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Objectives: Cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CE) infections are intractable, with limited treatment options. Though carbapenems are frequently prescribed for CE infections, the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is of huge concern. Flomoxef is effective against CE in vitro, and some clinical data on its demonstrated effectiveness against CE bloodstream infections (BSIs) exists. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective study on adults with BSI caused by flomoxef-susceptible CE to investigate the efficacy of flomoxef compared with that of ertapenem. The outcome was evaluated with propensity score-based matching and logistic regression analysis. Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated with flomoxef (n = 58) or ertapenem (n = 188) were compared. In the multivariate analysis, severe sepsis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-12.78; p = 0.03), high BSI mortality score (AOR = 5.59; 95% CI, 2.37-13.21; p < 0.01), ultimately or rapidly fatal comorbidity (AOR = 10.60; 95% CI, 3.43-32.75; p < 0.01), and pneumonia (AOR = 10.11; 95% CI, 3.43-29.81; p < 0.01) were independently associated with 28-day mortality. Using propensity scores, 58 flomoxef-treated patients were matched to 116 ertapenem-treated patients. There were no intergroup differences in BSI severity, comorbidity, or BSI sources. The 28-day mortality rates (20.7% vs 13.8%, p = 0.28) did not differ significantly. However, hospitalization length was shorter in the ertapenem group (10.2 ± 8.5 vs. 14.6 ± 9.4 days, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Although similar outcomes were observed between the groups, ertapenem therapy was associated with a shorter hospitalization time in adults after CE BSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated condition characterized by infiltration of the involved organs by IgG4-bearing plasma cells. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases, associated with or occurring in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, has been increasing. We describe a 58-year-old man with an undiagnosed HIV infection, which presented as chronic cervical lymphadenopathy with an elevated serum IgG4 and a very high IgE. Histologically, lymph nodes showed expanded sinusoids and burnt-out germinal centers with increased plasmacytic infiltration and collagen fiber deposition. The absolute number of IgG4+ plasma cells and the IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cell ratio was increased. The lymph nodes were enlarged and clinically the patient improved after steroid treatment. Nine months later, he was diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, following presentation with a cavitary left lung lesion. Immunohistochemical studies on the previously resected lymph node revealed complete absence of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and increased CD8+ T-lymphocytes. The pathologic findings met the criteria of both HIV infection and IgG4-related lymphadenopathy. Our case demonstrates that further investigations for underlying HIV infection in a case of IgG4-RD are critical, especially when extremely elevated IgE is concomitantly present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resistant staphylococcal organisms remain a serious problem in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Higher failure rates have been reported when vancomycin was used. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical dosage, effect, and safety of daptomycin in patients with resistant staphylococcal PJI.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with hip or knee PJI who were treated with daptomycin in our institution (n = 16) from January 2013 to December 2014 with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The patients received daptomycin when glycopeptide could not be used due to multiple resistance, any adverse reaction, chronic kidney disease stage 3 or worse, and previous treatment failure with glycopeptide or empirical therapy.Results: These patients received daptomycin at a median dose of 8.3 mg∕kg per day for a median duration of 14 days. The overall treatment success rate was 87.5% (14 of 16 cases) after a median follow-up period of 27 months. In the subgroups of acute and chronic PJI, the success rate was 80% and 91%, respectively. One patient developed asymptomatic transient serum aspartate transaminase (AST) elevation. No severe side effects such as myositis, acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis or eosinophilic pneumonia were found in our series.Conclusion: Relatively high daptomycin doses combined with adequate surgical intervention were effective in treating resistant staphylococcal PJI. Daptomycin is an option worthy of consideration in PJI patients for whom glycopeptide treatment is unsuitable. Further prospective randomized comparative study is needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two-stage reimplantation arthroplasty is one of the standard treatments for chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Scanty data exist regarding the risk factors for failure after two-stage reimplantation for periprosthetic hip infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the risk factors associated with failure after two-stage reimplantation hip arthroplasty.Methods: Sixty-two patients with hip PJI treated with a two-stage reimplantation protocol at our institution from 2005 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients requiring medical treatment or reoperation for recurrent infection were defined as treatment failure. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the risk factors associated with treatment failure.Results: Of the 62 patients, 11 (17.7%) patients had developed reinfection after the two-stage reimplantation with a mean follow-up of 5.7 years. The implant survival was 82.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 75.19-92.55) at 10 years. Multivariate analysis revealed BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR] 9.16; 95% CI 1.51-55.3; p = 0.0158), liver cirrhosis (HR 6.39; 95% CI 1.09-37.4; p = 0.0398), gram-negative organism (HR 5.68; 95% CI 1.18-27.4; p = 0.0303), and presence of sinus tract (HR 18.2; 95% CI 2.15-153; p = 0.0077) as the independent risk factors for treatment failure.Conclusions: We found obesity, liver cirrhosis, gram-negative organism, and the presence of sinus tract were significantly related to the risks of failure after reimplantation arthroplasties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute ( CLSI) revised the clinical breakpoints ( CBPs) for the azoles and echinocandins against Candida species in 2012. We aimed to report the epidemiology of candidemia and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species and evaluate the impact of new CBPs on antifungal susceptibility in our region. All blood isolates of Candida species were obtained from 2007 to 2012. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of fluconazole, voriconazole, echinocandins and flucytosine against Candida isolates were determined by Sensititre YeastOne system. Differences in susceptibility rates between the CBPs of previous and revised versions of CLSI were examined. Of 709 Candida isolates, the fluconazole-susceptible rate was 96.5% in Candida albicans, 85.8% in Candida tropicalis and 92.1% in Candida parapsilosis by the revised CBPs. Compared with the susceptibility results by previous CBPs, the marked reductions in susceptibility of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis to fluconazole, that of C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis to voriconazole , that of C. tropicalis and Candida glabrata to anidulafungin and that of C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and Candida krusei to caspofungin by revised CBPs were found. In conclusion, Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis remain highly susceptible to fluconazole. The non-susceptible rates of Candida species to azoles and echinocandins increase with interpretation by the revised CBPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), with production of abundant capsular polysaccharide (CPS), is capable of causing invasive syndrome. Environmental glucose stimuli may increase CPS biosynthesis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between glycemic control and KP-mediated invasive syndrome in diabetic patients and the effect of glucose on CPS biosynthesis. Diabetic patients with community-acquired KP bacteremia were included to study the risk factors of invasive syndrome. KP-M1, a serotype-K1 KP clinical isolate, was used to examine the CPS biosynthesis and cps gene expression, and the effect of exogenous glucose on bacterial phagocytosis and killing. We found that invasive syndrome was significantly more common in diabetic patients who were infected with strains expressing the K1 serotype (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 8.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56×44.24; pD0.01), and had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥9%; AOR, 5.66; 95% CI, 2.01-15.92; p<0.01). Pre-incubation of KP-M1 in media containing different gradient glucose concentrations enhanced CPS biosynthesis and cps gene expression in high glucose (0.5%) concentration, which leads to increasing bacterial resistance to phagocytosis and killing. High glucose levels reflected by poor glycemic control may stimulate CPS biosynthesis and cps gene expression of highly virulent KP, which increase resistance to phagocytosis and contribute to development of invasive syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a catastrophic complication. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before surgery is a well-established strategy to prevent SSI. The study is aimed to identify the risk factors for SSI regarding primary TKA in patients with timely administration of systemic prophylactic antibiotics.Methods: A retrospective review of patients with primary TKA between 2009 and 2013 was conducted. Patients who had prophylactic antibiotics administered after skin incision or >60 minutes before skin incision were excluded.Results: Of the 3152 patients enrolled, the incidence of SSI and deep-implant SSI was 1.52% and 0.79%, respectively. Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 was an independent risk factor for both SSI (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-4.44, P = .01) and deep-implant SSI (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.52-7.91, P < .01). Optimal dose of systemic antibiotics adjusted by patients' body weight for prophylaxis (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17-0.62, P < .01) and using antibiotic-laden bone cement (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.64, P < .01) were significant protective factors for SSI. Meanwhile, using antibiotic-laden bone cement (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13-0.76, P = .01) also significantly decreased the risk of deep-implant SSI.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of appropriate dosage of prophylactic antibiotics and use of antibiotic-laden cement in preventing SSI after primary TKA. For prevention of deep-implant SSI, using antibiotic-laden bone cement seems to be an advisable strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared treatment outcomes of adult patients with bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-EK) receiving flomoxef versus those receiving a carbapenem as definitive therapy. In propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, case patients receiving flomoxef shown to be active in vitro against ESBL-EK were matched with controls who received a carbapenem. The primary endpoint was 30-day crude mortality. The flomoxef group had statistically significantly higher sepsis-related mortality (27.3% vs. 10.5%) and 30-day mortality (28.8% vs. 12.8%) than the carbapenem group. Of the bacteraemic episodes caused by isolates with a MIC flomoxef of ≤1 mg/L, sepsis-related mortality rates were similar between the two treatment groups (8.7% vs. 6.4%; P = 0.73). The sepsis-related mortality rate of the flomoxef group increased to 29.6% and 50.0% of episodes caused by isolates with a MIC flomoxef of 2–4 mg/L and 8 mg/L, respectively, which was significantly higher than the carbapenem group (12.3%). In the PSM analysis of 86 case–control pairs infected with strains with a MIC flomoxef of 2–8 mg/L, case patients had a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate (38.4% vs. 18.6%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that flomoxef therapy for isolates with a MIC flomoxef of 2–8 mg/L, concurrent pneumonia or urosepsis, and a Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4 were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Definitive flomoxef therapy appears to be inferior to carbapenems in treating ESBL-EK bacteraemia, particularly for isolates with a MIC flomoxef of 2–8 mg/L, even though the currently suggested MIC breakpoint of flomoxef is ≤8 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]