Clinicopathologic Spectrum and Outcomes of Infections Diagnosed on Graft Biopsies and Nephrectomy in Live Renal Allograft Recipients: An Institutional Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Modern immunosuppressive regimens have reduced rejection episodes in renal allograft recipients but have increased the risk of opportunistic infections. Infections are considered to be the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular complications in renal allograft recipients. Data on opportunistic infections affecting the allograft itself are scarce. The present study describes the spectrum of renal opportunistic infections and their outcomes diagnosed on renal allograft biopsies and nephrectomy specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective observational study was conducted from December 2011 to December 2021. We analyzed infectious episodes diagnosed on renal allograft biopsies or graft nephrectomy specimens. We obtained clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory details for analyses from hospital records. RESULTS: BK virus nephropathy was the most common opportunistic infection affecting the allograft, accounting for 47% of cases, followed by bacterial graft pyelonephritis (25%). Mucormycosis was the most common fungal infection. The diagnosis of infection from day of transplant ranged from 14 days to 39 months. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 10 years. Mortality was highest among patients with opportunistic fungal infection (62%), followed by viral infections, and graft failure rate was highest in patients with graft pyelonephritis (50%). Among patients with BK polyomavirus nephropathy, 45% had stable graft function compared with just 33% of patients with bacterial graft pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: BK polyoma virus infection was the most common infection affecting the renal allograft in our study. Although fungal infections caused the highest mortality among our patients, bacterial graft pyelonephritis was responsible for maximum graft failure. Correctly identifying infections on histology is important so that graft and patient life can be prolonged.

Prognostic scoring system and risk stratification in patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis: an 11-year prospective study at a tertiary referral centre.

OBJECTIVES: To define pre-morbid, clinical, laboratory, and imaging features and identify prognostic factors associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) and develop a prognostic scoring system for improving management outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2019, we performed a prospective study of all patients with a suspected diagnosis of EPN referred to a specialist tertiary centre in South India. All patients who underwent non-contrast computed tomography of the abdomen and those diagnosed with EPN were included in this study. Demographic parameters, imaging, haematological and microbiology results were recorded. Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, patients who survived without any intervention; Group 2, those who survived with surgical intervention; and Group 3, those who died with or without intervention. A prognostic scoring system was developed from 18 different parameters and risk stratification was developed. The scores were correlated with overall prognosis. RESULTS: Data from 131 patients with EPN enrolled in the study were analysed: Group 1 (n = 22), Group 2 (n = 102) and Group 3 (n = 7). By using univariate analysis, 10 factors were identified to be significantly associated with prognosis. Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity. Shock at initial admission indicated a poor prognosis and warranted immediate attention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A multi-disciplinary approach, a high index of clinical suspicion, an early diagnosis and administration of culture-specific antibiotics with identification of prognostic indicators and risk stratification, allows prompt and appropriate medical and surgical treatments that could improve EPN management outcomes.

Delayed Decompression of Obstructing Stones with Urinary Tract Infection is Associated with Increased Odds of Death.

PURPOSE: Obstructive pyelonephritis is considered a urological emergency but there is limited evidence regarding the importance of prompt decompression. We sought to investigate whether delay in decompression is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Secondarily, we aimed to determine the impact of patient, hospital and disease factors on the likelihood of receipt of delayed vs prompt decompression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2015, all patients 18 years old or older with ICD-9 diagnosis of urinary tract infection who had either a ureteral stone or kidney stone with hydronephrosis (311,100) were identified. Two weighted sample multivariable logistic regression models assessed predictors of the primary outcome of death in the hospital and secondly, predictors of delayed decompression (2 or more days after admission). RESULTS: After controlling for patient demographics, comorbidity and disease severity, delayed decompression significantly increased odds of death by 29% (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.63, p=0.032). Delayed decompression was more likely to occur with weekend admissions (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15-1.30, p <0.001), nonwhite race (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.25-1.44, p <0.001) and lower income demographic (lowest income quartile OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14-1.36, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While the overall risk of mortality is fairly low in patients with obstructing upper urinary tract stones and urinary tract infection, a delay in decompression increased odds of mortality by 29%. The increased likelihood of delay associated with weekend admissions, minority patients and lower socioeconomic status suggests opportunities for improvement.

Diabetes mellitus increases mortality in acute pyelonephritis patients: a population study based on the National Health Insurance Claim Data of South Korea for 2010-2014.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus has been suspected to increase mortality in acute pyelonephritis (APN) patients and the goal of this study is to verify this suspicion with a large data set based on almost the entire population of South Korea. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted using a South Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claim database. We collected demographic and clinical information including comorbidities of patients with APN as the primary discharge diagnosis during 2010-2014. Then we compared the in-hospital mortality and recurrence of APN across the diabetes and non-diabetes groups. RESULTS: Among 845,656 APN patients, 12.4% had diabetes mellitus. The median age was 65 in the diabetes group, which was much higher than 47 in the non-diabetes group; the female proportion was 91-92% in both groups. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in the diabetes group (2.6/1000 events in the diabetes group vs. 0.3/1000 in the non-diabetes group, P < 0.001). When covariates (age, sex, and the modified Charlson comorbidity index) were controlled with panel logistic regression, diabetes was still associated with a higher in-hospital mortality in APN patients (OR 2.66, 95% CI 2.19-3.23). The increasing effect of diabetes on in-hospital mortality of APN patients varied greatly with age: the effect was large for age 15-49 (OR 15.06, 95% CI 5.27-43.05), slightly smaller for age 50-64 (OR 12.17, 95% CI 5.71-25.92), and much smaller for age ≥ 65 (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.72-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the mortality of APN is higher in the patients with diabetes and this effect becomes stronger for young patients.

Staphylococcus Aureus Osteomyelitis as an Inducer of Tolerance to Escherichia Coli Pyelonephritis: an Experimental Study.

The high incidence of osteomyelitis in vulnerable populations like those with multiple injuries or elderly undergoing joint arthroplasties generates the question what may be their responses to subsequent infection by high virulent isolates. Rabbits were subject to two operations at three week intervals; sham osteomyelitis and sham pyelonephritis (group S); sham osteomyelitis and Escherichia coli pyelonephritis (group P); and Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis and E. coli pyelonephritis (group OP). Survival was recorded; cytokine stimulation of circulating mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and bacterial growth were monitored. In some experiments, dalbavancin treatment was given before pyelonephritis. Healthy PBMCs were pre-treated with bone homogenate, S. aureus or both. Mortality of groups S, P and OP after induction of pyelonephritis was 0%, 50% and 8.3% respectively. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production by PBMCs was significantly lower in the OP group at 48 hours. E. coli bacterial load was similar in groups P and OP at death or sacrifice whereas the MPO activity of group OP was decreased. Production of TNFα was further decreased among dalbavancin treated rabbits; in these rabbits tissue MPO was increased. TNFα production decreased when healthy PBMCs pre-treated with bone homogenate, S. aureus (HKSA) or both were stimulated with E. coli (HKEC); production was further decreased in the presence of anti-TLR4 and anti-TLR9. It is concluded that staphylococcal osteomyelitis modulated the innate immune responses of the host leading to protection from death by highly virulent E. coli. Tolerance to TLR ligands is the most likely mechanism of action.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: A retrospective review of treatment and outcomes in a long-term acute care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) have a unique patient population, with multiple risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) colonization and infection. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients in LTACHs who were diagnosed with and treated for CRE infections. Baseline data, antimicrobial treatment, and outcomes were collected in patients with bacteremia, health care-associated pneumonia, and complicated urinary tract infection/acute pyelonephritis due to CRE diagnosed between January 2017 and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 57 cases of CRE infection were identified over the study period, including 12 cases of bacteremia, 20 cases of health care-associated pneumonia, and 25 cases of complicated urinary tract infection/acute pyelonephritis. Patient had significant comorbidities: 31.5% with diabetes, 40.4% with heart failure, 29.8% with kidney disease, and 10% with solid tumors. The majority (56) of 57 patients received empiric antibiotics known to have activity against gram-negative bacteria, but only 38.6% had in vitro activity against the CRE organism in cultured specimens. A total of 78.9% of patients received monotherapy. Overall outcome was poor, with 28-day mortality across all infection sites of 17.5% in patients but up to 25% in patients with bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis of our clinical experience treating CRE infections in an LTACH setting, we documented that CRE infections occur in patients with substantial comorbidities. Although clinical outcome remains of great concern, the 28-day mortality and rate of eradication of CRE in this study were comparatively better than other national estimates. Inappropriate empiric treatment may be one of many factors leading to overall poor treatment outcomes.

Could platelet to leucocytic count ratio (PLR) predict sepsis and clinical outcomes in patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis?

OBJECTIVES: To study risk factors for sepsis and mortality evaluating the role of platelet to leucocytic count ratio (PLR) as a marker for urosepsis and clinical outcomes in cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN). MATERIALS: Patients with EPN were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' age, sex, diabetes mellitus (DM), Body Mass Index (BMI), hydronephrosis, types of EPN, air locules volume, serum creatinine, leucocytic count, and platelet count, PLR, albumin, INR and the line of treatment were analyzed as risk factors of sepsis. Correlation between PLR and other variables was done using Pearson correlation coefficient. Univariate and multivariate analyses for sepsis and mortality were performed. RESULTS: Of fifty four patients, 38 patients had SIRS ≥2 criteria on admission. Twenty patients developed sepsis requiring ICU admission. In univariate analysis, male gender, lower BMI, higher INR, higher WBCs count and lower PLR were associated with sepsis (P = 0.0001, 0.009, 0.04, 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, PLR ≤18.4, male sex and BMI ≤24.2 were independent risk factors. Lower PLR directly correlated with serum albumin (P = 0.01) and inversely correlated with serum creatinine and random blood glucose level and Klebsiella infection (P = 0.001, 0.007 and 0.005, respectively). Also, it was correlated with a higher total score of qSOFA and SOFA (P = 0.02 and 0.04). Lower PLR was independent risk factors for death in EPN patients with (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: EPN is associated with sepsis development. Lower PLR is an independent simple predictor for sepsis and mortality in patients with EPN.

Comparing diabetic and nondiabetic emphysematous pyelonephritis and evaluating predictors of mortality.

Mortality among patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) has reduced from 78% to 21%, yet it is one of the most serious urologic emergencies. This prospective observational study aims to study and compare clinical profile, management, and outcomes in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with EPN. All patients of EPN admitted to emergency medical services were included in the study. Patients were grouped into diabetic and nondiabetic EPN, and the eventual predictors of mortality were assessed. The mean age of patients was 55.43 years, with 36 (65.7%) female patients. Mortality was found to be 18.86%. On univariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with mortality include dyspnea at presentation, altered consciousness, blood pressure <90 systolic, oliguria, decreased platelet count (<100,000/mm[3]), urine culture positive for Escherichia coli, hyponatremia (Na <132), hyperkalemia (K >5.0), higher computerized tomography (CT) grade, and emergency nephrectomy as an intervention modality (P <0.05). Mortality was comparable among diabetics and nondiabetics. Diabetics had a lower CT score and higher creatinine (>2 mg/dL) as compared to nondiabetics. Most patients having urolithiasis were nondiabetic. Although nondiabetics had a higher CT score as compared to diabetics, the mortality in nondiabetics and diabetics was equivalent. This may suggest that either diabetics have a rapid deterioration of EPN status or intercurrent metabolic factors in diabetics may contribute to mortality among diabetics. Raised serum creatinine and immunocompromised status owing to diabetes may also play a role.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Acute Pyelonephritis in Korea, 2010-2014: Population-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is one of the most common community-acquired bacterial infections. Recent increases of antimicrobial resistance in urinary pathogens might have changed the other epidemiologic characteristics of APN. The objective of this study was to describe the current epidemiology of APN in Korea, using the entire population. METHODS: From the claims database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea, the patients with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes N10 (acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis) or N12 (tubulo-interstitial nephritis, neither acute nor chronic) as the primary discharge diagnosis during 2010-2014 were analyzed, with two or more claims during a 14-day period considered as a single episode. RESULTS: The annual incidence rate of APN per 10,000 persons was 39.1 and was on the increase year to year (35.6 in 2010; 36.7 in 2011; 38.9 in 2012; 40.1 in 2013; 43.8 in 2014, P = 0.004). The increasing trend was observed in both inpatients (P = 0.014) and outpatients (P = 0.004); in both men (P = 0.042) and women (P = 0.003); and those aged under 55 years (P = 0.014) and 55 years or higher (P = 0.003). Eleven times more women were diagnosed and treated with APN than men (men vs. women, 6.5 vs. 71.3), and one of every 4.1 patients was hospitalized (inpatients vs. outpatients, 9.6 vs. 29.4). The recurrence rate was 15.8%, and the median duration from a sporadic episode (i.e., no episode in the preceding 12 months) to the first recurrence was 44 days. The recurrence probability increased with the number of previous recurrences. The average medical cost per inpatient episode was USD 1,144, which was 12.9 times higher than that per outpatient episode (USD 89). CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of APN in Korea has been changing with an increasing incidence rate.

Performance of Quick Sequential (Sepsis Related) and Sequential (Sepsis Related) Organ Failure Assessment to Predict Mortality in Patients with Acute Pyelonephritis Associated with Upper Urinary Tract Calculi.

PURPOSE: The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock Task Force proposed a new definition of sepsis based on the SOFA (Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment) score and introduced a novel scoring system, quickSOFA, to screen patients at high risk for sepsis. However, the clinical usefulness of these systems is unclear. Therefore, we investigated predictive performance for mortality in patients with acute pyelonephritis associated with upper urinary tract calculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 141 consecutive patients who were clinically diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis associated with upper urinary tract calculi outside the intensive care unit. We evaluated the performance of the quickSOFA, SOFA and SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) scores to predict in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit admission using the AUC of the ROC curve, net reclassification, integrated discrimination improvements and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients (8%) died in the hospital and 26 (18%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. The AUC of quickSOFA to predict in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit admission was significantly greater than that of SIRS (each p <0.001) and comparable to that of SOFA (p = 0.47 and 0.57, respectively). When incorporated into the baseline model consisting of patient age, gender and the Charlson Comorbidity Index, quickSOFA and SOFA provided a greater change in AUC, and in net classification and integrated discrimination improvements than SIRS for each outcome. Decision curve analyses revealed that the quickSOFA and SOFA incorporated models showed a superior net benefit compared to the SIRS incorporated model for most examined probabilities of the 2 outcomes. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with a quickSOFA score of 2 or greater and a SOFA score of 7 or greater, which were the optimal cutoffs determined by the Youden index, was 18% and 28%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SOFA and quickSOFA are more clinically useful scoring systems than SIRS to predict mortality in patients with acute pyelonephritis associated with upper urinary tract calculi.

Factors associated with severe sepsis or septic shock in complicated pyelonephritis.

Severe sepsis or septic shock are the main factors influencing the prognosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN). Our aim was to analyze factors associated with the development of severe sepsis or septic shock in a large sample of patients with acute complicated pyelonephritis (ACPN).This prospective observational study comprised 1507 consecutive patients aged 14 years or older who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital because of ACPN between 1997 and 2015. Covariates associated in univariate analysis with severe sepsis or septic shock were then analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Of the 1507 patients, 423 (28.1%) fulfilled the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock at the time of admission. Crude and attributable mortality at 30 days were 17.7% and 11.7% in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock versus 1.7% and 0.6% in patients without severe sepsis or septic shock, P < .0001 and P < .0005, respectively. An age > 65 years, urinary instrumentation in the previous 2 weeks, the lack of mictional syndrome or costovertebral tenderness, an ectasia ≥ grade II, and bacteremia were independent risk factors associated with severe sepsis or septic shock.The prevalence of severe sepsis and septic shock in patients with ACPN is high. Some factors associated with severe sepsis are easy to identify in any emergency department. The information provided here could be useful when deciding which patients should be admitted to receive immediate treatment.

[Results of conservative management of emphysematous pyelonephritis]. / Résultats du traitement conservateur de la pyélonéphrite emphysémateuse.

INTRODUCTION: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare and severe, necrotizing infection of the kidney. Diagnosis should be precocious based on computed tomography (CT). Its management remains controversial and its treatment is currently increasingly conservative. The aim of this paper is to discuss the conservative treatment of this disease through our experience in 21 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis including 21 patients managed conservatively for an emphysematous pyelonephritis in our department from January 2010 to April 2015. Follow-up ranged from three to 24 months. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, seven belonged to class 1, twelve to class 2 and two to class 4. Obstruction of the upper urinary tract was found in 16 cases. On the risk factor stratification, thrombocytopenia was found in five cases, renal function impairment in 10 cases and a septic shock in four cases. All the patients were initially managed with aggressive fluid and electrolyte resuscitation, control of blood sugar levels, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Drainage of the urinary tract was performed by double-J stent in 14 patients and with ureteral catheter in six patients. One patient had urinary distension secondary to a urethral stricture with bilateral emphysematous pyelitis. In this case, drainage consisted in suprapubic bladder catheter only. The outcome was favorable in 18 patients and the control CT showed a decline or complete disappearance of gas in urinary tract and/or renal parenchyma after an average period of 12 days. A secondary nephrectomy was performed in two cases. Specific mortality rate was zero. CONCLUSION: PNE remains a severe infection involving the vital prognosis. Computed tomography makes an early diagnosis. Treatment should be conservative based on the association of medical intensive care and drainage, percutaneous or endoscopic, urgently. Nephrectomy should be reserved for extensive forms with multiple organ dysfunction or failure of conservative treatment.

[Prognostic factors of morbimortality in patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis]. / Factores pronósticos de morbimortalidad en pacientes con pielonefritis enfisematosa.

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe infection of the urinary tract, caused by gas accumulation within the collecting system, the renal parenchyma, and/or the perirenal tissue. The cause of this infection is not known at all; however, it has been suggested that it is produced by the glucose fermentation provoked by enterobacteriaceae or anaerobic organisms. Our objective was to evaluate the predictors of morbidity and mortality in patients diagnosed with EPN. METHODS: It was carried out a historical cohort study of patients diagnosed with EPN in our hospital from March 2005 to December 2014. Patients with adverse outcome were identified. We defined adverse outcome as patients requiring stay in intensive care unit, who presented nephrectomy and/or who died. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to establish the relation of each clinical factor with the adverse outcome. RESULTS: 73 records were included for analysis, 48 were women (65.8 %) and 25 men. Diabetes, urolithiasis, E. coli infection and septic shock occurred in 68.5, 68.5, 63, and 15.1 %, respectively. We found that leukocytosis ≥12 000 µl (OR 43.65, 95 % CI 2.36-805, p <0.001), thrombocytopenia ≤120 000 µl (OR 363, 95 % 9.2-14208, p <0.0001), and Huang's radiological class 3 (OR 62, 95 % CI 4-964, p < 0.001) were factors significantly associated with adverse outcome. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and Huang's radiological class 3 are associated with adverse outcome in patients with EPN.

Introducción: La pielonefritis enfisematosa es una infección grave del tracto urinario caracterizada por la presencia de gas en los sistemas colectores, en el parénquima renal o en el tejido perirrenal; su causa no es del todo conocida, pero se ha sugerido que se debe a la fermentación de glucosa por enterobacterias y anaerobios. El objetivo fue evaluar los factores pronósticos de morbimortalidad en pacientes con diagnóstico de pielonefritis enfisematosa. Métodos: estudio de cohorte histórica en pacientes con diagnóstico de pielonefritis enfisematosa que ingresaron a nuestro hospital de marzo de 2005 a diciembre de 2014. Se identificaron los pacientes con desenlace adverso definido como aquel que requirió estancia en unidad de cuidados intensivos, nefrectomía o muerte. Se realizó una regresión logística múltiple para obtener la relación de cada factor pronóstico con el desenlace adverso. Resultados: Fueron evaluados 73 pacientes (48 mujeres [65.8 %]). Diabetes, litiasis urinaria, infección por Escherichia coli y el estado de choque se presentaron en 68.5 %, 68.5 %, 63 % y 15.1 %, respectivamente. Fueron factores significativos para desenlace adverso la leucocitosis ≥ 12 000 µL (RM 43.65, IC 95 % 2.36-805, p < 0.001), la trombocitopenia ≤ 120 000 µL (RM 363, IC 95 % 9.2-14208, p < 0.0001), y la clase radiológica 3 de Huang (RM 62, IC 95 % 4-964, p < 0.001). Conclusión: la trombocitopenia, la leucocitosis y la clase radiológica 3 se asociaron con un desenlace adverso en los pacientes con pielonefritis enfisematosa.

Predictive performance of quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment for mortality and ICU admission in patients with infection at the ED.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study are to investigate the performance of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) in predicting mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with clinically diagnosed infection and to compare its performance with that of Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis (MEDS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). METHODS: From July to December 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 477 patients clinically diagnosed with infection in the emergency department. We compared the performance of SOFA, MEDS, APACHE II, and qSOFA in predicting ICU admission and 28-day mortality. RESULTS: All scores were higher in nonsurvivors and ICU patients than in survivors and non-ICU patients (P< .001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of qSOFA was lower than that of MEDS (0.666 vs 0.751; P< .05) and similar to that of SOFA (0.729) and APACHE II (0.732) in predicting 28-day mortality. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of qSOFA, SOFA, MEDS, and APACHE II in predicting ICU admission were 0.636, 0.682, 0.661, and 0.640, respectively. There were no significant differences among the score systems. In patients with qSOFA scores less than 2 and greater than or equal to 2, 28-day mortality rates were 17.4% and 42.9% (P< .001), and ICU admission rates were 16.0% and 33.3% (P< .001). CONCLUSIONS: Quick SOFA predicted ICU admission with similar performance to that of SOFA, MEDS, and APACHE II. Its prognostic ability was similar to that of SOFA and APACHE II but slightly inferior to that of MEDS.

Recommended Initial Antimicrobial Therapy for Emphysematous Pyelonephritis: 51 Cases and 14-Year-Experience of a Tertiary Referral Center.

The aim of this study was to investigate the profiles of pathogens and patterns of antibiotic resistance of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN), offering recommendations for initial antibiotic treatment.Between January, 2001, and November, 2014, demographic data, presenting clinical features, management strategies, and treatment outcomes of 51 patients with EPN were retrospectively reviewed, analyzing microbiological characteristics of causative pathogens and patterns of antibiotic resistance.Overall survival rate was 90.2% (46/51). Pathogens isolated most frequently were Escherichia coli (49.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.6%), and Proteus mirabilis (17.7%). Approximately 24% of E coli isolates and 22% K pneumoniae isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Improper empiric antibiotic use (P = 0.02) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogens (G3CRP) (P = 0.01) were significantly more common in cases of patient fatality. Prior hospitalization and antibiotic use within past year (P = 0.03), need for emergency hemodialysis (P = 0.03), and development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (P = 0.03) were factors correlating significantly with microbial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.91. The cut-off point determined by the maximum Youden index for 2 of these 3 factors yielded a sensitivity of 0.8 and specificity of 0.93.Third-generation cephalosporins are recommended as initial treatment of EPN. In patients with histories of prior hospitalization and antibiotic use and in those needing emergency hemodialysis or developing DIC, carbapenem is the empiric antibiotic of choice. Patients presenting with 2 or more factors carry the highest risk of G3CRP involvement. Fluoroquinolone and gentamicin should be avoided.

[Bilateral nephrectomy in patients with end-stage renal failure and chronic active pyelonephritis].

This study analyzed the results of bilateral nephrectomy in 14 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic active pyelonephritis. Seven patients had urosepsis, and 10 patients had a purulent form of pyelonephritis, which was one-sided in 7 of them. In the early postoperative period, on average, after 9.3 days, 9 patients died. Statistically significant risk factors for death were: chronic hemodialysis, long-term antibiotic therapy, and existing sepsis. Intraoperative complications and postoperative morbidity were not significantly associated with death. The study results imply the need of differentiated approach to bilateral nephrectomy in patients with ESRD and risk factors for fatal outcome. It must be performed on the strong indications since the intervention does not lead to eradication of sepsis. It is advisable to perform "preventive, sanation" bilateral nephrectomy in the "cold period" in patients at risk for developing urosepsis.

Esmolol: immunomodulator in pyelonephritis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Based on previous animal studies showing promising immunomodulatory efficacy esmolol, a selective ß1-blocker, it was assumed that administration of esmolol in experimental pyelonephritis by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa would prolong survival and modulate immune response. METHODS: Acute pyelonephritis was induced in 80 rabbits and assigned to eight groups receiving normal saline (controls), esmolol, amikacin, or both agents as pretreatment and as treatment. Blood was sampled for measurement of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Animals were followed up for survival, and after death quantitative tissue cultures were performed. The in vitro effect of esmolol on bacterial growth and on the oxidative burst of neutrophils of healthy controls and of sepsis patients was studied. RESULTS: Survival of pretreatment groups administered single esmolol or esmolol and amikacin was prolonged compared with that of controls (P = 0.018 and P = 0.014, respectively); likewise, survival of treatment groups administered single esmolol or both agents was prolonged compared with that of controls (P = 0.007 and P = 0.014, respectively). Circulating malondialdehyde was significantly lower in pretreated animals administered esmolol or esmolol and amikacin compared with that in controls and in treated animals administered both agents compared with in controls (P = 0.020). In these groups, the bacterial load of the lung was significantly lower compared with controls. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha did not change. Amikacin was increased in serum of esmolol-treated animals at levels which inhibited the in vitro growth of the studied isolate. Esmolol did not modify the in vitro growth of P aeruginosa and the oxidative burst of neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that esmolol prolonged survival after experimental infection by multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa. Survival benefit may be related with pleiotropic actions connected with modulation of pharmacokinetics and attenuation of inflammation.

[Mortality predictive factors in patients with urinary sepsis associated to upper urinary tract calculi]. / Factores predictores de mortalidad en la sepsis urinaria con obstrucción ureteral.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with urinary sepsis associated to ureteral calculi admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to identify predictors of mortality in the first 24 hours of admission. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study covering a 16-year period (2006-2011) was carried out. SETTING: The combined clinical/surgical ICU of a secondary-level University hospital. PATIENTS: All patients admitted to the ICU due to obstructive urinary sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES: We analyzed general clinical and laboratory test and urological data. The diagnostic technique, affected side, decompression technique, isolated microorganism and antibiotic therapy used were also considered. The assessment of risk factors was performed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients admitted to the ICU were included in the study, with a mortality rate of 19.6%. The diagnosis was mainly established by ultrasound, and the most commonly used decompression technique was retrograde JJ stenting. Microorganisms were isolated in 48.6% of the patients. In total, 20.6% of the patients had bacteremia. Multivariate analysis found age, acute renal failure and the use of vasoactive drugs administered continuously for the first 24 hours of admission to be independently associated to mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age, acute renal failure and the need for vasoactive drugs were associated to an increased risk of mortality in patients with urinary sepsis associated to upper urinary tract calculi.

Clinical and epidemiological features and prognosis of complicated pyelonephritis: a prospective observational single hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: Complicated pyelonephritis (cPN), a common cause of hospital admission, is still a poorly-understood entity given the difficulty involved in its correct definition. The aim of this study was to analyze the main epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of cPN and its prognosis in a large cohort of patients with cPN. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study including 1325 consecutive patients older than 14 years diagnosed with cPN and admitted to a tertiary university hospital between 1997-2013. After analyzing the main demographic, clinical and microbiological data, covariates found to be associated with attributable mortality in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 1325 patients, 689 (52%) were men and 636 (48%) women; median age 63 years, interquartile range [IQR] (46.5-73). Nine hundred and forty patients (70.9%) had functional or structural abnormalities in the urinary tract, 215 (16.2%) were immunocompromised, 152 (11.5%) had undergone a previous urinary tract instrumentation, and 196 (14.8%) had a long-term bladder catheter, nephrostomy tube or ureteral catheter. Urine culture was positive in 813 (67.7%) of the 1251 patients in whom it was done, and in the 1032 patients who had a blood culture, 366 (34%) had bacteraemia. Escherichia coli was the causative agent in 615 episodes (67%), Klebsiella spp in 73 (7.9%) and Proteus ssp in 61 (6.6%). Fourteen point one percent of GNB isolates were ESBL producers. In total, 343 patients (25.9%) developed severe sepsis and 165 (12.5%) septic shock. Crude mortality was 6.5% and attributable mortality was 4.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that an age >75 years (OR 2.77; 95% CI, 1.35-5.68), immunosuppression (OR 3.14; 95% CI, 1.47-6.70), and septic shock (OR 58.49; 95% CI, 26.6-128.5) were independently associated with attributable mortality. CONCLUSIONS: cPN generates a high morbidity and mortality and likely a great consumption of healthcare resources. This study highlights the factors directly associated with mortality, though further studies are needed in the near future aimed at identifying subgroups of low-risk patients susceptible to outpatient management.