Beneficial effect of corticosteroids in preventing mortality in patients receiving tocilizumab to treat severe COVID-19 illness.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) treated with tocilizumab (TCZ), alone or in combination with corticosteroids (CS). METHODS: From March 17 to April 7, 2020, a real-world observational retrospective analysis of consecutive hospitalized adult patients receiving TCZ to treat severe COVID-19 was conducted at our 750-bed university hospital. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1,092 patients with COVID-19 were admitted during the study period. Of them, 186 (17%) were treated with TCZ, of which 129 (87.8%) in combination with CS. Of the total 186 patients, 155 (83.3 %) patients were receiving noninvasive ventilation when TCZ was initiated. Mean time from symptoms onset and hospital admission to TCZ use was 12 (±4.3) and 4.3 days (±3.4), respectively. Overall, 147 (79%) survived and 39 (21%) died. By multivariate analysis, mortality was associated with older age (HR = 1.09, p < 0.001), chronic heart failure (HR = 4.4, p = 0.003), and chronic liver disease (HR = 4.69, p = 0.004). The use of CS, in combination with TCZ, was identified as a protective factor against mortality (HR = 0.26, p < 0.001) in such severe COVID-19 patients receiving TCZ. No serious superinfections were observed after a 30-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe COVID-19 receiving TCZ due to systemic host-immune inflammatory response syndrome, the use of CS in addition to TCZ therapy, showed a beneficial effect in preventing in-hospital mortality.

Tumor necrosis factor antagonists for paradoxical inflammatory reactions in the central nervous system tuberculosis: Case report and review.

RATIONALE: Paradoxical reaction/immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is common in patients with central nervous system tuberculosis. Management relies on high-dose corticosteroids and surgery when feasible. PATIENT CONCERN: We describe 2 cases of HIV-negative patients with corticosteroid-refractory paradoxical reactions of central nervous system tuberculosis. DIAGNOSES: The 2 patients experienced clinical impairment shortly after starting therapy for TB, and magnetic resonance imaging showed the presence of tuberculomas, leading to the diagnosis of a paradoxical reaction. INTERVENTIONS: We added infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha monoclonal antibody, to the dexamethasone. OUTCOMES: Both patients had favorable outcomes, 1 achieving full recovery but 1 suffering neurologic sequelae. LESSONS: Clinicians should be aware of the risk of paradoxical reactions/immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome when treating patients with tuberculosis of the central nervous system and should consider the prompt anti-TNF-α agents in cases not responding to corticosteroids.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection Originating From the Urinary Tract: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SABSI) arising from a urinary tract source (UTS) is poorly understood. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis in 3 major teaching hospitals in Spain of prospectively collected data of hospitalized patients with SABSI. SABSI-UTS was diagnosed in patients with urinary tract symptoms and/or signs, no evidence of an extra-urinary source of infection, and a urinary S. aureus count of ≥105 cfu/mL. Susceptibility of S. aureus strains and patient mortality were compared between SABSI from UTS (SABSI-UTS) and other sources (SABSI-other). RESULTS: Of 4181 episodes of SABSI, we identified 132 (3.16%) cases of SABSI-UTS that occurred predominantly in patients who were male, had high Charlson comorbidity scores, were dependent for daily life activities, and who had undergone urinary catheterization and/or urinary manipulation before the infection. SABSI-UTS was more often caused by MRSA strains compared with SABSI-other (40.9% vs 17.5%; P < .001). Patients with SABSI-UTS caused by MRSA more often received inadequate empirical treatment compared with those caused by susceptible strains (59.7% vs 23.1%; P < .001). The 30-day case fatality rate was lower in patients with SABSI-UTS than in those with SABSI-other (14.4% vs 23.8%; P = .02). Factors independently associated with mortality were dependence for daily activities (aOR, 3.877; 95% CI, 1.08-13.8; P = .037) and persistent bacteremia (aOR, 7.88; 95% CI, 1.57-39.46; P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: SABSI-UTS occurs predominantly in patients with severe underlying conditions and in those who have undergone urinary tract manipulation. Moreover, it is frequently due to MRSA strains and causes significant mortality.