"Primum, non nocere": The Epidemiology of Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile Strains in the Antibiotic Era-Insights from a Prospective Study at a Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital in Eastern Europe

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), though identified nearly five decades ago, still remains a major challenge, being associated with significant mortality rates. The strains classified as hypervirulent, notably 027/NAP1/BI, have garnered substantial attention from researchers and clinicians due to their direct correlation with the severity of the disease. Our study aims to elucidate the significance of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile (CD) strains in the clinical and therapeutic aspects of managing patients diagnosed with CDI. We conducted a single-center prospective study, including patients with CDI from north-eastern Romania. We subsequently conducted molecular biology testing to ascertain the prevalence of the presumptive 027/NAP1/BI strain within aforementioned geographic region. The patients were systematically compared and assessed both clinically and biologically, employing standardized and comparative methodologies. The study enrolled fifty patients with CDI admitted between January 2020 and June 2020. Among the investigated patients, 43 (86%) exhibited infection with toxigenic CD strains positive for toxin B genes (tcdB), binary toxin genes (cdtA and cdtB), and deletion 117 in regulatory genes (tcdC), while the remaining 7 (14%) tested negative for binary toxin genes (cdtA and cdtB) and deletion 117 in tcdC. The presence of the presumptive 027/NAP1/BI strains was linked to a higher recurrence rate (35.56%, p = 0.025), cardiovascular comorbidities (65.1% vs. 14.2%, p = 0.016), and vancomycin treatment (55.8% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.049). The findings of our investigation revealed an elevated incidence of colitis attributed to presumptive 027/NAP1/BI. Despite the prevalence of the presumptive 027 strain and its associated heightened inflammation among the patients studied, no significant differences were observed regarding the clinical course or mortality outcomes.

Symptoms, Treatment, and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients Coinfected with Clostridioides difficile: Single-Center Study from NE Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought new challenges across medical disciplines, particularly in infectious disease medicine. In Romania, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection increased dramatically since March 2020 until March 2022. Antibiotic administration for pulmonary superinfections in COVID-19 intensified and, consequently, increased rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) were hypothesized. We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study on patients from North-Eastern Romania to assess clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 and Clostridioides difficile (CD) coinfection, and to identify risk factors for CDI in COVID-19 patients. The study enrolled eighty-six CDI and COVID-19 coinfected patients admitted during March 2020-February 2021 (mean age 59.14 years, 53.49% men, 67.44% urban residents) and a group of eighty-six COVID-19 patients. On admission, symptoms were more severe in mono-infected patients, while coinfected patients associated a more intense acute inflammatory syndrome. The main risk factors for severe COVID-19 were smoking, diabetes mellitus, and antibiotic administration. Third generation cephalosporins (55%) and carbapenems (24%) were the main antibiotics used, and carbapenems were significantly associated with severe COVID-19 in patients coinfected with CD during hospitalization. Coinfection resulted in longer hospitalization and poorer outcomes. The extensive use of antibiotics in COVID-19, particularly carbapenems, contributed substantially to CD coinfection.

Profiles of multidrug-resistant organisms among patients with bacteremia in intensive care units: an international ID-IRI survey

Evaluating trends in antibiotic resistance is a requisite. The study aimed to analyze the profile of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among hospitalized patients with bacteremia in intensive care units (ICUs) in a large geographical area. This is a 1-month cross-sectional survey for blood-borne pathogens in 57 ICUs from 24 countries with different income levels: lower-middle-income (LMI), upper-middle-income (UMI), and high-income (HI) countries. Multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), or pan-drug-resistant isolates were searched. Logistic regression analysis determined resistance predictors among MDROs. Community-acquired infections were comparable to hospital-acquired infections particularly in LMI (94/202; 46.5% vs 108/202; 53.5%). Although MDR (65.1%; 502/771) and XDR (4.9%; 38/771) were common, no pan-drug-resistant isolate was recovered. In total, 32.1% of MDR were Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 55.3% of XDR were Acinetobacter baumannii. The highest MDR and XDR rates were in UMI and LMI, respectively, with no XDR revealed from HI. Predictors of MDR acquisition were male gender (OR, 12.11; 95% CI, 3.025-15.585) and the hospital-acquired origin of bacteremia (OR, 2.643; 95%CI, 1.462-3.894), and XDR acquisition was due to bacteremia in UMI (OR, 3.344; 95%CI, 1.189-5.626) and admission to medical-surgical ICUs (OR, 1.481; 95% CI, 1.076-2.037). We confirm the urgent need to expand stewardship activities to community settings especially in LMI, with more paid attention to the drugs with a higher potential for resistance. Empowering microbiology laboratories and reports to direct prescribing decisions should be prioritized. Supporting stewardship in ICUs, the mixed medical-surgical ones in particular, is warranted.

Heart-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (H-FABP) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Beneficiaries of Rehabilitation Program Post Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is a non-invasive bio-marker, with high sensitivity and specificity, being capable to point out the myocardial injury and to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Cardiac rehabilitation program, through a complex and sustained post-interventional management plays an important role in reducing the plasma levels of H-FABP. In the study, which included 120 post-coronary artery bypass (CABG) patients, we analyzed the link between low levels of general post-surgical health status and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, common biochemical markers, and especially the role played by diabetic status in lowering the plasma H-FABP levels. From the group, 65 patients had been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The H-FABP values decreased both in diabetics and in non-diabetics between the two phases of CR, 6 months away from CABG. More than half of the patients had important reduction of H-FABP, at 6 months after the onset of CR program. Half of the group registered a smaller reduction of H-FABP, but more noticeable in diabetics. Ischemic lesion during open heart surgery is linked to high levels of H-FABP and with an occurence risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation, that can be also triggered and sustained by multiple endocrine conditions related to aging. Thus, metabolic control should always remain a target of the complex management in cardiac rehabilitation.

Biochemical Markers in Patients with Readmission for Congestive Heart Failure

Repetitive or recurrent hospitalizations are a general major health issue in patients with chronic disease. Congestive heart failure, is associated with a high incidence and presence of early rehospitalization, but variables in order to identify patients at increased risk and also an analysis of potentially remediable factors contributing to readmission have not been previously reported and it remains still a difficult problem. We retrospectively assessed 100 patients aged between 48-85 years old, of which 75% were men, who had been hospitalized with documentation of congestive heart failure in St. Spiridon County Emergency Hospital. They were hospitalized between 2010-2017. Even if recurrent heart failure was the most common cause for readmission or rehospitalization, other cardiac disorders and noncardiac illnesses were also accounted for readmission. Predictive factors of an increased probability of readmission included prior patient�s medical heart failure history, heart failure decompensation precipitated or accelerated by an ischaemic episode, atrial fibrillation or uncontrolled hypertension. Factors contributing to preventable readmissions included noncompliance with medications or diet, inadequate discharge planning or follow-up, failure of both social support system and the seek of a promp medical attention when symptoms reappeared. We also identified an inappropriate colaboration with family doctors especially for the patients from rural areas. Patients were more likely to cite side effects of prescribed medications rather than nonadherence as a precipitating factor for readmission. Thus, we can appreciate that early rehospitalization in patients with congestive heart failure may be avoidable in up to 50% of cases. Identification of high risk patients is possible and also necessary shortly after admission in order to identify nonpharmacological interventions designed to decrease readmission frequency.