The susceptibility to fosfomycin of Gram-negative bacteria isolates from urinary tract infection in the Czech Republic: data from a unicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Against a background of rapid increase of ß-lactamase-producing or multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria and the resulting lack of effective antibiotic treatment, some older antibiotics have been tested for new therapeutic uses. One of these is fosfomycin, to which according to studies these resistant bacteria are very sensitive. Our study was designed because there is no data on the fosfomycin susceptibility rate in the Czech Republic. METHOD: In this study from January 2013 to June 2014 3295 unique isolates of Gram-negative bacteria which had caused urinary tract infections were examined. The antibiotic susceptibility was measured by disk diffusion test. Both EUCAST and CLSI guidelines criteria (for fosfomycin only) were used for the antibiotic susceptibility evaluation. RESULTS: The most frequently tested bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (51.3%, n = 1703), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.4%, n = 643) and Proteus spp. (11.8%, n = 392). Among all isolates 29.0% (n = 963) were resistant to fluoroquinolones, 11.3% (n = 374) produced extended spectrum ß-lactamase and 4.2% (n = 141) produced AmpC ß-lactamase. The overall in vitro susceptibility was significantly higher for fosfomycin compared to the other tested per-oral antibiotics (nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime) against all tested Gram-negative rod isolates (excluding Morganella morgani and Acinetobacter spp. isolates). Fosfomycin also remained highly active against those isolates with extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) production (95.8% in Escherichia coli isolates and 85.3% in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates), unlike other tested per-oral antibiotics, which showed significant (p < 0.0001) susceptibility decrease. CONCLUSION: We have confirmed in the Czech Republic the very high susceptibility to fosfomycin trometamol of urinary tract infection pathogens, particularly Gram-negative rods including those producing ß-lactamase.

Radical prostatectomy in high-grade prostate cancer, salvage and adjuvant radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer with a Gleason score (GS) of 8-10 is linked to a higher risk of recurrence and progression. The aim of this paper is to evaluate treatment results of our high-risk patient cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cohort of 42 patients with radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen histology GS 8-10 was assessed. The patients were followed up after RP and radiotherapy (RT) was delivered in case of a biochemical relapse. Adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) was delivered only in case of a positive surgical margin (PSM). The following parameters were evaluated: biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The second objective was to evaluate adverse effects of RP and RT. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 88 months (18-168). RP led to BPFS in 16 patients (38%). Five patients with PSM underwent aRT and 20 underwent salvage radiotherapy (sRT). One patient died of myocardial infarction and 1 patient died of metastatic disease. Skeletal metastases were recorded in 2 patients. The BPFS in RP combinations with sRT or aRT was reached in 29 patients (69%). The OS and CSS in our cohort reached 95 and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Management with aRT only in PSM was very effective, according to our retrospective study.

Safety and Efficacy of Using Tranexamic Acid at the Beginning of Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in a Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The prophylactic administration of tranexamic acid has been shown to be appropriate for procedures with a high risk of perioperative bleeding in cardiac surgery and orthopaedics. In urology the ambiguous results have been reported. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid administration in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A pilot, prospective, double-blind, randomized study was conducted to evaluate this effect. METHODS: The study included 100 patients who received RARP in the period from April 2017 to January 2018. The patients were randomly assigned to study and control groups of 50 patients each. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 6 months. Lower haemoglobin level drop weighted for gram of operated prostate was observed in the study group when treating the dorsal vein complex (DVC) at the beginning of the procedure (p = 0.004 after 3 hours and p < 0.001 after 24 hours). There was no evidence of any serious side effect of tranexamic acid. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the safety of tranexamic acid at RARP. In addition, we showed that administration of tranexamic acid at the beginning of RARP significantly reduces the decrease in haemoglobin after the procedure when treating the DVC at the beginning of the procedure.

Percutaneous radiofrequency and microwave ablation in the treatment of renal tumors - 10 years of experience.

INTRODUCTION: The standard radical treatment of renal cell carcinoma is surgical resection, but it is not suitable for patients with serious medical comorbidities and solitary kidney tumors. Minimally invasive ablation techniques could be an appropriate therapeutic alternative. AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the technical success, mid-term and long-term efficacy and safety of radiofrequency and microwave ablation in patients with small renal tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over the course of 10 years, 91 ablation procedures in 64 patients for 68 tumors, of size 12-60 mm, were performed using only conscious sedation. These ablations were done under the guidance of computed tomography. We treated 41 males and 23 females with solitary kidney tumors (14 cases) and tumors in non-surgical candidates (54 cases). RESULTS: In 50 (73.5%) tumors single treatment was successful; in 13 (19.1%) cases a second procedure was used successfully, and in the 5 largest tumors (sizes 45-60 mm, 7.4%) a third treatment was necessary. Within the follow-up 10 (15.6%) patients died, but none due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Only 1 serious complication was observed - retroperitoneal and psoatic hematoma. Early recurrence occurred in 18 (26.5%) tumors. Late recurrence was detected in 5 (7.4%) cases. In all cases complete local control of the renal tumors was reached. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ablation is a very effective treatment for patients with small renal tumors of the T1a group with a minimal complication rate.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and resection of rectum performed together: first experience.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy is an increasingly used approach in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer and prostate cancer. The anatomical proximity of the two organs is the main reason to consider performing both procedures simultaneously. AIM: To present our first experience of laparoscopic rectal resection and radical prostatectomy, performed simultaneously, in 3 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The first patient was diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer and tumor infiltration of the prostate and seminal vesicles. The other 2 patients were diagnosed with tumor duplicity. The surgery of the first patient started with laparoscopic prostatectomy except division of the prostate from the rectal wall. The next step was resection of the rectum, extralevator amputation of the rectum and vesicourethral anastomosis. In the other patients, resection of the rectum, followed by radical prostatectomy, was performed. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 12 months. The median operation time was 4 h 40 min, with blood loss of 300 ml. The operations and postoperative course were without incident in the case of 2 patients. However, 1 patient had stercoral peritonitis and a vesicorectal fistula in the early postoperative stage. Sigmoidostomy and postponed ureteroileal conduit were carried out. All patients were in oncologic remission. CONCLUSIONS: Combined laparoscopic rectal resection and radical prostatectomy is a viable option for selected patients with locally advanced rectal cancer or tumor duplication. The procedures were completed without complications in 2 out of 3 patients.

Bipolar transurethral resection of anastomotic strictures after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of the bipolar endoscopic resection for anastomotic stricture was assessed and compared with holmium laser treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a cohort of 39 patients with anastomotic strictures in years 1999 to 2007. Twenty-two patients had undergone bipolar resection, and 17 patients had undergone holmium laser treatment. The mean age of the bipolar cohort was 63.8 years; initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 10.7 ng/mL. The mean age of the laser cohort was 64 years; initial PSA level was 7.8 ng/mL. The results were evaluated by measurement of the maximum urinary flow (Qmax) and the postvoid residual volume of urine (PVR) before surgery, and at 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for statistical analysis, and a P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 42 (14-74) months. Improvements in Qmax and PVR were recorded in the two cohorts. In the bipolar cohort, the mean values of Qmax were 3.9 mL/s, 14 mL/s, and 13 ml/s, while PVR values were 46 mL, 10 mL, and 11 mL. The mean values of Qmax in the laser cohort were 3.7 mL/s, 11 mL/s and 6.1 mL/s; PVR were 25 mL, 16 mL, and 19 mL. Statistically significantly better results of Qmax over 6 months were in the bipolar cohort (P < 0.001). No perioperative complications and no deterioration of urinary continence were recorded. CONCLUSION: The bipolar resection of an anastomotic stricture is a highly effective method that produces better long-term results than the holmium laser treatment.