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Purpose: The diagnosis of pulmonary blastomycosis is usually delayed because of its non-specific presentation. We aimed to assess the extent of diagnostic delay in hospitalized patients and detect the step in the diagnostic process that requires the most improvement. Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with pulmonary blastomycosis during a hospital admission between January 2010 through November 2021 were eligible for inclusion. Patients who did not have pulmonary involvement and who were diagnosed before admission were excluded. Demographics and comorbid conditions, specifics of disease presentation, and interventions were evaluated. The timing of the diagnosis, antifungal treatment, and patient outcomes were noted. Descriptive analytical tests were performed. Results: A total of 43 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary blastomycosis during their admissions. The median age was 47 years, with 13 (30%) females. Of all patients, 29 (67%) had isolated pulmonary infection, while 14 (33%) had disseminated disease, affecting mostly skin and musculoskeletal system. The median duration between the initial symptoms and health care encounters was 4 days, and the time to hospital admission was 9 days. The median duration from the initial symptoms to the diagnosis was 20 days. Forty patients (93%) were treated with empirical antibacterials before a definitive diagnosis was made. In addition, corticosteroid treatment was empirically administered to 15 patients (35%) before the diagnosis, with indications such as suspicion of inflammatory processes or symptom relief. In 38 patients (88%), the first performed fungal diagnostic test was positive. Nineteen patients (44%) required admission to the intensive care unit, and 11 patients (26%) died during their hospital stay. Conclusion: There was a delay in diagnosis of patients with pulmonary blastomycosis, largely attributable to the lack of consideration of the etiological agent. Novel approaches to assist providers in recognizing the illness earlier and trigger evaluation are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill adults is increasing. There are currently no guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis. We analyzed 7 years of prophylactic antimicrobial use across 3 time series for patients on ECMO at our institution in the development, improvement, and streamlining of our ECMO antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol. Methods In this quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis, we evaluated the impact of an initial ECMO antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol, implemented in 2014, on antimicrobial use and National Healthcare Safety Network–reportable infection rates. Then, following a revision and streamlining of the protocol in November 2018, we reevaluated the same metrics. Results Our study population included 338 intensive care unit patients who received ECMO between July 2011 and November 2019. After implementation of the first version of the protocol, we did not observe significant changes in antimicrobial use or infection rates in these patients; however, following revision and streamlining of the protocol, we demonstrated a significant reduction in broad-spectrum antimicrobial use for prophylaxis in patients on ECMO without any evidence of a compensatory increase in infection rates. Conclusions Our final protocol significantly reduces broad-spectrum antimicrobial use for prophylaxis in patients on ECMO. We propose a standard antimicrobial prophylaxis regimen for patients on ECMO based on current evidence and our experience. Summary: There are no guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A rational approach employing concepts of antimicrobial stewardship can drive logical antimicrobial selection for prophylaxis in patients on ECMO without adversely impacting outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine if time to antibiotics (TTA) improves outcomes of hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality in adult patients with febrile neutropenia.Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of time to antibiotic, in the treatment of febrile neutropenia, on hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality. Cases included were patients 18 years or older hospitalized with febrile neutropenia from August 1, 2006 to July 31, 2016. To adjust for other characteristics associated with hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality, a multivariate analysis was performed.Results: A total of 3219 cases of febrile neutropenia were included. The median hospital length of stay was 7.0 days (IQR 4.1-13.3), rate of intensive care unit admission was 13.6%, and 30-day mortality was 6.6%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated time to antibiotics was not associated with hospital length of stay but was associated with admission to the intensive care unit admission and 30-day mortality. Delays in time to antibiotic of up to 3 hours did not impact outcomes.Conclusions: A shorter time to antibiotic is important in treatment of febrile neutropenia; however, moderate delays in antibiotic administration did not impact outcomes. Further investigation is needed in order to determine if other indicators of infection, in addition to fever, or other supportive management, in addition to antibiotics, are indicated in the early identification and management of infection in patients with neutropenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an answer to the question of whether antibiotics are the only treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background Brevibacterium species are non-motile, catalase-positive, obligate aerobic gram-positive bacilli. Colonies are yellow to gray-white, non-hemolytic, smooth, 6.5% sodium chloride tolerant. B. fermentans post neurosurgical meningitis was first described in 1969 in an infant. B. casei remains the most commonly isolated species (Table 4). The most commonly reported syndromes are bloodstream infections (BSIs) and endocarditis. Despite these reports, this organism continues to be listed on CDC's NHSN commensal database. Methods Isolates of Brevibacterium from clinical samples at Mayo Clinic, Rochester from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018 were identified. Charts were reviewed to determine patient demographics, immune status, source of culture, comorbidities, antibiotic susceptibility test (AST), length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Likelihood ratio (L-R) and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of nominal data were calculated using the Chi-square test and Fischer exact test (FET). We defined statistical significance as P ≤ 0.05. Results We identified 48 isolates from 45 unique patients, 46% were females. Distribution of age, hospital and ICU LOS, and time to culture growth, and AST data are shown in Table 1. 15.5% patients received allogeneic or autologous stem cell (SCT), or solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients. 89% cultures were from sterile sources and 68.75% were blood cultures. Of these, 63.64% were monomicrobial. 62% of isolates identified to species level were B. casei. 5 patients were treated; an additional 10 received active antibiotics for other indications. Statistically significant variables are reported in Tables 2 and 3. Thirty-day mortality was 13%. This was higher in patients with bacteremia (L-R: 5.3 [P = 0.02]) but FET was not statistically significance (P = 0.15). Conclusion Accurate diagnosis of Brevibacterium may require molecular techniques. At our center, SCT or SOT recipient status and recent chemotherapy were associated with bacteremia. In these patients, this organism could represent an opportunistic cause of BSI. AST data suggest that Vancomycin offers a reasonable empiric treatment option. Additional data are needed to further define host populations in whom this organism presents pathogenicity. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sepsis frequently leads to acute kidney injury. In severe cases, patients may require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) which involves placement of a dialysis catheter and an extracorporeal blood filtration circuit. CRRT is commonly considered to "mask" fever, though this phenomenon has not been investigated. Methods We queried an institutional database of all patients on CRRT from 2007 to 2015 for inpatient temperature data and antibiotic administration records. Receipts of piperacillin–tazobactam, a carbapenem, or a third or fourth-generation cephalosporin, indicating a serious infection, were considered intervention arm. We analyzed temperatures recorded in the intensive care unit before, during, and after CRRT. Patients were divided into groups that did not receive antibiotics as well as those who did. Temperature data were Winsorized to correct for outliers. We also performed descriptive statistics for each group. Results There were 237,988 temperature readings for 1,568 ICU patients on CRRT. 1,153 patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics in ICU. In patients who received antibiotics in ICU and were presumed to have an infection, the mean temperature was 37.2°C prior to initiation of CRRT, 36.8°C while on CRRT, and 37.2°C following discontinuation of CRRT. In the 415 patients who did not receive IV antibiotics, the mean temperature was 36.9°C prior to initiation of CRRT, 36.6°C while on CRRT, and 37.0°C following discontinuation of CRRT. During each of the periods before, during, and after CRRT, patients who received antibiotics had significantly higher temperatures than those who did not (P < 0.001). Patients receiving antibiotics were generally younger (mean 60 years vs. 64 years, P < 0.001), had longer ICU stays (mean 29 days vs. 12 days, P < 0.001) and spent more time being ventilated (mean 23 days vs. 7 days, P < 0.001). The mean SOFA score on day one was similar (mean 11.1 in the antibiotic group and 10.5 in the other group). Conclusion This investigation suggests that patients have slightly lower temperatures while on CRRT, by on average less than half a degree. A similar effect is seen in both patients with infections as well as those without. Further work will be needed to determine what constitutes a true febrile response in this population. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill adults is increasing. Patients on ECMO are at high risk for infections, with 20.5% of adults acquiring infections while on ECMO. An Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Infectious Disease Task Force statement concluded that no antibiotic prophylaxis is needed for patients on ECMO though it also noted that this was based on limited data. We implemented an antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol for patients on ECMO at our institution and analyzed antimicrobial use and outcomes in these patients with a pre- and post-analysis. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 294 patients on ECMO between July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2017. An ECMO antimicrobial prophylaxis guideline was initially implemented on July 1, 2014; there was poor adherence to the guideline and antimicrobial use actually increased. A more restrictive protocol was implemented in November 2018 with input from stakeholders including cardiac surgeons, critical care and infectious disease (ID) providers. We had a cohort of 161 patients before (July 2014–November 2018) and 37 patients after (November 2018–April 2018) the implementation of the updated protocol. We evaluated primary outcomes of gross days of antimicrobial use, percent of antibiotic-free days and days of individual antimicrobial use, adjusted for APACHE scores and ECMO duration. Results When adjusted for days on ECMO, mean antibiotic days decreased after implementation of the protocol; for vancomycin (0.27 vs. 0.02, P < 0.0003), cefepime (0.15 vs. 0.02, P < 0.02), meropenem (0.09 vs. 0, P < 0.02), zosyn (0.16 vs. 0, P < 0.002), caspofungin (0.346, 0.138 P < 0.003). This was accompanied by a nonsignificant increase in mean fluconazole use (0.29 vs. 0.37, P < 0.3). There was no impact on patient mortality or nosocomial infection rate. Additional results can be found in table. Conclusion The use of an antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol in ECMO patients led to improvement in antimicrobial usage without increasing nosocomial infections in a population at a high risk of infection. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source Citation: Gharbi M, Drysdale JH, Lishman H, et al. Antibiotic management of urinary tract infection in elderly patients in primary care and its association with bloodstream infections and all cause mortality: population based cohort study. BMJ. 2019;364:l525. 30814048 Clinical Impact Ratings: GIM/FP/GP: Geriatrics: Infectious Disease: Nephrology: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of brain abscess, significant associated morbidity and mortality remain high. We retrospectively reviewed adults who presented with pyogenic brain abscess from January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2020. Overall, 247 patients were identified. The median age was 59 years, and 33.6% had a history of head and neck surgery or traumatic brain injury. Diagnostic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in the bulk (93.1%) of patients. A total of 205 patients (83%) were managed with medical and surgical treatment. The most common definitive antibiotic regimen was monotherapy (48.2%). The median duration of antimicrobial therapy was 42 days. Compared with those who received combined therapy, patients with medical therapy alone had a higher mortality rate (21.4% vs 6%; P =. 003) with more neurologic sequelae (31% vs 27.1%; P = .5). Most patients with brain abscesses are older with multiple underlying comorbidities, and one-third had antecedent head and neck surgery. A prompt combined surgical and medical approach with prolonged antimicrobial therapy may cure the infection with avoidance of permanent residual neurologic deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]