The Time for Action Is Now: The Impact of Timing of Infectious Disease Consultation for Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

This retrospective cohort study was performed to compare clinical outcomes between patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia who received an early versus late infectious disease consultation. Early consultation resulted in significantly greater adherence to quality care indicators and shorter hospital stays.

Effectiveness and Safety of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics with and without Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia or Bloodstream Infection.

This objective of this study was to compare clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia (PNA) or bloodstream infection (BSI) receiving beta-lactam antibiotic (BLA) infusions with and without the guidance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). A retrospective, parallel cohort study was conducted at two academic medical centers between December 2015 and January 2020, UF Shands Gainesville, which uses BLA TDM for select patients (BLA TDM), and UF Health Jacksonville, which does not use BLA TDM (No-BLA TDM). All hospitalized adult patients with respiratory or blood culture positive for P. aeruginosa who met diagnosis criteria for lower respiratory tract infection with a positive P. aeruginosa respiratory culture and who received ≥48 h of intravenous BLA with in vitro susceptibility within 72 h of positive culture collection were included. The primary outcome was a composite of presumed treatment failure defined as the presence of any of the following from index-positive P. aeruginosa culture collection to the end of BLA therapy: all-cause mortality, escalation of and/or additional antimicrobial therapy for P. aeruginosa infection after 48 h of treatment with susceptible BLA due to worsening clinical status, or transfer to a higher level of care (i.e., the intensive care unit [ICU]). Analyses were adjusted for possible confounding with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Two-hundred patients were included (BLA TDM, n = 95; No-BLA TDM, n = 105). In IPTW-adjusted analysis of the primary composite endpoint, BLA TDM demonstrated a significant decrease in presumed treatment failure compared to No-BLA TDM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.037, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.013 to 0.107]; P < 0.001). BLA TDM had more 30-, 60- and 90-day infection-related readmissions ([aOR], 11.301, 95% CI (3.595 to 35.516); aOR 10.389, 95% CI [2.496 to 43.239], and aOR 24.970, 95% CI [6.703 to 93.028]) in IPTW analyses. For both unadjusted and IPTW-adjusted cohorts, there was no significant difference in hospital and ICU length of stay, adverse effects while on BLA, or microbiological eradication between BLA TDM and No-BLA TDM. In hospitalized adult patients with P. aeruginosa PNA or BSI, the use of TDM-guided BLA infusions decreased the odds of presumed treatment failure compared to patients receiving BLA infusions without TDM guidance. Future studies should evaluate BLA TDM impact on readmission.

Adjuvant ß-Lactam Therapy Combined with Vancomycin for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Does ß-Lactam Class Matter?

We analyzed the impact of vancomycin (VAN) combined with adjuvant ß-lactam therapy (Combo) on persistent (≥5 days) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia versus VAN alone by using pooled data from two previously published observational studies (n = 156). Combo was inversely associated with persistent bacteremia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.460; 95% confidence interval, 0.229 to 0.923). Acute kidney injury was more common with Combo than with VAN (18.9% and 7.6%, respectively; P = 0.062).

Overtreatment of Asymptomatic Candiduria among Hospitalized Patients: a Multi-institutional Study.

Candiduria is common in hospitalized patients, and asymptomatic candiduria contributes to antifungal overuse. The guidelines for management of asymptomatic candiduria do not recommend antifungal use, but rather the elimination of predisposing factors. It is unknown whether these recommendations are being followed. The primary objective of this study was to characterize candiduria management among hospitalized patients. This was a retrospective cohort study of a random sample of 305 hospitalized patients with candiduria at four U.S. medical centers from January 2010 to December 2013. Patients were classified as asymptomatic or symptomatic based on established criteria, and data were collected by chart review. Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) treatment guideline adherence and its association with clinical outcomes, including candiduria recurrence (short- and long-term) and 30-day readmission, were assessed. Eighty percent of patients were classified as having asymptomatic candiduria. Overall, 143 (47%) patients were not managed according to recommended guidelines, including 105/243 (43%) in the asymptomatic candiduria group and 38/62 (61%) in the symptomatic group (P = 0.01). Discordance among asymptomatic patients was driven by overtreatment with an antifungal (98/105 [93%]). Thirty-three percent of patients with asymptomatic candiduria not managed according to the guidelines were treated for over 7 days, and 5% received over 14 days of therapy. Fluconazole was the most commonly used empirical antifungal among asymptomatic candiduria patients (96%), followed by micafungin (4%). Asymptomatic candiduria patients not managed according to the guidelines had a trend toward higher 30-day readmission (35% versus 26%, P = 0.27). Inappropriate management of candiduria among hospitalized patients was high, leading to overtreatment with antifungal therapy.

Multicenter Observational Study of Ceftaroline Fosamil for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections.

Novel therapies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection (BSI) are needed in the setting of reduced antibiotic susceptibilities and therapeutic failure. Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin antibiotic with MRSA activity. Although not FDA approved for MRSA BSI, ceftaroline has generated much interest as a potential treatment option. However, detailed descriptions of its use in this setting remain limited. To address this, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational study of adult patients with MRSA BSI treated with at least 72 h of ceftaroline from 2011 to 2015. Safety outcomes were examined in the overall cohort, while efficacy outcomes were examined among patients who had not cleared their BSI prior to ceftaroline initiation. Data were also stratified by ceftaroline monotherapy or combination therapy. Predictors of clinical failure on ceftaroline treatment were also sought. Overall, 211 patients were included in the safety population; Clostridium difficile infection, rash, and neutropenia occurred in 6 patients (2.8%), 7 patients (3.3%), and 3 patients (1.4%), respectively. Clinical success was observed in 86 (68.3%) of the 126 patients included in the efficacy population. The monotherapy and combination therapy subgroups had similar proportions of patients experiencing success (69.7 and 64.9%, respectively). The median BSI durations post-ceftaroline treatment were 2 days (interquartile range, 1 to 4 days) for monotherapy and 3 days (interquartile range, 1.5 to 5 days) for combination therapy. Higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores and comorbid malignancy independently predicted treatment failure. Ceftaroline appears effective for MRSA BSI as both monotherapy and combination therapy. However, comparative studies are needed to further delineate the role of ceftaroline in MRSA BSI treatment.

Daptomycin Improves Outcomes Regardless of Vancomycin MIC in a Propensity-Matched Analysis of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections.

Vancomycin remains the mainstay treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs) despite increased treatment failures. Daptomycin has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with BSIs caused by MRSA isolates with vancomycin MICs of >1 mg/liter, but these studies relied on automated testing systems. We evaluated the outcomes of BSIs caused by MRSA isolates for which vancomycin MICs were determined by standard broth microdilution (BMD). A retrospective, matched cohort of patients with MRSA BSIs treated with vancomycin or daptomycin from January 2010 to March 2015 was completed. Patients were matched using propensity-adjusted logistic regression, which included age, Pitt bacteremia score, primary BSI source, and hospital of care. The primary endpoint was clinical failure, which was a composite endpoint of the following metrics: 30-day mortality, bacteremia with a duration of ≥7 days, or a change in anti-MRSA therapy due to persistent or worsening signs or symptoms. Secondary endpoints included MRSA-attributable mortality and the number of days of MRSA bacteremia. Independent predictors of failure were determined through conditional backwards-stepwise logistic regression with vancomycin BMD MIC forced into the model. A total of 262 patients were matched. Clinical failure was significantly higher in the vancomycin cohort than in the daptomycin cohort (45.0% versus 29.0%; P = 0.007). All-cause 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the vancomycin cohort (15.3% versus 6.1%; P = 0.024). These outcomes remained significant when stratified by vancomycin BMD MIC. There was no significant difference in the length of MRSA bacteremia. Variables independently associated with treatment failure included vancomycin therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24 to 3.76), intensive care unit admission (aOR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.34 to 4.54), and infective endocarditis as the primary source (aOR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.16 to 4.68). Treatment of MRSA BSIs with daptomycin was associated with reduced clinical failure and 30-day mortality; these findings were independent of vancomycin BMD MIC.

Association between vancomycin day 1 exposure profile and outcomes among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis.

Given the critical importance of early appropriate therapy, a retrospective cohort (2002 to 2013) was performed at the Detroit Medical Center to evaluate the association between the day 1 vancomycin exposure profile and outcomes among patients with MRSA infective endocarditis (IE). The day 1 vancomycin area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) and the minimum concentration at 24 h (Cmin 24) was estimated for each patient using the Bayesian procedure in ADAPT 5, an approach shown to accurately predict the vancomycin exposure with low bias and high precision with limited pharmacokinetic sampling. Initial MRSA isolates were collected and vancomycin MIC was determined by broth microdilution (BMD) and Etest. The primary outcome was failure, defined as persistent bacteremia (≥7 days) or 30-day attributable mortality. Classification and regression tree analysis (CART) was used to determine the vancomycin exposure variables associated with an increased probability of failure. In total, 139 patients met study criteria; 76.3% had right-sided IE, 16.5% had left-sided IE, and 7.2% had both left and right-sided IE. A total of 89/139 (64%) experienced failure by composite definition. In the CART analysis, failure was more pronounced in patients with an AUC0-24/MIC as determined by BMD of ≤600 relative to those with AUC0-24/MIC as determined by BMD of >600 (69.8% versus 54.7%, respectively, P = 0.073). In the logistic regression analysis, an AUC/MIC as determined by BMD of ≤600 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 5.37; P = 0.047) was independently associated with failure. Given the retrospective nature of the present study, further prospective studies are required but these data suggest that patients with an AUC0-24/MIC as determined by BMD of ≤600 present an increased risk of failure.

Impact of the combination of daptomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on clinical outcomes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Complicated Staphylococcus aureus infections, including bacteremia, are often associated with treatment failures, prolonged hospital stays, and the emergence of resistance to primary and even secondary therapies. Daptomycin is commonly used as salvage therapy after vancomycin failure for the treatment of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections. Unfortunately, the emergence of daptomycin resistance, especially in deep-seated infections, has been reported, prompting the need for alternative or combination therapy. Numerous antibiotic combinations with daptomycin have been investigated clinically and in vitro. Of interest, the combination of daptomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) has proved to be rapidly bactericidal in vitro to strains that are both susceptible and nonsusceptible to daptomycin. However, to date, there is limited clinical evidence supporting the use of this combination. This was a multicenter, retrospective case series of patients treated with the combination of daptomycin and TMP-SMX for at least 72 h. The objective of this study was to describe the safety and effectiveness of this regimen in clinical practice. The most commonly stated reason that TMP-SMX was added to daptomycin was persistent bacteremia and/or progressive signs and symptoms of infection. After the initiation of combination therapy, the median time to clearance of bacteremia was 2.5 days. Microbiological eradication was demonstrated in 24 out of 28 patients, and in vitro synergy was demonstrated in 17 of the 17 recovered isolates. Further research with this combination is necessary to describe the optimal role and its impact on patient outcomes.

Evaluation of vancomycin population susceptibility analysis profile as a predictor of outcomes for patients with infective endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Infective endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA IE) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Vancomycin continues to be the primary treatment for this disease. The emergence of heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA), defined as a modified population analysis profile (PAP) of ≥ 0.9, may affect patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of vancomycin subpopulation susceptibility and the clinical outcomes of MRSA IE. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients treated with vancomycin for MRSA IE from 2002 to 2013 at the Detroit Medical Center. A modified PAP was used to measure the vancomycin PAP MIC and the PAP-to-area under the curve (AUC) ratio. Treatment failure was defined as bacteremia for ≥ 7 days or death attributed to MRSA. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to select a failure breakpoint between the PAP-AUC ratios and the PAP MIC. A total of 202 patients were included in the study. Twenty-seven percent of the patients had left-sided IE, 19% of the strains were hVISA, and 70% of the strains were staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (SCCmec) type IV. Overall treatment failure was observed in 64%; 59% had persistent bacteremia, and the 30-day attributable mortality rate was 21%. The CART breakpoint between failure and success in terms of the PAP-AUC ratio was 0.9035. On logistic regression analysis, intensive care unit (ICU) admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 5.2) and a PAP MIC of ≥ 4 mg/liter (aOR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 8.4) were associated with failure (P = 0.001 and 0.015, respectively). A PAP MIC of ≥ 4 mg/liter and ICU admission were significant for treatment failure for patients with MRSA IE. The PAP-AUC ratio of ≥ 0.9035 predicted failure consistent with the hVISA definition. The role of population MIC analysis in predicting outcome with MRSA infections warrants further investigation.

Large retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of ceftaroline fosamil therapy.

Ceftaroline has been approved for acute bacterial skin infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Limited clinical experience exists for use outside these indications. The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of patients treated with ceftaroline for various infections. Retrospective analyses of patients receiving ceftaroline ≥72 h from 2011 to 2013 were included. Clinical and microbiological outcomes were analyzed. Clinical success was defined as resolution of all signs and symptoms of infection with no further need for escalation while on ceftaroline treatment during hospitalization. A total of 527 patients received ceftaroline, and 67% were treated for off-label indications. Twenty-eight percent (148/527) of patients had bacteremia. Most patients (80%) were initiated on ceftaroline after receipt of another antimicrobial, with 48% citing disease progression as a reason for switching. The median duration of ceftaroline treatment was 6 days, with an interquartile range of 4 to 9 days. A total of 327 (62%) patients were culture positive, and the most prevalent pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus, with a frequency of 83% (271/327). Of these patients, 88.9% (241/271) were infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Clinically, 88% (426/484) achieved clinical success and hospital mortality was seen in 8% (40/527). While on ceftaroline, adverse events were experienced in 8% (41/527) of the patients and 9% (28/307) were readmitted within 30 days after discharge for the same infection. Patients treated with ceftaroline for both FDA-approved and off-label infections had favorable outcomes. Further research is necessary to further describe the role of ceftaroline in a variety of infections and its impact on patient outcomes.

Multicenter study of high-dose daptomycin for treatment of enterococcal infections.

Enterococci are among the leading pathogens isolated in hospital-acquired infections. Current antimicrobial options for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are limited. Prior data suggest that daptomycin at >6 mg/kg of body weight/day may be used to treat enterococcal infections. We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness and safety of high-dose daptomycin (HD-daptomycin) therapy (>6 mg/kg) in a multicenter cohort of adult patients with enterococcal infections to describe the characteristics and outcomes. Two hundred forty-five patients were evaluated. Enterococcus faecium was identified in 175 (71%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis in 49 (20%) and Enterococcus spp. in 21 (9%); overall, 204 (83%) isolates were VRE. Enterococcal infections included bacteremia (173, 71%) and intra-abdominal (35, 14%) and bone and joint (25, 10%) infections. The median dosage and duration of HD-daptomycin were 8.2 mg/kg/day (interquartile range [IQR], 7.7 to 9.7) and 10 days (IQR, 6 to 15), respectively. The overall clinical success rate was 89% (193/218), and microbiological eradication was observed in 93% (177/191) of patients. The median time to clearance of blood cultures on HD-daptomycin was 3 days (IQR, 2 to 5). The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 27%, and 5 (2%) patients developed daptomycin-nonsusceptible enterococcal strains while on HD-daptomycin. Seven patients (3%) had creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation, yet no HD-daptomycin regimen was discontinued due to an elevated CPK and all patients were asymptomatic. Overall, there was a high frequency of clinical success and microbiological eradication in patients treated with HD-daptomycin for enterococcal infections, even in patients with complicated and difficult-to-treat infections. No adverse event-related discontinuation of HD-daptomycin was noted. HD-daptomycin may be an option for the treatment of enterococcal infections.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heterogeneous Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection.

The prevalence of heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) infections varies in the literature, a problem complicated by the lack of routine screening procedures; however, limited data suggest that hVISA has been associated with persistent bloodstream infections (BSI) and vancomycin failure, yet these studies have been confounded by design issues. We conducted this study to compare the characteristics of patients with BSI caused by hVISA with those with vancomycin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) treated with vancomycin. This retrospective, multicenter matched (1:1) cohort study compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hVISA and VSSA. Patients with hVISA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) BSI from 2004 to 2012 were matched to VSSA-MRSA BSI patients. The primary outcome was failure of vancomycin treatment, defined as a composite of persistent bacteremia (≥7 days), persistent signs and symptoms, change of MRSA antibiotic, recurrent BSI, or MRSA-related mortality. We identified 122 matched cases. The overall vancomycin failure rate was 57% (82% hVISA versus 33% VSSA; P < 0.001). The individual components of failure in hVISA versus VSSA were persistent bacteremia, 59% versus 21% (P < 0.001); change in MRSA therapy, 54% versus 25% (P = 0.001); MRSA-related mortality, 21% versus 10% (P = 0.081); and recurrence of BSI, 26% versus 2% (P < 0.001). Using logistic regression analysis and adjusting for covariates, hVISA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 11.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3 to 28.7) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (aOR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.8 to 11.6) were still independently associated with vancomycin failure. Relative to VSSA BSI, patients with hVISA were more likely to experience failure of vancomycin treatment, including persistent bacteremia and recurrence. Our results indicate that hVISA was responsible for considerable morbidity.

A multicentre evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of high-dose daptomycin for the treatment of infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: Despite significant medical advances, infective endocarditis (IE) remains an infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of high-dose daptomycin, defined as ≥ 8 mg/kg/day, in patients with confirmed or suspected staphylococcal and/or enterococcal IE. METHODS: This was a multicentre, retrospective observational study (2005-11). Adult patients, not undergoing haemodialysis, with blood cultures positive for staphylococci or enterococci and a definitive or possible diagnosis of IE, who received daptomycin ≥ 8 mg/kg/day (based on total body weight) for ≥ 72 h were included. RESULTS: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria and comprised 33 (47.1%) with right-sided IE (RIE), 35 (50%) with left-sided IE (LIE) and 2 with both RIE and LIE. Several patients had concomitant sites of infection, with bone/joint infection being most prevalent (12.9%). Sixty-five patients received daptomycin as salvage therapy. Pathogens were isolated from 64 patients, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as the most common organism (84.4%), followed by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (7.8%). The median (IQR) daptomycin dose was 9.8 mg/kg/day (8.2-10.0 mg/kg/day), and was similar in RIE and LIE patients (9.8 and 9.3 mg/kg/day, respectively). A total of 24 (34.3%) received combination therapy. For those patients with pathogens isolated (n = 64), the organism was eradicated in 57 (89.1%) patients. Among 64 clinically evaluable patients, 55 (85.9%) achieved clinical success. No patients required discontinuation of high-dose daptomycin due to creatine phosphokinase elevations. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with both RIE and LIE had successful outcomes with high-dose daptomycin therapy. Additional clinical trials evaluating high daptomycin dosages in patients with IE are warranted.

Comparison of acute kidney injury in patients prescribed vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam or cefepime for diabetic foot infections.

Concomitant therapy with vancomycin (VAN) and piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ) has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Diabetic patients may be more susceptible to AKI due to various factors. In an observational, retrospective, cohort study of adults treated for diabetic foot infections (DFIs), rates of AKI were compared between groups receiving VAN+PTZ versus VAN+cefepime (CFP). Among 356 patients screened for inclusion, 210 were analyzed. Forty-nine of 140 patients (35%) in the VAN+PTZ group and 5 of 70 patients (7%) in the VAN+CFP group developed AKI according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria (OR 7.00 (95% CI 2.64 to 18.53), p<0.001). After adjusting for baseline differences, VAN+PTZ was an independent predictor of AKI (OR 6.21 (95% CI 2.30 to 16.72), p<0.001). Time to AKI was 102.1 hours (IQR 47-152.7) in the VAN+PTZ group versus 78.3 hours (IQR 39.8-100.6) in the VAN+CFP group (p>0.999). Median length of stay was significantly higher in the VAN+PTZ group at 11.9 days (IQR 7.9-17.8) versus 7.8 days (IQR 4.9-12.1) in the VAN+CFP group (p<0.001). VAN+PTZ was also associated with higher total hospital charges at US$99,742.83 (IQR US$69,342.50-US$165,549.59) compared with US$74,260.25 (IQR US$48,446.88-US$107,396.99) in the VAN+CFP arm (p<0.001). In conclusion, VAN+CFP should be the preferred empiric regimen in patients with severe DFI.

Influence of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Molecular Rapid Diagnostic Tests on Antimicrobial Prescribing for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase- and Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Bloodstream Infection.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of the Verigene BC-GN molecular rapid diagnostic test to standard antimicrobial stewardship practices (mRDT + ASP) decreased the time to optimal and effective antimicrobial therapy for patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections (BSI) compared to conventional microbiological methods with ASP (CONV + ASP). This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study evaluating the time to optimal antimicrobial therapy in 5 years of patients with E. coli or K. pneumoniae BSI determined to be ESBL- or carbapenemase-producing by mRDT and/or CONV. Of the 378 patients included (mRDT + ASP, n = 164; CONV + ASP, n = 214), 339 received optimal antimicrobial therapy (mRDT + ASP, n = 161; CONV + ASP, n = 178), and 360 (mRDT + ASP, n = 163; CONV + ASP, n = 197) received effective antimicrobial therapy. The mRDT + ASP demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the time to optimal antimicrobial therapy (20.5 h [interquartile range (IQR), 17.0 to 42.2 h] versus 50.1 h [IQR, 27.6 to 77.9 h]; P < 0.001) and the time to effective antimicrobial therapy (15.9 h [IQR, 1.9 to 25.7 h] versus 28.0 h [IQR, 9.5 to 56.7 h]; P < 0.001) compared to CONV + ASP, respectively. IMPORTANCE Our study supports the additional benefit of molecular rapid diagnostic test in combination with timely antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) intervention on shortening the time to both optimal and effective antimicrobial therapy in patients with ESBL- or carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections, compared to conventional microbiological methods and ASP. Gram-negative infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, often resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction. Both resistance phenotypes confer resistance to many of our first-line antimicrobial agents with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales requiring novel beta-lactam and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations or other susceptible non-beta-lactam antibiotics for treatment. National resistance trends in a cohort of hospitalized patients at U.S. hospitals during our study period demonstrate the increasing incidence of both resistance phenotypes, reinforcing the generalizability and timeliness of such analysis.

Preanalytical Challenges During Capillary Fingerstick Sampling Preclude Its Widespread Use in Adult Hospitalized Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Patient compliance with laboratory testing is one of the most underrecognized challenges in developing a treatment plan for acute and chronically ill patients. The ability to offer alternatives to standard venipuncture blood draws would greatly increase a laboratory's ability to provide testing to patients and health care providers. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study on paired venous and fingerstick capillary blood samples from admitted patients undergoing vancomycin therapy. Paired specimens were analyzed for vancomycin and a basic metabolic panel (BMP: calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, potassium, sodium, creatinine, glucose, serum urea nitrogen) on the core laboratory's automated chemistry and immunochemistry platforms. RESULTS: A total of 59 paired fingerstick and venous blood specimens from 56 unique inpatients were analyzed. Paired samples were comparable for all the analytes tested with the exception of bicarbonate and potassium, which were significantly different among the capillary sample group. Patients required multiple fingers be lanced in 15% of cases to obtain sufficient blood to carry out the testing. Capillary sample rejection rates due to insufficient volumes were as high as 30% in the initial 30 patients enrolled in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin and the BMP, with the exception of potassium and bicarbonate, were determined to be analytically comparable. However, significant preanalytical issues should preclude laboratories and providers from more widespread adoption of fingerstick-derived capillary blood as an alternative sampling method except in the most extenuating of circumstances.

An Update on Existing and Emerging Data for Meropenem-Vaborbactam.

PURPOSE: The search for new agents to treat multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections has been ongoing. Specifically, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections often exhibit multiple resistance mechanisms, including alterations in drug structure, bacterial efflux pumps, and drug permeability. Vaborbactam, a cyclic boronic acid pharmacophore, has the highest potency in vitro with meropenem as an inhibitor of class A carbapenemases, including Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). This combination product was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in August 2017, and recent Phase III trial data have expanded the literature available. This article aimed to describe the literature regarding spectrum of activity, dosing and administration, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties, safety profile, and efficacy end points. METHODS: The terms meropenem, vaborbactam, RPX7009, and meropenem-vaborbactam were used to search for literature via PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and published abstracts from 2013 to July 2019. Abstracts from IDWeek 2019 were also searched via these terms. Results were limited to availability in English. FINDINGS: Meropenem-vaborbactam covers a spectrum of gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including K pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae complex. Although the addition of vaborbactam to meropenem results in MIC lowering for KPC-positive Enterobacteriaceae, in vitro data reveal limited activity against resistant strains of Acinetobacter species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Data from 2 Phase III studies compare the drug with available therapies for the following indications: cUTIs, acute pyelonephritis, hospital-acquired and ventilator-acquired bacterial pneumonia, bacteremia, and complicated intra-abdominal infections. Outcomes include an improvement in clinical success when compared with piperacillin-tazobactam (98.4% vs 94%; 95% CI, 0.7%-9.1%; P < 0.001 for noninferiority) for overall treatment of cUTIs and acute pyelonephritis and clinical cure (64.3% vs 33.3%; P = 0.04) when compared with best available therapy for CRE infections in various sites of infection. Adverse events have been described as mild to moderate, with few events requiring discontinuation of the drug therapy. IMPLICATIONS: Currently, meropenem-vaborbactam is approved for treatment of cUTIs and acute pyelonephritis; however, off-label use, in particular for CRE infections, appears beneficial. Clinical trials to date have found an improvement in clinical cure and potentially an improved tolerability compared with standard therapies. Most of the evidence for meropenem-vaborbactam activity and the role in therapy focuses on KPC-producing organisms; however, because in vitro activity has been found with some non-KPC-producing CRE, its role may be further described from upcoming in vivo cases and postmarketing research.

Cefazolin Versus Anti-Staphylococcal Penicillins for the Treatment of Patients with Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infection: A Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is a common cause of infection in humans. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the preferred agents, with anti-staphylococcal penicillins (ASPs) or the first-generation cephalosporin, cefazolin, favored by clinicians. Recent studies comparing the two strategies suggest similar outcomes between the agents. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore differences between cefazolin and ASPs for the treatment of MSSA infections. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis (TSA) of observational or cohort studies using a random-effects model. Two blinded reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, risk of bias, and data extraction. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included clinical failure, infection recurrence, and antibiotic discontinuation due to adverse events. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the primary outcome by type of ASP, studies with a high percentage of deep-seated infections, and studies of low to moderate risk of bias. RESULTS: After performing a comprehensive search of the literature, and screening for study inclusion, 19 studies (13,390 patients) were included in the final meta-analysis. Fifteen of the 19 studies (79%) were judged as having a low or moderate risk of bias. Use of cefazolin was associated with lower all-cause mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.91, p = 0.006, I2 = 28%], clinical failure (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.74, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%), and antibiotic discontinuation due to adverse events (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.16-0.39, p < 0.001, I2 = 23%). Infection recurrence was higher in the cefazolin patients (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.04-1.93, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis demonstrated that the use of cefazolin was associated with significant reductions in all-cause mortality, clinical failure, and discontinuation due to adverse events, but was associated with an increased risk of infection recurrence. FUNDING: University of Florida Open Access Publishing Fund funded the Rapid Service Fees. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (study ID: CRD42018106442).

Relationship Status between Vancomycin Loading Dose and Treatment Failure in Patients with MRSA Bacteremia: It's Complicated.

INTRODUCTION: A one-time vancomycin loading dose of 25-30 mg/kg is recommended in the current iteration of the vancomycin consensus guidelines in order to more rapidly achieve target serum concentrations and hasten clinical improvement. However, there are few clinical data to support this practice, and the extents of its benefits are largely unknown. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was performed to assess the impact of a vancomycin loading dose (≥ 20 mg/kg) on clinical outcomes and rates of nephrotoxicity in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. The study matched patients in a 1:1 fashion based on age, Pitt bacteremia score, and bacteremia source. The primary outcome was composite treatment failure (30-day mortality, bacteremia duration ≥ 7 days after vancomycin initiation, persistent signs and symptoms of infection ≥ 7 days after vancomycin initiation, or switch to an alternative antimicrobial agent). Secondary outcomes included duration of bacteremia, length of stay post-bacteremia onset, and nephrotoxicity. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients with MRSA bacteremia were included. Median first doses in the loading dose and non-loading dose groups were 23.0 mg/kg and 14.3 mg/kg, respectively (P < 0.001). No difference was found in composite failure rates between the non-loading dose and loading dose groups (40.5% vs. 36.7%; P = 0.488) or in the incidence of nephrotoxicity (12.7% vs. 16.5%; P = 0.347). While multivariable regression modeling showed receipt of a vancomycin loading dose on a mg/kg basis was not significantly associated with composite failure [aOR 0.612, 95% CI (0.368-1.019)]; post hoc analyses demonstrated that initial doses ≥ 1750 mg were independently protective against failure [aOR 0.506, 95% CI (0.284-0.902)] without increasing the risk for nephrotoxicity [aOR 0.909, 95% CI (0.432-1.911)]. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that initial vancomycin doses above a certain threshold may decrease clinical failures without increasing toxicity and that weight-based dosing might not be the optimal strategy.