The correlation between Clostridium-difficile infection and human gut concentrations of Bacteroidetes phylum and clostridial species.

We aimed to assess differences in bacterial intensities of Bacteroidetes phylum and different clostridial species in the human intestines with respect to C. difficile infection. Patients with a stool assay for C. difficile toxin were identified via the microbiology laboratory in our institute. Bacterial populations were quantified from stool samples of four groups of patients: Group I-patients with C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD); Group II-asymptomatic C. difficile carriers; Group III-patients with non-C. difficile diarrhea; Group IV-patients with no diarrhea and negative stool samples for the C. difficile toxin (control group). Stool was examined for three genes-C. difficile toxin A gene, 16S rRNA gene from Clostridium thermocellum representing other clostridial species, and 16S rRNA gene from Bacteroides fragilis representing the Bacteroidetes phylum. Fifty-nine patients underwent analysis of the stool (CDAD group 14, carriers group 14, non-C. difficile diarrhea group 16, control group 15). C. difficile concentration was highest in the CDAD group, followed by the carriers group. Higher concentrations of both clostridial species and Bacteriodetes were observed in the control and non-C. difficile diarrhea groups compared to the CDAD and carriers groups. We demonstrated an inverse association between infection with C. difficile and the abundance of Bacteroidetes phylum and other clostridial species in human intestines. Studies with larger samples and broader diagnostic procedures are needed in order to better explore and understand this association.

Mortality of patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: the impact of Clostridium difficile.

Previous studies have shown conflicting results concerning mortality related to Clostridium difficile infection. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of C. difficile infection on short- and long-term mortality in hospitalised patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. We therefore undertook a prospective case-control study of 217 hospitalised patients who received antibiotics, developed diarrhoea and underwent stool enzyme immunoassay for C. difficile TOX A/B. The Kaplan-Meier and the log-rank test were used to determine univariate survival analysis and a Cox regression model for multivariate analysis of 28 day and long-term mortality. Fifty-two (24%) of the 217 patients who met the study criteria were positive for C. difficile TOX A/B. The crude 28 day and long-term mortality rates of the entire cohort were 12.4% and 56%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, hypoalbuminaemia, impaired functional capacity and elevated serum urea levels were found to be the only independent and statistically significant variables associated with long-term mortality. C. difficile toxin positivity per se was not associated with increased short- or long-term mortality rates. In conclusion, hypoalbuminaemia, renal failure, and impaired function capacity predict mortality due to antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, but C. difficile involvement by itself does not further increase the risk of death in these patients.

An outbreak of Mycobacterium jacuzzii infection following insertion of breast implants.

BACKGROUND: Surgical wound infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria developed in 15 women after insertion of breast implants from August to November 2003 at a single medical center. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted that included the identified patients, as well as women who underwent breast operations at the same center who did not develop infections. The study was accompanied by an extensive environmental investigation. Isolates were identified by standard bacteriological methods and by comparison of their 16S rRNA, HSP65, RPOB, SODA, and RECA gene sequences. Isolates were compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The risk factors for infection included surgery performed by 1 specific surgeon (odds ratio, 21.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.64-125.6). Identical strains of mycobacteria were isolated from the infected wounds of the patients; from the eyebrows, hair, face, nose, ears, and groin of this particular surgeon; and from this surgeon's outdoor whirlpool. The isolates exhibited a biochemical profile overlapping that of Mycobacterium wolinskyi, but their sequences of 16S rRNA and HSP65, RPOB, SODA, and RECA genes differed. We propose the name "Mycobacterium jacuzzii" for this new species. DNA fingerprints of cultured isolates from the surgical wounds, areas of the surgeon's body that grow hair, and the surgeon's whirlpool were identical. When the surgeon discontinued his use of the whirlpool and began cleaning the hairy areas of his body with a shampoo containing triclosan, the outbreak ended. CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak brings to light the possibility of the colonization of human skin and human-to-human transmission of environmental mycobacteria during surgery that involves implant insertion.

The significance of Acinetobacter baumannii bacteraemia compared with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia: risk factors and outcomes.

Risk factors and outcomes for patients with nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii bacteraemia were compared with those for patients with nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia in a single centre in Israel between 2000 and 2003. Data were collected retrospectively through patient chart review. In total, 112 patients with A. baumannii bacteraemia and 90 patients with K. pneumoniae bacteraemia were identified. A. baumannii was significantly associated with poorer performance status, mechanical ventilation, presence of devices, prior treatment with carbapenems, pneumonia as the source of infection and inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. All-cause 30-day mortality was higher for A. baumannii bacteraemia compared with K. pneumoniae bacteraemia (61.6% vs 38.9%, P=0.001). Variables significantly associated with mortality at the univariate level (P<0.1) were entered into a multi-variable logistic regression model for mortality. A. baumannii remained significantly associated with mortality when adjusted for all other risk factors (odds ratio 3.61, 95% confidence interval 1.55-8.39). This result did not change when the analysis was repeated for subgroups of less severely ill patients, i.e. those who were not ventilated and those who did not present with septic shock. These results support the view that nosocomial bacteraemia due to A. baumannii is associated with increased mortality.

Acinetobacter baumannii: emergence and spread in Israeli hospitals 1997-2002.

The incidence of multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections (BSIs) increased two- to four-fold in three Israeli hospitals between 1997 and 2002, accounting for 3.5-18% of all hospital-acquired BSIs. This was associated with increasing carbapenem resistance reaching 35-54%, and by a dramatic increase in carbapenem consumption. In-hospital fatality rates ranged between 47% and 58% and were significantly higher than those seen with other nosocomial Gram-negative pathogens. A. baumannii was not restricted to intensive care units, but had spread to all hospital wards. Multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii has the potential to reach endemicity in hospitals and warrants more vigorous and innovative efforts to limit its spread.

Characteristics of candidaemia with Candida-albicans compared with non-albicans Candida species and predictors of mortality.

Candidaemia due to non-albicans Candida species is increasing in frequency. We describe 272 episodes of candidaemia, define parameters associated with Candida albicans and other Candida species, and analyse predictors associated with mortality. Patients with C. albicans (55%) had the highest fatality rate and frequently received immunosuppressive therapy, while patients with Candida parapsilosis (16%) had the lowest fatality and complication rates. Candida tropicalis (16%) was associated with youth, severe neutropenia, acute leukaemia or bone marrow transplantation, Candida glabrata (10%) was associated with old age and chronic disease, and Candida krusei (2%) was associated with prior fluconazole therapy. The overall fatality rate was 36%, and predictors of death by multi-variate analysis were shock, impaired performance status, low serum albumin and congestive heart failure. Isolation of non-albicans Candida species, prior surgery and catheter removal were protective factors. When shock was excluded from analysis, antifungal therapy was shown to be protective. Unlike previous concerns, infection with Candida species other than C. albicans has not been shown to result in an increased fatality rate.

Inadvertent sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia. A dangerous, but preventable condition.

Two patients with severe hypoglycemia due to inadvertent use of oral hypoglycemic agents are described. Unintentional substitution of tablets with sulfonylurea drugs was related in both cases to a similarity in shape and color of the pills. In one case glyburide was interchanged with an artificial sweetener, while in the other case chlorpropamide was dispensed by a pharmacist instead of quinidine bisulfate. To our knowledge, 20 similar cases have been reported in the medical literature. Most of them were attributed to sound-alike trade names of drugs. Inadvertent sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia has to be included in the differential diagnosis of severe unexplained hypoglycemia. This dangerous condition can be prevented by instructing patients to carefully identify their drugs, introducing typed prescription forms using generic names, and avoiding similar names and appearance of pills.

Ecthyma gangrenosum without bacteremia. Report of six cases and review of the literature.

We encountered six patients with ecthyma gangrenosum due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa who, uncharacteristically, had no evidence of bacteremia prior to the institution of antibiotic therapy. Seven similar cases have previously been reported in the English-language medical literature. These 13 patients resembled those with classic ecthyma gangrenosum accompanied by Pseudomonas septicemia in being immunocompromised and neutropenic and having skin lesions at similar sites. The most striking difference between these two groups of patients was a significantly lower mortality rate for the nonbacteremic patients. These findings suggest that ecthyma gangrenosum can occur as a primary skin lesion in the absence of bacteremia. Patients with this particular subtype of infection appear to have a better prognosis than those having a preceding bacteremia.

Shigella bacteremia in adults. A report of five cases and review of the literature.

Shigella bacteremia is rare, occurring mainly in children. We describe five adult patients with Shigella bacteremia and review data on 22 cases reported in the English-language medical literature. Eighteen (67%) of 27 patients had either an underlying condition or were aged older than 65 years. Most patients had clinical signs of acute febrile gastroenteritis. However, in six patients, the organism was not isolated from stool. Species isolated from blood included Shigella flexneri in 11 patients, Shigella sonnei in eight, and Shigella boydii and Shigella dysenteriae in one patient each. Isolation of the bacterium from blood only was associated with a high mortality rate, in contrast to its isolation both from blood and stool. It is suggested that blood cultures should be obtained from elderly or immunocompromised patients with acute febrile gastroenteritis to detect shigellemia as well as bacteremia caused by other enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter.

Intrasinusoidal metastatic melanoma of the liver with reactive hepatitis. An immunologic phenomenon?

The macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) test toward extracts of choroidal melanoma was repeated four times in a patient with ocular malignant melanoma. In the initial stage, when there was only an ocular finding, the MIF test result was positive. It remained so for a period of two years, even when intrasinusoidal hepatic diffusion developed concomitantly with a nonspecific reactive hepatitis. These histologic findings can be interpreted as evidence of the presence of an immune reaction at a particular moment in the disease process. Several months later, when the patient's condition went into an abrupt decline and showed extensive nodular spread, the results of MIF test were found to have become negative.

Unintentional weight loss. A retrospective analysis of 154 cases.

Unintentional weight loss (UWL) was documented in 154 patients (2.8%) admitted to an internal medicine department during a two-year period. A retrospective analysis of the clinical charts showed that more than one third (36.3%) were found to have a neoplasm, involving preponderantly the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with neoplasia were older and more frequently had abnormal physical findings and significantly lower values of serum albumin as well as higher values of alkaline phosphatase than other patients. Despite extensive investigations, in 36 patients (23.3%) UWL remained unexplained even after prolonged follow-up periods. The remaining 62 patients had a variety of disorders, preponderantly gastrointestinal tract (26 patients) and psychiatric (16 patients) diseases. Endocrinologic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism were relatively uncommon (3.8%). Unintentional weight loss is a relatively common problem in clinical practice. Familiarity with the spectrum of disorders associated with UWL as well as selected clinical and laboratory values may help in the initial examination of these patients.

Human cryptosporidiosis: spectrum of disease. Report of six cases and review of the literature.

Although once regarded exclusively as an animal parasite, Cryptosporidium has emerged during the last decade as a cause of diarrhea in humans. Of the 43 cases of human cryptosporidiosis reported, 27 patients in whom either humoral or cell-mediated immune defects were present had chronic protracted diarrhea that was almost invariably unresponsive to therapy and culminated in death. In contrast, 16 patients with intact immune systems had either self-limited disease or were asymptomatic. Animal exposure was almost exclusively recorded in the latter group. During the last six months at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, gastrointestinal (GI) tract cryptosporidiosis developed in six homosexual men with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis was established histologically in five patients. In four, cryptosporidial oocysts were detected in the stool. In addition to extensive GI tract cryptosporidiosis, two patients had biliary tract involvement. Multiple chemotherapeutic agents failed to control the disease, and five patients eventually died. Cryptosporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, in animal handlers or in the severely compromised patient, especially one with AIDS, who has chronic protracted diarrhea.

Bacteremia in adult diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the microbiology, sources, complications, and outcome of bacteremia in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted of all episodes of bacteremia in hospitalized diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The study consisted of patients greater than or equal to 18 yr of age with bacteremia detected within a 19-mo interval. RESULTS: We compared 124 episodes of bacteremia in 119 diabetic patients to 508 episodes in 480 nondiabetic patients. Diabetic patients were older than nondiabetic patients (median age 74 vs. 68 yr, P = 0.0001). In patients with an indwelling urinary catheter and bacteremic urinary tract infection, the percentage of Klebsiella in diabetic patients was 60% (6 of 10) and in nondiabetic patients was 17% (4 of 23, P = 0.04). In patients without an obvious source of bacteremia, the percentage of staphylococcal isolates in diabetic patients was 29% (10 of 35) and in nondiabetic patients was 14% (24 of 176, P = 0.04). Staphylococci were a common cause of bacteremic infections of the extremities in diabetic patients (12 of 19, 63%) and nondiabetic patients (20 of 50, 40%). Septic shock was the only complication that was more common in diabetic patients. The mortality in diabetic and nondiabetic patients was 28 and 29%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results represent elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In this group, empirical treatment for suspected bacteremic urinary tract infection in patients with a urinary catheter should include coverage for Klebsiella. Empiric treatment for suspected bacteremia of unknown origin or caused by infection of the extremities should include an antistaphylococcal drug. The prognosis of bacteremia in diabetic and nondiabetic patients was similar.

Acute stroke after coronary angiography associated with protruding mobile thoracic aortic atheromas.

We describe two patients who developed acute embolic stroke immediately after coronary catheterization for unstable angina. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and spiral CT of the chest revealed protruding floating atheromas within the aortic arch. These cases of stroke immediately after coronary catheterization suggest that protruding floating atheromas of the thoracic aorta place patients at risk for stroke. TEE or CT might predict a risk of stroke in such patients.

Tuberculosis mimicking cancer--a reminder.

The charts of 26 patients who were referred with a presumptive diagnosis of neoplasms and who were ultimately found to have only tuberculosis were reviewed. Twenty-one patients (81 percent) were born in the United States, and only three patients had a history of exposure to tuberculosis. Most patients had few symptoms, and the average duration of symptoms was 2.8 +/- 1.5 months. Classic symptoms of tuberculosis, like fever, hemoptysis, and weight loss, were uncommon. Chest roentgenographic abnormalities were present in 62 percent of the patients. Although some of the patients had undergone nondiagnostic biopsy procedures before referral, none had had skin tests for tuberculosis. Underlying conditions were found in eight patients, and alcoholism was the most common. Laboratory abnormalities were rare with the exception of increased platelet counts, which were found in eight patients. The most common form of tuberculosis was pulmonary (14 patients) followed by lymphadenitis (nine patients). Tuberculosis remains an elusive disease even in countries with advanced medical technology. In some cases, its presentation may suggest the presence of malignancy.

Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in the treatment of patients with cancer.

Since the combination of ticarcillin with clavulanic acid is active against many otherwise resistant organisms that commonly affect patients with cancer, a therapeutic trial with ticarcillin disodium plus clavulanate potassium for treating infections in cancer patients was conducted. A total of 127 evaluable patients were treated with this antibiotic. Of these, 63 percent were women with breast carcinoma, 28 percent were patients with leukemia, and the remainder were patients with sarcomas and lung cancer. The median duration of therapy was 7.7 days. There were 63 documented infections, with bacteriologic documentation in 39 episodes. Because of the high incidence of gram-positive infections and after the failure of ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium in two of these episodes, vancomycin was added to the regimen. The overall response rate was 75 percent. In microbiologically proved infections, the response rate was 79 percent. Thirteen of 17 gram-negative infections responded (76 percent), including four of four episodes caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The only failures in this group were two episodes with Klebsiella species, one episode with Escherichia coli, and one episode with Enterobacter species. Of the gram-positive infections treated without vancomycin, five of eight (63 percent) responded and only two episodes due to Staphylococcus aureus and one due to JK diphtheroid bacteria failed. All episodes treated with the combination of ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium and vancomycin responded. Seven of eight (88 percent) polymicrobial infections and 73 percent of those infections without identified organisms responded as well. The overall response rates for septicemia, pneumonia, soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections were 71, 50, 71, and 83 percent, respectively. Of five microbiologically proved superinfections, three were fungal, and one each was due to Klebsiella species and S. aureus. No toxicity was observed. For 12 organisms, the minimal inhibitory concentration was lower for ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium than for ticarcillin alone; in six it was identical. Five organisms were resistant to both, and three that were resistant to ticarcillin were sensitive to ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium. Ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium is a safe drug with an expanded spectrum of activity. More therapeutic trials need to be conducted to better define its role in the therapy of serious infections in cancer patients.

Pseudomonas putida. Newly recognized pathogen in patients with cancer.

Pseudomonas putida was recovered from blood culture specimens between 1980 and 1985 in 15 patients with cancer. No isolates were found in specimens obtained before 1980. Eight patients were considered to have septicemia (more than one positive blood culture result plus clinical signs of infection). Septicemia was monomicrobial in three of those eight patients and polymicrobial in five. Of these eight patients, one had pneumonia and three had phlebitis, cellulitis, or both at the site of the venous catheter. The infection appeared to be catheter-related in these three patients, with response to catheter removal in one patient, response to catheter removal and antibiotics in one patient, and response to antibiotics alone in one patient. P. putida was isolated from the site of insertion and the tip of the catheter in one of these three patients. Following therapy, all patients had a rapid recovery from their infection. In vitro susceptibility testing revealed that 90 percent of the isolates were susceptible to piperacillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin.

Excess mortality in women with hospital-acquired bloodstream infection.

PURPOSE: We examined the outcomes of bloodstream infection in men and in women and whether any sex-related differences were explained by underlying disorders, severity of disease, or clinical management. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using a prospectively collected database, we compared in-hospital mortality in men and women. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to test whether sex-related differences could be due to potential confounders. RESULTS: Of 4250 patients with bloodstream infections, 1750 (41%) had hospital-acquired infections. The overall case fatality was 31% (625 of 2032) in women and 29% (631 of 2218, P = 0.1) in men. However, 43% (325/758) of the women with hospital-acquired infections died, compared with 33% (327/992) of the men (P = 0.0001). In a multivariate analysis, female sex was associated with greater mortality in patients with hospital-acquired infections (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 2.6). The excess mortality in women was mainly seen in patients with major underlying disorders (fatality rate of 45% [234 of 525] in women vs. 32% in men [234 of 743, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in women with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections is substantially greater than in men. The excess mortality was concentrated in women with severe underlying disorders, suggesting that sepsis might have accentuated differences in the outcome of underlying disorders in women.

Mural endocarditis associated with recurrent false aneurysm of the left ventricle.

Acute bacterial endocarditis developed in a 65-year-old man two years after surgical resection of a false aneurysm of the left ventricle. The patient had cerebral embolic manifestations, and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from each of six blood samples. A pericardial friction rub and a changing pansystolic murmur appeared during the third week of hospitalization. The presence of a false aneurysm was once again demonstrated on ventriculographic studies. This was successfully repaired, employing cardiopulmonary bypass. The sequence of events in this patient suggests that bacterial endocarditis at the site of a previous cardiomyotomy might have led to the development of the second pseudo-aneurysm.