Showing papers in "Infection in 2011"

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens in community-acquired urinary tract infections: an increasing challenge for antimicrobial therapy

Abstract: Background Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are an increasing challenge in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), and also in the community. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with UTIs due to ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and to assess the risk factors for ESBLs in community-acquired isolates.

Risk of Herpes zoster in patients with underlying diseases: a retrospective hospital-based cohort study

Abstract: Purpose To determine the incidence of Herpes zoster in patients with one of 17 specific underlying diseases compared with that in patients with other underlying diseases.

Evaluation of potential biomarkers for the discrimination of bacterial and viral infections

Abstract: Purpose Timely knowledge of the bacterial etiology and localization of infection are important for empirical antibiotic therapy. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate routinely used biomarkers together with novel laboratory parameters in the diagnosis of infection.

Septic shock, pneumonia, and soft tissue infection due to Myroides odoratimimus: report of a case and review of Myroides infections.

Abstract: The genus Myroides comprises aerobic, yellow-pigmented, non-motile, non-fermenting gram-negative rods formerly classified as Flavobacterium odoratum. Members of the genus are widely distributed in the environment, especially in water, and usually behave as low-grade opportunistic pathogens, having been found to cause urinary tract infection, endocarditis, ventriculitis, and cutaneous infections in severely immunocompromised patients. We report a case of soft tissue infection, septic shock, and pneumonia due to M. odoratimimus in an immunocompetent male. To our knowledge, this is the first description of life-threatening infection caused by this organism in an immunocompetent host. We have also reviewed the medical literature on the genus Myroides.

Infection rate and risk factors associated with infections related to external ventricular drain

Abstract: To describe incidence rates and risk factors associated with external ventricular drain (EVD)-related infections at a tertiary Brazilian teaching hospital. The patient cohort consisted of all patients at a major teaching hospital in Brazil with an EVD during the period 1 April 2007 to 30 June 2008 (15 months). Patients were followed up for 30 days after catheter removal. According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention criteria for meningitis/ventriculitis, all of the central nervous system (CNS) infections that occurred during this period could be considered to be meningitis or ventriculitis related to EVD placement. Infection rates were calculated using different denominators, such as (1) per patient (incidence), (2) per procedure, and (3) per 1,000 catheter-days (drain-associated infection rate). Patient demographic data, medical history of underlying diseases, antibiotic prophylaxis usage, American Society of Anesthesiologists Score classification, duration of surgery and hospitalization, length of time the EVD was in place, and overall mortality were evaluated during the study period. A logistic regression model was developed to identify factors associated with infection. A total of 119 patients, 130 EVD procedures, and 839 catheter-days were evaluated. The incidence of infection was 18.3%, the infection rate was 16.9% per procedure, and the drain-associated infection rate was 22.4 per 1,000 catheter-days; 77% of the infections were caused by Gram-negative micro-organisms. Only 75% of patients received antibiotic prophylaxis. The infection rate increased with length of the hospital stay. The length of time the catheter was in place was the only independent risk factor associated with infection (p = 0.0369). The incidence of EVD-related infections is high in our hospital, Gram-negative micro-organisms were the most frequent causal agents identified and length of time that the catheter was in place contributed to the infection rate.

Primary infective spondylodiscitis caused by Lactococcus garvieae and a review of human L. garvieae infections

Abstract: We report the first case of primary infective spondylodiscitis due to Lactococcus garvieae, confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, in the absence of concomitant endocarditis in a patient with long-standing gastritis on famotidine. He responded to a 6-week course of ampicillin. The gastrointestinal tract is probably the source of infection.

Anti-interferon-γ autoantibody and opportunistic infections: case series and review of the literature

Abstract: Immune defects in interleukin-12-dependent interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) pathways are associated with disseminated infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Salmonella. Recently, there have been an increasing number of reports of acquired autoantibodies to IFN-γ in adults, especially in Asian patients. We describe here three human immunodeficiency virus-negative Thai adults who had persistent or recurrent disseminated infections caused by NTM, Salmonella, and other opportunistic pathogens, possibly due to anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies. The antibodies were shown to exhibit very high inhibitory activity to IFN-γ. Two patients also developed Sweet’s syndrome during the course of infections. In addition, we also review all previous reports of patients with anti-IFN-γ antibodies who were susceptible to NTM and Salmonella infections.

The efficacy of voriconazole in the treatment of 192 fungal central nervous system infections: a retrospective analysis

Abstract: Purpose The efficacy of voriconazole against fungal central nervous system (CNS) infections was examined retrospectively.

Socioeconomic impact on device-associated infections in limited-resource neonatal intensive care units: findings of the INICC.

Abstract: Purpose To evaluate the impact of country socioeconomic status and hospital type on device-associated healthcare-associated infections (DA-HAIs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Worldwide Outbreak Database: the largest collection of nosocomial outbreaks

Abstract: Epidemiological findings of a single outbreak event may not be generalized; however, the characteristics of a typical outbreak can be determined on the basis of a large number of similar events. The Outbreak Database (http://www.outbreak-database.com) is the largest collection of nosocomial outbreaks currently available—and is still expanding. Articles are filed systematically, enabling those on a specific parameter of interest to be retrieved quickly. As such, this database is an extremely valuable tool on many medically related fronts, such as for educating other medical personnel, providing relevant information during the investigation of an acute outbreak, or addressing scientific-oriented questions. Several systematic reviews on a wide range of subjects, including sources of infections, types of pathogens, routes of transmission, appropriate infection control measures, and patients at risk of infection, have already been published based on information contained in this database. As this database may be used free of charge, all medical staff in the field of infection control, hygiene, and hospital epidemiology should be aware of its existence.

Epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic data on intestinal infections with Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar among returning travelers

Abstract: Among travelers returning from the tropics, Entamoeba spp. are among the most frequently detected intestinal parasites, mainly the presumable apathogenic E. dispar and the pathogenic E. histolytica. Among 5,378 travelers seeking diagnosis and treatment for intestinal infections at the travel clinic of the University of Munich between 2005 and 2009, 103 laboratory-confirmed amebiasis cases were detected. The study compares the results of various diagnostic tests among these patients, analyzes data on co-infections and clinical symptoms, and determines the risk for acquiring amebiasis. Initial screening tests (stool microscopy, coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) were positive in 82.5 and 93.9%, respectively. Fecal samples from patients with positive screening test results were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which detected E. histolytica in 9.7% and E. dispar in 88.3% of the cases. The majority of E. histolytica cases and more than half of the E. dispar cases had intestinal symptoms typical for amebiasis. In 53.4% of the cases, intestinal co-infections were found, mostly Blastocystis hominis (39.8%), Giardia lamblia (10.7%), Campylobacter spp. (4.9%), and Salmonella typhi (2.9%). The risk for travelers to be infected with E. histolytica or E. dispar was highest for destinations in West Africa, East Africa, and South and South-East Asia. Stool microscopy and coproantigen ELISA are appropriate screening tests for intestinal Entamoeba infections among travelers, but intestinal co-infections are common. PCR is highly recommended as the diagnostic method of choice for the differentiation of Entamoeba spp. The presumable apathogenic E. dispar seems to provoke intestinal symptoms.

Actinomyces neuii: Review of an unusual infectious agent

Abstract: Actinomyces neuii, a species first described in 1994, has proven to be an exception in this genus on account of its aerobic growth, microscopic morphology (no branching), and the types and location of infections. Abscesses and infected atheromas are the most frequent types of infections, followed by infected skin structures, endophthalmitis, and bacteremias, including endocarditis. They are most likely of endogenous origin. To date, approximately 100 cases have been recorded in the literature. Intra-abdominal and intrathoracic infections, however, have not yet been described, and cases of classical actinomycosis seem to be extremely rare. Prognosis has generally been good with antibiotic and/or surgical treatment. Susceptibility to antibiotics has paralleled that of other Actinomyces spp.

De-escalation of antimicrobials in the treatment of bacteraemia due to antibiotic-sensitive pathogens in immunocompetent patients

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of de-escalating antimicrobial therapy in immunocompetent patients presenting with bacteraemia due to antibiotic-sensitive pathogens. We screened 1,350 positive blood cultures identified in a single, 1,065-bed university hospital over 5 years, and retained 310 cases of bacteraemia due to antibiotic-sensitive pathogens, including (1) methicillin-sensitive staphylococci, (2) penicillin-sensitive streptococci, (3) β-lactam-sensitive (a) Escherichia coli, and (b) Klebsiella species. The efficacy of appropriate initial empirical antimicrobial therapy, the performance of de-escalated pathogen-directed therapy, and the safety and efficacy of de-escalated therapy were evaluated. Among 270 appropriately treated patients, 16 (6%) died, versus 6 (15%) among 40 who were inappropriately treated (p = 0.04). While 201 of 270 patients (74%) who received appropriate initial empirical therapy were candidates for de-escalation, the treatment was de-escalated in only 79 (39%). De-escalation was associated with (1) a trend toward a lower (a) death rate (1 vs. 5%) and (b) treatment failure (4 vs. 10%), and (2) (a) a 4-day longer median duration and (b) a $50 higher median cost of antimicrobial therapy (p < 0.001). When the pathogen was sensitive to antimicrobial therapy and the initial empirical treatment was effective, de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy in immunocompetent patients with bacteraemia was safe and associated with acceptable outcomes. The rate of de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy was low.

Clinical aspects of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Austria.

Abstract: To describe the clinical features, risk factors for severe disease and effectiveness of oseltamivir in patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. In a prospective, cross-sectional, multicentre study, data on 540 patients with confirmed 2009 H1N1 infection from seven Austrian hospitals were collected using a standardised online case-history form. The median age of the patients was 19.3 years (range 26 days–90.8 years); point-of-care testing yielded false-negative results in 60.2% of the 176 cases tested. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, fatigue and headache. Overall, 343 patients (63.5%) were hospitalised, 49 (9.1%) were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and 14 (4.1%) died. Case fatality rates were highest (9.1%) in those aged 65 years or older. Factors significantly associated with a higher risk for ICU admission included age, neurological disease, adipositas, and both interstitial pathology and lobular pathology on chest X-ray. No association with pregnancy, malignancy or immunosuppressive therapy was detected. Antiviral treatment significantly reduced the duration of fever by 0.66 days and lowered the risk of ICU admission, but had no significant benefit on survival. During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, elderly or obese patients and those with neurological disease had an increased risk for severe H1N1 infection in Austria. Pregnancy was not associated with a higher risk for severe disease in the later phase of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Antiviral treatment provided a minimal effect on the symptoms of influenza but reduced the risk of admission to an ICU.

Outcomes in patients infected with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and treated with tigecycline alone or in combination therapy.

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is a non-fermenting aerobic gram-negative bacteria and one of the important nosocomial pathogens, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). In recent years, multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates have been an emerging problem, with limited therapeutic options. Tigecycline is a novel antimicrobial, with its in vitro activity against most gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. This is a retrospective study that was conducted in a tertiary care hospital with 550 beds in Ankara, Turkey, from January 2009 to July 2010. Thirty-three patients who had carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. infections and received tigecycline alone or in combination with other antibiotics for at least 3 days were included. The median age of the patients was 62 (18–87) years. All of the patients were diagnosed and treated in the ICU. Clinical responses were observed in 23 patients (69.7%). Ten patients (30%) had clinical failure. There was no significant difference between ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and bloodstream infection (BSI) in terms of clinical or microbiological outcome (p > 0.05). The microbiological response rate was 50%. Superinfection was detected in 13 patients (43.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogen. The 30-day overall mortality rate and attributable mortality rates were 57.6 and 24.2%, respectively. The attributable mortality rate was higher in the group in which microbiological eradication was not provided. Although it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections, complicated skin and soft tissue infections, and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, emerged resistance of Acinetobacter spp. and limited therapeutic options left physicians no choice but to use tigecycline for off-label indications.

Causes of death and risk factors among HIV-infected persons in the HAART era: analysis of a large urban cohort.

Abstract: We aimed to examine the clinical outcome in HIV-1-infected patients after more than 10 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We analyzed data from 1,236 treatment-naive adults who had started HAART. The primary endpoint was the yearly prevalence of death for AIDS-related causes (ARC) or for non-AIDS related causes (non-ARC). The data from our cohort were compared with that of the general population (GP) of our region. We observed that 116 patients died, and 58.6% of deaths were non-ARC. The death incidence decreased from 18.8% in 1998–1999 to 1.2% in 2008–2009. The leading causes of death were malignancies (35.3%), infections (21.6%), end-stage liver diseases (18.1%), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (6.9%). Yearly death rates were similar in the HIV-infected cohort and in the crude GP (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5–2.5), but when adjusted for age, HIV-infected patients showed a greater risk (OR 7.4, 95% CI 4.1–13.4). The difference was still highly significant when the analysis was restricted to non-ARCs (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.07–9.2). Overall, malignancies (OR 5.7, 95% CI 2.6–12.8) and end-stage liver diseases (OR 35.0, 95% CI 15.5–78.8) were significantly more frequent than in the age-adjusted GP. Despite HAART, HIV-infected patients are at greater risk of death compared to a reference uninfected population.

Impact of inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy on outcome in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia: a stratified analysis according to sites of infection

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy on the outcome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia according to the primary infection site. A retrospective cohort study including 202 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteraemia was performed. High-risk sites of infection were defined as the lung, intra-abdominal non-hepatobiliary tract or unknown source. Of the 202 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteraemia, 80 (39.6%) had received inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy. No significant difference in the 30-day mortality rate was found between the inappropriate therapy group and the appropriate therapy group (19/80 [23.8%] vs. 32/122 [26.2%], P = 0.692). Patients with pneumonia or non-hepatobiliary tract intra-abdominal infection showed significant association with high mortality, while those with urinary tract or hepatobiliary tract infection showed negative associations with mortality. In the subgroup analysis including 98 patients with high-risk sites of infection, the mortality rate of the inappropriate therapy group was significantly higher than that of the appropriate therapy group (14/26 [53.8%] vs. 23/72 [31.9%], P = 0.035). Inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy was also found to be one of the independent risk factors for mortality in patients with high-risk sites of infection (odds ratio [OR] 8.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86–40.59), along with renal disease, corticosteroid use, polymicrobial infection and higher Pitt bacteraemia score. Inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy adversely affected the outcome of P. aeruginosa bacteraemia in patients with high-risk sites of infection. Our data suggest that the impact of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy on the outcome of P. aeruginosa bacteraemia may be dependent on the primary site of infection.

Costs of hospital-acquired infection and transferability of the estimates: a systematic review

Abstract: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) present a substantial problem for healthcare providers, with a relatively high frequency of occurrence and considerable damage caused. There has been an increase in the number of cost-effectiveness and cost-savings analyses of HAI control measures, and the quantification of the cost of HAI (COHAI) is necessary for such calculations. While recent guidelines allow researchers to utilize COHAI estimates from existing published literature when evaluating the economic impact of HAI control measures, it has been observed that the results of economic evaluations may not be directly applied to other jurisdictions due to differences in the context and circumstances in which the original results were produced. The aims of this study were to conduct a systematic review of published studies that have produced COHAI estimates from 1980 to 2006 and to evaluate the quality of these estimates from the perspective of transferability. From a total of 89 publications, only eight papers (9.0%) had a high level of transferability in which all components of costs were described, data for costs in each component were reported, and unit costs were estimated with actual costing. We also did not observe a higher citation level for studies with high levels of transferability. We feel that, in order to ensure an appropriate contribution to the infection control program decision-making process, it is essential for researchers who estimate COHAI, analysts who use COHAI estimates for decision-making, as well as relevant journal reviewers and editors to recognize the importance of a transferability paradigm.

Fatal Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in a previously healthy woman was most likely associated with a contaminated hot tub.

Abstract: Community-acquired pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in previously healthy individuals is a rare disease that is associated with high fatality. On 14 February 2010 a previously healthy 49-year-old woman presented to an emergency room with signs and symptoms of pneumonia, 2 days after returning from a spa holiday in a wellness hotel. Blood cultures and respiratory specimens grew P. aeruginosa. Despite adequate antimicrobial therapy, the patient died of septic multiorgan failure on day nine of hospitalization. On February 26, nine water samples were taken from the hotel facilities used by the patient: In the hot tub sample 37,000 colony-forming units of P. aeruginosa/100 ml were detected. Two of five individual colonies from the primary plate used for this hot tub water sample were found to be genetically closely related to the patients’ isolates. Results from PFGE, AFLP and MLST analysis allowed the two lung isolates gained at autopsy and the whirlpool bathtub isolates to be allocated into one cluster. The patient most likely acquired P. aeruginosa from the contaminated water in the hotel’s hot tub. The detection of P. aeruginosa in high numbers in a hot tub indicates massive biofilm formation in the bath circulation and severe deficiencies in hygienic maintenance. The increasing popularity of hot tubs in hotels and private homes demands increased awareness about potential health risks associated with deficient hygienic maintenance.

Long-term mortality associated with community-onset bloodstream infection

Abstract: Purpose Although bloodstream infection is widely recognized as an important cause of acute morbidity and mortality, long-term mortality outcomes are less well defined. The objective of this study was to define the early (≤28 days) and late (>28 days) mortality and assess determinants of late death following community-onset bloodstream infection.

The effect of inappropriate therapy on bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria.

Abstract: To describe the impact of empiric appropriate treatment and the risk factors associated with mortality in patients with bacteremia by E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis producing ESBL. Data were reviewed in an 8-year retrospective study, and 128 bacteremias were found: 80 caused by E. coli (62.5%), 28 by K. pneumoniae (21.9%) and 20 by P. mirabilis (18.6%). The initial antibiotic treatment, administered within 72 h after the first positive blood culture, was appropriate with carbapenems or other antimicrobial agents with documented in vitro sensitivity in 53.8 and 16% of patients, respectively. The overall mortality 21 days after diagnosis was 17.2%, and it was 14.9 and 35.2% for patients adequately and inadequately treated, respectively. At univariate analysis the p value for mortality with and without appropriate treatment was 0.05, and significant differences were found only for previous positive blood cultures (p = 0.004) and presence of septic shock at diagnosis (p = 0.006). In this case series there was a high rate of initial appropriate empiric treatment, and only a marginal impact on mortality was found with regard to appropriate and inappropriate treatment. This report shows that the knowledge of ESBL-producing characteristics varies widely among the different case series for reasons that still have to be clarified.

Isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from blood of adult patients with borrelial lymphocytoma, Lyme neuroborreliosis, Lyme arthritis and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans

Abstract: Reports on patients with European Lyme borreliosis in whom borreliae were isolated from the blood are rare and nearly exclusively limited to those with solitary or multiple erythema migrans. Here we report on patients with other manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in whom borreliae were isolated from their blood. This is a retrospective review of the medical files of patients diagnosed with borrelial lymphocytoma, Lyme neuroborreliosis, Lyme arthritis and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans at the Department of Infectious Diseases of the UMC Ljubljana, Slovenia, for whom a borrelia blood culture was ordered. The clinical features of patients whose blood culture tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were reviewed, and the association between the proportion of patients with a positive blood culture and various clinical manifestations was examined. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was isolated from the blood of 1/53 (1.9%) patients with borrelial lymphocytoma, 6/176 (3.4%) patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis, 1/13 (7.7%) patients with Lyme arthritis, and 3/200 (1.5%) patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. The time interval from the onset of symptoms attributed to Lyme borreliosis and the blood culture ranged from 1 day to >2 years (median 3.5 weeks). At the time of the blood culture, erythema migrans was present in 4/11 (36.4%) borrelia blood culture-positive patients, i.e. in the patient with borrelial lymphocytoma, the patient with Lyme arthritis and the 2/6 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Only two of these 11 (18.2%) patients had fever at the time of the blood culture. In European patients with Lyme borreliosis, borreliae can be cultured from the blood not only early in the course of the disease but also occasionally later during disease progression.

Differences in outpatient antibiotic prescription in Italy’s Lombardy region

Abstract: We assessed the antibiotic patterns of use and geographical distribution of prevalence and consumption by age in 15 Local Health Units (LHUs) of Italy’s Lombardy region. A retrospective analysis of reimbursement data for the community-dwelling population in 2005 was performed. Prescriptions reimbursed by the National Health System and consumption as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID) were analyzed. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between antibiotic drug prescription and age, gender, and LHU of residence of the population. During 2005, a total of 3,120,851 people (34% of the population) received at least one antibiotic drug prescription. The highest prescription prevalence was observed in the 0–17 and 80 or more years age ranges (41.6 and 41.9%, respectively). Large differences were found in the prevalence rates between different LHUs (ranging from 28.7% in Milan to 39.4% in Brescia) and in DID (ranging from 12.6 DID in Sondrio to 18.9 DID in Brescia). The age and residence of the population were the main determinants of drug exposure. In particular, patients aged <18 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73, 1.74), aged 65 years or older (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.63, 1.65), and those that live in Brescia (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.65, 1.66) had a statistically significant higher risk of antibiotic drug exposure. The observed intra-regional differences underline the need for a careful monitoring with the aim to reduce antibiotic resistance and improve the rational use of drugs.

A meta-analysis of the relation of polymorphism at sites -1082 and -592 of the IL-10 gene promoter with susceptibility and clearance to persistent hepatitis B virus infection in the Chinese population.

Abstract: Background Up to now, many publications about the Chinese population have evaluated the correlation between interleukin-10 (IL-10) −1082 and −592 polymorphisms and persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the results remain inconclusive. In order to resolve this conflict, a meta-analysis was performed.

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in acute gastrointestinal infections: value as biomarkers to reduce unnecessary antibiotic therapy

Abstract: Aim Several new biomarkers, such as lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), have the potential to determine the severity and outcome of infectious diseases. LBP and IL-6 serum levels have not been reported in patients with gastrointestinal infections. The aim of this study was to compare established markers of infection with new markers, such as LBP and IL-6, in patients with acute gastrointestinal infections

Clinical impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia based on propensity scores.

Abstract: Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen not only in nosocomial infections, but also in community-associated infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of methicillin resistance on mortality, length of hospitalization, and hospital costs via propensity score matching in S. aureus bacteremia.

Prolonged duration of operation: an indicator of complicated surgery or of surgical (mis)management?

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a prolonged operative time should be regarded as an indicator of quality problems in operating rooms or as patient-specific risk factors when analyzing surgical site infection (SSI) rates. Data from the SSI component of the German national nosocomial infection surveillance system (KISS) were used to address this question. Eight procedure categories tracked by at least 30 departments participating in KISS were included in the analysis, namely, hip (2 types) and knee prosthesis, breast surgery, hernia repair, C-section, cholecystectomy and colon operations. Various multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for each procedure category to predict duration of operation. Patient factors (sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, wound contamination class) and hospital factors (hospital status, size, annual volume) were considered. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate predictive power including patient- and hospital-based factors. A total of 253,454 operations were included in the analysis. In general, the predictive power of the model including all variables for the different procedure types was relatively low (C-index range: 0.57–0.63) and not much higher than that of the models including only patient-based or only hospital-based variables, respectively. The predictive power for the duration of operative time based on the model including only hospital-based variables was as good as or better than that of the model including only patient-based factors. Duration of operation is at least partially determined by hospital factors and, consequently, should be used as a quality indicator to compare SSI infections between hospitals, rather than being used as a patient factor to adjust comparisons between hospitals.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli strains in the feces of carriers contribute substantially to urinary tract infections in these patients.

Abstract: Introduction The current increase in the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) worldwide caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli may be due to the high number of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriers in the community. However, whether ESBL-producing bacteria can cause UTIs in carriers remains uncertain.

Septic arthritis due to Rothia mucilaginosa.

Abstract: A 73-year-old woman presented with pain and swelling of the right knee, which had developed over the past 2 days. A review of her medical history revealed type 2 diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. Rheumatoid arthritis that affected fingers and toes had been diagnosed more than 30 years previously, for which 12.5 mg prednisone daily had been prescribed. Due to knee pain, the patient had received a series of intra-articular injections with corticosteroids and local anaesthetics into the right knee at 2 and 6 days and 12 weeks before admission. Radiation synovectomy of the right knee had been performed 6 months and 3 and 9 years prior to admission. Clinical examination of the right knee showed joint pain, swelling, warmth, and restricted movement. Walking was impossible. Other joints were unremarkable. Radiographic assessment revealed advanced osteoarthritis (Fig. 1) of the right knee. Blood laboratory studies revealed elevated leukocytes (14,000/ll) and a normal C-reactive protein level (2.6 mg/l). A presumptive diagnosis of septic arthritis was made. The patient was admitted to the ward, and intravenous clindamycin 600 mg three times daily was administered empirically. Within the following 6 days the swelling progressed significantly and the C-reactive protein level rose to 112 mg/l. Drainage of the right knee was performed, and 80 ml of purulent fluid was aspirated. Microbiological examination of the aspirate revealed a leukocyte count of 42,000 and the presence of Gram-positive cocci in clusters that were subsequently identified as R. mucilaginosa by VITEK II and confirmed by complete 16S rRNA gene sequencing (99% homology with R. mucilaginosa strain DY-18). Minimum inhibitory concentrations, as determined by the E-test, demonstrated sensitivity to ampicillin (0.25 mg/l), cefotaxime (0.5 mg/l), and moxifloxacin (0.19 mg/l) and resistance to clindamycin (2 mg/l). Once the susceptibility results were known, the antimicrobial treatment was changed to moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily. The clinical condition of the patient improved promptly, but the patient recovered slowly. Arthroscopic examination revealed empyema, synovitis, cartilage loss, and meniscal lesions. Several arthroscopic irrigations and synovectomy were performed. Microbiological examination of subsequent samples did not reveal microbial presence. After 2 weeks, the antimicrobial treatment was switched to ampicillin plus sulbactam 375 mg twice daily and continued for 7 weeks. Knee pain and synovial effusion receded and the patient was able to walk using a walking frame. A. J. Kaasch H. Seifert Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Cologne University, 50935 Cologne, Germany