Disseminated Aspergillosis as the Herald Manifestation of Chronic Granulomatous Disease in an Adult Patient

Chronic granulomatous disease is an inherited defect in intracellular killing of ingested microorganisms characterized by recurrent life threatening bacterial and fungal infections including invasive aspergillosis in early childhood. We report  a  disseminated aspergillosis as  the  representative  of  adult  onset  chronic granulomatous disease without previous infection, with dramatic response to combination of antifungal and interferon therapy

Evaluation of Outcome in Patients With Moderate and Severe COVID-19 Via H-Score

Background: Due to uncontrolled lymphocyte reaction, the overproduction of cytokines in COVID-19 patients can cause sepsis-like symptoms, suggesting sepsis, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH). Since different therapeutic approaches are used for each diagnosis, differentiation is essential. This study aims to use H-score as a possible prognostic tool in COVID-19 patients.Methods: A sample of 64 moderate and severe COVID-19 patients was enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory findings were assessed. H-score was initially calculated and reevaluated among severe cases 72 hours later and among moderate cases showing severe features of COVID-19.Results: Mortality of 31.3% was reported. Laboratory findings, including triglycerides (TG), ferritin, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed significantly higher initial and follow-up laboratory assessment levels in severe cases than in moderate cases. Moreover, fibrinogen was significantly higher among severe cases than moderate cases at the initial assessment, but no significant difference was reported in the second fibrinogen assessment. Conclusion: In this study, H-score was useful as a predictive tool for the initial evaluation of severe cases of COVID-19. H-score is much lower in these patients than in non-COVID-19 HLH patients may be due to the different underlying immunologic pathophysiology of COVID-19; thus, each H-score criterion must be evaluated for sensitivity and specificity in COVID-19 patients. The H-score cut-offs, H-score may be useful for diagnosing immune overreaction and determining the need for more exclusive immunomodulatory treatments

Neurological manifestations as the predictors of severity and mortality in hospitalized individuals with COVID-19: a multicenter prospective clinical study

BACKGROUNDS: The reports of neurological symptoms are increasing in cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This multi-center prospective study was conducted to determine the incidence of neurological manifestations in hospitalized cases with COVID-19 and assess these symptoms as the predictors of severity and death. METHODS: Hospitalized males and females with COVID-19 who aged over 18 years were included in the study. They were examined by two neurologists at the time of admission. All survived cases were followed for 8 weeks after discharge and 16 weeks if their symptoms had no improvements. RESULTS: We included 873 participants. Of eligible cases, 122 individuals (13.97%) died during hospitalization. The most common non-neurological manifestations were fever (81.1%), cough (76.1%), fatigue (36.1%), and shortness of breath (27.6%). Aging, male gender, co-morbidity, smoking, hemoptysis, chest tightness, and shortness of breath were associated with increased odds of severe cases and/or mortality. There were 561 (64.3%) cases with smell and taste dysfunctions (hyposmia: 58.6%; anosmia: 41.4%; dysguesia: 100%). They were more common among females (69.7%) and non-smokers (66.7%). Hyposmia/anosmia and dysgeusia were found to be associated with reduced odds of severe cases and mortality. Myalgia (24.8%), headaches (12.6%), and dizziness (11.9%) were other common neurological symptoms. Headaches had negative correlation with severity and death due to COVID-19 but myalgia and dizziness were not associated. The cerebrovascular events (n = 10) and status epilepticus (n = 1) were other neurological findings. The partial or full recovery of smell and taste dysfunctions was found in 95.2% after 8 weeks and 97.3% after 16 weeks. The parosmia (30.9%) and phantosmia (9.0%) were also reported during 8 weeks of follow-up. Five cases with mild headaches and 5 cases with myalgia were reported after 16 weeks of discharge. The demyelinating myelitis (n = 1) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 1) were also found during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms were found to be prevalent among individuals with COVID-19 disease and should not be under-estimated during the current pandemic outbreak

Self-reported antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures from 57 intensive care units: An international ID-IRI survey

We explored the self-reported antibiotic stewardship (AS), and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in intensive care units (ICUs) of different income settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data about IPC and AS measures in participating ICUs. The study participants were Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (IDI-IR) members, committed as per their institutional agreement form. We analyzed responses from 57 ICUs in 24 countries (Lower-middle income (LMI), n = 13; Upper-middle income (UMI), n = 33; High-income (HI), n = 11). This represented (similar to 5%) of centers represented in the ID-IRI. Surveillance programs were implemented in (76.9%-90.9%) of ICUs with fewer contact precaution measures in LMI ones (p = 0.02); (LMI:69.2%, UMI:97%, HI:100%). Participation in regional antimicrobial resistance programs was more significantly applied in HI (p = 0.02) (LMI:38.4%,UMI:81.8%,HI:72.2%). AS programs are implemented in 77.2% of institutions with AS champions in 66.7%. Infectious diseases physicians and microbiologists are members of many AS teams (59%&50%) respectively. Unqualified healthcare professionals(42.1%), and deficient incentives(28.1%) are the main barriers to implementing AS. We underscore the existing differences in IPC and AS programs' implementation, team composition, and faced barriers. Continuous collaboration and sharing best practices on APM is needed. The role of regional and international organizations should be encouraged. Global support for capacity building of healthcare practitioners is warranted. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

Human respiratory syncytial virus and coronavirus rates in Iranian elderly patients more than 60 years old with acute respiratory symptoms

Background: Scientists have believed that a number of risk factors, especially viral infectious agents, can be related to respiratory diseases. Due to the pandemics in 2019, Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Coronavirus have attracted the attention of different kinds of research. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the prevalence of these viruses. Materials and Methods: After extracting the RNA and DNA of these viruses, molecular tests were employed to report the rate of them in patients suffering from respiratory symptoms. Results: Our results demonstrated that 31 samples were COVID-19 positive. Furthermore, two cases had Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subgroup A infections. However, no cases showed a coinfection of both viruses. Conclusions: It seems that during the pandemic of COVID-19, RSV should not be ignored as it can be responsible for the respiratory syndrome

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate and antimicrobial susceptibility in a tertiary center, Iran

Background: This study was aimed to determine frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) among colonized patients in outpatient status. Materials and Methods: A total of 2000 nasal nares specimens were collected and inoculated on mannitol salt agar. MRSAs were identified based on mannitol positivity and coagulase test followed by cefoxitin disc diffusion test. Antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolates was performed by E-test method for vancomycin and doxycycline as well as disc diffusion method for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP), erythromycin, linezolid, and clindamycin. D-test was performed for detection of inducible resistance to clindamycin. Results: Overall, nasal carrier rate of S. aureus and CA-MRSA was estimated 22% and 1.25%, respectively. Out of the 440 S. aureus isolates, 25 isolates were MRSA. All were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid, and susceptibility rates to SMX-TMP, erythromycin, levofloxacin, doxycycline, and clindamycin were 68%, 44%, 48%, 40% and 44%, respectively; furthermore, 28.5% of resistant isolates to erythromycin had inducible resistance to clindamycin. Conclusion: It seems susceptibility to clindamycin and SMX-TMP, recommended agents for empirical treatment of suspected CA-MRSA, are not promising. Vancomycin and linezolid are effective and reliable antibiotics for the treatment of S. aureus infections

Antipseudomonal β-Lactams Resistance in Iran

Over the last years, the mortality rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is one of the major reasons for severe infections, has been significantly increasing. This bacterium is highly resistant to many antibiotics, especially carbapenems, thanks to its complicated mechanism by which it can acquire exogenous genes. The purpose of this research is to have a review of empirical studies surveying the P. aeruginosa resistance to beta-lactams in Iran in order to investigate the most reliable methods by which the incidence of P. aeruginosa infections can be decreased and controlled. We performed a systematic review of all articles published from 2008 until 2018. Studies which did not address P. aeruginosa resistance to beta-lactams were excluded from the analysis. Studies with less than 10 cases were also excluded. Studies with more than ten cases, which did not have repetitive information, were taken into account for the final selection; 133 out of 893 articles were chosen. The resistance rate of P. aeruginosa among the articles was as follows: more than 72% of studies revealed >50% level of resistance to cefepime, followed by aztreonam (53.2%), ceftazidime (61%), piperacillin/tazobactam (54.5%), meropenem (48.3%), and imipenem (42.4%). The selection of empiric antipseudomonal antibiotics is absolutely uncertain and hazardous, and the risk of clinical failure may be more among cephalosporins and piperacillin-tazobactam as well as aztreonam. The results of this study illustrate that the methods enabling clinics to identify the bacterium resistance pattern and its genetic basis and to have the opportunity of empiric therapies through access to updated local data of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern are the most effective methods. However, the widespread usage of these approaches undoubtedly needs reliable molecular and nucleic acid-based devices, which are both affordable and available

Co-administration of albumin-furosemide in patients with the nephrotic syndrome

Generalized edema is one of the most important complications in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Diuretics like furosemide are the first choice for reducing the edema. Hypo-albuminemia reduces the effect of furosemide, and thus, this drug is co-administered with albumin to reinforce the therapeutic effect and for the correction of reduced oncotic pressure. The aim of this study was to compare urine volume and 24-hour sodium levels after using furosemide alone versus using furosemide along with albumin in patients with nephrotic syndrome. In a randomized clinical trial, ten patients with nephrotic syndrome were chosen and were randomly allocated into four groups. Three therapeutic protocols were chosen, and at the end, each patient had received all three protocols randomly. Data were gathered and analyzed using non-parametric tests in SPSS software. The average urine volume after receiving albumin alone, furosemide alone and albumin plus furosemide were 742 mL (SD = 528), 1707 mL (SD = 745) and 2175 mL (SD = 971), respectively (P = 0.015); the fractional excretion of sodium was 1.96 (SD = 0.251), 3.18 (SD = 0.25), and 4.77 (SD = 8.45), respectively (P = 0.000); the 24-hour urinary sodium levels were 18.3 (SD = 6.68), 208.4 (SD = 5.27) and 206 (SD = 8.45), respectively; while the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 104.5, 96.6 and 106.6 (P = 0.021), respectively, in the three therapy groups. Our study shows that albumin administration alone and with furosemide in patients with nephrotic syndrome who had normal kidney function, results in different urine volumes and sodium levels. Co-administration of albumin and furosemide increased the urine volume and sodium level, which is due to increase in the GFR as well as the diuretic effects of furosemide

The Impact of Current COVID-19 Therapeutics on Patients’ Clinical Improvements Based on Disease Severity; A Systematic Review.: The Evaluation of Current Anti-COVID-19 Medications

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic is not a new issue that encompasses the entire world. It is becoming increasingly urgent to find effective medications. This systematic review was conducted to discuss the clinical impact of some proposed managements against COVID-19. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched from their inception to June 15, 2020, to identify studies reporting the current treatment process and medications for COVID-19. Results: After searching databases, a total of 5450 articles were assessed. A number of 42 relevant studies were identified as eligible for the review including a total of 5599 patients. The severity of illness was investigated in 5053 cases including 3169 mild or mild to moderate or moderate, 222 moderate to severe, and 1662 severe cases. Among the therapeutics reported in these studies, 15 medications besides convalescent plasma showed some evidence of antiviral activity. Antivirals (34%; 14/42), especially lopinavir/ritonavir, were the main classes of therapeutic agents evaluated against COVID-19. Approximately, 14.3% (6/42) of the studies which assessed the impact of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, convalescent plasma therapy, lopinavir/ritonavir plus azithromycin, methylprednisolone, and interferon α-2b, have reported clinical improvement in all cases. A number of 10 studies (23.81%) exhibited a negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in all cases. Conclusions: Based on our findings, considering the diverse and scattered effects of current medications on clinical outcomes and the rate of negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2, large clinical trials are required to evaluate the best treatment options for COVID-19

Examining Side Effects of the Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine: Side effects of Sputnik V vaccine

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many vaccines were developed to counter the disease, including the vector-based Sputnik V vaccine. This study aims to identify the side effects of the Sputnik V COVID–19 vaccine in a medical center and compare the results with the previous reports.Methods: A questionnaire-based study was performed after the injection of the first and second doses of the vaccine to assess the side effects experienced by the participants. It was performed by reviewing similar previous studies.Results: Injection site pain, muscle pain, fever, fatigue, chills, and headache were the most common side effects of the vaccine. The incidence of major side effects decreased with age and was lower in men. In our study and others, the incidence of side effects was decreased in the second dose. In some studies, participants with a previous history of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARSCOV-2) infection developed more side effects, especially injection site pain, muscle pain, and fatigue. Conclusion: Most studies agree with our reported results. Serious side effects of this vaccine are rare and may be considered tolerable in adults