Background. In K. pneumoniae KPC (KPC-Kp) bloodstream infections (BSI), INCREMENT CPE score >7, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 and septic shock are recognized predictors of mortality, with a possible beneficial effect of combination therapy in seriously ill patients. Materials and Methods. We conducted a ten-year retrospective study including all KPC-Kp BSI in patients ≥18 years of age with the aim to evaluate the characteristics and impact of appropriate empirical therapy, either monotherapy or combination therapy, and targeted therapy on mortality. Appropriate therapy was defined as at least one active antimicrobial agent with in vitro activity against KPC-kp demonstrated by susceptibility testing, administered within 48 h from blood culture collection. Results. The median age of the 435 analyzed patients was 66.09 years (IQR 54.87–73.98). The median CCI was 4. KPC-Kp colonization was present in 324 patients (74.48%). The probable origin of the KPC-Kp BSI was not identified in 136 patients (31.26%), whereas in 120 (27.59%) patients, it was CVC-related, and in 118 (27.13%), it was respiratory. Source control was achieved in 87 patients (72.5%) with CVC-related KPC-Kp BSI. The twenty-eight-day survival was 70.45% for empirical monotherapy, 63.88% for empirical combination therapy and 57.05% for targeted therapy (p = 0.0399). A probable source of KPC-Kp BSI other than urinary, CVC or abdominal [aHR 1.64 (IC 1.15–2.34) p = 0.006] and deferred targeted therapy [HR 1.67 (IC 1.12–2.51), p= 0.013] emerged as predictors of mortality, whereas source control [HR 0.62 (IC 0.44–0.86), p = 0.005] and ceftazidime/avibactam administration in empirical therapy [aHR 0.37 (IC 0.20–0.68) p = 0.002] appeared as protective factors. Discussion. These data underline the importance of source control together with timing appropriateness in the early start of empirical therapy over the choice of monotherapy or combination therapy and the use of ceftazidime/avibactam against KPC-Kp BSI.

Intravenous drug use is a predisposing condition for infective endocarditis (IE). We report the clinical features of IE, taken from the Italian Registry of IE, in people who inject drugs (PWIDs). The registry prospectively collected epidemiological, clinical, in-hospital, and follow-up data on patients with IE from 17 Italian centers. A total of 677 patients were enrolled, and 61 (9%) were intravenous drug users (IDUs). Most PWIDs were male (78.6%), and aged between 41 and 50 years old (50%). The most frequent comorbidities were HIV (34.4%) and chronic liver disease (32%). Predisposing factors for IE were present in 6.5% of the patients, and 10% had minor valvular abnormalities. IE had occurred previously in 16.4% of the patients, and 50% of them had undergone heart surgery. Overall mortality was 9.8% in IDUs and 20% in patients with recurrent IE. IE in PWIDs mostly affected the native valves (90%). The echocardiographic diagnosis of IE was based on the detection of vegetation in 91.82% of cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the main microorganism isolated (70%) from blood cultures. Thirty patients (49%) underwent heart surgery: thirteen had aortic valves, eleven had mitral valves, and six had tricuspid valve interventions. IE in PWIDs was relatively common, and patients with native valve right-sided IE had a better prognosis, with a low rate of surgical interventions.

Late effects of cancer and its treatments during childhood or adolescence can impact work placement and increase the risk of unemployment. The aim of this study is to describe the work placement and the perceived job and economic satisfaction of long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Jobs have been categorized according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations version 08 (ISCO-08), and satisfaction has been evaluated through the Satisfaction Profile (SAT-P). Out of 240 CCS (female = 98) included: 53 were students, 46 were unemployed and 141 were employed. Within unemployed survivors, 89.13% were affected by late effects (n = 41). The presence of at least one severe late effect was significantly associated with the probability of unemployment (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.13–9.12, p < 0.050), and having any late effect was inversely related to the level of satisfaction of the financial situation of unemployed CCS (b −35.47; 95% CI −59.19, −11.74, p = 0.004). Our results showed that being a survivor with severe comorbidities has a significantly negative impact on occupation and worsens the perception of satisfaction of economic situations. Routinary follow-up care of CCS should include the surveillance of socioeconomic development and provide interventions, helping them to reach jobs suitable for their health.