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Biomedical subjects

J L Schmit

Publications and source records attributed to J L Schmit.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Incidence of and risk factors for severe liver toxicity in HIV-infected patients on anti-tuberculosis treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and risk factors for severe liver toxicity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients on anti-tuberculosis treatment and the impact of patients' characteristics and concomitant medications instituted during the first week of antituberculosis treatment. METHODS: HIV-infected patients referred to six French hospitals between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2004, with confirmed or 'presumptive' tuberculosis (TB). Liver toxicity was studied during the first 2 months of TB treatment. RESULTS: During the 12 years of the study period, 144 patients were enrolled. Severe liver toxicity developed in 15 (10.7%). The median time to development of liver toxicity was 14 days. In the univariate analysis, high baseline bilirubin levels (P = 0.004), CD4 cell counts between 50 and 100 cells/mm3 (P = 0.022) and the use of fluconazole (P = 0.0005) were associated with liver toxicity. In the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors were abnormal baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.028) and bilirubin levels (P = 0.033) and the use of fluconazole (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Severe liver toxicity is frequent, and occurs early in the course of anti-tuberculosis treatment. ALT and bilirubin levels should be closely monitored during the first month of treatment, especially in patients with high baseline ALT or bilirubin levels. We suggest caution when prescribing fluconazole and anti-tuberculosis drugs concomitantly, although this needs to be confirmed and further investigated.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Community-acquired bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia in adults: effect of diminished penicillin susceptibility on clinical outcome.

Pneumococcal pneumonia remains a common disease with a high mortality rate. Between 1995 and 2000, we prospectively analyzed 95 consecutive adult cases of community-acquired bacteraemic pneumococcal pneumonia treated in a single centre. The incidence of pneumococcal resistance to penicillin increased from 19 to 50% during the study period. Multivariate analysis showed that only age and recent hospitalization were independently associated with fatal outcome. The proportion of penicillin-resistant strains was slightly but not significantly higher among patients who died before the fourth hospital day than among those who died later. Patients who died before D4 were more likely to have a recent history of hospitalization, cancer and/or chemotherapy. It thus appears that infection by a resistant pneumococcal strain is not in itself a gravity factor in this setting, but that their acquisition is associated with pejorative clinical features.

Adult↗

[Atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis].

French Guyana is an endemic area for American cutaneous leishmaniasis. At the start, the initial red lesion may be mistaken for a whitlow. Twenty percent of developed forms exhibit a sporotrichosis pattern. The notion of travel to an endemic area is very important for diagnosis. We report the case of a young man from French Guyana presenting with a cutaneous lesion of the finger. After numerous surgical treatments for a "whitlow", the final diagnosis of leishmaniasis was difficult because of local-complications and cutaneous rearrangement. Erroneous initial orientation in a unit unaware of tropical diseases can forestall appropriate care of the patients. Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic data on American tegument leishmaniasis are discussed.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of the efficacy of a multiresistant bacteria control programme in a teaching hospital, studying the evolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus incidence].

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitute the most important multiresistant bacteria (MRB) recovered in French hospitals. Our objective was to measure these MRSA diffusion in our hospital to evaluate the MRB control programme which had been implemented in the beginning of 1999. This study was conducted in a teaching hospital containing 1800 beds, from February 1999 to January 2001. All MRSA isolated in clinical samples were included. Duplicates (same bacteria in the same patient) were excluded. The detection of methicillin-resistance was performed at 30 degrees C, by disk diffusion method. Incidence densities were determined with their 95% confidence interval (CI 95%). Their evolution by four-month period was evaluated with the chi-square test for trend. During the two-year period, 866 MRSA were isolated. The global incidence was 0,88 per 1000 patient-days (PD) (IC 95% = left open bracket 0,83-0,93 right open bracket ). For cases acquired in our hospital the incidence was 0,66 per 1000 PD, whereas it was 0,26 per 1000 PD for imported cases. Concerning the evolution of incidences, no significant trend was observed for global incidence. The incidence of acquired MRSA decreased during the first year, but increased thereafter. The incidence of imported MRSA increased with a significant trend (p < 10(-5)). The number of these imported MRSA isolated in our hospital was twice fold higher in 2000. This study emphasizes an important actual problem : the increase of patient colonization pressure at the time of admission in hospitals. This increase, which can be due in part to a community transmission, is responsible for a reduction of the efficacy of MRSA control programmes.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

Iliac muscle abcess and staphylococcal metastatic infection in a diabetic patient.

We report the case of a 44-year-old obese diabetic woman admitted for fever. Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus Aureus and antibiotherapy was started. Iliac abscess was diagnosed and surgical drainage done. Clinical evolution was marked by metastatic dissemination: sacroiliac osteolysis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, spondylitis of the third lumbar vertebra and pulmonary localizations. This case-report shows diagnosis and treatment difficulties of an iliac muscle abscess with metastatic localization in a diabetic patient.

Abscess↗

Determinants of transfusion-associated bacterial contamination: results of the French BACTHEM Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-associated bacterial contamination (TABC), probably the most frequent transfusion-transmitted infection, may induce serious adverse events. Systematic information and documentation on determinants are lacking. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The BACTHEM Study is a French matched case-control study assessing TABC determinants. Included were cases of TABC reported in France in a 2-year period, as determined from uniform definitions. Information on recipient-, blood component-, and donor-related potential determinants was collected on site. ORs were estimated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 158 cases of suspected TABC reported, 41 that involved transfusion with 25 RBCs and 16 platelet concentrates were included. Gram-negative rods accounted for nearly half of the bacteria species involved and for all six deaths. In comparison with the risk of TABC for patients receiving RBCs for anemia, the risk was higher for patients receiving RBCs for pancytopenia (OR, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.3-41.0) and for those receiving platelets for thrombocytopenia (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.2-24.1). Other potential determinants were platelet transfusion for pancytopenia (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 0.5-40.0), immunosuppressive treatment (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 0.7-10.6), shelf-life of more than 1 day for platelets or 8 days for RBCs (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 0.7-9.6), and more than 20 previous donations by donors (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.7-5.3). CONCLUSION: This first comparative study revealed TABC determinants that suggest approaches for prevention.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the contribution of isolation precautions in prevention and control of multi-resistant bacteria in a teaching hospital.

From February 1999 to January 2000, a control programme to prevent the spread multi-resistant bacteria (MRB) was implemented in a French teaching hospital. This programme focused on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), and was based on the application of barrier precautions (washing hands with antiseptic soaps, wearing disposable gloves and gowns, identifying MRB carriers). No changes in antibiotic policy occurred during the year. Our aim was to conduct an evaluation of this programme by measuring incidence rates. Concurrently, the effect of barrier precautions was estimated in an indirect way, by documenting the availability of barrier precautions in MRB carriers' rooms and by analysing the monthly correlation between the supply of such material and the theoretical cumulated length of MRB carriers' isolation in six randomized wards. All MRB isolated in hospitalized patients were recorded, and differentiated between acquisition in our hospital or from elsewhere. For the analysis of trends, the year was divided in three periods of four months. Over the year, the global MRB incidence was 1.26 per 1000 patient-days (PD) [95% confidence interval (95%CI)=1.16-1.36]. The MRSA incidence was 0.89 per 1000 PD (95%CI=0.81- 0.97) and the ESBL incidence was 0.38 per 1000 PD (95% CI=0.33-0.43). The MRB incidence decreased significantly in all types of specialties except for surgical wards. The incidence decreased by 17.9% for MRSA, 54.9% for ESBL and 34.8% for both MRB. Concurrently, the proportion of strains acquired in our hospital decreased for MRSA (P for trend > or = 0.05) and ESBL (P for trend > or = 0.01), whereas the incidence of imported strains increased slightly. The proportion of multiresistant strains in S. aureus (36.8%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (37.0%) remained similar throughout the year. Thus, the decrease of the incidence concerned both resistant and susceptible strains. The availability of antiseptic soaps increased significantly (P for trend > or = 0.01). The amount of antiseptic soap ordered and the theoretical lengths of isolation were correlated on a monthly basis (Spearman coefficient = 0.72; P > or = 0.02). These results shows the efficacy of such a programme of MRB containment in a large hospital, provided barrier nursing is instigated, together with the availability of such material as antiseptic soap, to allow implementation.

Bacterial Infections↗

[A prospective study on erysipelas and infectious cellulitis: how are they dealt within hospital?].

771 cases of erysipelas and 52 cases of infectious cellulitis were collected over 3 months in a prospective study carried out in French hospitals. The mean age was 62.7 +/- 19.3 years for the erysipelas patients and 69.7 +/- 16 years for the cellulitis patients. Sex-ratios were respectively 0.92 and 2.7. The infection was mainly localized in the lower limbs in both categories (90.9 p. 100 and 71 p. 100); the upper limbs and the face were more often involved in cellulitis than in erysipelas (13 p. 100 versus 5.2 p. 100 and 10 p. 100 versus 2.5 p. 100). Penicillin G was the initial antimicrobial treatment in 45 p. 100 of the erysipelas cases, whereas amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was used in 32.7 p. 100 of the cellulitis cases. Other antibiotics used were pristinamycin, antistaphylococcal penicillin, and amoxicillin. Combinations of antibiotics were used to treat 50 p. 100 of the cellulitis cases but only 11 p. 100 of the erysipelas cases. Anticoagulants were used in 67.4 p. 100 of the erysipelas cases and in 59.7 p. 100 of the cellulitis cases. Surgery was performed in 52 p. 100 of the cellulitis cases, and hyperbaric oxygen in 4.2 p. 100. The outcome was quite different for the 2 diseases: cure rate without complications reached 86.6 p. 100 for erysipelas, and only 48.1 p. 100 for cellulitis; death rates reached respectively 0.77 p. 100 and 5.7 p. 100, median length of hospitalization 8 days and 21 days, and median length of antibiotic treatment 15 days and 21 days.

Erysipelas↗

[Dealing with bacterial hypodermal infection in general practice: an inquiry and a prospective study].

OBJECTIVE: The author had for aim to collect data on how general practitioners deal with bacterial hypodermal inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An enquiry on practice and a prospective study were carried out over 3 months. RESULTS: The mean number of cases reached 0.54 per physician over the 3-month period, for a total of 103 cases of bacterial hypodermal infection. The patients'mean age was slightly superior to 60 years, with a high female predominance and a preferential site of infection located in the lower limbs (89.6 p. 100 of the cases). 20 p. 100 of the patients were immediately sent to hospital, mainly because of the importance of local and/or general symptoms, and of the underlying conditions. In home care, antibiotic therapy was almost always oral and consisted in courses of group A penicillin or pristinamycin in over half of the cases, for a mean duration of 12.4 days for erysipelas, and 9.1 days for cases classified as "other type of bacterial hypodermal infection". An anticoagulant treatment was associated in close to 30 p. 100 of the cases, and anti-inflammatory or corticoids agents were prescribed in 17.9 p. 100 of the cases. The cure rate among home care patients reached 89.3 p. 100 and only 3 patients were hospitalized after the initial treatment; these 3 patients had all been given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Family Practice↗

Determination of the endothelin receptor antagonist ABT-627 and related substances by high performance liquid chromatography.

The determination of the endothelin (ET) antagonist receptor ABT-627 (I) and related substances is performed by HPLC. I is determined in bulk drug substance and drug formulation using isocratic conditions and an Inertsil ODS-2 column. The determination is stability indicating and detector response is linear from 24 to 118 microg ml(-1) (33-164% of assay level). Intermediate precision for the determination ranged from +/- 0.60 to +/- 1.9% RSD. The measurement is accurate, with quantitative recovery of I from the formulation placebo. Related substances in I and formulated I are determined using the same chromatographic conditions, with a gradient elution profile to elute impurities having varying relative polarities. The detector response for related substances determination is linear for I from 0.60 to 17.8 microg ml(-1) (0.05-1.5% of assay level) with the limit of detection and quantitation estimated at 0.01 and 0.05%, respectively. Comparable precision was obtained in drug substance and drug formulation (RSD values +/- 3.7 to +/- 12% and +/- 5.5 to 16.9%, respectively for impurities ranging from 0.05 to 0.30%). The quantitated impurities agreed well for the same lot of I when assayed as a bulk substance and after the formulation into a drug product.

Atrasentan↗

Utility of blood cultures in community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization: influence of antibiotic treatment before admission.

It has been previously shown that antibiotics given before hospitalization significantly reduce the proportion of positive blood cultures in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The aim of this prospective study was to compare the utility and cost-benefits of blood cultures in patients, hospitalized for moderate CAP, who had or had not received antibiotic therapy prior to admission. During 1 year, 53 patients were included and separated into two groups: group 1 patients had not received antibiotic treatment prior to admission (n = 30), whereas group 2 patients had been treated with antibiotics (n = 23). Within the first 48 hours, a set of blood cultures was collected if the body temperature was higher than 38.5 degrees C or in the case of shaking chills. A total of 136 blood cultures was collected; 74 in group 1 and 62 in group 2. Bacteraemia was significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2, 5/30 patients vs. 0/23, respectively (P < 0.05). The cost of negative blood cultures was valued at 13,939.2 FF in group 1 and 13,164.8 FF in group 2, respectively 464.6 +/- 244.3 FF and 569.3 +/- 233.4 FF per patient (n.s.). Moreover, blood cultures were the method of diagnosis in only one of the five patients with bacteraemia and in no case did a positive blood-culture result influence the initial therapeutic regime. Thus, our results suggest a reduced clinical utility and cost-benefit of blood cultures in patients hospitalized for moderate CAP who have received an antibiotic treatment prior to admission.

Adolescent↗

[Direct cost of antibiotic therapy prescribed for nosocomial bacteremia. Prospective study during 6 months at a CHU (University Hospital Center)].

A six-month prospective study of costs associated with antimicrobial therapy in nosocomial bacteremia was conducted from November 1, 1995 to April 30, 1996 in a 1837-bed teaching hospital, with the help of the hospital pharmacists and hospital hygiene unit. Only the costs due to the antimicrobials themselves were taken into account. A total of 238 cases of nosocomial bacteremia occurred during the study period. The total direct cost of antimicrobial therapy was 444,931 French francs (FF), i.e., 6.8% of total expenditures for antimicrobials. Mean cost per case was 1869 FF, and was 2.6-fold higher in the 21 patients with bacteremia due to more than one organism (P = 0.03). CAses with an identifiable portal of entry contributed 75% of the total cost. Portals of entry associated with the highest cost included central venous lines (103,928 FF) and urinary tract infections (50,810 FF). Although 20% of nosocomial bacteremias due to coagulase-negative staphylococci did not lead to antimicrobial therapy, the remaining 80% contributed 40.8% of the total cost, followed by nosocomial bacteremias due to Escherichia coli with 19.7% of the total cost. Thirty-seven patients (15.5%) did not receive specific antimicrobial therapy, for the following reasons: death before treatment initiation, transfer to another hospital, antimicrobial therapy initiated earlier for another infection elsewhere in the body due to a different organism, or other form of treatment. The results of this study highlight the need for prevention.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Outcome of cardiac valve ring abscesses after medical treatment: attempt to identify criteria of favorable prognosis].

OBJECTIVES: Identify factors predicting favorable outcome after medical management of valve ring abscesses in order to propose a surveillance schedule for conservative treatment. METHODS: A multicentric study conducted from July 1989 to February 1996 included 28 patients (mean age 64 +/- 16 years, range 26-83) hospitalized for active endocarditis and valve ring abscesses diagnosed at transthoracic or transesophageal echography. Conservative medical therapy was given because of a decision of the medico-surgical team (n = 9), high surgical risk (n = 12), or patient refusal of surgery (n = 7). Outcome was favourable in 18 patients (Group I) and unfavorable in 10 (Group II) due to death (n = 9) or subsequent surgery (n = 1). Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine differences between the groups in terms of clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: Mean follow-up in Group I was 33 +/- 18 months and 15 +/- 10 months in Group II. Univariate analysis showed significant differences between Group I and II respectively for age (59 +/- 18 yr vs 72 +/- 10, p = 0.04), delay to apyrexia after antibiotics (4.3 +/- 2.8 vs 8.3 +/- 2.4 days, p < 0.0008), heart failure (5% vs 70%, p = 0.003), grade III or IV valvular regurgitation (5% vs 60%, p < 0.04), and mean surface area of the abscess (1.5 +/- 1.2 vs 5.4 +/- 6.4 cm2, p < 0.03). Independent factors at multivariate analysis were by decreasing order: lack of heart failure at admission, delay to apyrexia, abscess surface area, and age. Outcome was favorable (mean follow-up 33 +/- 10 months) in all patients with an abscess surface area < 1.5 cm2, no signs of heart failure, no grade III or IV valvular regurgitation, apyrexia after less than 8 days on antibiotics and no staphylococcus positive blood culture. CONCLUSION: Medical management of valve ring abscesses may be indicated in selected patients in care units with rigorous surveillance facilities. Further studies are needed to precisely identify surveillance and treatment criteria.

Abscess↗