ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has accounted for more than 1 000 000 deaths in the United States alone. In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to allow the investigational use of intravenous remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in hospitalized children and adults. Several other agents, such as hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and tocilizumab have been investigated as potential treatment options; however, dexamethasone is currently the only agent that has been proven to reduce mortality in patients who require supplemental oxygen. The purpose of this study was to determine if initiation of remdesivir treatment in patients who presented with early symptoms of COVID-19 (defined as symptom onset < 7 days) had a significant impact on in-patient all-cause mortality compared to initiation of remdesivir treatment in patients who presented with symptom onset of at least 7 days. Methods: This ethics-committee-approved, retrospective, multicenter, double-arm study was conducted across 10 facilities in the HCA Healthcare West Florida Division. Adult inpatients age 18 and older with confirmed COVID-19 and administered intravenous remdesivir from May 1, 2020, to July 31, 2020, were included. Exclusion criteria included patients less than 18 years of age, the concomitant use of hydroxychloroquine or tocilizumab for any indication, or an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 milliliters per minute. The primary outcome of this study was in-patient all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included total length of stay, time to discharge, oxygen requirements, and number of ventilator days. Results: A total of 217 patients from facilities in the HCA Healthcare West Florida Division were evaluated for inclusion. The primary outcome of all-cause mortality occurred in 34.9% of patients with symptom onset of fewer than 7 days versus 31.0% of patients with symptom onset of at least 7 days (P = .57). There were no statistical differences found among the secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Time since symptom onset did not result in a statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality in patients who received intravenous remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Multiple neuro-ophthalmological symptoms, such as visual field defects, optic neuritis, and eye movement abnormalities, have been reported with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. It is unknown whether the COVID-19 vaccine can result in similar neuro-ophthalmological symptoms post-vaccination. Here, we describe a case of optic neuritis after the administration of the mRNA COVID-19 Moderna vaccine. A 47-year-old female presented eight days after receiving the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with impaired vision in the left eye and symptoms consistent with optic neuritis. The patient underwent a workup for infectious etiology, autoimmune diseases, and allergies, which was negative. The patient was treated with a high dose of steroids resulting in the complete resolution of her symptoms. The patient was recommended against the second dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Early detection and treatment of optic neuritis are important to prevent the long-term sequelae of neuritis with impaired vision.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis infection, which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), most commonly manifests in patients with respiratory systems. However, it can also colonize other tissues including skeletal. In our case, a 77-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency department following a rollover motor vehicle collision with chief complaints of neck and lower back pain. After clinical improvement and a preliminary negative workup, the patient was deemed stable for discharge. Four months later, the patient was subsequently admitted for worsening back pain with workup suspicious for T9 and T10 discitis osteomyelitis and abscess formation on computed tomography (CT). During this admission, spinal Mtb was confirmed by acid-fast stain and real-time polymerase chain reaction of a CT-guided disc space aspirate of a left paraspinal cystic collection at approximately T9-T10. Given these findings, the patient was subsequently put on standard four-drug therapy for Mtb. Our case demonstrates the importance of considering Pott's disease in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal pain, especially in patients living in areas with high international migration and travel.
ABSTRACT
Despite advances in treatment and prevention, malaria still carries significant morbidity and mortality. Cases of malaria in the United States are rare and cases of severe malaria, mostly attributable to Plasmodium falciparum, are even more uncommon. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been distractions in evaluation and diagnosis leading to a rise in cases and deaths. We present a case of autoimmune dysregulation and blackwater fever secondary to severe malaria, requiring multiple courses of antimalarial therapy. Careful travel history and prompt recognition and treatment facilitates improved patient survival and recovery.
ABSTRACT
Description Enterococcus cecorum rarely serves as a human pathogen, and only 6 cases of this microbe inoculating humans have been documented. We present an elderly female with a marked vascular history presenting with epigastric pain and diarrhea, followed by shaking chills. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis, with imaging showing diffuse colonic thickening. She had a bout of bloody diarrhea, raising the likelihood of ischemic colitis with her vascular history. To our surprise, both sets of blood cultures drawn on admission grew Enterococcus cecorum. This case is unique as it is the first documented case of E. cecorum human infection in the United States.
