Nosocomial bloodstream infections in neurosurgery: a 10-year analysis in a center with high antimicrobial drug-resistance prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Data on nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSI) in neurosurgery is limited. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology, microbiology, outcome, and risk factors for death in neurosurgical patients with NBSI in a multidrug resistant setting. METHODS: Neurosurgical patients with a confirmed NBSI within the period 2003-2012 were retrospectively analyzed. NBSI was diagnosed when a pathogen was isolated from a blood sample obtained after the first 48 h of hospitalization. Patients' demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were recorded and analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 236 patients with NBSI were identified and 378 isolates were recovered from blood cultures. Incidence of NBSI was 4.3 infections/1000 bed-days. Gram-negative bacteria slightly predominated (54.5 %). The commonest bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS, 26 %), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.3 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.8 %), and Acinetobacter baumannii (13.2 %). Carbapenem resistance was found in 90 % of A. baumannii, in 66 % of P. aeruginosa, and in 22 % (2003-2007) to 77 % (2008-2012) of K. pneumoniae isolates (p < 0.05). Most CoNS and Staphylococcus aureus isolates (94 and 80 %, respectively) were methicillin-resistant. All Gram-negative isolates were sensitive to colistin and all Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. Antimicrobial consumption decreased after 2007 (p < 0.05). Overall mortality was 50.4 %. In multivariate analysis, advanced age and stay in an Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, high incidence of NBSI and considerable resistance of Gram-positive and particularly Gram-negative bacteria were noted in neurosurgical patients. Mortality was high with advanced age and stay in IMCU being the most important death-related factors.

Comparison of semiquantitative and differential time to positivity methods for the diagnosis of central line-associated bloodstream infections in an intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) adversely affect patients' hospitalization. AIM: We compared semiquantitative roll plate (SQRP) and differential time to positivity (DTP) culture methods in diagnosing CLABSIs. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was conducted in an intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to August 2014. All ICU patients with suspected CLABSIs were included. Blood cultures were taken, while central venous catheter (CVC) tips were cultured using the roll-tip method. DTP was considered positive if CVC lumen blood cultures became positive at least 2 h prior to concurrently drawn peripheral blood cultures with an identical micro-organism. SQRP method was considered positive when ≥15 c.f.u. of a micro-organism identical to that of blood cultures grew. Measures of diagnostic accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: SQRP displayed high sensitivity (94.7 %), while DTP showed high specificity (82.5 %). SQRP combined with DTP displayed 100  % sensitivity and negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: SQRP and DTP methods should be evaluated in combination.

Effects of an Active Surveillance Program and Enhanced Infection Control Measures on Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Carriage and Infections in Pediatric Intensive Care.

We evaluated the effects of enhanced infection control measures (ICMs) on carriage and infections of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGNB) in a pediatric intensive care unit. We conducted a quasi-experimental study, including patients with infections of CRGNB retrospectively for 13 months and those participating in an active surveillance program prospectively for 22 months. Active surveillance (weekly rectal swabs) was implemented during a 63-week subperiod with standard ICMs and a subsequent 27-week subperiod with enhanced ICMs (intensified ICMs supplemented with audits and feedback). Prevalence, colonization pressure, incidence, and infections of CRGNB and compliance with ICMs and enhanced ICMs were recorded. Evaluation of results was performed using time series (TS) and interrupted TS. Compliance with hand hygiene improved during the second subperiod of active surveillance compared with the first; prevalence, colonization pressure, and incidence of CRGNB decreased significantly. The linear trend of centered moving average for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) decreased from 1.2 to 0.1 infections/1,000 bed-days (IBD) (p = 0.046), while it remained unchanged for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and increased for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) from 0.0 to 2.1 IBD (p < 0.001). Enhanced ICMs can reduce CRKP infections in endemic units, in contrast to CRPA and CRAB infections, which are more difficult to eradicate.