Clostridium tertium Peritonitis and Concurrent Bacteremia in a Patient With a History of Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Enterobacteriaceae have been isolated from the majority of peritonitis cases and the gram negative aerobe Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated organism. Anaerobic organisms are rarely isolated because of the high oxygen tension in ascetic fluid. We report a patient with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis who developed SBP and concurrent bacteremia with the anaerobe Clostridium tertium. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and was discharged home on oral ciprofloxacin. This case report is unique in that it is the fourth documented Clostridium tertium SBP case, utilized MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for organism identification, and susceptibility testing for select antibiotics was performed

Application of Fluoroquinolone Resistance Score in Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

The fluoroquinolone resistance score (FQRS) predicts the probability of fluoroquinolone resistance with good discrimination. The score has been derived from patients with bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria and is based on fluoroquinolone use within the past 6 months, among other clinical and health care exposure criteria. This study aims to examine the utility of the FQRS in patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) and determine whether extension of prior fluoroquinolone use to 12 months improves model discrimination. Adults with cUTI at Palmetto Health in central South Carolina, USA, from 1 April 2015 through 31 July 2015 were prospectively identified. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between prior fluoroquinolone use and resistance. Among 238 patients, 54 (23%) had cUTI due to fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria. Overall, the median age was 66 years, 162 (68%) patients were women, and 137 (58%) patients had cUTI due to Prior exposure to fluoroquinolones within 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 23.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2 to 76.8; \u3c 0.001) and within 3 to 12 months (aOR, 13.2; 95% CI, 3.1 to 68.4; \u3c 0.001) was independently associated with fluoroquinolone resistance compared to no prior use. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the FQRS increased from 0.73 to 0.80 when prior fluoroquinolone use was extended from 6 to 12 months. FQRSs of ≥2 and ≥3 had negative predictive values of 91% and 90%, respectively. The modified FQRS stratifies patients with cUTI on the basis of the predicted probability of fluoroquinolone resistance with very good discrimination. Application of the modified FQRS may improve antimicrobial utilization in patients with acute pyelonephritis

Prediction of Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria Causing Bloodstream Infections

Increasing rates of fluoroquinolone resistance (FQ-R) have limited empirical treatment options for Gram-negative infections, particularly in patients with severe beta-lactam allergy. This case-control study aims to develop a clinical risk score to predict the probability of FQ-R in Gram-negative bloodstream isolates. Adult patients with Gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSI) hospitalized at Palmetto Health System in Columbia, South Carolina, from 2010 to 2013 were identified. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for FQ-R. Point allocation in the fluoroquinolone resistance score (FQRS) was based on regression coefficients. Model discrimination was assessed by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Among 824 patients with Gram-negative BSI, 143 (17%) had BSI due to fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible Gram-negative bacilli. Independent risk factors for FQ-R and point allocation in FQRS included male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.97; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.36 to 2.98; 1 point), diabetes mellitus (aOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.28; 1 point), residence at a skilled nursing facility (aOR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.42 to 3.63; 2 points), outpatient procedure within 30 days (aOR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.96 to 6.78; 3 points), prior fluoroquinolone use within 90 days (aOR, 7.87; 95% CI, 4.53 to 13.74; 5 points), or prior fluoroquinolone use within 91 to 180 days of BSI (aOR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.17 to 6.16; 3 points). The AUC for both final logistic regression and FQRS models was 0.73. Patients with an FQRS of 0, 3, 5, or 8 had predicted probabilities of FQ-R of 6%, 22%, 39%, or 69%, respectively. The estimation of patient-specific risk of antimicrobial resistance using FQRS may improve empirical antimicrobial therapy and fluoroquinolone utilization in Gram-negative BSI

Management of Viral Central Nervous System Infections: A Primer for Clinicians

Viruses are a common cause of central nervous system (CNS) infections with many host, agent, and environmental factors influencing the expression of viral diseases. Viruses can be responsible for CNS disease through a variety of mechanisms including direct infection and replication within the CNS resulting in encephalitis, infection limited to the meninges, or immune-related processes such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Common pathogens including herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster, and enterovirus are responsible for the greatest number of cases in immunocompetent hosts. Other herpes viruses (eg, cytomegalovirus, John Cunningham virus) are more common in immunocompromised hosts. Arboviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus and Zika virus are important pathogens globally, but the prevalence varies significantly by geographic region and often season. Early diagnosis from radiographic evidence and molecular (eg, rapid) diagnostics is important for targeted therapy. Antivirals may be used effectively against some pathogens, although several viruses have no effective treatment. This article provides a review of epidemiology, diagnostics, and management of common viral pathogens in CNS disease

Peritonitis and Concurrent Bacteremia in a Patient With a History of Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Enterobacteriaceae have been isolated from the majority of peritonitis cases and the gram negative aerobe Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated organism. Anaerobic organisms are rarely isolated because of the high oxygen tension in ascetic fluid. We report a patient with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis who developed SBP and concurrent bacteremia with the anaerobe Clostridium tertium . The patient was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and was discharged home on oral ciprofloxacin. This case report is unique in that it is the fourth documented Clostridium tertium SBP case, utilized MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for organism identification, and susceptibility testing for select antibiotics was performed