Autologous Faecal Microbiota Transplantation to Improve Outcomes of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Results of a Single-Centre Feasibility Study.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative approach for blood cancers, yet its efficacy is undermined by a range of acute and chronic complications. In light of mounting evidence to suggest that these complications are linked to a dysbiotic gut microbiome, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) delivered during the acute phase after HSCT. Of note, this trial opted for FMT prepared using the individual's own stool (autologous FMT) to mitigate the risks of disease transmission from a donor stool. Adults (>18 years) with multiple myeloma were recruited from a single centre. The stool was collected prior to starting first line therapy. Patients who progressed to HSCT were offered FMT via 3 × retention enemas before day +5 (HSCT = day 0). The feasibility was determined by the recruitment rate, number and volume of enemas administered, and the retention time. Longitudinally collected stool samples were also collected to explore the influence of auto-FMT using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. n = 4 (2F:2M) participants received auto-FMT in 12 months. Participants received an average of 2.25 (1-3) enemas 43.67 (25-50) mL total, retained for an average of 60.78 (10-145) min. No adverse events (AEs) attributed to the FMT were identified. Although the minimum requirements were met for the volume and retention of auto-FMT, the recruitment was significantly impacted by the logistical challenges of the pretherapy stool collection. This ultimately undermined the feasibility of this trial and suggests that third party (donor) FMT should be prioritised.

Maternity iron, anaemia and blood management in South Australia: a practice-based evidence for clinical practice improvement.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia at delivery is a strong modifiable risk factor for transfusion in women with a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). A Maternity Patient Blood Management (PBM) Practice Based Evidence Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI) was conducted to optimize antenatal haemoglobin and iron stores prior to delivery. METHODS: Australian maternity PBM CPI resources (featuring algorithms on diagnosing iron deficiency with both haemoglobin and ferritin screening, as well as information on oral iron therapy for maternity patients) were introduced at a major tertiary hospital from November 2016 to March 2017. To assess the effectiveness of these resources on haemoglobin and iron stores, an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was conducted for 11,263 deliveries from January 2016 to June 2018. The evaluation timeframe was divided into baseline (pre-CPI), pilot (during CPI) and post-pilot (post-CPI). RESULTS: In 1550 patients with haemoglobin and ferritin in the first trimester, non-anaemic iron deficiency was detected in 416 women (26·8%) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in 239 women (15·41%) throughout the whole study period. The number of women with IDA increases as pregnancy progresses but applying PBM CPI shows a reduction of IDA rate in all trimesters and reduction in anaemia at delivery in the post-pilot period from baseline. More anaemic episodes were observed in the postpartum period compared to the first trimester. ITS analysis for the whole study period showed a clinically significant increase in the monthly average predelivery haemoglobin of 0·9 g/l (P = 0·16). This corresponded with a reduction in the monthly rate of anaemic patients by 18% (P = 0·12). There was a significant decrease in the rates of anaemia at delivery and decrease in red cell transfusion in anaemic women, even though the number of women with PPH was stable. The factors associated with red cell transfusion are anaemia at delivery (P < 0·001) and the incidence of PPH (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: The maternity PBM CPI resources had a clinically relevant but not statistically significant effect in optimizing antenatal haemoglobin and decreasing the risk of predelivery anaemia. This study demonstrates how a CPI can modify one risk factor for blood loss, which is the anaemia at delivery, and subsequent transfusion in the perinatal period.

Minimal change disease associated with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare but aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Involvement of the kidney is an infrequent occurrence in patients with MCL and can be the result of direct infiltration or paraneoplastic glomerulopathy. Proliferative glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis have previously been reported in association with MCL. We report a 55-year-old woman who developed nephrotic syndrome due to biopsy proven minimal change disease (MCD) in association with MCL. Proteinuria decreased with prednisolone treatment and MCD remains in remission without any immunosuppressant after the treatment of the underlying MCL.

Streptococcus dysgalactiae endocarditis presenting as acute endophthalmitis.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare ocular infection affecting the vitreous and/or aqueous humours. It is associated with poor visual prognosis and its commonest endogenous aetiology is infective endocarditis. The causative organisms of endogenous endophthalmitis complicating endocarditis are mainly Group A or B streptococci. The identification of Group C and G streptococci such as Streptococcus dysgalactiae is comparatively uncommon and has only been reported in a few case reports or series. We therefore report a case of infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae first presenting with endogenous endophthalmitis, the most likely source being osteomyelitis of both feet in a patient with type I diabetes. The patient was treated with a course of intravenous benzylpenicillin, intravitreal antibiotics, bilateral below knee amputations and mitral valve replacement. She survived all surgical procedures and regained partial visual acuity in the affected eye.