Early switch/early discharge opportunities for hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections in Brazil.

Background: Early antibiotic switch and early discharge protocols have not been widely studied in Latin America. Our objective was to describe real-world treatment patterns, resource use, and estimate opportunities for early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics and early discharge for patients hospitalized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft-tissue infections.

Materials/methods: This retrospective medical chart review recruited 72 physicians from Brazil to collect data from patients hospitalized with documented methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated skin and soft tissue infections between May 2013 and May 2015, and discharged alive by June 2015.

Immediate and later impacts of antimicrobial consumption on carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella spp. in a teaching hospital in Brazil: a 10-year trend study.

To evaluate trends and the immediate and late impact of antimicrobial consumption on carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. (CRAs), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. (CRKs) over a 10-year period.

Microbiological and epidemiological study of infectious keratitis in children and adolescents.

Purpose:: To analyze epidemiological and microbiological aspects of microbial keratitis in children and adolescents.

Methods:: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, between July 15, 1975, and December 31, 2010. We analyzed corneal samples from 859 patients with clinical suspicion of infectious keratitis, comparing epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of bacterial keratitis with those of non-bacterial and non-viral keratitis.

Trueperella bernardiae: first report of wound infection post laparoscopic surgery.

We report the first case of wound infection caused by Trueperella bernardiae after laparoscopic surgery. The patient was treated with oral amoxicillin/clavulanate which was continued for 1 week after discharge with a successful clinical response. There are few cases described but none related to wound infection after laparoscopic surgery.

Impact of an Automated Surveillance to Detect Surgical-Site Infections in Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Brazil.

In this retrospective study, we compared automated surveillance with conventional surveillance to detect surgical site infection after primary total hip or knee arthroplasty. Automated surveillance demonstrated better efficacy than routine surveillance in SSI diagnosis, sensitivity, and predictive negative value in hip and knee arthroplasty. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:991-993.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection after cardiovascular surgery: Impact of a multifaceted intervention.

Background: The aims of this study were to assess the impact of a multifaceted intervention on the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and on the urinary catheter utilization (UCU) ratio, evaluating adherence to recommendations for the use of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs).

Methods: This prospective, before-and-after interventional study was conducted in three 6-month phases: preintervention (phase 1), intervention (phase 2), and postintervention (phase 3). We observed IUC insertion technique, maintenance care, and removal/nonremoval practices; provided training on CAUTI prevention measures; evaluated professional knowledge; provided adherence feedback; determined the incidence of CAUTI, and calculating the UCU ratio.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target attainment of intravenous β-lactam regimens against Gram-negative bacteria isolated in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

Introduction: Monte Carlo simulations have been used for selecting optimal antibiotic regimens for treatment of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic target attainment of intravenous β-lactam regimens commonly used to treat bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Gram-negative rod-shaped organisms in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

Methods: In total, 5,000 patients were included in the Monte Carlo simulations of distinct antimicrobial regimens to estimate the likelihood of achieving free drug concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; fT > MIC) for the requisite periods to clear distinct target organisms.

The changing epidemiology of Acinetobacter spp. producing OXA carbapenemases causing bloodstream infections in Brazil: a BrasNet report.

We evaluated the epidemiology of Acinetobacter spp. recovered from patients diagnosed with bloodstream infections in 9 tertiary hospitals located in all Brazilian geographic regions between April and August 2014. Although OXA-23-producing Acinetobacter baumannii clones were disseminated in most hospitals, it was observed for the first time the spread of OXA-72 among clonally related A.

Successful treatment of lower urinary tract infections with oral fosfomycin: a report of three cases.

Infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms continue to increase, and therapeutic options remain scarce. Given this challenge, it has become necessary to use older antimicrobials for treatment of these pathogens. We report three patients with lower urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae who were successfully treated with a seven-day course of oral fosfomycin monotherapy.

Healthcare worker adherence to follow-up after occupational exposure to blood and body fluids at a teaching hospital in Brazil.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk for exposure to pathogens in the workplace. The objective of this study was to evaluate HCW adherence to follow-up after occupational exposure to blood and body fluids at a tertiary care university hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from 2102 occupational exposures to blood and body fluids reports, obtained from the Infection Control Division of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina/Hospital São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil, occurring between January of 2005 and December of 2011.

Identification of temporal clusters and risk factors of bacteremia by nosocomial vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate a different methodology for addressing the evolution of nosocomial bacteremia by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a hospital setting.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from the date of first registration up to December 2008 from the electronic medical records of patients with VRE bacteremia in a school hospital.

Results: Thirty cases of VRE bacteremia and 274 cases of vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE) bacteremia were identified.

Historical trends in the epidemiology of candidaemia: analysis of an 11-year period in a tertiary care hospital in Brazil.

Candida species are an important cause of bloodstream infections (BSI). To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological aspects of two cohorts {1994-1999 [period 1 (P1) ]; 2000-2004 [period 2 (P2) ]} of candidaemic patients, we performed a retrospective analysis from a laboratory-based survey. A total of 388 candidaemias were identified, with an incidence of 0.

Impact of the introduction of an automated microbiologic system on the clinical outcomes of bloodstream infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae strains.

Introduction: Enterobacteriaceae strains are a leading cause of bloodstream infections (BSI). The aim of this study is to assess differences in clinical outcomes of patients with BSI caused by Enterobacteriaceae strains before and after introduction of an automated microbiologic system by the microbiology laboratory.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of the introduction of an automated microbiologic system (Phoenix(tm) automated microbiology system, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) - Diagnostic Systems, Sparks, MD, USA) on the outcomes of BSIs caused by Enterobacteriaceae strains.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial drugs in intensive care unit patients.

Inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs is responsible for therapeutic failures, increased mortality rates, and the emergence of resistance. Antimicrobial activity is determined by intrinsic pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics concepts. In critically ill patients, an inappropriate dosing regimen can be caused by the inability of an antimicrobial drug to reach adequate concentrations at the infection site owing to alterations in the drug's pharmacokinetics caused by pathophysiological changes.

Assessing the pharmacodynamic profile of intravenous antibiotics against prevalent Gram-negative organisms collected in Colombia.

Objectives: This study was designed to simulate standard and optimized dosing regimens for intravenous antibiotics against contemporary populations of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using MIC distribution data to determine which of the tested carbapenem regimens provided the greatest opportunity for obtaining maximal pharmacodynamic (PD) activity.

Methods: The isolates studied were obtained from the COMPACT-COLOMBIA surveillance program conducted between February and November 2009. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by broth microdilution method according to the CLSI guidelines.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by SPM-1-producing and non-producing imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and exhibits high rates of resistance to several antimicrobial drugs. The carbapenens are usually the drugs of choice against this microorganism. However, the carbapenem resistance has increased among these strains worldwide.

Risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infection: a prospective multicenter study in Brazilian intensive care units.

Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVC) are devices of great importance in health care. The advantages gained from the use of catheters outweigh the complications that might result from their use, among which bloodstream infections (BSI). In spite of its importance, few national studies have addressed this issue.

In vivo efficacy of a human-simulated regimen of ceftaroline combined with NXL104 against extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and non-ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Ceftaroline exhibits in vitro activity against extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-, AmpC-, and KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae when combined with the novel β-lactamase inhibitor NXL104. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a human-simulated regimen of ceftaroline plus NXL104 against Enterobacteriaceae in a murine thigh infection model. Twelve Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested with neutropenic ICR mice.

Overview perspective of bacterial resistance.

The rapidly escalating prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is a global concern. This reduced susceptibility to currently available antimicrobial agents coupled with the progressive shortage of newly approved compounds is a worrisome situation. Major problems are encountered for a growing number of Gram-positive (i.

Rapid detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in rectal samples from patients admitted to intensive care units.

The reduction in time required to identify vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has gained increased importance during hospital outbreaks. In the present study, we implemented a laboratory protocol to speed up the VRE screening from rectal samples. The protocol combines a medium for selective VRE isolation (VREBAC(R), Probac, São Paulo) and a multiplex PCR for detection and identification of vanA and vanB resistance genes.