scholarly journals European intensive care physicians’ experience of infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Author(s):  
Alain Lepape ◽  
Astrid Jean ◽  
Jan De Waele ◽  
Arnaud Friggeri ◽  
Anne Savey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) compromises the treatment of patients with serious infections in intensive care units (ICUs), and intensive care physicians are increasingly facing patients with bacterial infections with limited or no adequate therapeutic options. A survey was conducted to assess the intensive care physicians’ perception of the AMR situation in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Methods Between May and July 2017, physicians working in European ICUs were invited to complete an online questionnaire hosted by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. The survey included 20 questions on hospital and ICU characteristics, frequency of infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and relevance of AMR in the respondent’s ICU, management of antimicrobial treatment as well as the use of last-line antibiotics in the six months preceding the survey. For the analysis of regional differences, EU/EEA countries were grouped into the four sub-regions of Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Europe. Results Overall, 1062 responses from four European sub-regions were analysed. Infections with MDR bacteria in their ICU were rated as a major problem by 257 (24.2%), moderate problem by 360 (33.9%) and minor problem by 391 (36.8%) respondents. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were the most frequently encountered MDR bacteria followed by, in order of decreasing frequency, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Perception of the relevance of the AMR problem and the frequency of specific MDR bacteria varied by European sub-region. Bacteria resistant to all or almost all available antibiotics were encountered by 132 (12.4%) respondents. Many physicians reported not having access to specific last-line antibiotics. Conclusions The percentage of European ICU physicians perceiving AMR as a substantial problem in their ICU is high with variation by sub-region in line with epidemiological studies. The reports of bacteria resistant to almost all available antibiotics and the limited availability of last-line antibiotics in ICUs in the EU/EEA are of concern.

Author(s):  
Hari P. Nepal ◽  
Rama Paudel

Carbapenems are beta-lactam drugs that have broadest spectrum of activity. They are commonly used as the drugs of last resort to treat complicated bacterial infections. They bind to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibit cell wall synthesis in bacteria. Important members that are in clinical use include doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem. Unlike other members, imipenem is hydrolyzed significantly by renal dehydropeptidase; therefore, it is administered together with an inhibitor of renal dehydropeptidase, cilastatin. Carbapenems are usually administered intravenously due to their low oral bioavailability. Most common side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, and reactions at the infusion sites. Increasing resistance to these antibiotics is being reported throughout the world and is posing a threat to public health.  Primary mechanisms of carbapenem resistance include expulsion of drug and inactivation of the drug by production of carbapenemases which may not only hydrolyze carbapenem, but also cephalosporin, penicillin, and aztreonam. Resistance especially among Gram negative bacteria is of much concern since there are only limited therapeutic options available for infections caused by carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Commonly used drugs to treat such infections include polymyxins, fosfomycin and tigecycline.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-450
Author(s):  
Xianchun Zhu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Youmei Huang ◽  
Huaping Zhang

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is one of the most common clinical drug-resistant bacteria, which is mainly related to the production of broad-spectrum beta lactamase and cephalosporin hydrolase. Carbapenems, an atypical beta lactam antibiotic, has been the most effective antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by KP in hospital. However, with the extensive application of carbapenem antibiotics in clinic, many reports on carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella Pneumonia (CRKP) have appeared in many parts of the world. The CRKP could cause a higher mortality and morbidity. Here, we report a 26-year-old male patient with severe traumatic brain injury who underwent intracranial infection caused by CRKP after craniocerebral operation. He was successfully cured with a combination of emergency craniotomy, multidisciplinary consultation, effective nursing and strict quarantine measures. In the present report, we emphasize the effective nursing and strict quarantine measures, which contribute to the treatment of bacterial infections caused by KP.


Author(s):  
Johanna M. Vanegas ◽  
Lorena Salazar-Ospina ◽  
Gustavo A. Roncancio ◽  
Julián Builes ◽  
Judy Natalia Jiménez

ABSTRACT The emergence of resistance mechanisms not only limits the therapeutic options for common bacterial infections but also worsens the prognosis in patients who have conditions that increase the risk of bacterial infections. Thus, the effectiveness of important medical advances that seek to improve the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases is threatened. We report the simultaneous colonization and bacteremia by multidrug-resistant bacteria in two hemodialysis patients. The first patient was colonized by carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The patient had a bacteremia by MRSA, and molecular typing methods confirmed the colonizing isolate was the same strain that caused infection. The second case is of a patient colonized by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During the follow-up period, the patient presented three episodes of bacteremia, one of these caused by ESBL-producing E. coli. Molecular methods confirmed colonization by the same clone of ESBL-producing E. coli at two time points, but with a different genetic pattern to the strain isolated from the blood culture. Colonization by multidrug-resistant bacteria allows not only the spread of these microorganisms, but also increases the subsequent risk of infections with limited treatments options. In addition to infection control measures, it is important to establish policies for the prudent use of antibiotics in dialysis units.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1639-1647
Author(s):  
Wardah Mohammad Akram ◽  
Godfred Antony Menezes ◽  
Nida Abbas ◽  
Wasim Ahmad ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed

The multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) infections in severely infected patients present numerous difficulties in terms of treatment failure where antibiotics cannot arrest such drug resistant bacteria. Based on the patient’s medical history and updated microbiological epidemiology data, an effective empirical treatment remains critical for optimal results to safeguard human health. The aim of this manuscript is to review management of MDR-Gram negative pathogenic bacterial infections. Quick diagnosis and narrow antimicrobial spectrum require rapid and timely diagnosis and effective laboratories in accordance with antimicrobial stewardship (AS) principles. Worldwide, there is an increased emergence of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Recently, novel therapeutic options, such as meropenem/vaborbactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, eravacycline and plazomicin became accessible to effectively counteract severe infections. Optimally using these delays the emergence of resistance to novel therapeutic agents. Further study is required, however, due to uncertainties in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics optimization of dosages and therapeutic duration in severely ill patients. The novel agents should be verified for (i) action on carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii; (ii) action on CRE of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors dependence on type of carbapenemase; (iii) emergence of resistance to novel antibacterials and dismiss selective pressure promoting development of resistance. Alternative treatments should be approached alike phage therapy or antibacterial peptides. The choice of empirical therapy is complicated by antibiotic resistance and can be combated by accurate antibiotic and their combinations usage, which is critical to patient survival. Noteworthy are local epidemiology, effective teamwork and antibiotic stewardship to guarantee that medications are utilized properly to counter the resistance.


Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih Aygun ◽  
Fatma Deniz Aygun ◽  
Fatih Varol ◽  
Cansu Durak ◽  
Haluk Çokuğraş ◽  
...  

Children in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are vulnerable to infections because invasive devices are frequently used during their admission. We aimed to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and prognosis of infections in our PICU. This retrospective study evaluated culture results from 477 paediatric patients who were treated in the PICU between January 2014 and March 2019. Ninety patients (18.9%) had bacterial infections, with gram-negative bacteria being the predominant infectious agents. Culture-positive patients were younger than culture-negative patients, and age was related to mortality and various clinical factors. Culture-positive bacterial infections in the PICU were associated with increased use of invasive mechanical ventilation (odds ratio(OR); 2.254), red blood cell (RBC) transfusions (OR:2.624), and inotropic drugs (OR:2.262). Carbapenem resistance was found in approximately one-third of gram-negative bacteria, and was most common in tracheal aspirate specimens and cases involving Klebsiella spp. Total parenteral nutrition was a significant risk factor (OR:5.870). Positive blood culture results were associated with poorer patient survival than other culture results. These findings indicate that infections, especially those involving carbapenem-resistant bacteria, are an important issue when treating critically ill children.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Walker

Procalcitonin is a promising biomarker for antibiotic therapy because its levels rise and fall quickly with bacterial infections. A multi-database literature search was reviewed with 3 primary prospective randomized control trials used in further analysis. The results indicated that a procalcitonin-guided antibiotic protocol reduces the number of days a patient has to take antibiotics while having no effect on mortality when compared with control groups. Short-term studies did not show a difference in the intensive care unit length of stay, infection relapse rate, super-infection rate, or multidrug-resistant bacteria rate between the procalcitonin-protocol and control group. Because procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy has been shown to reduce the duration of treatment with antibiotics in critically ill patients without worsening the mortality rate or other outcomes, the implementation of a procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy should be considered for patients with proven or highly suspected bacterial infections in the intensive care unit.


2013 ◽  
Vol 198 (5) ◽  
pp. 267-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Despina Kotsanas ◽  
W R P L I Wijesooriya ◽  
Tony M Korman ◽  
Elizabeth E Gillespie ◽  
Louise Wright ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Stela Braun ◽  
Marcia Silva

Carbapenem-resistant bacteria are a major cause of diabetic foot (DF) infection. They are resistant to almost all available antimicrobial agents and lead to increased hospital costs. The clinical and microbiological characteristics of DF infection due to these microorganisms and the association of DF with outcomes such as mortality and amputation are not yet well established. This was a retrospective cohort study involving 60 vascular surgery patients who were admitted to Nossa Senhora da Conceição Hospital due to DF infection caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria and who underwent debridement or amputation, and a control group with 60 randomly selected patients. The analyzed parameters were mortality and amputation rates and patients’ epidemiological and microbiological profiles. A significant association was observed between bacterial resistance and previous amputation, previous hospitalizations, and DF ulcer classification into ischemic and neuroischemic; however, there were no differences in mortality and amputation rates between the groups, even after using the Charlson comorbidity index. Although DF infections by carbapenem-resistant bacteria were not statistically associated with worse outcomes, their study is important given that there are few therapeutic options for treating these specific infections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-400
Author(s):  
Arzu Nazlı Zeka ◽  
Bilgin Arda ◽  
Oğuz Reşat Sipahi ◽  
Mehmet Uyar

Introduction: Management of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in intensive care units is challenging because of few treatment options and poor outcomes. In order to contribute to patients’ survival, the factors related to mortality in these infections were evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: In the 6-month study period, we included 60 patients with carbapenem resistant A. baumannii infections (45 ventilator associated pneumonia and 15 bacteremia) in two intensive care units of our hospital. We collected data of the patients prospectively. We noted demographic features of patients, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) , Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), Acute Kidney Injury (AKIN) scores, antibiotic treatments, clinical and microbiological outputs, and mortality rates during treatment and on the 30th day. Results: We observed that infections appeared at mean 11th day of the patients’ stay in the intensive care unit. Carbapenem resistant A. baumannii isolates were highly resistant to antibiotics except colistin. Only 9% of the patients had proper empirical treatment. Twenty five percent of the patients were dead before having a specific antibiotic treatment. Crude mortality rate was 66.7%, and 30th day mortality was 71.7%. The patients who had colistin and tigecycline combination had higher survival rates, but it was statistically insignificant. In univariate analysis high SOFA score (p= 0.0001), high procalcitonin level (p= 0.01), septic shock (p= 0.005), renal insufficiency (p= 0.005), rheumatological disease (p= 0.03) were related to higher mortality. We detected high SOFA score on the first day of infection as the only mortality related factor in multivariate analysis (p= 0.012). The patients who had higher mortality were those with delayed (> 3 days) proper antimicrobial treatment (p= 0.03). Conclusion: In our study, the high SOFA score on the first day of infection in intensive care units was found as a risk factor for mortality. We suggest that prompt administration of the proper antibiotic treatment to the patients who have risk factors for carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infection can contribute to survival.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (45) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heli Harvala ◽  
Aftab Jasir ◽  
Pasi Penttinen ◽  
Lucia Pastore Celentano ◽  
Donato Greco ◽  
...  

Enteroviruses (EVs) cause severe outbreaks of respiratory and neurological disease as illustrated by EV-D68 and EV-A71 outbreaks, respectively. We have mapped European laboratory capacity for identification and characterisation of non-polio EVs to improve preparedness to respond to (re)-emerging EVs linked to severe disease. An online questionnaire on non-polio EV surveillance and laboratory detection was submitted to all 30 European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Twenty-nine countries responded; 26 conducted laboratory-based non-polio EV surveillance, and 24 included neurological infections in their surveillance. Eleven countries have established specific surveillance for EV-D68 via sentinel influenza surveillance (n = 7), typing EV-positive respiratory samples (n = 10) and/or acute flaccid paralysis surveillance (n = 5). Of 26 countries performing non-polio EV characterisation/typing, 10 further characterised culture-positive EV isolates, whereas the remainder typed PCR-positive but culture-negative samples. Although 19 countries have introduced sequence-based EV typing, seven still rely entirely on virus isolation. Based on 2015 data, six countries typed over 300 specimens mostly by sequencing, whereas 11 countries characterised under 50 EV-positive samples. EV surveillance activity varied between EU/EEA countries, and did not always specifically target patients with neurological and/or respiratory infections. Introduction of sequence-based typing methods is needed throughout the EU/EEA to enhance laboratory capacity for the detection of EVs.


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