N95 masks worn to protect against COVID-19 prevented tuberculosis exposure in healthcare workers.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare workers in our institution have been equipped with N95 masks when performing aerosol-generating procedures, as these are associated with an increased risk of infection. We present a case in which using an N95 mask prevented tuberculosis (TB) exposure among healthcare workers administering prehospital care in rapid response vehicles. Even after the resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in the future, wearing N95 masks among healthcare workers is recommended to protect against pathogens, including TB, when performing aerosol-producing procedures or prehospital activities for patients suspected of having respiratory diseases.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Bacteremia Associated With Severe COVID-19: Successful Treatment With Appropriate Antimicrobial Therapy.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an opportunistic pathogen, can cause bacteremia in immunocompromised and debilitated patients. A 50-year-old man with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was admitted to our hospital's intensive care unit where he underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilatory support. On day 25, he developed S. maltophilia bacteremia originating from an indwelling central venous catheter. After confirming susceptibility, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (80 mg/400 mg) was administered thrice daily. Following improvement, he was weaned from ventilation, recovered sufficiently, and was discharged on day 53. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient recovering after antimicrobial treatment for S. maltophilia bacteremia associated with severe COVID-19.