Reassessment of disease severity routine laboratory tests in the COVID-19 infection

Introduction. Publications demonstrate some limitations of National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS-2) accuracy in assessment on coronavirus infection severity. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of the patient’s age and routine laboratory parameters in the assessment of patient’s general condition in coronavirus pneumonia and their relation to NEWS-2 scale parameters. Materials and methods. 50 case reports of patients with COVID-19 infection observed in the Sechenov University in January–March 2021 were analyzed. 34 % of patients were males aged 31 to 89 years (average age 55 years) and 66 % — females aged 40 to 91 (mean age 63). The diagnosis of pneumonia was confirmed by computed tomography. NEWS-2 scale total score was assessed. Results. According to the physician’s subjective assessment the condition was significantly more often assessed as moderate and severe. There was only a weak correlation between the blood oxygen saturation and the total NEWS-2 score (r = 0.165, α = 0.1). We found a mild correlation (r = 0.341, α = 0.1) between the patient’s age and NEWS-2 score. Among the most significantly interrelated parameters were age, neutrophil count, serum creatinine, CRP, fibrinogen level. Seven interrelated parameters (age, body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, the neutrophils count, creatinine, CRP, fibrinogen), for which a reliable relation with other tests has been shown, were assigned with its special index according to their contribution to the assessment of the overall condition severity. An aggregated score (criterion X) was proposed for assessment of disease severity according to equation. The proportions of mild, moderate, and severe cases according to criterion X were 12 %, 64 % and 24 %. Conclusion. The preliminary results obtained in the study emphasize the importance of routine laboratory tests in assessment of coronavirus infection severity. An evident discrepancy between NEWS-2 score and X criterion may be very important for practice. © Russian Journal of Neurosurgery.All rights reserved.

Clostridium difficile infection in a COVID-19 Patient

Aim. The clinical observation highlights plausible compound origins of diarrhoea, fever and neutrophilic leucocytosis in COVID-19 and the rationale to exclude Clostridium difficile infection in such patients. Key points. A 57-yo female patient was admitted in May 2020 with the complaints of 39 °C fever, general weakness, polymyalgia, diarrhoea to 3–4 times a day (mushy stool, no morbid inclusions). Initial diarrhoea was non-severe and likely triggered by the coronavirus infection. A background antibiotic and putative-immunosuppressive therapy proceeded with watery diarrhoea to 7–8 times a day and C. difficile toxins A and B detected in stool. The C. difficile infection relapsed on day 10 of vancomycin withdrawal and associated with elevated body temperature, diarrhoea and neutrophil leucocytosis;signs of colitis determined in ultrasound and CT. Exacerbation was successfully treated in a repeated metronidazole-combined vancomycin course. Conclusion. Patients with COVID-19 are at risk of clostridial colitis due to massive antibiotic, systemic glucocorticoid and biologics-based therapy they receive. The opportunistic bacterial infection of C. difficile often proceeds undetected due to its potential mirroring of COVID-19 presentation. A screening algorithm in COVID-19 patients with diarrhoea should imply steps for C. difficile detection. © 2021 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Abdominal Pain as First Manifestation of New Coronavirus Infection COVID-19

Aim. A clinical case description of abdominal pain as the first manifestation of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Key points. A 80-yo patient was admitted to a surgical unit with growing epigastric pain and fever. Acute abdomen was diagnosed negative, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed two-sided ground-glass opacity, discharged. Hospitalised in a severe condition with presumed new coronavirus infection at the Vasilenko Clinic of Internal Disease Propaedeutics, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the Sechenov University. COVID-19 agent RNA was detected with PCR. Diagnosis: new coronavirus infection COVID-19, severe degree, community-acquired bilateral polysegmental pneumonia, severe degree, respiratory failure type 1. Therapy with azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, enoxaparin subcutaneously. Respiratory distress increased on day 7 at the clinic, with 50-75% lesion in chest CT, which required ordering of dexamethasone intravenously, with a subsequent dose reduction and withdrawal, and levofloxacin. Upon the treatment, abdominal pain was eliminated, body temperature normalised and the volume of affected parenchyma decreased. The patient was discharged for outpatient care. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 may have abdominal complaints that may require exclusion of an acute surgical pathology. These circumstances inevitably waste time of assisting patients suffering the new coronavirus infection and worsen the prognosis due to severe pneumonia.Conclusion. A gastroenterological debut of the new coronavirus infection with the main symptoms of abdominal pain has been presented. The currently continued unfavourable epidemiological situation demands diagnosis for SARSCoV-2 and COVID-19-associated pneumonia upon the exclusion of peritoneal symptoms even in absence of respiratory complaints. Цель. Представить клиническое наблюдение новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19, первым проявлением которой была боль в животе.Основные положения. 80-летний пациент с нарастающей болью в эпигастрии и лихорадкой госпитализирован в хирургическое отделение, где исключен «острый живот», при компьютерной томографии (КТ) органов грудной клетки выявлены изменения по типу матового стекла двусторонней локализации, выписан. С подозрением на новую коронавирусную инфекцию госпитализирован в тяжелом состоянии в Клинику пропедевтики внутренних болезней, гастроэнтерологии и гепатологии имени В. Х. Василенко Сеченовского Университета. Методом полимеразной цепной реакции (ПЦР) выделена РНК возбудителя COVID-19. Установлен диагноз: новая коронавирусная инфекция COVID-19, тяжелой степени, внебольничная двусторонняя полисегментарная пневмония тяжелой степени, дыхательная недостаточность 1-й степени. Начата терапия азитромицином, гидроксихлорохином, эноксапарином подкожно. На 7-е сутки пребывания в клинике стала нарастать дыхательная недостаточность, при КТ органов грудной клетки прогрессирование - объем поражения составил 50-75 %, что потребовало назначения дексаметазона внутривенно с последующим снижением дозы и отменой, левофлоксацина. На фоне проводимой терапии боль в животе купирована, температура тела нормализовалась, уменьшился объем пораженной паренхимы. Пациент выписан на амбулаторное долечивание. Среди жалоб больных с SARS-CoV-2 - боль в животе, иногда требующая исключения острой хирургической патологии. Эти обстоятельства неизбежно приводят к потере времени оказания помощи пациентам с новой коронавирусной инфекцией и ухудшают прогноз из-за развития тяжелой пневмонии. Заключение. Представлен гастроэнтерологический вариант клинического дебюта новой коронавирусной инфекции, главным симптомом которого была абдоминальная боль. В условиях сохраняющейся неблагоприятной эпидемиологической обстановки после исключения перитонеальных симптомов необходимо обследование на наличие SARS-CoV-2, а также пневмонию при COVID-19 даже при отсутствии респираторных жалоб.