An observational cohort study of bacterial co-infection and implications for empirical antibiotic therapy in patients presenting with COVID-19 to hospitals in North West London.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence and nature of bacterial co-infections in COVID-19 patients within 48 hours of hospital admission and assess the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic treatment they received.

Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, we included all adult non-pregnant patients who were admitted to two acute hospitals in North West London in March and April 2020 and confirmed to have COVID-19 infection within 2 days of admission. Results of microbiological specimens taken within 48 hours of admission were reviewed and their clinical significance was assessed.

Temocillin use in England: clinical and microbiological efficacies in infections caused by extended-spectrum and/or derepressed AmpC β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Background: Temocillin, a β-lactam stable against most β-lactamases [including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and derepressed AmpC cephalosporinases (dAmpC)], has been suggested as an alternative to carbapenems when Pseudomonas can be excluded. Aims To assess temocillin clinical and microbiological cure rates (CCR and MCR) in infection caused by ESBL/dAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae and the effects of different dosage regimens.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from patients treated for at least 3 days with temocillin for urinary tract infection (n = 42), bloodstream infection (n = 42) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (n = 8) in six centres in the UK.

Typhoid without travel.

Typhoid fever should be considered in the diagnosis of any patient with a fever from the Asian community even in the absence of a travel history to an endemic region. Blood cultures taken prior to antibiotics are the best way of making the diagnosis early and preventing the complications that arise from a prolonged bacteraemia.