Antibiotic-resistant pathogens in different patient settings and identification of surveillance gaps in Switzerland - a systematic review.

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) varies significantly among different patient populations. We aimed to summarise AMR prevalence data from screening studies in different patient settings in Switzerland and to identify surveillance gaps. We performed a systematic review, searching Pubmed, MEDLINE, Embase (01/2000-05/2017) and conference proceedings for Swiss studies reporting on carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), mobilised colistin-resistance, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) within different patient settings. We identified 2345 references and included 46 studies. For acute care patients, most screening data come from admission screenings, whereas AMR prevalence among hospitalised patients is largely unknown. Universal admission screenings showed ESBL-prevalences of 5-8% and MRSA-prevalences of 2-5%. For targeted screening, ESBL-prevalence ranged from 14-21%; MRSA-prevalence from 1-4%. For refugees, high ESBL (9-24%) and MRSA (16-24%) carriage rates were reported; returning travellers were frequently (68-80%) colonised with ESBL. Screening data for other pathogens, long-term care facility (LTCF) residents and pediatric populations were scarce. This review confirms high ESBL- and MRSA-carriage rates for risk populations in Switzerland. Emerging pathogens (CPE and VRE) and certain populations (inpatients, LTCF residents and children) are understudied. We encourage epidemiologists and public health authorities to consider these findings in the planning of future surveillance studies

Antibiotic resistance in Swiss nursing homes: analysis of National Surveillance Data over an 11-year period between 2007 and 2017

Abstract Background We evaluated data from isolates of nursing home (NH) patients sent to the Swiss centre for antibiotic resistance (ANRESIS). We focussed on carbapenem-resistance (CR) among Gram-negative pathogens, extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant (ESC-R) Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE). Methods NH patient isolates from 01/2007 to 10/2017 were extracted. Temporal trends in resistance were described and risk factors associated with ESC-R and MRSA were assessed. For every administrative subdivision in Switzerland (i.e. canton), we calculated a coverage rate, defined as number of beds of governmentally-supported nursing homes, which sent ≥1 isolate in each 2014, 2015, and 2016, divided by the total number of supported beds. Results We identified 16′804 samples from 9′940 patients. A majority of samples (12′040; 71.6%) originated from the French/Italian speaking part of Switzerland. ESC-R E. coli increased from 5% (16/299) in 2007 to 22% (191/884) in 2017 (P < 0.01), whereas MRSA decreased from 34% (35/102) to 26% (21/81) (P < 0.01). Provenience from the German (vs. French/Italian) speaking part of Switzerland was associated with decreased risk for ESC-R (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.7) and for MRSA (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.1–0.2). CR among Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 10% (105/1096) and showed an increasing trend over time; CR among Enterobacteriaceae (37/12′423, 0.3%) and GRE (5/1′273, 0.4%) were uncommon. Overall coverage rate was 9% (range 0–58% per canton). There was a significant difference between the French/Italian (median 13%, interquartile range [IQR] 4–43%) and the German speaking cantons (median 0%, IQR 0–5%) (P = 0.02). Conclusions ESC-R among E. coli is emerging in Swiss NHs, whereas MRSA show a declining trend over time. A minority of NHs are represented in ANRESIS, with a preponderance of institutions from the French/Italian speaking regions. Efforts should be undertaken to improve resistance surveillance in this high-risk setting

Virological outcome and management of persistent low-level viraemia in HIV-1-infected patients: 11 years of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Management of persistent low-level viraemia (pLLV) in patients on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) with previously undetectable HIV viral loads (VLs) is challenging. We examined virological outcome and management among patients enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). METHODS: In this retrospective study (2000-2011), pLLV was defined as a VL of 21-400 copies/ml on ≥ three consecutive plasma samples with ≥8 weeks between first and last analyses, in patients undetectable for ≥24 weeks on cART. Control patients had ≥ three consecutive undetectable VLs over ≥32 weeks. Virological failure (VF), analysed in the pLLV patient group, was defined as a VL&gt;400 copies/ml. RESULTS: Among 9,972 patients, 179 had pLLV and 5,389 were controls. Compared to controls, pLLV patients were more often on unboosted protease inhibitor (PI)-based (adjusted odds ratio [aOR; 95% CI] 3.2 [1.8, 5.9]) and nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-only combinations (aOR 2.1 [1.1, 4.2]) than on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and boosted PI-based regimens. At 48 weeks, 102/155 pLLV patients (66%) still had pLLV, 19/155 (12%) developed VF and 34/155 (22%) had undetectable VLs. Predictors of VF were previous VF (aOR 35 [3.8, 315]), unboosted PI-based (aOR 12.8 [1.7, 96]) or NRTI-only combinations (aOR 115 [6.8, 1,952]), and VLs&gt;200 during pLLV (aOR 3.7 [1.1, 12]). No VF occurred in patients with persistent very LLV (21-49 copies/ml; n=26). At 48 weeks, 29/39 patients (74%) who changed cART had undetectable VLs, compared with 19/74 (26%) without change (P&lt;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with pLLV, VF was predicted by previous VF, cART regimen and VL≥200. Most patients who changed cART had undetectable VLs 48 weeks later. These findings support cART modification for pLLV&gt;200 copies/ml