Varicella-Zoster Virus-Induced Neurologic Disease After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Multicenter Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Early reports described an increased risk of herpes zoster following receipt of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The objective was to assess whether COVID-19 vaccine is associated with varicella-zoster virus-induced neurologic disease (VZV-ND).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective case-control study with a test-negative design was conducted at 12 hospitals in Israel.

Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of antimicrobial resistance and population structure of gastroenteritis-related Aeromonas isolates.

Background: The population structure and the correlation between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes and genotypes in Aeromonas species isolated from patients with gastroenteritis are not well understood. The aims of the study were to: (1) investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Aeromonas species isolated from patients with gastroenteritis; (2) explore the relationship between AMR genes and resistance phenotypes; and (3) describe the population structure of these isolates and provide evidence of transmission events among them.

Methods: This microbiological survey was performed at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Emek Medical Center in Afula, Israel.

The effect of the transition to molecular diagnosis on the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of bacterial gastroenteritis in Northern Israel.

Background: The transition to PCR-based diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis (BGE) can increase the sensitivity but might reduce the clinical specificity. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the effect of the change from culture to PCR-based diagnostics on the reported incidence and positivity rates of BGE due to , and species and (2) to compare the demographics, medical background, clinical characteristics and pre-analytic variables between cases with PCR-positive, culture-negative samples to cases with PCR-positive, culture-positive samples.

Methods: The study was performed at the Emek Medical Centre that serves a population of 0.

Correlates of protection for booster doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2.

Vaccination, especially with multiple doses, provides substantial population-level protection against COVID-19, but emerging variants of concern (VOC) and waning immunity represent significant risks at the individual level. Here we identify correlates of protection (COP) in a multicenter prospective study following 607 healthy individuals who received three doses of the Pfizer-BNT162b2 vaccine approximately six months prior to enrollment. We compared 242 individuals who received a fourth dose to 365 who did not.

Outcomes of octogenarians and nonagenarians with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: P. aeruginosa bacteremia is a common and severe infection carrying high mortality in older adults. We aimed to evaluate outcomes of P.

Healthcare-associated infection prevention and control practices in Israel: results of a national survey.

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is a common and largely preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to health systems. We conducted a national survey to ascertain hospital characteristics and the use of HAI prevention measures in Israel.

Invasive Fungal Diseases in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Israel: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Highly variable estimates of COVID-19-associated fungal diseases (IFDs) have been reported. We aimed to determine the incidence of clinically important fungal diseases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the first year of the pandemic. We performed a multicenter survey of IFDs among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 13 hospitals in Israel between February 2020 and May 2021.

Hospitalized Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 During the Omicron Wave in Israel: Benefits of a Fourth Vaccine Dose.

Background: Waning immunity and an increased incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the Omicron outbreak led the Israeli Ministry of Health to recommend a fourth vaccine dose for high-risk individuals. In this study, we assessed its effect for hospitalized patients with severe breakthrough COVID-19.

Methods: In this multicenter cohort study of hospitalized adults with severe COVID-19 in Israel, from 15 to 31 January 2022, cases were divided according to the number of vaccinations received.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 among Healthcare Workers: A Prospective Study.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have close interaction with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Infection rates reported among HCWs is between 3% and 17%, and asymptomatic HCWs are a potential source of nosocomial transmission to vulnerable patients and colleagues. Universal mask use and good supply of personal protective equipment was implemented early at our institution.

Hospitalised patients with breakthrough COVID-19 following vaccination during two distinct waves in Israel, January to August 2021: a multicentre comparative cohort study.

BackgroundChanging patterns of vaccine breakthrough can clarify vaccine effectiveness.AimTo compare breakthrough infections during a SARS-CoV-2 Delta wave vs unvaccinated inpatients, and an earlier Alpha wave.MethodsIn an observational multicentre cohort study in Israel, hospitalised COVID-19 patients were divided into three cohorts: breakthrough infections in Comirnaty-vaccinated patients (VD; Jun-Aug 2021) and unvaccinated cases during the Delta wave (ND) and breakthrough infections during an earlier Alpha wave (VA; Jan-Apr 2021).

The Effect of Macrolides on Mortality in Bacteremic Pneumococcal Pneumonia: A Retrospective, Nationwide Cohort Study, Israel, 2009-2017.

Background: Previous cohort studies of pneumonia patients reported lower mortality with advanced macrolides. Our aim was to characterize antibiotic treatment patterns and assess the role of quinolones or macrolides in empirical therapy.

Materials: An historical cohort, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2017, included, through active surveillance, all culture-confirmed bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia (BPP) among adults in Israel.

MaterCare International in Mission.

MaterCare International (MCI) is an international group of Catholic obstetricians and gynecologists, which has adopted a preferential option for mothers and babies. MCI's mission is to carry out the work of Evangelium Vitae (the Gospel of Life) by improving the lives and health of mothers and babies, both born and unborn. This is achieved through new initiatives of service, training, research, and advocacy, which are designed to reduce the tragic levels of abortion world-wide, and maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries.

Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI).

Background: Methodologically rigorous studies on Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection are critically needed to inform national and global policy on Covid-19 vaccine use. In Israel, healthcare personnel (HCP) were initially prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination, creating an ideal setting to evaluate early real-world VE in a closely monitored population.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study among HCP in 6 hospitals to estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Candida Bloodstream Infection, a Dire Complication in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Three Cases from a Single Center in Northern Israel.

Background: Patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are susceptible to superimposed infections.

Objectives: To describe COVID-19 patients who presented with complications due to Candida bloodstream co-infection (candidemia) and their outcome in a single center in northern Israel (Emek Medical Center) during the second outbreak of COVID-19 in Israel (15 June 2020 to 20 September 2020).

Methods: A retrospective study of COVID-19 patients presenting with candidemia was conducted, including clinical and laboratory data.

BNT162b2 vaccine breakthrough: clinical characteristics of 152 fully vaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Israel.

Objectives: The mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have shown high effectiveness in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalization, severe disease and death. Nevertheless, a minority of vaccinated individuals might become infected and experience significant morbidity. Characteristics of vaccine breakthrough infections have not been studied.

The Bacteriology of Acute Cholecystitis: Comparison of Bile Cultures and Clinical Outcomes in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients.

Background: Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common acute surgical diseases. Diabetic patients have been shown to have an increased risk for gallbladder disease, but the correlation between the severity of gallstone disease and diabetes is still debated. The aim of this study is to examine the possible difference in the disease process between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and those without.

Malaria Disease and Chemoprophylaxis Usage among Israeli Travelers to Endemic Countries.

Prevention of malaria in travelers to endemic countries is one of the complex challenges of travel medicine. Israel has a widespread culture of travel to developing countries, but information regarding malaria prevention is limited so far. Our study, conducted in Sheba Medical Center, Israel, during the years 2008-2018 examined malaria chemoprophylaxis usage and malaria cases in a large group of Israeli travelers returning from endemic countries with any medical complaint.

Cat Scratch Disease Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin Is a Unique Clinical Syndrome.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a rare manifestation of cat scratch disease (CSD). Data regarding CSD-associated FUO (CSD-FUO), particularly in adults, are limited. We aimed to study disease manifestations and long-term clinical outcome.