Background: Streptococci frequently cause infective endocarditis (IE), yet the prevalence of IE in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by different streptococcal species is unknown. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IE at species level in patients with streptococcal BSIs. Methods: We investigated all patients with streptococcal BSIs, from 2008 to 2017, in the Capital Region of Denmark. Data were crosslinked with Danish nationwide registries for identification of concomitant hospitalization with IE. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we investigated the risk of IE according to streptococcal species adjusted for age, sex, ≥3 positive blood culture bottles, native valve disease, prosthetic valve, previous IE, and cardiac device. Results: Among 6506 cases with streptococcal BSIs (mean age 68.1 years [SD 16.2], 52.8% men) the IE prevalence was 7.1% (95% CI, 6.5–7.8). The lowest IE prevalence was found with Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S pneumoniae ) 1.2% (0.8–1.6) and Spyogenes 1.9% (0.9–3.3). An intermediary IE prevalence was found with Sanginosus 4.8% (3.0–7.3), Ssalivarius 5.8% (2.9–10.1), and Sagalactiae 9.1% (6.6–12.1). The highest IE prevalence was found with Smitis/oralis 19.4% (15.6–23.5), Sgallolyticus (formerly Sbovis ) 30.2% (24.3–36.7), Ssanguinis 34.6% (26.6–43.3), Sgordonii 44.2% (34.0–54.8), and Smutans 47.9% (33.3–62.8). In multivariable analysis using S pneumoniae as reference, all species except S pyogenes were associated with significantly higher IE risk, with the highest risk found with S gallolyticus odds ratio (OR) 31.0 (18.8–51.1), S mitis/oralis OR 31.6 (19.8–50.5), S sanguinis OR 59.1 (32.6–107), S gordonii OR 80.8 (43.9–149), and S mutans OR 81.3 (37.6–176). Conclusions: The prevalence of IE in streptococcal BSIs is species dependent with S mutans, S gordonii, S sanguinis, S gallolyticus , and S mitis/oralis having the highest IE prevalence and the highest associated IE risk after adjusting for IE risk factors.

a b s t r a c tObjectives: The role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the long-term prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether P. aeruginosa is associated with increased risk of exacerbations or death in patients with COPD. Methods: This is a multiregional epidemiological study based on complete data on COPD outpatients between 1 January 2010 and 31 October 2017 and corresponding microbiology and national register data. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models and propensity matching was used to estimate hospitalization-demanding exacerbations and death after 2 years, separately and in combination. Results: A total of 22 053 COPD outpatients were followed for a median of 1082 days (interquartilerange: 427e1862). P. aeruginosa was present in 905 (4.1%) patients. During 730 days of follow-up, P. aeruginosa strongly and independently predicted an increased risk of hospitalization for exacerbation or all-cause death (HR 2.8, 95%CI 2.2e3.6; p <0.0001) and all-cause death (HR 2.7, 95%CI 2.3e3.4; p <0.0001) in analyses adjusted for known and suspected confounders. The signal remained unchanged in unadjusted analyses as well as propensity-matched subgroup analyses. Among patients 'ever colonized' with P. aeruginosa, the incidence of hospital-demanding exacerbations doubled after the time of the first colonization. Conclusions: COPD patients in whom P. aeruginosa can be cultured from the airways had a markedly increased risk of exacerbations and death. It is still not clear whether this risk can be reduced by offering patients targeted antipseudomonal antibiotics. A randomized trial is currently recruiting patients to clarify this (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03262142).

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of antibiotic prescriptions in primary health care among children aged 0–6 years and its association with socioeconomic factors.DesignA cross-sectional study describing antibiotic prescriptions and socioeconomic factors, using different population-based registers from Statistics Denmark.SettingAntibiotic prescriptions in 2012 from primary health care in the Capital Region of Denmark.SubjectsThe population of children aged 0–6 years (n = 139,398) in the Capital Region of Denmark.Main outcome measuresHigh use of antibiotics identified by number of antibiotic prescriptions (≥ 3 prescriptions per year) and defined daily doses (DDD). A multinomial logistic regression analysis estimating the association between high antibiotic use and parents’ education, employment status, income, child’s sex, and ethnic background.ResultsTen percent of children accounted for 25% of the total use DDD. There was a clear tendency that the risk for high antibiotic use increased as parental educational level decreased. The risk for high use was the highest among children of mothers and fathers with basic schooling ≤10 years (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.29–1.98, and OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.34–1.91, respectively). Low income and unemployment were not associated with high antibiotic use.ConclusionSocioeconomic factors can only partially explain differences in antibiotic use. Further research is needed to clarify the unequal distribution of antibiotic prescribing and the association between high antibiotic use and low educational level. This would provide valuable information in the planning of strategies to promote rational use of antibiotics among children.Key Points The Capital Region of Denmark has the highest rate of antibiotic prescribing in Denmark.Preschool children are among the age groups with the highest use.Ten percent of the children accounted for 25% of the total antibiotic use.Low parental educational level was associated with increased antibiotic use.Parents’ income or employment status was not found to be associated with high antibiotic use.

The ASP significantly reduced the use of cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, with concomitant decreasing levels of E. coli resistance to cefuroxime and ciprofloxacin. The same development was not observed at the control hospital.