Impact of automatic orders to discontinue vancomycin therapy on vancomycin use in an antimicrobial stewardship program.

We examined the possible unintended consequences of a 72-hour automatic order to discontinue vancomycin therapy in an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). Of 120 patients, 11 had vancomycin therapy discontinued at 72 hours without a call to the ASP, and 7 experienced a treatment interruption of 6-36 hours. All discontinuation of therapy was considered appropriate, and the 7 treatment interruptions did not have clear clinical consequences. Only one-third of patients had ASP stickers that warned of impending discontinuation of vancomycin therapy placed appropriately in the medical record.     

Chloramphenicol resistance in vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia: impact of prior fluoroquinolone use?

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has increased markedly during the past decade. Few data exist regarding the epidemiology of resistance of VRE to chloramphenicol, one of the few therapeutic options. DESIGN: Survey and case-control study. SETTING: A 725-bed, tertiary-care academic medical center and a 344-bed urban community hospital. PATIENTS: Hospitalized patients with blood cultures demonstrating VRE. METHODS: We examined the trends in the prevalence of chloramphenicol resistance in VRE blood isolates at our institution from 1991 through 2002 and conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors for chloramphenicol resistance among these isolates. RESULTS: From 1991 through 2002, the annual prevalence of chloramphenicol-resistant VRE increased from 0% to 12% (P < .001, chi-square test for trend). Twenty-two case-patients with chloramphenicol-resistant VRE bloodstream isolates were compared with 79 randomly selected control-patients with chloramphenicol-susceptible VRE. Independent risk factors for chloramphenicol-resistant VRE were prior chloramphenicol use (odds ratio [OR], 10.9; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.72-68.91; P = .01) and prior fluoroquinolone use (OR, 4.74; CI95, 1.15-19.42; P = .03). Chloramphenicol-resistant VRE isolates were more likely to be susceptible to beta-lactams and resistant to tetracycline than were chloramphenicol-susceptible VRE isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases in the prevalence of chloramphenicol-resistant VRE may limit the future utility of chloramphenicol in the treatment of VRE infections, and close monitoring of susceptibility trends should continue. The association between fluoroquinolone use and chloramphenicol-resistant VRE, reflecting possible co-selection of resistance, suggests that recent dramatic increases in fluoroquinolone use may have broader implications than previously recognized.     

Winkelstabile Implantate an der Hand

Currently there are various materials available for osteosynthesis in the region of the hand. The discussion in the literature about locking implants in the region of the hand is still continuing. Fractures of the bases of metacarpal bones and especially of the first metacarpals are good indications for locking plates but locking plates are not always advantageous. Most reconstructions of bones in the region of the hand can be achieved without using the thicker and more expensive implants. Non-locking implants, screws and Kirschner wires for osteosynthesis are mostly sufficient to achieve stable fixation but for phalangeal fractures plates should be avoided because of poor functional results. Only the hand surgeon can make the decision which of the various implants should be used.     

Systemic effects of angiogenesis inhibition alter pharmacokinetics and intratumoral delivery of nab-paclitaxel

Angiogenesis is critical to the growth of tumors. Vascularization-targeting agents, with or without cytotoxic drugs, are widely used for the treatment of several solid tumors including esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. However, little is known about the systemic effects of anti-angiogenic therapies and how this affects the pharmacokinetics and intratumoral delivery of cytotoxic agents. In this study, patient-derived xenograft mouse models of esophageal adenocarcinoma were used to identify the effects of DC101, a murine vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics and the intratumoral uptake of nab-paclitaxel (NPTX). We showed that DC101 had large systemic effects resulting in decreased vasculature of intraperitoneally located organs. As a consequence, after intraperitoneal administration of NPTX, plasma uptake (5.029?±?4.35 vs. 25.85?±?2.27?µM) and intratumoral delivery (5.48?±?5.32 vs. 38.49?±?2.805?pmol/mg) of NPTX were greatly impaired in DC101-treated animals compared to control animals. Additionally, routes of NPTX elimination were altered upon angiogenesis inhibition; unchanged renal clearance and intraperitoneal accumulation of NPTX were observed, but NPTX levels were significantly lower in the liver. Histological examination of the intestine revealed a reduced thickness of the intestinal wall following DC101 therapy and suggested seepage of intraperitoneally injected NTPX through the intestinal wall to explain its reduced uptake in liver, plasma, and tumor tissue. These data explain several adverse effects observed in the clinic when using anti-angiogenic therapies and also imply that the combined use of anti-angiogenesis and cytotoxic agents in both preclinical and clinical setting is still suboptimal.     

Does Nonpayment for Hospital-Acquired Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Lead to Overtesting and Increased Antimicrobial Prescribing?

Background.?On 1 October 2008, in an effort to stimulate efforts to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a policy of not reimbursing hospitals for hospital-acquired CAUTI. Since any urinary tract infection present on admission would not fall under this initiative, concerns have been raised that the policy may encourage more testing for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. Methods.?We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study with time series analysis of all adults admitted to the hospital 16 months before and 16 months after policy implementation among participating Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network hospitals. Our outcomes were frequency of urine culture on admission and antimicrobial use. Results.?A total of 39 hospitals from 22 states submitted data on 2?362?742 admissions. In 35 hospitals affected by the CMS policy, the median frequency of urine culture performance did not change after CMS policy implementation (19.2% during the prepolicy period vs 19.3% during the postpolicy period). The rate of change in urine culture performance increased minimally during the prepolicy period (0.5% per month) and decreased slightly during the postpolicy period (-0.25% per month; P?相似文献   

Nodular giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath of the hand: analysis of eighty-four cases—diagnostic decisions and outcome

Introduction

The giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) of the hand is a benign tumour of unknown origin. The clinical diagnosis is supported by preoperative imaging. But the ideal imaging methods necessary for the diagnosis, preoperative planning and total tumour resection are still debated. Standard treatment is surgical resection with histological confirmation.

Methods

We followed up 84 patients who were operated upon for a histologically confirmed nodular type GCTTS for an average of 4.7 years (range four to eight). The preoperative symptoms and radiological findings of X-ray, ultrasound and MRI were reviewed and the surgeon asked for their impact on the surgical procedure.

Results

The average age at operation was 50.9 years, 65.5 % of the patients were female and 61.9 % of the lesions were located on the palmar aspect. Most tumours were found on the first three fingers. Two patients had tumours at two separate sites (2.4 %). After an average follow up of 31.5 months two recurrences were observed (2.4 %). In addition to X-ray and ultrasound, the preoperative findings of the MRI had no influence on the surgical procedure.

Conclusion

Our data on the nodular GCTTS are in accordance with published data concerning the age distribution, gender distribution, and localisation. No soft-tissue imaging method is superior for the diagnosis of nodular GCTTS or for the preoperative planning. A preoperative MRI may not be necessary as clinical and ultrasound examination are sufficient. To exclude bony erosions, a preoperative X-ray is necessary.     

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) varicocelectomy with reusable components: comparison with the conventional laparoscopic technique

Background

This study aimed to compare laparoendoscopic single-site varicocelectomy (LESSV) with multiport laparoscopic varicocelectomy (MLV) in terms of intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study investigated 10 male adolescents and 89 adults who underwent either LESSV or MLV at the authors’ center. The reusable X-Cone single port was inserted transumbilically. A 5-mm 30° telescope was used together with a straight and a prebent laparoscopic instrument. The MLV procedure was performed using two 5-mm ports and one 10-mm port.

Results

Between January 2009 and November 2012, 20 patients underwent LESSV and 79 patients underwent MLV. The demographic data were comparable between the two groups. The mean operating time was 59.1 ± 15.5 min for LESSV and 51.2 ± 14.4 min for MLV (P = 0.04). In the LESSV group, no conversion to MLV was necessary. The hospital stay was 1.6 ± 0.7 days in the LESSV group versus 1.8 ± 0.5 days in the MLV group (P = 0.17). The postoperative pain scores did differ between the two groups. By day 2, significantly more patients in the LESSV group than in the MLV group fully recovered their normal physical activity (P = 0.02). Comparison of pre- and postoperative values showed relief of testicular pain and improvement of semen parameters for the majority of the patients. The overall incidence of complications was distributed equally between the two groups as follows: paresthesia of the upper thigh (8 %), wound infection (5 %), epididymitis (3 %) and hydrocele (4 %). All the patients in the LESSV group were fully satisfied with their cosmetic results compared with only 76 % of the patients in the MLV group (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

The LESSV procedure performed with the reusable X-Cone is as safe and efficient as MLV. After LESSV, the parameters measuring postoperative patient satisfaction are significantly improved. Given its reusable components, including prebent laparoscopic instruments, the X-Cone platform is a cost-effective alternative to disposable or homemade single ports.     

Operative Rückzugsmöglichkeiten nach fehlgeschlagener Osteosynthese des distalen Radius

Background

Even in an era of clear improvements in implants and standardized treatment procedures, abortive osteosynthesis after distal radius fractures is not an uncommon complication.

Diagnostics

Although not every malunion of the radius leads to complaints, affected patients often suffer from limitations in movement, reduction in strength, pain and aesthetic deficits. Following thorough clinical and imaging diagnostics a selection from the possible treatment options must be made taking the results obtained from the diagnostics into consideration.

Therapy

Operative possibilities are available for reconstructing the anatomical features as accurately as possible, functional improvement without correction of the malunion, pain reduction alone and combined procedures.

Conclusion

Despite abortive osteosynthesis of distal radial fractures there are possibilities for anatomical reconstruction, retention of mobility and pain reduction. Taking the pathological deformities into consideration, the highest priority should be given to reconstructing the anatomical joint conditions as accurately as possible, even when the conservative treatment options were unsuccessful.