Emergency department contribution to HCV elimination in the Iberian Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: Undiagnosed cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection result in significant morbidity and mortality, further transmission, and increased public health costs. Testing in emergency departments (EDs) is an opportunity to expand HCV screening. The goal of this project was to increase the proportion of eligible patients screened for HCV in urban areas. METHODS: An opportunistic automated HCV screening program was implemented in the EDs of 4 public hospitals in Spain and Portugal at different periods between 2018 and 2023. HCV prevalence was prospectively evaluated, and single-step or reflex testing was used for confirmation in the same sample. RESULTS: More than 90% of the population eligible for testing were screened in the participating centers. We found HCV antibody seroprevalence rates ranging from 0.6 to 3.9%, with between 19 and 53% of viremic individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistic HCV screening in EDs is feasible, does not disrupt ED activities, is highly effective in increasing diagnosis, and contributes to WHO's HCV elimination goals.

Appropriateness of Empirical Prescriptions of Ceftriaxone and Identification of Opportunities for Stewardship Interventions: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Study.

Third-generation cephalosporins are widely used due to the convenient spectrum of activity, safety, and posology. However, they are associated with the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, which makes them important targets for antimicrobial stewardship interventions. We aimed to assess the appropriateness of empirical prescriptions of ceftriaxone in a tertiary hospital. This cross-sectional study analysed empirical ceftriaxone prescriptions in January and June 2021. Patients under other antimicrobials 48 h before admission were excluded. The quality of ceftriaxone prescription was assessed regarding the initial appropriateness, duration of inappropriate ceftriaxone therapy, and missed opportunities for de-escalation. Of 465 prescriptions, 46.5% were inappropriate. The ceftriaxone prescription was inappropriate in 95.7% of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) globally and in nearly 40% of urinary tract infections (UTI) in medical and intensive care departments. Intensive care, internal medicine, and palliative care departments showed the highest number of inappropriate ceftriaxone prescriptions and longer length of inappropriate ceftriaxone prescriptions compared to the hospital's average. Improvement of empirical ceftriaxone prescription in LRTI and urinary infections, adherence to local guidelines and de-escalation practices, and targeted interventions focusing on critical departments may significantly reduce the inappropriate empirical use of ceftriaxone.

Increasing HIV early diagnosis by implementing an automated screening strategy in emergency departments.

INTRODUCTION: Late HIV diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and risk of onward transmission. Increasing HIV early diagnosis is still a priority. In this observational study with historical control, we determined the impact of an opportunistic HIV screening strategy in the reduction of late diagnosis and missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis. METHODS: The screening programme was implemented in the emergency department (ED) of the Hospital de Cascais between September 2018 and September 2021. Eligible patients were aged 18-64 years, with no known HIV diagnosis or antibody testing performed in the previous year, and who required blood work for any reason. Out of the 252 153 emergency visits to the ED, we identified 43 153 (17.1%) patients eligible for HIV testing. Among the total population eligible for the screening, 38 357 (88.9%) patients were ultimately tested for HIV. Impact of the ED screening was determined by analysing late diagnosis in the ED and missed opportunities at different healthcare settings 3 years before and 3 years after the start of the ED screening. RESULTS: After 3 years of automated HIV ED testing, we found 69 newly diagnosed HIV cases (54% male, 39% Portuguese nationals, mean age 40.5 years). When comparing the characteristics of HIV diagnoses made in the ED, we observed a significant reduction in the number of people with late HIV diagnosis before and after implementation of the screening programme (78.4% vs. 39.1%, respectively; p = 0.0291). The mean number of missed opportunities for diagnosis also fell (2.6 vs. 1.5 annual encounters with the healthcare system per patient, p = 0.0997). CONCLUSIONS: People living with HIV in Cascais and their providers miss several opportunities for earlier diagnosis. Opportunistic screening strategies in settings previously deemed to be unconventional, such as EDs, are feasible and effective in mitigating missed opportunities for timely HIV diagnosis.

Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis as a Complication of Israeli Spotted Fever.

Rickettsia spp. human infection is endemic in Portugal in the form of Mediterranean spotted fever caused by R. conorii subsp. conorii and Israeli spotted fever (ISF) caused by R. conorii subsp. israelensis. We describe a rare case of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) due to ISF, with atypical manifestations. We highlight the need for clinical suspicion for this diagnosis and the importance of timely intervention and support. LEARNING POINTS: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare complication of rickettsiosis.An exuberant inflammatory reaction with multisystemic dysfunction should raise suspicion.Cutaneous and neurological manifestations can be serious and extensive.

Cutaneous Manifestations in Four Patients with COVID-19.

As the numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections increased globally, reports of cutaneous manifestations started to emerge. We describe several patients with COVID-19 who presented with skin changes. We noted such manifestations in four out of 110 patients (3.63%) and describe the clinical situation of each of these patients. Each patient had either a maculopapular or a urticariform rash. These manifestations have a broad differential diagnosis and it was difficult to exclude drug reactions. We hope to raise awareness of this possible manifestation of COVID-19 in order to raise suspicion of this diagnosis among clinicians when they encounter patients with fever and rash. Larger series that also include patients with mild disease and skin biopsies may be useful. LEARNING POINTS: Cutaneous manifestations can occur as part of COVID-19, so clinicians should be suspicious of this diagnosis in patients with fever and rash.The differential diagnosis is large and drug reactions are difficult to rule out.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a Portuguese hospital - a five-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Our hospital experienced an outbreak of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae, triggering this study. We aimed to describe the population with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in our hospital from 2014 to 2018, the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of isolates, and strategies to stop the outbreak. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study, including every patient with CPE species in a clinical sample. Epidemiology, risk factors, treatment and outcomes were gathered from medical records. RESULTS: A total 113 patients were included, ranging from 5 in 2015 to 83 in 2018. In 2018 the number of CPE went from 4 in May to 20 in July. With the implemented measures, propagation stopped. Implantable devices were present in 36% of patients and open wounds in 34%. Antibiotics had been prescribed to 71% of patients in the prior 30 days and most of the patients had been hospitalized for more than 5 days prior to sample collection or had a hospital stay in the previous year.Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common species (87%). OXA-48 (62%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae-carbapenemase (KPC) (15%) were the most common carbapenemases, with OXA-48 being implicated in the 2018 outbreak. The case fatality rate at 30 days was 32%. Combination therapy resulted in less mortality. CONCLUSIONS: While KPC is the most common carbapenemase in Europe and Portugal, we experienced an important OXA-48 outbreak. Surveillance should be in place as these isolates are probably spreading. Effective communication, multidisciplinary team work and proper infection control measures are some of the best strategies during outbreaks.