piperacillin--tazobactam-drug-combination and Streptococcal-Infections

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. Bacterial co-infections are associated with unfavourable outcomes in respiratory viral infections; however, microbiological and antibiotic data related to COVID-19 are sparse. Adequate use of antibiotics in line with antibiotic stewardship (ABS) principles is warranted during the pandemic. We performed a retrospective study of clinical and microbiological characteristics of 140 COVID-19 patients admitted between February and April 2020 to a German University hospital, with a focus on bacterial co-infections and antimicrobial therapy. The final date of follow-up was 6 May 2020. Clinical data of 140 COVID-19 patients were recorded: The median age was 63.5 (range 17-99) years; 64% were males. According to the implemented local ABS guidelines, the most commonly used antibiotic regimen was ampicillin/sulbactam (41.5%) with a median duration of 6 (range 1-13) days. Urinary antigen tests for Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus peumoniae were negative in all cases. In critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (n = 50), co-infections with Enterobacterales (34.0%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (18.0%) were detected. Blood cultures collected at admission showed a diagnostic yield of 4.2%. Bacterial and fungal co-infections are rare in COVID-19 patients and are mainly prevalent in critically ill patients. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of antimicrobial therapy on therapeutic outcome in COVID-19 patients to prevent antimicrobial overuse. ABS guidelines could help in optimising the management of COVID-19. Investigation of microbial patterns of infectious complications in critically ill COVID-19 patients is also required.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Aspergillosis; Azithromycin; Bacterial Infections; Cohort Studies; Coinfection; COVID-19; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Germany; Humans; Klebsiella Infections; Linezolid; Male; Meropenem; Middle Aged; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections; Sulbactam; Vancomycin; Young Adult

Constrictive pericarditis is a relatively uncommon form of cardiac failure and presents due to scarring and consequent loss of the normal elasticity of the pericardial sac. This results in abnormal/limited ventricular filling and symptoms of heart failure. The aetiology is varied, from infective causes to idiopathic causes, or can manifest after cardiothoracic surgery. This case involves a 46-year-old man presenting with acute group A beta haemolytic streptococcus infection, and over the subsequent 6 months develops constrictive pericarditis due to what is believed to be a rheumatic aetiology. The patient subsequently underwent pericardiectomy and had restoration of normal filling dynamics confirmed on follow-up echocardiography. This case provides a subject matter for the review of the features of constrictive pericarditis and its investigation and management. This case is that it highlights the fact that pericarditis is not a benign condition. Emerging evidence suggests that pericarditis is due to a failure in inflammatory regulatory mechanisms, and patients suffering this condition have a preponderance to 'autoinflammation'. Pericarditis should be recognised early and treated fully with anti-inflammatory agents.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antistreptolysin; Bacteremia; Blood Culture; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiac Catheterization; Ceftriaxone; Electrocardiography; Hospitalization; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pericardiectomy; Pericarditis, Constrictive; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Rheumatic Heart Disease; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes; Ventricular Pressure

We describe a rare case of bloodstream infection and disseminated septic arthritis in a relatively fit and well 73-year-old retired farmer and gamekeeper, due to the zoonotic organism

Topics: Aged; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthritis, Infectious; Bacterial Zoonoses; Cattle; Decompression, Surgical; Discitis; Humans; Male; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Rehabilitation; Sepsis; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus equi; Therapeutic Irrigation; Treatment Outcome

A man in his late 50s presented to the emergency room with a 1-month history of severe abdominal pain and an endoscopic fishbone retrieval from his rectum. Serial CT scans revealed a fishbone located in the patient's upper abdomen, which had migrated through the stomach wall, into the periportal space, causing a contained gastric perforation, development of a porta hepatis abscess and secondary portal vein thrombosis. Furthermore, the sharp tip of the fishbone lay 5 mm from the patient's hepatic artery. He was transferred to a hepatobiliary centre where he underwent urgent exploratory laparotomy, with surgical exploration of the porta, drainage of the abscess and retrieval of the fishbone. Postoperatively, he received further treatment with antibiotics and anticoagulation and recovered without further sequelae.

Topics: Abdominal Abscess; Abdominal Pain; Aged; Anticoagulants; Diagnosis, Differential; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Foreign-Body Migration; Heparin; Humans; Male; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Portal Vein; Streptococcal Infections; Thrombosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

There are several empiric antibiotic treatment options for febrile neutropenia, yet there is no universally-accepted initial protocol. We aimed to assess the performance of a protocol (piperacillin, gentamicin and cefazolin) introduced over 40 years ago and compare its coverage against bacteria isolated from blood of neutropenic patients with that of various commonly used antibiotic treatment protocols.. Adults with neutropenia admitted between 2003 and 2012 to the hemato-oncologic departments and in whom blood cultures were taken on admission were included. Appropriateness of several common antibiotic protocols was assessed based on the susceptibility of the blood isolates. Crude mortality rates were computed by the susceptibility of bacteria isolated from patients' blood to the actual treatment given.. In total, 180 admissions of neutropenic patients (95 in patients who had fever above 38 °C) with positive blood cultures were analyzed. The actual antibiotic regimen prescribed was deemed appropriate in 82% of bacteremia episodes. The recommended institutional protocol was used in 62% of bacteremia episodes in neutropenic patients. This protocol would have been appropriate in 85% of all neutropenic bacteremia episodes and 89% of episodes in febrile neutropenia patients compared with piperacillin/tazobactam (79%, P = 0.13 and 76%, P = 0.002, respectively) and imipenem (93%, P = 0.004 and 92%, P = 0.74, respectively). Isolation of bacteria resistant to the actual antibiotic treatment given was associated with higher mortality at one week and at 30 days.. Common current antibiotic regimens provide similar coverage among febrile neutropenic patients, whereas broad spectrum antibiotic combinations maximize coverage among neutropenic patients.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Blood Culture; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae; Cefazolin; Clinical Protocols; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Gentamicins; Humans; Imipenem; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Neutropenia; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus

Periocular necrotising fasciitis is a rare but sight-threatening condition, which relies on clinical judgement to detect in a timely manner. A 51-year-old woman presented to a rural hospital with rapid onset bilateral eye swelling, erythema and pain and was started on broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Upon admission, she became septic and required fluid resuscitation and transfer to a higher level of care. She received debridement and continued intravenous antibiotics, with step down to oral when clinically stable. Rapid recognition and treatment of her condition resulted in a positive outcome.

Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Eyelid Diseases; Eyelids; Fasciitis, Necrotizing; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes; Vancomycin

Topics: Abscess; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Debridement; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Disease Susceptibility; Empyema, Pleural; Hematoma; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity, Morbid; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Pleural Effusion; Smoking; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae; Thoracic Injuries; Wound Infection; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a now-rare complication of dental and pharyngeal infections. Reports in the literature have emphasized the need for early, aggressive surgical intervention. We present a case of DNM with bilateral empyemas that arose secondary to a perforated pharyngeal abscess. The patient was successfully managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics and intercostal drainage. We conclude that conservative management with antibiotics and image-guided percutaneous pleural drainage may be initially appropriate for the stable patient.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteroidaceae Infections; Chest Tubes; Drainage; Empyema, Pleural; Haemophilus Infections; Humans; Male; Mediastinitis; Mediastinum; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Penicillanic Acid; Peritonsillar Abscess; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Rupture, Spontaneous; Streptococcal Infections; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Duodenitis; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Penicillanic Acid; Peptic Ulcer; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Female; Humans; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic; Middle Aged; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Portal Vein; Streptococcal Infections; Thrombophlebitis; Viridans Streptococci

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae; Tonsillitis

Viridans group Streptococcus (VGS) is a leading cause of bacteremia in pediatric oncology patients, primarily in children with acute myeloid leukemia or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We retrospectively identified all positive blood cultures in oncology patients at the British Columbia Children's Hospital for a period of 54 months. VGS was the second most commonly isolated pathogen, present in 19% of all the positive blood cultures. Susceptibility analysis of 46 VGS isolates from that period was performed using the Etest method for penicillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and piperacillin/tazobactam. The geometric mean minimal inhibitory concentration for ceftazidime was found to be 9 to 12-fold higher than for any other beta-lactam antibiotic. Penicillin resistance was of 13% with an additional 20% of samples with intermediate susceptibility. The study underscores the prevalence of VGS bacteremia in pediatric patients, especially with acute myeloid leukemia or postallogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and the in vitro inferiority of ceftazidime compared with other beta-lactams in that context. We conclude that monotherapy with ceftazidime, or its use along with an aminoglycoside, is not an optimal therapy in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia.

Topics: Aminoglycosides; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; beta-Lactam Resistance; Cefotaxime; Ceftazidime; Child; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Penicillanic Acid; Penicillins; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Retrospective Studies; Streptococcal Infections; Viridans Streptococci