toxins from isolated CD strains – and 2 molecular methods, the illumigene™ loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay (Meridian) and RIDA®GENE polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (R-Biopharm), as direct identification methods from stool specimens. Toxigenic culture (TC) was used as the reference method. Results: Altogether 884 stool samples were analyzed, of which 253 (29%) were positive by TC. Six hundred and seventy-two specimens were tested by RIDASCREEN EIA, 430 were tested with the illumigene LAMP assay, and 212 were tested with the RIDA GENE PCR assay. CD toxin A and B antigen tests by EIA were very insensitive, both directly from stool specimens (2 series; 57–61%) and in isolated CD strains (53%); consequently the negative predictive value remained low (84–93% and 91%, respectively). Specificity, however, was very good at 98–100%. The 2 molecular methods detected CD toxin genes excellently and equally, resulting in sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values of 98%, 100%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. Conclusions: Both molecular assays were easy to use, rapid, sensitive, and specific for the detection of toxigenic CD strains.

Deep, respiratory tract and ear infections caused by Pseudallescheria (Scedosporium) and Microascus (Scopulariopsis) in Finland. A 10-year retrospective multi-center study

Deep, respiratory tract and ear infections due to Microascaceae (Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium, Microascus or Scopulariopsis) were studied nationwide in Finland during 1993-2002. The data were based on 52,000 fungal cultures that represented about 50% of all such specimens in Finland and included all Finnish cases of profound immunosuppression. There were 39 cases that were re-evaluated as clinically significant, i.e., three pneumonias, two deep pedal infections and five wound infections, 11 sinusitis and 18 ear infections. The pedal infections and most pneumonias occurred in immunocompromised patients. Most cases, except the ear infections, were due to Pseudallescheria boydii. Two patients had lethal P. boydii pneumonia and a deep P. boydii infection of the foot contributed to a third lethal case. Two of the patients with lethal outcomes had received an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Two patients with haematological malignancies were cured of deep site infections by a prolonged course of itraconazole. Wound, sinus and ear infections were cured or improved by local surgery or topical therapy. There were 0.8-1.7 cases of any type of infection per million inhabitants per year (MY) and 3.4 cases/1000 AHSCT. Mortality associated with Microascaceae in any type of patient was 0.06-0.12 MY.

Major Age Group-Specific Differences in Conjunctival Bacteria and Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance Revealed by Laboratory Data Surveillance

Purpose: We hypothesized that observation and analysis of microbiological laboratory statistics from patients with suspected bacterial conjunctivitis should increase our understanding of microbiological epidemiology of the disease in age categories. We further assumed that the statistical data should expose evolution of antimicrobial resistance that may eventually have an influence on clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: We analyzed statistical data of bacterial isolates (1139 strains) and their resistance to common antibiotics from 2494 patients with suspected bacterial conjunctivitis. Results: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus displayed their presence in 0- to 5-year-old children. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common in the elderly (>age 70) among whom a rapid increase in resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to methicillin (MRSA) was recognized. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the spectrum of conjunctival bacteria varies among age groups. In addition, our results confirm that a shift in antimicrobial susceptibility can be rapid and age-group specific, thus emphasizing the need for continuous surveillance of bacterial findings.

The role of microbes in the pathogenesis of acute rhinosinusitis in young adults

To provide information on the course of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) with sequential nasal and paranasal microbiological data and their correlation with clinical outcomes.

Occurrence of Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium in nails and keratinous skin. A 5-year retrospective multi-center study

A 5-year retrospective multicenter study was performed for microascaceous moulds (Microascaceae, Ascomycetes) in Finnish clinical specimens. The files from 1993-1997 of six clinical mycology laboratories in Finland were searched for reports of these fungi, mainly Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium anamorphs in keratinous specimens. From the 521 primary findings, 165 cases were selected for further study based on direct microscopy, colony numbers and accompanying fungi. The clinical records of 148 cases (141 Scopulariopsis, 7 Scedosporium) were studied. Of the nail infections from which Scopulariopsis was recovered, 39 cases were further separated which showed clinical or laboratory-based evidence of dermatophytosis. In the remaining 90 non-dermatophyte nail cases, Scopulariopsis spp. were the only documented fungal agents (c. 6 cases/million/year). The patients were mainly elderly, 66% of whom had problems involving their big toe nails. For 74% of them, the nail problem was mentioned as their reason for visiting the physician. However, only 18% had documented benefit from treatment. The Scopulariopsis nail infections seem to be treatment-resistant and the pathogenesis and etiological role of Scopulariopsis remain poorly understood.

Short-term outcomes of tonsillectomy in adult patients with recurrent pharyngitis: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Limited evidence exists as to the benefit of tonsillectomy in adult patients. We sought to determine the short-term efficacy of tonsillectomy for recurrent pharyngitis in adults. Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial at a tertiary care ear, throat and nose centre in Oulu, Finland, between October 2007 and December 2010. Adult patients with recurrent pharyngitis were randomly assigned to the control group (watchful waiting) or the tonsillectomy group. Our primary outcome was the difference in the proportion of patients with severe pharyngitis (severe symptoms and C-reactive protein level > 40 mg/L) within 5 months. Our secondary outcomes included differences between groups in proportions of patients who had episodes of pharyngitis with or without medical consultation, rates of pharyngitis and numbers of days with symptoms. Results: Of 260 patients referred for tonsillectomy because of recurrent pharyngitis, we recruited 86 participants for our study. Of these, 40 patients were randomly allocated to the control group, and 46 were randomly allocated to the tonsillectomy group. One patient in the control group and no patients in the tonsillectomy group had a severe episode of pharyngitis (difference 3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2% to 7%). Seventeen patients in the control group (43%) and 2 patients in the tonsillectomy group (4%) consulted a physician for pharyngitis (difference 38%, 95% CI 22% to 55%). Overall, 32 patients in the control group (80%) and 18 patients in the tonsillectomy group (39%) had an episode of pharyngitis during the 5-month follow-up (difference 41%, 95% CI 22% to 60%). The rate of pharyngitis and number of symptomatic days were significantly lower in the tonsillectomy group than in the control group. Interpretation: There was no significant difference in the number of episodes of severe pharyngitis between the control and treatment groups, and episodes were rare. However, tonsillectomy resulted in fewer symptoms of pharyngitis, consequently decreasing the number of medical visits and days absent from school or work. For this reason, surgery may benefit some patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT00547391.