Efficacy of topical trichloroacetic acid 100% either alone or combined with topical tioconazole 28% versus systemic itraconazole in the treatment of onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of onychomycosis is still challenging and warrants the development of new treatment strategies. Different trials were conducted to increase the penetration and efficacy of topical antifungals aiming at finding an alternative treatment especially when systemic antifungals are contraindicated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 100% either alone or combined with topical tioconazole 28% versus itraconazole pulse therapy in the treatment of onychomycosis. PATIENTS/METHODS: Forty-five patients with onychomycosis were divided into three groups: group (A) treated by topical TCA 100% for 12 sessions, group (B) treated by TCA 100% for 12 sessions combined with topical tioconazole 28% for 18 weeks and group (C) treated by itraconazole (400 mg/day for 1 week/month for 4 months). RESULTS: TCA 100% combined with topical tioconazole 28% showed the highest therapeutic response; however, the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant. Mycological cure (negative culture) was reported in 66.7% of group B versus 60% of group A and 40% of group C at the 20 week. CONCLUSIONS: TCA 100% is an effective and safe treatment option for onychomycosis especially when combined with antifungals. This modality is promising in the treatment of onychomycosis especially with the increased resistance to different antifungals.

Analysis of cumulative antibiogram reports in intensive care units at an Egyptian University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Institutions must have access to antibiograms to monitor changes in antimicrobial resistance and direct empirical antibiotic therapy. The first facility-specific cumulative antibiogram was launched in the ICU in 2019. Consequently, many antibiogram-operation-related actions have been adopted in the institution based on reported data. This study aimed to analyze the cumulative antibiogram reports for multiple intensive care units (ICUs) for 2020, and compare the antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) patterns between the 2019 and 2020 years in an academic medical center. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed of routine bacterial culture and AST data extracted from a laboratory information system in a 2252-bed capacity hospital. Only the first diagnostic isolate of a given species per patient per year was included in the study. Interpretation and reporting were done in accordance with the applicable Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 46,791 clinical isolates, the Gram-negative bacilli isolation rate witnessed a significant increase: 35,670 isolates in 2020 versus. 33,652 isolates in 2019. Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a statistically significant increase, mainly in pediatric, emergency, and cardiothoracic ICUs (p < 0.001). Neonatal and pediatric ICUs showed statistically significant increases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis isolates (p < 0.001). A statistically significant decrease was noted in the prevalence of Acinetobacter, Escherichia coli, Burkholderia cepacia, and Enterobacter cloacae. The sensitivities of K. pneumoniae and E. coli to imipenem and tigecycline significantly improved (p < 0.001). The sensitivity to colistin was significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of P. aeruginosa isolates to colistin and carbapenems was improved (p < 0.001). We reported a statistically significant decrease in all Gram-positive cocci (11,121 in 2020 versus. 11,528 in 2019). Staphylococcus aureus showed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001), particularly in the medical ICU. CONCLUSION: The high susceptibility rates of Enterobacteriaceae toward colistin and tigecycline, should be cautiously considered in empiric therapy while looking for alternatives. The majority of isolates of Gram-positive cocci were coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS), we still need to confirm whether they are true pathogens or commensals before considering anti-staphylococcal agents in the empirical therapy. We underscored some corrective actions that might have improved the susceptibility rates, such as antibiotic cycling.

Susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates to new antibiotics from a tertiary care hospital, Egypt: A matter of hope.

INTRODUCTION: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are particularly worrisome pathogens because of their resistance to last-resort antibiotics, significant morbidity, and mortality. With limited treatment options, new therapeutic choices have become available for the management of CRE infections. Data regarding the efficacy of these novel agents are still limited particularly in a low-middle-income country like Egypt. This study aims to assess the prevalence of different carbapenemase genes among CRE isolates and the susceptibility of these isolates to novel antibiotics for improving antibiotic policy and infection control strategies in Egypt. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional study, 260 Enterobacterales were recovered from patients admitted to intensive care units between January and June 2021. Susceptibility testing was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method. Molecular detection of five carbapenemase genes, namely blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaOXA-48 was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Of the 260 Enterobacterales, 34.6% were found to be carbapenems resistant. All of the CRE isolates were multi-drug resistant exhibiting resistance to most antibiotics. All isolates harbored one or more carbapenemases genes. The most prevalent was blaNDM (84.4%), followed by blaOXA-48 (73.3%), blaKPC (13.3%), blaIMP (2.2%), while blaVIM gene wasn't detected. Among 62.2% of the CRE isolates, two or more carbapenemase genes co-existed. For the new antibiotics tested, 100% of CRE resisted ceftolozane/tazobactam, 86.7% resisted ceftazidime/avibactam, 51.1% were resistant to eravacyclin, and 42.2% were resistant to cefiderocol. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of resistance to carbapenems among Enterobacterales isolates was revealed. blaNDM was found to be the most predominant carbapenemase gene. A high rate of CRE resistance to novel agents signifies a major threat.