Retrospective study of the incidence, risk factors, treatment outcomes of bacterial infections at uncommon sites in cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND Bacterial infections(BI)negatively affect the natural course of cirrhosis.The most frequent BI are urinary tract infections(UTI),pneumonia,and spontaneousbacterial peritonitis(SBP).AIM To assess the relevance of bacterial infections beyond the commonly recognized types in patients with cirrhosis and to investigate their relationship with other clinical variables.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients with cirrhosis and BI treated between 2015 and 2018 at our tertiary care center.BIs were classified as typical and atypical,and clinical as well as laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups.RESULTS In a cohort of 488 patients with cirrhosis,we identified 225 typical BI(95 UTI,73 SBP,72 pulmonary infections)and 74 atypical BIs,predominantly cholangitis and soft tissue infections(21 each),followed by intra-abdominal BIs(n=9),cholecystitis(n=6),head/throat BIs(n=6),osteoarticular BIs(n=5),and endocarditis(n=3).We did not observe differences concerning age,sex,or etiology of cirrhosis in patients with typical vs atypical BI.Atypical BIs were more common in patients with more advanced cirrhosis,as evidenced by Model of End Stage Liver Disease(15.1±7.4 vs 12.9±5.1;P=0.005)and Child-Pugh scores(8.6±2.5 vs 8.0±2;P=0.05).CONCLUSION Atypical BIs in cirrhosis patients exhibit a distinct spectrum and are associated with more advanced stages of the disease.Hence,the work-up of cirrhosis patients with suspected BI requires detailed work-up to elucidate whether typical BI can be identified.

DIAGNOSTIC BEHAVIOR OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA:SURVEY CONDUCTED IN SOME REGIONS OF CHINA

Objective To analyze the spectrum of microbiological agents causing community-acquired pneumonia （CAP） in recent years. We also investigated the procedure of diagnosis us well as the empirical treatment for this disease in OPD （ outpatient department） of pulmonary disease. Methods A total of 7097 patients from 150 hospitals in 24 provinces in China were enrolled in the study from Nov. 2002 to Mar. 2003. Every patient was diagnosed, treated and registered at the same time. Diagnostic behavior for doctors include chest radiograph and/or CT examination of the lung, as well as collecting sputum samples at the time of diagnosis for bacteria culture to identify the pathogen. Appointed staff fulfiUed the questionnaires and information sheets in each center. After that, data were computerized and analyzed. Results There were 7404 valid information sheets and 7097 questionnaires taken into count. The majority CAP patients were from cities （ 77. 3% ）, most of those who had medical insurance. Most CAP patients had productive cough （81.1% ）, and 76. 7% and 18. 2 % CAP patients received chest film and CT examination respectively for diagnosis. Only 24% patients received sputum sample tested and with 36% got positive results. Streptococcus pneumoniae remained the main pathogen of CAP （43. 2% ）. Most doctors used to prescribe β-lactam antibiotics as the first line of empirical therapy of CAP （ 51.1% ） with oral taken as the main method for drug using （66. 3% ）. Conclusion This survey provides a key point of empirical therapy in China. The procedure for diagnosing us well as the empirical treatment of CAP in OPD of pulmonary disease in China still to be improved, especially in accessing the pathogen. Guidelines developed to recognize and evaluate CAP should base on epidemiological information of the pathogen prevalence, then could offer a rational approach to the initial management of the CAP patients.

Epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and empirical antibiotic therapy for MRSA infection： multicenter investigation

Background The epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA） maybe changed by strict infection control measures,and the impact of empirical antibiotic therapy on the outcomes of MRSA infection was not clear.We aimed to investigate the present epidemiological status of MRSA infection and empirical antibiotic therapy for MRSA infection in university teaching hospitals in China's Mainland.Methods The present study was a multicenter prospective observational study conducted in five university teaching hospitals.Patients who were consecutively admitted to the intensive care unit and signed a consent form from March 3,2011 to May 31,2011 were included.Patients with age 〈18 years or with a length of hospital stay 〈48 hours were excluded from this study.The following variables were collected or recorded：demographic data,general status,APACHE Ⅱ score of the patient at the time of admission,infections,and the use of antibiotics during a stay.Primary outcomes and prognostic indicators included length of hospital stay and 28-day and 90-day mortality.The differences between the patients with appropriate empirical therapy and patients with inappropriate therapy were analyzed to detect the influences of antibiotic therapy on the prognosis of MRSA infection.Results A total of 682 cases were enrolled.Thirty （66.2%） of 88 MRSA cases were treated with effective antibiotics for MRSA infection; only 20% received appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment.The empirical therapy group compared with the target therapy group had a shorter length of stay,but there were no significant differences in mortality rates.There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay,length of stay,and 28-day and 90-day mortality between MRSA-infected patients who received or not received effective antibiotics.Two hundred and eighteen cases received sensitive antibiotics for MRSA.Conclusions The MRSA infection rates are at relatively low levels in university teaching hospitals in China.The empirical use of sensitive antibiotics for MRSA infection was at relatively high rate,and there is a tendency of overusing in patients without MRSA infection.On the other hand,the rate of appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for patients with MRSA infection is relatively low.