Incidence and risk factors for mortality in patients treated with combined ceftaroline for Gram-positive infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin and represents an alternative in the treatment of infective endocarditis (IE). The main objective of this study was to describe the incidence of in-hospital and 42-day mortality in patients with IE treated with ceftaroline.

METHODS

An observational retrospective study included adult patients with IE admitted during a 3.5-year period (January 2018-June 2021) and treated with ceftaroline in a single center. All cases were definite or possible IE according to the modified Duke criteria.

RESULTS

Seventy cases were analyzed. The mean age was 67.35 ± 16.62 (16-89) and 39 (55.7%) were males. The mean number of days of treatment with ceftaroline was 21.26 ± 16.17 (1-75). Overall mortality at 42 days was 30%, 20.7% in the first line, and 36.6% in rescue therapy. Predictors of 42 days-mortality were increased Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (OR of 1.7 per 1 point increment, 95% CI 1.2-2.4, P 0.001), presence of methicillin-resistance (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.3-36.8, P 0.026) and evidence of septic shock (OR 8.6 95% CI 1.7-44.2, P 0.01). Predictors of 42 days of therapeutic failure were the increase in the CCI (OR of 1.6 per 1 point increment, 95% CI 1.3-2.1, P 0.000) and septic shock (OR 4.5 95% CI 1.1-18 P 0.036). Adverse effects were described in 6/70 (8.6%) of the patients, precipitating in 4/70 (5.7%) the definitive withdrawal of the antibiotic.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of in-hospital and 42 day-mortality of IE patients treated with ceftaroline remains similar to literature data. Increased CCI, septic shock, and methicillin resistance are associated with poor prognosis.

Darunavir/cobicistat maintains the effectiveness of darunavir/ritonavir in HIV-infected patients under mono or dual therapy

OBJECTIVES

Darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) in mono or dual therapy has proven efficacy in selected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of switching from DRV/r to DRV/cobicistat (DRV/c) in patients under mono or dual therapy.

METHODS

This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients using DRV/r under mono or dual therapy plus lamivudine who changed to DRV/c maintaining the previous regimen. All patients had a controlled HIV viral load (<50 copies/ml) when switched and were examined every 12 weeks. The primary end-point was the percentage of participants without virological failure (VF) at week 48 in the intent-to-treat analysis. The CD4 cell count and concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, and creatinine were measured from baseline to week 48.

RESULTS

A total of 162 patients were included: 68.5% were men, and their mean age was 46 ± 12 years. Seventy (43.2%) patients were treated with DRV/r monotherapy, and 92 (56.8%) were treated with DRV/r plus lamivudine. The efficacy at week 48 was 95.1% (95% CI: 90.6%-97.5%) in the intent-to-treat analysis and 98.7% (95.5-99.6%) in the on-treatment analysis. Two VFs were documented but without development of resistance mutations. No significant changes were found in the lipid profile. Creatinine concentration increased significantly by 0.07 mg/dl (0.04-0.10, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Switching from DRV/r to DRV/c in patients under mono or dual therapy is safe and effective.

Real life experience with direct-acting antivirals agents against hepatitis C infection in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

New direct-acting antivirals agents (DAAs) are very safe and well tolerated.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to analyse the efficacy and safety of DAAs in elderly patients, who have co-morbidities and are on chronic medications.

STUDY DESIGN

All HCV-infected patients over 65 years old in clinical follow-up at two Hospitals in Spain who initiated anti-HCV therapy were included (August 2012-October 2015).

RESULTS

A total of 120 HCV mono-infected patients were recorded. Mean age of patients was 72.6±7.4years. There were 53.3% women and GT1b was the most frequent (83.3%); 64.2% had cirrhosis and 42.5% were treatment experienced. Ombitasvir+Paritaprevir/r±Dasabuvir±Ribavirin (RBV) and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir±RBV were the most frequently used regimens. Weight-adjusted dosing of RBV was included in 61.7% and 43.6% of them required a dose reduction. Most of the patients (86.7%) had concomitant chronic medication and in 35.8% adjustment was necessary. Adverse events (AE) were seen in 65% of the patients; more frequent when a protease inhibitor (PI) was being used. The sustained virological response (SVR12) per ITT was 88.3%. Only 3 patients discontinued treatment and 2 patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of SVR12 (88.3%) were observed among elderly patients with DAAs-based regimens. The presence of AE was frequent (65%). The majority of these patients (86.7%) had concomitant medication that required adjustment in 1/3 of them. These findings highlight the high rates of response to DAAs in the elderly HCV-population. However, special caution must be taken when using RBV and a PI.

Long-term clinical experience with darunavir (2007-2015) in a large cohort of HIV-infected patients in Spain

The clinical experience with the protease inhibitor darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) was retrospectively evaluated in a cohort of 173 HIV+ patients who initiated antiretroviral treatment including DRV/r (period 2007-2015). The 43.2% had a CD4 nadir ≤100 cells/mm³ , 64.1% were treatment-experienced, and 36.5% had failed to >3 lines of antiretroviral therapy. Nonetheless, the rate of virological suppression (HIV-RNA <50 copies/ml) in naïve patients was 63%, 66.7%, and 63.6% at 48, 96, and 144 weeks, respectively. The rate of virological suppression in treatment-experienced patients was 62.7%, 78.7%, and 79.1% at 48, 96, and 144 weeks, respectively. No differences were observed according to the immunovirological status neither dosage of DRV/r. Most of them (82.6%) maintained DRV/r treatment. Causes for DRV/r discontinuation were mainly gastrointestinal and cutaneous adverse events (10.5%), switch to simplification treatment strategies (3.5%) and virological failure (1.7%). These findings demonstrate the prolonged efficacy and tolerability of DRV/r even in multi-treated HIV+ patients with an unfavorable immunovirological status. J. Med. Virol. 88:2125-2131, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Quality perceived by outpatients at the pharmaceutical care clinic]

OBJECTIVE

To know the satisfaction degree manifested by outpatients presenting in the hospital pharmacy department pharmaceutical care clinic, and to identify organizational improvement items.

METHOD

A survey with 8 close-ended questions and 1 open-ended question was designed where patients recorded their suggestions or comments on the service provided. A sample size of 591 surveys was estimated, which allowed to estimate parameters of interest with a 95% confidence interval and a +/- 5% accuracy, adjusting by a 40% potential losses percentage.

RESULTS

Overall response rate was 70%; 23.6% of patients considered that finding the PD was difficult or very difficult. Waiting time was normal for 51.8%, but long or excessive for 18.4% of patients. Fifty-six percent of individuals considered the information received useful or very useful, and 81.1% considered that staff friendliness was good or very good. Care timetable was inadequate for 18.1%; 47.7% pointed out that the attending pharmacist did not identify him or herself. Overall satisfaction extent was 7.51 (of 10). A plan for improvement activities was designed and implemented regarding: care timetable, pharmacy department signaling, and general information on clinic matters.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey allowed to identify organizational weaknesses. Overall score was very satisfactory, yet improvable. Future surveys are required for result comparisons and continual improvement assessment.

Prevention of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients by selective decontamination of the digestive tract. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a method of Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) on colonization, nosocomial infection (NI), bacterial resistance, mortality and economic costs.

DESIGN

Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

SETTING

Polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital with 27 beds.

PATIENTS

101 patients with > 3 days of mechanical ventilation and > 5 days of stay, without infection at the start of the study. 47 belonged to the Treated Group (TG) and 54 to the Placebo Group (PG).

INTERVENTIONS

The TG was given Cefotaxime i.v. (6 g/day) for the first four days and an association of Polymyxin E, Tobramycin and Amphotericin B at the oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal level throughout the whole stay.

RESULTS

In the TG, colonization by gram-negative agents at oropharyngeal, tracheal and gastrointestinal level fell significantly. There was a significant drop in the overall, respiratory and urinary NI (26% vs 63%, p < 0.001; 15% vs 46%, p < 0.001; 9% vs 31%, p < 0.01). The overall mortality and NI related mortality was less in the TG (21% vs 44%, p < 0.05; 2% vs 20%, p < 0.01). The economic costs, mechanical ventilation time and length of stay were similar. The percentage of bacterial isolations resistant to Cefotaxime and Tobramycin was greater in the TG (38% vs 15% and 38% vs 9%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

colonization by gram-negative bacilli, NI and the mortality related to it can be modified by SDD. Continuous bacteriological surveillance is necessary.