Enterococcal bacteraemia: factors influencing mortality, length of stay and costs of hospitalization.

Enterococci are a major cause of nosocomial bacteraemia. The impacts of vanB vancomycin resistance and antibiotic therapy on outcomes in enterococcal bacteraemia are unclear. Factors that affect length of stay (LOS) and costs of managing patients with enterococcal bacteraemia are also unknown. This study aimed to identify factors associated with mortality, LOS and hospitalization costs in patients with enterococcal bacteraemia and the impact of vancomycin resistance and antibiotic therapy on these outcomes. Data from 116 patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), matched 1:1 with patients with vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus (VSE), from two Australian hospitals were reviewed for clinical and economic outcomes. Univariable and multivariable logistic and quantile regression analyses identified factors associated with mortality, LOS and costs. Intensive care unit admission (OR, 8.57; 95% CI, 3.99-18.38), a higher burden of co-morbidities (OR, 4.55; 95% CI, 1.83-11.33) and longer time to appropriate antibiotics (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03) were significantly associated with mortality in enterococcal bacteraemia. VanB vancomycin resistance increased LOS (4.89 days; 95% CI, 0.56-11.52) and hospitalization costs (AU$ 28 872; 95% CI, 734-70 667), after adjustment for confounders. Notably, linezolid definitive therapy was associated with lower mortality (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.58) in vanB VRE bacteraemia patients. In patients with VSE bacteraemia, time to appropriate antibiotics independently influenced mortality, LOS and hospitalization costs, and underlying co-morbidities were associated with mortality. The study findings highlight the importance of preventing VRE bacteraemia and the significance of time to appropriate antibiotics in the management of enterococcal bacteraemia.

Comparison of the Xpert methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) assay, BD GeneOhm MRSA assay, and culture for detection of nasal and cutaneous groin colonization by MRSA.

Detection of methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization was assessed using combined nose and groin swabs in two commercial PCR assays (the Xpert MRSA assay and the BD GeneOhm MRSA assay). Compared to routine culture, both had similar sensitivities (87.0% versus 84.8%, respectively) and specificities (93.8% versus 92.7%, respectively). Combined PCR assays provide a rapid and more-complete assessment of colonization at a cost similar to that of single-site analysis.

A quantitative assessment of the efficacy of surgical and N95 masks to filter influenza virus in patients with acute influenza infection.

We assessed the in vivo efficacy of surgical and N95 (respirator) masks to filter reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-detectable virus when worn correctly by patients with laboratory-confirmed acute influenza. Of 26 patients with a clinical diagnosis of influenza, 19 had the diagnosis confirmed by RT-PCR, and 9 went on to complete the study. Surgical and N95 masks were equally effective in preventing the spread of PCR-detectable influenza.

Cost-effectiveness of ampicillin/sulbactam versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of limb-threatening foot infections in diabetic patients.

A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed following a double-blind, randomized study of ampicillin/sulbactam (A/S) versus imipenem/cilastatin (I/C) for the treatment of limb-threatening foot infections in 90 diabetic patients. There were no significant differences between the treatments in terms of clinical success rate, adverse-event frequency, duration of study antibiotic treatment, or length of hospitalization. Costs of the study antibiotics, treatment of failures and adverse events, and hospitalization were calculated. Mean per-patient treatment cost in the A/S group was $14,084, compared with $17,008 in the I/C group (P = .05), primarily because of lower drug and hospitalization costs and less-severe adverse events in the A/S group. Sensitivity analyses varying drug prices or hospital costs demonstrated that A/S was consistently more cost-effective than I/C. Varying the clinical success rate for each drug revealed that I/C would have to be 30% more effective than A/S to change the economic decisions.

Home intravenous antibiotic therapy. A safe and effective alternative to inpatient care.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the practicality, safety, cost effectiveness and outcome of receiving intravenous antibiotics at home. METHODS: Patients with serious bacterial infections requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy were enrolled in a pilot program to receive treatment at home. Antibiotics were premixed in the hospital pharmacy and administered by the Royal District Nursing Service, and medical back-up was provided. RESULTS: Twenty patients (mean age, 58 years; range, 19-84 years) received 21 courses of intravenous antibiotics at home (mean duration +/- SD, 26 +/- 9 days; range, 11-44 days). Conditions treated included osteomyelitis (10 patients), endocarditis (5), vascular graft and pacemaker sepsis (4), and chronic cellulitis (1). Treatment at home was well tolerated with no significant complications, and cure was achieved in 18 of the 20 patients. It was both efficient and cost effective, with a mean benefit in treatment costs between home and the equivalent inpatient therapy of at least $112 per day for the 538 days that home therapy was provided. Moreover, the reduced bed use could allow an additional hospital throughput of between 86 and 107 patients annually. CONCLUSIONS: Home intravenous antibiotic therapy is safe, effective and well tolerated. It allows more efficient inpatient care and reduces total treatment costs in an important subpopulation of patients.