Treatment of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with a long-term once-weekly regimen of oral azithromycin: Results from the phase II MALT-A trial.

The macrolide clarithromycin has been reported as active for therapy of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Pharmacokinetic properties, however, require continuous daily intake over a prolonged period of time. As the macrolide azithromycin is characterized by a long half-life as well as potential antineoplastic activity in vitro, we have performed a phase II trial of long-term once-weekly oral azithromycin for treatment of MALT lymphoma. In a 2-stage-design, 16 patients (10 f/6 m) with histologically verified and measurable MALT lymphoma were included in the first phase of the trial, which could be expanded to a maximum of 46 patients depending on remissions in the first phase. Patients were given oral azithromycin 1500 mg once-weekly 4 times a month, and restaging was performed after 3 and 6 months. Two patients had gastric and 14 extragastric MALT lymphoma; 12/16 patients were treatment-naive and received azithromycin as first line treatment. Tolerance of this regimen was excellent, and 14/16 patients received 6 months of treatment as scheduled, while 1 patient each discontinued after 4 (progressive disease) and 1 cycle (personal reasons), respectively. The most commonly observed side effects were mild nausea (n = 8) and diarrhea (n = 4). Efficacy, however, was low as only 4/16 patients (25%) responded, with 2 complete and 2 partial remissions, 9 patients (56%) had stable disease, and 3 patients 19%) were rated as progressive disease. As the predefined activity of more than 7/16 patients responding was not reached, the study was stopped after 16 patients. Although long-term once-weekly oral azithromycin showed some antilymphoma activity, the response rate was below the predefined threshold of interest. However, based on our data, one cannot rule out suboptimal dosing in our study; attempts to study azithromycin at a different mode of application might be warranted in the future.

Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants: A potentially underestimated microbiological challenge in peritoneal dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Peritonitis remains the major infectious complication in the setting of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Despite known only moderate pathogenicity, the most frequently detected pathogens in PD-related peritonitis are surprisingly coagulase-negative staphylococci. However, this could be explained, at least in part, by Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants (SCVs) induced by PD fluids (PDFs) and misidentified by routinely used microbiological methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bacteria were exposed to commonly used PDFs in various regimens designed to simulate daily use as closely as possible. Wild-type isolates and SCVs were subsequently used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), in vitro biofilm formation capacities, and auxotrophies. Underlying genetic alterations were investigated using whole-genome sequencing, and various microbial identification methods were tested to determine their performance for wild-types and SCVs. RESULTS: Stable SCVs could be isolated most successfully after exposure to glucose-containing PDFs alone. The reading of MICs was significantly affected by the reduced growth of SCVs, resulting in lower MIC values in 44% of all tests. Nonsynonymous mutations were found in all but one SCV, while only two isolates showed typical auxotrophic responses. While MALDI-TOF, PCR and Pastorex Staph-Plus correctly identified all S. aureus SCVs, API-Staph and VITEK-2 yielded identification rates of only 40% and 10%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the present study has shown that commercially available PDFs induce S. aureus SCVs in vitro, which are difficult to identify and test for antimicrobial susceptibility and can potentially lead to recurrent or persistent infections. Thus, they represent a potentially underappreciated challenge not only for microbiologists, but also for clinicians.

Biomarkers for differentiation of coronavirus disease 2019 or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation related inflammation and bacterial/fungal infections in critically ill patients: A prospective observational study.

Secondary infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are difficult to distinguish from inflammation associated with COVID-19 and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Therefore, highly specific and sensitive biomarkers are needed to identify patients in whom antimicrobial therapy can be safely withheld. In this prospective monocentric study, 66 COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for ECMO evaluation were included. A total of 46 (70%) patients with secondary infections were identified by using broad microbiological and virological panels and standardized diagnostic criteria. Various laboratory parameters including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, procalcitonin (PCT), and IL-10 were determined at time of study inclusion. The best test performance for differentiating bacterial/fungal secondary infections and COVID-19 and/or ECMO associated inflammation was achieved by IL-10 (ROC-AUC 0.84) and a multivariant step-wise regression model including CRP, IL-6, PCT, and IL-10 (ROC-AUC 0.93). Data obtained in the present study highlights the use of IL-10 to differentiate secondary bacterial/fungal infections from COVID-19 and/or ECMO associated inflammation in severely ill COVID-19 patients.

In vitro evaluation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs against rheumatoid arthritis associated pathogens of the oral microflora.

OBJECTIVES: In the past, the human microbiome has consistently been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and disease activity. Here, we investigate the antimicrobial activity of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) against typical representatives of the oral microflora that have been associated with RA. METHODS: DMARDs were screened for antimicrobial activity against bacteria that are associated with the pathogenesis of the disease and/or frequently isolated from the oral microflora of patients with RA. Screening was done by an agar diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antimicrobial active substances were then determined by broth dilution. RESULTS: Aurothiomalate and sulfasalazine demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but with MICs ranging from 18 to >280 µg/mL and 150 to >600 µg/mL, respectively, only at supratherapeutic concentrations. Methotrexate showed antimicrobial activity only against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Viridans streptococci. The corresponding MICs were 3.75 to >30 µg/mL and 0.5-15 µg/mL, respectively, thus at least for streptococci, within the therapeutically achievable range. No other DMARD tested showed antimicrobial activity in the agar diffusion screening assay. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate, sulfasalazine and aurothiomalate showed antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of RA associated pathogens of the oral microflora. While methotrexate showed relevant antimicrobial activity, and to a more limited extent aurothiomalate, sulfasalazine was active only at far supratherapeutic systemic concentrations. Nevertheless, given the highly species-dependent antimicrobial activity and the multiple ways it can affect the human microbiome, our results suggest a link between antimicrobially active antirheumatic drugs and their potential effect in the treatment of RA.

Synergistic Effect of Cefazolin Plus Fosfomycin Against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo in an Experimental Galleria mellonella Model.

Objectives: This study investigated the synergistic in vitro and in vivo activity of cefazolin plus fosfomycin against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MSSA and MRSA) to provide the basis for a potential treatment alternative. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility and in vitro synergy tests were performed with five MSSA and five MRSA isolates using the broth microdilution and chequerboard assays, respectively. The in vivo efficacy of cefazolin plus fosfomycin for the treatment of MRSA infections was assessed using the Galleria mellonella survival assay. Results: Using fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), the evaluated combination of cefazolin plus fosfomycin showed synergistic in vitro activity against all MSSA and MRSA isolates tested. In addition, cefazolin susceptibility was recovered in all MRSA isolates except one fosfomycin-resistant strain when combined with fosfomycin at readily achievable concentrations. The G. mellonella survival assay demonstrated highly synergistic in vivo activity of cefazolin plus fosfomycin, resulting in a 44-52% reduction in mortality when compared to cefazolin-alone and fosfomycin-alone, respectively. Conclusion: If susceptibility to fosfomycin is either confirmed or can be assumed based on local resistance patterns, combination therapy with cefazolin plus fosfomycin could be a valuable treatment option for empirical as well as targeted therapy of S. aureus and MRSA infections. Future studies proving the clinical significance of this combination therapy are therefore warranted.

A Longitudinal Seroprevalence Study Evaluating Infection Control and Prevention Strategies at a Large Tertiary Care Center with Low COVID-19 Incidence.

Personal protective equipment and adherence to disinfection protocols are essential to prevent nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. Here, we evaluated infection control measures in a prospective longitudinal single-center study at the Vienna General Hospital, the biggest tertiary care center in Austria, with a structurally planned low SARS-CoV-2 exposure. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were assessed by Abbott ARCHITECT chemiluminescent assay (CLIA) in 599 health care workers (HCWs) at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in early April and two months later. Neutralization assay confirmed CLIA-positive samples. A structured questionnaire was completed at both visits assessing demographic parameters, family situation, travel history, occupational coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure, and personal protective equipment handling. At the first visit, 6 of 599 participants (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. The seroprevalence increased to 1.5% (8/553) at the second visit and did not differ depending on the working environment. Unprotected SARS-CoV-2 exposure (p = 0.003), positively tested family members (p = 0.04), and travel history (p = 0.09) were more frequently reported by positively tested HCWs. Odds for COVID-19 related symptoms were highest for congestion or runny nose (p = 0.002) and altered taste or smell (p < 0.001). In conclusion, prevention strategies proved feasible in reducing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients and among HCWs in a low incidence hospital, not exceeding the one described in the general population.

Different Types of Coagulase Are Associated With 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections.

Background:Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a leading cause of bacteremia and infective endocarditis, exploits the human coagulation system by using a wide range of specific virulence factors. However, the impact of these host-pathogen interactions on the outcome of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) remains unclear. Methods: A total of 178 patients with S. aureus bacteremia were included and analyzed regarding bacterial factors (coa gene size, vWbp, clfA, clfB, fnbA, fnbB, fib) and clinical parameters. A stepwise multivariate Cox regression model and a Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) cluster algorithm were used for statistical analysis. Results: Patients' risk factors for 28-day mortality were creatinine (OR 1.49, p < 0.001), age (OR 1.9, p < 0.002), fibrinogen (OR 0.44, p < 0.004), albumin (OR 0.63, p < 0.02), hemoglobin (OR 0.59, p < 0.03), and CRP (OR 1.72, p < 0.04). Five distinct bacterial clusters with different mortality rates were unveiled, whereof two showed a 2-fold increased mortality and an accumulation of specific coagulase gene sizes, 547-base pairs and 660-base pairs. Conclusions: Based on the data obtained in the present study an association of coagulase gene size and fib regarding 28-day mortality was observed in patients with S. aureus bloodstream infections. Further animal and prospective clinical studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

Dalbavancin for treatment of implant-related methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis in an experimental rat model.

Dalbavancin is a new semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide with improved antimicrobial activity against various gram-positive pathogens. It demonstrates an extensive plasma half-life which permits outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy with weekly intervals and might therefore be an excellent treatment alternative for patients requiring prolonged antimicrobial therapy. The present study investigated dalbavancin monotherapy in an experimental implant-related methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis model. A clinical MRSA isolate and a Kirschner-wire were inserted into the proximal tibia of anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Four weeks after infection 34 animals were treated over 4 weeks with either dalbavancin (20 mg/kg loading-dose; 10 mg/kg daily), vancomycin (50 mg/kg twice daily) or left untreated. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment dose tibial bones and Kirschner-wires were harvested for microbiological examination. Based on quantitative bacterial cultures of osseous tissue, dalbavancin was as effective as vancomycin and both were superior to no treatment. No emergence of an induced glycopeptide-/lipoglycopeptide- resistance was observed after a treatment period of four weeks with either dalbavancin or vancomycin. In conclusion, monotherapy with dalbavancin was shown to be as effective as vancomycin for treatment of experimental implant-related MRSA osteomyelitis in rats, but both antimicrobials demonstrated only limited efficacy. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of dalbavancin for the treatment of periprosthetic S. aureus infections.

Emergence of a dalbavancin induced glycopeptide/lipoglycopeptide non-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus during treatment of a cardiac device-related endocarditis.

In the present study, we demonstrated the emergence of dalbavancin non-susceptible and teicoplanin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants which were selected in vivo through long-term treatment with dalbavancin. A 36-year-old man presented with a cardiac device-related S. aureus endocarditis and received long-term therapy with dalbavancin. Consecutively, two glycopeptide/lipoglycopeptide susceptible and two non-susceptible S. aureus isolates were obtained from blood cultures and the explanted pacemaker wire. The isolates were characterized by: standard typing methods, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, auxotrophic profiling, proliferation assays, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as whole genome sequencing. The isolated SCVs demonstrated a vancomycin-susceptible but dalbavancin non-susceptible and teicoplanin-resistant phenotype whereof the respective MICs of the last isolate were 16- and 84-fold higher than the susceptible strains. All four strains were indistinguishable or at least closely related by standard typing methods (spa, MLST, and PFGE), and whole genome sequencing revealed only eight sequence variants. A consecutive increase in cell wall thickness (up to 2.1-fold), an impaired cell separation with incomplete or multiple cross walls and significantly reduced growth rates were observed in the present study. Therefore, the mutations in pbp2 and the DHH domain of GdpP were identified as the most probable candidates due to their implication in the biosynthesis and metabolism of the staphylococcal cell wall. For the first time, we demonstrated in vivo induced dalbavancin non-susceptible/teicoplanin resistant, but vancomycin and daptomycin susceptible S. aureus SCVs without lipopeptide or glycopeptide pretreatment, thus, indicating the emergence of a novel lipoglycopeptide resistance mechanism.