Factors associated with Clostridium difficile diarrhea in a hospital in Beijing, China

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea in patients treated with antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, and other drugs that alter the normal equilibrium of the intestinal flora. A better understanding of the risk factors for C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) could be used to reduce the incidence of CDAD and the costs associated with its treatment. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for CDAD in a cohort of Chinese patients in a Beijing hospital. Medical charts of a total of 130 inpatients (62 males and 68 females) with hospital-acquired diarrhea (45 with CDAD; 85 without CDAD) were retrospectively reviewed. C. difficile toxins A and B were detected in fecal samples using enzyme-linked fluorescence assays. The drugs used by patients with and without CDAD before the onset of diarrhea were compared. Factors that differed significantly between the two groups by univariate analysis were analyzed by multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model. Multivariate analysis showed that cephalosporin treatment was associated with a significantly higher risk of CDAD in hospitalized patients, while treatment with glycopeptides was significantly associated with a reduction in CDAD (P<0.001 for cephalosporin; P=0.013 for glycopeptides). Our data confirmed previous findings that empirical treatment with cephalosporins is positively associated with CDAD compared to individuals using other CDAD-related drugs. Additionally, we showed that treatment with glycopeptides was negatively associated with CDAD, compared to individuals using other CDAD-related drugs.

Cefepime encephalopathy and normal renal function / Encefalopatia induzida por cefepime em um paciente com função renal normal

BACKGROUND: Several cases of cefepime neurotoxicity have been reported. Herein reported is a case of cephalosporin-associated neurotoxicity in apatient with normal renal function. CASE REPORT: A 64-year-old woman with a history of post-transplantation chronic myeloid leukemia was admittedto hospital due to hyporexia, fever, productive cough and mild dyspnea. Initial blood screen revealed pancytopenia and a normal renal function.Intravenous cefepime was empirically started and after 40 hours the patient developed sudden mental confusion. Neurological examination was normal. Cranial computed tomography and brain magnetic resonance scans were normal. Electroencephalography showed triphasic waves of diffuse slowness without ongoing epileptic activity. Lumbar puncture was normal. Cefepime neurotoxicity was promptly considered and antibiotics were switched to piperacillin and tazobactam. After five days, the patient recovered completely with remission of myoclonus. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness should be given to possible central nervous system complications induced by cefepime, especially in the elderly, even without renal failure

INTRODUÇÃO: Existem vários relatos de casos de toxicidade do sistema nervoso central induzida pelo cefepime. Relata-se um caso de toxicidade do sistema nervoso central associada ao uso de uma cefalosporina em um paciente com função renal normal. RELATO DE CASO: Uma mulher de 64 anos com história de transplante de medula óssea devido a leucemia mielóide crônica foi admitida ao hospital devido a hiporexia, febre, tosse produtiva e dispnéia leve. Os exames laboratoriais de rotina demonstraram pancitopenia e função renal normal. O cefepime intravenoso foi empiricamente iniciado e, após 40 horas da administração, o paciente apresentou quadro súbito de confusão mental. Exame neurológico foi normal, assim como a tomografia computadorizada craniana e a ressonância magnética encefálica. O eletroencefalograma demonstrou ondas trifásicas de lentificação difusa sem evidência de atividade epileptiforme. O líquor estava normal. A toxicidade do sistema nervoso central pelo cefepime foi rapidamente considerada e o antibiótico foi trocado para piperacilina e tazobactan. Após cinco dias, o paciente apresentou recuperação completa com remissão da mioclonia. CONCLUSÃO: Deve-se dar atenção às possíveis complicações do sistema nervoso central induzidas pelo cefepime, especialmente em idosos, mesmo sem insuficiência renal.

Monitoramento de eventos adversos em ambiente hospitalar: relato de farmacovigilância, São Paulo / Monitoring of adverse events in hospitals: report of pharmacovigilance, São Paulo

Introdução: O percentual de internações hospitalares devido às reações adversas (RA) a medicamentos em alguns países é cerca de 10% (OPAS/OMS) e acarreta gastos adicionais para o sistema de saúde. Objetivo: Determinar medicamentos mais envolvidos em RA e as RA mais comuns. Métodos: Realizou-se um monitoramento descritivo de RA em hospital privado de São Paulo, de 2004 a 2008, em 197 leitos, totalizando 100 notificações. Dados descritos em frequência (n de RA relatadas). Resultados: Os medicamentos mais envolvidos em RA foram:cefalosporinas (13%) e quinolonas (12%). As RAs foram: rash cutâneo (20%), prurido (13%), hiperemia (12%), náusea (10%), tremores (9%), placas eritematosas (6%), etc. Observou-se que 61% dos indivíduos com RA são do sexo feminino. Conclusão: Sugere-se uma atitude positiva em farmacovigilância, para que a notificação se torne rotina. Verificou-se que houve crescimento das notificações. Pacientes do sexo feminino apresentaram mais RA e os antibióticos foram os medicamentos com maior RA.

Introduction: According to PAHO/WHO, the hospital admissions? due to adverse drug reactions (ADR) in some countries is around 10%, resulting in additional costs for health system. Objective: To determine which drugs are involved in adverse drug reactions and the most common reactions. Methods: We conducted a descriptive monitoring of ADR in a private hospital in São Paulo (Brazil), from 2004 to 2008, in 197 beds, totaling 100 notifications. Data described in frequency (n ADR reported). Results: The drugs most commonly involved in ADR were cephalosporins (13%) and quinolones (12%). The adverse reactions were rash (20%), pruritus (13%), redness (12%), nausea (10%), tremors (9%), erythematous plaques (6%), etc. We observed that 61% of individuals with ADR are female. Conclusion: Achieve the development of positive attitude towards pharmacovigilance among healthcare professionals to ADR becomes accepted and understood. There was an increase in notifications, antibiotics are involved in ADR and female have more ADR.

A multicenter comparative study of cefepime versus broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy in moderate and severe bacterial infections

The safety and efficacy of cefepime empiric monotherapy compared with standard broad-spectrum combination therapy for hospitalized adult patients with moderate to severe community-acquired bacterial infections were evaluated. In an open-label, multicenter study, 317 patients with an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score ranging from >5 to =19 were enrolled with documented pneumonia (n=196), urinary tract infection (n=65), intra-abdominal infection (n=38), or sepsis (n=18). Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive cefepime 1 to 2 g IV twice daily or three times a day or IV ampicillin, cephalothin, or ceftriaxone ± aminoglycoside therapy for 3 to 21 days. For both treatment groups, metronidazole, vancomycin, or macrolide therapy was added as deemed necessary. The primary efficacy variable was clinical response at the end of therapy. Two hundred ninety-six (93 percent) patients met evaluation criteria and were included in the efficacy analysis. Diagnoses included the following: 180 pneumonias (90 cefepime, 90 comparator), 62 urinary tract infections (29 cefepime, 33 comparator), 37 intra-abdominal infections (19 cefepime, 18 comparator), and 17 sepses (8 cefepime, 9 comparator). At the end of therapy, overall clinical success rates were 131/146 (90 percent) for patients treated with cefepime vs 125/150 (83 percent) for those treated with comparator (95 percent confidence interval [CI]: - 2.6 percent to 16.3 percent). The clinical success rate for patients with community-acquired pneumonia, the most frequent infection, was 86 percent for both treatment groups. Among the patients clinically evaluated, 162 pathogens were isolated and identified before therapy. The most commonly isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (n=49), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=29), Haemophilus influenzae (n=14), and Staphylococcus aureus (n=11). Bacteriologic eradication/presumed eradication was 97 percent for cefepime vs 94 percent for comparator-treated patients. Drug-related adverse events were reported in 16 percent of cefepime patients and 19 percent of comparator patients. In conclusion, cefepime had higher cure rates compared with broad-spectrum combination therapy as an initial empiric treatment for hospitalized patients with moderate to severe community-acquired infections, including urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, and sepsis

Avaliaçäo audiológica de pacientes em programa de hemodiálise e diálise peritoneal ambulatorial contínua submetidos ao uso de antibióticos / Audiologic evaluation in patients of hemodialysis program and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis subjected to use of antibiotics

Foram estudados 52 pacientes com disfunçao renal, 27 em hemodiálise (HD) e 25 em diálise peritoneal ambulatorial contínua (CAPD), em programa regular, com avaliaçao audiológica, comparados com nao portadores de insuficiência renal crônica, nao expostos a medicamentos, pareados em idade e sexo. O estudo audiométrico dos paciente que receberam antibióticos, alguns deles ototóxicos, constatou diferença significante para as freqüências mais altas (4.000 a 8.OOOHz) nos grupos de HD e CAPD em ambos os ouvidos, quando comparados com seus controles. Nao foi possível estabelecer correlaçao significativa entre doses cumulativas e intensidade da lesao auditiva. Parece-nos prudente que pacientes com IRC sejam monitorizados audiologicamente quando em uso de antibióticos ototóxicos.

Nefrotoxicidad por ceporán-kanamicina-gentamicina / Nephrotoxicity by cephalosporin-kanamycin-gentamycin

Se revisaron las historias clínicas de un grupo de pacientes con insuficiencia renal aguda y de ellos, en 51, el factor principal de esta afecciòn fue el empleo de ceporán más gentamicina y la mezcla de los tres antibióticos (con la inclusión de la kanamicina). Se analizan el uso indiscriminado y la dosis que puedan provocar estos efectos indeseables. Se debe tener en cuenta que la evolución no satisfactoria de estos pacientes (19 de 34) se entiende que no se debe a la mezcla en sí, sino a la mayor gravedad (sepsis más serias) que obligaron a su empleo