Prevalence of bloodstream infection pathogens in hemato-oncological patients and predictors of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections during febrile neutropenia.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative (CRGN) Bloodstream Infections (BSI) represent a therapeutic challenge, especially in the context of Febrile Neutropenia (FN) in cancer patients. METHODS: We characterized pathogens causing BSI in patients aged ≥18 years who had undergone systemic chemotherapy for solid or hematological cancers between 2012 and 2021 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Predictors of CRGN were evaluated through a case-control analysis. Each case was matched to two controls from whom CRGN were not isolated and had the same sex and year of inclusion in the study. RESULTS: From 6094 blood cultures evaluated, 1512 (24.8%) showed positive results. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 537 (35.5%) of the isolated bacteria, of which 93 (17.3%) were carbapenem-resistant. From 105 patients included in the case-control analysis, all cases had baseline hematological malignancies (60% acute myeloid leukemia). Variables related to CRGN BSI in Cox regression analysis were the first chemotherapy session (p<0.01), chemotherapy performed in the hospital setting (p = 0.03), intensive care unit admission (p<0.01), and CRGN isolation in the previous year (p<0.01). Patients with CRGN BSI received 75% less empirical active antibiotics and had 27.2% higher 30-day mortality rates than controls. CONCLUSIONS: A CRGN risk-guided approach should be considered for empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with FN.

Prevalence of bloodstream infection pathogens in hemato-oncological patients and predictors of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections during febrile neutropenia

ABSTRACT Background: Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative (CRGN) Bloodstream Infections (BSI) represent a therapeutic challenge, especially in the context of Febrile Neutropenia (FN) in cancer patients. Methods: We characterized pathogens causing BSI in patients aged ≥18 years who had undergone systemic chemotherapy for solid or hematological cancers between 2012 and 2021 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Predictors of CRGN were evaluated through a case-control analysis. Each case was matched to two controls from whom CRGN were not isolated and had the same sex and year of inclusion in the study. Results: From 6094 blood cultures evaluated, 1512 (24.8%) showed positive results. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 537 (35.5%) of the isolated bacteria, of which 93 (17.3%) were carbapenem-resistant. From 105 patients included in the case-control analysis, all cases had baseline hematological malignancies (60% acute myeloid leukemia). Variables related to CRGN BSI in Cox regression analysis were the first chemotherapy session (p<0.01), chemotherapy performed in the hospital setting (p = 0.03), intensive care unit admission (p<0.01), and CRGN isolation in the previous year (p<0.01). Patients with CRGN BSI received 75% less empirical active antibiotics and had 27.2% higher 30-day mortality rates than controls. Conclusions: A CRGN risk-guided approach should be considered for empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with FN.

Prevalence of celiac disease in a large cohort of young patients with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Serological screening for celiac disease (CD) allows the identification of individuals genetically predisposed, as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, the diagnosis is confirmed by intestinal biopsy. The aim was to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin-A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (IgA-tTG) and CD in a large cohort of young T1DM patients. METHODS: Screening for CD was randomly conducted in 881 T1DM by IgA-tTG and total IgA. Individuals with positive antibodies were referred to endoscopy/duodenal biopsy. RESULTS: The age of the cohort at the screening was 14.3 ± 5.9 years and at T1DM onset was 7.9 ± 4.4 years. The prevalence of positive serology was 7.7%. Median IgA-tTG levels were 117.7 U/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 35.7-131.5 U/mL). Of the 62 duodenal biopsy, CD was diagnosed in 79.0%, yielding an overall prevalence of 5.6%. The mean age of CD patients was 15.6 ± 6.5 years and, at T1DM onset was 6.3 years (4.0-9.9 years). The modified Marsh-Oberhuber histological classification was 22.5% (3a), 36.7% (3b), and 40.8% (3c). In the biopsy-proven patients, T1DM onset occurred at slightly younger ages (6.3 vs 9.7 years, P = 0.1947), gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations, predominantly abdominal pain and distension, were more prevalent (71.4% vs 38.5%, P = 0.027) and higher IgA-tTG titers (128.0 vs 26.3 U/mL, P = 0.0003) were found than in those with negative-biopsies. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the prevalence of 7.7% of IgA-tTG and 5.6% of CD in T1DM patients in South Brazil and, emphasize the importance of the screening in high-risk individuals. Furthermore, the presence of GI manifestations and higher IgA-tTG titers strongly suggest the diagnosis of CD.