Mandatory infectious diseases consultation for MRSA bacteremia is associated with reduced mortality

OBJECTIVES

Although infectious disease (ID) consultation has been associated with lower mortality in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, it is still not mandatory in many centers. This study aimed at assessing the impact of ID consultation on diagnostic and therapeutic management of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of all patients with MRSA bacteremia from 2001 to 2010. ID consultations were obtained on request between 2001 and 2006 and became mandatory since 2007.

RESULTS

156 episodes of MRSA bacteremia were included, mostly from central venous catheter (32%) and skin and soft tissue (19%) infections. ID consultation coverage was 58% between 2001 and 2006 and 91% between 2007 and 2010. ID consultation was associated with more echocardiography (59% vs. 26%, p < 0.01), vancomycin trough level measurements (99% vs. 77%, p < 0.01), follow-up blood cultures (71% vs. 50%, p = 0.05), deep-seated infections (43% vs. 16%, p < 0.01), more frequent infection source control (83% vs. 57%, p = 0.03), a longer duration of MRSA-active therapy (median and IQR: 17 days, 13-30, vs. 12, 3-14, p < 0.01) and a 20% reduction in 7-day, 30-day and in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

ID consultation was associated with a better management of patients with MRSA bacteremia and a reduced mortality.

[Deep soft tissue infections]

The clinical presentations of deep soft tissue infections can, initially, mimicry superficial skin infections such as erysipelas. However, a rapidly deteriorating health status, the spreading of the lesions and the lack of clear visual limitation of the infection on the skin are hallmarks of a more severe underlying infection, which may endanger patients' life. An immediate adequate multidisciplinary approach to therapy within a few hours is mandatory. The first step is surgical exploration with debridement of all infected tissues, accompanied by antibiotic therapy and additional supportive measures. Despite progress in the understanding of the physiopathology, the delay between suspicion of diagnosis and surgical exploration remains critical. Because of the low incidence of such severe infections, only multicenter studies might reveal deeper insights of optimal therapeutic strategies in the future and for possible improved patients' survival.

[Skin and soft tissue infections in children: consensus on diagnosis and treatment]

Skin and soft tissue infections are a common reason for consultation in primary health care centers. Data from the local epidemiology of these infections are rare, but Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are known to be the major etiologic agents. The appearance in recent years of community-originated strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and erythromycin-resistant pyogenes raises controversy in the choice of initial empirical treatment. This national consensus is for pediatricians, dermatologists, infectologists and other health professionals. It is about clinical management, especially the diagnosis and treatment of community-originated skin and soft tissue infections in immunocompetent patients under the age of 19.

[Skin and soft tissue infections in children: consensus on diagnosis and treatment]

Skin and soft tissue infections are a common reason for consultation in primary health care centers. Data from the local epidemiology of these infections are rare, but Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are known to be the major etiologic agents. The appearance in recent years of community-originated strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and erythromycin-resistant pyogenes raises controversy in the choice of initial empirical treatment. This national consensus is for pediatricians, dermatologists, infectiologists and other health professionals. It is about clinical management, especially the diagnosis and treatment of community-originated skin and soft tissue infections in immunocompetent patients under the age of 19.

Predictors of mortality and limb loss in necrotizing soft tissue infections

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) require prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early identification of patients at greatest risk of limb amputation and death may help in targeting aggressive medical and surgical management. The aim of this study was to assess predictors of limb loss and mortality in patients with NSTI based on admission variables. We performed a retrospective review of two hospitals that care for a large volume of patients with NSTI. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to determine the association of admission biochemical markers to limb loss and mortality. Of 174 patients with NSTI, there were 19 deaths (10.9%) and 42 required amputations (24.1%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that only arterial lactate was predictive for both mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 2.0; P = 0.009) and limb loss (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.7; P = 0.02). In patients with a suspected NSTI, an arterial lactate should be ordered early on to guide aggressive therapeutic interventions and to provide information with regard to long-term outcomes of amputation and death that is needed for early discussion with the patient and family.

Nocardiosis: a 15-year experience in a tertiary medical center in Israel

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to characterize the common risk factors, clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment and outcome of nocardial infection.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A retrospective cohort study. We reviewed the charts of all patients with nocardiosis in the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, a tertiary medical center in Israel, between the years 1996 and 2011.

RESULTS

A total of 39 patients who had positive culture of Nocardia were analyzed. The majority of our patients were immunocompromised (74.5%), mostly due to corticosteroid therapy. None had HIV/AIDS. The clinical presentation was either acute or a chronic smoldering illness. The three major clinical syndromes were pleuropulmonary, neurological and skin/soft tissue infection about 20.5% each. Pathology in the lungs was seen in most of the patients by CT scan; discrete nodules and wedge shaped pleural based consolidations were the most frequent findings. Brain lesions consistent with abscesses were detected in 10 patients by brain imaging. Some cases had relapsing disease in spite of antimicrobial treatment. 25% of examined isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The duration of intravenous antimicrobial treatment ranged from one month to over a year in the severe cases. One year mortality rate was 32%.

CONCLUSION

Nocardiosis requires a high clinical index of suspicion in order to diagnose and treat promptly. Disease extent and bacterial susceptibility have important implications for prognosis and treatment.

Magnetic resonance imaging screening to identify spinal and paraspinal infections associated with injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate

IMPORTANCE

Injection of contaminated methylprednisolone has resulted in an unprecedented nationwide outbreak of Exserohilum rostratum fungal infections, manifested initially as meningitis and/or basilar stroke. Insidious onset of spinal or paraspinal infection at the injection site has been increasingly reported and is occurring months after receipt of injection with the contaminated drug. The clinical findings are often subtle and similar to those that led the patient to undergo the methylprednisolone injection.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if patients who had not presented for medical care but who had received contaminated methylprednisolone developed spinal or paraspinal infection at the injection site using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

There were 172 patients who had received an injection of contaminated methylprednisolone from a highly contaminated lot (No. 06292012@26) at a pain facility but had not presented for medical care related to adverse effects after the injection. Screening MRI was performed between November 9, 2012, and April 30, 2013.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Number of persons identified with previously undiagnosed spinal or paraspinal infection.

RESULTS

Of the 172 patients screened, MRI was abnormal in 36 (21%), showing epidural or paraspinal abscess or phlegmon, arachnoiditis, spinal osteomyelitis or diskitis, or moderate to severe epidural, paraspinal, or intradural enhancement. Of the 115 patients asked about new or worsening back or neck pain, lower extremity weakness, or radiculopathy symptoms, 35 (30%) had at least 1 symptom. Thirty-five of the 36 patients with abnormal MRIs met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition for probable (17 patients) or confirmed (18 patients) fungal spinal or paraspinal infection. All 35 patients were treated with antifungal agents (voriconazole, with or without liposomal amphotericin B), and 24 required surgical debridement. At the time of surgery, 17 of 24 patients (71%), including 5 patients who denied having symptoms, had laboratory evidence of fungal infection.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients who underwent screening MRI to look for infection at the site of injection of contaminated methylprednisolone, 21% had an abnormal MRI, and all but one met CDC criteria for probable or confirmed fungal spinal or paraspinal infection. Screening MRI led to identification of patients who had minimal or no symptoms of spinal or paraspinal infection and allowed early initiation of medical and surgical treatment.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections of the upper extremity: a case series

Four cases of necrotizing soft tissue infections of the upper extremity are presented. Each involved minor wounds to the hand that gradually progressed to fulminant infection. Two of the patients reported a history of alcohol abuse. One patient had psychiatric illness that led to delay in recognizing the infection and seeking intervention. The causative organism in all cases was group A beta hemolytic streptococcus. Fortunately, none of the patients suffered loss of the affected extremity, although long-term function is limited. The necrotizing soft tissue infection encountered in these cases represents a less severe presentation than classic necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are properly recognized as a spectrum of disease and can, as in these cases, follow a prolonged progression with limited systemic involvement. The current literature regarding diagnosis and treatment of necrotizing soft tissue infections is reviewed.

Bacillus cereus fasciitis: a unique pathogen and clinically challenging sequela of inoculation

Bacillus cereus is an aerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive rod. It has historically been associated with "fried rice syndrome," a foodborne diarrheal and emetic illness resulting from eating fried rice dishes that have been sitting at room temperature for hours. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy who developed culture-positive B cereus fasciitis of the right lower extremity after being impaled on a tree branch. This case report further elucidates and emphasizes the importance of recognizing B cereus as a possible cause of severe soft-tissue infection. It must be included in the differential diagnosis of gas gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis.

[Necrotising soft-tissue infections: diagnostics and treatment]

Necrotising soft-tissue infections occur in the soft tissue compartment consisting of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia (fascia of Scarpa), deep fascia and muscle. Although this severe and acutely life-threatening infection has a low incidence, both GPs and specialists will see a necrotizing soft-tissue infection more than once during their career. The mortality related to necrotising soft-tissue infections has been halved during the past 15 years from nearly 40 to 20% due to adequate treatment. Laboratory examination and X-ray findings could be of added value, but the gold standard remains biopsy of the fascia and Gram staining. Treatment consists of prompt volume resuscitation in case of sepsis, administration of broad spectrum antibiotics and surgical debridement; this debridement should be as skin-sparing as possible. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has remained a controversial issue, unless a patient has gas gangrene, caused by Clostridium species. A multidisciplinary treatment and admission to a tertiary intensive care unit are indispensable for the treatment of a septic patient with necrotizing soft-tissue infection.

Magnetic resonance imaging of soft tissue infection with iron oxide labeled granulocytes in a rat model

OBJECT

We sought to detect an acute soft tissue infection in rats by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using granulocytes, previously labeled with superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Parasternal infection was induced by subcutaneous inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus suspension in rats. Granulocytes isolated from isogenic donor rats were labeled with SPIO. Infected rats were imaged by MRI before, 6 and 12 hours after intravenous injection of SPIO-labeled or unlabeled granulocytes. MR findings were correlated with histological analysis by Prussian blue staining and with re-isolated SPIO-labeled granulocytes from the infectious area by magnetic cell separation.

RESULTS

Susceptibility effects were present in infected sites on post-contrast T2*-weighted MR images in all animals of the experimental group. Regions of decreased signal intensity (SI) in MRI were detected at 6 hours after granulocyte administration and were more pronounced at 12 hours. SPIO-labeled granulocytes were identified by Prussian blue staining in the infected tissue and could be successfully re-isolated from the infected area by magnetic cell separation.

CONCLUSION

The application of SPIO-labeled granulocytes in MRI offers new perspectives in diagnostic specificity and sensitifity to detect early infectious processes.

Shewanella algae causing lower limb soft tissue infection in New Zealand

A 59-year-old man presented to Tauranga Hospital (Tauranga, New Zealand) with lower limb soft tissue infection growing Shewanella algae isolated from blood and skin after fishing in seawater. This is the first published report of this marine organism causing infection in New Zealand.

Necrotizing soft-tissue infections

NSTI is a life-threatening, surgical, and medical emergency. Clinical presentation, at least in the initial phase, can be misleading. Various studies have shown that delay in surgical debridement is associated with increased mortality. A high index of suspicion is important in early recognition and in instituting prompt therapy without delay. Early diagnosis, aggressive surgical debridement, aggressive supportive care, and optimal presumptive antibiotic therapy significantly improve morbidity and mortality associated with NSTIs.

A pain in the neck--a review of deep space neck infections in the emergency department

We report a case of prevertebral abscess in a 37-year-old male, presenting with a 2-day history of neck pain radiating to the right shoulder. We also review the current literature relating to the presentation and the emergency management of deep neck space infections.

[Humoral immune response in patients with angina and soft tissue infections of group a streptococci etiology]

Evaluate informativity of simultaneous determination of antibodies (AB) against extracellular (AB against streptolysin-O-ASL-O) and cellular (IgM against A-polysaccharide - A-PSC) antigens in patients with angina and soft tissue infections caused by serogroup A streptococci (SGA) and identify features of humoral immune response to SGA infection according to infectious process localization. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 2 groups of patients with bacteriologically confirmed SGA infection (50 cases of angina - group 1 and 51 case of soft tissue infection - group 2) were examined for the presence of ASL-O by using Architect ci8200 analyzer (Abbott, USA) and IgM against SGA A-PSC by EIA. RESULTS. In group 1, 23 (46%) individuals were recognized as positive by ASL-O level, and in group 2 - 20 (39%; p>0.05); conditionally significant exceeding of normal values (more than 1.5 times) was detected in 25% of patients of each group. Increased level of antibodies against SGA A-PSC was detected in 43 (86%) patients of group 1, and in 30 (59%) of patients of group 2 (p<0.05). In group 1 exceeding of normal values of anti-A-PSC IgM was noted mostly by 1.5 +/- 0.5 times (74%). In group 2 in 43% of patients the level of anti-A-PSC IgM was above normal more than 2 times and in most cases in uncomplicated variants of disease course. In 45% of patients with severe form of soft tissue infection this parameter did not exceed normal values (p<0.05). CONCLUSION. In acute period of disease with simultaneous determination of ASL-O and IgM against A-PSC sensitivity of serologic diagnostics of SGA etiology angina and SGA infection of soft tissues was established to reach 92% and 72%, respectively, and humoral immune response to cellular AG in each form of SGA has its features.