Mortality associated with infections due to carbapenem-resistant (CR-KP) is high and the infections need to be predicted early. The risk factors for CR-KP infection are heterogeneous. The aim of the present study was to construct a model allowing for the early prediction of CR-KP infection. Nosocomial infections due to were evaluated retrospectively over a 2-year period. The case cohort consisted of 370 inpatients with CR-KP infection. For each case enrolled, two matched controls with no CR-KP infection during their hospitalization were randomly selected. Matching involved month of admission, ward, as well as interval days. The Vitek 2 system was used for identification of isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. General linear model with logistic regression was used to identify possible risk factors. The predicted power of the model was expressed as the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Age, male gender, with cardiovascular disease, hospital stay, recent admission to intensive care unit, indwelling urinary catheter, mechanical ventilation, recent β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitors, fourth-generation cephalosporins and/or carbapenems therapy were independent risk factors for CR-KP infection. Models predicting CR-KP infection developed by cumulative risk factors exhibited good power, with areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of 0.902 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.883-0.920; P<0.001] and 0.899 (95% CI, 0.877-0.921; P<0.001) after filtering by age (≥70 years). The Yonden index was at the maximum when the cumulative risk factors were ≥3 in the two prediction models. The results show that the prediction model developed in the present study might be useful for controlling infections caused by CR-KP strains.

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to report the dissemination of cfr and fexA genes mediated by linezolid resistance among Staphylococcus species.MethodsThree methicillin-resistant staphylococci that were collected from a teaching hospital in Beijing were identified as linezolid-resistant. These three staphylococci were Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, and S. cohnii. Mutations in domain V of 23S ribosomal RNA, ribosomal proteins, and the cfr, fexA, and optrA genes were analysed.ResultsThe three isolates had no mutations of 23S ribosomal RNA, but showed mutations in the cfr and fexA genes. Mutations in the gene for ribosomal protein L3, which resulted in the amino acid exchanges Gly108Glu, Ser158Phe, and Asp159Tyr, were identified in S. cohnii X4535.ConclusionsThis is the first report of the cfr gene in clinical linezolid-resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolated from Beijing. L3 mutations coupled with the cfr and fexA genes may act synergistically. Potential transmissibility of this agent, even without prior exposure to linezolid, may have serious epidemiological repercussions.