Publications by authors named "Christopher Polk"

Background: Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam are preferred treatment options for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, real-world comparative effectiveness studies are scarce. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the agents might affect clinical response rates. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam for treatment of invasive multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa infections.

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Objective: Emerging infectious diseases challenge healthcare systems to implement new models of care. We aim to evaluate the rapid implementation of a new care model for monkeypox in our health system.

Design: This is a retrospective case series evaluation under the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework of implementation of a testing and care model for monkeypox in a large, integrated health system.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated different variants of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers who had COVID-19 after getting a booster vaccine.
  • - Researchers looked at various factors like symptoms, existing health conditions, exposure risks, and vaccine history among different variants.
  • - Findings revealed that COVID-19 cases increased post-booster vaccination as the omicron variant became more common.
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Background: Estimates of the case hospitalization rate and case fatality rate when hospital care is available for monkeypox (MPX) infections have not been well defined. This rapid systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the case hospitalisation rate and case fatality rate where hospital care is available.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Lancet Preprints, and MedRxiv for studies published between Jan 1, 1950 and Aug 2, 2022.

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Antibiotic overuse is high in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite a low documented prevalence of bacterial infections in many studies. In this study evaluating 65 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit, empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics were often overutilized with an inertia to de-escalate despite negative culture results.

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Introduction: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) commonly has neurologic manifestations but rarely presents with meningitis and hypoglycorrhachia. Here, were present a case of ECD with a clinical and laboratory presentation initially thought to be bacterial meningitis with sepsis.

Methods: We report a case of a 79-year-old with history of enigmatic bone pain and peritoneal nodules who presented with meningitis.

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Objective: COVID-19 severity is correlated with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and C reactive protein (CRP) levels. In the phase three LIVE-AIR trial, lenzilumab an anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody, improved the likelihood of survival without ventilation (SWOV) in COVID-19, with the greatest effect in participants having baseline CRP below a median of 79 mg/L. Herein, the utility of baseline CRP to guide lenzilumab treatment was assessed.

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Background: The pathophysiology of COVID-19 includes immune-mediated hyperinflammation, which could potentially lead to respiratory failure and death. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is among cytokines that contribute to the inflammatory processes. Lenzilumab, a GM-CSF neutralising monoclonal antibody, was investigated in the LIVE-AIR trial to assess its efficacy and safety in treating COVID-19 beyond available treatments.

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Background: Severe COVID-19 pneumonia results from a hyperinflammatory immune response (cytokine storm, CS), characterized by GM-CSF mediated activation and trafficking of myeloid cells, leading to elevation of downstream inflammatory chemokines (MCP-1, IL-8, IP-10), cytokines (IL-6, IL-1), and other markers of systemic inflammation (CRP, D-dimer, ferritin). CS leads to fever, hypotension, coagulopathy, respiratory failure, ARDS, and death. Lenzilumab is a novel Humaneered anti-human GM-CSF monoclonal antibody that directly binds GM-CSF and prevents signaling through its receptor.

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Background: Several national organizations have advocated for inpatient antiretroviral stewardship to prevent the consequences of medication-related errors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a stewardship initiative on outcomes in people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: A pharmacist-led audit and review of adult patients admitted with an ICD-10 code for HIV was implemented to an existing antimicrobial stewardship program.

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Skin and soft tissue infections are common in diabetics. Diabetic foot infection usually results from disruption of the skin barrier, trauma, pressure, or ischemic wounds. These wounds may become secondarily infected or lead to development of adjacent soft tissue or deeper bone infection.

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Background: Clinicians may be less inclined to consider a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in people without HIV infection or transplant-related immunosuppression. This may lead to a delay in diagnosis particularly if disseminated cryptococcal disease mimics cerebral septic emboli in injection drug use (IDU) leading to a search for endocarditis or other infectious sources. Though, IDU has been described as a potential risk for disseminated cryptococcal disease.

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The comparative efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam for treatment of carbapenem-resistant (CRE) infections remains unknown. This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of adults with CRE infections who received ceftazidime-avibactam or meropenem-vaborbactam for ≥72 hours from February 2015 to October 2018. Patients with a localized urinary tract infection and repeat study drug exposures after the first episode were excluded.

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