[Etiology of severe community - acquired pneumonia in adults: results of the first Russian multicenter study]

AIM

to study the etiology of severe community - acquired pneumonia (SCAP) in adults in Russian Federation. SCAP is distinguished by high mortality and socio - economic burden. Both etiology and antimicrobial resistance are essential for appropriate antibiotic choice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective cohort study recruited adults with confirmed diagnosis of SCAP admitted to multi - word hospitals of six Russian cities in 2014-2018. Etiology was confirmed by routine culture of blood, respiratory (sputum, endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage) and when appropriate, autopsy samples, urinary antigen tests (L. pneumophila serogroup 1, S. pneumoniae); real - time PCR for identification of "atypical" bacterial pathogens (M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, L. pneumophila) and respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, parainfluenza, human metapneumovirus, etc.) was applied.

RESULTS

Altogether 109 patients (60.6% male; mean age 50.8±18.0 years old) with SCAP were enrolled. Etiological agent was identified in 65.1% of patients, S. pneumoniae, rhinovirus, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were the most commonly isolated pathogens (found in 43.7, 15.5, 14.1 and 11.3% of patients with positive results of microbiological investigations, respectively). Bacteriemia was seen in 14.6% of patients and most commonly associated with S. pneumoniae. Co - infection with 2 or more causative agents was revealed in 36.6% of cases. Combination of bacterial pathogens (mainly S. pneumoniae with S. aureus or/and Enterobacterales) prevailed - 57.7% of cases; associations of bacteria and viruses were identified in 38.5% of patients, different viruses - in one case.

CONCLUSION

S. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen in adults with SCAP. A high rate of respiratory viruses (mainly rhinovirus and influenza viruses) identification both as mixt infection with bacteria and mono - infection should be taken into account.

Identification of risk factors and development of a predictive model for bloodstream infection in intensive care unit COVID-19 patients

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors for nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19 and to build a predictive model for BSIs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The retrospective case-control study included 236 ICU COVID-19 patients with BSIs group and 234 patients in the control group. Demographic and laboratory data, comorbidities, drug use, invasive procedures and identified pathogens were recorded separately for patients directly admitted and transferred to ICU. Fine and Gray's multi-variate competing risk model was used to build a predictive model for patients transferred to ICU.

RESULTS

The risk factors were: interleukin inhibitors (HR = 6.1 (95% CI: 2.0-18.5)) and dexamethasone (HR = 3.0 (95% CI: 1.3-7.1)) use in previous hospitalization, glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (HR = 4.0 (95% CI: 2.1-7.6)) and blood glucose >9 mmol/L (HR = 2.5 (95% CI: 1.4-4.6)) in patients directly admitted to ICU; and dexamethasone use in previous hospitalization (HR = 4.5 (95% CI: 1.8-11)), the total dexamethasone dose before transfer to ICU (HR = 1.2 (95% CI: 1.06-1.37)), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.9)), alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥35.5 U/L on hospital admission (HR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.1)), and the use of low-flow oxygen versus high-flow oxygen therapy or non-invasive mechanical ventilation on admission to ICU ((HR = 2.7 (95% CI: 5.6-11.1)) in patients transferred to ICU. A predictive model had sensitivity of 63-73% and specificity of 71-83% at different times of ICU stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings may help clinicians detect patients at high risk of developing BSIs.

C-reactive protein evaluation in communityacquired pneumonia with comorbid chronic heart failure as criterion of antibiotic prescription

AIM

To prove that diagnostic algorithm based on additional measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) for administration of systemic antibacterial therapy (ABT) to patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and concomitant chronic heart failure (CHF) does not influence outcomes of disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This open, single-center, randomized, prospective, noninferiority study included 160 adult patients with documented functional class II-IV CHF who had been admitted with a preliminary diagnosis of non-severe CAP. Patients were randomized at 1:1 to two groups; group 1 - with additional measurement of CRP (n=80) and group 2 - with the use of routine diagnostic methods (n=80). In group 1, systemic ABT was administered only when serum CRP was &gt;28.5 mg / l (threshold level of the biomarker calculated at the previous stage of the study); group 2 received a standard treatment. Noninferiority test result for both algorithms was evaluated by the number of patients with clinical success on days 12-14 (primary endpoint). Non-inferiority margin was δ=-13.5 %. In addition secondary endpoints (early clinical response on days 3-5; early in-hospital adverse events (development of complications; admission to intensive care unit (ICU); death), death, recurrent CAP or CHF worsening with readmission at 28 day; mortality at 90 and 180 days) were estimated. Standard statistical tools were used for all intergroup comparisons.

RESULTS

76 patients of each group reached the primary endpoint. Systemic ABT was administered to 51 (67.1 %) patients in group 1 and 76 (100 %) patients in group 2 (p&lt;0.05). Both groups were comparable (p&gt;0.05) regarding all endpoints: clinical success, 70 (92.1 %) vs. 69 (90.8 %), Δ=1.3 % (one-sided 97.5 % CI: - 8.25 % for non-inferiority margin δ=-13.5 %); early clinical response, 66 (86.8 %) vs. 68 (89.5 %); admission to ICU, 1 (1.3 %) vs. 1 (1.3 %); development of complications, 20 (26.3 %) vs. 22 (28.9 %); readmission, 5 (6.6 %) vs. 6 (7.9 %); in-hospital mortality, 2 (2.6 %) vs. 1 (1.3 %), mortality at 28 day, 3 (3.9 %) vs. 2 (2.6 %), at 90 day, 5 (6.6 %) vs. 4 (5.3 %), at 180 day, 8 (10.5 %) vs. 9 (11.8 %) cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

additional measurement of serum CRP in patients with CHF and suspected non-severe CAP was able to reduce rate of systemic ABT administration without outcomes and prognosis worsening.

[Review of international and European registers on infective endocarditis]

The article reviews international and European registries of infectious endocarditis and observational studies based on these registries. Methods of data collection, results, and conclusions are analyzed. Prospects of using registries for research, optimizing the quality of health care, and estimating costs are discussed.

[Exudative pericarditis with tamponade after COVID-19. Case report]

A description of a COVID-19 patient with the development of exudative pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade is provid. A peculiarity of this case is the presence of an underlying disease in the patient (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), which was in remission for 1.5 years after chemotherapy. Another feature of the patient was the relatively small area of lung damage and the hemorrhagic nature of the pericardial effusion, which persisted for a long time. The insignificant activity of inflammatory markers was noteworthy. Possible mechanisms of development and features of the course of exudative pericarditis in the described patient, issues of diagnosis and treatment of this category of patients are discusse.

The significance of monitoring respiratory sample cultures and polymerase chain reaction tests for detecting bacterial pathogens in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19

Background

Bacterial superinfection is one of the most common and potentially lethal complications in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Objectives

To determine the colonisation time frame and the spectrum of potential bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with severe and critical COVID-19, using routine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed severe and critical COVID-19 who were admitted to or transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Respiratory samples were collected for microbial culture and PCR testing within the first 2 days after ICU admission/transfer, between days 3 and 6, and after 7 days of ICU stay.

Results

A total of 82 patients, with a median (interquartile range) age of 74.5 (67.3 - 81.0) years and a median Charlson comorbidity index of 4 (3 - 5), were enrolled in the study. Colonisation with any pathogen was observed in 67% of patients, after a median of 4 (2 - 6) days in the ICU. On days 0 - 2 of the ICU stay, micro-organisms were detected in 18% of patients, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (without acquired antibiotic resistance) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus being most frequently identified. Later, A. baumannii and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae became the predominant micro-organisms, identified in nearly half of the patients. In 74% of the samples, the results of microbial culture and PCR tests were identical. In 17%, PCR revealed bacterial pathogens not identified by culture.

Conclusion

Our study confirms that colonisation of the respiratory tract occurs early in the course of ICU stay. Superinfections are predominantly caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Study synopsis

What the study adds. This real-world study provides valuable insights into the significance of microbiological monitoring of critically ill COVID-19 patients. It confirms that bacterial colonisation of the respiratory tract occurs early in the course of ICU stay, with nosocomial superinfections caused predominantly by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing can assist in ruling out colonisation and in early detection of potential bacterial superinfections.Implications of the findings. Bacterial superinfections present a major challenge in critically ill COVID-19 patients, owing to their high prevalence and mortality rates. Their early detection, determination of causative agents, and antibiotic susceptibility profiling are therefore of paramont importance. PCR testing of clinical specimens appears to be a valuable supplement to respiratory culture, enhancing the precision of diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections.

[Relationships between body composition and hematological parameters in long-living patients with coronary artery disease.]

The study objective to investigate hematological parameters and determine the relationships between these indicators and body composition in centenarians with coronary artery disease. This work is a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 239 patients over 90 years old hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease; most of them (67,8%) were women. The age of the patients ranged from 90 to 106 years, averaging 92,8 (±2,5) years. Body composition was analyzed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Anemia was detected in 108 (45,2%) patients, while a significant direct correlation was found between the hemoglobin level and all indicators of bone mineral density (p=0,004-0,00002). Patients with osteoporosis had lower levels of hemoglobin (p=0,002) and blood iron (p=0,02). Direct correlations were established between the hemoglobin level and lean tissue mass (p=0,06-0,003). Patients with obesity had higher levels of hemoglobin (p=0,007), erythrocytes (p=0,03), leukocytes (p=0,04), lymphocytes (p=0,01) and monocytes (p=0,05). A direct correlation was registered between the platelets count and fat tissue mass (p=0,04-0,00006) along with an inverse correlation between platelets and lean tissue (p=0,001-0,0004). The study results indicate significant relationships between the parameters of body composition and hematological indicators.

[Antibacterial therapy of acute sinusitis in outpatient practice: results of a multicenter trial]

Now there is no generally accepted practice of antibacterial therapy of acute sinusitis in outpatient clinics of Russia. Choice of antibacterial drugs is often made without consideration of the most probable causative agents of the infection. Out-of-date antibiotics used in many cases do not satisfy modern requirements. Clinically essential features of pharmacokinetics are in some cases ignored. Parenteral administration is often unjustified, combined antibiotic treatment is not always validated.

[Systemic Antimicrobials Consumption and Expenditures in Departments of Surgery of Multi-Profile Hospitals in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus: Results of Multicentre Pharmacoepidemiological Study]

The results of the systemic antimicrobials (AM) consumption and expenditures assessment in the departments of surgery of multi-profile hospitals in different regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in 2009-2010 based on retrospective collection and analysis of the data from the hospital expenditure notes using ATC/DDD methodology are presented. The average AM consumption and expenditure rates in the above mentioned departments varied from 24.9 DDD/100 bed-days to 61.7 DDD/100 bed-days depending on the department profile, with beta-lactams (cephalosporins and penicillins) share in the consumption being as high as 70-90%, followed by fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. Only 55-70% of the consumed AM belonged to the drugs of choice, whereas the improper AM consumption and expenditure rates amounted up to 10-18%. The study outputs can be used for the budget allocation and AM distribution improvement in the departments of surgery, as well as for the development and efficacy control of the local antimicrobial stewardship programs.

[Development and use of the assay for Legionella pneumophila detection based on fluorescent real-time/endpoint polymerase-chain reaction]

The aim of the work was to develop a PCR-based assay for detection of L. pneumophila and L. micdadei in environmental samples as well as in clinical samples from low respiratory tract and to assess its analytic characteristics. The assay was used during investigation of the outbreak developed in July 2007 in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma (Sverdlovsk region). Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR)with fluorescent detection,sequencing and cloning of DNA fragments were used. Developed assay based on the PCR with fluorescent real-time/ endpointdetection is able to detect L. pneumophila in clinical and environmental samples and to quantify amount of bacterial DNA in water. Specificity of analysis (100%) was assessed using the panel of bacterial strains and samples from healthy individuals. Analytic sensitivity of assay and quantitation limit was 1000 GU in 1 ml. Sensitivity of the assay of artificially contaminated biological samples was 1000 bacteria in 1 ml. During outbreak investigation L. pneumophila DNAwas detected in 4 lung samples from 4 fatal cases, from 1 of 2 sputum samples, 1 of 2 bronchoalveolar lavage samples with X-ray confirmed pneumonia. Legionella's DNA was found in samples from cooling towers, central hot water supply as well as from showerheads in apartments of 3 patients. Fountain and drinking water samples were PCR-negative. Specificity of PCR-positive results was confirmed by sequencing. Use of the assay during outbreak in- vestigation allowed to confirm the diagnosis in fatal cases and quickly identify the possible source of infection.

[Pharmacotherapy of acute tonsillitis-pharyngitis in ambulatory practice: results of a multicenter pharmaco-epidemiological study]

AIM

To analyse current practice of pharmacotherapy (PT) in outpatient treatment of acute tonsillopharyngitis (ATP) in different regions of Russia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Case reports for 1333 outpatients (493 male and 840 female, age 16-76 years) with ATP from 7 cities of Russia have been studied. Each ATP case was documented on a special chart to contain the following information: demographic data, history of the disease, bacteriological findings, PT regimens, complications, treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

PT of ATP was made primarily with antibiotics. Most frequent of them was ampicillin (about half the cases). Further antibiotics by frequency of use were: erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxicyclin, amoxicillin, midecamycin, ampicillin/oxacillin. Among other drugs, wide use was registered of antihistamine drugs, throat disease drugs, analgetic and antipiretic drugs, vitamins. Bacteriological examinations were conducted rarely.

CONCLUSION

The problems of PT of ATP patients consist in overuse of systemic antibiotics as a result of adequate differential diagnosis of this infection and choice of antibiotics without consideration of current recommendations on the treatment of streptococcal ATP.

[Analysis of parameters of the antibacterial treatment of acute otitis media in adults: results of a multicenter study]

The programme was aimed at audit of the parameters of antibacterial therapy for acute otitis media in adult outpatients in 8 cities of Russia (Smolensk, Volgograd, Ekaterinburg, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Tyumen, Ryazan, Vladivostok). The information sources were the case records. The data from the records were structurally fixed in specially designed individual registration charts for further computer processing. The analysis of the results showed that the real practice of the antibacterial therapy for acute otitis media was not based on a unique approach and did not mainly correspond to the present standards. Ampicillin proved to be preferential, whereas it is known that the drug of choice for such cases is amoxicillin. Antibacterial agents with low activity against the basic pathogens of the infection (doxycycline and others) and high toxicity (co-trimoxazol) were often prescribed, while the recommended up-to-date antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanate and others) were prescribed extremely rare or not prescribed at all. Scientifically unreasonable combined antibiotic therapy and prescription of parenteral drugs not rational for the treatment of outpatients were practiced.