Antimicrobial Agent Use for Urinary Tract Infection in Long-Term Care Facilities in Spain: Results from a Retrospective Analytical Cohort Analysis.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent in long-term care facilities, constituting the most common infection in this setting. Our research focuses on analyzing clinical characteristics and antimicrobial prescriptions for UTIs in residents across nursing homes (NH) in Spain. This is a retrospective analytical cohort analysis using a multifaceted approach based on the normalization process theory to improve healthcare quality provided by nursing staff in 34 NHs in Spain. In this study, we present the results of the first audit including 719 UTI cases collected between February and April 2023, with an average age of 85.5 years and 74.5% being women. Cystitis and pyelonephritis presented distinct symptom patterns. Notably, 6% of asymptomatic bacteriuria cases were treated. The prevalence of dipstick usage was 83%, and that of urine culture was only 16%, raising concerns about overreliance, including in the 46 asymptomatic cases, leading to potential overdiagnosis and antibiotic overtreatment. Improved diagnostic criteria and personalized strategies are crucial for UTI management in NHs, emphasizing the need for personalized guidelines on the management of UTIs to mitigate indiscriminate antibiotic use in asymptomatic cases.

Efficacy and safety of a structured de-escalation from antipseudomonal ß-lactams in bloodstream infections due to Enterobacterales (SIMPLIFY): an open-label, multicentre, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: De-escalation from broad-spectrum to narrow-spectrum antibiotics is considered an important measure to reduce the selective pressure of antibiotics, but a scarcity of adequate evidence is a barrier to its implementation. We aimed to determine whether de-escalation from an antipseudomonal ß-lactam to a narrower-spectrum drug was non-inferior to continuing the antipseudomonal drug in patients with Enterobacterales bacteraemia. METHODS: An open-label, pragmatic, randomised trial was performed in 21 Spanish hospitals. Patients with bacteraemia caused by Enterobacterales susceptible to one of the de-escalation options and treated empirically with an antipseudomonal ß-lactam were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1; stratified by urinary source) to de-escalate to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (urinary tract infections only), cefuroxime, cefotaxime or ceftriaxone, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, or ertapenem in that order according to susceptibility (de-escalation group), or to continue with the empiric antipseudomonal ß-lactam (control group). Oral switching was allowed in both groups. The primary outcome was clinical cure 3-5 days after end of treatment in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, formed of patients who received at least one dose of study drug. Safety was assessed in all participants. Non-inferiority was declared when the lower bound of the 95% CI of the absolute difference in cure rate was above the -10% non-inferiority margin. This trial is registered with EudraCT (2015-004219-19) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02795949) and is complete. FINDINGS: 2030 patients were screened between Oct 5, 2016, and Jan 23, 2020, of whom 171 were randomly assigned to the de-escalation group and 173 to the control group. 164 (50%) patients in the de-escalation group and 167 (50%) in the control group were included in the mITT population. 148 (90%) patients in the de-escalation group and 148 (89%) in the control group had clinical cure (risk difference 1·6 percentage points, 95% CI -5·0 to 8·2). The number of adverse events reported was 219 in the de-escalation group and 175 in the control group, of these, 53 (24%) in the de-escalation group and 56 (32%) in the control group were considered severe. Seven (5%) of 164 patients in the de-escalation group and nine (6%) of 167 patients in the control group died during the 60-day follow-up. There were no treatment-related deaths. INTERPRETATION: De-escalation from an antipseudomonal ß-lactam in Enterobacterales bacteraemia following a predefined rule was non-inferior to continuing the empiric antipseudomonal drug. These results support de-escalation in this setting. FUNDING: Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013-2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases; Spanish Clinical Research and Clinical Trials Platform, co-financed by the EU; European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe", Operative Program Intelligence Growth 2014-2020.

Fidaxomicin monotherapy versus standard therapy combined with bezlotoxumab for treating patients with Clostridioides difficile infection at high risk of recurrence: a matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Both fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab (used in combination with an antibiotic against Clostridioides difficile) achieve reductions in recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the two strategies have never been compared. METHODS: Data from two retrospective cohorts of 'real-life' use of fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab in combination with a standard anti-C. difficile antibiotic were used to compare the rates of recurrence of both strategies. Since the two cohorts were not identical, we used a propensity score analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and two patients were included: 244 in the fidaxomicin cohort and 78 in the bezlotoxumab cohort. A history of renal failure or immunosuppression was more frequent in patients receiving bezlotoxumab (39.7% and 66.7% versus 26.6% and 38.9%; P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively), but the severity and number of previous CDI episodes were similar in both cohorts. We observed that 19.3% of the patients in the fidaxomicin cohort experienced recurrence, compared with 14.1% in the bezlotoxumab cohort (OR 1.45; 95% CI 0.71-2.96; P = 0.29) but the difference remained non-significant after propensity score matching using previously defined variables (OR 1.24; 95% CI 0.50-3.07; P = 0.64). Moreover, the multivariate analysis did not show differences depending on the drug used. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab are prescribed in similar clinical scenarios, although those treated with bezlotoxumab have greater comorbidity. The proportion of recurrences was numerically lower in those treated with bezlotoxumab, although the propensity analysis did not find significant differences between the two drugs.

Impact of the implementation of a Sepsis Code Program in medical patient management: a cohort study in an Internal Medicine ward / Impacto de la implementación del Programa Código Sepsis en una planta de hospitalización médica: estudio de una cohorte de pacientes de Medicina Interna

Introduction. Sepsis is the main cause of death in hospitals and the implementation of diagnosis and treatment bundles has shown to improve its evolution. However, there is alack of evidence about patients attended in conventional units.Methods. A 3-year retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine units withsepsis were included and assigned to two cohorts according toSepsis Code (SC) activation (group A) or not (B). Baseline andevolution variables were collected.Results. A total of 653 patients were included. In 296 cases SC was activated. Mean age was 81.43 years, median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 2 and 63.25% showed somefunctional disability. More bundles were completed in group A:blood cultures 95.2% vs 72.5% (p < 0.001), extended spectrumantibiotics 59.1% vs 41.4% (p < 0.001), fluid resuscitation96.62% vs 80.95% (p < 0.001). Infection control at 72 hourswas quite higher in group A (81.42% vs 55.18%, odds ratio3.55 [2.48-5.09]). Antibiotic was optimized more frequently ingroup A (60.77% vs 47.03%, p 0.008). Mean in-hospital staywas 10.63 days (11.44 vs 8.53 days, p < 0.001). Complicationsduring hospitalization appeared in 51.76% of patients, especially in group B (45.95% vs 56.58%, odds ratio 1.53 [1.12-2.09]). Hospital readmissions were higher in group A (40% vs24.76%, p < 0.001). 28-day mortality was significantly lower ingroup A (20.95% vs 42.86%, odds ratio 0.33 [0.23-0.47]).Conclusions. Implementation of SC seems to be effectivein improving short-term outcomes in IM patients, althoughtherapy should be tailored in an individual basis (AU)

Introducción. La sepsis es la principal causa de muerte enlos hospitales y la implantación de códigos para su manejo hademostrado mejorar su evolución. Sin embargo, es escasa laevidencia relativa a los pacientes atendidos en unidades médicas convencionales.Métodos. Se realizó un estudio de cohortes retrospectivode 3 años. Se incluyeron pacientes con sepsis hospitalizados enunidades de Medicina Interna y se asignaron a dos cohortessegún la activación del Código Sepsis (CS) (grupo A) o no (B).Se recogieron variables basales y de evolución.Resultados. Se incluyeron 653 pacientes. En 296 casos seactivó el SC. La edad media fue de 81,43 años, la mediana delíndice de comorbilidad de Charlson (ICC) fue de 2 y el 63,25%presentaba alguna limitación funcional. Se realizaron más acciones diagnósticas y terapéuticas en el grupo A: hemocultivos95,2% vs 72,5% (p < 0,001), antibióticos de espectro extendido59,1% vs 41,4% (p < 0,001), reanimación con líquidos 96,62%vs 80,95% (p < 0,001). El control de la infección a las 72 horasfue superior en el grupo A (81,42% vs 55,18%, odds ratio 3,55[2,48-5,09]). La optimización de los antibióticos fue más frecuente en el grupo A (60,77% vs 47,03%, p 0,008). La estanciamedia en el hospital fue de 10,63 días (11,44 vs 8,53 días, p <0,001). Aparecieron complicaciones durante la hospitalizaciónen el 51,76% de los pacientes, especialmente en el grupo B(45,95% vs 56,58%, odds ratio 1,53 [1,12-2,09]). Los pacientesdel grupo A reingresaron más (40% vs 24,76%, p < 0,001). Lamortalidad a los 28 días fue significativamente menor en elgrupo A (20,95% frente a 42,86%, odds ratio 0,33 [0,23-0,47]). (AU)

Real-World Experience with Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Bezlotoxumab is marketed for the prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). Its high cost could be determining its prescription to a different population than that represented in clinical trials. The objective of the study was to verify the effectiveness and safety of bezlotoxumab in preventing rCDI and to investigate factors related to bezlotoxumab failure in the real world. A retrospective, multicentre cohort study of patients treated with bezlotoxumab in Spain was conducted. We compared the characteristics of cohort patients with those of patients treated with bezlotoxumab in the pivotal MODIFY trials. We assessed recurrence rates 12 weeks after completion of treatment against C. difficile, and we analysed the factors associated with bezlotoxumab failure. Ninety-one patients were included in the study. The cohort presented with more risk factors for rCDI than the patients included in the MODIFY trials. Thirteen (14.2%) developed rCDI at 12 weeks of follow-up, and rCDI rates were numerically higher in patients with two or more previous episodes (25%) than in those who had fewer than two previous episodes of C. difficile infection (CDI) (10.4%); p = 0.09. There were no adverse effects attributable to bezlotoxumab. Despite being used in a more compromised population than that represented in clinical trials, we confirm the effectiveness of bezlotoxumab for the prevention of rCDI.

Insuficiencia cardiaca terminal; último acto / End-stage heart failure; final days

OBJETIVO: Conocer las características de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) en estadio terminal o refractario que ingresan en una planta hospitalaria de Medicina Interna y fallecen durante el ingreso, así como la atención prestada y el grado de control sintomático alcanzado en sus últimos días de vida. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal en un hospital terciario de Madrid; se revisaron las historias clínicas de los 48 pacientes ingresados con IC terminal en la primera mitad del año 2009 en el Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Universitario La Princesa. En los 19 fallecidos, se analizó retrospectivamente el grado de control sintomático y la comunicación con el equipo médico. RESULTADOS: La IC terminal es frecuente en pacientes ingresados en servicios de Medicina Interna (20,2%); son pacientes mayores (media de 89 años) con elevada comorbilidad y nulo seguimiento en unidades de paliativos. Presentaron mayor mortalidad que los pacientes con IC no terminal, tanto en el primer ingreso (20 IC terminal vs.13% IC no terminal) como acumulada a los 3 meses (39 vs.13%, p < 0,0001). Frecuentemente presentaban cardiopatía estructural avanzada y función sistólica conservada. Los pacientes que fallecieron presentaron cifras de tensión arterial (TA) más bajas y mayor deterioro funcional. El principal síntoma en los últimos días de vida fue la disnea. El tratamiento sintomático se instauró en la mayoría de los casos, prácticamente en la mitad fue en forma de rescate y mayoritariamente el día del fallecimiento o el día previo. El control total sintomático se consiguió en el 61% de los pacientes según la valoración médica y en el 58% según la percepción del enfermo. En la mitad no se refleja la orden de no RCP en la historia clínica. CONCLUSIONES: El estadio final de la IC representa un escenario habitual en los hospitales de agudos. La dificultad para reconocer el pronóstico, así como la falta de guías de manejo específico, hace que el manejo no sea óptimo

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics of patients with end-stage heart failure or refractory heart disease admitted to an Internal Medicine ward who died during hospitalization, as well as the medical care and the level of symptom control achieved in their last days of life. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study in a tertiary Hospital in Madrid, identifying48 patients with the diagnosis of end-stage heart disease, admitted in the first six months of 2009 to the Internal Medicine department of the ''Hospital Universitario La Princesa''. In 19patients who died, The level of symptom control and communication with the medical team were analyzed retrospectively in 19 patients who died. RESULTS: End-stage heart failure is a common diagnosis in patients admitted to Internal Medicine (20.2%); they are usually elderly patients (mean age 89 years), with high comorbidity, and are rarely followed up by palliative care units. They had a higher mortality rate in the first admission to hospital than those patients who did not meet end-stage criteria (20% vs 13%), and also a higher cumulative mortality at three months (39% vs 13%, P < .0001). They frequently presented advanced structural heart disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients who died had lower blood pressure levels, and more functional impairment. The mayor symptom in the last days of life was dyspnoea. Symptomatic treatment was established in most of the cases, and in half of them it was as a rescue treatment. The treatment was established mostly on the same day as death or the day before. complete control of symptoms was achieved in 61% of patients from a medical point of view, and 58% from the patient's perception. Half of the medical histories did not mention an order of no cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: The final stage of heart failure is a common scenario in acute tertiary hospitals. The difficulty in recognizing the prognosis, and the lack of clinical guidelines, means that these patients may receive suboptimal management