ESPERANZA MERINO, ELENA CARO, JOSÉ M. RAMOS, VICENTE BOIX, ADELINA GIMENO, JUAN CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ, GERÓNIMA RIERA, PATRICIO MÁS-SERRANO, JOSÉ SANCHÉZ-PAYA, SERGIO REUS, DIEGO TORRÚS, JOAQUÍN PORTILLA

Background. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality among inpatients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a stewardship program on clinical and antimicrobial therapy-related outcomes in patients with bacteraemia.
Methods. Single-centre, before-and-after quasi-experimental study in adult inpatients. Over 1 January 2013 to 31 June 2013 all patients aged 18 years or older with a bacteraemia (interven-tion group, N=200) were compared to a historical cohort (1 Janu-ary 2012 to 31 December 2012) (control group, N=200).
Results. Following blood culture results and adjusting for potential confounders, the stewardship program was associated with more changes to antibiotic regimens (adjusted odds ratio [ORa]: 4.6, 95% CI 2.9, 7.4), more adjustments to antimicrobial therapy (ORa: 2.4, 95% CI 1.5, 3.8), and better source control in the first five days (ORa 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.7). In the subgroup that initially received inappropriate empiric treatment (n=138), the intervention was associated with more antibiotic changes (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.8, 8.5) and a better choice of definitive antimicrobial therapy (OR 2.3 95% CI: 1.2, 4.6). There were also more antibiotic changes in the subgroups with both Gram-negative (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 4.9; n=217) and Gram-positive (OR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.8, 9.9; n=135) bacteraemia among those receiving the intervention, while the Gram-positive subgroup also received more appropriate definitive antimicrobial therapy (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.8, 8.8).
Conclusion. The stewardship program improved treatment of patients with bacteraemia and appropriateness of therapy.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30(4):257-263 [pdf]

JESÚS RUIZ, IVÁN CASTRO, EVA CALABUIG, MIGUEL SALAVERTI

The abuse and uncontrolled use of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. The utility of conventional antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections has become increasingly strained due to increased rates of resistance coupled with reduced rates of development of new agents. As a result, multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and pan-drug-resistant bacterial strains are now frequently encountered. This has led to fears of a “post-antibiotic era” in which many bacterial infections could be untreatable. Alternative non-antibiotic treatment strategies need to be explored to ensure that a robust pipeline of effective therapies is available to clinicians. The new therapeutic approaches for bacterial infections (beyond antibiotics) may provide a way to extend the usefulness of current antibiotics in an era of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30 (Suppl. 1): 66-71 [pdf]

ESTELA MORENO-GARCÍA, JULIO GARCÍA RODRÍGUEZ, JOSÉ RAMÓN PAÑO-PARDO

Increasing antibiotic resistance is one of the leading problems in the Public Agenda worldwide. In the last 20 years, the pace of antimicrobial drug development has markedly slowed leading to a dramatic world situation. Infections with antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have been associated with increased length of stay, mortality and costs. Improving antimicrobial prescribing is one of the tools in our hands to optimize the outcomes of patients with moderate to severe infections and control the emerging of resistance. Several clues to improve antimicrobial prescribing are provided as a key-messages decalogue.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30 (Suppl. 1): 56-60 [pdf]

FRANCISCO CARMONA-TORRE, MARTA RUA, JOSÉ LUIS DEL POZO

In the last few years there has been an increase of implantable cardiac electronic device and vascular graft related infections. This is due in part to a higher complexity of some of these procedures and an increase in patient’s comorbidities. Despite wide diagnosis methods availability, early stage diagnosis usually constitutes a challenge as often patients only denote insidious symptoms. In most confirmed cases, removal of the infected device is required to resolve the infection. This is mostly explainable because of bacterial ability to grow as biofilms on biomaterial surfaces, conferring them antimicrobial resistance. If removal is not possible, chronic suppressive antimicrobial therapy could be an option.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30 (Suppl. 1): 42-47 [pdf]

ANA MONTERO, PATRICIA SALGADO ARANDA, FERNANDO GILSANZ, EMILIO MASEDA

Complicated intra-abdominal infection requires surgical treatment and broad-spectrum empiric antibiotic treatment used early. The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a serious threat, especially in critical care units. The excessive use of carbapenems has led to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, leaving tigecycline and colistin as therapeutical options. The new antimicrobials, ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam open new horizons in the treatment of multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Candida peritonitis causes a high mortality in the critical patient. Diagnosis and early treatment are associated with a better prognosis, the administration of an echinocandin being of choice in these patients.

Rev Esp Quimioter 2017; 30 (Suppl. 1): 34-38 [pdf]