Clinical impact and cost-consequence analysis of ePlex® blood culture identification panels for the rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections: a single-center randomized controlled trial.

To assess clinical impact and perform cost-consequence analysis of the broadest multiplex PCR panels available for the rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections (BSI). Single-center, randomized controlled trial conducted from June 2019 to February 2021 at a French University hospital with an institutional antimicrobial stewardship program. Primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with optimized antimicrobial treatment 12 h after transmission of positivity and Gram stain results from the first positive BC. This percentage was significantly higher in the multiplex PCR (mPCR) group (90/105 = 85.7% %, CI95% [77.5 ; 91.8] vs. 68/107 = 63.6%, CI95% [53.7 ; 72.6]; p < 10- 3) at interim analysis, resulting in the early termination of the study after the inclusion of 309 patients. For patients not optimized at baseline, the median time to obtain an optimized therapy was much shorter in the mPCR group than in the control group (6.9 h, IQR [2.9; 17.8] vs. 26.4 h, IQR [3.4; 47.5]; p = 0.001). Early optimization of antibiotic therapy resulted in a non-statistically significant decrease in mortality from 12.4 to 8.8% (p = 0.306), with a trend towards a shorter median length of stay (18 vs. 20 days; p = 0.064) and a non-significant reduction in the average cost per patient of €3,065 (p = 0.15). mPCR identified all the bacteria present in 88% of the samples. Despite its higher laboratory cost, the use of multiplex PCR for BSI diagnosis leads to early-optimised therapy, seems cost-effective and could reduce mortality and length of stay. Their impact could probably be improved if implemented 24/7.

Impact of four direct oral anticoagulants on rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

INTRODUCTION: Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is a point of care method used to monitor coagulation during surgery and to guide transfusion strategies in patients presenting with severe bleeding. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of four direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) on 3 commonly used ROTEM tests. METHODS: Whole blood samples from 20 healthy donors were spiked in vitro with apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban or dabigatran at 5 different plasma concentrations (0-1000 ng/mL). EXTEM, INTEM and FIBTEM tests were systematically performed. RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between the increase in clotting time (CT) and plasma DOAC concentrations in both the EXTEM and INTEM tests. We found that the DOAC concentration required to double EXTEM CT was 1042 ± 225 ng/mL for apixaban, 134 ± 38 ng/mL for edoxaban, 176 ± 26 ng/mL for rivaroxaban and 284 ± 73 ng/mL for dabigatran. INTEM CT was less sensitive than EXTEM CT whatever the anticoagulant. EXTEM CT was above the normal range for 5 of 5 spiked samples when the plasma concentrations were ~1000 ng/mL for apixaban, ~100 ng/mL for edoxaban, ~200 ng/mL for rivaroxaban and ~200 ng/mL for dabigatran. Maximum Clot Firmness in EXTEM, INTEM and FIBTEM tests was not affected whatever the DOAC or its concentration. CONCLUSION: This study found a DOAC dose-dependent increase in ROTEM CTs. ROTEM tests were only poorly impacted by low levels of edoxaban, rivaroxaban or dabigatran. Apixaban had only a low effect even at high concentrations.