Septicaemia in paediatric cancer patients: a 5-year surveillance study in university hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bacterial Profile and Antibiotic Resistance among Cancer Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in a National Tertiary Cancer Hospital of Nepal

Cancer patients are at high risk of antibiotic resistant bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs). In this study, we assessed the bacterial profile and antibiotic resistance among cancer patients suspected of UTI in B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Nepal through a cross-sectional study with routinely collected data. All cancer patients who had a recorded urine culture between July 2018-June 2019 were included in the study. Out of 308 patients who had undergone culture, 73 (24%) of samples had bacterial growth. The most common organisms isolated were E. coli (58%), Staphylococcus (11%) and Klebsiella (10%). These bacteria had undergone susceptibility testing to 27 different antibiotics in various proportions. Of the limited antibiotic testing levels, nitrofurantoin (54/66, 82%) and amikacin (30/51, 59%) were the most common. Among those tested, there were high levels of resistance to antibiotics in the "Access" and "Watch" groups of antibiotics (2019 WHO classification). In the "Reserve" group, both antibiotics showed resistance (polymyxin 15%, tigecycline 8%). Multidrug resistance was seen among 89% of the positive culture samples. This calls for urgent measures to optimize the use of antibiotics in UTI care at policy and health facility levels through stewardship to prevent further augmentation of antibiotic resistance among cancer patients.

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of nosocomially transmitted multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

OBJECTIVES

To describe the epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, genomic profiles, and control of a nosocomial outbreak of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MRKP) that occurred in the pediatric oncology unit of the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective epidemiologic and microbiologic study was conducted of MRKP isolated from the blood and wound of a boy with necrotizing fasciitis after a 7-day course of ceftazidime and amikacin. In the following 2 weeks, phenotypically similar MRKP were isolated from the blood cultures of four other patients and rectal swabs of another three patients and two liquid soap samples located in the same ward.

RESULTS

Antimicrobial profiles demonstrated that all the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, sensitive to imipenem and ciprofloxacin, and confirmed to be extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Plasmids of varying molecular weights were present in all isolates. In eight of these isolates, which included four from blood, there were common large molecular weight plasmids ranging from 80 kb to 100 kb. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis using XbaI demonstrated six different DNA profiles, A to F. Profile A was shared by two blood culture isolates and were related by 91%. Profile B was found in one rectal swab isolate and one isolate from liquid soap and were related by 94%. Profile C was shared by one blood isolate and one liquid soap isolate and showed 100% relatedness. Profiles D, E, and F each were demonstrated by one blood isolate and two rectal swab isolates, respectively. These showed only 65% relatedness.

CONCLUSIONS

The MRKP strains in this outbreak were not clonal in origin. The decline of the outbreak after 4 weeks was attributed to the reemphasis of standard infection control procedures and the implementation of a program that addressed sites of environmental contamination.

Single-daily ceftriaxone plus amikacin versus thrice-daily ceftazidime plus amikacin as empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer

OBJECTIVE

Empirical antibiotic treatment for febrile neutropenic patients has been the mainstay of treatment for many years. Beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides have been the most frequently used drug combination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerance and costs of single-daily ceftriaxone plus amikacin versus thrice-daily dose of ceftazidime plus amikacin.

METHODOLOGY

One hundred and ninety-one episodes of fever and neutropenia in 128 patients from October 1997 to December 1998 were included in a prospective, open-label, single-centre study. Patients were randomly assigned to either treatment group and evaluated as successes or failures according to defined criteria. Daily assessments were made on all patients and all adverse events recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis of outcomes and a cost analysis were carried out.

RESULTS

There were 176 evaluable patient-episodes with 51.1% in the single-daily ceftriaxone-amikacin group and 48.9% in the ceftazidime-amikacin group. There were 50 positive blood cultures: 12 Gram-positive bacteria, 33 Gram-negative bacteria and five fungi. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) accounted for 14% of total isolates. The overall success rate was 55.5% in the ceftriaxone group compared to 51.2% in the ceftazidime group (P = 0.56). Mean time to defervescence was 4.2 days in the single-daily group and 4.3 days in the thrice-daily group. There were nine infection-related deaths; five in the single-daily ceftriaxone group. The daily cost of the once-daily regime was 42 Malaysian Ringgit less than the thrice-daily regime. There was a low incidence of adverse effects in both groups, although ototoxicity was not evaluable.

CONCLUSIONS

The once-daily regime of ceftriaxone plus amikacin was as effective as the 'standard' combination of thrice-daily ceftazidime and amikacin with no significant adverse effects in either group. The convenience and substantial cost benefit of the once-daily regime will be particularly useful in developing countries with limited health resources and in centres with a low prevalence of P. aeruginosa.