An outbreak of hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia with sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in a hemodialysis unit

AbstractBackgroundRates of invasive group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) disease in adults are on the rise. Invasive GBS disease can be community- or healthcare-associated. We report an outbreak of GBS catheter-related bacteremia in a hemodialysis (HD) unit.Materials and methodsTwo patients undergoing HD at the same outpatient HD unit were admitted on the same day (within a few hours of each other) with catheter-related GBS bacteremia. A retrospective study was undertaken at the HD unit to address risk factors for febrile illness on the last HD session day. A detailed questionnaire was completed by all HD patients treated on the same day as the two GBS patients and by all members of the nursing and medical staff. Medical and nursing records of the HD unit were reviewed, as well as infection control and catheter care practices. Patients and staff members submitted swabs for culture.ResultsNo rectal or vaginal culture of any HD patient or staff member was positive for GBS. The development of recent febrile disease was significantly associated with the presence of a hemodialysis catheter (p=0.028) and care for more than 30min by a specific nurse during the last two HD sessions (p=0.007).ConclusionsWe speculate that the GBS strain was transmitted from one patient to the other through the hands of medical personnel. No such outbreak has ever been reported in HD patients. The importance of strict infection control practices in HD units and the avoidance of catheters for long-term HD should be emphasized

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a HIV-seronegative patient with untreated rheumatoid arthritis and CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) usually occurs in immunocompromised patients, and it is a life-threatening infection We report the case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative patient with untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who developed fatal PCP related to uncommon CD+ T-lymphocytopenia. Although extremely rare and of uncertain aetiology, suppression of cellular immunity and subsequent opportunistic infections should be suspected in such patients

Detection of enterococcal surface protein gene (esp) and amplified fragment length polymorphism typing of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium during its emergence in a Greek intensive care unit

The emergence of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) in a Greek intensive care unit was studied by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and esp gene detection. Three GREF clones harboring the esp gene were recovered from 17 out of 21 patients, indicating the dissemination of genetically homogenous and virulent strains of GREF

Molecular investigation of an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with characterisation of class 1 integrons

We investigated a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Greece over a 3-month period. Molecular typing of the outbreak isolates from 31 patients revealed that two distinct genotypes were involved. Nine isolates, belonging to both genotypes, were resistant to carbapenems. Samples from the ICU environment and from the hands of personnel were collected to identify possible contamination. Class 1 integrons of 3.1, 2.5 and 2.2 kb were amplified from the clinical and environmental isolates. The 3.1 kb integron carrying five gene cassettes was found for the first time in A. baumannii. The outbreak ceased after implementation of hygienic measures in the ICU, including complete cleaning and disinfection

Comparative in vitro and in vivo efficacy of roxithromycin and erythromycin against a strain of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis

The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of roxithromycin was compared with that of erythromycin, against a methicillin-susceptible strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis. We performed standard in vitro testing (MIC, MBC, and time-kill kinetics) for roxithromycin, erythromycin, and rifampin. Both macrolides were bacteriostatic in vitro. There was no significant difference in microbial survival between erythromycin and roxithromycin groups in the time-kill kinetics (p = 0.3). For the in vivo experiments, using the rabbit experimental endocarditis model, roxithromycin was found to be inferior to erythromycin in decreasing the microbial burden of the endocardial vegetations (p < 0.05). Rifampin was highly effective, both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the efficacy of roxithromycin was poor and inferior to erythromycin against a strain of methicillin-susceptible S. epidermidis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc

Risk factors for and influence of bloodstream infections on mortality: A 1-year prospective study in a Greek intensive-care unit

To determine the incidence, risk factors for, and the influence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) on mortality of patients in intensive-care units (ICUs), prospectively collected data from all patients with a stay in an ICU > 48 h, during a 1-year period, were analysed. Of 572 patients, 148 developed a total of 232 BSI episodes (incidence 16.3 episodes/1000 patient-days). Gram-negative organisms with high level of resistance to antibiotics were the most frequently isolated pathogens (157 strains, 67.8%). The severity of illness on admission, as estimated by APACHE II score (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.1, P < 0.001), the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.92-6.64, P <0.001), and a history of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.36-4.11, P = 0.002) were risk factors for the occurrence of BSI whereas the development of an ICU-acquired BSI was an independent risk factor for death (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11-2.78, P = 0.015). Finally, the severity of organ dysfunction on the day of the first BSI episode, as estimated by SOFA score, and the level of serum albumin, independently affected the outcome (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.7, P < 0.001 and OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.97, P = 0.04 respectively). © 2008 Cambridge University Press

Fatal post-traumatic zygomycosis in an immunocompetent young patient

Zygomycosis, a relatively uncommon infection, usually occurs among immunocompromised individuals. It has been reported only rarely in trauma patients. A fatal case is reported of pulmonary and rapidly progressive cutaneous zygomycosis in a young, otherwise healthy farmer, with multiple bone fractures, wounds and soft tissue injuries after an accident with an agricultural machine in the field. Rhizopus spp. was isolated from both cultures of bronchial washings and wound samples. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of tissue specimens from a large wound. Despite systemic antifungal therapy and surgical debridement, the patient’s condition deteriorated and he died from refractory septic shock