Linezolid versus vancomycin cost in the treatment of staphylococcal pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcusaureus is involved in around 20% of nosocomial pneumonia cases. Vancomycin used to be the reference antibiotic in this indication, but new molecules have been commercialized, such as linezolid. Previous studies comparing vancomycin and linezolid were based on models. Comparing their real costs from a hospital perspective was needed. METHODS: We performed a bicentric retrospective analysis with a cost-minimization analysis. The hospital antibiotic acquisition costs were used, as well as the laboratory test and administration costs from the health insurance cost scale. The cost of each hospital stay was evaluated using the national cost scale per diagnosis related group (DRG), and was then weighted by the stay duration. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included. All bacteria identified in pulmonary samples were S. aureus. The cost of nursing care per stay with linezolid was €234.10 (SD=91.50) vs. €381.70 (SD=184.70) with vancomycin (P=0.0029). The cost of laboratory tests for linezolid was €172.30 (SD=128.90) per stay vs. €330.70 (SD=198.40) for vancomycin (P=0.0005). The acquisition cost of linezolid per stay was not different from vancomycin based on the price of the generic drug (€54.92 [SD=20.54] vs. €40.30 [SD=22.70]). After weighting by the duration of stay observed, the mean cost per hospital stay was €47,411.50 for linezolid and €57,694.0 for vancomycin (NSD). CONCLUSION: These results, in favor of linezolid, support other former pharmacoeconomic study based on models. The mean cost per hospitalization stay was not statistically different between the two study groups, but a trend in favor of linezolid is emerging.

Multidisciplinary team meeting for complex bone and joint infections diagnosis: The PHICTOS study.

BACKGROUND: In France, the most severe bone and joint infections (BJI), called "complex" (CBJI), are assessed in a multidisciplinary team meeting (MTM) in a reference center. However, the definition of CBJI, drawn up by the Health Ministry, is not consensual between physicians. The objective was to estimate the agreement for CBJI classification. METHODS: Initially, five experts from one MTM classified twice, one-month apart, 24 cases as non-BJI, simple BJI or CBJI, using the complete medical record. Secondly, six MTMs classified the same cases using standardized information. Agreements were estimated using Fleiss and Cohen kappa (κ) coefficients. RESULTS: Inter-expert agreement during one MTM was moderate (κ=0.49), and fair (κ=0.23) when the four non-BJIs were excluded. Intra-expert agreement was moderate (κ=0.50, range 0.27-0.90), not improved with experience. The overall inter-MTM agreement was moderate (κ=0.58), it was better between MTMs with professor (κ=0.65) than without (κ=0.51) and with longer median time per case (κ=0.60) than shorter (κ=0.47). When the four non-BJIs were excluded, the overall agreement decreased (κ=0.40). CONCLUSION: The first step confirmed the heterogeneity of CBJI classification between experts. The seemingly better inter-MTM than inter-expert agreement could be an argument in favour of MTMs, which are moreover a privileged place to enhance expertise. Further studies are needed to assess these results as well as the quality of care and medico-economic outcomes after a MTM.

Family physicians and HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the current and desired involvement of family physicians (FPs) in the treatment of HIV patients (screening practices, potential training and patient follow-up) to reduce the duration and frequency of their hospital treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey between 2011 and 2012 with the support of COREVIH (Regional Coordinating Committee on HIV). We sent a self-assessment questionnaire to all FPs of the Pays de la Loire region to enquire about their HIV screening practices and expectations for the management of HIV patients. RESULTS: A total of 871 FPs completed the questionnaire (response rate: 30.4%). A total of 54.2% said to provide care to HIV patients; the mean number of HIV patients per FP was estimated at 1.4. With regard to HIV screening, 12.2% systematically suggest an HIV serology to their patients and 72.7% always suggest it to pregnant women. About 45.4% of responding FPs said to be willing to manage HIV patients (clinical and biological monitoring, compliance checks and prescription renewal). FPs mainly reported the lack of training and the low number of HIV patients as a barrier to their further involvement in the management of HIV patients. CONCLUSION: The responding FPs provide care to very few HIV patients. They are, however, willing to be more involved in the routine care of these patients. Medical training provided by COREVIH would help improve HIV screening. The management of HIV patients could thus be handed over to willing FPs.

[Renal leiomyosarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis and methotrexate]. / Léiomyosarcome de la veine rénale gauche dans un contexte de polyarthrite rhumatoïde sous méthotrexate.

Leiomyosarcoma of the renal vein is a rare and malignant tumor difficult to diagnose. No standard treatment has been defined and prognosis is poor. We described the case of a 68-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated by methotrexate who developed a leiomyosarcoma of the left renal vein with a fatal outcome in less than 1 year. Association of a leiomyosarcoma and rheumatoid arthritis raises the question of a casual association or of a predisposing factor since studies have shown increased risk of cancer with this rheumatism.

[Buruli ulcer or Mycobacterium ulcerans infection]. / L'ulcère de Buruli ou infection à Mycobacterium ulcerans.

Buruli ulcer is a severe necrotizing cutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease is currently expanding, especially in West Africa, and the WHO is supporting a vast research program to better understand the modes of transmission, to develop diagnostic methods, and to define specific treatment protocols. The disease transmission could be linked to environment and especially water striders. After M. ulcerans inoculation, cutaneous lesions appear, as broad painless ulcers, and thus ignored by patients. The production of mycolactone, a toxin, only virulence factor known at this time, is responsible for the cytotoxic effect on skin tissues. Complications may occur, especially super infections and more rarely bone involvement responsible for osteomyelitis. The prognosis is usually functional with sometimes severe sequels, and skin and tendinous retraction as well as amputation are frequent. The diagnosis is usually made on PCR but this is difficult in developing countries, direct examination is not very reliable, and culture is long and difficult. The disease often remains ignored and undiagnosed, leading to evolved clinical presentations and sequels. The treatment is not defined yet. It is often surgical exeresis with skin graft, not always efficient. Antibiotic combination protocols are under evaluation.

Venous thrombosis in immunocompetent patients with acute cytomegalovirus infection: a complication that may be underestimated.

In the present study, we retrospectively studied clinical and laboratory findings associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent patients. We focused on severe CMV infection. Among 38 patients, five had a severe form of infection: one had meningitis, one had symptomatic thrombocytopenia and three had venous thromboses with pulmonary embolism, a rarely described complication. CMV-induced thrombosis has been reported in immunocompromised patients such as transplant recipients and patients with AIDS. Recent case reports have also described thrombotic phenomena in immunocompetent patients with CMV infection. Our study suggests that venous thrombosis during acute CMV infection is an underestimated complication.

[Travelers' knowledge of vaccines. A survey including 400 people having consulted an international vaccination center]. / Connaissances des voyageurs à propos des vaccins. Enquête auprès de 400 personnes consultantes d'un centre de vaccinations internationales.

UNLABELLED: The authors conducted a survey in an international vaccination centre. The aim of the study was to assess the travelers' knowledge of vaccines and to check their health record to determine the vaccination rate. We used a self-administered questionnaire and added vaccination certificates to the document. RESULTS: Most of the travelers knew about complications due to vaccinations, but ignored their contraindications. Knowledge decreased over the age of thirty. The travelers agreed with antihepatitis B vaccination and only 10% mentioned the risk of multiple sclerosis. The list of compulsory vaccinations and their schedule were well-known but some of the travelers ignored their vaccine status and said they trusted their general practitioner. Only 40% of people over 20years of age were able to present their national or international vaccination certificate, a reason for underestimating the vaccination rate. CONCLUSION: It would be necessary to have a "World Health Organization" type vaccination certificate available for all French people over 20years of age, while improving the smart health card and training practitioners to better inform their patients about vaccinations.

Candida endocarditis: role of new antifungal agents.

Despite the relative high frequency of Candida bloodstream infection, Candida endocarditis is a rare entity. We report seven cases, which occurred during a period of 1 year in western France. Six cases were because of Candida albicans, and one pacemaker endocarditis was because of Candida parapsilosis. All patients were men and presented risk factors for candidaemia. Of the six patients with valvular involvement, five received caspofungin and two had surgical valve replacement. Three patients treated with caspofungin antifungal therapy without valve replacement were cured from endocarditis. Antifungal and surgical strategies are discussed, in particular, the possible role of new antifungal therapies and long-term suppression therapy without surgery. One patient died in the acute phase of endocarditis, three patients died of causes unrelated to infective endocarditis and three patients had a favourable outcome.

[Breast abscess with Salmonella typhi and review of the literature]. / Un abcès du sein à Salmonella typhi et revue de la littérature.

We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented with breast abscess, which appeared through a common alimentary toxi-infection with Salmonella Typhi, infection, which implied twelve patients having attended the same restaurant. With around hundred native cases a year in France, typhoid fever is not a very frequent toxi-infection. Among the known extra-intestinal manifestations of Salmonella infections, the breast abscess remains rare and the literature revealed less than ten published cases, including some revealed the disease. In our observation, the imputability of S. Typhi was retained based on the chronology of the clinical signs, specific treatments, and the successful outcome under antibiotherapy, in spite of the negativity of the breast abscess bacteriological samples. We also analyze rare cases of breast abscess due to S. Typhi found in the literature.

Acute cytomegalovirus infection and venous thrombosis: role of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced thrombosis has been reported in immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients and patients with AIDS. Recent cases also describe thrombotic phenomena in immunocompetent patients with CMV infection. Various mechanisms may explain the role of CMV in thrombosis: this virus can damage endothelial cells, activate coagulation factors, and induce production of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies. We present a case report of a previously healthy white woman with a pulmonary embolism associated with CMV infection and the presence of aPL antibodies, and we discuss the role of the aPL antibodies associated with CMV infection in the pathogenesis of thrombosis.

Immune restoration under HAART in patients chronically infected with HIV-1: diversity of T, B, and NK immune responses.

The aim of the study was to follow prospectively the humoral, cellular and innate immune responses under HAART and to verify if a functional restoration of the B lymphocytes could be evaluated by measuring the anti-HIV-1 IgG antibodies avidity index (AI). Eleven HIV-1 infected and immunosuppressed patients were included in the study. Viral load, naive and memory B-cells, CD4 and CD8 T-cells and NK-cells counts, and anti-HIV-1 IgG AI were determined during the follow-up (18 months). Ten patients were sustained responders under HAART and showed a quantitative restoration of the CD4 T-cell counts (+269 x 10(6)/L). The AI decreased for ten subjects (-11%, p = 0.006) but very slowly and continuously. A quantitative restoration of the humoral immune response began, mainly concerning the naive B-cells (+110 x 10(6)/L). Apart from one patient, the CD8 T-cell subset approached the reference values of healthy subjects either by decreasing or increasing their cell levels. No homogeneous evolution was described concerning the NK-cell subset, apart from trend towards increasing in patients with opportunistic infection (range, +58 to +291 x 10(6)/L). Our study, which evaluated simultaneously for the first time to our knowledge the cellular, humoral and innate immune responses showed that HAART induced a large diversity of immune restoration patterns in responder patients. However, the AI measure appears to be a weak marker to evaluate an immune restoration in chronic HIV-1 infected patients under HAART.

[A new case of bat rabies in France]. / Un nouveau cas de rage chez les chauves-souris en France.

INTRODUCTION: Bat rabies represents an emerging zoonosis in Europe and the only endemic cause of rabies in France. CASE RECORD: A 29 year-old woman was bitten at the hand by a bat. The diagnosis of bat rabies was positive and the viral strain was an European Bat Lyssavirus 1a. A combination of rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin was provided to the patient. DISCUSSION: Any direct contact with a bat must be avoided. In case of exposure to bats, the postexposure treatment must associate the rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin because of antigenic diversity of Lyssavirus circulating in bat species.

Nine cases of foodborne botulism type B in France and literature review.

Presented here is an outbreak of nine cases of type B botulism that occurred in France in 2000 followed by a review of the relevant literature. The outbreak resulted from the consumption of home-canned asparagus and required the intubation of six patients. Despite complications, all patients recovered completely. Specific antitoxin treatment was not administered because it is no longer manufactured in France. The literature review covers the epidemiologic data reported from Europe and the USA to date and an assessment of the treatment options for botulism. The usefulness of establishing a European network to provide access to botulism antitoxins is discussed. Although their efficacy is not unanimously accepted, they remain the only specific treatment now known.

[Candida endocarditis: retrospective study in 12 patients]. / Endocardites à Candida: étude rétrospective de 12 patients.

PURPOSE: Candida endocarditis are rare, with a poor prognosis. Actually, the principal problem concerns the growing incidence of nosocomial fungal infections. The objective of the present investigation is to assess a disease which risks becoming more pronounced in the future. METHODS: We have collected observations of Candida sp. endocarditis between 1985 to 1997 from three French university hospitals. RESULTS: Twelve of the observations fit the Duke criteria of acute endocarditis. Patients were eight men and four women, with a mean age of 46 years. An immunodepression was found in seven cases, and four patients were active drug addicts. Six had an underlying heart disease at risk to acute endocarditis. Candidemia risk factors were found in nine cases, with an average of 2.7 risk factors per patient. The fungal agents detected were Candida albicans (eight cases), C. tropicalis (one case), C. parapsilosis (two cases), and C. glabrata (one case). These vegetations were on aortic (seven cases), mitral (three cases), tricuspid valves (two cases) or in other areas (three cases), with multiple localizations (two cases). In three observations, vegetations were associated with myocardium abscesses. Eight patients had embolic complications, two had a cardiac insufficiency leading to death. The treatment was medical in all of the cases and combined with a surgical treatment in ten cases. The surgery was performed, on an average, 17 days after diagnosis, allowing seven surviving patients. Among them, five received a secondary prophylaxis and no recurrence was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis remains severe because of the voluminous, friable and necrotic vegetations, which favor embolic migrations and which are not easily accessible to antifungals, which penetrate poorly into these vegetations. Therapy is based on a medical treatment combined with a valve replacement which needs to be done early on, and is followed by a relapse prevention which can occur several years after the initial episode.

Echocardiographic features of Candida species endocarditis: 12 cases and a review of published reports.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the specific echocardiographic features of Candida species endocarditis. DESIGN: Retrospective review of the case records of patients with confirmed candida endocarditis. SETTING: Cases referred to three French university centres over an eight year period were studied. DESIGN: 12 patients with confirmed Candida species endocarditis infection were identified. The transthoracic (n = 12) and transoesophageal (n = 12) echocardiographic appearances were compared with the surgical findings (n = 10). RESULTS: Large dense heterogeneous vegetations were found in 11/12 cases. A hyperechogenic heterogeneous myocardial texture, observed in seven of the 12 patients, was associated with extensive myocardial damage at surgery. While it was possible to diagnose candidal cardiac infection in all patients by transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography was useful for optimal assessment of the valvar and paravalvar structures. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of endocarditis, the detection of myocardial involvement, which is characterised by a heterogeneous myocardial texture, is an argument in favour of Candida species endocarditis and may warrant early surgical intervention.

[Cat scratch disease. Clinical study of 26 patients. Role and importance of PCR]. / Maladie des griffes du chat. Etude clinique de 26 patients. Intérêt et place de la PCR.

PURPOSE: Cat scratch disease is a mild pathology but diagnosis often remain difficult. METHODS: A retrospective study has been conducted by the department of infectious diseases at the University hospital in Angers. Between January 1994 and October 1998, 26 observations were recorded providing the presence of three criteria out of four among the following: contact with a cat, clinical presentation and its favorable course, absence of any other cause noticed, and the presence of either a positive serology or a positive PCR, or the examination of a suggestive pathology. RESULTS: Fourteen men and 12 women were concerned. From a clinical point of view, the inoculation lesion was observed six times, all patients showed at least one adenopathy during their illness, 12 patients showed only an adenopathy without clinical signs. A surgical biopsy was carried out on nine patients and a diagnosis established. Bartonella henselae serology was done in all patients. Six presented a significant rate of IgG antibodies as early as the first dosage. A seroconversion was observed in four cases belatedly 1 to 2 months after the beginning of the symptomatology. The method's sensitivity was approximately 38%. A PCR search was accomplished in the pus obtained from a ganglionic puncture on 12 patients. It was positive seven times, which corresponds to a sensitivity of about 58%. In associating these two diagnostic criteria a sensitivity rate of nearly 92% was reached, the diagnosis not having been confirmed only in one case. The outcome proved to be favorable in all cases, with or without an antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: The association of serology and PCR in the pus permits a certain diagnosis in the majority of the cases and avoids the more aggressive biopsy.