Antifungals in Patients With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Clinical Implications.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving technique used in critical care medicine for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. This review examines the treatment and prophylaxis of fungal infections in ECMO patients, proposing specific regimens based on available data for different antifungals (azoles, echinocandins, amphotericin B/liposomal amphotericin B) and invasive fungal infections. Currently, isavuconazole and posaconazole have the most supported data, while modified dosages of isavuconazole are recommended in ECMO.

Implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program for urinary tract infections in long-term care facilities: a cluster-controlled intervention study.

Background: Widespread inappropriate use of antimicrobial substances drives resistance development worldwide. In long-term care facilities (LTCF), antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications. More than one third of antimicrobial agents prescribed in LTCFs are for urinary tract infections (UTI).

Sustained Increase in Very Low Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Residents and Healthcare Workers of Long-Term Care Facilities in Austria after Educational Interventions.

Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are particularly at risk for influenza infections. We aimed to improve influenza vaccination coverage among residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) in four LTCFs by implementing educational programs and enhanced vaccination services. We compared vaccination coverage before and after the interventions (2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons).

Poor Prognosis for Puumala Virus Infections Predicted by Lymphopenia and Dyspnea.

We investigated a prospective cohort of 23 patients who had Puumala virus infection in Austria to determine predictors of infection outcomes. We reviewed routinely available clinical and laboratory parameters collected when patients initially sought care. Low absolute lymphocyte count and dyspnea were parameters associated with a severe course of infection.

Establishing breakpoints for amoxicillin/clavulanate and ampicillin/sulbactam for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing directly from positive blood culture bottles.

In 2018, EUCAST released guidelines on rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) directly from positive blood culture bottles for selected bacterial species and antimicrobial agents, but not for the commonly used agents amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMC) and ampicillin/sulbactam (SAM).. This work addresses the RAST capability gap for betalactam/betalactamase inhibitor combinations.

Treatment options for multidrug-resistant Gram-negatives in urinary tract infections.

Purpose Of Review: Infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are challenging to treat because of limited treatment options and potential side effects of less frequently used anti-infectives. In the past few years, several new antimicrobial agents effective against MDR Gram-negatives have become available. This review focuses on the treatment options for complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) caused by MDR Gram-negatives.

A Comparison of the Representation of Women in Editor Positions at Major Medical Journals in 2021 vs 2011.

Purpose: There continues to be a disparity in the representation of women across medicine, including in editor positions at major medical journals. The authors repeated a study they had conducted in 2011 to compare the representation of women in editor-in-chief and editorial board member positions in 2011 and 2021.

Method: The authors included in their analysis the 60 journals from their original 2011 study and the top 5 ranked journals by Journal Impact Factor in each of 12 disciplines in 2021.

European society of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases guidelines for coronavirus disease 2019: an update on treatment of patients with mild/moderate disease.

Scope: Despite the large availability of vaccines, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, continues to be a major threat for health-care providers and fragile people. A number of options are now available for outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at the risk of disease progression for the prevention of deaths or hospitalization.

Methods: A European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases COVID-19 guidelines task force was established by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Executive Committee.

ESCMID COVID-19 living guidelines: drug treatment and clinical management.

Scope: In January 2021, the ESCMID Executive Committee decided to launch a new initiative to develop ESCMID guidelines on several COVID-19-related issues, including treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: An ESCMID COVID-19 guidelines task force was established by the ESCMID Executive Committee. A small group was established, half appointed by the chair, and the remaining selected with an open call.

Analysis of COVID-19 outbreaks in 3 long-term care facilities in Graz, Austria.

Background: Nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCF) caring for elderly and chronically ill residents are at high risk to experience severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. We report an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 3 LTCFs of the Geriatric Health Centres of Graz, Austria lasting from March 22 to April 14, 2020.

Aim: The objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate contributing factors and transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, (2) to analyze symptoms of COVID-19 in the residents and health care workers.

Prospective Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Residents in Four Long-Term Care Facilities in Graz, Austria.

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) are a common cause for residents' mortality and morbidity associated with a significant socio-economic burden. Data on HCAIs in Austrian long-term care facilities are scare. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence rate of HCAIs per 1000 resident days in four LTC facilities in Graz, Austria, characterized the spectrum of HCAIs and the use of antimicrobial substances.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Plasma Cytokine Levels in Patients with Invasive Candidiasis.

Interleukin (IL) 17A plays a decisive role in anti- host defense. Previous data demonstrated significantly increased IL-17A values in candidemic patients. We evaluated levels and time courses of IL-17A, and other cytokines suggested to be involved in -specific immunity (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17F, IL-22, IL-23, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, Pentraxin-related protein 3, transforming growth factor-β) in patients with invasive candidiasis (IC) compared to bacteremic patients (, ) and healthy controls (from previous 4 days up to day 14 relative to the index culture (-4; 14)).

Implementation of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing combined with routine infectious disease bedside consultation in clinical practice (RAST-ID): a prospective single-centre study.

Objectives: Recently, EUCAST released guidelines for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) directly from positive blood culture bottles. The aim of our prospective single-centre clinical study was to assess the proportion of readable results and errors compared with routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the clinical consequences drawn by infectious disease (ID) physicians from RAST results during same-day bedside consultation.

Methods: All positive blood cultures suitable for RAST from January to December 2019 were included and RAST results at 4 and 6 h compared with standard disc diffusion.

Spinal Surgery Site Infection Leading to Implant Loosening Is Influenced by the Number of Prior Operations.

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Spinal surgery site infection and chronic implant infection are possible causes for ongoing pain, implant loosening, and failed back surgery syndrome. Evidence of chronic infection was found in 29.

An epidemic CC1-MRSA-IV clone yields false-negative test results in molecular MRSA identification assays: a note of caution, Austria, Germany, Ireland, 2020.

We investigated why a clinical meticillin-resistant (MRSA) isolate yielded false-negative results with some commercial PCR tests for MRSA detection. We found that an epidemic European CC1-MRSA-IV clone generally exhibits this behaviour. The failure of the assays was attributable to a large insertion in the /SCC integration site.

Isavuconazole Treatment in a Mixed Patient Cohort with Invasive Fungal Infections: Outcome, Tolerability and Clinical Implications of Isavuconazole Plasma Concentrations.

Isavuconazole (ISA) is a triazole antifungal agent recommended for treatment of invasive aspergillosis or mucormycosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate ISA levels in a real world setting in a mixed patient cohort including patients with non-malignant diseases and extracorporeal treatments, and to correlate findings with efficacy and safety outcomes. We investigated 33 ISA treatment courses in 32 adult patients with hematological and other underlying diseases and assessed the clinical response, side effects and ISA trough plasma concentrations.

Effect of a Multispecies Probiotic on Intestinal and Skin Colonization by Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Patients in a Long-Term Care Facility: A Pilot Study.

Residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are frequently colonized by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, putting them at risk for subsequent infections. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the multispecies probiotic Omnibiotic10AAD on the intestinal and inguinal skin colonization of patients by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in LTCFs. Patients colonized by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria received a 12 week oral course of Omnibiotic10AAD.