Trends of 9,416 multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: a resistance of hospital-acquired bacteria to multiple antibiotics is a major concern worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate multidrugresistant (MDR) bacteria, clinical specimens, origin of specimen and trends, and correlate these with bacterial sensitivity and consumption of antimicrobials. METHODS: 9,416 bacteria of nosocomial origin were evaluated in a tertiary hospital, from 1999 to 2008. MDR was defined for Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) as resistance to two or more classes/groups of antibiotics. RESULTS: GNB MDR increased by 3.7 times over the study period (p<0.001). Acinetobacter baumannii was the most prevalent (36.2%). Over the study period, there were significant 4.8-fold and 14.6-fold increases for A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae (p<0.001), respectively. Sixty-seven percent of isolates of MDR GNB were isolated in intensive care units. The resistance of A. baumannii to carbapenems increased from 7.4 to 57.5% during the study period and concomitant with an increased consumption. CONCLUSION: that decade showed prevalence of GNB and a gradual increase in MDR GNB. There was an increase in carbapenem resistance of 50.1% during the study.

Trends of 9,416 multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria / Evolução de 9.416 bactérias Gram-negativas multirresistentes.

Summary Objective: a resistance of hospital-acquired bacteria to multiple antibiotics is a major concern worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate multidrugresistant (MDR) bacteria, clinical specimens, origin of specimen and trends, and correlate these with bacterial sensitivity and consumption of antimicrobials. Methods: 9,416 bacteria of nosocomial origin were evaluated in a tertiary hospital, from 1999 to 2008. MDR was defined for Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) as resistance to two or more classes/groups of antibiotics. Results: GNB MDR increased by 3.7 times over the study period (p<0.001). Acinetobacter baumannii was the most prevalent (36.2%). Over the study period, there were significant 4.8-fold and 14.6-fold increases for A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae (p<0.001), respectively. Sixty-seven percent of isolates of MDR GNB were isolated in intensive care units. The resistance of A. baumannii to carbapenems increased from 7.4 to 57.5% during the study period and concomitant with an increased consumption. Conclusion: that decade showed prevalence of GNB and a gradual increase in MDR GNB. There was an increase in carbapenem resistance of 50.1% during the study. .

Resumo Objetivo: a resistência bacteriana hospitalar a múltiplos antibióticos é uma grande preocupação mundial. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer os agentes multidroga-resistentes (MDR), materiais clínicos, origem e evolução, e correlaciona-los à sensibilidade bacteriana e ao consumo de antimicrobianos. Métodos: foram avaliadas 9.416 bactérias de origem nosocomial, em um hospital terciário, durante o período de 1999 a 2008. Foram definidas como MDR as bactérias Gram-negativas (BGN) que apresentaram resistência a duas ou mais classes/grupos de antibióticos. Resultados: as BGN MDR tiveram um aumento global de 3,7 vezes no final do período (p<0,001). O Acinetobacter baumannii foi o mais prevalente (36,2%). Durante o período do estudo, houve um aumento significativo de 4,8 e 14,6 para A. baumannii e K. pneumoniae (p<0,001), respectivamente. Sessenta e sete por cento das BGN MDR foram isoladas em unidade de terapia intensiva. A resistência do A. baumannii aos carbapenêmicos aumentou de 7,4 para 57,5% durante o período, concomitante ao aumento do consumo. Conclusão: durante essa década, houve uma prevalência de BGN e um aumento gradual das BGN MDR. Houve um aumento da resistência aos carbapenêmicos de 50,1% durante o estudo. .

Identification of temporal clusters and risk factors of bacteremia by nosocomial vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate a different methodology for addressing the evolution of nosocomial bacteremia by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a hospital setting. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from the date of first registration up to December 2008 from the electronic medical records of patients with VRE bacteremia in a school hospital. RESULTS: Thirty cases of VRE bacteremia and 274 cases of vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE) bacteremia were identified. The average age of the patients was 56 years. The rates of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) and wards showed no statistically significant differences. The risk of acquiring VRE bacteremia was at least 3-fold higher in the ICU than in the wards. The risk of death was 2.73-fold higher in patients with VRE bacteremia compared with those with VSE bacteremia. Only one temporal cluster statistically significant of VRE bacteremia was found in the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of temporal clusters can be an important tool to optimize health actions and thereby reduce the burden of operating costs.

Trends in bacterial resistance in a tertiary university hospital over one decade.

The objective of this study was to investigate bacterial resistance trends, infection sites and the relationship between resistance and admittance to the intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 53,316 bacteria identified between 1999 and 2008 were evaluated. Multidrug resistance was characterized when gram-negative bacilli (GNB) presented resistance to two or more classes of antibiotics. Gram-positive cocci (CPC) were assessed for resistance to penicillin, oxacillin and vancomycin. GNB were the most common (66.1%) isolate. There was a 3.7-fold overall increase in multidrug resistant GNB over the study period; Acinetobacter baumanii and Staphylococcus aureus were the most prevalent. Highest increases were recorded for Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.6-fold) and enterococci (73-fold). The resistance rates for GNB and GPC were 36% and 51.7%, respectively. Most multidrug resistant GNB and GPC were recovered from ICU patients (p-value<0.001). Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were isolated during this decade with an increase of 18.7% by 2008. These data confirm the worldwide trend in multidrug bacterial resistance.

Contaminação por fungos antes e após limpeza e desinfecção de colchões hospitalares / Fungal contamination of hospital mattresses before and following cleaning and disinfection

OBJETIVO: Verificar se existe contaminação por fungos antes e após limpeza e desinfecção terminal de colchões hospitalares utilizados por portadores de candidemia. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal que investigou 25 colchões de diferentes unidades hospitalares e utilizados por pacientes com candidemia, confirmados por hemocultura. Utilizou-se amostragem por conveniência. Após crescimento em Ágar Sabouraud Dextrose as leveduras isoladas foram identificadas pelas características macroscópicas, microscópicas e fisiológicas. RESULTADOS: Totalizou-se 15 (60%) colchões contaminados com Candida spp. Desse total, 10 (66,7%) e cinco (33,3%) corresponderam respectivamente à coleta antes e após a desinfecção dos colchões, sendo que a espécie mais frequentemente isolada foi Candida parapsilosis. CONCLUSÃO: Considerando que a metade dos colchões permaneceram contaminados após o processo de limpeza e desinfecção, pode-se inferir sobre o risco destes atuarem como reservatórios secundários na cadeia de infecção.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the existence of fungal contamination prior to and following the cleaning and disinfection process of hospital mattresses used by patients with Candidemia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study analyzing 25 mattresses used by patients with Candidemia confirmed by blood culture from different hospital wards. The study made use of convenience samples. After growing the samples in an Agar Sabouraud Dextrose environment, isolated yeasts were identified by macroscopic, microscopic and physiologic characteristics. RESULTS: Analyses showed 15 (60%) mattresses contaminated by Candida spp. From these, 10 (66.7%) and five (33.3%) mattresses corresponded respectively to the collection prior to and following disinfection, with Candida parapsilosis being the isolated species with the highest frequency. CONCLUSION: Considering that half of the mattresses remained contaminated after cleaning and disinfection, there is a risk that these mattresses may act as potential secondary reservoirs in the infection chain.

Efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients.

Several formulae have been developed in an attempt to reduce the toxicity of amphotericin B (AmB), but their high costs preclude widespread use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion, i.e. Intralipid (AmB-IL), in 37 AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). We retrospectively reviewed data collected in a non-comparative open study between January 1999 and December 2001. The therapeutic cure was defined as complete resolution or improvement of the clinical symptoms or complete absence or improvement of the mycological alterations of the CSF. The outcomes were evaluated at 2 weeks, induction phase (IP), and at the end of treatment or consolidation phase (CP) with the last available CSF. Prior to the diagnosis of CM, 72% of patients had had one or more OI and 67.57% had a concomitant OI. The median CD4-cell count was 32 cells/mm(3), the median leukocyte count in the CSF was 29 cells/mm(3) and the median cumulative dose of AmB-IL was 1,200 mg (300-2,500). The therapeutic cure was 57.14% in the IP and 64.86% in the CP. During IP, 9 patients died (24.32%) and 4 (10.81%) during the CP (p=0.2). Thus, the overall mortality rate was 35.14%. AmB-IL, an inexpensive preparation, might be an alternative to conventional AmB. Some questions remain such as its compatibility, stability and level of toxicity. The benefit is especially important in developing countries, where no drugs other than AmB are available to treat systemic fungal infections.

Genetic relatedness among clinical strains of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in tertiary care hospital settings in São Paulo State, Brazil

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative bacillus, which is becoming widely recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relatedness, by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 86 clinical isolates of S. maltophilia (colonization 22, infection 64) obtained from 79 hospitalized patients, from different geographic regions of São Paulo State. The genotypic analysis performed by RAPD and PFGE was used in 24 isolates for genetic identity confirmation. The results were congruent between the two methods but it was not possible to link genetic profiles with the studied variables, clinical state and geographic area, probably due to the great variability among the strains. The analyses by PFGE confirmed identity in 5 pairs of microorganisms and RAPD, in this study, showed to be a useful tool for investigation of diversity leading the identification of 85 genetic profiles. The genetic diversity shown may be due to re-infection by different strains or co-infection by multiple strains which suggests multiple entry sources of the bacterium in the hospital setting or of acquisition by patient. In this setting, colonization, infection and re-infection occur with unknown frequency, raising the need for the establishment of specific control measures.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia é um bacilo Gram-negativo, conhecido como importante patógeno nosocomial. O principal objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a relação genética, através da análise randômica do polimorfismo de DNA (RAPD) e eletroforese em gel de campo pulsado (PFGE), de 86 isolados clínicos de S. maltophilia (22 de colonização, 64 de infecção) obtidos de 79 pacientes hospitalizados em diferentes regiões geográficas do estado de São Paulo. A análise genotípica foi realizada através da técnica RAPD e o PFGE foi usado em 24 isolados para confirmar a identidade genética dos mesmos. Os resultados foram coerentes entre os dois métodos, mas não foi possível correlacionar um perfil genético com as variáveis estudadas, estado clínico e área geográfica, provavelmente pela ampla variabilidade entre as linhagens. A análise por PFGE confirmou a identidade genética em 5 pares de microrganismos e o RAPD, neste estudo, mostrou ser uma ferramenta útil para investigação da diversidade, possibilitando identificar 85 perfis genéticos. A diversidade genética observada através do RAPD pode ser devido à re-infecção por diferentes linhagens ou co-infecção por linhagens distintas, sugerindo múltiplas fontes de entrada da bactéria no hospital ou de aquisição pelo paciente. Nesse ambiente, a colonização, infecção e re-infecção ocorrem com freqüência, o que leva à necessidade do estabelecimento de medidas de controle específicas.

Efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients

Several formulae have been developed in an attempt to reduce the toxicity of amphotericin B (AmB), but their high costs preclude widespread use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amphotericin B in a fat emulsion, i.e. Intralipid (AmB-IL), in 37 AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). We retrospectively reviewed data collected in a non-comparative open study between January 1999 and December 2001. The therapeutic cure was defined as complete resolution or improvement of the clinical symptoms or complete absence or improvement of the mycological alterations of the CSF. The outcomes were evaluated at 2 weeks, induction phase (IP), and at the end of treatment or consolidation phase (CP) with the last available CSF. Prior to the diagnosis of CM, 72 percent of patients had had one or more OI and 67.57 percent had a concomitant OI. The median CD4-cell count was 32 cells/mm³, the median leukocyte count in the CSF was 29 cells/mm³ and the median cumulative dose of AmB-IL was 1,200 mg (300-2,500). The therapeutic cure was 57.14 percent in the IP and 64.86 percent in the CP. During IP, 9 patients died (24.32 percent) and 4 (10.81 percent) during the CP (p=0.2). Thus, the overall mortality rate was 35.14 percent. AmB-IL, an inexpensive preparation, might be an alternative to conventional AmB. Some questions remain such as its compatibility, stability and level of toxicity. The benefit is especially important in developing countries, where no drugs other than AmB are available to treat systemic fungal infections.

Reprocessamento de cateteres para monitorização da pressão intracraniana: É possível? / Reusing intracranial pressure monitoring catheters: Is it possible?

a reutilização de materiais médicos-hospitalares pode contribuir para a redução de custos. No Brasil, a legislação não permite o reprocessamento de alguns materiais de uso único, entretanto outro são reutilizados sem uma política padronizada que regulamente os métodos de processamento. Cada hospital dispõe de técnicas a sua maneira, o que deixa em dúvida a qualidade final deste procedimento. Qualquer decisão a ser tomada em relação ao reuso de materiais descartáveis deve seguir orientações fundamentadas em estudos que comprovem a eficácia deste procedimento. É fundamental conhecer o grau de descartabilidade destes materiais que se pretende reutilizar e defenir a viabilidade do reuso. O cateter de monitorização de pressão intracraniana perde suas propriedades originais após o primeiro uso,portanto é inviável o seu reprocessamento