Plasma pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in critically ill patients with renal failure and undergoing CVVHD.

BACKGROUND: Daptomycin is a novel antibiotic with primarily renal elimination. METHODS: In an open-label, prospective trial, the pharmacokinetics of daptomycin after single (8 mg/kg BW) and multiple intravenous doses (4 mg/kg BW) at steady state were determined in critically ill, dialysis-dependent patients treated with continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD). Daptomycin levels were determined by HPLC. Subjects with normal renal function received one dose of 4 mg/kg BW of daptomycin. RESULTS: In the normal controls, daptomycin administration resulted in a mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of 60.7 ± 10.7 mg/l and an area under the time-versus-concentration curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) of 402 ± 56 mg × h/l. In the CVVHD-treated patients, a loading dose of 8 mg/kg lead to Cmax of 87.5 ± 15.0 mg/l, AUC0-24 of 537 ± 97 mg × h/l and AUC24-48 of 193 ± 69 mg × h/l, respectively. After multiple doses of 4 mg/kg every 48 h, Cmax was 41.8 ± 5.0 mg/l, AUC0-24 302 ± 43 mg × h/l and AUC 24-48 h 102 ± 24 mg × h/l, respectively. Approximately 40% of the daptomycin dose administered was removed by CVVHD. Mean plasma half-lives of daptomycin in patients were 2 - 3 times longer than in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The dosing regimen of 4 mg/kg TBW of daptomycin administered to CVVHD patients every 48 h is inappropriate to achieve effective antimicrobial plasma concentrations of daptomycin in the second half of the dosing interval (24 - 48 h). Doses of ≥ 4 mg/kg TBW administered intravenously every 24 h are necessary in CVVHD patients to assure that plasma daptomycin levels are comparably high to subjects with normal renal function and to avoid underdosing.

[Prevention of infections under anesthetic breathing with breathing filters: concerted recommendations of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene e.V. (DGKH) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin e.V. (DGAI)]. / Infektionsprävention bei der Narkosebeatmung durch Einsatz von Atemsystemfiltern: Gemeinsame Empfehlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene e.V. (DGKH) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin e.V. (DGAI).

An interdisciplinary working group from the German Society of Hospital Hygiene (DGKH) and the German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (DGAI) worked out the following recommendations for infection prevention during anesthesia by using breathing system filters (BSF). The BSF shall be changed after each patient. The filter retention efficiency for airborne particles is recommended to be >99% (II). The retention performance of BSF for liquids is recommended to be at pressures of at least 60 hPa (=60 mbar) or 20 hPa above the selected maximum ventilation pressure in the anesthetic system.The anesthesia breathing system may be used for a period of up to 7 days provided that the functional requirements of the system remain unchanged and the manufacturer states this in the instructions for use. The breathing system and the manual ventilation bag are changed immediately after the respective anesthesia if the following situation has occurred or it is suspected to have occurred: Notifiable infectious disease involving the risk of transmission via the breathing system and the manual bag, e.g. tuberculosis, acute viral hepatitis, measles, influenza virus, infection and/or colonization with a multi-resistant pathogen or upper or lower respiratory tract infections. In case of visible contamination e.g. by blood or in case of defect, it is required that the BSF and also the anesthesia breathing system is changed and the breathing gas conducting parts of the anesthesia ventilator are hygienically reprocessed.Observing of the appropriate hand disinfection is very important. All surfaces of the anesthesia equipment exposed to hand contact must be disinfected after each case.

[Pregnancy in hyperprolactinemic patients]. / Schwangerschaften bei hyperprolaktinmischen Patientinnen.

In a retrospective study we analysed the outcome of 27 pregnancies in 17 hyperprolactinaemic patients. Cranial CT or MRI scans showed a microadenoma in 9, a macroadenoma in 7 and no change in 1 case. In 5 patients macroadenomas were surgically removed but a residual hyperprolactinaemia remained. In 2 patients with selectively removed microadenomas through the transsphenoidal route only in one case normal prolactin levels could be achieved. This patient became two times pregnant. In 24 patients pregnancy was induced by dopaminergic treatment whereas another patient with microadenoma became spontaneously pregnant after surgery and treatment with bromocriptine. The treatment was discontinued as soon as the pregnancy was recognised. 19 pregnancies were finished by spontaneous delivery and 3 by Caesarean section. Termination of pregnancy was artificially induced in 3 patients. One miscarriage was observed. Another patient was suffering from an extrauterine pregnancy. During pregnancy prolactin levels increased in comparison to basal levels. After delivery and lactation the same prolactin level was found compared to basal levels in patients with microprolactinomas. In patients suffering from macroadenomas prolactin levels decreased in comparison to basal levels. CT of MRI scan evaluations performed after delivery revealed a clinical not relevant increase as well as a decrease of tumor size in 2 cases, respectively. During pregnancy there was no complication due to tumor found in treated patients for hyperprolactinaemia. Only about one half of mothers were able to perform regular breast feeding.

[Serum IgG antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in HLA-B-27 positive patients with rheumatic diseases]. / Serum-IgG-Antikörper gegen Chlamydia trachomatis bei HLA-B-27-positiven Patienten mit rheumatischen Erkrankungen.

Urogenital chlamydial infection should act as a trigger of peripheral and axial form of arthritis like sexually acquired reactive arthritis and Reiter's syndrome assumedly. HLA B-27 positive patients with rheumatic disorders, mainly M. Bechterew (55 out of 62 men and 18 out of 25 women) were investigated for serum-IgG-antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis (ELISA). Among HLA B-27 positive men and women urogenital disorders in their history were more common as compared with controls. There were found no differences concerning the rate of antichlamydial antibodies between patients and controls. It is supposed, that urogenital bacterial infections rather others than chlamydial infection may be connected with M. Bechterew.