Antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida auris strains: Analysis of clinical strains in a tertiary-care educational university hospital.

Herein, we aimed to investigate the antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida auris clinical strains in our setting Bahrain Oncology Center-King Hamad University Hospital-Bahrain. C. auris strains isolated from different clinical specimens in the Microbiology Laboratory from October-2021 to November-2022 were evaluated. Species-level identification of fungi was performed by MALDI-TOF (Bruker, Germany). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined either by E-test strips or by MICRONAUT MIC system based on CDC guidelines for C. auris antifungal interpretation. Fluconazole, amphotericin-B, voriconazole, and caspofungin susceptibility data of the clinical strains were analyzed. A total of 40 clinical isolates were included: 25% were blood culture isolates, 65% were urinary, and 10% were soft tissue isolates. Only 29 strains could be tested for amphotericin-B and 32 for voriconazole. Overall resistance pattern was as follows: 100% resistance to fluconazole, 2.5% resistance to caspofungin, and 0% resistance to amphotericin b. Median voriconazole MIC was 0.015 ug/ml (min 0.08, max= 0.064 ug/ml). We had no fluconazole-sensitive strain and only one caspofungin-resistant strain. A single isolate (2.5%), which was associated with candidemia, demonstrated resistance to two antifungal agents: fluconazole and caspofungin. No triple or quadruple drug resistant strain existed.

Infectious causes of fever of unknown origin in developing countries: An international ID-IRI study.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in developing countries is an important dilemma and further research is needed to elucidate the infectious causes of FUO. Methods: A multi-center study for infectious causes of FUO in lower middle-income countries (LMIC) and low-income countries (LIC) was conducted between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023. In total, 15 participating centers from seven different countries provided the data, which were collected through the Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative platform. Only adult patients with confirmed infection as the cause of FUO were included in the study. The severity parameters were quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) ≥2, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, vasopressor use, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results: A total of 160 patients with infectious FUO were included in the study. Overall, 148 (92.5%) patients had community-acquired infections and 12 (7.5%) had hospital-acquired infections. The most common infectious syndromes were tuberculosis (TB) (n=27, 16.9%), infective endocarditis (n=25, 15.6%), malaria (n=21, 13.1%), brucellosis (n=15, 9.4%), and typhoid fever (n=9, 5.6%). Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucellae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Rickettsiae were the leading infectious agents in this study. A total of 56 (35.0%) cases had invasive procedures for diagnosis. The mean qSOFA score was 0.76±0.94 {median (interquartile range [IQR]): 0 (0-1)}. ICU admission (n=26, 16.2%), vasopressor use (n=14, 8.8%), and IMV (n=10, 6.3%) were not rare. Overall, 38 (23.8%) patients had at least one of the severity parameters. The mortality rate was 15 (9.4%), and the mortality was attributable to the infection causing FUO in 12 (7.5%) patients. Conclusions: In LMIC and LIC, tuberculosis and cardiac infections were the most severe and the leading infections causing FUO.

Can daily bathing with 4% chlorhexidine + daily chlorhexidine wipe for 1 week be effective in decolonizing Candida auris colonization?

BACKGROUND: Herein, it is aimed to present the decolonizing rates of Candida auris colonized cases after daily bathing with 4% chlorhexidine plus daily cleaning with 4% chlorhexidine wipe for 1 week (will be mentioned as DCHX). METHODS: The study period was from October, 2021, to November, 2022. Inclusion criteria were (i) age > 18, (ii) receiving DCHX, (iii) proven C. auris carrier on auricular, or axillar or inguinal swab surveillance cultures up to 5-day period before DCHX. Cases with three consecutive negative surveillance cultures 3 days apart were considered to be decolonized. RESULTS: A total of 38 cases [14 female, aged 61.8 ± 15.5 years] fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Six (15.8%), 23 (60.1%), and 22 cases (57.8%) were postauricular, inguinal, and axillary culture positive, respectively. Only three cases (7.9%) were triple culture positive. Nine cases (23.7%) had three consequent negative surveillance cultures after DCHX and were considered to be decolonized. There was no significant difference in decolonization rates of concomitant only antibiotic receiving cohort vs. concomitant antifungal + antibiotic receiving cohort (5/16 vs. 2/8, p = 1) were decolonized similarly. Of the nine C. auris decolonized cases, two developed C. auris infection in 30 days follow-up after decolonization. However, 10 (34.5%) of 29 non-decolonized cases developed C. auris infection (p: 0.450) within 30 days after surveillance culture positivity. Over all cohorts, day 30 mortality was 23.7% (9/38). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, based on our observational and relatively small uncontrolled series, it appears that DCHX is not very effective in decolonizing C. auris carriers (especially in cases who are C. auris colonized in > 1 areas), although it is not completely ineffective.

Prospective analysis of febrile neutropenia patients with bacteraemia: the results of an international ID-IRI study.

OBJECTIVES: Bacteraemia during the course of neutropenia is often fatal. We aimed to identify factors predicting mortality to have an insight into better clinical management. METHODS: The study has a prospective, observational design using pooled data from febrile neutropenia patients with bacteraemia in 41 centres in 16 countries. Polymicrobial bacteraemias were excluded. It was performed through the Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative platform between 17 March 2021 and June 2021. Univariate analysis followed by a multivariate binary logistic regression model was used to determine independent predictors of 30-d in-hospital mortality (sensitivity, 81.2%; specificity, 65%). RESULTS: A total of 431 patients were enrolled, and 85 (19.7%) died. Haematological malignancies were detected in 361 (83.7%) patients. Escherichia coli (n = 117, 27.1%), Klebsiellae (n = 95, 22% %), Pseudomonadaceae (n = 63, 14.6%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (n = 57, 13.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 30, 7%), and Enterococci (n = 21, 4.9%) were the common pathogens. Meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam susceptibility, among the isolated pathogens, were only 66.1% and 53.6%, respectively. Pulse rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.018; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002-1.034), quick SOFA score (OR, 2.857; 95% CI, 2.120-3.851), inappropriate antimicrobial treatment (OR, 1.774; 95% CI, 1.011-3.851), Gram-negative bacteraemia (OR, 2.894; 95% CI, 1.437-5.825), bacteraemia of non-urinary origin (OR, 11.262; 95% CI, 1.368-92.720), and advancing age (OR, 1.017; 95% CI, 1.001-1.034) were independent predictors of mortality. Bacteraemia in our neutropenic patient population had distinctive characteristics. The severity of infection and the way to control it with appropriate antimicrobials, and local epidemiological data, came forward. CONCLUSIONS: Local antibiotic susceptibility profiles should be integrated into therapeutic recommendations, and infection control and prevention measures should be prioritised in this era of rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance.

Features of Mpox infection: The analysis of the data submitted to the ID-IRI network.

Background: Mpox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus. On May 21, 2022, WHO announced the emergence of confirmed Mpox cases in countries outside the endemic areas in Central and West Africa. Methods: This multicentre study was performed through the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative network. Nineteen collaborating centres in 16 countries participated in the study. Consecutive cases with positive Mpoxv-DNA results by the polymerase chain reaction test were included in the study. Results: The mean age of 647 patients included in the study was 34.5.98.6% of cases were males, 95.3% were homosexual-bisexual, and 92.2% had a history of sexual contact. History of smallpox vaccination was present in 3.4% of cases. The median incubation period was 7.0 days. The most common symptoms and signs were rashes in 99.5%, lymphadenopathy in 65.1%, and fever in 54.9%. HIV infection was present in 93.8% of cases, and 17.8% were followed up in the hospital for further treatment. In the two weeks before the rash, prodromal symptoms occurred in 52.8% of cases. The incubation period was 3.5 days shorter in HIV-infected Mpox cases with CD4 count <200/µL, we disclosed the presence of lymphadenopathy, a characteristic finding for Mpox, accompanied the disease to a lesser extent in cases with smallpox vaccination. Conclusions: Mpox disseminates globally, not just in the endemic areas. Knowledge of clinical features, disease transmission kinetics, and rapid and effective implementation of public health measures are paramount, as reflected by our findings in this study.

Classical fever of unknown origin in 21 countries with different economic development: an international ID-IRI study.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a serious challenge for physicians. The aim of the present study was to consider epidemiology and dynamics of FUO in countries with different economic development. The data of FUO patients hospitalized/followed between 1st July 2016 and 1st July 2021 were collected retrospectively and submitted from referral centers in 21 countries through ID-IRI clinical research platform. The countries were categorized into developing (low-income (LI) and lower middle-income (LMI) economies) and developed countries (upper middle-income (UMI) and high-income (HI) economies). This research included 788 patients. FUO diagnoses were as follows: infections (51.6%; n = 407), neoplasms (11.4%, n = 90), collagen vascular disorders (9.3%, n = 73), undiagnosed (20.1%, n = 158), miscellaneous diseases (7.7%, n = 60). The most common infections were tuberculosis (n = 45, 5.7%), brucellosis (n = 39, 4.9%), rickettsiosis (n = 23, 2.9%), HIV infection (n = 20, 2.5%), and typhoid fever (n = 13, 1.6%). Cardiovascular infections (n = 56, 7.1%) were the most common infectious syndromes. Only collagen vascular disorders were reported significantly more from developed countries (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.19-3.38). FUO had similar characteristics in LI/LMI and UMI/HI countries including the portion of undiagnosed cases (OR, 95% CI; 0.87 (0.65-1.15)), death attributed to FUO (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65-1.15, p-value = 0.3355), and the mean duration until diagnosis (p = 0.9663). Various aspects of FUO cannot be determined by the economic development solely. Other development indices can be considered in future analyses. Physicians in different countries should be equally prepared for FUO patients.