Infection control and prevention practices implemented to reduce transmission risk of Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus in a tertiary care institution in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among health care workers (HCWs) and patients has been documented with mortality rate approximating 36%. We propose advanced infection control measures (A-IC) used in conjunction with basic infection control measures (B-IC) help reduce pathogen transmission. B-IC include standard and transmission-based precautions. A-IC are initiatives implemented within our center to enhance effectiveness of B-IC. OBJECTIVE: Study effectiveness of combining B-IC and A-IC to prevent transmission of MERS-CoV to HCWs. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was undertaken. A-IC measures include administrative support with daily rounds; infection control risk assessment; timely screening, isolation, and specimen analysis; collaboration; epidemic planning; stockpiling; implementation of contingency plans; full personal protective equipment use for advanced airway management; use of a real-time electronic isolation flagging system; infection prevention and control team on-call protocols; pretransfer MERS-CoV testing; and education. RESULTS: A total of 874 real-time polymerase chain reaction MERS-CoV tests were performed during the period beginning July 1, 2013, and ending January 31, 2015. Six hundred ninety-four non-HCWs were tested, of these 16 tested positive for MERS-CoV and their infection was community acquired. Sixty-nine percent of the confirmed MERS-CoV-positive cases were men, with an average age of 56 years (range, 19-84 years). Of the total tested for MERS-CoV, 180 individuals were HCWs with zero positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Adhering to a combination of B-IC and A-IC reduces the risk of MERS-CoV transmission to HCWs.

Ribavirin and interferon-α2b as primary and preventive treatment for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a preliminary report of two cases.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly recognized transmissible viral infection with high virulence and case fatality rates for which there is no currently defined primary treatment or prophylaxis. Saudi Arabia has the largest reported number of cases so far. Like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), MERS is caused by a coronavirus. Combination therapy with interferon-α2b and ribavirin has been used successfully as primary treatment and prophylaxis in SARS. Because of similarities between the two coronaviruses, treatment with ribavarin and interferon-α2b has been suggested as a potential therapy for MERS-CoV. Studies in animal models of MERS-CoV have shown the combination of ribavirin and interferon-α2b to be effective both as primary treatment and prophylaxis. In this report, we describe for the first time use of this combination as a primary treatment for a patient with MERS-CoV infection and as prophylaxis for his spouse and discuss its possible role.

Donor T-cell chimerism and early post-transplant cytomegalovirus viremia in patients treated with myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common infection after myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (M-alloHSCT). Achievement of complete donor T-cell chimerism (CDC-T) post transplant is a measure of immune reconstitution. We investigated the association between CDC-T post M-alloHSCT and the incidence of CMV viremia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all CMV and chimerism results of 47 patients for the first 6 months post M-alloHSCT. CDC-T was analyzed as a time-varying covariate for association with post M-alloHSCT CMV viremia. RESULTS: CMV viremia occurred in 15 (32%) and CDC-T was achieved in 38 (81%) recipients within the first 6 months post M-alloHSCT. On univariable analysis, increased CMV viremia was seen among patients with CDC-T (hazard ratio 2.81 [P = 0.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.93-8.52]). A 30-day landmark analysis showed that the incidence of CMV viremia at 6 months (regardless of recipient CMV serostatus) was 50% among those who had achieved CDC-T by day 30, and 23% among those who had not (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: We conclude that shorter time to CDC-T may be associated with higher risk of CMV viremia. If confirmed in a larger cohort, this might be a marker for risk stratification in the management of CMV in this population.

Microbiologically documented infections in patients undergoing high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation for the treatment of light chain amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis can be treated with high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT). Risk factors for infections may include hyposplenism, hypogammaglobulinemia, treatment-related neutropenia, melphalan-induced mucositis, and nosocomial exposures. METHODS AND DESIGN: A review of 493 patients with AL amyloidosis undergoing treatment with HDM/SCT from August 1994 to August 2009 was performed. The objectives were to determine the rate and types of infections following HDM/SCT, to identify factors associated with microbiologically documented infections, and to assess the contribution of infections to all-cause treatment-related mortality (TRM; defined as deaths within 100 days of SCT). RESULTS: Microbiologically documented infections after HDM/SCT occurred in 24% (n = 119) of patients. TRM was 10% (n = 48) overall, and 21% (n = 25) in patients who had a documented infection. Thus, the relative risk of TRM in a patient with a documented infection was 3.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02-5.79). Infections were caused by gram-positive bacteria in 51%, anaerobic bacteria in 16%, gram-negative bacteria in 13%, and fungi in 9% of cases. Serum creatinine >2 mg/dL was associated with increased risk of post-SCT infection (38% vs. 21%, P = 0.0007) with an odds ratio of 2.27 (95% CI 1.40-3.68). No significant association for infection was found for age, gender, cardiac involvement, prior steroid therapy, dose of melphalan, multiorgan involvement, days to neutrophil engraftment, or dose of CD34 +  cells infused. CONCLUSION: Serum creatinine >2 mg/dL is a risk factor for infections in patients with AL amyloidosis undergoing HDM/SCT. The relative risk of TRM in a patient with a documented infection was increased >3-fold. A broad spectrum of infections, similar to that in other SCT patients, is seen in this population in the early post-SCT period.