scholarly journals 788. Evaluation of a Multiplex PCR Panel and Confirmatory Cytotoxin Testing on Clostridioides difficile at a Pediatric Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S438-S438
Author(s):  
Michael J Lauth ◽  
Greg Cook ◽  
Margarita Silio

Abstract Background With the introduction of gastrointestinal multiplex PCR (mPCR) tests, clinicians have received an increased number of positive tests for Clostridioides difficile. Patients who test positive via mPCR may not have a positive toxin assay indicative of true infection and may not need antibiotics. The goal of this study was to assess the symptoms of patients who test positive for C. difficile and determine the impact on antibiotic use at a pediatric hospital. Methods A single-center, retrospective review was completed from May 2018 to March 2020. Initial C. difficile screening tests were performed via an mPCR test or a mono-PCR test. Patients > 1 year of age had a reflex cytotoxin assay performed. The primary outcome was the difference in symptoms between cytotoxin positive and negative patients. Secondary outcomes included co-pathogen detection on mPCR and C. difficile antibiotic days of therapy. Results Four hundred and sixty-one patients were included in our chart review. 49% of patients had a positive mPCR for a GI pathogen (n=229), and 18% (n=82) were positive for C. difficile. Cytotoxin was positive for 45% of patients that had C. difficile on mPCR. 34% of patients that had C. difficile detected on mPCR also had co-pathogens detected. No significant differences were present in symptomatology between cytotoxin positive and negative patients and no significant differences between white blood cell count (Table 1). There was a significant difference in the number of patients treated for the C. difficile between the cytotoxin populations (p-value< 0.05). The average duration of treatment with a negative test was significantly less than for positive cytotoxin test patients (7.5 vs 11 days, p-value< 0.05). Table 1: Comparison of cytotoxin production in pediatric patients with Clostridioides difficile. Conclusion Our results show a significant amount of antibiotic use for patients with cytotoxin negative C. difficile and no differences in symptomatology or white blood cell count based on cytotoxin positivity. Diagnostic stewardship of mPCR tests may be needed to effectively impact this unneeded antibiotic use, specifically the duration. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Uzma Khan ◽  
Arindam Ghosh ◽  
Vikram Mutneja

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the correlation of CT chest images with the clinical presentation in COVID-19 infection. Methodology: 50 confirmed COVID-19 patients those who were hospitalized were included in the study. Patient history, laboratory results, demographic data, severity, time course of symptoms was recorded. The duration of onset of the symptoms to initial CT scan, fever recordings including duration of onset of fever to CT scanning and white blood counts were recorded along with the CT Scores of each patient. Results: The CT scores were found to have significant correlation with age (r=0.348, p value= 0.046), duration of onset to CT scanning (r=0.654, p value= 0.001), duration of fever onset to CT scanning (r=0.679, p value= 0.001) and white blood cell count (r=0.398, p value= 0.034). Conclusion: We found correlation between the CT scores and Age, duration of onset to Ct scanning, duration of fever onset to Ct scanning and white blood cell count.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-129
Author(s):  
Glenn Patriquin ◽  
Jill Hatchette ◽  
Kevin Forward

BACKGROUND: The many etiologies of meningitis influence disease severity – most viral causes are self-limiting, while bacterial etiologies require antibiotics and hospitalization. Aided by laboratory findings, the physician judges whether to admit and empirically treat the patient (presuming a bacterial cause), or to treat supportively as if it were viral.OBJECTIVE: To determine factors that lead infectious disease specialists to admit and treat in cases of suspected meningitis.METHODS: A clinical vignette describing a typical case of viral meningitis in the emergency department was presented to clinicians. They were asked to indicate on a Likert scale the likelihood of administering empirical antibiotics and admitting the patient from the vignette and for eight subsequent scenarios (with varied case features). The process was repeated in the context of an inpatient following initial observation and/or treatment.RESULTS: Participants were unlikely to admit or to administer antibiotics in the baseline scenario, but a low Glasgow Coma Score or a high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell count with a high neutrophil percentage led to empirical treatment and admission. These factors were less influential after a negative bacterial CSF culture. These same clinical variables led to maintaining treatment and hospitalization of the inpatient.CONCLUSIONS: Most participants chose not to admit or treat the patient in the baseline vignette. Confusion and CSF white blood cell count (and neutrophil predominance) were the main influences in determining treatment and hospitalization. A large range of response scores was likely due to differing regional practices or to different levels of experience.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e40-e41
Author(s):  
Karina Deshaies-Poliquin ◽  
Laurence Arsenault-Blanchard ◽  
Alexandre Marceau ◽  
Richard Belanger ◽  
Simon Berthelot ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Cervical lymphadenitis is frequent in the paediatric population and usually the result of infectious agents. Management of likely bacterial acute cervical lymphadenitis (LBACL) mainly relies on expert advice and may vary widely from antibiotherapy to surgery as no official guidelines have been published over the last decade. OBJECTIVES To identify factors associated with favorable outcome in the management of LBACL in children in order to create a decision algorithm and its further evaluation. DESIGN/METHODS This retrospective observational study was based on the review of medical records of patient from 1 month to 18 years old who have consulted for LBACL between July 2010 and July 2015 at a tertiary care paediatric center. LBACL were identified using electronic record databases (hospitalization, emergency). Patients were included if they had acute (≤10 days) episode of unilateral cervical mass of which the final diagnosis was LBACL. Exclusion criteria were: mycobacterial adenitis, Kawasaki disease, Cat-scratch disease, bilateral cervical lymph node involvement, congenital malformation, immunodeficiency or underlying neoplasia. Favorable evolution was defined as outpatient treatment or hospital stay of 48 hours or less without surgical drainage. To identify factors at initial consultation predictive of a favorable outcome, we performed univariate logistic regression models with several potential independent covariates, including, among others, age (years), size of lymph node (mm), fever (38,5°C), an antibiotic use prior to consultation, fluctuation, absolute white blood cell count (x10^9/L), and purulent material at ultrasonography (yes/no). RESULTS Our final study cohort was composed of 166 patients with a mean age of 4,5 years (3,5SD) and 62% male. Ultrasound was obtained in 139(83,7%) patients and cervical tomodensitometry in 31(18,7%). Surgical drainage was performed in 35(21,1%). Overall, 68(41,0%) patients presented a favorable evolution from which 27(16,9%) were treated as outpatient (figure1). Factors associated with favorable outcome were (OR; 95%CI): age (1.17; 1.06–1.29; p=0.002), absolute white blood cell count (0.91; 0.87–0.96; p=0.001), no antibiotic use prior to consultation (0.26; 0.07–0.92; p=0.037) and absence of purulent material on ultrasound (0.07; 0.02–0.29; p<0.001). Size of lymph node (0.98; 0.96–1.00; p=0,057) or fluctuation (0.71; 0.21–2.39; p=0.57) did not achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSION Older patients without prior antibiotic use, those with lower absolute white blood cell count and no purulent material on ultrasound seem to better evolve than other children with likely bacterial acute cervical lymphadenitis. A decision algorithm to identify patients eligible for conservative management should include those predictive factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212098673
Author(s):  
Lyndsey S Benson ◽  
Jordan Stevens ◽  
Elizabeth A Micks ◽  
Sarah W Prager

Objectives: To describe leukocytosis trends during cervical preparation with osmotic dilators for second-trimester dilation and evacuation procedures, and to determine whether there is a difference in leukocytosis seen with laminaria versus Dilapan-S. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 986 women presenting for dilation and evacuation from April 2008 through March 2009 at an outpatient clinic network. We included all procedures at ⩾14 weeks’ gestation where laminaria or Dilapan-S dilators were used for overnight dilation. All women had routine white blood cell testing during the study period. Results: There was a median increase of 2.4 × 103/μL white blood cell count (95% confidence interval 2.2–2.7 × 103/μL) from beginning of cervical preparation to the day of procedure (95% confidence interval and p value). Women receiving laminaria ( n = 805) versus Dilapan-S ( n = 181) had a greater increase in white blood cell count from baseline (median increase 2.7 versus 1.2 × 103/μL, p < 0.001), including when adjusting for age, gestational age, parity, baseline white blood cell count, and number of dilators placed. Conclusion: There is increased leukocytosis during the course of cervical preparation with osmotic dilators, and this is increased with use of laminaria versus Dilapan-S. Rates of clinically recognized infection in second-trimester abortion are low regardless of dilator type used.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S436-S436
Author(s):  
Parvathi Radhakrishnan ◽  
Manini Vishwanath ◽  
Douglas Shemin ◽  
Joao Filipe G Monteiro ◽  
Erika M C D’Agata

Abstract Background Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are 2-2.5 times more likely to develop Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) with mortality rates 2-fold higher compared to the general population. The goal of this study was to determine factors and outcomes associated with severe/fulminant CDI among MHD patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed among MHD patients admitted to 2 tertiary care hospitals, with first episodes of CDI between January 2015 and December 2018. MHD patients who had CDI at admission were identified through Theradoc® and confirmed by electronic medical records review. Using the Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria, non-severe CDI was defined as a white blood cell count ≤ 15000 cells/mL and severe/fulminant CDI was defined as a white blood cell count of ≥ 15000 cells/mL, hypotension, shock, megacolon and/or ileus. Creatinine values were not included. Patient demographics, comorbidities, antimicrobial exposure and 60-day mortality were collected on all patients. Results A total of 103 MHD patients with CDI were identified during the study period, of whom 68 (66%) had non-severe CDI and 35 (34%) had severe/fulminant CDI. The average age at admission was 65.3 years, 48.5% were female, and 59.2% were Caucasian. The average albumin level was 3.1 g/dL, and the average Charlson comorbidity index was 6.8. On univariate analyses, risk factors associated with severe/fulminant CDI as compared to non-severe CDI were older age at admission, elevated white blood cell count, exposure to extended-spectrum penicillins in the previous 90 days, and 60-day mortality after the first CDI (p-value ≤0.05). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, three factors remained significantly associated with severe/fulminant CDI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval): 1] age ≥65 years (aOR=6.3 [2.25-17.45]), 2] extended-spectrum penicillins (aOR=2.7 [1.05-6.85], and 3] 60-day mortality after the first CDI (aOR=3.6 [1.11-11.74]). Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients requiring MHD with CDI present with severe/fulminant disease and are at increased risk of death. Reducing exposure to extended-spectrum penicillins may prevent severe/fulminant CDI in this patient population. Disclosures Joao Filipe G Monteiro, PhD, Brown Medicine (Consultant)


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Yitang Sun ◽  
Jingqi Zhou ◽  
Kaixiong Ye

Increasing evidence shows that white blood cells are associated with the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the direction and causality of this association are not clear. To evaluate the causal associations between various white blood cell traits and the COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, we conducted two-sample bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses with summary statistics from the largest and most recent genome-wide association studies. Our MR results indicated causal protective effects of higher basophil count, basophil percentage of white blood cells, and myeloid white blood cell count on severe COVID-19, with odds ratios (OR) per standard deviation increment of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.60–0.95), 0.70 (95% CI: 0.54–0.92), and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73–0.98), respectively. Neither COVID-19 severity nor susceptibility was associated with white blood cell traits in our reverse MR results. Genetically predicted high basophil count, basophil percentage of white blood cells, and myeloid white blood cell count are associated with a lower risk of developing severe COVID-19. Individuals with a lower genetic capacity for basophils are likely at risk, while enhancing the production of basophils may be an effective therapeutic strategy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 247553032110007
Author(s):  
Eric Munger ◽  
Amit K. Dey ◽  
Justin Rodante ◽  
Martin P. Playford ◽  
Alexander V. Sorokin ◽  
...  

Background: Psoriasis is associated with accelerated non-calcified coronary plaque burden (NCB) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been shown to effectively identify cardiometabolic variables with NCB in cross-sectional analysis. Objective: To use ML methods to characterize important predictors of change in NCB by CCTA in psoriasis over 1-year of observation. Methods: The analysis included 182 consecutive patients with 80 available variables from the Psoriasis Atherosclerosis Cardiometabolic Initiative, a prospective, observational cohort study at baseline and 1-year using the random forest regression algorithm. NCB was assessed at baseline and 1-year from CCTA. Results: Using ML, we identified variables of high importance in the context of predicting changes in NCB. For the cohort that worsened NCB (n = 102), top baseline variables were cholesterol (total and HDL), white blood cell count, psoriasis area severity index score, and diastolic blood pressure. Top predictors of 1-year change were change in visceral adiposity, white blood cell count, total cholesterol, c-reactive protein, and absolute lymphocyte count. For the cohort that improved NCB (n = 80), the top baseline variables were HDL cholesterol related including apolipoprotein A1, basophil count, and psoriasis area severity index score, and top predictors of 1-year change were change in apoA, apoB, and systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: ML methods ranked predictors of progression and regression of NCB in psoriasis over 1 year providing strong evidence to focus on treating LDL, blood pressure, and obesity; as well as the importance of controlling cutaneous disease in psoriasis.


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