Publications

14

Jan, 2020

Return of the founder Chikungunya virus to its place of introduction into Brazil is revealed by genomic characterization of exanthematic disease cases

 

Authors: Pereira Gusmão Maia Z, Mota Pereira F, do Carmo Said RF, et al.

Published in: Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020;9(1):53-57

Abstract Between June 2017 and August 2018, several municipalities located in Bahia state (Brazil) reported a large increase in the number of patients presenting with febrile illness similar to that of arboviral infections. Using a combination of portable whole genome sequencing, molecular clock and epidemiological analyses, we revealed the return of the CHIKV-ECSA genotype into Bahia. Our results show local persistence of lineages in some municipalities and the re-introduction of new epidemiological strains from different Brazilian regions, highlighting a complex dynamic of transmission between epidemic seasons and sampled locations. Estimated climate-driven transmission potential of CHIKV remained at similar levels throughout the years, such that large reductions in the total number of confirmed cases suggests a slow, but gradual accumulation of herd-immunity over the 4 years of the epidemic in Bahia after its introduction in 2014. Bahia remains a reservoir of the genetic diversity of CHIKV in the Americas, and genomic surveillance strategies are essential to assist in monitoring and understanding arboviral transmission and persistence both locally and over large distances.

Read

10

Jan, 2020

Implementation and impact of pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs: a systematic scoping review

Tags: ,

Authors: Donà D, Barbieri E, Daverio M, Lundin R, Giaquinto C, Zaoutis T, Sharland M

Published in: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control.2020;9:3

Background Antibiotics are the most common medicines prescribed to children in hospitals and the community, with a high proportion of potentially inappropriate use. Antibiotic misuse increases the risk of toxicity, raises healthcare costs, and selection of resistance. The primary aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current state of evidence of the implementation and outcomes of pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) globally.

Methods MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched to identify studies reporting on ASP in children aged 0-18 years and conducted in outpatient or in-hospital settings. Three investigators independently reviewed identified articles for inclusion and extracted relevant data.

Results Of the 41,916 studies screened, 113 were eligible for inclusion in this study. Most of the studies originated in the USA (52.2%), while a minority were conducted in Europe (24.7%) or Asia (17.7%). Seventy-four (65.5%) studies used a before-and-after design, and sixteen (14.1%) were randomized trials. The majority (81.4%) described in-hospital ASPs with half of interventions in mixed pediatric wards and ten (8.8%) in emergency departments. Only sixteen (14.1%) studies focused on the costs of ASPs. Almost all the studies (79.6%) showed a significant reduction in inappropriate prescriptions. Compliance after ASP implementation increased. Sixteen of the included studies quantified cost savings related to the intervention with most of the decreases due to lower rates of drug administration. Seven studies showed an increased susceptibility of the bacteria analysed with a decrease in extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers E. coli and K. pneumoniae; a reduction in the rate of P. aeruginosa carbapenem resistance subsequent to an observed reduction in the rate of antimicrobial days of therapy; and, in two studies set in outpatient setting, an increase in erythromycin-sensitive S. pyogenes following a reduction in the use of macrolides.

Conclusions Pediatric ASPs have a significant impact on the reduction of targeted and empiric antibiotic use, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Pediatric ASPs are now widely implemented in the USA, but considerable further adaptation is required to facilitate their uptake in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Read

30

Dec, 2019

Standardising neonatal and pediatric anitibiotic clinical trial design and conduct: the PENTA-ID network review

Tags: , ,

Authors: Folgori L, Lutsar I, Standing JF, et al.

Published in: BMJ Open. 2019; 9:e032592

Abstract: Antimicrobial development for children remains challenging due to multiple barriers to conducting randomised clinical trials (CTs). There is currently considerable heterogeneity in the design and conduct of paediatric antibiotic studies, hampering comparison and meta-analytic approaches. The board of the European networks for paediatric research at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with the Paediatric European Network for Treatments of AIDS-Infectious Diseases network (www.penta-id.org), recently developed a Working Group on paediatric antibiotic CT design, involving academic, regulatory and industry representatives. The evidence base for any specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials for children is very limited and will evolve over time as further studies are conducted. The suggestions being put forward here are based on the adult EMA guidance, adapted for neonates and children. In particular, this document provides suggested guidance on the general principles of harmonisation between regulatory and strategic trials, including (1) standardised key inclusion/exclusion criteria and widely applicable outcome measures for specific clinical infectious syndromes (CIS) to be used in CTs on efficacy of antibiotic in children; (2) key components of safety that should be reported in paediatric antibiotic CTs; (3) standardised sample sizes for safety studies. Summarising views from a range of key stakeholders, specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials in specific CIS for children have been suggested. The recommended criteria are intended to be applicable to both regulatory and clinical investigator-led strategic trials and could be the basis for harmonisation in the design and conduct of CTs on antibiotics in children. The next step is further discussion internationally with investigators, paediatric CTs networks and regulators.
Read

14

Nov, 2019

Analysing small groups within clinical trials, while borrowing information from larger groups

 

Authors: Turner B, Ford D, Moore C, Gibb D, Turkova A,  White I, and ODYSSEY trial team

Published in: Oral Presentation atInternational Society for Clinical Biostatics; July 16th 2019

Read

14

Nov, 2019

Yellow Fever virus reemergence and spread in southeast Brazil, 2016-2019

 

Authors: Giovannetti M, de Mendonca MCL, Fonseca V, et al.

Published in: J Virol. 2019;94(1). pii: e01623-19

Abstract The recent reemergence of yellow fever virus (YFV) in Brazil has raised serious concerns due to the rapid dissemination of the virus in the southeastern region. To better understand YFV genetic diversity and dynamics during the recent outbreak in southeastern Brazil, we generated 18 complete and nearly complete genomes from the peak of the epidemic curve from nonhuman primates (NHPs) and human infected cases across the Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states. Genomic sequencing of 18 YFV genomes revealed the estimated timing, source, and likely routes of yellow fever virus transmission and dispersion during one of the largest outbreaks ever registered in Brazil. We showed that during the recent epidemic, YFV was reintroduced from Minas Gerais to the Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states multiple times between 2016 and 2019. The analysis of data from portable sequencing could identify the corridor of spread of YFV. These findings reinforce the idea that continued genomic surveillance strategies can provide information on virus genetic diversity and transmission dynamics that might assist in understanding arbovirus epidemics.

14

Nov, 2019

Factors predicting the severity of dengue in patients with warning signs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1986–2012)

 

Authors: Goncalves BS, Nogueira RMR, Bispo de Filippis AM, Horta MAP

Published in: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2019;113(11):670-677

Background Since 1981, >12 million cases of dengue have been reported in Brazil. Early prediction of severe dengue with no warning signs is crucial to avoid progression to severe dengue. Here we aimed to identify early markers of dengue severity and characterize dengue infection in patients in Rio de Janeiro.
Methods We evaluated early severity markers, serotypes, infection status, number of days of illness and viral loads associated with dengue fever in patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil through an observational retrospective study (1986–2012). We compared dengue without warning signs and dengue with warning signs/severe dengue (DWWS/SD). Infection status was classified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and viraemia was quantified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Results The presence of DWWS/ SD was significantly associated with younger age; patients 13–19 y of age had a significantly greater chance of presenting warning signs. Dengue virus type 3 (DENV3) was more likely to induce DWWS/SD, which was more frequent on days 4–5 of illness.
Conclusions DENV3, 4–5 d of illness and 13–19 y of age were early biomarkers of dengue severity. To our knowledge, this was the first study to analyse the characteristics of dengue severity in the state of Rio de Janeiro over 27 y of epidemics since the introduction of DENV.

14

Nov, 2019

Reduced time to suppression among neonates with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy within 7 days of age

 

Authors: Domínguez-Rodríguez S, Tagarro A. Palma P, et al.

Published in: JAIDS 2019;82(5):483-490

Abstract There are limited data on infants with HIV starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the neonatal period. We investigated the association between the timing of ART initiation and time-to-suppression among infants who tested HIV-positive and initiated ART within the first 28 days of life. The effect was estimated using cumulative probability flexible parametric spline models and a multivariable generalized additive mixed model was performed to test nonlinear associations. Forty-four neonates were included. Nineteen (43.2%) initiated ART within 7 days of life and 25 (56.8%) from 8 to 28 days. Infants treated within 7 days were 4-fold more likely to suppress earlier than those treated after 7 days [Hazard ratio (HR) 4.01 (1.7–9.5)]. For each week the ART initiation was delayed, the probability of suppression decreased by 35% (HR 0.65 [0.46–0.92]). Age at ART start was linearly associated with time-to-suppression. However, a linear association with normally distributed residuals was not found between baseline viral load and time-to-suppression, with no association found when baseline viral loads were ≤5 log(10) copies/mL, but with exponential increase in time-to-suppression with > log5 copies/mL at baseline. Starting ART within 7 days of life led to 4-fold faster time to viral suppression, in comparison to initiation from 8 to 28 days.

16

Oct, 2019

Towards understanding global patterns of antimicrobial use and resistance in neonatal sepsis: insights from the NeoAMR network

 

Authors: Li G, Bielicki JA, Ahmed ASMNU, et al.

Published in: Arch Dis Child.2091;0:1-6

Objective To gain an understanding of the variation in available resources and clinical practices between neonatal units (NNUs) in the low-income and middleincome country (LMIC) setting to inform the design of an observational study on the burden of unit-level antimicrobial resistance (AMR).Design A web-based survey using a REDCap database was circulated to NNUs participating in the Neonatal AMR research network. The survey included questions about NNU funding structure, size, admission rates, access to supportive therapies, empirical antimicrobial guidelines and period prevalence of neonatal blood culture isolates and their resistance patterns.Setting 39 NNUs from 12 countries.Patients Any neonate admitted to one of the participating NNUs.

Interventions This was an observational cohort study.

Results The number of live births per unit ranged from 513 to 27 700 over the 12-month study period, with the number of neonatal cots ranging from 12 to 110. The proportion of preterm admissions <32 weeks ranged from 0% to 19%, and the majority of units (26/39, 66%) use Essential Medicines List ’Access’ antimicrobials as their first-line treatment in neonatal sepsis. Cephalosporin resistance rates in Gram-negative isolates ranged from 26% to 84%, and carbapenem resistance rates ranged from 0% to 81%. Glycopeptide resistance rates among Gram-positive isolates ranged from 0% to 45%.

Conclusion AMR is already a significant issue in NNUs worldwide. The apparent burden of AMR in a given NNU in the LMIC setting can be influenced by a range of factors which will vary substantially between NNUs. These variations must be considered when designing interventions to improve neonatal mortality globally

Read

15

Oct, 2019

Differential susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms to vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid between clinical Isolates from neonates and adults

 

Authors:Simitsopoulou M, Kadiltzoglou P, Kyrpitzi D, Roilides E.

Published in: Int J Biol Med Res.2019;10(1):6591-6596

Abstract This study aimed to compare the effects of vancomycin, linezolid and daptomycin against planktonic cells and biofilms of 32 bloodstream isolates derived from neonates and adults of three hospitals. Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation was spectrophotometrically assessed following safranin staining. Susceptibility testing of planktonic and biofilm cells was performed by XTT reduction assay. MICs of vancomycin and daptomycin were 1mg/L and that of linezolid 0.5 mg/L. At concentrations >0.5 mg/L, complete eradication of planktonic cells was effected by all three antibiotics. The biofilm MICs for the three antibiotics were 3-7 twofold dilutions higher than the corresponding planktonic MICs (P<0.05). Vancomycin and linezolid exhibited similar median MICs against biofilms of neonatal isolates ranging from 16 to 32mg/L with comparable damage (44%-84% for vancomycin vs 56%-77% for linezolid). Their MICs against biofilms of isolates from adults were 128 mg/L and 4 mg/L, respectively (P<0.001). Vancomycin showed lower MIC than daptomycin against biofilms of neonatal isolates (16 mg/L vs 64 mg/L, respectively; P<0.05). Biofilm MIC of linezolid was lower than the corresponding daptomycin MIC for both age groups (neonatal isolates: 16 mg/L vs 64 mg/L; adult isolates: 4 mg/L vs 64 mg/L, P<0.05). Vancomycin and linezolid are equally effective against biofilms of neonatal blood isolates and both exhibit superior activity to daptomycin. In the adult group, linezolid is more efficacious than both vancomycin and daptomycin against biofilms, while vancomycin and daptomycin exhibit similar anti-biofilm activities. Our results suggest that vancomycin and linezolid show better anti-biofilm activity than daptomycin against biofilms of neonates and linezolid have increased activity against biofilms of adults.

14

Oct, 2019

Population pharmacokinetic meta-analysis of individual data to design the first randomized efficacy trial of vancomycin in neonates and young infants

 

Authors: Jacqz-Aigrain E, Leroux S, Thomson AH, et al.

Published in: J Antimicrob Ther 2019; 74(8):2128-2138

Objectives In the absence of consensus, the present meta-analysis was performed to determine an optimal dosing regimen of vancomycin for neonates.
Methods A ‘meta-model’ with 4894 concentrations from 1631 neonates was built using NONMEM, and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to design an optimal intermittent infusion, aiming to reach a target AUC0–24 of 400 mg·h/L at steady-state in at least 80% of neonates.
Results A two-compartment model best fitted the data. Current weight, postmenstrual age (PMA) and serum creatinine were the significant covariates for CL. After model validation, simulations showed that a loading dose (25 mg/kg) and a maintenance dose (15 mg/kg q12h if <35 weeks PMA and 15 mg/kg q8h if ≥35 weeks PMA) achieved the AUC0–24 target earlier than a standard ‘Blue Book’ dosage regimen in >89% of the treated patients.
Conclusions The results of a population meta-analysis of vancomycin data have been used to develop a new dosing regimen for neonatal use and to assist in the design of the model-based, multinational European trial, NeoVanc.