Differences in clinical outcomes of bloodstream infections caused by Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae: a multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella aerogenes has been reclassified from Enterobacter to Klebsiella genus due to its phenotypic and genotypic similarities with Klebsiella pneumoniae. It is unclear if clinical outcomes are also more similar. This study aims to assess clinical outcomes of bloodstreams infections (BSI) caused by K. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae, through secondary data analysis, nested in PRO-BAC cohort study. METHODS: Hospitalized patients between October 2016 and March 2017 with monomicrobial BSI due to K. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae or E. cloacae were included. Primary outcome was a composite clinical outcome including all-cause mortality or recurrence until 30 days follow-up. Secondary outcomes were fever ≥ 72 h, persistent bacteraemia, and secondary device infection. Multilevel mixed-effect Poisson regression was used to estimate the association between microorganisms and outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 29 K. aerogenes, 77 E. cloacae and 337 K. pneumoniae BSI episodes were included. Mortality or recurrence was less frequent in K. aerogenes (6.9%) than in E. cloacae (20.8%) or K. pneumoniae (19.0%), but statistical difference was not observed (rate ratio (RR) 0.35, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.55; RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.71, respectively). Fever ≥ 72 h and device infection were more common in K. aerogenes group. In the multivariate analysis, adjusted for confounders (age, sex, BSI source, hospital ward, Charlson score and active antibiotic therapy), the estimates and direction of effect were similar to crude results. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that BSI caused by K. aerogenes may have a better prognosis than E. cloacae or K. pneumoniae BSI.

Validation of the Giannella Risk Score for the Prediction of Infection by Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts made to prevent the spread of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) has become one of the most dangerous threat worldwide. However, data on the epidemiology of CPE and on the correlation between CPE colonization and infection are scanty. The objectives of this study were first to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of colonizations and invasive CPE infections in the pediatric population, and second, to apply the Giannella Risk Score (GRS) to the pediatric population for the assessment of the risk of invasive CPE infection in patients with already known colonization. METHODS: Pediatric patients with evidence of colonization by CPE were retrospectively enrolled. For each colonized patient, the subsequent development of an infection by CPE was then assessed for a 90-day period after the first CPE isolation; GRSs were compared between patients who had developed any type of CPE infection and those without infection. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients (113 males and 102 females) with at least 1 isolation of CPE during hospitalization were analyzed. Median age was 5.6 years [interquartile range (IQR), 1.89-12.2 years]. Overall, 28 CPE infections (13%) were documented: 23 blood stream infections and 5 complicated urinary tract infections. The 30-day mortality of invasive CPE infections was 34.8%. The GRS values in patients with any CPE infection were statistically higher than in noninfected patients: median GRS 9 (IQR, 4-12.5) versus 4 (IQR, 2-4), respectively; P < 0.0001. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curves identified a GRS cut-off value ≥8 as the best predictor of CPE infection. The likelihood ratio of the results was <2 and the informedness of the test had a value <0.50. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the spread of CPE is an impelling problem also in the pediatric population, with a high mortality rate of invasive infections. However, the application of the GRS appears to be poorly informative in the pediatric setting; it might sometimes help to identify patients at very low-risk of CPE infection, in whom it is reasonable to spare targeted antimicrobial treatments.

Genetic characterization of heterologous Edwardsiella piscicida isolates from diverse fish hosts and virulence assessment in a Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha model.

Edwardsiella piscicida is an emergent global fish pathogen with a wide host range, although host associations driving genetic diversity remain unclear. This study investigated the genetic and virulence diversity of 37 E. piscicida isolates recovered from 10 fish species in North America. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was conducted using concatenated alignments of the gyrB, pgi and phoU sequences. MLSA clustered the tested isolates into six discrete clades. In light of recent disease outbreaks in cultured salmonids, the virulence of each clade was evaluated in Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha fingerlings following intracoelomic challenge of ~106  CFU/fish. Challenged and control fish were monitored for 21d, and microbiological and histological examination was performed on dead and surviving fish. Peak mortality occurred 3-5 days post-challenge (dpc) regardless of isolate or genetic group. Edwardsiella piscicida was recovered from all moribund and dead animals. At 21 dpc, fish challenged with isolates from clades II, III and IV presented cumulative mortality ≥83.3%, whereas isolates from clade I, V and VI resulted in cumulative mortality ≤71.4%. This study suggests an underlying genetic basis for strain virulence and potential host associations. Further investigations using other fish models and variable challenge conditions are warranted.

Association between mortality and highly antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in intensive care unit-acquired pneumonia.

Data on the relationship between antimicrobial resistance and mortality remain scarce, and this relationship needs to be investigated in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to compare the ICU mortality rates between patients with ICU-acquired pneumonia due to highly antimicrobial-resistant (HAMR) bacteria and those with ICU-acquired pneumonia due to non-HAMR bacteria. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using the French National Surveillance Network for Healthcare Associated Infection in ICUs ("REA-Raisin") database, gathering data from 200 ICUs from January 2007 to December 2016. We assessed all adult patients who were hospitalized for at least 48 h and presented with ICU-acquired pneumonia caused by S. aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, or A. baumannii. The association between pneumonia caused by HAMR bacteria and ICU mortality was analyzed using the whole sample and using a 1:2 matched sample. Among the 18,497 patients with at least one documented case of ICU-acquired pneumonia caused by S. aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, or A. baumannii, 3081 (16.4%) had HAMR bacteria. The HAMR group was associated with increased ICU mortality (40.3% vs. 30%, odds ratio (OR) 95%, CI 1.57 [1.45-1.70], P < 0.001). This association was confirmed in the matched sample (3006 HAMR and 5640 non-HAMR, OR 95%, CI 1.39 [1.27-1.52], P < 0.001) and after adjusting for confounding factors (OR ranged from 1.34 to 1.39, all P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that ICU-acquired pneumonia due to HAMR bacteria is associated with an increased ICU mortality rate, ICU length of stay, and mechanical ventilation duration.

Comparing mortality in patients with carbapenemase-producing carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales and non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales bacteremia.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are classified as either carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE) or non-carbapenemase-producing CRE (non-CP-CRE) based on their mechanism of carbapenem resistance. Few studies have compared outcomes associated with each type of infection. We attempted to determine if either CRE subset is associated with increased mortality. We performed a retrospective observational study to collect demographic, clinical and outcomes data to compare patients with CP-CRE and non-CP-CRE bacteremia. Of 146 cases analyzed, 88/146 (60%) were CP-CRE and 58/146 (40%) were non-CP-CRE. Patients with CP-CRE bacteremia were less likely to receive active empiric or targeted antibiotic therapy. Non-CP-CRE bacteremia was associated with a 2.4 times higher hazard of death at 30 days after bacteremia onset compared to CP-CRE (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2, 4.6). Patients with non-CP-CRE bacteremia had a higher hazard of death at 30 days after bacteremia onset compared to those with CP-CRE bacteremia.

Pan-drug resistant Providencia rettgeri contributing to a fatal case of COVID-19.

Following prolonged hospitalization that included broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure, a strain of Providencia rettgeri was cultured from the blood of a patient undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID-19. The strain was resistant to all antimicrobials tested including the novel siderophore cephalosporin, cefiderocol. Whole genome sequencing detected ten antimicrobial resistance genes, including the metallo-ß-lactamase bla NDM-1, the extended-spectrum ß-lactamase bla PER-1, and the rare 16S methyltransferase rmtB2.

Comparison of outcomes in urinary tract infections caused by AmpC-harboring organisms treated with AmpC stable versus AmpC susceptible agents.

There is minimal data on the optimal treatment of lower inoculum infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by SPICE organisms which encode the betalactamase enzyme, AmpC. This single-center, retrospective review of adult hospitalized patients with UTIs caused by a SPICE organism compared outcomes amongst patients treated with drugs susceptible to AmpC hydrolysis versus drugs stable against AmpC. Of 156 patients, similar rates of clinical response, 30-day infection related readmission, 30-day infection recurrence, 30-day mortality rates, and median length of hospital stay were found between the two groups. Notably, 44% of patients with ceftriaxone resistance reported had recent ß-lactam exposure versus only 11% of patients without ceftriaxone resistance (P = 0.002). Based on our data, there does not appear to be a difference in clinical response or any of the secondary outcomes in patients with UTIs treated with AmpC stable and AmpC susceptible agents.

Klebsiella spp. cause severe and fatal disease in Mozambican children: antimicrobial resistance profile and molecular characterization.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella spp. are important pathogens associated with bacteremia among admitted children and is among the leading cause of death in children < 5 years in postmortem studies, supporting a larger role than previously considered in childhood mortality. Herein, we compared the antimicrobial susceptibility, mechanisms of resistance, and the virulence profile of Klebsiella spp. from admitted and postmortem children. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors of Klebsiella spp. recovered from blood samples collected upon admission to the hospital (n = 88) and postmortem blood (n = 23) from children < 5 years were assessed by disk diffusion and multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Klebsiella isolates from postmortem blood were likely to be ceftriaxone resistant (69.6%, 16/23 vs. 48.9%, 43/88, p = 0.045) or extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) producers (60.9%, 14/23 vs. 25%, 22/88, p = 0.001) compared to those from admitted children. blaCTX-M-15 was the most frequent ESBL gene: 65.3%, 9/14 in postmortem isolates and 22.7% (5/22) from admitted children. We found higher frequency of genes associated with hypermucoviscosity phenotype and invasin in postmortem isolates than those from admitted children: rmpA (30.4%; 7/23 vs. 9.1%, 8/88, p = 0.011), wzi-K1 (34.7%; 8/23 vs. 8%; 7/88, p = 0.002) and traT (60.8%; 14/23 vs. 10.2%; 9/88, p < 0.0001), respectively. Additionally, serine protease auto-transporters of Enterobacteriaceae were detected from 1.8% (pic) to 12.6% (pet) among all isolates. Klebsiella case fatality rate was 30.7% (23/75). CONCLUSION: Multidrug resistant Klebsiella spp. harboring genes associated with hypermucoviscosity phenotype has emerged in Mozambique causing invasive fatal disease in children; highlighting the urgent need for prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment and effective preventive measures for infection control.

Cotrimoxazole for community-acquired urinary tract infections leads to more adverse effects than fluoroquinolones.

BACKGROUND: For several years, we applied an internal guideline for community-acquired urinary tract infections (cUTI), targeting the reduction of fluoroquinolone use (FQ) and thereby favouring cotrimoxazole (CTM) prescription. Our aim was to report adverse effects (AE) and outcome for patients presenting with cUTI and treated with these compounds. METHODS: This cohort study was based on the dashboard of our department, bringing together 28 parameters for all patients, including diagnosis, microbiological data, antibiotic therapy, AE, length of hospital stay (LHS) and outcome. We included all patients with cUTI due to Enterobacteriaeae treated with CTM or FQ, and compared these 2 groups on in-hospital AE, LHS, and unfavourable outcome defined as intensive care requirement or death. RESULTS: From June 2008 to June 2019, 640 cUTI due to Enterobacteriaeae were observed, among which 295 (46%) treated with CTM and 345 (54%) with a FQ. There were 25 AE (3.9%): 17 (5.7%) in the CTM group, and 8 (2.3%) in the FQ group (P=0.025). Adverse effects were associated with increased LHS compared to patients without AE: 11±6 vs. 7±4 days respectively, P<0.001, 11.4±6.2 days in the CTM group vs. 9.2±5.8 in the FQ group (relative LHS increase of 73.5% and 29.5%, respectively). Unfavorable outcome occurred for 1 patient (0.3%) in the CTM group, and 5 (1.4%) in the FQ group, P=0.297. CONCLUSION: Favouring cotrimoxazole for cUTI due to Enterobacteriaceae was associated compared to FQ with more AE and prolonged LHS. A cost-effectiveness analysis to validate such therapeutic strategy is warranted.

Environmental factors affecting Edwardsiella ictaluri-induced mortality of riverine ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel).

We analysed the predisposing factors for Edwardsiella ictaluri infection in the riverine ayu Plecoglossus altivelis on the basis of environmental and epidemiological data obtained in a tributary to and the lower reaches of the Tama River, Japan, in July and August 2011-2015. Mortality of ayu due to E. ictaluri infection was observed only in the tributary in August 2012 and 2013; both periods were unusually hot. During these mortality events, daily average water temperatures rose approximately 3-4°C over 4-8 days, reaching the optimum temperature for E. ictaluri infection (>25°C) and approaching the upper tolerable limit for ayu (30°C). Diurnal water temperature ranges (DWTRs) in the tributary during the mortality events exceeded 6°C, which was 1-2°C greater than in the lower reaches. Experimental infection of ayu with E. ictaluri resulted in higher mortality when exposed to 6°C DWTR than to 4°C DWTR. Furthermore, water levels in the tributary were generally low in August 2012 and 2013 because of low rainfall. From these results, we conclude that unusually high-water temperatures combined with high DWTRs and low water levels drove riverine ayu mortality from E. ictaluri infection.

Temporal trends, risk factors and outcomes of infections due to extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Enterobacterales in Swiss solid organ transplant recipients between 2012 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: The burden of antimicrobial resistance is high in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Among Swiss SOT recipients, we assessed temporal trends of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), identified risk factors for ESBL-E, and assessed the impact of resistance on patient outcome. METHODS: Data from the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS), a nationwide prospective cohort of SOT-recipients, were analysed. Temporal trends were described for ESBL-detection among Escherichia coli and non-Escherichia coli. In a nested case-control study, cases with ESBL-E infection were 1:1 matched (by time since transplantation, organ transplant, pathogen) to controls infected with non-ESBL-E. Factors associated with resistance and with unfavourable 30-day outcome (death, infection relapse, graft loss) were assessed. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2018, we identified 1'212 infection episodes caused by Enterobacterales in 1'074 patients, thereof 11.4% (138/1'212) caused by ESBL-E. The proportion of ESBL-production among Escherichia coli remained stable over time (p = 0.93) but increased for non-E. coli (p = 0.02) Enterobacterales. In the case-control study (n = 102), antibiotic pre-treatment was independently associated with ESBL-production (aOR = 2.6, 95%-CI: 1.0-6.8, p = 0.046). Unfavourable outcome occurred in 24/51 (47%) cases and 9/51 (18%) controls (p = 0.003). Appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy was the only modifiable factor associated with unfavourable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In Swiss SOT-recipients, proportion of infections with ESBL-producing non-E. coli Enterobacterales increased in recent years. Antibiotic pre-treatment represents a risk factor for ESBL-E. Improving appropriateness of empiric antibiotic treatment might be an important measure to reduce unfavourable outcome, which was observed in almost half of SOT-recipients with ESBL-E infections.

Quality of care indicators in the MAnageMent of BlOOdstream infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae (MAMBOO-E study): state of the art and research agenda.

OBJECTIVES: The impact on outcome of five interventions was reviewed in order to investigate the state of the art for management of Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infection (E-BSI). METHODS: We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies published from January 2008 to March 2019 in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Populations consisted of patients with E-BSI. Interventions were as follows: (i) performance of imaging to assess BSI source and/or complications; (ii) follow-up blood cultures (FU-BCs); (iii) use of loading dose followed by extended/continuous infusion (E/CI) of ß-lactams; (iv) duration of treatment (short- versus long-term); and (v) infectious diseases (ID) consultation. Patients without intervention were considered as controls. The main outcome was 30-day mortality. RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools were used for bias assessment. RESULTS: No study was eligible for interventions i, iii and v. For FU-BCs, one observational study including 901 patients with E-BSI was considered. Intervention consisted of repeating BCs within 2-7 days after index BCs. All-cause 30-day mortality was 14.2% (35/247) in the intervention group versus 14.7% (96/654) in the control group. For short treatment duration, two RCTs and six observational studies were included comprising 4473 patients with E-BSI. All-cause mortality was similar in the short and long treatment groups (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.83-1.44). CONCLUSION: Of the assessed interventions, only short treatment duration in non-immunocompromised patients with E-BSI is supported by current data. Studies investigating the use of systematic imaging, FU-BCs, E/CI ß-lactams and ID consultation in patients with E-BSI are needed.

Epidemiology of and risk factors for mortality due to carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) in healthcare facilities.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) have been largely responsible for the extensive spread of carbapenem resistance, and their prevalence is increasing in many parts of the world. AIM: To evaluate clinical and molecular epidemiology and mortality associated with CPO among patients. METHODS: All CPO from clinical and long-term healthcare surveillance cultures across Scotland in 2003-2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect genes coding for carbapenemases. A generalized linear mixed model was used to identify risk factors for mortality. FINDINGS: In total, 290 individuals with CPO were identified. The overall incidence increased over time (P<0.001) from 0.02 to 1.38 per 100,000 population between 2003 and 2017. A total of 243 distinct CPO isolates were obtained from 269 isolations in 214 individuals with available metadata. The majority of the isolates were Enterobacterales (206/243, 84.8%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (65/206, 31.6%) and Enterobacter cloacae (52/206, 25.2%) were the most common species. VIM (75/243, 30.9%) and NDM (56/243, 23.0%) were the most common carbapenemases. The crude 30-day mortality rate was 11.8% (25/211), while the case fatality rate was 5.7% (12/211). Age >60 years [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-10.63; P=0.033], presence of non-fermenters (aOR 4.88, 95% CI 1.64-14.47; P=0.005), and systemic infection or organ failure (aOR 4.21, 95% CI 1.38-12.81; P=0.032) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CPO in Scotland is low but increasing. Awareness is required that inpatients aged >60 years, patients with systemic infection or organ failure, and patients presenting with non-fermenters are at higher risk of death from CPO.

Genetic analysis of resistance in Mekong striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) to bacillary necrosis caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri.

The aim of this study was to analyse four cohabitation challenge-test experiments with Mekong striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) against the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri. The data were genetically analysed per experiment by three models: 1) a cross-sectional linear model; 2) a cross-sectional threshold model; and 3) a linear survival model, at both 50% mortality (for models 1 and 2) and at the end of the test (for all three models). In two of the experiments (3 and 4) that were carried out in two replicated tanks, the predicted family effects (sum of sire, dam and common environmental effects) in each tank were correlated with the family survival in the other replicated tank (cross-validation). The heritability estimates of resistance to E. ictaluri infection were ≤ 0.012 with the survival model, and up to 0.135 - 0.220 (50% survival) and 0.085 and 0.174 (endpoint survival) for the cross-sectional linear and threshold models, respectively. The challenge test should aim for an endpoint survival that ceases naturally at 50%. Then, genetic analysis should be carried out for survival at the endpoint (reflecting susceptibility) with a simple cross-sectional linear model.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of patients infected with KPC- and NDM-producing Enterobacterales: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare clinical outcomes of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacterales and those with New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adult patients with KPC- or NDM-producing Enterobacterales isolates in a 2700-bed tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea, between 2010 and 2019. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after first isolation of KPC- or NDM-producing Enterobacterales. The secondary outcome was the development of infection within 30 days by the colonizing isolates, among colonized patients. We performed Cox regression analysis for 30-day mortality and competing risk analysis for development of infection. RESULTS: A total of 859 patients were identified during the study period; 475 (55%) had KPC and 384 (45%) had NDM. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in the KPC group than in the NDM group (17% (81/475) vs 9% (33/384); p < 0.001). The KPC group developed infection within 30 days from the initial colonization after first isolation more frequently than the NDM group (8% (27/353) vs. 3% (10/295); p 0.02). Multivariable analysis revealed that independent risk factors for 30-day mortality were solid cancer (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.66-3.79; p < 0.001), solid organ transplant (aHR 0.32; 95% CI 0.17-0.61; p < 0.001), a high APACHE II score (aHR 1.11; 95% CI 1.08-1.13; p < 0.001), KPC-producing Enterobacterales (aHR 1.69; 95% CI 1.02-2.79; p 0.04), previous carbapenem use within 3 months (aHR 1.86; 95% CI 1.26-2.75; p < 0.001) and site of KPC- or NDM-producing Enterobacterales infection at the time of the first culture (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that KPC-producing Enterobacterales is significantly associated with poorer outcomes than NDM-producing Enterobacterales.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in bloodstream infections due to extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among patients with malignancy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The colonization of Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) in bloodstream infections (BSIs) has been increased dramatically worldwide, and it was associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with malignancy. We performed the meta-analysis to investigate the prognosis and risk factors in BSIs caused by ESBL-PE in oncological patients. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for related studies. All-cause mortality was considered as the primary outcome. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression analyses, and sensitivity analysis were used to investigate heterogeneity and reliability in results. RESULTS: 6,729 patients from 25 studies were eligible. Six studies enrolled oncological patients with BSIs caused by ESBL-PE only, while 19 studies both enrolled ESBL-PE and non-ESBL-PE infections. The results showed that BSIs caused by ESBL-PE in patients with malignancy was associated with higher mortality than non-ESBL-PE infections (RR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.60-3.06, P < 0.001), with a significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 =78.3%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that children (RR = 2.80, 95% CI: 2.29-3.43, P < 0.001) and hematological malignancy (RR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.54-4.03, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher mortality. Severe sepsis/ septic shock, pneumonia, and ICU admission were the most common predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified that BSIs caused by ESBL-PE in patients with malignancy were associated with worse clinical outcomes compared with non-ESBL-PE infections. Furthermore, children and hematological malignancy were associated with higher mortality. Severe sepsis/ septic shock, pneumonia, and ICU admission were the most common predictors of mortality.

Retinoid Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Is Essential for Early Survival From Gastrointestinal Infection.

Vitamin A deficiency (A-) increases morbidity and mortality to gastrointestinal (GI) infection. Blocking retinoid signaling (dominant negative retinoic acid receptor, dnRAR) in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC, IECdnRAR) had no effect on vitamin A absorption, the expression of tight junction proteins or the integrity of the barrier. Immune cells in the gut were present in normal frequencies in the IECdnRAR mice, with the exception of the T cell receptor (TCR)αß+/CD8αα cells, which were significantly lower than in wildtype littermates. Challenging the IECdnRAR mice with dextran sodium sulfate to induce colitis or Citrobacter rodentium infection resulted in similar disease to wildtype littermates. Feeding mice vitamin A deficient diets reduced vitamin A status and the A- IECdnRAR mice developed more severe colitis and C. rodentium infection. In particular, retinoid signaling in the IEC was crucial for the A- host to survive early infection following C. rodentium. Treating A- mice with retinoic acid (RA) beginning on the day of infection protects most mice from early lethality. However, RA treatment of the A- IECdnRAR mice was ineffective for preventing lethality following C. rodentium infection. Retionid signaling in IEC is critical, especially when there are reduced levels of dietary vitamin A. IEC are direct targets of vitamin A for mounting early defense against infection.

Treatment duration of complicated urinary tract infections by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing enterobacterales.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-EB) are a problem increasing in our clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome in patients who received short (≤ 7 days) versus long courses (>7 days) of antimicrobial therapy for complicated ESBL-EB urinary tract infections. METHODS: This is a retrospective and observational study. Positive urine cultures for ESBL-EB in our hospital between March 2015 and July 2017 were identified. Patients with complicated urinary tract infection were included. Differences between treatment groups (7 days or less vs more than 7 days) were analyzed according to baseline characteristics and severity of clinical presentation. Primary outcome was all cause 30-day mortality. Secondary outcome was a combined item of all cause mortality and reinfection by the same enterobacteria at 30 days. RESULTS: 273 urine cultures were positive for ESBL-EB during the study period. 75 episodes were included, 40 in the long treatment group and 35 in the short treatment group. Mean treatment duration in short and long treatment groups was 6,1 and 13,8 days respectively. Mortality at 30 days was 5,7% in the short treatment group and 5% in the long treatment group without significant differences (P = 0,8). Mortality or reinfection by the same ESBL-EB at 30 days was 8,6% in the short treatment group and 10% in the long treatment group, without significant differences (P = 0,8). CONCLUSIONS: Short courses of antimicrobial treatment seems to be effective as treatment of complicated urinary tract infections by ESBL-EB.

Oral administration of microencapsulated egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) to combat against Edwardsiella tarda 2CDM001 infections.

Edwardsiellosis, an extremely harmful disease can be caused by Edwardsiella tarda, severely restricts the development of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) farming worldwide, especially in China. This study aimed to establish an effective and feasible prophylaxis by feeding chitosan-alginate coated egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against E. tarda 2CDM001 infections in the process of turbot farming. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays proved that the obtained specific IgY could specifically target E. tarda 2CDM001 and five other E. tarda isolates (1a5p, Hz-s, 1a1s, fs-a1 and 58p8). In-vitro, the bacteriostatic effects of specific IgY showed dose dependencies at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 mg/mL. Moreover, E. tarda 2CDM001 incubated with 10 mg/mL specific IgY could induce the destruction of cell wall structures and significantly decrease the bacterial surface hydrophobicity (p < 0.05). In this study, turbots were challenged with 107 CFU E. tarda 2CDM001 after seven days of continuous feeding with basal diets containing microencapsulated IgYs. Survival rates of the 5%, 3% and 1% microencapsulated specific IgY groups were 63.3%, 56.7% and 20% on the tenth day post infection, respectively, while the turbots in the positive control and non-specific IgY groups all died within ten days. Oral administration of basal diets containing 5% microencapsulated specific IgY significantly reduced IL-1ß, IL-8, TNF-α and C3 transcript levels in the head kidney and spleen of turbots compared with the positive and non-specific IgY groups at 24 h after E. tarda 2CDM001 challenging (p < 0.05). Pathological increase of leukocytes in the specific IgY group was significantly lower than that in the positive control and non-specific IgY groups (p < 0.05), decreasing slowly after 24 h of infection and showing a recovery trend. Erythrocyte counts and hemoglobin concentrations of turbots in positive and non-specific IgY groups showed a marked decrease compared with the negative and specific groups at 96 h after E. tarda 2CDM001 infection (p < 0.05). These results suggest that passive immunity via feeding microencapsulated specific IgY could be used as a valuable preventative in turbot against E. tarda 2CDM001 infections.

Nosocomial infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria in cancer patients: a six-year retrospective study of an oncology Center in Western China.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections are the most frequent complications in patients with malignancy, and the epidemiology of nosocomial infections among cancer patients has changed over time. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics, antibiotic resistance patterns, and prognosis of nosocomial infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in cancer patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study analyzed cancer patients with nosocomial infections caused by MDR from August 2013 to May 2019. The extracted clinical data were recorded in a standardized form and compared based on the survival status of the patients after infection and during hospitalization. The data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: One thousand eight patients developed nosocomial infections during hospitalization, with MDR strains detected in 257 patients. Urinary tract infection (38.1%), respiratory tract infection (26.8%), and bloodstream infection (BSI) (12.5%) were the most common infection types. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) (72.8%) members were the most frequently isolated MDR strains, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (11.7%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (6.2%). The results of multivariate regression analysis revealed that smoking history, intrapleural/abdominal infusion history within 30 days, the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter, length of hospitalization, and hemoglobin were independent factors for in-hospital mortality in the study population. The isolated MDR bacteria exhibited high rates of sensitivity to amikacin, meropenem, and imipenem. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of nosocomial infections due to MDR bacteria is considerably high in oncological patients, with ESBL-PE being the most predominant causative pathogen. Our findings suggest that amikacin and carbapenems actively against more than 89.7% of MDR isolates. The precise management of MDR bacterial infections in cancer patients may improve the prognosis of these individuals.