Epidemiologija i klinička važnost plućnih infekcija uzrokovanih netuberkuloznim mikobakterijama [Epidemiology and clinical relevance of nontuberculous mycobacteria isolated from pulmonary samples in Croatia]

Background: clinical relevance of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolated from pulmonary samples in Croatia is largely unknown. ----- Objective: estimate the isolation rate of the NTM, record geographical differences, assess the clinical relevance of different NTM species and the burden of pulmonary NTM disease (PNTM). ----- Design: study included all Croatian residents with NTM isolated from pulmonary samples in the period from 2006 through 2012. Microbiological and full criteria of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) were used to establish a case definition of the PNTM. ----- Results: the most frequently isolated NTM species were Mycobacterium gordonae and M. xenopi. The average annual incidence of pulmonary NTM isolation was 3.9/100 000. Species distribution differed between coastal and continental Croatia. Clinically most relevant NTM species in Croatia were M. avium complex, M. kansasii and M. xenopi. We estimated annual incidence of the PNTM at 0.22/100 000. This estimated annual incidence was 0.32/100 000 in the coastal and 0.16/100 000 in the continental region. Good correlation between the microbiological and the full ATS criteria in the estimation of the disease burden was found. ----- Conclusion: Geography plays a role in the NTM species distribution, as well as the distribution of the PNTM. The incidence of the PNTM in Croatia is rising, but the overall burden of the disease is still low compared to tuberculosis

Successful pleurodesis of refractory pleural effusion caused by he-art failure due to restrictive cardiomyopathy caused by amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by the accumulation of amyloid in the extracellular spaces of various organs and tissues. Pleural effusion can occur as part of pleural amyloidosis, but also as a consequence of heart failure caused by amyloidosis

OVERVIEW OF SYMPTOMS OF ONGOING SYMPTOMATIC AND POST-COVID-19 PATIENTS WHO WERE REFFERED TO PULMONARY REHABILITATION - FIRST SINGLE-CENTRE EXPERIENCE IN CROATIA

Background: Coronavirus-2 pandemic has changed the functioning of health systems worldwide. It is not yet fully known which symptoms of the disease are most commonly presented in patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. Our aim was to investigate the profile of patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation; what symptoms they had during the acute phase of the disease and what symptoms were still present at the start of pulmonary rehabilitation. Subjects and methods: Study included ongoing symptomatic and post-COVID patients who attended standard, in person pulmonary rehabilitation program. Patients had COVID-19 disease at least four weeks before attending pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients completed questionnaires of self-reported somatic deficits during acute and post-COVID-19 stage as well as questionnaires regarding their psychological symptoms. Pulmonary function test, expiratory and inspiratory muscle strenght, hand grip strenght and six-minute walk test was performed prior and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Results: Study included 63 patients (32 male, 31 female), with mean age of 52.9 years. During acute COVID-19, majority of patients complained of fatigue, cough, dyspnea, myalgia and headache. More than 85% of patients reported pulmonary deficits during ongoing symptomatic and post-COVID-19 stage. Emotional distress and anxiety levels were significantly elevated in acute stage, while depression, anger and the need for help was not significantly elevated. All reported symptoms were significantly reduced in post-COVID-19 stage. There was statistically significant difference in six-minute walk distance, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strenght and hand grip strenght between first and final testing. Conclusions: Results of our study are similar with previous studies, the most common symptoms during acute phase were fatigue, cough and dyspnea and fatigue and respiratory problems during ongoing symptomatic and post-COVID stage. Emotional distress diminishes signifiacantly in post-COVID stage. Further larger studies are needed to clarify which acute disease symptoms are predominant in patients referred to pulmonary rehabilitation and cause prolongued discomfort

NONINVASIVE VENTILATION IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Neinvazivna mehanička ventilacija (NIV) je ventilacija pozitivnim tlakom primijenjena preko neinvazivnih sučelja. Smatra se standardnim načinom zbrinjavanja bolesnika hospitaliziranih zbog globalne respiracijske insufi cijencije u sklopu akutnog pogoršanja kronične opstruktivne plućne bolesti (KOPB). NIV poboljšava izmjenu plinova, smanjuje dišni rad i posljedično omogućava oporavak dišne muskulature. Dokazano je da NIV može reducirati potrebu za intubacijom, morbiditet i mortalitet pacijenata s teškim pogoršanjem KOPB-a. NIV skraćuje vrijeme liječenja u jedinicama intenzivne skrbi i ukupno trajanje bolničkog liječenja. Može se koristiti u svrhu olakšavanja odvajanja bolesnika od invazivne mehaničke ventilacije i prevenciji razvoja respiracijske insufi cijencije nakon ekstubacije. U bolesnika s teškom respiracijskom acidozom i poremećajem svijesti postoji visok rizik neuspjeha liječenja NIV-om. U tih bolesnika liječenje NIV-om treba provoditi uz intenzivni nadzor i u uvjetima koji omogućavaju brzu endotrahejsku intubaciju u slučaju potrebe. Kontroverzni su podatci o koristi dugotrajne primjene NIV-a u stabilnom KOPB-u. U odnosu na standardno liječenje, primjena NIV-a visokog intenziteta poboljšava ishode ovih bolesnika. NIV visokog intenziteta poboljšava izmjenu dišnih plinova, plućnu funkciju, kvalitetu života vezanu uz zdravlje, podnošenje fi zičkog napora i preživljenje. Dodatak NIV-a u stabilnoj fazi bolesti programu respiratorne rehabilitacije poboljšava rezultate respiratorne rehabilitacije. S obzirom da NIV pruža niz koristi bolesnicima s KOPB-om svaki bi liječnik koji je uključen u liječenje ovih bolesnika trebao vladati ovom tehnikom.Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) refers to positive pressure ventilation that is delivered through a noninvasive interface. It is considered as a standard treatment for patients admitted to hospital with hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NIV improves gas exchange and reduces respiratory muscle work, consequently allowing respiratory muscle recovery. The available evidence establishes that NIV might reduce intubation, morbidity and mortality rates in patients with severe COPD exacerbations. NIV shortens intensive care unit and total hospital lengths of stay. It can be used to facilitate the process of weaning from mechanical ventilation and prevent development of post-extubation respiratory failure. Patients with severe respiratory acidosis or with altered levels of consciousness due to carbon dioxide retention are at a high risk of NIV failure. In these patients, a NIV trial should be attempted in closely monitored clinical conditions where prompt endotracheal intubation may be performed. The benefi ts of long-term NIV management of stable COPD are still controversial. However, implementation of high-intensity NIV has been shown to improve outcomes in this patient group. High-intensity NIV improves gas exchange, lung function, health-related quality of life, exercise tolerance and survival compared to standard care alone. In stable severe COPD, the addition of NIV to a pulmonary rehabilitation program improves outcomes as compared to pulmonary rehabilitation alone. Since NIV provides signifi cant benefi ts in COPD, every physician who is involved in the treatment of these patients should be familiar with this technique

Lung abscess: an early complication of lung transplantation in a patient with cystic fibrosis

A 22-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis (CF) developed lung abscess, as a rare complication caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infection, after lung transplantation (LT). After 6 months of long-term antibiotic therapy, the abscess was successfully eliminated. In reviewed published literature, no previous report was found describing this kind of complication caused by MDR A. baumannii in post-LT patient with CF. In our experience, lung abscess in LT recipients with CF can be successfully treated with prolonged antibiotic therapy

Risk factors and severity of functional impairment in long COVID: a single-center experience in Croatia

Aim To determine the frequency of common symptoms in long COVID and their effect on the quality of life, and to determine the factors contributing to a more severe long COVID. Methods The study enrolled 266 patients who were either referred to long-COVID outpatient clinic or were inpatients undergoing rehabilitation. The data were collected between December 2020 and May 2021. We evaluated the symptoms experienced during acute and long COVID and comorbidities. Functional status was assessed with Post Covid Functional Status (PCFS). Results The final sample consisted of 261 patients. After acute COVID-19 period (>4 weeks), almost 80% of patients had impaired functional status. Only 21.5% reported no functional impairment (0 on PCFS scale). A higher PCFS score was associated with female sex (P<0.001) and oxygen therapy requirement during acute disease (P=0.001). However, it was not associated with having a pre-existing lung disease (P=0.749). Disease severity did not pose a risk for developing a more severe long COVID. Conclusion Women were at greater risk for developing greater functional impairment in long COVID, although we have no explanation why. Malignant disease and hypertension also presented a risk factor for greater functional impairment. More studies are warranted to determine if patients with certain lung disease are more susceptible to long COVID

Overview and management of different post-COVID conditions

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in global healthcare crises and strained health resources, both in the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Similarly to post-acute viral syndromes described in survivors of other virulent coronavirus epidemics, there are increasing reports of persistent and prolonged symptoms after acute COVID-19. These reports and studies have helped contribute to the recognition of post-COVID-19, a syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms and/or delayed or long-term complications beyond 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of different manifestations of post-COVID conditions and propose a framework for the identification of patients at higher risk for post- COVID and their coordinated management through dedicated COVID-19 outpatient clinics

Overview and management of different post-COVID conditions

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in global healthcare crises and strained health resources, both in the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Similarly to post-acute viral syndromes described in survivors of other virulent coronavirus epidemics, there are increasing reports of persistent and prolonged symptoms after acute COVID-19. These reports and studies have helped contribute to the recognition of post-COVID-19, a syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms and/or delayed or long-term complications beyond 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of different manifestations of post-COVID conditions and propose a framework for the identification of patients at higher risk for post- COVID and their coordinated management through dedicated COVID-19 outpatient clinics