Online-Only Abstracts: Population-based burden of bloodstream infections in Finland

Survival of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in soil samples spiked with respective viruses was analysed using real-time PCR. Virus-spiked soil samples were incubated at environmental temperature (ET) and 37°C and processed weekly. Both HAV and HEV were less stable at fluctuating ET than at 37°C. Of the 403 soil samples collected in the vicinity of Mutha river, India, 19.1% and 4.9% were found to be contaminated with HAV and HEV, respectively.

Emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Austria, 2001–2010

G. Zarfel¹, M Hoenigl², BWürstl³, E Leitner¹, H J. F. Salzer², T Valentin², J Posch¹, R Krause², A J. Grisold¹1) Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, 2) Section of Infectious Diseases, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria and 3) Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, GermanyOriginal Submission: 6 June 2011; Revised Submission: 27 July 2011; Accepted: 21 August 2011Editor: R. CantónArticle published online: 26 August 2011Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: E5–E810.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03659.x

Abstract

We report the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Austria. Over a 10-year period, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were obtained from 13 hospitalized patients, with the first isolation in the year 2005 and a remarkable increase in the number of involved patients in 2010. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae comprise eight Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, four Klebsiella oxytoca isolates, and one Escherichia coli isolate. The detected carbapenemases were the metallo-β-lactamases New Delhi β-lactamase, VIM and IMP, and the serin-β-lactamase Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase.

Colonization and infection by colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in a cohort of critically ill patients

F. Kontopidou¹, D Plachouras¹, E Papadomichelakis², G Koukos¹, I Galani¹, G Poulakou¹, G Dimopoulos², A Antoniadou¹, A Armaganidis², H Giamarellou¹1) 4th Department of Internal Medicine and 2) 2nd Critical Care Department, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, GreeceOriginal Submission: 20 April 2011; Revised Submission: 10 August 2011; Accepted: 10 August 2011Editor: L. PoirelArticle published online: 18 August 2011Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: E9–E11

Abstract

In recent years there has been renewed interest in colistin for the treatment of infections by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, causing concern that increasing use may be accompanied by the emergence of resistance. This is a retrospective cohort study of colonization and infection by colistin-resistant (CR) gram-negative bacteria in critically ill patients. Colonization data were based on surveillance culture results. Among 150 patients, 78 (52%) were colonized by CR Gram-negative bacteria. Among them, 30 (20%) were colonized by Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and 51 (34%) were colonized by intrinsically resistant to colistin (CIR) enterobacteriaceae. Seven cases of infection were caused by CR K. pneumoniae and 12 cases by CIR strains. The main risk factor for colonization by CR pathogens was colistin treatment.

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy

C. Mammina¹, C Bonura², A Aleo¹, C Calà², G Caputo³, M C. Cataldo³, A Di Benedetto⁴, S Distefano², T Fasciana², M Labisi⁴, C Sodano⁵, D M. Palma⁶, A Giammanco²1) Department of Sciences for Health Promotion ‘G. D'Alessandro’, Section of Hygiene, University, Palermo, 2) Department of Sciences for Health Promotion ‘G. D'Alessandro’, Section of Microbiology, University, Palermo, 3) Geriatric Assessment and Integrated Home Care Unit, District 10, Local Health Agency, Palermo, 4) General Hospital ‘G.F. Ingrassia’, Local Health Agency Palermo, Palermo, 5) Laboratory of Microbiology, General Hospital ARNAS ‘Civico, Di Cristina & Benfratelli’, Palermo and 6) II Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital ARNAS ‘Civico, Di Cristina & Benfratelli’, Palermo, ItalyOriginal Submission: 17 May 2011; Revised Submission: 16 July 2011; Accepted: 10 August 2011Editor: L. PoireArticle published online: 31 August 2011Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: E12–E15

Abstract

In this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the bla_OXA-23-like and the bla_OXA-58-like genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed field gel electrophoresis group ST2/A included 33 isolates, and ST78/B the remaining 12. ST2 clone proved to be predominant, but a frequent involvement of the ST78 clone was evident.

EUCAST technical note on posaconazole

M. C. Arendrup¹, M Cuenca-Estrella², J P. Donnelly³, W Hope⁴, C Lass-Flörl⁵, J-L. Rodriguez-Tudela² and The European committee on antimicrobial susceptibility testing – subcommittee on antifungal susceptibility testing (EUCAST-AFST)1) Unit of Mycology, Department of Microbiological Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2) Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain, 3) Department of Haematology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center & Nijmegen University Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, 4) The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, NIHR Translational Research Facility in Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK and 5) Division of Hygiene and Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, AustriaOriginal Submission: 9 June 2011; Revised Submission: 28 July 2011; Accepted: 8 August 2011Editor: E. RoilidesArticle published online: 17 August 2011Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: E16–E1710.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03646.x

Abstract

The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing-Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST-AFST) has determined breakpoints for posaconazole for Candida spp. This Technical Note is based on the EUCAST posaconazole rationale document (available on the EUCAST website: http://www.eucast.org). Species-specific breakpoints for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis are S: MIC ≤0.06 mg/L, R: MIC >0.06 mg/L. There are insufficient data to set breakpoints for C. glabrata and C. krusei as well as non-species-related breakpoints. The breakpoints are based upon pharmacokinetic data, epidemiological cut-off values and clinical experience. Breakpoints will be reviewed regularly.

EUCAST technical note on anidulafungin

M. C. Arendrup¹, J-L. Rodriguez-Tudela², C Lass-Flörl³, M Cuenca-Estrella², J P. Donnelly⁴, W Hope⁵ and The European committee on antimicrobial susceptibility testing - subcommittee on antifungal susceptibility testing (EUCAST-AFST)1) Unit of Mycology, Department of Microbiological Surveillance and Research, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2) Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain, 3) Division of Hygiene and Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria, 4) Department of Haematology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre & Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands and 5) The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKOriginal Submission: 31 May 2011; Revised Submission: 28 July 2011; Accepted: 8 August 2011Editor: E. RoilidesArticle published online: 17 August 2011Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: E18–E20

Abstract

The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing-Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing has determined breakpoints for anidulafungin for Candida spp. This Technical Note is based on the EUCAST anidulafungin rationale document (Available at: http://www.eucast.org). Species-specific breakpoints for C. albicans are S ≤0.03 mg/L and R >0.03 mg/L and for C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. krusei S ≤0.06 mg/L and R >0.06 mg/L. C. parapsilosis was not regarded a good target for anidulafungin. There are insufficient data to set breakpoints for other species. The breakpoints are based upon pharmacokinetic data, epidemiological cut-off values and clinical experience. Breakpoints will be reviewed regularly.