Excess Length of Acute Inpatient Stay Attributable to Acquisition of Hospital-Onset Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection with and without Antibiotic Resistance: A Multistate Model Analysis

Estimating bacterial load in S. aureus and E. coli bacteremia using bacterial growth graph from the continuous monitoring blood culture system

BACKGROUND

We examined whether the time to positivity (TTP) and growth and detection plot graph (GDPG) created by the automated blood culture system can be used to determine the bacterial load in bacteremic patients and its potential association correlation with disease severity.

METHODS

Known bacterial inocula were injected into the blood culture bottles. The GDPGs for the specific inocula were downloaded and plotted. A cohort of 30 consecutive clinical cultures positive for S. aureus and E. coli was identified. Bacterial load was determined by comparing the GDPG with the "standard" curves. Variables associated with disease severity were compared across 3 bacterial load categories (< 100, 100-1000, > 1000 CFU/mL).

RESULTS

S. aureus growth was sensitive to the blood volume obtained whereas E. coli growth was less so. A 12-hour delay in sample transfer to the microbiology laboratory resulted in a decrease in TTP by 2-3 h. Mean TTP was 15 and 10 h for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively, which correlates with > 1000 CFU/mL and 500-1000 CFU/ml. For S. aureus, patients with a bacterial load > 100 CFU/mL had a higher mortality rate, (OR for death = 9.7, 95% CI 1.6-59, p = 0.01). Bacterial load > 1000 CFU/mL had an odds ratio of 6.4 (95% CI1.2-35, p = 0.03) to predict an endovascular source. For E. coli bacteremia, we did not find any correlations with disease severity.

CONCLUSION

GDPG retrieved from the automated blood culture system can be used to estimate bacterial load. S.aureus bacterial load, but not E.coli, was associated with clinical outcome.

Risk factors of multidrug-resistant organisms neonatal sepsis in Surabaya tertiary referral hospital: a single-center study

BACKGROUND

Bacterial organisms causing neonatal sepsis have developed increased resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health problem. The spread of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for developing MDRO neonatal sepsis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), dr. Ramelan Navy Central Hospital, in 2020-2022.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed on 113 eligible neonates. Patients whose blood cultures were positive for bacterial growth and diagnosed with sepsis were selected as the study sample. Univariate and multivariate analysis with multiple logistic regression were performed to find the associated risk factors for developing multidrug-resistant organism neonatal sepsis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Multidrug-resistant organisms were the predominant aetiology of neonatal sepsis (91/113, 80.5%). The significant risk factors for developing MDRO neonatal sepsis were lower birth weight (OR: 1.607, 95% CI: 1.003 - 2.576, p-value: 0.049), history of premature rupture of the membrane (ProM) ≥ 18 (OR: 3.333, 95% CI: 2.047 - 5.428, p-value < 0.001), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.512 - 3.717, p-value < 0.001), longer hospital stays (OR: 5.067, 95% CI: 2.912 - 8.815, p-value < 0.001), lower Apgar scores (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.442 - 3.512, p-value < 0.001), and the use of respiratory support devices, such as invasive ventilation (OR: 2.687, 95% CI: 1.514 - 4.771, p-value < 0.001), and non-invasive ventilation (OR: 2, 95% CI: 1.097 - 3.645, p-value: 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study determined various risk factors for multidrug-resistance organism neonatal sepsis and underscored the need to improve infection control practices to reduce the existing burden of drug-resistant sepsis. Low-birth-weight, a maternal history of premature rupture of the membrane lasting more than 18 hours, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, longer hospital stays, a low Apgar score, and the use of ventilators were the risk factors for developing drug-resistant neonatal sepsis.

Intravenous to oral transition of antibiotics for gram-negative bloodstream infection at a University hospital in Thailand: Clinical outcomes and predictors of treatment failure

Background

Limited studies evaluate the outcome of intravenous antibiotics to oral transition in Gram-negative bloodstream infection (GN-BSI), particularly GN-BSI originating outside the urinary tract. This study aimed to evaluate treatment success in patients with GN-BSI treated with either intravenous therapy or intravenous to oral transition and to identify factors associated with treatment failure in those undergoing intravenous to oral transition.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand. Patients were included if they were ≥18 years of age, hospitalized in general medical wards with GN-BSI between August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2020, received intravenous antibiotic agents and had a functioning gastrointestinal tract.

Results

Of 955 patients, 545 (57.1%) were in the intravenous to oral transition group. The urinary tract was the most common source of infection (38.8%). Ciprofloxacin was the most prescribed oral antibiotic (53%). Treatment success occurred in 94.3% in the intravenous antibiotic to oral transition group. There was no significant difference in treatment success between the two groups (P = 0.790) with a concordant result after using propensity score matching (P = 0.223). Independent predictors of treatment failure in the intravenous to oral transition group included metastatic solid cancer (aOR = 4.355), HIV infection with CD₄ < 200 cells/mm³ (aOR = 8.452), qSOFA score ≥ 2 (aOR = 2.545), multidrug-resistant infection (aOR = 2.849), and respiratory tract infection (aOR = 8.447). Hospital length of stay in the intravenous to oral transition group was shorter than in the intravenous group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Intravenous to oral transition may be a practical approach in GN-BSI. Patients with Gram-negative bacteremia who have HIV infection with CD₄ < 200 cells/mm³, multidrug-resistant infections, and respiratory tract sources of infection may not be ideal candidates for this approach. Future research is needed from a randomized controlled trial.

Understanding variations and influencing factors on length of stay for T2DM patients based on a multilevel model

Aim

Shortening the length of stay (LOS) is a potential and sustainable way to relieve the pressure that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients placed on the public health system.

Method

Multi-stage random sampling was used to obtain qualified hospitals and electronic medical records for patients discharged with T2DM in 2018. A box-cox transformation was adopted to normalize LOS. Multilevel model was used to verify hospital cluster effect on LOS variations and screen potential factors for LOS variations from both individual and hospital levels.

Result

50 hospitals and a total of 12,888 T2DM patients were included. Significant differences in LOS variations between hospitals, and a hospital cluster effect on LOS variations (t = 92.188, P<0.001) was detected. The results showed that female patients, patients with new rural cooperative’ medical insurance, hospitals with more beds, and hospitals with faster bed turnovers had shorter LOS. Conversely, elderly patients, patients with urban workers’ medical insurance, patients requiring surgery, patients with the International Classification of Diseases coded complication types E11.1, E11.2, E11.4, E11.5, and other complications cardiovascular diseases, grade III hospitals, hospitals with a lower doctor-to-nurse ratio, and hospitals with more daily visits per doctor had longer LOS.

Conclusions

The evidence proved that hospital cluster effect on LOS variation did exist. Complications and patients features at individual level, as well as organization and resource characteristics at hospital level, had impacted LOS variations to varying degrees. To shorten LOS and better meet the medical demand for T2DM patients, limited health resources must be allocated and utilized rationally at hospital level, and the patients with the characteristics of longer LOS risk must be identified in time. More influencing factors on LOS variations at different levels are still worth of comprehensive exploration in the future.

Budget impact analysis of routinely using whole-genomic sequencing of six multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens in Queensland, Australia

OBJECTIVE

To predict the cost and health effects of routine use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of bacterial pathogens compared with those of standard of care.

DESIGN

Budget impact analysis was performed over the following 5 years. Data were primarily from sequencing results on clusters of multidrug-resistant organisms across 27 hospitals. Model inputs were derived from hospitalisation and sequencing data, and epidemiological and costing reports, and included multidrug resistance rates and their trends.

SETTING

Queensland, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospitalised patients.

INTERVENTIONS

WGS surveillance of six common multidrug-resistant organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter sp and Acinetobacter baumannii) compared with standard of care or routine microbiology testing.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES

Expected hospital costs, counts of patient infections and colonisations, and deaths from bloodstream infections.

RESULTS

In 2021, 97 539 patients in Queensland are expected to be infected or colonised with one of six multidrug-resistant organisms with standard of care testing. WGS surveillance strategy and earlier infection control measures could avoid 36 726 infected or colonised patients and avoid 650 deaths. The total cost under standard of care was $A170.8 million in 2021. WGS surveillance costs an additional $A26.8 million but was offset by fewer costs for cleaning, nursing, personal protective equipment, shorter hospital stays and antimicrobials to produce an overall cost savings of $30.9 million in 2021. Sensitivity analyses showed cost savings remained when input values were varied at 95% confidence limits.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with standard of care, WGS surveillance at a state-wide level could prevent a substantial number of hospital patients infected with multidrug-resistant organisms and related deaths and save healthcare costs. Primary prevention through routine use of WGS is an investment priority for the control of serious hospital-associated infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Pathogens Isolated from Blood Cultures: A Two-Year Multicenter Hospital Surveillance Study in Italy

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most concerning issues in medicine today. The objectives of this study were to investigate the AMR distribution of the blood-borne pathogens isolated over a two-year period in an Italian region. Methods: A retrospective electronic record review of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infections (BSIs) was done, and data from three major diagnostic laboratories were used. Twelve invasive clinically important bacteria species were included in the sample. Results: During the study period, 1228 positive BSIs were collected. The most common pathogens were Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (29.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.1%) and Escherichia coli (15.9%). With regard to the AMR pattern, 31.7% of CoNS and 28.1% of Staphylococcus aureus were oxacillin-resistant, and almost half of the Enterococci showed resistance to high-level gentamicin. Among Gram-negative species, 11.7% of Escherichia coli and 39.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae were carbapenem-resistant. Among the non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria, the most frequently combined AMR pattern was aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones (48.4% in A. baumannii and 14.6% in P. aeruginosa). Conclusion: The results display an alarming prevalence of AMR among hospital isolated pathogens, consistently higher than the European average. Information from surveillance systems to better characterize the trend in the incidence of AMR at local and national levels is needed.