The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of COVID-GRAM and CURB-65 scores as predictors of the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Caucasian patients. This was a retrospective observational study including all adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla from February to May 2020. Patients were stratified according to COVID-GRAM and CURB-65 scores as being at low–medium or high risk of critical illness. Univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression models, receiver operating characteristic curve, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. A total of 523 patients were included (51.8% male, 48.2% female; mean age 65.63 years (standard deviation 17.89 years)), of whom 110 (21%) presented a critical illness (intensive care unit admission 10.3%, 30-day mortality 13.8%). According to the COVID-GRAM score, 122 (23.33%) patients were classified as high risk; 197 (37.7%) presented a CURB-65 score ≥2. A significantly greater proportion of patients with critical illness had a high COVID-GRAM score (64.5% vs 30.5%; P < 0.001). The COVID-GRAM score emerged as an independent predictor of critical illness (odds ratio 9.40, 95% confidence interval 5.51–16.04; P < 0.001), with an AUC of 0.779. A high COVID-GRAM score showed an AUC of 0.88 for the prediction of 30-day mortality, while a CURB-65 ≥2 showed an AUC of 0.83. The COVID-GRAM score may be a useful tool for evaluating the risk of critical illness in Caucasian patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The CURB-65 score could be considered as an alternative.

Background: Ceftobiprole is a fifth-generation cephalosporin that has been approved in Europe solely for the treatment of community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. The objective was to analyze the use of ceftobiprole medocaril (Cefto-M) in Spanish clinical practice in patients with infections in hospital or outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). Methods: This retrospective, observational, multicenter study included patients treated from 1 September 2021 to 31 December 2022. Results: A total of 249 individuals were enrolled, aged 66.6 ± 15.4 years, of whom 59.4% were male with a Charlson index of four (IQR 2–6), 13.7% had COVID-19, and 4.8% were in an intensive care unit (ICU). The most frequent type of infection was respiratory (55.8%), followed by skin and soft tissue infection (21.7%). Cefto-M was administered to 67.9% of the patients as an empirical treatment, in which was administered as monotherapy for 7 days (5–10) in 53.8% of cases. The infection-related mortality was 11.2%. The highest mortality rates were identified for ventilator-associated pneumonia (40%) and infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus (20.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.1%). The mortality-related factors were age (OR: 1.1, 95%CI (1.04–1.16)), ICU admission (OR: 42.02, 95%CI (4.49–393.4)), and sepsis/septic shock (OR: 2.94, 95%CI (1.01–8.54)). Conclusions: In real life, Cefto-M is a safe antibiotic, comprising only half of prescriptions for respiratory infections, that is mainly administered as rescue therapy in pluripathological patients with severe infectious diseases.

Daptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic approved for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections and right-side endocarditis. However, there is a lack of published data outlining its usefulness in vascular graft infections (VGI). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical experience of daptomycin use in the treatment of VGI caused by Gram-positive bacteria. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with VGI receiving daptomycin at a tertiary care hospital during the period January 2010 to December 2012. Of a total 1066 consecutive patients who had undergone vascular grafts (VG), 25 were diagnosed with VGI. Fifteen of these patients (11 prosthetic VG, three autologous VG, one both types) received daptomycin (median dose 6.7mg/kg/day, range 4.1-7.1mg/kg/day; median age 69 years, range 45-83 years; 80% male). The infected bypass was removed in 13 cases. The most common reason for selecting daptomycin was kidney failure (53%). The Gram-positive organisms isolated were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (n=10), Staphylococcus aureus (n=3) (two methicillin-resistant S. aureus), Enterococcus faecium (n=2), and Enterococcus faecalis (n=1). The mean follow-up was 69 months (interquartile range 48-72 months). Ten patients (66.7%) achieved complete healing of the VGI. A recurrence of the infection was observed in 100% of patients in whom the bypass was not removed. Among patients who did not achieve complete healing, one needed a supracondylar amputation and one died as a consequence of infection. Five patients received treatment with rifampicin in addition to daptomycin and they were all cured. The use of daptomycin and surgery for Gram-positive VGI was effective and well tolerated, and this may be a good alternative for the treatment of VGI in patients with peripheral arterial disease in whom renal insufficiency is common.

Background: Ceftobiprole is a fifth-generation cephalosporin that has been approved in Europe solely for the treatment of community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. The objective was to analyze the use of ceftobiprole medocaril (Cefto-M) in Spanish clinical practice in patients with infection in hospital or outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). Methods: This retrospective, observational, multicenter study included patients treated from September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Results: 249 individuals were enrolled, aged 66.6±15.4 years, 59.4% male, with Charlson index of 4 (IQR 2-6); 13.7% had COVID-19, and 4.8% were in intensive care unit (ICU). The most frequent type of infection was respiratory (55.8%), followed by skin and soft tissue infection (21.7%). Cefto-M was administered to 67.9% as empirical treatment, being in monotherapy for 7 days (5-10) in 53.8% of cases. The infection-related mortality was 11.2%.The highest mortality rates were for ventilator-associated pneumonia [40%], and infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (20.8%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.1%). Mortality-related factors were age (OR: 1.1, 95%CI [1.04-1.16]), ICU admission (OR:42.02, 95%CI[4.49-393.4]), and sepsis/septic shock (OR:2.94, 95%CI [1.01-8.54]).Conclusions: In real life, Cefto-M is a safe antibiotic, with only half of prescriptions in respiratory infections, mainly administered as rescue therapy in pluripathological patients with severe infectious diseases.

Background: Data on antibiotic treatment for diabetic foot osteomyelitis are limited. This study aims to describe the real-world effectiveness and safety of dalbavancin in treating deep diabetic foot infections. Methods: A retrospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted in nine Spanish hospitals and one Irish hospital. Patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis treated with dalbavancin were included. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, microbiology, antibiotic regimens, adverse events, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among 136 patients, 76% were male, with a mean age of 69 ± 12 years. Renal insufficiency was observed in 32%, and 6% required renal replacement therapy. Based on the McCabe scale, 70% of patients had a rapidly or ultimately fatal disease. Polypharmacy was noted in 83%, and 60% of infections were moderate. Dalbavancin was primarily used as second-line therapy (92%). The cure rate was 80.9% (95% CI: 73.5–86.6%), achieved after a median of two doses. Patients receiving dalbavancin as first-line therapy had a cure rate of 86%, comparable to 80% in second-line therapy, with no significant differences. Surgical interventions were required in 72% of cases, with minor amputations performed in 40% of patients. Polymicrobial infections were common (55%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 26% of cases. Adverse events occurred in 5% of patients. Chronic kidney disease was the sole independent risk factor for therapeutic failure (IRR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64–1.00, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Dalbavancin is effective and safe for treating diabetic foot osteomyelitis, including in complex patients with resistant microorganisms.