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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have introduced infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to protect inpatients from SARS-CoV-2. Despite these precautions, healthcare-associated COVID-19 has affected a notable [...]

Ciostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most commonly occurring types of healthcare-associated infection and is predominately associated with hospitals (2,2). Thus, CDI-related investigations and interventions primarily have focused [...]

In the United States, 20% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from adult device-associated healthcare-associated infections and 9% from surgical site infections are not susceptible to carbapenem antimicrobial drugs (1). However, only 1%-3% [...]

Before May 2021, Liberia reported 200 cases and 10-15 deaths per day in mid-July 2021 (Appendix Figure 1, https://wwwnc. cdc.gov/EID/article/27/12/21-1818-App1.pdf). To determine whether the rapid case surge was associated with [...]

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common nosocomial disease; symptoms range from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis and toxic megacolon. CDI is associated with a high mortality rate, particularly for [...]

Incidence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) is 3.8%-33.3% (1-9). Variations might be explained by differences in patient populations and CAPA definitions used, [...]

Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile was considered to be a predominantly nosocomial pathogen until findings of several whole-genome sequencing studies suggested a more complex epidemiology. For example, Eyre et al. reported [...]

Spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGRs) are arthropod-borne diseases caused by obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. SFGRs are associated with [approximately equal to] 20 species of Rickettsia, of [...]

Patients with cancer have high mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the immune parameters that dictate clinical outcomes remain unknown. In a cohort of 100 patients with cancer who were hospitalized for COVID-19, patients with hematologic cancer had higher mortality relative to patients with solid cancer. In two additional cohorts, flow cytometric and serologic analyses demonstrated that patients with solid cancer and patients without cancer had a similar immune phenotype during acute COVID-19, whereas patients with hematologic cancer had impairment of B cells and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibody responses. Despite the impaired humoral immunity and high mortality in patients with hematologic cancer who also have COVID-19, those with a greater number of CD8 T cells had improved survival, including those treated with anti-CD20 therapy. Furthermore, 77% of patients with hematologic cancer had detectable SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses. Thus, CD8 T cells might influence recovery from COVID-19 when humoral immunity is deficient. These observations suggest that CD8 T cell responses to vaccination might provide protection in patients with hematologic cancer even in the setting of limited humoral responses. A study of hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have liquid or solid cancer suggests that hematologic malignancy is an independent risk factor for mortality and that CD8.sup.+ T cells might limit infection in this setting irrespective of humoral immunity., Author(s): Erin M. Bange [sup.1] [sup.2] , Nicholas A. Han [sup.1] [sup.3] , Paul Wileyto [sup.2] [sup.4] , Justin Y. Kim [sup.1] [sup.3] , Sigrid Gouma [sup.5] , James Robinson [...]

The obstetric practice of Nord-Franche-Comte Hospital, France, has [approximately equal to] 3,600 deliveries per year (1). A recent study warned about the possibility of more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among [...]

Candida is a common cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in South Africa; the estimated national incidence risk in 2016-2017 was 84 (95% CI 81-86) cases per 100,000 hospital admissions (2). [...]

Background We aimed to evaluate prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and its risk factors in children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) to identify early predictors of AKI. Methods We retrospectively collected clinical and biochemical data of 114 children (57.9% male; mean age 2.9 ± 2.8 years) hospitalized for AGE. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease/Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria. We considered basal serum creatinine as value of creatinine estimated with Hoste (age) equation assuming basal eGFRs were median age-based eGFR normative values for children [less than or equal to] 2 years of age, and eGFR 120 mL/min/1.73m.sup.2 for children > 2 years. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore associations with AKI. We included in multivariate analyses only variables with significant p after Bonferroni correction. Results AKI was found in 28/114 (24.6%) patients. No patients required hemodialysis, 2 (1.8%) reached AKI stage 3, 2 (1.8%) AKI stage 2, and 24 (21.0%) AKI stage 1. Mean length of stay was 3.6 ± 1.2, 5.0 ± 1.8, and 10.5 ± 5.8 days, for patients with no, mild, and severe AKI (p < 0.001), respectively. Duration of symptoms before hospitalization (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.3-5.0; p = 0.006), dehydration > 5% (OR = 43.1; 95% CI = 5.4-344.1; p = < 0.001), and serum bicarbonate levels (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2-2.1; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of AKI. Conclusions About one quarter of patients hospitalized for AGE may suffer from AKI with a longer stay for patients with more severe AKI. Particular attention, however, should be paid to volemia and kidney health of patients with AGE especially in the presence of increased duration of symptoms before hospitalization, dehydration, and lower serum bicarbonate levels. Graphical abstract, Author(s): Pierluigi Marzuillo [sup.1] , Maria Baldascino [sup.1] [sup.2] , Stefano Guarino [sup.1] , Silverio Perrotta [sup.1] , Emanuele Miraglia del Giudice [sup.1] , Felice Nunziata [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) [...]

The global emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pose a major health threat, causing severe illness and high healthcare costs (1). Infections caused by CRE also are associated with [...]

Background Few studies to date have analyzed the epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with cancer in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, risk profile and outcomes of AKI in Chinese children hospitalized with cancer. Methods This multi-center study analyzed Chinese children hospitalized with cancer in 2013-2015. Electronic hospital and laboratory databases were screened to select pediatric patients with malignancy who had at least two Scr results within any 7-day window during their first 30 days of hospitalization. AKI events were identified and staged according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The incidence of and risk factors for AKI were analyzed, as were mortality rate, incidence of kidney recovery, and length of hospital stay. Results Of the 9828 children with cancer, 1657 (16.9%) experienced AKI events, including 549 (5.6%) community-acquired (CA-AKI) and 1108 (11.3%) hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI) events. The three types of cancer with the highest incidence of AKI were urinary system cancer (25.8%), hepatic cancer (19.4%), and retroperitoneal malignancies (19.1%). The risk factor profiles of CA-AKI and HA-AKI events differed, with many HA-AKI events due to treatment with nephrotoxic agents. In-hospital death rates were 5.4% (90 of 1657) in children with and 0.9% (74 of 8171) in children without AKI events. AKI events were also associated with longer hospitalization and higher daily costs. Conclusions AKI events are common among Chinese children hospitalized for cancer and are associated with adverse in-hospital outcomes., Author(s): Mengqi Xiong [sup.1] , Long Wang [sup.1] , Licong Su [sup.1] , Weihong Luo [sup.1] , Yanqin Li [sup.1] , Lu Li [sup.2] , Sheng Nie [sup.1] , Fan [...]

Byline: Rahul. Kulkarni, Dulari. Gupta, Shripad. Pujari, Vishal. Deshpande, Pravin. Naphade, Rushikesh. Deshpande Background: Though severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) virus primarily affects respiratory system, neurological [...]

Chikungunya (CHIK) is an emerging tropical disease caused by CHIK virus (CHIKV; family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus), of which there are 3 genotypes: Asian, East/Central/South African (ECSA), and West African (1). [...]

Background Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and the incidence of AKI in this population is reportedly increasing. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, clinical profiles, and risk factors of AKI in hospitalized children with NS through a nationwide study. Methods This retrospective multicenter study included 14 pediatric nephrology centers in Korea. From 2013 to 2017, a total of 814 patients with idiopathic NS were cared for at participating centers. Among them, 363 patients were hospitalized for NS and investigated in this study. Results A total of 363 children with NS were hospitalized 574 times. AKI occurred in 93 admissions (16.2%) of 89 patients: 30 (32.3%) stage 1; 24 (25.8%) stage 2; and 39 (41.9%) stage 3. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that longer disease duration, lower albumin level, and methylprednisolone pulse treatment were significantly associated with AKI development in hospitalized children with NS. AKI was associated with a longer hospital stay than non-AKI (median 10 vs. 7 days, P = 0.001). Among 93 admissions, 85 (91.4%) episodes recovered from AKI without complication, whereas 6 (6.5%) progressed to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conclusions AKI is not uncommon in hospitalized children with NS, and its incidence in this nationwide study was 16.2%. Risk factors for AKI in hospitalized children with NS include longer disease duration, lower albumin level, and methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Pediatric NS patients with these characteristics should be under more strict scrutiny for the occurrence of AKI., Author(s): Eun Mi Yang [sup.1] , Kee Hwan Yoo [sup.2] , Yo Han Ahn [sup.3] , Seong Heon Kim [sup.4] , Jung Won Lee [sup.5] , Woo Yeong Chung [sup.6] [...]

Heavy use of antimicrobials in agricultural, human, and veterinary applications correlates directly with emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, thereby threatening the effective management of clinical infections (2,2). An example [...]

Byline: Manisha. Sharma, Bindu. Menon Background: Headache is one of the commonly reported symptoms of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) illness. A number of studies have been done so far focusing on [...]