Annular leukocytoclastic vasculitis: a new feature of IgA vasculitis

Background: Annular erythema is a rare manifestation of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It may be associated with various drugs, infections, malignancies, or systemic diseases. Case description: A 36-year-old woman with no personal medical history presented with annular erythema with target lesions and petechial purpura. The patient had fever and joint arthralgia. A skin biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposits on direct immunofluorescence. The diagnosis of immunoglobulin A vasculitis with annular leukocytoclastic vasculitis was made. The patient showed global improvement with topical steroids without relapse. Conclusion: An annular variant of leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare manifestation of immunoglobulin A vasculitis

Leclercia adecarboxylata as Emerging Pathogen in Human Infections: Clinical Features and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

(1) Background: Leclercia adecarboxylata (L. adecarboxylata) is a gram-negative bacillus of the Enterobacteriaceae family, which is uncommonly isolated from clinical specimens. L. adecarboxylata is considered as an aquatic opportunistic pathogen and most of the human infections are polymicrobial and usually occur in immunocompromised hosts. (2) Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all L. adecarboxylata strains since the introduction of MALDI-TOF MS in the Microbiology Department of Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, France (from 1 March 2015 to 31 July 2019). We studied demographic characteristics, comorbidities, characteristics of the current infection and outcome as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing in all isolates. (3) Results: A total of 8 samples were identified (in 6 patients (4M/2F), with a recurrent L. adecarboxylata infection in 2 patients). The patients’ mean age was 66.2 years (range: 19–84). All patients were considered as immunocompetent, except a peritoneal dialysis patient with kidney transplantation. An exposition to an aquatic environment was identified in one patient. The most prevalent clinical feature was catheter-associated male urinary tract infection (in 3 cases) followed by ventilator-associated pneumonia (in 2 cases). One of 6 patients presented L. adecarboxylata bacteremia. L. adecarboxylata was part of a polymicrobial infection in 4 patients. The isolates showed a high susceptibility to all tested antibiotics, except one strain, which was resistant to fosfomycin. All patients with L. adecarboxylata infection were treated with antibiotics with a favorable outcome. (4) Conclusion: This study confirms the pathogenicity of L. adecarboxylata, even in immunocompetent patients, with a high susceptibility to antibiotics

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Nine Months after SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Cohort of 354 Patients: Data from the First Wave of COVID-19 in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, France

(1) Background. Post-COVID-19 syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. (2) Methods. ANOSVID is an observational retrospective study in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital in France that included adult COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. The aim was to describe patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome with persistent symptoms (PS group) and to compare them with the patients without persistent symptoms (no-PS group). (3) Results. Of the 354 COVID-19 patients, 35.9% (n = 127) reported persistence of at least one symptom after a mean of 289.1 ± 24.5 days after symptom onset. Moreover, 115 patients reported a recurrence of symptoms after recovery, and only 12 patients reported continuous symptoms. The mean age of patients was 48.6 years (19–93) ± 19.4, and 81 patients (63.8%) were female. Patients in the PS group had a longer duration of symptoms of initial acute SARS-CoV-2 infection than patients in the no-PS group (respectively, 57.1 ± 82.1 days versus 29.7 ± 42.1 days, p < 0.001). A majority of patients (n = 104, 81.9%) reported three or more symptoms. The most prevalent persistent symptoms were loss of smell (74.0%, n = 94), fatigue (53.5%, n = 68), loss of taste (31.5%, n = 40), and dyspnea (30.7%, n = 39). These were followed by pain symptoms (26.8% (n = 34), 26.0% (n = 33), 24.4% (n = 31); headache, arthralgia, and myalgia, respectively). More than half of patients reporting persistent symptoms (58%, n = 73) were healthcare workers (HCWs). Among outpatients, this population was more present in the PS group than the no-PS group ((86.6%) n = 71/82 versus (72.2%) n = 109/151, p = 0.012). Post-COVID-19 syndrome was more frequent in patients with a past history of chronic rhinosinusitis (8.7% (n = 11%) versus 1.3% (n = 3), p < 0.001). No significant difference was found regarding clinical characteristics and outcome, laboratory, imaging findings, and treatment received in the two groups. (4) Conclusions. More than a third of our COVID-19 patients presented persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly through loss of smell, loss of taste, fatigue, and dyspnea, with a high prevalence in HCWs among COVID-19 outpatients

Antibiotics and Therapeutic Agent Prescription in COVID-19 Management

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, only few therapeutic options have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 with substantial evidence [...

Antibiotics and Therapeutic Agent Prescription in COVID-19 Management

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, only few therapeutic options have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 with substantial evidence [...

A Comparative Systematic Review of COVID-19 and Influenza

Background: Both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus share similarities such as clinical features and outcome, laboratory, and radiological findings. Methods: Literature search was done using PubMed to find MEDLINE indexed articles relevant to this study. As of 25 November 2020, the search has been conducted by combining the MeSH words “COVID-19” and “Influenza”. Results: Eighteen articles were finally selected in adult patients. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients, while pulmonary diseases and immunocompromised conditions were significantly more common in influenza patients. The incidence rates of fever, vomiting, ocular and otorhinolaryngological symptoms were found to be significantly higher in influenza patients when compared with COVID-19 patients. However, neurologic symptoms and diarrhea were statistically more frequent in COVID-19 patients. The level of white cell count and procalcitonin was significantly higher in influenza patients, whereas thrombopenia and elevated transaminases were significantly more common in COVID-19 patients. Ground-grass opacities, interlobular septal thickening, and a peripheral distribution were more common in COVID-19 patients than in influenza patients where consolidations and linear opacities were described instead. COVID-19 patients were significantly more often transferred to intensive care unit with a higher rate of mortality. Conclusions: This study estimated differences of COVID-19 and influenza patients which can help clinicians during the co-circulation of the two viruses

Cerebro-rhino-orbital mucormycosis and aspergillosis coinfection in a patient with diabetes mellitus: A case report

Opportunistic fungal infections are life-threatening conditions with a high rate of morality, mostly occurring in immunocompromised hosts. We reported the case of mixed mold infection in a 69 year-old patient with latent diabetes mellitus. She was initially admitted for right orbital cellulitis. Cerebro-rhino-orbital mucormycosis and aspergillosis coinfection was diagnosed from mycological testing and histology after nasal biopsy sample. The patient received amphotericin B deoxycholate then voriconazole combined to surgical debridement with a favorable outcome

Cutaneous Granulomatosis Revealing Whipple’s Disease: Value of Tropheryma whipplei Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Diagnosis

Whipple’s Disease is a rare systemic infectious disease caused by the ubiquitous actinomycetes Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei). We report herein a rare case of a cutaneous granulo matosis with hypercalcemia as an unusual presenting feature of Whipple’s disease. The diagnosis of the bacteria was obtained from skin and inguinal lymph node biopsy (16 rDNA PCR screening and histological examination using PAS staining). T. whipplei was also identified on saliva and stool specimens, using specific PCR and colonic biopsies. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine and doxycycline allowed a rapid resolution of symptoms with a complete recovery

Management strategy in actinomycosis brain abscess

Key Clinical Message We reported herein a case of isolated cerebral actinomycosis in a 54‐year‐old immunocompetent man. Brain MRI showed a left frontal intra‐axial lesion and perilesional edema. We performed an open biopsy of the left frontal enhancing lesion. Intraoperative findings showed a yellowish, malleable, and capsulated lesion that was well defined with surrounding normal tissue within pus inside and lacked any necrotic content. MR spectroscopy showed a high level of choline, lactate, and lipid peaks with a choline/N‐Acetylaspartic acid ratio of 1.8. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically, and the patient was treated successfully for 3 months after surgical aspiration. Surgical management allowed to confirm the diagnosis with a shorten antibiotics, a rapid resolution of symptoms, and a complete recovery