Bibliography / Thesis (MMed (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as one of the most troublesome nosocomial pathogens globally. This organism causes infections that are often extremely difficult to treat because of the widespread resistance to the major antibiotic groups. Colonization or infection with multidrugresistant A. baumannii is associated with the following risk factors: prolonged hospital stay, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation, and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics, recent surgery, invasive procedures, and severe underlying disease. A. baumannii has been isolated as part of the skin flora, mostly in moist regions such as axillae, groin and toe webs. It has also been isolated from the oral cavity and respiratory tract of healthy adults. Debilitated hospitalized patients have a high rate of colonization, especially during nosocomial Acinetobacter outbreaks. This organism is an opportunistic pathogen as it contains few virulence factors. Clinical manifestations of A. baumannii include nosocomial pneumonia, nosocomial bloodstream infections, traumatic battlefield and other wound infections, urinary tract infections, and post-neurological surgery meningitis. Fulminant community-acquired pneumonia has recently been reported, indicating that this organism can be highly pathogenic. The number of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains has been increasing worldwide in the past few years. Therefore the selection of empirical antibiotic treatment is very challenging. Antibiotic combinations are used mostly as empirical therapy in critically ill patients. One rationale for the use of combination therapy is to achieve synergy between agents. The checkerboard and time-kill methods are two traditional methods that have been used for synergy testing. These methods are labor intensive, cumbersome, costly, and time consuming. The E-test overlay method is a modification of the E-test method to determine synergy between the different antibiotics. This method is easy to perform, flexible and time efficient. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro activity of different combinations of colistin, rifampicin, imipenem, and tobramycin against selected clinical strains of A. baumannii using the checkerboard and the E-test synergy methods. The MICs obtained with the E-test and broth microdilution method were compared. The results of the disk diffusion for imipenem and tobramycin as tested in the routine microbiology laboratory were presented for comparison. Overall good reproducibility was obtained with all three methods of sensitivity testing. The agreement of MICs between the broth dilution and E-test methods was good with not more than two dilution differences in MIC values for all isolates, except one in which the rifampicin E-test MIC differed with three dilutions from the MIC obtained with the microdilution method. However, the categorical agreement between the methods for rifampicin was poor. Although MICs did not differ with more than two dilutions in most cases, many major errors occurred because the MICs clustered around the breakpoints. The combinations of colistin + rifampicin, colistin + imipenem, colistin + tobramycin, rifampicin + tobramycin, and imipenem + tobramycin all showed indifferent or additive results by the E-test method. No results indicating synergy were obtained for all the above-mentioned combinations. There was one result indicating antagonistic effect for the combination of colistin + tobramycin. The results of the checkerboard method showed results indicating synergy in four of the six isolates for which the combination of colistin and rifampicin was tested. The other two isolates showed indifferent/additive results. All the other combinations showed indifferent/additive results for all isolates except isolate 30 (col + tob) and isolate 25 (rif + tob) which showed synergism. No antagonistic results were observed by the checkerboard method. When the results obtained with the E-test and checkerboard methods were compared, it was noted that for most antibiotic combinations an indifferent/additive result was obtained. However, for the colistin + rifampicin combination, the checkerboard method showed synergism for 4 of 6 isolates, whereas the E-test method showed indifference and an additive result in one. For the rifampicin + tobramycin, and colistin + tobramycin combinations, synergism was also shown with the checkerboard method in one isolate for each combination. The E-test method however showed an indifferent and additive result respectively. . The E-test method was found to be a rapid, reproducible, easy-to-perform, and flexible method to determine synergistic antibiotic activity. This study was however limited by low numbers of isolates. This might explain why no synergistic results were obtained with the E-test method and few synergistic results with the checkerboard method. Genotypic analysis using pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) may be considered in future studies to determine relatedness of the isolates which will facilitate the selection of different strains for synergy testing. Furthermore, clinical studies are needed to establish whether in vitro synergy testing is useful in the clinical setting and whether the results of synergy testing will have any bearing on the clinical outcome of patients infected with multidrug resistant A. baumannii. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Acinetobacter baumannii het wêreldwyd as een van die mees problematiese nosokomiale patogene verskyn. Hierdie organisme veroorsaak infeksies wat dikwels baie moeilik is om te behandel weens wydverspreide weerstandigheid teen major antibiotikagroepe. Kolonisasie of infeksie met multi-weerstandige A. baumannii word geassosieer met die volgende riskofaktore: verlengde hospitaalverblyf, toelating tot ‘n intensiewe sorgeenheid (ICU), meganiese ventilasie, blootstelling aan breëspektrum antibiotika, onlangse chirurgie, indringende prosedures en ernstige onderliggende siekte. A. baumannii kan deel vorm van die normale velflora, veral in die axillae, inguinale area en tussen die tone. Dit is ook al vanuit die mondholte en die respiratoriese traktus van gesonde volwassenes geïsoleer. Verswakte gehospitaliseerde pasiënte word veral gekoloniseer gedurende nosokomiale Acinetobacter uitbrake. Hierdie organisme is ‘n opportunistiese patogeen en bevat min virulensie faktore. Kliniese manifestasies van A. baumannii sluit nosokomiale pneumonie, nosokomiale bloedstroom infeksies, troumatiese slagveld- en ander wondinfeksies, urienweginfeksies en meningitis wat volg op neurologiese chirurgie in. Fulminerende gemeenskapsverworwe pneumonie is onlangs beskryf en dui aan dat hierdie organisme hoogs patogenies kan wees. Die aantal multi-weerstandige A. baumannii stamme het wêreldwyd toegeneem oor die laaste paar jare. Daarom is die seleksie van empiriese antibiotiese behandeling ‘n uitdaging. Antibiotika kombinasies word meestal as empiriese behandeling in ernstige siek pasiënte gebruik. Die beginsel hiervan is om sinergistiese werking tussen agente te verkry. Die “checkerboard” en “time-kill” metodes is twee tradisionele metodes van sinergisme toetsing. Hierdie metodes is werksintensief, duur en tydrowend. Die E-toets sinergisme metode is gebaseer op die E-toets metode. Hierdie metode is maklik, buigbaar en tydseffektief. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die in vitro aktiwiteit tussen verskillende antibiotika kombinasies van colistin, rifampisien, imipenem, en tobramisien teen geselekteerde kliniese A. baumannii isolate te toets met die “checkerboard” en E-toets sinergisme toetsing metodes. Die minimum inhibitoriese konsentrasies (MIKs) verkry met die E-toets en “broth microdilution” metode is ook vergelyk. Die resultate van die skyfie diffusie metode (die metode wat in die roetiene mikrobiologie laboratorium gebruik word) vir imipenem en tobramisien word ook verskaf vir vergelyking van die resultate van verskillende sensitiwiteitsmetodes. In oorsig is goeie herhaalbaarheid van resultate verkry met al drie metodes van sensitiwiteitstoetsing. Die ooreenstemming van MIKs tussen die “broth dilution” en E-toets metodes was goed en resultate het met nie meer as twee verdunnings in MIK waardes verskil nie. Daar is een uitsondering waar die rifampisien E-toets MIK waarde met drie verdunnings van die MIK waarde verkry met die “microdilution” metode verskil. Die ooreenstemming tussen die sensitiwiteitskategorie resultate tussen die twee metodes was egter swak vir rifampisien. Alhoewel die MIKs in die meeste gevalle met nie meer as twee verdunnings in waarde verskil het nie, was daar baie major foute aangetoon omdat die MIKs rondom die breekpunte geval het. Die kombinasies van colistin + rifampisien, colistin + imipenem, colistin + tobramisien, rifampisien + tobramisien, en imipenem + tobramisien het oorwegend slegs matige interaksie met die E-toets metode getoon. Geen sinergisme is verkry met enige van die antibiotika kombinasies met hierdie metode nie. Daar was egter een resultaat wat antagonisme getoon het vir die kombinasie van colistin + tobramycin. Die resultate van die “checkerboard” metode het sinergisme getoon in vier van die ses isolate wat vir die kombinasie van colistin en rifampisien getoets was. Die ander twee isolate het slegs matige interaksie getoon. Al die ander kombinasies het ook slegs matige interaksie getoon, behalwe in isolaat 30 (col + tob) en isolaat 25 (rif + tob) waar die spesifieke kombinasies sinergisme getoon het. Geen antagonisme is waargeneem met die “checkerboard” metode nie. Met vergelyking van die E-toets en “checkerboard” metodes, is dit opmerklik dat vir die meeste van die antibiotika kombinasies slegs matige interaksie verkry is. Vir die colistin + rifampisien kombinasie toon die “checkerboard” metode egter sinergisme vir 4 uit 6 isolate, terwyl die E-toets metode slegs matige interaksie toon. Vir rifampisien + tobramisien, en colistin + tobramisien kombinasies is sinergisme getoon met die “checkerboard” metode in een isolaat vir elke kombinasie. Die E-toets metode het slegs matige interaksie getoon. Die E-toets sinergisme metode was vinnig, herhaalbaar en maklik om uit te voer. Hierdie studie word egter beperk deur lae getalle van isolate. Dit mag verklaar waarom geen sinergistiese resultate met die E-toets metode verkry is nie en die min sinergistiese resultate met die “checkerboard” metode. Genotipiese analiese met “pulse-field gel electrophoresis” mag in aanmerking geneem word in toekomstige studies om die verwantskap tussen isolate te bepaal wat die seleksie van verskillende stamme vir sinergisme toetsing sal vergemaklik. Verder, kliniese studies is nodig om te bepaal of in vitro sinergisme toetsing van waarde is en of die resultate van sinergisme toetsing ‘n rol speel in die kliniese uitkoms van pasënte geïnfekteer met multiweerstandige A. baumannii. / The National Health Laboratory Serivice

Background: Antimicrobial-resistant infections result in hospital stays costing between $18,000 and $29,000. As of 2009, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no longer upgrade payments for hospital-acquired infections. Hospital epidemiologists monitor and document rates of individual resistant microbes in antibiogram reports. Overall summary measures capturing resistance within a hospital may be useful. Objectives: We applied four techniques (L1- and L2-principal component analysis (PCA), desirability functions, and simple summary) to create summary measures of resistance and described the four summary measures with respect to reliability, proportion of variance explained, and clinical utility. Methods: We requested antibiograms from hospitals participating in the University HealthSystem Consortium for the years 2002–2008 (n=40). A clinical team selected organism-drug resistant pairs (as resistant isolates per 1,000 patient days) based on 1) virulence, 2) complicated or toxic therapies, 3) transmissibility, and 4) high incidence with increasing levels of resistance. Four methods were used to create summary scores: 1) L1- and L2-PCA: derived multipliers so that the variance explained is maximized; 2) desirability function: transformed resistance data to be between 0 and 1; 3) simple sum: each resistance rate was added and divided by the square root of the total number of microbes summed. Simple correlation analyses between time and each summary score evaluated reliability. For each year, we calculated the proportion of explained variance by dividing each summary score’s variance by the variance in the original data. Clinical utility was checked by comparing the trends for all of the individual microbe’s resistance rates to the trends seen in the summary scores for each hospital. Results: Proportion of variance explained by L1- and L2-PCA and the simple sum was 0.61, 0.62, and 0.29 respectively. Simple sum and L1- and L2-PCA summary scores best followed the trends seen in the individual antimicrobial resistance rates; trends in desirability function scores deviated from those seen in individual trends of antimicrobial resistance. L1- and L2-PCA summary scores were more influenced by MRSA rates, and the simple sum score was less influenced. Pearson correlation coefficients revealed good reliability through time. Conclusion: Deriving summary measures of antimicrobial resistance can be reliable over time and explain a high proportion of variance. Infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists may find the inclusion of a summary score of antimicrobial resistance beneficial in describing the trends of overall resistance in their yearly antibiogram reports.

The aim of this thesis is summarising the issue of hospital related infections on intensive care units in district hospitals. This issue is greatly underestimated. The background section discusses the different types of healthcare acquired infection, where they are most commonly found and the most common types. They use statistical data to confirm these points. Within this section risk factors and preventive measures are also discussed. The researchers use a questionnaire to assess the intensive care units staff's knowledge of the procedures to prevent a healthcare acquired infection. The data is expressed using tables and graphs to aid clarity. The results of research reveal, that the staff all downgrade the prevalence and prevention of hospital acquired infections. Key words: Healthcare acquired infections / Nosocomial disease Prevention of hospital related diseases Hand hygiene Intensive care

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is of gaining importance now due to its increasing incidence and severity. However, little is known about the C. difficile infections in the Czech Republic. The aim of the study was to characterize C. difficile strains recently isolated (2008 to 2011) from patients hospitalized with gastrointestinal disease in four Prague health care institutions using molecular typing methods; PCR toxinotyping, PCR ribotyping and MLVA (multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis). Among 273 C. difficile strains, we identified 8 toxinotypes (0, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX a XXIII) and 63 ribotypes, of which ribotypes 596 (23,4 % patient), 017 (13,9 %) and 176 (7 %) were the most frequent. According to PCR ribotyping, the situation in the Czech Republic is the most similar to the situation in Poland. Within ribotypes 017, 017/1 and 017/2 and ribotypes 596 and 596/1, 5 and 4 distinct clusters were identified by MLVA, none of which was institution-specific. Additionally, pathogenic C.difficile were isolated from piglet faeces (63,3 %) in a single piglet farm, evaluating the role of C. difficile as an emerging animal pathogen. All piglet isolates belonged to the toxinotype 0 and the ribotype...

Les infections nosocomiales demeurent un véritable défi de santé publique en dépit des progrès techniques considérables enregistrés. Inhérentes à la prise en charge de soins, se sont les services de réanimation qui comptabilisent les plus fort taux de prévalence. En effet, quelle que soit leur orientation (chirurgicale, médicale ou mixte), ces services, ont pour mission la prise en charge des patients dont le processus vital est menacé par la survenue brutale d’une ou de plusieurs défaillances organiques nécessitant un arsenal diagnostic et/ou thérapeutique souvent invasif.Parmi les conséquences induites par ces infections ; i) l’allongement de la durée de séjour, ii) le surcoût, iii) une augmentation de la mortalité, et iv) la résistance bactérienne.Pouvoir anticiper en amont et en aval cette problématique aux motifs complexes et aux conséquences parfois fatales serait un atout majeur au profit des patients et un outil stratégique pour les équipes soignantes.Organisée autour de trois étapes charnières, la présente étude s’est d’abord attelée à la phasede l’identification des facteurs de risque de l’évènement nosocomial et de mortalité au service de réanimation ou s’est passé l’étude –prise en compte du case-mix du service de réanimation CHU la TIMONE-. Réalisée grâce à deux méthodes statistiques différentes à savoir la régression logistique et la méthode des risques compétitifs. L’étape suivante a consisté dans un premier temps à comparer les capacités prédictives des scores APACHE II, LOD, SOFA et SAPS II chez ces patients -hospitalisés en réanimation-ayant développé un épisode nosocomial. Dans un second temps de déterminer si la variation des scores LOD, SOFA, APACHEII et SAPS II est un facteur pronostique du risque nosocomial. Les résultats obtenus révèlent que la meilleure performance prédictive est objectivée au profit du SOFA et que seule la variation de ce même score entre le premier jour d’hospitalisation et celui du diagnostic de l’infection nosocomiale mesurée grâce à l’AUC est prédictive du risque nosocomial.À l’issue de ces étapes et au moyen des résultats obtenus une construction d’un score prédictif est réalisée grâce à la méthode de régression logistique. L’objectif de ce score est d’éclairer voire d’influencer le prescripteur lors de ses prises de décisions ou d’éventuelle démarche d’ajustement de ses conduites thérapeutiques. / Limiting nosocomial infections is still a health challenge although the technical development has improved. They are inherent in medical care and the health care services have the highest prevalence. Indeed, whatever the service (surgical, medical or both), the patients life-giving process is under attack because of the emergence of one or several organ faillures;This generates a diagnostic and therapeutic arsenal which is often invasive.Among the consequences resulting from these infections we will take into account :i) a longer stay in hospitalii) an extra costiii) a higher mortality rateiv) bacterial resistance .If we could anticipate upstream and downstream this issue with complex origins and sometimes fatal consequences, it would be a major asset for patients and a strategic tool for medical teams.The present study is organized in three parts, and first focusses onto the identification of the nosocomial event and death risk factors in intensive care where the study took place. We took into account the the case-mix of the intensive care unit in the TIMONE University Hospital. The study was made with two different statistic methods that is logistic regression and the competitive risks method.The next step first consisted in comparing the predictive capacities of the APACHE II, LOD, SOFA and SAPS II scores in nosocomial patients hospitalized in intensive care . Then it tried to determine if the variation of the LOD, SOFA, APACHEII and SAPS II scores was a prognostic risk factor.Results showed that the best predictive performance was objectively measured by the SOFA and that only the variation of this score between the first day in hospital and the day of the diagnosis of a nosocomial infection, calculated thanks to the AUC, could be predictive of a nosocomal risk. After these steps, and with the results calculated , the construction of a predictive score could be established thanks to the logistic regression method. The objective of this score is to help, or even influence the prescribing doctors when they take decisions or when they try to adjust their therapeutic practices.

Estudo de desenvolvimento metodológico de elaboração e validação de medidas de avaliação em saúde, que teve como finalidade contribuir com novas políticas de controle e prevenção de infecção hospitalar (CIH). Para tanto, foram construídos e validados três indicadores de avaliação de práticas de controle e prevenção da infecção hospitalar do trato urinário associada a cateter, conforme duas etapas metodológicas. Na primeira, tendo como referência bases conceituais de indicadores clínicos e medidas de avaliação em saúde, foram elaborados os indicadores: 1-Indicação e Permanência do Cateterismo Vesical (IUIC); 2- Condições de Manutenção do Cateterismo Vesical (IUMN) e 3- Infra-Estrutura para Procedimento de Cateterismo Vesical (IUIF). Na segunda etapa estes indicadores foram submetidos à validação de conteúdo, por meio de um método de validação opinativa de um grupo de nove especialistas, constituído de médicos e enfermeiras, com conhecimento e experiência em controle de infecção hospitalar, e representantes das áreas hospitalar, acadêmica, órgão governamental e entidades associativas. A validação foi realizada com o julgamento de cada indicador a partir de um instrumento previamente elaborado, que contemplava as seguintes etapas: I- Conteúdo do construto (manual operacional) do indicador; II- Atributos do conjunto do indicador; III- Componentes do indicador. O indicador 3 foi submetido, ainda, a mais uma etapa, referente à valoração, pelos juízes, de cada um de seus componentes. Foi previamente estabelecido um consenso mínimo de 75% de julgamento favorável dos juízes, de cada uma destas etapas. Em cada etapa solicitava-se também comentários e sugestões para ajuste dos indicadores. Nos resultados, os indicadores 1 e 2 obtiveram consenso favorável mínimo na grande maioria dos aspectos sob avaliação de cada etapa. Nos aspectos que não obtiveram consenso favorável mínimo as sugestões e comentários efetuados pelos juízes tornaram possível o ajuste destes indicadores e sua validação de conteúdo, sem necessidade de retorno aos juízes para novo julgamento. O indicador 3, apesar de ter obtido amplo consenso favorável nas etapas II e III, o mesmo não ocorreu em vários aspectos referentes à etapa I, assim como na valoração de relevância dos seus componente individuais. Além disto, os comentários e sugestões efetuados constataram a problemática deste indicador para avaliar adequadamente o que ele se propunha. Por este motivo, ele não pôde ser validado, na forma de construção originalmente apresentada. / This is a study on the methodological development of elaboration and validation of measures to evaluate health aiming to contribute to new control rules and to prevent nosocomial infection (CIH). Then, three evaluation indicators of control and prevention of nosocomial infection in the urinary tract associated to a catheter were built in accordance with two methodological phases. In the first phase, based on the conceptual basis of clinical indicators and evaluation measures in health, the indicators were elaborated: 1 - Indication and Permanence of Vesical Catheterism (IUIC); 2 – Maintenance Conditions of Vesical Catheterism (IUMN) and 3 – Infrastructure for procedures of Vesical Catheterism (IUIF). In the second phase, these indicators were submitted to a content validation by means of a validation method according to one group of nine experts, constitued of physicians and nurses, with knowledge and experience in nosocomial infection and representatives of the hospital, academic and governmental areas and associative institutions. The validation was performed according to judgment of each indicator based on a instrument previously elaborated, consisting of: I- Construct Content (operational guidebook) of the indicator; II- Features of the indicator set; III- Components of the indicator. The indicator 3 was still submitted to one more phase regarding valorization of each component, according to the judges. A minimum consensus of 75% of favorable arbitration from the judges was previously established for each phase. In each phase it was also asked comments and suggestions to adjust indicators. In the results, indicators 1 and 2 obtained a minimum favorable consensus in the great majority of the evaluating aspects for each phase. The aspects which did not obtain the minimum favorable consensus, suggestions and comments made by the judges made possible an adjustment of these indicators and their content validation, with no need of the judges to return for a new arbitration. The indicator 3, in spite of obtaining a comprehensive favorable consensus in the phases II and III, the same did not occur in many aspects of the phase I as well as in the relevance valoration of its individual components. Additionally, the comments and sugestions performed, considered the problematic of this indicator to adequatly evaluate its objective. Therefore, it could not be validated on its original construction.

Nas últimas décadas, a incidência de infecções hospitalares causadas por bactérias Gramnegativas multidrogarresistentes (MDR) vem crescendo de maneira vertiginosa em todo o mundo, de modo que a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) recentemente reconheceu essas infecções como uma preocupação mundial devido ao seu impacto negativo sobre as taxas de mortalidade intra-hospitalar e dos custos da assistência à saúde, afetando tanto os países desenvolvidos quanto os em desenvolvimento. Atualmente considera-se que a higienização das mãos, o uso racional de antimicrobianos e o isolamento de contato são as principais medidas disponíveis para contenção desse avanço. Porém, elas são apenas parcialmente efetivas e de implementação trabalhosa e onerosa. Assim, considera-se necessário o desenvolvimento de formas mais simples e eficientes paralidar com esse problema. No presente estudo, nos propusemos a avaliar o impacto da administração de um produto simbiótico a pacientes colonizados e/ou infectados por bactérias Gram-negativas MDR sobre as taxas de descolonização desses patógenos no trato digestivo. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplamente cego, controlado com placebo, envolvendo 101 pacientes hospitalizados com colonização prévia por bactérias Gram-negativas MDR, demonstrada por meio de cultura seletiva de swab retal, cuja intervenção consistiu na administração oral ou enteral diária de 1010 unidades de Lactobacillus bulgaricus e 1010 unidades de Lactobacillus rhamnosus associados a fruto-oligossacarídeos durante (FOS) 7 dias. O desfecho primário do estudo foi a descolonização completa do trato digestivo posterior à intervenção, que, na análise do tipo \"intenção de tratar modificada\" foi de 16,7% (8/48) no grupo experimental e 20,7% (11/53) no grupo controle (p=0,600). Na análise \"per protocol\", a descolonização completa do trato observada foi de 18,9% (7/37) no grupo experimental e 23,3% (7/30) no grupo controle (p=0,659). Em uma análise multivariada por meio de modelo de regressão logística o uso do simbiótico não influenciou significativamente o risco de descolonização completa do trato digestivo (OR= 0,80, IC 95%= 0,28-2,27, p= 0,678). A ocorrência de eventos adversos de natureza leve a moderada foi semelhante entre os grupos: 7,55% no grupo que utilizou placebo e 6,25% no grupo sob intervenção (p= 1,000). Nenhum evento adverso grave potencialmente relacionado às medicações de estudo foi observado. Nas condições estudadas, os dados obtidos pelo estudo nos levam à conclusão de que o simbiótico estudado demonstrou-se inefetivo na descolonização do trato digestivo de pacientes previamente colonizados por bactérias Gram-negativas MDR. / In recent decades the incidence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative nosocomial infections has been dramatically raising in the whole world. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recognized nosocomial infections due to MDR pathogens as a global concern due to its negative impact on patients, health-care workers and health-care institutions, affecting developed countries as well as developing ones. They negatively impact in-hospital mortality and health-care related costs. Hand hygiene promotion, antibiotic stewardship and contact precautions are the main available measures to control such MDR Gram-negative organisms in hospitals. However, they are only partially effective as well as difficult to be implemented and expensive. Therefore, simpler and more effective actions are thought to be helpful and urgent. In the present study, we analyzed the impact of the administration of a symbiotic product on patients harboring Gram-negative multidrug-resistant bacteria upon the subsequent rates of decolonization of these pathogens from the gastro-intestinal tract.This is a double-blinded and placebo controlled randomized clinical trial evaluating the oral/enteral daily administration of 1010 units of Lactobacillus bulgaricusplus 1010 units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus associated with fructo-oligosacharide (FOS), or placebo, for 7 days, to 101 patients previously colonized by MDR Gram-negative bacteria, identified through selective culture of rectal swab. The primary study outcome was the rate of complete decolonization of the MDR microorganism from the gastro-intestinal tract following the intervention. In the \"modified intention to treat\" analysis, decolonization rates observed were 16.7% (8/48) in the experimental group and 20.7% (11/53) in the placebo group (p=0,600). In the \"per protocol\" analysis, decolonization rates were 18.9% (7/37) in the experimental group and 23.3% (7/30) in the placebo group (p=0,659). In a logistic regression model, symbiotic use did not produce any impact on the chance of decolonization (OR=0.80, CI95%=0.28-2.27, p=0.678). Mild to moderate adverse events occured similarly in both the placebo (7.55%) and the experimental group (6.25%), (p=1,000). No severe adverse event potentially related to the medications was detected during the study period. In the present study conditions, the results obtained lead to the conclusion that the studied symbiotic proved to be ineffective to decolonize patients harboring multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacilli.

Introdução: No ano de 2007, foram diagnosticados 190 casos de infecção hospitalar por Micobactéria de Crescimento Rápido (MCR) em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias videoassistidas em hospitais da região metropolitana de Vitória/ES. Os pacientes foram acompanhados na unidade de referência do Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antonio de Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (HUCAM/UFES), onde foi instituído tratamento específico e estabelecida investigação por métodos de imagens, sobretudo Tomografia Computadorizada (TC), para identificação do número, extensão e localização das lesões. Objetivo: Identificar a distribuição e a frequência dos achados de TC em pacientes com diagnóstico clínico e epidemiológico de infecção hospitalar por MCR após cirurgias laparoscópicas. Métodos: Foi conduzido um estudo descritivo utilizando os dados de prontuários da unidade de referência do HUCAM/UFES e as imagens das tomografias computadorizadas realizadas. Os exames foram analisados, em consenso, por dois radiologistas, que identificaram, separadamente, o comprometimento de pele/subcutâneo, de planos musculofasciais da parede abdominal e do intraperitoneal. Os padrões de comprometimento tabulados foram: densificações, coleções, nódulos maiores ou iguais a 1,0 cm (nódulos), nódulos menores que 1,0 cm (nódulos pequenos), nódulos com pseudocavitação e nódulos pequenos com pseudocavitação. Resultados: 26 pacientes atendiam aos critérios preestabelecidos. As infecções foram relacionadas a: nove cirurgias bariátricas, uma cirurgia bariátrica com colecistectomia, sete colecistectomias, uma colecistectomia somada à correção de hérnia inguinal com colocação de tela, três cirurgias para correção de refluxo gastroesofágico (CRGE), três laparoscopias diagnósticas, uma salpingectomia e uma apendicectomia.O menor intervalo de tempo entre a cirurgia e o exame de tomografia computadorizada foi de 8 dias, o maior, 351 dias, com média de 112 dias e mediana de 83. Todos os pacientes apresentaram algum achado de imagem no subcutâneo, sendo que seis pacientes tiveram comprometimento exclusivo na pele/subcutâneo, e os demais apresentaram comprometimento concomitante de planos musculofasciais e/ou intraperitoneal. Os achados no subcutâneo foram: densificação (88,4%), nódulo pequeno (61,5%), nódulo pequeno pseudocavitado (23,0%), nódulo (38,4%), nódulo pseudocavitado (15,3%) e coleção (26,9%); os achados nos planos musculofasciais foram: densificação (61,5%), nódulo pseudocavitado (3,8%) e coleção (15,3%); e os achados intraperitoneais foram: densificação (46,1%), nódulo pequeno (42,3%), nódulo (15,3%) e coleção (11,5%). Nenhum dos cinco pacientes que realizaram a biópsia subcutânea anteriormente à TC apresentou nódulo subcutâneo maior do que 1,0 cm; comparativamente, dentre aqueles que realizaram a biópsia após a TC, constatou-se que 10 pacientes (47,6%) apresentaram nódulos subcutâneos. A comparação entre os 16 pacientes com intervalo de tempo entre cirurgia e TC menor do que 3 meses e os 10 pacientes com intervalo maior do que 3 meses demonstrou que: os pacientes com menor intervalo de tempo apresentavam maior porcentagem de densificações no subcutâneo (100%), nos planos musculofasciais (81,2%) e intraperitoneais (70,0%); já no grupo com maior intervalo, as porcentagens foram de 66,6%, 30,0% e 10,0%, respectivamente. Conclusão: os achados tomográficos, em ordem decrescente de frequência, foram: a) no subcutâneo: densificação, nódulo pequeno, nódulo, nódulo pequeno pseudocavitado, nódulo pseudocavitado e coleção; b) nos planos musculofasciais: densificação, coleção e nódulo pseudocavitado; e c) intraperitoneal: densificação, nódulo pequeno, nódulo e coleção / Introduction: In 2007, 190 cases of hospital-acquired infection due to rapidly growing mycobacterial (RGM) were diagnosed in patients undergoing video-assisted surgery in the hospitals of the metropolitan region of Vitória, ES (Brazil). The patients were followed at the referral unit of the University Hospital Cassiano Antonio de Moraes of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (HUCAM), where specific treatment was instituted and research by imaging methods - particularly computed tomography (CT) - was initiated to identify the number, extent, and location of the lesions. Objective: To identify the distribution and frequency of CT findings in patients with clinical and epidemiological diagnosis of hospital-acquired RGM infection after laparoscopic surgery. Method: A descriptive study was conducted using medical records data from the referral unit of the HUCAM and the computed tomography (CT) images. The scans were analyzed by two radiologists, in consensus, who individually identified compromised skin/subcutaneous areas, muscle-fascial planes of the abdominal wall and intraperitoneal regions. The involvement patterns were tabulated as: densification, collections, nodules >= 1.0 cm (nodules), nodules < 1.0 cm (small nodules), pseudocavitated nodules, and small pseudocavitated nodules. Results: Twenty-six patients met the established criteria. The infections were related to 9 bariatric surgeries, 1 bariatric surgery with cholecystectomy, 7 cholecystectomies, 1 cholecystectomy along with inguinal hernia correction with screen placement, 3 surgeries for correction of gastroesophageal reflux, 3 diagnostic laparoscopies, 1 salpingectomy, and 1 appendectomy. The shortest time interval between surgery and CT examination was 8 days and the longest interval was 351 days, with a mean of 112 days and a median of 83 days. All patients presented subcutaneous involvement on the CT image; 6 patients had exclusive impairment in the skin/subcutaneous tissue whereas the others had concomitant impairment in musculo-fascial and/or intraperitoneal planes. The subcutaneous findings were: densification (88.4%), small nodules (61.5%), small pseudocavitated nodules (23.0%), nodules (38.4%), pseudocavitated nodules (15.3%), and collections (26.9%). The findings in the musculo-fascial planes were: densification (61.5%), pseudocavitated nodules (3.8%), and collections (15.3%). The intraperitoneal findings were: densification (46.1%), small nodules (42.3%), nodules (15.3%) and collections (11,5%). None of the 5 patients who underwent biopsy before CT showed subcutaneous nodules larger than 1.0 cm; in contrast, of those who underwent biopsy after CT, 10 patients (47.6%) had subcutaneous nodules. A comparison between the 16 patients with a time interval of less than 3 months between surgery and CT, and the 10 patients with an interval of more than 3 months showed that patients with a shorter time interval had a higher percentage of subcutaneous densification (100%), musculo-fascial plane densification (81.2%), and intraperitoneal densification (70.0%); for those with a longer interval, the percentages were 66.6%, 30.0%, and 10.0%, respectively. Conclusion: the subcutaneous CT findings in descending order of frequency were: densification, small nodules, nodules, small pseudocavitated nodules, pseudocavitated nodules, and collections. The musculo-fascial plane CT findings were: densification, collections, and pseudocavitated nodules. The intraperitoneal CT findings were: densification, small nodule, nodules and collections

Introdução: Educação é precisamente a atividade que pode expandir as estratégias de prevenção das Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência a Saúde (IRAS). As infecções da corrente sanguínea associadas a cateter (ICSC) são consideradas as mais importantes IRAS no cenário da assistência crítica por estarem associadas com altas taxas de mortalidade de pacientes sob cuidados intensivos. A interação existente entre entender como o conhecimento é adquirido e qual a melhor maneira de se ensinar, sugere uma mudança na prática tradicional do ensino. Partindo do pressuposto de que toda mudança provém de planejamento, execução, avaliação e implementações de melhoria, este estudo surge com a intenção de responder a seguinte questão de pesquisa: Quais métodos e técnicas de ensino se mostraram eficazes na redução das taxas de ICSC?. Objetivo: Identificar e caracterizar os métodos e técnicas de ensino utilizados em treinamentos para equipes de saúde envolvidas diretamente com a prevenção de ICSC. Método: Trata-se de uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura (RIL) com a estruturação de uma questão de pesquisa conforme a estratégia PICO, sendo utilizados descritores controlados padronizados. As seguintes bases foram pesquisadas: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, Embase, ERIC e Web of Science. Os artigos incluídos atenderam à critérios pré definidos, incluindo avaliação de qualidade metodológica. Resultados: O número total de referências encontradas foi de 300 e, 10 artigos (3,3%) foram incluídos como amostra final a ser analisada. O Método Expositivo foi utilizado por 100% da amostra. Observou-se que 80% optaram pela Técnica de Ensino Verbal, Ilustração (60%), Simulação (30%) e Exemplificação (20%). O Método de Elaboração em Conjunto configurou o segundo método mais utilizado pelos autores (80%). As técnicas de ensino mais exploradas nessa categoria foram a Conversa Dialogada (80%), Lista de discussões via internet (30%) e Aula Expositiva Dialogada (20%). Simpósio e Painel não foram testados. O Método de Ensino para Trabalho Individual foi o terceiro método mais explorado pelos autores (60%), sendo que a Técnica de Ensino mais utilizada foi a Revisão (50%), seguidos pelo Estudo Dirigido e Ficha Didática (10%). Portfólios, Mapa Conceitual, Solução de Problemas, Estudos de Caso e Pesquisas não foram exploradas como objetos de intervenção. Os Métodos de Ensino para Trabalho em Grupo e Atividades Especiais, com suas respectivas técnicas de ensino, não foram considerados em nenhum dos estudos analisados. Quanto aos recursos utilizados nas intervenções, o Feedback foi contemplado em 60%, seguidos pelo uso de cartazes, checklist a beira-leito, módulos de auto estudo (30%) e informativos, pôsteres, adesivos coloridos, carros e kits de inserção de CVC e internet (20%). Para os Métodos de Análise das intervenções realizadas, todos os estudos incluídos apresentaram as taxas de ICSC, seguidos pela Avaliação de Desempenho Pré e Pós Intervenção (60%), Auditorias e Testes Pré e Pós (50%), Checklist (40%), Indicadores gerais de IRAS, Avaliação diagnóstica prévia (20%) e Inspeção (10%). Conclusão: Os Métodos e Técnicas de Ensino utilizados nos estudos incluídos na presente pesquisa favoreceram a redução de ICSC. Entretanto, devido a uso combinado de diferentes métodos não foi possível identificar um método que isoladamente tenha sido mais eficaz / Introduction: Education is precisely the activity that can expand the strategies Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI). Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are considered to be the most important HAI in the critical care setting being associated with the high mortality rates of patients under intensive care. The interaction between the understanding of how knowledge is acquired and what would be the better way to teach, suggests a need for change in the traditional practices in teaching. Assuming that all changes should come from planning, implementation, evaluation and improving implementations, this study seeks to answer the following research question: \"What are the methods and teaching techniques that have proved to be effective in reducing CRBSI rates?\". Objective: Identify and describe the methods and teaching techniques used in training healthcare workers directly involved in the prevention of CRBSI. Method: This is an Integrative Review of Literature (IRL) with the structuring of a research question according to the PICO strategy which used standardized controlled descriptors. The following databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, EMBASE, ERIC and Web of Science. The articles that are included met the pre-defined criteria, including a methodological quality assessment. Results: Three hundred references were found and 10 articles (3.3%) were included as the final sample to be analyzed. The Expository Method was used by 100% of the sample. It was observed that 80% opted to the Verbal Teaching Technique, Illustration (60%), Simulation (30%) and Exemplification (20%). The Preparation Group Method configured the second method used the most by the authors (80%). The most explored teaching techniques in this category were the Dialogued Conversation (80%), List of discussions by internet (30%) and Dialogued Exposition Class (20%). Symposium and Panel were not tested. The teaching method for Individual Work was the third method further explored by the authors (60%), and the Review was the most used teaching technique on this category (50%), followed by the Directed Study and Teaching Sheet (10%). Portfolios, Concept Map, Problem Solving, Case Studies and Research where not explored as objects of intervention. The teaching methods for Group Work and Special Activities, with their respective teaching techniques were not considered in any of the studies analyzed. As for the resources used in the interventions studies, the Feedback was contemplated in 60%, followed by the use of banners, a bedside checklist, self study modules (30%) and newsletters, posters, colored stickers, car with the insertion kits of central lines and the internet (20%). According to the analysis methods for the implemented interventions, all included studies showing their CRBSI rates, followed by the Performance Assessment - Pre and Post Intervention (60%), Audits and Testing Before and After (50%), Checklist (40%), General HAI indicators, Prior diagnostic evaluation (20%) and Inspection (10%). Conclusion: The Methods and Teaching techniques used in the included studies from this research favored the reduction of CRBSI. However, due to the combined use of different methods, it was not possible to identify a method that alone was more effective

O objetivo desta dissertação foi descrever a investigação de um surto de Klebsiella pneumoniae em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal cujo elo entre os casos foi a mão, persistentemente colonizada pelo agente, de uma técnica de enfermagem que apresentava onicomicose em primeiro quirodáctilo esquerdo. Revisou-se a história da aplicação do método epidemiológico na investigação de surtos de infecção relacionada à assistência à saúde. Foi revisada também a literatura pertinente à investigação de surtos na busca de situações semelhantes. Embora seja bem conhecido o papel das mãos de profissional de saúde na transmissão cruzada de agentes causadores de infecção nosocomial, poucos surtos foram publicados em que estes profissionais atuaram como fonte comum e persistente de infecção. É mais freqüente Gram-positivos envolvidos, havendo cinco relatos de Gram-negativos neste contexto. A contribuição desta dissertação é alertar para o risco que profissionais de saúde com alterações tróficas em mãos e anexos podem representar quando atuam em unidades críticas de assistência, assim como durante investigações de surto em que a evidências apontam para uma fonte comum, a busca de profissional com tais alterações deve ser considerada / The aim of this study was to describe the investigation of an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae at a neonatal intensive care unit, associated with the persistently colonized hands of a nurse who had onychomycosis on her left thumb. We reviewed the use of the epidemiological method for investigating healthcare related outbreaks of infections. We also reviewed the literature concerning the hands of health care personnel. Although the hands of healthcare workers (HCW) play a role in the cross-transmission of nosocomial pathogens, there are few reports in which the persistently colonized hands act as a common source perpetuating an outbreak. In this setting, Gram-positive outbreaks are frequently reported and five Gramnegative outbreaks were reported. By means of this work, we have sought to draw attention to the role of the healthcare professional with chronic lesions on the hand skin and/or fingernails. They may pose a risk of persistent transmission of nosocomial pathogens, especially for critical patients with invasive devices. During healthcare infection outbreaks, examination of the hands of HCW should be included in the investigation