Serum procalcitonin as a biomarker for differentiating between infectious and non-infectious fever after pancreas transplantation

Laboratory biomarkers that can differentiate non-infectious fever from infectious fever after pancreas transplantation have yet to be discovered. Non-infectious fever was defined as the presence of fever (>38.3°C) in the absence of a documented clinical diagnosis of infection or a positive culture. Among 184 consecutive recipients, a total of 91 recipients developed fever within 1-month post-transplant, of whom 46 had infectious fever and 45 had non-infectious fever at our center between August 2014 and July 2019. The onset of fever was earlier in the non-infectious fever group (14.4 ± 3.7 post-transplant days) compared with the infectious fever group (16.5 ± 5.8 post-transplant days; p = .033). Multivariate analysis showed that serum procalcitonin at the peak of fever could significantly differentiate infectious fever from non-infectious fever (OR 53.378, 95% CI: 6.819-417.802, p < .001). The area under the curve for differentiating between the two groups was 0.853 (95% CI, 0.780-0.926) for procalcitonin and 0.667 (95% CI, 0.549-0.785) for CRP. The best cutoff values of serum procalcitonin and CRP were 0.405 ng/ml (sensitivity, 77.1%; specificity, 80.8%) and 7.355 mg/dl (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 67.3%), respectively. Serum procalcitonin may be useful for differentiating non-infectious fever from infectious fever after pancreas transplantation.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients With Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Sixteen of 45 patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia (36%) were admitted to an intensive care unit; 9 (56%) developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) within a median of 8 days (range, 2-11). Mortality was higher in the IPA vs non-IPA patients and in those without vs with antifungal therapy.

1152. Characteristics of Patients with Invasive Infections Caused by Trichosporon asahii

Background

Trichosporon asahii is main species for invasive infection by genus Trichosporon. There has been few data regarding the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of T. asahii colonization and invasive infection.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the microbiological records of patients whose culture results were positive for T. asahii, from a tertiary hospital in South Korea between January 2009 and July 2018. Invasive disease was defined according to the consensus statement of the Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group (EORTC-MSG).

Results

During the study period, a total of 259 clinical T. asahii isolates (137 urine, 55 respiratory specimen, 26 blood, 16 surgical site drainage, 9 tissue biopsy, 9 open discharge, 3 toe/nail, 2 pleural fluid and 2 stool) were collected from 102 patients. Of the 102 patients, 18 (18%) had invasive infection: fungemia (12 [67%]), complicated skin and soft tissue infection (3 [17%]), pneumonia with or without empyema (2 [11%]), and complicated intra-abdominal infection (1 [5%]). Invasive infection was associated with hematologic malignancy (33% vs. 7%, P=0.006), end stage renal disease requiring dialysis (28% vs. 7%, P=0.02), indwelling central venous catheter (94% vs. 54%, P =0.001), and prior antifungal agent use (50% vs. 18%, P=0.01). Invasive group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality than non-invasive group (61% vs. 27%, P = 0.006).

Characteristics of 102 patients with invasive and non-invasive Trichosporon asahii disease

Conclusion

Invasive infection was associated with hematologic malignancy, end stage renal disease, indwelling of central venous catheter, and prior antifungal agent use, and high mortality up to 60%. Those with above risk factors should be monitored for development of invasive T. asahii infection.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

835. Comparison of the outcomes of patients with KPC and NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Background

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections are associated with high mortality. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and those with New-Delhi-Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1)-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adult patients (&gt; 16 years old) with KPC or NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates in a 2,700-bed tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea between 2010 and 2019. Primary outcomes were infection within 30 days and 30-day mortality after the first isolation of KPC or NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Results

A total of 859 patients were identified during the study period. Of them, 475 (55%) were KPC group and 384 (45%) were NDM-1 group. KPC group tended to develop infection within 30 days after first isolation more frequently than NDM-1 group (31% vs. 26%; P = 0.07). Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in KPC group compared to NDM-1 group (KPC, 17% (81/475) versus NDM-1, 9% (33/384), P &lt; 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that APACHE II score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; P &lt; 0.001), solid cancer (aOR, 2.56; P &lt; 0.001), previous carbapenem therapy (aOR, 1.93; P = 0.004), development of infection of KPC or NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae within 30 days (aOR, 2.63; P &lt; 0.001), and KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae (aOR, 1.62; P = 0.045) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality.

Table 1. Results of analyses of risk factors for 30-day mortality from initial positive culture date in patients with KPC or NDM-1- producing Enterobacteriaceae

Conclusion

Our study suggests that KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae is associated with poorer outcome compared to NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Therefore, patients with KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization should be monitored carefully for development of infection, and appropriate antibiotics should be initiated as soon as possible.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

348. Etiology of Eosinophilic Meningitis in Korea

Background

Eosinophilic meningitis is defined as the presence of more than 10 eosinophils per mm³ in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or eosinophils accounting for more than 10 percent of CSF leukocytes in a patient with symptoms or signs suggestive of acute meningitis. Parasites are known to be the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide, but there is limited research on patients in South Korea.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with eosinophilic meningitis at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea, from 2004 to 2018. Patients who were suspected of having a non-infectious cause were excluded. Etiology and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, risk factors, symptoms and signs, laboratory and radiologic findings, treatment, and prognosis were identified.

Results

Of the 35 patients included in this study, 11 (31.4%) had parasitic causes, with 8 (22.9%) diagnosed as neurocysticercosis, and 3 (8.6%) as toxocara meningitis. Four (11.4%) were diagnosed with fungal meningitis, and underlying immunodeficiency was found in 2 of these patients. Tuberculous meningitis was suspected in 4 (11.4%), while viral and bacterial meningitis were rare causes of eosinophilic meningitis, with 2 (5.7%) and 1 (2.9%) patients, respectively. One patient with neurocysticercosis and one patient with fungal meningitis died, while 8 (22.9%) had remaining neurologic sequelae. The etiology was unknown in 13 patients (37.1%). Four of these patients received empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy, while 5 were treated empirically with acyclovir.

Conclusion

Parasite infections, especially neurocysticercosis and toxocariasis, were the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in South Korean patients. Fungal meningitis, while relatively rare, is often aggressive and should always be considered when searching for the cause of eosinophilic meningitis.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

1106. The incidence and risk factors associated with varicella zoster virus infection in kidney transplant recipients after 1-month acyclovir prophylaxis in a CMV preemptive therapy era

Background

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is a well-known opportunistic infection in solid organ transplant recipients. Since the various strategies of the use of anti-herpetic drugs including ganciclovir or acyclovir have evolved, the epidemiology of VZV infection is changing. However, there are limited data on the recent incidence and risk factors of post-transplant VZV infection in popular preemptive ganciclovir era for CMV infection. We evaluated the incidence, risk factors and clinical characteristic of patients with development of post-transplant VZV infection in kidney transplant (KT) recipients after 1-month acyclovir prophylaxis in the hospital that adopted preemptive ganciclovir therapy for CMV infection.

Methods

All adult patients with seropositive CMV antibody admitted to a KT unit from January 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed in a tertiary-care hospital in South Korea. Our hospital adopted preemptive ganciclovir therapy for CMV infection in all CMV seropositive KT recipients. We administered acyclovir prophylaxis for 1-month to CMV seropositive KT recipients. The primary endpoint was VZV infection development after KT.

Results

A total of 1295 KT recipients was followed up for 4295.8 person-years. The median follow-up period was 46.6 months (interquartile range (IQR) 34.3-59.5). Of the 1295 recipients, 100 (7.7%, 2.33 per 100 person-years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89-2.83) patients developed VZV infection after KT. The median time for VZV infection development was 9.5 months (IQR 4.7-22.1). All patients had VZV-associated skin lesion, 9 postherpetic neuralgia, 2 visceral involvement and 3 disseminated infection. Of 100 patients, 16 patients need hospitalization due to VZV infection. In multivariate analysis, deceased donor KT (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.6; 95% CI 1.0-2.39, p = 0.05), mycophenolate maintenance immunosuppressive therapy (HR 0.3; 95% CI 0.14-0.75, p = 0.01) and rejection episode (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.14-0.71, p = 0.01) were independently associated with VZV infection development after KT.

Conclusion

About one tenth of CMV seropositive KT recipients developed zoster after 1-month ACV prophylaxis during CMV preemptive strategy, especially in those who received deceased donor KT, mycophenolate therapy, and rejection episodes.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

747. Diagnostic Performance of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Galactomannan Assay in Patients with Negative Serum Galactomannan Assay Suspected with Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Background

There are limited data in real clinical practice on the diagnostic value of BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) fluid galactomannan (GM) assay in patients with suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) who had negative serum GM results.

Methods

This study was performed at Asan Medical Center, a 2700 bed tertiary-care hospital in Seoul, South Korea between May 2008 and April 2019. All patients with suspected IPA whose serum GM assays revealed negative results and sequentially underwent BAL were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified as proven, probable, possible or not IPA by the revised 2019 EORTC/MSG definition.

Results

A total of 341 patients with suspected IPA including 4 proven IPA, 38 probable IPA, 107 possible IPA, and 192 not IPA were enrolled. Of these 341 patients, 107 (31%) with possible IPA were excluded from the final analysis. Of 42 patients with proven or probable IPA who had initial negative serum GM results, 24 (57%) revealed positive BAL GM results (n=24) or BAL fungal culture (n=8). Among the remaining 18 (43%), 2 (5%) were diagnosed as proven IPA by the histopathologic exam from transbronchial lung biopsy, 6 (14%) as probable IPA by subsequent sputum fungal culture, and 10 (24%) as probable IPA by repeated serum GM assay after BAL. Of 192 patients with not IPA, 14 (7%) revealed positive BAL GM results (n=14) or BAL fungal culture (n=8). The diagnostic performance of various tests is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Diagnostic performance of various diagnostic tests in patients with suspected IPA who had negative serum GM results

Conclusion

Sequential BAL in patients with suspected IPA who had initial negative serum GM results provided additional diagnostic yield in about half of patients.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

269. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Persistent Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Background

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a leading cause of bacteremia and persistent SAB is associated with poor outcomes. We evaluated key clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with persistent SAB.

Methods

We reviewed patients enrolled in a prospective cohort of adult patients with S. aureus bacteremia at a tertiary hospital from August 2008 to December 2018. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and microbiologic characteristics of patients with persistent bacteremia (≥ 3 d) were evaluated.

Results

Of the total 969 patients, 617 (63.7%) patients had persistent bacteremia. The median duration of bacteremia with persistent bacteremia was 5 days. The most common sources of persistent bacteremia were central venous catheter-related infection (33.4%) and bone and joint infection (14.9%). Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were analyzed in 372 (60.3%) patients and metastatic infections were 217 (35.2%) with persistent bacteremia. In the multivariate analysis, APACHE Ⅱ score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.10), Charlson comorbidity index score (aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25), liver cirrhosis (aOR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.44–4.23), and S. aureus pneumonia (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.29–7.18) were independently associated with 30-d mortality. In persistent MRSA bacteremia, ST5-SCCmecⅡ was 59.7% (222/372) and agr dysfunction was 64.8% (241/372). After adjusting for confounding factors, APACHE Ⅱ score (aOR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.12), liver cirrhosis (aOR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.56–6.14), and S. aureus pneumonia (aOR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.40–13.67) were independently associated with 30-d mortality.

Table 1. Demographic and Clinical characteristics of Patients With Persistent Bacteremia

Table 2. Microbiologic Characteristics and Genotypes in MRSA Isolates Responsible for Persistent Bacteremia

Fig 1. Duration of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Conclusion

In persistent bacteremia, clinical factors, including APACHE Ⅱ score, Charlson comorbidity index score, liver cirrhosis, and S. aureus pneumonia contribute to 30-d mortality.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Bloodstream Infection in Patients Under Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is an important complication of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) and a major cause of mortality. This study evaluated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of BSI that occur during ECMO application according to microbial etiology.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent ECMO from January 2009 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed for BSI episodes at a 2,700-bed, tertiary center. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcomes of BSI were evaluated and were compared for etiologic groups (gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi groups). Risk factors for 14-day mortality were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1,100 patients underwent ECMO during the study period, and 65 BSI episodes occurred in 61 patients. The BSI incidence was 8.3 episodes/1,000 ECMO days, which significantly decreased over time (P = 0.03), primarily in gram-positive cocci BSI. Gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi accounted for 38%, 40%, and 22% of the 73 blood isolates, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Catheter-related infection (CRI) and pneumonia were the most common sources of BSI; 52% of gram-positive cocci BSIs and 79% of fungi BSIs were caused by CRI, and 75% of gram-negative BSIs by pneumonia. Patients with gram-negative rods BSI died more frequently and earlier than those with other BSIs. Independent risk factors for 14-day mortality were older age and gram-negative rods BSI.

CONCLUSIONS

The decreased BSI incidence during ECMO was mainly because of the decrease of gram-positive cocci BSI. The high early mortality of gram-negative rods BSI makes prevention and adequate treatment necessary.

Kinetics of Serological Response in Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV). We investigated the detailed kinetics of serologic response in patients with SFTS. Twenty-eight patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled between July 2015 and October 2018. SFTS was confirmed by detecting SFTSV RNA in their plasma using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. SFTSV-specific IgG and IgM were measured using immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that SFTSV-specific IgG was detected at days 5–9 after symptom onset, and its titer was rising during the course of disease. SFTSV-specific IgM titer peaked at around week 2–3 from symptom onset. The SFTSV-specific seropositive rates for days 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, and 20–24 from symptom onset using IFA and ELISA were 63%, 76%, 90%, and 100%, and 58%, 86%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, for IgG, whereas they were 32%, 62%, 80%, and 100%, and 53%, 62%, 70%, and 100%, respectively, for IgM. The delayed IgM response could be attributed to the low sensitivity of SFTSV-specific IgM IFA or ELISA and/or impaired immune responses. The IgM test using IFA or ELISA that we used in this study is, therefore, insufficient for the early diagnosis of SFTS.

Effects of Recent Use of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background

There is growing concern about the potential harmful effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between recent exposure to ACEIs/ARBs and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

We used data from a nationwide cohort of patients with COVID-19 from the health insurance claims data of South Korea, which were released for research purposes for public health by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea. Patients with COVID-19 were identified using the relevant diagnostic code. Propensity score matching (1:1) was carried out among patients with CVD according to the type of medication (ACEIs/ARBs vs other), and the risk of death was assessed.

Results

A total of 4936 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed, of whom 1048 (21.2%) had CVD. Of the 1048 patients with CVD, 864 (82.4%) received at least 1 antihypertensive medication before the diagnosis of COVID-19, including 359 (41.6%) who received ACEIs/ARBs and 505 (58.4%) who received drugs other than ACEIs/ARBs. Using the propensity scores for ACEI/ARB use, we matched 305 pairs of patients receiving ACEIs/ARBs and patients receiving other drugs. Recent use of ACEIs/ARBs was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in unadjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.33–1.14) or propensity score matching analysis (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.46–2.16).

Conclusions

In patients with COVID-19 and underlying CVDs, the recent use of ACEIs/ARBs was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. These findings do not support stopping or modifying ACEIs/ARBs in patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 500 Liver Transplants Including More Than 400 Living-Donor Liver Transplants in 2019 at Asan Medical Center

BACKGROUND

More than 400 liver transplants were performed at Asan Medical Center (AMC) in 2011, and over 500 liver transplants including 420 living-donor liver transplants (LDLTs) were performed in 2019. Herein, we report the methodology of these procedures.

METHODS

Since the first adult LDLTs at AMC using the left and right lobes were successfully performed, various innovative techniques and approaches have been developed: modified right lobe, dual graft, donor exchange for ABO incompatibility, expansion of indications and no-touch techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma, intraoperative cine-portogram and additional intervention for large collaterals, management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and stenosis, salvage LDLT after major hepatectomy, and timely LDLT for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

RESULTS

Four hundred twenty LDLTs in 403 adult and 17 pediatric patients and 85 deceased-donor liver transplants in 74 adult and 11 pediatric patients were performed. The number of deceased-donor liver transplants remained constant since 2011, but the number of LDLTs increased steadily. One hundred thirty patients (25.7%) required urgent liver transplantations and 24 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure underwent LDLT. PVT including grade 1,2,3, and 4 was reported in 91 patients (18.0%), and Yerdel's grade 2, 3, and 4 PVT was reported in 47 patients (51.6%); all patients with PVT were successfully treated. Adult LDLTs for hepatocellular carcinoma and ABO incompatibility accounted for 52.6% and 24.3% of the cases, respectively. In-hospital mortality in 2019 was 2.97%.

CONCLUSION

Continual efforts to overcome challenging problems in LDLT with various innovations and dedication of the team members during the perioperative period to improve patient outcomes were crucial in increasing the number of liver transplantations at Asan Medical Center.

Clinical and Microbiological Analysis of Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients With Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Bacteremia

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infection is associated with significant mortality, causing worldwide concern, yet there are limited data on contributing microbiological factors. This study aimed to identify the clinical and microbiologic risk factors for mortality in CRAB bacteremia.

Methods

Adult patients with monomicrobial CRAB bacteremia in a 2700-bed tertiary hospital between December 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. Risk factors for 30-day mortality were evaluated. All isolates collected on the first day of bacteremia were subjected to colistin susceptibility testing by broth microdilution and to genotyping by multilocus sequence typing.

Results

A total of 164 patients were enrolled, and 90 (55%) died within 30 days. The most common genotype among the isolates was ST191 (49%), and 12 isolates (7%) were resistant to colistin. Genotype, colistin minimum inhibitory concentration, and colistin resistance were not significantly associated with mortality, in contrast to several clinical factors. In multivariable analysis, ineradicable or not-eradicated focus (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.92; 95% CI, 1.95–12.42; P = .001), septic shock (aOR, 4.72; 95% CI, 2.12–10.49; P < .001), and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (aOR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.05–6.16; P = .04) were independent risk factors for mortality. Among antibiotic strategies, colistin combined with tigecycline or other antibiotics were significantly associated with lower mortality after adjustment for confounding factors.

Conclusions

Clinical factors such as the nature of the infection source and source control, severity of bacteremia, and appropriateness of antibiotics, rather than microbiological factors, contribute to mortality in CRAB bacteremia. A specific antibiotic combination may help improve outcomes.

Clinical and Microbiological Analysis of Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Bacteremia

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to identify whether the site of acquisition or the underlying carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) resistance mechanism was associated with clinical outcomes, and to evaluate risk factors for 14-day mortality in patients with CRE bacteremia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a 2700-bed tertiary center. All adult patients with monomicrobial carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia from 2011 to 2018 were included. All blood isolates collected were tested with a modified carbapenem inactivation method for phenotypic detection of carbapenemase.

RESULTS

Of 133 patients with monomicrobial CRE bacteremia, 63 (47.4%) were infected with carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE), and 70 (52.6%) with non-CP-CRE. Patients with community-onset infection (COI) were more likely to present with biliary or urinary tract infections, less likely to have ineradicable or non-eradicated foci and to receive appropriate empirical therapy, and marginally more likely to have CP-CRE compared with those with hospital-acquired infection (HAI). However, 14-day mortality was significantly lower in COI than HAI (7% vs 29%, P = 0.01). Patients who died were more likely to have had a higher APACHE II score, ineradicable or non-eradicated foci, and a lower chance of having received appropriate antibiotic treatment. Multivariate analysis revealed that HAI, high APACHE II score, and inappropriate antibiotic treatment were independent risk factors for mortality. Carbapenemase production did not affect mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that timely, appropriate treatment is essential for managing CRE bacteremia, regardless of carbapenemase production, particularly in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired bacteremia.

Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein carrying a foot-and-mouth disease virus epitope as a vaccine candidate

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most highly contagious animal diseases. In an effort to overcome the drawbacks of the currently used inactivated foot-and-mouth disease virus vaccine, a novel recombinant protein carrying foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 GH loop epitope linked to vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein was expressed in a baculovirus system. Its antigenicity was confirmed with ELISA using monoclonal antibody against foot-and-mouth disease virus. Twice immunizations one month apart in field pigs resulted in a significant antibody increase compared to the glutathione S-transferase carrier containing the same epitope and the commercial vaccine. To my knowledge, this is the first report that the recombinant protein vaccine was superior to the current vaccine. Although further studies are required to examine their immunogenicity in a large number of animals, this study sheds light on the development of a novel recombinant protein vaccine that could be easily produced in a general laboratory as an alternative to the current FMD vaccine, which requires a biosafety level 3 containment facility for vaccine production.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of extraintestinal infection caused by Clostridioides difficile: analysis of 60 consecutive cases

Data regarding extraintestinal Clostridioides difficile infections (ECDIs) remain scarce and anecdotal. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with ECDI. From January 1997 through December 2018, 60 patients were enrolled and divided into three groups as follows: group A (gastrointestinal [GI] disruption caused by malignancy, n = 13); group B (GI disruption from causes other than malignancy, n = 25); group C (no GI disruption, n = 22). GI disruption was defined as compromised integrity of the GI tract caused by abdominal surgery, perforation, malignancy, enterocolitis, or bleeding. The incidence of ECDI was 2.53 per 100,000 admissions. The most common specimens yielded C. difficile were blood (36.7%), peritoneal fluid (20.0%), and abscesses (16.7%). Six patients (10.0%) had confirmed C. difficile enterocolitis, and 36 patients (60.0%) had a polymicrobial infection. C. difficile bacteremia was significantly more common in group A patients than those in groups B or C (53.8% vs. 48.0% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.02), as was the 30-day mortality rate (69.2% vs. 12.0% vs. 18.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, group A (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 17.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.96-101.21; p = 0.002) and an age of > 65 years (aOR, 7.09; 95% CI, 1.31-38.45; p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. ECDI was uncommonly associated with C. difficile enterocolitis. Two factors, GI disruption caused by malignancy, and old age, were associated with significantly poorer short-term outcomes.

The usefulness of quantitative interferon-gamma releasing assay response for predicting active tuberculosis in kidney transplant recipients: A quasi-experimental study

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effectiveness of IGRA-based isoniazid (INH) treatment with the diagnostic value of quantitative IGRA titer for post-transplant tuberculosis (TB) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients.

METHODS

All adult KT recipients were enrolled from January 2014 to December 2017. The development of TB after KT was observed, stratified by quantitative IGRA results as well as by IGRA results with/without INH treatment.

RESULTS

Of 1150 KT recipients, 322 (28%) revealed positive IGRA results (≥0.35 IU/mL) and 12 (1.0%) developed TB. Seven (3.2%) of 217 patients with positive IGRA without INH developed TB, whereas none of 105 patients with positive IGRA with INH developed TB (rate difference -1616 per 100,000 person-years, P = 0.016) and 5 (0.6%) of 828 patients with negative or indeterminate IGRA developed TB (rate difference -1388 per 100,000 person-years, P<0.001). Among the 217 positive IGRA patients without INH, 6 (6.4%) of 94 patients who had positive IGRA titer>2.96 IU/mL developed TB, whereas one (0.8%) of 123 patients who had positive IGRA titer≤2.96 IU/mL developed TB (rate difference 2964 per 100,000 person-years, P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

IGRA-based INH treatment with risk stratification by quantitative IGRA results appears to be effective to prevent the development of TB in KT recipients.

Candida auris colonization or infection of the ear: A single-center study in South Korea from 2016 to 2018

Candida auris was first identified in Japan from specimens obtained from the ear, but most reports since have reported invasive infections or non-ear based cases. We reviewed all the microbiology records from a single center in South Korea from February 2016 to July 2018. One hundred eleven isolates were positive for C. auris from 79 patients. All 79 patients positive for C. auris had positive ear discharge samples. All but one of the patients with C. auris had been to the otorhinolaryngology clinic. Symptom-driven ear culture was done for all but one patient, whose culture was performed for surveillance. Ear discharges were mostly purulent (60%) or serous (34%). We performed the environmental cultures at the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic to evaluate the environmental contamination of C. auris, but C. auris was not isolated from medical equipment and environmental surfaces.

Diagnostic usefulness of differential time to positivity in neutropenic cancer patients with suspected catheter-related candidemia

Methods for distinguishing catheter-related candidemia (CRC) from non-CRC before catheter removal remain limited. We thus evaluated the diagnostic performance of differential time to positivity (DTP) to diagnose CRC in neutropenic cancer patients with suspected CRC. Of the 35 patients enrolled, 15 (43%) with CRC (six definite and nine probable) and 17 (49%) with non-CRC were finally analyzed. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff value of DTP for diagnosing CRC was ≥1.45 hours with the sensitivity 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51-95) and specificity 100% (95% CI, 80-100), respectively.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia from a biliary source

Staphylococcus aureus is a virulent gram-positive organism, which rarely involves the biliary tract. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of S. aureus bacteremia (SAB) originating from the biliary tract by comparing them with those of catheter-related SAB and biliary Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia. A matched case-control study within a prospective observational cohort of patients with SAB was conducted. Biliary SAB was defined as the isolation of S. aureus from blood cultures with symptoms and signs of biliary infection. Biliary SAB patients were matched (1:3) with the control groups: patients with catheter-related SAB and biliary Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia. Out of 1818 patients with SAB enrolled in the cohort, 42 (2%) had biliary SAB. Majority of these patients had solid tumors involving the pancreaticobiliary tract or liver, biliary drainage stent, and/or recent broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure. Patients with biliary SAB were more likely to have community-onset SAB, solid tumors, and lower APACHE II score than those with catheter-related SAB. They were less likely to have community-acquired infection and solid tumors and more likely to have lower Charlson comorbidity index and higher APACHE II score as compared with biliary K. pneumoniae bacteremia. The 12-week mortality in the biliary SAB group was higher than those in other control groups (60% vs. 20% and 14%). After adjusting for confounding factors, biliary SAB was independently associated with higher mortality. Biliary SAB is relatively rare. When it is clinically suspected, early aggressive treatment should be considered due to high mortality.

Immunodeficiency risk score for prediction of mortality by parainfluenza virus infection in patients with hematologic malignancy

Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in hematologic malignancy patients including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. However, limited information is available for risk stratification in PIV-infected patients with hematologic malignancy with or without HCT. Patients with hematologic malignancy diagnosed with PIV from January 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively included in a tertiary care hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was defined as the detection of PIV in a nasopharyngeal sample with URTI symptoms without new pulmonary infiltrates. Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) was defined as detection of PIV in either upper or lower respiratory tract samples with new pulmonary infiltrates, with or without hypoxia. PIV-associated mortality was defined as death with respiratory failure and persistent LRTI within 90 days after diagnosis. The study included 143 adult patients. Of these, 55 (38%) progressed to or initially presented with LRTI. Among these, 22 (40%) died from PIV-associated mortality. An immunodeficiency risk score was developed from associated risk factors using a multivariable Cox regression model. Patients were stratified into low (0-2), moderate (3-5), and high risk (6-8) groups with PIV-associated mortalities of 0%, 9%, and 67%, respectively (p < 0.005, Harrell's C-index = 0.84). PIV infection can result in substantial mortality in patients with hematologic malignancy if it progresses to LRTI. The immunodeficiency risk score presented here may be useful for distinguishing moderate and high risk groups that might benefit from antiviral therapy.

Risk factors for mortality in patients with pulmonary mucormycosis

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) represents a serious burden in terms of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Studies of prognostic factors in patients with PM are limited and have involved small numbers of patients.

METHODS

Adult patients diagnosed with proven and probable PM according to the modified definitions of the EORTC/MSG 2008 in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea, between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively enrolled.

RESULTS

A total of 49 patients including 31 (63%) with proven PM and 18 (37%) with probable PM were enrolled. The 90-day mortality rate was 49% (24/49). Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, use of voriconazole at clinical suspicion, positivity of non-sterile culture, use of steroid and treatment without surgery were more common in fatal cases than non-fatal cases. Voriconazole use at clinical suspicion for invasive mould pneumonia (OR 6.91, P = .01) and prolonged neutropenia (OR 4.86, P = .03) were independent risk factors for mortality. Voriconazole use at clinical suspicion was associated with positive galactomannan (GM) assay (OR 5.93, P = .02) and history of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (OR, 6.88, P = .05).

CONCLUSION

About half of the patients with PM died within 90 days of diagnosis, and fatal outcomes were common in patients with prolonged neutropenia and empirical voriconazole use. Caution is needed in using voriconazole even in patients with positive GM results and prior histories of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in whom PM cannot be ruled out by differential diagnosis.

Implementing Structured Clinical Templates at a Single Tertiary Hospital: Survey Study

Background

Electronic health record (EHR) systems have been widely adopted in hospitals. However, since current EHRs mainly focus on lowering the number of paper documents used, they have suffered from poor search function and reusability capabilities. To overcome these drawbacks, structured clinical templates have been proposed; however, they are not widely used owing to the inconvenience of data entry.

Objective

This study aims to verify the usability of structured templates by comparing data entry times.

Methods

A Korean tertiary hospital has implemented structured clinical templates with the modeling of clinical contents for the last 6 years. As a result, 1238 clinical content models (ie, body measurements, vital signs, and allergies) have been developed and 492 models for 13 clinical templates, including pathology reports, were applied to EHRs for clinical practice. Then, to verify the usability of the structured templates, data entry times from free-texts and four structured pathology report templates were compared using 4391 entries from structured data entry (SDE) log data and 4265 entries from free-text log data. In addition, a paper-based survey and a focus group interview were conducted with 23 participants from three different groups, including EHR developers, pathology transcriptionists, and clinical data extraction team members.

Results

Based on the analysis of time required for data entry, in most cases, beginner users of the structured clinical templates required at most 70.18% more time for data entry. However, as users became accustomed to the templates, they were able to enter data more quickly than via free-text entry: at least 1 minute and 23 seconds (16.8%) up to 5 minutes and 42 seconds (27.6%). Interestingly, well-designed thyroid cancer pathology reports required 14.54% less data entry time from the beginning of the SDE implementation. In the interviews and survey, we confirmed that most of the interviewees agreed on the need for structured templates. However, they were skeptical about structuring all the items included in the templates.

Conclusions

The increase in initial elapsed time led users to hold a negative opinion of SDE, despite its benefits. To overcome these obstacles, it is necessary to structure the clinical templates for optimum use. In addition, user experience in terms of ease of data entry must be considered as an essential aspect in the development of structured clinical templates.

Coinfection of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome and Scrub Typhus in Patients with Tick-Borne Illness

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and scrub typhus are the most common tick-borne diseases in South Korea. However, few studies have systematically examined the simultaneous presence of the two diseases. We found that two (4.9%) of 41 patients with suspected and confirmed SFTS had evidence of coinfection with scrub typhus. In addition, two (3.6%) of 55 suspected and confirmed scrub typhus patients were identified to have coinfection with SFTS. Our data suggest that diagnostic evaluation for coinfection in patients with tick-borne illness and empirical doxycycline treatment in patients with SFTS may be warranted in areas endemic for both diseases until coinfection with scrub typhus is ruled out.