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Objective: To describe the frequency of HAIs and the use of antibiotics in a COVID ICU in northern Peru. Material and Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study. 85 stories were reviewed. Results: median age= 57 years, IQR (49-78);70% men;74/85 on a ventilator, median in days= 13 (IQR=7-45). HAI frequency: 28.2%: Ventilator-associated pneumonia 79.1%;26/85 had at least one culture: 22/26 bronchial secretions: 10/26 Acinetobacter baumani, 10/26 Pseudomonas Aeruginosa;8/10 of Acinetobacter and 5/10 of Pseudomonas were multidrug resistant;100% of patients received antibiotics;63% Carbapenems (36% Imipenem and 27% Meropenem) and 22% third-class cephalosporins (14% Ceftazidime and 8% Ceftriaxone);mortality: 30.6%. Of the 19 VAP, 7/19 were due to Acinetobacter Baummani and 10/19 due to Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Of the deceased, 19% had Acinetobacter baumani and 11% had Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Conclusion: the most frequent germs: Acinetobacter and Pseudomona, all patients received antibiotics and the most frequent was imipenem.
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Recent studies have shown that people who are immunocompromised may inadvertently play a role in spurring the mutations of the virus that create new variants. This is because some immunocompromised individuals remain at risk of getting COVID-19 despite vaccination, experience more severe disease, are susceptible to being chronically infected and remain contagious for longer if they become infected and considering that immunocompromised individuals represent approximately 2% of the overall population, this aspect should be carefully considered. So far, some autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) patients with COVID-19 have been treated with antiviral therapies or anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody products. However, there is no homogeneous approach to these treatment strategies. This issue was addressed within the European Reference Network (ERN) on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ReCONNET) in a discussion among experts and patient's representatives in the context of the rare and complex connective tissue diseases (rCTDs) covered by the Network. ERN ReCONNET is one of the 24 ERNs launched by the European Commission in 2017 with the aim of tackling low prevalence and rare diseases that require highly specialised treatment and promoting concentration of knowledge and resources through virtual networks involving healthcare providers (HCPs) across the European Union (EU). Considering the urgent need to provide guidance not only to the rCTDs community, but also to the whole ARDs community, a multidisciplinary Task Force, including expert clinicians and European Patient Advocacy Group (ePAG) Advocates, was created in the framework of ERN ReCONNET with the aim of developing overarching principles (OP) and points-to-consider (PtC) on a homogenous approach to treat immunocompromised patients with ARDs (with a particular focus on CTDs) affected by COVID-19 using antiviral therapies and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody products. The present work reports the final OP and PtC agreed by the Task Force.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases , COVID-19 , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , Rheumatic Diseases , Humans , Autoimmune Diseases/drug therapy , Rheumatic Diseases/drug therapy , Rheumatic Diseases/epidemiology , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Lung ultrasound (LUS) imaging is playing an important role in the current pandemic, allowing the evaluation of patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia. However, LUS is limited to the visual inspection of ultrasound data, which negatively affects the reproducibility and reliability of the findings. For these reasons, we were the first to propose a standardized imaging protocol and a scoring system, from which we developed the first artificial intelligence (AI) models able to evaluate LUS videos. Furthermore, we demonstrated prognostic value of our approach and its utility for patients' stratification. In this study, we report on the level of agreement between AI and LUS clinical experts (MD) on LUS data acquired from both COVID-19 patients and post-COVID-19 patients. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
We report on a case of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) following the simultaneous administration of the human papillomavirus and meningococcal (conjugate) vaccines and two recurrences of MEWDS following the administration of the second dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 viral infection. A 17-year-old Hispanic female presented with a one-week history of photopsia and blurred vision in her left eye following the simultaneous administration of the human papillomavirus and meningococcal (conjugate) vaccines. Upon a comprehensive examination, her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye. A left fundus examination revealed multiple white dots in the macula and nasal periphery, consistent with a diagnosis of MEWDS. Ancillary testing, including fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography, supported the diagnosis. One month following her initial diagnosis, the patient's symptoms had resolved without any therapy, and a fundus examination revealed multiple relatively ill-defined brown-colored subretinal lesions in the nasal midperiphery, corresponding to the location of the previous MEWDS lesions. Subsequently, she received the second dose of the HPV vaccine and then developed a mild COVID-19 infection. Four months after the initial presentation, she received the first dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine, followed by the second dose a month later. Eight months following her initial presentation, she presented with photopsia in the right eye. Her visual acuity remained 20/20 in the right eye and improved to 20/20 in the left eye, and white dots were identified nasal to the disk and surrounding the peripapillary region; the contralateral MEWDS diagnosis was confirmed by the previously mentioned ancillary tests. At her one-month follow-up, she presented new onset photopsia of the right eye. Her visual acuity remained 20/20 in both eyes, and a fundus examination revealed white lesions suggestive of active MEWDS temporal to the macula and brown-colored spots nasal to the disk, suggestive of recovering MEWDS, nasally. The aforementioned testing confirmed the coexistence of new and resolving lesions; nonetheless, the patient's symptoms resolved without any therapy, and she received the third dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine 11 months after her initial presentation. Our case suggests that vaccines may serve as immunological triggers of MEWDS. Recurrent MEWDS may occur when an individual is exposed to a powerful immune challenge, such as receiving a wide array of vaccinations in a short period of time. We believe this case constitutes a previously undescribed finding of multiple relatively ill-defined brown-colored subretinal lesions present in late MEWDS.
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The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented stressors for college students, and minority stress faced by LGBTQ + college students has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Associations between stress and sexual desire are complex, but research suggests that stress may be associated with higher solitary sexual desire and lower dyadic sexual desire. The current study examined associations between sexual desire and a multidimensional measure of pandemic stress among LGBTQ + and cisgender, heterosexual (cis-het) college students. Participants (N = 377, 57% LGBTQ+) completed an online survey during the Spring 2021 semester that included the Sexual Desire Inventory and a multidimensional COVID Stress Measure. LGBTQ + students reported higher stress in multiple domains-isolation, academics, living situation, concerns about racism and prejudice, and health care access-relative to cis-het students. For LGBTQ + and cis-het students, higher overall COVID stress, as well as higher stress related specifically to isolation and to the virus itself, were associated with higher solitary and dyadic sexual desire. Greater concern about racism and prejudice during the pandemic was associated with higher solitary sexual desire, especially for LGBTQ+ students. Our findings underscore the importance of sexuality as a means of seeking connection during an event that disrupted college students' lives in many ways. We highlight implications for university professionals, particularly the need to support LGBTQ +-affirming organizations, mental health resources, and sexual health resources as students return to college campuses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study indicates that LGBTQ + college students experienced higher stress than their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that higher stress was associated with higher sexual desire among LGBTQ + and cisgender, heterosexual college students. Results point to the importance of providing LGBTQ +-affirming mental and sexual health resources as students return to college campuses in the aftermath of the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Objective: To identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and for severe/critical COVID-19, and to assess the humoral response after COVID-19 in these patients. Methods: Nationwide study of adult patients with inflammatory RMDs prospectively followed in the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register-Reuma.pt-during the first 6 months of the pandemic. We compared patients with COVID-19 with those who did not develop the disease and patients with mild/moderate disease with those exhibiting severe/critical COVID-19. IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were measured ≥3 months after infection and results were compared with matched controls. Results: 162 cases of COVID-19 were registered in a total of 6,363 appointments. Patients treated with TNF inhibitors (TNFi; OR = 0.160, 95% CI 0.099-0.260, P < 0.001) and tocilizumab (OR 0.147, 95% CI 0.053-0.408, P < 0.001) had reduced odds of infection. Further, TNFi tended to be protective of severe and critical disease. Older age, major comorbidities, and rituximab were associated with an increased risk of infection and worse prognosis. Most patients with inflammatory RMDs (86.2%) developed a robust antibody response. Seroconversion was associated with symptomatic disease (OR 13.46, 95% CI 2.21-81.85, P = 0.005) and tended to be blunted by TNFi (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-1.05; P = 0.057). Conclusions: TNFi and tocilizumab reduced the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2. Treatment with TNFi also tended to reduce rates of severe disease and seroconversion. Older age, general comorbidities and rituximab were associated with increased risk for infection and worse prognosis, in line with previous reports. Most patients with RMDs developed a proper antibody response after COVID-19, particularly if they had symptomatic disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Nuclear Medicine , Fellowships and Scholarships , Humans , Radionuclide Imaging , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
In order to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as for severe/critical COVID-19 in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) patients, we conducted a multicentre observational nationwide study of adult patients prospectively-followed in the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register - Reuma.pt - during the first 6 months of the pandemic. We further evaluated the development of IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with RMDs. We used multivariate logistic regression to compare patients with COVID-19 (COVID-19+) with those who did not develop the disease (COVID-19-) and patients with mild/moderate disease with those exhibiting severe/critical COVID-19. COVID-19+ patients were asked to collect a blood sample for IgG testing [≥] 3 months after infection and results were compared with age-, sex- and sampling date-matched controls. Overall, 179 cases of COVID-19 were registered in Reuma.pt in the period of interest (median age 55 (IQR 20); 76.5% females) in a total of 6404 registered appointments. We found that patients treated with TNF inhibitors had reduced odds of infection (OR=0.16, 95%CI 0.10-0.26, p<0.001), severe disease (OR 0.11, 95%CI 0.01-0.84, p=0.010) and seroconversion rates (OR 0.13, 95%CI 0.02-0.91, p=0.040). Tocilizumab was also associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 (OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.05-0.41, p<0.001). Older age, major comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary and kidney disease) and rituximab were associated with an increased risk of infection and worse prognosis, in line with previous reports. Importantly, most patients with inflammatory RMDs (86.2%) were able to develop a robust antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was linked with disease severity.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases , Rheumatic Diseases , Diabetes Mellitus , Musculoskeletal Diseases , Obesity , Hypertension , COVID-19 , Renal Insufficiency, ChronicABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to analyze available resources, guidelines in use, and preparedness to care for newborn infants at maternity centers in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Cross-sectional study based on a survey administered to medical and nursing staff. In May 2020, Argentine facilities with more than 500 annual births were contacted; 58 % of these were from the public sector. RESULTS: In total, 104/147 facilities answered (71 %). All had guidelines for care during the pandemic, and 93 % indicated they had been trained on how to use them. A companion was not allowed during childbirth in 26 % of private facilities and in 60 % of public ones (p < 0.01). Deferred cord clamping was recommended in 87 %; rooming-in with asymptomatic newborns was promoted in 62 %; breastfeeding using protective measures was recommended in 70 %; and breast milk using a bottle, in 23 %. In 94 %, family visiting in the Neonatology Unit was restricted. Difficulties included the unavailability of individual rooms for symptomatic newborn infants and a potential shortage of health care staff and personal protective equipment. CONCLUSIONS: All facilities are aware of the national guidelines to fight the pandemic. Most have the resources to comply with the recommended protective measures. There is uncertainty as to whether personal protective equipment, staff, and physical space available at the different facilities would be enough if cases increased significantly.
Introducción. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar recursos disponibles, guías utilizadas y preparación para la atención de neonatos en maternidades de Argentina durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método. Estudio transversal mediante una encuesta enviada a equipos médicos y de enfermería. En mayo de 2020, se contactaron instituciones de más de 500 nacimientos anuales en la Argentina, el 58 % del sector público. Resultados. Respondieron 104/147 instituciones (el 71 %). Todas contaban con guías para la atención durante la pandemia, y un 93 % refirió haber recibido capacitación para su uso. No autorizaban la presencia de acompañante en el parto el 26 % de instituciones privadas y el 60 % de las públicas (p < 0,01). El 87 % recomendaba ligadura oportuna del cordón, el 62 % promovía internación conjunta en neonatos asintomáticos, un 70 % recomendaba la puesta al pecho con medidas de protección, y el 23 %, leche materna mediante biberón. El 94 % restringía el ingreso de familiares a Neonatología. Las dificultades incluyeron imposibilidad de contar con habitaciones individuales para neonatos sintomáticos y potencial limitación del personal de salud y equipos de protección personal. Conclusiones. Todas las instituciones conocen las guías nacionales para enfrentar la pandemia. La mayoría cuenta con recursos para respetar las medidas de protección recomendadas. Existe incertidumbre sobre si, ante un aumento significativo en el número de casos, serán suficientes los elementos de protección personal, el personal y el espacio físico disponible en los distintos centros.