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Biomedical subjects

Patrick G P Charles

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick G P Charles.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Good clinical outcomes but high rates of adverse reactions during linezolid therapy for serious infections: a proposed protocol for monitoring therapy in complex patients.

We assessed the toxicity and clinical outcomes associated with linezolid therapy (mean duration, 29+/-28 days; range, 8 to 185 days) in 44 patients with serious gram-positive infections. Although a clinical cure was achieved in 73% of the cases, 28/44 (64%) had adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, n=13; anemia, n=7; gastrointestinal, n=12; peripheral neuropathy, n=1; serotonin syndrome, n=1), such that a systematic monitoring protocol was developed.

Acetamides↗
PubMed2004

The dearth of new antibiotic development: why we should be worried and what we can do about it.

The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens has increased substantially over the past 20 years. Over the same period, the development of new antibiotics has decreased alarmingly, with many pharmaceutical companies pulling out of antibiotic research in favour of developing "lifestyle" drugs. Reasons given for withdrawing from antibiotic development include poor "net present value" status of antibiotics, changes in regulations requiring larger drug trials and prolonged post-marketing surveillance, clinical preference for narrow-spectrum rather than broad-spectrum agents, and high new-drug purchase costs. Major improvements in infection control in Australia are needed to prevent further spread of resistant clones, buying some time to develop urgently needed new antibiotic agents. Perpetuating a culture of "pharma bashing" will simply lead to more pharmaceutical companies withdrawing from the market. A change in the health and research culture is needed to improve cooperation between public, academic and private sectors.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Treatment outcomes for serious infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with reduced vancomycin susceptibility.

Although infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with reduced vancomycin susceptibility (SA-RVS) have been reported from a number of countries, including Australia, the optimal therapy is unknown. We reviewed the clinical features, therapy, and outcome of 25 patients with serious infections due to SA-RVS in Australia and New Zealand. Eight patients had endocarditis, 9 had bacteremia associated with deep-seated infection, 6 had osteomyelitis or septic arthritis, and 2 had empyema. All patients had received vancomycin before the isolation of SA-RVS, and glycopeptide treatment had failed for 19 patients (76%). Twenty-one patients subsequently received active treatment, which was effective for 16 patients (76%). Eighteen patients received linezolid, which was effective in 14 (78%), including 4 patients with endocarditis. Twelve patients received a combination of rifampicin and fusidic acid. Surgical intervention was required for 15 patients (60%). Antibiotic therapy, especially linezolid with or without rifampicin and fusidic acid, in conjunction with surgical debulking is effective therapy for the majority of patients with serious infections (including endocarditis) caused by SA-RVS.

Acetamides↗
PubMed2004

Clinical features associated with bacteremia due to heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus.

We assessed all episodes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia at our hospital during a 12-month period (n=53) and compared those due to heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA; n = 5, 9.4%) with those due to vancomycin-susceptible MRSA (n=48). Patients with hVISA bacteremia were more likely to have high bacterial load infections (P=.001), vancomycin treatment failure (persistent fever and bacteremia for >7 days after the start of therapy; P<.001), and initially low serum vancomycin levels (P=.006). These clinical markers of hVISA bacteremia may help focus diagnostic efforts and treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Post-traumatic endophthalmitis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish risk factors for the occurrence of post-traumatic endophthalmitis, to observe the efficacy of prophylaxis, and to describe the clinical features of post-traumatic endophthalmitis. DESIGN: Partially prospective consecutive case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 250 consecutive patients admitted to a single ophthalmic hospital with open globe injuries during a 3-year period were included. METHODS: Patients with post-traumatic endophthalmitis were identified prospectively and added to an endophthalmitis database. All open globe injuries during the same time period were identified through a retrospective search of inpatient admissions, and their charts were reviewed. Information collected from all patient files included patient age; gender; injury setting (indoor/outdoor); wound contamination; nature of injury (site on eye, lens involvement, retained intraocular foreign body); mechanism of injury (penetration/perforation/rupture/ruptured surgical wound); prophylactic antibiotic administration, including route and timing; timing of primary repair; lensectomy at the time of primary repair; and depot corticosteroid at the time of primary repair. Any association between these parameters and the subsequent development of endophthalmitis was investigated. Any association between endophthalmitis and final visual acuity (VA) and also enucleation was evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Development of endophthalmitis. RESULTS: The frequency of endophthalmitis after open globe injury was 6.8%. The following factors were associated with the subsequent development of endophthalmitis by univariate analysis: dirty wound (14.3% vs. 4.1%, P = 0.01), retained intraocular foreign body (13.0% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.02), lens capsule breach (12.8% vs. 3.2%, P = 0.01), delayed primary repair (> or =12 hours) (11.3% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.02), and rural address (10.1% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.07). Risk factors identified after multivariate analysis were dirty injury (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI)], 1.5-18.7), breach of lens capsule (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.2-15.6), and delay in primary repair (per hour: OR, 1.013; 95% CI, 1.002-1.024). None of the following factors was found to be associated with post-traumatic endophthalmitis: patient age, gender, injury setting, site of injury on eye, mechanism of injury, antibiotic administration, lensectomy at the time of primary repair, and depot corticosteroid at the time of primary repair. Final VA tended to be worse in eyes with endophthalmitis (P = 0.08). Endophthalmitis did not significantly influence the frequency of enucleation/evisceration (5.9% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Delay in primary repair, ruptured lens capsule, and dirty wound were each independently associated with the development of post-traumatic endophthalmitis. Patients with > or =2 of these 3 risk factors had a particularly high frequency of infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Three cases of post-traumatic endophthalmitis caused by unusual bacteria.

Three cases of post-traumatic endophthalmitis caused by unusual bacteria are presented. The pathogens identified were: (i) Bacillus cereus and Citrobacter freundii; (ii) Pseudomonas fluorescens; and (iii) Chryseobacterium meningosepticum and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Two of these pathogens have not previously been reported to cause endophthalmitis. The available literature regarding the individual cases is summarized and a brief discussion of post-traumatic endophthalmitis is presented, with reference to a recently published large series at the authors' institution.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Management of healthcare workers after occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus.

The increasing rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the community means that there is increased risk of occupational exposure for healthcare workers. In metropolitan hospitals in Victoria, we found that 80-150 healthcare workers have occupational exposures from HCV-infected patients annually. As there is a 1.8%-3% risk of transmission of HCV from a needlestick injury, two to five healthcare workers are likely to acquire HCV each year in Victoria. These needlestick injuries pose a personal, legal and professional risk to healthcare workers and their patients. Recent information shows that early antiviral treatment of acute HCV infection has high cure rates. Current local and international protocols for management of healthcare workers exposed to HCV do not address these issues. We propose a management protocol after needlestick injury that is stratified according to the likelihood of HCV acquisition and potential risk of staff-to-patient transmission, and that is consistent with the current legal and clinical context of HCV infection in Australia.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2003

Infectious mononucleosis.

BACKGROUND: Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus. It is a common condition usually affecting adolescents and young adults. Most cases are mild to moderate in severity with full recovery taking place over several weeks. More severe cases and unusual complications occasionally occur. OBJECTIVE: After presenting a case of severe infectious mononucleosis, the spectrum of disease is given. Diagnosis and complications are reviewed as well as management including the possible role for antiviral medications or corticosteroid therapy. DISCUSSION: The majority of cases of infectious mononucleosis are self limiting and require only supportive care. More severe cases, although unusual, may require admission to hospital and even to an intensive care unit. Corticosteroid therapy may be indicated for severe airway obstruction or other severe complications, but should be avoided unless the benefits outweigh potential risks. Antiviral therapy has no proven benefit.

Adult↗