A case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever complicated with portal vein thrombosis and hemophagocytosis.

OBJECTIVES: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral infection which is an important public health problem in Turkey. CCHF causes fever and bleeding and can lead to severe health outcomes. The study aims to report a case of a male patient with severe CCHF, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) treated with steroids and portal vein thrombosis. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of high fever, headache, myalgia and diarrhoea. The patient travelled to the endemic region of Turkey. In laboratory findings, thrombocytopenia, abnormal liver function tests and elevated coagulation parameters were observed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for diagnosis of CCHF. Hypofibrinogenemia, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated ferritin and d-dimer levels were observed in the clinical follow-up. Prednisolone treatment was performed due to considered the diagnosis of HLH. Portal vein thrombosis was detected on abdominal computed tomography scan. He was successfully treated with ribavirin, corticosteroids, anticoagulant and supportive therapy. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of CCHF can range from self-limiting flu-like to severe symptoms possibly fatal. Acute portal vein embolism is a rare complication that has not been reported before to our knowledge. Corticosteroids may be a life-saving treatment for CCHF patients presenting with HLH.

Evaluation of chronic hepatitis B patients who voluntarily discontinued oral antiviral therapy: is there an answer to the controversial topic?

OBJECTIVE: The uncertain treatment duration for nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an important problem for both patients and physicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of virologic relapse (VR) and the optimum time of treatment discontinuation in the follow-up of CHB patients who voluntarily discontinued treatment after virological suppression was achieved under NA use. METHODS: Data from 138 patients from 11 centers were included in this registry-based study. Factors associated with VR were investigated using multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-nine (71.7%) of the patients were HBeAg (Hepatitis B e antigen) negative. During the 24-month follow-up period after treatment discontinuation, VR occurred in 58.7% (n = 81) of all patients and 57.6% (n = 57) of HBeAg-negative patients. The duration of NA treatment was significantly shorter (cutoff 60 months) in HBeAg-negative patients who later developed VR. In addition, the duration of virologic remission achieved under NA treatment was significantly shorter (cutoff 52 months) in those who later developed VR. In the Cox multivariate regression model of HBeAg-negative patients, having less than 60 months of NA treatment (HR = 2.568; CI:1.280-5.148; P  = 0.008) and the levels of alanine aminotransferase being equal to or higher than twice the upper level of normal at the beginning of treatment (HR = 3.753; CI:1.551-9.081; P  = 0.003) were found to be statistically significant and independently associated with VR. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may provide clinical guidance in terms of determining the most appropriate discontinuation time for NA.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) /Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Co-infected Patients: A case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection affects liver function and the outcome of the disease. METHODS: One hundred fifty-six laboratories confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were followed up between 1 July and 31 December 2020 and analysed retrospectively. Continuous variables were compared with the independent samples t-test. Categorical variables were compared using the Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The age range of the cohort was from 40 to 78 and 73 (46.8%) of 156 patients were male. There was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between 20 patients (12.8%) with SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection and 136 patients without HBV infection (87.2%) (P > .05). Liver function tests were higher in the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group but were not statistically significant. The levels of creatine kinase (CK) were significantly higher in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients without HBV infection compared with the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group (P = .0047). Severe/critical illness was less common in the SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfected patient group, and no deaths were observed. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection did not change the severity and outcome of COVID-19. However, the patients with SARS-CoV-2/HBV coinfection should be closely monitored for liver complications.

Use of carbapenems and glycopepdides is significant risk for multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

INTRODUCTION: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) infections are an important healthcare problem globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with MDR-Ab infections in hospitalized patients in Turkey. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study was performed in a tertiary care 1,303-bed university hospital, among case patients with MDR-Ab infections. The hospital records of case and control patients were retrospectively evaluated over a year. Patients who were hospitalized in the same department and in the same time interval as the case patients, without MDR-Ab infection or colonization, were chosen for control group. Demographic characteristics, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, comorbid diseases, use of invasive tools and duration of usage, and duration of use of antibiotics were recorded for all patients. Comparisons between case and control groups for possible risk factors were performed. RESULTS: In total, 95 cases and 95 controls were included in the study. Univariate analysis highlighted several variables as risk factors for MDR-Ab infections. Multivariate analysis showed that only antibiotic usage over seven days (OR = 2.38, CI = 1.18-4.83, p = 0.016) was found to be a significant risk factor. When antibiotic treatment patterns in both groups were compared, the use of carbapenems (p = 0.001) and glycopeptide antibiotics (p=0.001) in patient treatment were found significantly higher in the MDR-Ab case group. CONCLUSION: This study showed us that previous antibiotic use is a significant risk factor for MDR-Ab infections. The use of carbapenems and glycopeptides should be considered as primary risk factors for developing MDR-Ab infection.

Lichen planus induced by pegylated interferon alfa-2a therapy in a patient monitored for delta hepatitis.

Interferons are used for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. They can induce or exacerbate some skin disorders, such as lichen planus. In this study, as we know, we presented the first case developing lichen planus while receiving interferon treatment due to delta hepatitis. A 31-year-old male patient presented to our outpatient clinic with HBsAg positivity. With his analyses, HBV DNA was negative, anti-delta total was positive, ALT was 72 U/L (upper limit 41 U/L), and platelet was 119 000/mm(3). He was therefore started on subcutaneous pegylated interferon alfa-2a therapy at 180 mcg/week for delta hepatitis. At month 4 of therapy, the patient developed diffuse eroded lace-like lesions in oral mucosa, white plaques on lips, and itchy papular lesions in the hands and feet. Lichen planus was considered by the dermatology clinic and topical treatment (mometasone furoate) was given. The lesions persisted at month 5 of therapy and biopsy samples were obtained from oral mucosal lesions and interferon dose was reduced to 135 mcg/week. Biopsy demonstrated nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium; epithelial acanthosis, spongiosis, and apoptotic bodies were observed in the epidermis and therefore lichen planus was considered. At month 6 of therapy, lesions did not improve and even progressed and interferon treatment was therefore discontinued.

Risk factors for nosocomial burn wound infection caused by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii infections in burn patients may lead to delays in wound healing, graft losses, and development of sepsis. Determining the risk factors for multidrug resistant A. baumannii (MDR-AB) infections is essential for infection control. In the present study, the authors aimed to evaluate risk factors for wound infections caused by A. baumannii in burn patients. The study was conducted at Dicle University Hospital Burn Center, from April 2011 to July 2012, to investigate the risk factors for MDR-AB infections. The data of both the case and control group patients and the result of wound cultures were recorded on a daily basis, on individual forms given for each patient, and analyzed. A total of 30 cases infected with MDR-AB, and 60 uninfected control patients, were included in the study. The mean age (±SD) was 7.7 ± 15.4 years in infected patients and 11.4 ± 16.5 years in uninfected patients. The mean total burn surface area was 13.5 ± 10.9% in uninfected patients and 34.7 ± 16.2% in infected patients. The mean total burn surface area, the abbreviated burn severity index, acute physiological and chronic health evaluation II score, day of admission to hospital, length of hospital stay, first excision day, prior usage of third-generation cephalosporins, and stay in intensive care unit of the infected patients were significantly higher (P < .001) than those of patients without infection. Univariate analysis found that high acute physiological and chronic health evaluation II score, first excision time of wound, invasive device usage, admission day to hospital, and prior usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics were risk factors for nosocomial infections. This study showed that multiple factors contribute to multidrug resistance in A. baumannii. A combination of an early diagnosis of wound infections, appropriate antimicrobial treatments, surgical debridement, and early wound closure may be effective in the management.