Changes in the gut microbiota of pseudoxanthoma elasticum patients.

OBJECTIVE: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare autosomal disorder with a variable phenotype that may be modulated by environmental factors. Plasma vitamin K (VK) levels may be involved in the ectopic calcification process observed in PXE. Since VK2 is predominantly produced by the gut microbiota, we hypothesized that changes in the gut microbiota of PXE patients might exacerbate the calcification process and disease symptoms. METHODS: Twenty PXE patients were included in the study and 60 gut microbiota profiles from the Biofortis laboratory database were used as controls. RESULTS: The Rhodospirillaceae family was more abundant in the PXE group while the Sphingomonadaceae family was more abundant in the control group. In a PXE severity subgroup analysis, microbiota dispersion was lower in "severe" than in "non-severe" patients, which was confirmed by permutation multivariate analysis of variance at the phylum, family and genus ranks. However, no significant association was found in a model incorporating relative abundance of bacterial families, severity score, and different blood and fecal VK species. CONCLUSION: These results suggest slight compositional changes in the gut microbiota of PXE patients. Further studies are needed to substantiate their impact on VK metabolism and the calcification process.

Prevalence of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism. Prevalence of CTEPH after pulmonary embolism.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has been estimated to occur in 0.1-0.5% of patients who survive a pulmonary embolism (PE), but more recent prospective studies suggest that its incidence may be much higher. The absence of initial haemodynamic evaluation at the time of PE should explain this discrepancy. We performed a prospective multicentre study including patients with PE in order to assess the prevalence and to describe risk factors of CTEPH. Follow-up every year included an evaluation of dyspnea and echocardiography using a predefined algorithm. In case of suspected CTEPH, the diagnosis was confirmed using right heart catheterisation (RHC). Signs of CTEPH were searched on the multidetector computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography performed at the time of PE. Of the 146 patients analysed, eight patients (5.4%) had suspected CTEPH during a median follow-up of 26 months. CTEPH was confirmed using RHC in seven cases (4.8%; 95%CI, 2.3 - 9.6) and ruled-out in one. Patients with CTEPH were older, had more frequently previous venous thromboembolic events and more proximal PE than those without CTEPH. At the time of PE diagnosis, patients with CTEPH had a higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure and at least two signs of CTEPH on the initial CT. After acute PE, the prevalence of CTEPH appears high. However, initial echocardiography and CT data at the time of the index PE suggest that a majority of patients with CTEPH had previously unknown pulmonary hypertension, indicating that a first clinical presentation of CTEPH may mimic acute PE.

Long-term control of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium at the scale of a large multihospital institution: a seven-year experience.

Repeated outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) occurred between 2004 and 2010 in Assistance Publique--Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), a 23,000-bed multi-hospital institution. From August 2004 to December 2005, the French guidelines for preventing cross-transmission of multiresistant bacteria were applied. Because the number of VRE cases continued to increase, an institutional control programme was implemented from January 2006 onwards: it foresees stopping transfer of VRE and contact patients, separating VRE and contact patients in distinct cohorts, intervention of a central infection control team to support local teams, and quick application of measures as soon as first VRE cases are identified. Between August 2004 and December 2010, 45 VRE outbreaks occurred in 21 of the 38 AP-HP hospitals, comprising 533 cases. Time series analysis showed that the mean number of cases increased by 0.8 cases per month (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3 to 1.3, p=0.001) before, and decreased by 0.7 cases per month after implementation of the programme (95% CI: -0.9 to -0.5, p<0.001), resulting in a significant trend change of -1.5 cases per month (95% CI: -2.1 to -0.9, p<0.001). The number of cases per outbreak was significantly lower after implementation of the programme. A sustained and coordinated strategy can control emerging bacteria at the level of a large regional multihospital institution.

Non-adherence with drug treatment after heart or lung transplantation in adults: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Heart or lung transplantation is a complex intervention requiring medication adherence. The objective of this systematic review is to estimate the prevalence of non-adherence (NA) with post-transplantation medication in heart or lung recipients and to assess its clinical impact. We examined in the selected studies if the authors considered the patient's perspective in their evaluations. METHODS: The electronic database MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Central Register were searched. Only studies that reported the number of non-adhere subjects were eligible. The different methods of measurement, the ways in which authors defined NA and if authors had integrated patient's perspective in their secondary objectives were also assessed. RESULTS: The range frequency of NA was 1-42.9% for all drugs. Non-adherent patients tend to experience worse outcomes compared to adherent patients. The patient's perception of drug side-effects is the most reported patient-related factor for impairing adherence. CONCLUSION: NA after heart or lung transplantation is an important issue and concerns not only immunosuppressant treatments. The main striking point of the selected studies is the lack of patient perspective and the omission of patients-healthcare providers' relationship. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Future research must focus on patients' motivation for the medication-taking behaviour.

[Evaluation of flow rate regulators for intravenous infusion]. / Evaluation des régulateurs de débit passifs utilisés pour la perfusion intraveineuse.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to evaluate seven flow rate regulators (FRR) to assess the reliability of these devices compared to standard perfuser with roller clamp. STUDY DESIGN: Each FRR was tested with 5% dextrose and 0.9% sodium chloride combined with three different theoretical flow rates (30, 80 and 250 ml/h). Accuracy was compared with the theoretical value. Repeatability of flow rate was assessed thanks to variance break-up. RESULTS: Each FFR exhibits at least one combination "flow rate-solution" significantly different of the theoretical flow rate. Exadrop was the least successful of the FFR according to the accuracy. This FFR had for each combination a flow rate different of the theoretical (mean error: -24.0 ml/h). Tutodrop was the most successful of the FFR according to the accuracy with five combinations comparable to the theoretical value (mean error: -1.2 ml/h). The standard perfuser with roller clamp, used without FRR, reported two combinations comparable to the theoretical value and showed lowest rates for repeatability. CONCLUSION: Our study exhibits the poor performances of the FRR studied: according to expected flow regulation, the reported results demonstrate the lack of accuracy. Their only one value added compare to the roller clamp is to improve the repeatability of the flow rate.

Long-term effects of a multifaceted intervention to encourage the choice of the oral route for proton pump inhibitors: an interrupted time-series analysis.

PROBLEM: Drugs are often given intravenously even when the patient is able to swallow and when an oral form would be more cost-effective. DESIGN: Evaluation of the impact of a multifaceted intervention on the early switch from intravenous to oral administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in a hospital setting. The interrupted time series of intravenous PPI consumption was analysed. BACKGROUND AND SETTING: At a French University Hospital, the Drug Committee, composed of multidisciplinary pharmacy and medical staff, addressed the issue of increasing consumption of intravenous PPI drugs (May 2003). STRATEGY FOR CHANGE: Letters to department heads, academic analyses from members of the Drug Committee, paper reminders at the point of care and audit-feedbacks by pharmacists. Monitoring of consumption and repeated reminder letters were planned. EFFECT OF CHANGE: The consumption of PPI was stable before the first intervention (mean level: 954 units/month). An immediate decrease occurred after the first Drug Committee letter (30% relative reduction, 95% CI -16% to -46%; p<0.001) with a significant trend change during the first multifaceted intervention (-24 units/month, 95% CI -42 to -7; p = 0.007). After the end of the outreach visits (July 2004), the consumptions increased (+32 units/month, 95% CI: 14 to 50, p<0.001). The second intervention had no significant impact. LESSONS LEARNT: A complex intervention (audit, feedbacks, outreach visits) had an effect on practice. It was not sustained even after a less resource-intensive intervention. Other types of interventions are needed that could be continuously implemented to improve ordering practices long term.