K-Means Clustering Identifies Diverse Clinical Phenotypes in COVID-19 Patients: Implications for Mortality Risks and Remdesivir Impact.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of remdesivir on mortality in patients with COVID-19 is still controversial. We aimed to identify clinical phenotype clusters of COVID-19 hospitalized patients with highest benefit from remdesivir use and validate these findings in an external cohort. METHODS: We included consecutive patients hospitalized between February 2020 and February 2021 for COVID-19. The derivation cohort comprised subjects admitted to Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. The validation cohort included patients from Hospital Universitari Mutua de Terrassa (Terrassa) and Hospital Universitari La Fe (Valencia), all tertiary centers in Spain. We employed K-means clustering to group patients according to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values and lymphocyte counts at diagnosis, and pre-test symptom duration. The impact of remdesivir on 60-day mortality in each cluster was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1160 patients (median age 66, interquartile range (IQR) 55-78) were included. We identified five clusters, with mortality rates ranging from 0 to 36.7%. Highest mortality rate was observed in the cluster including patients with shorter pre-test symptom duration, lower lymphocyte counts, and lower Ct values at diagnosis. The absence of remdesivir administration was associated with worse outcome in the high-mortality cluster (10.5% vs. 36.7%; p < 0.001), comprising subjects with higher viral loads. These results were validated in an external multicenter cohort of 981 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 exhibit varying mortality rates across different clinical phenotypes. K-means clustering aids in identifying patients who derive the greatest mortality benefit from remdesivir use.

Real-Life Comparison of Antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe a cohort of hematologic patients with COVID-19 treated with antivirals early. METHODS: Non-interventional chart review study. Comparison of baseline characteristics and outcomes in high-risk hematologic patients treated with remdesivir between December 2021 and April 2022 versus those treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between May and August 2022. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were analyzed. Forty-two received remdesivir, and 41 nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Patients with remdesivir were younger, vaccinated with lower number of doses, and received prior corticosteroids less frequently and sotrovimab, hyperimmune plasma and corticosteroids more often. Viral shedding median (IQR) duration was 18 (13-23) and 11 (8-21) days in the remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups, respectively (p = 0.004). Median (IQR) Ct values before treatment were similar in both groups. Within 5 days of treatment, median (IQR) Ct values were 26 (23-29) and 33 (30-37) in the remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). All patients were hospitalized for remdesivir administration and only four (9.8%) in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group. The overall outcomes in this cohort of COVID-19 patients with Omicron variant was good, as no patient needed oxygen or ICU admission. One patient in remdesivir group died from septic shock. No severe adverse event was recorded in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hematologic malignancies and non-severe COVID-19 who received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir experienced faster decrease in viral load and shorter viral shedding. Furthermore, besides the advantage of oral administration, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir administration reduced the need of hospital admission.

Improving management of febrile neutropenia in oncology patients: the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have the potential to revolutionize the management of febrile neutropenia (FN) and drive progress toward personalized medicine. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we detail how the collection of a large number of high-quality data can be used to conduct precise mathematical studies with ML and AI. We explain the foundations of these techniques, covering the fundamentals of supervised and unsupervised learning, as well as the most important challenges, e.g. data quality, 'black box' model interpretation and overfitting. To conclude, we provide detailed examples of how AI and ML have been used to enhance predictions of chemotherapy-induced FN, detection of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, and anticipation of severe complications and mortality. EXPERT OPINION: There is promising potential of implementing accurate AI and ML models whilst managing FN. However, their integration as viable clinical tools poses challenges, including technical and implementation barriers. Improving global accessibility, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and addressing ethical and security considerations are essential. By overcoming these challenges, we could transform personalized care for patients with FN.

Misdiagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy in the emergency department: a multicenter retrospective study.

To estimate the rate of inappropriate diagnosis in patients who visited the ED with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and to assess the factors and outcomes associated with emergency department (ED) misdiagnosis. Retrospective multicenter study of adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for TMA from 2012 to 2021 who had previously attended the ED for a reason related to TMA. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared in a univariate analysis based on whether a TMA diagnosis was mentioned in the ED or not. Forty patients were included. The diagnosis of TMA was not mentioned in the ED in 16 patients (40%). Patients for whom the diagnosis was mentioned in the ED had more frequently a request for schistocytes research, and therefore had more often objectified schistocytes. They also had more frequently a troponin dosage in the ED (even if the difference was not significant), an ECG performed or interpreted, and were admitted more quickly in the ICU (0 [0-0] vs 2 [0-2] days; P = 0.002). Hemoglobin levels decreased significantly in both groups, and creatinine levels increased significantly in the misdiagnosis group between ED arrival and ICU admission. In patients with a final diagnosis of TTP, the time to platelets durable recovery was shorter for those in whom the diagnosis was mentioned in the ED without reaching statistical significance (7 [5-11] vs 14 [5-21] days; P = 0.3).

Identifying the most important data for research in the field of infectious diseases: thinking on the basis of artificial intelligence / Identificación de los datos más importantes para el desarrollo de inteligencia artificial en el campo de las enfermedades infecciosas

Objectives. Clinical data on which artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are trained and tested provide the basis to im prove diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases (ID). We aimed to identify important data for ID research to prioritise efforts being undertaken in AI programmes. Material and methods. We searched for 1,000 articles from high-impact ID journals on PubMed, selecting 288 of the latest articles from 10 top journals. We classified them into structured or unstructured data. Variables were homogenised and grouped into the following categories: epidemiology, ad mission, demographics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, laboratory, microbiology, other diagnoses, treatment, out comes and other non-categorizable variables. Results. 4,488 individual variables were collected, from the 288 articles. 3,670 (81.8%) variables were classified as structured data whilst 818 (18.2%) as unstructured data. From the structured data, 2,319 (63.2%) variables were classified as direct—retrievable from electronic health records—whilst 1,351 (36.8%) were indirect. The most frequent unstructured data were related to clinical manifestations and were repeated across articles. Data on demographics, comorbidities and mi crobiology constituted the most frequent group of variables. Conclusions. This article identified that structured vari ables have comprised the most important data in research to generate knowledge in the field of ID. Extracting these data should be a priority when a medical centre intends to start an AI programme for ID. We also documented that the most important unstructured data in this field are those related to clinical manifestations. Such data could easily undergo some structuring with the use of semi-structured medical records focusing on a few symptoms (AU)

Objetivos. Los datos clínicos sobre los que se entrenan y prueban los algoritmos de inteligencia artificial (IA) proporcio nan la base para mejorar el diagnóstico o el tratamiento de las enfermedades infecciosas (EI). Nuestro objetivo es identificar datos importantes para la investigación de las enfermedades infecciosas con el fin de priorizar los esfuerzos realizados en los programas de IA. Material y métodos. Se buscaron 1.000 artículos de re vistas de EI de alto impacto en PubMed, seleccionando 288 de los últimos artículos en 10 revistas de primer nivel. Los clasifi camos en datos estructurados o no estructurados. Las variables se homogeneizaron y agruparon en las siguientes categorías: epidemiología, ingreso, demografía, comorbilidades, manifes taciones clínicas, laboratorio, microbiología, otros diagnósticos, tratamiento, desenlace y otras variables no categorizables. Resultados. Se recogieron 4.488 variables individuales, pro cedentes de 288 artículos. 3670 (81,8%) variables se clasificaron como datos estructurados, mientras que 818 (18,2%) como da tos no estructurados. De los datos estructurados, 2.319 (63,2%) variables se clasificaron como directas -recuperables a partir de historias clínicas electrónicas-, mientras que 1.351 (36,8%) fueron indirectas. Los datos no estructurados más frecuentes estaban re lacionados con las manifestaciones clínicas y se repetían en todos los artículos. Los datos sobre demografía, comorbilidades y micro biología constituyeron el grupo más frecuente de variables Conclusiones. Este artículo identificó que las variables es tructuradas han constituido los datos más importantes en la investigación para generar conocimiento en el campo de la EI. La extracción de estos datos debería ser una prioridad cuando un centro médico pretende iniciar un programa de IA para la EI (AU)

Respiratory torque teno virus load at emergency department visit predicts intensive care unit admission of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Accurate prediction of COVID-19 severity remains a challenge. Torque teno virus (TTV), recognized as a surrogate marker of functional immunity in solid organ transplant recipients, holds the potential for assessing infection outcomes. We investigated whether quantifying TTV in nasopharyngeal samples upon emergency department (ED) admission could serve as an early predictor of COVID-19 severity. Retrospective single-center study in the ED of Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France. TTV DNA was quantified in nasopharyngeal swab samples collected for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Among 295 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, 92 returned home, 160 were admitted to medical wards, and 43 to the intensive care unit (ICU). Elevated TTV loads were observed in ICU patients (median: 3.02 log copies/mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 2.215-3.825), exceeding those in discharged (2.215, [0; 2.962]) or hospitalized patients (2.24, [0; 3.29]) (p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, fever, dyspnea, oxygen requirement, and TTV load as predictors of ICU admission. A 2.91 log10 copies/mL TTV threshold independently predicted ICU admission. Nasopharyngeal TTV quantification in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is linked to the likelihood of ICU admission and might reflect respiratory immunosuppression.

Temporal Trends in the Use of Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department : A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, validated clinical decision rules have been developed that avoid unnecessary use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department (ED). OBJECTIVE: To measure any resulting change in CTPA use for suspected PE. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: 26 European EDs in 6 countries. PATIENTS: Patients with CTPA performed for suspected PE in the ED during the first 7 days of each odd month between January 2015 and December 2019. MEASUREMENTS: The primary end points were the CTPAs done for suspected PE in the ED and the number of PEs diagnosed in the ED each year adjusted to an annual census of 100 000 ED visits. Temporal trends were estimated using generalized linear mixed regression models. RESULTS: 8970 CTPAs were included (median age, 63 years; 56% female). Statistically significant temporal trends for more frequent use of CTPA (836 per 100 000 ED visits in 2015 vs. 1112 in 2019; P < 0.001), more diagnosed PEs (138 per 100 000 in 2015 vs. 164 in 2019; P = 0.028), a higher proportion of low-risk PEs (annual percent change [APC], 13.8% [95% CI, 2.6% to 30.1%]) with more ambulatory management (APC, 19.3% [CI, 4.1% to 45.1%]), and a lower proportion of intensive care unit admissions (APC, -8.9% [CI, -17.1% to -0.3%]) were observed. LIMITATION: Data were limited to 7 days every 2 months. CONCLUSION: Despite the recent validation of clinical decision rules to limit the use of CTPA, an increase in the CTPA rate along with more diagnosed PEs and especially low-risk PEs were instead observed. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None specific for this study.

The Response of Emergency Departments (EDs) to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of 5 EDs in a Paris-Based Academic Hospital Trust.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed unforeseen and unprecedented constraints on emergency departments (EDs). In this study, we detail the organizational and managerial tools recently implemented among 5 academic EDs in a French region particularly affected by COVID-19 and analyze how EDs responded to the COVID-19-related disease burden during different phases of the epidemic. Initially, they focused on the early detection of suspected cases by identifying 3 predominant COVID-19 syndromes. During this diagnostic process, patients were placed in respiratory isolation (facial mask before triage) and droplet isolation (ED rooms). A 3-level strategy for triage, clinical pathways in the EDs, and the organization of hospital spaces was based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 positivity rate, with ED strategies adapted to the exigencies of each level. This crisis demonstrated hospitals' adaptability and capacity to mobilize in the face of new risks, with hospitals and EDs coordinating their management to reallocate resources, optimize interoperability, and rethink patient pathways. This report on their processes may assist hospitals and EDs in areas currently spared by the new variants.

Imaging strategies used in emergency departments for the diagnostic workup of COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency departments (EDs) were on the front line for the diagnostic workup of patients with COVID-19-like symptoms during the first wave. Chest imaging was the key to rapidly identifying COVID-19 before administering RT-PCR, which was time-consuming. The objective of our study was to compare the costs and organizational benefits of triage strategies in ED during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in five EDs in France, involving 3712 consecutive patients consulting with COVID-like symptoms between 9 March 2020 and 8 April 2020, to assess the cost effectiveness of imaging strategies (chest radiography, chest computed tomography (CT) scan in the presence of respiratory symptoms, systematic ultra-low-dose (ULD) chest CT, and no systematic imaging) on ED length of stay (LOS) in the ED and on hospital costs. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated as the difference in costs divided by the difference in LOS. RESULTS: Compared with chest radiography, workup with systematic ULD chest CT was the more cost-effective strategy (average LOS of 6.89 hours; average cost of €3646), allowing for an almost 4-hour decrease in LOS in the ED at a cost increase of €98 per patient. Chest radiography (extendedly dominated) and RT-PCR with no systematic imaging were the least effective strategies, with an average LOS of 10.8 hours. The strategy of chest CT in the presence of respiratory symptoms was more effective than the systematic ULD chest CT strategy, with the former providing a gain of 37 minutes at an extra cost of €718. DISCUSSION: Systematic ULD chest CT for patients with COVID-like symptoms in the ED is a cost-effective strategy and should be considered to improve the management of patients in the ED during the pandemic, given the need to triage patients.

Impact of Fast SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Point-Of-Care Testing on Patients' Length of Stay in an Emergency Department.

The ID NOW COVID-19 system (IDNOW) is a point-of-care test (POCT) providing results within 15 min. We evaluated the impact of IDNOW use on patient length of stay (LOS) in an emergency department (ED). In the ED of Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France, adult patients requiring a rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 were tested with Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 or FilmArray respiratory panel RP2 in the virology laboratory between 18 October and 3 November 2020 (period 1) and with IDNOW between 4 November and 30 November 2020 (period 2). A total of 676 patients participated in the study, 337 during period 1 and 339 during period 2. The median LOS in ED was significantly higher in period 1 than in period 2 (276 versus 208 min, P < 0.0001). More patients spent less than 4 h in the ED in period 2 (61.3%) than in period 1 (38.3%) (P < 0.0001). By univariate analysis, factors associated with ED LOS were hypertension, anosmia/ageusia, number of patients per day, and ID NOW implementation in period 2. By multivariate analysis, the period of testing remained significantly associated with ED LOS. Rapid molecular SARS-CoV-2 POCT was associated with a reduced LOS for patients admitted to an ED. IMPORTANCE During COVID-19 pandemic upsurges, emergency departments had to deal with a massive flow of incoming patients. The need for COVID-19 infection status determination before medical ward admission worsened ED overcrowding. The development of molecular point-of-care testing gave new opportunities for getting faster results of SARS-CoV-2 genome detection 24 h a day. In our study, we show, with a multivariate analysis, that the use of the POCT COVID-19 IDNOW reduced the ED length of stay by 1 h. The rate of patients who waited less than 4 h in the ED increased significantly. Our study highlights the benefit of COVID-19 molecular POCT for preventing ED overcrowding and facilitating bed allocation and SARS-CoV-2-infected patient isolation.

Assessment of Predictor Factors Associated with Multiple Emergency Department Attendance with Asthma Attack: A Qualitative and Multicentric Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Identified factors associated with multiple emergency department (ED) visits (≥) for asthma, which is associated with death. Patients and Methods: We first conducted a qualitative study. We invited French-speaking adults (≥18 years old) with a diagnosis of asthma for more than 6 months. The identified concepts were transcribed into items. A Delphi method allowed for selecting items for a self-reported questionnaire. In an observational multicentric cross-sectional quantitative study, the resulting 20-item questionnaire and 12-item General Health Questionnaire, exploring psychological distress, were administered to adults visiting an ED for asthma exacerbation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with ED visits. Results: Data saturation was obtained after 8 patient interviews. Patients who came to the ED seemed unfamiliar with their illness or treatments but were concerned by the disease. The questionnaire was administered to 182 patients. On multivariable logistic regression, multiple and systematic ED visits were associated with asthma exacerbation (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25-21.09), asthma perceived as a handicap (aOR=3.19, 95% CI: 1.55-6.57) and reported atopy (OR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.03-4.26). High educational level and lack of maintenance inhaled corticosteroids were protective for multiple ED visits. Conclusion: Inadequate medical care is frequent in patients attending the ED for an asthma exacerbation, associated with strong psychological impact. Questioning the reasons for consulting the ED may help quickly identify patients requiring asthma education and improve their referral.

Effect of a delayed admission to the intensive care unit on survival after emergency department visit in patients with cancer: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Delayed admission to the ICU is reported to be associated with worse outcomes in cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to compare the 180-day survival of cancer patients whether they were directly admitted to the ICU from the emergency department (ED) or secondarily from the wards after the ED visit. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective observational study including all adult cancer patients that visited the ED in 2018 and that were admitted to the ICU at some point within 7 days from the ED visit. EXPOSURE: Delayed ICU admission. OUTCOME MEASURE AND ANALYSIS: Survival at day 180 was plotted using Kaplan-Meier curves, and hazard ratio (HR) from Cox proportional-hazard models was used to quantify the association between admission modality (directly from the ED or later from wards) and survival at day 180, after adjustment to baseline characteristics. RESULTS: During the study period, 4560 patients were admitted to the hospital following an ED visit, among whom 136 (3%) patients had cancer and were admitted to the ICU, either directly from the ED in 101 (74%) cases or secondarily from the wards in 35 (26%) cases. Patients admitted to the ICU from the ED had a better 180-day survival than those admitted secondarily from wards (log-rank P = 0.006). After adjustment to disease status (remission or uncontrolled malignancy), survival at day 180 was significantly improved in the case of admission to the ICU directly from the ED with an adjusted HR of 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.95), P = 0.03. CONCLUSION: In ED patients with cancer, a direct admission to the ICU was associated with better 180-day survival compared with patients with a delayed ICU admission secondary from the wards. However, several confounders were not taken into account, which limits the validity of this result.

Comparison of Patients Infected With Delta Versus Omicron COVID-19 Variants Presenting to Paris Emergency Departments : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: At the end of 2021, the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 variant (Omicron) wave superseded the B.1.617.2 variant (Delta) wave. OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Delta variant versus the Omicron variant in the emergency department (ED). DESIGN: Retrospective chart reviews. SETTING: 13 adult EDs in academic hospitals in the Paris area from 29 November 2021 to 10 January 2022. PATIENTS: Patients with a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for SARS-CoV-2 and variant identification. MEASUREMENTS: Main outcome measures were baseline clinical and biological characteristics at ED presentation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 3728 patients had a positive RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period; 1716 patients who had a variant determination (818 Delta and 898 Omicron) were included. Median age was 58 years, and 49% were women. Patients infected with the Omicron variant were younger (54 vs. 62 years; difference, 8.0 years [95% CI, 4.6 to 11.4 years]), had a lower rate of obesity (8.0% vs. 12.5%; difference, 4.5 percentage points [CI, 1.5 to 7.5 percentage points]), were more vaccinated (65% vs. 39% for 1 dose and 22% vs. 11% for 3 doses), had a lower rate of dyspnea (26% vs. 50%; difference, 23.6 percentage points [CI, 19.0 to 28.2 percentage points]), and had a higher rate of discharge home from the ED (59% vs. 37%; difference, 21.9 percentage points [-26.5 to -17.1 percentage points]). Compared with Delta, Omicron infection was independently associated with a lower risk for ICU admission (adjusted difference, 11.4 percentage points [CI, 8.4 to 14.4 percentage points]), mechanical ventilation (adjusted difference, 3.6 percentage points [CI, 1.7 to 5.6 percentage points]), and in-hospital mortality (adjusted difference, 4.2 percentage points [CI, 2.0 to 6.5 percentage points]). LIMITATION: Patients with COVID-19 illness and no SARS-CoV-2 variant determination in the ED were excluded. CONCLUSION: Compared with the Delta variant, infection with the Omicron variant in patients in the ED had different clinical and biological patterns and was associated with better in-hospital outcomes, including higher survival. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.

Critically ill cancer patient's resuscitation: a Belgian/French societies' consensus conference.

To respond to the legitimate questions raised by the application of invasive methods of monitoring and life-support techniques in cancer patients admitted in the ICU, the European Lung Cancer Working Party and the Groupe de Recherche Respiratoire en Réanimation Onco-Hématologique, set up a consensus conference. The methodology involved a systematic literature review, experts' opinion and a final consensus conference about nine predefined questions1. Which triage criteria, in terms of complications and considering the underlying neoplastic disease and possible therapeutic limitations, should be used to guide admission of cancer patient to intensive care units?2. Which ventilatory support [High Flow Oxygenation, Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV), Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV), Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)] should be used, for which complications and in which environment?3. Which support should be used for extra-renal purification, in which conditions and environment?4. Which haemodynamic support should be used, for which complications, and in which environment?5. Which benefit of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cancer patients and for which complications?6. Which intensive monitoring in the context of oncologic treatment (surgery, anti-cancer treatment …)?7. What specific considerations should be taken into account in the intensive care unit?8. Based on which criteria, in terms of benefit and complications and taking into account the neoplastic disease, patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit (or equivalent) should receive cellular elements derived from the blood (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets)?9. Which training is required for critical care doctors in charge of cancer patients?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors increase T cell immunity during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, yet the role of antiviral T cell immunity during infection and the contribution of immune checkpoints remain unclear. By prospectively following a cohort of 292 patients with melanoma, half of which treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we identified 15 patients with acute or convalescent COVID-19 and investigated their transcriptomic, proteomic, and cellular profiles. We found that ICI treatment was not associated with severe COVID-19 and did not alter the induction of inflammatory and type I interferon responses. In-depth phenotyping demonstrated expansion of CD8 effector memory T cells, enhanced T cell activation, and impaired plasmablast induction in ICI-treated COVID-19 patients. The evaluation of specific adaptive immunity in convalescent patients showed higher spike (S), nucleoprotein (N), and membrane (M) antigen-specific T cell responses and similar induction of spike-specific antibody responses. Our findings provide evidence that ICI during COVID-19 enhanced T cell immunity without exacerbating inflammation.

Red Blood Cell Transfusion in the Emergency Department: An Observational Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in the emergency department (ED) with a particular focus on the hemoglobin (Hb) level thresholds that are used in this setting. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 12 EDs including all adult patients that received RBC transfusion in January and February 2018. Descriptive statistics were reported. Logistic regression was performed to assess variables that were independently associated with a pre-transfusion Hb level ≥ 8 g/dL. RESULTS: During the study period, 529 patients received RBC transfusion. The median age was 74 (59-85) years. The patients had a history of cancer or hematological disease in 185 (35.2%) cases. Acute bleeding was observed in the ED for 242 (44.7%) patients, among which 145 (59.9%) were gastrointestinal. Anemia was chronic in 191 (40.2%) cases, mostly due to vitamin or iron deficiency or to malignancy with transfusion support. Pre-transfusion Hb level was 6.9 (6.0-7.8) g/dL. The transfusion motive was not notified in the medical chart in 206 (38.9%) cases. In the multivariable logistic regression, variables that were associated with a higher pre-transfusion Hb level (≥8 g/dL) were a history of coronary artery disease (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.29-3.41), the presence of acute bleeding (OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.53-3.94), and older age (OR: 1.02/year; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). CONCLUSION: RBC transfusion in the ED was an everyday concern and involved patients with heterogeneous medical situations and severity. Pre-transfusion Hb level was rather restrictive. Almost half of transfusions were provided because of acute bleeding which was associated with a higher Hb threshold.

Cancer Patients' Prehospital Emergency Care: Post Hoc Analysis from the French Prospective Multicenter Study EPICANCER.

BACKGROUND: Very little data are available concerning the prehospital emergency care of cancer patients. The objective of this study is to report the trajectories and outcomes of cancer patients attended by prehospital emergency services. METHODS: This was an ancillary study from a three-day cross-sectional prospective multicenter study in France. Adult patients with cancer were included if they called the emergency medical dispatch center Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU). The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03393260, accessed on 8th January 2018). RESULTS: During the study period, 1081 cancer patients called the SAMU. The three most frequent reasons were dyspnea (20.2%), neurological disorder (15.4%), and fatigue (13.1%). Among those patients, 949 (87.8%) were directed to the hospital, among which 802 (90.8%) were directed to an emergency department (ED) and 44 (5%) were transported directly to an intensive care unit (ICU). A mobile intensive care unit (MICU) was dispatched 213 (31.6%) times. The decision to dispatch an MICU seemed generally based on the patient's reason for seeking emergency care and the presence of severity signs rather than on the malignancy or the patient general health status. Among the patients who were directed to the ED, 98 (16.1%) were deceased on day 30. Mortality was 15.4% for those patients directed to the ED but who were not admitted to the ICU in the next 7 days, 28.2% for those who were admitted to ICU in the next 7 days, and 56.1% for those patients transported by the MICU directly to the ICU. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients attending prehospital emergency care were most often directed to EDs. Patients who were directly transported to the ICU had a high mortality rate, raising the question of improving triage policies.