Rapid analysis of local data to inform off-label tocilizumab use early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab became widely used early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic based on small observational studies that suggested clinical benefit in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state. To inform our local treatment algorithms in the absence of randomized clinical trial results, we performed a rapid analysis of the first 11 hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with tocilizumab at our academic medical center. We report their early clinical outcomes and describe the process by which we assembled a team of diverse trainees and stakeholders to extract, analyze, and disseminate data during a time of clinical uncertainty.

Pneumocystis and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Coinfection: A Case Report and Review of an Emerging Diagnostic Dilemma.

We present a case of a critically ill patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) found to have acquired immune deficiency syndrome and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). Coronavirus disease 2019 and PCP co-occurrence is increasingly reported and may complicate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Patients with severe COVID-19 should be screened for underlying immunocompromise and coinfections should be considered.

Who You Gonna Call? Outcomes of a Team-Based Approach to Respond to Disruptive Behavioral Issues in Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND: The behavioral response system (BRS) at one institution is designed to bring immediate resources to bear when hospitalized patients experience acute episodes of disruptive behavior. The goal of this study was to describe the patient population, inciting events, and outcomes of the BRS. METHODS: The researchers identified all patients admitted to the institution from July 2016 to June 2017 for whom the BRS was activated. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and use of physical and/or chemical restraints. RESULTS: There were 271 BRS calls (range: 0-9 per day). One injury every month occurred for patients and hospital staff. Men, African Americans, and older patients were significantly overrepresented in BRS calls when compared to the overall hospital population. Either chemical or physical restraints were used in 68.7% of cases: 53.9% of patients (or visitors) received chemical restraints, 28.8% were placed in physical restraints, and 17.7% were placed in manual holds. In multivariate analyses, use of physical and chemical restraints were correlated with age ≥ 65 years. Having a dementia/delirium diagnosis was the only significant predictor of chemical restraints, and threatening harm to staff or self was a significant predictor of the use of physical restraints. CONCLUSION: Our study adds to the growing body of knowledge describing how BRSs interact with patients and hospital staff at large academic medical centers. Future studies should focus on investigating if implicit bias influences provider activation of the BRS and reducing the need for patient restraints.

Predictors for mortality and loss to follow-up among children receiving anti-retroviral therapy in Lilongwe, Malawi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors of mortality in children on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) who attended the Paediatric HIV Clinic at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: Retrospective case cohort study by chart review of children who had started ART between October 2004 and May 2006. Bivariable and multivariable analysis were performed with and without defaulters to evaluate associations according to vital status and to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Forty-one of 258 children (15.9%) were deceased, 185 (71.7%) were alive, and 32 (12.4%) had defaulted: 51% were female, 7% were under 18 months, 26% were 18 months to 5 years, and 54% were >5 years of age. Most were WHO stage III or IV (56% and 37%, respectively). On multivariate analysis, factors most strongly associated with mortality and defaulting were age <18 months [hazards ratio (HR) 2.11 (95% CI 1.0-4.51)] and WHO stage IV [HR 2.00 (95% CI 1.07-3.76)]. CONCLUSIONS: To improve outcomes of HIV-positive children, they must be identified and treated early, specifically children under 18 months of age. Access to infant diagnostic procedures must be improved to allow effective initiation of ART in infants at higher risk of death.

Evaluating nurses' implementation of an infant-feeding counseling protocol for HIV-infected mothers: The Ban Study in Lilongwe, Malawi.

A process evaluation of nurses' implementation of an infant-feeding counseling protocol was conducted for the Breastfeeding, Antiretroviral and Nutrition (BAN) Study, a prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV clinical trial in Lilongwe, Malawi. Six trained nurses counseled HIV-infected mothers to exclusively breastfeed for 24 weeks postpartum and to stop breastfeeding within an additional four weeks. Implementation data were collected via direct observations of 123 infant feeding counseling sessions (30 antenatal and 93 postnatal) and interviews with each nurse. Analysis included calculating a percent adherence to checklists and conducting a content analysis for the observation and interview data. Nurses were implementing the protocol at an average adherence level of 90% or above. Although not detailed in the protocol, nurses appropriately counseled mothers on their actual or intended formula milk usage after weaning. Results indicate that nurses implemented the protocol as designed. Results will help to interpret the BAN Study's outcomes.

Low absolute neutrophil counts in African infants.

Infants of African origin have a lower normal range of absolute neutrophil counts than white infants; this fact, however, remains under appreciated by clinical researchers in the United States. During the initial stages of a clinical trial in Malawi, the authors noted an unexpectedly high number of infants with absolute neutrophil counts that would be classifiable as neutropenic using the National Institutes of Health's Division of AIDS toxicity tables. The authors argue that the relevant Division of AIDS table does not take into account the available evidence of low absolute neutrophil counts in African infants and that a systematic collection of data from many African settings might help establish the absolute neutrophil count cutpoints to be used for defining neutropenia in African populations.