Anaerobes in cardiac infections: A decade experience from the tertiary care center

PurposeAnaerobic infections are common yet life-threatening. They are being recovered from all sites of the body, including the cardiovascular system. This study was aimed to determine the retrospective analysis on the isolation of anaerobes in cardiovascular samples received for a decade-long duration. It helps in knowing the frequency of isolation of anaerobic causes of cardiovascular infection.MethodsAll cardiovascular samples from the department of Cardio-thoracic vascular surgery from January 2010 to December 2020 were studied.ResultsOf 601 samples received, predominant samples were vegetations and valvular tissues of 258, followed by 98 samples of pericardial tissues, 92 samples of embolus, 90 samples of blood and post-operative collections, and 63 excised aneurysms and vascular grafts. Of the total, 15 samples grew anaerobes where Clostridium species were the predominant isolates. Clostridioides difficile was isolated in 2 samples.ConclusionsAnaerobes in cardiovascular samples are uncommon yet form a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Most infections are from the contiguous spread, penetrating trauma, and hematogenous causing endocarditis or valvular infections. These conditions and samples form the seat of infectious focus and clinical suspicion towards the anaerobic cause of these conditions, especially in conventional routine culture-negative samples. Timely diagnosis of anaerobic infections plays a vital role in the good prognostic outcome of patients undergoing cardiothoracic and vascular surgery.     

Emerging issue of fluconazole-resistant candidemia in a tertiary care hospital of southern italy: time for antifungal stewardship program

An increased number of patients is at risk of Candida spp. bloodstream infection (CBSI) in modern medicine. Moreover, the rising of antifungal resistance (AR) was recently reported. All consecutive CBSI occurred in our Hospital (consisting of 1,370 beds) between 2015 and 2018, were reviewed. For each case, Candida species, AR pattern, ward involved and demographic data of patients were recorded. Overall, 304 episodes of CBSI occurred, with a median (q1:first-,q3:third quartile) of 77 (71-82) CBSI/year. Over the years, a significant increase of CBSI due to C. albicans compared to non-albicans strains was recorded in medical wards (from 65% to 71%, p=0.030), while this ratio remained stable in others. An increase of resistant strains to multiple antifungals such as C. guillermondii was noticed in recent years (from 0% to 9.8%, p=0.008). Additionally, from 2015 to 2018 an increase in fluconazole-resistance was recorded in our Hospital (from 7.4% to 17.4%, p=0.025) and a slight increase in voriconazole-resistance (from 0% to 7% in 2018, p=0.161) was observed, while resistance to echinocandin and amphotericin B remained firmly below 2%.This study suggests a rapid spread of antifungal resistance in our Hospital; therefore, an appropriate antifungal stewardship programs is urgently warranted.     

取环致宫腔化脓性感染引发腰椎间盘炎一例报道并文献复习

宫腔化脓性感染是一种严重的盆腔炎性疾病（PID），主要表现为发热、腹痛、阴道分泌物增多等症状。椎间盘炎是发生于椎间盘间隙和邻近椎体或软骨板的感染性病变，其症状及体征缺乏特异性，临床上容易诊断延迟直至出现椎体骨质破坏及下肢肌力减弱。本文报道了1例因取环手术引发宫腔化脓性感染进而引发腰椎间盘炎，出现腰痛伴行走障碍的患者，并进行了文献复习，加深了对PID的病原体、感染传播途径、诊断标准、治疗原则及其严重不良后果的认识。对于非特异性椎间隙感染，临床医生除实验室检查及影像学检查之外，还应仔细询问病史并了解病情的演变过程，及时诊断并进行手术治疗。     

Comparison study of patient demographics and patient-related risk factors for peri-prosthetic joint infections following primary total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundWhile studies have demonstrated favorable outcomes in utilization of primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA), adverse events such as infections can still occur. Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are associated with worse outcomes and patient morbidity. The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare patient demographics amongst TSA patients with and without PJIs following primary TSA; and (2) identify patient-related risk factors for PJIs following primary TSA.MethodsPatients undergoing primary TSA for the treatment of glenohumeral OA were identified using the Mariner administrative claims database by CPT code 23,472. Laterality modifiers were utilized to ensure PJIs were developing in the correct laterality as those patients undergoing primary TSA. Inclusion for the study group consisted of patients who developed PJIs within 2-years after the index procedure, whereas patients who did not develop PJIs served as the comparison cohort. Primary outcomes analyzed included patient demographics and patient-related risk factors for PJIs following primary TSA. A stepwise backwards elimination multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses was performed to determine the odds (OR) of PJIs in patients undergoing primary TSA. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe query yielded 15,396 patients who underwent primary TSA for glenohumeral OA, of which 191 patients developed PJIs and 15,205 did not develop PJIs. The study found statistically significant differences amongst patients who did and did not develop PJIs following primary TSA with respect to age, sex, and presence of comorbid conditions. Risk factors associated with developing PJIs following primary TSA included: pathologic weight loss (OR: 2.06, P < .0001), obesity (OR: 1.56, P = .0001), male sex (OR: 1.52, P = .007), and peripheral vascular disease (OR: 1.46, P = .022).ConclusionAs the number of primary TSAs for the treatment of glenohumeral OA increase worldwide, identifying modifiable risk-factors to reduce the incidence of infection is critical. The study found various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with developing PJIs following primary TSA. This study is valuable to orthopedists in order to identify and risk-stratify patients with regard to PJI in the setting of primary TSA for OA.Level of EvidenceLevel III; Case-Control Study     

Challenges for precision public health communication in the era of genomic medicine

Although still in the early stages of development, the advent of fast, high-output, and cost-effective next-generation DNA sequencing technology is moving precision medicine into public health. Before this shift toward next-generation sequencing in public health settings, individual patients met geneticists after showing symptoms and through limited family screening. In the new era of precision public health, everyone is a possible participant in genetic sequencing, simply by being born (newborn screening), by donating blood (biobanking), or through population screening. These initiatives are increasingly offered to individuals throughout their life and more individuals are encountering opportunities to use DNA sequencing. This article raises awareness of these growing areas and calls for different models of public engagement and communication about genomics, including screening asymptomatic populations, obtaining consent for unspecified and unforeseen future uses of genomic data, and managing variants of uncertain significance. Given that such communication challenges loom large, established norms of practice in genomic medicine and research should be reconsidered.     

针对目前已注册的上市中成药治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究分析＊

本研究系统分析了中成药治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎临床研究方案注册信息，以提高相关临床研究设计质量，以及为中成药上市后评价提供参考和建议。对中国临床试验注册中心网站（www.chictr.org.cn）和美国临床试验注册中心网站（clinicaltrials.gov）进行检索，以新型肺炎、COVID-19、中成药等为检索词，检索新型冠状病毒肺炎中成药相关临床研究方案。按照纳排标准筛选临床研究，并提取注册号、研究题目、研究设计及类型、干预措施等数据，采用描述性分析方法对纳入研究的注册信息进行分析。共纳入新型冠状病毒肺炎中成药相关研究方案35个，其中涉及的8种中成药是新冠肺炎诊疗方案（第七版）中所推荐使用的药物。评价的干预措施共涉及23种中成药（如血必净注射液、喜炎平注射液、连花清瘟胶囊/颗粒等）。主要疗效指标以退热时间、疾病痊愈时间/有效率等为主。结果显示：中成药治疗新冠肺炎的临床研究响应快速，目前已注册多个临床研究，包括疾病诊治、预防全过程。但也存在问题，如研究人群不明确、评价指标代表性差等，相关研究设计和实施尚有待优化，以进一步提高临床试验研究的可行性，以期为当前和后续更多的临床研究方案提供参考。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎中医病因与辨治的思考

新型冠状病毒肺炎是感受新型冠状病毒所致,属于中医学“疫病”的范畴,其病因为吴又可提出的“异气”,与六淫不同,具有生物学属性;侵袭人体主要造成气阴损伤,气化失常,湿饮停聚;治疗当以“逐邪为第一要义”,恢复机体平衡状态。     

Posaconazole therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical practice and longitudinal analysis of the effect of routine laboratory measurements on posaconazole concentrations

Posaconazole is indicated for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of posaconazole is used to optimise drug exposure. The aim of this study was to analyse and describe the TDM practices and exposure of posaconazole tablets. Patients who received posaconazole for treatment or prophylaxis of fungal infections were included in the study. The following therapeutic window was defined: if concentration was low (<0.7 mg/L for prophylaxis or < 1.5 mg/L for treatment) or high (>3.75 mg/L), the hospital pharmacist provided the physician with dosage advice, which implementation to patient care was analysed. A longitudinal analysis was performed to analyse if different confounding variables had an effect on posaconazole concentrations. Forty‐seven patients were enrolled resulting in 217 posaconazole trough concentrations. A median of 3 (IQR 1‐7) samples was measured per patient. The median concentration was 1.7 mg/L (IQR 0.8‐2.7) for prophylaxis and 1.76 mg/L (IQR 1.3‐2.3) for treatment. Overall, 78 posaconazole concentrations were out of the therapeutic window. For 45 (54%) of these concentrations, a dosage change was recommended. In the longitudinal analysis, the laboratory markers and patient baseline variables did not have an effect on posaconazole concentrations. Adequate posaconazole exposure was shown in 64% (affected 28 patients) of the measured concentrations. TDM practice of posaconazole can be improved by increasing the implementation rate of dose recommendation by a multidisciplinary antifungal stewardship team.