Background. Recent practice guidelines for the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) describe as an “unresolved issue” the number of lumens from which blood culture specimens ...should be drawn to make a conservative diagnosis of CRBSI. Our objective was to determine how many CRBSI episodes would be missed if not all catheter lumens were sampled. Methods. We performed a retrospective study (1 January 2003–31 May 2009) in patients with microbiologically proven CRBSI in which all available catheter lumens (those that did not contain clots) were used to draw blood culture samples. We calculated the number of episodes that would have been missed in double- and triple-lumen catheters if the culture of samples obtained from ⩾1 lumens had been eliminated. Results. We studied 171 episodes of proven CRBSI in 154 patients. Overall, if 1 lumen-associated culture had been eliminated for both double-lumen and triple-lumen catheters, we would have missed 27.2% and 15.8% of episodes of CRBSI, respectively. If we had eliminated 2 cultures for triple-lumen catheters, 37.3% of episodes would have been missed. Conclusions. Samples for blood culture should be obtained through all catheter lumens to establish a diagnosis of CRBSI.
Las infecciones por Cupriavidus spp. son poco frecuentes, especialmente en niños, causando infecciones en inmunodeprimidos o portadores de dispositivos intravasculares. Objetivo: Presentar un caso de ...bacteriemia recurrente relacionada con catéter por Cupriavidus pauculus en un paciente pediátrico para analizar posibles opciones terapéuticas, especialmente en relación con la necesidad o no de retirada de catéter venoso central (CVC). Caso Clínico: Niño de 22 meses con leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) tipo B en fase de reinducción, portador de un CVC. Consultó en Servicio de Urgencias por fiebre sin foco, sin elevación de reactantes de fase aguda. Se hospitalizó con antibioterapia intravenosa empírica con cefalosporina de 4ª generación (cefepime). En los hemocultivos diferenciales (sangre periférica y CVC) se identificó Cupriavidus pauculus, creciendo primero en el cultivo del CVC. Se mantuvo antibioterapia sistémica sin cambios y se iniciaron sellados del catéter con ciprofloxacino. La evolución fue favorable, resolviéndose la infección y permitiendo conservar el catéter. Siete meses después el paciente presentó otro episodio de fiebre sin foco, aislándose nuevamente Cupriavidus pauculus en el hemocultivo del CVC. En esta ocasión, además de cefepime intravenoso, se decidió retirar el CVC. Tras 9 meses de la retirada del CVC, no ha presentado nuevos episodios. Conclusión: Las infecciones por Cupriavidus spp. son raras en pediatría. El tratamiento sistémico asociado a sellados del CVC podría ser una opción segura en pacientes estables con dificultad para la retirada del catéter; aunque, ante la sospecha de colonización persistente del catéter, puede ser necesaria su retirada.
BACKGROUNDAbiotrophia spp. and Granulicatella spp. are Gram-positive cocci, formerly known as nutritionally variant or deficient Streptococcus. Their role as causative agents of infective ...endocarditis (IE) is numerically uncertain, as well as diagnostic and clinical management of this infection. The aim of our study is to describe the clinical, microbiological, therapeutic, and prognosis of patients with IE caused by these microorganisms in a large microbiology department. METHODSRetrospective analysis of all the patients with Abiotrophia spp. and Granulicatella spp. IE registered in our centre in the period 2004-2021. RESULTSOf the 822 IE in the study period, 10 (1.2%) were caused by Abiotrophia spp. (7) or Granulicatella spp. (3). The species involved were A.defectiva (7), G.adiacens (2) and G.elegans (1). Eight patients were male, their mean age was 46 years and four were younger than 21 years. The most frequent comorbidities were congenital heart disease (4; 40%) and the presence of intracardiac prosthetic material (5; 50%). IE occurred on 5 native valves and 5 prosthetic valve or material. Blood cultures were positive in 8/10 patients, within a mean incubation period of 18.07 hours. In the other two patients, a positive 16SPCR from valve or prosthetic material provided the diagnosis. Surgery for IE was performed in seven patients (70%) and in all cases positive 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing from valve or prosthetic material was demonstrated. Valves and/or prosthetic removed material cultures were positive in four patients. Nine patients received ceftriaxone (4 in monotherapy and 5 in combination with other antibiotics). The mean length of treatment was 6 weeks and IE-associated mortality was 20% at one year follow-up. CONCLUSIONSAbiotrophia spp. or Granulicatella spp. IE were infrequent but not exceptional in our environment and particularly affected patients with congenital heart disease or prosthetic material. Blood cultures and molecular methods allowed the diagnosis. Most of them required surgery and the associated mortality, in spite of a mean age of 46 years, was high.
We assessed the success rate of vancomycin catheter lock therapy (VLT) in combination with systemic antimicrobials in patients with staphylococcal catheter‐related bloodstream infection (C‐RBSI). ...Over a 6‐year period, we retrospectively collected clinical and microbiological data from patients with long‐term central venous catheters and staphylococcal C‐RBSI who were treated with systemic antimicrobials and VLT. We then assessed the success rate of VLT based on two criteria: 1) catheter retention time> 3 months and 2) catheter in place until end of use. We found 217 staphylococcal C‐RBSI episodes, 115 (53.0%) of which were managed with conservative therapy. Of these, 76 (66.1%) were treated with VLT (85.5% coagulase‐negative staphylococci and 14.5% Staphylococcus aureus). The success rate of VLT was 42.1% with criterion 1 and 71.1% with criterion 2. We did not find statistically significant differences between success and failure in the majority of the clinical data recorded. We only found differences for crude mortality in criterion 1 and for parenteral nutrition in criterion 2. The success of catheter retention using VLT was moderate, reaching slightly more than 70% when the catheter was kept in place until the end of use.
Catheter-related bacteriemia by Cupriavidus spp. is a rare condition with very few cases reported in the literature. Most of them occurred in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVETo report a case of ...recurrent catheter-related bacteriemia by Cupriavidus pauculus in an immunocompromised infant in order to analyze possible therapeutic options, especially in relation to the need or not for central venous catheter (CVC) removal. CLINICAL CASE22-month-old infant with B-cell acute lymphoblas tic leukemia (ALL) in reinduction phase, CVC carrier. He presented to the Emergency Room with fever without focus on examination. Blood tests were performed (without increase of acute phase reactants) and differential blood cultures (peripheral and CVC). He was hospitalized and empirical antibiotic therapy was started with intravenous fourth-generation cephalosporin (cefepime). After 24 hours, blood cultures were positive for Cupriavidus pauculus, growing first in the CVC culture. We maintained cefepime, adding catheter lock therapy with ciprofloxacin. Afterward, the infection was resolved, allowing us to keep the CVC. Seven months later, in the context of fever, Cupriavidus pauculus was again identified in CVC blood culture. We decided this time to remove the catheter, in addition to the administration of intravenous cefepime. The patient has not presented new episodes nine months after de removal of the CVC. CONCLUSIONCatheter-related bacteremia by Cupriavidus is a rare condition in children that usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. Catheter lock therapy associated with systemic antibiotics could be a safe option in patients with difficult CVC re moval. However, if persistent colonization of the CVC is suspected, it may be necessary to remove it.
The objectives of our study were to describe the characteristics of patients with
candidemia and to perform an in-depth microbiological characterization of isolates and compare them with those of ...patients with
candidemia. We described the risk factors and outcomes of 22 patients with candidemia caused by the
complex. Incident isolates were identified using molecular techniques, and susceptibility to fluconazole, anidulafungin, and micafungin was studied. Biofilm formation was measured using the crystal violet assay (biomass production) and the XTT reduction assay (metabolic activity), and virulence was studied using the
model. Biofilm formation was compared with that observed for
The main conditions predisposing to infection were malignancy (68%), immunosuppressive therapy (59%), and neutropenia (18%). Clinical presentation of candidemia was less severe in patients infected by the
complex than in patients infected by
, and 30-day mortality was lower in
patients (13.6% versus 33.9%, respectively;
= 0.049). Isolates were identified as
(
= 17) and
(
= 5). The isolates produced biofilms with low metabolic activity and moderate biomass. The
model showed that
was less virulent than
(mean of 6 days versus 1 day of survival, respectively;
< 0.001). Patients with candidemia caused by the
complex had severe and debilitating underlying conditions. Overall, the isolates showed diminished susceptibility to fluconazole and echinocandins, although poor biofilm formation and the low virulence were associated with a favorable outcome.
There is scarce information on the actual incidence of candidemia in COVID-19 patients. In addition, comparative studies of candidemia episodes in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients are ...heterogeneous. Here, we assessed the real incidence, epidemiology, and etiology of candidemia in COVID-19 patients, and compared them with those without COVID-19 (2020 vs. 2019 and 2020, respectively). We also genotyped all
,
, and
isolates (
= 88), causing candidemia in both groups, providing for the first time a genotypic characterization of isolates gathered in patients with either COVID-19 or non-COVID-19. Incidence of candidemia was higher in patients with COVID-19 than non-COVID-19 (4.73 vs. 0.85 per 1000 admissions; 3.22 vs. 1.14 per 10,000 days of stay). No substantial intergroup differences were found, including mortality. Genotyping proved the presence of a low number of patients involved in clusters, allowing us to rule out rampant patient-to-patient
transmission. The four patients, involved in two clusters, had catheter-related candidemia diagnosed in the first COVID-19 wave, which demonstrates breaches in catheter management policies occurring in such an overwhelming situation. In conclusion, the incidence of candidemia in patients with COVID-19 is significantly higher than in those without COVID-19. However, genotyping shows that this increase is not due to uncontrolled intrahospital transmission.
•Nocardiosis mainly affects elderly patients with chronic respiratory conditions and those under corticosteroid treatment.•Infections in HIV and solid organ transplantation patients have practically ...disappeared.•Nocardiosis most commonly affects the lungs.•Nocardiosis caused by N. farcinica is apparently a risk factor for poor clinical outcome.
To analyse relevant changes in incidence, clinical and microbiological characteristics of nocardiosis over the last 24 years at the current institution.
The clinical records of patients with nocardiosis (2006–2018) were reviewed and then compared with a previous cohort (1995–2006). Nocardia isolates were identified by 5’-end-16S-rRNA-gene-PCR targeting the first 500 bp of the gene and sequencing. Susceptibility tests were determined by broth microdilution (CLSI guidelines).
Forty-two patients (64.3% male) with nocardiosis were evaluated in the recent cohort: 51.2% had COPD, 43.9% were on corticosteroid therapy and 31.7% had cancer. The incidence of nocardiosis varied from 6.3 to 7.1/100,000 admissions (p = 0.62). There was a decrease in HIV patients (27% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.01) and solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients (18.9% vs. 2 .4%, p = 0.01). Cases with pulmonary involvement had increased (70.3% vs. 90.5%, p = 0.04). Nocardia species were similar but the most common were N. cyriacigeorgica (32.4% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.49) and N. farcinica (24.3% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.39). Antibiotic resistance remained stable: cotrimoxazole (10.8% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.68), imipenem (5.4% vs. 5.6%, p = 1.0); amikacin and linezolid were 100% active. No differences were found in breakthrough nocardiosis (21.6% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.21) or related mortality (21.6% vs. 21.4%, p = 1.0). The multivariate analysis confirmed that nocardiosis caused by N. farcinica is a risk factor for poor outcome (p = 0.045).
Nocardiosis incidence has remained stable. It mainly affected elderly patients with chronic respiratory conditions and those on corticosteroid treatment. Infections in HIV and SOT patients have practically disappeared. Pulmonary involvement remains the most common area to be affected. Nocardiosis caused by N. farcinica is apparently a risk factor for poor clinical outcome.
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