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We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of biliary source bloodstream infections (BSIs) in oncological patients. Secondarily, we analyzed risk factors for recurrent BSI episodes. All episodes of biliary source BSIs in oncological patients were prospectively collected (2008-2019) and retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were performed. A rule to stratify patients into risk groups for recurrent biliary source BSI was conducted. Four hundred biliary source BSIs were documented in 291 oncological patients. The most frequent causative agents were Escherichia coli (42%) and Klebsiella spp. (27%), and 86 (21.5%) episodes were caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB). The rates of MDR-GNB increased over time. Overall, 73 patients developed 118 recurrent BSI episodes. Independent risk factors for recurrent BSI episodes were prior antibiotic therapy (OR 3.781, 95% CI 1.906-7.503), biliary prosthesis (OR 2.232, 95% CI 1.157-4.305), prior admission due to suspected biliary source infection (OR 4.409, 95% CI 2.338-8.311), and BSI episode caused by an MDR-GNB (OR 2.857, 95% CI 1.389-5.874). With these variables, a score was generated that predicted recurrent biliary source BSI with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.819. Inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment (IEAT) was administered in 23.8% of patients, and 30-d mortality was 19.5%. As a conclusion, biliary source BSI in oncological patients is mainly caused by GNB, with high and increasing MDR rates, frequent IEAT, and high mortality. Recurrent BSI episodes are frequent. A simple score to identify recurrent episodes was developed to potentially establish prophylactic strategies. IMPORTANCE This study shows that biliary source bloodstream infections (BSIs) in oncological patients are mainly caused by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), with high and increasing rates of multidrug resistance. Importantly, recurrent biliary source BSI episodes were very frequent and associated with delays in chemotherapy, high rates of inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy, and high 30-d mortality (19.5%). Using the variable independently associated with recurrent BSI episodes, a score was generated that predicted recurrent biliary source BSI with high accuracy. This score could be used to establish prophylactic strategies and lower the risk of relapsing episodes and the associated morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: Assess the impact of viral load estimated by cycle threshold (Ct) of reverse transcription real time-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and the days from symptoms onset on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID19., Methods: Retrospective observational study of 782 patients with a positive rRT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab was performed within the first 24 h from admission. Demographic data, clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters were collected. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with mortality at 60 days., Results: Ct was divided into three groups and the mortality rate decreased from 27.3 to 20.7% and 9.8% for Ct values of ≤ 20, 21-25 and > 25, respectively (P = 0.0001). The multivariate analysis identified as predictors of mortality, a Ct value < 20 (OR 3.13, CI 95% 1.38-7.10), between 21-25 (OR 2.47, CI 95% 1.32-4.64) with respect to a Ct value > 25. Days from symptoms onset is a variable associated with mortality as well (DSOA) ≤ 6 (OR 1.86, CI 95% 1.00-3.46), among other factors. Patients requiring hospital admission within 6 DSOA with a Ct value ≤ 25 had the highest mortality rate (28%)., Conclusions: The inclusion of Ct values and DSOA in the characterization of study populations could be a useful tool to evaluate the efficacy of antivirals., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Combination therapy is an attractive option for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, limited data are available on combinations with ceftolozane-tazobactam (C-T). The in vitro pharmacodynamic chemostat model was employed to compare human-simulated exposures of C-T at 3 g every 8 h alone or in combination with amikacin at 25 mg/kg of body weight daily or colistin at 360 mg daily against four MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. C-T alone resulted in 24-h changes in the number of CFU of -0.02 ± 0.21, -1.81 ± 0.55, -1.44 ± 0.40, and +0.62 ± 0.05 log 10 CFU/ml against isolates with C-T MICs of 4, 4, 8, and 16 μg/ml, respectively. Amikacin and colistin monotherapy displayed various results. The addition of amikacin to C-T resulted in -2.00 ± 0.23 ( P < 0.001, additive)-, -1.50 ± 0.83 ( P = 0.687, indifferent)-, -2.84 ± 0.08 ( P = 0.079, indifferent)-, and -2.67 ± 0.54 ( P < 0.001, synergy)-log 10 CFU/ml reductions, respectively. The addition of colistin to C-T resulted in -3.02 ± 0.22 ( P < 0.001, additive)-, -3.21 ± 0.24 ( P > 0.05, indifferent)-, -4.6 ± 0.11 ( P = 0.002, synergy)-, and -3.01 ± 0.28 ( P < 0.001, synergy)-log 10 CFU/ml reductions, respectively, against the MDR P. aeruginosa isolates with these MICs. Greater overall reductions in bacterial burden, including additive or synergistic interactions at 24 h, with C-T plus amikacin or colistin were observed against 3 out of 4 MDR P. aeruginosa strains tested, particularly those strains that were intermediate or resistant to C-T. Further studies assessing combination regimens containing C-T against MDR P. aeruginosa are warranted., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.)