This study examines hospitalizations and deaths associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant compared with matched patients infected with the Delta variant.
Summary Background Many meta-analyses have shown reductions in infection rates and mortality associated with the use of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) or selective oropharyngeal ...decontamination (SOD) in intensive care units (ICUs). These interventions have not been widely implemented because of concerns that their use could lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens. We aimed to assess the effect of SDD and SOD on antimicrobial resistance rates in patients in ICUs. Methods We did a systematic review of the effect of SDD and SOD on the rates of colonisation or infection with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in patients who were critically ill. We searched for studies using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases, with no limits by language, date of publication, study design, or study quality. We included all studies of selective decontamination that involved prophylactic application of topical non-absorbable antimicrobials to the stomach or oropharynx of patients in ICUs, with or without additional systemic antimicrobials. We excluded studies of interventions that used only antiseptic or biocide agents such as chlorhexidine, unless antimicrobials were also included in the regimen. We used the Mantel-Haenszel model with random effects to calculate pooled odds ratios. Findings We analysed 64 unique studies of SDD and SOD in ICUs, of which 47 were randomised controlled trials and 35 included data for the detection of antimicrobial resistance. When comparing data for patients in intervention groups (those who received SDD or SOD) versus data for those in control groups (who received no intervention), we identified no difference in the prevalence of colonisation or infection with Gram-positive antimicrobial-resistant pathogens of interest, including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (odds ratio 1·46, 95% CI 0·90–2·37) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (0·63, 0·39–1·02). Among Gram-negative bacilli, we detected no difference in aminoglycoside-resistance (0·73, 0·51–1·05) or fluoroquinolone-resistance (0·52, 0·16–1·68), but we did detect a reduction in polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (0·58, 0·46–0·72) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (0·33, 0·20–0·52) in recipients of selective decontamination compared with those who received no intervention. Interpretation We detected no relation between the use of SDD or SOD and the development of antimicrobial-resistance in pathogens in patients in the ICU, suggesting that the perceived risk of long-term harm related to selective decontamination cannot be justified by available data. However, our study indicates that the effect of decontamination on ICU-level antimicrobial resistance rates is understudied. We recommend that future research includes a non-crossover, cluster randomised controlled trial to assess long-term ICU-level changes in resistance rates. Funding None.
IMPORTANCE: Nursing home residents have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prevention recommendations emphasize frequent testing of health care personnel and ...residents, but additional strategies are needed. OBJECTIVE: To develop a reproducible index of nursing home crowding and determine whether crowding was associated with COVID-19 cases and mortality in the first months of the COVID-19 epidemic. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based retrospective cohort study included more than 78 000 residents across more than 600 nursing homes in Ontario, Canada, and was conducted from March 29 to May 20, 2020. EXPOSURES: The nursing home crowding index equaled the mean number of residents per bedroom and bathroom. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases confirmed by a validated nucleic acid amplification assay and mortality per 100 residents; the introduction of COVID-19 into a home (≥1 resident case) was a negative tracer. RESULTS: Of 623 homes in Ontario, we obtained complete information on 618 homes (99%) housing 78 607 residents (women, 54 160 68.9%; age ≥85 years, 42 919 54.6%). A total of 5218 residents (6.6%) developed COVID-19 infection, and 1452 (1.8%) died of COVID-19 infection as of May 20, 2020. COVID-19 infection was distributed unevenly across nursing homes; 4496 infections (86%) occurred in 63 homes (10%). The crowding index ranged across homes from 1.3 (mainly single-occupancy rooms) to 4.0 (exclusively quadruple occupancy rooms); 308 homes (50%) had a high crowding index (≥2). Incidence in high crowding index homes was 9.7% vs 4.5% in low crowding index homes (P < .001), while COVID-19 mortality was 2.7% vs 1.3%, respectively (P < .001). The likelihood of COVID-19 introduction did not differ (high = 31.3% vs low = 30.2%; P = .79). After adjustment for regional, nursing home, and resident covariates, the crowding index remained associated with an increased incidence of infection (relative risk RR = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.10-2.72) and mortality (RR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.99-2.87). A propensity score analysis yielded similar conclusions for infection (RR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.30-3.38) and mortality (RR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09-3.08). Simulations suggested that converting all 4-bed rooms to 2-bed rooms would have averted 998 COVID-19 cases (19.1%) and 263 deaths (18.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort of Canadian nursing homes, crowding was common and crowded homes were more likely to experience larger and deadlier COVID-19 outbreaks.
IMPORTANCE: As a result of low numbers of pediatric cases early in the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains an understudied topic. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ...there are differences in the odds of household transmission by younger children compared with older children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based cohort study took place between June 1 and December 31, 2020, in Ontario, Canada. Private households in which the index case individual of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was younger than 18 years were included. Individuals were excluded if they resided in apartments missing suite information, in households with multiple index cases, or in households where the age of the index case individual was missing. EXPOSURES: Age group of pediatric index cases categorized as 0 to 3, 4 to 8, 9 to 13, and 14 to 17 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Household transmission, defined as households where at least 1 secondary case occurred 1 to 14 days after the pediatric index case. RESULTS: A total of 6280 households had pediatric index cases, and 1717 households (27.3%) experienced secondary transmission. The mean (SD) age of pediatric index case individuals was 10.7 (5.1) years and 2863 (45.6%) were female individuals. Children aged 0 to 3 years had the highest odds of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to household contacts compared with children aged 14 to 17 years (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.17-1.75). This association was similarly observed in sensitivity analyses defining secondary cases as 2 to 14 days or 4 to 14 days after the index case and stratified analyses by presence of symptoms, association with a school/childcare outbreak, or school/childcare reopening. Children aged 4 to 8 years and 9 to 13 years also had increased odds of transmission (aged 4-8 years: odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18-1.67; aged 9-13 years: odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.97-1.32). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study suggests that younger children may be more likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with older children, and the highest odds of transmission was observed for children aged 0 to 3 years. Differential infectivity of pediatric age groups has implications for infection prevention within households, as well as schools/childcare, to minimize risk of household secondary transmission. Additional population-based studies are required to establish the risk of transmission by younger pediatric index cases.
Background. Reported allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics is common and often leads to unnecessary avoidance in patients who could tolerate these antibiotics. We prospectively evaluated the impact of ...these reported allergies on clinical outcomes. Methods. We conducted a trainee-led prospective cohort study to determine the burden and clinical impact of reported beta-lactam allergy on patients seen by infectious diseases consultation services at 3 academic hospitals. The primary outcome was a composite measure of readmission for the same infection, acute kidney injury, Clostridium difficile infection, or drug-related adverse reactions requiring discontinuation. Predictors of interest were history of beta-lactam allergy and receipt of preferred beta-lactam therapy. Results. Among 507 patients, 95 (19%) reported beta-lactam allergy; preferred therapy was a beta-lactam in 72 (76%). When betalactam therapy was preferred, 25 (35%) did not receive preferred therapy due to their report of allergy even though 13 (52%) reported non-severe prior reactions. After adjustment for confounders, patients who did not receive preferred beta-lactam therapy were at greater risk of adverse events (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 3.1; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.28–7.89) compared with those without reported allergy. In contrast, patients who received preferred beta-lactam therapy had a similar risk of adverse events compared with patients not reporting allergy (aOR, 1.33; 95% CI, .62–2.87). Conclusions. Avoidance of preferred beta-lactam therapy in patients who report allergy is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Development of inpatient programs aimed at accurately identifying beta-lactam allergies to safely promote beta-lactam administration among these patients is warranted.
•Candida colonization is associated with an increased chance of invasive Candida infection as a cause of sepsis in critically ill patients.•A lack of history of Candida colonization is helpful to ...rule out Candida as a cause of sepsis.•A history of Candida colonization has a low positive predictive value for ruling in Candida as a cause of sepsis.
Candida colonization is a risk factor for the development of invasive candidiasis. This study sought to estimate the magnitude of this association, and determine if this information can be used to guide empirical antifungal therapy initiation in critically ill septic patients.
PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase were systematically reviewed for all published studies evaluating predictors of invasive candidiasis in ICU patients with sepsis. Meta-analysis was used to determine the pooled odds ratio for invasive candidiasis among colonized versus non-colonized patients. Sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), and positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR, ―LR) were then calculated by considering the presence/absence of Candida colonization as the diagnostic test, and the presence/absence of invasive candidiasis as the disease of interest.
Out of 9825 patients in the 10 eligible studies, 3886 (40%) were colonized with Candida and 462 patients (4.7%) developed invasive candidiasis. Meta-analysis indicated that critically ill patients with sepsis who are colonized with candida are more likely to develop invasive candidiasis (odds ratio 3.32; 95% CI 1.68–6.58) compared with non-colonized patients. The pooled SN was 75.2% (95% CI 59.6–86.2%), while the pooled SP was 49.2% (95% CI 33.2–65.3%).The NPV of Candida colonization was high (96.9%; 95% CI 92.0–98.9%), but the PPV was low (9.1%; 95% CI 5.5–14.6%).
Candida colonization is strongly associated with the likelihood of invasive candidiasis among ICU patients with sepsis. Available data argue against initiating empirical antifungal treatment in non-neutropenic septic patients without prior documented Candida colonization.
Initial antimicrobial management of sepsis Niederman, Michael S; Baron, Rebecca M; Bouadma, Lila ...
Critical care (London, England),
08/2021, Letnik:
25, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Sepsis is a common consequence of infection, associated with a mortality rate > 25%. Although community-acquired sepsis is more common, hospital-acquired infection is more lethal. The most common ...site of infection is the lung, followed by abdominal infection, catheter-associated blood steam infection and urinary tract infection. Gram-negative sepsis is more common than gram-positive infection, but sepsis can also be due to fungal and viral pathogens. To reduce mortality, it is necessary to give immediate, empiric, broad-spectrum therapy to those with severe sepsis and/or shock, but this approach can drive antimicrobial overuse and resistance and should be accompanied by a commitment to de-escalation and antimicrobial stewardship. Biomarkers such a procalcitonin can provide decision support for antibiotic use, and may identify patients with a low likelihood of infection, and in some settings, can guide duration of antibiotic therapy. Sepsis can involve drug-resistant pathogens, and this often necessitates consideration of newer antimicrobial agents.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on the incidence of infectious diseases and medical care. This study aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-level antibiotic use.
...Using national antibiotic dispensing data from IQVIA's CompuScript database, this ecological study investigated antibiotic dispensing through community retail pharmacies in Canada from November 2014 to October 2020. Analyses were stratified by age, sex, prescription origin and approximate indication.
Adjusting for seasonality, the national rate of antibiotic dispensing in Canada decreased by 26.5% (50.4 to 37.0 average prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants) during the first 8 months of the Canadian COVID-19 period (March to October 2020), compared with the pre-COVID-19 period. Prescribing rates in children ≤18 years decreased from 43.7 to 12.2 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants in males (–72%) and from 46.8 to 14.9 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants in females (–68%) in April 2020. Rates in adults ≥65 decreased from 74.9 to 48.8 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants in males (–35%) and from 91.7 to 61.3 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants in females (–33%) in May 2020. Antibiotic prescriptions from family physicians experienced a greater decrease than from surgeons and infectious disease physicians. Prescribing rates for antibiotics for respiratory indications decreased by 56% in May 2020 (29.2 to 12.8 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants), compared with prescribing rates for urinary tract infections (9.4 to 7.8 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants; –17%) and skin and soft tissue infections (6.4 to 5.2 prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants; –19%).
The first 8 months of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced community antibiotic dispensing by 26.5% in Canada, compared with the marginal decrease of 3% in antibiotic consumption between 2015 and 2019. Further research is needed to understand the implications and long-term effects of the observed reductions on antibiotic use on antibiotic resistance in Canada.
The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for bloodstream infections is unknown. Shorter durations of therapy have been demonstrated to be as effective as longer durations for many common ...infections; similar findings in bacteremia could enable hospitals to reduce antibiotic utilization, adverse events, resistance and costs.
A search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases was conducted for the years 1947-2010. Controlled trials were identified that randomized patients to shorter versus longer durations of treatment for bacteremia, or the infectious foci most commonly causing bacteremia in critically ill patients (catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), intra-abdominal infections, pneumonia, pyelonephritis and skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI)).
Twenty-four eligible trials were identified, including one trial focusing exclusively on bacteremia, zero in catheter related bloodstream infection, three in intra-abdominal infection, six in pyelonephritis, thirteen in pneumonia and one in skin and soft tissue infection. Thirteen studies reported on 227 patients with bacteremia allocated to 'shorter' or 'longer' durations of treatment. Outcome data were available for 155 bacteremic patients: neonatal bacteremia (n = 66); intra-abdominal infection (40); pyelonephritis (9); and pneumonia (40). Among bacteremic patients receiving shorter (5-7 days) versus longer (7-21 days) antibiotic therapy, no significant difference was detected with respect to rates of clinical cure (45/52 versus 47/49, risk ratio 0.88, 95% confidence interval CI 0.77-1.01), microbiologic cure (28/28 versus 30/32, risk ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.91-1.21), and survival (15/17 versus 26/29, risk ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.76-1.23).
No significant differences in clinical cure, microbiologic cure and survival were detected among bacteremic patients receiving shorter versus longer duration antibiotic therapy. An adequately powered randomized trial of bacteremic patients is needed to confirm these findings.
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