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INTRODUCTION: Candida auris is emerging as an important cause of candidemia and deep seated candidal infection. We compared the susceptibility results of bloodstream Candida auris isolates by Vitek 2 with Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method. METHODS: Forty-seven C. auris blood stream isolates were simultaneously tested for AFST by Vitek 2 and SYO. RESULTS: All strains were resistant to Fluconazole. 25.5% isolates showed pan-azole resistance. In comparison with SYO, lower MICs for voriconazole were noted with Vitek 2 (VME rate 76.1%). All strains were sensitive to anidulafungin and micafungin by SYO. For micafungin, Vitek 2 demonstrated higher MICs and an ME rate of 23.5%. Susceptibility interpretation of caspofungin by SYO was challenged by development of 'Eagle effect' resulting in sensitivity of 28.2%. We studied the evolution of caspofungin 'Eagle effect' with SYO by serial hourly MIC readings and noted that paradoxical growth commenced at 21 hrs of incubation. Compared to SYO, Vitek 2 showed higher resistance rate to Amphotericin B with ME rate of 25.6%. CONCLUSION: Laboratories using commercial AFST systems for Candida auris need to be aware of the possibility of ME and VME for amphotericin B and voriconazole respectively with Vitek 2 and 'Eagle effect' for caspofungin with SYO.
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Introduction: Isavuconazole is an emerging therapeutic option for invasive infections caused by molds, especially aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Isavuconazole has predictable pharmacokinetics and good bioavailability. These attributes have led to some doubts regarding the need for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). There are no data from India regarding TDM for isavuconazole. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 50 patients who received oral isavuconazole for therapeutic purposes. Plasma isavuconazole levels were measured using a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV detector with acetonitrile (ACN) as protein precipitating solvent. Results: Of the 50 cases, 5 (10.0%) patients had subtherapeutic levels, while 45 (90.0%) had therapeutic levels. Higher body weight and solid organ transplantation (SOT) were significantly associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole (p-value < 0.05 for all). Receipt of a SOT was the only independent and statistically significant factor which was associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study reemphasizes the need of TDM for isavuconazole and adds to the growing evidence for the need to obtain drug levels. Factors associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole need to be assessed in larger studies to help identify those patients who are at risk of having subtherapeutic drug levels. How to cite this article: Prayag PS, Soman RN, Panchakshari SP, Ajapuje PS, Mahale NP, Dhupad S, et al. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Isavuconazole: Lessons Learnt from a Real-life Setting in a Tertiary Care Center in India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(4):260-264.
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Introduction: Gram-negative sepsis remains one of the most difficult to treat infections in intensive care units (ICUs). Carbapenems are often considered to be robust and reliable options for treating infections due to Gram-negative bacteria. The dominance of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has emerged as one of the greatest challenges faced by the medical community today. Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae may be resistant to all beta lactam antimicrobials including carbapenems and often, are even resistant to other classes of drugs. There are limited studies comparing polymyxin-based therapies with ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI)-based therapies for treating infections caused by CRE. Methods: A retrospective study comparing outcomes between patients with bacteremia caused by CRE treated with polymyxin-based combination therapy and CAZ-AVI-based therapy (with or without aztreonam). Results: Of total 104 patients, 78 (75%) were in the CAZ-AVI group. There was no significant difference in the underlying comorbidities between the two groups. The incidence of nephrotoxicity was significantly higher in the polymyxin group (p = 0.017). Ceftazidime-avibactam-based therapy was 66% less likely to be associated with day 14 mortality (p = 0.048) and 67% less likely to be associated with day 28 mortality (p = 0.039) as compared with polymyxin-based therapy. Conclusion: Ceftazidime-avibactam-based therapy may be a superior option to polymyxin-based therapy for infections caused by CRE. This can have significant practical applications, in terms of optimizing therapy for the individual patient as well as sparing polymyxins and reducing the use of polymyxins in our hospitals. How to cite this article: Prayag PS, Patwardhan SA, Panchakshari S, Sambasivam R, Dhupad S, Soman RN, et al. Ceftazidime-avibactam with or without Aztreonam vs Polymyxin-based Combination Therapy for Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: A Retrospective Analysis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(6):444-450.
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Pulmonary involvement is a fairly common complication of leptospirosis. A high dose of steroids is often used in the treatment of pulmonary leptospirosis. Here we report two cases who developed severe invasive fungal infections following the use of steroids for pulmonary leptospirosis. Routine use of steroids for pulmonary leptospirosis may do more harm than good as the evidence for this practice is sparse.
Subject(s)
Leptospirosis/diagnosis , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin M , Leptospira , Leptospirosis/drug therapy , Leptospirosis/mortality , Lung Diseases/drug therapy , Lung Diseases/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Steroids/therapeutic use , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Both akinetic and hyperkinetic movement disorders may rarely be the presenting feature of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The possible pathogenic basis is the involvement of subcortical structures by the HIV infection-related pathology. Opportunistic infections, or mass lesions complicating HIV infection. In addition dopaminergic dysfunction and medications may also play a role. We report a HIV infected male who presented with progressive choreoathetoid movements and dystonia. He had remarkable improvement of the movement disorder with tetrabenazine and anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) treatment.
