Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · May 2014
The influence of acute kidney injury on antimicrobial dosing in critically ill patients: are dose reductions always necessary?
Optimal dosing of antimicrobial therapy is pivotal to increase the likelihood of survival in critically ill patients with sepsis. Drug exposure that maximizes bacterial killing, minimizes the development of antimicrobial resistance, and avoids concentration-related toxicities should be considered the target of therapy. However, antimicrobial dosing is problematic as pathophysiological factors inherent to sepsis that alter may result in reduced concentrations. ⋯ Consequently, when dosing antibiotics in septic patients with AKI, one should consider factors that may lead to underdosing and overdosing. Drug-specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data may be helpful to guide dosing in these circumstances. Yet, because of the high interpatient variability in pharmacokinetics of antibiotics during sepsis, this issue remains a significant challenge.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2014
Review Case ReportsFusobacterium spondylodiscitis: case report and literature review.
Fusobacteria are obligate anaerobic bacilli residing in the oral cavity, female genital tract, and intestine. These pathogens are typical components of head, neck, and abdominal abscesses due to contiguous spread from adjacent mucosal surfaces. They are unusual etiologies, however, of bone and joint infections, particularly outside the cranial region. We report an unusual case of hematogenous lumbar spondylodiscitis caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum of suspected odontogenic origin.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2014
Resistance surveillance program report for selected European nations (2011).
In the European component of the Regional Resistance Surveillance study for 2011, a total of 21 countries were monitored for antimicrobial resistance patterns including Belgium, Bulgaria (BU), Croatia, Czech Republic, France (F), Germany (GE), Greece (GR), Ireland (IR), Israel (IS), Italy (IT), Poland (PO), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Russia (RU), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (SW), Turkey (T), Ukraine, and United Kingdom. Results from testing 12,572 strains (100 [BU] to 1535 [F] per nation) were interpreted by contemporary published breakpoints. Samples from 47 hospitals were reference tested against agents such as amikacin (AMK), cefoperazone/sulbactam (C/S), colistin (COL), levofloxacin, linezolid (LZD), tigecycline (TIG), vancomycin (VAN), and 21 others. ⋯ The following carbapenemases were detected: VIM-1 (2 countries); IMP-1 (1 from T); KPC-2 or -3 (2 countries); VIM-4 (1 from PO), NDM-1 (2 in RO; 2 centers); and OXA-48 or -162 (5 from T; 2 centers). European surveillance sampling demonstrates a wide array of resistant isolates, less prevalent among Gram-positive cocci that remain inhibited by several available agents. However, beta-lactamase-mediated mechanisms have spread widely among Gram-negative bacilli, especially across the Eastern and Southern European nations, severely limiting infection chemotherapy and necessitating escalated antimicrobial stewardship.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2014
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative organisms isolated from patients hospitalized in intensive care units in United States and European hospitals (2009-2011).
Treatment of infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) represents a great challenge, especially those caused by Gram-negative organisms. Rapid introduction of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is crucial to reduce mortality; resistance rates in the ICU can be elevated due to antimicrobial selection pressure. We evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from patients hospitalized in ICUs (ICU patients). ⋯ Only colistin (99.4% susceptible) and amikacin (97.3% in USA and 84.9% in EU) exhibited good activity against P. aeruginosa strains from ICU patients. The greatest differences in susceptibility rates between P. aeruginosa strains from ICU and non-ICU patients were observed for the anti-pseudomonal β-lactams, such as ceftazidime, meropenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam. The results of this study (101 medical centers) highlight major antimicrobial coverage problems and trends in antimicrobial resistance for USA and EU ICU patient isolates.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2013
Case ReportsMyocardial infection due to Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Fusobacterium nucleatum is an anaerobic gram-negative bacillus, which inhabits the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract. Infections classically affect the head and neck. We report a patient with a myocardial mass due to F. nucleatum, initially thought to be a neoplasm, and discuss anaerobic cardiac infections.