Insights and Opinions of Critical Care Healthcare Professionals in the Management of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Cases and Antibiotic-Resistant Infections in the Intensive Care Unit Setting: A Survey-Based Approach.

INTRODUCTION: A survey-based approach to managing antibiotic-resistant infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, with a focus on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) cases, was conducted. Among CRE, New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) is a carbapenemase that is resistant to ß-lactam antibiotics and has a broader spectrum of antimicrobial resistance than other carbapenemase types. The article explains that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and that carbapenem in combination with other antibiotics are the most potent class of antimicrobial agents effective in treating life-threatening bacterial infections, including those caused by resistant strains. AIM: The survey aimed to gather critical care healthcare professionals (HCPs') opinions on their current practices in managing infections acquired in the hospital and ICU settings, with a focus on CRE cases, specifically NDM-1 and other antibiotic-resistant infections. METHODS: Responses from critical care healthcare professionals, including online surveys and in-person interviews, to gain insights into the management of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The findings related to the insights on the prevalence of bacterial flora, clinical experiences on efficacy and safety of meropenem sulbactam ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (MSE) in CRE cases, and various combination therapies of antibiotics used to treat antibiotic-resistant infections in ICU setting were evaluated. RESULTS: Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria were the most common bacteria in cultures, followed by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. NDM-1 was the type of carbapenemase found in around 50% of CRE patients. MSE is among the most preferred antibiotics besides colistin, polymyxin B, and ceftazidime avibactum for CRE cases and specifically for NDM-1 cases due to its high rate of efficacy and safety. CONCLUSION: The article concludes with a discussion on the antibiotics used in response to CRE cases, reporting that critical care HCP considers MSE with high efficacy and safe antibiotic combination and was used as both monotherapy and in combination with other antibiotics. The survey highlights the need for exploring and better understanding the role of MSE in the management of CRE infections, especially in NDM-1.

A prospective study of a new prediction model of vaginal birth after cesarean section at a tertiary care centre.

OBJECTIVE: To create a new and simple model for predicting the likelihood of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) section using variables available at the time of admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed at a tertiary care centre in Haryana over a period of 12 months (January 2018 - December 2018) in pregnant women attending the labour room with one previous cesarean section fulfilling the criteria for undergoing trial of labour after cesarean (TOLAC). The sample size was 150. A VBAC score was calculated for each patient using a new prediction model that included variables available at the time of admission such as maternal age, gestational age, Bishop's score, body mass index, indication for primary cesarean section, and clinically estimated fetal weight. The results of the VBAC scores were correlated with outcomes i.e. successful VBAC or failed VBAC. The chi-square test and Student's t-test was used for comparison among the groups. Descriptive and regression analysis was performed for the study variables. RESULTS: Out of 150 TOLAC cases, 78% had successful VBAC and the remainder (22%) had failed VBAC. The observed probability of having a successful VBAC for a VBAC score of 0-3 was 34%, 4-6 was 68%, 7-9 was 90%, and ≥10 was 97%. The prediction model performed well with an area under the curve of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68 to 0.85) of the receiver operating characteristics receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the proposed VBAC prediction model is a good tool to predict the outcome of TOLAC and can be used to counsel women regarding the mode of delivery in the current and subsequent pregnancies. Further studies of this model and other such models with different permutations and combinations of variables are required.

Effect of Poor Glycemic Control in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Smear-Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). A significant number of DM patients have poor glycemic control. This study was carried out to find the impact of poor glycemic control on newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: In a hospital-based prospective study, newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB with DM patients were classified as poorly controlled diabetes (HBA1C≥7%) and optimal control diabetics (HbA1c<7%). Patients were started on anti-TB treatment and followed for 2 years for severity and treatment outcome. ANOVA was used for numerical variables in the univariable analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariable analysis of treatment outcome. The significance level was kept at a P≤0.05. RESULTS: A total of 630 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed; of which 423 patients had poor glycemic control (PGC) and 207 patients had optimal glycemic control (OGC). The average HbA1c was 10±2.6 and 5±1.50 in the PGC and OGC groups, respectively. The mean symptom score was significantly higher in the PGC group compared with patients in the OGC group (4.55±0.80 vs. 2.70±0.82, P<0.001). PGC was associated with more extensive lung disease, lung cavitation, and positive sputum smear at the baseline. In PGC, sputum smears were significantly more likely to remain positive after 2 months of treatment. PGC patients had significantly higher rates of treatment failure (adj. OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.74, P<0.001) and relapse (adj. OR 2.83, 95% CI 2.60-2.92, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Poor glycemic control is associated with an increased risk of advanced and more severe TB disease in the form of lung cavitations, positive sputum smear, and slower smear conversion. It has a profound negative effect on treatment completion, cure, and relapse rates in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Prevalence of Smoking and Its Impact on Treatment Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients: A Hospital-Based Prospective Study.

There is growing evidence that tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). India, with a population of 1.26 billion, has the highest number of both TB patients and smokers. The convergence of these two important health hazards is likely severely affecting India's TB control programs. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of smoking in newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients and the impact of smoking on disease outcomes in a tertiary care hospital. All patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB as per the Revised National Tuberculosis Program of India (RNTCP) 2013 criteria were enrolled in the study. On the basis of their self-reported smoking status, the participants were classified as never smokers, current smokers, and ex-smokers. Patients were started on anti-TB treatment and were followed for 2 years. Among the 2350 subjects (1,758 males and 592 females), 1,593 patients (67.78%) were never smokers. Current and ex-smokers numbered 757 (32.21%), of which 751 (31.95%) were males and 6 (0.26%) were females. Smoking was associated with more extensive lung disease, lung cavitation, and positive sputum smear and culture results at baseline. In both current smokers and ex-smokers, sputum smears and cultures were significantly more likely to remain positive after 2 months of treatment. Ex-smokers and current smokers had significantly high rates of defaults, treatment failures, and relapses. The prevalence of smoking is very high in TB patients. Tobacco smoking is associated with a considerably increased risk of advanced and more severe disease in the form of lung cavitations, positive sputum smear and culture results, and slower smear and culture conversion after initiation of treatment. Smoking has a great negative effect on treatment completion, cure rates, and relapse rates in patients with pulmonary TB.

Screening for diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in tertiary care hospital in India.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common and under diagnosed medical conditions in India. Prevalence of these chronic diseases are high both in rural and urban areas. However, exact prevalence of DM in Indian COPD patients in unclear. Co-morbid conditions like DM have great impact on the outcome of COPD in the form of severity, exacerbations, morbidity and mortality. Hence the present study objective was to screen COPD patients for DM. RESULTS: A total of 1662 patients with COPD (Males = 1264, Female = 398) with mean age 58 ± 9.6 were screened for DM. Patients with known history of DM were 353 (21.24%) and were enrolled as Known DM cases. Remaining 1309 (78.76%) patients whose DM status was unclear were screened by random blood sugar (RBS). One-hundred and seventy-one subjects had RBS > 110 mg/dl. About 73 (4.39%) subjects had fasting blood sugar (FBS) > 126 mg/dl. They were considered as Newly Diagnosed DM cases. Total number of DM cases in the study including new and known was 426 (25.63%). Number of patients with deranged FBS (FBS between 110 mg/dl to126 mg/dl) was 84 (5.05%). Among the DM patients with COPD 168 (10.11%) had poor glycemic control with HbA1c > 8. Prevalence of DM in present study was 25.63%. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of DM in COPD patients in the present study is 25.63% when actively screened in tertiary care hospital. It is feasible and imperative to screen all COPD patients for DM in all health care facilities routinely.