Non-cholera Vibrio spp. invasive infections in the summer following May 2023 flood disaster in Romagna, Italy: a case series.

Non-cholera Vibrio spp. includes ubiquitous organisms living in aquatic environments. Their occurrence is associated with global warming and meteorological disasters. In May 2023 the Romagna region, Italy, was affected by severe floods. In the following 15 weeks we observed 5 patients with invasive infections caused by V. vulnificus (3/5) and V. harveyi (2/5). All patients (median age 77 years) had medical comorbidities and shared exposure to seawater. Two patients needed surgery; 2 died. In conclusion, we observed an increased burden of Vibrio spp. invasive infections after May 2023 floods, affecting old patients with predisposing medical conditions.

Containment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales colonisations and infections: Results from an integrated infection control intervention in a large hospital trust of northern Italy.

PURPOSE: We describe the results of an infection control intervention, implemented in 4 tertiary hospitals in Romagna, Italy, aiming at containing the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). METHODS: The intervention consisted of rectal screening in patients at risk for CRE; pre-emptive contact precaution waiting for screening results; timely notification of CRE identification and concomitant computerized alert; contact precaution for confirmed CRE-positive patients. We performed an interrupted time series analysis to compare the incidence of CRE bacteraemia, of other CRE infections, and CRE-positive rectal swabs in the pre and postintervention period (January 2015-July 2017 and August 2017-June 2020, respectively). RESULTS: 4,332 CRE isolates were collected. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most represented pathogen (n = 3,716, 85%); KPC production was the most common resistance mechanism (n = 3,896, 90%). The incidence rate of CRE bacteraemia significantly decreased from 0.554 to 0.447 episodes per 10.000 patient days in the early postintervention period (P = .001). The incidence rate of other CRE infections significantly decreased from 2.09 to 1.49 isolations per 10.000 patient days in the early postintervention period (P = .021). The monthly number of rectal swabs doubled in the postintervention period and there was a significant reduction trend of CRE-positive swabs, sustained over time (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The infection control intervention was successful in containing the spread of CRE infections and colonisations.

Fungal Isolation in Respiratory Tract After Lung Transplantation: Epidemiology, Clinical Consequences, and Associated Factors.

BACKGROUND: Fungus-positive respiratory samples (FPRS) are common in the intensive Care unit (ICU) and are usually considered to correspond to colonization. The management of FPRS during the early postoperative course after lung transplantation (LT) remains unclear. The epidemiology, clinical consequences, and prognosis of FPRS were assessed in LT recipients. METHODS: Over a 6-year period, we analyzed the postoperative ICU course of 176 LT recipients with a specific focus on microbiological results of routine respiratory samples and clinical course. The outcomes during the ICU stay at day 28 and at 1 year were compared in patients with or without FPRS. Results are expressed as median and interquartile range. RESULTS: In the pretransplantation period, Candida spp were reported in 17% of patients. No routine post-LT antifungal prophylaxis was initiated. In the post-LT period, at least 1 FPRS was observed in 69% of patients (93% Candida spp, 7% Aspergillus spp). Double LT (odds ratio = 4.15, 95% confidence interval [1.67-11.80], P = .0007) was the only risk factor associated with Candida spp in respiratory samples. Antifungal therapy was administered in 58% of patients with post-LT Candida-positive samples. Candida spp in post-LT respiratory samples were not associated with increased ICU, 28-day, or 1-year mortality rates. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of FPRS is reported after LT, mainly with Candida spp. The lack of association between post-LT FPRS and mortality and morbidity suggests avoiding antifungal therapy in the absence of clinical signs of invasive infection.

Nationwide survey of hospital antibiotic stewardship programs in France.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the current state of antibiotic stewardship (ABS) in French public and private acute care hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey. The selection of participating hospitals was performed through a stratified random sampling procedure among all French public and private hospitals with acute care beds. RESULTS: 97/215 (45%) hospitals participated. A formal ABS program was implemented in 84% (80/95) of hospitals. A person officially in charge of this program (i.e., ABS program leader) was present in almost all participating hospitals (99%, 95/96) and s/he coordinated a multidisciplinary ABS team in 42% (40/96) of cases. The median time spent on ABS activities was 1.7, 1.6, and 0.8hours/week/100 acute care beds for infectious disease (ID) specialists, pharmacists, and microbiologists respectively; 27% (7/26) of ID specialists/other clinicians, 58% (15/26) of pharmacists, and 80% (16/20) of microbiologists received no salary support for the stewardship activities conducted as part of the team. Local guidelines (94%, 88/94), electronic medical records (85%, 80/94), and an antibiotic restriction policy (92%, 82/89) were implemented in almost all hospitals. Reports on antibiotic consumption and local resistance rates were available in 100% (91/91) and 84% (76/91) of hospitals, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the existence of national requirements, hospital ABS programs are not fully implemented in France, mainly because of inadequate institutional support and funding.

Long-term follow-up of HIV-infected patients on dolutegravir monotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, dolutegravir monotherapy has been explored as a drug-reduced regimen for HIV patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study, including patients virologically suppressed for ≥6 months, without previous virological failure (VF) under integrase inhibitors (INIs), who had been switched to dolutegravir monotherapy (50 mg/day). The primary aim was to report the proportion of VF at week 48 (W48) and week 96 (W96) of dolutegravir monotherapy. The evolution from baseline to W48 of residual viraemia on ultra-deep sequencing and HIV DNA was also evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were included. Prior to switching to dolutegravir monotherapy, they had a median (IQR) of 15.4 (6.5-19.9) years of antiretroviral exposure, 5.8 (3.2-10.3) years of viral suppression and 687 (461-848) CD4+ cells/mm3. They remained on dolutegravir monotherapy for a median (IQR) of 100 (29-148) weeks. Forty-two out of 61 patients (68.9%) reached W48 and 32 out of 61 patients (52.5%) reached W96. VF occurred in three patients, with the emergence of INI resistance. VF occurred before W24 and in patients pre-exposed to INIs. At W48, the probability of VF (Kaplan-Meier analysis) was 5.6% (95% CI = 1.8%-16.4%). The same result was obtained at W96. Detectable residual viraemia did not increase and median HIV DNA did not change significantly (2.4 log/106 cells at baseline and 2.3 log/106 cells at W48). Dolutegravir plasma concentration was above the IC90 in 41/41 samples, from 22 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up showed a low risk of VF under dolutegravir monotherapy, in a selected population of patients with previous long-term virological suppression and low HIV reservoir.

Comparison of antimicrobial stewardship programmes in acute-care hospitals in four European countries: A cross-sectional survey.

Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are designed to improve antibiotic use. A survey was systematically developed to assess ASP prerequisites, objectives and improvement strategies in hospitals. This study assessed the current state of ASPs in acute-care hospitals throughout Europe. A survey containing 46 questions was disseminated to acute-care hospitals: all Dutch (n = 80) and Slovenian (n = 29), 215 French (25%, random stratified sampling) and 62 Italian (49% of hospitals with an infectious diseases department, convenience sampling) acute-care hospitals, for a Europe-wide assessment. Response rates for the Netherlands (Nl), Slovenia (Slo), France (Fr) and Italy (It) were 80%, 86%, 45% and 66%. There was variation between countries in the prerequisites met and the objectives and improvement strategies chosen. A formal ASP was present mainly in the Netherlands (90%) and France (84%) compared with Slovenia (60%) and Italy (60%). Presence of an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) team ranged from 42% (Fr) to 94% (Nl). Salary support for AMS teams was provided in 68% (Fr), 51% (Nl), 33% (Slo) and 12% (It) of surveyed hospitals. Quantity of antibiotic use was monitored in the majority of hospitals, ranging from 72% (Nl) to 100% (Slo and Fr) of acute-care hospitals. Participating countries varied substantially in the use of 'prospective monitoring and advice' as a strategy to improve AMS objectives. ASP prerequisites, objectives and improvement activities vary considerably across Europe, with room for improvement. Stimulating appropriate system prerequisites throughout Europe, e.g. by introducing staffing standards and financial support for ASPs, seems a first priority.

Views and experiences with regard to antibiotic use of hospitalized patients in five European countries: a qualitative descriptive study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore inpatients experiences and views with regard to antibiotics in five European hospitals. METHODS: Qualitative study where a patient-centred framework was used to explore inpatients' experiences concerning antibiotic treatment. A purposeful sample of inpatients treated with antibiotics in five hospitals participated in interviews (all centres) and focus groups (Switzerland only). RESULTS: A total of 31 interviews (five in Belgium, ten in Croatia, nine in France, five in the Netherlands and two in Switzerland) and three focus groups (in Switzerland, 11 participants) were performed. The median age of participants was 61 years (range 33-86 years). The following main themes emerged: (a) patients trust doctors to take the best decisions for them even though communication concerning different antibiotic-related aspects is often insufficient, (b) patients feel that doctors do not prioritize communication due to time constraints and do not seem to adapt information based on patients' preferences, (c) patients differ in their wish to be informed but overall want to be informed on the main aspects in an understandable way, (d) patients often find reassurance in sharing information about their antibiotic treatment with close family, (e) professionals should explore patients' preferences to be involved or not in shared decision making for antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: Inpatients often doubt their ability to understand medical information and trust their physicians to take the best decisions for them. Tailored strategies that inform hospitalized patients, acknowledging their concerns and preferences, may be useful to promote patient involvement and to improve communication regarding antibiotic use.

Patient-related determinants of antibiotic use: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess patient-related determinants potentially influencing antibiotic use. METHODS: Studies published in MEDLINE until 30 September 2015 were searched. We included: qualitative studies describing patients' self-reported determinants of antibiotic use; and quantitative studies on either self-reported or objectively assessed determinants associated with antibiotic use. Whenever possible, reported determinants were categorized as 'barriers' or 'facilitators' of responsible antibiotic use. RESULTS: A total of 87 studies from 33 countries were included. Seventy-five (86.2%) were quantitative and described self-reported (45/75, 60.0%), objectively assessed (20/75, 26.7%) or self-reported and objectively assessed (10/75, 13.3%) patient-related determinants. Twelve (12/87, 13.8%) were qualitative studies or had a qualitative and quantitative component. Eighty-six of the studies (98.8%) concerned the outpatient setting. We identified seven broad categories of determinants having an impact on different aspects of antibiotic use (in descending order of frequency): demographic and socio-economic characteristics, patient-doctor interactions (e.g. counselling), treatment characteristics (e.g. administration frequency), attitudes (e.g. expecting antibiotics), access to treatment (e.g. patients' direct costs), characteristics of the condition for which the antibiotic was prescribed (e.g. duration of symptoms), knowledge (e.g. regarding indications for treatment). Most determinants were classified as 'barriers' to responsible antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: A large variety of patient-related determinants impact antibiotic use. The most easily 'modifiable' determinants concern patient-doctor interactions, treatment characteristics and knowledge. Data from the inpatient setting and low- and middle-income countries were underrepresented. Further studies should develop and test interventions that take these determinants into account with the ultimate aim of improving responsible use of antibiotics.

Managing responsible antimicrobial use: perspectives across the healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare systems consist of building blocks. Shaping how these building blocks function and interact can promote responsible antimicrobial use, and this represents an important opportunity for managers at different points within healthcare systems to act upon. AIMS: To review real-world examples of how healthcare systems can promote responsible antimicrobial use, focusing on the role of governance and managers. SOURCES: We searched and reviewed existing literature and official documents, which mostly focused on antibiotics. We also drew on the diverse experiences of the ESGAP (the ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) Study Group for Antimicrobial stewardshiP) network. CONTENT: First, we explored at the institution level the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes, the need to embrace multidisciplinary approaches, the benefits of engaging with social sciences experts, and the role of governance and leadership. We look beyond individual institutions and highlight the urgent need for workforce capacity estimates for antimicrobial stewardship activities, how antimicrobial stewardship efforts can connect to form networks, and the importance of governance and regulation at national and international levels. IMPLICATIONS: Managers in the healthcare system are in a strong position to look beyond individual prescriptions and to recognize the many ways in which different healthcare system building blocks can contribute to responsible use of antimicrobials. At the institution level this can be achieved by implementing antimicrobial stewardship programmes, ensuring they are adequately resourced, and driving buy-in across clinical leadership. At regional and national levels this includes facilitating the sharing of experiences and resources between institutions, and developing the standards and regulations needed to support responsible antimicrobial use.

Epidemiology and risk factors of multidrug-resistant bacteria in respiratory samples after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a growing concern worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and risk factors of MDR bacteria detected in respiratory invasive samples during hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) after lung transplantation (LT). METHODS: This study was based on a retrospective analysis of 176 patients hospitalized in the ICU after LT in 2006-2012. Respiratory invasive samples were performed according to a routine protocol. MDR pathogens were defined according to in vitro susceptibility tests. RESULTS: A total of 1176 bacteria were cultured. Susceptibility testing was performed on 1046 strains and 404 (39%) MDR were detected in 90 (51%) patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Enterobacteriaceae (mainly Enterobacter species) were the most common MDR pathogens. On multivariate analysis, an ICU stay >14 days, presence of a tracheostomy, and previous exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics were associated with MDR acquisition (odds ratio [OR] 3.7; 95% confidence interval [1.69-8.12]; OR 3.28 [1.05-10.28]; and OR 2.25 [1.17-4.34], respectively). We consistently observed an increasing emergence of resistance to several antibiotics, from week 1 to week 4 of ICU hospitalization: for ticarcillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, imipenem/cilastatin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin in P. aeruginosa; and for piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, and amikacin in Enterobacteriaceae. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of MDR bacteria are detected on respiratory invasive samples in LT patients, and the risk of their emergence is mainly determined by the previous exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics and the length of ICU stay. Adequate treatment requires broad-spectrum empiric antibiotic therapy.