Clinical, Microbiological and Treatment Characteristics of Severe Postoperative Respiratory Infections: An Observational Cohort Study.

Respiratory infections are frequent and life-threatening complications of surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, microbiological and treatment characteristics of severe postoperative pneumonia (POP) and tracheobronchitis (POT) in a large series of patients. This single-center, prospective observational cohort study included patients with POP or POT requiring intensive care unit admission in the past 10 years. We recorded demographic, clinical, microbiological and therapeutic data. A total of 207 patients were included, and 152 (73%) were men. The mean (SD) age was 70 (13) years and the mean (SD) ARISCAT score was 46 (19). Ventilator-associated pneumonia was reported in 21 patients (10%), hospital-acquired pneumonia was reported in 132 (64%) and tracheobronchitis was reported in 54 (26%). The mean (SD) number of days from surgery to POP/POT diagnosis was 6 (4). The mean (SD) SOFA score was 5 (3). Respiratory microbiological sampling was performed in 201 patients (97%). A total of 177 organisms were cultured in 130 (63%) patients, with a high proportion of Gram-negative and multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria (20%). The most common empirical antibiotic therapy was a triple-drug regimen covering MDR Gram-negative bacteria and MRSA. In conclusion, surgical patients are a high-risk population with a high proportion of early onset severe POP/POT and nosocomial bacteria isolation.

Co-circulation of multiple enterovirus D68 subclades, including a novel B3 cluster, across Europe in a season of expected low prevalence, 2019/20.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was detected in 93 patients from five European countries between 1 January 2019 and 15 January 2020, a season with expected low circulation. Patients were primarily children (n = 67, median age: 4 years), 59 patients required hospitalisation and five had severe neurologic manifestations. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two clusters in the B3 subclade and subclade A2/D. This circulation of EV-D68 associated with neurological manifestations stresses the importance of surveillance and diagnostics beyond expected peak years.

[Underestimated infection - on the question of the human adenovirus pathogenicity factors.]

Human adenoviruses cause different organ infections of varying severity, from asymptomatic to severe cases with lethal outcome, that are registered everywhere. Detailed and focused study of factors predisposing to a severe course of infection is required. The literature contains information indicating the association of severe adenoviral respiratory diseases with certain types of adenovirus, primarily type 7. This review highlights the possible causes of increased pathogenicity of some types of adenovirus and their association with severe forms of infection. Pathogenicity factors include the ability of adenovirus to bind the specific cellular receptors, the formation of subviral particles, the interaction with blood proteins, in particular the coagulation factor X, as well as the features of the early genes E1A, E1B, E3, E4. In addition, the severity of the disease may be affected by the presence or absence of pre-existing antibodies specific to certain types of adenoviruses. Chronic diseases or immunosuppression also increase the risk of severe adenovirus infection. The information presented in this review may elucidate the pathogenesis of adenovirus infection, and help to develop new features for prevention and treatment.

Infección respiratoria por adenovirus en pediatría: de ayer a hoy / Adenovirus pediatric respiratory infection: past and present

Acute respiratory infections represent a world pediatric health burden. RSV, influenza and adenoviruses are among the most frequent causative agents. Adenoviruses usually produce upper respiratory infections, but they can be responsible for acute lower respiratory infection in children with severe clinical outcome. It is necessary a special clinical and epidemiological organization to avoid nosocomial adenovirus local outbreaks. Rapid diagnose, done by immunofluorescence assay and PCR, individual case isolation and supportive therapy are necessary for an appropriate management. The increasing immune compromised population represents a challenge for the adenovirus diagnosis with quantitative PCR and for nosocomial infection control and potential antiviral treatment.

Las infecciones respiratorias agudas son un problema prioritario mundial de morbimortalidad infantil y son causadas predominantemente por virus, entre los que destacan el virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS), virus influenza (FLU) y adenovirus (ADV). Los ADV normalmente causan infecciones respiratorias altas, pero pueden provocar infecciones bajas muy graves, que dejan secuelas y tienen alta letalidad. Requieren un manejo clínico y epidemiológico especial para evitar los graves brotes nosocomiales observados en Latinoamérica. Esto incluye un diagnóstico rápido hecho con técnicas de inmunodiagnóstico y reacción en cadena polimerasa (PCR), aislamiento individual del paciente y terapia de soporte. En pacientes inmunocomprometidos, la infección por ADV representa un gran desafío para el diagnóstico, con uso de PCR cuantitativo (qPCR) y eventual tratamiento antiviral. El objetivo de esta revisión es el de actualizar las propiedades, patogenia, epidemiología y diagnóstico del ADV, con énfasis en los cuadros respiratorios de mayor morbimortalidad que se producen en algunos niños.

Healthcare infrastructure capacity to respond to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and sepsis in Vietnam: A low-middle income country.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the availability of relevant structural and human resources needed for the clinical management of patients with severe acute respiratory infections and sepsis in critical care units in Vietnam. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted by purposive sampling of 128 hospitals (36% of total hospitals in surveyed provinces), including 25 provincial and 103 district level hospitals, from 20 provinces in Vietnam. Data on availability of hospital characteristics, structural resources and health care workers was then analyzed. RESULTS: Most hospitals (>80%) reported having 60% of the relevant structural resources. Significant differences were observed between provincial hospitals when compared to district hospitals in regards to availability of central oxygen piping system (78.3% vs 38.7%, p=0.001) mechanical ventilation (100.0% vs 73.6%, p=0.003), mobile x-rays (80.0% vs 29.8%, p<0.001), carbapenem antibiotic (73.9% vs 17.4%, p<0.001) and norepinephrine (95.8% vs 56.3%, p<0.001). There was a limited availability of arterial blood gas analyzers (13.7%), oseltamivir (42.2%) and N95 respirators (54.6%) across all hospitals surveyed. CONCLUSIONS: The limited availability of relevant structural and human resources in critical care units around Vietnam makes the implementation of quality critical care to patients with SARI and sepsis, according international guidelines, not universally possible.

Vigilancia de infecciones respiratorias agudas graves durante la influenza A (H1N1) pandémica en Chile, 2009 / Surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections during influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Chile, 2009

Se presenta la evolución de la epidemia de la influenza A (H1N1) pandémica en Chile a través de un indicador de gravedad: casos de infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRAG) con evolución grave, y se identifican sus características epidemiológicas utilizando los datos del Ministerio de Salud, incluyendo todos los casos sospechosos y confirmados de influenza. Se notificaron 1.606 casos de IRAG, con una tasa acumulada de 9,4 casos por 100.000 habitantes, inferior a otros países de América. Los mayores riesgos se presentan en el norte y en áreas del extremo sur del país. Los menores de 5 años son el grupo de mayor riesgo (tasa de 30,7 por cien mil hab.), y la tasa de hospitalización de los de 50 y más años también refleja un riesgo de mayor gravedad. Destaca el alto porcentaje de comorbilidad 53 por ciento, similar a lo registrado en Canadá.

The evolution of the epidemic of influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Chile is presented using an indicator of severity: acute respiratory infections (SARI) with serious evolution, and identifying its epidemiological characteristics. Data from the Ministry of Health, including all suspected and confirmed cases of influenza, is analyzed. SARI cases reported were 1606, with a cumulative rate of 9.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, lower than other countries in America. The greatest risks occur in the northern and southernmost areas of the country. All children under 5 years are at greatest risk (rate of 30.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.), and the rate of hospitalization for those 50 and over also reflect a more serious risk. The high percentage of co-morbidity, 53 percent, is similar to that reported in Canada.