Author Correction: Features of fragile people with SARS-CoV-2 infection in isolation in a COVID-19 hotel in Rome, Italy.

Correction to: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2022; 26 (7): 2631-2638-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202204_28501-PMID: 35442479, published online on 15 April 2022. After publication, at the request of the Italian Ministry of Health, the authors asked to insert the following statement in the Acknowledgments section: "This research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (RC 2022)". There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/28501.

Features of fragile people with SARS-CoV-2 infection in isolation in a COVID-19 hotel in Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: Temporary COVID-19 hotels have been established in Italy to assist the homeless people that test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and require isolation. This observational study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the subjects who were isolated at the Casa tra Noi COVID-19 hotel in Rome between October 2020 and May 2021 and to estimate the duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity according to their main socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical features. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Socio-demographic data, clinical history, and anamnestic data of guests were collected by the clinicians reviewing the medical documentation and face-to-face interviewing. Nasopharyngeal swabs were performed every 7 days and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was assessed by RT-PCR. Median duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity according to socio-demographic, behavioral factors and clinical condition was calculated. RESULTS: The 196 guests (161 males, 82.1%) had a median age of 41 years (IQR: 30-53), and were mostly African (87, 44.4%). Only asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic infections were observed. Almost half of the individuals (84, 42.9%) were affected by at least one co-morbidity, the frequency of which was higher among women (57.1% vs. 39.8%, p=0.06). The date of the negative SARS-CoV-2 molecular test was known for 144 guests (73.5%). Among these, the median duration of positivity was 21 days (IQR: 14-26) and did not significantly vary with age, country of origin, smoking status, alcohol or drug abuse. Among the co-morbidities, only infectious diseases significantly modified the duration of positivity, which increased from 21 to 34 days (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Hotel guests were frequently affected by physical/mental co-morbidities. Duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity was significantly prolonged only in individuals affected by an infectious disease.

Epidemic of surgical wound infections in wartime Sarajevo.

BACKGROUND: An epidemic of surgical wound infections observed at the State Hospital of Sarajevo during June-September 1992 is reported. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 138 surgical patients with wound infection treated by the Department of Surgery of the State Hospital of Sarajevo was performed in mid-September and again in mid-November 1992. A preliminary evaluation of the bactericidal effectiveness of a new antiseptic preparation called DI-ASEPT also was done. RESULTS: The frequency of wound infections was 24.4% in September and 19.2% in November. Pseudomonas species was the primary etiologic agent in this epidemic. DI-ASEPT was as effective as povidone-iodine in producing wound asepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Because of limited resources, large numbers of casualties, and an extremely adverse environment as a result of war that has affected hygienic conditions at the State Hospital of Sarajevo, a high frequency of contaminated or dirty operations were performed. This was the primary reason for the observed increase in wound infections. After hygienic conditions were restored, the epidemic of wound infections was terminated.

Epidemiology and surgical management of abdominal war injuries in Sarajevo: State Hospital of Sarajevo experience.

BACKGROUND: In war, abdominal injuries constitute a significant proportion of the total injuries. These injuries are associated with high mortality and their treatment poses diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic dilemmas. This article presents the epidemiology of abdominal war injuries during the siege of Sarajevo, and briefly describes the surgical techniques and therapeutic practices used in their treatment. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed of 273 war casualties with trauma to visceral and vascular structures in the abdomen inflicted during a 7.5 month period in 1992. RESULTS: Most patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. Six percent had negative laparotomies, and there were no deaths in this group. In 18.3%, injuries were limited to one organ system, while 81.7% sustained combined injuries to multiple-organ systems. The crude mortality rate was 26.0%. Mortality rate excluding deaths within 24 hours of injury was 10.3%. Injuries were caused by metal fragments from artillery shrapnel, mortar and contact mines, or hand grenades. Because of a shortage of colostomy bags, resections of the colon with primary end-to-end anastomoses rather than colostomy were performed in 72% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was highest in those victims with four or more injured organ systems (81.3%) or with major vascular injuries (64.7%). The primary cause of death within the first 24 hours was prolonged hemorrhagic shock.

[Reconstruction of the common bile duct with a free venous autograft (experimental work - preliminary communication)]. / Rekonstrukcija duktus holedohusa slobodnim autovenskim graftom (eksperimentalni rad - preliminarno saopstenje).

In seven dogs, the authors performed a resection of the supraduodenal part of the main bile duct, 15-2 cm. in length. The arising defect was bridged over with a free autovenous graft taken from the exterior jugular vein (T-T anastomosis), without using a temporary or permanent prosthesis. The animals were followed-up 60 days and the sacrificed. Three dogs perished: the first one on the third day due to intoxication, the second dog on the thirteenth day because of anastomosis' disruption and consequent biliary peritonitis, and the third one on the eighteenth day of unknown causes. In the immediate postoperative course the values of the bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were increased while those of transaminase were not significantly altered. These values began to normalize during the third week. An intravenous biliography was made on the sixtieth day showing a normal filling of the gallbladder, with an orderly visualization of hepato-choledochus and its correct transit, but with stenosis at the distal anastomosis. Macroscopically, the graft appeared slightly enlarged in length and diameter due to the mentioned stenosis. Histologically, the graft took on an appearance similar to the main bile duct, while its endothelium was completely replaced by biliary epithelium. An answer about the viability of this autovenous graft to serve as a substituent of a normal common bile duct is to be expected with further experimental work.