Daptomycin and Ceftaroline Combination Therapy in Complicated Endovascular Infections Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Background In complicated endovascular infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), when first-line therapy with vancomycin (VAN) or daptomycin (DAP) fails, combination therapy with ceftaroline (CFT) and DAP has been shown to be a useful approach as salvage therapy for persistent MRSA bacteremia. Objectives This study aimed to describe experience with daptomycin and ceftaroline combination therapy in MRSE-complicated endovascular infections. Methods A single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients with MRSE-complicated endovascular infections treated with ≥72 hours of DAP+CFT at any time during the course of treatment, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020, at Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal, was conducted. The exclusion criteria were known resistance to daptomycin or ceftaroline, total time of combination therapy <72 hours and loss to follow-up. Results We identified seven cases that matched our criteria: five endocarditis and two central venous catheter infections. Six patients switched to combination therapy due to treatment failure with first-line agents - three due to persistent bacteremia and three due to progression of infection despite negative blood cultures. Effective surgical source control took one to four weeks to occur. Three patients died during the treatment, one from progression of the disease and two due to another infection. Conclusions We consider the DAP+CFT combination therapy to be a valid and safe therapeutic choice in complicated patients, such as those with severe infection, poor functional status, and impossibility or delay of surgical source control. However, conclusions on the role of combination therapy should be careful due to the low number of patients and the several confounding factors.

Outcome of early treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with haematological disorders.

Outcome of early treatment of COVID-19 with antivirals or anti-spike monoclonal antibodies (MABs) in patients with haematological malignancies (HM) is unknown. A retrospective study of HM patients treated for mild/moderate COVID-19 between March 2021 and July 2022 was performed. The main composite end-point was treatment failure (severe COVID-19 or COVID-19-related death). We included 328 consecutive patients who received MABs (n = 120, 37%; sotrovimab, n = 73) or antivirals (n = 208, 63%; nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, n = 116) over a median of two days after symptoms started; 111 (33.8%) had non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); 89 (27%) were transplant/CAR-T (chimaeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy) recipients. Most infections (n = 309, 94%) occurred during the Omicron period. Failure developed in 31 patients (9.5%). Its independent predictors were older age, fewer vaccine doses, and treatment with MABs. Rate of failure was lower in the Omicron versus the pre-Omicron period (7.8% versus 36.8%, p < 0.001). During the Omicron period, predictors of failure were age, fewer vaccine doses and diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (AML/MDS). Independent predictors of longer viral shedding were age, comorbidities, hospital admission at diagnosis, NHL/CLL, treatment with MABs. COVID-19-associated mortality was 3.4% (n = 11). The mortality in those who developed severe COVID-19 after early treatment was 26% in the Omicron period. Patients with HM had a significant risk of failure of early treatment, even during the Omicron period, with high mortality rate.

SARS-CoV-2-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults.

Adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-A) characterized by elevated inflammatory markers and multisystem organ involvement. We report the case of a patient who presented with fever and vomiting at hospital admission. He tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and blood tests showed elevated inflammatory markers. The patient developed acute cardiac dysfunction and shock in less than 24 hours and the echocardiogram revealed an LVEF of 30%. He was discharged 3 weeks later fully recovered. MIS-A should be considered if a compatible syndrome is observed in patients with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection by PCR test or serology. LEARNING POINTS: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome should be considered in young adults presenting with shock and elevated inflammatory markers.Multisystem inflammatory syndrome may be highly responsive to parenteral steroids.

Pantoprazole: An Unusual Suspect in a Patient with Fever.

Drugs can cause fever of unknown origin. Drug fever is a diagnosis of exclusion and can lead to unnecessary investigations and prolonged hospitalization. Any drug can be responsible. Here, we describe the case of a woman admitted because of acute hepatitis. Pantoprazole was started for stress ulcer prophylaxis when she was admitted to the ICU. Fever developed a few days later and an extensive diagnostic work-up was negative. Fever remitted after pantoprazole discontinuation and the diagnosis of drug fever was established. LEARNING POINTS: Despite extensive diagnostic work-up, the aetiology of acute liver failure remains unclear in a large proportion of cases.Drug fever is a diagnosis of exclusion and must be considered in every patient with unexplained fever; any drug should be seen as a possible offending agent.Pantoprazole, a commonly prescribed drug, can be a rare cause of fever.