CoronaVac, BNT162b2 and heterologous COVID-19 vaccine outcomes in patients with ventricular assist device.

BACKGROUND: A consensus has not yet been reached regarding which COVID-19 vaccine program should be applied in patients with ventricular assist device (VAD). Our aim was to assess the clinical outcome of inactivated, mRNA and heterologous vaccine program in patient with VAD. METHODS: In this retrospective and cross-sectional study; adult patients who underwent VAD implantation between January 2012 and September 2021 and received any vaccine that were used in Republic of Türkiye for COVID-19, were included. The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of vaccine; "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous." Clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were in each group in the "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous" groups. Mean age was 51.6 ± 12 years in "inactivated" group, 42.5 ± 15.5 years in "mRNA" group and 41.1 ± 15.4 years in "heterologous" group. There was no significant difference between the groups in age, gender, body surface area, body mass index and etiology (p > 0.05). After last dose of vaccines, the number of patients had COVID-19 positive test were three (16.7%), one (5.6%), and two (11.1%) in "inactivated," "mRNA" and "heterologous" groups, respectively. Pump thrombosis was seen in two patients in "mRNA" group and one patient in "heterologous" group. No pump thrombosis was seen in "inactivated" group. COVID-19-related death or intubation was not observed. CONCLUSION: All vaccine that used for COVID-19 are safe and effective in patients with VAD. In countries that give priority to inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines may then be made as boosters.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mutations by comparing wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron regarding clinical features in patients with COVID-19. It also aimed to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value could predict COVID-19 severity. METHODS: A total of 960 wild-type and 411 Omicron variant patients with positive results in SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test from oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal samples during their hospital admissions were included in this retrospective study. The reference symptoms of the patients were obtained from the hospital database. The correlation between chest computed tomography findings and the "cycle threshold" of patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was assessed. RESULTS: Cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and diarrhea were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001; 0.001; 0.001; 0.001; and 0.006; respectively) in the wild-type cohort, while in the Omicron cohort, sore throat and headache were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001 and 0.003, respectively). An inverse relationship was found between chest computed tomography findings and viral load. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the Omicron variant tended to infect predominantly the upper respiratory tract and showed decreased lung infectivity, and the disease progressed with a milder clinical course. Therefore, the study showed that the tropism of the virus was changed and the viral phenotype was affected. It was also found that SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not predict COVID-19 severity in patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mutations by comparing wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron regarding clinical features in patients with COVID-19. It also aimed to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value could predict COVID-19 severity. METHODS: A total of 960 wild-type and 411 Omicron variant patients with positive results in SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test from oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal samples during their hospital admissions were included in this retrospective study. The reference symptoms of the patients were obtained from the hospital database. The correlation between chest computed tomography findings and the "cycle threshold" of patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was assessed. RESULTS: Cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and diarrhea were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001; 0.001; 0.001; 0.001; and 0.006; respectively) in the wild-type cohort, while in the Omicron cohort, sore throat and headache were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001 and 0.003, respectively). An inverse relationship was found between chest computed tomography findings and viral load. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the Omicron variant tended to infect predominantly the upper respiratory tract and showed decreased lung infectivity, and the disease progressed with a milder clinical course. Therefore, the study showed that the tropism of the virus was changed and the viral phenotype was affected. It was also found that SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not predict COVID-19 severity in patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

Vaccine Breakthrough Severe COVID-19 in a Lung Recipient.

The vaccines developed against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are seen as the most crucial weapon in controlling the epidemic. It has been reported in early-stage vaccine studies that vaccines provide up to 95% protection against severe disease and mortality, even in the absence of symptomatic infection. Reports on vaccine breakthrough infections that developed after widespread vaccination are available in the literature. In addition to the general population, the course of vaccine breakthrough infections in immunocompromised patients is a matter of concern. This case report aimed to define severe coronavirus disease 2019 developing in a lung recipient who received 3 doses of inactivated virus vaccine.

Tigecycline as a therapeutic option in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) is recommended as the treatment of choice for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections. However, when the administration of TMP-SMZ is not possible, alternative treatment options for S. maltophilia infections has not been clearly established. We compare the efficacy of tigecycline treatment with TMP-SMZ in nosocomial S. maltophilia infections during a 3-year period. For the treatment of S. maltophilia infection, 26 (57.8%) patients received TMP-SMZ and 19 (42.2%) patients received tigecycline. Culture positivity rate was 95.7% in TMP-SMZ group and 70.6% in tigecycline group at the seventh day (P = 0.028), whereas 26.3% versus 18.8% at the fourteenth day (P = 0.700). Clinical improvement was observed 69.2% in TMP-SMZ group and 68.4% in tigecycline group at the fourteenth day (P = 0.954). Mortality rates at the thirtieth day were respectively, 30.8 and 21.1% in TMP-SMZ and tigecycline groups (P = 0.517). There were no significant differences in mortality and clinical response rates between TMP-SMZ and tigecycline treatment. Tigecycline can be considered as an alternative option beyond TMP-SMZ in treatment of S. maltophilia infections.