In vitro susceptibility of ceftaroline against clinically important Gram-positive cocci, Haemophilus species and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan: Results from the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) in 2012-2018.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Ceftaroline, with a unique activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was not launched in Taiwan before 2019. The in vitro susceptibility data of ceftaroline against important Taiwanese pathogens are lacking. METHODS: The in vitro susceptibility of ceftaroline against important pathogens collected from 2012 through 2018 were extracted from the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance program. Broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to ceftaroline against all isolates. RESULTS: During the study period, the in vitro data regarding isolates of S. aureus (n = 2049), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 185), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 334), Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 170), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 75), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (n = 10) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 680) regardless of hospital sites of collection were analyzed. Among the S. aureus isolates studied, 19.4% showed MICs of 1 mg/L to ceftaroline, and 4.4% showed in vitro susceptible-dose dependent to ceftaroline (all MICs, 2 mg/L). Most of other Gram-positive cocci, all H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae isolates were susceptible to ceftaroline. By contrast, about one-third (35.9%) of K. pneumoniae isolates, irrespective of infection sources, exhibited non-susceptibility to ceftaroline (MIC range, 0.015-256 mg/L; MIC50 and MIC90 values, 0.12 and 256 mg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: From the pharmacodynamic perspectives, the ceftaroline dosage of 600 mg as a 2-h intravenous infusion every 8 h is effective against all S. aureus and other Gram-positive isolates regardless of acquisition sites in Taiwan. Before ceftaroline is prescribed in treatment of the patient with Gram-negative infection, a cautious evaluation about patient's healthcare-associated factor is warranted.

[PRACTICE OF MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS ENDOCARDITIS IN CONDITIONS OF LOW FREQUENCY OF ETIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT PATHOGENS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION].

The article presents the results of a multicenter study of the etiology, antibiotic sensitivity and pharmacoepidemiology of infective endocarditis in the Russian Federation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current practice of management of patients with infective endocarditis in conditions of low frequency of etiologically significant pathogens in the Russian Federation. The study included patients of both sexes of all age groups with definite and probable infective endocarditis. 406 cases of infectious endocarditis (240 in retrospect and 166 in the prospective part) were analyzed. Etiologically significant pathogen was isolated in 144 cases (35.5%). The structure of pathogens was dominated by gram (+) cocci (90.3%), most often - Staphylococcus aureus (46.5% of all isolated pathogens). Aminoglycosides (22.8%), parenteral cephalosporins of the III generation (22.1%) and glycopeptides (14.5%) were most frequently used in the course of starting antimicrobial therapy. When changing the mode of antimicrobial therapy, glycopeptides (18.6%), aminoglycosides (15.3%), fluoroquinolones (11.2%) and parenteral cephalosporins of generation III (9.5%) were most often prescribed.

Multiplex PCR of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in children enhances the rate of pathogen detection.

BACKGROUND: Culturing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is a commonly used method for pathogen detection in pneumonia. However, the sensitivity is low, especially in patients pre-treated with anti-infective agents. The early detection of a pathogen is crucial for the outcome of respiratory tract infections. For bloodstream infections, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (SeptiFast®, SF) is available for improved pathogen detection from blood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine whether the SF assay is applicable to the BAL of children with pulmonary infections and whether the frequency of pathogen detection is enhanced by the use of this multiplex PCR method. METHODS: We investigated 70 BAL samples of 70 children simultaneously by culture and multiplex PCR. The frequency of pathogen detection was compared. RESULTS: Pathogens were detected more frequently by SF than by culture (83% vs. 31%; p < 0.001). This advantage was shown for immunocompetent patients (p = 0.001) as well as for immunocompromised patients (p = 0.003). The majority (38/44; 86%) of the Gram positive cocci were only detected by SF. Fungal organisms were detected in 7/70 patients (10%) by SF and in 2/70 (3%) by culture (p = 0.125). CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional culture, the use of the SF assay on the BAL of children with pneumonia increases pathogen detection rates and therefore adds important information to guide anti-infective therapy.

Pan-genome analysis of the genus Finegoldia identifies two distinct clades, strain-specific heterogeneity, and putative virulence factors.

Finegoldia magna, a Gram-positive anaerobic coccus, is an opportunistic pathogen, associated with medical device-related infections. F. magna is the only described species of the genus Finegoldia. We report the analysis of 17 genomes of Finegoldia isolates. Phylogenomic analyses showed that the Finegoldia population can be divided into two distinct clades, with an average nucleotide identity of 90.7%. One clade contains strains of F. magna, whereas the other clade includes more heterogeneous strains, hereafter tentatively named "Finegoldia nericia". The latter species appears to be more abundant in the human microbiome. Surface structure differences between strains of F. magna and "F. nericia" were detected by microscopy. Strain-specific heterogeneity is high and previously identified host-interacting factors are present only in subsets of "F. nericia" and F. magna strains. However, all genomes encode multiple host factor-binding proteins such as albumin-, collagen-, and immunoglobulin-binding proteins, and two to four copies of CAMP (Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen) factors; in accordance, most strains show a positive CAMP reaction for co-hemolysis. Our work sheds new light of the genus Finegoldia and its ability to bind host components. Future research should explore if the genomic differences identified here affect the potential of different Finegoldia species and strains to cause opportunistic infections.

Bloodstream Infections in Febrile Neutropenic Pediatric Cancer Patients: Microbiological and Sepsis Biomarkers Insight.

The diagnosis of blood steam infections (BSIs) in febrile neutropenic pediatric cancer patients (FNPCP) remains a challenge. Although blood culture is the most accurate method; yet the delay in results has urged the need for reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. The objectives of this study were to identify the bacterial causes of BSIs in FNPCP at SECI and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Also, to assess the value of procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin 6 (IL6), and interleukin 10 (IL 10) for early diagnosis of BSIs. This study included 68 FNPCP with a total of 85 fever episodes. Blood cultures were done at the onset of fever. Identification of the organisms was carried by Vitek 2 system and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion. The levels of PCT, IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels were measured by ELISA. Blood stream bacterial infection was detected in 29.4% (25/85). Most were Gram positive cocci in 53.6 % (15/28). There were high percentages of multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) (73.3% and 92.3% among Gram positive and negative bacteria, respectively). The least percentage of resistance was to linezolid (0%) and amikacin (15.4%). The levels of the biomarkers were significantly higher in patients with positive bacterial cultures compared to those with negative cultures (P < 0.001). IL -6 had the best sensitivity (96%) (AUC 0.975, cut off 0.925ng/L) with considerable specificity (88.3%). Combined PCT & IL-6 had the highest sensitivity (96%) and specificity (98.3%). We conclude that the percentage of BSIs among FNPCP was considerable. Gram positive bacteria were the commonest causes. High percentages of MDRO were reported. The most efficient antimicrobials were linezolid and amikacin. IL-6 alone had the best sensitivity for early diagnosis of BSIs. The combination of PCT and IL 6 showed the best performance.

Bronconeumonia bilateral por Rothia mucilaginos / Bilateral bronchopneumonia due to Rothia mucilaginosa

Rothia mucilaginosa (R. mucilaginosa), antiguamente denominada Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, es un coco Gram positivo capsulado, anaerobio facultativo, que forma parte de la flora orofaríngea normal y raramente se considera patógeno en pacientes inmunocompetentes, aunque puede producir, de forma poco habitual, infecciones graves como bacteriemias, endocarditis e infecciones respiratorias: neumonías, empiemas pleurales o sobreinfección de bronquiectasias. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 74 años diagnosticado de neumonía basal derecha de evolución tórpida con mala respuesta inicial a diversos antibióticos, con empeoramiento clínico y radiológico y aparición de bronconeumonia bilateral con imágenes pseudonodulares. En 3 cultivos de esputos y en broncoaspirado se aisló R. mucilaginosa en cultivo puro. Finalmente fue tratado con Linezolid con buena respuesta clínica y normalización de la radiografía de tórax, comprobando la desaparición de R. mucilaginosa en posteriores cultivos de esputos. Existen pocos casos documentados de neumonía por R. mucilaginosa por lo que consideramos de interés presentar éste (AU)

Rothia mucilaginosa (R. mucilaginosa), formerly named Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, is a facultatively anaerobic, encapsulated gram-positive coccus, which forms part of the normal oropharyngeal and is rarely considered to be a pathogen in immunocompetent patients, although it can produce, on rare occasions, serious infections like bacteremia, endocarditis and respiratory infections; such as pneumonia, pleural empyema or superinfection of bronchiectasis. We present the case of a 74-year-old male diagnosed with right basal pneumonia of torpid evolution with poor initial response to different antibiotics, with clinical and radiological worsening and the appearance of bilateral bronchopneumonia with pseudonodular images. R. mucilaginosa in pure culture was isolated in three sputum cultures and in bronchial suction. The patient was finally treated with Linezolid with good clinical response and normalisation of the thorax radiography, confirming the disappearance of R. mucilaginosa in subsequent sputum cultures. As there are few documented cases of pneumonia due to R. mucilaginosa, we believe that presenting this case will be of interest (AU)

Infección de prótesis articular por Ruminococcus gnavus en paciente sin enfermedad digestiva asociada / Prosthetic joint infection by Ruminococcus gnavus in a patient without associated digestive disease

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Sudden death of a child due to pyogenic bacterial myocarditis.

Bacterial myocarditis is an uncommon condition and only a few fatal cases in adults are reported in the scientific literature. Death from acute bacterial myocarditis in children is extremely rare. We report an unusual case of fatal bacterial myocarditis in a seven-year-old girl, who had a history of cough for a month and fever for two days. She was given symptomatic treatment by a local physician without suspecting her clinical condition. Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she was brought in dead to the hospital. Autopsy revealed pyogenic bacterial myocarditis associated with bilateral lobar pneumonia caused by Gram-positive cocci. Death from bacterial myocarditis can be prevented by early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics.

Virulence arsenal of the most pathogenic species among the Gram-positive anaerobic cocci, Finegoldia magna.

This review focuses on the virulence arsenal of the most pathogenic species among Gram positive anaerobic cocci, Finegoldia magna according to recently published data from 2012 to 2016. Virulence factors like sortase dependent pili and F. magna adhesion factor (FAF) facilitate the start of the infection. Albumin binding protein (PAB) enhances F. magna survival. FAF, subtilisin-like extracellular serine protease (SufA) and superantigen protein L protect the bacteria from factors of innate defense system. SufA, capsule and tissue-destroying enzymes provide a deep penetration or spread of the infections and the protein L is associated with infection severity. Biofilm production results in infection chronification and complicated treatment as well as to persistence of multi-species biofilms. Resistance rates to quinolones (13.0->70%) and clindamycin (0-40.0%) are important, and resistance to penicillins (<4%), chloramphenicol (7.0%) and metronidazole (<7%) has been reported. F. magna should not be overlooked when present in monoinfections or mixed infections in humans.

Tolerability and Plasma Drug Level Monitoring of Prolonged Subcutaneous Teicoplanin Treatment for Bone and Joint Infections.

Teicoplanin is a key drug for the treatment of multiresistant staphylococcal bone and joint infections (BJI), yet can only be administered via a parenteral route. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of subcutaneous (s.c.) teicoplanin for that indication over 42 days. Thirty patients with Gram-positive cocci BJI were included. Once the target of 25 to 40 mg/liter trough serum concentration was achieved, treatment was switched from an intravenous to an s.c. route. No discontinuation of teicoplanin related to injection site reaction and no severe local adverse event were observed. On multivariate analysis, better tolerability was observed at the beginning of treatment, in patients over 70 years old, and for dosages less than 600 mg. In conclusion, we recommend s.c. administration of teicoplanin when needed.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of pyogenic spondylitis caused by gram-negative bacteria.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data describing the clinical characteristics of pyogenic spondylitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). The aim of this study was to investigate the predisposing factors and clinical characteristics of pyogenic spondylitis caused by GNB compared to Gram-positive cocci (GPC). METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of medical records from patients with culture-confirmed pyogenic spondylitis at four tertiary teaching hospitals over an 8-year period. RESULTS: A total of 344 patients with culture-confirmed pyogenic spondylitis were evaluated. There were 62 patients (18.0%) with pyogenic spondylitis caused by GNB and the most common organism was Escherichia coli (n = 35, 10.2%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 10, 2.9%). Pyogenic spondylitis caused by GNB was more frequently associated with the female gender (64.5 vs. 35.5%, P <0.01), preexisting or synchronous genitourinary tract infection (32.3 vs. 2.1%, P< 0.01), and intra-abdominal infection (12.9 vs. 0.4%, P< 0.01) compared to patients with GPC. Although pyogenic spondylitis caused by GNB presented with severe sepsis more frequently (24.2 vs. 11.3%, P = 0.01), the mortality rate (6.0 vs. 5.2%) and the proportion of patients with residual disability (6.0 vs. 9.0%), defined as grade 3 or 4 (P = 0.78) 3 months after completion of treatment, were not significantly different compared to GPC patients. CONCLUSION: GNB should be considered as the etiologic organism when infectious spondylitis develops in a patient with preexisting or synchronous genitourinary tract and intra-abdominal infection. In addition, the mortality rate and clinical outcomes are not significantly different between pyogenic spondylitis caused by GNB and GPC.

Detecting Gram-positive anaerobic cocci directly from the clinical samples by multiplex polymerase chain reaction in odontogenic infections.

PURPOSE: Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) can be isolated as pathogens from odontogenic infections. Culturing GPAC is time consuming and labor intensive. The objectives of the present study were to examine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in directly detecting the presence of GPAC in clinical samples obtained from patients with odontogenic infections and to compare the distribution of GPAC in infected and healthy tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present case-control study, the infected tissue from patients and oral mucosal swabs from healthy control subjects were subjected to anaerobic culture and direct PCR analysis for the presence of GPAC. The McNemar, chi-square, and Fisher exact tests and kappa analysis were used for the statistical analyses. P < .05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: The patient group included 13 men and 14 women, including 9 patients diagnosed with granulation of tooth extraction, 6 with impacted tooth follicles, 4 with peri-implantitis, 3 with abscesses, 2 with epithelial cysts, 2 with infected cysts, and 1 with an oroantral fistula. The control group included 14 men and 12 women. All the patient and control samples contained at least 1 GPAC. The groups did not differ by method of determining GPAC presence, but more microorganisms were detected when clinical samples were directly used for PCR analysis than when cultured bacteria were used (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of GPAC in infected tissue cannot be directly related to the development of odontogenic infections. PCR performed directly on clinical material is a sensitive and specific method that can detect GPAC and save time.

Neumonía por Rothia mucilaginosa en paciente inmunocompetente / Rothia mucilaginosa Pneumonia in an Immunocompetent Patient

Rothia mucilaginosa es un coco grampositivo que forma parte de la flora normal de la orofaringe y del tracto respiratorio superior. Las infecciones del tracto respiratorio inferior por este germen son infrecuentes y se presentan habitualmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Presentamos una mujer de 47 a˜nos inmunocompetente con neumonía en lóbulo superior derecho en la que se aísla R. mucilaginosa en esputo y en broncoaspirado. Además se revisan las infecciones por este germen en los últimos cuatro años en nuestro hospital. En dicha revisión el factor predisponente más frecuente ha sido la EPOC con bronquiectasias, y en solo dos casos se ha identificado el germen como agente causante de neumonía, entre los que se encuentra nuestro caso y el de un paciente con una neoplasia pulmonar

Rothia mucilaginosa is a gram-postive coccus that occurs as part of the normal flora of the oropharynx and upper respiratory tract. Lower respiratory tract infections caused by this organism are rare and usually occur in immunocompromised patients. This is the case of an immunocompetent 47-year-old woman with right upper lobe pneumonia in which R. mucilaginosa was isolated in sputum and bronchial aspirate. Infections caused by this agent in the last four years in our hospital were reviewed. The most common predisposing factor was COPD with bronchiectasis. R. mucilaginosa was identified as the causative agent for pneumonia in only two cases, of which one was our case and the other was a patient with lung cancer

Case report: first report of a prosthetic joint infection caused by Facklamia hominis.

Facklamia spp. are gram-positive cocci first described in 1997. They are α-hemolytic, facultative anaerobes, catalase-negative cocci, resembling viridians streptococci on 5% sheep blood agar. Facklamia hominis is, by far, the most common species of the 6 so far described, and it is thought that its natural habitat is the female genital tract. Four previous human infections with Facklamia spp. have been documented. We report the first case of a chronic prosthetic joint infection caused by F. hominis and its successful treatment by a 2-stage exchange procedure to eradicate the infection. This is also the first osteoarticular infection reported. The clinical implications are discussed.

Infección por Rothia mucilaginosa. ¿Un patógeno respiratorio? / Infection due to Rothia mucilaginosa. A respiratory pathogen?

INTRODUCCIÓN: Describir el espectro de las infecciones causadas por Rothia mucilaginosa. Métodos Estudio retrospectivo de 20 casos de infección por R. mucilaginosa entre los años 2009 y 2012.ResultadosLa infección pulmonar fue la forma clínica más frecuente (n = 14; 70%): bronquiectasias sobreinfectadas (10), empiema pleural (2), neumonía (1) y bronquitis aguda (1). Dos episodios fueron digestivos: colangitis bacteriémica y peritonitis secundaria. Dos bacteriemias afectaron a pacientes con neoplasia hematológica. Hubo una infección bacteriémica de herida quirúrgica y otra infección urinaria bacteriémica en portador de nefrostomía. Discusión R. mucilaginosa puede ser responsable de infecciones de vías respiratorias bajas en pacientes con bronquiectasias pulmonares

INTRODUCTION: To describe the spectrum of infections caused by Rothia mucilaginosa. METHODS: Retrospective study of 20 cases diagnosed with R. mucilaginosa from 2009 to 2012.RESULTS: Pulmonary infection was the most frequent clinical presentation (n = 14, 70%): bronchiectasis infected (10), followed by pleural empyema (2), pneumonia (1) and acute bronchitis (1). Two episodes were of gastrointestinal origin: cholangitis secondary to biliary drainage and secondary peritonitis. Two episodes included bacteremia in patients with hematological malignancy. One patient had a surgical wound infection with bacteremia, and another had a bacteremic urinary tract infection in a patient withnephrostomy. DISCUSSION: R. mucilaginosa may be responsible for infections of the lower respiratory tract in predisposed Patients

Clinical relevance of the ESKAPE pathogens.

In recent years, the Infectious Diseases Society of America has highlighted a faction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) - acronymically dubbed 'the ESKAPE pathogens' - capable of 'escaping' the biocidal action of antibiotics and mutually representing new paradigms in pathogenesis, transmission and resistance. This review aims to consolidate clinically relevant background information on the ESKAPE pathogens and provide a contemporary summary of bacterial resistance, alongside pertinent microbiological considerations necessary to face the mounting threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Gram-positive anaerobic cocci--commensals and opportunistic pathogens.

Among the Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria associated with clinical infections, the Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) are the most prominent and account for approximately 25-30% of all isolated anaerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. Still, routine culture and identification of these slowly growing anaerobes to the species level has been limited in the diagnostic laboratory, mainly due to the requirement of prolonged incubation times and time-consuming phenotypic identification. In addition, GPAC are mostly isolated from polymicrobial infections with known pathogens and therefore their relevance has often been overlooked. However, through improvements in diagnostic and in particular molecular techniques, the isolation and identification of individual genera and species of GPAC associated with specific infections have been enhanced. Furthermore, the taxonomy of GPAC has undergone considerable changes over the years, mainly due to the development of molecular identification methods. Existing species have been renamed and novel species have been added, resulting in changes of the nomenclature. As the abundance and significance of GPAC in clinical infections grow, knowledge of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance patterns of different species becomes more important. The present review describes recent advances of GPAC and what is known of the biology and pathogenic effects of Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Parvimonas, Peptoniphilus and Peptostreptococcus, the most important GPAC genera isolated from human infections.

Microbiologic characteristics of pathogenic bacteria from hospitalized trauma patients who survived Wenchuan earthquake.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the microbiological characterization of pathogenic bacteria isolated from trauma patients after Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Most infections were identified in the patients over 60 years of age, with an incidence rate of 78.5%, and more infections in wound (43.3%) and respiratory tract (37.1%) sites were identified. A total of 97 non-duplicated clinical pathogens were isolated from 91 trauma patients. Of those pathogens, 62 (63.9%) were Gram-negative bacilli, 23 (23.7%) were Gram-positive cocci, 9 (9.3%) were fungi, and 3 (3.1%) were anaerobes, such as Clostridium perfringens. The distribution spectrum of pathogens isolated from trauma patients after earthquake was different to that from non-earthquake trauma patients in our hospital at the same time. The most prevalent pathogenic isolates were Escherichia coli (15.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii (14.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (12.3%), Burkholderia cepacia (11.3%), and Enterococcus spp. (9.3%). The drug susceptibility results showed that most of the Gram-negative bacilli, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, were susceptible to imipenem, but resistant to the first- and the second-generation cephalosporins. Most of the Gram-positive cocci were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, and Synercid/dalfopristin. Characteristics of pathogenic bacterium isolated from trauma patients after earthquake have been demonstrated which play an important role in the appropriate treatment of infections.