Epidemiology and resistance pattern of bacterial isolates among cancer patients in a Tertiary Care Oncology Centre in North India.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the epidemiology of microbiologically documented bacterial infection and the resistance pattern, among cancer patients undergoing treatment at RGCIRC, Delhi. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective observational study in which culture reports obtained over 1 year in 2013, were analyzed. RESULTS: 13329 cultures were obtained over 1 year in 2013 and were analyzed. 23.6 % samples showed positive culture with majority being gram negative isolates (67.9 %). E. coli was the commonest gram negative isolate (49.4%) followed by klebsella (29.7%) and Staph. aureus was the commonest gram positive isolate. There was high incidence of ESBL in blood and urine (87.2% & 88.5%) and BLBLI were also high (78% & 83.9%). Carbapenem resistance was comparatively low (10%) and colistin sensitivity was quiet high (> 95%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of MRSA and VRE in our institute is very less, whereas prevalence of ESBLs and BLBLI isolates amongst gram negative infections is around 80%. Gram negative isolates had poor sensitivity to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.

Epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases among patients with haematological disorders in the Asia-Pacific: a prospective observational study.

We conducted a 2-year multicentre prospective observational study to determine the epidemiology of and mortality associated with invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) among patients with haematological disorders in Asia. Eleven institutions from 8 countries/regions participated, with 412 subjects (28.2% possible, 38.3% probable and 33.5% proven IFDs) recruited. The epidemiology of IFDs in participating institutions was similar to Western centres, with Aspergillus spp. (65.9%) or Candida spp. (26.7%) causing the majority of probable and proven IFDs. The overall 30-day mortality was 22.1%. Progressive haematological disorder (odds ratio [OR] 5.192), invasive candidiasis (OR 3.679), and chronic renal disease (OR 6.677) were independently associated with mortality.

Folinic acid administration following MTX as prophylaxis for GVHD in allogeneic HSCT centres in Australia and New Zealand.

The use of MTX for GVHD prophylaxis may be associated with significant toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, graft failure and mucositis. Folinic acid may be involved in the amelioration of MTX toxicity. There is, however, no consensus regarding its use. A survey was conducted in Australian and New Zealand transplant centres (n=22) regarding the use of folinic acid following MTX in the transplant setting. Of 18 participating transplant centres, 12 (66%) used folinic acid following MTX--8 (44%) routinely and 4 (22%) only in the presence of significant mucositis. Those centres that did not use routine dosing of folinic acid post transplant chose not to do so on the grounds that they believed that it was not efficacious or may increase the risk of GVHD. Grading of mucositis was inconsistently done. There is wide variation in the use of folinic acid following HSCT. Folinic acid is infrequently used in the adult transplant setting or is used after mucositis is already apparent, practices that appear to run counter to available clinical evidence and to pharmacological data. Further research is required to conclusively determine whether folinic acid has any benefit in the post-BMT setting.