Our objective was to assess the clinical factors that would reliably distinguish methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) endocarditis. A retrospective cohort study of clinical features and mortality in patients with MRSA and MSSA endocarditis between March 1986 and March 2004 was performed in a 750-bed, tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 32 patients (10 MRSA [31.3%] vs 22 MSSA [68.7%]) were evaluated. Their mean age and sex ratio (male/female) were as follows: 30.8 +/- 16.0 vs 24.4 +/- 19.6 years old and 6/4 vs 13/9, for MRSA and MSSA infective endocarditis (IE), respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that persistent bacteremia was significantly more prevalent in MRSA IE (OR, 10.0 [1.480- 67.552]; p, 0.018). There was a higher mortality trend for MRSA IE (50.0%) than for MSSA IE (9.1%) (p=0.019). However, persistent bacteremia was not associated with higher mortality (p > 0.05). These results indicate that if persistent bacteremia is documented, the likelihood of MRSA endocarditis should be viewed as high, and the patient's anti- staphylococcal therapy should be prolonged and/or changed to a more "potent" regimen.
Adult ; Bacteremia/drug therapy/microbiology ; Cohort Studies ; Comparative Study ; Endocarditis, Bacterial/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Methicillin Resistance ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects

We investigated the combined effect of glutamine (GLN) and growth hormone (GH) on bacterial translocation (BT) in sepsis. After single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg), 48 rats were divided randomly into four groups of 12 animals each: the control group received chow orally; the GLN group received chow plus 10% GLN; GH group received chow plus GH; and the GLN/GH group received chow, 10% GLN, and GH. Twenty-four and 96 hr later, rats were sacrificed. Portal blood culture, bacterial colony counts of cultured mesenteric lymph nodes, mucosal thickness, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels in the gut mucosa were measured. There was no significant change of the rate of portal blood culture between all treatment groups at 24 and 96 hr. At 24 hr, the rats receiving combined treatment of GLN and GH showed lower bacterial colony counts and mucosal MDA levels than the control rats, and higher mucosal GSH levels than the control and GLN-treated rats. At 96 hr, rats treated with both GLN and GH exhibited lower bacterial colony counts and mucosal MDA levels, and higher mucosal thickness and GSH levels than control, GLN, or GH-treated rats. This study suggests that the combination of GLN and GH may synergistically reduce BT over time in sepsis.
Animals ; Bacteremia/etiology ; Bacteremia/microbiology ; Bacteremia/prevention & control ; Bacterial Translocation/drug effects* ; Comparative Study ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Synergism ; Endotoxemia/drug therapy* ; Endotoxemia/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification* ; Glutamine/pharmacology* ; Glutamine/therapeutic use ; Glutathione/analysis ; Human Growth Hormone/pharmacology* ; Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use ; Ileum/microbiology ; Ileum/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Lymph Nodes/microbiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Sepsis/microbiology ; Sepsis/prevention & control* ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phylogenetics and prevalence of bloodstream infections with ST131, the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the pathogens, and the clinical features. METHODS: Non-duplicate isolates were collected from 144 patients with bloodstream infections in our hospital between January and December, 2016.The phylogenetic groups of the isolates were analyzed using multiplex PCR, and O serotyping of ST131 strains was performed by allele-specific PCR.The clinical characteristics of the 144 patients were analyzed to define the differences in the clinical features between patients with ST131 infection and those with non-ST131 infection.Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined using the Vitek 2 compact system. RESULTS: The phylogenetic group analysis showed a domination by group B2 (41.0%[59/144]), followed by group F, group B1 and group E, which accounted for 16.7%(24/144), 13.9%(20/144), and 13.2% (19/144), respectively.Nine strains (6.3%) of were identified to be ST131 strains, among which 8 were O25b-B2-ST131 strains and 1 was O16-B2-ST131 strain.Of the 9 cases of ST131 infection, 7(77.8%) were found to occur in a nosocomial setting.The demographic characteristics and clinical features of the ST131-infected patients were similar to those of non-ST131-infected patients.ST131 strains were sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, ertapenem, and amikacin, but showed high resistance rates to cefazolin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole (all over 50%).The positivity rate of ESBLs in the ST131 strains was 77.8%, and the multidrug resistance rate reached 88.9%, which was higher than that of non-ST131 isolates, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The most common phylogenetic groups of isolates from patients with bloodstream infections are group B2 and F, and the positivity rate of ST131 is low.We for the first time detected O16-ST131 in patients with blood-borne infections in China.The clinical features of ST131-infected patients are similar to those of non-ST131-infected patients.The positivity rate of ESBLs and the multidrug resistance rate are high in ST131 strains, which may raise concerns in the future.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bacteremia ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; Escherichia coli Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity

IN the presence of septic shock, every hour in delaying the administration of effective antibiotics is associated with a measurable increase in mortality. This is especially true for neutropenic patients with septic shock.1 As there is a higher incidence of involving multi-drug resistant pathogens for neutropenic patients, the decision on antibiotics regime remains a challenge for physicians.2 Immunosuppression and previous antibacterial use are factors that promote the spread of multi-drug resistant pathogens, and the possibility of co-existing multi-drug resistant pathogens should be suspected when treating patients with these risk factors who developed refractory shock. Here we present a case with neutropenic fever and refractory shock whose blood culture yielded multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem- resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Acinetobacter Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Adult ; Bacteremia ; blood ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Carbapenems ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Male ; Shock, Septic ; blood ; drug therapy ; microbiology

The authors report a case of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus gastro-intestinal infection and bacteremia with poly-arthritis, mainly of the hip, in a French patient simultaneously suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. The outcome was eventually favorable, however only after a trial of ineffective pefloxacin-gentamicin therapy. The authors suggest: (i) gentamicin should not be given alone in C. fetus subsp. fetus infections, and (ii) pefloxacin should not be given if antibiotic sensitivities data are not available. The inconclusive reliability of disk diffusion tests for C. fetus subsp. fetus should be recognized.
Antibiotics, Combined/*administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Infectious/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Bacteremia/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Campylobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Campylobacter fetus/*drug effects ; Case Report ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Gentamicins/administration & dosage ; *Hip Joint ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Pefloxacin/*administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo study the genotype distribution of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates from posthepatitic cirrhosis' patients with bloodstream infection.

METHODSE. coli were isolated in bloodstream from patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis between January and December in 2011. The strains were identified by VITEK-II. The antibiol susceptibility tests were performed with K-B method. beta-lactamases genes were detected multi-PCR, PCR, sequence and blast.

RESULTSA total of 79 non-duplicate clinical isolates of E coli were consecutively collected from liver cirrhosis' patients with bloodstream infection. There were 20 isolates produced TEM-1 type beta-lactamases and 1 isolate produced SHV-1 typebeta-lactamases. 40 clinical isolates were detected to produce CTX-M type ESBLs, there were 20 CTX-M-1 group and 26 CTX-M-9 group, including 6 stains habouring both CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-9 group. Eight CTX-M genotypes were confirmed by sequencing of the PCR products, including CTX-M-3, CTX-M-14, CTX-M-15, CTX-M-24, CTX-M-28, CTX-M-31, CTX-M-65 and CTX-M-79.

CONCLUSIONCTX-M genotype ESBLs was the most popular extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in E. coli isolated from liver cirrhosis' patients with bloodstream infection. The CTX-M-14 is the dominant epidemic type.

Bacteremia ; microbiology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; enzymology ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Infections ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics ; metabolism

An increase in vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) bacteremia in hemato-oncological patients (n=19) in our institution from 2000 through 2001 led us to analyze the molecular epidemiologic patterns and clinical features unique to our cases. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis of the isolates revealed that the bacteremia was not originated from a single clone but rather showed endemic pattern of diverse clones with small clusters. A different DNA pattern of blood and stool isolates from one patient suggested exogenous rather than endogenous route of infection. Enterococcus faecium carrying vanA gene was the causative pathogen in all cases. Patients with VRE bacteremia showed similar clinical courses compared with those with vancomycin-susceptible enterococcal (VSE) bacteremia. Vancomycin resistance did not seem to be a poor prognostic factor because of similar mortality (5/8, 62.5%) noted in VSE bacteremia. Initial disease severity and neutropenic status may be major determinants of prognosis in patients with VRE bacteraemia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacteremia/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Carbon-Oxygen Ligases/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus/*drug effects/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Vancomycin Resistance

Antibiotic dependence in clinical isolates has been reported, albeit rarely, such as vancomycindependent enterococcus and beta-lactam-dependent Staphylococcus saprophyticus. We report herein a clinical isolate of beta-lactam-dependent Bacillus cereus. A 16-yr-old female was admitted on 8 September 2005 with neutropenic fever during chemotherapy following surgical removal of peripheral neuroectodermal tumor. She had had an indwelling chemoport since August 2004 and experienced B. cereus bacteremia three times during the recent 3-month period prior to the admission; the bacteremias were treated with cefepime-based chemotherapy. On hospital days 1 and 3, B. cereus was isolated from blood drawn through the chemoport. The isolates were resistant to penicillin, ceftriaxone, and erythromycin, and susceptible to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin. The isolate of hospital day 3 grew only nearby the beta-lactam disks including penicillin and ceftriaxone on disk diffusion testing. The beta-lactam-dependent isolate required a minimum of 0.064 microgram/mL of penicillin or 0.023 microgram/mL of cefotaxime for growth, which was demonstrated by E test (AB Biodisk, Sweden). Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed a marked elongation of the dependent strain compared with the non-dependent strain. Prolonged therapy with beta-lactams in the patient with an indwelling intravenous catheter seemed to be a risk factor for the emergence of beta-lactam-dependence in B. cereus.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacillaceae Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Bacillus cereus/cytology/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Bacteremia/drug therapy/microbiology ; Cephalosporins/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Neutropenia/*complications/etiology ; Risk Factors ; *beta-Lactam Resistance

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infections occurring in the induction period of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the pathogens of the infections, and drug resistance of isolated strains.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 130 children with newly-diagnosed childhood ALL. Infections occurring during the induction chemotherapy, pathogenic strains, and drug-resistance spectrum were analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of clinical infection and/or microbial infection reached 76.2%. The lungs were the most common infection site (46.2%). The children with severe infection accounted for 52.3%, among whom 60 had pulmonary infection and/or 21 had sepsis. A total of 50 pathogenic strains were detected, which consisted of 29 bacterial strains and 21 fungal strains. Of all the children, 28.5% experienced infections caused by at least one microbe. Among the 29 bacterial strains, there were 19 (65.5%) Gram-negative bacteria and 10 (34.5%) Gram-positive bacteria. The most common Gram-negative bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were 100% sensitive to imipenem. The most common Gram-positive bacterium was Streptococcus viridans, which was 100% sensitive to vancomycin. The infections caused by fungi accounted for 16.2%, with Candida albicans as the most common fungus. Compared with those with non-severe infections, the children with severe infections had a significantly shorter time to the occurrence of agranulocytosis, a significantly longer duration of agranulocytosis, significantly higher incidence of fever and C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and a significantly longer length of hospital stay (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary infections are common in the induction period of childhood ALL. Gram-negative bacteria are the most common pathogenic bacteria. Severe infections can be controlled by carbapenems combined with vancomycin and antifungal agents.

Bacteremia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications ; Retrospective Studies

We report a relapsed case of a 25 year-old man with multi-drug resistant Salmonella serovar Typhi (MDRST) bacteremia who had recently returned from travel in India. Due to unresponsiveness to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, we examined the strain's resistance to quinolones and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). The strain had a single gyrA mutation at codon 83 (Ser83Phe), which explains its decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolone and resistance to nalidixic acid. In the screening tests of ESBLs, TEM-1 was positive, which is beta-lactamase but not ESBL. The patient was finally successfully treated with meropenem and aztreonam. In the presence of clinical unresponsiveness despite favorable sensitivity tests, further laboratory evaluations are needed, which should include studies of genes related to antibiotic resistance and ESBLs. In addition, further prospective trials should be done about the possible inclusion of antibiotics not yet mentioned in the current guidelines. With MDRST on the rise worldwide, the most optimal and effective line of antibiotic defense needs to be devised.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Aztreonam/*administration & dosage ; Bacteremia/drug therapy/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple/genetics ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Male ; Salmonella typhi/*drug effects/genetics ; Thienamycins/*administration & dosage ; Typhoid Fever/*drug therapy