Serial monitoring of pancreatic stone protein for the detection of sepsis in intensive care unit patients with complicated abdominal surgery: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the performance of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) monitoring for the detection of sepsis, prediction of outcome and distinction between bacterial and fungal infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with complicated abdominal surgery.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective multicenter cohort study, patients with complicated abdominal surgery had serial PSP measurements during their ICU stay. Infectious episodes were classified as bacterial, fungal or mixed.

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response in vaccinated and non-vaccinated hospital healthcare workers with or without history of infection.

Between March 2021 and February 2022, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies dynamics was investigated in a prospective observational study in 903 healthcare workers of a hospital in Switzerland. A surrogate neutralization assay measuring the competitive inhibition of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding to the spike protein (S) of the SARS-CoV-2 wild type virus and to five variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) was used. We observed a broad distribution of neutralization activity among participants and substantial differences in neutralizing titers against variants.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in hospital healthcare workers in Western Switzerland at the end of the second pandemic wave.

In early January 2020, the pandemic of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) rapidly spread from China and caused a worldwide pandemic. Healthcare workers represent a high-risk group for acquiring COVID-19 and for nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to investigate over a 1 year period, across two pandemic waves, the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in employees at a Western Switzerland public hospital.

Empiric vs Preemptive Antifungal Strategy in High-Risk Neutropenic Patients on Fluconazole Prophylaxis: A Randomized Trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

Background: Empiric antifungal therapy is considered the standard of care for high-risk neutropenic patients with persistent fever. The impact of a preemptive, diagnostic-driven approach based on galactomannan screening and chest computed tomography scan on demand on survival and on the risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) during the first weeks of high-risk neutropenia is unknown.

Methods: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients were randomly assigned to receive caspofungin empirically (arm A) or preemptively (arm B), while receiving fluconazole 400 mg daily prophylactically.

[Infectious diseases: Achievements, new Developments and Perspectives in 2021].

The substantial progresses during the last decades in the field of infectious diseases have significantly improved their prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Basic and medical sciences have efficiently dealt with the challenges of emerging infections, infectious complications related to the increasing complexity of medical practices and marked slow-down in the development of new antimicrobial agents. During the worldwide crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the « medical normality » has been put in stand-by, but medical advances have fortunately continued.

Dosing strategies of imipenem in neonates based on pharmacometric modelling and simulation.

Objectives: Imipenem is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent used in critically ill neonates after failure of first-line treatments. Few studies have described imipenem disposition in this population. The objectives of our study were: (i) to characterize imipenem population pharmacokinetics (PK) in a cohort of neonates; and (ii) to conduct model-based simulations to evaluate the performance of six different dosing regimens aiming at optimizing PK target attainment.

Trends of the Epidemiology of Candidemia in Switzerland: A 15-Year FUNGINOS Survey.

Background: The increasing incidence of candidemia and emergence of drug-resistant species are major concerns worldwide. Long-term surveillance studies are needed.

Methods: The Fungal Infection Network of Switzerland (FUNGINOS) conducted a 15-year (2004-2018), nationwide, epidemiological study of candidemia.

Increasing morbidity and mortality of candidemia over one decade in a Swiss university hospital.

Background: The epidemiology of candidemia is evolving with raising concern about the emergence of intrinsically resistant non-albicans Candida species and acquisition of antifungal resistance. In addition to microbiological surveys, epidemiological studies including clinical data are needed to assess the impact of candidemia on morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To assess the clinical and microbiological trends of candidemia in a Swiss university hospital.

Humeral periosteal spur sign with osteolysis as an early radiographic indicator of low-grade prosthetic shoulder infection.

The early diagnosis of low-grade prosthetic shoulder joint infection is challenging due to the lack of clinical and laboratory signs. Patients present with atypical symptoms such as stiffness or failure to improve shoulder function. The diagnosis is often delayed with impact on long-term outcomes.

Performance of the T2Candida Panel for the Diagnosis of Intra-abdominal Candidiasis.

Performance of T2Candida for detecting intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) was assessed in 48 high-risk patients. T2Candida sensitivity/specificity and positive/negative predictive values were 33%/93% and 71%/74%, respectively. IAC was present in 100% of cases with concordant positive T2Candida/1,3-beta-d-glucan and absent in 90% of concordant negative results.

Risk factors for candidemia: a prospective matched case-control study.

Background: Candidemia is an opportunistic infection associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized both inside and outside intensive care units (ICUs). Identification of patients at risk is crucial to ensure prompt antifungal therapy. We sought to assess risk factors for candidemia and death, both outside and inside ICUs.

Revision and Update of the Consensus Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease From the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium.

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) remain important causes of morbidity and mortality. The consensus definitions of the Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group have been of immense value to researchers who conduct clinical trials of antifungals, assess diagnostic tests, and undertake epidemiologic studies. However, their utility has not extended beyond patients with cancer or recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants.

Effect of renal clearance and continuous renal replacement therapy on appropriateness of recommended meropenem dosing regimens in critically ill patients with susceptible life-threatening infections.

Background: Meropenem plasma concentration above a pathogen's MIC over the whole dosing interval (100% ƒT>MIC) is a determinant of outcome in severe infections. Significant variability of meropenem pharmacokinetics is reported in ICU patients.

Objectives: To characterize meropenem pharmacokinetics in variable CLCR or renal replacement therapy and assess the appropriateness of recommended regimens for MIC coverage.

Correction to: Catheter retention as a consequence rather than a cause of unfavorable outcome in candidemia.

In the original publication the members of the FUNGINOS network were provided in such a way that they could not be indexed as collaborators on PubMed.

Fluconazole non-susceptible breakthrough candidemia after prolonged low-dose prophylaxis: a prospective FUNGINOS study.

Objectives: Breakthrough candidemia (BTC) on fluconazole was associated with non-susceptible Candida spp. and increased mortality. This nationwide FUNGINOS study analyzed clinical and mycological BTC characteristics.

Association of lectin pathway proteins with intra-abdominal Candida infection in high-risk surgical intensive-care unit patients. A prospective cohort study within the fungal infection network of Switzerland.

Objectives: Human studies on the role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in patients with invasive candidiasis have yielded conflicting results. We investigated the influence of MBL and other lectin pathway proteins on Candida colonization and intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) in a cohort of high-risk patients.

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of 89 high-risk intensive-care unit (ICU) patients.

Acquired Multidrug Antifungal Resistance in Candida lusitaniae during Therapy.

Candida lusitaniae is usually susceptible to echinocandins. Beta-1,3-glucan synthase encoded by FKS genes is the target of echinocandins. A few missense mutations in the C.

Epidemiology and outcome of fungemia in a cancer Cohort of the Infectious Diseases Group (IDG) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC 65031).

Background: Anti-cancer treatment and the cancer population have evolved since the last European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) fungemia survey, and there are few recent large epidemiological studies.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study including 145 030 admissions of patients with cancer from 13 EORTC centers. Incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of fungemia were analyzed.

Impact of the introduction of real-time therapeutic drug monitoring on empirical doses of carbapenems in critically ill burn patients.

Purpose: Adequate empirical antibiotic dose selection for critically ill burn patients is difficult due to extreme variability in drug pharmacokinetics. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may aid antibiotic prescription and implementation of initial empirical antimicrobial dosage recommendations. This study evaluated how gradual TDM introduction altered empirical dosages of meropenem and imipenem/cilastatin in our burn ICU.

Rapid detection of enterovirus in cerebrospinal fluid by a fully-automated PCR assay is associated with improved management of aseptic meningitis in adult patients.

Background: Enterovirus (EV) is the most frequent cause of aseptic meningitis (AM). Lack of microbiological documentation results in unnecessary antimicrobial therapy and hospitalization.

Objectives: To assess the impact of rapid EV detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by a fully-automated PCR (GeneXpert EV assay, GXEA) on the management of AM.

High-throughput hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the optimized quantification of the anti-Gram-negatives antibiotic colistin A/B and its pro-drug colistimethate.

Colistin is a last resort's antibacterial treatment in critically ill patients with multi-drug resistant Gram-negative infections. As appropriate colistin exposure is the key for maximizing efficacy while minimizing toxicity, individualized dosing optimization guided by therapeutic drug monitoring is a top clinical priority. Objective of the present work was to develop a rapid and robust HPLC-MS/MS assay for quantification of colistin plasma concentrations.