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BACKGROUND: The radiological manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) cryptococcosis are diverse and often subtle. There is heterogeneity on how different neuroimaging patterns impact prognosis. This study aims to assess the association between the neuroimaging and clinical outcomes of CNS cryptococcosis. METHODS: All patients with CNS cryptococcosis between July 2017 and April 2023 who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included. The primary outcome was mortality during hospitalisation. Secondary outcomes were readmission, ventricular shunting, duration of hospitalisation and time to the first negative cerebrospinal fluid culture. We compared the outcomes for each of the five main radiological findings on the brain MRI scan. RESULTS: We included 46 proven CNS cryptococcosis cases. The two main comorbidity groups were HIV infection (20, 43%) and solid organ transplantation (10, 22%), respectively. Thirty-nine patients exhibited at least one radiological abnormality (85%), with the most common being meningeal enhancement (34, 74%). The mortality rates occurred at 11% (5/46) during hospitalisation. We found no significant disparities in mortality related to distinct radiological patterns. The presence of pseudocysts was significantly associated with the need for readmission (p = .027). The ventricular shunting was significantly associated with the presence of pseudocysts (p = .005) and hydrocephalus (p = .044). CONCLUSION: In this study, there is no association between brain MRI findings and mortality. Larger studies are needed to evaluate this important issue.
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Criptococose , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Neuroimagem , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neuroimagem/métodos , Criptococose/diagnóstico por imagem , Criptococose/mortalidade , Criptococose/microbiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos Retrospectivos , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Encéfalo/patologia , Infecções Fúngicas do Sistema Nervoso Central/diagnóstico por imagem , Infecções Fúngicas do Sistema Nervoso Central/mortalidade , Infecções Fúngicas do Sistema Nervoso Central/microbiologia , Prognóstico , Hidrocefalia/diagnóstico por imagem , Hidrocefalia/mortalidade , Hospitalização , Infecções por HIV/complicaçõesRESUMO
Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and risk factors for hospital readmission and infection during the months after COVID-19 hospital admission. Methods: This prospective study included adult patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and had been discharged from April 2020 to August 2020. All patients had a medical evaluation with a structured questionnaire 6 to 11 months after hospital admission. The authors included only patients with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR. Patients with pregnant/postpartum women, with a proven COVID-19 reinfection or incapable of answering the questionnaire were excluded. Results: A total of 822 patients completed the follow-up assessment, and 68% reportedat least one recurrent symptom related to COVID-19. The most frequent symptom was myalgia (42%). Thirty-two percent of patients visited an emergency room after COVID-19 hospitalization, and 80 (10%) patients required re-hospitalization. Risk factors for hospital readmission were orotracheal intubation during COVID-19 hospitalization (p = 0.003, OR = 2.14), Charlson score (p = 0.002, OR = 1.21), congestive heart failure (p = 0.005, OR = 2.34), peripheral artery disease (p = 0.06, OR= 2.06) and persistent diarrhea after COVID-19 hospitalization discharge (p= 0.02, OR = 1.91). The main cause of hospital readmission was an infection, 43 (54%). Pneumonia was the most frequent infection (29%). Conclusions: The presence of symptoms after six months of COVID-19 diagnosis was frequent, and hospital readmission was relatively high. HIGHLIGHTS 32% of the patients visited an emergency room after COVID-19 hospitalization. The rate of hospital readmission after COVID-19 hospitalization is high, in the present sample 10% of patients needed a second hospitalization in 6-months Patients with persistent diarrhea after COVID-19 discharge had two times more chance to have another hospitalization in the next 6-months.
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ABSTRACT Background Several therapies have been used or proposed for the treatment of COVID-19, although their effectiveness and safety have not been properly evaluated. The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations to support decisions about the drug treatment of outpatients with COVID-19 in Brazil. Methods A panel consisting of experts from different clinical fields, representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and methodologists (37 members in total) was responsible for preparing these guidelines. A rapid guideline development method was used, based on the adoption and/or adaptation of recommendations from existing international guidelines combined with additional structured searches for primary studies and new recommendations whenever necessary (GRADE-ADOLOPMENT). The rating of quality of evidence and the drafting of recommendations followed the GRADE method. Results Ten technologies were evaluated, and 10 recommendations were prepared. Recommendations were made against the use of anticoagulants, azithromycin, budesonide, colchicine, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine alone or combined with azithromycin, ivermectin, nitazoxanide, and convalescent plasma. It was not possible to make a recommendation regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies in outpatients, as their benefit is uncertain and their cost is high, with limitations of availability and implementation. Conclusion To date, few therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of outpatients with COVID-19. Recommendations are restricted to what should not be used, in order to provide the best treatment according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and to promote resource savings by aboiding ineffective treatments.
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A criptococose é uma doença oportunista que ocorre com maior frequência em pacientes imunossuprimidos, ocasionando piora clínica e imunológica importante. Porém, é raro quando a doença ocorre em pacientes imunocompetentes. Relatamos aqui um caso de paciente previamente hígido que evoluiu com enteropatia perdedora de proteína, hipogamaglobulinemia secundária causada por criptococose disseminada.
Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic disease that occurs more frequently in immunosuppressed patients, causing important clinical and immunological deterioration. However, the disease rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of a previously healthy patient who progressed with protein-losing enteropathy, secondary hypogammaglobulinemia caused by disseminated cryptococcosis.
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Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Enteropatias Perdedoras de Proteínas , Criptococose , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Pacientes , Infecções Oportunistas , Proteínas , Agamaglobulinemia , Alergia e ImunologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to analyze, in a population treated for hepatitis C infection at a tertiary care treatment unit, the prevalence of comorbidities and extrahepatic manifestations, the range and degree of the clinical complexity and the associations between advanced liver disease and clinical variables. METHODS: Medical records from chronically infected hepatitis C patients seen at a dedicated treatment facility for complex cases in the Infectious Diseases Division of Hospital das Clínicas in Brazil were analyzed. Clinical complexity was defined as the presence of one or more of the following conditions: advanced liver disease (Metavir score F3 or F4 and/or clinical manifestations or ultrasound/endoscopy findings consistent with cirrhosis) or hepatocellular carcinoma and/or 3 or more extrahepatic manifestations and/or comorbidities concomitantly. RESULTS: Among the 1574 patients analyzed, only 41% met the definition of being clinically complex. Cirrhosis or hepatocarcinoma was identified in 22.2% and 1.8% of patients, respectively. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex (p=0.007), age>40 years (p<0.001) and the presence of metabolic syndrome (p=0.008) were independently associated with advanced liver disease. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients did not meet the criteria for admittance to this specialized tertiary service, reinforcing the need to reevaluate public health policies. Enhanced utilization of existing basic and intermediate complexity units for the management of less complex hepatitis C cases could improve care and lower costs.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Hepatite C/terapia , Alocação de Recursos , Recursos em Saúde , Atenção Terciária à Saúde , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Brasil , Comorbidade , Saúde Pública , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estudos de Coortes , Hepatite C/economiaRESUMO
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To investigate the HCV cascade of care and to identify the factors associated with loss or absence to follow-up of patients identified as infected with hepatitis C through blood donation. METHODS Blood donors from 1994 to 2012, identified with positive anti- HCV by enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot tests were invited to participate in the study, through letters or phone calls. Patients who agreed to participate were interviewed and their blood samples were collected for further testing. The following variables were investigated: demographic data, data on comorbidities and history concerning monitoring of hepatitis C. Multiple regression analysis by Poisson regression model was used to investigate the factors associated with non-referral for consultation or loss of follow-up. RESULTS Of the 2,952 HCV-infected blood donors, 22.8% agreed to participate: 394 (58.2%) male, median age 48 years old and 364 (53.8%) Caucasian. Of the 676 participants, 39.7% did not receive proper follow-up or treatment after diagnosis: 45 patients referred not to be aware they were infected, 61 did not seek medical attention and 163 started a follow-up program, but were non-adherent. The main reasons for inadequate follow-up were not understanding the need for medical care (71%) and health care access difficulties (14%). The variables showing a significant association with inadequate follow-up after multiple regression analysis were male gender (PR = 1.40; 95%CI 1.15–1.71), age under or equal to 50 years (PR = 1.36; 95%CI 1.12–1.65) and non-Caucasians (PR = 1.53; 95%CI 1.27–1.84). CONCLUSIONS About 40.0% of patients did not receive appropriate follow-up. These data reinforce the need to establish strong links between primary care and reference centers and the need to improve access to specialists and treatments.