Endocarditis caused by anaerobic bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by anaerobic bacteria is a rare and poorly characterized disease. Most data reported in the literature are from case reports [1-3]. Therefore, we assessed the situation of anaerobic IE (AIE) in Spain using the database of the Spanish Collaboration on Endocarditis (GAMES). METHODS: We performed a prospective study from 2008 to 2016 in 26 Spanish centers. We included 2491 consecutive cases of definite IE (Duke criteria). RESULTS: Anaerobic bacteria caused 22 cases (0.9%) of definite IE. Median age was 66 years (IQR, 56-73), and 19 (86.4%) patients were men. Most patients (14 [63.6%]) had prosthetic valve IE and all episodes were left-sided: aortic valves, 12 (54.5%); and mitral valves, 8 (36.4%). The most common pathogens were Propionibacterium acnes (14 [63.6%]), Lactobacillus spp (3 [13.63%]), and Clostridium spp. (2 [9.0%]), and the infection was mainly odontogenic. Fifteen of the 22 patients (68.2%) underwent cardiac surgery. Mortality was 18.2% during admission and 5.5% after 1 year of follow-up. When patients with AIE were compared with the rest of the cohort, we found that although those with AIE had a similar age and Charlson comorbidity index, they were more likely to have community-acquired IE (86.4% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.01), have undergone cardiac surgery (68.2% vs 48.7% p = 0.06), and have had lower mortality rates during admission (18.2% vs. 27.3%). CONCLUSION: IE due to anaerobic bacteria is an uncommon disease that affects mainly prosthetic valves and frequently requires surgery. Otherwise, there are no major differences between AIE and IE caused by other microorganisms.

Respiratory syncytial virus: A new era.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major public health problem that has undergone significant changes in recent years. First of all, it has become easier to diagnose with highly reliable and rapidly available confirmatory tests. This has led to a better understanding of its epidemiology and RSV has gone from being a disease of the pediatric age group, severe only in infants and immunosuppressed children, to being a common disease in people of all ages, particularly important in patients of advanced age or with immunosuppressive diseases. Recent therapeutic and prophylactic advances, both with long-lasting monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, are another reason for satisfaction. For these reasons, the COVID and Emerging Pathogens Committee of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has considered it pertinent to review this subject in the light of new knowledge and new resources for dealing with this infection. We have formulated a series of questions that we believe will be of interest not only to members of the College but also to any non-expert in this subject, with a particular focus on the situation of RSV infection in Spain.

Recommendations for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes.

Nursing homes (NH) conceptually should look as much like a home as possible. However NH have unquestionable similarities with a nosocomium as they are places where many patients with underlying diseases and comorbidities accumulate. There is evidence of transmission of microorganisms between residents and between residents and caregivers. We have not found any recommendations specifically aimed at the prevention of nosocomial infections in NH by the major Public Health Agencies and, therefore, the Health Sciences Foundation (Fundación de Ciencias de la Salud) has convened a series of experts and 14 Spanish scientific societies to discuss recommendations that could guide NH personnel in establishing written programs for the control and reduction of these infections. The present document is the result of these deliberations and contains suggestions for establishing such control programs on a voluntary and flexible basis in NH. We also hope that the document can help the health authorities to encourage this control activity in the different territorial areas of Spain. In our opinion, it is necessary to draw up a written plan and establish the figure of a coordinator or person responsible for implementing these projects. The document includes measures to be implemented and ways of quantifying the reality of different problems and of monitoring the impact of the measures established.

Infection control in long term care institutions for the elderly: A reflection document on the situation in Spain.

A progressively increasing percentage of the elderly live during the last years of their lives in nursing homes. Although these institutions are intended to mimic life at home as much as possible, they have characteristics that make them quite similar to a "nosocomiun", i.e. an establishment for the treatment of the sick. The very coexistence among the elderly, the fact of sharing caregivers and the very significant exposure to third parties, together with the frequent predisposing diseases to infection in this population, make infection frequent among residents and also easily transmissible. This leads us to ask what can be done to prevent infection in this environment and more specifically what is the state of the art of the matter in a Western European nation such as ours. The Board of Trustees of the Health Sciences Foundation has asked itself a series of questions on the subject of infection prevention in Nursing Homes, the structure of procedures, the legislation available, compliance with the measures indicated, the best indicators of the processes and therefore, the need to promote in Spain a document of recommendations to avoid infections in this poplation whose morbidity and mortality need not be highlighted. To this end, a multidisciplinary group of experts in different aspects of this problem has been convened and asked the proposed questions. The questions were discussed by the group as a whole and led to a series of conclusions agreed upon by the participants. The results of the meeting are reported below.

Bezlotoxumab in the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections: a real-life experience.

OBJECTIVE: Following the approval of bezlotoxumab in 2017, studies evaluating its effectiveness in prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection under "real-life" conditions are scarce. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study developed in a large tertiary care hospital describing the use and outcomes of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treated with bezlotoxumab. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients were include, all of whom had an episode of CDI with high probability of recurrence and 14 of them had some kind of immunosuppression. Bezlotoxumab was effective in the prevention of CDI recurrence in 11 of the 14 cases in which follow up was possible, without significant side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Bezlotoxumab was well tolerated and the incidence of recurrent CDI in a high-risk population for recurrence was only 21.4%.

Prevalence and correlates of having sexual and reproductive health priorities met by HIV providers among women living with HIV in a Canadian setting.

OBJECTIVE: To: (1) describe the prevalence of key reproductive health outcomes (e.g., pregnancy, unintended pregnancy; abortion); and (2) examine social-structural correlates, including HIV stigma, of having key sexual and reproductive health (SRH) priorities met by participants' primary HIV provider, among women living with HIV. METHODS: Data were drawn from a longitudinal community-based open cohort (SHAWNA) of women living with HIV. The associations between social-structural factors and two outcomes representing having SRH priorities met by HIV providers ('being comfortable discussing sexual health [SH] and/or getting a Papanicolaou test' and 'being comfortable discussing reproductive health [RH] and/or pregnancy needs') were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations for repeated measures over time. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs] are reported. RESULTS: Of 314 participants, 77.1% reported having SH priorities met while 64.7% reported having RH priorities met by their primary HIV provider at baseline. In multivariable analysis, having SH priorities met was inversely associated with: sexual minority identity (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37-0.94), gender minority identity (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.29-0.95) and recent verbal or physical violence related to HIV status (AOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.97) and positively associated with recently accessing women-centred services (Oak Tree Clinic) (AOR: 4.25, 95% CI: 2.20-8.23). Having RH priorities met was inversely associated with: sexual minority identity (AOR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.40-0.79), gender minority identity (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25-0.81) and being born in Canada (AOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56) and positively associated with recently accessing women-centred services (AOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.29-2.53) and a history of pregnancy (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.47-3.44). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there remain unmet priorities for safe SRH care and practice among women living with HIV, and in particular, for women living with HIV with sexual and/or gender minority identity and those who experience enacted HIV stigma. HIV providers should create safe, non-judgmental environments to facilitate discussions on SRH. These environments should be affirming of all sexual orientations and gender identities, culturally safe, culturally humble and use trauma-informed approaches.

Pacemaker wire infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a case report and literature review.

Post-operative reactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a recognized complication of surgery. We report a case of reactivation TB involving pacemaker wires and review the literature on surgical site TB infections following cardiac surgery to examine the clinical features and outcomes of this rare but important presentation of TB.

Respiratory syncytial virus burden among adults during flu season: an underestimated pathology.

BACKGROUND: Information on the role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adult patients with influenza-like syndrome is scarce. AIM: To assess the clinical characteristics of RSV in adult patients with respiratory manifestations during a regular influenza season. METHODS: Prospective study in a tertiary Spanish hospital from December 2015 to February 2016. The study population included only adult patients with either community-acquired or hospital/healthcare-associated influenza-like illness, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control criteria. Samples were analysed using a rapid molecular assay (Xpert® Flu/RSV). RSV-positive patients were compared with a randomly negative control group and with an influenza-positive control group. FINDINGS: Twelve hundred patients with influenza-like respiratory infection were included. Overall, 114 of the samples (9%) were positive for influenza and 95 (8%) were positive for RSV. When RSV-positive and influenza-positive patients were compared, RSV-positive patients were older (57.7 vs 48.9 years; P = 0.03), and their disease was more frequently healthcare-related (26/95, 27.3% vs 5/114, 1.7%; P < 0.001). They also had significantly more antibiotics prescribed (77/95, 81.0% vs 70/114, 61.4%; P < 0.001) and more frequently needed hospital admission (93/95, 97.8% vs 69/114, 60.5%; P < 0.001). Mortality was also significantly higher in RSV-positive patients (14/95, 14.7% vs 7/114, 6.1%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: RSV is a major cause of moderate-to-severe respiratory infection during the influenza season; acquisition is frequently nosocomial or healthcare-related; and mortality is significantly higher than with influenza virus infection. The use of a rapid molecular test as a first-step diagnostic technique is necessary to ensure that isolation measures are implemented and that spread is prevented.

High rates of exposure to tuberculosis patients among HIV-infected health care workers in Botswana.

OBJECTIVE: To compare daily exposure to tuberculosis (TB) patients between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected health care workers (HCWs), and examine the uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among HIV-infected HCWs in Botswana. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs in 30 hospitals and clinics. We determined self-reported exposure frequency to TB patients and HIV status through in-person interviews. HCWs with unknown or negative HIV status were offered rapid HIV testing. Multivariable Poisson regression modeling with robust variance was used to estimate the association between HIV status and daily exposure to TB patients. RESULTS: Of 1877 participants enrolled, 1388 (73.9%) with complete data were included in this study. Among 277 (20.0%) HIV-infected participants, 14.3% were newly diagnosed, 57.8% were on ART, and 34.3% reported previously receiving IPT. Daily exposure to TB patients was reported by respectively 48.4% and 52.9% of HIV-infected and non-infected participants. After adjusting for sex, age, occupation, and department, the rates of daily TB exposure remained similar between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected participants (prevalence ratio 0.96, 95%CI 0.85-1.08). CONCLUSIONS: We found similar rates of exposure to TB patients between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected HCWs. Improved efforts are needed to reduce nosocomial exposure to TB among HIV-infected HCWs.

2016 Expert consensus document on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of short-term peripheral venous catheter-related infections in adult.

The use of endovascular catheters is a routine practice in secondary and tertiary care level hospitals. Short peripheral catheters have been found to be associated with the risk of nosocomial bacteremia resulting in morbidity and mortality. Staphyloccus aureus is mostly associated with peripheral catheter insertion. This Consensus Document has been elaborated by a panel of experts of the Spanish Society of Cardiovascular Infections in cooperation with experts from the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine, Spanish Society of Chemotherapy and Spanish Society of Thoracic-Cardiovascular Surgery and aims at define and establish the norm for management of short duration peripheral vascular catheters. The document addresses the indications for insertion, catheter maintenance and registry, diagnosis and treatment of infection, indications for removal and stresses on continuous education as a driver for quality. Implementation of this norm will allow uniformity in usage thus minimizing the risk of infection and its complications.

Bloodstream infections in patients with kidney disease: risk factors for poor outcome and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients with kidney diseases is scarce and mainly derived from selected groups of patients. AIM: To assess the characteristics of BSI in an unselected population of patients with kidney disease, including renal transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney failure who were receiving or not receiving dialysis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all patients who presented with BSI in the nephrology department of a large teaching hospital. Clinical records were reviewed according to a pre-established protocol. Standard definitions were used. FINDINGS: In all, 155 episodes of BSI were recorded in 108 patients. The incidence of BSI was 77.3 episodes per 1000 admissions, and 4.5 episodes per 100 patient-years. Haemodialysis patients had the highest incidence of BSI. The distribution of micro-organisms was as follows: Gram-negative, 52.3%; Gram-positive, 46.5%; fungi, 1.2%. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated micro-organism (27%). The BSI was classed as bacteraemia of unknown source (29.7%), urinary tract infection (23.2%), vascular access infection (17.4%), and other (29.7%). Eighteen patients (11.6%) developed septic shock or multi-organ failure, and the same proportion had persistent bacteraemia. The crude mortality rate was 14.6%. The risk factors for mortality were high Charlson index, persistent bacteraemia, and absence of fever. CONCLUSION: Nephrology patients have a high incidence of BSI, particularly patients undergoing haemodialysis. The predominant micro-organisms causing BSI episodes were Gram-negative bacilli. Patients with kidney disease have high BSI-related morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for mortality were high Charlson comorbidity index and persistent BSI. The presence of fever during the BSI episodes was found to be a protective factor.

Outcomes in HIV-infected adults with tuberculosis at clinics with and without co-located HIV clinics in Botswana.

SETTING: Gaborone, Botswana. OBJECTIVE: To determine if starting anti-tuberculosis treatment at clinics in Gaborone without co-located human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics would delay time to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation and be associated with lower survival compared to starting anti-tuberculosis treatment at clinics with on-site HIV clinics. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. Subjects were HAART-naïve, aged ≥ 21 years with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), HIV and CD4 counts ≤ 250 cells/mm(3) initiating anti-tuberculosis treatment between 2005 and 2010. Survival at completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment or at 6 months post-treatment initiation and time to HAART after anti-tuberculosis treatment initiation were compared by clinic type. RESULTS: Respectively 259 and 80 patients from clinics without and with on-site HIV facilities qualified for the study. Age, sex, CD4, baseline sputum smears and loss to follow-up rate were similar by clinic type. Mortality did not differ between clinics without or with on-site HIV clinics (20/250, 8.0% vs. 8/79, 10.1%, relative risk 0.79, 95%CI 0.36-1.72), nor did median time to HAART initiation (respectively 63 and 66 days, P = 0.53). CONCLUSION: In urban areas where TB and HIV programs are separate, geographic co-location alone without further integration may not reduce mortality or time to HAART initiation among co-infected patients.

[Hyperbaric oxygenation in early treatment of sudden deafness]. / Hyperbare Oxygenation in der Frühbehandlung des Hörsturzes.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of sudden deafness with hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) is a new method, which is a routine application in some German centers and subject to contraindications can be assessed as relatively reliable. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, data were analyzed from 49 patients who had received primary HBO therapy because of sudden deafness (up to 3 weeks old). In comparison to the standard infusion therapy according to Michel, the primary HBO therapy led to inferior results (no change in hearing: right ear 63.88%, left ear 60.98%; improvement in hearing: right ear 22.49%, left ear 21.71%; decrease in hearing: right ear 13.64%, left ear 17.32%). RESULTS: Considering the spontaneous remission of sudden deafness, neither the results of the infusion therapy nor those of the hyperbaric oxygenation surpass the rate of complete spontaneous remission. On the basis of our research, primary treatment of "fresh" sudden deafness with hyperbaric oxygenation cannot be recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The question remains open whether HBO as a secondary treatment for sudden deafness leads to improvements for the patient after unsuccessful standard therapy.