First European Haplotype of Echinococcus multilocularis Identified in the United States: An Emerging Disease?

BACKGROUND: Echinococcus multilocularis is one of the most severe and lethal parasitic diseases of humans, most often reported in Europe and Asia. Only 1 previous case has been documented in the contiguous United States from Minnesota in 1977. European haplotypes have been identified in carnivores and domestic dogs as well as recently in patients in western and central Canada. METHODS: We used immunohistochemical testing with the monoclonal antibody Em2G11 and a species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay affinity-purified antigen Em2, as well as COX1 gene sequencing. RESULTS: Using pathology, immunohistochemical staining, specific immunodiagnostic testing, and COX1 gene sequencing, we were able to definitively identify E. multilocularis as the causative agent of our patient's liver and lung lesions, which clustered most closely with the European haplotype. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the first case of a European haplotype E. multilocularis in the United States and the first case of this parasitic infection east of the Mississippi River. Given the identification of this haplotype in Canada, this appears to be an emerging infectious disease in North America.

Patient perspectives in sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review presents an overview of the scientific publications about patient perspectives in sarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The literature on patient perspectives in sarcoidosis is limited. Patient perspectives in sarcoidosis encompass a myriad of topics that have been addressed to some degree in the literature: patient needs and perceptions, patient-reported burden of sarcoidosis, and patient treatment priorities. Similar findings across studies were high levels of reported fatigue, a need to incorporate psychological support into the treatment plan and easy access to sarcoidosis expert centers. Furthermore, largely similar results were found across countries. SUMMARY: There is a growing focus in patient perspectives in terms of sarcoidosis treatment. A multidisciplinary approach including psychological support and attention to fatigue, may better reflect the needs of sarcoidosis patients. Further research on sarcoidosis patient perspectives in sarcoidosis is needed to optimize care.

The complexity, relative value, and financial worth of curbside consultations in an academic infectious diseases unit.

BACKGROUND: Curbside consultations are common in clinical practice. The complexity, relative value, and revenue loss associated with curbside consultations are not well defined. METHODS: Curbside consultations performed during a 1-year period were studied. Each curbside consultation was assigned a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code on the basis of the inpatient versus outpatient status of the patient, initial versus subsequent care, and clinical complexity. On the basis of the CPT code, the physician work component of the relative value unit (wRVU) was assigned for each curbside consultation. The 2005 Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services conversion factor of $37.89 per wRVU was used for cost estimates. Comparisons were made with formal consultations performed during the same time period. RESULTS: A total of 1001 curbside consultations were fielded: 66% involved outpatients, and 97% were coded as initial consultations. A total of 78% of curbside consultations were considered complex in nature, being assigned a CPT code of level 4-5, including 84% of the inpatient and 75% of the outpatient curbside consultations. These curbside consultations would have generated 2480 wRVUs. During the same period, formal consultations generated 12,121 wRVUs. Thus, curbside consultations represented 17% (2480/14,601) of the clinical work value of the infectious diseases unit. If the infectious diseases unit had performed these curbside consultations as formal consultations, an additional $93,979 in revenue would have been generated. CONCLUSIONS: Curbside consultations are common and complex. The curbside consultation should be incorporated into measures of infectious diseases providers' productivity and compensation.

The Vermont model for rural HIV care delivery: eleven years of outcome data comparing urban and rural clinics.

CONTEXT: Provision of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care in rural areas has encountered unique barriers. PURPOSE: To compare medical outcomes of care provided at 3 HIV specialty clinics in rural Vermont with that provided at an urban HIV specialty clinic. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. FINDINGS: Over an 11-year period 363 new patients received care, including 223 in the urban clinic and 140 in the rural clinics. Patients in the 2 cohorts were demographically similar and had similar initial CD4 counts and viral loads. There was no difference between the urban and rural clinic patients receiving Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis (83.5% vs 86%, P= .38) or antiretroviral therapy (96.8% vs 97.5%, P= .79). Both rural and urban cohorts had similar decreases in median viral load from 1996 to 2006 (3,876 copies/mL to <50 copies/mL vs 8,331 copies/mL to <50 copies/mL) and change in percent of patients suppressed to <400 copies/mL (21.4%-69.3% vs 16%-71.4%, P= .11). Rural and urban cohorts had similar increases in median CD4 counts (275/mm(3)-350/mm(3) vs 182 cells/mm(3)-379/mm(3)). A repeated measures regression analysis showed that neither fall in viral load (P= .91) nor rise in CD4 count (P= .64) were associated with urban versus rural site of care. Survival times, using a Cox proportional hazards model, were similar for urban and rural patients (hazard ratio for urban = 0.80 [95% CI, 0.39-1.61; P= .53]). CONCLUSIONS: This urban outreach model provides similar quality of care to persons receiving care in rural areas of Vermont as compared to those receiving care in the urban center.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen causing skin and soft tissue infections. We report a case of severe necrotizing pneumonia caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus in a peripartum woman. This case illustrates that community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus must be considered as a potential pathogen in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Acute meningoencephalitis caused by adenovirus serotype 26.

Adenoviridae are rare causes of meningoencephalitis in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. In this article the authors report a case of adenoviral meningoencephalitis caused by serotype 26 and its identification, not described previously, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by PCR and brain tissue by immunohistochemical staining.

Outbreak of Salmonella javiana infection at a children's hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the source of an outbreak of Salmonella javiana infection. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 101 culture-confirmed cases and 540 epidemiologically linked cases were detected between May 26, 2003, and June 16, 2003, in hospital employees, patients, and visitors. Asymptomatic employees who had eaten in the hospital cafeteria between May 30 and June 4, 2003, and had had no gastroenteritis symptoms after May 1, 2003, were chosen as control subjects. SETTING: A 235-bed academic tertiary care children's hospital. RESULTS: Isolates from 100 of 101 culture-confirmed cases had identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. A foodhandler with symptoms of gastroenteritis was the presumed index subject. In multivariate analysis, case subjects were more likely than control subjects to have consumed items from the salad bar (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-12.1) and to have eaten in the cafeteria on May 28 (aOR, 9.4; 95% CI, 1.8-49.5), May 30 (aOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-12.7), and/or June 3 (aOR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.3). CONCLUSIONS: Foodhandlers who worked while they had symptoms of gastroenteritis likely contributed to the propagation of the outbreak. This large outbreak was rapidly controlled through the use of an incident command center.

Has the epidemiology of nosocomial candidemia changed?

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the epidemiology of nosocomial candidemia in the post-fluconazole era among hospitalized patients using a case-control study design. DESIGN: Candidemia case-patients were matched 1:1 on diagnosis, age, and length of stay with control-patients. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine predictors and outcomes of candidemia. Treatment regimens and compliance with national practice guidelines were compared among case-patients. SETTING: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1,278-bed, tertiary-care center affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2000. Case-patients were identified through the hospital microbiological surveillance system and matched with control-patients. RESULTS: Predictors of candidemia included Hickman catheters (odds ratio [OR], 9.53; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.34 to 68.01), gastric acid suppressants (OR, 6.38; CI95, 2.33 to 17.43), nasogastric tubes (OR, 3.69; CI95, 1.27 to 10.78), antibiotics (OR, 1.46; CI95, 1.15 to 1.86), and admission to the intensive care unit (OR, 6.40; CI95, 2.12 to 19.31). The crude case-fatality rate was 40%. Seventeen (15%) of the case-patients received the recommended treatment regimen according to recently published practice guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of candidemia has changed little at our hospital during the past decade and remains a significant cause of mortality. Further studies on the benefits of preventive therapy will be essential to improve the outcome of this infection.

The impact of bedside behavior on catheter-related bacteremia in the intensive care unit.

HYPOTHESIS: The success of an educational program in July 1999 that lowered the catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rate in our intensive care unit (ICU) 3-fold is correlated with compliance with "best-practice" behaviors. DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: Surgical ICU in a referral hospital. PATIENTS: A random sample underwent bedside audits of central venous catheter care (n = 187). All ICU admissions during a 39-month period (N = 4489) were prospectively followed for bacteremia. INTERVENTIONS: On the basis of audit results in December 2000, a behavioral intervention was designed to improve compliance with evidenced-based guidelines of central venous catheter management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Compliance with practices known to decrease CRBSI. Secondary outcome was CRBSI rate on all ICU patients. RESULTS: Multiple deficiencies were identified on bedside audits 18 months after the previous educational program. After the implementation of a separate behavioral intervention in July 2001, a second set of bedside audits in December 2001 demonstrated improvements in documenting the dressing date (11% to 21%; P<.001) and stopcock use (70% to 24%; P<.001), whereas nonsignificant trends were observed in hand hygiene (17% to 30%; P>.99) and maximal sterile barrier precautions (50% to 80%; P =.29). Appropriate practice was observed before and after the behavioral intervention in catheter site placement, dressing type, absence of antibiotic ointment, and proper securing of central venous catheters. Thirty-two CRBSIs occurred in 9353 catheter-days 24 months before the behavioral intervention compared with 17 CRBSIs in 6152 catheter-days during the 15 months after the intervention (3.4/1000 to 2.8/1000 catheter-days; P =.40). CONCLUSIONS: Although a previous educational program decreased the CRBSI rate, this was associated with only modest compliance with best practice principles when bedside audits were performed 18 months later. A behavioral intervention improved all identified deficiencies, leading to a nonsignificant decrease in CRBSIs.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia intestinal colonization in hospitalized oncology patients with diarrhea.

A 6-week surveillance study was performed to determine the prevalence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia intestinal colonization among patients hospitalized in an oncology unit who developed diarrhea. Ninety-two stool samples obtained from 41 patients were cultured, and 4 patients (4 [9.5%] of 41 patients) had cultures that were positive for S. maltophilia. After controlling for duration of diarrhea, patients colonized with S. maltophilia had received a greater number of different types of antibiotics than noncolonized patients (5 vs. 3 different drugs; P=.04).

Risk factors for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia in oncology patients: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize risk factors for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bloodstream infection in oncology patients. DESIGN: A 3:1 case-control study. SETTING: Stem Cell Transplant and Leukemic Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis), a 1,442-bed, tertiary-care teaching hospital with a 26-bed transplantation ward. METHOD: From, June 1999 to April 2001, 13 patients with S. maltophilia bacteremia were compared with 39 control-patients who were on the transplantation unit on the same day as the case-patients' positive blood cultures. Information collected included patient demographics, medical history, history of transplantation, transplantation type, graft versus host disease, neutropenia, antibiotic use, chemotherapy, mucositis, diarrhea, the presence of central venous catheter(s), cultures, and concomitant infections. RESULTS: Significant risk factors for S. maltophilia bacteremia included severe mucositis (7 [53.8%] of 13 vs 8 [20.5%] of 39; P = .034), diarrhea (7 [53.8%] of 13 vs 8 [20%] of 39; P = .034), and the use of metronidazole (9 [69.2%] of 13 vs 8 [20.5%] of 39; P = .002). In addition, the number of antibiotics used (median, 9 vs 5; P < .001), duration of mucositis (median, 29 vs 15 days; P = .032), and length of hospital stay (median, 34 vs 22 days; P = .017) were significantly different between case- and control-patients. Nine S. maltophilia isolates tested by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were found to be distinctly different. CONCLUSION: Interventions to ameliorate the severity of mucositis, reduce antibiotic pressure, prevent diarrhea, and promote meticulous central venous catheter care may help prevent S. maltophilia bloodstream infection in oncology patients. The role of gastrointestinal tract colonization as a potential source of S. maltophilia bacteremia in oncology patients deserves further investigation.

Enterobacter cloacae ventriculitis successfully treated with cefepime and gentamicin: case report and review of the literature.

A 55-year-old woman was found unresponsive and subsequently was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. The development of hydrocephalus and decreased mental status necessitated placement of an intraventricular catheter; 18 days later she was diagnosed with Enterobacter cloacae ventriculitis. After treatment was begun with intravenous cefepime 2 g every 8 hours and intraventricular gentamicin 5 mg every 24 hours, the catheter was replaced. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma cefepime concentrations and a CSF trough gentamicin concentration were obtained. Intraventricular gentamicin was administered for 6 days and cefepime for 21 days; both clinical and microbiologic resolution of the ventriculitis occurred. The literature reports limited clinical experience with cefepime for the treatment of central nervous system infections in humans. This case report provides clinical evidence to support administration of intravenous cefepime in critically ill adult patients with Enterobacter ventriculitis. Because CSF is easily obtained from patients with intraventricular catheters, strong consideration should be given to monitoring CSF cefepime concentrations in concert with the minimum inhibitory concentration of the offending pathogen to help assure the efficacy of this approach to therapy.

Risk factors for surgical site infection in spinal surgery.

OBJECT: The objective of this study was to identify specific independent risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) occurring after laminectomy or spinal fusion. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective case-control study of data obtained in patients between 1996 and 1999 who had undergone laminectomy and/or spinal fusion. Forty-one patients with SSI or meningitis were identified, and data were compared with those acquired in 178 uninfected control patients. Risk factors for SSI were determined using univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression. The spinal surgery-related SSI rate (incisional and organ space) during the 4-year study period was 2.8%. Independent risk factors for SSI identified by multivariate analysis were postoperative incontinence (odds ratio [OR] 8.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-22.8), posterior approach (OR 8.2, 95% CI 2-33.5), procedure for tumor resection (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.7-22.3), and morbid obesity (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.9-14.2). In patients with SSI the postoperative hospital length of stay was significantly longer than that in uninfected patients (median 6 and 3 days, respectively; p < 0.001) and were readmitted to the hospital for a median additional 6 days for treatment of their infection. Repeated surgery due to the infection was required in the majority (73%) of infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative incontinence, posterior approach, surgery for tumor resection, and morbid obesity were independent risk factors predictive of SSI following spinal surgery. Interventions to reduce the risk for these potentially devastating infections need to be developed.

The risk factors for deep and superficial chest surgical-site infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery are different.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine risk factors for deep and superficial chest wound infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery to develop predictive models. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data collected on 1980 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery at our institution between January 1, 1996, and June 30, 1999, by using the Society of Thoracic Surgery database. Independent risk factors for surgical-site infection were identified with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 37 (1.9%) deep chest and 46 (2.3%) superficial chest surgical-site infections. Obese diabetic patients had a 7.7-fold increased risk of deep chest infections after controlling for intra-aortic balloon pump use (odds ratio, 3.1) and postoperative transfusion (odds ratio, 2.3). Independent risk factors for superficial surgical-site infections included obesity (odds ratio, 3.1), diabetes in persons 65 years of age or older (odds ratio, 2.7), and current smoking (odds ratio, 2.5). Use of antiplatelet drugs was associated with a lower risk of superficial infections (odds ratio, 0.4). Predicted operative mortality as a marker of severity of illness was not clearly predictive of deep or superficial surgical-site infection. Mortality in the year after the operation was increased in patients with deep chest infections compared with that seen in uninfected control subjects (8/37 [21.6%] vs 114/1612 [7.1%], P =.004) but not in patients with superficial chest infections (7/47 [15.2%] vs 114/1612 [7.1%], P =.075). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for deep and superficial chest surgical-site infections after coronary artery bypass surgery differ, suggesting different mechanisms of pathogenesis. Appropriate risk stratification models specific to these important outcomes must be developed.

Effect of an education program on decreasing catheter-related bloodstream infections in the surgical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether an education initiative aimed at improving central venous catheter insertion and care could decrease the rate of primary bloodstream infections. DESIGN: Pre- and postintervention observational study. SETTING: Eighteen-bed surgical/burn/trauma intensive care unit (ICU) in an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 4,283 patients were admitted to the ICU between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2000. INTERVENTIONS: A program primarily directed toward registered nurses was developed by a multidisciplinary task force to highlight correct practice for central venous catheter insertion and maintenance. The program consisted of a 10-page self-study module on risk factors and practice modifications involved in catheter-related infections as well as a verbal in-service at staff meetings. Each participant was required to take a pretest before taking the study module and an identical test after its completion. Fact sheets and posters reinforcing the information in the study module were also posted throughout the ICU. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-four primary bloodstream infections occurred in 6874 catheter days (10.8 per 1000 catheter days) in the 18 months before the intervention. After the implementation of the education module, the number of primary bloodstream infections fell to 26 in 7044 catheter days (3.7 per 1000 catheter days), a decrease of 66% (p < .0001). The estimated cost savings secondary to the decreased infection rate for the 18 months after the intervention was between $185,000 and $2.808 million. CONCLUSIONS: A focused intervention primarily directed at the ICU nursing staff can lead to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of primary bloodstream infections. Educational programs may lead to a substantial decrease in cost, morbidity, and mortality attributable to central venous catheterization.