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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of nosocomial infection informatics surveillance system in the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant organisms(MDROs) infections. METHODS: The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University was selected as the study subjects, which had adopted the nosocomial infection informatics surveillance system since Jan.2020. The period of Jan.to Dec.2020 were regarded as the study period, and Jan.to Dec.2019 were regarded as the control period. The situation of nosocomial infection and MDROs infections in the two periods were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of nosocomial infections and underreporting of nosocomial infection cases in this hospital during the study period were 2.52%(1 325/52 624) and 1.74%(23/1 325), respectively, and the incidences of ventilator associated pneumonia(VAP), catheter related bloodstream infection(CRBSI), catheter related urinary tract infection(CAUTI)were 4.10(31/7 568), 2.11(14/6 634), and 2.50(25/9 993) respectively, which were lower than those during the control period(P< 0.05). The positive rate of pathogenic examination in the hospital during the study period was 77.95%(1 269/1 628), which was higher than that during the control period(P<0.05), the overall detection rate of MDROs was 15.77%(206/1 306), the detection rates of MDROs in Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were lower than those during the control period(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The development and application of the informatics technology-based surveillance system of nosocomial infection could effectively reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections and device related infections, decrease the under-reporting of infection cases, and also reduce the detection rate of MDROs as well as the proportion of MDROs detected in common pathogenic species.
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Objective: To determine the frequency of antibiotic use and to know which clinical and socio-demographic variables were related to the probability of suffering infections associated with COVID-19. Method(s): Adults hospitalized for COVID-19 who received one or more antibiotics during hospitalization were evaluated. We performed a descriptive analysis of variables in the general population' bivariate analysis in two groups (documented vs. suspected infection) and multivariate logistic regression of factors associated with mortality. Result(s): It was determined that 60.4% of adults hospitalized for COVID-19 received antibiotics. Coinfection was documented in 6.2% and superinfection in 23.3%. Gram-negative germs were reported in 75.8% of cultures, fungi in 17.8% and gram-positive in 14.2%. Variables such as age, comorbidities, ICU, anemia, steroids, mechanical ventilation, hemofiltration were statistically significantly related to documented infection. High-flow cannula was associated as a protective factor. Overall mortality was 43.9%, 57.8% in the first group and 38.1% in the second (p=0.002). Conclusion(s): There is a considerable frequency of antibiotic use in subjects hospitalized for COVID-19, particularly related to relevant findings of bacterial superinfection, in those with comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, anemia and fragility, in whom the behavior of the disease is more severe and lethal.Copyright © 2023 Asociacion Colombiana de Infectologia. All rights reserved.
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Background: Clostridium spp. spores are resistant to many factors, including alcohol-based disinfectants. The presence of clostridial spores in a hospital environment may lead to infection outbreaks among patients and health care workers. Background: This study is aimed to detect clostridial spores in the aurology hospital using C diff Banana BrothTM and assess the antibiotic sensitivity and toxinotypes of isolates. Methods: After diagnosing COVID-19 in medical staff and closing an 86-bed urology hospital in 2020 for H2O2 fogging, 58 swabs from the hospital environment were inoculated to C diff Banana BrothTM, incubated at 37 degrees C for 14 days, checked daily, and positive broths were sub-cultured anaerobically for 48 h at 37 degrees C. After identification, multiplex PCR (mPCR) was performed for Clostridium perfringens, C. difficile toxin genes, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. Results: In this study, 16 out of 58 (~ 28%) strains of Clostridium spp. were cultured: 11 - C. perfringens, 2 - C. baratii, and 1 each of C. paraputrificum, C. difficile, and C. clostridioforme. 11 C. perfringens were positive for the cpa, 7 - the cpb2, 2 - cpiA, and 1 - cpb toxin genes. All isolates were sensitive to metronidazole, vancomycin, moxifloxacin, penicillin/tazobactam, and rifampicin. Two out of the 11 C. perfringens strains were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. Conclusions: Regardless of the performed H2O2 fogging, antibiotic-resistant, toxigenic strains of C. perfringens (69%) obtained from the urology hospital environment were cultured using C diff Banana BrothTM, indicating the need to develop the necessary sanitary and epidemiological procedures in this hospital.
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This journal issue includes s of papers presented at the conference. Topics discusses are: stillbirth during a pandemic;analysis of the female genital tract (FGT) metabolome;effectiveness of REGEN-COV antibody combination to reduce risk of hospitalization;patterns of nucleic acid amplification testing;delta variant neutralizing antibody response following maternal COVID19 vaccination;integrated prenatal and hepatitis c virus care increases linkage;extended interval gentamicin dosing in obstetrics;maternal and infant cytomegalovirus detection among women living with HIV.
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Objective: To analyze the distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria in blood culture specimens of patients with bloodstream infections before and after COVID-19 (2018-2019 and 2020-2021), and to provide scientific basis and reference for rational treatment and effective control of bloodstream infections in the post-epidemic period. Methods: Blood culture specimens were collected from patients in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in the two years before and after the COVID-19 outbreak (2018-2021). The Automated Blood Culture Systems were used to perform blood culture on blood specimens sent for clinical inspection, and the Vitek MS automatic bacterial identification mass spectrometer was used for strain identification and the Vitek 2 automatic bacterial drug susceptibility analyzer was used for drug susceptibility testing and drug resistance analysis. Results: Blood culture specimens were performed on 28 736 patients with suspected bloodstream infection submitted for inspection from January 2018 to December 2019, and a total of 2 181 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected after removing duplicate strains, with a positive rate of 7.69%, including 1 046 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, accounting for 47.96%. From January 2020 to December 2021, blood culture specimens from 26 083 patients with suspected bloodstream infection were submitted for inspection, and a total of 2 111 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected after excluding duplicate strains, with a positive rate of 8.09%, including 1 000 strains of Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 47.37%. The drug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae was relatively serious, and the sensitivity rate to ertapenem, polymyxin B and tigecycline was more than 90%. The main non-fermentative bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii was more than 50% sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin and polymyxin B. The sensitivity rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, piperacillin and meropenem were more than 50%. Conclusions: In the two years before and after COVID-19, there are many types of pathogenic bacteria in bloodstream infection, but the distribution do not differ significantly. The pathogens of bloodstream infection are mainly distributed in ICU, hepatobiliary research institute, and nephrology department. Among them, Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii are the main ones, and different pathogens showed great differences in drug resistance.
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Background: Antimicrobial resistance was a major problem even before the current COVID-19 outbreak. The healthcare industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Analysis of antimicrobial resistance rates, particularly bacterial antimicrobial resistance, is required due to the advent of novel COVID-19 variants. A narrative review of the studies was used to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 virus on the rates and transmission of bacterial antibiotic resistance.
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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore trends and predictors for antibiotic prescriptions and referrals for patients seeking dental care at General Medical Practitioners (GMPs) over a 44-year period in Wales, UK. METHODS: This retrospective observational study analysed data from the nationwide Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank of visits to GMPs. Read codes associated with dental diagnoses were extracted from 1974-2017. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Over the 44-year period, there were a total of 160,952 antibiotic prescriptions and 2,947 referrals associated with a dental attendance. Antibiotic prescriptions were associated with living in the most deprived (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.93) or rural (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.82-0.84) areas, whereas referrals were associated with living in an urban area (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.99-2.35) or rural and less deprived area (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.26-2.33). The number of antibiotic prescriptions decreased over time whereas the number of referrals increased. CONCLUSIONS: These changes coincide with dental attendance rates at GMPs over the same period and indicate that appointment outcome and repeat patient attendance are linked. Rurality and deprivation may also influence care provided. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: General medical practices are not the most appropriate place for patients seeking dental care to attend, and efforts should be made to change current practice and policy to support patients to seek care from dental practices. When patients do seek dental care from GMPs they should be encouraged to refer the patient to a dentist rather than prescribe antibiotics as an important element of national antimicrobial stewardship efforts, as well as to discourage repeat attendance.
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Anti-Bacterial Agents , Referral and Consultation , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Wales , Retrospective Studies , General Practice, DentalABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread over the world. Although there are minimal microbiological and antibiotic data on COVID-19, bacterial co-infections have been related to poor outcomes in respiratory viralinfections. Adequate antibiotic use in conformity withantibiotic stewardship (ABS) recommendations is necessary during the pandemic. Material and procedure: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort analysis of 140 adulthospitalised patients (ages 17-99) with confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted between February 16, 2021, and April 22, 2021, and who were discharged onMay 6, 2021. From 140 COVID-19 participants, the following clinical data was gathered: Men made up 63.5 percent of the participants, with a median age of 63.5 years (range 17-99). Results: According to local ABS recommendations, the most commonly administered antibiotic regimen was ampicillin/sulbactam (41.5 percent) with a median length of 6 (range 1-13) days. Urine antigen testing for Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus peumoniaewas negative in all of the patients. In critically ill patients hospitalised to intensive care units (n = 50), co-infections with Enterobacterales (34.0%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (18.0%) were discovered. Blood cultures obtained at admission had a diagnostic yield of 4.2 percent. Conclusion: While bacterial and fungal co-infections are rare in COVID-19 patients, they are widespread in critically ill individuals. More investigation into the impact of antimicrobial therapy on therapeutic success in COVID-19 patients is essential to prevent antibiotic abuse. COVID-19 management might be improved with the aid of ABS standards. It's also necessary to look at the microbiological patterns of infectious consequences in COVID-19 individuals who are severely unwell.
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Background: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by the bacteria - Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted through the bite of an infected chigger. This infection is endemic in tropical countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It usually presents with fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and tender lymphadenopathy. The presence of an eschar clinches the diagnosis clinically. Commonly encountered complications in scrub typhus include acute kidney injury (AKI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute liver injury, and rarely acute pancreatitis. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 70 year-old teetotaller male, who presented with acute febrile illness and respiratory distress during the peak period of the COVID -19 pandemic. During the course of illness, the patient developed acute pancreatitis as evidenced by elevated serum amylase and lipase as well as features of pancreatitis in the CT abdomen. Common causes of acute pancreatitis were ruled out with necessary investigations. He tested negative for malaria, dengue fever, enteric fever, and leptospirosis, but his IgM and IgG ELISA for scrub typhus were positive with high titres. He also had AKI, ARDS, and acute liver injury. The patient was treated symptomatically and with doxycycline. His condition improved gradually. Conclusion: Even though acute pancreatitis is one of the rare manifestations of scrub typhus, it should be suspected early and treated promptly.
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The novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, has been a global health problem for three years now. A new challenge is virus mutations that change clinical manifestations and response to therapy. Aim. The aim of the workwas to assess the condition of patients with COVID-19 treated in a temporary infectious diseases hospital deployed in a non-infectious multidisciplinary hospital and to identify factors influencing the outcomes of this disease through a retrospective analysis of clinical observations. Material and methods. An analysis of the condition of 92 patients with COVID-19 (ICD-10 codes U07.1 and U07.2) treated in a temporary infectious diseases hospital deployed on the basis of a multidisciplinary hospital is presented. To collect information, the COVIZ program was designed with subsequent export of depersonalized data to the SPSS-18 statistical package. 64 patients recovered and 28 had a fatal outcome. Results and discussion. The work results showed a change in the routing of patients, with a predominance of only patients with a severe course in the hospital. The more frequent prescription of glucocorticosteroids and anti-cytokine drugs also changed the data processing results due to the small number of "control" groups that did not receive these drugs in the hospital. The use of anti-cytokine therapy (levilimab or olokizumab) was more effective in patients younger than 60 years, but in general, 89.1% of those who recovered received these drugs, and 75% of those who died. The data obtained confirmed the high efficiency of early use of subcutaneous anticoagulants and the low efficiency of antibiotic therapy at the stages before the intensive care unit. The frequency of prescribing antibacterial drugs in the dead was 76.8%, and in those who recovered - 57.8%, while later than 8 days from the onset of the disease they were prescribed in 81.8% and 45.9% of cases, respectively (X2=7.357;d.f.=1, p < 0.01, TcF=0.006, OR=5.294 CI 1.499-18.695). Conclusion. It was concluded that the clinical picture and the effectiveness of ongoing therapy require constant monitoring and analysis to optimize the updated treatment regimens for COVID-19.
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Witnessed by the ongoing spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria as well as the recent global pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the development of new disinfection strategies is of great importance, and novel substance classes as effective antimicrobials and virucides are urgently needed. Ionic liquids (ILs), low-melting salts, have been already recognized as efficient antimicrobial agents with prospects for antiviral potential. In this study, we examined the antiviral activity of 12 morpholinium based herbicidal ionic liquids with a tripartite test system, including enzyme inhibition tests, virucidal activity determination against five model viruses and activity against five bacterial species. The antimicrobial and enzymatic tests confirmed that the inhibiting activity of ILs corresponds with the number of long alkyl side chains and that [Dec2Mor]+ based ILs are promising candidates as novel antimicrobials. The virucidal tests showed that ILs antiviral activity depends on the type and structure of the virus, revealing enveloped Phi6 phage as highly susceptible to the ILs action, while the non-enveloped phages PRD1 and MS2 proved completely resistant to ionic liquids. Furthermore, a comparison of results obtained for P100 and P001 phages demonstrated for the first time that the susceptibility of viruses to ionic liquids can be dependent on differences in the phage tail structure.
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Anti-Infective Agents , Bacteriophages , COVID-19 , Ionic Liquids , Humans , Ionic Liquids/pharmacology , Ionic Liquids/chemistry , SARS-CoV-2 , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , BacteriaABSTRACT
Antibiotics are frequently prescribed to patients with COVID-19. The aim was to determine the pattern of use of systemic antibiotics in a group of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Colombia between 2020-2022. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study designed to identify antibiotics prescription patterns for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 treated in eight clinics in Colombia. The AWaRe tool of the World Health Organization (WHO) was used to classify the antibiotics. A total of 10,916 patients were included. The median age was 57 years, and 56.4% were male. A total of 57.5% received antibiotics, especially ampicillin/sulbactam (58.8%) and clarithromycin (47.9%). Most of the antibiotics were classified as Watch (65.1%), followed by Access (32.6%) and Reserve (2.4%). Men (OR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.17-1.43), older adults (OR: 1.67; 95%CI: 1.48-1.88), patients with dyspnea (OR: 1.26; 95%CI: 1.13-1.41), rheumatoid arthritis (OR: 1.94; 95%CI: 1.17-3.20), and high blood pressure at admission (OR: 1.45; 95%CI: 1.29-1.63), patients treated in-hospital (OR: 5.15; 95%CI: 4.59-5.77), patients admitted to the ICU (OR: 10.48; 95%CI: 8.82-12.45), patients treated with systemic glucocorticoids (OR: 3.60; 95%CI: 3.21-4.03) and vasopressors (OR: 2.10; 95%CI: 1.60-2.75), and patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation (OR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.82-3.09) were more likely to receive a systemic antibiotic. Most of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 received antibiotics, despite evidence showing that bacterial coinfection is rare. Antibiotics from the Watch group predominated, a practice that goes against WHO recommendations.
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In this overview, we discuss the impact of antibiotic therapy on the COVID infection, the complications after vaccination, possible causes of adverse events, and ways to protect against pandemic infection, as well as try to dispel myths about COVID. Antibiotics are necessary only in case of secondary infection, but overlapping with bacterial infection mainly occurs after hospitalization, and the vast majority of infections were caused by the Acinetobacter baumannii strain. Commonly used antimicrobial disinfectants are chlorhexidine derivatives;due to their frequent use, microorganisms have become resistant to them, and in addition, chloroquine has no clinical benefit in the treatment of COVID-19. Virus escapes from the immune response due to multiple mutations in the receptor-binding domain, or the N-terminal end, which are the sites responsible for antibody binding and virus neutralization. The COVID infection itself is characterized by a rather powerful suppression of immunity. For this reason, the use of antibiotics in the absence of a secondary infection layer leads to greater suppression of the immune system and an aggravation of the process, which often ends up fatally. Immune dysregulation predisposes to the development of severe COVID-19. A decrease in the number of leukocytes gives an unfavorable prognosis for the severity of the COVID infection course. The main reason for the death cases after vaccination seems to be an increase in blood clotting, which is observed not only among the population over 60 years old, but also amid young people.
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Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the healthcare system, which has been forced to manage large number of patients, including those with respiratory insufficiency and in need of oxygen therapy. Due to concerns about bacterial co-infection, antibiotic therapy was administered to many patients. The aim of the present study was to compare antimicrobial resistance in intensive care patients in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Material and Methods: Patients hospitalized at the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine of the University Hospital Olomouc in the pre-COVID-19 period (2018-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2021) were enrolled in the study. Clinical samples from the lower respiratory tract were routinely collected twice a week, with one strain of a given species first isolated from each patient being included in the study.
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DISCLAIMER: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. PURPOSE: Antimicrobial shortages occur frequently, but the impact on antimicrobial use is not well defined. The study objectives were to characterize utilization of antimicrobial agents with established restrictions during a medication shortage, assess utilization of shortage antimicrobials following shortage resolution, and examine use of recommended alternative antimicrobials during the shortage period. METHODS: Five antimicrobials were restricted due to shortages from 2015 through 2020. Chart review of inpatients receiving a shortage medication during each restriction period was performed to determine factors influencing adherence to established restriction criteria. To assess antimicrobial utilization during shortages and following shortage resolution, days of therapy per 1,000 patient days were analyzed for each shortage and alternative antimicrobial. RESULTS: Across 266 patients receiving shortage antimicrobials, antimicrobial use was adherent to restriction criteria for 151 patients (57%). Meropenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, and piperacillin/tazobactam had the greatest adherence. Median duration of therapy was shorter in the nonadherent group than in the adherent group (4 vs 2 days, P < 0.0001). Shortage antimicrobial use was more likely to be nonadherent for indications such as sepsis rule out, surgical prophylaxis, and urinary tract infection. Adherence increased with use of visual cues in the chart (99% vs 94%, P = 0.03). Utilization of shortage agents decreased during shortage and restriction periods. After shortage resolution, utilization exceeded baseline usage for all agents except meropenem and metronidazole, for which usage returned to baseline. Utilization of 1 to 2 recommended alternative agents for each shortage agent significantly increased during the shortage and restriction periods. CONCLUSION: Current strategies for restriction significantly decreased utilization of shortage antimicrobials, but additional opportunities exist. Identifying alternative agents and providing visual cues increased adherence.
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By sharing the best of their COVID-inspired initiatives, including those on surveillance and rapid response, the UK, USA, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy will work more closely together as part of the G7 Pact for Pandemic Readiness, along with relevant multilateral organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). The One Health strategy, which takes into account the connections between people, animals, plants, and the environment, is one that the pandemic pact intends to assist integrate in order to identify emerging health hazards across different groups and increase identification of novel variations of concern. In order to properly prepare for a new pandemic, this should assist boost global health security. The silent pandemic of AMR, infections brought on by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, was also addressed. Health ministers pledged to do this by looking into a variety of market incentive options that are intended to entice pharmaceutical companies and other businesses to fund the development of new antibiotics. A leading cause of death globally, AMR is expected to result in 1.27 million fatalities annually, with about 1 in 5 of those deaths occurring in children under the age of five. Climate and health commitments were also established, with G7 members pledging to develop climate-neutral health systems by 2050 at the latest, and the G7 pledging to assist all nations in this endeavor.
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Background : Viral respiratory infections increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections owing to their need for hospitalisation, prolonged stay, the practice of Empiric Antimicrobial Prescription. This leads to worrisome Antimicrobial Resistance and such infections have a worse outcome. Materials and Methods :This is a cross-sectional study conducted on patients admitted with COVID-19 at GEMS and Hospital from April, 2021 to June, 2021. The bacteriological profile and susceptibility pattern of the isolates obtained while investigating secondary infections in COVID-19 patients were studied. Results : 132 positive growth samples were collected from ICU and various Wards. Maximum positive growth was found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 36 (27.2%), followed by Surgery ward 27 (20.5%) and Medicine Ward 27 (20.5%). Escherichia coli was most commonly isolated 59 (44.7%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 28 (21.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 17 (12.8%). Out of 90 Gram-negative isolates, 25 (27.8%) were found to be Multi-drug Resistants and out of 11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 5 (45.5%) were MRSA. Conclusion : This study concludes that poor infection control and irrational antibiotic prescription practices play a major role in the development of secondary infections in these patients. Standard practices need to be followed and there should be an implementation of infection prevention control measures and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) must reappraise the current situation.
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Features of variation of peripheral blood leukocyte formula parameters in 86 patients with coronavirus pneumonia with leukocytosis with a background of glucocorticoid treatment were investigated. All patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was 22 individuals who showed clinical signs of the bacterial infection (purulent sputum cough in combination with neutrophilic leukocytosis at hospital the admission). The 2nd group was made up of 64 patients with the glucocorticoids developed against the background of treatment with glucocorticoids (dexamethasone 20 mg/day or prednisolone 150 mg/day, intravenously for 3 days) leukocytosis >10 x109/l without signs of a bacterial infection. It was found that in patients of the 1st group compared to the 2nd group, levels of the white blood cells and neutrophils were significantly (p < 0.001) exceeded the reference values in the absence of a significant change in the number of monocytes. In patients of the 2nd group after a three-day intravenous application of the glucocorticoids on the 4th day of hospitalization, a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in the number of neutrophils and monocytes was established. When comparing the quantitative parameters of the leukocyte formula between the 2nd group on the 4th day of the hospitalization and the 1st group at admission, there were no differences in the level of leukocytes and neutrophils. Number of monocytes in group 2 (1.11 (0.90;1.34) x 109/l), on the contrary, statistically significantly (p < 0.001) exceeded their level in the 1st group (0.59 (0.50;0.77) x 109/l). Thus, an indicator of the number of monocytes in the peripheral blood could be a promising differential diagnostic criterion for the genesis of the leukocytosis in patients with the COVID-19. This parameter may be one of the factors influencing the decision to prescribe the antibacterial therapy.
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Background: The pattern of bacterial infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients differ worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the patterns of bacterial infections and the antibiotic resistance profile by VITEK 2 (bioMerieux, France) in the culture of blood samples from hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
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Plant-based natural compounds (PBCs) are comparatively explored in this study to identify the most effective and safe antibacterial agent/s against six World Health Organization concern pathogens. Based on a contained systematic review, 11 of the most potent PBCs as antibacterial agents are included in this study. The antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of the included PBCs are compared with each other as well as common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and gentamicin). The whole plants of two different strains of Cannabis sativa are extracted to compare the results with sourced ultrapure components. Out of 15 PBCs, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cinnamaldehyde, and carvacrol show promising antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy. The most common antibacterial mechanisms are explored, and all of our selected PBCs utilize the same pathway for their antibacterial effects. They mostly target the bacterial cell membrane in the initial step rather than the other mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species production and targeting [Fe-S] centres in the respiratory enzymes are not found to be significant, which could be part of the explanation as to why they are not toxic to eukaryotic cells. Toxicity and antioxidant tests show that they are not only nontoxic but also have antioxidant properties in Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model.