The significance of monitoring respiratory sample cultures and polymerase chain reaction tests for detecting bacterial pathogens in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Background: Bacterial superinfection is one of the most common and potentially lethal complications in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Objectives: To determine the colonisation time frame and the spectrum of potential bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with severe and critical COVID-19, using routine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed severe and critical COVID-19 who were admitted to or transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).

[Bacteriophages in complex treatment of septic diseases of the hand].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of bacteriophages in complex surgical treatment of septic diseases of the hand.

Material And Methods: We analyzed treatment outcomes in 111 patients with septic diseases of the hand (septic arthritis, tendovaginitis, phlegmon). Surgical treatment was finished by primary sutures and drainage.

Identification of risk factors and development of a predictive model for bloodstream infection in intensive care unit COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: To identify risk factors for nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19 and to build a predictive model for BSIs.

Patients And Methods: The retrospective case-control study included 236 ICU COVID-19 patients with BSIs group and 234 patients in the control group. Demographic and laboratory data, comorbidities, drug use, invasive procedures and identified pathogens were recorded separately for patients directly admitted and transferred to ICU.

Unexpected clinical case of infectious endocarditis in a patient with iv drug abuse: why epidemiological history matters.

Introduction: Right-sided lesions caused by staphylococci are the most common clinical entity of infectious endocarditis (IE) among iv drug abusers. But some aspects of the epidemiological history are critical in terms of early detection of uncommon pathogens.

Case Report: We describe a clinical observation of native aortic valve IE caused by in a 37-year-old female with a history of heroin addiction, alcohol abuse and liver cirrhosis.