Publications by authors named "Kathryn E DeSear"

Background: Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam are preferred treatment options for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, real-world comparative effectiveness studies are scarce. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the agents might affect clinical response rates. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam for treatment of invasive multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa infections.

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Objectives: To re-examine the use of non-carbapenems (NCBPs), specifically piperacillin/tazobactam and cefepime, for ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Patients: Retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized between January 2016 and June 2020 with pyuria on urinalysis, a urine culture positive for ESBL-E treated with a study antibiotic (meropenem, ertapenem, cefepime or piperacillin/tazobactam) and did not meet criteria for study exclusion.

Methods: To compare carbapenems (CBPs) with cefepime or piperacillin/tazobactam for the treatment of ESBL-E UTI.

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Background: NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae are a major clinical concern worldwide. We characterized NDM-positive pathogens isolated from patients and assessed the dissemination patterns of the genes in a hospital setting.

Methods: Eleven NDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae (three , six and two ) were isolated from nine patients over a 1 year period.

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complex (Bcc) bacteria are opportunistic pathogens with high transmissibility and mortality. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Bcc strain isolated from a deep abscess culture in an immunocompetent patient with no relevant prior medical history.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effectiveness of a procalcitonin-based antibiotic stewardship program in community hospitals to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, addressing the global concern of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Conducted as a matched cohort study, the research compared patients from hospitals implementing the procalcitonin protocol with those from hospitals without it, focusing on various demographic and clinical factors.
  • Results indicated that patients in procalcitonin cohort hospitals received 1.47 fewer days of antibiotic therapy, though there was a noted increase in acute kidney injury, but no significant differences in length of stay or other adverse outcomes.
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Objective: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that may help providers optimize antibiotic (AB) therapy. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the utility of PCT-guided decision algorithms in treating lower respiratory tract infections and sepsis, but evidence from real-world studies is limited. This study sought to evaluate the effects of PCT on select clinical outcomes in community hospitals.

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Selection of an appropriate antiretroviral regimen for the patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus can be challenging, as various considerations must be taken into account including viral resistance mutations, patient comorbidities, drug interactions, and the potential for drug-related adverse effects and toxicities. Treatment is further complicated when a clinical scenario arises requiring an alteration in the dosage form. Factors ranging from dysphagia to administration through an enteral feeding tube can affect decisions regarding antiretroviral dosage forms.

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