The Gastrointestinal Load of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriacea Is Associated With the Transition From Colonization to Infection by Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Harboring the blaKPC Gene.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are difficult to control. Virulence and antibiotic resistance genes contribute to infection, but the mechanisms associated with the transition from colonization to infection remain unclear. Objective: We investigated the transition from carriage to infection by K. pneumoniae isolates carrying the K. pneumoniae carbapenemase-encoding gene bla KPC (KpKPC). Methods: KpKPC isolates detected within a 10-year period in a single tertiary-care hospital were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequencing typing, capsular lipopolysaccharide and polysaccharide typing, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and the presence of virulence genes. The gastrointestinal load of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and of bla KPC-carrying bacteria was estimated by relative quantification in rectal swabs. Results were evaluated as contributors to the progression from carriage to infection. Results: No PGFE type; ST-, K-, or O-serotypes; antimicrobial susceptibility profiles; or the presence of virulence markers, such yersiniabactin and colibactin, were associated with carriage or infection, with ST437 and ST11 being the most prevalent clones. Admission to intensive and semi-intensive care units was a risk factor for the development of infections (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.375 to 5.687, P=0.005), but higher intestinal loads of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or of bla KPC-carrying bacteria were the only factors associated with the transition from colonization to infection in this cohort (OR 8.601, 95% CI 2.44 to 30.352, P<0.001). Conclusion: The presence of resistance and virulence mechanisms were not associated with progression from colonization to infection, while intestinal colonization by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacea and, more specifically, the load of gastrointestinal carriage emerged as an important determinant of infection.

Performance of a multidisciplinary team and the impact of bundles for reducing health care associated infections in adult intensive care unit: 22 years of experience.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the bundle of techniques developed by the multidisciplinary team to minimize infections in an adult intensive care unit over a 22-year span. Two periods were analyzed: 1996-2006 and 2007-2017. Bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia declined 58.6%, 56.7%, and 82.6%, respectively (P < .05) from 2007 to 2017 compared with these same infections during 1996-2006.

Risk factors for mortality in ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis: a case-control study.

Objective: To describe the microbiological characteristics and to assess the risk factors for mortality of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis in a case-control study of intensive care patients. Methods: This case-control study was conducted over a 6-year period in a 40-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care, private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Case patients were identified using the Nosocomial Infection Control Committee database. For the analysis of risk factors, matched control subjects were selected from the same institution at a 1:8.8 ratio, between January 2006 and December 2011. Results: A total of 40 episodes of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis were evaluated in 40 patients in the intensive care unit, and 354 intensive care patients who did not experience tracheobronchitis were included as the Control Group. During the 6-year study period, a total of 42 organisms were identified (polymicrobial infections were 5%) and 88.2% of all the microorganisms identified were Gram-negative. Using a logistic regression model, we found the following independent risk factors for mortality in ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis patients: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation I score (odds ratio 1.18 per unit of score; 95%CI: 1.05-1.38; p=0.01), and duration of mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 1.09 per day of mechanical ventilation; 95%CI: 1.03-1.17; p=0.004). Conclusion: Our study provided insight into the risk factors for mortality and microbiological characteristics of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis.

Objetivo: Descrever as características microbiológicas e avaliar os fatores de risco para mortalidade na traqueobronquite associada à ventilação mecânica em um estudo caso-controle de pacientes de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Estudo realizado ao longo de 6 anos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva médico-cirúrgica de 40 leitos, em um hospital privado e de nível terciário em São Paulo, Brasil. O Grupo Caso foi identificado usando o banco de dados da Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar. O Grupo Controle foi pareado na proporção de 1:8,8 entre janeiro de 2006 e dezembro de 2011. Resultados: Quarenta episódios de traqueobronquites associadas à ventilação foram avaliados em 40 pacientes na unidade de terapia intensiva, e 354 pacientes não apresentaram traqueobronquite Grupo Controle. Foram identificados 42 microrganismos (dos quais 5% foram infecções polimicrobianas), sendo que 88,2% de todos os microrganismos eram bactérias Gram-negativas. Usando um modelo de regressão logística, encontramos os seguintes fatores de risco independentes para mortalidade em pacientes com traqueobronquites associadas à ventilação: pontuação da Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation I (odds ratio 1,18 por uma unidade de pontuação; IC95%: 1,05-1,38; p=0,01) e duração da ventilação mecânica (odds ratio 1,09 por dia de ventilação mecânica; IC95%: 1,03-1,17; p=0,004). Conclusão: Nosso estudo forneceu informações sobre os fatores de risco para mortalidade e características microbiológicas da traqueobronquite associada à ventilação mecânica.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of manual and automated dialyzers reprocessing after multiple reuses.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of manual and automated dialyzer reprocessing. Dialyzers were filled with fluid thioglycollate medium from blood and dialysate chambers after being reprocessed and chemically sterilized with 0.2% peracetic acid. They were incubated for 14 days at 35°C ± 2°C, and microbiologic analysis was performed. Microorganisms were identified in 3 of the 11 samples (27.3%) from the blood chambers: Sphingomonas paucimobilis (2/3) and Penicillium spp (1/3) and in 11 of the 11 samples (100%) from the dialysate chambers: S paucimobilis (7/11), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (4/11), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3/11), Candida spp (1/11), and Acinetobacter baumannii (1/11). Of the 4 manually reprocessed dialyzers, gram-positive bacillus were identified in 1 sample (25%) from the blood chamber, and Bacillus spp and Burkholderia spp were identified in 1 sample (25%) from the dialysate chamber. The dialyzers reprocessing can pose risks safety because of exposure patient to microorganisms.

Risk factors for mortality in ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis: a case-control study / Fatores de risco para mortalidade em traqueobronquite associada à ventilação mecânica: estudo caso-controle

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the microbiological characteristics and to assess the risk factors for mortality of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis in a case-control study of intensive care patients. Methods This case-control study was conducted over a 6-year period in a 40-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care, private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Case patients were identified using the Nosocomial Infection Control Committee database. For the analysis of risk factors, matched control subjects were selected from the same institution at a 1:8.8 ratio, between January 2006 and December 2011. Results A total of 40 episodes of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis were evaluated in 40 patients in the intensive care unit, and 354 intensive care patients who did not experience tracheobronchitis were included as the Control Group. During the 6-year study period, a total of 42 organisms were identified (polymicrobial infections were 5%) and 88.2% of all the microorganisms identified were Gram-negative. Using a logistic regression model, we found the following independent risk factors for mortality in ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis patients: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation I score (odds ratio 1.18 per unit of score; 95%CI: 1.05-1.38; p=0.01), and duration of mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 1.09 per day of mechanical ventilation; 95%CI: 1.03-1.17; p=0.004). Conclusion Our study provided insight into the risk factors for mortality and microbiological characteristics of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis.

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever as características microbiológicas e avaliar os fatores de risco para mortalidade na traqueobronquite associada à ventilação mecânica em um estudo caso-controle de pacientes de terapia intensiva. Métodos Estudo realizado ao longo de 6 anos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva médico-cirúrgica de 40 leitos, em um hospital privado e de nível terciário em São Paulo, Brasil. O Grupo Caso foi identificado usando o banco de dados da Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar. O Grupo Controle foi pareado na proporção de 1:8,8 entre janeiro de 2006 e dezembro de 2011. Resultados Quarenta episódios de traqueobronquites associadas à ventilação foram avaliados em 40 pacientes na unidade de terapia intensiva, e 354 pacientes não apresentaram traqueobronquite Grupo Controle. Foram identificados 42 microrganismos (dos quais 5% foram infecções polimicrobianas), sendo que 88,2% de todos os microrganismos eram bactérias Gram-negativas. Usando um modelo de regressão logística, encontramos os seguintes fatores de risco independentes para mortalidade em pacientes com traqueobronquites associadas à ventilação: pontuação da Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation I (odds ratio 1,18 por uma unidade de pontuação; IC95%: 1,05-1,38; p=0,01) e duração da ventilação mecânica (odds ratio 1,09 por dia de ventilação mecânica; IC95%: 1,03-1,17; p=0,004). Conclusão Nosso estudo forneceu informações sobre os fatores de risco para mortalidade e características microbiológicas da traqueobronquite associada à ventilação mecânica.

Contaminação microbiana de hemodialisadores processados pelo método automatizado e manual após o número máximo de reusos / Microbiological contamination of reprocessed dialyzers after maximal number of reuses

Introdução: A hemodiálise é um procedimento invasivo, para pacientes em falência renal onde se realiza a filtração do sangue continuamente, utilizando-se circulação extracorpórea em um filtro hemodialisador. No Brasil, a prática do reuso de hemodialisadores atinge quase 100% nos serviços de diálise. Uma das justificativas para o reuso são os limitados recursos para a assistência à saúde. No entanto, esta prática, causa questionamentos relacionados à segurança. Erros técnicos no reprocessamento, qualidade da água e alteração da integridade da membrana do hemodiliasador podem afetar a qualidade do processamento expondo os pacientes ao risco de bacteriemia e sepse. Objetivo: Avaliar a contaminação microbiana dos hemodialisadores após o número máximo de reusos permitidos, comparando os resultados conforme tipo de processamento: manual e automatizado. Método: Esta pesquisa caracterizou-se como estudo de campo, transversal, de caráter exploratório comparativo em dois serviços de diálise. A composição da amostra foi por conveniência conforme a disponibilidade destas, pelas instituições doadoras, sendo os grupos experimentais compostos por 11 hemodialisadores processados pelo método automatizado e quatro hemodialisadores processados manualmente. As amostras foram coletadas após o processamento obedecendo ao número máximo de reusos permitidos pela RDC ANVISA nº 11/2014, sendo 12 reusos para processamento manual e 20 reusos para processamento automatizado. Em Cabine de Proteção Biológica a solução salina e dialisadora foram drenadas dos compartimentos de sangue e dialisato, respectivamente, e injetados 150 mL de meio de cultura Tioglicolato de Sódio Fluido em cada compartimento. As amostras foram incubadas em estufa microbiológica por 14 dias, a temperatura de 35 ºC ±2ºC.Após esse período alíquotas do meio de cultura foram semeadas em meios de ágar sangue, anaerinsol e sabouraud, capazes de recuperar a maioria dos microrganismos aeróbios, anaeróbios, bolores e leveduras. As placas foram incubadas por 48 horas a 35 ºC ±2ºC, e procedida a identificação de gênero dos micorganismos. Realizados controles positivos com hemodialisadores contaminados intencionalmente e controles negativos, com novos esterilizados. Resultados: Das amostras submetidas ao processamento automatizado três amostras (3/11-27,3%) apresentaram crescimento microbiano no compartimento de sangue, sendo identificados dois diferentes microrganismos: de Sphingomonas paucimobilis (66,67%) e de Penicillium sp. (33,33%). Todas as amostras 11/11 (100%) apresentaram crescimento microbiano no compartimento de dialisato, sendo identificados 5 diferentes microrganismos: Sphingomonas paucimobilis (43,75%), Strenotrophomonas maltophilia (25%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18,75%), Acinectobacter baumannii (6,25%) e Candida sp (6,25%). Dos quatro hemodialisadores submetidos ao processamento manual, uma amostra (25%) apresentou crescimento de bacilo Gram-positivo no compartimento de sangue e uma amostra (25%) apresentou crescimento no compartimento do dialisato contaminados por três microrganismos distintos: de Bacillus sp, Rhizobium radiobacter, Burkholderia sp. Comparando os resultados da contaminação microbiana segundo os dois métodos de processamento analisados não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=1) para o compartimento de sangue. Para o compartimento do dialisato o método automatizado apresentou maior número amostras positivas em relação ao manual (p=0,008791). Conclusão: Os resultados demonstraram que o reuso dos hemodialisadores não é uma prática recomendada, podendo causar bacteriemia e sepse em pacientes em tratamento hemodialítico.Ressalta-se que a pesquisa foi conduzida no pior cenário após o número máximo de reusos permitidos sem determinar em qual número de reusos a contaminação aconteceu.

Introduction: Hemodialysis is an invasive procedure for patients with kidney failure in which blood is continuously filtered using a dialyzer filter through extracorporeal blood flow. In Brazil dialyzers are nearly 100% reused in dialysis facilities. One of the main justifications to reuse dialyzers is economical. However, this practice often leads to concerns related to patient safety. Technical errors in reprocessing, water quality and the membrane dialyzer degradation may lead to different risks including bacteremia and sepsis. Objective: To evaluate dialyzers regarding microbiological contamination after maximal number of reuses, comparing results in accordance with the type of reprocessing: manual and automated. Method: This research was characterized as a transversal, exploratory and comparative in two dialysis facilities. The sample was composed as convenience according to the availability of the facilities which donated the samples. The experimental groups were composed of 11 automated reprocessed dialyzers and four manually reprocessed dialyzers. The samples were collected after reprocessing in dialysis facilities according to the maximal number of reuses permited by law (12 in manual reprocessing and 20 in automated reprocessing) and prepared in Biosafety Cabinets. Saline Solution and dialysate solution were drained from both the blood and the dialysate chambers, respectively, by applying suction and filled with 150 mL of culture medium sodium thioglicolato fluid in each chamber and they were incubated at a temperature of 35 º C + or -2 ° C for 14 days. After this period, the samples were cultured in medium adequate for the growth of aerobic and anaerobic organisms as well as fungi and yeasts.The samples were incubated for 48 hours at 35 º C + or -2 ° C and identification of microorganisms was carried.Results: The analyzed samples which were automated reprocessed, 3/11(27.3%) showed microbiological growth in the blood chamber, of this total, we identified two different microorganisms: S.paucimobilis (66,67%) and Penicillium sp. (33,33%). In the dialysate chamber 11/11 (100%) of microbiological growth was identified, of this total we identified five different microorganisms: S.paucimobilis (43,75%) , S. maltophilia (25%) , P. aeruginosa (18,75%) , A. baumannii (6,25%) and Candida sp. (6,25%). The four analyzed samples which were manually reprocessed, 1/4(25%) showed microbiological growth in the blood chamber. One sample with Gram-positive Bacillus was identified in the dialysate chamber and contaminated by Bacillus sp, R. Radiobacter and Burkholderia sp. Comparing the results related to microbiological growth according to the two methods in the blood chamber, we concluded that there was no statistically significant difference (p=1) and in the dialysate chamber, there was a higher number of positive samples among those which were automated reprocessed compared to manually reprocessed (p = 0.008791) Conclusion: The results showed that dialyzers reuse is not a recommended practice and may cause bacteremia and sepsis for patients with chronical kidney disease. We highlight that this study was carried out considering the worst case scenario ,i.e. after the maximal number of reuses permitted by law, without specifying in which number of reuses the contamination occurred.