Background
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (BSI) cause significant morbidity and mortality due to the frequent antibiotic resistance, toxin and adhesin production of the bacterium. These characteristics differ significantly in methicillin resistant (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and also among isolates of different MRSA clones, contributing to the outcome of S. aureus bacteraemia.
Methods
In this study, all MRSA BSI isolates from Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, isolated between 2011–2016 and the same number of matched MSSA (overall 306 isolates) were characterised in terms of antibiotic susceptibility, virulence genes, clonality and their association with all-cause 30-day mortality. Effect of patient related variables, such as age, gender and comorbidities were also investigated.
Results
ST22-MRSA-IV and ST5-MRSA-II were the most prevalent clones in our study. SCCmec I isolates showed the highest resistance rates and SCCmec II carried most virulence genes. Infections caused by SCCmec IV isolates were associated with the highest mortality rate (42.2%), despite the similar comorbidity rates of the different patient groups. All-cause 30-day mortality was 39.9% in the MRSA and 30.7% in the MSSA group. Increased teicoplanin MIC was associated with high mortality rate. Resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and clindamycin was common in MRSA, whereas MSSA isolates were more sensitive to all antibiotics with the exception of doxycycline. All MRSA isolates were sensitive to glycopeptides and linezolid; resistance to rifampicin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was low. MRSA isolates carried more adhesion genes, superantigens were more frequent in MSSA. Panton-Valentine leukocidin was found in 2.3% of the isolates.
Conclusion
This study provides insight into the clonal composition and associated mortality of BSI S. aureus isolates in Hungary. The results suggest that the outcome of the infection is determined by the antibiotic resistance, genotype of the bacterium, and patient-related factors; rather than the virulence factors carried by the bacteria.
Candida spp. are a leading cause of bloodstream infection (BSI) and are associated with high mortality rates. Biofilm production is a virulence factor of Candida spp., and has been linked with poor clinical outcome. The aim of our study was to assess biofilm production of Candida bloodstream isolates at our institute, and to determine whether in vitro biofilm production is associated with any clinical characteristics of infection. During the four-year study period, 93 cases of Candida BSI were analysed. The most frequently isolated species was C. albicans (66.7 %), followed by C. glabrata (9.7 %), C. parapsilosis (9.7 %), C. tropicalis (9.7 %) and C. krusei (4.3 %). Biofilm production was more prevalent among non-albicans Candida spp. (77.4 %) than C. albicans (30.6 %) (P50.02). Abdominal surgery was identified as a risk factor of BSI caused by biofilm producing non-albicans Candida isolates. No risk factors predisposing to bloodstream infection caused by a biofilm producing C. albicans isolate were identified. Biofilm production was not verified as a risk factor of mortality.
The incidence of Candida bloodstream infection (BSI) has increased during the past decades. Species distribution is changing worldwide, and non-albicans Candida spp. are becoming more prevalent. Acquired resistance to antifungal agents has been documented in several reports. The aim of our study was to assess the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates from BSI at our institute. The incidence of Candida BSI increased during the fi rst four years of our investigation, from 1.7 to 3.5 episodes / 10 000 admissions, then dropped to 2.66 episodes / 10 000 admissions in the last year. The most frequently isolated species was C. albicans (63%), followed by C. glabrata (13%), C. parapsilosis (10.2%), C. tropicalis (9.3%), and C. krusei (3.7%). One isolate each of C. kefyr, C. fabianii and C. inconspicua were detected. The percentage of C. albicans remained stable throughout the study period. The most frequent risk factors of Candida BSI in our patient population were intensive care treatment (60.4%), abdominal surgery (52.5%), and solid malignancy (30.7%). All isolates were wild-type organisms, no acquired antifungal resistance was detected.
Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SXT) is the drug-of-choice in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia caused infections. There has been an increase in resistance to SXT of S. maltophilia over recent years. In this study 30 S. maltophilia clinical isolates resistant to SXT were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibilities for ciprofl oxacin, moxifl oxacin, levofl oxacin, doxycycline, tigecycline, ceftazidime, colistin and chloramphenicol were determined by broth microdilution method. None of the strains were susceptible to ciprofl oxacin, tigecycline, ceftazidime or colistin. Only 37% of the isolates were susceptible to levofl oxacin or moxifl oxacin. Two isolates resistant to all tested antibiotic agents and two others susceptible only to doxycycline were further investigated: susceptibility for combinations of antibiotics was analyzed by checkerboard technique. According to the fractional inhibitory concentration indices calculated, moxifl oxacin plus ceftazidime combination was found to be synergistic in each case. Genetic testing revealed the predominance of sul1 gene. Our study concluded that the range of effective antibiotic agents is even more limited in infections caused by SXT-resistant S. maltophilia. In these cases, in vitro synergistic antibiotic combinations could be potential therapeutic options.
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