Secondary bacterial infections & extensively drug-resistant bacteria among COVID-19 hospitalized patients at the University Hospital in Kraków.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and bacterial antimicrobial resistance posed a therapeutic risk during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze the HAIs in COVID-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and non-ICU at the University Hospital in Krakow (UHK) with an emphasis on the susceptibility of the most frequently isolated pathogens and the prevalence of extensively drug resistant (XDR) microorganisms. METHODS: This laboratory-based study was carried out at the University Hospital in Krakow in the ICU and non-ICUs dedicated to COVID-19 patients between May 2021 and January 2022. All isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed using PFGE protocol. RESULTS: 292 independent HAI cases were identified, with the predominance of urinary tract infections (UTI), especially in the non-ICU setting. The most common ICU syndrome was pneumonia (PNA). The prevalence of XDR organisms was 22.6% in the ICU and 14.8% in non-ICUs among all isolates. The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection was 24.8 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations and the carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infection incidence was 208.8 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations. The prevalence of XDR strains was highest in Acinetobacter spp, in PNA cases. The PFGE typing demonstrated that almost all XDR strains varied widely from each other. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there was a high incidence of HAI in COVID-19 patients, especially when compared to Western Europe and the United States. Similarly, the prevalence of XDR microorganisms, especially XDR-A.baumannii, was also high. PFGE did not confirm the horizontal spread of any organism strains.

[Comparison of platelet and leukocyte content in platelet concentrates obtained from CS-3000 and third generation (CS-3000 plus and Cobe-Spectra) cell separators]. / Porównanie zawartosci plytek krwi i leukocytów w koncentratach krwinek plytkowych, otrzymanych przy uzyciu separatora CS-3000 oraz separatorów III generacji (CS-3000 plus i Cobe-Spectra).

Platelet concentrates (PCs) obtained using old generation of cell separators contain high number of leukocytes. White cell (WBC) contamination and platelet (Plts) number in PCs obtained from separator II-nd generation CS-3000 and separators III-rd generations CS-3000 plus and Cobe-Spectra have been determined. PCs from new separators contain the same Plts number as PCs from CS-3000. The average leukocyte count in PCs obtained from CS-3000 was 171.26 x 10(6), whereas WBC number in PCs from CS-3000 plus and Cobe-Spectra were 2.87 and 2.54 x 10(6) respectively. In about 85% of PCs obtained from III-rd generation cell separators the leukocyte count did not exceed 5 x 10(6). This count is considered sufficient to prevent alloimmunization of HLA antigens. The determination of WBC count in every PCs allows to select PCs with fewer than 5 x 10(6) leukocytes and to transfuse them without the necessity of using expensive filters for leukocyte removing.

[Comparison of platelet concentrates obtained using blood cell separators with continuous flow: CS-3000 and Cobe-Spectra]. / Porównanie jakosci koncentratów plytkowych otrzymanych przy uzyciu separatorów z przeplywem ciaglym: CS-3000 i Cobe-Spectra.

During a platelet apheresis procedure on CS-3000 the platelet concentrate (Pc) is centrifugated for about 1.5 h. In the Cobe system Pc is gradually collected in a container located outside the machine. Influence of both techniques on platelet viability and function was examined in vitro. MPV, hypotonic stress response (HSR), aggregation using ADP, activity and percent leakage of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were similar in both groups. ATP contents in platelets (Plts) obtained on CS-3000 reached 5.18 +/- 0.75 mumol/10(11) Plts and was significantly lower than in Plts collected on Cobe-Spectra: 7.26 +/- 1.00 mumol/10(11) Plts. The functions of Plts obtained on both blood cell separators, immediately after collection, appeared to be correct. ATP level reduction in Plts from CS-3000 suggests that prolonged centrifugation leads to Plts activation which can affect cells during storage.

Streptococcal protein T induced hyperdelayed sensitivity and lymphocyte stimulation.

T protein was isolated from Streptococcus pyogenes types 1 and 12 by application CNBr-sepharose-trypsin and purified by ion exchange chromatography. It was indicated that purified T1 and T12 proteins have lymphocyte transforming activity. It was also observed that T12 protein induces immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity in guinea pigs previously sensitized with T12 antigen emulsified with complete FREUND's adjuvant.

Campylobacter pylori, the spiral bacterium associated with human gastritis, is not a true Campylobacter sp.

Comparison of partial 16S rRNA sequences from representative Campylobacter species indicates that the Campylobacter species form a previously undescribed basic eubacterial group, which is related to the other major groups only by very deep branching. This analysis was extended to include the spiral bacterium associated with human gastritis, Campylobacter pylori (formerly Campylobacter pyloridis). The distance between C. pylori and the other Campylobacter species is sufficient to exclude the pyloric organism from the Campylobacter genus. The results indicate that C. pylori is more closely related to Wolinella succinogenes than it is to the other Campylobacter species inspected. Another close relative of the campylobacters was found to be Thiovulum, a sulfide-dependent marine bacterium.