Publications by authors named "Cybele Abad"

We compared clinical outcomes of patients who received monotherapy and combination therapy for treatment of MDR A. baumannii VAP. 170 patients were included.

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Background: Geographically endemic fungi can cause significant disease among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We provide an update on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of 5 endemic mycoses in SOT recipients.

Methods: Multiple databases were reviewed from inception through May 2023 using key words for endemic fungi (eg, coccidioidomycosis or histoplasmosis or etc).

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly lowered kidney transplantation (KT) rates worldwide, and studies regarding outcomes of patients who developed COVID-19 infection before KT are limited, especially in low to middle-income countries.

Background: To determine the 1-year graft and patient survival of kidney transplant recipients who recovered from COVID-19 infection before KT.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all adult end-stage renal disease patients who underwent KT at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute from June 2020 through October 2021.

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Background: There is limited data on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and multidrug-resistant VAP (MDR VAP) among COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A retrospective study in a single, tertiary, private hospital in the Philippines was conducted comparing the incidence, profile, and patient outcomes of MDR VAP during the pre-COVID-19 (2018-2019) and COVID-19 (2020-2021) periods.

Results: In total, 80/362 (22%) patients developed VAP, 27/204 (33.

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Article Synopsis
  • Donor-derived endemic mycoses are rare but serious infections that can occur after organ transplants, with 24 cases identified, primarily involving coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis.
  • Most affected individuals were male, with infections typically appearing within months of transplant, and many had a history of donors having high-risk exposure to endemic fungi.
  • These infections are often disseminated and have a high mortality rate, highlighting the need for careful donor evaluations to prevent such risks.
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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is crucial for informed antibiotic prescribing and infection control, yet many systems lack comprehensive patient data, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • The ACORN II initiative builds on the WHO's surveillance framework to focus on healthcare-related infections, aiming to create effective, routine surveillance systems that capture critical patient information.
  • The project emphasizes improving local antibiotic practices through streamlined data collection and the use of an R Shiny application for analytics, enhancing overall clinical decision-making and infection control policies.
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Background: Endemic mycoses after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are rarely reported. We aimed to comprehensively review the clinical presentation and outcomes of endemic mycoses in this immunocompromised population.

Methods: Multiple databases were reviewed from inception through May 31, 2023 using endemic fungi as keywords (e.

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Objective: To determine incidence, predictors, and impact of liver injury among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. Liver injury (LI) was defined as ALT elevation above institutional cut-off (>50 u/L) and was classified as mild (>1x to 3x ULN), moderate (>3x to 5x ULN), or severe (>5x ULN).

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Background: Management of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and rifampin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis is challenging. Data on transplant recipients is limited. We reviewed published literature to examine treatment choices, outcomes, and adverse effects from MDR-TB/RR-TB treatment in transplant recipients.

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Introduction: The HIV care cascade is a model used to examine the engagement of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in medical care from the time of diagnosis to sustained viral suppression. This study describes the stages of the cascade from linkage to care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, retention in care, and virologic suppression- at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) STD/AIDS Guidance and Intervention Prevention (SAGIP) treatment hub in the context of existing cascades with similar demographics.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients enrolled at the UP-PGH SAGIP treatment hub from June 2015 to December 2017.

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Objective: We hypothesized a dedicated team would decrease catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rates.

Method: We implemented a before-after study.

Results: CRBSI frequency (39/103 vs.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has compounded the challenge of HIV/AIDS elimination, creating difficulties in accessing HIV care services such as early testing and treatment. This paper characterized the global online interest in HIV care services-related search terms before and during the pandemic. Global online search interest for HIV was measured using the Google Trends™ database.

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Background: We reviewed the scientific literature to gain insight on the epidemiology and outcome of Strongyloides stercoralis infections after transplantation.

Methods: CINAHL, PUBMED, and OVID/MEDLINE were reviewed from inception through March 31, 2022 using key words Strongyloides and transplantation.

Results: Our review identified 108 episodes of Strongyloides infection among 91 solid organ transplant (SOT) and 15 hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients.

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of mortality and describe laboratory trends among adults with confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: The medical records of adult patients admitted to a referral hospital with COVID-19 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters, were compared between survivors and non-survivors.

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Objective: This study aimed to describe community-acquired bacterial coinfection (CAI) and antimicrobial use among COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Electronic records were retrospectively reviewed, and clinical data, laboratory data, antibiotic use, and outcomes of patients with and without CAI were compared.

Results: Of 1116 patients, 55.

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Objectives: People living with HIV (PLHIV) are susceptible to develop dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of these metabolic derangements among Filipino PLHIV.

Methodology: We reviewed 635 medical records in a treatment hub in Manila, Philippines from January 2004 to July 2016.

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Background: Few hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) are performed in lower-middle income countries. Only four institutions in the Philippines are able to perform transplants. This study describes the experience of a newly established program.

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Objectives: To describe the clinical profile and outcomes of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the spectrum of disease severity.

Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to a referral hospital. Descriptive statistics, tests for trend, Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test were used to compare characteristics and outcomes across disease severity categories.

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Circulating HIV subtypes in the Philippines have increasingly diversified, potentially affecting treatment. We monitored outcomes of a treatment-naïve cohort and their virus subtype prevalence.Retrospective/prospective study cohort.

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Studies have shown that a ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle significantly decreases VAP rates. In this study, we evaluated existing knowledge, practices, and adherence of nurses and infection control preventionists (ICP) to the VAP bundles of care in the intensive care unit (ICU) by using qualitative and quantitative tools. Of 60 participants (56 nurses and 4 ICPs), mean knowledge score regarding specific evidence-based VAP guidelines was 5 (range 3-8) out of 10 points.

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Mycoplasmas are emerging sexually transmitted pathogens usually associated with male urinary tract infection, non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), infertility, and prostate cancer. In this study, we review the evidence linking mycoplasma infection and prostate cancer. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA guidelines.

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Antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) occur frequently among adults. The pathophysiology of CDI is related to disruption of normal gut flora and risk factors include hospitalization, use of antibiotic therapy, and older age. Clinical manifestations can range from mild disease to toxic megacolon.

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Background: Hyperammonemia syndrome (HS) is reported to occur in patients with Ureaplasma spp. infections. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting HS in patients with Ureaplasma spp.

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