Ongoing spread of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in different wards of an acute general hospital, Italy, June to December 2011

We describe polyclonal spread of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in an acute general hospital in Italy. Between June and December 2011, 58 colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered from 28 patients admitted to different wards, but mainly in the intensive care units. All isolates were tested for drug susceptibility and the presence of beta-lactamase (bla) genes. Clonality was investigated by repetitive extragenic palindromic (rep)-PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Fifty-two isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for colistin of 6-128 mg/L, carried bla(KPC3) and were attributed to sequence type ST258. The remaining six isolates were susceptible to carbapenems, exhibited MICs for colistin of 3-32 mg/L, and belonged to two different types, ST15 and ST273. Rep-PCR included all isolates in three clusters, one containing all ST258 KPC-3-producing isolates and two containing ST15 and ST273 isolates.Cross-transmission containment measures and intensification of staff and environmental hygiene could not stop the outbreak. Selective pressure and horizontal transmission probably contributed to emergence and spread of three different strains of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae in the hospital. Strict implementation of the above measures and a wider awareness of the antimicrobial resistance threat are crucial to preserve the last therapeutic options of the multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infection

Epidemiology and clonality of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii from an intensive care unit in Palermo, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor clinical relevance, is frequently isolated from infection cases in intensive care units. We describe the epidemiology of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) in a general ICU in Palermo, Italy, from October 2010 to March 2011. FINDINGS: 58 of 61 isolates exhibited MICs for meropenem or imipenem ≥16 mg/L. Forty-nine carried blaOXA-23 and two blaOXA-58 genes.Five subtype clusters were detected by rep-PCR. Clusters D and E included 10 isolates that tested negative for the carbapenem resistance genes. MLST attributed all isolates, but two, with sequence type (ST)2, whereas the two remaining isolates with ST78.The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection (26 out of 36 cases. 72.2%). A high infection related mortality rate was observed (18 out of 35 patients, 51.4%). Nineteen patients tested positive for other multidrug resistant organisms in addition to CRAB. In eight cases isolates belonging to distinct subtype clusters and/or with distinct carbapenemase profiles were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Carbapenem resistance was prominently driven by the dissemination of CRAB isolates belonging to ST2, carrying the carbapenemase gene blaOXA-23. The colonization/infection of some patients by multiple strains is suggestive of an endemic circulation of CRAB

Medical nutrition therapy and clinical outcomes in critically ill adults: a European multinational, prospective observational cohort study (EuroPN)

BACKGROUND: Medical nutrition therapy may be associated with clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay. We wanted to assess nutrition practices in European intensive care units (ICU) and their importance for clinical outcomes. METHODS: Prospective multinational cohort study in patients staying in ICU ≥ 5 days with outcome recorded until day 90. Macronutrient intake from enteral and parenteral nutrition and non-nutritional sources during the first 15 days after ICU admission was compared with targets recommended by ESPEN guidelines. We modeled associations between three categories of daily calorie and protein intake (low:  20 kcal/kg; > 1.2 g/kg) and the time-varying hazard rates of 90-day mortality or successful weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). RESULTS: A total of 1172 patients with median [Q1;Q3] APACHE II score of 18.5 [13.0;26.0] were included, and 24% died within 90 days. Median length of ICU stay was 10.0 [7.0;16.0] days, and 74% of patients could be weaned from invasive mechanical ventilation. Patients reached on average 83% [59;107] and 65% [41;91] of ESPEN calorie and protein recommended targets, respectively. Whereas specific reasons for ICU admission (especially respiratory diseases requiring IMV) were associated with higher intakes (estimate 2.43 [95% CI: 1.60;3.25] for calorie intake, 0.14 [0.09;0.20] for protein intake), a lack of nutrition on the preceding day was associated with lower calorie and protein intakes (− 2.74 [− 3.28; − 2.21] and − 0.12 [− 0.15; − 0.09], respectively). Compared to a lower intake, a daily moderate intake was associated with higher probability of successful weaning (for calories: maximum HR 4.59 [95% CI: 1.5;14.09] on day 12; for protein: maximum HR 2.60 [1.09;6.23] on day 12), and with a lower hazard of death (for calories only: minimum HR 0.15, [0.05;0.39] on day 19). There was no evidence that a high calorie or protein intake was associated with further outcome improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Calorie intake was mainly provided according to the targets recommended by the active ESPEN guideline, but protein intake was lower. In patients staying in ICU ≥ 5 days, early moderate daily calorie and protein intakes were associated with improved clinical outcomes. Trial registration NCT04143503, registered on October 25, 2019. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-022-03997-z

Co-colonization with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in intensive care unit patients.

Objectives: This investigation was conducted to study co-colonization by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) and Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Palermo, Sicily, a geographic area where both organisms are endemic in the healthcare setting. Risk factors at admission and during ICU stay and outcomes were also evaluated. Methods: All patients colonized by KPC-Kp, or CRAB, or both in 2 ICUs of a large general hospital during the period October 2011-March 2012 were enrolled. Demographics and clinical data were collected. Resistance determinants and clonality of the 2 organisms were characterized by molecular methods. Results: Seventy-five of 391 patients (19.2%) proved to be colonized by KPC-Kp, CRAB, or both: 30 (40%) were co-colonized and 44 (58.7%) were mono-colonized by CRAB and 1 by KPC-Kp. Younger age, major trauma, and length of stay were positively associated with co-colonization. However, no significant differences were detected between co-colonized and non co-colonized patients in infection and ICU mortality rates and length of stay after the first isolation. Both organisms proved to be circulating in a clonal way. Conclusions: In our setting, co-colonization by KPC-Kp and CRAB disproportionately affected young trauma patients with those with a prolonged ICU stay

Reactive oxygen species and antioxidants: Implications for clinical nutrition

Background: Oxidative stress is an important pathogenetic mechanism in several diseases, and antioxidant supplementation may reduce morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review is to focus on the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of critical illness, cancer, and neurological disorders and to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation on morbidity and mortality in these conditions. Methods: We reviewed the literature on reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in critically ill, neurological, and neoplastic patients. Results and conclusions: Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that oxidative stress and/or antioxidant deficiency contribute to morbidity and mortality in critically ill, neurological, and cancer patients. Nutritional and pharmacological approaches to modulate oxidative stress are beneficial in improving clinical outcome in critically ill (especially respiratory distress syndrome) patients. In contrast, antioxidant supplementation does not substantially reduce the risk of cancer in clinical trials and paradoxically beta carotene has been shown to increase cancer risk in heavy smokers. Increased reactive oxygen species production may be exploited to induce apoptosis and to cure selected types of cancer. In dementia, modulation of oxidative stress by vitamin E administration has failed to provide clinical benefits; other oral antioxidants (lipoic acid and n-acetylcysteine) are currently under investigation. (Nutritional Therapy & Metabolism 2009; 27: 62-72). © SINPE-GASAPE

INFEZIONE POLMONARE DA BLASTOSCHIZOMICES CAPITATUS

Geotrichum capitatum, now known as Blastoschizomyces capitatus, can be responsible for several opportunistic infections (systemic infection or localized at lungs, liver, kidney, encephalitis or meningitis) in an immunocompromised host, especially in those patients affected by leukaemia or under immunosuppressive therapies. A 66-year-old woman with polimyosite under steroid and immunosuppressant therapy was hospitalized in ICU for an acute respiratory distress with moderate hypoxaemia and normocapnia. Pulmonary X-ray revealed a bilateral pneumonia. Hypoxaemia became severe 48 hours later and the patient underwent mechanical ventilation and empirical antibiotic therapy. Blood cultures, urine cultures and serological tests were negative, while yeast was identified by Gram's stain of bronchoaspirate. Before identifying the yeasts Fluconazole was added to therapy. At day 5 the clinical conditions remained severe and Candida spp were excluded: so Fluconazole was switched to liposomal Amphotericin B. At day 8 B. capitatus was identified. At day 26 the patient died of refractory respiratory insufficiency. B. capitatus infection is infrequent and its prognosis is severe, with a high mortality rate (>50%). Microbiological diagnosis requires time to characterize the yeast. At present no standard therapy is available although some authors report a good susceptibility to Amphotericin B and Voriconazole (100%), according to NCCLS guidelines