Incidence Of Multidrug-resistant Organisms Research Articles

Incidence of Multidrug Resistant Organisms and Adequacy of Empiric Antibiotic Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Sepsis at Ain Shams University Hospital

Abstract Background Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the most severe infections that cause the highest mortality rate, especially in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The nightmare of the rising numbers of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) requires the implementation of effective Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs). However, this should be preceded by making available evidence-based knowledge regarding the local antimicrobial resistance pattern, which is fundamental. Objective Is to determine the prevalence of MDROs and to measure the adequacy of the empirical Anti-Microbial Therapy (EAMT) in adult patients with sepsis hospitalized at Ain Shams University Hospitals (ASUHs) ICUs. Patients & Methods This was a prospective cohort study carried out on hospitalized adult patients with evidence of BSI admitted at ICUs of ASUH by +ve blood culture and sensitivity results. 276 patients were included in the study during the period from December 1st 2022 till may 30th 2023. Results In 276 patients, our study showed male to female ratio 1:1.1, Community acquired infections account for 34.8%, while healthcare associated infections account for 65.2% of total cases. The primary source of BSI was identified in only 62% of cases; the most prevalent cause was UTI in 29.1%, and pneumonia in 16.6% of total cases with identified source. Prevalence of MDROs was 88.8% among all the studied patients, Klebsiella spp. was the most prevalent among isolated organisms in 30.8% of total cases, and adequacy of EAMT was achieved in only 40.9% of total cases. Mortality rate within 2 weeks was 23.2%, and long hospital stay > 2weeks noticed in 54.3% of the studied patients and only 22.5% of patients improved and discharged from ICU. Conclusion MDROs are a public health threat and their prevalence is rising over the past few years, effective ASPs are mandatory to combat that threat and improve the adequacy of EAMT.

Incidence of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms in Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care Units at Beni-Suef University Hospital: A Comparative Analysis

Incidence of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms in Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care Units at Beni-Suef University Hospital: A Comparative Analysis

Predictors of thirty-day mortality among patients with blood stream infection with WHO priority pathogens: single centre exploratory study from a referral teaching hospital in central India.

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is defined by the presence of viable microorganisms in the bloodstream. BSI is one of the major causes of sepsis and subsequent adverse clinical outcomes all across the globe. The present study was undertaken to identify clinico-epidemio-microbiological variables associated with 30-day mortality in patients having BSI with WHO priority pathogens. The study was conducted at a public sector tertiary care institute in central India from April 2019 to March 2021. Blood samples collected from patients with clinical suspicion of sepsis, were processed by automated bacterial culture system and interpreted as per CLSI guidelines. Calculated sample size was 150. Data was analyzed by R software. Respiratory tract infection was the most common source (43.3%) of BSI, followed by the gastrointestinal (20%) and urinary tract (18.7%). Among the patients, 33% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 31% required inotropes. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the most common co-morbidity (34%). The incidence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) was 59.3%. Escherichia coli was the most commonly (24%) isolated organism, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.3%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (16%). Higher age, higher qSOFA score / SIRS score / mean SOFA score at presentation had higher mortality. Use of mechanical ventilation and inotropes during treatment and isolation of critical category organisms of WPP and multi drug resistant organisms were independent 30-day mortality predictors.

Novel preventive bundle for multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care setting; tertiary care experience

BackgroundA widely-accepted standardized preventive bundle targeting multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is lacking. The objective was to describe the components, implementation, compliance, and impact of a novel MDROs bundle in intensive care units (ICUs). MethodsCohort study of surveillance activities on the components of MDROs bundle (July 2019 to June 2022) and the incidence of MDROs (April 2016 to June 2022). The implementation of MDROs bundle were preceded by ICPs-led education of the staff working in target ICUs about the importance and components of the MDROs bundle. These included the overall use of antimicrobials, appropriate environmental cleaning, appropriate contact precautions, and hand hygiene compliance. ResultsDuring implementation, the overall use of antimicrobials was 57.8 days of therapy per 100 patient-days (44,492/76,933). It was higher in adult compared with pediatric/neonatal ICUs (p < 0.001). Appropriate environmental cleaning was 74.8% (12,409/16,582), appropriate contact precautions was 83.8% (10,467/12,497), and hand hygiene compliance was 86.9% (27,023/31,096). The three components were significantly higher in pediatric/neonatal compared with adult ICUs (p = 0.027, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively). The MDROs rates per 10,000 patient-days were 71.8 before (April 2016 to June 2019) and 62.0 during (July 2019 to June 2022) the bundle implementation (858/119,565 versus 891/143,649 p = 0.002). The reduction in MDROs rates were replicated in adult (p = 0.001) but not pediatric/neonatal ICUs (p = 0.530). ConclusionsThe finding of this study indicate that the implementation of the current bundle was associated with a modest decrease in MDROs rates in adult ICUs. The provided detailed definitions and methodology will facilitate its use by other healthcare facilities.

Impact of Antibacterial Prophylaxis on Morbidity-Mortality of Patients with Myeloid Neoplasms Treated with Non-Intensive Venetoclax Combinations

Background and aims: The addition of Venetoclax (VEN) to the treatment of myeloid neoplasms, particularly newly diagnosed and relapse/refractory (R/R) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), has shown improved responses compared to hypomethylating agents (HMA) in unfit patients. Nevertheless, side effects derived from deep cytopenias (infections) could potentially be a caved of such strategy. The use of antibacterial prophylaxis in this setting is controversial and its employment heterogeneous across centers, making difficult to draw conclusions from real-world studies. In this study we aimed to ascertain whether the use of antibacterial prophylaxis has an impact on the incidence of bacterial infections, hospitalization rates, infection severity, and mortality due to the infection. Finally, we also aimed to identify potential risk factors for bacterial infections. Methods: Retrospective data collection of patients with de novo, R/R or secondary AML, High Risk Myelodisplastic Syndrome and accelerated phases of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms treated with HMA or low dose cytarabine + VEN between January 2018 and May 2023 in 10 Spanish centers. Baseline characteristics and infectious episodes [presented as Microbiologically Documented Bacterial Infections (MDBI) or Clinically Documented infections without Isolation (CDI)], or febrile neutropenia without isolation or focus (FN) were recorded. Confirmed or suspected infections of parasites/fungi/viruses were excluded in this study. For each event, antibacterial prophylaxis, days of hospitalization, severity, disease status and dead due to infectious events/FN were collected. Results: In total, 165 patients have been included (clinical characteristics summarized in Table 1). VEN was initially used as 28 days/cycle and it had to be adjusted in 78 (48.75%) patients, mainly due to cytopenias and infections. The univariate analysis showed that infectious events and FN occurred more frequently in patients with high ELN risk than in those with Intermediate/favorable (OR; 2.71, 95% CI; 1.03-7.11, p = 0.041). In our cohort, 175 infections (MDBI/CDI) or FN occurred in 113 patients (68.5%) with an incidence of 26.1/100 cycles. These episodes correspond to 70 (40%) cases of MBI, 59 cases of CDI (33.7%) and 46 (26.3%) cases FN, with a median of 1 episode per patient (range 1-5). Most events occurred in the first (85; 48.9%) and second cycle (43; 24.7%) with a median of cycles at the moment of the event of 2 (p25-p75: 1-3) and a median time from VEN start to episode of 44 days (p25-p75: 18-105) because infections/FN usually led to delays on subsequent cycles. Considering the total number of events in patients with at least first disease evaluation available at the time of infection, only 48 (31%) had cytologic response (&amp;lt;5% blasts). Table 1 shows type of episode/isolation/focus. Antibacterial prophylaxis was used in 48 patients (29.5%), primarily with quinolones (levofloxacin 74%, ciprofloxacin 23%) according to physician decision. Incidence of infections (MDBI/CDI) or FN was lower in patients with antibacterial prophylaxis (OR; 0.37, 95% CI; 0.18-0.74, p = 0.05). Additionally, the median number of infections was lower in prophylaxis group (0.77 vs 1.18; p= 0.004). However, no differences were observed between both groups regarding hospitalization incidence or infection severity (defined as need of vasoactive drugs, high-flow oxygen therapy or deaths caused by the infectious episode). Microbiological isolations were significantly higher in non-prophylaxis group with infections (45.6% vs 23.7%, p 0.015). Incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms was 10.2% among all patients, with no differences between groups neither in Clostridioides difficile incidence (3.6%). In the competitive risk survival analysis, cumulative incidence of death from MBI/CDI or FN cause showed no differences between patients receiving or not antibacterial prophylaxis ( p= 0.98) (Figure 1). Conclusions: Our data suggest that avoiding antibacterial prophylaxis in non-intensive VEN-based treatments may result in a higher incidence of FN and infectious events, but it does not lead to impaired outcomes in terms of severity and/or mortality related to infections. Having a greater availability of microbiological isolations could enable more targeted antibiotic therapy, avoiding drug resistance. Additional data from the prophylaxis cohort will be included in the presentation.

2734. Evaluation of Empiric Antimicrobial Therapy for End-Stage Liver Disease Patients at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract Background Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) are prone to decompensation secondary to infections, with an increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). These patients often receive broad-spectrum antimicrobials prior to transplant, pre-disposing them to resistant pathogens. Our study assessed institutional guideline adherence, antimicrobial prescribing, and the incidence of MDROs in this population. Methods This IRB-approved, retrospective chart review included pre-transplant inpatients with ESLD on the adult liver transplant service who received antimicrobials between 1/1/20 and 10/30/20. Patients were excluded if they started antimicrobials post-transplant or transferred from another institution on parenteral antimicrobials. Per institutional guidelines for empiric antimicrobials in suspected infection in ESLD, patients were categorized into three infectious risk categories: Floor/Non-High-Risk (F-NHR), Floor/High-Risk (F-HR), and ICU or MELD greater than 35 (ICU/M35). Antimicrobial prescribing in each group was evaluated for guideline adherence and microbiology data. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results We included 92 patients: 28 F-NHR, 50 F-HR, and 14 ICU/M35. Table 1 summarizes baseline characteristics. The frequency of guideline adherence for the F-NHR, F-HR, ICU/M35 groups, respectively, was 11 (39%), 4 (8%), and 4 (29%) patients. For the F-NHR group, ceftriaxone (CRO) was most prescribed (n=17, 61%). For the F-HR group, 18 (36%) received CRO; 16 (32%) received vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam. In the ICU/M35 group, 13 patients (93%) received meropenem plus linezolid, and 11 (79%) also received caspofungin. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales were isolated. Two patients (14%) in the ICU/M35 group experienced C. difficile infection within 30 days of antimicrobial initiation.Table 1.Baseline characteristics among guideline cohorts Conclusion Our study showcases opportunities to optimize internal ESLD antimicrobial protocols and curtail unnecessary antimicrobial exposure. Study limitations include a small cohort at a single center. Future directions include data dissemination and protocol updates. Disclosures David Quan, PharmD, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant Sarah B. Doernberg, MD, MAS, Basilea: Clinical events committee/adjudication committee participation|F2G: Grant/Research Support|Genentech: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Janssen/J+J: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|Shinogi: Clinical events committee/adjudication committee participation

The epidemiology of multidrug-resistant organisms in persons diagnosed with cancer in Norway, 2008–2018: expanding surveillance using existing laboratory and register data

Surveillance has revealed an increase of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), even in low-prevalent settings such as Norway. MDROs pose a particular threat to at-risk populations, including persons with cancer. It is necessary to include such populations in future infection surveillance. By combining existing data sources, we aimed to describe the epidemiology of MDROs in persons diagnosed with cancer in Norway from 2008 to 2018. A cohort was established using data from the Cancer Registry of Norway, which was then linked to notifications of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin- and/or linezolid-resistant enterococci (V/LRE), and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli (CP-GNB) from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases, and laboratory data on third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCR-E) from Oslo University Hospital (OUH). We described the incidence of MDROs and resistance proportion in Enterobacterales from 6 months prior to the person’s first cancer diagnosis and up to 3 years after. The cohort included 322,005 persons, of which 0.3% (878) were diagnosed with notifiable MDROs. Peak incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were 60.9 for MRSA, 97.2 for V/LRE, and 6.8 for CP-GNB. The proportion of 3GCR-E in Enterobacterales in blood or urine cultures at OUH was 6% (746/12,534). Despite overall low MDRO incidence, there was an unfavourable trend in the incidence and resistance proportion of Gram-negative bacteria. To address this, there is a need for effective infection control and surveillance. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of expanding the surveillance of MDROs and at-risk populations through the linkage of existing laboratory and register data.

Assuring safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the COVID-19 era: A single-center experience.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is used to treat recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). In the past, screening of fecal donors required surveillance of personal behavior, medical history, and diseases that could be transmitted by the blood or fecal-oral route. In addition, the exclusion of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has been recommended since 2018. This task has become more complicated in the era of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To prevent fecal transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it is crucial to commence screening for SARS-CoV-2, alongside other traditional tests. Our aim was to investigate whether hidden carriers of SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled for stool donation, and the status of the presence or incidence of MDRO during fecal donation in Taiwan. Fecal products collected from March 2019 to December 2022 were tested for MDRO and nucleic acid amplification tests for SARS-CoV-2 using the pooling method. The period of fecal product collection crossed the time before and during the COVID pandemic in Taiwan. A total of 151 fecal samples were collected. The fecal products were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2. The results were negative for all stocks. This was similar to the results of MDRO testing. The safety of FMT products has been guaranteed during the pandemic. Our FMT center produced MDRO-free and COVID-19-free products before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan. Our protocol was effective for ensuring the safety of FMT products.

Does granulocyte transfusion help pediatric cancer patients with sepsis?

Sepsis-related mortality continues to be a major concern while treating pediatric cancer patients, more so with the rise in the incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). In this retrospective study conducted between January 2021 and December 2022 at a tertiary cancer center in India, granulocyte transfusion was offered in addition to standard antimicrobial therapy to 64 children with hematolymphoid malignancy who developed 75 episodes of severe sepsis following intensive chemotherapy. Forty-four (83%) of 53 blood culture proven sepsis was caused by MDROs. Thirty-seven (70%) patients with blood culture proven sepsis cleared the organism after granulocyte transfusion. Thirty-day mortality was 25% for the entire study cohort and 32% for patients with MDRO sepsis.

Antibiotic Duration Following Abdominal Gunshot Injuries With Associated Pelvis or Spine Involvement: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience

IntroductionOptimal antimicrobial prophylaxis duration following gunshot wounds (GSW) to the abdomen with an associated orthopedic fracture is unknown. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of short versus long courses of prophylactic antibiotics following penetrating hollow viscus injury with communicating orthopedic fracture. MethodsThis retrospective study included adult patients admitted to the trauma service over a 20-y period who sustained an abdominal GSW with hollow viscus injury and communicating spine or pelvic fractures. Patients were stratified into cohorts based on prophylactic antibiotic duration: short course (SC, ≤48 h) and long course (>48 h). The primary outcome was the incidence of osteomyelitis and meningitis up to 1-y postinjury. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay and the incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridioides difficile infections. Risk factors for osteomyelitis and meningitis were determined. ResultsA total of 125 patients were included with 45 (36%) in the SC group. Median prophylactic antibiotic durations were SC, 1 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2) versus long course, 7 (IQR, 5-7) d (P < 0.001). There was no difference in osteomyelitis and meningitis incidence (2 [4.4%] versus 4 [5%], P = 0.77). Median hospital length of stay (7 [IQR, 6-11] versus 9 [IQR, 6-15] d, P = 0.072) and incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (6 [13.3%] versus 13 [16.3%], P = 0.86) and Clostridioides difficile infections (0 [0%] versus 1 [1.3%], P = 0.77) were similar between groups. There were no independent risk factors identified for osteomyelitis or meningitis. ConclusionsA shorter course of antibiotic prophylaxis ≤48 h may be adequate following abdominal GSW that traverses a hollow viscus and results in pelvic fracture or spinal column injury.

Epidemiology of multidrug-resistant organisms before and during COVID-19 in Hong Kong

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has influenced antimicrobial consumption and incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We aimed to study the epidemiology of MDROs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.With the maintenance of infection control measures, we described the trend of MDRO infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species (CRA), and extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-(ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales, in a healthcare region with 3100-bed before (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019, period 1) and during COVID-19 (1 January 2020 to 30 September 2022, period 2), together with the antimicrobial consumption using piecewise Poisson regression. The epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients with or without MDRO infections were analyzed.Between period 1 and 2, we observed a significant increase in the trend of CRA infections (P<0.001), while there was no significant increase in the trend of MRSA (P=0.742) and ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (P=0.061) infections. Meanwhile, a significant increase in the trend of carbapenems (P<0.001), extended-spectrum beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLBI) (P=0.045), and fluoroquinolones (P=0.009) consumption was observed. The observed opportunity (23,540 ± 3703 vs 26,145 ± 2838, p=0.359) and compliance (81.6% ± 0.5% vs 80.1% ± 0.8%, P=0.209) of hand hygiene per year was maintained. In a multivariable model, older age, male sex, referral from residential care home for the elderly, presence of indwelling device, presence of endotracheal tube, and use of carbapenems, use of BLBI, use of proton pump inhibitors and history of hospitalization in the past 3 months were associated with higher risks of infections by MDROs among COVID-19 patients.Infection control measures may control the surge of MDROs despite an increasing trend of antimicrobial consumption.

Delabelling multiple antibiotic allergy: Practical issues.

With the growing incidence of multi-drug resistant organisms, delabelling incorrect antibiotic allergies has become an integral part of antimicrobial stewardship worldwide. For example, around 90% of penicillin allergy labels are found to be inaccurate following a full allergy work-up, which deprive patients the use of effective first-line penicillin antibiotics and increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance with the use of other extended spectrum non-penicillin antimicrobials. Significant numbers of adult and paediatric patients over time are labelled with multiple penicillin and non-penicillin antibiotic allergies often during inappropriate antimicrobial use, resulting in a label of "multiple antibiotic allergy". In contrast to delabelling penicillin allergy where oral direct provocation tests can be used for low-risk, mild reactions, and sensitivity/specificity/positive and negative predictive values of skin tests have been demonstrated, diagnostic tests for multiple antibiotic allergy often require the use of a combination of in-vivo and in-vitro tests across different antimicrobial classes for evaluation. Shared decision making with patients and informed consent are also needed when prioritising which drugs to delabel first, balancing the risks, benefits of testing vs. interim use of alternative antibiotics. Similar to delabelling penicillin allergy, the cost-effectiveness of delabelling multiple drug allergies is unknown.

Incidence and Microbiology of Hospital-Acquired Infections in COVID-19 Patients between the First and the Second Outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Retrospective, Observational Study.

With almost 638 million cases and over 6 million deaths worldwide, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents an unprecedented healthcare challenge. Although the management and natural history of COVID-19 patients have changed after the introduction of active therapies and vaccination, the development of secondary infections complicates hospital stay. This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study that explores the incidence and microbiology of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in two subsequent populations of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Demographic, pre-hospitalization baseline characteristics, therapeutic options and microbiology data about secondary infections were collected for a total of 1153 cases. The second population appeared to have a higher median age (73 vs. 63 years, respectively), comorbidities (median Charlson Comorbidity Index Score was 4 vs. 1, respectively) and incidence of secondary infections (23.5% vs. 8.2%) with respect to the first. A higher incidence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), including difficult-to-treat resistant (DTR) Pseudomonas, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), was also observed. Both patients' characteristics and poor adherence to standard hygiene and infection control protocols may have contributed to the higher incidence of these events and may have impacted on the natural history of the disease. In-hospital mortality rates were similar, despite the introduction of active therapies against COVID-19 (24.7% vs. 23.5%, respectively). The incidence of HAIs may have contributed to the unchanged mortality and prompts for more effective antimicrobial stewardship and infection control procedures in COVID-19.

Brazilian perspective: antimicrobial stewardship in solid organ transplant.

The incidence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) infections among solid organ transplant (SOT) patients is very high in Brazil. This review will discuss antimicrobial use and resistance in SOT in Brazil, highlighting the main barriers and facilitators for implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP). The most common group of MDROs is carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are the most frequent MDROs and have been reported as donor-derived as well. Although ASPs are mandatory in the country, there is a lack of information regarding ASPs in SOT recipients. The main barriers for the implementation of ASPs in Brazilian hospitals are lack of electronic medical records, absence of national guidelines specific to SOT recipients, lack of recommendations on surveillance culture to evaluate colonization and transmission of donor-derived MDROs, limited availability of rapid diagnostic tests, and insufficient pharmacist and clinician time allocated to ASP activities in some SOT centers. The incidence of MDRO infections caused mainly by VREs and CREs is very high in the country. There is limited data regarding antimicrobial use among SOT recipients in Brazil. The absence of antimicrobial stewardship national guidelines specific to SOT recipients is one of the main barriers for the implementation of ASPs in Brazilian hospitals.

Sustaining Antimicrobial Stewardship in a High–Antibiotic Resistance Setting

There is a lack of studies comparing the intended and unintended consequences of prospective review and feedback (PRF) with computerized decision support systems (CDSS), especially in the longer term in antimicrobial stewardship. To examine the outcomes associated with the sequential implementation of PRF and CDSS and changes to these interventions with long-term use of antibiotics for and incidence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) and other unintended outcomes. This cohort study used an interrupted time series with segmented regression analysis of data from January 2007 to December 2018. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients admitted at a large university teaching hospital with high rates of antibiotic resistance in Singapore. Data were analyzed from June 2019 to June 2020. PRF of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems (intervention 1, April 2009), with the addition of hospital-wide CDSS (intervention 2, April 2011), and lifting of CDSS for half of the hospital wards for 6 months (intervention 3, March 2017). Monthly antimicrobial use was measured in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1000 patient-days. The monthly incidence of MDROs was calculated as number of clinical isolates detected per 1000 inpatient-days over a 6-month period. Unintended outcomes examined included in-hospital mortality and age-adjusted length of stay (LOS). The number of inpatients increased from 56 263 in 2007 to 63 572 in 2018. During the same period, the mean monthly patient days increased from 33 929 in 2007 to 45 603 in 2018, and the proportion of patients older than 65 years increased from 45.5% in 2007 to 56.6% in 2018. After intervention 1, there were 0.33 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.48) more DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems and -11.05 (95% CI, -15.55 to -6.55) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month for other broad-spectrum antibiotics. After intervention 2, there were -0.22 (95% CI, -0.33 to -0.10) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems and -2.10 (95% CI, -3.13 to -1.07) fewer DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month for other broad-spectrum antibiotics. After intervention 3, use of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenem increased by 0.28 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.55) DDDs per 1000 patient-days per month. After intervention 2, incidence of Clostridioides difficile decreased (estimate, -0.02 [95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01] cases per 1000 patient-days per month). In this cohort study, concurrent PRF and CDSS were associated with limiting the use of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems while reducing use of other antibiotics.

The feasibility of procalcitonin and CPIS score to reduce inappropriate antibiotics use among severe-critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia patients: A pilot study

Antibiotics have been extensively used in COVID-19 patients without a clear indication. We conducted a study to evaluate the feasibility of procalcitonin along with the “Clinical Pulmonary for Infection Score” (CPIS) as a strategy to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. Using procalcitonin and CPIS score (PCT-CPIS) successfully reduced inappropriate antibiotics use among severe-critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia patients (45% vs 100%; P < .01). Compared to “non PCT-CPIS” group, “PCT-CPIS” group was associated with a reduction in the incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms and invasive fungal infections (18.3% vs 36.7%; P = .03), shorter antibiotic duration (2 days vs 7 days; P < .01) and length of hospital stay (10 days vs 16 days; P < .01).

Occurrence of carbapenem-resistant organisms in gastrointestinal postoperative infections: A therapeutic challenge

Dissemination of multidrug resistant organisms including Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms (CRO) in Hospitals is of global concern. Such nosocomial infections are more common during surgical procedures involving prolonged post-operative care and Hospital stay. Treatment options include administration of prophylactic antibiotics, which are broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, long-term administration of these antibiotics leads to an increase in the incidence of multidrug resistant organisms in Hospital sectors. To evaluate early detection of carbapenemase producing organisms from the clinical isolates of postoperative patients by carba NP test. The study was conducted at the diagnostic laboratory in clinical samples obtained from hospitalized patients. A total of 716 clinical samples were tested by employing basic microbiological and biochemical testing methods and the isolates were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were then confirmed by E-test (imipenem, meropenem) and also via carba NP test.In a total of 716 samples, 257 tested positive for various microorganisms, of which 230 gram-negative bacilli were identified. Amongst them, 93 isolates were identified as resistant to carbapenem by disc diffusion method of which 50 isolates were tested for carbapenemase production. Within the 50 isolates, 47 isolates were resistant to E-test meropenem and 40 isolates were resistant to imipenem. Of note, 35 out of the 50 CROs were identified as carbapenemase producers. Our results show that Carba NP test is a simple method that can be employed routinely for early detection of carbapenemase mediated CROs thus reducing the spread of resistant strains in Hospitals.

Neonatal sepsis-causing bacterial pathogens and outcome of trends of their antimicrobial susceptibility a 20-year period at a neonatal intensive care unit.

BackgroundDue to increases in the number of infants born with younger gestational age (GA) and lower birth weight, the incidence of neonatal sepsis is increasing.PurposeWe investigated the changes in the prevalence of bacterial pathogens, their antimicrobial susceptibility, and sepsis-related mortality during 20 years at a neonatal intensive care unit.MethodsThe study period was divided into two 10-year phases (1998–2007 vs. 2008–2017). Medical records were reviewed to gather data on demographics, causative microbial pathogens, incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms, antimicrobial susceptibility, and rates of sepsis-related mortality.ResultsIn both study phases, the most common pathogens for neonatal sepsis were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (28.6%) and Enterobacter cloacae (16.1%) for early-onset sepsis (EOS, ≤72 hours after birth) and CoNS (54.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.9%) for late-onset sepsis (LOS, >72 hours after birth). CoNS and S. aureus showed 100% sensitivity to vancomycin in both phases. The susceptibility of S. aureus to oxacillin increased from 19.2% to 57.9% in phase II than phase I. K. pneumonia and E. cloacae showed increases in its susceptibility to gentamicin, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone in phase II than phase I. In both phases, the most common pathogens that caused sepsis-related death were K. pneumoniae (18.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.6%). Sepsis-related mortality rate was higher in infants with GA <37 weeks than those with GA over 37 weeks (P=0.016). In addition, the mortality rate of neonatal sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria was significantly higher than that caused by gram-positive bacteria (P<0.001).ConclusionsCoNS was the most common pathogen for EOS and LOS. While we found significant changes in antimicrobial sensitivities over time. GA below 37 weeks and gram-negative organisms are associated with mortality rate.

Safety and Efficacy of Prophylactic Levofloxacin in Pediatric and Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients

Levofloxacin has been widely used for bacteremia prophylaxis in the pre-engraftment setting for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but data supporting this practice are inconsistent. In addition to concern for lack of benefit, there are also concerns that this practice could increase the rates of Clostridioidesdifficile (C diff) infections, the incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) or lead to increased incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) by disrupting the gut microbiome. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of levofloxacin as bacterial prophylaxis in pediatric and young adult patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous HSCT at a single pediatric center. We conducted a retrospective chart review evaluating patients age ≥6 months who underwent HSCT at our center between January 1, 2016, and July 31, 2020. Patients who underwent transplantation before March 2018 did not receive levofloxacin prophylaxis, whereas those who underwent transplantation after April 2018 did receive levofloxacin prophylaxis. Each transplantation was included as a separate episode if the patient underwent more than 1 transplantation during the inclusion time. The primary outcome of this study was the proportion of patients who experienced at least 1 bacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) in the first 100 days post-transplantation. Secondary outcomes included the number of non-levofloxacin antibiotic days post-transplantation, the incidence of aGVHD, the occurrence of C diff infections, and development of MDRO. A total of 370 HSCT recipients with a median age of 6.7 years (range, 0.5 to 39 years) were included in this study. Seventy-two patients had undergone more than 1 transplantation, and thus we had 443 transplantations to observe. Of these, 216 did not include levofloxacin prophylaxis and 227 included levofloxacin prophylaxis. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups except for age; patients in the non-levofloxacin prophylaxis group were younger (8.1 years vs 9.6 years; P=.05). There were no between-group differences in rates of death at 100 days, antibiotic use, fungal infections, or MDRO infections. Patients in the non-prophylaxis group developed more bacterial BSI in the first 100 days post-HSCT (27% versus 17%; P=.004) and more C diff infections (20% versus 9%; P=.003) than patients who received levofloxacin prophylaxis. In addition, more aGVHD was seen in the patients without levofloxacin prophylaxis (P=.014). Levofloxacin prophylaxis given from day -2 of HSCT through engraftment was significantly associated with decreased bacterial BSI in the first 100 days post-transplantation and was not associated with increased risks of C diff, aGVHD, or MDRO. Our study supports the use of levofloxacin prophylaxis in the peritransplantation period. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

From infections to preventive actions monitoring in health facilities: an experience on MDROs

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) involve high costs both in health and economic terms for patients and health systems. Implementing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs is critical to decrease infectious agents' transmission in healthcare settings. The aim of this study is to assess if the monitoring of Contact Precautions could decrease the incidence of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MRDOs) infections. This pilot study was conducted in a teaching hospital in Rome. A checklist of 16 items was developed to assess the compliance to Contact Precautions in 11 hospital wards in which MRDOs were detected between November and December 2020. It was administered on-site both interviewing healthcare professionals and through direct observation. A paired t-test with α = 5% was used to compare the number of alert organisms in the first quarter of 2020 respect to the first quarter of 2021 before and after implementing the surveillance checklist. A total of 30 checklists were analyzed. The rate of compliance to Contact Precautions was high for the proper use of personal protective equipment (100%), the intensified room cleaning (100%) and the presence of isolation mark (100%), while it was low for the active screening of contacts (53%). Mean MDROs infections rate decreased from 4.94 to 4.37 for every 1000 hospitalization day, with an average decrease of 0.57. However, the paired t-test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the mean number of MDROs infections before and after the implementation of the checklist (p > 0.05). Despite the good adherence to IPC program, the low infection rate decrease, is probably due to the impact of COVID-19 on the HAIs surveillance and prevention practices. Even if the check-list administration could be a useful tool to reduce MDROs infections, it should be associated to other prevention strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to achieve a successful outcome.Key messages Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections represents a priority public health challenge in order to improve patient safety and health system economic sustainability.The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that healthcare facilities should enhance efforts in their IPC programs to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections.