A Comparison of the Epidemiological Characteristics Between Influenza and COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective, Observational Cohort Study.

Background and objective It is crucial to make early differentiation between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza infections at the time of a patient's presentation to the emergency department (ED). In light of this, this study aimed to identify key epidemiological, initial laboratory, and radiological differences that would enable early recognition during co-circulation. Methods This was a retrospective, observational cohort study. All adult patients presenting to our ED at the Watford General Hospital, UK, with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (2019/20) or influenza (2018/19) infection were included in this study. Demographic, laboratory, and radiological data were collected. Binary logistic regression was employed to determine features associated with COVID-19 infection rather than influenza. Results Chest radiographs suggestive of viral pneumonitis and older age (≥80 years) were associated with increased odds of having COVID-19 [odds ratio (OR): 47.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 21.63-102.13 and OR: 64.85, 95% CI: 19.96-210.69 respectively]. Low eosinophils (<0.02 x 109/L) were found to increase the odds of COVID-19 (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.44-3.10, p<0.001). Conclusions Gaining awareness about the epidemiological, biological, and radiologic presentation of influenza-like illness can be useful for clinicians in ED to differentiate between COVID-19 and influenza. This study showed that older age, eosinopenia, and radiographic evidence of viral pneumonitis significantly increase the odds of having COVID-19 compared to influenza. Further research is needed to determine if these findings are affected by acquired or natural immunity.

Empirical use of temocillin in hospitalized patients: results from a retrospective audit.

Background: Following a global shortage of piperacillin/tazobactam in 2017, a formulary decision was taken at a large District General Hospital in the East of England to partly replace piperacillin/tazobactam with either temocillin as monotherapy or as part of a combination regimen. A retrospective audit was then conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of temocillin therapy. Methods: Data from patients admitted to Watford General Hospital between May and August 2017 and treated with temocillin were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics of patients, data related to the episode of infection, clinical success, tolerance and mortality were analysed. Results: Temocillin was used in 126 patients with median age of 73 years. Infection episodes mostly originated from the abdomen (n = 46), the lung (n = 40) and the urinary tract (n = 21). Seventy-seven patients received temocillin as first-line therapy and 106 received it empirically, with temocillin prescribed in combination with another antibiotic in 82% of the empirically treated cases. Clinical success was observed in 88.9% of cases with no difference between patients treated empirically and others (89.6% versus 85%) or in efficacy among abdominal (91%), pulmonary (87.5%) and urinary (81%) infections. One case of Clostridioides difficile infection was reported in a patient treated with four different antibiotics. During the shortage period, the hospital's standardized mortality ratio was significantly lower when compared with the same period of the preceding year (85 versus 96). Conclusions: Using temocillin as part of an empirical strategy is feasible and safe as long as appropriate antibiotic combination is recommended based upon the indication and the likely bacterial pathogen.

Infection Rates Following Buttonhole Cannulation in Hemodialysis Patients.

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred access for hemodialysis (HD). Buttonhole (BH) needling has increased following the introduction of "blunt" fistula needles. Although some reported advantages for BH needling, others have reported increased infection risk. As such we reviewed our center practice, and the effect of both nasal screening and eradication and re-education and training programs. We audited the outcomes of 881 HD patients dialyzed between November 2009 and May 2012, divided into three groups: 175 dialyzing exclusively by central venous catheter (CVC), 478 exclusively by area needling AVF (AVF) and 219 by BH. There were 31 Staphylococcus aureus bacteremias (SABs); 14 (45.2%) dialyzing with CVCs, 12 (38.7%) BH and five (16.1%) AVF. The 30 day mortality rate for SAB was 7.5% with a complication rate of 22.6%. The hazard ratio for first SAB was significantly greater for both CVC and BH access compared to AVF (5.3 (95% CI -1.9-18.6), P < 0.001 and 3.6 (1.3-96), P = 0.011, respectively). During the study SAB rates per 1000 CVC days were 0.21, compared to 0.15 for BH. After major re-education and asepsis technique campaigns the SAB rate for BH fell to 0.06, but quickly returned to 0.17. Extending BH needling to all our dialysis centers, SAB infection rates increased to those not dissimilar to CVC access. Despite re-education programs coupled with a strict asepsis policy and active SA eradication, followed by audit cycles, the increased infection risk with BH remained, such that we have limited BH to self-care patients.

Trends in Antibiotic Resistance in Urologic Practice.

CONTEXT: The significant global upsurge in antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Enterobacteriaceae, represents a serious threat to health care systems. The implications for urologic practice are of particular concern. OBJECTIVE: To review trends in antibiotic resistance in urologic practice. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We report current European trends of resistance in Gram-negative uropathogens. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In addition to ß-lactam resistance, Gram-negative pathogens are often resistant to multiple drug classes, including aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems, commonly used to treat urologic infections. Interest is renewed in old antibiotics, and several new antibiotics are in the pipeline to meet the challenge of treating these infections. In this review, we summarise emerging trends in antimicrobial resistance and its impact on urologic practice. We also review current guidelines on the treatment and prevention of urologic infections with these organisms, and some key antibiotics in the era of resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing antimicrobial resistance represents a challenge to urologic practice for both treatment and prophylaxis. Antibiotic choice should be determined according to risk factors for multidrug resistance. Good knowledge of the local microbial prevalence and resistance profile is required to guide antimicrobial therapy. PATIENT SUMMARY: Antimicrobial resistance represents a challenge in urology. We summarise emerging trends in antimicrobial resistance and review current guidelines on the treatment and prevention of urologic infections, as well as some key antibiotics in the era of resistance.

Haemorrhage, hyponatraemia and more than just a hack.

A 43-year-old previously healthy solicitor presented with a 9-day history of cough productive of yellow sputum with a prodrome of sore throat and myalgia. The cough was paroxysmal in nature and severe enough to cause extensive bilateral subconjunctival haemorrhages and cough syncopes multiple times a day, with one bout of associated haematemesis on the day of admission. He was isolated, treated for a presumed atypical chest infection with tazocin and clarithromycin, and monitored carefully until the hyponatraemia on presentation was resolved. Atypical screen and blood cultures were sent off, though unexciting at first, eventually confirmed the unlikely; Bordetella pertussis, much to the surprise of many who had Legionella as the top differential.

Arteriovenous fistula survival with buttonhole (constant site) cannulation for hemodialysis access.

Buttonhole needling for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) has increased in popularity among dialysis centers. Concerns have been raised about the risks of infection, so we reviewed our experience of buttonhole needling in 227 adult patients on hemodialysis. The mean buttonhole AVF survival was 27.0 months, in 227 patients, 61.1% male, mean age 63.8 ± 15.5 years, 45.8% with diabetes mellitus, median dialysis vintage 19 months (6.5-42.8). Ninety-six patients transferred to rope ladder AVF cannulation, because of cannulation failure in 25%, persistent bleeding at the needling site in 24%, fistula thrombosis in 14%, and infections in 15%. Because of persistent methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization, 18.8% discontinued buttonhole needling. Transfer from buttonhole needling was more common for people with diabetes (X = 6.57; p = 0.035), older patients (odds ratio, 0.985; p = 0.007), and persistent MSSA/MRSA colonization (odds ratio, 0.88; p = 0.037). Eleven episodes of suspected buttonhole S. aureus bacteremia occurred giving a bacteremia rate of 2.94 per 100 patient years, and 15 local infections giving an infection rate of 4.01 per 100 patient years. In this large series of buttonhole AVF access, although infection rates were increased, more patients discontinued buttonhole needling because of technical cannulation problems and persistent bleeding from needle tracks.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Pasteurella in a penicillin allergic patient: challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Pasteurella multocida is a rare cause of infective endocarditis with only a few cases described. This report involves a 38-year-old penicillin-allergic patient in an immunocompromised state with several co-morbidities. Two molecular microbiological techniques, 16S rRNA sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to confirm the species identification as P. multocida. Previous reports in the literature are also reviewed.

The effect of anti-lymphocyte serum on subpopulations of blood and tissue leucocytes: possible supplementary mechanisms for suppression of rejection and the development of opportunistic infections.

Xenogeneic anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS) remains a major reagent for immunosuppression in clinical practice, but mechanisms of action and risks of opportunistic infection have not been considered in the context of innate immunity and its role in immune responsiveness. Rabbit anti rat ALS was administered intraperitoneally. Blood was taken for flow cytometry to establish absolute counts of leucocyte subsets. Tissues were harvested for immunohistology to evaluate interstitial dendritic cells and tissue macrophages. At day 2 of ALS therapy, T cells are completely depleted, as anticipated. B cells are undiminished and form approximately 90% of blood leucocytes. Monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells are substantially (approximately 80%), but not completely, depleted, and there is a trend for diminished numbers of putative dendritic cells. Neither interstitial dendritic cells nor tissue macrophages in heart are affected. The results at day 7 were very similar to day 2. Substantial depletion of blood monocytes and NK cells might attenuate the innate immune system, and represent a possible supplementary mechanism (in addition to T cell depletion) for suppression of rejection. It might be of particular importance in reducing defences against infections. Monitoring these parameters could be of clinical value.

The efficacy of ritonavir in the prevention of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

Angiogenesis is thought to play a major role in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), considered by many to be a hyperplastic disorder caused in part by local production of inflammatory cytokines. The antiangiogenic effects of protease inhibitors, in particular ritonavir, have been suggested in laboratory work to lead to regression of KS, and recent data have shown the importance of ritonavir as a model of pharmaceutical development. As our clinical cohort data has shown that non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens are not inferior to protease inhibitor-based therapy in the prevention of KS, we investigated the specific contribution of ritonavir to chemoprevention of this AIDS-defining illness. In a logistic regression analysis, we found that ritonavir-based therapy confers no advantages compared to other regimens in the prevention of KS. This is consistent with data suggesting that regression of KS is mediated by an overall improvement in immune function and not by the effects of specific antiretrovirals.

Innate and adaptive immunological insights into HIV pathogenesis.

The human immunodeficiency virus is notorious for its ability to evade the immune system. As well as its ability to escape from cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, new insights are detailing its subversive, pernicious interactions with the innate immune system. The molecular mechanisms underlying these processes highlight potential therapeutic and vaccination strategies.