Oral Ciprofloxacin Research Articles

Oral quinolones versus intravenous β-lactam for the treatment of acute focal bacterial nephritis: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundEvidence regarding the best antibiotic regimen and the route of administration to treat acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is scarce. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) β-lactam antibiotics versus oral quinolones.MethodsThis is a retrospective single centre study of patients diagnosed with AFBN between January 2017 and December 2018 in Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona (Spain). Patients were identified from the diagnostic codifications database. Patients treated with oral quinolones were compared with those treated with IV β-lactam antibiotics. Therapeutic failure was defined as death, relapse, or evolution to abscess within the first 30 days.ResultsA total of 264 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of those, 103 patients (39%) received oral ciprofloxacin, and 70 (26.5%) IV β-lactam. The most common isolated microorganism was Escherichia coli (149, 73.8%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (26, 12.9%). Mean duration of treatment was 21.3 days (SD 7.9). There were no statistical differences regarding therapeutic failure between oral quinolones and IV β-lactam treatment (6.6% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.6). Out of the 66 patients treated with intravenous antibiotics, 4 (6.1%) experienced an episode of phlebitis and 1 patient (1.5%) an episode of catheter-related bacteraemia.ConclusionsWhen susceptible, treatment of AFBN with oral quinolones is as effective as IV β-lactam treatment with fewer adverse events.

A phase ib clinical trial of oral ciprofloxacin and etoposide in subjects with resistant acute myeloid leukemia

A phase 1b study was conducted to evaluate the safety and feasibility of ciprofloxacin and etoposide combination treatment in subjects with relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Eleven subjects were enrolled in the study. Utilizing the standard ‘3 + 3’ design, escalating ciprofloxacin doses (750 mg, 1000 mg) twice daily on D1-D10 in combination with a fixed dose (200 mg) of etoposide on D2-D8 were administered. Maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 1000 mg of ciprofloxacin in combination with 200 mg of etoposide. Serious adverse events occurred in 54.5% (n = 6) subjects and 91% (n = 10) subjects reported ≥ grade 3 toxicities. Nine subjects completed treatment, one had a dose-limiting toxicity, and one withdrew. One subject achieved complete remission with a duration of 111 days and one subject achieved morphologic leukemia-free state after cycle 1. While the combination demonstrated safety and an acceptable toxicity profile, only modest hematologic and clinical benefits were observed. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02773732.

A rare cause of malignant otitis externa and skull base osteomyelitis.

An elderly male with type 2 diabetes presented with a 2-month history of otalgia and severe headaches. He was diagnosed with malignant otitis externa (MOE) and was commenced on empirical treatment with oral ciprofloxacin. Pseudomonas is the most common cause of MOE. A baseline CT scan was undertaken that demonstrated skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) due to findings of bone erosion at the mastoid tip and an infiltrating soft tissue mass eroding the clivus. Eight weeks later, he returned with worsening and bilateral symptoms of otitis externa, hearing loss, temporomandibular pain and dysfunction. Worsening and now bilateral malignant otitis externa were confirmed with an MRI scan that also demonstrated a small fluid collection in his left temporal region. The collection was aspirated and grew scedosporium apiospermum. He was diagnosed with fungal SBO and was commenced on treatment with the antifungal voriconazole, with significant improvement in symptoms and radiological findings. Fungal osteomyelitis is more likely in immunosuppressed patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Fungal aetiology should be suspected in patients with progressive symptoms, despite treatment. A microbiology diagnosis of fungal SBO or MOE can be challenging to obtain and can lead to diagnostic delay. A sampling of the external auditory canal can aid in diagnosing MOE; however, scedosporium may also be isolated as a commensal organism. Aspirations from accessible fluid collections, infratemporal fossa needle sample and bone biopsy can provide material for diagnosis. Scedosporium is a rare cause of disease in humans, however, fungal infections are increasing in humans, due to an increase in susceptible populations. Scedosporium apiospermum is a rare cause of SBO and should be considered in patients not responding to standard treatment.

A retrospective review of gram-negative spinal infections in a single tertiary spinal centre over six years.

Gram-negative infections are associated with comorbid patients, but outcomes are less well understood. This study reviewed diagnosis, management, and treatment for a cohort treated in a tertiary spinal centre. A retrospective review was performed of all gram-negative spinal infections (n = 32; median age 71 years; interquartile range 60 to 78), excluding surgical site infections, at a single centre between 2015 to 2020 with two- to six-year follow-up. Information regarding organism identification, antibiotic regime, and treatment outcomes (including clinical, radiological, and biochemical) were collected from clinical notes. All patients had comorbidities and/or non-spinal procedures within the previous year. Most infections affected lumbar segments (20/32), with Escherichia coli the commonest organism (17/32). Causative organisms were identified by blood culture (23/32), biopsy/aspiration (7/32), or intraoperative samples (2/32). There were 56 different antibiotic regimes, with oral (PO) ciprofloxacin being the most prevalent (13/56; 17.6%). Multilevel, contiguous infections were common (8/32; 25%), usually resulting in bone destruction and collapse. Epidural collections were seen in 13/32 (40.6%). In total, five patients required surgery, three for neurological deterioration. Overall, 24 patients improved or recovered with a mean halving of CRP at 8.5 days (SD 6). At the time of review (two to six years post-diagnosis), 16 patients (50%) were deceased. This is the largest published cohort of gram-negative spinal infections. In older patients with comorbidities and/or previous interventions in the last year, a high level of suspicion must be given to gram-negative infection with blood cultures and biopsy essential. Early organism identification permits targeted treatment and good initial clinical outcomes; however, mortality is 50% in this cohort at a mean of 4.2 years (2 to 6) after diagnosis.

Thoracic manifestations of tularaemia: a case series.

Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a highly virulent bacterium that affects humans and small wild animals. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or indirectly through contaminated soil, water or arthropod bites (e.g. ticks). Primary thoracic manifestations of tularaemia are infrequent and, therefore, a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We report six tularaemia cases with exclusively thoracic involvement diagnosed in a clinic for pulmonary diseases in Bavaria between 10/2020 and 02/2022. All patients lived or were active in rural areas, four reported a recent tick bite. All patients presented with thoracic lymphadenopathy and pulmonary tumours or consolidations; all underwent bronchoscopy with EBUS-TBNA of lymph nodes, three lung biopsies as well. Five patients showed inflammatory changes in the endobronchial mucosa. The main histological findings were necrotic epithelioid granulomas with remarkable granulocyte infiltration. All cases were identified by positive serology, five by PCR (here identification of F.t. ssp. Holarctica) from biopsy as well. As first-line therapy, oral ciprofloxacin was given (5/6); in 2/6 cases, a combination of quinolone-rifampicin was given. Pulmonary tularaemia may occur after tick bites and without extrathoracic manifestations. In patients who present with thoracic lymphadenopathy and pulmonary consolidations and who are exposed to increased outdoor activities, tularaemia should be included in the diagnostic pathway. Histologically, the presence of neutrophil-granulocyte infiltrations might help to distinguish tularaemia from other granulomatous infections, e.g. tuberculosis. The combination of quinolone-rifampicin rather than i.v. gentamicin reduced length of hospital stay in two patients.

Rahnella Aquatilis Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Injection in an Immunocompetent Patient.

To present a novel case of exogenous Rahnella aquatilis endophthalmitis following an intravitreal injection. Case report. A 74-year-old male presented with acute progressive vision loss and pain in the left eye, 5 days after an intravitreal injection for diabetic macular edema. The patient was diagnosed with exogenous endophthalmitis and empirically treated with intravitreal injections of vancomycin and ceftazidime as well as topical and oral ciprofloxacin. In follow up two days later, the patient was treated with preoperative povidone-iodine followed by prompt vitrectomy with additional vancomycin and ceftazidime due to pharmacy sterile hood issues that delayed antibiotic availability. Microbiological cultures and two mass spectrometry identification tests confirmed the diagnosis of exogenous Rahnella aquatilis endophthalmitis. Despite the presence of scattered retinal hemorrhagic infarcts involving the macula and subsequent full-thickness atrophic macular holes seen in follow up, the patient achieved a favorable anatomical and functional outcome of BCVA 20/80 at 1 year of follow-up. This case highlights the occurrence of exogenous Rahnella aquatilis endophthalmitis following an intravitreal injection for diabetic macular edema. Prompt diagnosis and treatment produced a favorable outcome relative to other typical Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae organisms.

Cholangitis with bacteremia due to Pseudomonas nitroreducens in a patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a case report

BackgroundPseudomonas nitroreducens is a non-fermenting, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium commonly inhabiting soil, particularly soil contaminated with oil brine. To our knowledge, no cases of human infection with P. nitroreducens have been previously reported. Here, we present the first documented case of cholangitis caused by P. nitroreducens in a patient with bacteremia.Case presentationA 46-year-old Japanese man with an advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor was hospitalized with fever and chills. Four days before admission, the patient developed right upper abdominal pain. Two days later, he also experienced fever and chills. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed on the day of admission, and the patient was diagnosed as having cholangitis associated with stent dysfunction. Gram-negative rods were isolated from blood cultures, but attempts to identify the bacteria using VITEK2 and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with VITEK MS ver. 4.7.1 (bioMérieux Japan Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) were unsuccessful. Finally, the organism was identified as P. nitroreducens using MALDI-TOF MS with a MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics Co., Ltd., Billerica, MA, USA) and 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Despite thorough interviews with the patient, he denied any exposure to contaminated soil. The patient was treated with intravenous cefepime and oral ciprofloxacin for 16 days based on susceptibility results, achieving a good therapeutic outcome. At the outpatient follow-up on day 28, the patient was in good general condition.ConclusionsThis is the first reported human case of cholangitis with bloodstream infection caused by P. nitroreducens. This report provides clinicians with novel insights into the clinical manifestations and diagnostic methods necessary for the accurate diagnosis of P. nitroreducens, along with guidance on treatment.

P900 A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT, PLACEBO-RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TARGETING ADHERENT AND INVASIVE ESCHERICHIA COLI (AIEC) WITH ANTIBIOTICS IN CROHN’S DISEASE: the TEOREM TRIAL

Abstract Background Adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) are found in the ileal mucosa of 21-63% of patients with ileal Crohn’s disease (CD) vs 0-16% of controls. This trial tested the efficacy of antibiotics targeting AIEC in CD patients with ileal involvement, colonized by AIEC. Methods Eligible patients had endoscopically active (CDEIS ≥8) ileal or ileocolonic CD and either a clinically inactive, or mild to moderately active disease that responded to budesonide or prednisolone. AIEC search was performed on ileal biopsies, by phenotypical assays. The primary endpoint was the endoscopic overall response at week 12, defined as segmental response in at least 1 segment, and < 20% increase of CDEIS in other segments. Segmental response was defined by decrease ≥ 50% of surface of ulcerations, or loss of deep ulcerations (if any). Secondary endpoints were ΔCDEIS ≥ 50% in at least 1 segment with CDEIS ≥ 8 at baseline, and remission (CDEIS < 6 in all segments). Endoscopic endpoints were assessed by a central, anonymous and blinded scoring of video recordings of colonoscopies at preinclusion and week 12. Patients were randomized 1/1 between oral Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid + Rifaximin 800 mg bid and double placebo for 12 weeks. In this subgroup of patients selected for AIEC colonization, we were in search of a strong signal of efficacy. We hypothesized that 60% of patients in the experimental arm and 25% of those in the placebo arm would reach the primary endpoint. 31 patients in each arm were planned to demonstrate such a difference. Results Between May 2016 and June 2021, 155 patients were screened, of whom 91; 27 were AIEC positive and 24 patients (12 in each arm) were randomized in 10 centres. 17 patients had a clinically active disease. All AIEC strains of randomized patients were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and rifaximin. Clinical and endoscopic characteristics were similar in the 2 arms. 2 patients did not have colonoscopy at week 12 (1 tendinitis and 1 had no colonoscopy during the COVID pandemic). 7/10 patients cleared AIEC at week 12 in the experimental arm, vs 6/12 in the placebo arm. The 3 patients who received antibiotics and remained AIEC+ after antibiotics acquired resistance to ciprofloxacine. Results are displayed in the table. There was no association between AIEC clearance and endoscopic endpoints. A Bayesian, post hoc analysis showed that the probability to obtain a 35% difference in the primary endpoint between the two arms of the trial was of 25%. Conclusion Antibiotics were not statistically superior to placebo to achieve endoscopic response and remission in patients with ileal CD colonized with AIEC. There was no association between AIEC clearance and endoscopic endpoints. Differences were numerically in favour of antibiotics.

A phase 4 multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of tobramycin inhalation solution for Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication in bronchiectasis: ERASE.

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in bronchiectasis patients. Initiating antibiotics early may lead to the eradication of PA. Here we outline the design of a trial (ERASE; NCT06093191) assessing the efficacy and safety of inhaled tobramycin, alone or with oral ciprofloxacin, in bronchiectasis patients with a new isolation of PA. This multicentre, 2×2 factorial randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial includes a 2-week screening period, a 12-week treatment phase (with a combination of ciprofloxacin or a placebo at initial 2 weeks) and a 24-week follow-up. 364 adults with bronchiectasis and a new PA isolation will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: placebo (inhaled saline and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily), ciprofloxacin alone (750 mg ciprofloxacin and inhaled saline twice daily), inhaled tobramycin alone (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and ciprofloxacin placebo twice daily) or a combination of both drugs (inhaled 300 mg tobramycin and 750 mg ciprofloxacin twice daily). The primary objective of this study is to assess the proportion of patients successfully eradicating PA in each group by the end of the study. Efficacy will be evaluated based on the eradication rate of PA at other time points (12, 24 and 36 weeks), the occurrence of exacerbations and hospitalisations, time to first pulmonary exacerbations, patient-reported outcomes, symptom measures, pulmonary function tests and the cost of hospitalisations. To date no randomised trial has evaluated the benefit of different PA eradication strategies in bronchiectasis patients. The ERASE trial will therefore generate crucial data to inform future clinical guidelines.

Complication rates of ciprofloxacin alone vs. ciprofloxacin plus fosfomycin for transrectal prostate biopsy.

Infectious complications after transrectal prostate biopsy have been increasing, driven in large part, by rates of antibiotic resistance to conventional prophylaxis, such as ciprofloxacin. This study was designed to compare conventional antibiotic prophylaxis (oral ciprofloxacin) with ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin combination therapy prior to biopsy. This was a retrospective study looking at men between September 2021 and April 2023, who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy at several institutions in Alberta. The primary outcome was infectious complications within 30 days of prostate biopsy. Secondary outcomes included Clostridium difficile infections, urinary retention, gross hematuria, diarrhea, emergency room (ER ) visits, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Data was collected on resistance patterns and pathogens isolated in culture. During the study period, 2168 men underwent transrectal prostate biopsy. A total of 1216 men received ciprofloxacin alone and 877 received fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin. Infectious complications were significantly higher in the ciprofloxacin alone group (5.8% vs. 0.5%, p<0.0001). Thirty-day complications (7.2% vs. 2.1%, p<0.0001), 30-day ER visits (7.1% vs. 1.8%, p<0.0001), and 30-day hospitalizations (2.7% vs. 0.7%, p<0.001) were all higher in the ciprofloxacin alone group. The most isolated pathogen was E. coli in 54/60 (90%). Ciprofloxacin resistance in the isolated pathogens was high, with 52/60 (87%) showing resistance to ciprofloxacin and 51/54 (94%) E. coli strains resistant. No difference was seen in retention, C. difficile infections, bleeding, or diarrhea. The addition of fosfomycin for antibiotic prophylaxis prior to transrectal prostate biopsy was associated with significant improvement in infectious complications and healthcare utilization.

Antimicrobial stewardship in private pharmacies in Wakiso district, Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundPrivate pharmacies are the first point of contact for the public regarding acquisition of medicines and other pharmaceuticals in many low- and middle-income countries including Uganda. Most antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes in Uganda have targeted pharmacies in public health facilities, with little known about private pharmacies. This study explored knowledge and practices related to AMS in private pharmacies in Wakiso district, central Uganda.MethodsThis was a qualitative study that involved 31 in-depth interviews to explore AMS among retail private pharmacy staff including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians/dispensers, and nurses. Participants were asked about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and AMS practices at their pharmacy. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and imported to NVivo 2020 (QSR International) for thematic analysis.ResultsFive major themes emerged from the study: commonly sold antimicrobials; knowledge on AMR and AMS; potential contributors to AMR; practices related to AMS; and challenges to AMS. The commonly sold antimicrobials in the pharmacies with or without prescriptions were oral azithromycin, Ampiclox® (ampicillin and cloxacillin), amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, Septrin® (co-trimoxazole), metronidazole, Flucamox® (amoxicillin and flucloxacillin), Augmentin® (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), cephalexin, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol. Participants had heard about AMR but not AMS, although only a few correctly defined AMR. Lack of knowledge among health workers and local communities; the overuse, misuse, and abuse of antimicrobials such as non-adherence to dosage; self-medication; and purchase of drugs without prescription were identified as potential accelerators to the emergence of AMR. Current practices related to AMS in private pharmacies were limited to meetings, antimicrobial dispensing, providing client advice, record keeping, and monitoring of drugs. Cost of healthcare, client satisfaction and retention, outdated guidelines, and the business orientation of pharmacies were the main challenges related to AMS.ConclusionThere was poor knowledge of AMR and AMS, and limited AMS practices in private pharmacies. Private pharmacies have the potential to contribute to Uganda’s fight against AMR if motivated and equipped with adequate knowledge to enhance their practices related to AMS.

FOVOCIP study: a multicenter randomized trial of fosfomycin versus ciprofloxacin for febrile neutropenia in hematologic patients—efficacy and microbiologic safety

BackgroundMultidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial (MRGNB) infections represent a major public health threat. Cancer patients and, among them, hematological patients are most vulnerable to these infections. Gut colonization by MRGNB is a common phenomenon occurring during hospitalization and chemotherapy exposure. In the neutropenic phase that occurs after chemotherapy, MRGNB translocation occurs increasing patient’s mortality. Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin efficacy is now being questioned due to the increase of incidence in MRGNB.MethodsA phase III randomized, controlled, clinical trial, open-label parallel-group with a 1:1 ratio, aimed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of oral fosfomycin versus oral ciprofloxacin for febrile neutropenia prevention in patients with acute leukemia (AL) or hematopoietic cell transplant (HSC) receptors. Weekly surveillance cultures are planned to detect gut colonization. Changes in fecal microbiome at the beginning and end of prophylaxis will also be analyzed.DiscussionThis trial will provide evidence of the efficacy of an alternative drug to ciprofloxacin for febrile neutropenia prevention in high-risk hematological patients. The battery of planned microbiological studies will allow us to evaluate prospectively the microbiological safety of both pharmacological strategies in terms of the selection of MRGNB occurring in each arm. In addition, valuable information on the way in which each drug changes the fecal microbiome of the patients throughout the treatment will be generated.Trial registrationClinical trials NCT05311254, Registered on 5 April 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05311254?term=FOVOCIP&cntry=ES&draw=2&rank=1. Protocol version: 3.0, dated 20 May 2022.

Pivmecillinam with Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid as step down oral therapy in febrile Urinary Tract Infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (PACUTI)

BackgroundOral treatment alternatives for febrile urinary tract infections are limited in the era of increasing antimicrobial resistance. We aim to evaluate if the combination of pivmecillinam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is non-inferior to current alternatives for step-down therapy in adult patients with febrile urinary tract infection.MethodsWe plan to perform an investigator-initiated non-inferiority trial. Adult hospitalised patients treated with 1–5 days of intravenous antibiotics for acute febrile urinary tract infection caused by extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacterales will be randomised 1:1 to either control (7–10 days of either oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily or oral trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole 800 mg/160 mg twice daily or intravenous ertapenem 1 g once daily, depending on sex, drug allergy, glomerular filtration rate and susceptibility testing) or intervention (10 days of pivmecillinam 400 mg three times daily and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 500/125 mg three times daily). The primary outcome will be clinical cure 10 days (+/− 2 days) after antibiotic treatment completion. Clinical cure is defined as being alive with absence of fever and return to non-infected baseline of urinary tract symptoms without additional antibiotic treatment or re-hospitalisation (for urinary tract infection) based on a centralised allocation-blinded structured telephone interview. We plan to recruit 330 patients to achieve 90% power based on a sample size simulation analysis using a two-group comparison, one-sided alpha of 2.5%, an absolute non-inferiority margin of 10% and expecting 93% clinical cure rate and 10% loss to follow-up. The primary endpoint will be analysed using generalised estimated equations and reported as risk difference for both intention-to-treat and per protocol populations. Patients are planned to be recruited from at least 10 centres in Sweden from 2023 to 2026.DiscussionIf the combination of pivmecillinam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is found to be non-inferior to the control drugs there are potential benefits in terms of tolerability, frequency of interactions, outpatient treatment, side effects, nosocomial infections and drive for further antimicrobial resistance compared to existing drugs.Trial registrationNCT05224401. Registered on February 4, 2022

Chronic or recurrent Campylobacter enteritis in primary immunodeficiency: a UK national case-series and review of the literature.

Chronic or recurrent Campylobacter enteritis in primary immunodeficiency: a UK national case-series and review of the literature.

943 An Audit of the Management of Necrotizing Otitis Externa Within Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

Abstract Aim To improve recognition and management of necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) early to prevent disease progression and reduce hospital admissions/length of stay. Method A retrospective audit of patients who were treated for NOE during an inpatient admission to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital between 1st December 2020 and 1st June 2022. Results A total of 15 cases were identified where symptoms were not attributable to an alternative diagnosis. Lab results, inpatient and clinic attendances were analysed to identify areas of improvement in terms of investigations and management. The mean number of presentations before admission was 2.3. At admission 66% of patients had a swab taken and 7% of patients had imaging. Systemic antibiotics were prescribed in 20% of patients before admission. IV antibiotics were started within 24 hours in all patients admitted. Microbiology consults were sent within 6 days in 93% of cases. The mean duration of IV antibiotics was 13 days, and the mean inpatient stay was 19 days. Conclusions The incidence of NOE is increasing in the UK, yet there is limited guidance and consensus on diagnosis and management. Some advice is provided by ENT UK, who suggest outpatient recognition might be improved by ensuring swabs and imaging are completed to reduce hospital admissions. In lower risk cases, starting oral ciprofloxacin may then aid with management. On admission investigations and management are being promptly started; however, an area for improvement could be the potential introduction of long lines for outpatient IV antibiotic therapy to reduce the length of hospital stays.

Effectiveness of topical vs. combination ciprofloxacin for the treatment of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

BACKGROUND &amp; OBJECTIVE: Topical antibiotics are a popular choice for treating chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), but there is no consensus on their penetration ability in the middle ear, mastoid cavities, and effectiveness against the causative pathogens. Hence, the present study aimed to compare the efficacy of empirical treatment of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) with topical ciprofloxacin alone and in combination with oral ciprofloxacin.&#x0D; METHODOLOGY: In this prospective study, 98 consecutive patients presented with diagnosed CSOM of tubotympanic type were recruited from the ENT Department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital. The enrolled patients were randomly subjected to the treatment groups (49 in each group), i.e., topical ciprofloxacin drops alone or oral and topical ciprofloxacin in combination; the therapy continued for 1 week. After 7 days of treatment, patients were assessed to observe the resolution of discharge and adverse effects of the drugs.&#x0D; RESULTS: It was observed that 95.9% of the patients had complete resolution of discharge after 7 days of treatment; the outcomes were comparable in both treatment groups (p=1.00). There was no statistically significant difference between the patients of both treatment groups concerning gender, age, and discharge duration (p&gt;0.05). There were minimal side effects but apparently, they were more frequent among group B patients than in group A.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: It is concluded from the study that topical ciprofloxacin alone is as efficacious as oral and topical combination therapy for the treatment of CSOM.

Safety of Antibiotic Irrigations for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Patients with Identical Drug Allergies or Adverse Reactions: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The use of topical antibiotics in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis (AECRS) represents a viable option prior to initiation of parenteral antibiotics when no oral antibiotic alternatives are available due to patient allergy or adverse reactions. The main objectives of this pilot study were to determine the safety and efficacy of antibiotic irrigations in the treatment of AECRS in patients with documented adverse reactions to the oral form of the drug. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients diagnosed with AECRS treated with antibiotic irrigations. Inclusion criteria included a documented allergy or adverse event to the systemic form of the same antibiotic. Patient demographics, medical history, prior sinus surgery, nasal endoscopy findings, and microbiology results were obtained. Side effects to the antibiotic irrigations were recorded. Results: Six patients met the inclusion criteria resulting in 7 treated cases of AECRS. Four patients with adverse effects to oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) received TMP/SMZ irrigations, and 1 patient with an adverse reaction to oral ciprofloxacin was treated with ciprofloxacin irrigations. One patient with adverse effects to both oral TMP/SMZ and levofloxacin was treated with TMP/SMZ and levofloxacin irrigations, respectively during 2 separate AECRS episodes. Following treatment, 1 case (14.3%) resulted in complete resolution of infection, 1 (14.3%) had partial improvement, and 5 (71.4%) had minimal to no endoscopic improvement at the subsequent clinic visit. There were no adverse reactions to antibiotic irrigations among the entire cohort. Conclusions: Currently, no prior study has examined whether adverse reactions to a systemic antibiotic also occur when the medication is delivered topically via sinonasal irrigations. Our findings suggest that topical administration of antibiotics may be a safe alternative for patients with adverse effects to the systemic form.

Role of Prophylactic Oral Antibiotics in the Prevention of Post-cataract Surgery Acute Infective Endophthalmitis.

Purpose To evaluate the role of perioperative oral antibiotics in the prevention of acute infective endophthalmitis (IE) after cataract surgery. Methods A prospective cohort study of patients older than 18 years of age undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification was conducted. Group A was given post-op oral ciprofloxacin for three days, whereas Group B was not. Both groups received 5% povidone-iodine (PVI) preparation for five minutes in the conjunctival cul-de-sac, and intracameral (IC) 0.5% moxifloxacin was administered at the end of the procedure as prophylaxis. The minimum post-opfollow-up period was six weeks. Results Out of 2161 patients, 859 (39.8%) were included in Group A, and 1302 (60.2%) were included in Group B. No significant difference in anterior chamber (AC) reaction was found on day 1 (p = 0.67), day 14 (p = 0.03), or day 45(p = 0.1). One patient developed acute post-op IE (0.04%)and two patients developed toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) from Group A. The non-oral antibiotic group had no serious complications. Conclusion Perioperative oral antibiotic use in routine clinical practice is not recommended for the prevention of acute post-op IE. Pre-op conjunctival PVI 5% for five minutes and IC moxifloxacin at the end of surgery were proven to be effective prophylactic measures in our study.

Early switch to oral antibiotic therapy in patients with low-risk neutropenic sepsis (EASI-SWITCH): a randomized non-inferiority trial

ObjectivesTo determine whether early switch to oral antibiotic treatment in adults with neutropenic sepsis at low risk of complications is non-inferior to switching later. MethodsThis non-inferiority, parallel-group, randomized, open-label clinical trial enrolled UK adults hospitalized with neutropenic sepsis. Participants were randomly assigned to either switch to oral ciprofloxacin plus co-amoxiclav within 12–24 hours or to continue intravenous treatment for at least 48 hours. The primary outcome was a composite measure of treatment failure, 14 days after randomization. The non-inferiority margin was 15%. ResultsThere were 129 participants from 16 centres and 125 were assessed for the primary outcome. Of these, 113 patients completed protocolized treatment and comprised the per-protocol population. In total, 9 (14.1%) of 64 patients in the standard care arm met the primary end point, compared with 15 (24.6%) of 61 in the early switch arm, giving a risk difference of 10.5% (1-sided 95% CI, −∞% to 22%; p 0.14). In the per-protocol population, 8 (13.3%) of the 60 patients in the standard care arm met the primary end point, compared with 9 (17%) of 53 in the intervention arm giving a risk difference of 3.7% (one-sided 95% CI, −∞% to 14.8%; p 0.59). Duration of hospital stay was shorter in the intervention arm (median 2 [inter-quartile range (IQR) 2–3] vs. 3 days [IQR 2–4]; p 0.002). DiscussionAlthough non-inferiority of early oral switch was found in the per-protocol population, the intervention was not non-inferior in the intent-to-treat population.

Current Trends in the Management of Port-Site Infections: A Case Series and a Review of Published Work.

Introduction Laparoscopic techniques have become standard for many surgeries, offering benefits such as quicker recovery and less pain. However, port-site infections (PSIs) can occur and pose challenges. PSIs can be early (within seven days) or delayed (after three to four weeks), with delayed PSIs often caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs). NTMs are difficult to treat and do not respond well to antibiotics, leading to prolonged and recurrent infections. Guidelines for PSI management are limited. This summary highlights a case series of 10 patients with PSIs, discussing their treatment experience and presenting a treatment algorithm used at our institute. Methods This is a retrospective study (2015-2020) on chronic port-site infections (PSIs) in laparoscopic surgeries. Data were collected on patient demographics, surgery type, prior treatment, and management at the institute. Results The study analyzed 10 patients with chronic PSIs following laparoscopic surgery between 2015 and 2020. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was the most frequent index surgery. Three patients had a history of treatment with varying durations of anti-tubercular therapy, one of whom had completed anti-tubercular treatment prior to presentation. Complete surgical excision with histopathological examination and fungal, bacterial and mycobacterial cultures were performed. Seven of the 10 patients were treated with oral ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin combination therapy for three months, two were treated with culture-based antibiotics and one was treated with anti-tubercular therapy. All patients improved on treatment.Themean follow-up period was52 ± 9.65 months, with no relapses being reported. Conclusion Port-site infections (PSIs) are troublesome complications of laparoscopic surgery that can erode the benefits of the procedure. Delayed PSIs caused by drug-resistant mycobacteria are difficult to treat. Improved sterilization methods and thorough microbiological work-up are crucial. Radical excision and prolonged oral antibiotics are effective treatments. Clinicians should avoid empirical antibiotic therapy to prevent antimicrobial resistance.