European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyPrognostic value of procalcitonin in Legionella pneumonia.
The diagnostic reliability and prognostic implications of procalcitonin (PCT) (ng/ml) on admission in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to Legionella pneumophila are unknown. We retrospectively analysed PCT values in 29 patients with microbiologically proven Legionella-CAP admitted to the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, between 2002 and 2007 and compared them to other markers of infection, namely, C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/l) and leukocyte count (10(9)/l), and two prognostic severity assessment scores (PSI and CURB65). Laboratory analysis demonstrated that PCT values on admission were >0.1 in over 93%, >0.25 in over 86%, and >0.5 in over 82% of patients with Legionella-CAP. ⋯ In receiver operating curves, PCT concentrations on admission had a higher prognostic accuracy to predict adverse outcomes (AUC 0.78 [95%CI 0.61-96]) as compared to the PSI (0.64 [95%CI 0.43-0.86], p = 0.23), the CURB65 (0.58 [95%CI 0.36-0.79], p = 0.21), CRP (0.61 [95%CI 0.39-0.84], p = 0.19), and leukocyte count (0.57 [95%CI 0.35-0.78], p = 0.12). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that patients with initial PCT values above the optimal cut-off of 1.5 had a significantly higher risk of death and/or ICU admission (log rank p = 0.003) during the hospital stay. In patients with CAP due to Legionella, PCT levels on admission might be an interesting predictor for adverse medical outcomes.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2008
Inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy as a risk factor for mortality in patients with community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.
This study was performed to identify the risk factors for mortality and evaluate the effect of inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy on the outcomes of patients with community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia in an emergency department (ER) setting. All cases with P. aeruginosa bacteraemia occurring within 48 h after ER visit from January 2000 to December 2005 were retrospectively analysed. A total of 106 community-onset P. aeruginosa bacteraemia cases in the ER were included (mean age, 57.61 +/- 14.44 years old; M:F, 58:48). ⋯ The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher in the inappropriate therapy group (18/51, 35.3%) than in the appropriate therapy group (10/55, 18.2%) (P = 0.046). This study demonstrated that inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy was significantly associated with unfavourable outcomes in patients with community-onset P. aeruginosa bacteraemia. As P. aeruginosa bacteraemia can be a fatal infection, even when community-onset, inappropriate antimicrobial therapy should be avoided in suspected cases of P. aeruginosa bacteraemia.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialInfluence of azithromycin and clarithromycin on macrolide susceptibility of viridans streptococci from the oral cavity of healthy volunteers.
Oral viridans streptococci are a reservoir of resistance genes for pathogens. Through prolonged exposure, long-acting macrolides (e.g., azithromycin) may induce the resistance of the commensals to macrolides more frequently than macrolides with a shorter half-life (e.g., clarithromycin). ⋯ The proportion of macrolide-resistant isolates over time was significantly higher following azithromycin treatment (p = 0.0005), but returned to baseline values until week 12 in both groups. Temporal differential effects of azithromycin and clarithromycin on the induction of resistance were observed and need to be investigated regarding their effect on co-colonizing pathogens.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Oct 2008
ReviewClinical relevance of prevention of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in preterm infants born between 33 and 35 weeks gestational age.
Premature infants are vulnerable to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) resulting in hospitalisation and the potential for longer-term respiratory morbidity. Whilst the severity and consequence of RSV LRTI are generally accepted and recognised in infants born
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Oct 2008
Factors associated with mortality in patients with bloodstream infection and pneumonia due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Severe infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia are associated with high mortality, and strategies to improve the clinical outcome for infected patients are needed. A retrospective cohort study of patients with bloodstream infection (BSIs) and pneumonia caused by S. maltophilia was conducted. Multivariate analysis was performed to access factors associated with 14-day mortality. ⋯ Independent risk factors associated with mortality were SOFA index >6 points (0.005) and septic shock (0.03). The Kaplan-Meier estimations curves showed that patients with APACHE II score >20 and SOFA score >10 had a survival chance of, respectively, less than 8% and less than 10% (P