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IntroductionThe main challenge in the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is to reduce recurrence rates. Fidaxomicin improves the recurrence rate of CDI compared with vancomycin. Extended-pulsed dosing of fidaxomicin was associated with lower recurrence rates in one clinical trial but has never been directly compared with conventional fidaxomicin dosing.MethodsTo compare the recurrence rate of fidaxomicin conventional dosing (FCD) and fidaxomicin in extended-pulsed dosing (FEPD) in conditions of clinical practice at a single institution. We performed propensity score matching taking the variables age, severity and previous episode as confounders to evaluate patients with a similar recurrence risk.ResultsIn total, 254 episodes of CDI treated with fidaxomicin were evaluated: 170 (66.9%) received FCD, and 84 (33.1%) received FEPD. More patients who received FCD were hospitalized for CDI, had severe CDI and had a diagnosis based on toxin detection. In contrast, the proportion of patients receiving proton pump inhibitors was higher in those receiving FEPD. The crude recurrence rates in FCD- and FEPD-treated patients were 20.0% and 10.7%, respectively (OR:0.48; 95% CI 0.22–1.05; P = 0.068). We did not find any differences in CDI recurrence rate in patients receiving FEPD versus FCD (OR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.27–2.04) by propensity score analysis.ConclusionsAlthough the recurrence rate with FEPD was numerically lower than that observed with FCD, we have not been able to show that the recurrence rate of CDI is different depending on the dosage regimen of fidaxomicin. Clinical trials or large observational studies comparing the two dosing regimens of fidaxomicin are needed.

Clostridioides difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile, is a Gram-positive spore-forming and toxin-producing bacterium that causes diarrhoea in vulnerable patient groups. It is a common hospital-acquired infection but also occurs in the community. Typically, C. difficile colonises the gut in patients experiencing gut dysbiosis, for example, following antimicrobial treatment or chemotherapy. Cases of C. difficile are increasing worldwide, both in healthcare settings and in the community, and are an indicator of widespread antibiotic use. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) combines local, national, and international guidelines for good antimicrobial practice, effective monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, and control of antibiotic use. Such strategies are vital in the international drive to stem the rise in antimicrobial resistance and control hospital-acquired infections such as C. difficile. However, implementation of such strategies is often lacking. Resourcing issues and a lack of awareness of current best practices among physicians, prescribers, and the general public are significant barriers to implementation. EMJ spoke with two infectious disease experts: Benoît Guery, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, and Javier Cobo Reinoso, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. They highlighted the challenges that face medical practitioners, infectious disease experts, hospital managers, and healthcare providers in developing and implementing effective antimicrobial strategies that support better patient outcomes. The two experts also discussed the changes required to ensure that good AMS can be implemented at local, national, and international levels.

[Objectives] We aim to identify the preoperative and perioperative risk factors associated with post-surgical Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infections (PJI) and to develop and validate risk-scoring systems, to allow a better identification of high-risk patients for more efficient targeted interventions., [Methods] We performed a multicenter matched case-control study of patients who underwent a primary hip and knee arthroplasty from 2014 to 2016. Two multivariable models by logistic regression were performed, one for the preoperative and one for perioperative variables; predictive scores also were developed and validated in an external cohort., [Results] In total, 130 cases and 386 controls were included. The variables independently associated with S. aureus-PJI in the preoperative period were (adjusted OR; 95% CI): body mass index >30 kg/m2 (3.0; 1.9 to 4.8), resident in a long-term care facility (2.8; 1.05 to 7.5), fracture as reason for arthroplasty (2.7; 1.4 to 5.03), skin disorders (2.5; 0.9 to 7.04), previous surgery in the index joint (2.4; 1.3 to 4.4), male sex (1.9; 1.2 to 2.9) and American Society of Anesthesiologists index score 3 to 4 (1.8; 1.2 to 2.9). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.78). In perioperative model, the risk factors were the previous ones plus surgical antibiotic prophylaxis administered out of the first 60 minutes before incision (5.9; 2.1 to 16.2), wound drainage for >72 hours after arthroplasty (4.5; 1.9 to 19.4) and use of metal bearing material versus ceramic (1.9; 1.1 to 3.3). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.78 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.83). The predictive scores developed were validated in the external cohort., [Discussion] Predictive scores for S. aureus-PJI were developed and validated; this information would be useful for implementation of specific preventive measures.

Objectives:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has induced a reinforcement of infection control measures in the hospital setting. Here, we assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of nosocomial Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).Methods:We retrospectively compared the incidence density (cases per 10,000 patient days) of healthcare-facility–associated (HCFA) CDI in a tertiary-care hospital in Madrid, Spain, during the maximum incidence of COVID-19 (March 11 to May 11, 2020) with the same period of the previous year (control period). We also assessed the aggregate in-hospital antibiotic use (ie, defined daily doses [DDD] per 100 occupied bed days [BD]) and incidence density (ie, movements per 1,000 patient days) of patient mobility during both periods.Results:In total, 2,337 patients with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction–confirmed COVID-19 were admitted to the hospital during the COVID-19 period. Also, 12 HCFA CDI cases were reported at this time (incidence density, 2.68 per 10,000 patient days), whereas 34 HCFA CDI cases were identified during the control period (incidence density, 8.54 per 10,000 patient days) (P = .000257). Antibiotic consumption was slightly higher during the COVID-19 period (89.73 DDD per 100 BD) than during the control period (79.16 DDD per 100 BD). The incidence density of patient movements was 587.61 per 1,000 patient days during the control period and was significantly lower during the COVID-19 period (300.86 per 1,000 patient days) (P < .0001).Conclusions:The observed reduction of ~70% in the incidence density of HCFA CDI in a context of no reduction in antibiotic use supports the importance of reducing nosocomial transmission by healthcare workers and asymptomatic colonized patients, reinforcing cleaning procedures and reducing patient mobility in the epidemiological control of CDI.

Summary Background Information about incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of HIV-infected individuals with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is scarce. We characterised individuals with COVID-19 among a cohort of HIV-infected adults in Madrid. Methods In this observational prospective study, we included all consecutive HIV-infected individuals (aged ≥18 years) who had suspected or confirmed COVID-19 as of April 30, 2020, at the Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal (Madrid, Spain). We compared the characteristics of HIV-infected individuals with COVID-19 with a sample of HIV-infected individuals assessed before the COVID-19 pandemic, and described the outcomes of individuals with COVID-19. Findings 51 HIV-infected individuals were diagnosed with COVID-19 (incidence 1·8%, 95% CI 1·3–2·3). Mean age of patients was 53·3 years (SD 9·5); eight (16%) were women, and 43 (84%) men. 35 (69%) cases of co-infection had laboratory confirmed COVID-19, and 28 (55%) required hospital admission. Age and CD4 cell counts in 51 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were similar to those in 1288 HIV-infected individuals without; however, 32 (63%) with COVID-19 had at least one comorbidity (mostly hypertension and diabetes) compared with 495 (38%) without COVID-19 (p=0·00059). 37 (73%) patients had received tenofovir before COVID-19 diagnosis compared with 487 (38%) of those without COVID-19 (p=0·0036); 11 (22%) in the COVID-19 group had previous protease inhibitor use (mostly darunavir) compared with 175 (14%; p=0·578). Clinical, analytical, and radiological presentation of COVID-19 in HIV-infected individuals was similar to that described in the general population. Six (12%) individuals were critically ill, two of whom had CD4 counts of less than 200 cells per μL, and two (4%) died. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR remained positive after a median of 40 days from symptoms onset in six (32%) individuals, four of whom had severe disease or low nadir CD4 cell counts. Interpretation HIV-infected individuals should not be considered to be protected from SARS-CoV-2 infection or to have lower risk of severe disease. Generally, they should receive the same treatment approach applied to the general population. Funding None.

Background Both fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab (used in combination with an antibiotic against Clostridioides difficile) achieve reductions in recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the two strategies have never been compared. Methods Data from two retrospective cohorts of ‘real-life’ use of fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab in combination with a standard anti-C. difficile antibiotic were used to compare the rates of recurrence of both strategies. Since the two cohorts were not identical, we used a propensity score analysis. Results Three hundred and two patients were included: 244 in the fidaxomicin cohort and 78 in the bezlotoxumab cohort. A history of renal failure or immunosuppression was more frequent in patients receiving bezlotoxumab (39.7% and 66.7% versus 26.6% and 38.9%; P = 0.03 and P Conclusions We observed that fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab are prescribed in similar clinical scenarios, although those treated with bezlotoxumab have greater comorbidity. The proportion of recurrences was numerically lower in those treated with bezlotoxumab, although the propensity analysis did not find significant differences between the two drugs.

Background Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infections have been occasionally described in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We assess the clinical features and outcome of these infections. Methods In this retrospective single-centre, case-control study, we included 54 patients with CPE infection: 30 case-patients (COVID-19) and 24 controls (non-COVID-19), collected between March and May 2020. We compared the epidemiological, clinical features, and outcome between cases and controls. Results CPE infection was more frequent in COVID-19 patients than in controls (1.1 vs. 0.5%, p = .005). COVID-19 patients were younger, had a lower frequency of underlying diseases (p = .01), and a lower median Charlson score (p = .002). Predisposing factors such as antimicrobial use, mechanical ventilation, or ICU admission, were more frequent in COVID-19 patients (p

Background The positive-intraoperative-cultures-type prosthetic joint infection (PIOC-PJI) is considered when surgical cultures yield microorganisms in presumed aseptic arthroplasty revisions. Herein we assess the risk factors for failure in the largest cohort of PIOC-PJI patients reported to date. Methods A retrospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during 2007–2017. Surgeries leading to diagnose PIOC-PJI included only one-stage procedures with either complete or partial prosthesis revision. Failure was defined as recurrence caused by the same microorganism. Results 203 cases were included (age 72 years, 52% females). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 125, 62%) was the main etiology, but some episodes were caused by virulent bacteria (n = 51, 25%). Prosthesis complete and partial revision was performed in 93 (46%) and 110 (54%) cases, respectively. After a median of 3.4 years, failure occurred in 17 episodes (8.4%, 95%CI 5.3–13.1). Partial revision was an independent predictor of failure (HR 3.63; 95%CI 1.03–12.8), adjusted for gram-negative bacilli (GNB) infection (HR 2.68; 95%CI 0.91–7.89) and chronic renal impairment (HR 2.40; 95%CI 0.90–6.44). Treatment with biofilm-active antibiotics (rifampin/fluoroquinolones) had a favorable impact on infections caused by staphylococci and GNB. Conclusion Overall prognosis of PIOC-PJI is good, but close follow-up is required in cases of partial revision and in infections caused by GNB.

The benefit of suppressive antibiotic treatment in inoperable patients with a chronic periprosthetic joint infection and a sinus tract is unknown. Some physicians prefer to just let the sinus drain, while others prefer antibiotic treatment. In this viewpoint article we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of suppressive antibiotic treatment in this particular patient group.

RESUMEN Se presenta aquí el documento de consenso para la implantación y desarrollo del Código Sepsis en la Comunidad de Madrid, cuya redacción se completó en abril de 2017. Este documento ha sido adoptado por la Consejería de Sanidad madrileña como base de trabajo para la puesta en marcha del Código Sepsis, tanto en el ámbito hospitalario (hospitales de agudos y de media y larga estancia) como en Atención Primaria y los Servicios de Emergencia Extrahospitalaria. Se publica ahora sin modificaciones con respecto a la versión original, añadiendo únicamente las referencias bibliográficas más significativas. El documento se estructura en cuatro partes: introducción, detección y valoración iniciales, tratamiento inicial y organización asistencial. En las partes segunda a cuarta se proponen 25 recomendaciones, consensuadas por los autores después de varias reuniones presenciales y una extensa discusión “online”. Se incluyen nueve tablas que pretenden servir de guía práctica para la activación y aplicación del código sepsis. Tanto el contenido de las recomendaciones como su redacción formal se han realizado teniendo en cuenta su aplicabilidad en todos los ámbitos a los que se dirigen, que cuentan con recursos y características estructurales y funcionales muy dispares, por lo que deliberadamente se ha huido de un mayor grado de concreción: el objetivo no es que el código sepsis se organice y se aplique de forma idéntica en todos ellos, sino que los recursos sanitarios trabajen de forma coordinada alineados en la misma dirección.

The cost of treating Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Spain is substantial. Findings from the randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3b/4 EXTEND study showed that an extended-pulsed fidaxomicin (EPFX) regimen was associated with improved sustained clinical cure and reduced recurrence of CDI versus vancomycin in patients aged 60 years and older. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of EPFX versus vancomycin for the treatment of CDI in patients aged 60 years and older from the perspective of the National Health System (NHS) in Spain. We used a Markov model with six health states and 1-year time horizon. Health resources, their unit costs and utilities were based on published sources. Key efficacy data and transition probabilities were obtained from the EXTEND study and published sources. A panel of Spanish clinical experts validated all model assumptions. In the analysis, 0.638 and 0.594 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per patient were obtained with EPFX and vancomycin, respectively, with a gain of 0.044 QALYs with EPFX. The cost per patient treated with EPFX and vancomycin was estimated to be €10,046 and €10,693, respectively, with a saving of €647 per patient treated with EPFX. For willingness-to-pay thresholds of €20,000, €25,000 and €30,000 per QALY gained, the probability that EPFX was the most cost-effective treatment was 99.3%, 99.5% and 99.9%, respectively. According to our economic model and the assumptions based on the Spanish NHS, EPFX is cost-effective compared with vancomycin for the first-line treatment of CDI in patients aged 60 years and older. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10096-019-03503-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The availability of highly sensitive molecular tests for the detection of Clostridioides difficile in feces leads to overtreatment of patients who are probably only colonized. In this prospective study, the usefulness of fecal calprotectin (fCP) is evaluated in a cohort of patients with detection of toxigenic C. difficile in feces. Patients were classified by an infectious diseases consultant blinded to fCP results into three groups—group I, presumed Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), group II, doubtful but treated CDI, and group III, presumed C. difficile colonization or self-limited CDI not needing treatment. One hundred and thirty-four patients were included. The median fCP concentrations were 410 (138–815) μg/g in group I, 188 (57–524) μg/g in group II, and 51 (26–97) μg/g in group III (26 cases), p &lt, 0.05 for all comparisons. In forty-five out of 134 cases (33.5%), the fCP concentrations were below 100 µg/g. In conclusion, fCP is low in most patients who do not need treatment against C. difficile, and should be investigated as a potentially useful test in the management of patients with detected toxigenic C. difficile.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the main clinical characteristics and outcome measures in hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) according to geographical area of origin. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 at a referral centre in Madrid, Spain, during March-May 2020 was performed. Recorded variables (age, gender, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, outcome), and geographical area of origin were compared for Europeans and non-Europeans (Latin Americans, Asians and Africans). RESULTS: In total, 2345 patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period were included in the study. Of these, 1956 (83.4%) were European and 389 (16.6%) were non-European (of whom over 90%, 354/389, were Latin American). Non-Europeans were significantly younger than Europeans (mean 54 (SD 13.5) versus 70.4 (SD 15.1) years, p

Investigations on the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the construction sector have shown that the environmental impact of construction products can be significantly reduced. To achieve this, the use of best available techniques and eco-innovation in production plants must be promoted. In this way, the use of finite natural resources can be replaced by waste generated in other production processes, preferably available locally, stimulating the creation of more sustainable products. Conducting a comparative LCA study between the traditional ceramic brick manufacturing process and the ceramic brick manufacturing process incorporating ‘alperujo’ (waste generated in the virgin oil extraction process), is an inevitable step to achieve the integration of circularity and eco-innovation in the production system of traditional ceramic materials, through the CML(Centrum voor Milieukunde Leiden) and IPCC(The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology. The obtained results suggest that the environmental benefits in this practice are very limited, even taking into account the contribution of different amounts of this waste to the production of bricks.

REIPI (Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Disease)/GEIO–SEIMC (Group for the Study of Osteoarticular Infections – Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology)., [Background and objectives] Available information about infection after spine instrumentation (IASI) and its management are scarce. We aimed to analyse DAIR (debridement, antibiotics and implant retention) prognosis and evaluate effectiveness of short antibiotic courses on early forms., [Methods] Multicentre retrospective study of patients with IASI managed surgically (January 2010–December 2016). Risk factors for failure were analysed by multivariate Cox regression and differences between short and long antibiotic treatment were evaluated with a propensity score-matched analysis., [Results] Of the 411 IASI cases, 300 (73%) presented in the first month after surgery, 48 in the second month, 22 in the third and 41 thereafter. Infections within the first 2 months (early cases) occurred mainly to older patients, with local inflammatory signs and predominance of Enterobacteriaceae, unlike those in the later periods. When managed with DAIR, prognosis of early cases was better than later ones (failure rate 10.4% versus 26.1%, respectively; P = 0.02). Risk factors for DAIR failure in early cases were female sex, Charlson Score, large fusions (>6 levels) and polymicrobial infections (adjusted HRs of 2.4, 1.3, 2.6 and 2.26, respectively). Propensity score matching proved shorter courses of antibiotics (4–6 weeks) as effective as longer courses (failure rates 11.4% and 10.5%, respectively; P = 0.870)., [Conclusions] IASIs within the first 2 months could be managed effectively with DAIR and shorter antibiotic courses. Clinicians should be cautious when faced with patients with comorbidities, large fusions and/or polymicrobial infections., E.B. was supported with a grant of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III – Ministry of Science and Innovation (FI 16/00397). This research was carried out as part of our routine work.

espanolIntroduccion. La infeccion por Clostridioides difficile (ICD) esta asociada a un aumento de la estancia hospitalaria y de la mortalidad y a una alta probabilidad de reingreso, lo que conlleva un aumento de uso de recursos sanitarios y por tanto un incremento de costes. El objetivo del estudio fue estimar la carga economica de la ICD recurrente (ICDr). Material y metodos. Estudio observacional, retrospectivo y multicentrico. Se incluyeron pacientes adultos (≥18 anos), que tuvieran registrado al menos un episodio diagnostico confirmado (primario o secundario) de ICDr durante enero 2010 y mayo 2018. El uso de recursos relacionado con la ICDr incluyo la estancia hospitalaria (urgencias previas, planta, aislamiento y UCI), asi como pruebas y tratamientos. Para episodios que ingresaron por ICDr (diagnostico principal) se considero la estancia completa registrada. Cuando la ICDr se registro como diagnostico secundario se estimo la estancia hospitalaria debida a ICDr mediante emparejamiento (1:1) utilizando la tecnica “propensity score”. Se consideraron como controles (episodios sin ICD) las hospitalizaciones registradas en Conjunto Minimo Basico de las Altas Hospitalarias. El coste total se calculo multiplicando las unidades naturales de los recursos por el coste unitario correspondiente. Todos los costes fueron actualizados a euros de 2019. Resultados. Se incluyeron 282 episodios ICDr (188 como diagnostico principal): 66,31% de los pacientes tenian mas de 65 anos y 57,80% eran mujeres. La estancia media (DE) hospitalaria fue de 17,18 (23,27) dias. Un 86,17% de los episodios fueron aislados debido a ICDr con una media (DE) de 10,30 (9,97) dias. El coste medio (IC-95%) total por episodio fue de 10.877€ (9.499-12.777), siendo la duracion de la estancia hospitalaria el 92,56% del coste total. Conclusiones. Tanto el uso de recursos como el coste debido a la ICDr tienen un alto impacto para el sistema nacional de salud lo que pone de relieve la importancia de prevenir las ICDr. EnglishSTRACT Introduction. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with increased hospital stays and mortality and a high likelihood of rehospitalization, leading to increased health resource use and costs. The objective was to estimate the economic burden of recurrent CDI (rCDI). Material and methods. Observational, retrospective study carried out in six hospitals. Adults aged ≥18 years with ≥1 confirmed diagnosis (primary or secondary) of rCDI between January 2010 and May 2018 were included. rCDI-related resource use included days of hospital stay (emergency room, ward, isolation and ICU), tests and treatments. For patients with primary diagnosis of rCDI, the complete hospital stay was attributed to rCDI. When diagnosis of rCDI was secondary, hospital stay attributed to rCDI was estimated using 1:1 propensity score matching as the difference in hospital stay compared to controls. Controls were hospitalizations without CDI recorded in the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. The cost was calculated by multiplying the natural resource units by the unit cost. Costs (euros) were updated to 2019. Results. We included 282 rCDI episodes (188 as primary diagnosis): 66.31% of patients were aged ≥65 years and 57.80% were female. The mean hospital stay (SD) was 17.18 (23.27) days: 86.17% of rCDI episodes were isolated for a mean (SD) of 10.30 (9.97) days. The total mean cost (95%-CI) per episode was €10,877 (9,499-12,777), of which the hospital stay accounted for 92.56% Conclusions. There is high cost and resource use associated with rCDI, highlighting the importance of preventing rCDI to the Spanish National Health System.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infections have been occasionally described in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We assess the clinical features and outcome of these infections. METHODS: In this retrospective single-centre, case-control study, we included 54 patients with CPE infection: 30 case-patients (COVID-19) and 24 controls (non-COVID-19), collected between March and May 2020. We compared the epidemiological, clinical features, and outcome between cases and controls. RESULTS: CPE infection was more frequent in COVID-19 patients than in controls (1.1 vs. 0.5%, p = .005). COVID-19 patients were younger, had a lower frequency of underlying diseases (p = .01), and a lower median Charlson score (p = .002). Predisposing factors such as antimicrobial use, mechanical ventilation, or ICU admission, were more frequent in COVID-19 patients (p < .05). There were 73 episodes of infection (42 cases and 31 controls) that were more frequently hospital-acquired and diagnosed at the ICU in COVID-19 patients (p < .001). Urinary tract was the most common source of infection (47.9%), followed by pneumonia (23.3%). The frequency of severe sepsis or shock (p = .01) as well as the median SOFA score (p = .04) was higher in cases than in controls. Klebsiella pneumoniae (80.8%), Serratia marcescens (11%) and Enterobacter cloacae (4.1%) were the most common bacteria in both groups (KPC 56.2%, OXA-48 26% and VIM 17.8%). Overall 30-d mortality rate of COVID-19 patients and controls was 30 and 16.7%, respectively (p = .25). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients have an increased risk of CPE infections, which usually present as severe, nosocomial infections, appearing in critically-ill patients and associated with a high mortality.

The high cost of fidaxomicin has restricted its use despite the benefit of a lower Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence rate at 4 weeks of follow-up. This short follow-up represents the main limitation of pivotal clinical trials of fidaxomicin, and some recent studies question its benefits over vancomycin. Moreover, the main risk factors of recurrence after treatment with fidaxomicin remain unknown. We designed a multicentre retrospective cohort study among four Spanish hospitals to assess the efficacy of fidaxomicin in real life and to investigate risk factors of fidaxomicin failure at weeks 8 and 12. Two-hundred forty-four patients were included. Fidaxomicin was used in 96 patients (39.3%) for a first episode of CDI, in 95 patients (38.9%) for a second episode, and in 53 patients (21.7%) for a third or subsequent episode. Patients treated with fidaxomicin in a first episode were younger (59.9 years vs 73.5 years), but they had more severe episodes (52.1% vs. 32.4%). The recurrence rates for patients treated in the first episode were 6.5% and 9.7% at weeks 8 and 12, respectively. Recurrence rates increased for patients treated at second or ulterior episodes (16.3% and 26.4% at week 8, respectively). Age greater than or equal to 85 years and having had a previous episode of CDI were identified as recurrence risk factors at weeks 8 and 12. We conclude that the outcomes with fidaxomicin in real life are at least as good as those observed in clinical trials despite a more demanding evaluation. Be it 85 years of age or older, and the use after a first episode appears to be independent factors of CDI recurrence after treatment with fidaxomicin.

The aim was to describe the safety of indefinite administration of antibiotics, the so-called suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT) and to provide insight into their impact on gut microbiota. 17 patients with SAT were recruited, providing a fecal sample. Bacterial composition was determined by 16S rDNA massive sequencing, and their viability was explored by PCR-DGGE with and without propidium monoazide. Presence of antibiotic multirresistant bacteria was explored through the culture of feces in selective media. High intra-individual variability in the genera distribution regardless of the antibiotic or antibiotic administration ingestion period, with few statistically significant differences detected by Bray-Curtis distance-based principle component analysis, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis. However, the microbiota composition of patients treated with both beta-lactams and sulfonamides clustered by a heat map. Curiously, the detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria was almost anecdotic and CTX-M-15-producing E. coli were detected in two subjects. Our work demonstrates the overall clinical safety of SAT and the low rate of the selection of multidrug-resistant bacteria triggered by this therapy. We also describe the composition of intestinal microbiota under the indefinite use of antibiotics for the first time.

Objectives: To compare the characteristics and outcomes of cases with acute prosthetic joint infection (PJI; early post-surgical or hematogenous) by Staphylococcus aureus managed with implant removal (IRm) or debridement and retention (DAIR). To analyze the outcomes of all cases managed with IRm (initially or after DAIR failure). Methods: Retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of PJI by S. aureus (2003–2010). Overall failure included mortality within 60 days since surgery and local failure due to staphylococcal persistence/relapse. Results: 499 cases, 338 initially managed with DAIR, 161 with IRm. Mortality was higher in acute PJI managed initially with IRm compared to DAIR, but not associated with the surgical procedure, after propensity score matching. Underlying conditions, hemiarthroplasty, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were risk factors for mortality. Finally, 249 cases underwent IRm (88 after DAIR failure); overall failure was 15.6%. Local failure (9.3%) was slightly higher in cases with several comorbidities, but independent of previous DAIR, type of IRm, and rifampin treatment. Conclusions: In a large multicenter study of S. aureus PJI managed with IRm, failure was low, but mortality significant, especially in cases with acute PJI and underlying conditions, but not associated with the IRm itself. Rifampin efficacy was limited in this setting.

This document gathers the opinion of a multidisciplinary forum of experts on different aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Spain. It has been structured around a series of questions that the attendees considered relevant and in which a consensus opinion was reached. The main messages were as follows: CDI should be suspected in patients older than 2 years of age in the presence of diarrhea, paralytic ileus and unexplained leukocytosis, even in the absence of classical risk factors. With a few exceptions, a single stool sample is sufficient for diagnosis, which can be sent to the laboratory with or without transportation media for enteropathogenic bacteria. In the absence of diarrhoea, rectal swabs may be valid. The microbiology laboratory should include C. difficile among the pathogens routinely searched in patients with diarrhoea. Laboratory tests in different order and sequence schemes include GDH detection, presence of toxins, molecular tests and toxigenic culture. Immediate determination of sensitivity to drugs such as vancomycin, metronidazole or fidaxomycin is not required. The evolution of toxin persistence is not a suitable test for follow up. Laboratory diagnosis of CDI should be rapid and results reported and interpreted to clinicians immediately. In addition to the basic support of all diarrheic episodes, CDI treatment requires the suppression of antiperistaltic agents, proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics, where possible. Oral vancomycin and fidaxomycin are the antibacterials of choice in treatment, intravenous metronidazole being restricted for patients in whom the presence of the above drugs in the intestinal lumen cannot be assured. Fecal material transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with multiple recurrences but uncertainties persist regarding its standardization and safety. Bezlotoxumab is a monoclonal antibody to C. difficile toxin B that should be administered to patients at high risk of recurrence. Surgery is becoming less and less necessary and prevention with vaccines is under research. Probiotics have so far not been shown to be therapeutically or preventively effective. The therapeutic strategy should be based, rather than on the number of episodes, on the severity of the episodes and on their potential to recur. Some data point to the efficacy of oral vancomycin prophylaxis in patients who reccur CDI when systemic antibiotics are required again.

Recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has major consequences for both patients and the health system. The ability to predict which patients are at increased risk of recurrent CDI makes it possible to select candidates for treatment with new drugs and therapies (including fecal microbiota transplantation) that have proven to reduce the incidence of recurrence of CDI. Our objective was to develop a clinical prediction tool, the GEIH-CDI score, to determine the risk of recurrence of CDI. Predictors of recurrence of CDI were investigated using logistic regression in a prospective cohort of 274 patients diagnosed with CDI. The model was calibrated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The tool comprises four factors: age (70-79 years and >= 80 years), history of CDI during the previous year, direct detection of toxin in stool, and persistence of diarrhea on the fifth day of treatment. The functioning of the GEIH-CDI score was validated in a prospective cohort of 183 patients. The area under the ROC curve was 0.72 (0.65-0.79). Application of the tool makes it possible to select patients at high risk (> 50%) of recurrence and patients at low risk (< 10%) of recurrence. GEIH-CDI score may be useful for clinicians treating patients with CDI. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Recurrences of Clostridium difficile infections lead to hospital readmissions and high costs, in addition to the suffering and frustration for the patients. Fidaxomicin has recently been introduced as a new antibiotic that has been shown to significantly reduce the recurrence of this infection. Despite this superiority, its high cost has led to very restrictive policies in its use, as such that many institutions only use it in patients with multiple recurrences. While waiting for new predictive clinical tools, we propose the development of scoring systems that allow the more high-risk patients to be treated earlier.

Recurrences of Clostridium difficile infections lead to hospital readmissions and high costs, in addition to the suffering and frustration for the patients. Fidaxomicin has recently been introduced as a new antibiotic that has been shown to significantly reduce the recurrence of this infection. Despite this superiority, its high cost has led to very restrictive policies in its use, as such that many institutions only use it in patients with multiple recurrences. While waiting for new predictive clinical tools, we propose the development of scoring systems that allow the more high-risk patients to be treated earlier.

Introduction Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is common and often difficult to manage. Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is an effective therapeutic tool in these cases, although its applicability and effectiveness in Spain is currently unknown. Aim To analyse the technical aspects, safety and effectiveness of the first consolidated FMT programme in Spain. Methods Retrospective descriptive study of all patients with recurrent CDI treated with FMT performed by colonoscopy in a tertiary centre after the implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol between March 2015 and September 2016. Results A total of 13 FMT were performed in 12 patients (11/12; 91.7% women) with a median age of 84.6 years (range: 38.2–98.2). Recurrence of CDI was the indication for FMT in all cases. Patients had suffered a median of 3 previous episodes of CDI (range: 2–6) and all had failed treatment with fidaxomicin. All procedures were performed by colonoscopy. Effectiveness with one session of FMT was 91.7% (11/12; 95% CI: 64.6–98.5%). In the non-responder patient, a second FMT was performed 17 days after the first procedure, with disappearance of symptoms. No side effects related to the endoscopic procedure or the FMT were recorded after a median follow-up of 6.5 months (range: 1–16 months). Two patients died during follow-up due to causes unrelated to FMT. Conclusion FMT by colonoscopy is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative in recurrent CDI. It is a simple procedure that should be implemented in more centres in Spain.

Resumen Introduccion La recurrencia de la infeccion por Clostridium difficile (ICD) es frecuente y a menudo dificil de controlar. El trasplante de microbiota fecal (TMF) es una opcion terapeutica avalada en estos casos, aunque se desconoce su aplicabilidad y efectividad en nuestro medio. Objetivos Analizar los aspectos tecnicos, seguridad y efectividad del primer programa consolidado de TMF en Espana. Metodos Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de todos los pacientes con ICD recurrente tratados mediante TMF por colonoscopia en un hospital de tercer nivel tras la implantacion de un protocolo multidisciplinar entre marzo de 2015 y septiembre 2016. Resultados Se realizaron 13 TMF en 12 pacientes (11/12; 91,7% mujeres) con una mediana de edad de 84,6 anos (rango: 38,2-98,2). En todos los casos la indicacion fue la recurrencia de la ICD. Los pacientes habian presentado una mediana de 3 episodios previos de ICD (rango: 2-6) y en todos habia fracasado el tratamiento con fidaxomicina. Todos los procedimientos se realizaron mediante colonoscopia. La efectividad con una sesion de TMF fue del 91,7% (11/12; IC 95%: 64,6-98,5%). En la paciente no respondedora se realizo un segundo TMF a los 17 dias con desaparicion de la sintomatologia. No se registraron efectos adversos secundarios al procedimiento endoscopico ni al TMF tras una mediana de seguimiento de 6,5 meses (rango: 1-16 meses). Dos pacientes fallecieron durante el seguimiento por causas no relacionadas con el TMF. Conclusiones El TMF por colonoscopia es una alternativa terapeutica efectiva y segura en la recurrencia de la ICD. Se trata de un procedimiento sencillo que deberia implementarse en mas centros en nuestro entorno.