Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae in Barbados: Driving Change in Practice at the National Level.

Introduction Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is of growing concern globally. The risk for transmission of antimicrobial resistant organisms across several continents to the Caribbean is a real one given its tourism industry. After a cluster of cases of CRKP were detected, several studies detailed in this report were initiated to better characterize the problem. Methods A hospital-wide point prevalence study and active surveillance were performed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados in 2013 to assess the prevalence of CRKP infection/colonization. Following this, a 1-year longitudinal study measured the prevalence of CRKP isolates in the hospital and across all healthcare facilities in the country. Results In 2013, eleven viable isolates of CRKP from cluster of cases were sent for molecular epidemiology studies. When sequenced, they were found to be the ST-258 clone. Identification of a cluster of cases of CRKP ST-258/512 clones indicated person-to-person transmission. In September 2013, the hospital-wide point prevalence study revealed 18% of patients (53/299) at the hospital were either colonized or infected with CRKP. The infection to colonization ratio was 1:7. Patients who were infected/colonized vs. non-colonized were older (64.7 vs. 48.7 years, p\u3c0.0001), were hospitalized longer (42.5 days vs. 27 days, p = 0.0042), were more likely to have an invasive device (66% vs. 32%, p\u3c0.0001), especially urinary catheters (55% vs. 24%, p\u3c0.0001), and were more likely to have used antimicrobials within the prior 14 days (91% vs. 46%, p\u3c0.0001). Specific antimicrobials, including fluoroquinolones and piperacillin-tazobactam, were significantly associated with infection/colonization. In 2014, the 12-month period prevalence of CRKP in Barbados was 49.6 per 100,000 population and of blood stream infections was 3.2 per 100,000 population. Conclusions This point prevalence study identified patients at-risk of acquisition of CRKP and allowed QEH to implement interventions aimed at decreasing the prevalence of CRKP. Organization of a National and regional Infection Prevention and Control Committee in 2014 aimed to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance programs across the English-speaking Caribbean were established

Serum lipid mediator profiles in COVID-19 patients and lung disease severity: a pilot study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic to severe and fatal cases. COVID-19 has been characterized by an increase of serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels which seems to be associated with fatal cases. By contrast, the role of pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), involved in the attenuation of inflammatory responses, has been scarcely investigated, so further studies are needed to understand SPMs metabolism in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Our aim was to analyse the lipid mediator metabolome, quantifying pro- and anti-inflammatory serum bioactive lipids by LC–MS/MS in 7 non-infected subjects and 24 COVID-19 patients divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups according to the pulmonary involvement, to better understand the disease outcome and the severity of the pulmonary manifestations. Statistical analysis was performed with the R programming language (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). All COVID-19 patients had increased levels of Prostaglandin E2. Severe patients showed a significant increase versus controls, mild- and moderate-affected patients, expressed as median (interquartile range), in resolvin E1 [112.6 (502.7) vs 0.0 (0.0) pg/ml in the other groups], as well as in maresin 2 [14.5 (7.0) vs 8.1 (4.2), 5.5 (4.3), and 3.0 (4.0) pg/ml, respectively]. Moreover, 14-hydroxy docosahexaenoic acid (14-HDHA) levels were also increased in severe vs control and mild-affected patients [24.7 (38.2) vs 2.4 (2.2) and 3.7 (6.4) ng/mL, respectively]. Resolvin D5 was also significantly elevated in both moderate [15.0 (22.4) pg/ml] and severe patients [24.0 (24.1) pg/ml] versus controls [0.0 (0.0) pg/ml]. These results were confirmed by sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis which highlighted the contribution of these mediators to the separation between each of the groups. In conclusion, the potent inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection involves not only pro- but also anti-inflammatory lipid mediators that can be quantified in easily accessible serum samples, suggesting the need to perform future research on their generation pathways that will help us to discover new therapeutic targets

Emergence of genetically unrelated NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter pittii strains in Paraguay

The New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) was initially identified in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Sweden, from a patient previously hospitalized in India.1 To date, NDM producers in Latin America have been scarce, and associated with species of Enterobacteriaceae from Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, although in Honduras it was reported in Acinetobacter baumannii.2?6 Here, we report two genetically unrelated NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter pittii isolates identified in Paraguay. Since 1996, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has supported a regional surveillance system, the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Latin America (ReLAVRA), that includes 794 laboratories from 20 Latin American countries, including their respective reference laboratories.7 This network provides reliable, timely and reproducible microbiological data in order to improve patient care. A regional protocol for the detection of carbapenemases has been harmonized and implemented through ReLAVRA. Briefly, metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production is suspected in isolates that exhibit decreased susceptibility to carbapenems (CLSI criteria) and a positive synergy test result between a disc containing 10 μg of imipenem and a disc containing 750 μg of EDTA plus 1900 μg of sodium thioglycolate.8 During 2012, following the ReLAVRA algorithm, the National Health Laboratory of Paraguay confirmed an MBL phenotype in two Acinetobacter spp. isolates recovered from a single hospital. This phenotype had not previously been observed in Acinetobacter spp. from Paraguay.Fil: Pasteran, Fernando. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Área de Antimicrobianos; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Mora, Mario. Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública. Servicio Antimicrobianos; ParaguayFil: Albornoz, Ezequiel Pablo. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Área de Antimicrobianos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Faccone, Diego Francisco. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Área de Antimicrobianos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Franco, Rossana. Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública. Servicio Antimicrobianos; ParaguayFil: Ortellado, Juana. Universidad Nacional de Asunción; ParaguayFil: Melgarejo, Nancy. Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública. Servicio Antimicrobianos; ParaguayFil: Gómez, Sonia Alejandra. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Área de Antimicrobianos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Riquelme, Irma. Universidad Nacional de Asunción; ParaguayFil: Matheu, Jorge. Pan American Health Organization. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Program; Estados UnidosFil: Ramon Pardo, Jorge Matheu Pilar. Pan American Health Organization. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Program; Estados UnidosFil: Corso, Alejandra. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Área de Antimicrobianos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance in the COVID-19 Era: Perspective from Resource-Limited Settings

The dissemination of COVID-19 around the globe has been followed by an increased consumption of antibiotics. This is related to the concern for bacterial superinfection in COVID-19 patients. The identification of bacterial pathogens is challenging in low and middle income countries (LMIC), as there are no readily-available and cost-effective clinical or biological markers that can effectively discriminate between bacterial and viral infections. Fortunately, faced with the threat of COVID-19 spread, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of antimicrobial stewardship programs, as well as infection prevention and control measures that could help reduce the microbial load and hence circulation of pathogens, with a reduction in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. These measures should be improved particularly in developing countries. Studies need to be conducted to evaluate the worldwide evolution of antimicrobial resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, because pathogens do not respect borders. This issue takes on even greater importance in developing countries, where data on resistance patterns are scarce, conditions for infectious pathogen transmission are optimal, and treatment resources are suboptimal

Emergence of NDM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Guatemala

Fil: Pasteran, Fernando. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Albornoz, Ezequiel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Faccone, Diego. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Gómez, Sonia. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Valenzuela, Claudia. Unidad Central de Referencia para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica. Laboratorio Nacional de Salud. Sección Bacteriología; Guatemala.Fil: Morales, Melissa. Unidad Central de Referencia para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica. Laboratorio Nacional de Salud. Sección Bacteriología; Guatemala.Fil: Estrada, Pavela. Hospital Infantil de Infectología y Rehabilitación; Guatemala.Fil: Valenzuela, Laura. Hospital General San Juan de Dios; Ciudad de Guatemala.Fil: Matheu, Jorge. Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. Alert and Response and Epidemic Diseases; Estados Unidos.Fil: Guerriero, Leonor. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina.Fil: Arbizú, Enrique. Unidad Central de Referencia para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica. Laboratorio Nacional de Salud. Sección Bacteriología; Guatemala.Fil: Calderón, Yeraldine. Unidad Central de Referencia para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica. Laboratorio Nacional de Salud. Sección Bacteriología; Guatemala.Fil: Ramon-Pardo, Pilar. Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. Alert and Response and Epidemic Diseases; Estados Unidos.Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina

Capability of national reference laboratories in Latin America to detect emerging resistance mechanisms

Fil: Corso, Alejandra. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Guerriero, Leonor. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Pasterán, Fernando. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Ceriana, Paola. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Callejo, Raquel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Bacteriología Especial; Argentina.Fil: Prieto, Mónica. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Bacteriología Especial; Argentina.Fil: Tuduri, Ezequiel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.Fil: Lopardo, Horacio. Hospital de Pediatría S.A.M.I.C. "Prof Dr. Juan Garrahan"; Argentina.Fil: Vay, Carlos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín"; Argentina.Fil: Smayevsky, Jorgelina. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno"; Argentina.Fil: Tokumoto, Marta. Fundación Favaloro; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez, Jorge Matheu. Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Área de Vigilancia de la Salud y Prevención y Control de Enfermedades; Estados Unidos.Fil: Ramón Pardo, Pilar. Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Área de Vigilancia de la Salud y Prevención y Control de Enfermedades; Estados Unidos.Galas, Marcelo. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Antimicrobianos; Argentina.OBJETIVO: Evaluar la capacidad de 17 laboratorios nacionales de referencia que participan en el Programa Latinoamericano de Control de Calidad en Bacteriología y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (LA-EQAS) para detectar mecanismos de resistencia emergentes, a saber: resistencia de enterobacterias a carbapenemes por presencia de Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemasa (KPC); resistencia de enterobacterias a carbapenemes por presencia de metalobetalactamasas (MBL) tipo IMP, y resistencia intermedia a vancomicina de aislamientos de Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). MÉTODOS: Se enviaron los siguientes tres aislamientos a los 17 laboratorios participantes del LA-EQAS: Klebsiella pneumoniae OPS-161 productor de KPC, Enterobacter cloacae OPS-166 productor de IMP y S. aureus OPS-165 con resistencia intermedia a vancomicina. Se evaluó la interpretación de las pruebas de sensibilidad y detección del mecanismo de resistencia y el tamaño de los halos de inhibición (método de difusión por discos) o valor de la concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM). RESULTADOS: La concordancia en la detección de los mecanismos de resistencia fue de 76,4%, 73,3% y 66,7% con respecto a la cepas K. pneumoniae OPS-161, E. cloacae OPS-166 y S. aureus OPS-165, respectivamente. La concordancia entre las zonas de inhibición obtenidas por los laboratorios participantes y los rangos establecidos por el laboratorio coordinador fue aceptable en los tres aislamientos, ya que alcanzó 90,8%, 92,8% y 88,9%, respectivamente, para cada cepa. CONCLUSIONES: La concordancia global en la detección de los mecanismos de resistencia KPC, MBL y VISA fue de 72,1%. Consideramos que los laboratorios nacionales de referencia de América Latina son capaces de reconocer estos mecanismos de resistencia emergentes y se espera que en el futuro la concordancia alcance su nivel máximo

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and infants: NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe: A prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about current clinical practice concerning peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and small infants. Guidelines suggest transfusions based on haemoglobin thresholds ranging from 8.5 to 12 g dl-1, distinguishing between children from birth to day 7 (week 1), from day 8 to day 14 (week 2) or from day 15 (≥week 3) onwards. OBJECTIVE: To observe peri-operative red blood cell transfusion practice according to guidelines in relation to patient outcome. DESIGN: A multicentre observational study. SETTING: The NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) trial recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. PATIENTS: The data included 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Inclusion criteria was a peri-operative red blood cell transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the haemoglobin level triggering a transfusion for neonates in week 1, week 2 and week 3. Secondary endpoints were transfusion volumes, 'delta haemoglobin' (preprocedure - transfusion-triggering) and 30-day and 90-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Peri-operative red blood cell transfusions were recorded during 447 procedures (6.9%). The median haemoglobin levels triggering a transfusion were 9.6 [IQR 8.7 to 10.9] g dl-1 for neonates in week 1, 9.6 [7.7 to 10.4] g dl-1 in week 2 and 8.0 [7.3 to 9.0] g dl-1 in week 3. The median transfusion volume was 17.1 [11.1 to 26.4] ml kg-1 with a median delta haemoglobin of 1.8 [0.0 to 3.6] g dl-1. Thirty-day morbidity was 47.8% with an overall mortality of 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate lower transfusion-triggering haemoglobin thresholds in clinical practice than suggested by current guidelines. The high morbidity and mortality of this NECTARINE sub-cohort calls for investigative action and evidence-based guidelines addressing peri-operative red blood cell transfusions strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02350348

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication