Detection of the etiological agents of hospital-acquired pneumonia - validity and comparison of different types of biological sample collection: a prospective, observational study in intensive care patients.

BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of evidence as to which method of biological sample collection is optimal for identifying bacterial pathogens causing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Much effort has been made to find an easy and valid approach to be used in clinical practice. METHODS: The primary endpoint of this prospective, observational study was to determine the predictive value of oropharyngeal swab (OS) and gastric aspiration (GA) as simple and non-invasive methods for diagnosing HAP. Their efficacy was compared to endotracheal aspiration (ETA) and protected specimen brushing (PSB), the standard methods approved for HAP diagnosis. RESULTS: Initially, 56 patients were enrolled. Significant amounts of bacterial pathogens were detected in 48 patients (79 isolates) in Round A and in 39 patients (45 isolates) in Round B (after 72 hours). The sensitivity rates were: ETA 98%, PSB 31%, OS 64% and GA 67% in Round A and ETA 87%, PSB 32%, OS 74% and GA 42% in Round B. Strains of 12 bacterial species were identified in the samples. The three most common etiological agents (both rounds together) were Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.7%), Burkholderia multivorans (21.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Blind ETA is an optimum method for obtaining biological samples for identification of etiological agents causing HAP in intubated patients. Microbial etiological agents were more frequently detected in ETA samples than in those collected by PSB. If ETA/PSB results are negative, samples may be collected by OS and/or GA as these techniques followed ETA in terms of the frequency of pathogen detection.

Clonality of Bacterial Pathogens Causing Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is one of the most serious complications in patients staying in intensive care units. This multicenter study of Czech patients with HAP aimed at assessing the clonality of bacterial pathogens causing the condition. Bacterial isolates were compared using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Included in this study were 330 patients hospitalized between May 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014 at departments of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine of four big hospitals in the Czech Republic. A total of 531 bacterial isolates were obtained, of which 267 were classified as etiological agents causing HAP. Similarity or identity was assessed in 231 bacterial isolates most frequently obtained from HAP patients. Over the study period, no significant clonal spread was noted. Most isolates were unique strains, and the included HAP cases may therefore be characterized as mostly endogenous. Yet there were differences in species and potential identical isolates between the participating centers. In three hospitals, Gram-negative bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) prevailed as etiological agents, and Staphylococcus aureus was most prevalent in the fourth center.

[Presence of qnr genes in ESBL-positive isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae]. / Výskyt qnr genu u ESBL-pozitivních izolátu Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at determining the presence of qnr genes in ESBL-positive strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from clinical material obtained from patients hospitalized in several intensive care units in the University Hospital Olomouc. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 100 ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from clinical samples obtained from patients hospitalized between 1 January 2008 and 31 January 2011. blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M and qnr genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To compare the similarity or identity of the isolates, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA fragments was used. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The blaSHV gene was detected in 99 from 100 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is in accordance with the published data that suppose the chromosomal position of the blaSHV-1 gene in this species. The blaCTX-M gene was detected in 77 isolates. The qnr genes were revealed in 56 isolates and majority (76.8 %) of these qnr-positive bacteria carried also the genes encoding the beta-lactamases CTX-M and TEM. In all cases, the qnrB variant was detected. Plasmids from nine different incompatibility groups were identified, in most cases from the IncFII group (52 isolates). Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed high frequency of resistance not only to beta-lactams, but also to aminoglycosides, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. PFGE detected 65 different strains and several groups of isolates with the same restriction profile. Although the clinical significance of the qnr genes is not well established, their presence in ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae is not negligible and it should be kept in mind.

[Detection of Burkholderia cepacia complex strains in the University Hospital Olomouc]. / Záchyt kmenu Burkholderia cepacia komplex ve Fakultní nemocnici Olomouc.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the epidemiology of Burkholderia cepacia complex strains isolated at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, determine the most frequent strains and confirm or rule out potential clonal spread of the strains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a period of eight months, all strains classified as Burkholderia cepacia complex were collected. Susceptibility to selected antimicrobial agents was determined and adequate molecular genetic methods were used to assess their genetic relationship. RESULTS: A total of 52 isolates were tested, with the most frequent (88.5 %) being genomovar II (Burkholderia multivorans). More than 46 % of them were genetically related; 58.3 % of them were detected in intensive care units. All isolates were highly resistant to antimicrobial agents. In four cases, deaths associated with Burkholderia multivorans infection were reported. CONCLUSION: It may be assumed that genetically related strains of Burkholderia multivorans spread from the hospital setting. As yet, the source of infection has not been determined and further investigations are needed.

[Resistance of enterobacteriaceae to carbapenems]. / Resiztence enterobakterií ke karbapepenemum.

OBJECTIVES: Carbapenems are the drugs of choice for the treatment of serious infections caused by ESBL- and AmpC-positive Enterobacteriaceae. An increasing trend of resistance to these antibiotics has been observed recently. The aim of the study was to determine resistance to carbapenems in clinical isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae family and its mechanism. METHODS: Between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2010, Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from clinical samples obtained from patients hospitalized in the University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic (1,406 beds incl. 155 ICU beds). The strains were identified using the standard microbiological methods and their susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by the microdilution method. The identification of the isolates with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem of 2 mg/L or more was confirmed by the Phoenix automated system (Becton Dickinson). The MIC of meropenem was verified by the E-test and also Phoenix automated system. The isolates were tested for carbapenemase production using the modified Hodge test, a combined test with 3-aminophenylboronic acid (3-APB) and EDTA, the CD-test for serine carbapenemases and modified DDST (mDDST) for metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL). ESBL and AmpC production was determined by the mDDST and modified AmpC test, respectively. Genes encoding production of serine carbapenemases, MBL, bla(OXA-23), bla(OXA-48), ESBL and AmpC enzymes were detected with a set of primers that amplify specific segments of individual beta-lactamases. TEM- and SHV-positive PCR products were characterized by restriction analysis. RESULTS: From a total of 12,605 Enterobacteriaceae, 9 strains were isolates with the MIC of meropenem of 2 mg/L or more. Seven isolates were classified as Klebsiella pneumoniae and two as Enterobacter cloacae. The MIC of meropenem for these strains ranged from 2 mg/L to 16 mg/L. The modified Hodge test, the combined test with 3-APB and EDTA, CD-test, mDDST for MBL and a series of PCR analyses did not detect production of class A carbapenemases, MBL, OXA-23 or OXA-48 enzymes in any of the tested strains. In 6 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and 1 Enterobacter cloacae strain, the mDDST test and genetic analysis revealed ESBL production (CTX-M and SHV types), and in 2 strains, AmpC production was detected (DHA and EBC types). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the Enterobacteriaceae with the MIC of meropenem ≥ 2 mg/L in the University Hospital Olomouc was 0.07 %. None of the strains produced either serine carbapenemases or MBL. Borderline resistance of the strains to carbapenems was determined by the ESBL and AmpC production with another associated mechanism of resistance.

Effect of growth hormone replacement therapy on plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration, cardiac morphology and function in adults with growth hormone deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of growth hormone (GH) replacement on plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in association with cardiac morphology and function in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty nine adult patients with GHD (29 men, age 19-59 years) received a starting dose of 0.1-0.2 mg/day recombinant GH, which was subsequently adjusted to the 50th percentile of normal serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) over a 6 month period. Plasma BNP and IGF-I levels before, 3 and 6 months after treatment were determined, as were the echocardiographic data, such as ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), posterior wall thickness (PWT), left ventricular mass (LVM), E/A wave and deceleration time (DT). RESULTS: Mean plasma BNP levels (53.1+/-8 pg/ml) and echocardiographic parameters were within the normal range at baseline, although men had higher LVM, IVST, PWT, LVEDV and LVEDD, respectively. A significant decrease in plasma BNP was observed after 6 months (27+/-5.6 pg/ml, P<0.05). No significant changes in echocardiographic parameters were observed except for a mild tendency to increase in LVM, and a borderline decrease in DT (181+/-8.1 vs. 155+/-9 ms, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Six months GH replacement therapy induced a significant decrease in plasma BNP levels despite the majority of patients having plasma BNP within the normal range at baseline. A borderline decrease in diastolic deceleration time was observed, the clinical significance of which is unclear.

Correlation of the functional liver mass with left ventricular ejection fraction and left atrial diameter in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in liver function tests have impact on prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to assess the functional liver mass in patient with systolic CHF with (13)C-methacetin breath test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Liver function was assessed with (13)C-methacetin breath test in twenty patients, 15 men and 5 women, with systolic CHF, LVEF

[Effect of dissolution medium on the release of diltiazem hydrochloride from carbomeric matrices]. / Vliv disolucního média na uvolnování diltiazem-hydrochloridu z karbomerových matric.

The paper focuses on the study of the effect of pH of dissolution medium on the release of diltiazem hydrochloride from carbomeric matrices. Swelling of carbomers, high-molecular cross-linked anionic polymers, is dependent on the value of pH, which decides whether these polymers exist in an ionized or a non-ionized form. In alkaline medium, carboxylic groups of carbomers ionize and hydrate markedly, which also facilitates their interaction with cationic drugs, in this case with diltiazem hydrochloride. The development of a sparingly soluble complex drug-polymer, the presence of which was demonstrated with the use of Fourier IR spectrophotometry, is one of the factors which causes decelerated release of the drug as well as decreased swelling of matrices in this dissolution medium. In both selected dissolution media, an assumption has been confirmed that with an increasing concentration of the polymer in the system a smaller share of the drug is released. Drug release from matrix tablets is also influenced by the rate of dissolution of the drug in dependence on the pH of the medium. Being a salt of a feeble base and a strong acid, diltiazem hydrochloride is more slowly soluble in an alkaline medium than in the medium with pH 1.2. This factor also contributes to its slower release in the medium of phosphate buffer of pH 7.4.

[Natural polymers in the formulation of hydrophilic matrix tablets]. / Prírodní polymery pro formulaci hydrofilních matricových tablet.

Semisynthetic and synthetic polymers have found their use in the technology of hydrophilic matrix systems with controlled release of the active ingredient, in particular in oral administration. In the recent period, there is increased interest also in natural polymeric substances, whose advantage consists in safety, easy availability, and a relatively low price. They thus represent an interesting possibility to extend the selection of novel constitutive auxiliary substances. The present review paper surveys the most important natural polymers: alginans, carageens, Arabic gum, pectins, galactomanans, ispaghul, and xantan gum as potential carriers for oral hydrophilic systems with controlled release of active ingredients and describes its origin, properties, and possible uses in pharmacy.

[Carbomers and their use in pharmaceutical technology]. / Karbomery a jejich vyuzití ve farmaceutické technologii.

Carbomers, high-molecular polymers based on acrylic acid, are employed in the technology of drugs as auxiliary substances acting as emulsifiers, gel-forming substances, stabilizers of suspensions, and binders in tablets. Their properties are utilized to control release as well as to improve biological availability of drugs. They are physiologically inert, non-sensitizing, and possess excellent thermal stability. They are used for various routes of administration: topical, oral and peroral, vaginal and rectal.