Background: Evidence on the distribution of bacteria and therapy recommendations in male outpatients with urinary tract infections (UTI) remains insufficient. Aim: We aimed to report frequency distributions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacteria causing UTI in men and to identify risk factors for resistance of Escherichia coli against trimethoprim (TMP) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using routinely collected midstream urine specimens from 102,736 adult male outpatients sent from 6,749 outpatient practices to nine collaborating laboratories from all major regions in Germany between 2015 and 2020. Resistance in E. coli was predicted using logistic regression. Results: The three most frequent bacteria were E. coli (38.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (16.5%) and Proteus mirabilis (9.3%). Resistance of E. coli against amoxicillin (45.7%), TMP (26.6%) and CIP (19.8%) was common. Multiple drug resistance was high (22.9%). Resistance against fosfomycin (0.9%) and nitrofurantoin (1.9%) was low. Resistance of En. faecalis against CIP was high (29.3%). Isolates of P. mirabilis revealed high resistance against TMP (41.3%) and CIP (16.6%). The CIP and TMP resistance was significantly higher among bacteria derived from recurrent UTI (p < 0.05). Age ≥ 90 years, recurrent UTI and regions East and South were independently associated with AMR of E. coli against TMP and CIP (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The most frequent UTI-causing pathogens showed high resistance against TMP and CIP, empirical therapy is therefore likely to fail. Apart from intrinsically resistant pathogens, susceptibility to fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin remains sufficient. Therefore, they remain an additional option for empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTI in men.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) in men differ relevantly to women by their pathogens. Gram-positive uropathogens play a relevant role in UTI in men. In this study, we aimed to analyze the epidemiology of Enterococcus faecalis in UTI in male outpatients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study during 2015 to 2020 consisting of urine samples of 99,415 adult male outpatients sent from 6,749 outpatient practices from Germany. Proportions were compared using the z-Test and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Results: E. faecalis is the 2^nd most frequent bacteria (16%) detected in suspected UTI in male outpatients. Young men are predominantly at risk (17%) for isolation of E. faecalis in suspected UTI. In polymicrobial infections E. faecalis is isolated in 47% of all suspected UTI in men. Recurrency of suspected UTI is significantly more frequent when E. faecalis is isolated compared to Escherichia coli (22% vs 26%; p < .001). Recurrency rates of E. faecalis associated UTI increases by age from 12% (18–29 years) to 28% ( $$\ge$$≥ 70 years); p < .001. Congruently the resistance of E. faecalis against ciprofloxacin increases by age from 22% (18–29 years; 2019) to 37% ( $$\ge$$≥ 70 years; 2019); p < .001. Conclusions: E. faecalis is frequently isolated in suspected UTI in male patients. Consequently, Nitrate-sticks results cannot be recommended to exclude UTI in men. The empirical use of ciprofloxacin in young adults can be reasonable. Frequent recurrences in E. faecalis associated suspected UTI emphasizes the importance of microbiological pathogen identification and susceptibility testing in men suffering from UTI.

Severe wound infections in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are common, potentially life- and limb-threatening, and difficult to treat. Evidence on patients with infected leg ulcers in PAD is scarce. This study aims to provide insight into the microbiological patterns and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of specific pathogens in patients with arterial leg ulcers. In this retrospective, consecutive, single-centre study 16,553 patients underwent an endovascular revascularization procedure between 2012 and 2021. Of these, 1,142 patients had PAD Rutherford category 5 or 6 with infected leg ulcers. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus-associated infections. A total of 3,431 bacterial isolates were detected, of which 2,335 (68.1%) bacterial isolates were gram-positive and 1,096 (31.9%) were gram-negative species. The most prevalent bacteria were S. aureus (18.6%), Enterococcus faecalis (9.1%) and S. epidermidis (7.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.6%), Proteus mirabilis (3.7%) and Escherichia coli (3.4%). The resistance of S. aureus isolates to clindamycin was 11.0%. Resistance to oxacillin was rare (1.5%). P. aeruginosa is frequently resistant to ciprofloxacin (14.4%) whilst intrinsically resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. P. mirabilis and E. coli were frequently resistant to both ciprofloxacin (7.3; 20.7%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (24.6; 22.6%), respectively. Resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was high among E. coli isolates (36.8%). Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was rare among S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolates. In contrast, the proportion of MDR was high in E. coli isolates. End-stage renal disease was independently positively associated with S. aureus identification (p = .042). S. aureus was the most common pathogen in arterial leg ulcers with end-stage renal disease being an independent risk factor. Clindamycin resistance was common, making empirical therapy likely to fail. Isolated E. coli species had a high proportion of MDR.

Objective: Patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAD) are at risk of developing foot ulcers, which can subsequently lead to foot infections and an increased risk of amputation. In cases of severe ischemic foot infections (IFIs), the empirical use of antibiotics can be limb-saving. However, there is currently no evidence-based guidance on the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy for IFI. Methods and Design: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 216 hospitalized patients with severe IFI undergoing endovascular revascularization. Weighted-Incidence Syndromic Combination Antibiograms (WISCAs) were calculated to guide empirical antibiotic choice. Results: The two most common causative pathogens for IFI were S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with frequencies of 19.8% and 6.1%, respectively. The calculation of WISCAs revealed a low empirical coverage of amoxicillin (AMX) or clindamycin (CLN) with 21.6% and 27.7%, respectively. The empirical coverage of amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid (AMC), trimethoprim/sulfmethoxazole (SXT), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was 50.6%, 53.1%, and 55.4%, respectively. Piperacillin/tazobactam (PT) exhibited the highest empirical coverage, with 82.5% as calculated by WISCAs. The calculated WISCAs did not significantly alter when stratified by the clinical characteristics of the patients. Conclusions: The empirical antibiotic coverage of CLN and AMX was low. SXT represents a promising empirical alternative in the case of IFI, irrespective of comorbidities and the WIfI score. WISCAs can assist in the decision-making process regarding empirical antibiotic therapy choices in cases of IFI.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential differences in characteristics of femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis (ISR) stratified by stent design with a focus on the swirling flow-inducing BioMimics 3D helical centerline stent. Methods: Patients with ISR of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries undergoing reintervention were included in this study. The primary endpoint was the angiographic localization and extent of restenosis or reocclusion with the following five different stent systems: SMART Control stent, Supera peripheral stent, GORE^® VIABAHN^® endoprosthesis, BioMimics 3D stent, and Zilver^® PTX^® stent. Results: 414 ISR lesions were analyzed, affecting 236 Supera stents, 67 BioMimics 3D stents, 48 Zilver^® PTX^® stents, 38 SMART Control stents, and 25 VIABAHN^® endoprostheses. The mean stent diameter and length were 5.7 ± 0.77 mm and 121.4 ± 94.8 mm, respectively. ISR included 310 (74.9%) lesions with 1 stent, 89 (21.5%) lesions with 2 stents, 14 (3.4%) lesions with 3 stents, and 1 lesion (0.2%) with 4 stents. Most lesions presented as reocclusions (67.4%) rather than focal (13.3%) or diffuse restenoses (19.3%). No significant differences in ISR lesion morphology were found. By trend, BioMimics 3D stent lesion extension was more focal (16.4% versus 12.7%, p = 0.258), with the highest proportion of lesions in which only the proximal stent third was affected (9.0% versus 5.8%, p = 0.230), as compared to the average of the other four devices. The occlusion rate was the second lowest for the BioMimics 3D stent (64.2 vs. 68.0%, p = 0.316). Risk factors for restenosis or occlusion were active smoking, pre-interventional occlusion, and popliteal intervention. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the helical centerline stent design of the BioMimics 3D stent, which results in a swirling flow with increased wall shear stress, may offer protective properties over straight stent designs, including DES and endoprosthesis, regarding localization and extension of restenosis. Prospective, randomized studies are warranted.

Background: In addition to manual compression, various vascular closure devices (VCD) are available to seal the puncture site following arterial vascular procedures. Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the extravascular MYNX CONTROL closure system for achieving primary hemostasis after femoral arterial access following peripheral arterial procedures, compared to the intravascular FemoSeal Aclosure system. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular intervention between April and November 2022 was performed. The primary endpoint was the incidence of significant puncture site complication defined as a complication resulting in medical treatment. Secondary endpoints included peri-interventional incidence of hematoma, peri-interventional changes in hemoglobin, incidence of emergency diagnostics and predictors for closure system failure. Results: Five hundred and forty-eight patients were included in this analysis. False aneurysm occurred in 18/273 cases (6.6%) following the use of the MYNX closure system, compared to 6/275 cases after using the FemoSeal closure system (2.2%, p = 0.006). The incidence of post-interventional hematoma was not significantly different (28 (10.3%) in the MYNX group versus 32 (11.6%) in the FemoSeal group, p = 0.358). Peri-interventional hemoglobin drop did not differ between groups (p = 0.449). Emergency diagnostics were not significantly performed more often in the MYNX group (14 (5.1%) versus 8 (2.9%), p = 0.134). A post-interventional duplex sonography showed stenosis at the puncture site in one patient after use of the MYNX system. For the entire cohort, oral anticoagulation was the only predictor for the failure of the closure device (p = 0.036). Conclusions: Device failure was more common after using the extravascular MYNX CONTROL system than after using the intravascular FemoSeal system. However, the need for surgical or interventional therapy due to device failure was low.