200 research outputs found

    The Advocate - June 8, 1961

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    Original title (1951-1987)--The Advocate: official publication of the Archdiocese of Newark (N.J.)

    The epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, radiology, microbiology, treatment, and prognosis of echinococcosis: Results of NENEHATUN study

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    Aim: Echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus species, is an important zoonotic disease causing major health problems in humans and animals. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory parameters, radiological, serological, pathological, and treatment protocols of followed-up cases of hydatidosis. Methods: A total of 550 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst disease were included in this study. Patients who were positive for one or more of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or indirect hemagglutination test, pathological results, or radiological findings were examined. The data analyzed were collected from nine centers between 2008 and 2020. Records were examined retrospectively. Results: Among the patients, 292 (53.1%) were women and 258 (46.9%) were men. The patients' mean age was 44.4 +/- 17.4 years. A history of living in rural areas was recorded in 57.4% of the patients. A total of 435 (79.1%) patients were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain in 277 (50.4%), listlessness in 244 (44.4%), and cough in 140 (25.5%) patients. Hepatomegaly was found in 147 (26.7%), and decreased breath sounds were observed in 124 (22.5%) patients. Radiological examination was performed in all cases and serological methods were also applied to 428 (77.8%) patients. The most frequently applied serological test was IHA (37.8%). A single cyst has been found in 66% patients. Hepatic involvement occurred in 327 (59.4%), pulmonary involvement was found in 128 (23.3%), whereas both of them were recorded in 43 (7.8%) patients. Splenic involvement was only detected in nine (1.6%) patients. Echinococcus granulosus (72.5%) was most frequently detected. Cyst diameters of 56.9% of the patients were in the range of 5-10 cm. A total of 414 (75.2%) patients received albendazole as an antiparasitic. Mortality was noted in nine (1.6%) patients. Conclusion: Echinococcosis is an important public health problem in Turkey. It can affect the social, economic, and political structures of the community. Public education and awareness are extremely important

    Vancomycin versus Linezolid in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Meningitis

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    Abstract Background: Vancomycin is the mainstay of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis. However, successful outcomes with linezolid have not been reported in a large series of patients. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study to compare vancomycin with linezolid in the treatment of MRSA meningitis. Methods: We extracted data and outcomes for all adult patients (age > 18 years) with culture-proved MRSA meningitis who received vancomycin or linezolid between January 2006 and June 2011. A definite diagnosis of meningitis was based on the isolation of MRSA in at least one cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and findings in CSF that are typical of the infection. Linezolid was given intravenously (IV) at a dosage of 600 mg q12h and vancomycin IV at 500 mg q6h. Results: A total of 8 patients with MRSA meningitis (5 male, 3 female; age [mean -SD] 61.6 -13.2 years) received vancomycin and 9 patients (7 male, 2 female; age 59.1 -15.6 years) received linezolid. All isolated strains of MRSA were susceptible to both vancomycin and linezolid. The rates of microbiologic success with linezolid or vancomycin, in terms of clearance of MRSA from CSF on day 5, were 7/9 and 2/8 (p = 0.044, Fisher exact test). No severe adverse events occurred in either treatment arm of the study. One-month survival of the patients in whom treatment was successful microbiologically was 2/2 in the vancomycin-treated group and 4/7 in the linezolidtreated group. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for vancomycin were available for 5/6 treatment failures with vancomycin, and vancomycin MIC values of these five strains were 2 mg/L. Conclusion: Analysis of the findings in the limited cohorts in our study suggests that linezolid is superior to vancomycin for treating MRSA meningitis, especially in cases in which there is a high MIC (2 mg/L) for vancomycin. A clinical study involving larger cohorts may increase the evidence available in relation to this question

    Post-Covid-19 Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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    Objectives The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on the gastrointestinal tract remain unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and post-COVID-19 disorders of gut-brain interaction after hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicentre, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were evaluated on hospital admission and after 1, 6 and 12 months post hospitalisation. Gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety and depression were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results The study included 2183 hospitalised patients. The primary analysis included a total of 883 patients (614 patients with COVID-19 and 269 controls) due to the exclusion of patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal symptoms and/or surgery. At enrolment, gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent among patients with COVID-19 than in the control group (59.3% vs 39.7%, p < 0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, constipation and hard stools were significantly more prevalent in controls than in patients with COVID-19 (16% vs 9.6%, p=0.019 and 17.7% vs 10.9%, p=0.011, respectively). Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 reported higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to Rome IV criteria: 0.5% versus 3.2%, p=0.045. Factors significantly associated with IBS diagnosis included history of allergies, chronic intake of proton pump inhibitors and presence of dyspnoea. At the 6-month follow-up, the rate of patients with COVID-19 fulfilling the criteria for depression was higher than among controls. Conclusion Compared with controls, hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had fewer problems of constipation and hard stools at 12 months after acute infection. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher rates of IBS than controls

    Post COVID-19 irritable bowel syndrome

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    Objectives: The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on the gastrointestinal tract remain unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and post-COVID-19 disorders of gut-brain interaction after hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design: GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicentre, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were evaluated on hospital admission and after 1, 6 and 12 months post hospitalisation. Gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety and depression were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: The study included 2183 hospitalised patients. The primary analysis included a total of 883 patients (614 patients with COVID-19 and 269 controls) due to the exclusion of patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal symptoms and/or surgery. At enrolment, gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent among patients with COVID-19 than in the control group (59.3% vs 39.7%, p&lt;0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, constipation and hard stools were significantly more prevalent in controls than in patients with COVID-19 (16% vs 9.6%, p=0.019 and 17.7% vs 10.9%, p=0.011, respectively). Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 reported higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to Rome IV criteria: 0.5% versus 3.2%, p=0.045. Factors significantly associated with IBS diagnosis included history of allergies, chronic intake of proton pump inhibitors and presence of dyspnoea. At the 6-month follow-up, the rate of patients with COVID-19 fulfilling the criteria for depression was higher than among controls. Conclusion: Compared with controls, hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had fewer problems of constipation and hard stools at 12 months after acute infection. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher rates of IBS than controls. Trial registration number: NCT04691895

    Cost Analysis of Nosocomial Infections in a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital's Neurology Intensive Care Unit: A Case-Control Study

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    WOS: 000365428100009Aim: The purpose of this study is to overview nosocomial infections (NI), to determine risk factors and to evaluate the clinical and financial impact of NI on direct hospital cost among neurology intensive care unit (NICU) patients in a tertiary-care referral hospital. Material and Methods: A retrospective case control study was performed. The sample size was calculated to be at least 51 per group. A list of the last 55 patients who acquired an infection in NICU was obtained from infection control committee. These patients were matched with uninfected patients according to age, sex, diagnosis. The data were collected from patient files, accounting records. Results: A total of 79 NI occurred in 55 cases. The most common NI were pneumonia (48%), catheter related urinary tract infection (39%). Acinetobacter baumannii (25%) is most commonly responsible for NI. NI were detected less in patients who were conscious, non-intubated, without blood transfusion, tracheostomy, urinary catheter or mechanical ventilation. The mortality ratio was 53.1% in cases and 30.8% in controls. The excess costs of NI were $7121.15 and extra length of stay was 26.9 days. Although reimbursement took longer than six months, the Social Security Institution paid back the total billing amount. Conclusion: Given the impact on monetary and health costs of NI, measures to prevent NI in the hospital are strongly recommended for patient safety and for hospital reputation. NICUs in tertiary care referral facilities do not cause financial burden; on the contrary, they provide an opportunity to balance the budget

    Nitrofurantoin in the treatment of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase- producing Escherichia coli-related lower urinary tract infection

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    PubMed ID: 23063743The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrofurantoin (NFT) in the treatment of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli-related lower urinary tract infection (LUTI). The hospital records of all patients aged &gt;18 years with dysuria or problems with frequency or urgency in passing urine, &gt;20 leukocytes/mm3 in urine microscopy and culture-proven ESBL-producing NFT-sensitive E. coli in the urine (&gt;105 CFU/mm3), no leukocytosis or fever and who were treated with NFT between January 2006 and May 2011 in our outpatient clinic or in the hospital were evaluated. All patients had received a NFT 50 mg capsule every 6 h for 14 days and had a control urine culture taken 7-9 days after therapy. Clinical success was defined as resolution of symptoms at the control visit, and microbiological success was defined as a sterile control urine culture. A total of 75 patients (mean ± standard deviation age, 54 ± 17 years; 45 females, 30 males, all but 14 with complicated LUTI) fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. Overall clinical and microbiological success rates were 69% (52/75) and 68% (51/75), respectively. Control urine culture performed 28-31 days after the end of therapy was available in 31/51 patients (61%) with microbiological success. Re-infection and relapse rates were 6.5% (2/31) and 3.2% (1/31), respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that NFT may be an alternative in the treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli-related LUTI. This is the first study in which NFT was used in the treatment of LUTI due to ESBL-producing E. coli as well as in patients with complicated UTI. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved
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