A rapid microarray assay, Nanosphere Verigene® Gram-negative blood culture test (BC-GN), detects four Gram-negative species, four Gram-negative genera, and six resistance genes directly from positive blood culture samples, shortening the time from Gram stain to pathogen and resistance-gene identification. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the BC-GN paired with an antimicrobial stewardship intervention on antimicrobial and clinical outcomes. Patients with Gram-negative bacteremia were compared before (n = 456) and after (n = 421) BC-GN implementation. The primary objective was to compare time from Gram stain to antimicrobial switch pre- and post-implementation. Time from Gram stain to effective treatment, in-hospital mortality, and hospital length of stay were also compared. The number and type of antimicrobial switches were similar between groups. Median (IQR) time from Gram stain to antimicrobial switch was significantly decreased in the post group, 28.6 (8.6-56.9) h vs 44.1 (18.9-64.6) h, p = 0.004. In patients on ineffective antimicrobial therapy at the time of result, median time to effective therapy was lower in the post group, 8.8 (5.5-18.4) h vs 24.5 (4.9-44.3) h, p = 0.034. Median (IQR) hospital length of stay was also decreased in the post group, 7 (5-15) days vs 9 (4.5-21) days, p = 0.001. The rate of in-hospital mortality was similar between groups, 11.6% (pre) vs 11.4% (post), p = 0.87. Rapid microarray testing on blood cultures combined with active antimicrobial stewardship intervention was associated with decreased time to antimicrobial switch, time to effective therapy, and hospital length of stay.

We report a case of a 24-year-old liver transplant recipient who developed hepatic artery thrombosis and graft failure, which was complicated by subphrenic abscess and persistent Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae bacteremia. Ceftazidime-avibactam treatment led to emergence of resistance, and alternative combination therapy failed due to persistent infection and toxicity. The infection resolved after initiation of meropenem-vaborbactam, which created a bridge to retransplantation. Treatment-emergent ceftazidime-avibactam resistance is increasingly recognized, suggesting a role for meropenem-vaborbactam.

Fourty patients were treated with meropenem-vaborbactam (MEV) for serious Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) infections. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) comprised 80.0% of all GNB infections. Clinical success occurred in 70.0% of patients. Mortality and recurrence at 30 days were 7.5% and 12.5%, respectively. One patient experienced a probable rash due to MEV.

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Summary Background Isavuconazole use in the real‐world setting has not been extensively described. Subgroups of patients with particular prognostic significance, such as previous triazole prophylaxis or treatment and the important subgroup treated empirically for invasive fungal infection, have beforehand been excluded from trials. Objectives We aimed to determine treatment response and safety in these patients at a large US transplant and cancer centre. Patients/Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult inpatients administered ≥3 doses of isavuconazole between June 2015 and October 2017. Results Ninety‐one adults were identified. Six (7%) received primary prophylaxis, 10 (11%) treatment then secondary prophylaxis and 75 (82%) treatment only. Overall treatment response was 62%. Six‐week mortality was 24%. Sixty‐three per cent of 32 patients treated with isavuconaozle following prophylaxis with another antifungal agent exhibited a treatment response. Among 49 patients switched from treatment with another agent, 53% had a treatment response. Thirty‐four patients received isavuconazole empirically, and 65% demonstrated a treatment response. Individuals given isavuconazole prophylaxis developed no breakthrough invasive fungal infections. One patient discontinued isavuconazole due to hepatotoxicity. Conclusions Real‐world isavuconazole use appears safe and is associated with treatment responses in varied patients including critically important subgroups previously unreported.