Fulminant Eye Infection in a Patient With Nephrotic Syndrome: A Case Report.

This case report presents the clinical course of a 53-year-old male farmer with nephrotic syndrome, specifically focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, who developed a fulminant eye infection. While receiving maintenance hemodialysis and immunosuppressive therapy, the patient presented with sudden onset redness, discharge, and decreased vision in his right eye. Initial management with topical antibiotics and steroids failed to halt the progression of the infection, leading to corneal perforation and iris prolapse within a few days. Despite the discontinuation of immunosuppressive medications and initiation of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, the patient's compromised renal function and anaemia precluded surgical intervention. This case underscores the challenges in managing severe ocular infections in immunocompromised patients. It highlights the importance of early recognition, aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and close ophthalmologic monitoring in preventing sight-threatening complications. Despite intensive management, the prognosis for visual recovery in such cases may be poor, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies and careful surveillance in high-risk patient populations.

Bacterial coinfections in COVID-19-hospitalized patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the rate of bacterial infections in COVID-19-hospitalized patients and to analyze the most prevalent germs, sources, risk factors, and its impact on in-hospital mortality. METHODS: This observational retrospective study was conducted on 672 patients hospitalized between April and August 2020 in Nossa Senhora da Conceição Hospital, a public hospital located in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The inclusion criterion was adult patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19. Data were collected through chart review. Risk factors for bacterial infection and mortality were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate robust Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Bacterial coinfection was observed in 22.2% of patients. Risk factors for bacterial infections were dementia (RR=2.06 (1.18-3.60); p=0.011), cerebrovascular disease (RR=1.75 (1.15-2.67); p=0.009), active cancer (RR=1.52 (1.082-2.15); p=0.01), need for noninvasive ventilation (RR=2.320 (1.740-3.094); p<0.01), invasive mechanical ventilation (RR=4.63 (2.24-9.56); p<0.01), and renal replacement therapy (RR=1.68 (1.26-2.25); p<0.01). In the adjusted model, bacterial infections were not associated with mortality (0.96 (0.75-1.24); p=0.79). The most common source of infection was due to respiratory, blood, and central venous catheters, with 69 (29.36%), 61 (25.96%), and 59 (25.11%) positive cultures, respectively. CONCLUSION: We observed a high rate of bacterial infections in COVID-19-hospitalized patients, most commonly of respiratory source. Neurologic and oncologic morbidities and need for ventilation and renal replacement therapy was associated with risk factors for bacterial infections. Nevertheless, an association between bacterial infections and hospital mortality was not established.

Otitis externa maligna con diseminación hematógena de Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistente a carbapenémicos

Pseudomonas aeruginosa en una bacteria Gram negativa no fermentadora que produce diversos tipos de infecciones severas en inmunocompetentes e inmunodeprimidos. Una de estas infecciones es la otitis externa maligna, la cual se presenta principalmente en personas con diabetes mellitus y puede tener una evolución tórpida cursando con osteomielitis de base de cráneo y parálisis de nervios craneales. El tratamiento es individualizado y principalmente conservador con antibioticoterapia guiada por cultivo. La bacteria aislada en la mayoría de los casos reportados es sensible a los antibióticos anti-pseudomónicos. Reportamos un caso de presentación inusual de otitis externa maligna por Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistente a carbapenémicos con evidencia sugerente de compromiso bilateral y en el cual se aisló al mismo germen en urocultivo y hemocultivos, lo que indicaría una diseminación hematógena del microorganismo.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a non-fermenting Gram-negative bacterium that produces several types of severe infections in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. One of these infections is malignant otitis externa, which occurs mainly in people with diabetes mellitus and can have a torpid evolution coursing with osteomyelitis of skull base and cranial nerve palsies. Treatment is individualized and mainly conservative with culture-guided antibiotic therapy, with isolated pseudomonas being sensitive to anti-pseudomonal antibiotics in the majority of reported cases. We report a case of unusual presentation of malignant otitis externa caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to carbapenems with suggestive evidence of bilateral involvement and in which the same germ was isolated in urine and blood cultures, which would indicate hematogenous dissemination of the microorganism.

Hemothorax From an Anomalous Bronchial Artery Bleed in an Infected Intralobar Pulmonary Sequestration.

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation. It represents 0.15-6.4% of all congenital pulmonary malformations. It is characterized by non-functional, dysplastic mass of lung tissue that is not in communication with the normal tracheobronchial tree and is associated with a systemic arterial supply. We report a young gentleman in his mid-thirties who presented with community-acquired pneumonia from an infected intralobar pulmonary sequestration which subsequently developed a hemothorax from an anomalous bronchial artery bleed.

Pseudomonas mendocina Urinary Tract Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Pseudomonas mendocina is a Gram-negative bacillus from the family Pseudomonadaceae. The first P. mendocina-related infection was reported in 1992. Although a rare cause of infections, P. mendocina has been known to cause severe infections that require intensive treatment. We present the first documented case of urinary tract infection caused by P. mendocina. An 83-year-old male with a past medical history of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer with bone metastases, currently being treated with abiraterone and prednisone, presented with subjective fever, fatigue, altered mental status, dysuria, and hematuria of one-week duration. He was found to have a complicated urinary tract infection with an incidental asymptomatic COVID-19 infection on admission. The patient was empirically treated with ceftriaxone and switched to cefepime for broader coverage on day two of hospitalization. Urine culture reported the presence of P. mendocina with resistance only to fluoroquinolones. Ceftriaxone was reinstated. The patient was successfully treated with a seven-day course of ceftriaxone (days 1-3, days 6-7) and cefepime (days 4-5) but continued to remain inpatient for a later symptomatic COVID-19 pneumonia with discharge on day 15. The majority of P. mendocina infections present as skin and soft tissue infections, infective endocarditis, meningitis, and bacteremia. Ours is the first documented case of urinary tract infection caused by P. mendocina, particularly in an immunocompromised COVID-19 patient, and the second to report P. mendocina with resistance to fluoroquinolones. This report contributes to the growing literature regarding P. mendocina-related infections.

Cefepime-Induced Neurotoxicity.

Cefepime is a common antibiotic used to treat various infections such as pneumonia, skin infections, and intra-abdominal infections due to its broad gram-positive and gram-negative spectrum. However, patients with acute kidney injury, end-stage renal disease, and renal transplantation are disproportionately at higher risk of developing complications from administration of cefepime, secondary to its predominant renal excretion. Current guidelines prescribe cefepime renal-dosing, dependent on the glomerular filtration rate, to prevent toxicity. This study presents a rare case where an acutely hospitalized patient undergoing chronic renal transplant rejection was administered renal-dose cefepime. Despite renal dosing, the patient developed neurotoxicity that manifested as delirium, inability to tolerate oral intake, and non-convulsive status epilepticus. Solely adjusting for renal dysfunction may be inadequate to prevent the accumulation of cefepime metabolites, which may present in an atypical manner in the patient. Such possibilities emphasize the need for continued evaluation of a patient's mentation in case of cefepime administration. Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity incidences need to be evaluated and researched thoroughly.

Interference of Lactobacillus casei with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the treatment of infected burns in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: Burns are the most common type of trauma with a high mortality rate worldwide. The use of modern and natural medicines, especially probiotic products, has been recently considered for cutaneous wound healing. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus casei on wound healing caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the anti-adhesion activity of L. casei was examined by the glass slide method, and inhibitory substances in the cell-free supernatant (CFS) were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Following the induction of second-degree wounds, multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa was injected subcutaneously and directly on the burn. The animals were divided into four groups. The supernatant of L. casei was sprayed for treatment every day and wound healing was examined. RESULTS: Based on our findings, the supernatant of L. casei showed considerable anti-adhesion effects on P. aeruginosa. HPLC analysis indicated that the inhibitory effect of this supernatant can be due to four main organic acids including lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid. The effect of treatment on fibroblastic cells showed that the treated group by supernatant of L. casei had more fibroblastic cells compared with the non-treated group. Moreover, this supernatant increased the rate of fibroblastic cells, re-epithelialization in the wound area, and the largest thickness of the epidermis and dermis layers. CONCLUSION: The present findings showed that L. casei supernatant significantly reduced inflammation and could be used to treat P. aeruginosa infection in second-degree burns.

Can Targeting Iron Help in Combating Chronic Pseudomonas Infection? A Systematic Review.

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in genes for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. CFTR gene is responsible for the production of sweat, digestive fluids, and mucus, and any mutation in this would lead to the thickening of these secretions. Cystic fibrosis is a multi-organ disorder, but 80% of patients suffer from respiratory problems due to chronic infections most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Eradication of these infections has become a challenge as P. aeruginosa has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics. In several studies, iron has been shown to play an integral role in biofilm formation, which is the predominant resistance mechanism used by P. aeruginosa to combat antibiotics. The increased iron content in cystic fibrosis patients' sputum samples explains their increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas infections. Hence in this review article, we have used the research data available on therapeutic agents that target iron as an adjuvant treatment for chronic Pseudomonas infection. We systematically screened three databases using focused words and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms for relevant articles. Further, we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and performed a thorough quality appraisal. Thirty shortlisted relevant studies were meticulously reviewed. In our opinion, novel therapeutic approaches targeting iron such as iron chelators, gallium, and cefiderocol have potent anti-biofilm properties. Future studies and clinical trials using these approaches in the management of chronic Pseudomonas infection might help in decreasing morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. Exploring these approaches might also help to combat other resistant organisms whose survival is dependent on iron.

Ecthyma gangrenosum: The critical role of biofilms and other mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and implications for management.

Ecthyma gangrenosum is a rare cutaneous infection that occurs classically in immunocompromised patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia and is associated with a high mortality rate. Causative pathogens may exhibit various antibiotic evasion mechanisms, and thus, treatment may be challenging. We present a case of ecthyma gangrenosum in association with an implantable port in which cultures confirmed ten unique strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, highlighting the ability of this pathogen to form biofilms, rapidly mutate and ultimately evade antibiotic therapy. Dermatologists play a key role in the prompt diagnosis of this life-threatening condition, and a thorough understanding of pathogenic mechanisms is critical in selecting an efficacious treatment regimen.

Evaluation of Guideline Recommendations for Dual Antipseudomonal Therapy in Hospitalized Adults with Pneumonia Using Combination Antibiograms.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for pneumonia recommend empiric dual antipseudomonal therapy in patients with specific risk factors. However, there is lack of consensus on when to use dual antipseudomonal therapy as the recommendations are rated as weak, based on low-quality evidence. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to develop combination antibiograms to assess the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in respiratory cultures to combinations of empiric antibiotics and to use combination antibiograms to delineate the impact of specific risk factors for which guidelines recommend dual antipseudomonal therapy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adults hospitalized with pneumonia with positive respiratory cultures for P. aeruginosa between September 2014 and September 2018. Data collected included demographics, antimicrobial susceptibility results, and risk factors for which guidelines recommend dual antipseudomonal therapy. Combination antibiograms were developed and logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for nonsusceptibility to beta-lactams. RESULTS: Eight hundred nineteen patients were included and 72% received antibiotics. Beta-lactam susceptibility ranged from 58% to 69% and addition of a fluoroquinolone or aminoglycoside resulted in statistically significant increases in susceptibility. However, only addition of tobramycin or amikacin provided susceptibility rates approaching or exceeding 90% stratified by pneumonia type and risk factors. Presence of guideline-based risk factors generally resulted in reduced susceptibility rates. Logistic regression identified three risk factors associated with nonsusceptibility to beta-lactams: intravenous antibiotics in the previous 90 days, nursing home residence, and mechanical ventilation at onset. The cumulative presence of each additional risk factor affected beta-lactam susceptibility rates, which were 93% in the absence of any risk factors and 39% when all three risk factors co-existed. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors necessitating dual antipseudomonal therapy for pneumonia should be locally validated. When dual antipseudomonal therapy is indicated, tobramycin or amikacin have the best likelihood of providing adequate in vitro activity.

Infected transcartilaginous ear piercings. A case report and review of the literature / Pericondritis del pabellón auricular por piercings. Reporte de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura

Background: transcartilaginous perforations have become a prominent practice among adolescents and young adults in recent years,which are associated with an increased risk of complications since it is frequently performed without sterile technique and by unqualified individuals. The transgression of the integrity of the skin and cartilage of the ear favors infections such as cellulitis, chondritis, perichondritis or abscesses that can cause serious deformities. Methods: we present a clinical case compatible with a perichondritis secondary to ear perforations with three abscesses. Results: the three abscesses were drained with sterile technique and successfully managed with outpatient antibiotic treatment. In relation to the pathophysiology, the trauma in the auditory pavilion produces the extraction of the adjacent perichondrium, causing devascularization of the cartilage and microfractures, which together with the transgression of the skin, increase the susceptibility to infection. In addition, subpericardial bleeding and inflammatory reaction decrease the blood supply, which limits the immune response and the effectiveness of antibiotics. In some cases, incision and drainage are required. The signs of perichondritis include pain, swelling, and erythema of the skin. Clinically, perichondritis can be differentiated from cellulitis of the pinna, in that the first usually does not involve the earlobe. The fluctuating swelling leads us to an abscess. Conclusions: the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be immediately administered and include coverage for Pseudomonas aeruginosa since it is responsible for the majority of post-perforation cartilage infections (up to 95 percent of cases). Due to the increase of post-perforation infectious complications, all physicians should be familiar with its diagnosis and treatment.(AU)

Antecedentes: las perforaciones transcartilaginosas se han convertido en una práctica destacada entre adolescentes y adultos jóvenes en los últimos años, que están asociados con un mayor riesgo de complicaciones, ya que se realiza con frecuencia sin técnica estéril y sin calificación individuos. La transgresión de la integridad de la piel y el cartílago del oído favorece infecciones como la celulitis, la condritis, la pericondritis o los abscesos que pueden causar graves deformidades. Métodos: presentamos un caso clínico compatible con una pericondritis secundaria a las perforaciones del oído con tres abscesos. Resultados: los tres abscesos se drenaron con técnica estéril y se manejaron con éxito con tratamiento antibiótico ambulatorio. En relación con la fisiopatología, el trauma en el pabellón auditivo produce la extracción. del pericondrio adyacente, causando la desvascularización del cartílago y las microfracturas, que junto con la transgresión de la piel, aumenta la susceptibilidad a la infección. Además, el sangrado subpericárdico y la reacción inflamatoria disminuyen la sangre. suministro, lo que limita la respuesta inmune y la efectividad de los antibióticos. En algunos casos, se requiere incisión y drenaje. los Los signos de pericondritis incluyen dolor, hinchazón y eritema de la piel. Clínicamente, la pericondritis puede diferenciarse de la celulitis de el pinna, ya que el primero generalmente no involucra el lóbulo de la oreja. La hinchazón fluctuante nos lleva a un absceso. Conclusiones: la administración de antibióticos de amplio espectro debe administrarse inmediatamente e incluir cobertura para Pseudomonas aeruginosa desde Es responsable de la mayoría de las infecciones de cartílago posteriores a la perforación (hasta el 95 por ciento de los casos). Debido al aumento de post-perforación complicaciones infecciosas, todos los médicos deben estar familiarizados con su diagnóstico y tratamiento...(AU)

Necrotising otitis externa in the immunocompetent patient: case series.

BACKGROUND: Necrotising otitis externa can be a devastating form of otitis externa. It typically tends to affect patients who are immunocompromised or diabetic. To date, there is very little in the literature about necrotising otitis externa in the immunocompetent patient population. CASE REPORTS: The present paper discusses both the clinical and radiological findings in three cases of necrotising otitis externa in an immunocompetent patient cohort. The common factor among all three patients was their advanced age. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing necrotising otitis externa can be challenging because of the potentially non-specific symptoms and the absence of early radiological signs, particularly if patients are neither immunocompromised nor diabetic. Elderly patients should be considered in the same light as immunocompromised and diabetic patients in the context of necrotising otitis externa.

Infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa en pacientes con bronquiectasias no fibrosis quística / Chronic infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasias

Resumen Introducción: La infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) es frecuente en pacientes con bronquiectasias (BQ) y representa un quiebre en la historia natural de la enfermedad, asociándose a mal pronóstico y mayor severidad. Objetivo: Caracterizar la población portadora de BQ no fibrosis quística (BQ no-FQ) del Instituto Nacional del Tórax (INT) infectados crónicamente con PA comparándolos con pacientes que mantienen cultivos de expectoración negativos para este germen. Metodología: Revisión retrospectiva de fichas clínicas de pacientes portadores de BQ del INT entre julio de 2007 y abril de 2017. Se caracterizó la población y se comparó score de FACED y otros índices de gravedad. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 55 ± 17,3 años, 81% de los pacientes fue de género femenino. De acuerdo a aislamiento de Pseudomonas en cultivo esputo se clasificaron como infectados crónicamente (BQ con PA; n = 61) y no infectados con PA (BQ sin PA; n = 59). No hubo diferencias entre los grupos en edad y sexo. El VEF1 fue más bajo en el grupo con PA los que tienen más hospitalizaciones. Se calculó el índice de riesgo FACED siendo mayor en los pacientes colonizados. La etiología más frecuente es la postinfecciosa, principalmente secuelas de TBC, con 30,8% de etiología no identificada. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con bronquiectasias con infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa tienen una enfermedad más severa, con VEF1 más bajo, y con mayor índice de severidad de FACED. Destaca en nuestro grupo la etiología postinfecciosa.

Introduction: Chronic airways infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a common situation in patients with Bronchiectasis (BQ) and constitutes a breakdown in the natural history of the latter. Moreover, BQ is also associated with a poor prognosis and an increased severity of the disease. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the population diagnosed with non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis (non-CFB) who are chronically infected with PA, and to perform a comparison with patients with negative sputum cultures. Methodology: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical files of patients diagnosed with non-CFB who were attended at the 'Instituto Nacional del Tórax' (Chile) between July 2007 and April 2017. The characteristics of the population were described and the FACED scores and other severity indexes were compared. Results: The average age of patients was 55 ± 17.3 years-old, and 81% of them were female. According to PA isolation in sputum culture, they were classified as "chronically infected" (non-CFB with PA, n = 61) and "not infected with PA" (non-CFB without PA, n = 59). There were no differences in age and gender between the two groups. On the other hand, FEV1 was lower in the non-CFB PA group. The calculated FACED score was higher in colonized patients. The most frequent etiology was post-infectious, mainly TB sequels, with a 30.8% unidentified etiology. Conclusions: Patients with bronchiectasis chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa show increases in the severity of the disease, with a lower FEV1 and a higher FACED score. The postinfectious etiology is highlighted in our group.

Ecthyma gangrenosum: a report of eight cases

Abstract: Ecthyma gangrenosum is a rare skin infection classically associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We performed a retrospective study of all cases diagnosed with ecthyma gangrenosum from 2004-2010 in a university hospital in Mexico (8 cases, 5 female patients and 3 male patients, ages between 4 months and 2 years). The most common risk factor for ecthyma gangrenosum is neutropenia in immunocompromised patients. In previously healthy patients, immunological evaluation is important to rule out underlying immunodeficiency. Ecthyma gangrenosum in healthy patients has a high mortality rate and early diagnosis and aggressive antibiotic treatment is imperative as it can improve patients' prognosis.

Tracheal diverticula in advanced cystic fibrosis: Prevalence, features, and outcomes after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal diverticula (TD) are rare anomalies that may harbor infected secretions, posing potential risk to patients with lung disease. In an end-stage cystic fibrosis (CF) cohort, we describe the characteristics and associated post-lung transplant (LTx) outcomes of TD. METHODS: Pre-transplant computed tomography (CT)'s were reviewed in CF patients undergoing LTx. TD were characterized radiographically and on autopsy when available. Pre-transplant clinical variables and post-transplant outcomes were compared by TD status. RESULTS: Of 93 patients, 35 (37.6%) had TD. 58% of TD had fat-stranding, and post-mortem TD examinations revealed histology carrying intense submucosal inflammation, and purulent contents that cultured identical species to sputum. There was no difference in post-LTx survival [HR 1.77 (0.82-3.82), p=0.147], bacterial re-colonization, or rejection in patients with TD compared to those without. Patients with TD were more likely to die from infection, but the result was not statistically significant [HR 2.02 (0.62-6.63), p=0.245]. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of TD in end-stage CF, where diverticula may represent a large-airway bacterial reservoir. TD were not associated with differences in post-LTx outcomes, but given the infectious concerns further investigation is necessary.

Dermoscopy: a useful tool for assisting the diagnosis of Pseudomonas folliculitis

Abstract This report describes the usefulness of dermoscopy as a supportive diagnostic tool in a pseudomonas folliculitis case.

Is Quorum Sensing Interference a Viable Alternative to Treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections?

Quorum sensing (QS) coordinates the expression of multiple virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; hence its inhibition has been postulated as a new alternative to treat its infections. In particular, QS interference approaches claim that they attenuate bacterial virulence without directly decreasing bacterial growth and suggest that in vivo the immune system would control the infections. Moreover, since in vitro experiments performed in rich medium demonstrate that interfering with QS decreases the production of virulence factors without affecting bacterial growth it was assumed than in vivo therapies will minimize the selection of resistant strains. Therefore, the underlying assumptions toward an effective implementation of a successful Quorum sensing interference (QSI) therapy for treating P. aeruginosa infections are that (i) QS only exerts important effects in the regulation of virulence genes but it does not affect metabolic processes linked to growth, (ii) the expression of virulence factors is only positively regulated by QS, (iii) inhibition of virulence factors in vivo do not affect bacterial growth, (iv) the immune system of the infected patients will be able to get rid of the infections, and (v) the therapy will be effective in the strains that are actively producing the infections. Nevertheless, for QSI in P. aeruginosa, substantial experimental evidence against the validity of most of these assumptions has accumulated during the past years, suggesting that a far better understanding of its virulence and its behavior during infections is needed in order to design truly solid QSI therapeutic alternatives to combat this remarkable pathogen.

Análise da terapia antimicrobiana empírica em infecção de correntesanguínea por Pseudomonas aeruginosa em um hospital universitário / Analysis of empirical antimicrobial therapy in Pseudomonas aeruginosabloodstream infections in a university hospital

Justificativa e Objetivo: Infecções de corrente sanguínea causadas por Pseudomonas aeruginosa apresentam significantes taxas de morbidade, mortalidade e custos hospitalares. A terapia empírica adequada impacta significativamente na mortalidade, porém, a escolha do antibiótico empírico apropriado contra uma infecção causada por P. aeruginosa é um desafio para os clínicos devido a resistência à diversos antimicrobianos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a adequação da terapia antimicrobiana empírica e correlacioná-la com a mortalidade em 30 dias. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo coorte retrospectivo com pacientes que apresentaram infecção de corrente sanguínea por P. aeruginosa no período de Janeiro a Dezembro de 2011. Foram analisadas variáveis epidemiológicas e clínicas destes pacientes correlacionando-as com a mortalidade em 30 dias. Resultados: Vinte e nove pacientes foram incluídos no estudo. A média de idade dos pacientes que tiveram óbito foi de 66 anos e dos sobreviventes foi de 72 anos (p=0,37). Foi detectada uma elevada mortalidade hospitalar (21 de 29 pacientes, 72,4%) entre os pacientes com infecção de corrente sanguínea por P. aeruginosa. Meropenem isoladamente foi o antimicrobiano mais utilizado (34,5%). Houve inadequação na terapia empírica em oito pacientes (27,5%). Em relação às variáveis analisadas, nenhuma teve correlação estatisticamente significante com a mortalidade em 30 dias. Conclusão Nosso estudo encontrou uma elevada taxa de mortalidade entre paciente com bacteremia por P. aeruginosa. Nenhuma variável foi preditora de mortalidade em 30 dias. Estudos com uma maior casuística são necessários para um melhor entendimento das variáveis relacionadas à mortalidade entre estes pacientes

Background and Purpose: Bloodstream infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa presents significant morbidity, mortality and hospital costs. Appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy significantly impacts on mortality however the choice of adequate antibiotic therapy is a challenge for clinicians due to bacterial resistance. This study aimed to analyze the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy among patients with BSI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to correlate it with the 30-day mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with bloodstream infections caused by P. aeruginosa from January 1st, 2011 to December 31, 2011. We analyzed demographic and clinical variables of those patients correlating them with the 30-day mortality. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included in the study. The average age of patients who died and survived was 66 years and 72 years, respectively (p=0.37). A high hospital mortality rate (21 of 29 patients, 72.4%) was detected. Meropenem was the most used antibiotic during the study period (34.5%). There was inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy in eight patients (27.5%). No statistically significant difference was observed with regard to 30-day mortality among the variables analyzed. Conclusion: Our study found a high mortality rate among patients with BSI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No variable was found to be predictor of 30-day mortality in this cohort of patients. Further studies with larger samples are needed for a better understanding of variables related to mortality among these patients.

Impact of Sustained Eradication of New Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection on Long-term Outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is the most important pathogen infecting the airways in individuals with cystic fibrosis. A key question is whether children with newly acquired Pa infection who are able to achieve sustained eradication after early antipseudomonal therapy demonstrate improved long-term health outcomes compared with those who are unable to achieve a sustained microbiologic response. METHODS: This cohort study utilized observational follow-up data on children participating in the Early Pseudomonas Infection Control trial who received standardized therapy for newly acquired Pa. Sustained eradicators were defined as those who maintained Pa-negative cultures for 12 months after initial antipseudomonal therapy. Associations between eradication status and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 249 trial participants included in the study, 172 (69%) achieved sustained eradication of Pa during the trial (sustained eradicators). Over the median 5-year follow-up, sustained eradicators had a 74% reduced risk of developing chronic Pa (hazard ratio [HR], 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], .17-.40) and a 57% reduced risk of mucoidy (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, .25-.73) compared with nonsustained eradicators. Sustained eradicators had significantly less anti-Pa antibiotic usage during follow-up compared with nonsustained eradicators. There was no association between eradication status and clinical outcomes including rate of exacerbation and lung function decline. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantify the long-term durability of microbiological response associated with early antipseudomonal therapy, demonstrating the critical importance of optimizing antipseudomonal therapies during early Pa infection. The clinical impact of failure to achieve sustained Pa eradication remains unclear, however, and may be confounded by anti-Pa antibiotic usage. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00097773.

Risk factors for imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in neonatal intensive care unit / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To determine the risk factors for imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IRPA) infections in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods One hundred and eighty-eight Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected children (confirmed by pathogenic examination) in the NICU of Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangdong from January 1,2008 to December 31,2011,were chosen as the objects of study,and were divided into two groups.The first group included 73 children that had been isolated with IRPA strains(IRPA group),and the second group included 115 children that only had imipenem-sensitive Pseudo monas aeruginosa (ISPA) strains (ISPA group).Chi-square test or t-test was applied.The risk factors were investigated by univariate or multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Data from univariate analysis showed that the gestational age and birth weight of neonates were lower than those in ISPA group [(34.0±3.5) weeks vs (35.6±2.8)weeks,t=3.413,P＜0.01; (1848.1±276.4) g vs (2110.7±345.6) g,t=5.472,P＜0.01].There were more neonates with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks [67.1％ (49/73) vs 45.2 ％ (52/115)],birth weight ＜1500 g [73.9％ (54/73) vs 33.0％(38/115)],small for gestational age [68.5％ (50/73) vs 29.6％ (34/115)],receiving imipenem [72.6％ (53/73) vs 27.0％ (31/115)] or the third generation cephalosporins [65.8％ (48/73) vs 33.0％ (38/115)] two weeks before the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and mechanical ventilation [78.1％ (57/73) vs 61.7 ％ (71/115)],deep vein catheterization [83.6％(61/73) vs 65.2％(75/115)] in the IRPA group than in the ISPA group (all P＜0.05 or 0.01).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that imipenem treatment within two weeks before the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR=6.409; 95％ CI:1.926-21.333,P =0.002) was an independent risk factor.Conclusions IRPA infection in NICU hospitalized infants is strongly related to their gestational age and birth weight.History of imipenem administration could be an independent risk factor.