Disseminated Herpes Zoster During COVID-19.

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a variety of dermatological conditions were reported by physicians. Given the context, these lesions have been labeled as secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We report the case of a recurrence of herpes zoster in a patient hospitalized with an SARS-CoV-2 infection. The rash occurred on the 15th day of hospitalization while the patient was recovering from a severe form. Local swab showed the presence of varicella-zoster virus within the vesicles. Dermatological symptoms secondary to COVID-19 have been frequently described. This is the first case that demonstrates the recurrence of herpes zoster during a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

No significant difference between ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the gut microbiota of hospitalized patients: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime share a similar antibacterial spectrum and similar indications but have different pharmacokinetic characteristics. Ceftriaxone is administered once daily and 40% of its clearance is by biliary elimination, whereas cefotaxime requires three administrations per day and shows less than 10% biliary elimination. The high biliary elimination of ceftriaxone suggests a greater impact of this antibiotic on the gut microbiota than cefotaxime. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime on the gut microbiota. METHODS: A prospective clinical trial was performed that included 55 patients treated with intravenous ceftriaxone (1 g/24 h) or cefotaxime (1 g/8 h) for at least 3 days. Three fresh stool samples were collected from each patient (days 0, 3, and 7 or at the end of intravenous treatment) to assess the emergence of third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, toxigenic Clostridioides difficile, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. RESULTS: The emergence of 3GC-resistant gram-negative enteric bacilli (Enterobacteriaceae) (5.9% vs 4.7%, p > 0.99), Enterococcus spp, and non-commensal microorganisms did not differ significantly between the groups. Both antibiotics reduced the counts of total gram-negative enteric bacilli and decreased the cultivable diversity of the microbiota, but the differences between the groups were not significant. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed between ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in terms of the emergence of resistance.

Acute QT Interval Modifications During Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin Treatment in the Context of COVID-19 Infection.

Among candidate drugs to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZ) has received intense worldwide attention. Even as the efficacy of this combination is under evaluation, clinicians have begun to use it largely. As these medications are known to prolong the QT interval, we analyzed serial electrocardiograms recorded in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia and treated with HCQ + AZ. Fifty consecutive patients received the combination of HCQ (600 mg/d for 10 days) and AZ (500 mg/d on day 1 and 250 mg/d from day 2 to day 5). Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were recorded before treatment, at day 3, at day 5, and at discharge. The median age of patients was 68 years (interquartile range, 53-81 years); 28 (56%) were men. The main comorbidities were hypertension (36%; n=18) and diabetes (16%; n=8). The mean corrected QT (QTc) interval was 408 ms at baseline and increased up to 437 ms at day 3 and to 456 ms at day 5. Thirty-eight patients (76%) presented short-term modifications of the QTc duration (>30 ms). Treatment discontinuation was decided in 6 patients (12%), leading to QTc normalization in 5 of them. No deaths and no cardiac arrhythmic events were observed in this cohort. Our report confirms that a short duration treatment with HCQ + AZ modifies the QTc interval. The treatment had to be discontinued for QTc modifications in 12% of patients. Nevertheless, in inpatients hospitalized for COVID-19, we did not observe any clinically relevant consequences of these transitory modifications. In conclusion, when patients are treated with HCQ + AZ, cardiac monitoring should be regularly performed and hospital settings allow monitoring under in safe conditions.