Outcomes among inmates treated for coccidioidomycosis at a correctional institution during a community outbreak, Kern County, California, 2004.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is typically limited to patients with severe disease or those with increased risk of dissemination. In response to an increase of coccidioidomycosis at a correctional institution in an endemic area, physicians initiated an enhanced diagnosis and treatment program. METHODS: Case patients were inmates with laboratory-confirmed coccidioidomycosis during January 1, 2003, through October 31, 2004. We abstracted medical record data, including demographics, IgG complement fixation (CF) titers, treatment, and clinical outcome for initial and follow-up visits. Case patients receiving antifungal treatment were categorized into early (4 weeks after symptom onset). We evaluated clinical outcome, median IgG CF titer, and time to clinical improvement. RESULTS: Eighty-seven persons were diagnosed with coccidioidomycosis; 79 (91%) records were available. Median age was 36 years (range, 21-71 years), 34 (43%) were black, and all were male. Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 3 weeks (range, <1-36 weeks). Most (95%) received antifungal therapy; 32 were in the early treatment and 43 were in the late treatment group. Good clinical outcome was equally likely. In both groups, median peak IgG CF titers were 1:64. Titers in patients with early treatment did not decrease more rapidly. Median time to improvement was similar in early and late treatment groups (7 and 6 months, respectively; P = .6). CONCLUSIONS: Persons incarcerated in endemic areas constitute a susceptible population that should be considered at risk for coccidioidomycosis. Further studies are needed to identify populations that may benefit from early antifungal treatment for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Testing for coccidioidomycosis among patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in disease-endemic areas. Because testing rates influence interpretation of reportable-disease data and quality of CAP patient care, we determined the proportion of CAP patients who were tested for Coccidioides spp., identified testing predictors, and determined the proportion of tested patients who had positive coccidioidomycosis results. Cohort studies to determine the proportion of ambulatory CAP patients who were tested in 2 healthcare systems in metropolitan Phoenix found testing rates of 2% and 13%. A case-control study identified significant predictors of testing to be age >/=18 years, rash, chest pain, and symptoms for >/=14 days. Serologic testing confirmed coccidioidomycosis in 9 (15%) of 60 tested patients, suggesting that the proportion of CAP caused by coccidioidomycosis was substantial. However, because Coccidioides spp. testing among CAP patients was infrequent, reportable-disease data, which rely on positive diagnostic test results, greatly underestimate the true disease prevalence.

Comparison of the use of administrative data and an active system for surveillance of invasive aspergillosis .

BACKGROUND: Administrative data, such as International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes, are readily available and are an attractive option for surveillance and quality assessment within a single institution or for interinstitutional comparisons. To understand the usefulness of administrative data for the surveillance of invasive aspergillosis, we compared information obtained from a system based on ICD-9 codes with information obtained from an active, prospective surveillance system, which used more extensive case-finding methods (Transplant Associated Infection Surveillance Network). METHODS: Patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis were identified by aspergillosis-related ICD-9 codes assigned to hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and solid organ transplant recipients at a single hospital from April 1, 2001, through January 31, 2005. Suspected cases were classified as proven or probable invasive aspergillosis by medical record review using standard definitions. We calculated the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of identifying invasive aspergillosis by individual ICD-9 codes and by combinations of codes. RESULTS: The sensitivity of code 117.3 was modest (63% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 38%-84%]), as was the PPV (71% [95% CI, 44%-90%]); the sensitivity of code 117.9 was poor (32% [95% CI, 13%-57%]), as was the PPV (15% [95% CI, 6%-31%]). The sensitivity of codes 117.3 and 117.9 combined was 84% (95% CI, 60%-97%); the PPV of the combined codes was 30% (95% CI, 18%-44%). Overall, ICD-9 codes triggered a review of medical records for 64 medical patients, only 16 (25%) of whom had proven or probable invasive aspergillosis. CONCLUSIONS: A surveillance system that involved multiple ICD-9 codes was sufficiently sensitive to identify most cases of invasive aspergillosis; however, the poor PPV of ICD-9 codes means that this approach is not adequate as the sole tool used to classify cases. Screening ICD-9 codes to trigger a medical record review might be a useful method of surveillance for invasive aspergillosis and quality assessment, although more investigation is needed.

Outbreak of cutaneous Rhizopus arrhizus infection associated with karaya ostomy bags.

BACKGROUND: We investigated an outbreak involving 2 patients hospitalized at hospital A with cutaneous Rhizopus arrhizus (oryzae) infections of surgically created stomas. METHODS: A cohort study involving all patients having ileostomy or colostomy surgery during the outbreak period (January-April 2005) was performed. Environmental samples, including samples obtained from nonsterile karaya (a plant-derived adhesive) ostomy bags and from select hospital areas, were collected. A point prevalence survey was conducted at 5 unrelated hospitals to assess stoma care practices and mold contamination of karaya ostomy bags outside of hospital A. Zygomycete isolates were identified by standard methods. RESULTS: Infections occurred 7 and 10 days after operations for the 2 patients; 1 patient died. In a 21-patient cohort, receiving the equivalent of > or =0.5 mg/kg per day of prednisone during the week prior to the index date was associated with infection (infection rate, 33% for patients receiving > or =0.5 mg/kg per day of prednisone vs. 0% for patients receiving <0.5 mg/kg per day of prednisone; P=.07). The time to first ostomy bag change was longer for patients with infection (median duration, 8.5 days; range, 7-10 days) than for the 19 patients without infection (median duration, 1.5 days; range, 1-17 days; P=.08). At unrelated hospitals, the median time to first ostomy bag change was 2 days (range, 1-6 days) for 18 patients after ostomy. R. arrhizus was recovered from 10 of 18 karaya ostomy bags from hospital A and from karaya ostomy bags donated from 3 of 5 other hospitals, but it was not recovered from the hospital A environment. CONCLUSIONS: The initial karaya ostomy bag was likely to be the source of Rhizopus infection, and prolonged exposure before the first ostomy bag change might have precipitated infection in these susceptible individuals. Karaya might contain opportunistic molds that can pose an infectious risk among susceptible persons.

Antifungal prophylaxis to prevent neonatal candidiasis: a survey of perinatal physician practices.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections with Candida species have a high mortality rate in very low birth weight infants. Preliminary data suggest that prophylaxis with fluconazole reduces the incidence of colonization and invasive Candida infections in high-risk, very low birth weight neonates. The extent of antifungal prophylaxis use to prevent neonatal candidemia is unknown. METHODS: We surveyed a 20% random sample of the members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Perinatal Pediatrics. We collected information on prophylactic agents used, indications for use, and rationale for reported practices. RESULTS: A total of 219 (47%) of 469 members sampled responded; 3 clinicians who did not provide care to very low birth weight infants were excluded. Antifungal prophylaxis use was reported by 73 (34%) respondents. Agents used included intravenous fluconazole (66%), oral nystatin (59%), and intravenous amphotericin B (21%). Decreased birth weight or early gestational age was the most frequent indication to start prophylaxis (57 [78%]). Respondents who did not use antifungal prophylaxis compared with respondents who used fluconazole prophylaxis were significantly more likely to have concerns about (1) the emergence of antifungal resistance, (2) unclear criteria on which to base the decision to start prophylaxis, and (3) the need for clarification of the role of surveillance cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary data suggest that fluconazole is efficacious to prevent candidemia in a subset of neonates, this practice is not used widely by clinicians who care for very low birth weight infants. Additional efficacy studies should address the emergence of antifungal resistance or clarification of criteria to initiate prophylaxis, including the role of surveillance cultures.