Impact of deceased organ donor marijuana use on donor culture positivity and solid organ transplant recipient outcomes.

With the increasing prevalence of marijuana use in the US, many deceased organ donors have a history of marijuana use, raising concerns about infectious risks to transplant recipients. We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study in which exposed donors were those with recent marijuana use (in the prior 12 months) and unexposed donors were those with no recent marijuana use. Primary outcomes included the following: (1) positive donor cultures for bacteria or fungi, (2) recipient infection due to bacteria or fungi within 3 months posttransplant, and (3) recipient graft failure or death within 12 months posttransplant. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the relationship between donor marijuana use and each outcome. A total of 658 recipients who received organs from 394 donors were included. Recent marijuana use was not associated with donor culture positivity (aOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.39-1.81, P = .65), recipient infection (aHR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.76-1.38, P = .90), or recipient graft failure or death (aHR: 1.65, 95% CI: 0.90-3.02, P = .11). Our data suggest that organs from donors with a history of recent marijuana use do not pose significant infectious risks in the early posttransplant period.

Risk factors for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in MRSA-exposed household pets.

BACKGROUND: Household pets can carry meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) introduced to the home by their human companions. Specific factors promoting pet carriage of this pathogen have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated MRSA cultured from pets and the home environment in households where a human infected with MRSA had been identified, and aimed to determine potential risk factors for pet MRSA carriage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Humans diagnosed with community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) skin or soft-tissue infection (SSTI) in the mid-Atlantic United States were identified. One hundred forty-two dogs and cats from 57 affected households were identified of which 134 (94.4%) pets and the household environment were sampled for bacterial culture, PCR confirmation and spa-typing for MRSA strain determination. Samples were obtained 3 months later from 86 pets. RESULTS: At baseline, 12 (9.0%) pets carried MRSA. Potential risk factors associated with carriage included pet bed (environmental) MRSA contamination, flea infestation and prior antimicrobial use in the pet. Pets tended to carry human-adapted MRSA strains and spa-types of MRSA isolates cultured from pets were concordant with strains cultured from the home environment in seven of eight homes (87.5%) at baseline. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results may inform risk-based veterinary clinical recommendations and provide evidence for selective pet testing as a possible alternative to early removal of pets from the homes of humans infected with MRSA. MRSA contamination of the home environment is likely an important risk factor for pet MRSA carriage, and household interventions should be considered to reduce risk of MRSA carriage in exposed pets.

Respiratory Microbiome Disruption and Risk for Ventilator-Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Infection.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI) is common among critically ill patients and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In acute critical illness, respiratory microbiome disruption indices (MDIs) have been shown to predict risk for VA-LRTI, but their utility beyond the first days of critical illness is unknown. We sought to characterize how MDIs previously shown to predict VA-LRTI at initiation of mechanical ventilation change with prolonged mechanical ventilation, and if they remain associated with VA-LRTI risk. METHODS: We developed a cohort of 83 subjects admitted to a long-term acute care hospital due to their prolonged dependence on mechanical ventilation; performed dense, longitudinal sampling of the lower respiratory tract, collecting 1066 specimens; and characterized the lower respiratory microbiome by 16S rRNA sequencing as well as total bacterial abundance by 16S rRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Cross-sectional MDIs, including low Shannon diversity and high total bacterial abundance, were associated with risk for VA-LRTI, but associations had wide posterior credible intervals. Persistent lower respiratory microbiome disruption showed a more robust association with VA-LRTI risk, with each day of (base e) Shannon diversity <2.0 associated with a VA-LRTI odds ratio of 1.36 (95% credible interval, 1.10-1.72). The observed association was consistent across multiple clinical definitions of VA-LRTI. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional MDIs have limited ability to discriminate VA-LRTI risk during prolonged mechanical ventilation, but persistent lower respiratory tract microbiome disruption, best characterized by consecutive days with low Shannon diversity, may identify a population at high risk for infection and may help target infection-prevention interventions.

Improving Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing for Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is common in primary care (PC), particularly for respiratory tract diagnoses (RTDs). However, the optimal approach for improving prescribing remains unknown. METHODS: We conducted a stepped-wedge study in PC practices within a health system to assess the impact of a provider-targeted intervention on antibiotic prescribing for RTDs. RTDs were grouped into tiers based on appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing: tier 1 (almost always indicated), tier 2 (may be indicated), and tier 3 (rarely indicated). Providers received education on appropriate RTD prescribing followed by monthly peer comparison feedback on antibiotic prescribing for (1) all tiers and (2) tier 3 RTDs. A χ 2 test was used to compare the proportion of visits with antibiotic prescriptions before and during the intervention. Mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the intervention and antibiotic prescribing. RESULTS: Across 30 PC practices and 185 755 total visits, overall antibiotic prescribing was reduced with the intervention, from 35.2% to 23.0% of visits (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, the intervention was associated with a reduced odds of antibiotic prescription for tiers 2 (odds ratio [OR] 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] .52-.62) and 3 (OR 0.57; 95% CI .53-.61) but not for tier 1 (OR 0.98; 95% CI .83-1.16). CONCLUSIONS: A provider-focused intervention reduced overall antibiotic prescribing for RTDs without affecting prescribing for infections that likely require antibiotics. Future research should examine the sustainability of such interventions, potential unintended adverse effects on patient health or satisfaction, and provider perceptions and acceptability.

The Impact of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services SEP-1 Core Measure Implementation on Antibacterial Utilization: A Retrospective Multicenter Longitudinal Cohort Study With Interrupted Time-Series Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Management Bundle (SEP-1) core measure on overall antibacterial utilization is unknown. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter longitudinal cohort study with interrupted time-series analysis to determine the impact of SEP-1 implementation on antibacterial utilization and patient outcomes. All adult patients admitted to 26 hospitals between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015 (SEP-1 preparation period) and between 1 November 2015 and 31 October 2016 (SEP-1 implementation period) were evaluated for inclusion. The primary outcome was total antibacterial utilization, measured as days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days. RESULTS: The study cohort included 701 055 eligible patient admissions and 4.2 million patient-days. Overall antibacterial utilization increased 2% each month during SEP-1 preparation (relative rate [RR], 1.02 per month [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.00-1.04]; P = .02). Cumulatively, the mean monthly DOT per 1000 patient-days increased 24.4% (95% CI, 18.0%-38.8%) over the entire study period (October 2014-October 2016). The rate of sepsis diagnosis/1000 patients increased 2% each month during SEP-1 preparation (RR, 1.02 per month [95% CI, 1.00-1.04]; P = .04). The rate of all-cause mortality rate per 1000 patients decreased during the study period (RR for SEP-1 preparation, 0.95 [95% CI, .92-.98; P = .001]; RR for SEP-1 implementation, .98 [.97-1.00; P = .01]). Cumulatively, the monthly mean all-cause mortality rate/1000 patients declined 38.5% (95% CI, 25.9%-48.0%) over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Announcement and implementation of the CMS SEP-1 process measure was associated with increased diagnosis of sepsis and antibacterial utilization and decreased mortality rate among hospitalized patients.

Stopping Hospital Infections With Environmental Services (SHINE): A Cluster-randomized Trial of Intensive Monitoring Methods for Terminal Room Cleaning on Rates of Multidrug-resistant Organisms in the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) frequently contaminate hospital environments. We performed a multicenter, cluster-randomized, crossover trial of 2 methods for monitoring of terminal cleaning effectiveness. METHODS: Six intensive care units (ICUs) at 3 medical centers received both interventions sequentially, in randomized order. Ten surfaces were surveyed each in 5 rooms weekly, after terminal cleaning, with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring or an ultraviolet fluorescent marker (UV/F). Results were delivered to environmental services staff in real time with failing surfaces recleaned. We measured monthly rates of MDRO infection or colonization, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and MDR gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) during a 12-month baseline period and sequential 6-month intervention periods, separated by a 2-month washout. Primary analysis compared only the randomized intervention periods, whereas secondary analysis included the baseline. RESULTS: The ATP method was associated with a reduction in incidence rate of MDRO infection or colonization compared with the UV/F period (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.876; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.807-0.951; P = .002). Including the baseline period, the ATP method was associated with reduced infection with MDROs (IRR 0.924; 95% CI, 0.855-0.998; P = .04), and MDR-GNB infection or colonization (IRR 0.856; 95% CI, 0.825-0.887; P < .001). The UV/F intervention was not associated with a statistically significant impact on these outcomes. Room turnaround time increased by a median of 1 minute with the ATP intervention and 4.5 minutes with UV/F compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive monitoring of ICU terminal room cleaning with an ATP modality is associated with a reduction of MDRO infection and colonization.

Impact of donor multidrug-resistant organisms on solid organ transplant recipient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The impact of donor colonization or infection with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) on solid organ transplant (SOT) recipient outcomes remains uncertain. We thus evaluated the association between donor MDROs and risk of posttransplant infection, graft failure, and mortality. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed. All SOT recipients with a local deceased donor were included. The cohort was divided into three exposure groups: recipients whose donors had (1) an MDRO, (2) a non-MDRO bacterial or candidal organism, or (3) no growth on cultures. The primary outcomes were (1) bacterial or invasive candidal infection within 3 months and (2) graft failure or death within 12 months posttransplant. Mixed effect multivariable frailty models were developed to evaluate each association. RESULTS: Of 658 total SOT recipients, 93 (14%) had a donor with an MDRO, 477 (73%) had a donor with a non-MDRO organism, and 88 (13%) had a donor with no organisms on culture. On multivariable analyses, donor MDROs were associated with a significantly increased hazard of infection compared to those with negative donor cultures (adjust hazard ratio [aHR] 1.63, 95% CI 1.01-2.62, p = .04) but were not associated with graft failure or death (aHR 0.45, 95% CI 0.15-1.36, p = .16). CONCLUSIONS: MDROs on donor culture increase the risk of early posttransplant infection but do not appear to affect long-term graft or recipient survival, suggesting organ donors with MDROs on culture may be safely utilized. Future studies aimed at reducing early posttransplant infections associated with donor MDROs are needed.

Impact of deceased organ donor injection drug use on donor culture positivity and recipient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Due to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States, deceased organ donors increasingly have a history of injection drug use (IDU), raising concerns about infectious risks to solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We sought to determine how recent IDU among deceased organ donors impacted donor culture results and recipient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at three transplant centers. Exposed donors were those with "recent IDU" (in the prior 12 months). Primary outcomes included (1) positive donor cultures for bacteria or Candida species, (2) recipient bacterial or Candida infection within 3 months posttransplant, and (3) recipient graft failure or death within 12 months posttransplant. Mixed effects multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between recent donor IDU and each outcome. RESULTS: A total of 658 SOT recipients who received organs from 394 donors were included. Sixty-six (17%) donors had a history of recent IDU. Recent IDU in donors was associated with a significantly increased odds of donor culture positivity (aOR 3.65, 95% CI 1.06-12.60, p = .04) but was not associated with SOT recipient infection (aHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.71-1.36, p = .92) or graft failure or death (aHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.29-1.51, p = .33). CONCLUSION: Donors with recent IDU are more likely to have positive cultures, but their recipients' outcomes are unaffected, suggesting organs from donors with recent IDU may be safely utilized.

Antibiotic Utilization in Deceased Organ Donors.

Antibiotic use in deceased organ donors has not been previously described. In a retrospective cohort of 440 donors, we found 427 (97%) received at least one antibiotic course, 312 (71%) received broad-spectrum antibiotics, and 61 (14%) received potentially redundant antibiotics during their terminal hospitalization, suggesting a need for stewardship.

Risk Factors for Extended-Spectrum ß-lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infection Among Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 40% of all Enterobacterales (EB) bloodstream infections (BSIs) among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are due to extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms, but risk factors for such infections remain ill defined in this population. We sought to determine the risk factors for ESBL-EB BSIs among SOTRs. METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was performed. All SOTRs with an EB BSI at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland Medical Center between 1 January 2007 and 30 June 2018 and at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2015 were included. Cases were those with an ESBL-EB BSI. Controls were those with a non-ESBL-EB BSI. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine risk factors for ESBL-EB BSI. RESULTS: There were 988 episodes of EB BSI, of which 395 (40%) were due to an ESBL-EB. On multivariable analysis, the independent risk factors for ESBL-EB BSI included: ESBL-EB on prior culture (aOR, 12.75; 95% CI, 3.23-50.33; P < .001), a corticosteroid-containing immunosuppression regimen (aOR 1.30; 95% CI 1.03-1.65; P = .030), acute rejection treated with corticosteroids (aOR 1.18; 95% CI 1.16-1.19; P < .001), and exposure to third-generation cephalosporins (aOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.48-2.57; P < .001), echinocandins (aOR 1.61; 95% CI 1.08-2.40; P = .020), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 1.10-1.64; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: We identified several novel risk factors that are uniquely important to the SOTR population, including exposure to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and corticosteroid-containing immunosuppressive regimens. Further studies exploring these associations and testing interventions aimed at these modifiable risk factors among SOTRs are needed.

Clinical prediction tool for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing enterobacterales as the etiology of a bloodstream infection in solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections are increasingly common among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, leading to challenges in the selection of empiric antimicrobial therapy. We sought to develop a clinical tool to predict which SOT recipients are at high risk for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales (EB) bloodstream infection (BSI). METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was performed. The source population included SOT recipients with an EB BSI between 2005 and 2018. Cases were those with ESBL-EB BSI; controls were those with non-ESBL EB BSI. The population was subdivided into derivation and validation cohorts based on study site. The predictive tool was developed in the derivation cohort through iterative multivariable logistic regression analyses that maximized the area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC). External validity was assessed using the validation cohort. RESULTS: A total of 897 SOT recipients with an EB BSI were included, of which 539 were assigned to the derivation cohort (135, 25% ESBL-EB) and 358 to the validation cohort (221, 62% ESBL-EB). Using multivariable analyses, the most parsimonious model that was predictive of ESBL-EB BSI consisted of 10 variables, which fell into four clinical categories: prior colonization or infection with EB organisms, recent antimicrobial exposures, severity of preceding illness, and immunosuppressive regimen. This model achieved an AUC of 0.81 in the derivation cohort and 0.68 in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Though further refinements are needed in additional populations, this tool shows promise for guiding empiric therapy for SOT recipients with EB BSI.

Impact of deceased donor multidrug-resistant bacterial organisms on organ utilization.

The extent to which donor multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) affect organ utilization remains unclear. We performed a retrospective cohort study at 4 transplant centers between 2015 and 2016 to evaluate this question. All deceased donors who donated at least one organ were included. Exposed donors had at least one MDRO on culture. Unexposed donors had no MDRO-positive cultures. Only cultures obtained during the donor's terminal hospitalization were evaluated. Multivariable regression was used to determine the association between donor MDRO and (1) number of organs transplanted per donor and (2) the match run at which each organ was accepted. Subsequently, we restricted the analysis to donors with MDR-Gram-negative (GN) organisms. Of 440 total donors, 29 (7%) donors grew MDROs and 7 (2%) grew MDR-GNs. There was no significant association between donor MDRO and either measure of organ utilization. However, donor MDR-GNs were associated with a significant reduction in the number of organs transplanted per donor (incidence rate ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.48, P < .01), and organs were accepted significantly further down the match list (relative count 5.08, 95% CI 1.64-15.68, P = .01). Though donor MDR-GNs were infrequent in our study, their growing prevalence could meaningfully reduce the donor pool over time.

Risk factors for multidrug-resistant organisms among deceased organ donors.

Donor infection or colonization with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) affects organ utilization and recipient antibiotic management. Approaches to identifying donors at risk of carrying MDROs are unknown. We sought to determine the risk factors for MDROs among transplant donors. A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at four transplant centers between 2015 and 2016. All deceased donors who donated at least one organ were included. Cultures obtained during the donor's terminal hospitalization and organ procurement were evaluated. The primary outcome was isolation of an MDRO on culture. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine risk factors associated with time to donor MDRO. Of 440 total donors, 64 (15%) donors grew an MDRO on culture. Predictors of an MDRO on donor culture included hepatitis C viremia (hazard ratio [HR] 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71-9.78, P = .002), need for dialysis (HR 4.59, 95% CI 1.09-19.21, P = .037), prior hematopoietic cell transplant (HR 7.57, 95% CI 1.03-55.75, P = .047), and exposure to antibiotics with a narrow gram-negative spectrum (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00-1.27, P = .045). This is the first study to determine risk factors for MDROs among deceased donors and will be important for risk stratifying potential donors and informing transplant recipient prophylaxis.

Whole-Genome Sequencing To Identify Drivers of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Transmission within and between Regional Long-Term Acute-Care Hospitals.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an antibiotic resistance threat of the highest priority. Given the limited treatment options for this multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO), there is an urgent need for targeted strategies to prevent transmission. Here, we applied whole-genome sequencing to a comprehensive collection of clinical isolates to reconstruct regional transmission pathways and analyzed this transmission network in the context of statewide patient transfer data and patient-level clinical data to identify drivers of regional transmission. We found that high regional CRKP burdens were due to a small number of regional introductions, with subsequent regional proliferation occurring via patient transfers among health care facilities. While CRKP was predicted to have been imported into each facility multiple times, there was substantial variation in the ratio of intrafacility transmission events per importation, indicating that amplification occurs unevenly across regional facilities. While myriad factors likely influence intrafacility transmission rates, an understudied one is the potential for clinical characteristics of colonized and infected patients to influence their propensity for transmission. Supporting the contribution of high-risk patients to elevated transmission rates, we observed that patients colonized and infected with CRKP in high-transmission facilities had higher rates of carbapenem use, malnutrition, and dialysis and were older. This report highlights the potential for regional infection prevention efforts that are grounded in genomic epidemiology to identify the patients and facilities that make the greatest contribution to regional MDRO prevalence, thereby facilitating the design of precision interventions of maximal impact.

The role of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistance in recurrent community-onset Enterobacteriaceae urinary tract infections: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial resistance to first line antibiotics used to treat community-onset urinary tract infections (UTIs) continues to emerge. We sought to determine the association between extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance (ESC-R) and recurrence among Enterobacteriaceae (EB) UTIs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. All patients presenting to the Emergency Departments (EDs) or outpatient practices in a large health system with EB UTIs between 2010 and 2013 were included. Exposed patients had ESC-R EB UTIs. Unexposed patients had ESC-susceptible EB UTIs and were matched to exposed patients 1:1 on study year. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between ESC-R EB UTI and time to recurrent UTI within 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients with an index community-onset EB UTI were included, with 151 exposed and 151 unexposed. Overall, 163 (54%) patients experienced a recurrent UTI with a median time to recurrence of 69 days (interquartile range 25-183). On multivariable analyses, ESC-resistance was associated with an increased hazard of recurrent UTI (hazard ratio [HR] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.91, P = 0.04). Other variables that were independently associated with recurrence included a history of UTI prior to the index UTI and presence of a urinary catheter at the time of the index UTI. Secondarily, we found that when the treatment for the index UTI was adjusted for, there was no longer a significant association between ESC-R status and time to recurrent UTI (aHR 1.26, 95% CI 0.91-1.76, P = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Community-onset UTI due to EB demonstrating ESC-resistance is associated with a significantly increased hazard of recurrent UTI within 12 months compared to ESC-susceptible EB, even after adjusting for baseline factors that predispose patients to UTI recurrence. This association appears to be driven primarily by delayed or inappropriate treatment for the index ESC-R EB UTI.

Comparing the Outcomes of Adults With Enterobacteriaceae Bacteremia Receiving Short-Course Versus Prolonged-Course Antibiotic Therapy in a Multicenter, Propensity Score-Matched Cohort.

Background: The recommended duration of antibiotic treatment for Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infections is 7-14 days. We compared the outcomes of patients receiving short-course (6-10 days) vs prolonged-course (11-16 days) antibiotic therapy for Enterobacteriaceae bacteremia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at 3 medical centers and included patients with monomicrobial Enterobacteriaceae bacteremia treated with in vitro active therapy in the range of 6-16 days between 2008 and 2014. 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity score matching without replacement was performed prior to regression analysis to estimate the risk of all-cause mortality within 30 days after the end of antibiotic treatment comparing patients in the 2 treatment groups. Secondary outcomes included recurrent bloodstream infections, Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), and the emergence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative (MDRGN) bacteria, all within 30 days after the end of antibiotic therapy. Results: There were 385 well-balanced matched pairs. The median duration of therapy in the short-course group and prolonged-course group was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR], 7-9 days) and 15 days (IQR, 13-15 days), respectively. No difference in mortality between the treatment groups was observed (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], .62-1.63). The odds of recurrent bloodstream infections and CDI were also similar. There was a trend toward a protective effect of short-course antibiotic therapy on the emergence of MDRGN bacteria (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, .32-1.09; P = .09). Conclusions: Short courses of antibiotic therapy yield similar clinical outcomes as prolonged courses of antibiotic therapy for Enterobacteriaceae bacteremia, and may protect against subsequent MDRGN bacteria.

Combined Biomarkers Predict Acute Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients With Suspected Sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is associated with high early and total in-hospital mortality. Despite recent revisions in the diagnostic criteria for sepsis that sought to improve predictive validity for mortality, it remains difficult to identify patients at greatest risk of death. We compared the utility of nine biomarkers to predict mortality in subjects with clinically suspected bacterial sepsis. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: The medical and surgical ICUs at an academic medical center. SUBJECTS: We enrolled 139 subjects who met two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) criteria and received new broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy. INTERVENTIONS: We assayed nine biomarkers (α-2 macroglobulin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, procalcitonin, serum amyloid A, serum amyloid P, and tissue plasminogen activator) at onset of suspected sepsis and 24, 48, and 72 hours thereafter. We compared biomarkers between groups based on both 14-day and total in-hospital mortality and evaluated the predictive validity of single and paired biomarkers via area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fourteen-day mortality was 12.9%, and total in-hospital mortality was 29.5%. Serum amyloid P was significantly lower (4/4 timepoints) and tissue plasminogen activator significantly higher (3/4 timepoints) in the 14-day mortality group, and the same pattern held for total in-hospital mortality (Wilcoxon p ≤ 0.046 for all timepoints). Serum amyloid P and tissue plasminogen activator demonstrated the best individual predictive performance for mortality, and combinations of biomarkers including serum amyloid P and tissue plasminogen activator achieved greater predictive performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve > 0.76 for 14-d and 0.74 for total mortality). CONCLUSIONS: Combined biomarkers predict risk for 14-day and total mortality among subjects with suspected sepsis. Serum amyloid P and tissue plasminogen activator demonstrated the best discriminatory ability in this cohort.

Epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Network of Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The rapid emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) represents a major public health threat, including in the long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) setting. Our objective in this study was to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of CRKP in a network of US LTACHs. METHODS: An observational study was performed among 64 LTACHs from January 2014 to March 2015. Clinical cultures were included, with the first CRKP isolate recovered from each patient per study quarter evaluated. LTACH and geographic area-based CRKP prevalence and clinical and microbiologic characteristics were described. RESULTS: A total of 3846 K. pneumoniae cultures were identified, with an overall carbapenem resistance rate of 24.6%. There were significant differences in CRKP rates across geographic regions, with the highest in the West (42.2%). Of 946 CRKP isolates, 507 (53.6%) were from a respiratory source, 350 (37.0%) from a urinary source, and 9 (9.4%) from blood. Among 821 unique patients with CRKP colonization or infection, the median age was 73 years. There was a high prevalence of respiratory failure (39.8%) and the presence of a central venous catheter (50.9%) or tracheostomy (64.8%). Resistance rates of CRKP isolates were high for amikacin (59.2%) and fluoroquinolones (>97%). The resistance rate to colistin/polymyxin B was 16.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 25% of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates in a US network of LTACHs were CRKP. Expansion of national surveillance efforts and improved communication among LTACHs and acute care hospitals will be critical for reducing the continued emergence of CRKP across the healthcare continuum.

Comparison of Culture-Based Methods for Identification of Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in the Context of Cocolonization.

Two screening methods to detect staphylococcal colonization in humans were compared. Direct plating to CHROMagar (BD Diagnostics) was compared to a broth preenrichment followed by plating to Baird-Parker agar. The broth-enrichment method was comparable to CHROMagar for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) detection, but the enrichment method was optimum for recovery of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp.

Duration of Colonization and Determinants of Earlier Clearance of Colonization With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: The duration of colonization and factors associated with clearance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after community-onset MRSA skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI) remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with acute MRSA SSTI presenting to 5 adult and pediatric academic hospitals from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2012. Index patients and household members performed self-sampling for MRSA colonization every 2 weeks for 6 months. Clearance of colonization was defined as negative MRSA surveillance cultures during 2 consecutive sampling periods. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was developed to identify determinants of clearance of colonization. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three index patients were included. The median duration of MRSA colonization after SSTI diagnosis was 21 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 19-24), and 19.8% never cleared colonization. Treatment of the SSTI with clindamycin was associated with earlier clearance (hazard ratio [HR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.28-2.30; P < .001). Older age (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, .98-1.00; P = .01) was associated with longer duration of colonization. There was a borderline significant association between increased number of household members colonized with MRSA and later clearance of colonization in the index patient (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, .71-1.01; P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: With a systematic, regular sampling protocol, duration of MRSA colonization was noted to be shorter than previously reported, although 19.8% of patients remained colonized at 6 months. The association between clindamycin and shorter duration of colonization after MRSA SSTI suggests a possible role for the antibiotic selected for treatment of MRSA infection.