Mortality audit of neonatal sepsis secondary to acinetobacter.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter infection has emerged as an important pathogen in neonatal sepsis in the recent years causing morbidity as well as mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed over a one and a half year period of all neonates admitted with sepsis in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), who developed Acinetobacter infection and to identify mortality-associated risk factors in these neonates. RESULTS: Incidence of neonatal septicaemia due to Acinetobacter species was 9.18%. All were cases of early onset sepsis. Predominant species isolated was Acinetobacter baumanii (67.5%). The major symptoms were lethargy and poor feeding. The major signs were tachypnoea, rib retraction, and respiratory distress. The major fetal risk factors were low birth weight and prematurity. Overall, 53.75% were multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter. Resistance to more than two drugs (MDR) was statistically significant in A. baumanii as compared with nonbaumanii. Overall mortality due to Acinetobacter neonatal sepsis was 20%. Septicemia due to A. baumanii was associated with higher mortality than those due to nonbaumanii isolates. Lethargy, tachypnoea, rib retraction, tachycardia, respiratory distress, and mechanical ventilation were significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter infection is fatal, particularly in premature and low birth weight neonates. Therefore, an effective infection control policy and rational antibiotic use are mandatory in neonatal intensive care areas of each hospital in order to control Acinetobacter infection and improve outcome.

Prevalence and risk factors of Metallo ß-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in burns and surgical wards in a tertiary care hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The production of Metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) is one of the resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species. There is not much Indian data on the prevalence of MBLs in burns and surgical wards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 145 non-duplicate isolates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species, isolated from pus/wound swabs and endotracheal secretions from burns and surgical wards, were tested for MBL production by modified ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) disc synergy and double disc synergy tests. RESULTS: Prevalence of MBLs was 26.9% by both the above tests. All MBL-positive isolates were multidrug resistant. Only 6.06% (2/33) P.aeruginosa and 16.67% (1/06) Acinetobacter species were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam and netilmycin, respectively. These patients had multiple risk factors like >8 days hospital stay, catheterization, IV lines, previous antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation, etc. Graft application and surgical intervention were significant risk factors in MBL-positive patients. Overall mortality in MBL-positive patients was 34.21%. CONCLUSION: Emergence of MBL-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in this hospital is alarming, which reflect excessive use of carbapenems and at the same time, pose a therapeutic challenge to clinicians as well as to microbiologists. Therefore, a strict antibiotic policy and implementation of proper infection control practices will go a long way to prevent further spread of MBLs. Detection of MBLs should also become mandatory in all hospitals.

Comparison of the lysis centrifugation method with the conventional blood culture method in cases of sepsis in a tertiary care hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Physicians and microbiologists have long recognized that the presence of living microorganisms in the blood of a patient carries with it considerable morbidity and mortality. Hence, blood cultures have become critically important and frequently performed test in clinical microbiology laboratories for diagnosis of sepsis. OBJECTIVES: To compare the conventional blood culture method with the lysis centrifugation method in cases of sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred nonduplicate blood cultures from cases of sepsis were analyzed using two blood culture methods concurrently for recovery of bacteria from patients diagnosed clinically with sepsis - the conventional blood culture method using trypticase soy broth and the lysis centrifugation method using saponin by centrifuging at 3000 g for 30 minutes. RESULTS: Overall bacteria recovered from 200 blood cultures were 17.5%. The conventional blood culture method had a higher yield of organisms, especially Gram positive cocci. The lysis centrifugation method was comparable with the former method with respect to Gram negative bacilli. The sensitivity of lysis centrifugation method in comparison to conventional blood culture method was 49.75% in this study, specificity was 98.21% and diagnostic accuracy was 89.5%. In almost every instance, the time required for detection of the growth was earlier by lysis centrifugation method, which was statistically significant. Contamination by lysis centrifugation was minimal, while that by conventional method was high. Time to growth by the lysis centrifugation method was highly significant (P value 0.000) as compared to time to growth by the conventional blood culture method. CONCLUSION: For the diagnosis of sepsis, combination of the lysis centrifugation method and the conventional blood culture method with trypticase soy broth or biphasic media is advocable, in order to achieve faster recovery and a better yield of microorganisms.

Diarrheagenic E. coli in hospitalized patients: special reference to Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to study the prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) in dysentery cases with special reference to Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). METHODS: During a two-year period, 1066 stool samples were collected from hospitalized patients with diarrhea and dysentery. After taking detailed clinical history and observing the gross and microscopic findings of the stool samples, they were cultured on MacConkey and Sorbitol MacConkey agars and E.coli isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests. RESULTS: Of the 100 E.coli strains isolated in pure culture and sent for sero typing to Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, 43% were found to be DEC, giving an isolation rate of 4.03%. Results of sero typing showed 37.21% STEC which were more common in children. Abdominal pain and stool with mucus flakes were statistically significant parameters (p less than 0.01) in patients with dysentery due to E.coli strains. Though E.coli O157 was not encountered, it was seen that 25% of STEC did not ferment sorbitol. The DEC strains showed maximum in vitro sensitivity to amikacin (83.72%) and all strains were resistant to nalidixic acid. Antibiotics along with ORS and intravenous fluids had to be given in 68.42% patients. As complications, about 16.67% of children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS),and 10.53% of patients developed acute renal failure. No mortality was reported. CONCLUSION: Though Enterohemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC) O157:H7 was not encountered in this study, STEC caused by E.coli non O157 was reported. STEC is also known to cause hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and HUS. In this study HUS was reported in 16.67% children. Therefore, proper isolation and identification of STEC is essential in a tertiary care centre, to initiate prompt management and reduce morbidity and mortality in children.

Deceased donor skin allograft banking: Response and utilization.

BACKGROUND: In the absence of xenograft and biosynthetic skin substitutes, deceased donor skin allografts is a feasible option for saving life of patient with extensive burn injury in our country. AIMS: The first deceased donor skin allograft bank in India became functional at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal (LTM) medical college and hospital on 24(th) April 2000. The response of Indian society to this new concept of skin donation after death and the pattern of utilization of banked allografts from 2000 to 2010 has been presented in this study. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This allograft skin bank was established by the department of surgery. The departments of surgery and microbiology share the responsibility of smooth functioning of the bank. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The response in terms of number of donations and the profile of donors was analyzed from records. Pattern and outcome of allograft utilization was studied from specially designed forms. RESULTS: During these ten years, 262 deceased donor skin allograft donations were received. The response showed significant improvement after counselling was extended to the community. Majority of the donors were above 70 years of age and procurement was done at home for most. Skin allografts from 249 donors were used for 165 patients in ten years. The outcome was encouraging with seven deaths in 151 recipients with burn injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that the Indian society is ready to accept the concept of skin donation after death. Use of skin allografts is life saving for large burns. We need to prepare guidelines for the establishment of more skin banks in the country.

Prevalence of metallo-ß-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in intensive care areas in a tertiary care hospital.

A total of 39 non-duplicate isolates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species isolated from blood and endotracheal secretions were tested for metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL) production by modified-EDTA disc synergy and double disc synergy tests. The prevalence of MBLs was 33.33% by both the above tests. All patients with MBL-positive isolates were multidrug resistant and had multiple risk factors like > 8 days hospital stay, catheterization, IV lines, previous antibiotic use, etc. These were risk factors for imipenem resistance also. The overall mortality in MBL-positive patients was 46.15%.

Chryseomonas luteola from Bile Culture in an Adult Male with Severe Jaundice.

A 60-year-old male was admitted in this hospital with severe jaundice, who had open cholecystectomy done 2 months ago. ERCP was performed and bile was sent for culture. It grew Chryseomonas luteola in pure culture. He underwent hepaticojejunostomy after 1 month. Total bilirubin improved gradually. His condition was stable on discharge. Prompt diagnosis of non-fermenters is required, as some of them are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Clinicians have to be made aware of the pathogenic role of C. luteola and its resistance to ampicillin and cephalosporins.