Impact of Implementing an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program for Optimizing Antibiotic Treatment in Gram-negative Bacilli Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASP) have improved empirical and directed antibiotic treatment in Gram-negative Bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. A decrease in mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization has been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre-post-quasi-experimental study was conducted between November and April 2015-2016 (pre-intervention period), 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 (post-intervention periods), to analyse the impact of ASP on empirical, directed, and entire treatment optimization, as well as mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization, in hospitalized patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four patients were included (41 in the pre-intervention group, 38 in the first-year post-intervention group, 50 in the second-year post-intervention group, and 45 in the third-year post-intervention group). There was a significant improvement in directed treatment optimization (43.9% in the pre-intervention group, 68.4% in the first-year post-intervention group, 74% in the second-year post-intervention group, and 88.9% in the third-year post-intervention group, P <0.001), as well as in entire treatment optimization (19.5%, 34.2%, 40.0%, and 46.7%, respectively, P=0.013), with increased optimal directed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-8.58) and entire treatment (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.27-8.58). Although a tendency toward improvement was observed in empirical treatment after ASP implementation, it did not reach statistical significance (41.5% vs. 57.9%, P=0.065). No changes in mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization were detected. CONCLUSION: ASP implementation improved both directed and entire treatment optimization in patients with GNB bloodstream infections over time. Nevertheless, no improvement was found in clinical outcomes such as mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization.

Greater acceptance of routine HIV testing (opt-out) by patients attending an infectious disease unit in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine attitudes and opinions of patients seen in our ID Unit on conducting HIV testing universally. METHODS: The survey was conducted in patients between 18 and 65 years without known HIV infection. Requested information about the test was previous embodiment, reasons for rejection, opinion on the universal realization, benefits and/or drawbacks, possible test performance, and availability of results "test negative stigma." RESULTS: We surveyed 91 patients (54.9% males). Surprisingly, up to 18.7% of patients mistakenly believed that HIV testing is routinely performed without consent. A great majority (98.9%) felt that universal performance on the test would benefit mainly in early diagnosing and/or preventing transmission. Patients younger than 42 years were significantly more prone to doing the test as a routine procedure. Only 4 (4.4%) patients did not participate because they believed they were "not infected." A vast majority (80.5%) of respondents would prefer to have results within the first 24 hours. In addition, 20.7% would have a problem with confidentiality if HIV serology testing was done. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the vast majority (95.6%) of the surveyed patients had a fair opinion about universal HIV testing. Only 4 patients (4.4%) would not consent to HIV testing (because of low-risk perception). Availability of rapid HIV tests can facilitate fast result delivery, facilitating linkage to care. Considering favorable patients' opinion, recent opt-out screening recommendations, highest HIV prevalence in admitted patients, and cost-effectiveness, studies favor universal HIV testing.

Black tongue associated with linezolid.

Darkening of the tongue and oral mucosa is a reaction pattern that can be related to a number of physiologic, metabolic, and toxic disorders, and medications and exogenous substances. Black discoloration of the tongue should be distinguished from black "hairy" tongue, which is characterized by hypertrophy of the filiform papillae. We report a case of a 42-year-old man presented with a black discoloration of his tongue during treatment with linezolid for spondylodiscitis. So in conclusion, tongue discoloration is a benign and reversible condition and a probable adverse event associated with linezolid. We present this case to increase clinicians' awareness of a new potential adverse effect of linezolid.

[Curbside consultation: another healthcare activity of the infectious disease specialist]. / "Consultas de pasillo" (curbside consultation): otra actividad asistencial del infectólogo.

INTRODUCTION: "Curbside consultation" is the term used to describe an informal process in which a physician requests information from another physician about the management of a patient who has not been assessed by the person consulted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational study designed to determine the frequency, services requested, and final result of curbside consultations made over the period of 3 March to 12 May 2008. The variables recorded included the means by which contact was made, the type of question, person requesting information, complexity of the subject, related subject, recommendations, and degree of follow-up and evolution of the consultation. The degree of difficulty was evaluated using the system of the American Collage of Physicians. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 208 consultations (1.13/day) were reported, lasting a median of 2 minutes. The most common reasons for consulting were selection of an antimicrobial agent (54.4%), evaluation of a diagnosis (10.5%), interpretation of microbiological data (9.6%), and a combination of reasons (27.4%). In 5.8% of cases, hospitalization was required to study and treat the infectious disease. A formal consultation was required in 27% of cases. Significant differences were found between staff physicians and medical residents and between medical and surgical departments. CONCLUSIONS: Curbside consultations comprise an important part of healthcare activity in the Infectious Disease Department, although most requests are easily resolved and do not imply an excessive work burden. Nonetheless, when the consultation involves a difficult clinical case, the request is by a staff physician, and the surgery department is implicated, a significant amount of formal activity is generated.

[Multiple inflammatory liver pseudotumors and Enterococcus durans bacteremia]. / Seudotumor inflamatorio hepático múltiple y bacteriemia por Enterococcus durans.

Inflammatory pseudotumors are rare benign lesions that can occur throughout the body. These masses are usually associated with fever, pain, and mass effect, and are frequently mistaken for malignant neoplasms. Liver pseudotumors are especially rare, with 150 cases reported up to 2007, since the original report of Pack and Baker in 1953. We describe the case of a patient with suspected multiple hepatic abscesses, who was finally diagnosed with an inflammatory pseudotumor by percutaneous biopsy. The patient received prolonged antibiotic therapy, with complete resolution of the pseudotumor. The differential diagnosis and management of this entity is discussed.

Porphyromonas asaccharolytica liver abscess.

The black pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes, Porphyromonas species, have been isolated from clinical specimens in cases of central nervous system, dental-oral, pleuropulmonary and genitourinary infections and bacteremia. Herein, we report an unusual case of liver abscess caused by Porphyromonas asaccharolytica that has not been previously reported.

Intoxicación aguda por hierro en un caso / Acute iron poisoning: report of case

The ingestion of iron-containing products is a potential toxicological emergency. It is a leading cause of pediatric unintentional ingestion fatalities because some iron-containing compounds are readily available (vitamin mixtures, iron pills). Among adults, it has been described as accidental overdoses (mainly in pregnancy) and as suicidal attempts. We report a 42 years old woman, admitted due to the intentional ingestion of iron pills with suicidal purposes. A plain abdominal X ray showed at least 20 pills in the gastric fundus and antrum. She was successfully treated with intravenous desferroxamine chelation. Plain abdominal X ray examination can be very useful in the diagnosis of acute iron poisoning