Comparing ethanol lock therapy versus vancomycin lock in a salvation strategy for totally implantable vascular access device infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci (the ETHALOCK study): a prospective double-blind randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about efficacy and safety of ethanol lock therapy (ELT) to treat totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD) infections. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of a local treatment with ELT without removal for TIVAD infection due to coagulase-negative staphylococci. METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of 40% ELT versus vancomycin lock therapy (VLT) in TIVAD infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci, complicated or not by bloodstream infection. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were assigned to the ELT group and 30 to the VLT arm. Concomitant bacteremia was present in 41 patients (67.2%). Treatment success was 58.1 % (18 of 31) for the ELT arm and 46.7% (14 of 30) for the VLT arm (p = 0.37). The overall treatment success was 52.5% (32). The risk of treatment failure due to uncontrolled infections, superinfections, and mechanical complications did not differ significantly between participants receiving ELT (13 out of 31 [42%]) and those receiving VLT (16 out of 30 [53%]) with a hazard ratio of 0.70 (p = 0.343; 95% CI [0.34-1.46], Cox model). Catheter malfunctions were significantly more frequent in the ELT arm (11 patients versus 2 in the VLT group, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found an overall high rate of treatment failure that did not differ between the ELT arm and the VLT arm. TIVAD removal must be prioritized to prevent complications (uncontrolled infections, superinfections, and catheter malfunctions) except in exceptional situations.

A prospective study on the pathogenesis of catheter-associated bacteriuria in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Updating the pathogenesis of catheter-associated bacteriuria (CA-bacteriuria) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is needed to adapt prevention strategies. Our aim was to determine whether the main pathway of CA-bacteriuria in ICU patients was endoluminal or exoluminal. In a prospective study, quantitative urine cultures were sampled from catheter sampling sites, collector bags and the catheter outer surface near the meatus from days 1 to 15 after catheterization. The endoluminal pathway was CA-bacteriuria (defined as 102 CFU/mL) first in collector bags and then in catheters. The exoluminal pathway was CA-bacteriuria first in catheters, on day 1 in early cases and after day 1 in late cases. RESULTS: Of 64 included patients, 20 had CA-bacteriuria. Means of catheterization days and incidence density were 6.81 days and 55.2/1000 catheter-days. Of 26 microorganisms identified, 12 (46.2%) were Gram positive cocci, 8 (30.8%) Gram negative bacilli and 6 yeasts. Three (11.5%) CA-bacteriuria were endoluminal and 23 (88.5%) exoluminal, of which 10 (38.5%) were early and 13 (50%) late. Molecular comparison confirmed culture findings. A quality audit showed good compliance with guidelines. CONCLUSION: The exoluminal pathway of CA-bacteriuria in ICU patients predominated and surprisingly occurred early despite good implementation of guidelines. This finding should be considered in guidelines for prevention of CA-bacteriuria.

High Prevalence of Headaches During Covid-19 Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of new headaches in patients with Covid-19 infection and the potential association with other neuro-sensorial symptoms (anosmia and ageusia). The persistence of these symptoms 1 month after recovery was also documented. BACKGROUND: Headaches are a very common symptom of viral infections. Surprisingly, early Chinese studies reported a relatively low prevalence (12-15%) of headaches associated with Covid-19. METHODS: All the patients with laboratory-confirmed or chest-CT-confirmed Covid-19 infection, diagnosed between February 27th and April 15th , 2020 in the dedicated laboratory of Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital were followed for 1 month after recovery. RESULTS: A total of 139 consecutive patients (mean [SD] age, 48.5 [15.3] years; 87 women [62.6%]) were interviewed 1 month after disappearance of fever and dyspnea (semi-structured phone interview). Overall, 59.0% (82/139) of people with Covid-19 had mild disease, 36.7% (51/139) had severe disease, and 4.3% (6/139) had critical illness. Eighty-two (59.0%; 95% CI: 50.3 to 67.3) reported new headaches during the acute phase and 3.6% (5/139) had persistent headaches 1 month after fever and dyspnea remission. Anosmia and ageusia were also very common, occurring in 60.4% (84/139) and 58.3% (81/139) of the patients, respectively. These 2 symptoms persisted in 14.4% (20/139) and 11.5% (16/139) of Covid-19 patients 1 month after recovery. Headaches were neither clearly associated with anosmia, nor with ageusia, and were not associated with disease severity (ie, requiring hospitalization or intensive care unit). CONCLUSION: This specific study highlights the high prevalence of new headaches during Covid-19 infection in French patients. Further studies are needed to refine the characterization of patients with Covid-19-associated headaches.

Nurses' practices in the preparation and administration of intramuscular injections in mental health: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular injections (IMIs) remain a frequent practice in mental health. Few studies have examined the issue of nurses' practices concerning IMI in this domain, and none considered specifically hygiene. Finally, no study appears to have looked at emergency situations and their possible influence on practices. The principal objective of our study was to assess the practices associated with IMI in mental health, especially the hygiene-related practices. The secondary objectives were as follows: 1) to assess the practices for the preparation and administration of IMI in mental health for criteria other than hygiene and 2) to determine whether professional experience and emergency situations influence these practices. DESIGN: Single-centre cross-sectional study in a psychiatric Hospital and adherence to the STROBE guidelines. METHODS: The participating nurses all worked with inpatients, and all volunteered for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all participants. The questionnaire included questions about knowledge and practices associated with IMI, some considered in two different situations: emergencies and planned injections. The distribution of the responses was tested by the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate, or by McNemar's chi-squared test or Friedman's nonparametric chi-squared test for matched data. RESULTS: Response rate was 48.6%. Overall, 81% of nurses reported correct handwashing before preparation, 87.5% responded that the dorsogluteal site is currently recommended for IMI, and 74.6% that they did not know the "Z track" technique. In planned injections, 58.7% reported that the choice of needle was determined, at least in part, by the patient's body mass index. In emergency situations, adherence to guidelines was less frequent for all types of practices. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the need to improve practices for the frequently used procedure of IMI among mental health nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Better professional education appears necessary to develop optimal practices, especially in emergency situations.

Antibiotic resistance and plasmid transfer capacity in biofilm formed with a CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize a CTX-M-15-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate that was identified during an outbreak involving 16 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between December 2008 and August 2009. The strain was also detected in one endoscope used for these examinations. METHODS: Disc diffusion assays, MICs and isoelectric focusing were used to characterize the plasmidic CTX-M-15 ß-lactamase. PCRs were used to check for the presence of genes associated with virulence or antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic tolerance tests and plasmid transfer were carried out in both planktonic and biofilm conditions. RESULTS: The strain belonged to sequence type 14 and to the virulent capsular serotype K2, but produced little glucuronic acid. It contained a 62.5 kb conjugative plasmid carrying the bla(CTX-M-15), bla(OXA-1) and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes and harboured few virulence genes (uge, wabG, kfu and mrkD). The strain was highly resistant to cefotaxime (MIC 516 mg/L) and the presence of this antibiotic at sub-MIC concentrations enhanced biofilm formation. The isolate was susceptible to ofloxacin (MIC 2 mg/L), but the bactericidal effect of this antibiotic was greater in planktonic cultures and 6 h old biofilm than in 24 or 48 h old biofilms. The K. pneumoniae strain was notable for its ability to transfer its plasmid, especially in biofilm conditions, in which the rate of plasmid transfer was about 0.5/donor. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the ability of this strain to survive in a hospital environment and to transfer its extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-encoding plasmid.

Bloodstream infection after positive catheter cultures: what are the risks in the intensive care unit when catheters are routinely cultured on removal?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess whether an isolated positive catheter culture is predictive of a subsequent bloodstream infection in intensive care unit patients. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study between 2000 and 2007. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: All arterial, central venous, and dialysis catheters yielding selected pathogenic microorganisms from isolated positive catheter cultures. Positive catheter culture was defined by a catheter tip culture performed with the Brun-Buisson technique yielding ≥103 colony-forming units/mL; isolated positive catheter culture by a positive catheter culture without concomitant bloodstream infection due to the microorganism of the positive catheter culture evidenced within 48 hrs before or after catheter removal; and subsequent bloodstream infection by a bloodstream infection developing between 48 hrs and 30 days after catheter removal and due to a selected pathogenic microorganism of an isolated positive catheter culture. Active antibiotic therapy was active if at least one of the antibiotics administered was effective against the selected pathogenic microorganism of the positive catheter culture. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: The end point of the study was the ratio of the number of subsequent bloodstream infections to that of selected pathogenic microorganisms isolated from positive catheter culture 30 days after catheter removal. A total of 138 isolated positive catheter cultures for 149 selected pathogenic micro-organisms was included in the study. Only two cases (1.3%) of subsequent bloodstream infection were evidenced, one resulting from Escherichia coli and the other from Staphylococcus epidermidis. The incidence of subsequent bloodstream infection did not differ with regard to the presence or absence of active antibiotics at catheter removal: zero of 23 vs. two of 121 (p = 1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the risk of subsequent bloodstream infection in intensive care unit patients when the Brun-Buisson technique is used to define isolated positive catheter culture is low.

Eradication of microorganisms embedded in biofilm by an ethanol-based catheter lock solution.

BACKGROUND: Interdialytic locking of catheters with antimicrobial agents is frequently used for preventing catheter-related infections, often associated with biofilm formation. We determined the bactericidal effect of 60% ethanol (ETOH) versus a 46.7% trisodium citrate (TSC) solution on biofilm embedded in silicone catheters. METHODS: Four- and 24-h biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans established in a microfermentor were exposed to ETOH and TSC for up to 24 h and the number of remaining viable microorganisms was determined. RESULTS: ETOH 60% was significantly more effective than 46.7% TSC in rapidly eradicating sessile cells from all microorganisms tested. A 20-min ETOH 60% treatment completely eradicated the Gram-negative bacilli and C. albicans biofilms, which initially contained up to 10(8) and 10(5) cells, respectively. Gram-positive cocci biofilms only showed a significant 2.6-4.3 log reduction in the initial viable counts after 20 min of ETOH 60% treatment, with eradication occurring after 30 min. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation of ETOH-treated biofilm showed sparse cells with respiratory activity. TSC 46.7% eradicated none of the tested microorganisms. In contrast, ETOH 60% totally eradicated planktonic cells, whereas TSC had significant bactericidal activity against K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans after 20 min, 1 and 24 h, respectively, but none on the Staphylococcus species. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study demonstrates the superior antimicrobial activity of ETOH 60% in contrast to TSC 46.7% in eradicating biofilm formed on a silicon catheter. Hence, ethanol-based solution shows promise as a catheter lock solution.

Do antibiotics administered at the time of central venous catheter removal interfere with the evaluation of colonization?

OBJECTIVE: Catheter colonization is commonly used as an end point in studies on central venous catheter (CVC) infections. This study aimed at comparing the rates of catheter colonization in patients according to the administration of antibiotics at removal. DESIGN: Prospective study over a 5-year period. All patients with a CVC removed without suspicion of CVC infection were included. SETTING: An adult medical/surgical intensive care unit at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 472 patients with CVC inserted for a mean CVC duration of 6.0 +/- 3.7 days were included. METHODS: Antibiotics at removal was defined as antibiotics administered within 48[Symbol: see text]h before CVC removal, and CVC colonization as catheter tip culture yielding > or = 10(3) colony-forming units per milliliter. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Of 472 patients, 302 (64%) were receiving antibiotics at removal. The number of CVC colonizations per number of CVCs inserted was 4.7% (22 of 472) and the number of CVC colonizations per 1000 CVC days was 8.0. Administration of antibiotics at removal was associated with a lower risk of CVC colonization. Irrespective of CVC duration, CVC colonization rate differed between patients with or without antibiotics at removal (Kaplan-Meier test, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of patients with antibiotics at time of removal should be taken into account when interpreting the results of surveys and trials using the quantitative CVC tip culture to define CVC colonization as an end point.

Fabrication of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Nanostructures with Anodic Alumina Oxide Templates, Characterization and Biofilm Development Test for Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Medical devices can be contaminated by microbial biofilm which causes nosocomial infections. One of the strategies for the prevention of such microbial adhesion is to modify the biomaterials by creating micro or nanofeatures on their surface. This study aimed (1) to nanostructure acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a polymer composing connectors in perfusion devices, using Anodic Alumina Oxide templates, and to control the reproducibility of this process; (2) to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructured surfaces such as wettability using captive-bubble contact angle measurement technique; (3) to test the impact of nanostructures on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm development. Fabrication of Anodic Alumina Oxide molds was realized by double anodization in oxalic acid. This process was reproducible. The obtained molds present hexagonally arranged 50 nm diameter pores, with a 100 nm interpore distance and a length of 100 nm. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene nanostructures were successfully prepared using a polymer solution and two melt wetting methods. For all methods, the nanopicots were obtained but inside each sample their length was different. One method was selected essentially for industrial purposes and for better reproducibility results. The flat ABS surface presents a slightly hydrophilic character, which remains roughly unchanged after nanostructuration, the increasing apparent wettability observed in that case being explained by roughness effects. Also, the nanostructuration of the polymer surface does not induce any significant effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion.

Comparison of acceptability, skin tolerance, and compliance between handwashing and alcohol-based handrub in ICUs: results of a multicentric study.

OBJECTIVE: We compared handwashing (HW) and alcohol-based handrub (ABH) for skin tolerance, acceptability, and hand hygiene compliance in health-care workers (HCWs) in a multicentric study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Before/after study over two periods (P1 and P2) in seven ICUs. Monitoring of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition in two ICUs (U4 and U6). SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS: All HCWs of the seven ICUs, and the patients of U4 and U6 without MRSA carriage on admission. INTERVENTIONS: Handwashing was available in P1 and P2. ABH was introduced after P1 and available throughout P2. HCWs completed questionnaires on skin tolerance in P1 and P2, and on acceptability in P2. Compliance with hand hygiene was assessed in P1 and P2 using a standardized method. ICU-acquired MRSA colonization/infection in U4 and U6 was recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hand erythema was reported during P1 and P2 by 21.7 and 11% of HCWs, respectively (P = 0.01), itching by 15.8 and 7.1% (P = 0.02), oozing by 0.8 and 1.1% (P = 0.82), and bleeding by 4.2 and 1.1% (P = 0.1). ABH was considered easier and quicker than HW (P < 0.01), but overall acceptability did not differ between the two. Compliance increased from 51% (334/647) in P1 to 60% (251/418) in P2, P < 0.01. No significant reduction in MRSA colonization/infection between P1 and P2 (P = 0.30) was observed, but the study was underpowered. CONCLUSIONS: Self-report questionnaires show that when ABH is available in ICUs, fewer unpleasant skin sensations are reported. ABH is considered to be easier and quicker to use than HW and compliance is improved after glove removal.