Hyperuricemia and Adverse Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 Disease.

Hyperuricemia is associated with several risk factors for mortality and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations. The objective of this research was to examine whether hyperuricemia is a risk factor for mortality and other adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. This is a retrospective review of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 15 and November 30, 2020, with available uric acid (UA) levels.

Social distancing and bacteraemia in the time of COVID-19.

Background: Social distancing was the predominant strategy used to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims: To study the impact of social distancing on the incidence of bacteraemia. The number of admitted patients with positive blood cultures in April-May 2020 in one tertiary medical centre was compared with the number during the same period in the previous 3 years (April-May 2017-2019).

Segmental arterial mediolysis: a vasculitis mimicker. A single centre experience.

Objectives: Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare vasculopathy of unknown aetiology. It is non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory, non-hereditary, non-infectious, large to medium-sized arteriopathy. SAM is a condition which in some circumstances behaves as a vasculitis mimicker and should be recognised in order to provide appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary immune-suppressive therapy.

Trends in antimicrobial resistance among bacteria causing septic arthritis in adults in a single center: A 15-years retrospective analysis.

Septic arthritis (SA) is commonly associated with Staphylococcal or Streptococcal infections. Overtime, there has been a global increase in the distribution of antimicrobial resistance within both Gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Gram-negative bacteria such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positive Enterobacteriacea. The aim of this study was to determine whether this change in epidemiology similarly affected the distribution of resistant pathogens causing SA.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Introduction: In the pre-antibiotic era up 10% of cases of infective endocarditis were due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, but this association is currently exceedingly rare.

Case Description: Since 1997 we have diagnosed three patients, all aged >70, with endocarditis due to S. pneumoniae.