Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for aortic vascular graft infection; a five-year retrospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: An estimated 1% of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) devices become infected, carrying a high mortality rate. Surgical explantation is recommended and prognosis is guarded. This retrospective cohort analysis focuses on the role of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in the management of aortic vascular graft infections following EVAR. METHODS: Patients who received OPAT for aortic graft infections (AGI) following EVAR from 2014 to 2018 inclusive were identified using the OPAT database. Clinical, microbiological and radiological data were collected. Survivors were followed up for a median of 36 months (range 25-60) after first presentation with infection. Outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Eleven cases with 20 OPAT episodes were identified: 10/11 male, median age 76 (IQR 71-81). Median time to presentation was 7 months (range 0-81 months) after EVAR. OPAT lead to a 55% reduction in length of hospital stay. One patient had graft explantation; four others had temporising measures. Eight of 11 were alive a median of 36 months after presentation with infection, having had a median of 2 re-treatments on OPAT (range 1-3). Seven of the eight survivors were on continuous suppressive oral antimicrobials; three were also intermittently on intravenous antibiotics for flares of infection. Patient/ infection outcomes were cure (1/11), improved (7/11), failure (3/11). CONCLUSION: AGI following EVAR usually presents in the first year after graft deployment. OPAT has an important peri-operative role in patients suitable for curative surgery. OPAT followed by oral suppressive antimicrobial therapy can be a feasible long-term treatment for non-curative management of AGI. Survival in our cohort was longer than expected, and OPAT was feasible despite the complexity of these infections. OPAT can avoid multiple and lengthy hospital admissions and maximise time at home and quality of life in this cohort with life-limiting infection.

Characterization of the Inflammatory Response to Severe COVID-19 Illness.

Rationale: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global threat to health. Its inflammatory characteristics are incompletely understood.Objectives: To define the cytokine profile of COVID-19 and to identify evidence of immunometabolic alterations in those with severe illness.Methods: Levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and sTNFR1 (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) were assessed in plasma from healthy volunteers, hospitalized but stable patients with COVID-19 (COVIDstable patients), patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission (COVIDICU patients), and patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring ICU support (CAPICU patients). Immunometabolic markers were measured in circulating neutrophils from patients with severe COVID-19. The acute phase response of AAT (alpha-1 antitrypsin) to COVID-19 was also evaluated.Measurements and Main Results: IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and sTNFR1 were all increased in patients with COVID-19. COVIDICU patients could be clearly differentiated from COVIDstable patients, and demonstrated higher levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and sTNFR1 but lower IL-10 than CAPICU patients. COVID-19 neutrophils displayed altered immunometabolism, with increased cytosolic PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2), phosphorylated PKM2, HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α), and lactate. The production and sialylation of AAT increased in COVID-19, but this antiinflammatory response was overwhelmed in severe illness, with the IL-6:AAT ratio markedly higher in patients requiring ICU admission (P < 0.0001). In critically unwell patients with COVID-19, increases in IL-6:AAT predicted prolonged ICU stay and mortality, whereas improvement in IL-6:AAT was associated with clinical resolution (P < 0.0001).Conclusions: The COVID-19 cytokinemia is distinct from that of other types of pneumonia, leading to organ failure and ICU need. Neutrophils undergo immunometabolic reprogramming in severe COVID-19 illness. Cytokine ratios may predict outcomes in this population.

HIV and systemic lupus erythematosus: where immunodeficiency meets autoimmunity.

We report a case of a new diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a patient with HIV who presented to the outpatient department with a fever, headache and lymphadenopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed lymphocytic pleocytosis. Initial concerns were for an infectious process, and investigations for systemic and central nervous system infection were negative. Serum testing for ANA, dsDNA, nucleosome, anti-histone and ribosomal-P antibodies was positive. A magnetic brain imaging scan of the brain showed a well-circumscribed lesion in the right cerebellar peduncle on T2/FLAIR. The patient was commenced on prednisolone and rituximab, and had a good clinical response. The cerebellar lesion resolved and has not recurred with sequential imaging. SLE and HIV are both multi-systemic diseases which rarely co-occur. Autoimmune processes should be considered in HIV patients with multi-systemic symptoms and signs.

Readability of online COVID-19 health information: a comparison between four English speaking countries.

BACKGROUND: The internet is now the first line source of health information for many people worldwide. In the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, health information is being produced, revised, updated and disseminated at an increasingly rapid rate. The general public are faced with a plethora of misinformation regarding COVID-19 and the readability of online information has an impact on their understanding of the disease. The accessibility of online healthcare information relating to COVID-19 is unknown. We sought to evaluate the readability of online information relating to COVID-19 in four English speaking regions: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, and compare readability of website source provenance and regional origin. METHODS: The Google® search engine was used to collate the first 20 webpage URLs for three individual searches for 'COVID', 'COVID-19', and 'coronavirus' from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Flesch-Kincaid Grade (FKG) Score, Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) score were calculated to assess the readability. RESULTS: There were poor levels of readability webpages reviewed, with only 17.2% of webpages at a universally readable level. There was a significant difference in readability between the different webpages based on their information source (p < 0.01). Public Health organisations and Government organisations provided the most readable COVID-19 material, while digital media sources were significantly less readable. There were no significant differences in readability between regions. CONCLUSION: Much of the general public have relied on online information during the pandemic. Information on COVID-19 should be made more readable, and those writing webpages and information tools should ensure universal accessibility is considered in their production. Governments and healthcare practitioners should have an awareness of the online sources of information available, and ensure that readability of our own productions is at a universally readable level which will increase understanding and adherence to health guidelines.

Misidentification of Brucella melitensis as Ochrobactrum species: potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of brucellosis.

We describe a case of brucellosis in a man in his 20s, who presented to the emergency department with a 1-month history of fevers, dry cough and knee pain. Blood cultures were positive after 55 hours and Ochrobactrum daejeonense was identified on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Ochrobactrum spp are Gram-negative organisms that are phylogenetically related to Brucella spp but commercially available MALDI-TOF libraries cannot distinguish between the two genera. Further positive blood cultures for O. daejeonense combined with characteristic growth patterns for Brucella spp led to targeted questioning of the patient regarding potential exposure risks, which revealed a history of consumption of unpasteurised camel milk in the Middle East 3 months earlier. Treatment of brucellosis was initiated and subsequent whole genome sequencing identified the blood culture isolate as Brucella melitensis confirming the diagnosis of brucellosis. This case highlights the challenges in the diagnosis of brucellosis in low-incidence settings.

Adult Kawasaki disease: a rare and challenging diagnosis-a case report.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis which predominantly occurs in childhood but rarely in adulthood. Diagnosis relies on the presence of typical clinical features; however, patients may present atypically, increasing the challenge of timely diagnosis for physicians. Case summary: We report a case of a 40-year-old male presenting with persistent fever, rash, and unilateral neck swelling. Initial investigations were suggestive of necrotizing lymphadenitis, with a presumed infective aetiology. However, extensive microbiology and immunological investigations remained negative. Cardiac injury was evident with elevated troponin T and NT-proBNP; however, left ventricular systolic function was normal. After 4 days, clinical features consistent with KD were noted and the results of a lymph node biopsy supported this diagnosis. Despite timely treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin, follow-up computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography demonstrated two sequential aneurysms (max 6 mm) in the right coronary artery, plus one small subtle aneurysm in the proximal left anterior descending artery (4 mm). Discussion: Diagnosis of adult KD remains challenging, as symptoms often present sequentially over time rather than simultaneously and many of the clinical features necessary for diagnosis share commonality with other infectious disease processes.

Ending tuberculosis: the cost of missing the World Health Organization target in a low-incidence country.

BACKGROUND: Ending tuberculosis (TB) is a global priority and targets for doing so are outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy. For low-incidence countries, eliminating TB requires high levels of wealth, low levels of income inequality and effective TB programmes and services that can meet the needs of people who have not benefited from these and are still at risk of TB. In Ireland, numerous reports have noted a need for more funding for TB prevention and control. AIM: The aim of this research was to estimate the cost of not meeting the WHO End TB target of a 90% reduction in TB incidence in Ireland between 2015 and 2035. METHODS: The cost of projected TB cases between 2022 and 2035 is estimated based on trends in surveillance data for the period 2015 to 2019 and outcomes reported in the literature. RESULTS: Between 2022 and 2035, it is projected that a failure to meet the WHO End TB Strategy target will result in an additional 989 cases of TB, 577.3 disability-adjusted life years and 35 deaths with TB in Ireland. The cost of this is estimated to be €70.779 million. CONCLUSION: Given the estimated cost, Ireland's current prospects of eliminating TB and the tendency towards programmatic funding internationally, greater investment in TB prevention and control in Ireland is justifiable. A national elimination strategy with actions at the levels of the social determinants of health, the health system and the TB programme should be funded.

Delayed Tuberculosis Treatment and Cost of Care in a Low-Incidence Country.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) elimination requires high-quality, timely care. In countries with a low incidence of TB, such as Ireland, delayed diagnosis is common. This evaluation aimed to determine the factors that predict patient-related and health care provider-related delays in TB management and to establish how TB care cost is affected by care delays. Methods: Health care records of patients with signs and symptoms of TB evaluated by a tertiary service in Ireland between July 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, were reviewed to measure and determine predictors of patient-related delays, health care provider-related delays, and the cost of TB care. Outcomes were compared against benchmarks derived from the literature. Results: Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with TB, and 51% (19/37) had pulmonary TB (PTB). The median patient-related delay was 60 days among those with PTB, greater than the benchmark derived from the literature (38 days). The median health care provider-related delay among patients with PTB was 16 days and, although similar to the benchmark (median, 22 days; minimum, 11 days; maximum, 36 days), could be improved. The health care provider-related delay among patients with EPTB was 66 days, greater than the benchmark (42 days). The cost of care was €8298 and, while similar to that reported in the literature (median, €9319; minimum, €6486; maximum, €14 750), could be improved. Patient-related delays among those with PTB predicted care costs. Conclusions: Patient-related and health care provider-related delays in TB diagnosis in Ireland must be reduced. Initiatives to do so should be resourced.

Evaluating the Quality of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Screening in Ireland: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study.

Ireland is a country with a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB) (5.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2019) that should be aiming for TB elimination (fewer than 1 case per million of population). To achieve TB elimination in low-incidence countries, programmatic latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management is important. This requires high-quality latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening. AIM: To assess the quality of LTBI screening in a tertiary centre in Ireland using a framework. METHODS: A retrospective review of the health care records of patients screened for TB in a tertiary centre in Ireland using an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) between 2016 and 2018 was performed. Three domains from the Institute of Medicine framework for health care quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity, were applied to measure the quality of LTBI screening. RESULTS: Forty patients had LTBI and an indication for treatment, of whom 20% (8/40) were not offered treatment by the health care provider, 2.5% (1/40) did not accept treatment, and 10% (4/40) did not complete treatment. Seventy-five percent (6/8) of patients not offered treatment were non-Irish. The cost of screening per LTBI case identified was EUR 2048. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the quality of LTBI screening using a framework and identified that LTBI screening in this tertiary centre needs to be scaled and expanded, and that treatment initiation needs to be improved, particularly among non-Irish nationals.

Isavuconazole Treatment of Spinal Cord Invasive Aspergillosis Guided by Cerebrospinal Fluid (1,3)-ß-d-Glucan Levels in a Patient with Low Interferon-Gamma and Ulcerative Colitis.

This case highlights the use of (1,3)-beta-d glucan to direct treatment of a cervical spinal cord Aspergillus fumigatus infection in a 22-year-old woman immunocompromised due to steroid and anti-TNF therapy in the context of ulcerative colitis and interferon gamma deficiency. A 4-year treatment course requiring neurosurgical intervention on four occasions and prolonged antifungal therapy, including isavuconazole, resulted in clinical cure with a corresponding decrease in CSF beta-d-glucan to <30 pg/mL. Serum and CSF galactomannan levels were not elevated at any point during the clinical course.

Online Search Trends Influencing Anticoagulation in Patients With COVID-19: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Early evidence of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy disseminated rapidly online during the first months of 2020, followed by clinical debate about how best to manage thrombotic risks in these patients. The rapid online spread of case reports was followed by online interim guidelines, discussions, and worldwide online searches for further information. The impact of global online search trends and online discussion on local approaches to coagulopathy in patients with COVID-19 has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between online search trends using Google Trends and the rate of appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and anticoagulation therapy in a cohort of patients with COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary hospital in Ireland. METHODS: A retrospective audit of anticoagulation therapy and VTE prophylaxis among patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to a tertiary hospital was conducted between February 29 and May 31, 2020. Worldwide Google search trends of the term "COVID-19" and anticoagulation synonyms during this time period were determined and correlated against one another using a Spearman correlation. A P value of <.05 was considered significant, and analysis was completed using Prism, version 8 (GraphPad). RESULTS: A statistically significant Spearman correlation (P<.001, r=0.71) was found between the two data sets, showing an increase in VTE prophylaxis in patients with COVID-19 with increasing online searches worldwide. This represents a proxy for online searches and discussion, dissemination of information, and Google search trends relating to COVID-19 and clotting risk, in particular, which correlated with an increasing trend of providing thromboprophylaxis and anticoagulation therapy to patients with COVID-19 in our tertiary center. CONCLUSIONS: We described a correlation of local change in clinical practice with worldwide online dialogue and digital search trends that influenced individual clinicians, prior to the publication of formal guidelines or a local quality-improvement intervention.

An integrated multidisciplinary model of COVID-19 recovery care.

BACKGROUND: In January 2020, the WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a public health emergency; by March 11, a pandemic was declared. To date in Ireland, over 3300 patients have been admitted to acute hospitals as a result of infection with COVID-19. AIMS: This article aims to describe the establishment of a COVID Recovery Service, a multidisciplinary service for comprehensive follow-up of patients with a hospital diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: A hybrid model of virtual and in-person clinics was established, supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of respiratory, critical care, infectious diseases, psychiatry, and psychology services. This model identifies patients who need enhanced follow-up following COVID-19 pneumonia and aims to support patients with complications of COVID-19 and those who require integrated community care. RESULTS: We describe a post-COVID-19 service structure together with detailed protocols for multidisciplinary follow-up. One hundred seventy-four patients were discharged from Beaumont Hospital after COVID-19 pneumonia. Sixty-seven percent were male with a median age (IQR) of 66.5 (51-97). Twenty-two percent were admitted to the ICU for mechanical ventilation, 11% had non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen, and 67% did not have specialist respiratory support. Early data suggests that 48% of these patients will require medium to long-term specialist follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the implementation of an integrated multidisciplinary approach to patients with COVID-19, identifying those with increased physical and mental healthcare needs. Our initial experience suggests that significant physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments may persist despite clinical resolution of the infection.

Syphilis consequences and implications in delayed diagnosis: five cases of secondary syphilis presenting with ocular symptoms.

Ocular manifestations of syphilis are uncommon. Five cases of ocular syphilis are presented, in four of which there was a delay in diagnosis. Four of the patients were men who have sex with men (MSM), and four patients were HIV negative.

Rapid diagnosis of seasonal Influenza virus and cohorting of hospitalised patients on a 'flu ward'. A prospective analysis of outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The influenza season of 2017/2018 was burdensome in comparison to previous years. In patient management of seasonal influenza patients is poorly described. AIM: To assess the impact of managing influenza patients on a dedicated influenza ward on antimicrobial use and duration, and length of stay (LOS). METHODS: A prospective cohort study from Jan 1st to Feb 28th 2018. Patients diagnosed with influenza in the Emergency Department (ED) were cohorted under infectious disease (ID) or a general internal medicine (GIM) firms on a 35 bed influenza ward. At times of maximum capacity some patients were managed on other wards by other firms 'non flu ward'. FINDINGS: 91 patients were admitted to the influenza ward from ED (64 ID, 27 GIM), 38 had influenza A. Patients managed by ID were more likely to be switched to oral antibiotics sooner median 3 vs 5 days p=.049. Antibiotic duration was shorter for patients managed by the ID firm median 7 vs 9 days p=.016. LOS was shorter for patients managed by the ID firm on the flu ward vs 'non flu ward', median 5 vs 9 days p=.007. No significant difference was seen between ID and GIM LOS on the flu ward, median 5 vs 7 days p=0.30. CONCLUSION: Influenza patients managed by an infectious disease service on an influenza ward had reduced length of intravenous (IV) and total antimicrobial use compared to a GIM service and had reduced LOS compared to the standard of care, 'non flu ward' influenza patients.

Impact of a new vaccine clinic on hepatitis B vaccine completion and immunological response rates in an HIV-positive cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B virus vaccination (HBVV) in the HIV-infected population has poor reported completion rates and immunological response rates. At our HIV clinic, we established a vaccine clinic to improve HBVV outcomes using interventions such as SMS text reminders and double-dose (DD) HBVV for standard-dose non-responders (SD NRs). METHODS: A five-year (2003-2008) retrospective review of the completion rates and immunological response rates for HBVV after the establishment of the dedicated vaccine clinic was conducted. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05, and the analysis was performed using SPSS (v16). RESULTS: A total of 354 HIV-infected patients were included. Seventy-five percent (268/354) of patients completed the SD HBVV, an 84% (226/268) returned for the hepatitis B surface antibody evaluation. Only 47.3% (107/226) responded to standard-dose hepatitis B vaccination. Responders had higher absolute numbers (p=0.017) and percentages of CD4 cells (p<0.001) and were more likely to be receiving HAART (p=0.001). There was a 70% (48/69) response rate to DD HBVV among SD NRs. On-treatment analysis showed an 88% (155/176) overall immunological response to SD HBVV and DD HBVV, if required. CONCLUSION: High HBVV completion and response rates in this HIV cohort were enabled through the use of multiple interventions, including the use of SMS text message reminders and routine referral for DD vaccination.