Fungal infection profile in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective study at a large teaching hospital in a middle-income country.

Background: Critically ill COVID-19 patients are highly susceptible to opportunistic fungal infection due to many factors, including virus-induced immune dysregulation, host-related comorbidities, overuse and misuse of antibiotics or corticosteroids, immune modulator drugs, and the emergencies caused by the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the incidence, identify the potential risk factors, and examine the impact of fungal coinfection on the outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A prospective cohort study including 253 critically ill COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the isolation ICU of Zagazig University Hospitals over a 4-month period from May 2021 to August 2021 was conducted.

Assessment and outcome of hospitalized patients during delta variant COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter international study.

Introduction: To date, the world has experienced four waves of the Coronavirus disease- 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients infected during the era of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant were the subject of this study. The objectives were to describe their clinical manifestations, explain their laboratory and radiological findings, conclude factors contributing to clinical outcomes, and evaluate treatment protocols.

RT- PCR testing of upper respiratory tract samples for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2: Between justification and overestimation, a multi-center international study.

Background: It has been found that patients recovered from COVID 19 may still test Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) positive without being infectious; the reasons are unclear. The occurrence of false-negative results of RT- PCR interferes with a proper diagnosis. The objectives of that work were to determine factors associated with persistently detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA among recovered hospitalized patients and to determine the incidence of false-negative RT-PCR results and associated factors.

Carbapenem-resistant and : characterization of carbapenemase genes and E-test evaluation of colistin-based combinations.

Background: Carbapenamase producing and are emerging worldwide limiting the use of carbapenems as effective and safe drugs.

Purpose: To characterize different carbapenemase genes carried by carbapenem-resistant (CR) and isolates and to evaluate the in vitro effect of some colistin-based combinations by E-test method in Zagazig University Hospitals ICU isolates.

Methods: CR and isolated from the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) were tested for carbapenemase genes by polymerase chain reaction and the effect of colistin/meropenem and colistin/tigecycline combinations was evaluated by E-test.