Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients during the BA.5 omicron wave in Tehran, Iran: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Omicron (B.1.1.529) is the fifth variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2, which has several subvariants. Clinical features of BA.1 and BA.2 infections have been described in the literature, but we have limited information about the clinical profile of BA.5, which caused the seventh wave in Iran. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on the BA.5 confirmed patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, from 11th to 31st August 2022. The patients were divided into the two groups of outpatients and hospitalized patients, and their clinical, radiological, and laboratory data and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: We included 193 patients with confirmed BA.5 infection, of whom 48 patients (24·8%) were hospitalized. The mean age of the patients was 45·3 ± 16·5 years, and 113 patients (58·5%) were female. The mean number of days patients had symptoms was 6·8 ± 2·4 days. The most common symptoms were weakness (69·9%), sore throat (67·4%), myalgia (66·3%), hoarseness (63·7%), headache (55·4%), fatigue (54·9%), and dry cough (50·3%). Fever and dyspnea were significantly more observed in the hospitalized patients (p < 0·0001). The COVID-19 vaccination rate was significantly lower in hospitalized patients than in outpatients (35/48-72·9% vs. 140/145 - 96·6%, p < 0·0001). The most common underlying diseases were hypertension (16·1%), diabetes mellitus (9·8%), and cardiovascular diseases (9·8%), all of which were significantly more common in hospitalized patients. Lung opacities were observed in 81·2% of hospitalized patients. By the end of our study, 1·5% of patients died despite receiving critical care services. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that BA.5 symptoms are more non-respiratory and usually improve within 7 days. Although the proportion of hospitalized patients is still significant, very few patients require intensive care. COVID-19 vaccination is effective in reducing the hospitalization rate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable. This study is not a clinical trial.

Multiple Myeloma or Brucellosis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis, a major health problem in developing countries, is a multisystem infection with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Hematological complications, ranging from an intravascular coagulopathy to mild homeostasis disorders (such as gammopathy), have been reported in brucella infection. These signs and symptoms may lead to misdiagnosis of brucellosis with other hematological diseases. CASE: A 65-year-old male whose occupation was shepherding was referred to our hospital as a known case of multiple myeloma with continuous fever, muscle weakness, and night sweating after taking 2 courses of chemotherapy. The laboratory diagnosis of multiple myeloma had been based on the observation of a high percent of plasma cells in the bone marrow aspiration. At follow- up, the result of patient's fever workup, with 2 sets of blood cultures, was positive for Brucella melitensis. Isolated brucella was confirmed as B. melitensis by 16S rRNA sequencing. Brucellosis serologic test was performed by agglutination test and positive results were obtained. The patient was discharged with the cessation of fever and general improvement after the end of the parental treatment phase of brucella bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: Brucella infection may cause a severe disease, mimicking a primary hematological disease, which could complicate the correct diagnosis. In brucellosis cases, due to the wide range of symptoms, in addition to cultivation and serological methods, molecular methods should also be used to prevent inappropriate diagnosis and additional costs.

Epidemiology of yeast species causing bloodstream infection in Tehran, Iran (2015-2017); superiority of 21-plex PCR over the Vitek 2 system for yeast identification.

Introduction. Given the limited number of candidaemia studies in Iran, the profile of yeast species causing bloodstream infections (BSIs), especially in adults, remains limited. Although biochemical assays are widely used in developing countries, they produce erroneous results, especially for rare yeast species.Aim. We aimed to assess the profile of yeast species causing BSIs and to compare the accuracy of the Vitek 2 system and 21-plex PCR.Methodology. Yeast blood isolates were retrospectively collected from patients recruited from two tertiary care training hospitals in Tehran from 2015 to 2017. Relevant clinical data were mined. Identification was performed by automated Vitek 2, 21-plex PCR and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2).Results. In total, 137 yeast isolates were recovered from 107 patients. The overall all-cause 30-day mortality rate was 47.7 %. Fluconazole was the most widely used systemic antifungal. Candida albicans (58/137, 42.3 %), Candida glabrata (30/137, 21.9 %), Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto (23/137, 16.8 %), Candida tropicalis (10/137, 7.3 %) and Pichia kudriavzevii (Candida krusei) (4/137, 2.9 %) constituted almost 90 % of the isolates and 10 % of the species detected were rare yeast species (12/137; 8.7 %). The 21-plex PCR method correctly identified 97.1 % of the isolates, a higher percentage than the Vitek 2 showed (87.6 %).Conclusion. C. albicans was the main cause of yeast-derived fungaemia in this study. Future prospective studies are warranted to closely monitor the epidemiological landscape of yeast species causing BSIs in Iran. The superiority of 21-plex PCR over automated Vitek 2 indicates its potential clinical utility as an alternative identification tool use in developing countries.

Endocarditis with Aeromonas salmonicida.

Aeromonas salmonicida (A. salmonicida) is a facultative Gram-negative bacillus, inhabiting in water. It is a common source of furunculosis and septicemia in fish. Report on the human infection with this organism is rare. A male farmer referred with weakness and intermittent fever. He had cardiac valves' regurgitation due to fever with rheumatic heart disease. He had a history of swimming in well water. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a mobile mass of 1.3 × 0.9 cm attached to the mitral valve chordae, suggestive of a vegetation. Aeromonas salmonicida was isolated from the blood. After cardiac surgery and taking ceftriaxone for 4 weeks, he was discharged in good general condition. Five previous case reports of human infection with this organism were found. The patient was the sixth human case, and the first endocarditis, reported with this organism. A. salmonicida is a rare agent for human infection. Contact with water is a risk factor for this type of infection. It seems that the use of modern diagnostic methods has been effective in identifying the microorganism.

Meropenem/colistin versus meropenem/ampicillin-sulbactam in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant pneumonia.

AIM: Efficacy of colistin and ampicillin-sulbactam have not been compared in treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to A. baumannii. Efficacy of colistin and ampicillin-sulbactam in combination with meropenem were compared in treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii. METHOD: 47 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii were randomized to receive meropenem/colistin or meropenem/ampicillin-sulbactam for 14 days. Clinical and microbiological responses and 28-day mortality were considered as outcomes. RESULTS: Clinical response (75 vs 69.6%; p = 0.75) and microbial eradication (87.50 vs 91.3%; p = 0.59) were comparable between meropenem/colistin and meropenem/ampicillin-sulbactam groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, clinical and microbiological response were comparable between the meropenem/colistin and meropenem/ampicillin-sulbactam groups.

Clinical Response and Outcome in Patients with Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Infections.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, frequency and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms were evaluated in a referral teaching hospital in Iran. METHODS: Patients with MDR Gram-negative pathogens were followed during the course of hospitalization. Demographic data, baseline diseases, type of biological sample, isolated microorganism, type of infection, antibiotic regimen before the availability of the culture result and change in the antibiotic regimen following receiving the antibiogram results, response to the treatment regimen, and duration of hospitalization and patient's outcome were considered variables for each recruited patient. FINDINGS: In 71% of the patients, antibiotic regimens were changed according to the antibiogram results. A carbapenem alone or plus amikacin or ciprofloxacin were selected regimens for patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) infections. For patients with probable carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections, a carbapenem plus colistin was the most common antibiotic regimen. Clinical response was detected in 54.5% of the patients who were treated based on the antibiogram results. Clinical response was higher in the ESBL producers (ESBL-P) than the non-ESBL-P infections (75% vs. 52%). However, this difference was not significant (P = 0.09). Most nonresponders (80%) had sepsis due to Klebsiella species. Finally, 41.9% of the patients were discharged from the hospital and 58.2% died. CONCLUSION: Same as other countries, infections due MDR microorganisms is increasing in the recent years. This type of resistance caused poor clinical response and high rate mortality in the patients.

Microbial and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile among Clinical Samples of Patients with Acute Leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Preventing and starting early treatment of infections in patients whose immunity system is weak due to malignancies like leukemia can reduce mortality. This study aimed to determine microbial and antibiotic resistance patterns in clinical samples of patients with acute leukemia to start early treatment before the results of clinical tests are known. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the clinical samples of all patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute leukemia were cultured and their antibiogram was evaluated. Then, the data were analyzed by SPSS 18 based on the objectives of the study. RESULTS: Of a total of 2,366 samples, 18.95% were reported to be positive blood samples, 22.96% were reported to be urine samples and 36% wound samples. E. coli was the most common bacteria isolated from the blood and urine cultures (34% in blood, 32% in urine culture) while Staphylococcus Aureus was the most common in the wound culture (35%). The highest level of sensitivity in the organisms with positive blood culture was to Ciprofloxacin, while in positive urine and wound culture was to Imipenem. The highest resistance in blood, urine and wound culture was to Cotrimoxazole. CONCLUSION: According to results obtained from this study, it is necessary to conduct appropriate studies on this issue in specific conditions in our country. The findings of this study can be used in clinics for more accurate diagnosis, more effective treatment before the results of clinical tests are known and also for prevention of infection in cancer patients.

Clinical response and outcome of pneumonia due to multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The frequency of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. infections is increasing in Iran. Considering availability of limited therapeutic options, clinical response and outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to multi-drug resistant A.baumannii were evaluated in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 29 patients with carbapenem resistance A. baumannii ventilator-associated pneumonia were enrolled. Endotracheal aspirate specimens were analyzed according to the clinical and laboratory standard institute instructions in the hospital's microbiology laboratory. Demographics, clinical, microbiological and laboratory findings were collected for each patient during the treatment course. Therapeutic empirical regimen, change in antibiotic regimen following receiving antibiogram results, clinical and microbiological responses, duration of ICU stay and outcome were collected for each recruited individual. RESULTS: All of A. baumanii isolates were resistant to pipracillin-tazobactam, ceftriaxon, amikacin and ciprofloxacin. The resistance rate of A. baumanii species was 41.4% for ampicillin/sulbactabm and 93.1% for meropenem. Patients received either meropenem/colistin (51.7%) or meropenem/ampicillin-sulbactam (48.3%) as the treatment regimens based on the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolates. Ventilator-associated pneumonia clinical response, improvement and failure achieved in 15 (51.7%), 8 (27.6%) and 6 (20.7%) of the patients respectively. Microbiological eradication and intermediate status were observed in 9/29 (31%) and 11/29 (37.9%) of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The antibiotic regimens showed comparable efficacy in treatment of VAP due to MDR A. baumannii but mortality rate was high. Considering widespread and high mortality rates associated with MDR infections, applying infection control and antibiotic stewardship programs in hospitals are essential.