The burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in Croatia in 2019: a country-level systematic analysis.

AIM: To deliver the most wide-ranging set of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) burden estimates for Croatia to date. METHODS: A complex modeling approach with five broad modeling components was used to estimate the disease burden for 12 main infectious syndromes and one residual group, 23 pathogenic bacteria, and 88 bug-drug combinations. This was represented by two relevant counterfactual scenarios: deaths/disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) that are attributable to AMR considering a situation where drug-resistant infections are substituted with sensitive ones, and deaths/DALYs associated with AMR considering a scenario where people with drug-resistant infections would instead present without any infection. The 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were based on 1000 posterior draws in each modeling step, reported at the 2.5% and 97.5% of the draws' distribution, while out-of-sample predictive validation was pursued for all the models. RESULTS: The total burden associated with AMR in Croatia was 2546 (95% UI 1558-3803) deaths and 46958 (28,033-71,628) DALYs, while the attributable burden was 614 (365-943) deaths and 11321 (6,544-17,809) DALYs. The highest number of deaths was established for bloodstream infections, followed by peritoneal and intra-abdominal infections and infections of the urinary tract. Five leading pathogenic bacterial agents were responsible for 1808 deaths associated with resistance: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ordered by the number of deaths). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant E coli and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were dominant pathogen-drug combinations in regard to mortality associated with and attributable to AMR, respectively. CONCLUSION: We showed that AMR represented a substantial public health concern in Croatia, which reflects global trends; hence, our detailed country-level findings may fast-track the implementation of multipronged strategies tailored in accordance with leading pathogens and pathogen-drug combinations.

Fungal perianal abscess as the initial presentation of disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioides is a dimorphic fungus that can cause various clinical presentations, mainly pulmonary, skin, musculoskeletal, and in the central nervous system; most reports are in the southwestern area of the USA. We present a case of a young male with a perianal abscess in the absence of any pulmonary or constitutional symptoms. Perianal abscess as initial manifestation is a novel presentation of coccidioidomycosis in the literature.

Vaccine completion and infectious diseases screening in a cohort of adult refugees following resettlement in the U.S.: 2013-2015.

BACKGROUND: Refugees are frequently not immune to vaccine-preventable infections. Adherence to consensus guidelines on vaccination and infectious diseases screening among refugees resettling in the U.S. is unknown. We sought to determine rates of vaccine completion and infectious diseases screening in refugees following resettlement. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of refugees resettling in a region in the U.S. using medical data from June 2013-April 2015. We determined the proportion of vaccine-eligible refugees vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis A/B, tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), and human papillomavirus (HPV) following resettlement. We also determined the proportion of refugees who completed HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) screening. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven subjects were included, primarily from Iraq (53%), Afghanistan (19%), and Eritrea (11%). Of the 84 subjects who were vaccine-eligible, 78 (93%) initiated and 42 (50%) completed vaccinations within one year of resettlement. Odds of completing vaccination were higher for men (OR: 2.38; 95%CI:1.02-5.71) and for subjects with English proficiency (OR: 3.70; 95%CI:1.04-17.49). Of the 78 subjects (70%) completing HIV screening, two (3%) were diagnosed with HIV. Nearly all subjects completed screening for HCV, and one had active infection. CONCLUSION: While most refugees initiate vaccinations, only 50% completed vaccinations and 70% completed HIV screening within 1 year of resettlement. There is a need to emphasize vaccine completion and HIV screening in refugee patients following resettlement.

Epidemiology and burden of chronic respiratory diseases in Brazil from 1990 to 2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study.

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, little is known about the trends of chronic respiratory diseases, which was estimated as the third leading cause of deaths in 2017 worldwide. METHODS: We analyzed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates for prevalence, incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), a summary measure of years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs), and risk factors attributable to chronic respiratory diseases in Brazil from 1990 to 2017. RESULTS: The overall estimates have decreased for all ages and both sexes, and for age-standardized rates. For age-adjusted prevalence, there was a 21% reduction, and nearly 16% reduction for incidence. There was a 42% reduction in mortality for both sexes, though the rate of deaths for men was 30% greater than the rate in women. The increase in the number of DALY was essentially due to the population growth and population ageing. We observed a 34% increase in the absolute number of DALY in Brazil over the study period. The majority of the DALY rates were due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For all ages and both sexes, smoking was the main attributable risk factor. CONCLUSION: In Brazil, although mortality, prevalence and incidence for chronic respiratory diseases have decreased over the years, attention should be taken to the DALYs increase. Smoking remained as the main risk factor, despite the significant decrease of tobacco use, reinforcing the need for maintenance of policies and programs directed at its cessation.

Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990-2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection. It is considered a major cause of health loss, but data for the global burden of sepsis are limited. As a syndrome caused by underlying infection, sepsis is not part of standard Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimates. Accurate estimates are important to inform and monitor health policy interventions, allocation of resources, and clinical treatment initiatives. We estimated the global, regional, and national incidence of sepsis and mortality from this disorder using data from GBD 2017. METHODS: We used multiple cause-of-death data from 109 million individual death records to calculate mortality related to sepsis among each of the 282 underlying causes of death in GBD 2017. The percentage of sepsis-related deaths by underlying GBD cause in each location worldwide was modelled using mixed-effects linear regression. Sepsis-related mortality for each age group, sex, location, GBD cause, and year (1990-2017) was estimated by applying modelled cause-specific fractions to GBD 2017 cause-of-death estimates. We used data for 8·7 million individual hospital records to calculate in-hospital sepsis-associated case-fatality, stratified by underlying GBD cause. In-hospital sepsis-associated case-fatality was modelled for each location using linear regression, and sepsis incidence was estimated by applying modelled case-fatality to sepsis-related mortality estimates. FINDINGS: In 2017, an estimated 48·9 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·9-62·9) incident cases of sepsis were recorded worldwide and 11·0 million (10·1-12·0) sepsis-related deaths were reported, representing 19·7% (18·2-21·4) of all global deaths. Age-standardised sepsis incidence fell by 37·0% (95% UI 11·8-54·5) and mortality decreased by 52·8% (47·7-57·5) from 1990 to 2017. Sepsis incidence and mortality varied substantially across regions, with the highest burden in sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, south Asia, east Asia, and southeast Asia. INTERPRETATION: Despite declining age-standardised incidence and mortality, sepsis remains a major cause of health loss worldwide and has an especially high health-related burden in sub-Saharan Africa. FUNDING: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the University of Pittsburgh, the British Columbia Children's Hospital Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the Fleming Fund.

Epidemiology and burden of chronic respiratory diseases in Brazil from 1990 to 2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study / Epidemiologia e carga das doenças respiratórias crônicas no Brasil de 1990 a 2017: análise do Estudo Global Burden of Disease 2017

ABSTRACT: Introduction: In Brazil, little is known about the trends of chronic respiratory diseases, which was estimated as the third leading cause of deaths in 2017 worldwide. Methods: We analyzed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates for prevalence, incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), a summary measure of years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs), and risk factors attributable to chronic respiratory diseases in Brazil from 1990 to 2017. Results: The overall estimates have decreased for all ages and both sexes, and for age-standardized rates. For age-adjusted prevalence, there was a 21% reduction, and nearly 16% reduction for incidence. There was a 42% reduction in mortality for both sexes, though the rate of deaths for men was 30% greater than the rate in women. The increase in the number of DALY was essentially due to the population growth and population ageing. We observed a 34% increase in the absolute number of DALY in Brazil over the study period. The majority of the DALY rates were due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For all ages and both sexes, smoking was the main attributable risk factor. Conclusion: In Brazil, although mortality, prevalence and incidence for chronic respiratory diseases have decreased over the years, attention should be taken to the DALYs increase. Smoking remained as the main risk factor, despite the significant decrease of tobacco use, reinforcing the need for maintenance of policies and programs directed at its cessation.

RESUMO: Introdução: No Brasil, pouco se sabe sobre as tendências das doenças respiratórias crônicas, que foram estimadas como a terceira principal causa de mortes em 2017 em todo o mundo. Métodos: Analisamos as estimativas do Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 para prevalência, incidência, mortalidade, anos de vida ajustados por incapacidade (DALY), uma medida resumida de anos de vida perdidos (YLL) e anos vividos com deficiência (YLD), e fatores de risco atribuíveis a doenças respiratórias crônicas no Brasil, de 1990 a 2017. Resultados: As estimativas gerais diminuíram para todas as idades e ambos os sexos, assim como para as taxas padronizadas por idade. Para a prevalência ajustada pela idade, houve uma redução de 21% e, aproximadamente, 16% para a incidência. Houve uma redução de 42% na mortalidade para ambos os sexos, embora a taxa de mortes para homens tenha sido 30% maior do que a taxa para mulheres. O aumento no número de DALY deveu-se ao crescimento e envelhecimento da população. Observamos um aumento de 34% no número absoluto de DALYs no Brasil durante o período do estudo. A maioria das taxas de DALY foi devido a Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC). Para todas as idades e ambos os sexos, tabagismo foi o principal fator de risco atribuível. Conclusão: No Brasil, embora a mortalidade, a prevalência e a incidência de doenças respiratórias crônicas tenham diminuído ao longo dos anos, maior atenção deve ser dada ao aumento dos DALYs. O tabagismo permaneceu como principal fator de risco, apesar da redução significativa do seu uso, reforçando a necessidade de manutenção de políticas e programas direcionados à sua cessação.

Trillions and Trillions: Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Adult.

We describe a case of acute liver failure and myopericarditis due to herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) in an immunocompetent adult. We estimate that, at the height of viremia, the patient contained a quantity of HSV-1 virions approaching that of human cells. The patient recovered with acyclovir that was dose-adjusted for neurotoxicity and developed a vigorous anti-HSV-1 T-cell response.

National Trends in Use and Outcomes of Pulmonary Artery Catheters Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 1999-2013.

Importance: Recent studies have observed an increase in the rate of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) use in heart failure admissions. Little is known about the national trends in other previously common indications for PAC placement, PAC use overall, or outcomes associated with PAC placement. Objective: To determine national trends in PAC use overall as well as across sociodemographic groups and key clinical conditions, including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and respiratory failure. Design, Setting, and Participants: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient claims data and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to conduct a serial cross-sectional cohort study between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2013, identifying hospitalizations during which a PAC was placed. Data analysis was conducted from September 25, 2015, to April 10, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of use of a PAC per 1000 admissions, 30-day mortality, and length of stay. Results: Among the 68 374 904 unique Medicare beneficiaries in the study, there were 469 582 hospitalizations among 457 193 patients (204 232 women and 252 961 men; mean [SD] age, 76.3 [6.9] years) during which a PAC was placed. There was a 67.8% relative decrease in PAC use (6.28 per 1000 admissions in 1999 to 2.02 per 1000 admissions in 2013; P < .001), with 2 distinct trends: significant year-on-year decreases from 1999 to 2011, followed by stable use through 2013. There was variation in rates of PAC use across race/ethnicity, age, and sex, but use decreased across all subgroups. Although there were sustained decreases in PAC use for acute myocardial infarction (20.0 PACs placed per 1000 admissions in 1999 to 5.2 in 2013 [74.0% reduction]; P < .001 for trend) and respiratory failure (29.9 PACs placed per 1000 admission in 1999 to 2.3 in 2013 [92.3% reduction]; P < .001 for trend) during the study period, there was an initial decrease in PAC use in heart failure, with a nadir in 2009 followed by a subsequent increase (9.1 PACs placed per 1000 admissions in 1999 to 4.0 in 2009 to 5.8 in 2013). In-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and length of stay decreased during the study period. Conclusions and Relevance: In the wake of mounting evidence suggesting a lack of benefit to the routine use of PACs, there has been a de-adoption of PAC use overall and across sociodemographic groups but heterogeneity in patterns of use across clinical conditions. The clinical outcomes of patients with PACs have significantly improved. These findings raise important questions about the optimal use of PACs and the drivers of the observed trends.

Anticoagulation for the acute management of ischemic stroke.

Few prospective studies support the use of anticoagulation during the acute phase of ischemic stroke, though observational data suggest a role in certain populations. Depending on the mechanism of stroke, systemic anticoagulation may prevent recurrent cerebral infarction, but concomitantly carries a risk of hemorrhagic transformation. In this article, we describe a case where anticoagulation shows promise for ischemic stroke and review the evidence that has discredited its use in some circumstances while showing its potential in others.