Transition to invasive breast cancer is associated with progressive changes in the structure and composition of tumor stroma.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-invasive lesion that is thought to be a precursor to invasive breast cancer (IBC). To understand the changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) accompanying transition to IBC, we used multiplexed ion beam imaging by time of flight (MIBI-TOF) and a 37-plex antibody staining panel to interrogate 79 clinically annotated surgical resections using machine learning tools for cell segmentation, pixel-based clustering, and object morphometrics. Comparison of normal breast with patient-matched DCIS and IBC revealed coordinated transitions between four TME states that were delineated based on the location and function of myoepithelium, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Surprisingly, myoepithelial disruption was more advanced in DCIS patients that did not develop IBC, suggesting this process could be protective against recurrence. Taken together, this HTAN Breast PreCancer Atlas study offers insight into drivers of IBC relapse and emphasizes the importance of the TME in regulating these processes.

Risk factors for bloodstream infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: a nested case-control-control study.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major threat to patients. To date, data on risk factors have been limited, with low internal and external validity. In this multicentre study, risk factors for CRE BSI were determined by comparison with two control groups: patients with carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacterales (CSE) BSI, and patients without Enterobacterales infection (uninfected patients). METHODS: A multicentre, case-control-control study was nested in a European prospective cohort study on CRE (EURECA). CRE BSI:CSE BSI matching was 1:1, CRE BSI:Uninfected patients matching was 1:3, based on hospital, ward and length of stay. Conditional logistic regression was applied. RESULTS: From March 2016 to November 2018, 73 CRE BSIs, 73 CSE BSIs and 219 uninfected patients were included from 18 European hospitals. For CRE versus CSE BSI, previous CRE colonization/infection [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 7.32; 95% CI 1.65-32.38) increased the risk. For CRE versus uninfected controls, independent risk factors included: older age (IRR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06), patient referral (long-term care facility: IRR 7.19; 95% CI 1.51-34.24; acute care hospital: IRR 5.26; 95% CI 1.61-17.11), previous colonization/infection with other MDR organisms (MDROs) (IRR 9.71; 95% CI 2.33-40.56), haemodialysis (IRR 8.59; 95% CI 1.82-40.53), invasive procedures (IRR 5.66; 95% CI 2.11-15.16), and ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations (IRR 3.92; 95% CI 1.68-9.13) or third/fourth generation cephalosporin (IRR 2.75; 95% CI 1.06-7.11) exposure within 3 months before enrolment. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of previous CRE colonization/infection was a major risk factor for carbapenem resistance among Enterobacterales BSI. Compared with uninfected patients, evidence of previous MDRO colonization/infection and healthcare exposure were important risk factors for CRE BSI. Targeted screening, infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship should focus on these high-risk patients.

Efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam in solid organ transplant recipients with bloodstream infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

We aimed to compare the efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) versus the best available therapy (BAT) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with bloodstream infection caused by carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP-BSI). A retrospective (2016-2021) observational cohort study was performed in 14 INCREMENT-SOT centers (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02852902; Impact of Specific Antimicrobials and MIC Values on the Outcome of Bloodstream Infections Due to ESBL- or Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Solid Organ Transplantation: an Observational Multinational Study). Outcomes were 14-day and 30-day clinical success (complete resolution of attributable manifestations, adequate source control, and negative follow-up blood cultures) and 30-day all-cause mortality. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses adjusted for the propensity score to receive CAZ-AVI were constructed. Among 210 SOT recipients with CPKP-BSI, 149 received active primary therapy with CAZ-AVI (66/149) or BAT (83/149). Patients treated with CAZ-AVI had higher 14-day (80.7% vs 60.6%, P = .011) and 30-day (83.1% vs 60.6%, P = .004) clinical success and lower 30-day mortality (13.25% vs 27.3%, P = .053) than those receiving BAT. In the adjusted analysis, CAZ-AVI increased the probability of 14-day (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-6.84; P = .044) and 30-day clinical success (aOR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.17-8.40; P = .023). In contrast, CAZ-AVI therapy was not independently associated with 30-day mortality. In the CAZ-AVI group, combination therapy was not associated with better outcomes. In conclusion, CAZ-AVI may be considered a first-line treatment in SOT recipients with CPKP-BSI.

Immunoguided Discontinuation of Prophylaxis for Cytomegalovirus Disease in Kidney Transplant Recipients Treated With Antithymocyte Globulin: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive kidney transplant (KT) recipients receiving antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as induction. An alternative strategy of premature discontinuation of prophylaxis after CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) recovery (immunoguided prevention) has not been studied. Our aim was to determine whether it is effective and safe to discontinue prophylaxis when CMV-CMI is detected and to continue with preemptive therapy. METHODS: In this open-label, noninferiority clinical trial, patients were randomized 1:1 to follow an immunoguided strategy, receiving prophylaxis until CMV-CMI recovery or to receive fixed-duration prophylaxis until day 90. After prophylaxis, preemptive therapy (valganciclovir 900 mg twice daily) was indicated in both arms until month 6. The primary and secondary outcomes were incidence of CMV disease and replication, respectively, within the first 12 months. Desirability of outcome ranking (DOOR) assessed 2 deleterious events (CMV disease/replication and neutropenia). RESULTS: A total of 150 CMV-seropositive KT recipients were randomly assigned. There was no difference in the incidence of CMV disease (0% vs 2.7%; P = .149) and replication (17.1% vs 13.5%; log-rank test, P = .422) between both arms. Incidence of neutropenia was lower in the immunoguided arm (9.2% vs 37.8%; odds ratio, 6.0; P < .001). A total of 66.1% of patients in the immunoguided arm showed a better DOOR, indicating a greater likelihood of a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis can be prematurely discontinued in CMV-seropositive KT patients receiving ATG when CMV-CMI is recovered since no significant increase in the incidence of CMV replication or disease is observed. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03123627.

Early Use of Sarilumab in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Pneumonia and Features of Systemic Inflammation: the SARICOR Randomized Clinical Trial.

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of early treatment with sarilumab, added to standard of care (SOC), in hospitalized adults with COVID-19. Methods included phase II, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and interleukin (IL)-6 levels ≥ 40 pg/mL and/or d-dimer > 1,500 ng/mL. Participants were randomized (1:1:1) to receive SOC (control group), SOC plus a single subcutaneous dose of sarilumab 200 mg (sarilumab-200 group), or SOC plus a single subcutaneous dose of sarilumab 400 mg (sarilumab-400 group). The primary outcome variable was the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring high-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) at day 28. One-hundred and 15 participants (control group, n = 39; sarilumab-200, n = 37; sarilumab-400, n = 39) were included. At randomization, 104 (90%) patients had supplemental oxygen and 103 (90%) received corticosteroids. Eleven (28%) patients in the control group, 10 (27%) in sarilumab-200, and five (13%) in sarilumab-400 developed the primary outcome (hazard ratio [95% CI] of sarilumab-400 vs control group: 0.41 [0.14, 1.18]; P = 0.09). Seven (6%) patients died: three in the control group and four in sarilumab-200. There were no deaths in sarilumab-400 (P = 0.079, log-rank test for comparisons with the control group). In patients recently hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia and features of systemic inflammation, early IL-6 blockade with a single dose of sarilumab 400 mg was safe and associated with a trend for better outcomes. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT04357860.).

Fidaxomicin monotherapy versus standard therapy combined with bezlotoxumab for treating patients with Clostridioides difficile infection at high risk of recurrence: a matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Both fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab (used in combination with an antibiotic against Clostridioides difficile) achieve reductions in recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the two strategies have never been compared. METHODS: Data from two retrospective cohorts of 'real-life' use of fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab in combination with a standard anti-C. difficile antibiotic were used to compare the rates of recurrence of both strategies. Since the two cohorts were not identical, we used a propensity score analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and two patients were included: 244 in the fidaxomicin cohort and 78 in the bezlotoxumab cohort. A history of renal failure or immunosuppression was more frequent in patients receiving bezlotoxumab (39.7% and 66.7% versus 26.6% and 38.9%; P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively), but the severity and number of previous CDI episodes were similar in both cohorts. We observed that 19.3% of the patients in the fidaxomicin cohort experienced recurrence, compared with 14.1% in the bezlotoxumab cohort (OR 1.45; 95% CI 0.71-2.96; P = 0.29) but the difference remained non-significant after propensity score matching using previously defined variables (OR 1.24; 95% CI 0.50-3.07; P = 0.64). Moreover, the multivariate analysis did not show differences depending on the drug used. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab are prescribed in similar clinical scenarios, although those treated with bezlotoxumab have greater comorbidity. The proportion of recurrences was numerically lower in those treated with bezlotoxumab, although the propensity analysis did not find significant differences between the two drugs.

Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bloodstream infection after solid organ transplantation: Recent trends in epidemiology and therapeutic approaches.

BACKGROUND: Infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR GNB), in particular extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing (ESBL-E) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), pose a major threat in solid organ transplantation (SOT). Outcome prediction and therapy are challenging due to the scarcity of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or well-designed observational studies focused on this population. METHODS: Narrative review with a focus on the contributions provided by the ongoing multinational INCREMENT-SOT consortium (ClinicalTrials identifier NCT02852902) in the fields of epidemiology and clinical management. RESULTS: The Spanish Society of Transplantation (SET), the Group for Study of Infection in Transplantation of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (GESITRA-SEIMC), and the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI) recently published their recommendations for the management of MDR GNB infections in SOT recipients. We revisit the SET/GESITRA-SEIMC/REIPI document taking into consideration new evidence that emerged on the molecular epidemiology, prognostic stratification, and treatment of post-transplant ESBL-E and CRE infections. Results derived from the INCREMENT-SOT consortium may support the therapeutic approach to post-transplant bloodstream infection (BSI). The initiatives devoted to sparing the use of carbapenems in low-risk ESBL-E BSI or to repurposing existing non-ß-lactam antibiotics for CRE in both non-transplant and transplant patients are reviewed, as well as the eventual positioning in the specific SOT setting of recently approved antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Due to the clinical complexity and relative rarity of ESBL-E and CRE infections in SOT recipients, multinational cooperative efforts such as the INCREMENT-SOT Project should be encouraged. In addition, RCTs focused on post-transplant serious infection remain urgently needed.

Propensity Score and Desirability of Outcome Ranking Analysis of Ertapenem for Treatment of Nonsevere Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections Due to Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

There are scarce data on the efficacy of ertapenem in the treatment of bacteremia due to extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. We evaluated the association between treatment with ertapenem or meropenem and clinical cure in KT recipients with nonsevere bacteremic urinary tract infections (B-UTI) caused by ESBL-E. We performed a registered, retrospective, international (29 centers in 14 countries) cohort study (INCREMENT-SOT, NCT02852902). The association between targeted therapy with ertapenem versus meropenem and clinical cure at day 14 (the principal outcome) was studied by logistic regression. Propensity score matching and desirability of outcome ranking (DOOR) analyses were also performed. A total of 201 patients were included; only 1 patient (treated with meropenem) in the cohort died. Clinical cure at day 14 was reached in 45/100 (45%) and 51/101 (50.5%) of patients treated with ertapenem and meropenem, respectively (adjusted OR 1.29; 95% CI 0.51 to 3.22; P = 0.76); the propensity score-matched cohort included 55 pairs (adjusted OR for clinical cure at day 14, 1.18; 95% CI 0.43 to 3.29; P = 0.74). In this cohort, the proportion of cases treated with ertapenem with better DOOR than with meropenem was 49.7% (95% CI, 40.4 to 59.1%) when hospital stay was considered. It ranged from 59 to 67% in different scenarios of a modified (weights-based) DOOR sensitivity analysis when potential ecological advantage or cost was considered in addition to outcome. In conclusion, targeted therapy with ertapenem appears as effective as meropenem to treat nonsevere B-UTI due to ESBL-E in KT recipients and may have some advantages.

Leptin-resistant Zucker rats with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis present a reduced inflammatory response but enhanced epithelial damage.

The role of leptin in the development of intestinal inflammation remains controversial, since proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects have been described. This study describes the effect of the absence of leptin signaling in intestinal inflammation. Experimental colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to lean and obese Zucker rats (n = 10). Effects on inflammation and mucosal barrier were studied. Bacterial translocation and LPS concentration were evaluated together with colonic permeability to 4-kDa FITC-dextran. Obese Zucker rats showed a lower intestinal myeloperoxidase and alkaline phosphatase activity, reduced alkaline phosphatase sensitivity to levamisole, and diminished colonic expression of Nos2, Tnf, and Il6, indicating attenuated intestinal inflammation, associated with attenuated STAT3, AKT, and ERK signaling in the colonic tissue. S100a8 and Cxcl1 mRNA levels were maintained, suggesting that in the absence of leptin signaling neutrophil activation rather than infiltration is hampered. Despite the lower inflammatory response, leptin resistance enhanced intestinal permeability, reflecting an increased epithelial damage. This was shown by augmented LPS presence in the portal vein of colitic obese Zucker rats, associated with induction of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, LPS-binding protein, and CD14 hepatic expression (involved in LPS handling). This was linked to decreased ZO-1 immunoreactivity in tight junctions and lower occludin expression. Our results indicate that obese Zucker rats present an attenuated inflammatory response to TNBS, but increased intestinal epithelial damage allowing the passage of bacterial antigens.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Obese Zucker rats, which are resistant to leptin, exhibit a diminished inflammatory response in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) model of colitis, suggesting leptin role is proinflammatory. At the same time, obese Zucker rats present a debilitated intestinal barrier function, with increased translocation of LPS. Zucker rats present a dual response in the TNBS model of rat colitis.

Efficacy of ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors to treat extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales bacteremia secondary to urinary tract infection in kidney transplant recipients (INCREMENT-SOT Project).

BACKGROUND: Whether active therapy with ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLI) is as affective as carbapenems for extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) bloodstream infection (BSI) secondary to urinary tract infection (UTI) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 306 KTR admitted to 30 centers from January 2014 to October 2016. Therapeutic failure (lack of cure or clinical improvement and/or death from any cause) at days 7 and 30 from ESBL-E BSI onset was the primary and secondary study outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Therapeutic failure at days 7 and 30 occurred in 8.2% (25/306) and 13.4% (41/306) of patients. Hospital-acquired BSI (adjusted OR [aOR]: 4.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50-11.20) and Pitt score (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21-1.77) were independently associated with therapeutic failure at day 7. Age-adjusted Charlson Index (aOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.05-1.48), Pitt score (aOR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.35-2.17), and lymphocyte count ≤500 cells/µL at presentation (aOR: 3.16; 95% CI: 1.42-7.06) predicted therapeutic failure at day 30. Carbapenem monotherapy (68.6%, primarily meropenem) was the most frequent active therapy, followed by BLBLI monotherapy (10.8%, mostly piperacillin-tazobactam). Propensity score (PS)-adjusted models revealed no significant impact of the choice of active therapy (carbapenem-containing vs any other regimen, BLBLI- vs carbapenem-based monotherapy) within the first 72 hours on any of the study outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that active therapy based on BLBLI may be as effective as carbapenem-containing regimens for ESBL-E BSI secondary to UTI in the specific population of KTR. Potential residual confounding and unpowered sample size cannot be excluded (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02852902).

Impact of KPC Production and High-Level Meropenem Resistance on All-Cause Mortality of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Association with Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) are rapidly spreading worldwide. The prognosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by KPC-Kp is not well known. Our study tries to assess whether ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by a KPC-Kp strain is associated with higher all-cause mortality than that caused by carbapenem-susceptible isolates. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with VAP due to K. pneumoniae from a 35-bed polyvalent intensive care unit in a university hospital (>40,000 annual admissions) between January 2012 and December 2016. Adjusted multivariate analysis was used to study the association of KPC-Kp with 30-day all-cause mortality (Cox regression). We analyze 69 cases of K. pneumoniae VAP, of which 39 were produced by a KPC-Kp strain with high-level resistance to meropenem (MIC > 16 mg/ml). All-cause mortality at 30 days was 41% in the KPC-Kp group (16/39) and 33.3% in the carbapenem-susceptible cases (10/30). KPC-Kp etiology was not associated with higher mortality when controlled for confounders (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46 to 3.41). Adequate targeted therapy (HR, 0.03; 95% CI, <0.01 to 0.23) was associated with all-cause mortality. Assuming the limitations due to the available sample size, the prognosis of VAP caused by KPC-Kp is similar to VAPs caused by carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae when appropriate treatment is used.

Outcome of community-onset ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia and urinary tract infection: a population-based cohort study in Denmark.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of ESBL production on mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS) of community-onset infections due to Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. METHODS: A population-based cohort study including all adult patients hospitalized with a first-time community-onset E. coli or K. pneumoniae bacteraemia or urinary tract infection in the North Denmark Region between 2007 and 2017. For each bacterial agent, we computed 1 year Kaplan-Meier survival curves and cumulative incidence functions of LOS, and by use of Cox proportional hazard regression we computed HRs as estimates of 30 day and 1 year mortality rate ratios (MRRs) and LOS among patients with and without ESBL-producing infections. RESULTS: We included 24 518 cases (among 22350 unique patients), of whom 1018 (4.2%) were infected by an ESBL-producing bacterium. The 30 day cumulative mortality and adjusted MRR (aMRR) in patients with and without ESBL-producing isolates was as follows: E. coli bacteraemia (n = 3831), 15.8% versus 14.0%, aMRR = 1.01 (95% CI = 0.70-1.45); E. coli urinary tract infection (n = 17151), 9.5% versus 8.7%, aMRR = 0.97 (95% CI = 0.75-1.26); K. pneumoniae bacteraemia (n = 734), 0% versus 17.2%, aMRR = not applicable; and K. pneumoniae urinary tract infection (n = 2802), 13.8% versus 10.7%, aMRR = 1.13 (95% CI = 0.73-1.75). The 1 year aMRR remained roughly unchanged. ESBL-producing E. coli bacteraemia was associated with an increased LOS compared with non-ESBL production. CONCLUSIONS: ESBL production was not associated with an increased short- or long-term mortality in community-onset infections due to E. coli or K. pneumoniae, yet ESBL-producing E. coli bacteraemia was associated with an increased LOS.

Treatment of Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-, AmpC-, and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Therapy of invasive infections due to multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDR-E) is challenging, and some of the few active drugs are not available in many countries. For extended-spectrum ß-lactamase and AmpC producers, carbapenems are the drugs of choice, but alternatives are needed because the rate of carbapenem resistance is rising. Potential active drugs include classic and newer ß-lactam-ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations, cephamycins, temocillin, aminoglycosides, tigecycline, fosfomycin, and, rarely, fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These drugs might be considered in some specific situations. AmpC producers are resistant to cephamycins, but cefepime is an option. In the case of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), only some "second-line" drugs, such as polymyxins, tigecycline, aminoglycosides, and fosfomycin, may be active; double carbapenems can also be considered in specific situations. Combination therapy is associated with better outcomes for high-risk patients, such as those in septic shock or with pneumonia. Ceftazidime-avibactam was recently approved and is active against KPC and OXA-48 producers; the available experience is scarce but promising, although development of resistance is a concern. New drugs active against some CPE isolates are in different stages of development, including meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, plazomicin, cefiderocol, eravacycline, and aztreonam-avibactam. Overall, therapy of MDR-E infection must be individualized according to the susceptibility profile, type, and severity of infection and the features of the patient.

Predictors of mortality in solid organ transplant recipients with bloodstream infections due to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales: The impact of cytomegalovirus disease and lymphopenia.

Treatment of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bloodstream infections in solid organ transplant recipients is challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a specific score to predict mortality in solid organ transplant recipients with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bloodstream infections. A multinational, retrospective (2004-2016) cohort study (INCREMENT-SOT, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02852902) was performed. The main outcome variable was 30-day all-cause mortality. The INCREMENT-SOT-CPE score was developed using logistic regression. The global cohort included 216 patients. The final logistic regression model included the following variables: INCREMENT-CPE mortality score ≥8 (8 points), no source control (3 points), inappropriate empirical therapy (2 points), cytomegalovirus disease (7 points), lymphopenia (4 points), and the interaction between INCREMENT-CPE score ≥8 and CMV disease (minus 7 points). This score showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-0.88) and classified patients into 3 strata: 0-7 (low mortality), 8-11 (high mortality), and 12-17 (very-high mortality). We performed a stratified analysis of the effect of monotherapy vs combination therapy among 165 patients who received appropriate therapy. Monotherapy was associated with higher mortality only in the very-high (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.82, 95% CI 1.13-7.06, P = .03) and high (HR 9.93, 95% CI 2.08-47.40, P = .004) mortality risk strata. A score-based algorithm is provided for therapy guidance.

Exogenous leptin reinforces intestinal barrier function and protects from colitis.

Besides its function controlling energy expenditure and food intake, leptin is an important modulator of inflammatory responses. The role of leptin in intestinal inflammation remains controversial, since both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects have been reported. This study was carried out to further understand leptin contribution in the inflamed intestinal mucosa. Exogenous PEG-leptin or saline solution was given to C57BL/6 mice for two weeks. After 1 week, acute colitis was induced to C57BL/6 mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water. The severity of colitis, inflammatory parameters and mucosal barrier function were evaluated. Overall our results indicate that colitis was less severe in mice receiving leptin, as shown by a decrease in rectal bleeding, epithelial damage and colon inflammatory markers, and improved diarrhea. Leptin-treated mice displayed an increase in the expression of tight junction proteins and proliferative expression markers in colon, indicating a reinforcement in the mucosal barrier function induced by leptin administration. PEG-leptin treatment conferred protection to mice in the DSS model of colitis by reinforcing mucosal barrier function.

Risks of Infection and Mortality Among Patients Colonized With Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing K. pneumoniae: Validation of Scores and Proposal for Management.

Background: The management and indication of empiric treatment in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp)-colonized patients should be improved. Methods: A prospective cohort of 94 patients colonized by KPC-Kp was followed for 90 days to validate (i) the Giannella risk score (GRS) to predict the development of any type of KPC-Kp infection and (ii) the INCREMENT-CPE score (ICS) to predict 30-day mortality in patients with infection. Both scores were combined to recommend appropriate empiric treatment. The predictive ability of the scores was measured by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Results: The GRS showed an AUROC curve for infection due to KPC-Kp of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], .87-.98). The optimal cutoff point was fixed at <7 and ≥7 (92.9% sensitivity, 84.8% specificity); infection developed in 6.3% patients in the 0-6 GRS group and in 84.8% patient in the ≥7 GRS group. According to the ICS, the severity of the infection was also significantly higher in the ≥7 GRS group. The ICS showed an AUROC of 0.78 (95% CI, .65-.91) for 30-day all-cause mortality among patients with infection. A classification and regression tree analysis confirmed the GRS cutoff point at 7, and selected ≥12 points to predict a KPC-Kp infection with a high ICS. Conclusions: Our results validate the GRS and ICS for indicating empiric therapy in KPC-Kp-colonized patients.

Prevalence of hippocampal enlarged perivascular spaces in a sample of patients with hypertension and their relation with vascular risk factors and cognitive function.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical importance of hippocampal enlarged perivascular spaces (H-EPVS) remains uncertain. We aimed to study their association with vascular risk factors, cognitive function and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Data were obtained from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in hYpertensives, a magnetic resonance imaging Study) cohort, which is a prospective study of patients with hypertension aged 50-70 with no prior stroke or dementia. Participants were clinically evaluated and underwent a cognitive screening test, Dementia Rating Scale-2, which includes five cognitive subscales (attention, initiation/perseveration, conceptualisation, construction and memory). Besides, they were diagnosed with MCI or normal ageing following standard criteria. H-EPVS were manually counted on brain MRI according to a previous scale and defined as extensive when H-EPVS count was ≥7 (upper quartile). Multivariate models were created to study the relationship between H-EPVS, vascular risk factors and cognitive function. RESULTS: 723 patients were included; the median age was 64 (59-67) and 51% were male. Seventy-two patients (10%) were diagnosed with MCI and 612 (84.6%) had at least 1 H-EPVS. Older age (OR per year=1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08) and poor blood pressure treatment compliance (OR=1.50, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.11) were independently associated with extensive H-EPVS. Regarding cognitive function, H-EPVS were independently and inversely correlated with verbal reasoning (ß=-0.021, 95% CI -0.038 to -0.003). No association was found between H-EPVS and MCI. CONCLUSIONS: H-EPVS are a frequent finding in patients with hypertension and are associated with ageing and poor hypertension treatment compliance. Besides, H-EPVS are associated with worse verbal reasoning function.

Empiric Therapy With Carbapenem-Sparing Regimens for Bloodstream Infections due to Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Results From the INCREMENT Cohort.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the efficacy of active alternative drugs to carbapenems except ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors for the treatment of bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients with BSI due to ESBL-E who received empiric therapy with such drugs (other active drugs [OADs]) or carbapenems. METHODS: A multinational retrospective cohort study of patients with BSI due to ESBL-E who received empiric treatment with OADs or carbapenems was performed. Cox regression including a propensity score for receiving OADs was performed to analyze 30-day all-cause mortality as main outcome. Clinical failure and length of stay were also analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 335 patients were included; 249 received empiric carbapenems and 86 OADs. The most frequent OADs were aminoglycosides (43 patients) and fluoroquinolones (20 patients). Empiric therapy with OADs was not associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], .38-1.48) in the Cox regression analysis. Propensity score-matched pairs, subgroups, and sensitivity analyses did not show different trends; specifically, the adjusted HR for aminoglycosides was 1.05 (95% CI, .51-2.16). OADs were neither associated with 14-day clinical failure (adjusted odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, .29-1.36) nor length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to show that empiric treatment with OAD was associated with a worse outcome compared with carbapenems. This information allows more options to be considered for empiric therapy, at least for some patients, depending on local susceptibility patterns of ESBL-E.