Evaluation of Hospitalized Patients with Community-Acquired Influenza-Like Illness During Two Influenza Seasons

Objective

Influenza is among the most important respiratory infections affecting all age groups and can lead to hospitalizations. We aimed to determine the frequency of influenza infections among acute admissions with influenza-like illness (ILI) and evaluate the demographic, clinical findings, and outcomes of patients with influenza.

Methods

This prospective, active surveillance study was conducted in a university hospital between 2015 and 2017. Patients hospitalized for at least 24 hours in the selected units with community-acquired ILI were screened according to certain influenza-predicting ICD-10 codes. Nasopharyngeal and pharyngeal swab samples were taken from patients who were eligible for the study. Patients tested for influenza with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for data.

Results

Among 440 patients screened according to influenza-related ICD-10 codes, 112 were included. Influenza positivity was detected in 37 of the 112 patients. Clinical findings were similar between influenza positive and negative groups and also between influenza subtypes, excluding sore throat, which was more common in the H1N1 group. Alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) elevations were found to be significantly higher in the influenza-positive group. When influenza-positive patients with and without pneumonia were compared, the rate of vaccination in the same season was higher in patients without pneumonia than in patients with pneumonia (38.8% and 10.5%, respectively; p=0.04).

Conclusion

Integrating molecular tests detecting both influenza and other respiratory viruses into influenza surveillance programs can increase the efficacy and quality of these programs. The elevation of AST, ALT, and CK in influenza cases can be considered in distinguishing influenza from other ILI cases. Vaccination in the same season can reduce the risk of pneumonia in influenza-positive patients.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous fosfomycin for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of intravenous fosfomycin for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections. All adult inpatients receiving 48 h of intravenous fosfomycin, alone or combined with other antibiotics were included in the study. Overall favorable clinical response rate was 75.3% among 94 patients. Clinical response rates were 92.3%, 72.2% and 56.0% for urinary tract infections, bacteremia and pneumonia, respectively. Microbiological eradication was achieved in 55 of 86 patients. 30-day mortality was 33.0%. Adverse events were generally mild. Common adverse events were hypokalemia (37.2%) and hypernatremia (22.3%). Intravenous fosfomycin is an effective antibiotic option with a good safety profile for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections. The most favorable clinical and microbiological responses are obtained in urinary tract infections. The efficacy of the drug in more severe infections, such as pneumonia and bacteremia, is comparable to the literature.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Bacteremia: From Diagnosis to Treatment

Objective

There are many difficulties in diagnosing and treating Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate "true" and "false-positive bacteremia" and assess mortality risk factors and the impact of different treatment regimens.

Materials and Methods

Hospitalized adult patients with S. maltophilia-positive blood cultures were assessed by a two-stage analysis. First, the clinical significance of blood cultures was assessed, and patients were divided into "true" and "false-positive bacteremia" groups. Then, excluding false positives, we analyzed the antimicrobial regimens and the factors associated with 28-day mortality in true bacteremia cases performing univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The study included 127 out of 138 patients with S. maltophilia bacteremia. True bacteremia was identified in 51.2% and false-positive bacteremia in 48.8% of patients. In the true bacteremia group, hypotension, nosocomial bacteremia, concomitant infections, a source of bacteremia, two positive blood culture sets, and 28-day mortality were more common. The 28-day mortality was 50.7% among true bacteremia cases. In multivariate analysis, age and solid tumor were the independent predictors of 28-day mortality. Early effective antimicrobial therapy and different antimicrobial regimens, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), fluoroquinolones (FQs), and tigecycline (TGC), did not have any significant impact on survival.

Conclusion

Patients with S. maltophilia bacteremia should first be assessed regarding clinical significance. Clinical findings, the presence of multiple positive blood culture sets and the primary sources of bacteremia are useful parameters while discriminating true from false-positive bacteremia. Patients with advanced age and solid tumors should be followed carefully in terms of mortality. Antimicrobial regimens, including SXT, FQs, or TGC, can be preferred in patients with S. maltophilia bacteremia considering antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects or toxicity.