Evaluation of procalcitonin elevation during ICU stay and its relationship with mortality in ICU patients for COVID-19 with respiratory involvement. A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Introduction: A multicenter prospective cohort study studied patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) by coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) with respiratory involvement. We observed the number of occasions in which the value of procalcitonin (PCT) was higher than 0.5 ng/ml. Objective: Evaluation of PCT elevation and influence on mortality in patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 with respiratory involvement. Measurements and main results: We studied 201 patients. On the day of admission, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)-II was 13 (10-16) points. In-hospital mortality was 36.8%. During ICU stay, 104 patients presented 1 or more episodes of PCT elevation and 60 (57.7%) died and 97 patients did not present any episodes of PCT elevation and only 14 (14.4%) died (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that mortality was associated with APACHE-II: [odds ratio (OR): 1.13 (1.04-1.23)], acute kidney injury [OR: 2.21 (1.1-4.42)] and with the presentation of one or more episodes of escalating PCT: [OR: 5.07 (2.44-10.53)]. Of 71 patients who died, 59.2% had an elevated PCT value on the last day, and of the 124 patients who survived, only 3.2% had an elevated PCT value on the last day (p < 0.001). On the last day of the ICU stay, the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of those who died was 9 (6-11) and 1 (0-2) points in survivors (p < 0.001). Of the 42 patients who died and in whom PCT was elevated on the last day, 71.4% were considered to have a mainly non-respiratory cause of death. Conclusion: In patients admitted to the ICU by COVID-19 with respiratory involvement, numerous episodes of PCT elevation are observed, related to mortality. PCT was elevated on the last day in more than half of the patients who died. Serial assessment of procalcitonin in these patients is useful because it alerts to situations of high risk of death. This may be useful in the future to improve the treatment and prognosis of these patients.

Mucormicosis diseminadas en pacientes sin inmunodeficiencias: una enfermedad que también existe / Disseminated mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients: A disease that also exists

Las mucormicosis son infecciones generalmente agudas, angioinvasivas, que provocan necrosis difusas no supurantes y gran destrucción tisular. Representan el 1,6% de todas las infecciones fúngicas invasivas, y predominan en pacientes inmunodeprimidos con factores de riesgo. Su incidencia se ha incrementado de forma significativa, incluso en pacientes sin inmunodeficiencias. A propósito de un caso de mucormicosis diseminada producida por Rhizomucor pusillus en un paciente joven sin inmunodeficiencias conocidas, hemos realizado una revisión bibliográfica de los casos de mucormicosis en pacientes adultos sin inmunodeficiencias reportados en PubMed, según sus principales localizaciones anatómicas y con referencia especial a los casos de mucormicosis diseminadas. Se revisan los principales factores de riesgo y la patogenia de la enfermedad, las formas clínicas de presentación y sus posibilidades diagnósticas, incidiendo en las técnicas de diagnóstico precoz, y la terapia actual disponible, discutiendo la indicación del tratamiento de combinación de antifúngicos y el pronóstico. Además, se revisa la taxonomía actual del género Mucor y su clasificación (AU)

Mucormycosis is usually an acute angioinvasive infections, which leads to non-suppurative necrosis and significant tissue damage. It represents 1.6% of all the invasive fungal infections and predominates in immunosuppressed patients with risk factors. Incidence has been significantly increased even in immunocompetent patients. Due to finding a case of disseminated mucormycosis caused by Rhizomucor pusillus in a young immunocompetent patient, a systematic review was carried out of reported cases in PubMed of mucormycosis in immunocompetent adults according to the main anatomic locations, and especially in disseminated cases. A review of the main risk factors and pathogenicity, clinical manifestations, techniques of early diagnosis, current treatment options, and prognosis is presented. Taxonomy and classification of the genus Mucorhas also been reviewed (AU)

Infección fúngica invasiva mixta por Rhizomucor pusillus y Aspergillus niger en un paciente inmunocompetente / Mixed invasive fungal infection due to Rhizomucor pusillus and Aspergillus niger in an immunocompetent patient

Antecedentes. Las mucormicosis son infecciones poco frecuentes en pacientes inmunocompetentes, y se han descrito muy pocos casos de mucormicosis asociadas a aspergilosis en pacientes no hematológicos. Caso clínico. Un varón de 17 años, inmunocompetente y sin factores de riesgo previamente conocidos, ingresó en el hospital tras presentar crisis convulsivas 11 días después de sufrir un accidente de moto. Presentó un curso clínico tórpido por infección fúngica invasiva mixta, con afectación pulmonar por Aspergillus niger y mucormicosis diseminada por Rhizomucor pusillus (diagnóstico histopatológico y microbiológico en varios lugares no contiguos). Fue tratado con anfotericina B liposomal durante 7 semanas (dosis total acumulada > 10 g) y precisó múltiples reintervenciones quirúrgicas. El paciente sobrevivió y fue dado de alta de UCI tras 5 meses de evolución y múltiples complicaciones. Conclusiones. El tratamiento con anfotericina B liposomal y el manejo quirúrgico agresivo consiguió la erradicación de la infección fúngica invasiva mixta, pero alertamos de la necesidad de mantener un mayor grado de sospecha clínica y de realizar técnicas de diagnóstico precoz de infecciones fúngicas invasivas en pacientes no inmunodeprimidos para evitar la diseminación de la enfermedad y el mal pronóstico asociado (AU)

Background. Mucormycosis infections are rare in immunocompetent patients, and very few cases of mucormycosis associated with aspergillosis in non-haematological patients have been reported. Case report. A 17-year-old male, immunocompetent and without any previously known risk factors, was admitted to hospital due to a seizure episode 11 days after a motorcycle accident. He had a complicated clinical course as he had a mixed invasive fungal infection with pulmonary involvement due to Aspergillus niger and disseminated mucormycosis due to Rhizomucor pusillus (histopathological and microbiological diagnosis in several non-contiguous sites). He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B for 7 weeks (total cumulative dose > 10 g) and required several surgical operations. The patient survived and was discharged from ICU after 5 months and multiple complications. Conclusions. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and aggressive surgical management achieved the eradication of a mixed invasive fungal infection. However, we emphasise the need to maintain a higher level of clinical suspicion and to perform microbiological techniques for early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in non-immunocompromised patients, in order to prevent spread of the disease and the poor prognosis associated with it (AU)

Gentamicin therapy for sepsis due to carbapenem-resistant and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial therapy for sepsis caused by carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is not well established. We hypothesized that the early use of gentamicin in cases due to susceptible organisms would decrease the crude mortality rate of this infection. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined 50 cases of sepsis caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae occurring between June 2012 and February 2013 during an outbreak of K. pneumoniae ST512 producing KPC-3, SHV-11 and TEM-1. Survival curves categorized by the use of gentamicin were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Eight multivariate models using Cox regression were designed to study the risk factors for mortality and test the hypothesis. RESULTS: The 30 day crude mortality rate was 38%. The use of targeted gentamicin was associated with reduced mortality (20.7% versus 61.9%, P = 0.02). In all multivariate regression models, the use of gentamicin was independently associated with lower mortality until Day 30 (HR 0.17-0.29, P = 0.03-0.002 depending on the model) after controlling for other potential confounding variables such as age, optimal treatment, renal function, severity of infection, underlying disease, use of tigecycline and previous hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Gentamicin reduced the mortality from sepsis caused by this K. pneumoniae ST512 clone producing KPC-3, SHV-11 and TEM-1.

[Mixed invasive fungal infection due to Rhizomucor pusillus and Aspergillus niger in an immunocompetent patient]. / Infección fúngica invasiva mixta por Rhizomucor pusillus y Aspergillus niger en un paciente inmunocompetente.

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis infections are rare in immunocompetent patients, and very few cases of mucormycosis associated with aspergillosis in non-haematological patients have been reported. CASE REPORT: A 17-year-old male, immunocompetent and without any previously known risk factors, was admitted to hospital due to a seizure episode 11 days after a motorcycle accident. He had a complicated clinical course as he had a mixed invasive fungal infection with pulmonary involvement due to Aspergillus niger and disseminated mucormycosis due to Rhizomucor pusillus (histopathological and microbiological diagnosis in several non-contiguous sites). He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B for 7 weeks (total cumulative dose >10 g) and required several surgical operations. The patient survived and was discharged from ICU after 5 months and multiple complications. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and aggressive surgical management achieved the eradication of a mixed invasive fungal infection. However, we emphasise the need to maintain a higher level of clinical suspicion and to perform microbiological techniques for early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in non-immunocompromised patients, in order to prevent spread of the disease and the poor prognosis associated with it.

[Disseminated mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients: A disease that also exists]. / Mucormicosis diseminadas en pacientes sin inmunodeficiencias: una enfermedad que también existe.

Mucormycosis is usually an acute angioinvasive infections, which leads to non-suppurative necrosis and significant tissue damage. It represents 1.6% of all the invasive fungal infections and predominates in immunosuppressed patients with risk factors. Incidence has been significantly increased even in immunocompetent patients. Due to finding a case of disseminated mucormycosis caused by Rhizomucor pusillus in a young immunocompetent patient, a systematic review was carried out of reported cases in PubMed of mucormycosis in immunocompetent adults according to the main anatomic locations, and especially in disseminated cases. A review of the main risk factors and pathogenicity, clinical manifestations, techniques of early diagnosis, current treatment options, and prognosis is presented. Taxonomy and classification of the genus Mucor has also been reviewed.

[Invasive candidiasis in liver transplant recipient: early rescue antifungal treatment]. / Candidiasis invasora en un receptor de trasplante hepático: tratamiento antifúngico de rescate precoz.

BACKGROUND: Some liver transplant recipients could be at risk for candidemia or invasive candidiasis during the immediate postoperative period after transplantation. Prophylaxis is the best strategy to reduce the incidence of invasive fungal infection caused by Candida species in high-risk liver transplant recipients (HR-LTR), but in cases of suspected breakthrough invasive fungal infection due to Candida, both a rapid diagnosis process and early antifungal treatment are the most important factors impacting on the prognosis. CLINICAL CASE: We report a case of early rescue treatment with anidulafungin in a HR-LTR with complicated postoperative course. We discuss risk factors, prophylaxis, sensitivity of biomarkers, and characteristics of antifungal management. CONCLUSIONS: Early rescue antifungal treatment using candins improves the prognosis in HR-LTR suffering from invasive candidiasis.