The SARS-COV2 (COVID-19) Pandemic: What Clinicians should Know

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated SARS-CoV-2, emerged and was identified as the cause of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, a city in China, named as COVID-19. Since then the waves of the virus exponentially hit many countries around the globe with high rates of spread associated with variable degrees of morbidity and mortality. The WHO announced the pandemic state of the infection in March 2020 and by June 1st 2020 more than 6 million individuals and more than 370 thousands case fatalities were documented worldwide. In this article, we discussed many aspects regarding this emerged infection based on the available evidence aiming to help clinician to improve not only their knowledge but also their practices toward this infection.

The SARS-COV2 (COVID-19) Pandemic: What Clinicians should Know

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated SARS-CoV-2, emerged and was identified as the cause of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, a city in China, named as COVID-19. Since then the waves of the virus exponentially hit many countries around the globe with high rates of spread associated with variable degrees of morbidity and mortality. The WHO announced the pandemic state of the infection in March 2020 and by June 1st 2020 more than 6 million individuals and more than 370 thousands case fatalities were documented worldwide. In this article, we discussed many aspects regarding this emerged infection based on the available evidence aiming to help clinician to improve not only their knowledge but also their practices toward this infection.

Role of CT in the Diagnosis and Follow up of Pediatric Oncology Patients with Fungal Infection

Background: invasive fungal infections are rare in pediatric population, but have a high morbidity and mortality rates despite the development of antifungal treatment. It ranges from superficial, mucosal to invasive infection

Aim of the Work: to assess the value of CT in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection and differentiating it from other causes of infection or metastatic deposits in patients with childhood cancer and persistent fever in spite of antibacterial treatment and to assess the radiological response after treatment with antifungal drugs

Patients and Methods: our study was done over one year period from October 2017 to October 2018, included 22 immunocompromised pediatric patients from El -Demerdash tertiary hospital, included [8 male, and 14 female] with age range [14m- 16 yrs.]. We identified immunocompromised patient of having underlying malignancy or auto-immune deficiency. We included all patients with fever, neutropenia and high CRP, in whom we suspected chest or paranasal sinus infection

Results: in our case group; the most common underlying disease was ALL-B cell [n=6, 40%], followed by ALL-T cell [n=2, 13.3%], AML [n=2, 13.3%], aplastic [n=3, 20%], hepatobalstoma [n=1, 6.7%] and auto-immunodeficiency [n=1, 6.7%]. Analysis of the radiological data showed that macronodules was the most significant finding to suggest fungal rather than bacterial infection [53.3% vs. 0% respectively, p=0.015], followed by consolidation [40% vs. 57.1%, p=0.45] and ground glassing [26.7% vs. 14.3%. Cavitary lesions, pleural effusion and lung abscess were associated only with fungal disease, yet it is not considered significant enough in our study as a reliable sign to suggest fungal infection

Conclusion: increase number of hospitalized pediatric patients with fungal infection is a rising problem, with no specific criteria for early diagnosis among this population causing delay of the proper treatment. In our study hematological malignancy was the most common underlying disease with macronodules being the most specific finding to suggest fungal infection in pediatrics

Evaluation of cefaclor oral suspensions stability using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography and antimicrobial diffusion methods

The effect of temperature stresses on Cefaclor suspensions under different storage conditions for a duration of 14 days was tested. The degradation of Cefaclor was determined on the 2[nd], 7[th] and 14[th] day after reconstitution using a sensitive and precise Reversed phase High Performance Liquid Chromatographic [RP-HPLC] method. The RSD values for Forticef, Midocef, Ceclor, Cefabac and Cloracef, indicated a good precision of the RP-HPLC method. The limit of detection [LOD] and the limit of quantification [LOQ] were found 0.008 mg/ml and 0.03mg/ml respectively. The antimicrobial effect of Cefaclor suspension was also tested against pathogenic bacteria using the cylinder diffusion method. The RSD values range of the antimicrobial assay for all the Cefaclor compounds were 1.47-3.7%. The LOD and LOQ were 0.2mg/ml and Img/ml respectively. During the normal use of Ceclor, Midocef, and Forticef the loss of activity and the degradation were less than 5% on the 14[th] day of preservation at 4°C. However, the percentage of degradation for Cefabac and Cloracef on the 14th day reached 5 and 6%, respectively. Statistical multiple comparison between the effect of 4°C and 25°C indicated non significant mean differences [P >/= 0.05] for Forticef, Cefabac, Ceclor and Cloraf and significant effect for Midocef [P