Outpatient Infections Research Articles

Utility of urine dipstick in predicting urinary tract infection in pediatric outpatients

Objectives: Children are most frequently affected by urinary tract infections (UTIs). Urine dipsticks along with use in urine routine testing can help in predicting UTI. In this study we aim to evaluate the utility of individual and combination of urine dipstick parameters, including nitrite and leukocyte esterase (LE), against gold standard urine culture for detection of UTI among pediatric outpatients. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred and forty-nine pediatric urine samples from January 2021 to December 2021 were cultured on Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient Agar and incubated at 37°C overnight. Siemens Multistix 10SG strips were used to perform a urine dipstick for urine markers. Results from the urine dipstick and culture were contrasted. Statistical Analysis: Data obtained in the study was analyzed statistically using stata version 15. Diagnostic performance of urine dipstick parameters was assessed taking urine culture as gold standard. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was plotted. Results: About 153 of the 949 urine samples received for culture were positive. Males comprised 102 of the 153 positive patients. The most common organism isolated was Escherichia coli, followed by Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Proteus. LE, nitrite, red blood cells (RBC), and protein had a sensitivity of 77.1%, 64.7%, 45.1%, and 46.4%, respectively, whereas their specificities were 94.5%, 97.2%, 95.9%, and 93.1%, respectively. When taken together, “LE and Nitrite and RBC and Protein” had a lower area under the curve (AUC) of 0.641, whereas “LE/Nitrite/RBC/Protein” had the highest AUC of 0.914. Conclusions: The urine dipstick test may be utilized as a screening tool and a positive predictor for UTI. When evaluated simultaneously, nitrite and LE can be used as point-of-care tests preceding the culture examination for decision-making. They can aid in the optimized management of children by minimizing UTI-related complications and inappropriate antibiotic use.

Health care utilisation in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study among host communities.

To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries introduced public health and social measures that had indirect societal, economic consequences. Concerns during epidemics include continuity of routine health services. We investigate how healthcare utilisation and healthcare seeking behaviour changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among host communities in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. This mixed-methods study combines quantitative analyses of routine health data and population-based findings about healthcare seeking behaviours. Trends in consultations changed according to facility level (higher-level facilities included Upazila Health Complexes and District Hospitals; lower-level facilities included Community Clinics and Union Health and Family Welfare Centers). At the pandemic's beginning, drops were seen at higher-level health facilities for outpatient department (OPD) consultations, respiratory infections, and antenatal care. Minor reductions or increases were seen at lower-level facilities for the same services. Half of the subdistricts reported a cumulative increase in OPD and respiratory tract infection consultations. Most subdistricts reported a cumulative decrease in antenatal care. Child vaccinations dropped in all subdistricts, half of which did not catch-up, resulting in a cumulative decrease of delivered doses. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and financial constraints were the main reasons for decreased access. Drivers of healthcare seeking behaviours should be better understood to guide preparedness and service delivery modalities at primary and secondary levels.

The epidemiology of pediatric outpatient acute respiratory tract infections in the US: a multi-facility analysis of multiplex PCR testing from 2018 to 2023.

Post-pandemic, it is essential to understand the epidemiology of pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Our multi-facility study elucidates the outpatient epidemiology of pediatric ARTI using highly multiplexed PCR testing, providing critical insights into the evolving landscape of the etiological agents with a particular focus on the years following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Utilizing data from two different multiplex PCR panels, our research provides a comprehensive analysis of respiratory pathogen positivity from 2018 to 2023. Our findings indicate that over half of the annual test results identified at least one pathogen, primarily of viral origin. Intriguingly, despite the surge in testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, pathogen detection rates remain similar to the pre-pandemic era. These data hold significant implications for directing antimicrobial stewardship strategies, curbing unnecessary antibiotic use in pediatric respiratory diseases, and the value of multiplex PCR testing in the outpatient setting among pediatrics.

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 variants following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination in children

Emergence of highly transmissible Omicron subvariants led to increased SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease in children. However, minimal knowledge exists regarding the neutralization capacity against circulating Omicron BA.4/BA.5, BA.2.75, BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 subvariants following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in children versus during acute or convalescent COVID-19, or versus multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Here, we evaluate virus-neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 variants in 151 age-stratified children ( <5, 5–11, 12–21 years old) hospitalized with acute severe COVID-19 or MIS-C or convalescent mild (outpatient) infection compared with 62 age-stratified vaccinated children. An age-associated effect on neutralizing antibodies is observed against SARS-CoV-2 following acute COVID-19 or vaccination. The primary series BNT162b2 mRNA vaccinated adolescents show higher vaccine-homologous WA-1 neutralizing titers compared with <12 years vaccinated children. Post-infection antibodies did not neutralize BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 subvariants. In contrast, monovalent mRNA vaccination induces more cross-neutralizing antibodies in young children <5 years against BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 variants compared with ≥5 years old children. Our study demonstrates that in children, infection and monovalent vaccination-induced neutralization activity is low against BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 variants. These findings suggest a need for improved SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to induce durable, more cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies to provide effective protection against emerging variants in children.

2834. Comparative Effectiveness of Oral Antibiotics to Treat Urinary Tract Infections in Male and Female Outpatients

Abstract Background Professional and regulatory agency guidelines recommend that fluoroquinolones not be used as first-line therapy to treat uncomplicated UTI. Increasingly, β-lactams are being used to treat UTI despite limited evidence supporting their effectiveness. The study aim was to compare the efficacy of β-lactams and other commonly prescribed antibiotics for UTI to fluoroquinolones. Methods A multi-centered retrospective cohort study of outpatient visits with a UTI diagnosis between 2019-2021 was developed. Inclusion criteria: In-person visit in the Emergency Department or Primary/Urgent Care with ICD-10 documented UTI diagnosis and oral antibiotic prescription filled within 0-2 d. Exclusion criteria: Prior UTI &amp;lt; 30d, co-diagnosis where antibiotics were indicated, hospital discharge &amp;lt; 7d, scheduled urological procedure &amp;lt; 7d, pregnancy. Outcome: UTI related admission or outpatient return visit within 3-30d. Demographic, co-morbidity, vitals, laboratory, and prescription data were extracted. Propensity scores were used to balance treatments and GEE models were used to estimate outcomes. Results There were 73,334 visits in 130 VA medical centers. Mean (S.D.) cohort age was 66.0 (15.8) y, 22.9% were female. Antibiotics prescribed N (%): β-lactams (cephalosporins, aminopenicillins) 27,385 (37.3%), nitrofurantoin 15,509 (21.1%), trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) 15,453 (21.1%), and fluoroquinolones 14,997 (20.4%). The overall 30-day clinical failure rate was 10,525 (14.4%). Comparative Effectiveness of Oral Antibiotics for Outpatient UTIs Conclusion Commonly prescribed antibiotics for outpatient UTI were associated with a modest increase in 30-day clinical failure relative to fluoroquinolones. Effectiveness differences were most pronounced in male patients. Clinicians should carefully differentiate between complicated and uncomplicated UTI in males and consider preferentially prescribing fluoroquinolones. Disclosures Karl Madaras-Kelly, PharmD, MPH, BioMerioux: Grant/Research Support

2833. Multi-drug resistance of Escherichia coli from outpatient uncomplicated urinary tract infections in a large U.S. integrated health care organization

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) cause significant disease and economic burden. Uncomplicated UTIs (uUTIs) occur in otherwise healthy individuals without underlying structural abnormalities, with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) accounting for 80% of cases. With recent transitions in healthcare toward virtual visits, data on multi-drug resistance (MDR) (resistant to ≥3 antibiotic classes) by care setting are needed to inform empiric treatment decision-making. Methods We evaluated UPEC resistance over time and by care setting (in-person vs. virtual), in adults who received outpatient care for uUTI at Kaiser Permanente Southern California between January 2016 and December 2021. Results We included 174,185 individuals who had ≥1 UPEC uUTI (233,974 isolates), who were 92% female, and 46% Hispanic with a mean age 52 years (standard deviation 20). Overall, UPEC MDR decreased during the study period (13 to 12%) (Figure 1) both in virtual and in-person settings (p-for trend &amp;lt; 0.001). Resistance to penicillins overall (29%), co-resistance to penicillins and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (12%), and MDR involving penicillins and TMP-SMX plus ≥1 antibiotic class were common (10%) (Figure 2). Resistance to 1, 2, 3, and 4 antibiotic classes was found in 19%, 18%, 8%, and 4% of isolates, respectively; 1% were resistant to ≥5 antibiotic classes, and 50% were resistant to none. Similar resistance patterns were observed over time, and by care setting. Figure 2. Antibiotic resistance patterns of outpatient uncomplicated Escherichia coli urinary tract events, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 2016 – 2021. Abbreviations: PNC = penicillin; FLQ = fluoroquinolone; TMP-SMX = sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim; AGS = aminoglycoside; NFT = nitrofurantoin; CSP = cephalosporin Conclusion We observed a slight decrease in both class-specific AMR and MDR of UPEC overall, most commonly involving penicillins and TMP-SMX, and consistent over time and by care setting. Virtual healthcare may expand access to UTI care without increased risk for MDR and the need for setting-specific antibiograms. Disclosures Jennifer H. Ku, PhD MPH, GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support Katia J. Bruxvoort, PhD, MPH, Dynavax: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Sara Y. Tartof, PhD MPH, Genentech: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|SPERO: Grant/Research Support

Profile of multidrug-resistant bacteria causing urinary tract infections in inpatients and outpatients in Jakarta and Tangerang

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacteria occupy the second highest rank of common infectious diseases in the world. Empirical use of antibiotics may give rise to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria because of irrational prescription. Choice of antibiotics to treat UTIs is limited because of MDR bacteria. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the bacterial antibiotic susceptibility patterns in inpatients and outpatients in Jakarta and Tangerang. Methods Bacterial isolates were obtained from midstream urine specimens from 43 inpatients and 43 outpatients with UTIs in Jakarta and Tangerang. Bacteria were isolated on blood and MacConkey agar media using colony count method. Isolate identification and their susceptibility patterns were performed using VITEK2 compact system according to manufacturers’ instructions. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results A total of 89 bacterial isolates consisting of 15 bacterial species were successfully isolated from 86 specimens. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common etiology of UTIs in inpatients and outpatients. MDR bacteria were found in 52 of the 89 isolates. ESBL-producing E. coli was the most common MDR bacteria. ESBL-producing E. coli and other MDR bacteria showed good susceptibility to ertapenem, meropenem, amikacin, and tigecycline. There were no significant differences regarding the MDR bacterial count in inpatients and outpatients (p=0.521). Conclusion E. coli was found to be the most common MDR bacteria causing UTIs in inpatients and outpatients in Jakarta and Tangerang. Higher resistance to many antibiotics was found in MDR bacterial isolates in inpatients compared to outpatients. MDR bacteria in outpatient UTIs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

High frequency of Enterococcus faecalis detected in urinary tract infections in male outpatients – a retrospective, multicenter analysis, Germany 2015 to 2020

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTI) in men differ relevantly to women by their pathogens. Gram-positive uropathogens play a relevant role in UTI in men. In this study, we aimed to analyze the epidemiology of Enterococcus faecalis in UTI in male outpatients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study during 2015 to 2020 consisting of urine samples of 99,415 adult male outpatients sent from 6,749 outpatient practices from Germany. Proportions were compared using the z-Test and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method.ResultsE. faecalis is the 2nd most frequent bacteria (16%) detected in suspected UTI in male outpatients. Young men are predominantly at risk (17%) for isolation of E. faecalis in suspected UTI. In polymicrobial infections E. faecalis is isolated in 47% of all suspected UTI in men. Recurrency of suspected UTI is significantly more frequent when E. faecalis is isolated compared to Escherichia coli (22% vs 26%; p < .001). Recurrency rates of E. faecalis associated UTI increases by age from 12% (18–29 years) to 28% (ge 70 years); p < .001. Congruently the resistance of E. faecalis against ciprofloxacin increases by age from 22% (18–29 years; 2019) to 37% (ge 70 years; 2019); p < .001.ConclusionsE. faecalis is frequently isolated in suspected UTI in male patients. Consequently, Nitrate-sticks results cannot be recommended to exclude UTI in men. The empirical use of ciprofloxacin in young adults can be reasonable. Frequent recurrences in E. faecalis associated suspected UTI emphasizes the importance of microbiological pathogen identification and susceptibility testing in men suffering from UTI.

Multidrug antibiotic resistance in hospital wastewater as a reflection of antibiotic prescription and infection cases

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating issue that can render illnesses more difficult to treat if effective antibiotics become resistant. Many studies have explored antibiotic resistance in bacteria (ARB) in wastewater, comparing results with clinical data to ascertain the public health risk. However, few investigations have linked the prevalence of ARB in hospital wastewater (HWW) with these outcomes. This study aimed to bridge this gap by assessing the prevalence of ARB in HWW and its receiving waters. Among the 144 isolates examined, 24 were obtained from each of the six sites (untreated wastewater, aeration tank, sedimentation tank, effluent after disinfection, upstream canal, and downstream canal). A significant portion (87.5 %) belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family, with Klebsiella pneumoniae as the predominant species (47.9 %). The antimicrobial sensitivity testing (AST) showed that 57.6 % of the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMX), the most prevalent antibiotic used within the studied hospital. The total resistance rate before and after treatment was 27.7 % and 28.0 %, respectively, with an overall multi-drug resistance (MDR) rate of 33.3 %. The multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) range varied between 0.0 and 0.9. The outpatient ward's three-day mean bacterial infection cases showed a significant association (Spearman's rho = 0.98) with the MARI in the sedimentation tank. Moreover, a strong correlation (Spearman's rho = 0.88) was found between hospital effluent's MARI and the seven-day mean inpatient ward case. These findings indicate that applying wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to hospital wastewater could provide valuable insights into understanding ARB contamination across human domains and water cycles. Future studies, including more comprehensive collection data on symptomatic patients and asymptomatic carriers, will be crucial in fully unravelling the complexities between human health and environmental impacts related to AMR.

Comparison of clinical efficacy and safety of baloxavir marboxil versus oseltamivir as the treatment for influenza virus infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionBaloxavir marboxil (BXM), a newly developed cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, is widely used to treat influenza virus infections in inpatients and outpatients. A previous meta-analysis included only outpatients and patients suspected of having an influenza virus infection based on clinical symptoms. However, whether BXM or oseltamivir is safer and more effective for inpatients remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis validating the effectiveness and safety of BXM versus oseltamivir in inpatients with influenza virus. MethodsThe Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, Ichushi, and CINAHL databases were systematically searched for articles published until January 2023. The outcomes were mortality, hospitalization period, incidence of BXM- or oseltamivir-related adverse events, illness duration, and changes of virus titers and viral RNA load in patients with influenza virus infections. ResultsTwo randomized controlled trials with 1624 outpatients and two retrospective studies with 874 inpatients were enrolled. No deaths occurred in outpatients treated with BXM or oseltamivir. Among inpatients, BXM reduced mortality (p = 0.06) and significantly shortened hospitalization period (p = 0.01) compared to oseltamivir. In outpatients, BXM had a significantly lower incidence of adverse events (p = 0.03), reductions in influenza virus titers (p < 0.001) and viral RNA loads (p < 0.001), and a tendency to be a shorter illness duration compared with that of oseltamivir (p = 0.27). ConclusionsOur meta-analysis showed that BXM was safer and more effective in patients than oseltamivir; thus, supporting the use of BXM for the initial treatment of patients with proven influenza virus infection.

Multiple Sclerosis, Disease-Modifying Therapies, and Infections.

The use of highly effective multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is rapidly increasing. Yet, little is known about their real-world risks of infections. The goals of this study were to assess the comparative risk of outpatient and serious infections across DMTs in a large, diverse, U.S. cohort and determine whether such risks are attributable to DMTs, having MS, or other factors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members from 2008 through 2020 with MS and non-MS controls matched on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. MS treatments, serious (those requiring hospitalization) and outpatient infections, and covariates were collected from the electronic health record. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and risk ratios (aRR) were estimated using the Cox and Poisson regression, respectively. Six thousand, six hundred and twenty-six patients with MS with 11,929 treatment episodes (2,487 rituximab, 546 natalizumab, 298 fingolimod, 4,629 interferon-beta/glatiramer acetate, IFN/GLAT, and 3,969 untreated) and 33,550 population controls were included in the analyses. The average age at treatment start ranged from 38.9 to 49.2 years, and 74% were women. Untreated (aRR = 1.39, [95% CI = 1.35-1.44]) and IFN/GLAT-treated patients with MS (aRR = 1.60, [95% CI = 1.56-1.65]) had a higher risk of outpatient infections and serious infections (aHR = 2.97, [95% CI = 2.65-3.32 and aHR = 2.31, [95% CI = 2.04-2.62], respectively) compared with controls. Rituximab (aRR = 1.19, [95% CI = 1.14-1.25]), fingolimod (aRR = 1.22, [95% CI = 1.09-1.37]), and to a lesser extent, natalizumab treatment (aRR = 1.08, [95% CI = 0.97-1.20]) were associated with an increased risk of outpatient infections compared with IFN/GLAT. Rituximab (aHR = 1.41, [95% CI = 1.09-1.84]) and natalizumab (aHR = 1.40, [95% CI = 0.96-2.04]) treatment were associated with a similar increased risk of serious infections compared with IFN/GLAT. The only treatment-specific association identified was fingolimod with outpatient herpetic infections. Higher comorbidity index, previous hospitalization for infections, and advanced disability significantly increased the risk of serious infections independent of DMTs. Hospitalization for UTI-related pseudorelapses accounted for 24%-48% of serious infections. Patients with MS have higher risks of outpatient and serious infections compared with patients without MS. The risk of outpatient infections was similarly increased by rituximab and fingolimod and serious infections by rituximab and natalizumab compared with IFN/GLAT. Steps to minimize risks include optimizing bladder care, comorbidity prevention, varicella vaccination, and considering discontinuing or avoiding DMT use in patients with advanced disability and/or previous hospitalizations for infections.

PB0062 Extracellular Vesicles as Markers of Inflammation and Hypercoagulability during the First Month of Sars-COV-2 Infection in Outpatients and Hospitalized Patients

PB0062 Extracellular Vesicles as Markers of Inflammation and Hypercoagulability during the First Month of Sars-COV-2 Infection in Outpatients and Hospitalized Patients

Daily fosfomycin versus levofloxacin for complicated urinary tract infections.

Concerns over resistance and safety have been identified in the current treatment regimen for complicated urinary tract infections. Fosfomycin is a drug that is routinely used for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis. This study shows that fosfomycin could be an oral alternative as step-down therapy for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, with a clinical cure rate comparable to levofloxacin but a lower microbiological success rate 3 weeks from start of antibiotics.

Analysis of Hand Hygiene Compliance and Official Personal Protective Equipment Compliance on the Incidence of Nosocomial Infection In Outpatient Karanganyar Regencyhospital to Support of Hospital Accreditation

Background: A nosocomial infection is an infection acquired or acquired in a hospital related to the provision of health services in health care facilities, where caregiver behavior includes hand washing, the use of protective equipment, the handling of medical equipment, the disinfection of the action site, the prevention of care and treatment, wound closure, and waste management.&#x0D; Objective: To assess officers' compliance with hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment on the incidence of nosocomial infections in outpatients at Karanganyar District Hospital in support of hospital accreditation.&#x0D; Methodology: This study uses a type of quantitative research. The sample technique used total sampling with a population of all outpatient employees at Karanganyar District Hospital.&#x0D; Result: Compliance with hand hygiene and adherence to the use of personal protective equipment by officers affected the incidence of nosocomial infections where the F count exceeded the F table (47.313 &gt; 3.10). Meanwhile, partially, handwashing compliance and compliance with the use of personal protective equipment for officers had an effect on the incidence of nosocomial infections.&#x0D; Conclusion: Compliance with hand hygiene and adherence to the use of personal protective equipmen&#x0D;

Determinants of protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and Delta infections in fully vaccinated outpatients.

We aimed to evaluate the association between the humoral and cellular immune responses and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection with Delta or Omicron BA.1 variants in fully vaccinated outpatients. Anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG levels and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release were evaluated at PCR-diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in 636 samples from negative and positive patients during Delta and Omicron BA.1 periods. Median levels of anti-RBD IgG in positive patients were significantly lower than in negative patients for both variants (p < 0.05). The frequency of Omicron BA.1 infection in patients with anti-RBD IgG concentrations ≥1000 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL was 51.0% and decreased to 34.4% in patients with concentrations ≥3000 BAU/mL. For Delta infection, the frequency of infection was significantly lower when applying the same anti-RBD IgG thresholds (13.3% and 5.3% respectively, p < 0.05). In addition, individuals in the hybrid immunity group had a 4.5 times lower risk of Delta infection compared to the homologous vaccination group (aOR = 0.22, 95% CI: [0.05-0.64]. No significant decrease in the risk of Omicron BA.1 infection was observed in the hybrid group compared to the homologous group, but the risk decreased within the hybrid group as anti-RBD IgG titers increased (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: [0.01-0.41], p = 0.008). IFN-γ release post-SARS-CoV-2 peptide stimulation was not different between samples from patients infected (either with Delta or Omicron BA.1 variant) or not (p > 0.05). Our results show that high circulating levels of anti-RBD IgG and hybrid immunity were independently associated with a lower risk of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in outpatients with differences according to the infecting variant (www.clinicaltrials.gov; ID NCT05060939).

Study on the Risk Factors of Central Venous-Related Bloodstream Infection in Outpatients

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of catheter-related bloodstream infection in outpatients and propose feasible prevention and control measures. Methods: The medical records of outpatients with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected for retrospective analysis, and the factors that may be related to the occurrence of catheter-related bloodstream infection were analyzed by logistic multivariate analysis. Results: The incidence rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection among the enrolled patients was 4.78%. It was found that age, duration of catheterization, catheter site, number of punctures, and diabetes were all risk factors for catheter-associated bloodstream infection, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: Age, duration of catheterization, catheterization site, and diabetes are all risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infection, and medical personnel should fully understand and learn more about these risk factors and actively develop countermeasures to reduce the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection.

Diagnostic and antibiotic stewardship lessons: an outpatient assessment of symptomatic reflex urinalysis ordering accuracy using an electronic best-practice alert.

It is not well known how reliably clinicians order reflex urinalysis to microscopy and culture (rUA-cx) for outpatient urinary tract infection (UTI) workup. Antibiotic appropriateness cannot be fully appreciated until the prevalence of UTIs and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) are realized. This quality improvement study has two major aims, first to determine UTI symptom accuracy for rUA-cx ordering and second, to confirm UTI and ASB cases by integrating rUA-cx and cascaded urinalysis results. Antibiotic utilization and diagnostic coding were secondarily linked to UTIs and ASB. An electronic best-practice alert informed the ordering of two rUA-cx options: symptomatic- rUA-cx specifically for dysuria, frequency, urgency, costovertebral pain, suprapubic pain or fever versus non-specific-rUA-cx for vague complaints. UTI symptoms were verified by chart review. Confirmed UTI was defined as a significant culture with UTI symptoms and ASB as a significant culture without UTI symptoms. rUA-cx (2065) were prospectively collected over 6 months from female patients at risk for uncomplicated UTIs. Symptomatic-rUA-cx and non-specific-rUA-cx were associated with UTI symptoms for 53% (809/1527) and 20% (107/538), respectively. Overall, 44% (916/2065) of all rUA-cx had UTI symptoms. rUA-cx were overordered by a factor of 9 (2065/225) for every confirmed UTI. The UTI-to-ASB relative ratio was 2.6 (225/86). Regarding UTI-relevant antibiotics, 39% (214/553) were appropriately associated with UTI whereas only 22% (74/339) of inappropriate antibiotics were captured by the ASB definition, underestimating the problem 4-fold. UTI and ASB remain challenging to categorize despite a meticulous method that applied acceptable criteria.

Risk factor analysis for urinary tract infection in outpatients at a hospital in Subang, Indonesia

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is considered an infectious disease with a high incidence rate; this is due to the individual’s lifestyle, which is a factor in the occurrence of UTI. To reduce the incidence of UTI, it can be done by knowing the risk factors that can influence the occurrence of UTI with individual awareness and practicing good habits. Purpose: to analyze the risk factors for urinary tract infection in outpatients. Methods: This research used quantitative research with a cross-sectional design that has been carried out on 89 patients who came for treatment at the Urology Polyclinic at RSUD Subang, using purposive sampling through a questionnaire on risk factors and symptoms of UTI, and then the data was analyzed using multiple linear regression tests. Results: The results of the study found that there is a relationship between age, gender, urinary retention habits, genital hygiene, and drinking habits and the incidence of UTI, with a P-value of 0.000 (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Age, gender, urinary retention habits, genital hygiene, and water drinking habits are risk factors for urinary tract infections both independently and simultaneously. Screening for UTI in outpatients, Geriatric age, female gender, urinary retention habits, bad genitourinary tract hygiene, and less water intake should be adopted.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Cities from the Southern Region of Bahia State, Brazil: Analysis of Variables Associated in Both Individual and Community Level.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), challenged public health systems worldwide. Individuals in low-income countries/regions are still at individual and community risk concerning inequality, sanitation, and economic conditions. Besides, during the pandemic, the transmission in municipalities and communities in the countryside and less developed regions kept viral spread and required structured and strengthened clinical and laboratory surveillance. Here, we present an observational, analytic, cross-sectional study conducted using secondary data from the Laboratório de Farmacogenômica e Epidemiologia Molecular (LAFEM)-Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), to evaluate individual and community factors associated to SARS-CoV-2 infection in outpatients from different cities from Southern Region of Bahia State, in Brazil. The data were collected between June 2021 and May 2022. The SARS-CoV-2 positivity by RT-qPCR was correlated with low socio-economic indicators, including the Human development index (HDIc) and Average worker salary (AWSc). Besides, in general, females were less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 0.752; CI 95% 0.663-0.853; p < 0.0001), while brown individuals had more positivity for infection (p < 0.0001). In addition, those who had clinical symptoms were more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 6.000; CI 95% 4.932-7.299; p < 0.0001). Although dry cough, headache, and fever were the most frequent, loss of taste (OR = 5.574; CI 95% 4.334-7.186) and loss of smell (OR = 6.327; CI 95% 4.899-8.144) presented higher odds ratio to be positive to SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR. Nonetheless, the distribution of these characteristics was not homogenous among the different cities, especially for age and gender. The dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 positivity differed between cities and the total population and reinforces the hypothesis that control strategies for prevention needed to be developed based on both individual and community risk levels to mitigate harm to individuals and the health system.

Blastocystis infection among diarrhea outpatients in Ningbo, Southeast China: A potential zoonotic health threat

BackgroundBlastocystis is one of the important zoonotic parasites which can infect humans and various animals worldwide and has become a growing global public health concern. The study aims to obtain the data of Blastocystis infection and the information of the genetic characteristic. MethodsIn the present study, 489 fecal samples were collected from diarrhea outpatients in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and were examined the presence of Blastocystis by polymerase chain reaction combined with sequencing. ResultsA total of 10 samples (2.04%, 10/489) were positive for Blastocystis with no significant difference among sex and age groups, respectively. Eight samples were successfully sequenced, and five zoonotic ST3 and three zoonotic ST1 with two new sequences were identified. ConclusionsWe first demonstrated the occurrence of Blastocystis infection in diarrhea outpatients in Ningbo, with two zoonotic subtypes (ST1 and ST3) and two new sequences being characterized. Meanwhile, mixed infection of Blastocystis and E. bieneusi was found which indicates the importance of investigation of multiple parasites. Finally, more extensive studies will be needed to better understand the transmission of Blastocystis at human-animal-environment interface and provide evidence for the development of one health strategies for the prevention and control of such diseases.