Rapid microbiological tests for bloodstream infections due to multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria: therapeutic implications.

BACKGROUND: Treating severe infections due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) is one of the most important challenges for clinicians worldwide, partly because resistance may remain unrecognized until identification of the causative agent and/or antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Recently, some novel rapid test for identification and/or AST of MDR-GNB from positive blood cultures or the blood of patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) have become available. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the advantages and limitations of different rapid tests for identification and/or AST of MDR-GNB from positive blood cultures or the blood of patients with BSI, as well as the available evidence on their possible role to improve therapeutic decisions and antimicrobial stewardship. SOURCES: Inductive PubMed search for publications relevant to the topic. CONTENT: The present review is structured in the following way: (a) rapid tests on positive blood cultures; (b) rapid tests directly on whole blood; (c) therapeutic implications. IMPLICATIONS: Novel molecular and phenotypic rapid tests for identification and AST show the potential for favourably influencing patients' outcomes and results of antimicrobial stewardship interventions by reducing both the time to effective treatment and the misuse of antibiotics, although the interpretation about their impact on actual therapeutic decisions and patients' outcomes is still complex. Factors such as feasibility and personnel availability, as well as the detailed knowledge of the local microbiological epidemiology, need to be considered very carefully when implementing novel rapid tests in laboratory workflows and algorithms. Providing high-level, comparable evidence on the clinical impact of rapid identification and AST is becoming of paramount importance for MDR-GNB infections, since in the near future rapid identification of specific resistance mechanisms could be crucial for guiding rapid, effective, and targeted therapy against specific resistance mechanisms.

Prevalence and clinical impact of VIral Respiratory tract infections in patients hospitalized for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: the VIRCAP study.

Prevalence and clinical impact of viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs) on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been well defined so far. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the clinical impact of VRTIs in patients with CAP. Prospective study involving adult patients consecutively admitted at medical wards for CAP and tested for VRTIs by real-time PCR on pharyngeal swab. Patients' features were evaluated with regard to the presence of VRTI and aetiology of CAP. Clinical failure was a composite endpoint defined by worsening of signs and symptoms requiring escalation of antibiotic treatment or ICU admission or death within 30 days. 91 patients were enrolled, mean age 65.7 ± 10.6 years, 50.5% female. 62 patients (68.2%) had no viral co-infection while in 29 patients (31.8%) a VRTI was detected; influenza virus was the most frequently identified (41.9%). The two groups were similar in terms of baseline features. In presence of a VRTI, pneumonia severity index (PSI) was more frequently higher than 91 and patients had received less frequently pre-admission antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR 2.689, 95% CI 1.017-7.111, p = 0.046; adjusted OR 0.143, 95% CI 0.030-0.670, p = 0.014). Clinical failure and antibiotic therapy duration were similar with regards to the presence of VRTI and the aetiology of CAP. VRTIs can be detected in almost a third of adults with CAP; influenza virus is the most relevant one. VRTI was associated with higher PSI at admission, but it does not affect patients' outcome.

Serial monitoring of isavuconazole blood levels during prolonged antifungal therapy.

BACKGROUND: Isavuconazole is the newest triazole antifungal approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and invasive mucormycosis in adult patients. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the assessment of the blood levels of isavuconazole and their association with efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: From January 2017 to May 2018, blood samples obtained from patients receiving isavuconazole were analysed for therapeutic drug monitoring. Factors influencing the blood concentrations of isavuconazole, such as weight, length of treatment, route of administration and results of selected liver function tests, were analysed in univariate and multivariate models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analysed to detect the best cut-off for isavuconazole toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 264 isavuconazole blood concentrations in 19 patients were analysed. The median value of isavuconazole concentration in all patients during the first 30 days of therapy was 3.69 mg/L (range 0.64-8.13 mg/L). A linear increase of 0.032 mg/L (range 0.023-0.041 mg/L) for each day of treatment (P = 0.002) was observed. In multivariate analysis the association between the length of treatment and higher levels of isavuconazole (P < 0.001) and higher serum GGT and lower isavuconazole levels (P = 0.001) was confirmed. Adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal, were reported in six patients (31.6%). Based on time-dependent and fixed-time ROC curve analysis, 4.87 mg/L and 5.13 mg/L, respectively, were the identified thresholds for toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Isavuconazole was efficacious and well tolerated. Side effects, mainly gastrointestinal, were associated with prolonged administration and high serum levels.

Bloodstream infections in patients living with HIV in the modern cART era.

Retrospective multicentre study aiming at analysing the etiology, characteristics and outcome of bloodstream infections (BSI) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in an era of modern antiretroviral therapy. Between 2008 and 2015, 79 PLWHIV had at least 1 BSI, for a total of 119 pathogens isolated. Patients were mainly male (72.1%), previous intravenous drug users (55.7%), co-infected with HCV or HBV (58.2%) and in CDC stage C (60.8%). Gram-positive (G+) pathogens caused 44.5% of BSI, followed by Gram-negative (G-), 40.3%, fungi, 10.9%, and mycobacteria, 4.2%. Candida spp. and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent pathogens found in nosocomial BSI (17% each), while E.coli was prevalent in community-acquired BSI (25%). At the last available follow-up, (mean 3.2 ± 2.7 years) the overall crude mortality was 40.5%. Factors associated with mortality in the final multivariate analysis were older age, (p = 0.02; HR 3.8, 95%CI 1.2-11.7) CDC stage C (p = 0.02; HR 3.3, 95%CI 1.2-9.1), malignancies, (p = 0.004; HR 3.2, 95%CI 1.4-7.0) and end stage liver disease (p = 0.006; HR 3.4, 95%CI 1.4-8.0). In conclusion, the study found high mortality following BSI in PLWHIV. Older age, neoplastic comorbidities, end stage liver disease and advanced HIV stage were the main factors correlated to mortality.

Visceral leishmaniasis in hematopoietic cell transplantation: Case report and review of the literature.

Visceral leishmaniasis has been recognized as an opportunistic infection affecting people with cellular-immunity impairment, including hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. We describe the case of a young Italian man with Hodgkin lymphoma, who developed visceral leishmaniasis after multiple lines of chemotherapy and allogenic HCT. Literature review of visceral leishmaniasis in HCT recipients was also performed. Eleven patients (median age 50 years, 9 male) developed visceral leishmaniasis after allogenic (n = 9) and autologous (n = 2) HCT. Most of them presented with fever and pancytopenia. Bone marrow examination was the main diagnostic technique; liposomal amphotericin B was the treatment of choice. Four out of eight patients (for whom data are available) experienced visceral leishmaniasis relapse. Visceral leishmaniasis in HCT recipients is a rare event that should be suspected in patients with persistent fever, pancytopenia and possible exposure to Leishmania spp., remembering that - as well as South-East Asia, East Africa and South America - it is endemic in several European regions.

First-line antiretroviral therapy with efavirenz plus tenofovir disiproxil fumarate/emtricitabine or rilpivirine plus tenofovir disiproxil fumarate/emtricitabine: a durability comparison.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the durabilities of efavirenz (EFV) and rilpivirine (RPV) in combination with tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in first-line regimens. METHODS: A multicentre prospective and observational study was carried out. We included all patients participating in the Italian Cohort Naive Antiretrovirals (ICONA) Foundation Study who started first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with TDF/FTC in combination with RPV or EFV, with a baseline viral load < 100 000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL. Survival analyses using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves and Cox regression with time-fixed covariates at baseline were employed. RESULTS: Overall, 1490 ART-naïve patients were included in the study, of whom 704 were initiating their first cART with EFV and 786 with RPV. Patients treated with EFV, compared with those on RPV, were older [median 36 (interquartile range (IQR) 30-43) years vs. 33 (IQR 27-39) years, respectively; P < 0.001], were more frequently at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stage C (3.1% vs. 1.4%, respectively; P = 0.024), and had a lower median baseline CD4 count [340 (IQR 257-421) cells/µL vs. 447 (IQR 347-580) cells/µL, respectively; P < 0.001] and a higher median viral load [4.38 (IQR 3.92-4.74) log10 copies/mL vs. 4.23 (IQR 3.81-4.59) log10 copies/mL, respectively], (P = 0.004). A total of 343 patients discontinued at least one drug of those included in the first cART regimen, more often EFV (26%) than RPV (13%), by 2 years (P < 0.0001). After adjustment, patients treated with EFV were more likely to discontinue at least one drug for any cause [relative hazard (RH) 4.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.89-5.80], for toxicity (RH 2.23; 95% CI 1.05-4.73) for intolerance (RH 5.17; 95% CI 2.66-10.07) and for proactive switch (RH 10.96; 95% CI 3.17-37.87) than those starting RPV. CONCLUSIONS: In our nonrandomized comparison, RPV was better tolerated, less toxic and showed longer durability than EFV, without a significant difference in rates of discontinuation because of failures.

Regional point prevalence study of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals in Liguria, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of monitoring healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and the consumption of antibiotics, a regional point prevalence survey was conducted in Liguria between March and April 2016. AIM: To measure the overall prevalence of HCAI and describe the use of antibiotics in all public hospitals. METHODS: Data on risk factors and use of antibiotics were collected for each hospitalized patient. To define the variables significantly associated with HCAI, univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Standardized infection ratio and standardized antimicrobial use ratio were measured for each participating hospital. FINDINGS: A total of 3647 patients were enrolled. In all, 429 HCAIs were diagnosed in 376 patients, giving a prevalence of HCAI of 10.3%. Respiratory tract (21.7%) and urinary tract (20%) were the most frequent sites of infection. High rates of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (47.4%) and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenems (26.3%) were isolated. Forty-six percent of patients received at least one antibiotic. Combinations of penicillins including ß-lactamase inhibitors (24.1%) were the most widely used; the main indication (46.7%) was the treatment of a community-acquired infection. CONCLUSION: There was an increase in HCAI prevalence compared to a similar survey conducted in 2007; however, the performance of overlapping investigations will enable more reliable considerations. Nevertheless, data on antimicrobial resistance and use of antibiotics are consistent with the national trend. Despite methodological limitations, prevalence studies are useful to monitor HCAI over time and encourage greater awareness of the problem by all stakeholders.

Management of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-KP) has become one of the most important contemporary pathogens, especially in endemic areas. AIMS: To provide practical suggestion for physicians dealing with the management of KPC-KP infections in critically ill patients, based on expert opinions. SOURCES: PubMed search for relevant publications related to the management of KPC-KP infections. CONTENTS: A panel of experts developed a list of 12 questions to be addressed. In view of the current lack of high-level evidence, they were asked to provide answers on the bases of their knowledge and experience in the field. The panel identified several key aspects to be addressed when dealing with KPC-KP in critically ill patients (preventing colonization in the patient, preventing infection in the colonized patient and colonization of his or her contacts, reducing mortality in the infected patient by rapidly diagnosing the causative agent and promptly adopting the best therapeutic strategy) and provided related suggestions that were based on the available observational literature and the experience of panel members. IMPLICATIONS: Diagnostic technologies could speed up the diagnosis of KPC-KP infections. Combination treatment should be preferred to monotherapy in cases of severe infections. For non-critically ill patients without severe infections, results from randomized clinical trials are needed for ultimately weighing benefits and costs of using combinations rather than monotherapy. Multifaceted infection control interventions are needed to decrease the rates of colonization and cross-transmission of KPC-KP.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among a cohort of HIV-infected women in a large Italian teaching hospital: a 30-year retrospective study.

The primary study objective was to investigate three decades from 1985 to 2014 of changes in pregnancies among HIV-infected women. The secondary objective was to assess risk factors associated with preterm delivery and severe small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants in HIV-infected women. A retrospective review of deliveries among pregnant HIV-infected women at the University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST in Genoa between 1985 and 2014 was performed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to study the variables associated with neonatal outcomes. Overall, 262 deliveries were included in the study. An increase in median age (26 years in 1985-1994 vs. 34 years in 2005-2014), in the proportion of foreigners (none in 1985-1994 vs. 27/70 (38·6%) in 2005-2014), and a decrease in intravenous drug use (75·2% (91/121) in 1985-1994 vs. 12·9% (9/70) in 2005-2014) among pregnant HIV-infected women was observed. Progressively, HIV infections were diagnosed sooner (prior to pregnancy in 80% (56/70) of women in the last decade). An increase in combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) prescription during pregnancy (50% (27/54) in 1995-2004 vs. 92·2% (59/64) in 2005-2014) and in HIV-RNA <50 copies/ml at delivery (19·2% (5/26) in 1995-2004 vs. 82·3% (53/64) in 2005-2014) was observed. The rate of elective caesarean section from 1985 to 1994 was 9·1%, which increased to 92·3% from 2004 to 2015. Twelve (10·1%) mother-to-child transmissions (MTCT) occurred in the first decade, and six (8·3%) cases occurred in the second decade, the last of which was in 2000. Preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation) was 5% (6/121) from 1985 to 1994 and increased to 17·1% (12/70) from 2005 to 2014. In univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, advancing maternal age and previous pregnancies were associated with preterm delivery (odds ratio (OR) 2·7; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1-7·8 and OR 2·6; 95% CI 1·1-6·7, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, use of heroin or methadone was found to be the only risk factor for severe SGA (OR 3·1; 95% CI 1·4-6·8). In conclusion, significant changes in demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of HIV-infected pregnant women have occurred over the last 30 years. Since 2000, MTCT has decreased to zero. An increased risk of preterm delivery was found to be associated with advancing maternal age and previous pregnancies but not with cART. The use of heroin or methadone has been confirmed as a risk factor associated with severe SGA.

Quality of life in an Italian cohort of people living with HIV in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (Evidence from I.A.N.U.A. study-investigation on antiretroviral therapy).

The aims of this study were to assess the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who attend outpatient services in Genoa, Italy, and to evaluate the relationship between HRQoL and clinical factors, primarily: CD4+ cell count, viral load and HIV-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection. A cross-sectional study was performed involving a sample of 943 consecutive patients. Firstly the EuroQol-Five Dimensions-Three Level (EQ-5D-3L) self-reported questionnaire was used to evaluate HRQoL, while socio-demographic information was collected using a separate self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was then used to show the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample. Having characterized the sample, Pearson's correlation technique was used to assess the relationship between HRQoL and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Finally, multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors associated with HRQOL. The median EQ-Visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) score was 75.4 (SD 18.4). We found statistically significant associations between the EQ-VAS score and age, coinfection with HCV+, education, other drugs taken over cART, hospitalization due to HIV and a CD4+ cell count <200 mm3 compared with CD4+ cell count >500 mm3. Factors independently associated with lower HRQoL were: older age, coinfection with HCV+, other drugs used in addition to cART, hospitalization due to HIV and CD4+ cell count <200 mm3 compared with CD4+ cell count >500 mm3.

Previous bloodstream infections due to other pathogens as predictors of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia in colonized patients: results from a retrospective multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: the purpose of this retrospective multicenter study was to assess whether the risk of developing bloodstream infections (BSI) due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in colonized patients is influenced by the occurrence of BSI due to other pathogens. METHODS: from January 2012 to March 2014, all patients with at least one rectal swab positive for CRKP and at least 30 days of previous hospital stay were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was CRKP BSI, defined as a time-to-event endpoint. The role of potential predictors was evaluated through univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, considering previous BSI as a time-dependent variable. RESULTS: during the study period, 353 patients met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-seven developed a CRKP BSI (11%). A higher incidence of CRKP BSI was observed in presence rather than in absence of previous BSI. In the final multivariable model of risk factors for CRKP BSI, multisite colonization (hazard ratio [HR] 13.73, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 3.29-57.32, p < 0.001), ICU stay (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.19-8.31, p = 0.021), and previous BSI (p = 0.026, with the overall effect being mainly due to Enterococcus spp. BSI vs absence of BSI, HR 6.62, 95% CI 2.11-20.79) were associated with the development of CRKP BSI, while an inverse association was observed for age (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.00, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: previous BSI due to other pathogens were associated with an increased risk of CRKP BSI that was independent of other factors in colonized patients with prolonged hospital exposure.

Acute kidney injury during colistin therapy: a prospective study in patients with extensively-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

The study aimed to prospectively assess incidence and risk factors for colistin-associated nephrotoxicity. This is a secondary analysis of a multicentre, randomized clinical trial, comparing efficacy and safety of colistin versus the combination of colistin plus rifampicin in severe infections due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. The primary end point was acute kidney injury (AKI) during colistin treatment, assessed using the AKI Network Criteria, and considering death as a competing risk. A total of 166 adult patients without baseline kidney disease on renal replacement therapy were studied. All had life-threatening infections due to colistin-susceptible XDR A. baumannii. Patients received colistin intravenously at the same initial dose (2 million international units (MIU) every 8 h) with predefined dose adjustments according to the actual renal function. Serum creatinine was measured at baseline and at days 4, 7, 11, 14 and 21 (or last day of therapy when discontinued earlier). Outcomes assessed were 'time to any kidney injury' (AKI stages 1-3) and 'time to severe kidney injury' (considering only AKI stages 2-3 as events). When evaluating overall mortality, AKI occurrence was modelled as a time-dependent variable. AKI was observed in 84 patients (50.6%, stage 1 in 40.4%), with an incidence rate of 5/100 person-days (95% CI 4-6.2). Risk estimates of AKI at 7 and 14 days were 30.6% and 58.8%. Age and previous chronic kidney disease were significantly associated with any AKI in multivariable analysis. Neither 'any' nor 'severe AKI' were associated with on-treatment mortality (p 0.32 and p 0.54, respectively). AKI occurs in one-third to one-half of colistin-treated patients and is more likely in elderly patients and in patients with kidney disease. As no impact of colistin-associated AKI on mortality was found, this adverse event should not represent a reason for withholding colistin therapy, whenever indicated.

Predictors of choice of initial antifungal treatment in intraabdominal candidiasis.

Intraabdominal candidiasis (IAC) is the second most frequent form of invasive candidiasis, and is associated with high mortality rates. This study aims to identify current practices in initial antifungal treatment (IAT) in a real-world scenario and to define the predictors of the choice of echinocandins or azoles in IAC episodes. Secondary analysis was performed of a multinational retrospective cohort at 13 teaching hospitals in four countries (Italy, Greece, Spain and Brazil), over a 3-year period (2011-2013). IAC was identified in 481 patients, 323 of whom received antifungal therapy (classified as the treatment group). After excluding 13 patients given amphotericin B, the treatment group was further divided into the echinocandin group (209 patients; 64.7%) and the azole group (101 patients; 32.3%). Median APACHE II scores were significantly higher in the echinocandin group (p 0.013), but IAT did not differ significantly with regard to the Candida species involved. Logistic multivariate stepwise regression analysis, adjusted for centre effect, identified septic shock (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.54), APACHE II >15 (aOR 1.16) and presence in surgical ward at diagnosis (aOR 1.16) as the top three independent variables associated with an empirical echinocandin regimen. No differences in 30-day mortality were observed between groups. Echinocandin regimen was the first choice for IAT in patients with IAC. No statistical differences in mortality were observed between regimens, but echinocandins were administered to patients with more severe disease. Some disagreements were identified between current clinical guidelines and prescription of antifungals for IAC at the bedside, so further educational measures are required to optimize therapies.

Lower sensitivity of serum (1,3)-ß-d-glucan for the diagnosis of candidaemia due to Candida parapsilosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and the levels of 1,3-ß-d-glucan (BDG) among patients with candidaemia due to different Candida species. Retrospective study of all patients who had a single-species candidaemia and BDG testing performed within 48 h from the onset of candidaemia during 2009-2015 was performed. Factors influencing the sensitivity of BDG, including the presence of a central venous catheter, antifungal therapy and Candida species, were analysed in univariate and multivariate models. In all, 107 patients with the following Candida distribution were included: 46 (43%) Candida albicans, 37 (35%) Candida parapsilosis, and 24 (22%) other species. BDG sensitivity and levels were the highest in C. albicans candidaemia and lowest for C. parapsilosis (respectively, 72% and 410 pg/mL for C. albicans, 41% and 39 pg/mL for C. parapsilosis, and 63% and 149 pg/mL for other species; p 0.015 and p 0.003). In multivariate analysis, Candida species (parapsilosis versus others) was the only factor influencing the sensitivity of BDG (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.7, p 0.006). The sensitivity of BDG in candidaemia seems highly dependent on the fungal species, with the lowest being for C. parapsilosis.

Increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infections: results from a 5-year retrospective study in a large teaching hospital in the Italian region with the oldest population.

Limited information is available on the incidence of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) in Italian hospitals. In this study, we assessed the changes in the incidence of CDI over a 5-year period in a teaching hospital in Liguria, the Italian region with the oldest population. Secondary endpoints were the development of severe CDI and 30-day mortality. The annual incidence of CDI/10000 patient-days significantly increased from 0·54 in 2010 to 3·04 in 2014 (χ 2 for trend, P < 0·001). The median age of patients with CDI was 81 years. As many as 81% and 89% of these patients had comorbid conditions and previous exposure to antibiotics, respectively. In the multivariate analysis of risk factors for severe CDI, previous therapy with histamine 2 blockers and low serum albumin were associated with severe CDI, while diabetes appeared to be protective. In the multivariate model of risk factors for 30-day mortality, high leukocyte count, low serum albumin, and increased serum creatinine were unfavourably associated with outcome. Strict adherence to infection control measures was of utmost importance to counteract the increasing incidence of CDI in our hospital, particularly because of the advanced age of the patients and their very high frequency of chronic conditions and use of antibiotics, which readily predispose them to the development of CDI.

Current and future trends in antibiotic therapy of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections.

In 2013 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued recommendations and guidance on developing drugs for treatment of skin infection using a new definition of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infection (ABSSSI). The new classification includes cellulitis, erysipelas, major skin abscesses and wound infection with a considerable extension of skin involvement, clearly referring to a severe subset of skin infections. The main goal of the FDA was to better identify specific infections where the advantages of a new antibiotic could be precisely estimated through quantifiable parameters, such as improvement of the lesion size and of systemic signs of infection. Before the spread and diffusion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in skin infections, antibiotic therapy was relatively straightforward. Using an empiric approach, a ß-lactam was the preferred therapy and cultures from patients were rarely obtained. With the emergence of MRSA in the community setting, initial ABSSSI management has been changed and readdressed. Dalbavancin, oritavancin and tedizolid are new drugs, approved or in development for ABSSSI treatment, that also proved to be efficient against MRSA. Dalbavancin and oritavancin have a long half-life and can be dosed less frequently. This in turn makes it possible to treat patients with ABSSSI in an outpatient setting, avoiding hospitalization or potentially allowing earlier discharge, without compromising efficacy. In conclusion, characteristics of long-acting antibiotics could represent an opportunity for the management of ABSSSI and could profoundly modify the management of these infections by reducing or in some cases eliminating both costs and risks of hospitalization.

Guillain-Barré syndrome following chickenpox: a case series.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, usually triggered by an infectious episode, mostly of viral origin. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a rare cause of GBS, mainly in the case of latent infection reactivation. We report on three adult patients who developed GBS following chickenpox, after a short period of latency. They were promptly treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, and the first one with plasma exchange additionally. All the patients experienced almost complete clinical recovery. Our experience suggests that primary VZV infection constitutes a GBS triggering event.