Rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria directly from blood culture bottles for a reliable guided empiric therapy.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are a critical life-threatening challenge which necessitates the urgency to trigger life-saving treatment in a timely manner. This study aimed to evaluate the time required for rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) directly from blood culture bottles to optimize empirical treatment of BSI, especially in pediatric and infant patients, using a cost-effective method. This study included 419 Gram-negative bacteria, of which Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were the most common CPE causing BSI in pediatric and neonatal patients. Phenotypic and genotypic resistance of the selected isolates (45 K. pneumoniae and 9 E. coli) were determined by VITEK-2 Compact system and PCR, respectively. BACT/ALERT bottles were spiked with isolates. Finally, colorimetric RESIST-BC assay and Vitek-2 compact system were evaluated for the rapid detection of carbapenem-resistant bacteria directly from positive blood culture bottles. All selected isolates were phenotypically resistant to carbapenems. PCR showed that blaNDM and blaOXA-48 were present in all isolates, blaVIM was present in 44.4%, while blaKPC and blaIMP were entirely absent. The RESIST-BC kit showed good agreement with PCR for blaNDM and blaOXA-48, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity, but not with blaVIM. These findings point out that RESIST-BC assay demonstrated an exceptionally short detection time for CPE, completing all cases within the first hour after the blood culture bottles flagged positive. It is also superior in providing a clue for clinicians on antibiotic combinations that can be administered, depending on the type of ß-lactamases detected, promptly and efficiently, with low expenses.

Bacteremia and antimicrobial resistance pattern of uropathogens causing febrile urinary tract infection in a Pediatric University Hospital.

Introduction: Febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are among the most serious bacterial infections. Inadequate treatment can lead to kidney scarring and permanent kidney damage. Eight to ten percent of children with UTIs could have concomitant bacteremia. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of UTI-associated bacteremia and identify common organisms causing UTIs and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to help guide empiric antimicrobial therapy. Methods: The current study was conducted over a 6-month period on children admitted with febrile UTIs at Alexandria University Children's Hospital. Blood and urine samples were collected for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: A total of 103 children with a median age of 12 months (IQR 6.0-24.0) were included in the study. Concomitant bacteremia was present in 63.1% (n=65). The median temperature of 38.40°C (IQR 38.15-38.60) and the median creatinine level of 0.18 mg/dL (IQR 0.14-0.25) were significantly higher in the bacteremic group compared to the non-bacteremic group (p=0.005, p=0.034, respectively). E. coli (n=51; 49.5%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=30; 29.1%) were the most common isolated organisms. Most (n=68; 66%) of the isolated organisms were multidrug-resistant (MDR), followed by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) (n=16; 15.5%), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) organisms (n=1; 1%). E. coli showed lower resistance to gentamicin and ceftriaxone (9.8 % and 13.7%, respectively). Conclusions: E. coli remains the most important UTI pathogen. Ceftriaxone and gentamicin are good empiric options for febrile UTIs in our hospital.

High frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional mechanical ventilation in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: A randomized controlled study.

El-Nawawy A, Moustafa A, Heshmat H, Abouahmed A. High frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional mechanical ventilation in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: A randomized controlled study. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 130-143. The aim of this prospective randomized study is to compare the outcomes of the early use of either high frequency oscillation (HFO) or conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in patients with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). We allocated two hundred PARDS patients over 5 years in 1:1 ratio to either mode. The HFO group showed a significantly higher median partial arterial oxygen pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) values after 24 hours of enrollment (p=0.011), higher oxygenation index (OI) decrease percent (p=0.004) and lower cross-over rates (p < 0.001), whereas no differences in 30-day mortality, length of stay (LOS) or ventilation days (p=0.77, p=0.28, p=0.65 respectively). The second day values (after 24 hours) of both OI and PaO < sub > 2 < /sub > /FiO < sub > 2 < /sub > were found to be more significant discriminators for mortality when compared to the baseline values (cutoff values > 8.5, ≤139 respectively). PARDS patients with baseline OI > 16 had a better chance of survival if initially ventilated with the HFO (p=0.004). Although the HFO mode appeared to be a safe mode with a significant better oxygenation improvement (after the first 24 hours) and fewer cross-over rates, it failed to show differences as regards mortality or LOS when compared to the CMV adopting protective lung strategy. In PARDS, HFO had a superior advantage in improving oxygenation, yet with no significant mortality improvement, as multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was the most common cause of death in our study and not refractory hypoxemia which is the main problem in PARDS; highlighting that mortality in PARDS is multi-factorial and may not depend only on how fast oxygenation improves.