O. Lesens

Role of comorbidity in mortality related to Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study using the Charlson weighted index of comorbidity.

OBJECTIVE : To demonstrate the effectiveness of the Charlson weighted index of comorbidity (WIC) for controlling comorbidity in prospective studies focusing on mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Two tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospitals in France. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-six inpatients 18 years or older consecutively diagnosed with SAB from May 15, 2001, to May 15, 2002. METHODS: Patients were prospectively assessed and cases were followed by the infectious diseases consult service at least 3 months after effective antibiotic therapy completion. The Charlson WIC was computed and dichotomized into scores of fewer than 3 points and 3 or more points. Bacteremia source, acute complication due to SAB acquisition in the ICU, and inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy were recorded. The endpoint was death due to SAB and overall mortality. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the Charlson WIC was able to predict overall mortality and S. aureus-related death. The following variables were found to be independently predictive of mortality due to SAB using the Cox model: an acute complication due to S. aureus (OR, 8.9; CI 95 , 4 to 19.7; P <.001), a Charlson WIC score of 3 or more (OR, 3; CI 95 , 1.3 to 5.5; P =.006), and age (OR, 1.04; CI 95 , 1.009 to 1.07; P <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity contributes to death in patients with SAB. The Charlson WIC is a good predictor of mortality in this population and may be a useful instrument to control comorbidity in studies aiming to investigate risk factors for death due to bacteremia.

Healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and the risk for methicillin resistance: is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition for community-acquired bacteremia still appropriate?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a new classification for bloodstream infections that differentiates hospital acquired, healthcare associated, and community acquired in patients with blood cultures positive for Staphylococcus aureus. DESIGN Prospective, observational study. SETTING Three tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospitals in Dublin, Ireland, and Strasbourg, France. PATIENTS Two hundred thirty consecutive patients older than 18 years with blood cultures positive for S. aureus. METHODS S. aureus bacteremia (SAB) was defined as hospital acquired if the first positive blood culture was performed more than 48 hours after admission. Other SABs were classified as healthcare associated or community acquired according to the definition proposed by Friedman et al. When available, strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS Eighty-two patients were considered as having community-acquired bacteremia according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification. Of these 82 patients, 56% (46) had healthcare-associated SAB. MRSA prevalence was similar in patients with hospital-acquired and healthcare-associated SAB (41% vs 33%; P > .05), but significantly lower in the group with community-acquired SAB (11%; P < .03). PFGE of MRSA strains showed that most community-acquired and healthcare-associated MRSA strains were similar to hospital-acquired MRSA strains. On multivariate analysis, Friedmans classification was more effective than the CDC classification for predicting MRSA. CONCLUSION These results support the call for a new classification for community-acquired bacteremia that would account for healthcare received outside the hospital by patients with SAB.

Introduction of SARS in France, March–April, 2003

We describe severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in France. Patients meeting the World Health Organization definition of a suspected case underwent a clinical, radiologic, and biologic assessment at the closest university-affiliated infectious disease ward. Suspected cases were immediately reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire. Probable case-patients were isolated, their contacts quarantined at home, and were followed for 10 days after exposure. Five probable cases occurred from March through April 2003; four were confirmed as SARS coronavirus by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, serologic testing, or both. The index case-patient (patient A), who had worked in the French hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, was the most probable source of transmission for the three other confirmed cases; two had been exposed to patient A while on the Hanoi-Paris flight of March 22–23. Timely detection, isolation of probable cases, and quarantine of their contacts appear to have been effective in preventing the secondary spread of SARS in France.

Risk factors for metastatic infection in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with and without endocarditis

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) may be complicated by endocarditis or metastatic infection without evidence of endocarditis (MIWE). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for MIWE and endocarditis in patients with SAB. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review to compare characteristics of patients with uncomplicated SAB and patients whose SAB course was complicated by MIWE or endocarditis. We reviewed the charts of patients with SAB diagnosed in our department from 1992 to 1999 for S. aureus portal of entry, secondary foci of infection, underlying conditions, previous valvular defects, and foreign material. Endocarditis was defined according to the Duke criteria. Patients were classified as having MIWE when the diagnosis of endocarditis was not definite according to the Duke criteria and when there was evidence of at least one secondary metastatic infection other than endocarditis. RESULTS: Some 109 patients had 111 episodes of SAB. Sixty-three patients had no evidence of metastatic infection and constituted the control group. Twenty-seven patients developed at least one episode of MIWE. A community-acquired SAB (CI 95% OR: 1.4-12.3, P<0.02), two or fewer underlying conditions (CI 95% OR: 1.2-83, P<0.04), and a non-severe portal of entry (CI 95% OR: 1.2-20, P<0.03) were independently predictive for MIWE. The characteristics of 21 patients with endocarditis were compared with those of the control group. Only a previous valvular defect was significantly associated with endocarditis. CONCLUSION: A previous valvular defect seems to be an important factor for developing endocarditis during SAB. Risk factors for having MIWE may differ from those found for patients with endocarditis.

Severe Churg-Strauss syndrome with mediastinal lymphadenopathy treated with interferon therapy.

We report a case of severe Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) with mediastinal eosinophilic lymphadenopathy, with relapse after standard therapy with steroids and cyclophosphamide, subsequently treated with interferon (IFN) alpha 2b. Our report shows that mediastinal lymph nodes mimicking lymphoma may be one of the clinical manifestations of CSS. We also show that patients with CSS who are resistant to first-line therapy and for whom hypereosinophilia is thought to play an important role may benefit from treatment with IFN.

Outbreak of colonization and infection with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a French university hospital.

An outbreak of infection with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium occurred at Hotel-Dieu Hospital (Clermont-Ferrand, France). A case-control study was performed in the infectious diseases and hematology units of the hospital. Urinary catheter use (odds ratio [OR], 12 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.5-90]; P<.02), prior exposure to a third-generation cephalosporin (OR, 22 [95% CI, 3-152]; P=.002), and prior exposure to antianaerobials (OR, 11 [95% CI, 1.5-88]; P<.02) were independently predictive of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium carriage.

Minocycline-induced hypersensitivity syndrome presenting with meningitis and brain edema: a case report

BackgroundHypersentivity Syndrome (HS) may be a life-threatening condition. It frequently presents with fever, rash, eosinophilia and systemic manifestations. Mortality can be as high as 10% and is primarily due to hepatic failure. We describe what we believe to be the first case of minocycline-induced HS with accompanying lymphocytic meningitis and cerebral edema reported in the literature.Case presentationA 31-year-old HIV-positive female of African origin presented with acute fever, lymphocytic meningitis, brain edema, rash, eosinophilia, and cytolytic hepatitis. She had been started on minocycline for inflammatory acne 21 days prior to the onset of symptoms. HS was diagnosed clinically and after exclusion of infectious causes. Minocycline was withdrawn and steroids were administered from the second day after presentation because of the severity of the symptoms. All signs resolved by the seventh day and steroids were tailed off over a period of 8 months.ConclusionClinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for serious adverse reactions to minocycline including lymphocytic meningitis and cerebral edema among HIV-positive patients, especially if they are of African origin. Safer alternatives should be considered for treatment of acne vulgaris. Early recognition of the symptoms and prompt withdrawal of the drug are important to improve the outcome.

O11 Positive surveillance blood culture is a predictive factor for secondary metastatic infection in patients with staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Summary Purpose. Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) may be complicated by secondary metastatic infection such as endocarditis, osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. This cohort study aimed to assess the prognostic value of sustained bacteraemia for outcomes related to Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. Subjects and method. The study took place in three tertiary-care, universityaffiliated hospitals. Patients were prospectively included if they agreed to participate and if the following data were available: (a) surveillance blood culture taken between 24 and 48 h after commencement of effective antibiotic therapy; (b) appropriate investigations (at least a TTE) performed as suggested by the infectious diseases consult service. Patients with sustained bacteraemia defined as persistent positive blood cultures more than 24 h after commencement of effective antibiotic therapy were compared to patients for whom the surveillance blood culture was negative. Results. One hundred and four patients were enrolled, including 51 patients diagnosed with sustained bacteraemia. Sustained bacteraemia was significantly associated with a higher frequency of secondary metastatic infection ðp , 0:001Þ and with a higher frequency of CRP . 100 mg/l. Frequency of acute complications due to infection, septic shock and death due to bacteraemia was higher for patients with sustained bacteraemia but this difference was not statistically significant. Using a Cox model, the risk for death associated with sustained SAB, controlling for Index of comorbidity and age (categorised as , or

O12 Role of comorbidity in mortality related to staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study using the charlson weighted index of comorbidity

70 years), was 1.2 (95% CI: (0.5, 3); p . 0:05).

Syndrome de Cogan révélé par une diarrhée glairo-sanglante

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the effectiveness of the Charlson weighted index of comorbidity (WIC) for controlling comorbidity in prospective studies focusing on mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Two tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospitals in France. PATIENTS One hundred sixty-six inpatients 18 years or older consecutively diagnosed with SAB from May 15, 2001, to May 15, 2002. METHODS Patients were prospectively assessed and cases were followed by the infectious diseases consult service at least 3 months after effective antibiotic therapy completion. The Charlson WIC was computed and dichotomized into scores of fewer than 3 points and 3 or more points. Bacteremia source, acute complication due to SAB acquisition in the ICU, and inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy were recorded. The endpoint was death due to SAB and overall mortality. RESULTS In univariate analysis, the Charlson WIC was able to predict overall mortality and S. aureus-related death. The following variables were found to be independently predictive of mortality due to SAB using the Cox model: an acute complication due to S. aureus (OR, 8.9; CI95, 4 to 19.7; P < .001), a Charlson WIC score of 3 or more (OR, 3; CI95, 1.3 to 5.5; P = .006), and age (OR, 1.04; CI95, 1.009 to 1.07; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Comorbidity contributes to death in patients with SAB. The Charlson WIC is a good predictor of mortality in this population and may be a useful instrument to control comorbidity in studies aiming to investigate risk factors for death due to bacteremia.