Casirivimab and Imdevimab for Pregnant Women Hospitalized for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring oxygen therapy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective case series study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19. Inclusion criteria were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection documented with polymerase chain reaction, pregnancy, severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen therapy, duration of symptoms of 10 days or less, and able to provide informed consent. Vaccinated women and those with mild-to-moderate disease were excluded from the study. Included patients received casirivimab and imdevimab as a single intravenous dose of 4,000/4,000 mg. Women were also treated with low molecular weight heparin, steroids, and antibiotics, if necessary. The primary outcome was maternal death. Secondary outcomes were the rate of adverse events during infusion or within 72 hours and the rate of abortion. RESULTS: Thirteen hospitalized unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen and treated with casirivimab/imdevimab were included in the study. We observed no maternal death, and no patients required intubation or admission to the intensive care unit. No abortion or fetal loss was recorded. Nine pregnancies were still ongoing, and there were three cesarean deliveries and one vaginal delivery. Two were preterm deliveries (at 31 and 34 weeks), and two were term deliveries. CONCLUSION: Casirivimab/imdevimab therapy may be considered as a therapy in unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19.

Diabetes and COVID-19: The potential role of mTOR.

Diabetes is the most frequent comorbidity among patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with diabetes have a more severe prognosis than patients without diabetes. However, the etiopathogenetic mechanisms underlying this more unfavorable outcome in these patients are not clear. Probably the etiopathogenetic mechanisms underlying diabetes could represent a favorable substrate for a greater development of the inflammatory process already dysregulated in COVID-19 with a more severe evolution of the disease. In the attempt to shed light on the possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms, we wanted to evaluate the possible role of mTOR (mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) pathway in this context. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify articles involving diabetes and the mTOR pathway in COVID-19. The mTOR pathway could be involved in this etiopathogenetic mechanism, in particular, the activation and stimulation of this pathway could favor an inflammatory process that is already dysregulated in itself, while its inhibition could be a way to regulate this dysregulated inflammatory process. However, much remains to be clarified about the mechanisms of the mTOR pathway and its role in COVID-19. The aim of this review is to to understand the etiopathogenesis underlying COVID-19 in diabetic patients and the role of mTOR pathway in order to be able to search for new weapons to deal with this disease.

Risk of invasive fungal infections among patients treated with disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive review.

Introduction: Disease modifying treatments are commonly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. As different opportunistic infections have been reported, concerns are also raised regarding the risk of invasive fungal infections.Areas covered: Both clinical trials and observational studies on safety and efficacy of diseases modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis were reviewed and data regarding the occurrence of invasive fungal infections were reported. Papers evaluating the following drugs were reviewed: rituximab, ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab, fingolimod, natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate, interferon, glatiramer acetate, cladribine, teriflunomide.Expert opinion: Overall, the occurrence of invasive fungal infections was low, with most infective events reported among patients treated with monoclonal antibodies and fingolimod. Aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitidis were the most representative fungal infections. Although not common, these infections may be difficult to diagnose and their fatality rate is often high. For this reason, screening protocols for fungal infections must be implemented in the clinical practice when managing patients with MS.

Efficacy and safety of ceftolozane/tazobactam as therapeutic option for complicated skin and soft tissue infections by MDR/XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with impaired renal function: a case series from a single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a known cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Therapeutic options against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of PA are limited, especially in patients with impaired renal function. Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor with powerful anti-PA activity. Thanks to its characteristics, it appears to be the best available anti-pseudomonal drug in many clinical scenarios. A case series of four adult patients followed between January 2018 and May 2019 is reported. All subjects presented complicated SSTIs by MDR- or XDR-PA and were affected by chronic kidney disease. RESULTS: C/T was used as a monotherapy in three cases and in combination regimen in the remaining case. In two cases, C/T was the first-line option, in the remaining ones was the salvage treatment. All patients were successfully treated without worsening of renal function and without any other adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: C/T may represent a useful option against MDR- and XDR-PA strains responsible of complicated SSTIs in patients affected by impaired renal function.

Eosinophilic esophagitis during latex desensitization

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Metronidazole hypersensitivity in a patient with angioedema and widespread rash

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The Importance of Complying with Vaccination Protocols in Developed Countries: "Anti-Vax" Hysteria and the Spread of Severe Preventable Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are very effective medical tools for disease prevention and life span increase. Controversies have raised concern about their safety, from autism to polio vaccine contamination with simian virus 40 (SV-40). Hysteria surrounding vaccine-associated risks has resulted in a declining number of vaccinations in developed countries. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g. measles) have occurred in Europe and North America, causing also some causalities. OBJECTIVES: In this review, data on safety and efficacy of vaccines are discussed, showing that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks and that it is important to comply with vaccination protocols, to avoid spreading of severe, preventable diseases. METHODS: Those opposed to vaccinations suggest that scientific literature supporting vaccines is influenced by pharmaceutical companies. In this review, studies on influenza produced by independent scientists and those authored by those who received some kind of benefit from the industry are discussed separately. All the chosen papers were selected through a MEDLINE research. RESULTS: Vaccination rates are decreasing, even though they are effective public health tools. Influenza, for example, is responsible for 250,000-500,000 deaths each year, according to the WHO. Yet, campaigns to extend influenza vaccine to all elderly subjects report little success, because of the vaccine scare and because not all patients develop immunity following vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: This review proves that vaccine hysteria is detrimental because: 1) it causes an increased morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases; 2) it jeopardizes research for new vaccines; 3) patients are reluctant to accept any form of immune-therapy, commonly referred to as "vaccination".

A case of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome successfully treated with omalizumab

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Pulmonary embolism after ceftriaxone-induced anaphylaxis

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Cross-reactivity and Tolerability of Ertapenem in Patients With IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity to ß-Lactams.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Administration of carbapenems to ß-lactam-allergic patients has always been considered potentially harmful because of a 47.4% rate of cross-reactivity to imipenem reported in a single study. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that the rate of cross-reactivity of imipenem and meropenem with penicillins is lower than 1%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using ertapenem in patients with an established IgE-mediated ß-lactam allergy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied all participants who came to our allergy unit and had a clinical history of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to ß-lactams. The inclusion criteria were a positive skin test result to at least 1 ß-lactam molecule and/or positive specific IgE (when available). All participants underwent immediate-type skin tests with several ß-lactam molecules including ertapenem. Challenges with intravenous ertapenem were performed on 2 different days in patients with negative skin test results. RESULTS: We examined 49 patients with a clinical history of immediate reactions to ß-lactams. All the patients had positive skin tests and/or positive specific IgE to at least 1 ß-lactam reagent and negative carbapenem skin tests. Thirty-six patients agreed to undergo the challenges and 35 tolerated the full dose of ertapenem. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of avoiding carbapenems in patients with ß-lactam allergy should be abandoned considering the very low rate of cross-reactivity. ß-Lactam-allergic patients who need ertapenem therapy should undergo skin tests and, if negative, a graded challenge to assess tolerability.

Cross-reactivity and tolerability of Ertapenem in patients with IgE-mediated hypersensitivy to Beta-lactams

Background and Objective: Administration of carbapenems to β-lactam-allergic patients has always been considered potentially harmful because of a 47.4% rate of cross-reactivity to imipenem reported in a single study. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that the rate of cross-reactivity of imipenem and meropenem with penicillins is lower than 1%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using ertapenem in patients with an established IgE-mediated β-lactam allergy. Patients and Methods: We studied all participants who came to our allergy unit and had a clinical history of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to β-lactams. The inclusion criteria were a positive skin test result to at least 1 β-lactam molecule and/or positive specific IgE (when available). All participants underwent immediate-type skin tests with several β-lactam molecules including ertapenem. Challenges with intravenous ertapenem were performed on 2 different days in patients with negative skin test results. Results: We examined 49 patients with a clinical history of immediate reactions to β-lactams. All the patients had positive skin tests and/or positive specific IgE to at least 1 β-lactam reagent and negative carbapenem skin tests. Thirty-six patients agreed to undergo the challenges and 35 tolerated the full dose of ertapenem. Conclusions: The practice of avoiding carbapenems in patients with β-lactam allergy should be abandoned considering the very low rate of cross-reactivity. β-Lactam-allergic patients who need ertapenem therapy should undergo skin tests and, if negative, a graded challenge to assess tolerability (AU)

Introducción y Objetivo: Siempre se ha considerado peligrosa la administración de carbapenems a pacientes alérgicos a betalactámicos por la presencia de reactividad cruzada en el 47,4% de los casos descrita en un estudio previo. Sin embargo, estudios recientes han mostrado que la reactividad cruzada de imipenem y meropenem con penicilinas es inferior al 1%. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar el uso de ertapenem en pacientes diagnosticado de alergia IgE mediada a betalactámicos. Pacientes y Métodos: Se incluyeron todos los pacientes que acudieron a nuestra unidad de Alergia con historia clínica de alergia inmediata a betalactámicos. Los criterios de inclusión fueron prueba cutánea positiva con al menos un betalactámico y/o IgE específica positiva (cuando estuviese disponible). Se realizaron pruebas cutáneas con betalactámicos, incluyendo ertapenem, con lectura inmediata en todos los pacientes. Se realizaron pruebas de provocación endovenosas con ertapenem en los pacientes con pruebas cutáneas negativas frente al mismo en dos días diferentes. Resultados: Se incluyeron 49 pacientes con historia clínica de alergia inmediata a betalactámicos. Todos los pacientes tenían pruebas cutáneas positivas y/o IgE específica positiva al menos a uno de los betalactámicos así como prueba cutánea negativa con carbapenémicos. Treinta y seis pacientes aceptaron la realización de pruebas de provocación con ertapenem que fueron tolerados por treinta y cinco de dichos pacientes. Conclusión: El hecho de recomendar evitar carbapenems en pacientes con alergia a betalactámicos debería ser abandonado, dada la baja reactividad cruzada que presentan. En los pacientes con alergia a betalactámicos que necesiten ertapenem se deberían realizar pruebas cutáneas con el fármaco y en caso de ser negativas, realizar un test de exposición progresiva para confirmar su tolerancia (AU)

Fondaparinux in pregnancy: Could it be a safe option? A review of the literature.

During pregnancy thrombo-prophylaxis could be required in high risk women. If a severe allergic reaction to low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) or a heparin-induced-thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs, it's mandatory to stop the drug. Fondaparinux could be an effective option. In the present review, the maternal and pregnancy outcomes of 65 pregnancies in women using Fondaparinux were reported. It was well-tolerated and rate of pregnancy complications was similar to that observed in general population. Regarding congenital malformations, further studies are necessary to investigate the safety of the drug.