Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in patients with COVID-19: An epidemiological and clinical study.

Epidemiological data regarding the incidence of secondary multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative infection in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brazil are still ambiguous. Thus, a case-control study was designed to determine factors associated with the acquisition of MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in patients with and without COVID-19 and describe the mortality rates and clinical features associated with unfavorable outcomes. In total, we assessed 280 patients admitted to Brazilian intensive care units from March/2020 to December/2021. During the study, 926 GNB were isolated. Out of those, 504 were MDR-GNB, representing 54.4% of the resistance rate. In addition, out of 871 patients positive for COVID-19, 73 had secondary MDR-GNB infection, which represented 8.38% of documented community-acquired GNB-MDR infections. The factors associated with patients COVID-19-MDR-GNB infections were obesity, heart failure, use of mechanical ventilation, urinary catheter, and previous use of ß-lactams. Several factors associated with mortality were identified among patients with COVID-19 infected with MDR-GNB, including the use of a urinary catheter; renal failure; and the origin of bacterial cultures such as tracheal secretion, exposure to carbapenem antibiotics, and polymyxin. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19-MDR-GNB (68.6%) compared to control groups, where COVID-19 was 35.7%, MDR-GNB was 50%, and GNB was 21.4%. Our findings demonstrate that MDR-GNB infection associated with COVID-19 has an expressive impact on increasing the case fatality rate, reinforcing the importance of minimizing the use of invasive devices and prior exposure to antimicrobials to control the bacterial spread in healthcare environments to improve the prognosis among critical patients.

Gram-negative ESKAPE bacteria bloodstream infections in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bloodstream infections due to bacteria are a highly consequential nosocomial occurrences and the organisms responsible for them are usually multidrug-resistant. The aims of this study were to describe the incidence of bacteremia caused by Gram-negative ESKAPE bacilli during the COVID-19 pandemic and characterize the clinical and microbiological findings including antimicrobial resistance. A total of 115 Gram-negative ESKAPE isolates were collected from patients with nosocomial bacteremia (18% of the total bacteremias) in a tertiary care center in Mexico City from February 2020 to January 2021. These isolates were more frequently derived from the Respiratory Diseases Ward (27), followed by the Neurosurgery (12), Intensive Care Unit (11), Internal Medicine (11), and Infectious Diseases Unit (7). The most frequently isolated bacteria were Acinetobacter baumannii (34%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23%) and Enterobacter spp (16%). A. baumannii showed the highest levels of multidrug-resistance (100%), followed by K. pneumoniae (87%), Enterobacter spp (34%) and P. aeruginosa (20%). The bla CTX-M-15 and bla TEM-1 genes were identified in all beta-lactam-resistant K. pneumoniae (27), while bla TEM-1 was found in 84.6% (33/39) of A. baumannii isolates. The carbapenemase gene bla OXA-398 was predominant among carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (74%, 29/39) and bla OXA-24was detected in four isolates. One P. aeruginosa isolate was bla VIM-2 gene carrier, while two K. pneumoniae and one Enterobacter spp were bla NDM gene carriers. Among colistin-resistant isolates mcr-1 gene was not detected. Clonal diversity was observed in K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. Two outbreaks caused by A. baumannii ST208 and ST369 were detected, both belonging to the clonal complex CC92 and IC2. A. baumannii was associated with a death rate of 72% (28/32), most of them (86%, 24/28) extensively drug-resistant or pandrug-resistant isolates, mainly in patients with COVID-19 (86%, 24/28) in the Respiratory Diseases Ward. A. baumannii isolates had a higher mortality rate (72%), which was higher in patients with COVID-19. There was no statistically significant association between the multidrug-resistant profile in Gram-negative ESKAPE bacilli and COVID-19 disease. The results point to the important role of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative ESKAPE bacteria causing bacteremia in nosocomial settings before and during the COVID-19 epidemic. Additionally, we were unable to identify a local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial resistance rates, at least in the short term.

Acquisition of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with no previous use of carbapenems: Indirect population impact of antimicrobial use.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of exposure to patients using carbapenem on the acquisition of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) among patients not using carbapenems. DESIGN: An ecological study and a cohort study. SETTING: Two medical surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in inner Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted to 2 ICUs from 2013 through 2018 to whom carbapenem was not prescribed. METHODS: In the ecologic study, the monthly use of carbapenems (days of therapy [DOT] per 1,000 patient days) was tested for linear correlation with the 2-month moving average of incidence CR-GNB among patients to whom carbapenem was not prescribed. In the cohort study, those patients were addressed individually for risk factors (demographics, invasive interventions, use of antimicrobials) for acquisition of CR-GNB, including time at risk and the "carbapenem pressure," described as the aggregate DOT among other ICU patients during time at risk. The analysis was performed in univariate and multivariable Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The linear regression model revealed an association of total carbapenem use and incidence of CR-GNB (coefficient, 0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.06; P = .001). In the cohort model, the adjusted rate ratio (RR) for carbapenem DOT was 1.009 (95% CI, 1.001-1.018; P = .03). Other significant risk factors were mechanical ventilation and the previous use of ceftazidime (with or without avibactam). CONCLUSIONS: Every additional DOT of total carbapenem use increased the risk of CR-GNB acquisition by patients not using carbapenems by nearly 1%. We found evidence for a population ("herd effect"-like) impact of antimicrobial use in the ICUs.

Epidemiology of Gram-negative bacteria during coronavirus disease 2019. What is the real pandemic?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bacterial infections play a key role in hospital outcomes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nonetheless, the global impact on the epidemiology of Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and antibiotic resistance has not been clearly established. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple limitations exist in the current literature, in that substantial variability was observed with regard to methodology. Notwithstanding the heterogeneity, the evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial negative impact on global epidemiology with an increase in hospital-onset infections, associated with GNB. Similarly, an alarming increase in resistant GNB compared to prepandemic rates, was apparent. This was most evident for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (bloodstream infections), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ventilator-associated pneumonia), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (all infections). Significant variations were most apparent in the large, system-wide regional or national comparative assessments, vs. single-centre studies. Categorizing concurrent bacteria as co- or secondary-infections may be paramount to optimize standard of care. SUMMARY: The data from most studies signal the probability that COVID-19 accelerated resistance. However, multiple limitations intrinsic to interpretation of current COVID-19 data, prevents accurately quantifying collateral damage on the global epidemiology and antibiotic resistance amongst GNB. It is likely to be substantial and renewed efforts to limit further increases is warranted.

Risk stratification for selecting empiric antibiotherapy during and after COVID-19.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: SARS-CoV-2 deeply modified the risk of bacterial infection, bacterial resistance, and antibiotic strategies. This review summarized what we have learned. RECENT FINDINGS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed an increase in healthcare-acquired infection and multidrug-resistant organism-related infection, triggered by several factors: structural factors, such as increased workload and ongoing outbreaks, underlying illnesses, invasive procedures, and treatment-induced immunosuppression. The two most frequently healthcare-acquired infections described in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were bloodstream infection, related or not to catheters, health-acquired pneumonia (in ventilated or nonventilated patients). The most frequent species involved in bacteremia were Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli in health-acquired pneumonia. The rate of Gram-negative bacilli is particularly high in late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia, and the specific risk of Pseudomonas aeruginosa- related pneumonia increased when the duration of ventilation was longer than 7 days. A specificity that remains unexplained so far is the increase in enterococci bacteremia. SUMMARY: The choice of empiric antibiotimicrobials depends on several factors such as the site of the infection, time of onset and previous length of stay, previous antibiotic therapy, and known multidrug-resistant organism colonization. Pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials could be markedly altered during SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory failure, which should encourage to perform therapeutic drug monitoring.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Infection Associated with COVID-19: A Case Series and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND We aimed to identify the risk factors for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection in patients with COVID-19. CASE REPORT Case 1. A 52-year-old COVID-19-positive woman with systemic lupus erythematosus was administered remdesivir (RDV) and methylprednisolone (mPSL) 1000 mg/day for 3 days, and subsequently administered baricitinib and ceftriaxone. Following respiratory deterioration, she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the antibiotics were switched to meropenem (MEPM). Blood and sputum cultures were positive for S. maltophilia. Administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) showed clinical improvement. Case 2. An 80-year-old COVID-19-positive man was treated with RDV, dexamethasone, and baricitinib. Owing to severe hypoxia, he was transferred to the ICU and MEPM was administered. Sputum culture was positive for S. maltophilia. TMP-SMX administration temporarily improved his symptoms; however, he died from COVID-19-associated invasive aspergillosis. Case 3. A 48-year-old COVID-19-positive man who was mechanically intubated was transferred to our hospital and treated with RDV, mPSL, and piperacillin/tazobactam. Sputum culture revealed S. maltophilia; treatment with TMP-SMX improved his respiratory status. Case 4. An 80-year-old COVID-19-positive man was treated with RDV and dexamethasone. Owing to severe hypoxemia, he was transferred to the ICU and the antibiotics were switched to MEPM. Sputum culture revealed S. maltophilia. Administration of TMX-SMX improved his respiratory status. CONCLUSIONS Isolation of S. maltophilia in respiratory specimens of patients with COVID-19 should prompt clinicians to administer treatment for S. maltophilia-associated pneumonia in ICU-admitted patients who have been intubated, have been administered broad-spectrum antibiotics, or have immunocompromised status.

Bacteremia in Children with Solid Tumors: Etiology, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Factors Associated with Multidrug Resistance, and Mortality.

This retrospective study aims to describe the etiology and resistance patterns of pathogens causing bacteremia in children with solid tumors in a tertiary pediatric hematology-oncology center in Jerusalem, Israel (2011-2019). Factors associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteremia and mortality were analyzed. A total of 228 pathogens were isolated in 126 patients; 61.0% were gram-negative rods (GNR) and 38.2% were gram-positive cocci (GPC). The most common pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.3%), Escherichia coli (17.5%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (16.2%). The proportion of MDR-GNR was 18.2%, while the proportion of MDR-GPC was 55.2%. In logistic regression analysis, breakthrough bacteremia on a penicillin-group antibiotic (odds ratio [OR] 5.69, [95% confidence interval 1.42-22.76], p-value = 0.014) was associated and underlying diagnosis of neuroblastoma was inversely associated (OR 0.17, [0.04-0.81], p-value = 0.026) with MDR-GNR bacteremia; while the previous hospitalizations' duration (OR 1.032/day, [1.01-1.06], p-value = 0.007) and oncologic treatment intensity (OR 2.19, [1.08-4.45, p-value = 0.03) were associated with MDR-GPC bacteremia. Shock, prolonged profound neutropenia, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission were associated with 7-day mortality; and relapsed disease, oncologic treatment intensity, prolonged profound neutropenia, and PICU admission-with 30-day mortality in the univariate analyses. Empirical antibiotic choice should be based on factors associated with MDR infections in this specific population.

COVID-19 Clinical Profiles and Fatality Rates in Hospitalized Patients Reveal Case Aggravation and Selective Co-Infection by Limited Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Bacterial co-infections may aggravate COVID-19 disease, and therefore being cognizant of other pathogens is imperative. We studied the types, frequency, antibiogram, case fatality rates (CFR), and clinical profiles of co-infecting-pathogens in 301 COVID-19 patients. Co-infection was 36% (n = 109), while CFR was 31.2% compared to 9.9% in non-co-infected patients (z-value = 3.1). Four bacterial species dominated, namely, multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (37%, n = 48), extremely drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (26%, n = 34), multidrug-resistant Eschericia. coli (18.6%, n = 24), and extremely drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.5%, n = 11), in addition to other bacterial species (9.3%, n = 12). Increased co-infection of K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii was associated with increased death rates of 29% (n = 14) and 32% (n = 11), respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae was equally frequent in respiratory and urinary tract infections (UTI), while E. coli mostly caused UTI (67%), and A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa dominated respiratory infections (38% and 45%, respectively). Co-infections correlated with advance in age: seniors ≥ 50 years (71%), young adults 21-49 years (25.6%), and children 0-20 years (3%). These findings have significant clinical implications in the successful COVID-19 therapies, particularly in geriatric management. Future studies would reveal insights into the potential selective mechanism(s) of Gram-negative bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients.

Stenotrophomonas isolates in a tertiary care centre in South India.

PURPOSE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multi-drug resistant pathogen increasingly isolated in India. This study aimed to identify patients from whom Stenotrophomonas maltophilia had been isolated and assess predictors of mortality in this population. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with a positive culture for S. maltophilia over a 3-year period. Clinical details and laboratory results were assessed from hospital records. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients (mean age 48.6 years) were included in the study. Of these, 111 patients were hospitalized for at least 48 â€‹hours prior to culture and 98 were admitted in the intensive care unit. Bivariate analysis revealed multiple associations with mortality, including a background of renal, cardiac, autoimmune disease, recent carbapenam use and COVID-19 infection and increasing ventilatory requirement, lower PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio, vasopressor use, thrombocytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia at the time of positive isolate. Multivariate analysis showed that autoimmune disease [OR 27.38; 95% CI (1.39-540)], a P/F ratio of less than 300 [OR 7.58; 95% CI (1.52-37.9)], vasopressor requirement [OR 39.50; 95% CI (5.49-284)] and thrombocytopenia [OR 11.5; 95% CI (2.04-65.0)] were statistically significantly associated with increased mortality, while recent surgery and receipt of antibiotics [OR 0.16; 95% CI (0.03-0.8)] targeted against S. maltophilia were associated with decreased mortality. CONCLUSION: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is primarily isolated in patients in the intensive care unit. In our study the need for vasopressors, autoimmune disease, lower P/F ratios and thrombocytopenia were associated with higher mortality. The association of targeted antibiotics with reduced mortality suggests that the pathogenic role of S. maltophilia should not be underestimated. This finding needs to be confirmed with larger, prospective studies.

Current opinion in management of septic shock due to Gram-negative bacteria.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused multiple challenges to ICUs, including an increased rate of secondary infections, mostly caused by Gram-negative micro-organisms. Worrying trends of resistance acquisition complicate this picture. We provide a review of the latest evidence to guide management of patients with septic shock because of Gram-negative bacteria. RECENT FINDINGS: New laboratory techniques to detect pathogens and specific resistance patterns from the initial culture are available. Those may assist decreasing the time to adequate antimicrobial therapy and avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic overuse. New antimicrobials, including ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations, such as ceftolozane-tazobactam, imipenem-relebactam or meropenem-vaborbactam and cephalosporins, such as cefiderocol targeted to specific pathogens and resistance patterns are available for use in the clinical setting. Optimization of antibiotic dosing and delivery should follow pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles and wherever available therapeutic drug monitoring. Management of sepsis has brought capillary refill time back to the spotlight along with more reasoned fluid resuscitation and a moderate approach to timing of dialysis initiation. SUMMARY: Novel rapid diagnostic tests and antimicrobials specifically targeted to Gram-negative pathogens are available and should be used within the principles of antimicrobial stewardship including de-escalation and short duration of antimicrobial therapy.

ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS IN THE SETTING OF COVID-19 INFECTION: A Case Series.

PURPOSE: To describe endogenous endophthalmitis in the setting of COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: Patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia who presented to our department with any or all of the following complaints: pain, watering, redness, and decreased vision were identified. All relevant data were collected for analysis. RESULTS: Three patients with endogenous endophthalmitis were identified. All patients had been treated for COVID-19 pneumonia and therefore had received remdesivir and systemic steroids; 2 of the 3 patients received tocilizumab. All patients received vitreous biopsy, vitrectomy, and intraocular antibiotic injection. Patient 1 demonstrated Klebsiella pneumoniae in blood culture, K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in urine culture, and K. pneumoniae in vitreous fluid, whereas Patients 2 and 3 demonstrated Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the blood and nasopharyngeal culture, respectively. Correspondingly, the same organism was cultured from vitreous in Patients 2 and 3. The visual acuity at the last follow-up in Patients 1 to 3 was 20/100, 20/80, and 20/40, respectively. The probable source of infection was identified in each as renal calculi, dental caries, and the pharynx, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in the vitreous fluid of Patient 1. CONCLUSION: We report good outcomes of early intervention for endogenous endophthalmitis in the setting of COVID-19 infection. We also document the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in vitreous.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis and bacteraemia without a dog bite in an immunocompetent individual.

We describe the case of an immunocompetent 75-year-old man with Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteraemia and meningitis. C. canimorsus is commonly found in the oral flora of dogs with human infection typically occurring following a bite. Unusually, while our patient was a dog owner, there was no history of bite nor scratch mark. Admission blood cultures flagged positive for Gram-negative bacilli, but prolonged molecular analysis was required before C. canimorsus was isolated in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. There is a high mortality rate in invasive infection, and in our patient's case, antibiotic therapy was commenced prior to laboratory confirmation with our patient making a complete recovery. This case highlights the importance of including C. canimorsus in the differential diagnosis of unwell patients who keep dogs, even without a bite. This case occurred amid heightened awareness of COVID-19, which may represent predisposition for zoonoses during social isolation and increased human-pet contact.

Treatment refractory Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia and pneumonia in a COVID-19-positive patient.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen that most often infects patients requiring mechanical ventilation, indwelling central venous catheters and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The reported incidence of S. maltophilia infection has increased over the past two decades, and many of its risk factors are commonly seen in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Our case regards a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, who subsequently developed disseminated S. maltophilia infection, refractory to first-line treatment and optimal medical management. This case highlights the high index of suspicion required for diagnosing secondary complications in patients with COVID-19 infection and highlights the difficulty in treating disseminated S. maltophilia infection in critically ill patients.

Cefepime/tazobactam compared with other tazobactam combinations against problem Gram-negative bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: Piperacillin/tazobactam has long been a broad-spectrum 'workhorse' antibiotic; however, it is compromised by resistance. One response is to re-partner tazobactam with cefepime, which is easier to protect, being less ß-lactamase labile, and to use a high-dose and prolonged infusion. On this basis, Wockhardt are developing cefepime/tazobactam (WCK 4282) as a 2+2 g q8h combination with a 90-min infusion. METHODS: The activity of cc cefepime/tazobactam was assessed, with other tazobactam combinations as comparators, against 1632 Enterobacterales, 745 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 450 other non-fermenters, as submitted to the UK National Reference Laboratory. These were categorised by carbapenemase-gene detection and interpretive reading of phenotypes, with MICs determined by British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy agar dilution. RESULTS: Although higher breakpoints may be justifiable, based on the pharmacodynamics, the results were reviewed against current cefepime criteria. On this basis, cefepime/tazobactam was broadly active against Enterobacterales with AmpC enzymes and extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs), even when they had ertapenem resistance, suggesting porin loss. At 8+8 mg/L, activity extended to > 90% of Enterobacterales with OXA-48 and KPC carbapenemases, although the MICs for KPC producers belonging to the international Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 lineage were higher; metallo-ß-lactamase producers remained resistant. Cefepime/tazobactam was less active than ceftolozane/tazobactam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with AmpC de-repression or high-level efflux but achieved wider antipseudomonal coverage than piperacillin/tazobactam. Activity against other non-fermenters was species-specific. CONCLUSION: Overall, cefepime/tazobactam had a spectrum exceeding those of piperacillin/tazobactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam and resembling or exceeding that of carbapenems. Used as a 'new-combination of old-agents' it has genuine potential to be 'carbapenem-sparing'.

Co-morbidity of Covid-19 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a Patient with Hodgkin's Lymphoma History from North of Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Immunocompromised patients, especially those hospitalized, are at a higher risk for infection with opportunistic pathogens such as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) which is a multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacillus and can cause a challenge in the management of patients with concomitant COVID-19 and S. maltophilia pneumonia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old man with Hodgkin's lymphoma presented with severe respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 was intubated upon admission and the initial standard treatment for COVID-19 was started for him. The patient subsequently developed superimposed bacterial pneumonia with S. maltophilia. According to that, the patient's intubation tube was removed and a tracheostomy was performed for him. Also, antibiotic treatment was replaced with Colistin and Co-trimoxazole drugs. Finally, after 31 days of hospitalization in the ICU and the appropriate drug treatment, he was discharged with reduced symptoms and partial recovery. CONCLUSION: It should be noted that the occurrence of co-infection with multidrug-resistant pathogens such as S. maltophilia requires proper management to select appropriate treatment methods and drugs, so that in addition to proper effectiveness, it does not lead to side effects and complications associated with COVID-19 disease.

Global emerging resistance in pediatric infections with TB, HIV, and gram-negative pathogens.

Infants, children and adolescents are at risk of life-threatening, antimicrobial-resistant infections. Global burdens of drug-resistant TB, HIV and gram-negative pathogens have a particular impact on paediatric age groups, necessitating a paediatric-focused agenda to address emerging resistance. Dedicated approaches are needed to find, successfully treat and prevent resistant infections in paediatric populations worldwide. Challenges include the diagnosis and identification of resistant infections, limited access to novel antimicrobials or to paediatric-friendly formulations, limited access to research and clinical trials and implementation challenges related to prevention and successful completion of treatment. In this review, the particular complexities of emerging resistance in TB, HIV and gram-negative pathogens in children, with attention to both clinical and public health challenges, are highlighted. Key principles of a paediatric-focused agenda to address antimicrobial resistance are outlined. They include quality of care, increasing equitable access to key diagnostics, expanding antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention across global settings, and health system strengthening. Increased access to research studies, including clinical trials, is needed. Further study and implementation of care models and strategies for child- or adolescent-centred management of infections such as HIV and TB can critically improve outcome and avoid development of resistance. As the current global pandemic of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, threatens to disrupt health systems and services for vulnerable populations, this is a critical time to mitigate against a potential surge in the incidence of resistant infections.

Change in hospital antibiotic use and acquisition of multidrug-resistant gram-negative organisms after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019.

Interrupted time series segmented regression was conducted to trend antibiotic use and multidrug-resistant gram-negative (MDRGN) acquisition relative to COVID-19 in an academic hospital. Total antibiotic use and antibiotic use related to pneumonia was higher in the period after the onset of COVID-19 compared to the similar calendar period in 2019. Furthermore, MDRGN acquisition increased 3% for every increase in positive COVID-19 tests per week.

Eight-year trends in the relative isolation frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility among bloodstream isolates from Greek hospitals: data from the Greek Electronic System for the Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance - WHONET-Greece, 2010 to 2017.

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) changes over time and continuous monitoring provides insight on trends to inform both empirical treatment and public health action.AimsTo survey trends in relative isolation frequency (RIF) and AMR among key bloodstream pathogens using data from the Greek Electronic System for the Surveillance of AMR (WHONET-Greece).MethodsThis observational study looked into routine susceptibility data of 50,488 blood culture isolates from hospitalised patients in 25 tertiary hospitals, participating in the WHONET-Greece for trends over time between January 2010 and December 2017. Only the first isolate per species from each patient was included. Hospital wards and intensive care units (ICUs) were analysed separately.ResultsDuring the study, the RIF of Acinetobacter baumannii increased in wards, as did the proportion of A. baumannii isolates, which were non-susceptibleto most antibiotics in both wards and ICUs. Coincidently, Klebsiella pneumoniae RIF declined while the respective rates of non-susceptible isolates to carbapenems and gentamicin increased. Pseudomonas aeruginosa RIF remained stable but decreasing proportions of non-susceptible isolates to all studied antibiotics, except imipenem were observed. Escherichia coli RIF increased as did the proportion of isolates non-susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems and fluoroquinolones. Concerning Staphylococcus aureus, a decline in the percentage of meticillin resistant isolates in ICUs was found, while the percentages of Enterococcus faecium isolates with non-susceptibility to vancomycin stayed stable.ConclusionsRecognising these trends over time is important, since the epidemiology of AMR is complex, involving different 'bug and drug' combinations. This should be taken into consideration to control AMR.