Convalescents' Reports on COVID-19 Experience-A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The dynamic character of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences caused several medical and societal issues and dilemmas. The aim of our qualitative research was to capture and analyze attitudes and beliefs of convalescents who experienced mild symptoms of COVID-19 in the first wave of the pandemic and decided to donate their plasma for therapeutic purposes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article presents results of qualitative research conducted on the basis of grounded theory (GT) methodology. Empirical material includes 10 in-depth interviews conducted with respondents who had mild or asymptomatic disease and, after recovery, voluntarily donated their plasma to the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Blood Treatment (RCKiK). Data were collected in May and June 2020 in Poland. Qualitative analysis was focused on the experience of convalescents who entered the social role of a sick person in individual, social, and organizational dimensions. RESULTS: The social role of the patient in the narratives of convalescents was related to three stages: (1) initiation to the role, (2) staying in the COVID-19 patient role, and (3) leaving the role. Research results enabled the distinction of three basic descriptive categories ("ontological uncertainty", "the global and individual dimension", and "being sick in the disease-infected environment"), which became epistemological framework for a detailed description of the roles played by an individual COVID-19 patient during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The disease, despite its mild course, generated a number of non-medical issues, and the entire process of being ill was burdened with institutional and emotional struggles. The experience of mild COVID-19 is significantly modified by disease institutionalization. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the psychosocial dimension of COVID-19 and convalescents' motivations for plasma donation.

[Expert consensus on the usefulness of natriuretic peptides in heart failure.] / Stanowisko Grupy Ekspertów dotyczace oceny przydatnosci oznaczen peptydów natriuretycznych w niewydolnosci serca

Heart failure (HF) has becoming an increasing clinical and social problem worldwide and despite modern therapy the syndrome still imposes high burden on healthcare systems. In contrast to western countries, the diagnosis of HF in Poland is established later, at more advanced stage of the disease, thus leaving less time for modern therapy and more frequently requiring hospitalisation. As a result, the alarmingly high proportion of patients with HF is treated in hospitals in Poland. According to current guidelines clinical suspicion of HF should be verified based on early assessment of plasma levels of natriuretic peptides. Unfortunately, the key test for early diagnosis, especially in emergency departments and in general practice is not reimbursed and therefore hardly available. The paper provides a short review on the physiology and pathophysiology of natriuretic peptides. Important laboratory issues as well as limitations of their use in specific clinical situations are briefly discussed. Further, we focus on clinical use of natriuretic peptides as an important tool for HF diagnosis, guiding therapy and prognosis. Finally, we put spotlight on the use of natriuretic peptides in prevention of HF and also in ambulatory general practice.

Methodological recommendations for the diagnostics of EGFR gene mutations and ALK gene rearrangement in the selection of non-small-cell lung cancer patients to molecularly targeted therapies.

Testing for EGFR gene mutations and ALK gene rearrangement is routinely used in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer for adequate patient selection to molecularly targeted therapies. We present Polish methodological recommendations for molecular analysis of EGFR and ALK genetic abnormalities. Recommendations specify clinical indications for testing, sample types and handling, as well as requirements for laboratories performing molecular diagnostics.

[Analysis of norovirus and rotavirus infections of patients hospitalized in the General Specialist Hospital in Lublin. Retrospective studies]. / Analiza zakazen norowirusami i rotawirusami u pacjentów hospitalizowanych w Wojewódzkim Szpitalu Specjalistycznym w Lublinie. Badania retrospektywne.

UNLABELLED: INDRODUCTION: Recent years have brought reports about increasing role of the viruses among the pathogens causing gastro-intestinal acute infections. Among them norovirus and rotavirus dominate. Rotavirus infections are the major reason of nosocomial infections in pediatric wards, and norovirus are the most common factors ofepidemiological gastrointestinal infections among adults. The knowledge about epidemiology of nosocomial diarrheas and microbiological characteristics of mentioned viruses is very useful in the process of prevention of spreading infections. The aim of the study was the laboratory diagnostics of etiology factors inducing intestinal infections of hospitalized patients as well as the evaluation of hospital epidemiological situation in terms of gastro-intestinal infections caused by viruses in the year 2011. METHODS: Pathogen causing infections was determined on the basis of results of stool samples analysis. Samples were collected from patients with infection's symptoms. The process of rotaviruses diagnosis was using single-stage membrane test based on immunochromathographic technology, by STAMAR. Norovirus infections were detected by immunoenzymatic third-generation qualitative test "Norovirus RIDASCREEN" by R-Biopharm. Analysis of gastrointestinal infections caused by norovirus and rotavirus was carried out on the basis of diagnostic tests results of infected patients and data from the infection registry of hospital epidemiological surveillance in the year 2011. Reported infections of rotavirus or norovirus were analyzed with regard to gender of patients, hospital ward, time (month) of occurrence and type of infection (nosocomial or non-nosocomial). The data were statistically analyzed using non-parametrical chi2 test of the statistical package SPSS 12.0PL. RESULTS: The results showed considerably greater number of rotavirus infections (176 cases - 0.87% of hospitalized patients) than norovirus infections (118 cases - 0.58% of hospitalized). Majority of rotavirus infections (96.6%) applied to pediatric ward patients, their occurrence indicated seasonality of this infections. All of norovirus infections were classified as nosocomial. CONCLUSIONS: Following hospital dyscypline increases safety of hospitalized patients and reduction of epidemiological focuses, what was confirmed by relatively low rate of patients diagnosed with defined nosocomial infections.

Recommendations for the diagnosis of human papilloma virus (HPV) high and low risk in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Guide of experts PTORL and KIDL.

The role of human papilloma viruses (HPV) in malignant and nonmalignant ENT diseases and the corresponding epidemiological burden has been widely described. International head and neck oncology community discussed growing evidence that oral HPV infection contributes to the risk of oro-pharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and recommended HPV testing as a part of the work up for patients with OPC. Polish Society of ENT Head Neck Surgery and National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians have worked together to define the minimum requirements for assigning a diagnosis of HPV-related conditions and testing strategy that include HPV specific tests in our country. This paper briefly frames the literature information concerning low risk (LR) and high risk (HR) HPV, reviews the epidemiology, general guidance on the most appropriate biomarkers for clinical assessment of HPV. The definition of HPV-related cancer was presented. The article is aiming to highlight some of major issues for the clinician dealing with patients with HPV-related morbidities and to introduce the diagnostic algorithm in Poland.

[Chronic blepharitis caused by mite Demodex folliculorum]. / Przewlekle zapalenie brzegów powiek wywolane przez nuzenca Demodex folliculorum.

Two cases of the very long term observation and clinical findings of chronic blepharitis caused by mite Demodex folliculorum are presented. Both patients were treated for over ten years for inflammation of the margin of the eyelid with antibiotics and steroids administered locally. A significant thickening of the blood vessels in the eyelid and numerous cylindrical cuffs of dry discharge around the base of the eyelashes persuaded us to carry out microbiological tests on the suspect eyelashes. In both cases we received additional test results from the epilated eyelashes. Demodex folliculorum should be taken into consideration as an etiological factor in cases of chronic blepharitis.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of aerobic microorganisms isolated from intraabdominal infections in pediatric patients in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Growing resistance to antibiotics among both community-acquired and hospital pathogens is making the treatment of most infections increasingly difficult. Therefore, the aim of our multi-center study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of the most frequent aerobic microorganisms isolated from children with intraabdominal infections. MATERIAL/METHODS: Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 256 consecutive patients treated in five large specialized hospitals in Poland from January 2001 to February 2002. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefepime were determined by Etests. The production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was detected by a double-disk test. RESULTS: Piperacillin-tazobactam was the most active agent against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, inhibiting 92% and 78% of isolates respectively. Susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefepime was 73%, 73% and 87% respectively, and susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to both ceftazidime and cefepime was 76%. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were detected in 56% Klebsiella sp. and 11.5% E. coli, but the vast majority of these isolates remained susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam (MIC(90) = 12 mg/L and MIC(90) = 1 mg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Piperacillin/tazobactam remains a valuable therapeutic option in Polish pediatric patients with intraabdominal infections, due to its good activity against ESbetaL-producing organisms and P. aeruginosa.

Microbial quality of water in dental unit reservoirs.

Microbial quality of water in a dental unit is of considerable importance since patients and dental staff are regularly exposed to water and aerosol generated by the unit. Water delivered to a dental unit by the so-called independent water system is the water coming from a reservoir which, at the same time, is an initial part of dental unit waterlines (DUWL). Thus, microbiological quality of this water is extremely important for the quality of water flowing from dental handpieces. The aim of the study was to assess microbiologically the water contained in dental unit reservoirs. Water samples were collected aseptically from the water reservoirs of 19 dental units. Results concerning microbial contamination: potable water quality indices, and detection and isolation of Legionella species bacteria, were presented. Over a half of the samples did not comply with the norms for potable water. In 63.1% of the cases, the number of colony forming units (cfu/ml) and of coliform organisms significantly exceeded acceptable values. Enterococcus was not detected in the samples of examined water. Similarly, no Legionella were found in the samples of dental unit reservoirs water. Reservoirs as water supplies and initial segment of DUWL should be subject to protocol to eliminate microbial contamination and routine monitoring to guarantee an appropriate quality of water used in dental treatment.