Elevated serum mtDNA in COVID-19 patients is linked to SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein targeting mitochondrial VDAC1, inducing apoptosis and mtDNA release.

Mitochondria dysfunction is implicated in cell death, inflammation, and autoimmunity. During viral infections, some viruses employ different strategies to disrupt mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, while others, including SARS-CoV-2, induce host cell apoptosis to facilitate replication and immune system modulation. Given mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) role as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern in inflammatory diseases, we examined its levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients and found it to be high relative to levels in healthy donors.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with AmpC-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteremia Treated with Carbapenems versus Non-Carbapenem Regimens: A Single-Center Study.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections caused by AmpC-producing Enterobacterales pose treatment challenges due to the risk of AmpC overproduction and treatment failure. Current guidelines recommend carbapenems or cefepime as optimal therapy. We aimed to evaluate empiric and definitive non-carbapenem regimens for these infections.

Chloramphenicol treatment revisited - demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized patients.

Limited literature exists on chloramphenicol's clinical use. In this retrospective, single-center case-series, we examined 183 chloramphenicol-treated and 81 piperacillin-tazobactam-treated medical patients. Chloramphenicol recipients were older, more debilitated, cognitively impaired, and penicillin allergic, while increased need for inotropics, higher leukocyte count, and higher creatinine levels were notable in the piperacillin-tazobactam group.

An epidemiological survey of COVID-19 serology and its association with clinical infection among older adults- does antibody titer matter?

Background: Older adults are at increased risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study we assessed the response to COVID-19 vaccination and infection rates among nursing homes (NH) and assisted-living care home (ALCH) residents.

Methods: The study was conducted between August 2021 and January 2022, after widespread population vaccination with the third dose of Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Israel.

Clinical presentation and outcome of hemodialysis tunneled catheter-related bloodstream infection in older persons.

Background: The use of a tunneled catheter as the primary vascular access among old hemodialysis patients is frequent. Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is a common complication, associated with increased mortality. Data regarding the clinical presentation and outcomes of CRBSI among old hemodialysis patients is limited.

An immune-protein score combining TRAIL, IP-10 and CRP for predicting severe COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 patients are oftentimes over- or under-treated due to a deficit in predictive management tools. This study reports derivation of an algorithm that integrates the host levels of TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP into a single numeric score that is an early indicator of severe outcome for COVID-19 patients and can identify patients at-risk to deteriorate. 394 COVID-19 patients were eligible; 29% meeting a severe outcome (intensive care unit admission/non-invasive or invasive ventilation/death).

Altered somatic hypermutation patterns in COVID-19 patients classifies disease severity.

Introduction: The success of the human body in fighting SARS-CoV2 infection relies on lymphocytes and their antigen receptors. Identifying and characterizing clinically relevant receptors is of utmost importance.

Methods: We report here the application of a machine learning approach, utilizing B cell receptor repertoire sequencing data from severely and mildly infected individuals with SARS-CoV2 compared with uninfected controls.

NETosis induction reflects COVID-19 severity and long COVID: insights from a 2-center patient cohort study in Israel.

Background: COVID-19 severity and its late complications continue to be poorly understood. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) form in acute COVID-19, likely contributing to morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: This study evaluated immunothrombosis markers in a comprehensive cohort of acute and recovered COVID-19 patients, including the association of NETs with long COVID.

The use of a diversion tube to reduce blood culture contamination: A "real-life" quality improvement intervention study.

Background: Blood culture contamination is associated with health care costs and potential patient harm. Diversion of the initial blood specimen reduces blood culture contamination. We report results of the "real-life" clinical implementation of this technique.

Pyogenic Liver Abscess: Contemporary Trends in a Tertiary Institute.

Background: Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition. In recent years, advances in diagnostics and management have led to early diagnosis and treatment and decreased mortality. We present recent data from a large series of patients with PLA and examine the trends in the management of PLA over a period of 50 years.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 characterized by dysregulated levels of membrane and soluble cluster of differentiation 48.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can progress into a severe form of acute lung injury. The cosignaling receptor cluster of differentiation 48 (CD48) exists in membrane-bound (mCD48) and soluble (sCD48) forms and has been reported to be implicated in antiviral immunity and dysregulated in several inflammatory conditions. Therefore, CD48 dysregulation may be a putative feature in COVID-19-associated inflammation that deserves consideration.

Rate and Risk Factors for Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Infections in Colonized Patients.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important cause of nosocomial infections. Active surveillance for CRAB carriage to identify and isolate colonized patients is used to reduce transmission.

Objectives: To assess the rate and risks of clinical infection among CRAB-carrier and non-carrier patients.

Palindromic rheumatism following COVID-19 infection evolved to rheumatoid arthritis after COVID-19 reinfection.

A 33-year-old woman developed palindromic rheumatism (PLR) several weeks following an infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Three months later, she developed full blown seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) following COVID-19 reinfection. Although the occurrence of the joint diseases and the COVID-19 infections maybe fortuitous, knowing the enormous effects of COVID-19 infection on the human immune system, it is difficult to ignore the temporal relationship between the appearance of PLR after the first COVID-19 infection and the transition to full blown RA following her COVID-19 re-infection.

A multiple-method comparative study using GC-MS, AMDIS and in-house-built software for the detection and identification of "unknown" volatile organic compounds in breath.

The human respiratory system is a highly complex matrix that exhales many volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Breath-exhaled VOCs are often "unknowns" and possess low concentrations, which make their analysis, peak digging and data processing challenging. We report a new methodology, applied in a proof-of-concept experiment, for the detection of VOCs in breath.

Experimental and Compassionate Drug Use During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Introduction: Concomitant experimental/compassionate drug administration has been all-pervasive in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The objective of this study was to study the relationship between patient severity, the number of experimental/compassionate medications received (main outcome measure), and patient outcomes [survival to hospital discharge and length of hospital stay (LOS)].

Methods: Retrospective analysis of data collected in real time during the first pandemic wave in a tertiary care hospital.

Colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection: old drug, bad bug.

Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae pose a global threat to hospitalized patients. We report a series of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae blood isolates from Israel and explore their resistance mechanisms using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Patients with colistin-resistant K.

A "resistance calculator": Simple stewardship intervention for refining empiric practices of antimicrobials in acute-care hospitals.

Objective: In the era of widespread resistance, there are 2 time points at which most empiric prescription errors occur among hospitalized adults: (1) upon admission (UA) when treating patients at risk of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and (2) during hospitalization, when treating patients at risk of extensively drug-resistant organisms (XDROs). These errors adversely influence patient outcomes and the hospital's ecology.

Design And Setting: Retrospective cohort study, Shamir Medical Center, Israel, 2016.

The role of the computerized tomography scanner in the cross-transmission of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii between hospitalized patients.

Objective: To assess the role of the computerized tomography (CT) scanner in cross-transmission of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii between hospitalized patients undergoing CT scan.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective observational analysis of inpatients undergoing CT scans. Patient-unique CT scans were defined as 'index cases' (patients undergoing CT scan with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) colonization documented during the previous 60 days), 'incident cases' (patients found colonized with CRAB within 14 days following CT scan), and 'negative cases' (negative for CRAB before and after CT scan).