Landscape of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections in Egypt: Survey and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: This article is the first to review published reports on the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections in Egypt and gain insights into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and susceptibility testing capabilities of Egyptian medical centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review and online survey were conducted. RESULTS: The online survey and literature review reported high prevalence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (19-85.24% of E. coli, and 10-87% of K. pneumoniae), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (35-100% of K. pneumoniae and 13.8-100% of E. coli), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (10-100%), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15-70%) in Egypt. Risk factors for MDR Gram-negative infections were ventilated patients (67.4%), prolonged hospitalization (53.5%) and chronic disease (34.9%). Although antimicrobial surveillance capabilities were deemed at least moderate in most centers, lack of access to rapid AMR diagnostics, lack of use of local epidemiological data in treatment decision-making, lack of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, and lack of risk prediction tools were commonly reported by respondents. CONCLUSION: This survey has highlighted the presence of knowledge gaps as well as limitations in the surveillance and monitoring capabilities of AMR in Egypt, with most laboratories lacking rapid diagnostics and molecular testing. Future efforts in Egypt should focus on tackling these issues via nationwide initiatives, including understanding the AMR trends in the country, capacity building of laboratories and their staff to correctly and timely identify AMR, and introducing newer antimicrobials for targeting emerging resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative species.

Heparin/N-acetylcysteine: an adjuvant in the management of burn inhalation injury: a study of different doses.

PURPOSE: Nebulized heparin may reduce fibrin cast formation and reduce the degree of airway obstruction in burn inhalation injury. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients admitted to burn intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 hours of burn inhalation injury were included in this prospective double-blinded randomized study. Group H5 received nebulized heparin sulfate 5,000 IU, and group H10 received nebulized heparin sulfate 10,000 IU. Heparin was given in alternation with N-acetylcysteine every 2 hours. Lung injury score assessed daily for 7 days was the primary outcome. Duration of mechanical ventilation, coagulation profile, length of ICU stay, and mortality were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Median lung injury scores were significantly lower in group H10 on days 5 (1.9 vs 1), 6 (1.4 vs 0.5), and 7 (1.3 vs 0.5). Group H10 had also a lower duration of mechanical ventilation than did group H5 (P = .037). The groups had no significant difference in coagulation parameters, length of ICU stay (P = .17), and mortality (P = .6). CONCLUSIONS: Nebulized heparin 10,000 IU decreased lung injury scores and duration of mechanical ventilation but had no effect on length of ICU stay and mortality. Moreover, nebulized heparin 10,000 IU was safe and had no effect on coagulation parameters.

Intraarticular injection of magnesium sulphate and/or bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intraarticular bupivacaine is often used for prevention of pain after arthroscopic knee surgery. Intraarticular magnesium, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blocker, would be of particular interest in either producing postoperative analgesia or enhancing the analgesic effect of intraarticular bupivacaine. We designed this study to determine whether intraarticular magnesium sulfate or bupivacaine results in a decrease in visual analog scale (VAS) score followed by a decrease in analgesic requirement and whether their combination would provide more reduction in VAS, and subsequently less analgesic requirement, than either drug alone. METHODS: One-hundred and eight patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy were randomized blindly into one of four parallel groups. The saline placebo group (group S) received 20 mL of isotonic saline, and the magnesium group (group M) received 20 mL of isotonic saline containing 1 g magnesium sulfate. The bupivacaine group (group B) received 0.25% (20 mL) bupivacaine, whereas the magnesium with bupivacaine group (group MB) received bupivacaine 0.25% and 1 g of magnesium sulfate in 20 mL. The postoperative analgesia was assessed using VAS recorded after surgery at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h. Patients were evaluated at rest and with movement. RESULTS: Group MB had a significantly reduced VAS both at rest and on movement, a significantly increased time to first postoperative analgesic request, as well as significantly reduced total analgesic requirement than other groups. CONCLUSION: Magnesium combined with bupivacaine produces a reduction in postoperative pain when given intraarticularly in comparison to either bupivacaine or magnesium alone, or to saline placebo.