Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2018
Prospective evaluation of vancomycin pharmacokinetics in a heterogeneous critically ill population.
Rich pharmacokinetic data on vancomycin in critically ill patients are lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in this population using rich pharmacokinetic sampling. Nineteen critically ill patients received individualized vancomycin doses by intermittent infusion to achieve target trough concentrations (15-20 mg/L). ⋯ CrCl was the best predictor of vancomycin systemic clearance, and addition of other variables to a multivariate model failed to improve model fit. Vancomycin trough concentration may not be an adequate surrogate of AUC0-24. Additional research is needed to determine dosing strategies to optimize AUC0-24 while limiting toxicity.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Oct 2018
Impact of a stewardship-focused culture follow-up initiative on the treatment of pharyngitis in the emergency department and urgent care settings.
A culture follow-up program with an emphasis on symptom assessment may limit antibiotic exposure in patients with Group A Streptococcus on throat culture. A quasi-experimental study of such patients was conducted in our Emergency Department and Urgent Care centers. During the prestewardship initiative phase (March 2011-June 2012), the standard of care for culture follow-up did not include symptom assessment prior to prescribing antibiotics. ⋯ Antibiotic prescribing at follow-up decreased from 97.0% to 71.3% (P < 0.001); overall appropriateness of therapy at follow-up, including symptom assessment, increased from 6.0% to 81.5% (P < 0.001). There was no difference in 72-h revisit between the pre- and poststewardship initiative groups (P = 0.121). This study demonstrated improved antimicrobial prescribing with initiation of a stewardship-focused culture follow-up program in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care centers.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2018
Clinical Impact of a Rapid Streptococcal Antigen Test on Antibiotic Use in Adult Patients.
Adult pharyngitis is rarely attributable to group A streptococci. Utilization of a rapid streptococcal antigen test (RADT) may improve appropriate prescribing for bacterial pharyngitis. ⋯ Utilizing the RADT prevented unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics in adults.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2018
Impact of a multiplex PCR point-of-care test for influenza A/B and respiratory syncytial virus on an acute pediatric hospital ward.
Patients with respiratory infections are often managed presumptively until confirmation of infection status. We assessed the impact of introducing the Enigma® MiniLab™ FluAB-RSV point-of-care test (POCT) on patients admitted with a suspected respiratory virus driven illness in an acute pediatric ward. This utilized a before and after design (respiratory viral seasons 2013/14 versus 2014/15). ⋯ A reduction in the average reimbursement charges without a change in the length of stay was observed. Modeling suggested that laboratory test cost savings could be achieved if the POCT cost £30 and was used for screening, followed by the respiratory viral panel for RSV and influenza negative patients. A rapid POCT for influenza A/B and RSV infections in pediatric inpatients may improve oseltamivir prescribing, strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, reduce reimbursement charges and decrease laboratory costs.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Jul 2018
Multicenter StudyMultidrug-resistant infections in long-term care facilities: extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and hypervirulent antibiotic resistant Clostridium difficile.
Infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) residents constitute a public health concern. This multicenter study investigated the frequency of ESBL-producing pathogens and MDR Clostridium difficile in clinical specimens from LTCF residents in Italy. During October 2014-March 2015, all urine and diarrheic fecal samples from LTCF residents (≥65 years) with suspected urinary tract infection or C. difficile infection, respectively, received for diagnosis by 4 hospital laboratories located in different cities were analyzed. ⋯ Of 136 diarrheic fecal samples collected from 111 residents at 26 different LTCFs, 21 (15.4%) were positive for toxigenic C. difficile; of these, 13 (62%) were MDR (resistant to 3 or more antimicrobial agents of different classes). The predominant C. difficile polymerase chain reaction ribotype was 356/607 (42.9%), followed by 018, 449, and 078 (14% each). Public health efforts are needed to contain the diffusion of CTX-M-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MDR C. difficile in LTCF settings.