Delftia acidovorans pneumonia with lung cavities formation / Neumonia con formación de cavidades pulmonares causada por Delftia acidovorans

Abstract Case Description: A 52-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of cough, sputum, fever and fatigue. The patient has been receiving immunosuppressive therapy for thrombocytopenic purpura for 5 years. Clinical Finding: Inspiratory crackles were heard on both hemithorax. Oxygen saturation measured with the pulse oximeter was 97%. Chest X-ray showed diffuse reticular opacities that were more prominent in the upper zones of both lungs. WBC counts were 17,600 mm3 and Platelet counts were 29,000 mm3. Thorax CT showed that there were many thin-walled cavities and millimetric nodules accompanied by ground-glass infiltrates in the upper and middle lobes. Gram staining of bronchial fluid, taken by bronchoscopy, revealed Gram-negative bacilli and intense polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The bacteria were defined as Delftia acidovorans by BD Phoenix automated system. Treatment and outcomes: The patient was hospitalized with suspicion of opportunistic pulmonary infections and cavitary lung disease. After the empirical treatment of intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and oral clarithromycin, her clinical and radiological findings significantly regressed, and she was discharged with outpatient follow-up. Clinical Relevance: This is the first example of cavitary pneumonia due to Delftia acidovorans in an immunocompromised patient. We would like to emphasize that Delftia pneumonia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary cavitary involvement in such patients.

Resumen Descripción del caso: Una mujer de 52 años llegó a la clínica con tos, esputo, fiebre y fatiga. El paciente estuvo recibiendo terapia inmunosupresora durante 5 años para el tratamiento de la púrpura trombocitopénica. Hallazgo clínico: se escucharon crepitaciones inspiratorias en ambos hemitórax. La saturación de oxígeno fue del 97%. La radiografía de tórax mostró opacidades reticulares difusas que eran más prominentes en las zonas superiores de ambos pulmones. Los recuentos de leucocitos fueron de 17,600 mm3 y los recuentos de plaquetas fueron de 29,000 mm3. La TC de tórax mostró muchas cavidades de pared delgada y nódulos milimétricos acompañados de infiltrados vitrales en los lóbulos superior y medio. La tinción de Gram del líquido bronquial reveló bacilos gramnegativos y leucocitos polimorfonucleares. Las bacterias fueron identificadas como Delftia acidovorans. Tratamiento y resultados: La paciente fue hospitalizado con una sospecha de infección oportunista pulmonar y enfermedad pulmonar cavitaria. Después del tratamiento empírico de piperacilina-tazobactam intravenosa y claritromicina oral, los síntomas y signos retrocedieron significativamente, y fue dada de alta con seguimiento ambulatorio. Relevancia clínica: este es el primer registro de neumonía cavitaria causado por Delftia acidovorans en una paciente inmunocomprometida. Enfatizamos que la neumonía por Delftia debe considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial de la afectación de la cavidad pulmonar en tales pacientes.

Piperacillin/tazobactam in continuous infusion versus intermittent infusion in children with febrile neutropenia

Abstract Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common complication in children who receive chemotherapy for cancer. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the continuous versus intermittent infusion of piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) in febrile neutropenic pediatric patients. Methods This is a non-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. Eligible group consisted of hemato-oncological patients with FN who were candidates to receive TZP. Patients were randomized to one of two groups: Group 1 received antibiotic treatment through intravenous intermittent infusion of TZP 300 mg/kg/day based on piperacillin, divided into four doses, not exceeding 16 g/day; Group 2 received an initial TZP loading dose of 75 mg/kg infusion over 30 min, and then a continuous infusion of TZP 300 mg/kg/day through central line with pump over 24 h. Results There were 176 episodes that could be assessed, 100 in Group 1 and 76 in Group 2. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment failure in the experimental group (continuous infusion) compared with the intermittent group, 21% versus 13% (p = 0.15). The increase in the absolute risk reduction was 0.08% (95% confidence interval 0.12-0.30), and the number needed to treat was 12.4. One patient in each group died. Conclusions There were no differences in fever resolution, clinical cure rate, or mortality when comparing the continuous with the intermittent TZP infusion.

Early discharge of pediatric patients with cancer, fever, and neutropenia with low-risk of systemic infection / Egreso temprano en pacientes pediátricos con cáncer, fiebre y neutropenia con bajo riesgo de infección sistémica

Abstract: Background: Ambulatory therapy in low-risk patients with cancer, fever, and neutropenia seems to be a secure and effective alternative. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of the antimicrobial treatment in early discharge vs. in-hospital treatment in children with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN) with low risk of invasive bacterial infection (IBI). Methods: Quasi-experimental design with a historical cohort control group. Children with cancer during an episode of FN and low risk of IBI were included. The control group were inpatient children that received intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam. The experimental group was early discharge patients, who received 48 h of IV treatment and were switched to oral treatment. Outcomes: fever resolution, readmissions, and mortality. Results: Eighty low-risk FN episodes were included; the median age was 6 years old (2.6-11 years), and 43 (54%) were female. Main diagnoses were solid tumors (52 patients) and leukemia or lymphoma (28 patients). Forty-three patients received in-hospital treatment, and 37 were selected for early discharge (31 patients received ciprofloxacin and six received amoxicillin/clavulanate). Two patients were readmitted, one due to a relapse of fever with tumor progression and the other due to epistaxis. Adverse effects occurred in 21.6% of the early discharge group and 12% of the inpatient treatment group (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Early discharge in pediatric patients with cancer, fever, and neutropenia is an acceptable and safe alternative for low-risk patients.

Resumen: Introducción: El tratamiento ambulatorio en pacientes con cáncer, fiebre y neutropenia de bajo riesgo parece ser una alternativa segura y efectiva. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar la efectividad y la seguridad del tratamiento antimicrobiano en la modalidad de egreso temprano vs. el tratamiento intrahospitalario en niños con cáncer y neutropenia febril (NF), con bajo riesgo de infección bacteriana invasiva (IBI). Métodos: Diseño cuasi-experimental con un grupo control histórico. Se incluyeron niños con cáncer durante un episodio de NF con bajo riesgo de IBI. El grupo control fue constituido por pacientes que recibieron tratamiento hospitalario con piperacilina-tazobactam intravenosa. Los pacientes en el grupo de egreso temprano recibieron 48 horas de tratamiento intravenoso y egresaron con antimicrobianos por vía oral. Desenlaces: resolución de la fiebre, reingreso al hospital y muerte. Resultados: Se incluyeron 80 pacientes con NF de bajo riesgo; la mediana de edad fue de 6 años; 43 pacientes (54%) eran de sexo femenino. Los diagnósticos principales fueron tumores sólidos (52) y leucemia o linfoma (28). Cuarenta y tres pacientes recibieron tratamiento hospitalario y 37 fueron seleccionados para egreso temprano. En el grupo de egreso temprano, 31 pacientes recibieron ciprofloxacino y 6 recibieron amoxicilina-clavulanato. Dos pacientes reingresaron, uno por fiebre secundaria a progresión tumoral y otro por epistaxis. Los efectos adversos se presentaron en el 21.6% de los pacientes en el grupo de egreso temprano y en el 12% del grupo de tratamiento hospitalario (p = 0.04). Conclusiones: El egreso temprano para niños con cáncer y NF de bajo riesgo es una alternativa aceptable y segura.