Rapid molecular testing for bacteraemia improves clinical management.

bacteraemia (SAB) causes significant morbidity and mortality. Standard diagnostic methods require 24-48 h to provide results, during which time management is guideline-based and may be suboptimal. Evaluate the impact of rapid molecular detection of in positive blood culture bottle fluid on patient management.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter from humans, retail chicken meat, and cattle feces.

We determined the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter isolates from cases of sporadic human infection (n = 119), retail chicken meat (n = 105), and cattle feces (n = 105). Ampicillin and tetracycline resistance was highest in human isolates (32% and 29%, respectively) and retail chicken isolates (25% and 25%, respectively), whereas nalidixic acid resistance was highest in cattle fecal isolates (20%). We found that the antimicrobial resistance profiles were more similar in human and chicken meat isolates than those observed when comparing human and cattle fecal isolates.

Antibiotic stewardship and consumption: findings from a pan-European hospital study.

Objectives: Much has been written about antibiotic stewardship although less is known about the structure and content of antibiotic policies at hospital level. As part of the European Commission Concerted Action Antibiotic Resistance Prevention And Control (ARPAC) Project, data on antibiotic stewardship were collated and relationships investigated by antibiotic consumption in European hospitals.

Methods: A questionnaire survey on antibiotic stewardship factors was completed by 170 hospitals from 32 European countries.

The role of microbiology and pharmacy departments in the stewardship of antibiotic prescribing in European hospitals.

This observational, cross-sectional study describes the role played by clinical microbiology and pharmacy departments in the stewardship of antibiotic prescribing in European hospitals. A total of 170 acute care hospitals from 32 European countries returned a questionnaire on antibiotic policies and practices implemented in 2001. Data on antibiotic use, expressed as Defined Daily Doses per 100 occupied bed-days (DDD/100 BD) were provided by 139 hospitals from 30 countries.

Topical antimicrobials in combination with admission screening and barrier precautions to control endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an Intensive Care Unit.

We aimed to establish whether screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and body decontamination upon admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in combination with barrier precautions, reduced rates of MRSA infection acquired on the unit. This was an interrupted time series study employing segmented regression analysis of data collected for all patients admitted to a 16-bed adult ICU over 48 months. Before the intervention (24 months; 1232 patients (44% female)), MRSA was sought from clinical cultures only and positive patients were barrier nursed in isolation.

Antimicrobial drug use and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Aberdeen, 1996-2000.

Similar to many hospitals worldwide, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has had an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this setting, the outbreak is attributable to two major clones. The relationships between antimicrobial use and MRSA prevalence were analyzed by time-series analysis.

Reassessment of the cefaclor breakpoint for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Discrepancies between proven clinical success of cefaclor and its relatively poor activity in vitro were investigated against eight pneumococcal isolates. The bacteriostatic minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (the concentration resulting in no growth/kill relative to the starting inoculum) was derived from time kill studies. Bioassay results demonstrated an in vitro half-life of >24 and 9 h for cefuroxime and cefaclor, respectively.

Information contained in miscarriage-related websites and the predictive value of website scoring systems.

Objectives: To identify websites providing information about early pregnancy loss and compare this information with published guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The value of 'Silberg' and 'Health on the net (HON)' website scoring systems in predicting the information provided via websites identified was assessed.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Identification and characterization of teicoplanin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus blood culture isolates in NE Scotland.

The study objective was to screen both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates from blood cultures for reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and teicoplanin. A total of 72 MRSA and 143 MSSA isolates were screened on brain-heart infusion agar containing either 4 mg/L vancomycin or 8 mg/L teicoplanin, using an inoculum of approximately 10(6) organisms.

Calculation of composite recovery time: a new pharmacodynamic parameter.

A new pharmacodynamic parameter, the composite recovery time (CRT), is described and used to calculate species-specific MIC breakpoints. Moxifloxacin data were used for illustration. This required determination of MICs, kill curves and post-antibiotic sub-MIC effect values.