Frequency of Pathological MRI Findings in Suspected Myocarditis during the COVID-19Pandemic

Background: COVID-associated and vaccine-triggered myocarditis in young people have received much attention over the course of the pandemic due to early results of vaccination associated myocarditis. This may have led to an increase in myocarditis suspicions. In this study we wanted to examine the actual amount of COVID-associated myocarditis in ourtertiary center. Method(s): We included all cardiac MRIs performed in our institution for the indication of suspected myocarditis between 2020and 2022. We excluded patients with primary cardiomyopathy. We divided the patients into three groups: Group 1 had noCOVID infection or COVID-vaccine associated with their suspected myocarditis, group 2 had received a COVID vaccination prior to developing symptoms, group 3 had had an acute COVID infection and group 4 had a clinical diagnosis of Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). Result(s): Overall, 28 patients had MRIs for suspected myocarditis performed at our center in the investigated time frame. They were 10 to 18 years of age (mean: 15.1 years). Symptoms included chest pain, fatigue, palpitations and reduction in exercise tolerance. Nineteen patients were in group one, 4 patients had symptoms associated with COVID vaccination, three had acute infection and two had a clinical diagnosis of PIMS. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was found in 7 patients. None of these were in groups 2 or 3. Both patients with PIMS(n = 2) had myocarditis on biopsy but only one on MRI. Myocardial biopsy was performed in 8 patients. They showed myocarditis in 6 patients. Apart from the PIMS cases, none of them were associated with Corona infection or COVID vaccine. Three patients had parvovirus B19 on biopsy and one also had EBV. One of the PIMS patients also had HHV6. Theother four biopsies did not yield any viral DNA on PCR. Conclusion(s): Myocarditis associated with acute COVID infection or vaccination was not found in our cohort. Exercise intolerance or chest pain was not reliable indicators of cardiac causes. Even in the pandemic, coronavirus and COVID-19vaccines are unlikely causes of myocarditis. Most cases were associated with classic cardiotropic viruses. However, in cases of PIMS, cardiac involvement is likely and should be investigated accordingly.

Antimicrobial Activity in the Gasphase with Hypochloric Acid

Background:The study investigated if the disinfecting potential of Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in suspensions are transferrable to in-air cleaning applications and to what extent aerosolized HOCl solutions can deactivate indoor microbial contaminations in-air at or below legal limits. Material and Method: For the liquid disinfection we used a standard suspension disinfection test protocol. For the in-air tests we conducted several experiments where aerosolized bacterial suspensions were injected into lab chambers preloaded with different HOCl gas concentrations. Results:In suspension experiments we found sufficient efficacies for all studied organisms at minimum concentrations of 200 ppm HOCl. The in-air measurement set-up allows to follow microbe deactivation by HOCl interaction. The deactivation rate increases with the HOCl concentration, and the values are highest for Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion:We confirmed our hypothesis of the high disinfecting power of HOCl in-air at safe levels for populated indoor places. The investigated bacteria provide a model system for infectious particles, including enveloped viruses (to which Coronavirus belongs). These early results suggest that HOCl should be further evaluated as an air-cleaning method which may complement established concepts. © 2021 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston.

Antimicrobial activity in the gasphase with hypochloric acid

Introduction: Virus-carrying aerosol particles are recognized as infection carriers in the current Corona pandemic, but their high-risk potential is often underestimated and represents the infection route that has been least systematically countered to date. As a result, aerosols currently represent an insufficiently contained mode of disease transmission at public indoor spaces (e.g.: offices, schools, gastronomy). Objectives: The study investigated if the disinfecting potential of HOCl in suspensions are transferrable to in-air cleaning applications and to what extent aerosolized HOCl solutions can deactivate indoor microbial contaminations in-air at or below legal limits. Methods: For the liquid disinfection we used a standard suspension disinfection test protocol. For the in-air tests we conducted several experiments where aerosolized bacterial suspensions were injected into lab chambers preloaded with different HOCl gas concentrations. Results: In suspension experiments we found sufficient efficacies for all studied organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli K12 and Staphylococcus warnerii according to EN 1276, C. albicans according to EN 13,624 as well as vaccinia virus according to EN 14,476) at minimum concentrations of 200 ppm HOCL. The in-air measurement set-up allows to follow microbe deactivation by HOCl interaction. The deactivation rate increases with the HOCl concentration, and the values are greatest for Gram-negative germs. Conclusion: We validated the disinfecting effects of HOCl in suspensions. We confirmed our hypothesis of the high disinfecting power of HOCl in-air at safe levels for populated indoor places. The investigated Gram-positive and -negative bacteria can be understood as a general model system for infectious particles, including enveloped viruses (to which Coronavirus belongs). These early results suggest that HOCl should be further evaluated as an air-cleaning method which may complement established concepts.