Hydroxychloroquine for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in health care workers: a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes of Hydroxychloroquine (HERO-HCQ).

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 infections among health care workers (HCWs). METHODS: In a 1: 1 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, superiority trial at 34 US clinical centers, 1360 HCWs at risk for COVID-19 infection were enrolled between April and November 2020. Participants were randomized to HCQ or matched placebo. The HCQ dosing included a loading dose of HCQ 600 mg twice on day 1, followed by 400 mg daily for 29 days. The primary outcome was a composite of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 clinical infection by day 30, defined as new-onset fever, cough, or dyspnea and either a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test (confirmed) or a lack of confirmatory testing due to local restrictions (suspected). RESULTS: Study enrollment closed before full accrual due to recruitment challenges. The primary end point occurred in 41 (6.0%) participants receiving HCQ and 53 (7.8%) participants receiving placebo. No difference in the proportion of participants experiencing clinical infection (estimated difference of -1.8%, 95% confidence interval -4.6-0.9%, P = 0.20) was identified nor any significant safety issues. CONCLUSION: Oral HCQ taken as prescribed appeared safe among HCWs. No significant clinical benefits were observed. The study was not powered to detect a small but potentially important reduction in infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04334148.

Obstetric tetanus in an immunized patient.

Obstetric tetanus is defined as a C. tetani infection that occurs during pregnancy or within six weeks of delivery. In Peru, there are no reports of obstetric tetanus cases. Here we report a sixth case of obstetric tetanus in a puerperal woman who underwent curettage for postpartum hemorrhage, despite immunization against tetanus.

Use of topical amphotericin in a case of refractory sino-orbital angioinvasive mucormycosis.

The standard of care for treatment of sino-orbital mucormycosis involves aggressive surgical debridement and liposomal amphotericin, and the roles of adjunctive and topical therapies are less clear. Here we describe a case of severe refractory sino-orbital mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient who responded to combination therapy with liposomal amphotericin, isavuconazole, micafungin, and topical amphotericin deoxycholate after failing to achieve negative surgical margins.

Acute epiglottitis due to Pasteurella multocida after contact with a feral cat.

Pasteurella multocida is a bipolar staining gram-negative coccobacillus that resides in the nasopharynx of many animals, most notably felines. It is a common cause of soft tissue infections following animal bites but has rarely been reported to cause epiglottitis. Here we describe a case of epiglottitis and bacteremia due to P. multocida following exposure to a feral cat. The patient required emergent cricothyrotomy due to airway compromise. He was successfully treated with 14 days of beta-lactam therapy and achieved a full recovery.

Cryptococcus laurentii meningitis in a non-HIV patient.

Cryptococcus species (other than Cryptococcus neoformans) have been labeled as saprophytic and nonpathogenic in immunocompetent individuals in the past. In recent years, infections caused by non-neoformans Cryptococcus species have been recognized. Cryptococcus laurentii is known to be a rare human pathogen. In this case report, we present a 59-year-old man who did not have HIV infection with meningoencephalitis caused by Cryptococcus laurentii. No significant underlying immunosuppressive disorder was found. The only identifiable risk factors were that the patient was a farmer with previous exposure to pigeon droppings. Here, we describe what we believe to be the fifth reported case of meningitis caused by Cryptococcus laurentii.

Mycobacterial Infections in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplantation.

Patients with chronic kidney disease have impaired immunity that increases their risk of infection. Increased incidence of mycobacterial infections, in particular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is described in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis as well as after kidney transplantation in low-prevalence and high-prevalence settings. Diagnosis of this infection can be challenging because of atypical presentations that may lead to treatment delay and, consequently, increased mortality; however, recent advances in molecular testing have improved diagnostic accuracy. It is imperative to try to identify those patients at increased risk and offer adequate prophylaxis. There are controversies and insufficient data regarding treatment agents, duration, and dosages. Most studies in nontuberculous mycobacteria are based on case series and retrospective studies.

Disseminated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection.

INTRODUCTION: When clinicians think about Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, what comes to the mind of most is the dreaded methicillin-resistant form. However, clinicians should not forget the methicillin-susceptible type, which is just as virulent. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors present the case of a 20-year-old woman who was admitted with septic shock and multi-organ failure and was found to have disseminated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection. The patient had persistent blood cultures positive for MSSA. A transesophageal echocardiogram showed a 1.1 cm vegetation in the mitral valve, and the patient had bilateral pleural effusions that grew MSSA. An MRI of the brain showed multiple areas consistent with infarctions thought to be secondary to septic emboli. The patient underwent a mitral valve replacement and was treated with a prolonged course of parenteral nafcillin. DISCUSSION: This case illustrates a severe clinical presentation and management of MSSA infections.

The diagnostic yield of skin biopsy in patients with leukemia and suspected infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic yield of skin biopsy in patients with leukemia, new skin lesions, and suspected infection. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with leukemia who underwent skin biopsy for new lesions and clinical suspicion of infection over 4 years. Biopsy was considered to have changed the diagnosis, if the results differed from the prior leading clinical impression. RESULTS: Seventy-six (39%) of 195 patients had infections identified via skin biopsy. Among the remaining patients, the most common diagnoses were leukemia cutis, drug reactions and Sweet's syndrome. Ulcerated or necrotic lesions and bacteremia or fungemia were the only independent predictors of infection. 55% of patients with severe neutropenia had biopsy-proven infectious causes of their skin lesions. One third of all afebrile patients had skin manifestations owing to infection. Skin biopsy results differed from the initial clinical impression in 34% of all patients. In 45% of infected patients, pathogens were identified by skin biopsy alone. CONCLUSIONS: Noninfectious causes accounted for a large proportion of new skin lesions in leukemia patients with suspected infections. Absence of neutropenia or fever did not rule out infection. Ulcerated or necrotic lesions and bacteremia or fungemia were independent predictors of infection. In the evaluation of patients with leukemia and new skin lesions, skin biopsy remains an important procedure to rule out infection, and is particularly useful for pathogen identification.

Weekly liposomal amphotericin B as secondary prophylaxis for invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies.

There have been no published studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of weekly liposomal amphotericin B as secondary prophylaxis in leukemic patients with invasive fungal infections (IFIs). We found in a retrospective review of our experience with 14 such patients admitted from 2003-2009 that the use of this approach was associated with frequent relapse of IFIs (36%) and kidney injury (36%).