Intravenous Ceftazidime-Avibactam in Extremely Premature Neonates With Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Two Case Reports.

The increasing use of carbapenems has contributed to a notable distribution of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Recently, the incidence of CRE-associated infections is increasing significantly in NICUs, which pose a grave challenge to clinical treatment. We report 2 cases of IV ceftazidimeavibactam use to treat CRE infections in extremely premature neonates. The first case was diagnosed with bacteraemia and meningitis and the second one was diagnosed with bacteraemia only. Due to the lack of neonatal-specific information for IV ceftazidime-avibactam, the usual pediatric dose (62.5 mg/kg/dose every 8 hours) was used in these patients. Clinical cure occurred in these 2 patients. Although blood cultures became sterile after starting ceftazidime-avibactam in the second case, the patient died, presumably owing to sepsis or various causes, such as prematurity and chronic lung disease. Large and randomized studies are necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of IV ceftazidime-avibactam for the treatment of neonates with sepsis caused by multidrug resistant organisms.

Safety and efficacy of colistin and fluoroquinolone in neonatal persistent late-onset sepsis.

Growing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics for the treatment of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in premature infants has led physicians to use antibiotics that are not well studied in neonatal populations. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of colistin and fluoroquinolone for the treatment of persistent LOS. We retrospectively reviewed infants with gram-negative LOS, who received either colistin or fluoroquinolone therapy, to determine if there was a significant difference in kidney and liver function tests and electrolyte levels before, during, and at the end of the treatment. Infants who received colistin and fluoroquinolone had 17 and 34 positive cultures with gram-negative organisms, respectively. Multi-drug resistant organisms were more common in infants who received colistin than in those who received fluoroquinolone. Microbiological clearance was found to be higher in infants treated with fluoroquinolone than in those treated with colistin. In both the groups, the median levels of kidney and liver function tests and electrolytes showed a significant increase during the treatment. The prescription of colistin and fluoroquinolones should be reserved for cases with no other safe and effective alternatives.

Risk factors for intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants in the central region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious complication of premature (<32 weeks) deliveries, especially in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g) neonates. Infants developing severe IVH are more prone to long-term developmental disabilities. Although 62%-79% of women in Saudi Arabia receive antenatal steroids, IVH incidence remains high. We analyzed the risk factors for IVH in preterm VLBW neonates in the central region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We included premature infants with IVH (n = 108) and gestational age- and birth weight-matched control group infants (n = 108) admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit. Cases were divided into mild (grades I and II; n = 56) and severe (grades III and IV; n = 52) IVH groups. Association of IVH with risk factors in the first week of life was investigated. RESULTS: The following risk factors were associated with severe IVH: lack of antenatal steroid administration (P < .001), pulmonary hemorrhage (P = .023), inotrope use (P = .032), neonatal hydrocortisone administration (P = .001), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (P = .005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the following to be significant: lack of antenatal dexamethasone (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.219, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.087-0.546), neonatal hydrocortisone administration (aOR: 3.519, 95% CI 1.204-10.281), and PDA (aOR: 2.718, 95% CI 1.024-7.210). Low hematocrit in the first 3 days of life was significantly associated with severe IVH (all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Failure to receive antenatal dexamethasone, PDA, hydrocortisone administration for neonatal hypotension, and low hematocrit in the first 3 days of life was associated with severe IVH in VLBW neonates. Clinicians and healthcare policy makers should consider these factors during decision-making.

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties of some biologically important indole-based-sulfonamide derivatives.

A new series of indole-based-sulfonamide derivatives (A1-A8) was synthesized by treating 5-fluoro-1H-indole-3-carbohydrazide with different aryl-sulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. All synthesized derivatives (A1-A8) were characterized by different analytical methods. The electrochemical behavior of these compounds (A1-A8) was investigated in detail using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at the pencil graphite electrode (PGE). In the present study, the redox behavior of all derivatives varies due to the nature of substitutions in the indole sulfonamide moiety. Various fundamental electrochemical parameters, including the standard heterogeneous rate constants (ks), and the electroactive surface coverage (Г) were calculated from the obtained CVs. The obtained results shed light on the understanding of structure-activity relationships of this class of compounds.

The consequences of prolonged duration of antibiotics in premature infants with suspected sepsis in a large tertiary referral hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is any association between prolonged duration of the first course of empirical antibiotic treatment for suspected neonatal sepsis and other factors including comorbidities, interventions, and adverse outcomes. BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is one of the main reasons of mortality among premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Therefore, commencing antibiotics treatment on admission plays a crucial role in reducing the complications of neonatal sepsis, however the arbitrary use of antibiotics holds many serious complications. In our study we investigated the complications of prolonged use of antibiotics in treating suspected early onset of sepsis. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of infants of gestational age 32 weeks or less and with birth weight of 1500 g or less along with suspected neonatal sepsis admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from July 2015 to June 2017. The study outcome measures were the association between the antibiotic treatment duration and maternal factors, gender, adverse outcomes, developmental factors, comorbid conditions, early-onset sepsis, and late-onset sepsis. RESULTS: Of 295 premature infants, late-onset sepsis was associated with the duration of early empiric antibiotic use (n = 54/295), where 50 (92.6%) infants with LOS received the antibiotic treatment for more than 5 days (P < .001). Approximately 91.2% of those receiving the prolonged treatment had a positive blood culture result. Necrotizing enterocolitis was more prevalent in those with long duration of antibiotic treatment (95.1%). Among patients with the comorbid conditions patent ductus arteriosus (n = 123/295), intraventricular hemorrhage (n = 73/295), and periventricular leukomalacia (n = 25/295), 100 (81.3%), 60 (82.2%), and 21 (84%) of them, respectively, received prolonged treatment. CONCLUSION: Prolonged administration of empiric antibiotics to infants with very low birth weight along with sterile cultures is associated with the adverse outcomes late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. However, no association with other adverse outcomes, namely, candidiasis or maternal factors, was found.

Bacterial meningitis in Burkina Faso: surveillance using field-based polymerase chain reaction testing.

BACKGROUND: In addition to frequent epidemics of group A meningococcal disease, endemic bacterial meningitis due mostly to Neisseria meningitidis, pneumococcus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b is a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The improved ability to identify the etiologic agent in cases of bacterial meningitis will facilitate more rapid administration of precise therapy. METHODS: To describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis and evaluate the usefulness of field-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, we implemented population-based meningitis surveillance in Burkina Faso during 2002-2003 by use of PCR, culture, and antigen detection tests. RESULTS: Among persons aged 1 month to 67 years, the incidences of meningococcal meningitis, pneumococcal meningitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis were 19 cases (n=179), 17 cases (n=162), and 7.1 cases (n=68) per 100,000 persons per year, respectively. Of the cases of meningococcal meningitis, 72% were due to N. meningitidis serogroup W135. Pneumococcal meningitis caused 61% of deaths and occurred in a seasonal pattern that was similar to that of meningococcal meningitis. Of cases of pneumococcal meningitis and N. meningitidis serogroup W135 meningitis, 71% occurred among persons >2 years of age. Most patients, regardless of the etiology of their illness and the existence of an epidemic, received short-course therapy with oily chloramphenicol. Compared with culture as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR in the field were high; this result was confirmed in Burkina Faso and Paris. CONCLUSIONS: Precise and rapid identification of etiologic agents is critical for improvement in the treatment and prevention of meningitis, and, thus, PCR should be considered for wider use in Africa. Vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae, N. meningitidis (including serogroup W135), and H. influenzae type b all will have a major impact on the bacterial meningitis burden. Antibiotic recommendations need to consider the importance of S. pneumoniae, even during the epidemic season.