Patients with serious injection drug use related infections who experience patient directed discharges on oral antibiotics have high rates of antibiotic adherence but require multidisciplinary outpatient support for retention in care

Background Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are frequently admitted for serious injection related infections (SIRI). Outcomes and adherence to oral antibiotics for PWID with patient directed discharge (PDD) remain understudied. Methods We conducted a prospective multicenter bundled quality improvement project of PWID with SIRI at 3 hospitals in Missouri. All PWID with SIRI were offered multidisciplinary care while inpatient, including the option of addiction medicine consultation and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). All patients were offered oral antibiotics in the event of a PDD either at discharge, or immediately after discharge through an ID telemedicine clinic. Additional support services included health coaches, therapist, case manager, free clinic follow up, and medications in an outpatient bridge program. Patient demographics, comorbidities, 90-day readmissions, and substance use disorder clinic follow up were compared between PWID with PDD on oral antibiotics and those that completed IV antibiotics, using an as treated approach. Results Of 166 PWID with SIRI, 61 completed IV antibiotics inpatient (37%) while 105 had a PDD on oral antibiotics (63%). There was no significant difference in 90-day readmission rates between groups (p=0.819). For PWID with a PDD on oral antibiotics, 7.6% had documented non-adherence to antibiotics, 67% had documented adherence and 23% were lost to follow-up. Factors protective against readmission included antibiotic and MOUD adherence, engagement with support team, and clinic follow up. Conclusions PWID with SIRI who experience a PDD should be provided with oral antibiotics. Multidisciplinary outpatient support services are needed for PWID with PDD on oral antibiotics.

Sequential Intravenous-Oral Therapy for Pediatric Streptococcus anginosus Intracranial Infections

Introduction Streptococcus anginosus group is a common cause of pediatric intracranial infections but treatment recommendations, including use of oral therapy, are poorly defined. Methods We performed a retrospective review from 2004-2019 of all patients with Streptococcus anginosus group pyogenic intracranial infections at Children’s Hospital Colorado, highlighting patients transitioned to oral therapy. The primary endpoint was worsening infection necessitating intravenous antibiotics or a source control procedure after transition to oral therapy. Results Of 107 patients with Streptococcus anginosus intracranial infections, 61 were transitioned to exclusive oral therapy after a median intravenous duration of 37 days, overwhelmingly with a levofloxacin-based regimen. Only one failure was noted in a patient who did not fill their prescription. Patients with epidural infections were more likely to be transitioned to oral therapy within the first 28 days of treatment (defined as “early”). Patients with parenchymal infections, bacteremia, co-pathogens, higher inflammatory markers, and requiring >1 source control procedure were less likely to be transitioned early to oral therapy. Complications of a central catheter and/or intravenous medications contributed to 56% of oral transitions. Conclusions Levofloxacin-based oral regimens were effective and well-tolerated. Patients with less severe infections were more likely to be transitioned early to oral therapy. Criteria for transitioning patients to oral antibiotics for intracranial infections should be established to minimize risks inherent with central catheters.

A Case of Successful Endovascular Aortic Repair of Primary Aortoenteric Fistula Without Aortic Explantation

Purpose: The objective of this study is to report a case of a primary aortoenteric fistula successfully treated with endovascular repair without aortic explant. Case Report: A 48-year-old man presented with a 24-hour history of hematemesis and malena. A computed tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a 6 cm infrarenal aortic aneurysm with periaortic stranding and contrast enhancement within the lumen of the third part of the duodenum. The patient underwent emergency Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR). The patient was discharged on day 8 of his admission on oral antibiotics. He returned 7 weeks postindex procedure and underwent a laparotomy with omental patch repair of the aortic defect. Intraoperative cultures grew candida albicans, and the patient was discharged on lifelong oral Fluconazole and Amoxycillin-Clavulanic Acid. At 18 months postoperatively, the patient was clinically stable with improved appearances on CT aortogram. Conclusion: We discuss the use of EVAR without aortic explant as a possible treatment option in the management of patient with primary aortoenteric fistulae. This may potentially avoid the significant morbidity and mortality associated with aortic explant in suitable candidates without perioperative signs of sepsis.

A Commentary on the “Duration of Oral Antibiotics Administration for Cetuximab-Induced Acneiform Eruption”

Acneiform eruption is a devastating cutaneous side effect of cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat a variety of cancers. Despite its effectiveness, many patients avoid or discontinue it after experiencing its dermatological side effects as it negatively impacts their quality of life (QoL). This displays the immense need for multidisciplinary collaboration to prevent and treat cetuximab-induced acneiform eruption (CIAE). Prevention methods include, but are not limited to, education, skin care routines, and prophylactic drugs. The following measures reduce the likelihood of developing CIAE and decrease its severity, making it easier to treat if it were to occur. Ongoing research on the treatment of CIAE continues. Of these treatments, oral tetracyclines and systemic corticosteroids have been shown to be the most effective by far. This commentary aims to evaluate the study by Park et al. [Dermatology. 2021;237(3):457–63], further elaborate on prevention and treatment measures of CIAE, and highlight the implications of CIAE on a patient’s QoL.

Oral and Parenteral versus Parenteral Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Resection: An Intervention Review with Meta-Analysis

This study aims to systematically assess the efficacy of parenteral and oral antibiotic prophylaxis compared to parenteral-only prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer resection. Published and unpublished randomized clinical trials comparing the use of oral and parenteral prophylactic antibiotics versus parenteral-only antibiotics in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were collected searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, SCIENCE CITATION INDEX EXPANDED) without limits of date, language, or any other search filter. The outcomes included SSIs and other infectious and noninfectious postoperative complications. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials (RoB 2). A total of six studies involving 2252 patients were finally included, with 1126 cases in the oral and parenteral group and 1126 cases in the parenteral-only group. Meta-analysis results showed a statistically significant reduction of SSIs (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.72; p < 0.0001) and anastomotic leakage (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.91; p = 0.02) in the group of patients receiving oral antibiotics in addition to intravenous (IV) antibiotics compared to IV alone. Our meta-analysis shows that a combination of oral antibiotics and intravenous antibiotics significantly lowers the incidence of SSI compared with intravenous antibiotics alone.

Pediatric Medication Noninitiation in Spain

OBJECTIVES To estimate medication noninitiation prevalence in the pediatric population and identify the explanatory factors underlying this behavior. METHODS Observational study of patients (&lt;18 years old) receiving at least 1 new prescription (28 pharmaceutical subgroups; July 2017 to June 2018) in Catalonia, Spain. A prescription was considered new when there was no prescription for the same pharmaceutical subgroup in the previous 6 months. Noninitiation occurred when a prescription was not filled within 1 month or 6 months (sensitivity analysis). Prevalence was estimated as the proportion of total prescriptions not initiated. To identify explanatory factors, a multivariable multilevel logistic regression model was used, and adjusted odds ratios were reported. RESULTS Overall, 1 539 003 new prescriptions were issued to 715 895 children. The overall prevalence of 1-month noninitiation was 9.0% (ranging from 2.6% [oral antibiotics] to 21.5% [proton pump inhibitors]), and the prevalence of 6-month noninitiation was 8.5%. Noninitiation was higher in the youngest and oldest population groups, in children from families with a 0% copayment rate (vulnerable populations) and those with conditions from external causes. Out-of-pocket costs of drugs increased the odds of noninitiation. The odds of noninitiation were lower when the prescription was issued by a pediatrician (compared with a primary or secondary care clinician). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of noninitiation of medical treatments in pediatrics is high and varies according to patients’ ages and medical groups. Results suggest that there are inequities in access to pharmacologic treatments in this population that must be taken into account by health care planners and providers.

Causes and Management of Acute Pyelonephritis

Acute pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that causes kidney inflammation. Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection that develops as a result of an ascending urinary tract infection that travels from the bladder to the kidneys. Acute pyelonephritis affects over 250,000 people each year, resulting in more than 100,000 hospitalizations. Infection with Escherichia coli is the most prevalent cause. Fever, vomiting, abdomen or loin discomfort, and fatigue are all symptoms of acute pyelonephritis, however Fever is the most clinically useful symptom. Escherichia coli is the causative agent in more than 80% of instances of acute pyelonephritis. Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and enterococci are among the other etiologic factors. While Infections caused by Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Clostridium, or Candida are more common in diabetic patients. Acute pyelonephritis can be treated as an outpatient or as an inpatient procedure. Outpatient treatment is available for healthy, young, non-pregnant women with uncomplicated pyelonephritis. The choice of first-line oral antibiotics depends on local antibiotic resistance characteristics, although trimethoprim alone or in combination with sulphamethoxazole, cephalexin, or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. In this article we will be looking the causes and management of acute pyelonephritis.

Intravitreal moxifloxacin in acute post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis: a case report

Background: Vancomycin and ceftazidime are commonly used intravitreal antibiotics to treat acute post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis. However, they are not commercially available in appropriate therapeutic dose for intravitreal injection. Moxifloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is commercially available in appropriate therapeutic dose for intravitreal injection, thus providing a rationale for its use in acute post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis.Case presentation: A 46-year-old female presented with blurred vision, redness, and pain in the right eye 5 days after phacoemulsification. Visual acuity was hand movement and conjunctival and circumcorneal injection, corneal oedema, anterior chamber reaction, and vitreous opacities were observed. The patient was treated with intravitreal moxifloxacin 500 μg/0.1 ml, vitrectomy, and topical and oral antibiotics. Visual acuity improved to 6/15 and follow-up at 5 weeks did not reveal any signs of intraocular inflammation.Conclusion: Intravitreal moxifloxacin is an alternative in the treatment of acute post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis.

Use of antibiotics and colorectal cancer risk: a primary care nested case–control study in Belgium

ObjectivesTo examine the association between the use of oral antibiotics and subsequent colorectal cancer risk.DesignMatched case–control study.SettingGeneral practice centres participating in the Integrated Computerised Network database in Flanders, Belgium.ParticipantsIn total, 1705 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 01 January 2010 and 31 December 2015 were matched to 6749 controls by age, sex, comorbidity and general practice centre.Primary outcome measureThe association between the number of prescriptions for oral antibiotics and the incidence of colorectal cancer over a period of 1–10 years, estimated by a conditional logistic regression model.ResultsA significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.44) was found in subjects with one or more prescriptions compared with those with none after correction for diabetes mellitus. No dose-response relationship was found.ConclusionsThis study resulted in a modestly higher risk of having colorectal cancer diagnosed after antibiotic exposure. The main limitation was missing data on known risk factors, in particular smoking behaviour. This study did not allow us to examine the causality of the relationship, indicating the need of further investigation.

Topical or oral antibiotics for children with acute otitis media presenting with ear discharge: study protocol of a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

BackgroundAround 15%–20% of children with acute otitis media present with ear discharge due to a spontaneous tear or perforation of the eardrum (AOMd). Current guidance recommends clinicians to consider oral antibiotics as first-line treatment in this condition. The opening in the eardrum however should allow topical antibiotics to enter the middle ear directly. Local administration of antibiotics does not expose children to systemic side effects and may put less selective resistance pressure on bacteria. Evidence on the effectiveness of this approach in children with AOMd is lacking.Methods and analysisA primary care-based, open, individually randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. The trial aims to recruit 350 children aged 6 months to 12 years with AOMd and ear pain and/or fever. Participants will be randomised to 7 days of hydrocortisone-bacitracin-colistin eardrops five drops three times daily or amoxicillin oral suspension 50 mg/kg body weight per day, divided over three doses. Parents will keep a daily diary of AOM symptoms, adverse events and complications for 2 weeks. In addition, they will record AOM recurrences, healthcare utilisation and societal costs for 3 months. The primary outcome is the proportion of children without ear pain and fever at day 3. Secondary outcomes include ear pain and fever intensity/severity; days with ear discharge; eardrum perforation at 2 weeks; adverse events during first 2 weeks; costs; and cost effectiveness at 2 weeks and 3 months. The primary analyses will be intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be conducted as well.Ethics and disseminationThe medical research ethics committee Utrecht, The Netherlands has given ethical approval (17-400/G-M). Parents/guardians of participants will provide written informed consent. Study results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed medical journals and presented at relevant (inter)national scientific meetings.Trial registration numberThe Netherlands National Trial Register; NTR6723. Date of registration: 27 November 2017.