Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the UK: a national study (EuSCAPE-UK) on prevalence, incidence, laboratory detection methods and infection control measures.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate UK prevalence and incidence of clinically significant carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), and to determine epidemiological characteristics, laboratory methods and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in acute care facilities. METHODS: A 6 month survey was undertaken in November 2013-April 2014 in 21 sentinel UK laboratories as part of the European Survey on Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) project. Up to 10 consecutive, non-duplicate, clinically significant and carbapenem-non-susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae were submitted to a reference laboratory. Participants answered a questionnaire on relevant laboratory methods and IPC measures. RESULTS: Of 102 isolates submitted, 89 (87%) were non-susceptible to ≥1 carbapenem, and 32 (36%) were confirmed as CPE. CPE were resistant to most antibiotics, except colistin (94% susceptible), gentamicin (63%), tigecycline (56%) and amikacin (53%). The prevalence of CPE was 0.02% (95% CI = 0.01%-0.03%). The incidence of CPE was 0.007 per 1000 patient-days (95% CI = 0.005-0.010), with north-west England the most affected region at 0.033 per 1000 patient-days (95% CI = 0.012-0.072). Recommended IPC measures were not universally followed, notably screening high-risk patients on admission (applied by 86%), using a CPE 'flag' on patients' records (70%) and alerting neighbouring hospitals when transferring affected patients (only 30%). Most sites (86%) had a laboratory protocol for CPE screening, most frequently using chromogenic agar (52%) or MacConkey/CLED agars with carbapenem discs (38%). CONCLUSIONS: The UK prevalence and incidence of clinically significant CPE is currently low, but these MDR bacteria affect most UK regions. Improved IPC measures, vigilance and monitoring are required.

Predictors of death after Clostridium difficile infection: a report on 128 strain-typed cases from a teaching hospital in the United Kingdom.

We assessed the relationship between strain type, clinical factors, and outcome in 128 patients with Clostridium difficile infection. Strain type was not associated with any outcome measure. On multivariate analysis, ischemic heart disease and hypoalbuminemia predicted death. Metronidazole treatment in severe disease was associated with a higher rate of treatment failure and death.

Clinical and Microbiological Determinants of Outcome in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteraemia.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is commonly complicated by metastatic infection or relapse after treatment. Objectives. The study aim was to determine the role of bacterial, host, and management factors in development of complicated SAB. Methods. A prospectively-conducted observational study gathered data on predisposition, management and outcome of 100 consecutive SAB cases. Antibiotic susceptibilities and genetic lineage of bacterial isolates were determined. Further clinical and microbiological data were gathered on two retrospective series from 1999-2000 (n = 57) and 2004 (n = 116). Results. In the prospective cases, 27% met our definition of complicated disease. Expressed as RR and 95% CI, complicated disease was associated with diabetes (1.58, 1.00-2.48), injecting-drug use (5.48, 0.88-33.49), community-onset of symptoms (1.4, 1.02-1.92), and symptom duration >/=48 hours prior to starting effective antibiotic therapy (2.10, 1.22-3.61). Uncomplicated disease was associated with the presence of a central line (0.69, 0.55-0.88) and prompt removal of a primary focus (0.71, 0.57-0.90). Neither methicillin resistance nor genetic lineage was associated with complicated disease, but methicillin resistance was associated with higher mortality. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that clinical rather than microbial factors are the major determinants of SAB outcome and underscores the importance of early treatment.