Complexity of patients with or without infectious disease consultation in tertiary-care hospitals in Germany.

PURPOSE: Patients seen by infectious disease (ID) specialists are more complex compared to patients treated by other subspecialities according to Tonelli et al. (2018). However, larger studies on the complexity of patients related to the involvement of ID consultation services are missing. METHODS: Data of patients being treated in 2015 and 2019 in four different German university hospitals was retrospectively collected. Data were collected from the hospitals' software system and included whether the patients received an ID consultation as well as patient clinical complexity level (PCCL), case mix index (CMI) and length of stay (LOS) as a measurement for the patients' complexity. Furthermore, a comparison of patients with distinct infectious diseases treated with or without an ID consultation was initiated. RESULTS: In total, 215.915 patients were included in the study, 3% (n = 6311) of those were seen by an ID consultant. Patients receiving ID consultations had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher PCCL (median 4 vs. 0), CMI (median 3,8 vs. 1,1) and deviation of the expected mean LOS (median 7 days vs. 0 days) than patients in the control group. No differences among hospitals or between years were observed. Comparing patients with distinct infectious diseases treated with or without an ID consultation, the differences were confirmed throughout the groups. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving ID consultations are highly complex, frequently need further treatment after discharge and have a high economic impact. Thus, ID specialists should be clinically trained in a broad spectrum of diseases and treating these complex patients should be sufficiently remunerated.

[Patient safety in differentiated (in-hospital) activation of the resuscitation room for severely injured patients]. / Patientensicherheit bei differenzierter (innerklinischer) Schockraumaktivierung für Schwerverletzte.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Providing trauma services demands high personnel resources and structural costs. The goal of this study was to show if the assignment of trauma patients to a defined A or B resuscitation room treatment as a modified management concept is safe and feasible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between May 2020 and January 2021, all resuscitation room trauma patients were included in this single center prospective observational study. All patients admitted to the resuscitation room underwent a classification according to the German S3 guidelines grade of recommendation GoR A and GoR B in polytrauma and the status of the ABCDE sequence to an A and B resuscitation room. The classification was performed by the senior consultant on call via telephone after consultation and discussion of clinical findings. RESULTS: All 135 resuscitation room patients were included in the study of whom 42 trauma patients were assigned to the A resuscitation room (A-SR) and 93 were assigned to the B resuscitation room (B-SR). The comparison of the two groups showed that patients in the A­SR group are more likely to be accompanied by a prehospital emergency physician (80.5%) than patients in the B­SR group (55.5%). Patients in the B­SR group showed a significantly higher Glasgow coma scale (GCS). Using the eFAST emergency ultrasound protocol, 2.4% of the A­SR and 4.3% of the B­SR patients had trauma-associated pathologies, 26% of the A­SR and only 3.2% of the B­SR patients had to be admitted to the ICU, 21.4% of the A­SR and 1% of the B­SR patients died within 30 days after trauma. The injury severity scores (ISS) of the A­SR patients were significantly higher than in the B­SR group (ISS 28.3 vs. 6.8). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that the assignment by the emergency department consultant according to the German S3 guideline in combination with the ABCDE sequence into resuscitation room A or B treatment is feasible, does not compromise the quality of care and is efficient in the use of the personnel resources.

Pericarditis as a cardiac manifestation of acute leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. The clinical presentation is unspecific and ranges from an asymptomatic clinical course to an acute fulminant disease. The current case report describes a 32-year-old male patient who presented with ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram about 14 days after cross-country running. Pericarditis was diagnosed and linked to an acute leptospirosis that was serologically confirmed.

Cefazolin versus anti-staphylococcal penicillins for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

BACKGROUND: For patients with bacteraemia caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus anti-staphylococcal penicillins (ASPs) or cefazolin are agents of choice. While ASPs are potentially nephrotoxic, cefazolin may be less effective in some S. aureus strains due to an inoculum effect. OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic literature review and meta-analysis assessing current evidence comparing cefazolin with ASPs for patients with S. aureus bacteraemia (SAB). METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded) and the Cochrane Database as well as clinicaltrials.gov from inception to 26 June 2018. All studies investigating the effects of cefazolin versus ASP in patients with methicillin-sensitive SAB were eligible for inclusion regardless of study design, publication status or language. Additional information was requested by direct author contact. A meta-analysis to estimate relative risks (RRs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was performed. Statistical heterogeneity was estimated using I2. The primary endpoint was 90-day all-cause mortality. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) were used for study and data quality assessment. RESULTS: Fourteen non-randomized studies were included. Seven reported the primary endpoint (RR 0.71 (0.50, 1.02), low quality of evidence). Cefazolin treatment may be associated with lower 30-day mortality rates (RR 0.70 (0.54, 0.91), low quality of evidence) and less nephrotoxicity (RR 0.36 (0.21, 0.59), (low quality of evidence)). We are uncertain whether cefazolin and ASP differ regarding treatment failure/relapse as the quality of the evidence has been assessed as very low (RR of 0.84 (0.59, 1.18)). For patients with endocarditis (RR 0.71 (0.12, 4.05)) or abscesses (RR 1.17 (0.30, 4.63)), cefazolin treatment may be associated with equal 30-day and 90-day mortality (low quality of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: Cefazolin seemed to be at least equally as effective as ASPs while being associated with less nephrotoxicity.

Lower extremity function in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis during the first five years, and relation to other disease parameters.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate lower extremity function in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assess its relation to other disease parameters. Methods: An inception cohort (recruited in 1995-2005) of patients with early RA was followed according to a structured protocol. Lower extremity function was investigated at inclusion and after 1, 2, and 5 years using the Index of Muscle Function (IMF; total score 0-40). Self-reported disability was estimated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The same rheumatologist assessed patients for swollen joints and joint tenderness. Results: In total, 106 patients were included. Lower extremity function improved from baseline to the 1 year visit [IMF total median 10, interquartile range (IQR) 4-16 vs 7, IQR 3-12; p = 0.01]. This was followed by a decline in lower extremity function. Throughout the study, there were significant correlations between IMF and HAQ scores (r = 0.38-0.58; p < 0.001 at all time-points). Patients with knee and/or ankle synovitis at inclusion had significantly higher IMF scores than those without such joint involvement, with similar associations for joint tenderness. In multivariate linear regression analysis, ankle synovitis was significantly associated with higher IMF scores (ß = 2.91, 95% confidence interval 0.28-5.54), whereas there was no such association for metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthritis. Conclusion: Lower extremity function in early RA improved during the first year, followed by a gradual decline. Ankle involvement had a greater impact than MTP involvement on lower extremity function. This highlights the importance of treating large-joint disease in RA.

Effectiveness of a hospital-wide infection control programme on the incidence of healthcare-associated infections and associated severe sepsis and septic shock: a prospective interventional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a hospital-wide infection control programme (ICP) is effective at reducing the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and associated severe sepsis/septic shock or death (severe HAIs). METHODS: Prospective, quasi-experimental study with two surveillance periods (September 2011 to August 2012; May 2013 to August 2014). Starting October 2012, the ICP included hand hygiene promotion and bundle implementation for common HAIs. We applied segmented mixed-effects Poisson regression and multi-state models. We reported adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Overall, 62 154 patients were under surveillance, with 1568 HAIs identified in 1170 patients (4.3 per 100 admissions) in the first and 2336 HAIs identified in 1711 patients (4.9 per 100 admissions) in the second surveillance period. No differences were found in the overall HAI incidence rates between the periods in the general wards (aIRR 1.29, 95% CI 0.78-2.15) and intensive care units (ICUs) (aIRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.27-1.31). However, the HAI incidence rate was declining in the ICUs after starting the ICP (aIRR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-1.00 per 1-week increment), in contrast to general wards (aIRR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02). A reduction in severe HAIs (aIRR 0.13, 95% CI 0.05-0.32) and a lower probability of HAI-associated in-hospital deaths (aHR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31-0.99) were observed in the second period in the ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: There was no overall reduction in HAIs after implementation of the ICP. However, there was a significant reduction in severe HAIs in ICUs. Whether this difference was a consequence of the ICP or improvement in HAI case management is not clear.

[Antibiotic stewardship and Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia]. / Antibiotic Stewardship am Beispiel der Staphylococcus aureus Bakteriämie.

Rates of antibiotic resistance are increasing worldwide and impact on the treatment of patients with bacterial infections. A broad and uncritical application in inpatient and outpatient settings as well as in agriculture has been recognized as the main driving force. Antibiotic stewardship (ABS) programs aim at countering this worrisome development using various direct interventions such as infectious disease counseling. Blood stream infections caused by Staphylococcus (S.) aureus are severe infections associated with high mortality rates. ABS interventions such as de-eskalation of the antibiotic regimen or application of narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics can significantly reduce mortality rates. In this review, we discuss the importance of ABS programs and infectious disease counseling for the treatment of S. aureus blood stream infection.

Study on the utility of a statewide counselling programme for improving mortality outcomes of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Thuringia (SUPPORT): a study protocol of a cluster-randomised crossover trial.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is a frequent infection with high mortality rates. It requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic management such as prolonged intravenous administration of antibiotics and aggressive search for and control of infectious sources. Underestimation of disease severity frequently results in delayed or inappropriate management of patients with SAB leading to increased mortality rates. According to observational studies, patient counselling by infectious disease consultants (IDC) improves survival and reduces the length of hospital stay as well as complication rates. In many countries, IDC are available only in some tertiary hospitals. In this trial, we aim to demonstrate that the outcome of patients with SAB in small and medium size hospitals that do not employ IDC can be improved by unsolicited ID phone counselling. The SUPPORT trial will be the first cluster-randomised controlled multicentre trial addressing this question. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: SUPPORT is a single-blinded, multicentre interventional, cluster-randomised, controlled crossover trial with a minimum of 15 centres that will include 250 patients with SAB who will receive unsolicited IDC counselling and 250 who will receive standard of care. Reporting of SAB will be conducted by an electronic real-time blood culture registry established for the German Federal state of Thuringia (ALERTSNet) or directly by participating centres in order to minimise time delay before counselling. Mortality, disease course and complications will be monitored for 90 days with 30-day all-cause mortality rates as the primary outcome. Generalised linear mixed modelling will be used to detect the difference between the intervention sequences. We expect improved outcome of patients with SAB after IDC. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: We obtained ethics approval from the Ethics committee of the Jena University Hospital and from the Ethics committee of the State Chamber of Physicians of Thuringia. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and additionally disseminated through public media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00010135.

Effect of pre-operative octenidine nasal ointment and showering on surgical site infections in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pre-operative octenidine (OCT) decolonization on surgical site infection (SSI) rates. DESIGN: Before-and-after cohort study. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing an elective isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure: control group (1st January to 31st December 2013), N=475; intervention group (1st January to 31st December 2014), N=428. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention consisted of nasal application of OCT ointment three times daily, beginning on the day before surgery, and showering the night before and on the day of surgery with OCT soap. RESULTS: A median sternotomy was performed in 805 (89.1%) patients and a minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass procedure was performed in 98 (10.9%) patients. Overall, there was no difference in SSI rates between the control and intervention groups (15.4% vs 13.3%, P=0.39). The rate of harvest site SSIs was significantly lower in patients in the intervention group (2.5% vs 0.5%, P=0.01). Patients who had undergone a median sternotomy in the intervention group had a significantly lower rate of organ/space sternal SSIs (1.9% vs 0.3%, P=0.04). However, there was a trend towards an increased rate of deep incisional sternal SSIs (1.2% vs 2.9%, P=0.08). Multi-variate analysis did not identify a significant protective effect of the intervention (odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.53-1.15, P=0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative decolonization with OCT did not reduce overall SSI rates in patients undergoing an elective isolated CABG procedure, but significantly decreased harvest site and organ/space sternal SSIs. Randomized controlled trials, including controlled patient adherence to the intervention, are required to confirm these observations and to determine the clinical utility of OCT in pre-operative decolonization.

Should daptomycin-rifampin combinations for MSSA/MRSA isolates be avoided because of antagonism?

PURPOSE: There is increasing clinical evidence from observational studies, that combination therapy of daptomycin with rifampin is a valuable treatment option for biofilm-associated difficult to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections such as osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infection and endocarditis. However, two studies analyzing a limited number of S. aureus isolates reported an antagonism of those two drugs questioning the benefit of this combination. METHODS: To estimate the frequency of this possible antagonism, we performed in vitro checkerboard assays on 58 consecutive clinical isolates of S. aureus (MSSA n = 9, MRSA n = 49). We determined the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) and the susceptible breakpoint index (SBPI). All isolates were characterized by a microprobe array detecting 336 different genes/alleles to ensure their non-clonal origin. RESULTS: For all isolates, the FICI was between 1.00 and 1.25 indicating additive effects for the daptomycin/rifampin combination. Neither antagonism nor synergism as defined by the FICI was found for any of the isolates. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, there is no evidence to advise against the daptomycin/rifampin combination therapy.

[Diagnostic workup and therapy of infectious diarrhea. Current standards]. / Diagnostik und Therapie infektiöser Durchfallerkrankungen. Was ist gesichert?

Infectious diarrhea is very common; its severity ranges from uncomplicated, self-limiting courses to potentially life-threatening disease. A rapid diagnostic workup providing detailed information on the suspected pathogen should be performed only in patients at risk, analyzing one single stool sample for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Norovirus. In the presence of risk factors, such as a history of antibiotic exposure within the last 3 months, testing for Clostridium difficile should be performed. Immunocompetent patients do not require specific antibiotic therapy. Exceptions exist in patients with severe comorbidities, immunodeficiency, fever/SIRS, and in patients with Shigella or C. difficile infection. Empirical antibiotic treatment should be considered in patients with fever and/or bloody diarrhea and in patients at risk. In patients with traveler's diarrhea, microbiological diagnosis is required only in patients with fever, bloody diarrhea, prolonged course of disease (more than 5 days), severe clinical course with hypotension or dehydration, and during outbreaks. In these patients one single fecal sample should be collected for stool cultures of Campylobacter, Shigella, and Salmonella, as well as microscopic examination for amoebiasis and Giardiasis. The main therapeutic measure for infectious diarrhea is sufficient oral rehydration. As in community-acquired diarrhea, azithromycin or ciprofloxacin are recommended-taking into account local antimicrobial resistance in the country of travel and possible side effects.

Lung disease and ulcerative colitis--mesalazine-induced bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia or pulmonary manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease?

Ulcerative colitis can be associated with numerous extraintestinal organ manifestations. Pulmonary disease in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is supposed to be a rare entity and has to be distinguished from infectious complications and side-effects of medications used in the treatment of IBD. We present the case of a 20-year-old male patient with ulcerative colitis and a 4-week history of respiratory symptoms, malaise, fever and respiratory insufficiency under a medication with mesalazine. Computed tomography showed bilateral subpleural consolidations, bronchoscopy revealed signs of acute bronchitis. The diagnostic work-up ruled out an infectious cause. Under the tentative diagnosis of a mesalazine-induced bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) the medication with mesalazine was withdrawn and the patient received a corticosteroid trial. The symptoms quickly improved and prednisone was tapered and stopped after 6 months. Unexpectedly, lung function after complete resolution of respiratory symptoms revealed a residual obstructive ventilatory defect that might be due to an asymptomatic pulmonary manifestation of ulcerative colitis. A review of the literature shows that pulmonary manifestations in IBD as well as pulmonary toxicity of mesalazine might not be as rare as expected and should be included as differential diagnoses in the work-up of respiratory symptoms in patients with IBD. A pragmatic therapeutic approach is reasonable in critically ill patients as it is not always easy to distinguish both entities.

[Pneumococcal vaccination for prevention of pneumonia]. / Pneumonieprävention durch Pneumokokkenimpfung.

Aging of the immune system, so-called immunosenescence, is well documented as the cause of increased infection rates and severe, often complicated courses of infections in older adults. This is particularly true for pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults; therefore, the standing committee on vaccination of the Robert Koch Institute (STIKO) recommends a once only vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for all persons aged 60 years and over. Furthermore, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is also available for administration in adults and is recommended by the STIKO for particular indications. The advantage of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is the additional induction of a T-cell dependent immune response that leads to good immunogenicity despite immunosenescence. Initial data from a recent randomized controlled trial, so far only presented at conferences, confirm that the conjugate vaccine also provides protection against non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, which is not provided by the polysaccharide vaccine. Thus, there are two vaccines for prevention of pneumococcal diseases: one with a broader range of serotype coverage but with an uncertain protection against non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia and another one with less serotype coverage but more effective protection. Vaccination of children with the conjugate vaccine also leads to a rapid decrease of infections by the 13 vaccine serotypes even in adults because of herd protection effects. For prevention of pneumonia in older adults the additional benefit of a concurrent application of influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine should be considered.

Ross River virus infection in a Thuringian traveller returning from south-east Australia.

Ross River virus (RRV) is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitos. It is endemic in Australia, New Zealand and south-east Asia. Clinical manifestation rates in adults range about 20-40%. Symptoms involve arthralgia, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, fever and rash. Here we report a case of RRV in a Thuringian traveller who visited the urban South-East of Australia.

[Multiresistant Organisms]. / Multiresistente Erreger.

Infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms are becoming more frequently in daily practice and are associated with an increase in duration of treatment and mortality. During the past decades, particular attention in the field of MDR pathogens was paid to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). For the last years, MDR gram-negative organisms, with e.g., "extended-spectrum beta-lactamases" (ESBL), have been gaining a growing significance. Currently, treatment of infections with these organisms displays a greater challenge for the clinician compared to MRSA infections. This review illustrates the emergence of antibiotic resistance, provides information on the most important gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, Clostridium difficile and measures to prevent their further spread.

External ventricular drain infections: risk factors and outcome.

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is frequently used in neurosurgery to drain cerebrospinal fluid in patients with raised intracranial pressure. We performed a retrospective single center study in order to evaluate the incidence of EVD-related infections and to identify underlying risk factors. 246 EVDs were placed in 218 patients over a 30-month period. EVD was continued in median for 7 days (range 1-44). The cumulative incidence of EVD-related infections was 8.3% (95% CI, 5.3-12.7) with a device-associated infection rate of 10.4 per 1000 drainage days (95% CI, 6.2-16.5). The pathogens most commonly identified were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (62%) followed by Enterococcus spp. (19%). Patients with an EVD-related infection had a significantly longer ICU (11 versus 21 days, P < 0.01) and hospital stay (20 versus 28.5 days, P < 0.01) than patients without. Median total duration of external drainage was twice as long in patients with EVD-related infection (6 versus 12 days, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the duration between first EVD placement and the occurrence of EVD-related infection and EVD removal in patients without EVD-related infection (6 versus 7 days, P = 0.87), respectively. Interestingly no risk factor for EVD-related infection could be identified in our cohort of patients.