Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis as a COVID-19 Mimicker.

INTRODUCTION: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. HGA has a widely variable clinical presentation and can be life-threatening. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 77-year-old man was transferred from an outside facility with altered mental status, a fever of up to 40.5°C, and shortness of breath. Laboratory analysis revealed a progressively worsening pro-inflammatory state and abnormalities in the patient's coagulation studies. With clinical and laboratory evidence concerning for potential COVID-19 infection, the patient was placed in isolation as a precaution. The results of two COVID-19 tests, given approximately 24 hours apart, were negative. The patient's spouse confirmed a bug bite to his upper extremity while working outdoors. His symptoms resolved completely after a 10-day course of empiric doxycycline. DISCUSSION: The diverse clinical presentations of HGA necessitate a broad differential diagnosis, including viral, bacterial and non-infectious aetiologies. In severe cases, a cytokine-mediated immune cascade can occur (namely, cytokine storm) leading to devastating downstream effects. This cytokine storm can be seen in many other diseases, but most recently it has been demonstrated in the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CONCLUSION: Here we present a case of HGA in which diagnosis was delayed due to mimicry of COVID-19 infection. This case highlights the importance of taking clinical and social histories, seasonality and geography into account during diagnosis, and maintaining a broad differential with non-specific symptoms. Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend that HGA remains in the differential diagnosis of a pro-inflammatory state with an atypical respiratory presentation. LEARNING POINTS: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) has a widely variable clinical presentation and can be life-threatening.When presented with non-specific symptoms, it is critical to consider clinical and social histories, seasonality and geography while maintaining a broad differential.Cytokine storm can be seen in HGA and other diseases, but most recently it has been observed in the novel COVID-19. However, despite the prevalence of COVID-19, we recommend that HGA remain in the differential diagnosis of a pro-inflammatory state with an atypical respiratory presentation.

Practical Considerations for a Military Whole Blood Program.

INTRODUCTION: Prehospital care in the combat environment has always been of great importance to the U.S. military, and trauma resuscitation has remained a cornerstone. More evidence continues to demonstrate the advantages of intervention with early transfusion of blood products at the point of injury. The military has recognized these benefits; as such, the Department of Defense Joint Trauma System and the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care have developed new advanced resuscitation guidelines, which now encourage the use of whole blood (WB) in the prehospital setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This general review of peer-reviewed journal articles was performed through an extensive electronic search from the databases of PubMed Central (MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: Based on this literature search, the current evidence suggests that transfusion with WB is safe and efficacious. Additionally, soldier function is preserved after donating fresh WB in the field. Currently, the collection and implementation of WB is accomplished through several different protocol-driven techniques. CONCLUSION: WB has become the favored transfusion product as it provides all of the components of blood in a convenient package that is easy to store and transport. Specifically, group O WB containing low titers of anti-A and -B antibodies has become the transfusion product of choice, offering the ability to universally fluid resuscitate patients despite not knowing their blood group. This new ability to obtain low titer group O WB has transformed the approach to the management of hemorrhagic shock in the prehospital combat environment.

Esmolol, Antinociception, and Its Potential Opioid-Sparing Role in Routine Anesthesia Care.

ß-Adrenergic blockade is an important mechanism for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension and heart failure. Esmolol has been used widely for its chronotropic and antihypertensive effects. However, there has been recent inquiry regarding perioperative esmolol use and nociceptive modulation. Conventional postoperative analgesic treatment has relied primarily on opioids, which present their own adverse effects and pharmacoepidemiologic repercussions. Esmolol, to date, has not shown any direct analgesic or anesthetic properties; however, recent studies suggest that esmolol may have antinociceptive and postoperative opioid-sparing effects. In this Daring Discourse narrative, we describe the role of esmolol in current perioperative ß-blockade guidelines (related to noncardiac surgery), briefly describe studies supporting the antinociceptive effects of esmolol, propose mechanisms for esmolol antinociception, and forecast potential routine esmolol use intraoperatively (as part of a multimodal total intravenous anesthetic) and its effects on opioid sparing. The reading audience of regional anesthesiologists and acute pain medicine physicians is uniquely positioned to take a lead role in promulgating this care advance amid (i) the unwanted effects of the opioid epidemic and (ii) the uncertain notion of whether routine general anesthesia care (with fentanyl) may indirectly be contributing to the epidemic.

Safety profile of uncrossmatched, cold-stored, low-titer, group O+ whole blood in civilian trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: The use of cold-stored low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) for civilian trauma patients is gaining popularity. However, hemolysis might occur among non-group O recipients. This study evaluated the serologic safety of transfusing up to 4 units of LTOWB. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Hypotensive male and at least 50-year-old female trauma patients who received leukoreduced, uncrossmatched, group O+, low-titer (<50 anti-A and anti-B), platelet-replete whole blood during initial resuscitation were included in this prospective, observational study. Biochemical markers of hemolysis were measured on the day of LTOWB receipt (Day 0) and over the next 2 days. Blood product administration in the first 24 hours of admission and reported transfusion-associated adverse events were also reviewed. RESULTS: There were 102 non-group O and 70 group O recipients of 1 to 4 LTOWB units analyzed. The non-group O recipients received a median volume of 600 mL (range, 300-4100 mL) of ABO-incompatible plasma, including the contribution from the LTOWB units. There were no significant differences in median haptoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, creatinine, or potassium levels at any time point between the non-group O and group O recipients. There were also no differences in these markers between the subset of 23 non-group O and 14 group O recipients who received 3 or 4 LTOWB units. No transfusion-associated adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of up to 4 units of LTOWB in civilian trauma resuscitation was not associated with clinical or biochemical evidence of hemolysis. Six units per trauma patient are now permitted at these institutions.

Ketamine Infusion for Adjunct Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Adults.

BACKGROUND: Many critically ill patients receive ketamine for adjunct sedation despite a paucity of evidence on its use, dosing, and monitoring in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To describe the dosing and safety considerations of ketamine for adjunct sedation in a population of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients targeting light sedation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of mechanically ventilated patients receiving continuous ketamine infusion between January 2012 and April 2016. Data included dosing, effect of ketamine on other sedatives, total sedative use, Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) scores, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and hemodynamic variables. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were included in the analysis. Ketamine was infused at a median dosage of 0.41 mg/kg/hour (range 0.04-2.5 mg/kg/hr) for up to 14.7 days (median 2.8 days). Concomitant sedatives were reduced or discontinued, without the initiation of an additional sedative, in 57 patients (63%) within 24 hours of initiating ketamine. Propofol was most commonly discontinued (16 patients, 36%), followed by benzodiazepines (12 patients, 27%). There was an increase in the number of SAS scores documented in goal in the 24-hour period after ketamine initiation compared with the immediate 24 hours before (61% vs 55%, p=0.001). Patients were less frequently agitated, defined as SAS >4, after the initiation of ketamine (27% vs 33%, p=0.005). Seven patients (7.7%) required discontinuation of ketamine infusion for an ADR. There were no significant changes in hemodynamic variables after the initiation of ketamine. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous ketamine infusion for adjunct light sedation was well tolerated in a cohort of critically ill adults, with an acceptable safety profile. Prospective studies of ketamine infusion are warranted to further establish its efficacy as a sedative in this population.