Actinomyces-infected bronchopulmonary sequestration: An uncommon pathogen in a rare anomaly.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration, a rare congenital anomaly, involves a nonfunctioning lung tissue mass supplied by anomalous vessels. It is rarely infected by Actinomyces, further complicating the clinical presentation, with limited reported cases. This case highlights the distinctive clinical aspects, diagnostic challenges, and successful management strategies of such a rare clinical entity.

Nitrofurantoin-Induced Lung Injury: A Reminder of an Overlooked Threat.

Nitrofurantoin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic for urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment and prophylaxis. Although relatively rare, nitrofurantoin can cause a spectrum of lung injuries, from acute hypersensitivity reactions that might be fatal to chronic reactions involving fibrosis. Therefore, treating physicians' awareness and regular monitoring is essential for early recognition, drug withdrawal, avoiding unnecessary treatment, and preventing irreversible fibrosis. Here, we report the case of a 77-year-old woman who had been hospitalized with interstitial lung disease due to chronic nitrofurantoin therapy. Despite the severity of symptoms and the extent of radiological lung involvement, she returned to her clinical and radiological baseline shortly following the drug cessation.

Primary intrapulmonary thymoma a case report.

Primary intrapulmonary thymoma (PIT), defined as the presence of thymoma tissue in the lung without an accompanying mediastinal component, is uncommon and so offers a diagnostic quandary. We describe the case of PIT in an 81-year-old man.

Etiology, diagnostic modalities, and short-term outcomes of hemoptysis-a retrospective cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in Qatar.

Background: Hemoptysis is a concerning symptom characterized by the expectoration of blood from the respiratory tract, which can range from mild to life-threatening. It can be caused by various underlying conditions. Accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management. The causes of hemoptysis can vary depending on geographic location and the population's composition. In this study, we aimed to examine the etiology, diagnostic methods, and short-term outcomes of hemoptysis in Qatar, focusing on data from Hamad General Hospital (HGH), which serves as a major tertiary care center in the country. Qatar has a diverse and dynamic population, primarily composed of expatriate workers, especially from South Asia. Previous data on hemoptysis in Qatar was collected between 1997 and 2007, when the population was considerably smaller and less diverse. Given the substantial growth in population and diversity since then, this study sought to provide updated information on the causes and outcomes of hemoptysis in the region. Methods: This is a retrospective single center observational data review from the largest tertiary care center of Qatar, HGH. Patients who presented to HGH from 01/07/2015 to 30/06/2018 with hemoptysis were included in the study. Descriptive and summary statistics were described and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 172 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most of the patients were male (74.4%) with a mean age of 37.9±16.4 years. South Asians (43.6%) accounted for the majority followed by Qatari nationals (20.3%). Mild hemoptysis was recorded in 89.5% of patients while only 3.5% had severe hemoptysis. The mean duration of hemoptysis was 1.72±0.72 days. The most common etiology was respiratory infection in 72.6% of the patients followed by tuberculosis (TB) and bronchiectasis 7% each. All patients were managed with observation or antimicrobials except two of the patients with severe hemoptysis who required bronchial artery embolization (BAE). There were no reports of recurrence of hemoptysis or deaths until hospital discharge. Conclusions: Respiratory infection is the most common cause of hemoptysis at our center. Mild hemoptysis is the major presentation and the majority improved with conservative treatment.

Pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing in the pulmonary function laboratory at a tertiary government hospital in Qatar: A clinical audit.

BACKGROUND: Prior to pulmonary function testing (PFT), local and international recommendations advise pre-procedural screening. Pulmonary function tests generate aerosol droplets containing millions of viruses, significantly increasing the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission not only to the individuals in and around the PFT office, but also to subsequent patients who undergo the test later in the same room. METHODS: This clinical audit was carried out to establish the rate of positive pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing before a PFT. The data were obtained over a 6-week period from our ATS accredited pulmonary function laboratory at the Hamad General Hospital, Qatar (December 01, 2021, to January 10, 2022). The PFT laboratory was closed from January 10, 2022, till the date of this report (January 27, 2022) owing to an increase in COVID cases in the community in Qatar during the fourth wave. RESULTS: All the patients scheduled for PFT were asymptomatic of COVID-19. A total of 331 individuals were scheduled for PFT, and 221 PFTs were performed. There were 109 no-shows for both the PCR and the PFT. Between weeks 1 and 4, all the pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were negative. The weekly average number of COVID-19 cases in Qatar increased from 157 per 100,000 population in week 1 to 2,918 in week 6.2 There was a similar trend in the pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests that increased and resulted in identifying 9 cases with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test over weeks 5 and 6 (Figure 1). CONCLUSION: As the number of documented positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests in the community grew, so did the pre-procedural COVID-19 PCR positivity and the number of no-shows. The large number of no-shows may indicate greater worry or concern about contracting COVID-19 when visiting the hospital amid peak community cases. Our findings further call into question the utility of routinely performing pre-procedural PCR screening in asymptomatic cases when the prevalence of COVID-19 is low in the local population. Perhaps, it is time to consider replacing this with on-the-spot quick antigen testing for more effective use of resources.