Impact of piperacillin/tazobactam on nephrotoxicity in patients with Gram-negative bacteraemia.

Piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) has been associated with nephrotoxicity in patients receiving vancomycin. Its impact on nephrotoxicity in patients with Gram-negative bacteraemia (GNB) is unclear. This study evaluated the impact of TZP on nephrotoxicity in patients with GNB.

Impact of total body weight on acute kidney injury in patients with gram-negative bacteremia.

Background: The impact of total body weight (TBW) on the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with gram-negative bacteremia has not been previously evaluated.

Methods: The cohort included 323 patients >/ = 18 years old with gram-negative bacteremia (1/1/2008-8/31/2011) who received >/ = 48 hours of antibiotics. We compared the incidence of AKI in patients with a TBW View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Essential Resources and Strategies for Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in the Acute Care Setting.

Background: Antibiotic stewardship programs improve clinical outcomes and patient safety and help combat antibiotic resistance. Specific guidance on resources needed to structure stewardship programs is lacking. This manuscript describes results of a survey of US stewardship programs and resultant recommendations regarding potential staffing structures in the acute care setting.

Impact of total body weight on 30-day mortality in patients with gram-negative bacteremia.

Background: The impact of total body weight (TBW) on 30-day mortality associated with gram-negative bacteremia has not been previously evaluated.

Methods: The cohort included 323 patients >/ = 18 years old with gram-negative bacteremia (1/1/2008-8/31/2011) who received >/ = 48 hours of antibiotics. We compared 30-day mortality of TBW <70 kg vs.

Nasal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) PCR Testing Reduces the Duration of MRSA-Targeted Therapy in Patients with Suspected MRSA Pneumonia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-ordered methicillin-resistant (MRSA) PCR testing on the duration of empirical MRSA-targeted antibiotic therapy in patients with suspected pneumonia. This is a retrospective analysis of patients who received vancomycin or linezolid for suspected pneumonia before and after the implementation of a pharmacist-driven protocol for nasal MRSA PCR testing. Patients were included if they were adults of >18 years of age and initiated on vancomycin or linezolid for suspected MRSA pneumonia.

Active Tracing and Monitoring of Contacts Associated With the First Cluster of Ebola in the United States.

Background: Following hospitalization of the first patient with Ebola virus disease diagnosed in the United States on 28 September 2014, contact tracing methods for Ebola were implemented.

Objective: To identify, risk-stratify, and monitor contacts of patients with Ebola.

Design: Descriptive investigation.

Antimicrobial stewardship in a community hospital: attacking the more difficult problems.

Background: Antibiotic stewardship has been proposed as an important way to reduce or prevent antibiotic resistance. In 2001, a community hospital implemented an antimicrobial management program. It was successful in reducing antimicrobial utilization and expenditure.

Controlling use of antimicrobials in a community teaching hospital.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that antibiotic use could be controlled or improved in a community teaching hospital, with improvement defined as reductions in overall use, overall cost, and antimicrobial resistance.

Design: Interventional study with historical comparison.

Setting: A not-for-profit, 900-bed community general hospital with residents in medicine, surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, and psychiatry.

The wound care team: a new source of group a streptococcal nosocomial transmission.

Background: In August 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified the Texas Department of Health (TDH) of an unusually high number of wounds infected with group A streptococci (GAS) in an acute care facility. The TDH initiated an investigation, ultimately identifying 28 cases of non-pharyngeal, non-community-acquired GAS that had occurred between December 2000 and August 2001 and resulted in 3 deaths and 4 nonfatal cases of invasive disease. Ten specimens were sent to the CDC for emm typing; all isolates were emm type 114.