Community-acquired Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia in liver cirrhosis: A case report.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative bacterium, usually considered a nosocomial pathogen. Its role in community-acquired infections has been reported, but it is still not typically included in differential diagnoses of patients not exposed to the healthcare system. Recently, some reports suggested that liver diseases might also act as a possible risk factor for community-acquired S. maltophilia bloodstream infection. We report a case of a 77-year-old woman with a history of cirrhosis who was diagnosed with community-acquired S. maltophilia bloodstream infection. S. maltophilia not only causes hospital-acquired infections but is also emerging as a pathogen in community settings. Although community-onset infection is still rare and might have lower mortality, this antibiotic-resistant bacterial species should be considered a possible pathogen in patients with liver cirrhosis. Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is considered the first-line treatment, a study in vitro and a 4-year review of S. maltophilia susceptibility in our institution found that the bacteria were more susceptible to minocycline than to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Therefore, minocycline might become the first-line treatment in the future.

Effect of Different Approaches to Antimicrobial Therapy with Cefmetazole and Meropenem on the Time to Defervescence in Non-Severe Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Bacteremia.

Carbapenems are antimicrobial agents commonly used to treat extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Although cefmetazole (CMZ) is considered effective for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) bacteremia, previous studies showed its limitations, including the influence of the initial antimicrobial agent. Here, we examined the effects of different approaches to antimicrobial therapy with CMZ and meropenem (MEPM) on the time to defervescence in ESBL-EC bacteremia. Notably, the influence of previous antimicrobial agents was excluded. Inpatients with ESBL-EC detected in blood cultures between April 2018 and March 2023 were included and assigned to CMZ (n = 14), MEPM (n = 8), de-escalation to CMZ (dCMZ; n = 9), or escalation to MEPM (eMEPM; n = 11) groups. The median time to defervescence was 3.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 days in the CMZ, MEPM, dCMZ, and eMEPM groups, respectively, with no significant differences. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed a significant difference in the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.378 (0.145-0.984) for the time to defervescence with CMZ versus MEPM (p = 0.046). The extent of a delayed time to defervescence is greater with early CMZ administration than with MEPM administration in patients with non-severe ESBL-EC bacteremia.

Screenings during Well-Child Visits in Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Study.

BACKGROUND: Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment visits are designed to address physical, mental, and developmental health of children enrolled in Medicaid. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods intervention by using a quality improvement theory. We assessed preintervention and postintervention screening rates of development, anemia, lead, oral health, vision and hearing, interventions for improvement, and barriers for the well-child visits at an academic family medicine clinic. For quantitative analysis, we assessed the preintervention baseline for 183 children and postintervention outcome for 151 children. For qualitative analysis, we used group interviews and key informant interviews to develop interventions in the preintervention stage and to explore potential barriers for further improvement in the postintervention stage. RESULTS: Interventions based on baseline results included user-friendly materials, checklists, posters, education, and order sets. After the intervention, there were significant statistical improvements (P < .05) for the anemia test ordered rate, serum lead test ordered rate, oral health screening and referral rates, and ordered and confirmed test rates for both vision and hearing. Despite these improvements, 3 qualitative findings indicated barriers for further improvement, including difficulties in venipuncture, medical assistant aversion to vision screening, and poor fit of equipment for hearing assessment. The procedures prompted further continuous quality improvement activities using fingerstick hemoglobin testing, a child-friendly vision screener, and manual audiometer with headphones. CONCLUSIONS: The trial findings demonstrated potential benefits of improving screenings in an office-based intervention by using a quality improvement process. Postintervention qualitative findings illustrate additional factors that could be addressed for further improvements.