Introduction. Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a parasitic disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium (T. solium), is a significant public health concern in endemic countries. It is estimated to contribute to roughly 30% of all epilepsy cases and leads to chronic morbidity in nearly 70% of affected patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-cysticercus antibodies to T. solium in individuals with recent-onset seizures. We employed two serological techniques: Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and Enzyme-Linked Immuno Transfer Blot (EITB). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 serum samples were collected: 50 from patients experiencing recent-onset seizures (cases) and 50 from age-matched healthy controls. All samples were analyzed for the presence of anti-cysticercus antibodies to T. solium. Results: Among the 50 cases, EITB detected anti-cysticercus antibodies in six patients (12%), while ELISA identified antibodies in three patients (6%). Notably, only two cases tested positive using both EITB and ELISA. In the control group, one individual was seropositive by EITB, and none were positive by ELISA. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of implementing high-quality screening methods, employing a vigilant diagnostic approach, and taking prompt preventive measures to mitigate the burden of morbidity associated with NCC.
{"title":"Neurocysticercosis- An overlooked tropical disease","authors":"Reachel Reena Durairaj, Poongodi Santhana Kumarsamy","doi":"10.54034/mic.e2156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e2156","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a parasitic disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium (T. solium), is a significant public health concern in endemic countries. It is estimated to contribute to roughly 30% of all epilepsy cases and leads to chronic morbidity in nearly 70% of affected patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-cysticercus antibodies to T. solium in individuals with recent-onset seizures. We employed two serological techniques: Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and Enzyme-Linked Immuno Transfer Blot (EITB). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 serum samples were collected: 50 from patients experiencing recent-onset seizures (cases) and 50 from age-matched healthy controls. All samples were analyzed for the presence of anti-cysticercus antibodies to T. solium. Results: Among the 50 cases, EITB detected anti-cysticercus antibodies in six patients (12%), while ELISA identified antibodies in three patients (6%). Notably, only two cases tested positive using both EITB and ELISA. In the control group, one individual was seropositive by EITB, and none were positive by ELISA. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of implementing high-quality screening methods, employing a vigilant diagnostic approach, and taking prompt preventive measures to mitigate the burden of morbidity associated with NCC.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"76 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141817857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Elgohary, Mohamed Nazmy Farres, Diaa Marzouk Abdelhamid, S. Mohamed, Mohamed Farouk Allam
Background. Covid-19 pandemic has led to global pandemic and substantial health, economic and social impact. The causative agent is coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which belongs to the coronavirus family. The clinical picture of the infection ranges from a flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia and mortality. Till January 2022, the cumulative number of cases exceeded 600 million worldwide with mortality rate of more than 6 million. Objective: to identify rate of total and individual presentations of post COVID-19 conditions. Methodology: the literature was reviewed till 1st July 2022, in six databases, we identified 5486 articles; after removal of duplicates and screening for eligible studies according to inclusion criteria, 17 studies were included for further qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results: the results showed high rate of post COVID-19 condition among patients. With prevalence rate of 5 to 10%, fatigue was the most reported symptom with prevalence of 34% among patients (RE: 0.33%, 95%CI: 0.32-0.35). The second highest common symptom was breathlessness with prevalence of 31% (RE: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.20-0.43). Mental health symptoms including anxiety and depression were also distinctly frequent. We also reported on different neurocognitive symptoms including attention and memory problems with rate of 16% (RE: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.11-0.22) and 19% (RE: 0.19, 95%CI: 0.14-0.26) respectively. Conclusion: it is apparent that a significant percentage of individuals with COVID-19 (45%) continue to grapple with a variety of persistent symptoms. Among these, fatigue and dyspnea emerge as highly prevalent issues consistently reported across various groups of patients. However, it is evident that a considerable portion of patients also contend with a diverse array of other lingering symptoms, displaying variability both in number and severity.
{"title":"Rate of post Covid-19 symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"N. Elgohary, Mohamed Nazmy Farres, Diaa Marzouk Abdelhamid, S. Mohamed, Mohamed Farouk Allam","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1981","url":null,"abstract":"Background. Covid-19 pandemic has led to global pandemic and substantial health, economic and social impact. The causative agent is coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which belongs to the coronavirus family. The clinical picture of the infection ranges from a flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia and mortality. Till January 2022, the cumulative number of cases exceeded 600 million worldwide with mortality rate of more than 6 million. Objective: to identify rate of total and individual presentations of post COVID-19 conditions. Methodology: the literature was reviewed till 1st July 2022, in six databases, we identified 5486 articles; after removal of duplicates and screening for eligible studies according to inclusion criteria, 17 studies were included for further qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results: the results showed high rate of post COVID-19 condition among patients. With prevalence rate of 5 to 10%, fatigue was the most reported symptom with prevalence of 34% among patients (RE: 0.33%, 95%CI: 0.32-0.35). The second highest common symptom was breathlessness with prevalence of 31% (RE: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.20-0.43). Mental health symptoms including anxiety and depression were also distinctly frequent. We also reported on different neurocognitive symptoms including attention and memory problems with rate of 16% (RE: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.11-0.22) and 19% (RE: 0.19, 95%CI: 0.14-0.26) respectively. Conclusion: it is apparent that a significant percentage of individuals with COVID-19 (45%) continue to grapple with a variety of persistent symptoms. Among these, fatigue and dyspnea emerge as highly prevalent issues consistently reported across various groups of patients. However, it is evident that a considerable portion of patients also contend with a diverse array of other lingering symptoms, displaying variability both in number and severity.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":" 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141368748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with decreased immune function and can lead to viral infections. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. However, it is unclear whether treatment with vitamin D can reduce the associated risk of COVID-19 infection. Objective: the current meta-analysis aimed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation had a positive or negative impact on COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: for this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the following databases; CENTERAL, Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, EMBASE and Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB, for studies published till February 20, 2022, using key terms. Besides, reference lists of relevant studies were identified. We considered randomized trials (RCTs) and cohort studies as potentially eligible when patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and received vitamin D supplementation versus a placebo or standard-of-care control. We identified a total of 718 articles, of which 4 RCTs and 3 cohort studies which meet eligible criteria. The seven studies included in our meta-analysis involved 1238 subjects. We considered 7 outcomes to be measured in our meta-analysis which are duration of COVID-19 illness till recovery, need for O2 therapy, need for ICU admission, need for artificial ventilation, fatal prognosis, time to negative PCR and need for hospitalization. Results: vitamin D supplement decreased the period of hospital stay in SARS-CoV2 positive patients. There was no clear protective effect of vitamin D supplementation on the need for oxygen therapy. There was no reduction on need for ICU admission in SARS-CoV2 patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. There was a significant reduction on need for artificial ventilation in patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. Our meta-analysis showed that there is no reduction on fatal prognosis in patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. Only one RCT evaluated time to negative PCR; this study was conducted in India and showed that vitamin D supplementation helped to achieve SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity in greater proportion of COVID-19 patients with vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion: administration of vitamin D after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces the period of hospital stay and also reduces the need for artificial ventilation.
背景：长期以来，维生素 D 缺乏与免疫功能下降有关，并可能导致病毒感染。研究表明，维生素 D 缺乏与 COVID-19 感染风险增加有关。然而，目前还不清楚维生素 D 治疗是否能降低 COVID-19 感染的相关风险。目的：本荟萃分析旨在确定维生素 D 补充剂对 COVID-19 患者的影响是积极的还是消极的。材料和方法：为了进行此次系统综述和荟萃分析，我们使用关键术语检索了以下数据库：CENTERAL、Medline (PubMed)、Web of Science、EMBASE 和 Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB，检索截至 2022 年 2 月 20 日发表的研究。此外，我们还查找了相关研究的参考文献目录。我们将随机试验（RCT）和队列研究视为可能符合条件的研究，只要患者接受了 SARS-CoV-2 感染检测，并接受了维生素 D 补充剂与安慰剂或标准护理对照。我们共发现了 718 篇文章，其中 4 项 RCT 和 3 项队列研究符合合格标准。纳入荟萃分析的 7 项研究涉及 1238 名受试者。我们在荟萃分析中考虑了 7 项结果，即 COVID-19 病程至痊愈的持续时间、氧气治疗需求、入住重症监护室的需求、人工通气需求、致命预后、PCR 阴性时间和住院需求。结果：补充维生素 D 缩短了 SARS-CoV2 阳性患者的住院时间。补充维生素 D 对氧治疗的需求没有明显的保护作用。接受维生素 D 补充剂治疗的 SARS-CoV2 患者入住重症监护室的需求没有减少。补充维生素 D 后，患者对人工通气的需求明显减少。我们的荟萃分析表明，补充维生素 D 不会减少患者的死亡预后。只有一项研究对 PCR 阴性的时间进行了评估；这项研究在印度进行，结果显示补充维生素 D 有助于使更多的 COVID-19 患者达到 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 阴性。结论：在确诊 SARS-CoV-2 感染后服用维生素 D 可缩短住院时间，减少人工通气的需要。
{"title":"The potential therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation for management of SARS-COV-2: a systematic review/meta-analysis","authors":"Lobna Mohamed Bahaa El-Din, Mohamed Nazmy Farres, G. Amin, Mohamed Farouk Allam, Rasha Samir","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1964","url":null,"abstract":"Background: vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with decreased immune function and can lead to viral infections. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. However, it is unclear whether treatment with vitamin D can reduce the associated risk of COVID-19 infection. Objective: the current meta-analysis aimed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation had a positive or negative impact on COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: for this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the following databases; CENTERAL, Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, EMBASE and Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB, for studies published till February 20, 2022, using key terms. Besides, reference lists of relevant studies were identified. We considered randomized trials (RCTs) and cohort studies as potentially eligible when patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and received vitamin D supplementation versus a placebo or standard-of-care control. We identified a total of 718 articles, of which 4 RCTs and 3 cohort studies which meet eligible criteria. The seven studies included in our meta-analysis involved 1238 subjects. We considered 7 outcomes to be measured in our meta-analysis which are duration of COVID-19 illness till recovery, need for O2 therapy, need for ICU admission, need for artificial ventilation, fatal prognosis, time to negative PCR and need for hospitalization. Results: vitamin D supplement decreased the period of hospital stay in SARS-CoV2 positive patients. There was no clear protective effect of vitamin D supplementation on the need for oxygen therapy. There was no reduction on need for ICU admission in SARS-CoV2 patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. There was a significant reduction on need for artificial ventilation in patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. Our meta-analysis showed that there is no reduction on fatal prognosis in patients treated with vitamin D supplementation. Only one RCT evaluated time to negative PCR; this study was conducted in India and showed that vitamin D supplementation helped to achieve SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativity in greater proportion of COVID-19 patients with vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion: administration of vitamin D after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces the period of hospital stay and also reduces the need for artificial ventilation.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":" 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141369295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. M. Abdelghany, Fathy Fathy Ghaly, Mohamed Farouk Allam
Background. On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus that is transmitted from animals to humans or from human to human. To date, treatment for human monkeypox is mostly symptomatic, as there is no specific standard antiviral treatment. Persons with severe symptoms and signs, immunocompromised patients, children younger than 8 years, and pregnant individuals should be considered for specific antiviral treatment. Objective. This study aims to assess effectiveness of antiviral drugs in treatment of human monkeypox. Methodology. Published clinical trials and cohort studies on the role of antivirals in the management of human monkeypox that were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases up to April 1, 2023. The patients included were children and adults confirmed with monkeypox. The diagnosis was based on PCR or clinical symptoms. The intervention was antivirals administration in human monkeypox patients, versus supportive treatment/placebo. Outcome measured include the duration of monkeypox until recovery, need for hospitalization, and ICU admission. Results. We included four completed studies with 195 participants assessing the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of antiviral treatments for human monkeypox compared to placebo. Three studies investigated Tecovirimat (st-246), and one investigated Brincidofovir. Both drugs were safe, tolerable, and effective with no serious adverse effects. The other 5 studies were not completed and are ongoing. Conclusion. There are currently no approved antivirals for the treatment of monkeypox; some medications could be authorized for outbreak use and are now under investigation, such as Tecovirimat, Cidofovir, and Brincidofovir.
{"title":"Antiviral Drugs for Treatment of Human Monkeypox: A Systematic Review/Meta-analysis","authors":"A. M. Abdelghany, Fathy Fathy Ghaly, Mohamed Farouk Allam","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1963","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1963","url":null,"abstract":"Background. On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus that is transmitted from animals to humans or from human to human. To date, treatment for human monkeypox is mostly symptomatic, as there is no specific standard antiviral treatment. Persons with severe symptoms and signs, immunocompromised patients, children younger than 8 years, and pregnant individuals should be considered for specific antiviral treatment. Objective. This study aims to assess effectiveness of antiviral drugs in treatment of human monkeypox. Methodology. Published clinical trials and cohort studies on the role of antivirals in the management of human monkeypox that were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases up to April 1, 2023. The patients included were children and adults confirmed with monkeypox. The diagnosis was based on PCR or clinical symptoms. The intervention was antivirals administration in human monkeypox patients, versus supportive treatment/placebo. Outcome measured include the duration of monkeypox until recovery, need for hospitalization, and ICU admission. Results. We included four completed studies with 195 participants assessing the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of antiviral treatments for human monkeypox compared to placebo. Three studies investigated Tecovirimat (st-246), and one investigated Brincidofovir. Both drugs were safe, tolerable, and effective with no serious adverse effects. The other 5 studies were not completed and are ongoing. Conclusion. There are currently no approved antivirals for the treatment of monkeypox; some medications could be authorized for outbreak use and are now under investigation, such as Tecovirimat, Cidofovir, and Brincidofovir.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"42 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140259135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexis A. Ponce-Garcia, A. S. Torres-Hernandez, Nancy A. Molina-Mendoza, Luis E. Fernández-Garza
Right-sided endocarditis represents a distinct clinical condition observed in individuals with a history of parenteral drug use or those with implanted pacemakers or other intracardiac devices. Aeromonas infections, although uncommon in humans, particularly endocarditis cases, are exceedingly rare. Here, we report the case of a 72-year-old female with a medical history of arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis via a tunneled permanent central venous catheter. She presented with chills and a fever of 38.3°C. Physical examination revealed a grade 3 protosystolic murmur at the tricuspid focus. Blood cultures from central and peripheral sites yielded growth of Aeromonas hydrophila. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a fusiform, semi-mobile vegetation measuring 16 x 15 mm at the outlet of the superior vena cava, suggestive of endocarditis. Intravenous fluoroquinolones were initiated based on antibiogram results, leading to resolution of imaging findings after a 21-day treatment course.
{"title":"Right-Sided Endocarditis Secondary to Aeromonas hydrophila: A Case Report","authors":"Alexis A. Ponce-Garcia, A. S. Torres-Hernandez, Nancy A. Molina-Mendoza, Luis E. Fernández-Garza","doi":"10.54034/mic.e2009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e2009","url":null,"abstract":"Right-sided endocarditis represents a distinct clinical condition observed in individuals with a history of parenteral drug use or those with implanted pacemakers or other intracardiac devices. Aeromonas infections, although uncommon in humans, particularly endocarditis cases, are exceedingly rare. Here, we report the case of a 72-year-old female with a medical history of arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis via a tunneled permanent central venous catheter. She presented with chills and a fever of 38.3°C. Physical examination revealed a grade 3 protosystolic murmur at the tricuspid focus. Blood cultures from central and peripheral sites yielded growth of Aeromonas hydrophila. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a fusiform, semi-mobile vegetation measuring 16 x 15 mm at the outlet of the superior vena cava, suggestive of endocarditis. Intravenous fluoroquinolones were initiated based on antibiogram results, leading to resolution of imaging findings after a 21-day treatment course.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"29 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140425970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeferson Tobias da Silva de Oliveira de Oliveira, Luciana Fernandes Portela, Marcelo Carvalho Vieira, Mariana Cristina Mendes Almeida, L. H. Sangenis, Ivonete Siviero, Tatiana Rehder Gonçalves, M. Mediano
Background: COVID-19 is usually milder in children and adolescents, leading to lower hospital admission rates than adults. This study evaluated clinical manifestations in children (< 10 years) and adolescents (10 to < 18 years) with COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary municipal hospital in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) during the first (February to November 2020) and second pandemic waves (November 2020 to April 2021). Methods: this retrospective observational study considered patients in the pediatric age group (<18 years old) with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 using RT-PCR. Descriptive and bivariate analysis were performed assuming a p-value<0.05 level of significance for all analyses. Results: among the 34 included patients (50% boys; 73.5% children), the most prevalent symptom was fever (88.2%), followed by asthenia (85.3%), and cough associated with dyspnea (50%); 29.4% were admitted to the ICU, and 5.9% needed invasive mechanical ventilation. All patients were treated with antibiotics, 88.2% with antivirals, and 52.9% with corticosteroids. Asthenia was more frequent among children than adolescents (96.0% vs. 55.6%; p < 0.01). Tuberculosis was observed in none of the children, but 33.3% of the adolescents (p-value = 0.003). The percentage of hospitalized patients with family members infected with SARS-CoV-2 was smaller among children than adolescents (8.0% vs. 44.0%; p-value = 0.01). Other variables that differed between children and adolescents were C-reactive protein, creatinine, and need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths among participants. Conclusion: in our hospital, COVID-19 was most often not severe in children and adolescents. Overall, children were hospitalized more frequently by COVID-19 than adolescents, with some differences for clinical characteristics.
{"title":"Clinical profile during the first and second pandemic waves in children and adolescents with COVID-19 at pediatric public hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil","authors":"Jeferson Tobias da Silva de Oliveira de Oliveira, Luciana Fernandes Portela, Marcelo Carvalho Vieira, Mariana Cristina Mendes Almeida, L. H. Sangenis, Ivonete Siviero, Tatiana Rehder Gonçalves, M. Mediano","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1989","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1989","url":null,"abstract":"Background: COVID-19 is usually milder in children and adolescents, leading to lower hospital admission rates than adults. This study evaluated clinical manifestations in children (< 10 years) and adolescents (10 to < 18 years) with COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary municipal hospital in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) during the first (February to November 2020) and second pandemic waves (November 2020 to April 2021). Methods: this retrospective observational study considered patients in the pediatric age group (<18 years old) with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 using RT-PCR. Descriptive and bivariate analysis were performed assuming a p-value<0.05 level of significance for all analyses. Results: among the 34 included patients (50% boys; 73.5% children), the most prevalent symptom was fever (88.2%), followed by asthenia (85.3%), and cough associated with dyspnea (50%); 29.4% were admitted to the ICU, and 5.9% needed invasive mechanical ventilation. All patients were treated with antibiotics, 88.2% with antivirals, and 52.9% with corticosteroids. Asthenia was more frequent among children than adolescents (96.0% vs. 55.6%; p < 0.01). Tuberculosis was observed in none of the children, but 33.3% of the adolescents (p-value = 0.003). The percentage of hospitalized patients with family members infected with SARS-CoV-2 was smaller among children than adolescents (8.0% vs. 44.0%; p-value = 0.01). Other variables that differed between children and adolescents were C-reactive protein, creatinine, and need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths among participants. Conclusion: in our hospital, COVID-19 was most often not severe in children and adolescents. Overall, children were hospitalized more frequently by COVID-19 than adolescents, with some differences for clinical characteristics.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"180 S450","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140428450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. Oluyele, M. Oladunmoye, Ayodele Oluwayemisi Ogundare, A. Onifade, Ndidi Aishat Okunnuga
Introduction. Cancer constitutes a formidable global public health challenge, infection complicates effective treatment regimen and detrimentally impacts survival in cancer-patients. This predicament is exacerbated by the rising specter of antimicrobial resistance. Methods. The study was conducted amongst clinically diagnosed cancer patients attending University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure. Characterization of bacterial and fungal isolates from blood samples of the patients was performed using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility assessment was performed using disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Results. Overall, 40.3% of cancer cases manifested in individuals aged above 60 years, with breast cancer emerging as the predominant malignancy, accounting for 68.1% of cases. Moreover, retirees constituted the demographic with the highest representation among the cancer patients, encompassing 36.8% of the study population. The prevailing bacterial isolates comprised Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%) and Klebsiella aerogenes (18.75%), while Aspergillus fumigatus (30.12%) and Candida albicans (24.09%) constituted the predominant fungal isolates. Remarkably, the antimicrobial agents Cefuroxime, Cotrimoxazole, and Amphotericin-B exhibited suboptimal efficacy against these isolates. Conclusion. This study shows the increased vulnerability of cancer patients to opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens, many of which show resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Strict infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship measures are advocated to reduce infections in this susceptible population.
{"title":"Microbial spectrum and susceptibility profile of opportunistic pathogens isolated from cancer patients attending a tertiary healthcare centre in Akure, Nigeria","authors":"O. Oluyele, M. Oladunmoye, Ayodele Oluwayemisi Ogundare, A. Onifade, Ndidi Aishat Okunnuga","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1961","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1961","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. Cancer constitutes a formidable global public health challenge, infection complicates effective treatment regimen and detrimentally impacts survival in cancer-patients. This predicament is exacerbated by the rising specter of antimicrobial resistance. Methods. The study was conducted amongst clinically diagnosed cancer patients attending University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure. Characterization of bacterial and fungal isolates from blood samples of the patients was performed using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility assessment was performed using disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Results. Overall, 40.3% of cancer cases manifested in individuals aged above 60 years, with breast cancer emerging as the predominant malignancy, accounting for 68.1% of cases. Moreover, retirees constituted the demographic with the highest representation among the cancer patients, encompassing 36.8% of the study population. The prevailing bacterial isolates comprised Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%) and Klebsiella aerogenes (18.75%), while Aspergillus fumigatus (30.12%) and Candida albicans (24.09%) constituted the predominant fungal isolates. Remarkably, the antimicrobial agents Cefuroxime, Cotrimoxazole, and Amphotericin-B exhibited suboptimal efficacy against these isolates. Conclusion. This study shows the increased vulnerability of cancer patients to opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens, many of which show resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Strict infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship measures are advocated to reduce infections in this susceptible population.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138585303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Current publication system is based in a continuous pressure for publish in “high-rated” journals, in the consideration that this is a synonymous of research-quality, forgotten both the sense of research: the generation of knowledge, nor the publication in specific journals; and that after the emergence of internet, the current editorial system should have been fully rethought.
{"title":"Message or messenger, that's the right question","authors":"Joaquim Ruiz","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1993","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1993","url":null,"abstract":"Current publication system is based in a continuous pressure for publish in “high-rated” journals, in the consideration that this is a synonymous of research-quality, forgotten both the sense of research: the generation of knowledge, nor the publication in specific journals; and that after the emergence of internet, the current editorial system should have been fully rethought.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":" 1101","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135186722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria C. Ospino-Guerra, Carlos H. Murgas-Cañas, Jessica L. Ospino-Guzman, Lourdes Varela-Prieto, Rodolfo Cano-Rivera, Rusvelt Vargas-Moranth
Background: myocardial injury, characterized by elevated cardiac troponin levels, is a common finding in severe COVID-19 cases, occurring in up to 38% of patients. It has been identified as an independent predictor of mortality. Objective: our aim is to assess the predictive value of cardiac troponin levels for in-hospital mortality among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Barranquilla, Colombia, during the period from January to June 2021. Methods: this study is a nested case-control analysis within a retrospective cohort. It encompasses individuals aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were hospitalized between January and June 2021 (n = 358). We describe the demographic and paraclinical characteristics of the patients and their association with outcomes at the time of discharge. We also estimate the diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, of elevated troponin levels in predicting in-hospital mortality. Results: patients with elevated troponin levels demonstrated a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 9.4; 95% CI: 5.5-16.0; p < 0.05) and had a notably higher in-hospital mortality rate (55.6%) compared to those with non-elevated troponin levels (11.7%). The troponin biomarker exhibited a sensitivity of 77.9% and specificity of 72.7%, with positive and negative predictive values of 55.6% and 88.3%, respectively, for in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: troponin elevation in subjects with COVID-19 is positively related to in-hospital mortality, independently of other conditions such as age group, comorbidities, or oxygen therapy requirement.
{"title":"Relationship of troponins with in-hospital mortality in adults with covid-19 in a colombian caribbean city: a nested case-control study","authors":"Maria C. Ospino-Guerra, Carlos H. Murgas-Cañas, Jessica L. Ospino-Guzman, Lourdes Varela-Prieto, Rodolfo Cano-Rivera, Rusvelt Vargas-Moranth","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1940","url":null,"abstract":"Background: myocardial injury, characterized by elevated cardiac troponin levels, is a common finding in severe COVID-19 cases, occurring in up to 38% of patients. It has been identified as an independent predictor of mortality. Objective: our aim is to assess the predictive value of cardiac troponin levels for in-hospital mortality among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Barranquilla, Colombia, during the period from January to June 2021. Methods: this study is a nested case-control analysis within a retrospective cohort. It encompasses individuals aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were hospitalized between January and June 2021 (n = 358). We describe the demographic and paraclinical characteristics of the patients and their association with outcomes at the time of discharge. We also estimate the diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, of elevated troponin levels in predicting in-hospital mortality. Results: patients with elevated troponin levels demonstrated a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 9.4; 95% CI: 5.5-16.0; p < 0.05) and had a notably higher in-hospital mortality rate (55.6%) compared to those with non-elevated troponin levels (11.7%). The troponin biomarker exhibited a sensitivity of 77.9% and specificity of 72.7%, with positive and negative predictive values of 55.6% and 88.3%, respectively, for in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: troponin elevation in subjects with COVID-19 is positively related to in-hospital mortality, independently of other conditions such as age group, comorbidities, or oxygen therapy requirement.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"348 15","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135392719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TSince the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been a significant advancement in our ability to intervene in specific immunological pathways, supported by compelling evidence. Autoinflammatory and autoimmune responses represent deregulations of innate and adaptive immunity, respectively, and are common in critically ill patients, occurring primarily or secondarily. Immunosuppression entails the global inhibition of immune responses, while immunomodulation involves the regulation or activation of specific pathways through selective activation or inhibition of molecules and their receptors. A structured search was conducted using the MeSH terms "immunomodulation," "immunosuppression," and "critical patient" in the MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and WoS databases. The objective of this review is to explore how immunomodulation offers a rational approach to counter immunoparalysis processes and modulate excessive proinflammatory responses, ultimately leading to improved clinical outcomes.
{"title":"New Frontiers in Immunological Therapeutics in the Critically Ill Patient: From Immunosuppression to Immunomodulation","authors":"Jorge L. Vélez-Paez","doi":"10.54034/mic.e1976","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1976","url":null,"abstract":"TSince the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been a significant advancement in our ability to intervene in specific immunological pathways, supported by compelling evidence. Autoinflammatory and autoimmune responses represent deregulations of innate and adaptive immunity, respectively, and are common in critically ill patients, occurring primarily or secondarily. Immunosuppression entails the global inhibition of immune responses, while immunomodulation involves the regulation or activation of specific pathways through selective activation or inhibition of molecules and their receptors. A structured search was conducted using the MeSH terms \"immunomodulation,\" \"immunosuppression,\" and \"critical patient\" in the MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and WoS databases. The objective of this review is to explore how immunomodulation offers a rational approach to counter immunoparalysis processes and modulate excessive proinflammatory responses, ultimately leading to improved clinical outcomes.","PeriodicalId":486828,"journal":{"name":"Microbes, infection and chemotherapy","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135618066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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