International journal of antimicrobial agents
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Feb 2019
Similarities and differences in antimicrobial prescribing between major city hospitals and regional and remote hospitals in Australia.
Many regional and remote hospitals (RRHs) do not have the specialist services that usually support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes in major city hospitals. It is not known if this is associated with higher rates of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The aim of this study was to identify similarities and differences in antimicrobial prescribing patterns between major city hospitals and RRHs in Australia. ⋯ To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study to date comparing antimicrobial prescribing of RRHs with major city hospitals. A key finding was that antimicrobial prescribing was more frequently inappropriate for some high-risk infections treated in RRHs. Targeted strategies that support appropriate antimicrobial prescribing in RRHs are required.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Jan 2019
Population pharmacokinetics and simulations of imipenem in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.
Various dose regimens of imipenem have been prescribed in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) but there are limited information on its pharmacokinetics (PK) and treatment efficacy. The aim of this study was to describe the population PK of imipenem in patients receiving CRRT, and utilize this model to inform optimal dosing regimens using pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) target as a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy. Population PK modelling was undertaken in 20 patients receiving CRRT to characterize variabilities and identify influential covariates. ⋯ The simulations showed that the impact of CRRT intensity on target attainment is clinically irrelevant, whereas urine output and burn injury influence PTA for pathogens with an MIC ≥ 4 mg/L. At an MIC ≤ 2 mg/L, satisfactory PTAs (>80%) were achieved for all three investigated dose regimens regardless of urine output, burn injury, and CRRT intensity. Our results indicate that from a safety perspective, 0.5 g q6h imipenem is optimal in these patients for pathogens with an MIC ≤ 2 mg/L, and 1 g q6h is recommended for non-burn patients with anuria against MIC 4-16 mg/L.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Nov 2018
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyBeta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors versus carbapenem for bloodstream infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae pose a major public health threat due to poor outcomes and high mortality rates. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of intravenous beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors (BL-BLI), including piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ), on mortality of participants with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infections compared with carbapenem. ⋯ These findings suggest that there is no significant difference in 30-day mortality between BL-BLI, including PTZ and carbapenems, in treating ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infections. Moreover, intravenous BL-BLI, especially PTZ, may be considered as an alternative treatment for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infections. Future studies are needed to validate these findings.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Nov 2018
Predictors of outcome in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
There are few data in the literature regarding sepsis or septic shock due to extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (E). The aim of this study was to assess predictors of outcome in septic patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by ESBL-E. ⋯ BSI due to ESBL-E in patients who developed severe sepsis or septic shock was associated with high 30-day mortality. Comorbidities, severity scores, source of infection and antibiotic therapy escalation were important determinants of unfavorable outcome.
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Oct 2018
Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of antibiotics in treating experimental Clostridium septicum infection.
Clostridium septicum is a highly pathogenic microbe that causes gas gangrene in humans, and is the principal cause of spontaneous gas gangrene in patients with gastrointestinal maladies, including adenocarcinoma of the colon. Despite modern approaches to manage C. septicum infection, morbidity and mortality remain high (>60%). At present, no objective in-vivo data exist supporting the current antibiotic treatment recommendations for C. septicum infection. ⋯ However, by 60 h, mice treated with vancomycin exhibited 40% mortality, with no mortality observed in any other antibiotic treatment group. Microbroth dilution minimum inhibitory concentration analyses for three strains of C. septicum also demonstrated high susceptibility to penicillin, clindamycin and tetracycline, but considerably lower susceptibility to vancomycin. This study suggests that penicillin, clindamycin and tetracycline are suitable alternatives for the treatment of C. septicum infection in humans.