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Background Severe thromboembolic events are one of the major complications associated with COVID-19 infection, especially among critically ill patients. We analysed ROTEM measurements in COVID-19 patients with a severe disease course and in patients with severe sepsis. Methods In this study, data obtained by extended analysis of haemostasis with standard laboratory tests and thromboelastometry of 20 patients with severe course of COVID-19 were retrospectively analysed and compared with similar data from 20 patients with severe sepsis but no COVID-19. Results The thromboelastometry values obtained from 20 sepsis patients contained a maximum clot firmness above the normal range but among COVID-19 patients, hypercoagulability was much more pronounced, with significantly higher maximum clot firmness (FIBTEM: 38.4 ± 10.1 mm vs. 29.6 ± 10.8 mm; P = 0.012; EXTEM: 70.4 ± 10.4 mm vs. 60.6 ± 14.8 mm; P = 0.022). Additionally, fibrinogen levels were significantly higher among COVID-19 patients (757 ± 135 mg/dl vs. 498 ± 132 mg/dl, P P = 0.013). Seven of 20 COVID-19 patients experienced thromboembolic events, whereas no patient in the sepsis group experienced such events. Conclusions ROTEM analysis showed significantly different pathological findings characterized by hypercoagulability and fibrinolysis shutdown among COVID-19 patients with a severe disease course compared to patients with severe sepsis. These abnormalities seem to be associated with thromboembolic events.

Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is a rare but serious complication and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. It is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, but infection with Listeria monocytogenes may also occur. Recommendations for antibiotic treatment of a Listeria infection are currently based on a small number of case reports and suggest the administration of ampicillin. But unlike vancomycin or gentamicin, for ampicillin the route of application, the dosage, and the duration of treatment have not yet been established. We report a case in which PD-associated peritonitis due to Listeria infection was treated with ampicillin administered intravenously and intraperitoneally, separately and in combination. Case presentation A 72-year-old man with chronic kidney disease stage 5 dialysis (CKDG5D) secondary to hypertension and diabetes was hospitalised in April 2020 because of PD-related peritonitis caused by a Listeria infection. In accordance with the results of resistance tests, the patient was treated with intravenous ampicillin at a dosage of 6 g twice daily. After initial treatment the leukocyte count in the PD effluent had decreased substantially, but it was permanently reduced only with the addition of intraperitoneal ampicillin (4 g daily). Efficient serum concentrations of ampicillin were determined for both routes of administration, intravenous and intraperitoneal. Conclusion This is the first case report demonstrating that PD-related peritonitis due to Listeria monocytogenes infection can be treated with intraperitoneal ampicillin and monitored by the determination of peripheral serum concentrations of ampicillin.

Background and Aims Extracorporeal cytokine adsorption is a new option in septic shock as an additional measure to prevent severe cytokinaemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal cytokine adsorption on hemodynamics in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and septic shock after cardiac surgery. Method In this retrospective study 64 patients with AKI and septic shock after cardiac surgery were investigated for the effect of extracorporeal cytokine adsorption by CytoSorb® columns on hemodynamics. In all patients CytoSorb®-treatment was applied in addition to continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with citrate anticoagulation. A paired t-test has been performed to determine statistical significance. Results Before treatment, the mean noradrenalin dose to reach a mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 65 mmHg was 0.49 µg/kg bw/min, the mean adrenalin dose was 0.1 µg/kg bw/min. 24 h after treatment, significantly reduced catecholamine doses were necessary to maintain a MAP > 65 mmHg (0.23 µg/kg bw/min noradrenalin; p***< 0.0002 and 0.06 µg/kg bw/min adrenalin; p* < 0.02). The mean SOFA-score for these patients with AKI and septic shock 24 h before CytoSorb®- treatment was 16.6 points. The mean predicted in-hospital mortality rate based on this SOFA-score of 16.6 points was 77 % while the all-cause mortality rate of the patients in this study was 59.4 %. Conclusion In patients with AKI and septic shock after cardiac surgery, 24 h after extracorporeal cytokine adsorption by CytoSorb® the catecholamine dose required to maintain a MAP > 65 mmHg was halved. Additionally, observed in-hospital mortality was lower than SOFA-score predicted mortality.

Das akute Nierenversagen (ANV) ist die haufigste und kostenintensivste Erkrankung im Krankenhaus. Im Zuge der demographischen Entwicklung und verbesserter therapeutischer Optionen tritt das ANV zunehmend haufiger auf und wird ofter uberlebt. Somit steigt auch die Anzahl derer, die ein potenzielles Risiko fur die Entwicklung einer Progression einer vorbestehenden chronischen Nierenkrankheit (CKD) oder einer De-novo-CKD haben. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) empfiehlt eine Evaluation 3 Monate nach Auftreten eines ANV mit Bestimmung von Serumkreatinin und Albuminurie. Werden die CKD-Kriterien zu diesem Zeitpunkt nicht erfullt, ist der Patient trotzdem zukunftig als Risikopatient zu betrachten. Zur Bestimmung der Auftretenswahrscheinlichkeit einer moglichen CKD eignet sich der James-Risk-Score aus 6 Routineparametern. Allerdings geht bei einem Grosteil der Patienten die Diagnose „Z. n. ANV“ im poststationaren Verlauf durch luckenhafte Dokumentation, intersektoralen Informationsverlust und mangelnde Aufklarung des Patienten verloren. Neue IT-gestutzte Alarmsysteme konnen helfen, ein ANV haufiger und fruher zu diagnostizieren und so eine fachspezifische nephrologische Mitbetreuung gezielt zu initiieren.