Objectives: Evaluate risk factors and clinical outcomes of infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae resistant to third-generation cephalosporins present in samples collected upon hospital admission.Methods: Risk factors were evaluated using a 1:2 ratio case-control study. Influence of resistance on the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy, length of stay, and hospital mortality were prospectively evaluated. Characteristics independently associated with the presence of resistant enterobacteria were assessed by logistic regression.Results: Enterobacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins were quite common (26.0%). Male gender (OR: 2.66; 95% CI, 1.17-5.06; p= 0.019), invasive prosthesis (OR: 3.79; 95% CI, 1.29-11.08; p= 0.015), previous use of cephalosporins (OR: 2.77; 95% CI, 1.10-6.97; p= 0.029) and hospitalization in the last 6 months (OR: 5.33; 95% CI, 2.29-12.44; p< 0.001) were independently associated with the presence of these microorganisms. These bacteria were associated with higher frequency of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy, worse clinical response, and longer length of stay. Finally, older age, admission to the ICU, and site of infection other than urinary tract were independently associated to higher hospital mortality.Conclusions: Risk factors identified in this study may help in the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy for infected patients suspected of harboring these bacteria and in the early implementation of measures to avoid the spread of these bacteria in the hospital environment.

OBJECTIVES: During the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic, it became difficult to differentiate viral infections from other conditions in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. We sought to evaluate the behavior and diagnostic utility of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and four other molecules in patients with suspected 2009 Influenza A H1N1 infection. METHODS: The serum levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, interferon γ, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 10 were tested on admission and on days 3, 5, and 7 in 35 patients with suspected 2009 H1N1 infection who were admitted to two ICUs. RESULTS: Twelve patients had confirmed 2009 influenza A H1N1 infections, 6 had seasonal influenza infections, and 17 patients had negative swabs. The procalcitonin levels at inclusion and on day 3, and the C-reactive protein levels on day 3 were higher among subjects with 2009 influenza A H1N1 infections. The baseline levels of interleukin 1b were higher among the 2009 influenza A H1N1 patients compared with the other groups. The C-reactive protein levels on days 3, 5, and 7 and procalcitonin on days 5 and 7 were greater in non-surviving patients. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-1β might occur in critically ill patients who had a 2009 H1N1 infection. Neither procalcitonin nor CRP were useful in discriminating severe 2009 H1N1 pneumonia. Higher levels of CRP and procalcitonin appeared to identify patients with worse outcomes.