Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in differantiating to contamination from bacteremia

Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are important biological markers used in the diagnosis of severe infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of blood culture with PCT and CRP in differentiating contamination and non-bacteremia from true bacteremia. In this study blood samples were obtained from 809 febrile patients and analyzed using BACTEC 9120 system. All of positive blood cultures were performed Gram staining. The microorganisms were identified with conventional methods and automated systems. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were made by disc diffusion. PCT levels were analyzed by mini VIDAS device and PCT kit. PCT and CRP levels were analyzed with blood cultures in same times. Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rho test and ROC curve were used for statistical analyses. The bacteremia group was found to be significantly different from non-bacteremia group and contamination group in terms of both PCT and CRP (p<0.0001). The p values of PCT and CRP in differentiating bacteremia from non-bacteremia were p<0.001 for PCT, p=0.002 for CRP and in differentiating bacteremia from contamination were p<0.001 for PCT, p<0.001 for CRP. PCT is a more useful marker than CRP in the differentiating of true bacteremia from contamination according to the results of this study.

Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteremia in a preterm infant with cystic fibrosis

Ochrobactrum anthropi infection in newborn patients is rare, and the treatment is challenging because of its widespread and unpredictable resistance to antimicrobial agents and discrepancies between in vitro susceptibility and in vivo efficacy. We report the clinical and microbiological characteristics of Ochrobactrum anthropi bacteremia in a preterm patient.

Bacteriemias por bacilos Gram negativos multirresistentes en neutropénicos febriles con enfermedades hematológicas / Bacteremia due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli in febrile neutropenic patients with hematological diseases

Las infecciones por bacilos Gram negativos multiresistentes (BGN-MR) son frecuentes en nuestro hospital. Presentan limitadas opciones terapéuticas e importante impacto en la morbimortalidad y costos. Objetivo: analizar los factoes de riesgo y evolución de las bacteriemias por BGN-MR en pacientes neutropénicos febriles con patologías hematológicas. Materiales y métodos: estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y observacional de los factores de riesgo para BGN-MR en la población descripta. Se realizó análisis univariado y multivariado de variables clínicas, epidemiológicas, microbiológicas y evolutivas. Resultados: El 27 % de los episodios de neutropenia y fiebre cursaron con bacteriemias por BGN, 42 % de ellos fueron producidos por BGN-MR. En el análisis univariado, dichas bacteriemias se asociaron al uso previo de antibióticos; a las bacteriemias de brecha y neutropenias mayores a 7 días. En el análisis multivariado la bacteriemia de brecha mantuvo su significancia estadística (P<0,001; OR: 5,17; IC 95 % 2,1-12,7). Acinetobacter spp fue el BGN-MR más frecuentemente aislado incluso en los pacientes fallecidos. No se detectó el foco en el 45,9 % de los episodios. Los tratamientos inadecuados fueron significativamente más frecuentes en los pacientes con BGN-MR y la mortalidad tanto global como atribuible también se asoció significativamente al tratamiento inadecuado de las bacteriemias por BGN-MR (P<0,04;RR: 2,46;IC 95 % 1,03-5,9 y P< 0,014; RR: 3,02; IC 95 % 1,22-0,45 respectivamente). Conclusiones: Las bacteriemias por BGN-MR son frecuentes en la población estudiada en especial los que han recibido ATB previo y en las que surgen intratratamiento ATB. Recibieron con mayor frecuencia tratamiento empírico inadecuado, lo que se asoció a mayor mortalidad...

Bacterial infections by multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli (BGN-MR) are an increasing problem in our hospital with a major impact on morbidity, mortality and costs. Objective: to analize risk factors and outcome in bacteremia due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli in febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases. Material and Methods: We conducted a prospective, descriptive and observational study to describe the risk factors and outcome of BGN-MR bacteremia in these patients. Results: Twenty seven percent of neutropenia and fever episodes had Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia and 42 % of them were caused by BGN-MR. Previous use of antibioteics, breakthrough bacteremia and prolonged neutropenia (<7 days) were significant in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis only breakthrough bacteremia was significant (P< 0.001; OR 5,17;IC 95 % 2.1-12.7). Acinetobactersppp was the most common BGN-MR isolated in blood-stream infections and in patients who died. The source of infections was unknown in 45,9 % of the episodes. Inadequate empirical therapy was most common in BGN-MR bacteremia and it was associated with increased overall and attributable mortality (P<0.04; RR: 2.46; IC 95 % 1.03-5.9 y P<0.014; RR: 3.02; IC 95 % 1.22-7.45). Conclusions: BGN-MR was frequent in neutropenic patients with hematological diseases specially in those exposed to antibiotics and in breakthroug bacteremia. Inappropiate antimicrobial therapy was common and is associated with adverse outcome...

The first case of Staphylococcus aureus ST398 causing bacteremia in an immunocompromised patient in Greece.

We describe a case of catheter-related bloodstream infection, in a patient with colon cancer, caused by a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus strain, nontypeable by pulsed field gel electrophoresis of SmaI macrorestriction fragment analysis, belonging to ST398. The patient recovered after daptomycin therapy. This is the first report that documents the emergence of ST398 in Greece.

Brevundimonas vesicularis bacteremia: A rare case report in a female infant.

Brevundimonas vesicularis has rarely been isolated from clinical specimens. We report here a case of B. vesicularis bacteremia in a female infant who presented with fever, vomiting and altered sensorium. USG abdomen showed mild hepatomegaly, moderate ascitis with bilateral mild basal pleural effusion. Blood culture was processed by BACTEC BD. Isolate was identified as B. vesicularis, by API ID 32 GN automated system. We have come across only one report of neonatal sepsis caused by B. vesicularis from India. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the rare case reports of B. vesicularis bacteremia in a female infant.

Bacteremia due to Rhodococcus equi in an immunocompetent infant.

Rhodococcus equi , previously known as Corynebacterium equi, is one of the most important causes of zoonotic infection in grazing animals. Increased cases of human infection with R. equi have been reported especially in immunocompromised patients. Infection in immunocompetent patients is extremely rare. We report a case of R. equi bacteremia in a 26-day-old immunocompetent infant with recurrent swellings on different parts of the body. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever report of R. equi bacteremia from an immunocompetent patient from Northern India.

Estudio de la prueba BRAHMS PCT®-Q en el diagnóstico precoz de sepsis causada por bacteriemia en pacientes procedentes del laboratorio del Hospital de Clínicas Caracas / Study of the BRAHMS PCT®-Q assay for the early diagnosis of sepsis caused by bacteremia in patients of the laboratory of the Hospital de Clínicas Caracas

La sepsis es una enfermedad severa que puede afectar a cualquier miembro de la población, causando graves consecuencias e incluso la muerte si no es tratada a tiempo. Está presente en un alto porcentaje en la población mundial y es la causa de muerte #23 en nuestro país, por ésta razón es de gran relevancia hacer un diagnóstico rápido y seguro de la enfermedad y así proporcionar tratamiento a la población afectada. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la sensibilidad, especificidad y exactitud de BRAHMS PCT®-Q, siendo éste una prueba para determinación de niveles de procalcitonina en sangre de manera semicuantitativa, para el diagnóstico precoz de sepsis y comparándolo con los resultados obtenidos por el hemocultivo y la impresión diagnóstica médica, siendo ésta última la prueba de referencia para el diagnóstico de sepsis bacterial. A partir de esto establecer la utilidad, así como los beneficios de una marcador de sepsis como la BRAHMS PCT®-Q en nuestro país. Para lograr esto se utilizó muestras de 102 pacientes que asistieron al Hospital de Clínicas Caracas, cuya sintomatología indicó que era recomendable realizar hemocultivo y determinación de procalcitonina. A estos pacientes se les hizo una toma de muestra para hemocultivo y en la misma punción se tomó una muestra de sangre sin anticoagulante. El hemocultivo fue procesado por el servicio de Bacteriología del Laboratorio del Hospital de Clínicas Caracas y el suero se utilizó para la determinación de procalcitonina. Una vez obtenidos ambos resultados se cotejaron y compararon. A partir de los datos obtenidos se pudo concluir que la sensibilidad de BRAHMS PCT®-Q es mayor al 80%, la especificidad es de 90% y presenta una exactitud de 90%. Por lo tanto es una prueba que puede ser utilizada para el diagnóstico precoz de sepsis...

Sepsis is a serious disease that may affect any member of the population and can have important consequences, including death, if not treated in time. It is present in a high percentage of the World population and is the 23rd cause of death in our country; it is therefore extremely relevant to diagnose the disease quickly and reliably and thus provide treatment to the affected population. The objective of this study consisted in determining the sensitivity, specificity and accurateness of the BRAHMS PCT®-Q, as a test to determine the levels of blood procalcitonin in a semi-quantitative manner for the early diagnosis of sepsis and comparing it with the results of the blood culture and medical impression, which is the benchmark test for the diagnosis of bacterial sepsis. And based on this, to establish the usefulness, as well as the benefits, of a sepsis marker, such as the BRAHMS PCT®-Q, in our country. To do so, samples of 102 patients, who visited the Hospital de Clínicas Caracas, were used; their symptomatology indicated that it was advisable to conduct a blood culture and determine procalcitonin. Of these patients a sample was taken for the blood culture, and with the same puncture a blood sample was taken without anticoagulant. The blood culture was processed using the services of the Bacteriological Department of the Hospital de Clínicas Caracas, and the serum was used to determine procalcitonin. Once both results were in, they were cross-tabulated and compared. Based on the data that was obtained, it could be concluded that the sensitivity of BRAHMS PCT®-Q is greater than 80%, its specificity is 90% which represents an accurateness of 90%. It is therefore a test that can be used for the early diagnosis of sepsis, but it is even more recommended to rule out the same...

Bacteriemia por Stahylococcus aureus en la infancia: complicaciones metastásicas / Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in childhood: metastatic complications

El staphylococcus aureus es una bacteria que posee una alta ubicuidad y virulencia por lo cual es la causa más frecuente de infección piógena en el mundo, siendo además un importante patógeno en la infancia El objetivo principal fue identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a complicaciones metastásicas. Población, material y métodos: diseño observacional, analítico, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron en el estudio 86 bacteriemias por Staphylococcus aureus intrahospitalarias y extrahospitalarias informadas por el Servicio de microbiología del Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan en el año 2003. Se analizaron los siguientes factores de riesgo: edad, enfermedad de base, signos clínicos, sensibilidad, accesos vasculares, estudios diagnósticos realizados y controles posteriores al alta: Resultados: el 3,4 por ciento de las bacteriemias desarrollaron focos metastásicos, en el 100 por ciento se observaron datos sugestivos de persistencia de foco infecciosos (fiebre persistente o hemocultivos persistentemente positivos). Al analizar los factores de riesgo asociados a complicaciones metastásicas se observó que todos los pacientes tenían enfermedad de base con compromiso inmunológico y que el Stafhylococcus aureus fue en todos meticilino resistente (P=0,037). Del 88 por ciento de las bacteriemias fue intrahospitalaria, 33 por ciento de las mismas con cultivo meticilino resistentes (p=0.011). La presencia de catéter central se observó como un factor de riesgo para presentar resistencia ala meticilina (p=0.019). La mortalidad global fue del 15 por ciento. Se observó una mayor mortalidad en los pacientes con enfermedad de base (p=0.036) y con meticilino resistente (p=0.014). El 76 por ciento de los pacientes concurrieron a control luego del egreso hospitalario (mediana de 90 días), no se observó ningún paciente con complicaciones metastásicas furante los mismos.

Renal involvement in prolonged Salmonella bacteremia: the role of schistosomal glomerulopathy

Renal involvement has been well documented in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and in patients with prolonged Salmonella bacteremia (PSB). Whether there is a specific renal lesion related to PSB or the chronic bacterial infection aggravates a pre-existing schistosomal glomerulopathy has been a matter of controversy. To analyze the clinical manifestations and histopathological findings of the renal involvement, 8 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and PSB (group I) were compared with 8 patients with schistosomal glomerulopathy (group II) matched by sex and glomerular disease. The mean age in group I was 17.7 years. All patients presented with hematuria, in 4 cases associated with non-nephrotic proteinuria. In group II the mean age was 23 years; nephrotic syndrome was the clinical presentation in 7 of the 8 patients in the group. All patients in group I experienced remission of the clinical and laboratory abnormalities as the salmonella infection was cured; in group II the patients had persistent, steroid-resistant, nephrotic syndrome. On histological examination, no difference was noted between the two groups, except for pronounced glomerular hypercellularity and interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration in group I. These observations strongly suggest that PSB exacerbates a pre-existing sub-clinical schistosomal glomerulopathy by the addition of active lesions directly related to the prolonged bacteremia