Association of piperacillin/tazobactam MIC and mortality in a cohort of ceftriaxone-resistant Escherichia coli bloodstream infections treated with piperacillin/tazobactam and carbapenems: a multicentric propensity score-weighted observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of piperacillin/tazobactam MICs on in-hospital 30 day mortality in patients with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli bloodstream infection treated with piperacillin/tazobactam, compared with those treated with carbapenems. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted in three large academic hospitals in Italy between 2018 and 2022. The study population comprised patients with monomicrobial third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli bloodstream infection, who received either piperacillin/tazobactam or carbapenem therapy within 48 h of blood culture collection. The primary outcome was in-hospital 30 day all-cause mortality. A propensity score was used to estimate the likelihood of receiving empirical piperacillin/tazobactam treatment. Cox regression models were performed to ascertain risk factors independently associated with in-hospital 30 day mortality. RESULTS: Of the 412 consecutive patients included in the study, 51% received empirical therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam, while 49% received carbapenem therapy. In the propensity-adjusted multiple Cox model, the Pitt bacteraemia score [HR 1.38 (95% CI, 0.85-2.16)] and piperacillin/tazobactam MICs of 8 mg/L [HR 2.35 (95% CI, 1.35-3.95)] and ≥16 mg/L [HR 3.69 (95% CI, 1.86-6.91)] were significantly associated with increased in-hospital 30 day mortality, while the empirical use of piperacillin/tazobactam was not found to predict in-hospital 30 day mortality [HR 1.38 (95% CI, 0.85-2.16)]. CONCLUSIONS: Piperacillin/tazobactam use might not be associated with increased mortality in treating third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli bloodstream infections when the MIC is <8 mg/L.

Ursodeoxycholic acid does not affect the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective study of propensity score-matched cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been recently proposed as a modulator of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expression, with potential effects on COVID-19. AIM AND STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course and outcome of subjects taking UDCA admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 compared with matched infected subjects. Differences regarding the severity and outcome of the disease between treated and non-treated subjects were assessed. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were used to evaluate the effect of UDCA on all-cause intra-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 6444 subjects with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the emergency department (ED) from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2022, 109 subjects were taking UDCA. After matching 629 subjects were included in the study: 521 in the no UDCA group and 108 in the UDCA group. In our matched cohort, 144 subjects (22.9%) died, 118 (22.6%) in the no-UDCA group and 26 (24.1%) in the UDCA group. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in survival between groups. In univariate regression analysis, the presence of pneumonia, National Early Warning Score (NEWS) score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were significant independent predictors of death. At multivariate Cox regression analysis, age, NEWS, pneumonia and CCI index were confirmed significant independent predictors of death. UDCA treatment was not a predictor of survival both in univariate and multivariate regressions. CONCLUSIONS: UDCA treatment does not appear to have significant effects on the outcome of COVID-19. Specially designed prospective studies are needed to evaluate efficacy in preventing infection and severe disease.

Incidence of bloodstream infections due to multidrug-resistant pathogens in ordinary wards and intensive care units before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a real-life, retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: SARS-COV-2 pandemic led to antibiotic overprescription and unprecedented stress on healthcare systems worldwide. Knowing the comparative incident risk of bloodstream infection due to multidrug-resistant pathogens in COVID ordinary wards and intensive care-units may give insights into the impact of COVID-19 on antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: Single-center observational data extracted from a computerized dataset were used to identify all patients who underwent blood cultures from January 1, 2018 to May 15, 2021. Pathogen-specific incidence rates were compared according to the time of admission, patient's COVID status and ward type. RESULTS: Among 14,884 patients for whom at least one blood culture was obtained, a total of 2534 were diagnosed with HA-BSI. Compared to both pre-pandemic and COVID-negative wards, HA-BSI due to S. aureus and Acinetobacter spp. (respectively 0.3 [95% CI 0.21-0.32] and 0.11 [0.08-0.16] new infections per 100 patient-days) showed significantly higher incidence rates, peaking in the COVID-ICU setting. Conversely, E. coli incident risk was 48% lower in COVID-positive vs COVID-negative settings (IRR 0.53 [0.34-0.77]). Among COVID + patients, 48% (n = 38/79) of S. aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin and 40% (n = 10/25) of K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented here indicate that the spectrum of pathogens causing BSI in ordinary wards and intensive care units varied during the pandemic, with the greatest shift experienced by COVID-ICUs. Antimicrobial resistance of selected high-priority bacteria was high in COVID positive settings.

Impact of antimalarial resistance and COVID-19 pandemic on malaria care among pregnant women in Northern Uganda (ERASE): protocol of a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Uganda accounts for 5% of all malaria cases and deaths reported globally and, in endemic countries, pregnancy is a risk factor for both acquisition of P. falciparum infection and development of severe malaria. In recent years, malaria control has been threatened by COVID-19 pandemic and by the emergence, in Northern Uganda, of both resistance to artemisinin derivatives and to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. METHODS: In this facility-based, prospective, observational study, pregnant women will be recruited at antenatal-care visits and followed-up until delivery. Collected data will explore the incidence of asymptomatic parasitemia and malaria-related outcomes, as well as the attitudes towards malaria prevention, administration of intermittent preventive treatment, healthcare seeking behavior and use of insecticide-treated nets. A subpopulation of women diagnosed with malaria will be recruited and their blood samples will be analyzed for detection of genetic markers of resistance to artemisinin derivatives and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Also, to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on malaria care among pregnant women, a retrospective, interrupted-time series will be conducted on at the study sites for the period January 2018 to December 2021. DISCUSSION: The present study will explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on incidence of malaria and malaria-related adverse outcomes, along with the prevalence of resistance to artemisinin derivatives and to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. To our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to explore the combined effect of these factors on a cohort of pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov public website on 26th April, 2022. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT05348746.

The Role of Early Procalcitonin Determination in the Emergency Departiment in Adults Hospitalized with Fever.

Background and Objectives: Fever is one of the most common presenting complaints in the Emergency Department (ED). The role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) determination in the ED evaluation of adults presenting with fever is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate if, in adults presenting to the ED with fever and then hospitalized, the early PCT determination could improve prognosis. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective, mono-centric study, conducted over a 10-year period (2009-2018). We analyzed consecutive patients ≥18 years admitted to ED with fever and then hospitalized. According to quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) at admission, we compared patients that had a PCT determination vs. controls. Primary endpoint was overall in-hospital mortality; secondary endpoints were in-hospital length of stay, and mortality in patients with bloodstream infection and acute respiratory infections. Results. The sample included 12,062 patients, median age was 71 years and 55.1% were men. In patients with qSOFA ≥ 2 overall mortality was significantly lower if they had a PCT-guided management in ED, (20.5% vs. 26.5%; p = 0.046). In the qSOFA < 2 group the mortality was not significantly different in PCT patients, except for those with a final diagnosis of bloodstream infection. Conclusions. Among adults hospitalized with fever, the PCT evaluation at ED admission was not associated with better outcomes, with the possible exception of patients affected by bloodstream infections. However, in febrile patients presenting to the ED with qSOFA ≥ 2, the early PCT evaluation could improve the overall in-hospital survival.

Post-Prescription Audit Plus Beta-D-Glucan Assessment Decrease Echinocandin Use in People with Suspected Invasive Candidiasis.

Background and Objectives: Overtreatment with antifungal drugs is often observed. Antifungal stewardship (AFS) focuses on optimizing the treatment for invasive fungal diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the utility of a post-prescription audit plus beta-D-glucan (BDG) assessment on reducing echinocandin use in persons with suspected invasive candidiasis. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, pre-post quasi-experimental study of people starting echinocandins for suspected invasive candidiasis. The intervention of the study included review of each echinocandin prescription and discontinuation of treatment if a very low probability of fungal disease or a negative BDG value were found. Pre-intervention data were compared with the intervention phase. The primary outcome of the study was the duration of echinocandin therapy. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay and mortality. Results: Ninety-two echinocandin prescriptions were reviewed, 49 (53.3%) in the pre-intervention phase and 43 (46.7%) in the intervention phase. Discontinuation of antifungal therapy was possible in 21 of the 43 patients in the intervention phase (48.8%). The duration of echinocandin therapy was 7.4 (SD 4.7) in the pre-intervention phase, 4.1 days (SD 2.9) in persons undergoing the intervention, and 8.6 (SD 7.3) in persons in whom the intervention was not feasible (p at ANOVA = 0.016). Length of stay and mortality did not differ between pre-intervention and intervention phases. Conclusions: An intervention based on pre-prescription restriction and post-prescription audit when combined with BDG measurement is effective in optimizing antifungal therapy by significantly reducing excessive treatment duration.

Increased CD95 (Fas) and PD-1 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in COVID-19 patients.

A low count of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes is a hallmark laboratory finding in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Using flow cytometry, we observed significantly higher CD95 (Fas) and PD-1 expression on both CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in 42 COVID-19 patients when compared to controls. Higher CD95 expression in CD4+ cells correlated with lower CD4+ counts. A higher expression of CD95 in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes correlated with a lower percentage of naive events. Our results might suggest a shift to antigen-activated T cells, expressing molecules increasing their propensity to apoptosis and exhaustion during COVID-19 infection.

White Paper: Bridging the gap between surveillance data and antimicrobial stewardship in the outpatient sector-practical guidance from the JPIAMR ARCH and COMBACTE-MAGNET EPI-Net networks.

BACKGROUND: The outpatient setting is a key scenario for the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities, considering that overconsumption of antibiotics occurs mainly outside hospitals. This publication is the result of a joint initiative by the JPIAMR ARCH and COMBACTE-MAGNET EPI-Net networks, which is aimed at formulating a set of target actions for linking surveillance data with AMS activities in the outpatient setting. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was carried out in three research areas: AMS leadership and accountability; antimicrobial usage and AMS; antimicrobial resistance and AMS. Consensus on the actions was reached through a RAND-modified Delphi process involving over 40 experts in infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, AMS, veterinary medicine or public health, from 18 low-, middle- and high-income countries. RESULTS: Evidence was retrieved from 38 documents, and an initial 25 target actions were proposed, differentiating between essential or desirable targets according to clinical relevance, feasibility and applicability to settings and resources. In the first consultation round, preliminary agreement was reached for all targets. Further to a second review, 6 statements were re-considered and 3 were deleted, leading to a final list of 22 target actions in the form of a practical checklist. CONCLUSIONS: This White Paper is a pragmatic and flexible tool to guide the development of calibrated surveillance-based AMS interventions specific to the outpatient setting, which is characterized by substantial inter- and intra-country variability in the organization of healthcare structures, maintaining a global perspective and taking into account the feasibility of the target actions in low-resource settings.

Incidence of Bloodstream Infections, Length of Hospital Stay, and Survival in Patients With Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection Treated With Fecal Microbiota Transplantation or Antibiotics: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a risk factor for bloodstream infection (BSI). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is more effective than antibiotics in treating recurrent CDI, but its efficacy in preventing CDI-related BSI is uncertain. Objective: To assess incidence of primary BSI in patients with recurrent CDI treated with FMT versus antibiotics. Design: Prospective cohort study. Patients treated with FMT and those treated with antibiotics were matched on propensity score. Setting: Single academic medical center. Patients: 290 inpatients with recurrent CDI (57 patients per treatment in matched cohort). Intervention: FMT or antibiotics. Measurements: The primary outcome was primary BSI within 90 days. Secondary outcomes were length of hospitalization and overall survival (OS) at 90 days. Results: Of the 290 patients, 109 were treated with FMT and 181 received antibiotics. Five patients in the FMT group and 40 in the antibiotic group developed BSI. Because of differences in the patients treated with FMT versus antibiotics in many baseline characteristics, including number of recurrences and CDI severity, comparative analyses were limited to the matched cohort. Risk for BSI was 23 percentage points (95% CI, 10 to 35 percentage points) lower in the FMT group; the FMT group also had 14 fewer days of hospitalization (CI, 9 to 20 fewer days) and a 32-percentage point increase in OS (CI, 16 to 47 percentage points) compared with the antibiotic group. Limitation: Nonrandomized study with potential for unmeasured or residual confounding; limited generalizability of the propensity score-matched cohort. Conclusion: In a propensity score-matched cohort, patients with recurrent CDI treated with FMT were less likely to develop primary BSI. Primary Funding Source: None.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy for patients with carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: retrospective single-center case series.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (also known as co-trimoxazole, TMPS) to treat Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp)-K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) infections. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with a TMPS-susceptible Kp-KPC infection were collected as a case series. RESULTS: We report clinical outcomes and tolerability for 14 patients infected by Kp-KPC strains susceptible to TMPS, including three bloodstream infections. In ten cases (71.4%), TMPS was administered as monotherapy. In all but one case, Kp-KPC infection was cured. In the remaining patient, therapy was discontinued because of an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TMPS to treat TMPS-susceptible Kp-KPC infections seems promising.

Liver Resection for Primary Intrahepatic Stones: Focus on Postoperative Infectious Complications.

BACKGROUND: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis is defined by the presence of gallstones at the level of cystic dilatations of the intrahepatic biliary tree. Liver resection is considered the treatment of choice, with the purpose of removing stones and atrophic parenchyma, also reducing the risk of cholangiocarcinoma. However, in consequence of the considerable incidence of infectious complications, postoperative morbidity remains high. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of preoperative bacterial colonization of the bile ducts on postoperative outcome. METHODS: The clinical records of 73 patients treated with liver resection were reviewed and clinical data, operative procedures, results of bile cultures, and postoperative outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Left hepatectomy (38 patients) and left lateral sectionectomy (19 patients) were the most frequently performed procedures. Overall morbidity was 38.3 %. A total of 133 microorganisms were isolated from bile. Multivariate analysis identified previous endoscopic or percutaneous cholangiography (p = 0.043) and preoperative cholangitis (p = 0.003) as the only two independent risk factors for postoperative infectious complications. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative morbidity was strictly related to the preoperative biliary infection. An effective control of infections should be always pursued before liver resection for intrahepatic stones and an aggressive treatment of early signs of sepsis should be strongly emphasized.

Validation of a self-reported HIV symptoms list: the ISS-HIV symptoms scale.

BACKGROUND: To describe the development and the psychometric properties of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità-HIV symptoms scale (lSS-HIV symptoms scale). METHODS: The ISS-HIV symptom scale was developed by an Italian working team including researchers, physicians and people living with HIV. The development process went through the following steps: (1) review of HIV/AIDS literature; (2) focus group; (3) pre-test analysis; (4) scale validation. RESULTS: The 22 symptoms of HIV-ISS symptoms scale were clustered in five factors: pain/general discomfort (7 items); depression/anxiety (4 items); emotional reaction/psychological distress (5 items); gastrointestinal discomfort (4 items); sexual discomfort (2 items). The internal consistence reliability was for all factors within the minimum accepted standard of 0.70. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide a preliminary evidence of the reliability and validity of the ISS-HIV symptoms scale. In the new era where HIV infection has been transformed into a chronic diseases and patients are experiencing a complex range of symptoms, the ISS-HIV symptoms scale may represent an useful tool for a comprehensive symptom assessment with the advantage of being easy to fill out by patients and potentially attractive to physicians mainly because it is easy to understand and requires short time to interpret the results.

Impact of antibiotic stewardship on perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) is useful to prevent antimicrobial overuse, misuse and abuse, as well against the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSIs). This study aimed to describe the implementation of a quality improvement intervention on AP for elective surgery, as informal interviews showed a lower than expected compliance with internal recommendations, and to evaluate intervention's effect in terms of main drug consumption. DESIGN: A quality improvement intervention on all elective cases within 14 main surgical departments was performed. SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines were used in designing and reporting. SETTING: The intervention was implemented in an Italian Teaching Hospital 2 years after the adoption of internal evidence-based AP recommendations. PARTICIPANTS: Professionals involved in elective surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention was structured into two phases: a survey was conducted during two non-consecutive weeks period (April-May 2013) to assess the adherence to the international guidelines in AP; survey's results were presented and discussed with all the surgical teams (December 2013-April 2014). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Impact on cefazolin consumption (in defined daily doses per 100 procedures). RESULTS: Data of AP for 653 surgical procedures in terms of type, timing, duration, excess and defect were analyzed. An optimal AP rate resulted in 48.1% cases. Reduction in cefazolin use (-21.5%) and cost (-22.9%) was registered. CONCLUSIONS: Though results cannot be generalized to all hospital populations, the implemented intervention is likely to improve AP consequently improving quality of care and reducing costs. Further studies are needed to evaluate specific outcomes such as rate of SSIs and antibiotic resistance.

Safety and efficacy of treatment switch to raltegravir plus tenofovir/emtricitabine or abacavir/lamivudine in patients with optimal virological control: 48-week results from a randomized pilot study (Raltegravir Switch for Toxicity or Adverse Events, RASTA Study).

BACKGROUND: The Raltegravir Switch for Toxicity or Adverse Events (RASTA) Study is a 2-arm randomized pilot study exploring the safety and efficacy at 48 weeks of a treatment switch to raltegravir associated with tenofovir/emtricitabine or abacavir/lamivudine in patients with regimens with optimal virological control. METHODS: Patients treated with stable protease inhibitor (PI)-, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-, or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-based regimens, with HIV-RNA levels < 50 copies/ml for ≥ 3 months and a CD4 cell count > 200 cells/µl were eligible. Enrollment of 40 patients was planned: at baseline patients were randomized 1:1 to switch to raltegravir plus tenofovir/emtricitabine (arm A) or abacavir/lamivudine (arm B). Laboratory parameters, raltegravir plasma levels, self- reported adherence, quality of life parameters, neurocognitive performance, bone composition, and body fat distribution were monitored. Virological failure was defined as HIV-RNA > 50 copies/ml on 2 consecutive determinations. RESULTS: After 48 weeks, 5/40 (12.5%) regimen discontinuations occurred: 2 were for low-level viremia virological failure (both in arm A, at weeks 24 and 48) and 3 were for adverse events (neurological disturbances and skin rash in arm B; proximal tubulopathy in arm A). Overall, a significant CD4 increase was observed at weeks 36 and 48, and a significant decrease in total cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides was observed at each study visit. Physical health/satisfaction in therapy scores and neuropsychological performance improved. The lumbar column Z-score improved, with no modification in other bone composition and fat distribution parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The investigated switch strategy was associated with rare virological failure. Improvements in lipid levels, quality of life measures, neuropsychological performance, and bone composition suggest good tolerability of raltegravir-based regimens.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in urologic interventions: Who, when, where?

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural prophylaxis in medicine encompasses the set of measures (physical, chemical, and pharmacological) used to reduce the risk of infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) refers to the administration of a short-term regimen of antibiotics shortly before a medical procedure to reduce the risk of infectious complications that can result from diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. The outspreading growth of multidrug-resistant bacterial species and changes in the bacterial local ecosystem have impeded the development of a unique scheme of AP in urology. OBJECTIVES: To review the literature and current guidelines regarding AP for urological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and to define agents, timing, and occasions when administering pharmacological prophylaxis. Secondly, according to current literature, to open new scenarios where AP can be useful or useless. RESULTS: Major gaps in evidence still exist in this field. AP appears useful in many invasive procedures and some sub-populations at risk of infectious complications. AP is not routinely recommended for urodynamic exams, diagnostic cystoscopy, and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. The available data regarding the use of AP during the transperineal prostate biopsy are still unclear; conversely, in the case of the transrectal approach AP is mandatory. AP is still considered the gold standard for the prevention of postoperative infective complications in the case of ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, endoscopic resection of bladder tumor, endoscopic resection of the prostate, and prosthetic or major surgery. CONCLUSION: The review highlights the complexity of determining the appropriate candidates for AP, emphasizing the importance of considering patient-specific factors such as comorbidities, immunocompetence, and the nature of the urologic intervention. The evidence suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable, and a tailored strategy based on the specific procedure and patient characteristics is essential.

Bloodstream infection: Derivation and validation of a reliable and multidimensional prognostic score based on a machine learning model (BLISCO).

BACKGROUND: A bloodstream infection (BSI) prognostic score applicable at the time of blood culture collection is missing. METHODS: In total, 4,327 patients with BSIs were included, divided into a derivation (80%) and a validation dataset (20%). Forty-two variables among host-related, demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory extracted from the electronic health records were analyzed. Logistic regression was chosen for predictive scoring. RESULTS: The 14-day mortality model included age, body temperature, blood urea nitrogen, respiratory insufficiency, platelet count, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, and consciousness status: a score of ≥ 6 was correlated to a 14-day mortality rate of 15% with a sensitivity of 0.742, a specificity of 0.727, and an area under the curve of 0.783. The 30-day mortality model further included cardiovascular diseases: a score of ≥ 6 predicting 30-day mortality rate of 15% with a sensitivity of 0.691, a specificity of 0.699, and an area under the curve of 0.697. CONCLUSIONS: A quick mortality score could represent a valid support for prognosis assessment and resources prioritizing for patients with BSIs not admitted in the intensive care unit.

Clostridioides difficile infection: an update.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium emerged as a leading cause of diarrhea globally. CDI's (Clostridioides difficile infection) impact on healthcare systems is concerning due to high treatment cost and increased hospitalisation time. The incidence of CDI has been influenced by hypervirulent strains such as the 027 ribotype, responsible for significant outbreaks in North America and Europe. CDI's epidemiology has evolved, showing increased community-acquired cases alongside traditional hospital-acquired infections. Mortality rates remain high, with recurrent infections further elevating the risk. Transmission of C. difficile primarily occurs via spores, which survive in healthcare settings and play a pivotal role in transmission. Not only health workers, but also the food chain could have a significant impact on the transmission of infection, although no confirmed foodborne cases have been documented. Pathogenicity of C. difficile involves spore germination and toxin production. Toxins A and B can cause cellular damage and inflammatory responses in the host, leading to colitis. Clinical picture can range from mild diarrhea to fulminant colitis with toxic megacolon, and bowel perforation. Risk factors for CDI include antibiotic exposure, advanced age, hospitalization, and use of proton pump inhibitors. Patients who experience abdominal surgery or patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are particularly susceptible due to their compromised gut microbiota. Management of CDI has evolved, with fidaxomicin emerging as a superior treatment option over vancomycin for initial and recurrent infections due to its reduction of recurrence rate. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for recurrent CDI, restoring gut eubiosis. Bezlotoxumab, a monoclonal antibody against C. difficile toxin B, has shown promise in reducing recurrence rates. Severe cases of CDI may require surgical intervention, particularly in instances of toxic megacolon or bowel perforation. In conclusion, CDI remains a significant clinical entity. Further research are needed to improve patients' outcome and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

Identification of two anti-Candida antibodies associated with the survival of patients with candidemia.

IMPORTANCE: Candidemia (bloodstream invasion by Candida species) is a major fungal disease in humans. Despite the recent progress in diagnosis and treatment, therapeutic options are limited and under threat of antimicrobial resistance. The disease mortality remains high (around 40%). In contrast with deep-seated invasive candidiasis, particularly that occurring in patients with hematologic malignancies and organ transplants, patients with candidemia are often not immunocompromised and therefore able to mount memory anticandidal immune responses, perhaps primed by Candida commensalism. We investigated antibody immunity in candidemia patients and report here on the ability of these patients to produce antibodies that react with Candida antigens. In particular, the patients with high titers of IgG reactive with two immunodominant, virulence-associated antigens (Als3 and MP65) had a higher 30-day survival. If confirmed by controlled, prospective clinical studies, our data could inform the development of antibody therapy to better treat a severe fungal infection such as candidiasis.

A Machine Learning Predictive Model of Bloodstream Infection in Hospitalized Patients.

The aim of the study was to build a machine learning-based predictive model to discriminate between hospitalized patients at low risk and high risk of bloodstream infection (BSI). A Data Mart including all patients hospitalized between January 2016 and December 2019 with suspected BSI was built. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to develop a clinically interpretable machine learning predictive model. The model was trained on 2016-2018 data and tested on 2019 data. A feature selection based on a univariate logistic regression first selected candidate predictors of BSI. A multivariate logistic regression with stepwise feature selection in five-fold cross-validation was applied to express the risk of BSI. A total of 5660 hospitalizations (4026 and 1634 in the training and the validation subsets, respectively) were included. Eleven predictors of BSI were identified. The performance of the model in terms of AUROC was 0.74. Based on the interquartile predicted risk score, 508 (31.1%) patients were defined as being at low risk, 776 (47.5%) at medium risk, and 350 (21.4%) at high risk of BSI. Of them, 14.2% (72/508), 30.8% (239/776), and 64% (224/350) had a BSI, respectively. The performance of the predictive model of BSI is promising. Computational infrastructure and machine learning models can help clinicians identify people at low risk for BSI, ultimately supporting an antibiotic stewardship approach.

The Subcutaneous Administration of Beta-Lactams: A Case Report and Literary Review-To Do Small Things in a Great Way.

The subcutaneous (s.c.) route is a commonly used method for delivering various drugs, although its application in the administration of antibiotics is relatively uncommon. In this case, we report a successful treatment of nosocomial pneumonia using piperacillin/tazobactam via continuous subcutaneous administration. Furthermore, this article provides an overview of the current literature regarding the s.c. administration of beta-lactam antibiotics. Based on our analysis, we identified only 15 studies that described the s.c. use of beta-lactam antibiotics in human subjects. Among these studies, cephalosporins were the most extensively investigated antibiotic class, with 10 available studies. According to the study findings, all three antibiotic classes (cephalosporins, penicillins, and carbapenems) demonstrated a similar pharmacokinetic profile when administered via the subcutaneous route. The subcutaneous route appears to be associated with a lower peak serum concentration (Cmax) but a comparable minimum blood concentration (Cmin) and an extended half-life (t1/2) when compared to conventional routes of antibiotic administration. Further research is necessary to determine whether subcutaneously administered beta-lactam antibiotics in human subjects achieve pharmacodynamic targets and demonstrate clinical efficacy.