Candida auris - Comparison of sensititre YeastOne and Vitek 2 AST systems for antifungal susceptibility testing - A single centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: Candida auris is emerging as an important cause of candidemia and deep seated candidal infection. We compared the susceptibility results of bloodstream Candida auris isolates by Vitek 2 with Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method. METHODS: Forty-seven C. auris blood stream isolates were simultaneously tested for AFST by Vitek 2 and SYO. RESULTS: All strains were resistant to Fluconazole. 25.5% isolates showed pan-azole resistance. In comparison with SYO, lower MICs for voriconazole were noted with Vitek 2 (VME rate 76.1%). All strains were sensitive to anidulafungin and micafungin by SYO. For micafungin, Vitek 2 demonstrated higher MICs and an ME rate of 23.5%. Susceptibility interpretation of caspofungin by SYO was challenged by development of 'Eagle effect' resulting in sensitivity of 28.2%. We studied the evolution of caspofungin 'Eagle effect' with SYO by serial hourly MIC readings and noted that paradoxical growth commenced at 21 hrs of incubation. Compared to SYO, Vitek 2 showed higher resistance rate to Amphotericin B with ME rate of 25.6%. CONCLUSION: Laboratories using commercial AFST systems for Candida auris need to be aware of the possibility of ME and VME for amphotericin B and voriconazole respectively with Vitek 2 and 'Eagle effect' for caspofungin with SYO.

Microbial Profile, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Prevalence of MDR/XDR Pathogens Causing Medical Device Associated Infections: A Single Center Study.

Background: There is a scarcity of studies evaluating the microbial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and prevalence of MDR/XDR pathogens causing medical device-associated infections (MDAIs). The present study was sought in this regard. Materials and methods: An ambispective-observational, site-specific, surveillance-based study was performed for a period of 2 years in the intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) (medicine/surgery) of a Tertiary-care University Hospital. Three commonly encountered MDAIs including central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), were targeted. Results and conclusion: Of the total 90 patients, 46 (51.1%) were admitted to the ICU (medicine/surgery), and the remaining 44 (48.8%) were admitted to the HDU (medicine/surgery). The median (P25-P75) age of the total patients was 55 (43.1-62.3) years. Male 61 (67.8%) preponderance was observed. Sixty-two of 90 (68.9%) were immunocompromised. A total of 104 pathogens causing MDAIs were isolated. Staphylococcus epidermidis (CoNS), and Staphylococcus capitis were commonly isolated multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-positive pathogens causing MDAIs. Similarly, carba-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and carba-resistant Acinetobacter baumanni were commonly isolated MDR gram-negative pathogens causing MDAIs. Five of 9 (55.5%) K. pneumoniae and three of 9 (33.3%) S. maltophilia isolates were found to be extensively drug resistant. Among Candida, C. parapsilosis was the most prevalent fungal pathogen causing CLABSI and CAUTI in patients admitted to ICU/HDU. How to cite this article: Suryawanshi VR, Pawar A, Purandare B, Vijayvargiya N, Sancheti S, Philip S, et al. Microbial Profile, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Prevalence of MDR/XDR Pathogens Causing Medical Device Associated Infections: A Single Center Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(2):152-164.

Antitubercular therapy causing drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms manifesting multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and death in an elderly patient: A case report with review of literature.

We present the case of a drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) manifesting multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) that led to death in an elderly patient during the intensive phase of antitubercular therapy (ATT). A 74-year-old male developed skin rash (morbilliform), patchy erythematous macules, pustular-purpuric nonblanching spots, fever, lymphadenopathy, liver dysfunction, leukocytosis, and eosinophilia during intensive phase of ATT (ATT: day 45). Laboratory tests revealed hypereosinophilia (eosinophils; 10500/µL), hyperacute fulminant hepatic failure (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase; 1444/1375 IU/L, total bilirubin; 11.3 mg/dL), hepatic encephalopathy (Child-Pugh score: 15), coagulopathy (international normalized ratio; 3.0 and activated partial thromboplastin time; 52 s), and acute renal failure (serum creatinine; 2.6 mg/dL). The patient was diagnosed with DRESS with a RegiSCAR score of 7 (definite). ATT was discontinued. Despite immediate treatment with pulse methylprednisolone, N-acetylcysteine and sustained low-efficiency dialysis, the patient's clinical condition evolved to shock due to MODS (sequential organ failure Assessment: 15 points), and on day 51, he succumbed. Concluding, an elderly patient with high-dose antitubercular drugs needs a clinical management review. Clinical symptoms pertaining to DRESS may paradoxically worsen after 3-4 days of discontinuation of the offending drug.

Development and Validation of a Respiratory-Responsive Vocal Biomarker-Based Tool for Generalizable Detection of Respiratory Impairment: Independent Case-Control Studies in Multiple Respiratory Conditions Including Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Vocal biomarker-based machine learning approaches have shown promising results in the detection of various health conditions, including respiratory diseases, such as asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether a respiratory-responsive vocal biomarker (RRVB) model platform initially trained on an asthma and healthy volunteer (HV) data set can differentiate patients with active COVID-19 infection from asymptomatic HVs by assessing its sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio (OR). METHODS: A logistic regression model using a weighted sum of voice acoustic features was previously trained and validated on a data set of approximately 1700 patients with a confirmed asthma diagnosis and a similar number of healthy controls. The same model has shown generalizability to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, and cough. In this study, 497 participants (female: n=268, 53.9%; <65 years old: n=467, 94%; Marathi speakers: n=253, 50.9%; English speakers: n=223, 44.9%; Spanish speakers: n=25, 5%) were enrolled across 4 clinical sites in the United States and India and provided voice samples and symptom reports on their personal smartphones. The participants included patients who are symptomatic COVID-19 positive and negative as well as asymptomatic HVs. The RRVB model performance was assessed by comparing it with the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The ability of the RRVB model to differentiate patients with respiratory conditions from healthy controls was previously demonstrated on validation data in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, and cough, with ORs of 4.3, 9.1, 3.1, and 3.9, respectively. The same RRVB model in this study in COVID-19 performed with a sensitivity of 73.2%, specificity of 62.9%, and OR of 4.64 (P<.001). Patients who experienced respiratory symptoms were detected more frequently than those who did not experience respiratory symptoms and completely asymptomatic patients (sensitivity: 78.4% vs 67.4% vs 68%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The RRVB model has shown good generalizability across respiratory conditions, geographies, and languages. Results using data set of patients with COVID-19 demonstrate its meaningful potential to serve as a prescreening tool for identifying individuals at risk for COVID-19 infection in combination with temperature and symptom reports. Although not a COVID-19 test, these results suggest that the RRVB model can encourage targeted testing. Moreover, the generalizability of this model for detecting respiratory symptoms across different linguistic and geographic contexts suggests a potential path for the development and validation of voice-based tools for broader disease surveillance and monitoring applications in the future.

A Case of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis Preferred Therapy Associated Adverse Drug Reactions in a Patient Newly Co-diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

PURPOSE: The simultaneous occurrence of cerebral toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis is rare. The infections continue to be treated with sulfadiazine and amphotericin-B-based regimens (preferred therapy), respectively. Both these drugs are linked to some serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs). We report such a unique instance of both; the CNS co-infections and adverse drug reactions to the preferred therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old Asian-Indian female was diagnosed with cerebral toxoplasmosis, impending cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The preferred therapy of opportunistic CNS co-infections commenced. Within a week, she had an occurrence of fall in hemoglobin concentrations (11.3 g/dL to 5.6 g/dL; grade IV), reticulocytosis (1% to 3.2%), and indirect hyperbilirubinemia (0.5 mg/dL to 2.8 mg/dL; grade IV) after sulfadiazine administration. The drug was discontinued and the patient was treated with hematocrit transfusions. After amphotericin-B deoxycholate (AmBd) administration, the patient developed hypokalemia (serum potassium; 4.5 mmol/L to 2.7 mmol/L) and increased serum creatinine (1.0 to 2.2 mg/dL; stage-I) levels. Hence, AmBd was discontinued and potassium correction was given. The patient got diagnosed with sulfadiazine induced hemolytic anemia and AmBd induced acute renal failure. He was switched to alternative therapy regimens for the treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Radiological investigations were followed up to confirm the clinical outcomes of alternative therapy. Complete recovery from the ADRs and opportunistic infections was observed. CONCLUSION: The preferred therapy regimens for toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis are accompanied by potential adverse drug reactions, thus continuous monitoring is vital, especially in the initial phases of therapy. Discontinuation of the treatment should be the preliminary intervention in the management. Having said that, alternative therapy regimens had an optimal clinical response in the present case.

COVID-19 Associated Vertebral Osteomyelitis Caused by Aspergillus Species-A Case Series.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) associated fungal infections including pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis and other invasive fungal infections have been increasingly described in the current pandemic. Aspergillus osteomyelitis is a rare clinical form of aspergillosis. Most cases of Aspergillus osteomyelitis are reported in immunocompromised patients. We describe four cases of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Aspergillus species in the post COVID-19 setting. To the best of our knowledge, Aspergillus vertebral osteomyelitis has not been described in the post COVID-19 setting. None of the four patients described in this series were immunocompromised and all of them had received steroids during their hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonitis. Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Aspergillus species is a rare clinical manifestation of Aspergillosis. It requires a high index of suspicion and prompt efforts to establish a diagnosis. For a clinician involved in assessing a patient with Spondylodiscitis, the work up must not be limited to testing for Tuberculosis. Every attempt must be made to establish the microbiological diagnosis. Combined medical and surgical management is generally needed for Aspergillus osteomyelitis.

The Post-COVID 19 long term surveillance study sequel to an add-on Ayurveda regimen.

It has been 18 months now since the world-wide outbreak of COVID 19 (Corona Virus Disease 19) and still the ongoing research is being done for disease specific medicines. During June 2020 to August 2020, an attempt was made to explore if an add-on Ayurveda regimen comprising of Dasamoolkadutrayadi Kashayam and Guluchyadi Kwatham in tablet forms can be prescribed along with standard of care; which has established the clinical evidence that there is advantage of accelerated symptomatic recovery, early discharge from hospital, reducing the duration of hospital stay. After informed consent the patients were followed up over 9 months after discharged from hospital. The purpose of the present extended study was to find the impact of disease even though patients were discharged after appropriate treatment and if there were any late effects in the add-on Ayurveda treatment group after 9 months as it was one of the first few formal studies world-wide; since there was no long term follow up data available. The study concluded that no additional late effects or symptoms or complications which were known in Post COVID phase; were observed in study group who received the add-on Ayurveda regimen as compared to the control group with conventional standard of care.

Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mycosis and COVID-19: From Bad to Worse?

Background: There has been an increase an alarming rise in invasive mycoses during COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the second wave. Aims: Compare the incidence of invasive mycoses in the last three years and study the risk factors, manifestations and outcomes of mycoses in the COVID era. Methodology: Multicentric study was conducted across 21 centres in a state of western India over 12-months. The clinico-radiological, laboratory and microbiological features, treatment and outcomes of patients were studied. We also analysed yearly incidence of rhino-orbito-cerebral mycosis. Results: There was more than five-times rise in the incidence of invasive mycoses compared to previous two-years. Of the 122 patients analysed, mucor, aspergillus and dual infection were seen in 86.9%, 4.1%, and 7.4% respectively. Fifty-nine percent had simultaneous mycosis and COVID-19 while rest had sequential infection. Common presenting features were headache (91%), facial pain (78.7%), diplopia (66.4%) and vison loss (56.6%). Rhino-orbito-sinusitis was present in 96.7%, meningitis in 6.6%, intracranial mass lesions in 15.6% and strokes in 14.8%. A total of 91.8% patients were diabetic, while 90.2% were treated with steroids during COVID-19 treatment. Mortality was 34.4%. Conclusion: Invasive fungal infections having high mortality and morbidity have increased burden on already overburdened healthcare system. Past illnesses, COVID-19 itself and its treatment and environmental factors seem responsible for the rise of fungal infection. Awareness and preventive strategies are the need of hours and larger studies are needed for better understanding of this deadly disease.

A prospective clinical study of an Ayurveda regimen in COVID 19 patients.

The ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda has a treatment for symptom complexes of a variety of diseases. One such combination of Ayurvedic medications has potential for use in COVID 19 infection, and hence a prospective study was conducted with this formulation as an add-on, in COVID positive patients in a dedicated COVID hospital. The objective of the study was to evaluate the additional benefit of an Ayurvedic regime in COVID positive patients on the basis of rate of clinical improvement. The Ayurvedic formulation was administered as an add-on to Standard of Care (SoC) in patients with mild to moderate symptoms, in this prospective, open-label, comparative study. Control group received SoC only. Patients receiving Dasamoolkaduthrayam Kashaya and Guluchyadi Kwatham in tablet form in addition to the SoC showed a faster recovery from breathlessness with reduced ageusia. Patients on the treatment group could be discharged earlier than those from the control group. Addition of Dasamoolkaduthrayam Kashaya and Guluchyadi Kwatham to SoC appeared to accelerate recovery of patients hospitalized for COVID 19 infection, in terms of reduction of symptoms and duration of hospital stay.

Preparedness of Acute Care Facility and a Hospital for COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Did!

BACKGROUND AND AIM: India is facing the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) just like the whole world. The private sector is the backbone of a healthcare facility in India. Presently, only a few major hospitals in the country are actively dealing with the COVID-19 patients while others are facing troubles due to lack of manpower, management, and required experience to face the pandemic. Despite the lockdown, the cases are ever increasing and each and every hospital in the country should be prepared to face this pandemic the world has never seen before. As one of the largest multispecialty hospitals and a designated COVID center, we have developed and adopted some strategies for better preparedness to face the surge of this pandemic. We would like to share our experience and hope that the strategies laid down and adopted by us will help many other acute care facilities in many parts of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different strategies are adopted to deal with the crisis situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our adopted strategies were directed to mitigate the challenges of administration, hospital space organization, management of staff and supplies, maintenance of standard of care, and specific COVID care and ethics during this pandemic. RESULTS: Based on strategies adopted by us, we feel more confident and prepared to deal with COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Our approach for preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic may not be the best one but we believe that the basic managerial principles we adopted will guide many other institutions to find their path in tackling the pandemic in the best possible way. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Jog S, Kelkar D, Bhat M, Patwardhan S, Godavarthy P, Dhundi U, et al. Preparedness of Acute Care Facility and a Hospital for COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Did! Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(6):385-392.

Salmonella Typhi dorsolumbar spondylodiscitis mimicking tuberculosis - An interesting case report.

Background: Salmonella rarely causes spinal infections in patients other than those who are immunocompromised or have sickle cell anemia. Further, most cases occurring in healthy individuals have preexisting gastrointestinal infections. Here, we present a case of pyogenic spondylodiscitis attributed to Salmonella Typhi, in an immunologically normal patient without gastrointestinal pathology. Case Description: A 58-year-old diabetic female complained of lower back pain and malaise. The workup for spinal tuberculosis was negative, but her MRI revealed findings consistent with pyogenic spondylodiscitis (e.g., destruction and instability) for which she required posterior spinal surgery. The organism proved to be S. Typhi; she was treated for 2 months and followed-up for 2 years. Conclusion: Salmonella spondylodiscitis should be considered among the differential diagnoses for patients with features of infective spondylodiscitis. Culture-specific antibiotics are the cornerstone of treatment, along with appropriate and timely surgery.

A Retrospective Observational Study of Hypoxic COVID-19 Patients Treated with Immunomodulatory Drugs in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the demographics and evaluate the clinical outcomes of hypoxic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients treated with different immunomodulatory (IM) drugs in a resource-limited setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of these patients admitted to our hospital between March 22 and May 31, 2020. Data were abstracted from multiple electronic data sources or patient charts to provide information on patient characteristics, clinical, laboratory variables, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients met the inclusion criteria and were followed up till June 7, 2020. The median age of the patients was 55.6 years (range 20-89 years) and 68% were men. At least one comorbidity was seen in 72% of the patients with diabetes (44%) and hypertension (46%) being the most common. At triage, fever (82%), shortness of breath (77%), and cough (61%) were the most common presenting symptoms. A PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than 300 was seen in 60%, and 4.5% required invasive mechanical ventilation within 72 hours of hospital admission. Five immunomodulatory agents (hydroxychloroquine, methylprednisolone, colchicine, etoricoxib, and tocilizumab) were administered in different combinations. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 26.9%, and 32% required mechanical ventilation. Around 69% of patients were discharged home. Five variables (SpO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, leucocytosis, lymphopenia, and creatinine) on admission were found to be significant in the patients who died. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the characteristics and outcomes of hypoxic COVID-19 patients treated with IM drugs in varied combination. Five independent variables were strong predictors of mortality. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mahale N, Rajhans P, Godavarthy P, Narasimhan VL, Oak G, Marreddy S, et al. A Retrospective Observational Study of Hypoxic COVID-19 Patients Treated with Immunomodulatory Drugs in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(11):1020-1027.