NDM-producing Enterobacterales prevalence associated to COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital

Abstract Colonizations/Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are of great clinical and epidemiological importance due to their rapid dissemination and high mortality rates. In this scenario, the use of antibiotics intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a great warning on the real impact that this pandemic could have on antimicrobial management programs and long-term antimicrobial resistance rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the increase of New Delhi Metallo β-Lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales cases in COVID-19 units of a complex Brazilian tertiary hospital. This retrospective observational study included all patients admitted to the hospital identified as colonized or infected by NDM-producing Gram negative bacilli (GNB), from January 2017 to April 2021. Forty-two NDM-producing Enterobacterales were identified in 39 patients. The rate of NDM cases per total surveillance cultures increased progressively between 2017 and 2021 (chi-2 for trend, p < 0.0001) and was associated with a higher occurrence specifically in COVID units (Fisher exact, p < 0.0001). The molecular investigation of the NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains revealed the emergence of diverse clones during the COVID-19 period, also with possible evidence of horizontal transmission among patients within COVID units. NDM-producing Enterobacterales with multiple and different clonalities in the COVID-19 units also raised questions about the importance of other factors besides horizontal clonal transfer, including the increase of antimicrobial consumption by these patients.

A pharmacodynamic strategy to optimize empirical antibiotic therapy for gram-negative bacteria in a Brazilian Intensive Care Unit

Pharmacodynamic analyses were proposed to determine optimal empirical antibiotic therapy against Gram-negative bacteria isolated in a Brazilian ICU. Due to high resistance rates, standard regimens of cefepime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam were not able to attain significant bactericidal CFR. Prolonged infusion of meropenem achieved 88 percent CFR, making it a possible empirical regimen in this ICU until susceptibilities become available. Still, even through administration of high dose prolonged infusions, 12.0 percent of simulated subjects did not achieve bactericidal exposure, suggesting that combination therapy would frequently be required in this setting. In conclusion, we recommend that in the presence of identified resistance problems among Gram-negative bacteria in a unit or hospital, MIC testing of formulary agents should be conducted along with pharmacodynamic simulation to assist in choosing an optimal antibiotic and dosage regimen for empirical use of severe infections until cultures and susceptibilities become available.

Treatment of nosocomial pneumoniae: an experience with meropenem

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of meropenem as first choice treatment for nosocomial pneumonia (NP) in intensive care units (ICU) in Hospital das Clínicas (HC) - University of Säo Paulo; a hospital with high incidence of antimicrobial resistence. Prospective, open, and non-comparative trial with meropenem were done in patients with ventilator-assiciated or aspiration NP in 2 ICUs at HC - University od Säo Paulo. Etiologic investigation was done through bronchoalveolar lavage and blood cultures prior to study entry. Twenty-five (25) critically ill patients with NP were enrolled (mean age 40 years). Ventilator-acquired pneumonia was responsible for 76 percent of cases and aspiration NP for 24 percent. Specific etiologic agents were identified and considered to be clinically and temporally responsible for NP in 11 (44 percent) patients. A.baumanii was responsible for 6 cases (55 percent), P.aeruginosa for 3 (27 percent), and S.aureus for 2 (18 percent). At completion of treatment, 19 patients (76 percent) showed either cure (48 percent) or improvement (28 percent) after use of meropenem therapy. Mortality was 12 percent at the end therapy (8 perecent after excluding 1 non-evaluable patient). After 4 to 6 weeks of follow-up, 12 (48 percent) patients has improved or been totally cured, and overall mortality was 24 percent. Clinical complications were observed in 11 patients (44 percent), with none of them definitely related to the study drug. Meropenem as monotherapy was effective and well-tolerated in most NP patients in our ICU. The low mortality rate in this study might have been due to first choice use of this drug. Controlled, drug comparative clinical trials are needed to support this preliminary observation.

Estimated prevalence of viral hepatitis in the general population of the municipality of Säo Paulo, measures by a serologic survey of a stratified, randomized and residence-based population

The present study was done to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), and E (HEV) infection in the general population residing in the municipality of Säo Paulo, and to evaluate the level of knowledge related to the various modes of infection transmission by and protection against the different viruses. Blood samples and health questionnaires were collected from 1,059 individuals. The study design used an inductive metod of predictive statistical inferences through randomized sampling stratifield by sex, age and residence region. The estimated prevalence rated found were: Hepatitis A = 66.59 percent (63.75 percent - 69.44 per cent CI); Hepatitis B = 5.94 percent (4.50 percent-7.35 percent); Hepatitis C =1.42 percent (0,70 percent - 2.12 percent); Hepatitis E = 1.68 percent (0.91 percent - 2.46 percent). The frequency of hepatitis was similar in males and females. HAV showed an estimated prevalence of 56.16 percent in the population up to 17 years old, increasing to 65.30 percent in individuals between 18 and 29 years. The infection reached its peak of 90 percent in individuals 40 years of age or older. The study showed a greater tendency of dissemination of HBV among the population between 15 and 17 years. This specific age group showed an estimated prevalence of active infection of 1.04 percent (0.43 percent - 1.65 percent CI), and also demonstrated an ascending level of acquired immunity with an estimated prevalence of 4.90 percent (3.60 percent - 6.20 percent CI). HCV demonstrated an estimated prevalence of 1.42 percent (0.70 percent - 2.12 percent CI). This specific infection occurred more frequently among adults 30 years of age or older, with the prevalence reaching a peak of 3.80 percent among the group aged 50 to 59 years. HEV showed zero prevalence among the age group between 2 and 9 years. This was followed by a slighty ascending rate starting from age 10, with an estimated prevalence of 1.05 percent (0.94 percent - 3.04 percent CI) among those 10 to 14 years of age....

Re-evaluation of the basic procedures involved in the storage of measles vaccine in puplic health units of the municipality of niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Quatro anos após a primeira visita, dezessete unidades Sanitárias do Município de Niterói - RJ foram visitadas novamente e reavaliadas de acordo com as normas técnicas específicas estabelecidas pelo Programa Nacional de Imunizaçäo. Constatou-se que em 100 por cento das Unidades visitadas os cuidados com os refrigeradores e a arrumaçäo das vacinas no interior dos aparelhos eram adequados ou regulares mas quanto ao controle de temperatura dos refrigeradores este percentual caía para 64,7 por cento. De todos os itens avaliados, o mais problemático foi o apoio técnico imediato frente a situaçöes de emergência, considerado insuficiente em 94,1 por cento dos casos. Em 55,2 por cento das amostras vacinais recolhidas das unidades sanitárias, os títulos estavam abaixo da potência mínima preconizada para tal produto no momento da aplicaçäo. Verifica-se, deste modo, a necessidade de uma contínua avaliaçäo dos fatores que intervêm na cadeia de frio evitando-se, assim, que seja comprometida a qualidade das vacinas a serem utilizadas