Prognosis of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection treated with teicoplanin: a retrospective cohort study investigating effect of teicoplanin minimum inhibitory concentrations.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to investigate whether teicoplanin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates play a role in the prognosis of patient with teicoplanin-treated MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI). METHODS: Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2009, adult patients with teicoplanin-treated MRSA BSI in two Taiwan medical centers were retrospectively enrolled. Their blood MRSA isolates were submitted for determination of MICs to various antibiotics and multi-locus sequence types. All-cause mortalities on Days 14 and 30, as well as clinical response at the end of teicoplanin therapy were treated as endpoints. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy adult patients were enrolled and 210 blood MRSA isolates were available. Independent risk factors for un-favorable outcome at the end of teicoplanin therapy included septic shock (p < 0.0001) and an elevated C-reactive protein level (p = 0.0064). The independent risk factors for all-cause Day 14 mortality (13.0%) included the presence of auto-immune diseases (p = 0.0235), septic shock (p = 0.0253) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.0018). The independent risk factors for all-cause Day 30 mortality (26.3%) included age (p = 0.0102), septic shock (p < 0.0001) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.0059). CONCLUSIONS: The current study didn't find a significant role for teicoplanin MICs in the prognosis of adult patients with teicoplanin-treated MRSA BSI.

Klebsiella pneumoniae in gastrointestinal tract and pyogenic liver abscess.

To determine the role of gastrointestinal carriage in Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess, we studied 43 patients. Bacterial isolates from liver and fecal samples from 10 patients with this condition and 7 healthy carriers showed identical serotypes and genotypes with the same virulence. This finding indicated that gastrointestinal carriage is a predisposing factor for liver abscess.

The ICNARC model is predictive of hospital mortality in critically ill patients supported by acute dialysis.

AIMS: To compare prediction power between ICNARC model and RIFLE classification in postoperative patients receiving acute dialysis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2002 and December 2008, 529 patients received acute dialysis during their ICU stay were enrolled. Patients' demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as predictors of mortality. The RIFLE logistic regression and the ICNARC model on ICU admission were evaluated to predict the patient's hospital mortality. RESULTS: Hospital mortality for the study group was 29.3%. Between two score systems, the ICNARC model showed better mortality prediction in this patient group by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ICNARC 0.836, RIFLE 0.702, p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that age, surgery category, metastatic carcinoma, ventilator use, and previous history of hypertension were also affecting factors for hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The RIFLE classification and the ICNARC model were both correlated with mortality in critically ill patient with acute dialysis. However, the ICNARC model was a better mortality predictor compared to the RIFLE classification.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis complicating Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by specific autoimmune antibodies anti-Ro and anti-La, and it can involve multiple organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. The most common renal complication of Sjögren's syndrome is tubulointerstitial nephritis, and glomerulonephritis is relatively uncommon. We report the case of an 86-year-old man presenting with recurrent fever, poor appetite, decreased salivary secretion, and body weight loss. Laboratory investigation revealed that serum creatinine was 4.2 mg/dL, proteinuria was 3+, and there was microscopic hematuria. Positive perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anti-Ro, and anti-La antibodies were detected. Renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis with scanty immune complex deposition. The patient was diagnosed with primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. Unlike the patients of other case reports, our patient's renal function did not recover after immunosuppressant treatment, and he finally received long-term hemodialysis. Pauci-immune glomerulonephritis is a rare renal complication of Sjögren's syndrome, and progress to renal failure in such patients is possible.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia requiring intensive care.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is the major pathogen of community-acquired pyogenic infections in Taiwan and can lead to poor prognosis in critically ill patients complicated with bacteremia. This study investigated the characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia who required intensive care. METHOD: Adult patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia requiring intensive care were retrospectively analyzed, compared with those treated in ordinary wards, and determined for risk factors for infection-related mortality and long-term mortality at a medical center in Taiwan over a 3-year period. RESULTS: Among the 309 patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia, 58 patients (18.8%) required intensive care. Respiratory tract infection [Odds ratio (OR) = 3.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.79-7.50, p < 0.001] was the independent risk factor for ICU admission. Infection-related mortality was 34.5%. Higher APACHE II score (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.02-2.01; p = 0.041) and underlying malignant neoplasm (OR = 35.48; 95% CI = 2.54-495.57; p = 0.008) were independent predictors of infection-related mortality on multivariate logistic regression. One-year overall mortality was 58.6% and malignant neoplasm was the predisposing factor for poor long-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Nearly one fifth of patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia required intensive care and this was associated with high mortality and poor long-term prognosis. Physicians should recognize the distinct characteristics and risk factors for mortality among these patients.

Associated clinical characteristics of patients with candidemia among different Candida species.

BACKGROUND: The rising incidence of non-albicans Candida (NAC) infection has been associated with a potentially adverse outcome for patients with candidemia. However, categorizing various species causing candidemia into a single NAC group might lead to inappropriate conclusions due to heterogeneity in species. Thus we examined the associated factors among patients with candidemia caused by different species. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from 2006 to 2009. Mortality rate, demographic and clinical characteristics, albumin levels, and severity scores of acute illness of patients at the onset of candidemia were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 447 episodes among 418 patients were included for analysis. The overall 30-day crude mortality was 48.2%, with no significant difference between C. albicans and NAC candidemia, but apparently C. parapsilosis candidemia was associated with a lower mortality rate. Time to positivity for yeast was significantly different between species. Compared with infection involving C. albicans, more frequent use of total parenteral nutrition, lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and higher albumin levels were observed for C. parapsilosis candidemia. CONCLUSION: Identifying associated factors for each species may be a more effective approach than single NAC grouping. Time to positivity may be a hint for treatment guidance in candidemia. More frequent use of total parenteral nutrition and less virulent nature were noted for C. parapsilosis candidemia.

Comparison between patients under hemodialysis with community-onset bacteremia caused by community-associated and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE(S): Patients receiving hemodialysis infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been considered to have healthcare-associated (HA) infections, but strains with community-associated (CA) characteristics have also been identified in this population. The authors compared infections of the two strains among patients with end-stage renal disease. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2008 the authors analyzed the demographic and microbiologic data of 57 patients with community-onset (defined as a positive culture obtained ≤ 48 hours after admission) MRSA bacteremia and end-stage renal disease at a 2900-bed tertiary medical center. MRSA isolate with staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type II/III was classified as HA strains, and SCCmec type IV/V as CA strains. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (82%) had HA-MRSA strains and 10 patients (18%) had CA-MRSA strains. The major clones of HA-MRSA were sequence type (ST) 5 with SCCmec type II and staphylococcal protein A (spa) t002 as well as ST239 carrying SCCmec type III and spa t037. The CA-MRSA strains were predominantly ST59, more susceptible to non-ß-lactam antimicrobial agents, and had a higher percentage of carrying the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene in comparision with the HA-MRSA strains. Patients infected with HA-MRSA isolates had a higher overall mortality (57.4%, p = 0.012). In multivariate analysis, male patients were more likely to be infected with HA-MRSA isolates than CA-MRSA strains (p = 0.037), and a history of receiving urinary catheterization within 1 year prior to bacteremia onset (p = 0.047) is an independent risk factor to acquiring HA-MRSA strains. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing dialysis and infected with HA-MRSA strains had higher mortality rates and were more commonly associated with urinary catheterization within 1 year before bacteremia.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of Acinetobacter nosocomialis bacteraemia in patients with solid tumours.

The clinical characteristics and risk factors for 28-day mortality in 120 patients with solid tumours with Acinetobacter nosocomialis bacteraemia were retrospectively analysed. Eighty-one patients (67.5%) had advanced-stage cancer. Most of the bacteraemia (37.5%) did not have an identified source. The bacteraemia episodes developed at a median of 15 days after hospitalization, and most during a non-neutropenic period (97.5%). Although only half of the patients received appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the mortality was relatively low (11.7%). High Pitt bacteraemia score and receipt of chemotherapy within the month before bacteraemia onset were independently associated with 28-day mortality.

Characteristics of healthcare-associated and community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the major cause of community-onset pyogenic infections in Taiwan. We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of community-acquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HCA) infections among community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia. METHODS: Adult patients with community-onset monomicrobial K. pneumoniae bacteremia were analysed retrospectively at a medical centre in Taiwan over a 4-year period. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients from the CA and HCA groups and identified the risk factors for infection-related mortality. RESULTS: In a total of 372 patients, HCA infections were observed in 44%. The HCA group had higher Charlson score, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, version II (APACHE II) score, frequency of malignancy, rates of respiratory tract infection and bacteremia from unknown sources, and higher mortality than the CA group. Diabetes and liver abscess were predominant in the CA group. Whereas old age, APACHE II score >15, malignancy, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, respiratory tract infection, skin and soft tissue infection, and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy were predictors for mortality, HCA bacteremia was not. CONCLUSIONS: HCA bacteremia showed different characteristics and higher mortality than CA bacteremia, but HCA infection was not an independent risk factor for mortality.

Comparison of microbiological and clinical characteristics based on SCCmec typing in patients with community-onset meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia.

Molecular identification methods based on the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) genotype are more reliable than clinical risk factors and demographic data for differentiating community-acquired and healthcare-associated (HCA) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, patients with community-onset (CO) MRSA infections, defined as a culture-positive sample obtained <48h after admission and from patients with HCA risk factors, have been infrequently studied. This study compared the clinical profiles of different SCCmec genotypes in this group of patients. From 2004 to 2008, the clinical profiles of 122 non-repetitive patients with CO-MRSA infections at a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan were retrospectively recorded and the molecular characteristics of the isolates were examined. The proportion of SCCmec IV/V genotypes increased from 9.5% to 35.3% from 2004 to 2008. There were no differences in demographic data, underlying diseases, invasive procedures or outcomes between the SCCmec II/III and IV/V groups, except that patients with SCCmec II/III genotypes tended to have more HCA risk factors (3.1 vs. 2.4; P=0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that having at least four HCA risk factors was independently associated with SCCmec II/III. The sensitivity of recovering SCCmec IV/V genotypes from patients with less than four HCA risk factors was 89.3%. This study revealed the emergence of SCCmec IV/V genotypes in CO-MRSA infections. Although the clinical characteristic boundaries between SCCmec II/III and IV/V diminished, having at least four HCA risk factors made the presence of SCCmec IV/V genotypes less likely in patients with CO-MRSA infections.

Pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic liver abscess and hepatocellular carcinoma are common in Taiwan. We investigated the frequency of, risk factors for, and prognosis of pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma over a 12-year period in Taiwan. METHODS: We extracted 32,454 patients with pyogenic liver abscess from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan during the period 1997-2008. The frequency of and risk factors for pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma were determined. The prognosis of these patients was compared with patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but without liver abscess. RESULTS: A total of 698 (2.15%) patients presented with liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma during the 12-year period. Liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, and age ≥65 years were independent risk factors for liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, these patients had a lower 2-year survival rate than patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but without liver abscess (30% vs 37%; P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients who presented with pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma was poor. Physicians should not ignore the possibility of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with risk factors for the disease in regions with a high prevalence of both pyogenic liver abscess and hepatocellular carcinoma.