Polymicrobial anaerobic sepsis due to Bacteroides fragilis, Eggerthella lenta, Ruminoccocus gnavus, and Bilophila wadsworthia in a patient with myeloproliferative neoplasm.

We report a rare case of polymicrobial anaerobic bacteremia caused by four different gut anaerobes: Bacteroides fragilis, Eggerthella lenta, Bilophila wadsworthia, and Ruminococcus gnavus. Early initiation of appropriate therapy and species identification with matrix assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) resulted in full recovery from the infection. Our case highlights the clinical significance of polymicrobial cultures and the importance of performing anaerobic cultures for blood specimens to ensure proper identification and treatment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Discourse on Twitter: A Content Analysis of Persuasion Techniques, Sentiment and Mis/Disinformation.

This research aims to understand the persuasion techniques used in Twitter posts about COVID-19 vaccines by the different vaccine sentiments (i.e., Pro-Vaccine, Anti-Vaccine, and Neutral) using the Elaboration Likelihood Model, Social judgment Theory, and the Extended Parallel Process Model as theoretical frameworks. A content analysis was conducted on a data set of 1,000 Twitter posts. The corpus of Tweets was examined using the persuasion frameworks; tweets that were identified as emanating from bots were further examined. Results found Anti-Vaccine messages predominantly used Anecdotal stories, Humor/Sarcasm, and Celebrity figures as persuasion techniques, while Pro-Vaccine messages primarily used Information, Celebrity figures, and Participation. Results also showed the Anti-Vaccine messages primarily focused on values related to the categories of Safety, Political/Conspiracy Theories, and Choice. Finally, results revealed Anti-Vaccine messages primarily used Perceived Severity and Perceived Susceptibility, which are fear appeal elements. The findings for messages by bots were comparable to the messages in the larger corpus of tweets. Based on the findings, a response framework-Health Information Persuasion Exploration (HIPE)-is proposed to address mis/disinformation and Anti-Vaccine messaging. The results of this study and the HIPE framework can inform a national COVID-19 vaccine health campaign to increase vaccine adoption.

Anatomy and immunochemical characterization of the non-arterial peptidergic diffuse dural innervation of the rat and Rhesus monkey: Implications for functional regulation and treatment in migraine.

Objective The interplay between neuronal innervation and other cell types underlies the physiological functions of the dura mater and contributes to pathophysiological conditions such as migraine. We characterized the extensive, but understudied, non-arterial diffuse dural innervation (DDI) of the rat and Rhesus monkey. Methods We used a comprehensive integrated multi-molecular immunofluorescence labeling strategy to extensively profile the rat DDI and to a lesser extent that of the Rhesus monkey. Results The DDI was distributed across a dense, pervasive capillary network and included free nerve endings of peptidergic CGRP-expressing C fibers that were closely intertwined with noradrenergic (NA) sympathetic fibers and thin-caliber nonpeptidergic "C/Aδ" fibers. These newly identified C/Aδ fibers were unmyelinated, like C fibers, but expressed NF200, usually indicative of Aδ fibers, and uniquely co-labeled for the CGRP co-receptor, RAMP1. Slightly-larger caliber NF200-positive fibers co-labeled for myelin basic protein (MBP) and terminated as unbranched corpuscular endings. The DDI peptidergic fibers co-labeled for the lectin IB4 and expressed presumably excitatory α1-adrenergic receptors, as well as inhibitory 5HT1D receptors and the delta opioid receptor (δOR), but rarely the mu opioid receptor (µOR). Labeling for P2X3, TRPV1, TRPA1, and parasympathetic markers was not observed in the DDI. Interpretation These results suggest potential functional interactions, wherein peptidergic DDI fibers may be activated by stress-related sympathetic activity, resulting in CGRP release that could be detected in the circulation. CGRP may also activate nonpeptidergic C/Aδ fibers that are likely mechanosensitive or polymodal, leading to activation of post-synaptic pain transmission circuits. The distribution of α1-adrenergic receptors, RAMP1, and the unique expression of the δOR on CGRP-expressing DDI fibers suggest strategies for functional modulation and application to therapy.

Acute Vilazodone Toxicity in a Pediatric Patient.

BACKGROUND: Vilazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and 5HT1A agonist recently approved to treat depression in adults. To date, there are minimal data available regarding the expected course and treatment of acute vilazodone ingestions. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a previously healthy 19-month-old girl who presented after an acute ingestion of an estimated 37 mg/kg vilazodone. She was taken to an outside emergency department approximately 1 h after an unwitnessed ingestion. Initially, the patient was noted to have decreased responsiveness, sluggish but reactive pupils, altered mental status, and reported seizure activity. She was given intravenous lorazepam for seizure control, intubated, and transferred to a pediatric tertiary care facility, where she continued to show signs of serotonin toxicity and received treatment with benzodiazepines and cyproheptadine. Despite vilazodone's long half-life and the large amount ingested, the patient was extubated within 10 h of presentation, had returned to baseline mental status by 22 h, and was discharged home approximately 57 h after ingestion. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Accidental ingestions are common in the pediatric population. Emergency physicians need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of acute medication toxicities, the expected clinical course, and the necessary supportive measures used to treat these patients. Because vilazodone is a recently approved medication, there is little experience with acute vilazodone ingestions. This report considerably increases the understanding of vilazodone's effects in the setting of an acute ingestion.

Successful Treatment of Bilateral Renal Mucormycosis With Isavuconazole: A Case Report.

Isolated renal mucormycosis (IRM) is a rare disease with high mortality, more commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. Management has traditionally included antifungal drugs with or without nephrectomy. We present the case of a 34-year-old female with a past medical history of type 1 diabetes mellitus and intravenous heroin use who presented with fever, flank pain, hematuria, and vomiting. She was found to have an oliguric acute kidney injury (AKI) with a serum creatinine (Cr) of 2.5 mg/dL. CT showed bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis and ureteral cultures grew Rhizopus species. Amphotericin B was started before being switched to isavuconazole due to worsening AKI, and hemodialysis was only required transiently. Rather than the traditional approach to treatment, a conservative approach that preserved kidney function was utilized, and the patient was successfully treated with six months of isavuconazole.

Impact of Penicillin Allergy on Empirical Carbapenem Use in Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections: An Antimicrobial Stewardship Opportunity.

OBJECTIVES: Retrospective matched-cohort study evaluating association between penicillin allergy and empirical carbapenem use in gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSIs) and utility of antimicrobial stewardship interventions in reducing carbapenem utilization. METHODS: Hospitalized adults with community-onset gram-negative BSI from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2015, at two large community hospitals in Columbia, SC, were identified. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions targeting penicillin allergy and carbapenem utilization were fully implemented January 1, 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine impact of penicillin allergy and antimicrobial stewardship interventions on empirical carbapenem use. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate time to carbapenem deescalation in patients with penicillin allergy before and after interventions. RESULTS: Patients with penicillin allergy (n=140) were more likely to receive empirical carbapenem therapy for community-onset gram-negative BSI compared to those without penicillin allergy (n=140) (27% vs 12%, p=0.002). After adjustments in the multivariate model, penicillin allergy (odds ratio [OR] 3.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98-8.45) and prior ß-lactam use (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.07-6.64) were independently associated with empirical carbapenem use, whereas antimicrobial stewardship interventions were associated with decline in carbapenem utilization (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.16-0.94). Among patients with penicillin allergy who were prescribed empirical carbapenems, median time to carbapenem deescalation was significantly shorter in the postintervention versus preintervention period (2.0 vs 4.2 days, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Penicillin allergy was a significant contributor to carbapenem use in community-onset gram-negative BSI. This was subject to modification by antimicrobial stewardship interventions, which successfully reduced overall carbapenem use and duration of carbapenem therapy in patients with penicillin allergy.