Target attainment of beta-lactam antibiotics and ciprofloxacin in critically ill patients and its association with 28-day mortality.

Objectives: This study aims to assess pharmacodynamic target attainment in critically ill patients and identify factors influencing target attainment and mortality outcomes.

Methods: We analysed data from the DOLPHIN trial. Beta-lactam and ciprofloxacin peak and trough concentration were measured within the first 36 h (T1) after initiation of treatment.

Dissemination of extensively drug-resistant NDM-producing in Europe linked to patients transferred from Ukraine, March 2022 to March 2023.

BackgroundThe war in Ukraine led to migration of Ukrainian people. Early 2022, several European national surveillance systems detected multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria related to Ukrainian patients.AimTo investigate the genomic epidemiology of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing from Ukrainian patients among European countries.

Best practices, implementation and challenges of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: results of a worldwide survey among healthcare providers.

Background: Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) is considered a patient-friendly and cost-effective practice. Patients in the OPAT service can be at risk for developing adverse events. Due to extensive variations in practice, guidelines have been developed to minimize the risks.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Cutibacterium acnes Endocarditis.

Importance: It is suggested that patients with Cutibacterium acnes endocarditis often present without fever or abnormal inflammatory markers. However, no study has yet confirmed this statement.

Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with C acnes endocarditis.

Less Is More: When to Repeat Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing.

This study investigated the frequency of change of the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern when the same isolate was found in the same patient in various situations. We used laboratory data collected over a period of 8 years (January 2014 to December 2021) at the clinical microbiology laboratory of a tertiary hospital for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Contact tracing for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE): evaluation of the Dutch policy of quintuple screening cultures.

Detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) is hampered by low sensitivity of rectal swab cultures. This study aimed to define the number of screening cultures needed to increase sensitivity to detect VRE transmission, and to determine time from presumed exposure to detectable colonization. In a tertiary care setting, we retrospectively analyzed data from 9 VRE outbreaks.

Multidrug-resistant organisms in patients from Ukraine in the Netherlands, March to August 2022.

Since March 2022, there has been an emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in the Netherlands in patients originating from Ukraine (58 patients, 75 isolates). For about half of these patients, recent hospitalisation in Ukraine was reported. Genomic surveillance revealed that the majority of the MDRO represent globally spread epidemic lineages and that 60% contain New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) genes.

Native valve, prosthetic valve, and cardiac device-related infective endocarditis: A review and update on current innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening microbial infection of native and prosthetic heart valves, endocardial surface, and/or indwelling cardiac device. Prevalence of IE is increasing and mortality has not significantly improved despite technological advances. This review provides an updated overview using recent literature on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, imaging, causative pathogens, treatment, and outcomes in native valve, prosthetic valve, and cardiac device-related IE.

Left ventricular assist device-related infections and the risk of cerebrovascular accidents: a EUROMACS study.

Objectives: In patients supported by a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), infections are a frequently reported adverse event with increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between infections and thromboembolic events, most notable cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), in LVAD patients.

Methods: An analysis of the multicentre European Registry for Patients Assisted with Mechanical Circulatory Support was performed.

Single-Center Experience With Protocolized Treatment of Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections.

Purpose: Because of the current lack of evidence-based antimicrobial treatment guidelines, Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) infections are often treated according to local insights. Here, we propose a flowchart for protocolized treatment, in order to improve outcome.

Methods: The flowchart was composed based on literature, consensus and expert opinion statements.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa left ventricular assist device (LVAD) driveline infection acquired from the bathroom at home.

We describe a patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquired at home. The Pseudomonas from the driveline was similar to several surface cultures of the patient's home shower. This case illustrates the potential and importance of infection prevention measures at home.

Real time monitoring of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm sensitivity towards antibiotics with isothermal microcalorimetry.

Biofilm-associated infections with Staphylococcus aureus are difficult to treat even after administration of antibiotics that according to the standard susceptibility assays are effective. Currently, the assays used in the clinical laboratories to determine the sensitivity of S. aureus towards antibiotics are not representing the behaviour of biofilm-associated S.

Driveline exit-site care protocols in patients with left ventricular assist devices: a systematic review.

Objectives: Driveline infections continue to be a significant complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Driveline exit-site care is crucial for the prevention of infections; however, there are no uniform guidelines. The goal of this study was to provide an overview of the currently published driveline exit-site care protocols in patients with LVAD.

New-Generation Antibiotics for Treatment of Gram-Positive Infections: A Review with Focus on Endocarditis and Osteomyelitis.

Infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and osteosynthesis-associated infections are mostly caused by Gram-positive bacteria. They are often difficult to treat and are associated with a poor prognosis. In the past 20 years, nine antibiotic drugs with predominant activity against Gram-positive bacteria have been introduced and approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency: ceftaroline, daptomycin, telavancin, dalbavancin, oritavancin, linezolid, tedizolid, delafloxacin, and omadacycline.

An Update on Eight "New" Antibiotics against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Infections in the ICU are often caused by Gram-negative bacteria. When these microorganisms are resistant to third-generation cephalosporines (due to extended-spectrum (ESBL) or AmpC beta-lactamases) or to carbapenems (for example carbapenem producing Enterobacteriales (CPE)), the treatment options become limited. In the last six years, fortunately, there have been new antibiotics approved by the U.

Frequency of Positive Tests in COVID-19 Patients in Comparison to Other Patients with Pulmonary Infections Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of positive tests in COVID-19 patients and investigate the association between COVID-19 and a positive test result. We compared the proportion of positive tests in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for >24 h with two control groups: patients with community-acquired pneumonia with (i) a PCR-confirmed influenza infection (considered a positive control since the link between influenza and invasive aspergillosis has been established) and (ii) pneumonia (in whom positive tests are mostly considered as colonization). During the study period, 92 COVID-19 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 62 [14] years; 76.

Whole-genome sequencing to explore nosocomial transmission and virulence in neonatal methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Background: Neonatal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteremia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we examined whether methicillin-susceptible S.

Mycobacterium chelonae, an 'atypical' cause of an LVAD driveline infection.

We describe the first patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) driveline infection caused by Mycobacterium chelonae presenting with persistent infection despite conventional antibiotics. Treatment was successful with surgical debridement, driveline exit relocation, and a 4-month period of antibiotics. In the case of a culture-negative LVAD driveline infection, non-tuberculous mycobacteria should be considered.

Neonatal Staphylococcus aureus acquisition at a tertiary intensive care unit.

Background: In this study, we explored the role of colonization in health care workers (HCWs) in transmission of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) to neonates at a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: All available screening and clinical MSSA isolates, from the period March 2015 through April 2016, isolated from HCWs and neonates at the level IV NICU, were included. MSSA isolates were initially genotyped using spa typing, and for the most prevalent spa types, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed.