Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens associated with septic shock: a review of 120 cases.

This study aimed to evaluate the influencing variables for outcomes in patients with septic shock having culture-proven carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. It included 120 patients (mean age 64.29 ± 1.35 years and 58.3% female). The mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score during septic shock diagnosis was found to be 11.22 ± 0.43 and 9 ± 0.79 among the patients with mortality and among the survivors, respectively (P = 0.017). The logistic regression analysis showed that empirical treatment as mono Gram-negative bacteria-oriented antibiotic therapy (P = 0.016, odds ratio (OR) = 17.730, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.728-182.691), Charlson Comorbidity Index >2 (P = 0.032, OR = 7.312, 95% CI: 5.7-18.3), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome score 3 or 4 during septic shock diagnosis (P = 0.014, OR = 5.675, 95% CI: 1.424-22.619) were found as independent risk factors for day 30 mortality. Despite early diagnosis and effective management of patients with septic shock, the mortality rates are quite high in CRGNP-infected patients.

Intestinal Protozoa in Hiv-Infected Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal parasitic infections are common in immunodeficient patients. In developing countries, the incidence of diarrhea due to parasitic infections in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-positive individuals is reported to be over 90%. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of intestinal protozoa in HIV-positive patients with gastrointestinal complaints. METHODS: The fecal samples of 65 HIV-positive patients (14 women, 51 men) were included. Clinical data obtained from patients' files and laboratory results were retrospectively scanned using laboratory information system. Age, sex, parasite positivity, CD4+ count, HIV RNA level, and antiretroviral therapy information were recorded. RESULTS: Fourteen Cryptosporidium spp. (21.5%), 2 Cyclospora spp. (3.1%), 7 Blastocystis spp. (10.8%), and 1 Cryptosporidium spp.+Blastocystis spp. (1.5%) were detected. The median duration of antiretroviral treatment was 3 months and 12 months in patients with and without parasites in fecal samples, respectively. The duration of antiretroviral treatment was significantly higher in non-infected patients (p=0.002). No significant correlations were found between parasite presence and CD4+ T cell counts or HIV RNA levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that positive effects of antiretroviral therapy on the immune system of HIV-infected patients reduce the risk of intestinal parasitic infection, and thus, this treatment may play an important role in protection.