Search

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Ceftolozane/tazobactam is a cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with activity against Gram-negative bacilli. Here we report the use of ceftolozane/tazobactam in Canada using a national registry. Methods: The CLEAR registry uses a REDCapTM online survey to capture details associated with clinical use of ceftolozane/tazobactam. Results: Data from 51 patients treated in 2020 with ceftolozane/tazobactam are available. Infections treated included hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (37.3% of patients), ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (15.7%), bone and joint infection (11.8%), complicated intra-abdominal infection (7.8%) and complicated skin and skin-structure infection (7.8%). Moreover, 17.6% of patients had bacteraemia and 47.1% were in intensive care. Ceftolozane/tazobactam was primarily used as directed therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections (92.2% of patients). Ceftolozane/tazobactam was used because of resistance to (86.3%), failure of (11.8%) or adverse effects from (2.0%) previously prescribed antimicrobials. Ceftolozane/tazobactam susceptibility testing was performed on isolates from 88.2% of patients. Ceftolozane/tazobactam was used in combination with another antimicrobial active against Gram-negative bacilli in 39.2% of patients [aminoglycosides (15.7%), fluoroquinolones (9.8%) and colistin/polymyxin B (7.8%)]. The dosage regimen was customised in all patients based on creatinine clearance. The treatment duration was primarily >10 days (60.8% of patients), with microbiological success in 60.5% and clinical success in 64.4% of patients. Moreover, 7.8% of patients had adverse effects not requiring drug discontinuation. Conclusion: In Canada, ceftolozane/tazobactam is used as directed therapy to treat a variety of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. It is commonly used in combination with other antimicrobials with relatively high microbiological/clinical cure rates and an excellent safety profile.

Xanthogranulomatous (XG) prostatitis is a rare form of granulomatous prostatitis characterized by a benign inflammatory process of non-specific etiology that clinically may mimic carcinoma. Few cases have been reported in the English language medical literature, with only four reported cases presenting as prostatic abscesses. A 70-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus and two previous kidney transplants presented with septic shock secondary to Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia 4 days after undergoing a cystoscopy. Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, P. aeruginosa persisted in the blood for a total of 7 days. There were no indwelling prosthetic devices, no complicated pyelonephritis, and no endovascular sources of infection. Upon repeat clinical assessment, the patient reported pelvic pain. A digital rectal examination revealed prostatic tenderness and an endorectal ultrasound confirmed multiple prostatic abscesses. An ultrasound-guided transrectal needle aspirate drained scant purulent fluid and cultures grew the same phenotypic strain of P. aeruginosa. For definitive source control, the patient underwent transurethral resection of the prostate with unroofing of prostatic abscesses. The pathological findings were diagnostic of XG prostatitis. Given the rather acute presentation of this case, our hypothesis is that the prior urological instrumentation likely facilitated bacterial translocation and created the ideal environment for the development of pseudomonal prostatic abscesses resulting in XG inflammation and necrosis. XG prostatitis is a rare entity of uncertain etiology that can result in prostatic abscesses, and surgery is required for definitive diagnosis and management. Keywords: Xanthogranulomatous, Prostatitis, Abscess, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Transplantation

A 67-year-old man with significant smoking history presented with fever, unintentional weight loss, night sweats, productive cough, and progressive dyspnea. Multiple respiratory specimens grew Mycobacterium branderi. Computed tomography scanning of the chest revealed a cavitary right upper lung lesion. Bronchoscopy and thoracoscopic biopsy were negative for malignancy but showed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation, which was culture negative. Due to clinical and radiologic progression despite therapy with clarithromycin, ethambutol and moxifloxacin, the lesion was surgically resected and the patient’s symptoms resolved. Mycobacteria were seen in histopathology but did not grow from resected tissue. The patient received an additional 6 months of medical therapy and remains asymptomatic 1 month after completing antimicrobials. Cases of M. branderi causing human infection are very rarely reported. This is a novel case of multi-drug resistant M. branderi pulmonary infection in an apparently immunocompetent patient, progressive despite medical therapy and requiring surgical resection for definitive management.