BACKGROUND/AIMS: Frequent pathogens of nosocomial meningitis were investigated and the adequacy of empiric antibiotic therapy was assessed. Outcomes of nosocomial meningitis were also evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-one patients, who were diagnosed and treated for nosocomial meningitis at a single tertiary hospital in Daegu, Korea for 10 years, were included. Medical record and electronic laboratory data on the causative pathogens, antibiotics used, and outcomes were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (40.9%) was the most common pathogen, followed by Acinetobacter (32.5%). Both were cultured as a single organism in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Seventy-eight patients (85.7%) had infections related to external ventricular drains (EVD). The most common empirical antibiotics were extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics plus vancomycin (35/91, 38.6%). Of the 27 patients who had cultured Acinetobacter in CSF, 10 (37%) were given the wrong empirical antibiotic treatment. Seven of the 27 patients (26.9%) with cultured Acinetobacter died, and overall mortality of the 91 patients was 16.5%. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of combined septic shock (p < 0.001) and a persistent EVD state (p = 0.021) were associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Acinetobacter is one of the leading pathogens of nosocomial meningitis and may lead to inadequate coverage of empiric antibiotic therapy due to increasing resistance. An EVD should be removed early in cases of suspected nosocomial meningitis, and carbapenem might be required for the poor treatment response.
Acinetobacter/classification/*isolation & purification ; Acinetobacter Infections/cerebrospinal fluid/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/microbiology ; Cross Infection/cerebrospinal fluid/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/*therapy ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/cerebrospinal fluid/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections/cerebrospinal fluid/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Staphylococcus/classification/*isolation & purification ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Whether the causative organism influences the clinical course of pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU) is controversial. We assessed the clinical manifestations and prognosis of pneumonia according to the causative pathogens in patients in a medical ICU. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed in a medical ICU. Among 242 patients who were admitted to the ICU, 103 who were treated for pneumonia were analyzed. RESULTS: The causative pathogen was identified in 50 patients (49.0%); 22 patients (21.6%) had multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. The distribution of causative micro-organisms was Staphylococcus aureus (20%), Pseudomonas species (16%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (12%). No significant difference in ICU mortality rate, duration of ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or frequencies of re-intubation and tracheostomy were detected based on the identification of any pathogen. In sub-analyses according to the pneumonia classification, the number of pathogens identified did not differ between pneumonia types, and a higher incidence of identified MDR pathogens was detected in the hospital-acquired pneumonia group than in the community-acquired or healthcare- acquired pneumonia groups. However, the clinical outcomes of pneumonia according to identification status and type of pathogen did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the causative micro-organism nor the existence of MDR pathogens in critically ill patients with pneumonia was associated with the clinical outcome of pneumonia, including ICU mortality. This result was consistent regardless of the pneumonia classification.
Acinetobacter Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/therapy ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Critical Illness ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Klebsiella Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/therapy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/therapy ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Pseudomonas Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/therapy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/mortality/therapy ; Time Factors ; Tracheostomy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDHealthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is associated with drug-resistant pathogens and high mortality, and there is no clear evidence that this is due to inappropriate antibiotic therapy. This study was to elucidate the clinical features, pathogens, therapy, and outcomes of HCAP, and to clarify the risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens and prognosis.

METHODSRetrospective observational study among hospitalized patients with HCAP over 10 years. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause hospital mortality after admission. Demographics (age, gender, clinical features, and comorbidities), dates of admission, discharge and/or death, hospitalization costs, microbiological results, chest imaging studies, and CURB-65 were analyzed. Antibiotics, admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation, and pneumonia prognosis were recorded. Patients were dichotomized based on CURB-65 (low- vs. high-risk).

RESULTSAmong 612 patients (mean age of 70.7 years), 88.4% had at least one comorbidity. Commonly detected pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Initial monotherapy with β-lactam antibiotics was the most common initial therapy (50%). Mean age, length of stay, hospitalization expenses, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation use, malignancies, and detection rate for P. aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were higher in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group. CURB-65 ≥3, malignancies, and mechanical ventilation were associated with an increased mortality. Logistic regression analysis showed that cerebrovascular diseases and being bedridden were independent risk factors for HCAP.

CONCLUSIONInitial treatment of HCAP with broad-spectrum antibiotics could be an appropriate approach. CURB-65 ≥3, malignancies, and mechanical ventilation may result in an increased mortality.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; pathogenicity ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Community-Acquired Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; pathogenicity ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; pathogenicity

This study investigated predictors associated with 14-day mortality, and focused especially on the impact of appropriate antimicrobial treatment among patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) bacteremia. This retrospective study was performed at a tertiary care hospital in Korea from June 2007 to June 2010. Antibiotic therapy was considered appropriate if the antibiotics were administered via an appropriate route within 24 hr after the result of blood culture, had in vitro sensitivity to isolated strains, and of an adequate dosage according to the current guidelines. Ninety-five patients with A. baumannii bacteremia were included; of these, 53 (55.8%) were infected with CRAB. The overall infection-related 14-day mortality was higher in patients receiving inappropriate antimicrobial therapy than in patients receiving appropriate therapy (59.5% [22/37] vs 13.8% [8/58], P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that septic shock (OR 10.5, 95% CI, 1.93-57.4; P = 0.006), carbapenem-resistance (OR 7.29, 95% CI 1.57-33.8; P = 0.01), pneumonia as a source of bacteremia (OR 5.29, 95% CI 1.07-26.1; P = 0.04), and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (OR 8.05, 95% CI 1.65-39.2; P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for 14-day mortality. Early definite antimicrobial therapy had an influence on favorable outcomes in patients with A. baumannii bacteremia.
APACHE ; Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy/microbiology/*mortality ; Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; Diabetes Complications ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia/etiology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Shock, Septic/etiology ; Survival Rate