CORRELATIVE ASSOCIATION OF OXYGENATION AND SEPSIS PANELS WITH THE USE OF ACE2 INHIBITORS AND WITHOUT IT IN THE CONDITIONS OF SEPTIC SHOCK IN COVID-19-INFECTED AND NON-INFECTED PATIENTS (COHORT STUDY).

Sepsis-associated hyperlactatemia (SAHL), Lactic acidosis, is a common problem in critically ill patients. The prevalence of Lactic acidosis is estimated to be approximately 1% of all hospitalized nonsurgical patients. The purpose of our study was to reveal possible associations between the level of Lactate with sepsis biomarkers: PCT, IL 6, and PO2 in the presence of ACE 2 inhibitors in Covid-19 infected and non-infected patients with Septic Shock. We conducted a cohort study, comparing outcomes of 212 critically ill patients with Septic shock, who were treated in the intensive care unit of First University Clinic of Tbilisi State Medical University during the 2020-2021 years. Inclusion criteria for the study were: Age>40ys; COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases associated with Septic shock, with respiration dysfunctions with prior exposure to ACE2 inhibitors o no history of treatment with the ACE2 inhibitors. Patients enrolled in the study were individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and septic shock, and who were undergoing treatment with ACE2 inhibitors/not taking ACE2 inhibitors; patients with septic shock who were not infected with COVID-19, and who were undergoing treatment with ACE2 inhibitors/not taking ACE2 inhibitors. According to lactate level, the studied patients were divided into subgroups: lactate <3 mMol/l, and lactate > 3 mmol/l. In patients with septic shock who were not infected with COVID-19 the main Causative microorganisms were gram-negative bacteria. In patients' blood the Interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate, procalcitonin (PCT), pO2, and pulmonary pressure were investigated. Results of the study show that the rise in lactate levels in COVID-19-infected and non-infected patients was accompanied by an increase in PCT content and a decrease in pO2 level in blood. Therefore, serum lactate levels can be used as a prognostic marker of the severity of septic shock in COVID-19-infected and noninfected patients. In COVID-19-infected patients together with the increased lactate level, increases the level of IL-6, which indicates the important link between the quality of immunological disorders, inflammation, and COVID-19 infection in patients with ARDS and sepsis. These alterations were not prevented by the prior use of the ACE2 inhibitors. In COVID-19-infected and noninfected patients who didn't use ACE2 inhibitors, high lactate levels were accompanied by decreased pulmonary pressure which was normalized in patients who prior used ACE2 inhibitors.

IMPACT OF THE ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME (ACE) INHIBITORS ON THE COURSE OF THE SEPTIC SHOCK DEVELOPED DURING COVID-19 AND OTHER SEVERE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN PRESENCE OF HYPERFERRITINEMIA.

SARS-CoV-2 can cause sepsis regardless of the presence of secondary bacterial or fungal infections. The virus itself likely causes sepsis through a variety of possible mechanisms, including immune dysregulation, with respiratory dysfunction, which as a result of circulatory dysfunction leads to hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis. We conducted cohort study, comparing outcomes of 212 critically ill patients with Septic shock (134 men (63.3%) and 78 women (36.7%), with a mean age between 40-70 years) were evaluated, who were treated in the intensive care unit of First University Clinic during 2020-2021 years. All four groups had documented Hyperferritinemia (HF). Patients were divided according to ferritin concentrations: moderate HF (ferritin <1500ng/ml) and severe HF (ferritin >1500ng/ml). The study aimed to reveal the impact of the Angiotensin-Converting enzyme -2 (ACE2) inhibitors on the course of the Septic shock developed during COVID-19 and other severe respiratory infections in conditions of hyperferritinemia (HF). Study results show that severe HF in patients with Septic shock is associated with a high risk of mortality and can be considered an indicator of the severity of the disease. The consumption of ACE2 inhibitors plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes in both COVID-19-infected and non-infected patients with Septic shock: ACE2 inhibitors reduce the levels of Ang II and C reactive protein (CRP) in the blood in both COVID-19-infected and non-infected patients with Septic shock in conditions of moderate and severe HF; regulate the activity of leukocytes and the blood pro-coagulation system in both COVID-19-infected and non-infected patients with Septic shock in conditions of moderate HF; reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6), decrease the level of D dimer in СOVID-infected patients in conditions of moderate HF; Procalcitonin levels do not differ between COVID-19 infected and non-infected patients with Septic shock. Based on our study, we can assume that there is the important link between elevated Ang 2 and the quality of immunological disorders and inflammation. The consumption of ACE2 inhibitors plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes in both COVID-19-infected and non-infected patients with Septic shock.

BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ABDOMINAL EFFUSION IN BACTERIAL PERITONITIS.

This study provides a contemporary epidemiology of aspirates taken during surgery from the abdominal cavity among patients with bacterial peritonitis to identify the isolates and study their sensitivity to antibiotics. Our bacteriology investigations included isolation of poor cultures, and detection of microbes was conducted using a rapid identification system (API20E, API Staph, API Strep, API Ana, BioMerieux). Rapid tests for detection of oxidase and catalase activity were also used. Susceptibility of microorganisms to antibiotics was defined by the disc-diffusion method using standard discs (EUCAST guidelines 2015) according to Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) protocols (ATB strips: ATB G, ATB Staph, ATBANA, ATBPse, ATBStrep. BioMerieux). The recovery rate from the clinical samples was good, likely because our protocol immediately inoculated study material into the thioglycollate broth which is an appropriate medium both for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Among the 36 patients with monomicrobial growth by bacteriological investigation, Gram-negative bacteria prevailed; Escherichia coli was recovered in 14 patients and Enterobacter cloacae in 9 patients. Among the Gram-positive bacteria, D-group Streptococci were prevalent, Enterococcus faecalis was found in six patients, Staphylococcus aureus in three patients, Candida albicans in two patients. In one patient, we observed dual colonization of two Gram-negative anaerobes Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium spp. Polymicrobial growth was evident in three cases in the following combinations: Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that 12% of Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to quinolones and 19% to third-generation cephalosporins. No evidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was found in Gram-positive specimens. The timely identification of microbes and administration of appropriate therapy based on antibiotic sensitivity profiles is important to optimizing clinical outcomes in bacterial peritonitis.

CLOSTRIDIAL PARAPROCTITIS WITH GAS GANGRENE OF FRONT-LATERAL ABDOMINAL WALLS AND NECROTIC FASCIO-MYOSITIS (CASE REPORT).

Anaerobic clostridial infection is the most severe form of paraproctitis. The incubation period is very short, from 3 to 6 hours, sometimes lasting for 1-2 days. Clostridial infection spreads rapidly and induces gas gangrene, causes destruction of cells and other intermediate substances, and impedes blood circulation. This paper presents a case study of an extremely severe form of anaerobic infection with spontaneous gas gangrene, cellulitis, fasciomyositic necrosis, severe intoxication and septic shock on the abdominal front and lateral surfaces. This patient presented as infected with Clostridium septicum, a rare and highly toxic Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic bacillus that progresses and migrates rapidly, affecting all soft tissues (muscle, fascia), and produces four toxins which cause gas gangrene, intravascular hemolysis, tissue necrosis, and septic shock. The mortality rate is typically 80%. In this case study, a positive clinical outcome was achieved by aggressive identification of the microbe, appropriate and immediate therapy, and vigorous surgical intervention. Specifically, immediate surgery was conducted to ensure a wide excision of damaged tissues, necrectomy, curettage, wide drainage, readjustment, oxygenation through drainages, further additional surgical corrections through CT control with wide bandages in the operating area. Further, the diagnostic workup was thorough, identifying the microbe through a properly constructed diagnostic algorithm, ultrasound and CT studies, infectious agent assessments, and bacteriological monitoring carried out on the 1st-2nd-5th-7th-12th-15th-21st-25th days. Rational antibiotic therapy with permanent susceptibility testing informed the selection of an appropriate agent. Finally, markers for the evaluation of severity (Apache scale) were assessed, as they were for stage of infection (prokalcitonin), inflammation (CRP) and other indicators.