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Background Rising antimicrobial resistance rates may impact the efficacy of empirical antibiotic treatment for febrile neutropenia in high-risk cancer patients. Lacking contemporary data about the epidemiology, antibiotic resistance patterns, and clinical outcomes from bloodstream infections (BSIs) in US cancer patients, it is unclear if current guidelines remain relevant. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 14 US cancer centers prospectively identified BSIs in high-risk febrile neutropenic (FN) patients, including those receiving chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Results Among 389 organisms causing BSI in 343 patients, there was an equal distribution of gram-negative (GN) and gram-positive (GP) bacteria, with variability across centers. Cefepime and piperacillin-tazobactam were the most commonly prescribed empirical antibiotics for FN, at 62% and 23%, respectively; a GP-directed agent was empirically included in nearly half of all FN episodes within the first 24 hours. Susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, and carbapenems was 49%, 84%, 88%, and 96%, respectively, among GN isolates. Critical illness (CrI), defined as a new requirement for mechanical ventilation, vasopressor, or death within 30 days, occurred in 15% and did not correlate with fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, organism type, initial antibiotics, or adequacy of coverage. Only severity of illness at presentation, signified by a Pitt bacteremia score ≥2, predicted for critical illness within 30 days. Mortality was 4% by day 7 and 10% overall. Conclusions In accordance with US guidelines, cefepime or piperacillin-tazobactam remain effective agents or empirical treatment for high-risk cancer patients with FN who are stable at presentation, maintaining high GN pathogen susceptibility and yielding excellent outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to examine the use and safety of rifampin in the hospitalized infants. Study Design Observational study of clinical and laboratory adverse events among infants exposed to rifampin from 348 neonatal intensive care units managed by the Pediatrix Medical Group between 1997 and 2012. Result Overall, 2,500 infants received 4,279 courses of rifampin; mean gestational age was 27 weeks (5th, 95th percentile; 23, 36) and mean birth weight was 1,125 g (515; 2,830). Thrombocytopenia (121/1,000 infant days) and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (25/1,000 infant days) were the most common laboratory adverse events. The most common clinical adverse events were medical necrotizing enterocolitis (64/2,500 infants, 3%) and seizure (60/2,500 infants, 2%). Conclusion The overall incidence of adverse events among infants receiving rifampin appears low; however, additional studies to further evaluate safety and dosing of rifampin in this population are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IMPORTANCE Several management strategies may improve outcomes in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. OBJECTIVES To review evidence of management strategies for S aureus bacteremia to determine whether transesophageal echocardiography is necessary in all adult cases and what is the optimal antibiotic therapy for methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. EVIDENCE REVIEW A PubMed search from inception through May 2014 was performed to identify studies addressing the role of transesophageal echocardiography in S aureus bacteremia. A second search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from January 1990 through May 2014 was performed to find studies addressing antibiotic treatment for MRSA bacteremia. Studies reporting outcomes from antibiotic therapy for MRSA bacteremia were included. All searches, which were limited to English and focused on adults, were augmented by review of bibliographic references from included studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system with consensus of independent evaluations by at least 2 of the authors. FINDINGS In 9 studies with a total of 4050 patients, use of transesophageal echocardiography was associated with higher rates of a diagnosis of endocarditis (14%-28%) compared with transthoracic echocardiography (2%-15%). In 4 studies, clinical or transthoracic echocardiography findings did not predict subsequent transesophageal echocardiography findings of endocarditis. Five studies identified clinical or transthoracic echocardiography characteristics associated with low risk of endocarditis (negative predictive values from 93%to 100%). Characteristics associated with a low risk of endocarditis include absence of a permanent intracardiac device, sterile follow-up blood cultures within 4 days after the initial set, no hemodialysis dependence, nosocomial acquisition of S aureus bacteremia, absence of secondary foci of infection, and no clinical signs of infective endocarditis. Of 81 studies of antibiotic therapy for MRSA bacteremia, only 1 high-quality trial was identified. In that study of 246 patients with S aureus bacteremia, daptomycin was not inferior to vancomycin or an antistaphylococcal penicillin, each in combination with low-dose, short-course gentamicin (clinical success rate, 44.2%[53/120] vs 41.7%[48/115]; absolute difference, 2.4%[95%Cl, -10.2%to 15.1%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE All adult patients with S aureus bacteremia should undergo echocardiography. Characteristics of low-risk patients with S aureus bacteremia for whom transesophageal echocardiography can be safely avoided have been identified. Vancomycin and daptomycin are the first-line antibiotic choices for MRSA bacteremia.Well-designed studies to address the management of S aureus bacteremia are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In this prospective nation-wide survey of bloodstream isolates associated with first episode of FN in high-risk cancer patients from 14 US cancer centers (December 2016 and June 2018), viridans group Streptococci (VGS) were the most common Gram-positive isolate. We sought to clinically and microbiologically characterize VGS bloodstream infections (BSI). Methods Among 343 patients,we compared 90 with VGS vs 253 with non-VGS BSI. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for blood culture isolates were determined by broth dilution for selected agents at our reference microbiology laboratory (UNMC). Clinical data were electronically captured in RedCap, including local site isolate identification and confirmatory reference lab identification via MALDI. Categorical and continuous variables were assessed via chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests, respectively. Results Ninety-two VGS isolates were identified among 90 FN patients, representing 27% of all BSI isolates. S. mitis or oralis comprised 64 (70%) of VGS. There were no differences between age, sex, and primary diagnosis (50% with AML) among the 2 groups; 1/3 were HSCT recipients. Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis was used in 64 (71%) vs. 139 (55%), P < 0.01, in VGS vs non-VGS groups. Critical illness composite (new need for pressor(s), mechanical ventilation or death within 30 days) was 6 (7%) vs. 44 (17%), P = 0.01, in the VGS vs non-VGS groups. Figure 1 displays an overview of antibiotic susceptibilities for 79 testable isolates. VGS susceptibilities to levofloxacin, penicillin, and ceftriaxone were 39%, 47%, and 94%, respectively. Conclusion VGS are common pathogens in FN patients. Prior fluoroquinolone prophylaxis use may be a risk factor. VGS BSI was not associated with increased critical illness compared with non-VGS. Finally, assuming ceftriaxone susceptibility confers that of cefepime, >90% of VGS are susceptible to empiric FN cefepime regimens. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]