S. Maitra, A. Som, S. Bhattacharjee

To identify sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy of quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria to predict in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with suspected infection.

Rudd KE, Seymour CW, Aluisio AR, et al.

This pooled cohort analysis assesses the association of quick Sequential (Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score with excess hospital death among patients with suspected infection in low- to middle-income countries and compares the mortality association using qSOFA vs systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria.

Zhenjun Yu, Ni Zhou, Ali Li, Jie Chen, Huazhong Chen, Zebao He, Fei Yan, Haihong Zhao, Jiansheng Zhu

Shields, R. K., Nguyen, M. H., Chen, L., Press, E. G., Kreiswirth, B. N., Clancy, C. J.

Ceftazidime-avibactam was used to treat 77 patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections at our center. Thirty- and 90-day survival rates were 81% and 69%, respectively; rates were higher than predicted by SAPS II and SOFA scores at the onset of infection. Clinical success was achieved in 55% of patients, but varied by site of infection. Success rates were lowest for pneumonia (36%) and higher for bacteremia (75%) and urinary tract infections (88%). By multivariate analysis, pneumonia (P=0.045) and receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT; P=0.046) were associated with clinical failure. Microbiologic failures occurred in 32% of patients, and occurred more commonly among patients infected with KPC-3-producing than KPC-2-producing CRE (P=0.002). Pneumonia was an independent predictor of microbiologic failures (P=0.007). Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance emerged in 10% of patients, including 14% infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae and 32% with microbiologic failures. RRT was an independent predictor for the development of resistance (P=0.009). Resistance was identified exclusively among K. pneumoniae harboring variant KPC-3 enzymes. Upon phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences, resistant isolates from 87.5% (7/8) of patients clustered within a previously defined sequence type (ST)258, clade II sub-lineage; resistant isolates from one patient clustered independently from other ST258, clade II isolates. In conclusion, our report offers new insights into the utility and limitations of ceftazidime-avibactam across CRE infection types. Immediate priorities are to identify ceftazidime-avibactam dosing and therapeutic regimens that improve upon the poor outcomes among patients with pneumonia, and in those receiving RRT.

Adhikari NJ, Rubenfeld GD.

In the past 2 years, sepsis has received considerable attention from the global community. In 2017, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution urging all 194 UN Member States to implement actions to reduce the burden of sepsis, and for the World Health Organization to report on the public health implications of sepsis and its global consequences. It has become clear that early resuscitation targeted to hemodynamic goals is more expensive and no more effective than routine care in high-income countries. In Zambia, a protocolized resuscitation strategy actually increased mortality. These data and other studies continue to suggest that some evidence on sepsis therapy does not generalize on a global scale.