Outcomes of Transvenous Lead Extraction in a Referral Center in Northern Israel.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are increasingly being used; thus, there is an increasing need for transvenous lead extraction (TLE).

Objectives: To summarize our experience with TLE at single referral center in northern Israel.

Methods: The study included all patients who underwent TLE at our center between 2019 and 2022, regardless of the indication.

Association between BNT162b2 vaccination and health-related quality of life up to 18 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection in Israel.

We determined whether COVID-19 vaccination was associated with Quality of Life (QoL) changes among individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Israel. Using a validated questionnaire, we collected information about socio-demographics, SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination and QoL (using the EQ-5D-5L tool) 3-18 months post-infection among adults tested for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction in Northern Israel between March 2020-June 2022. We compared post-COVID QoL between those vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of infection and those not, using an adjusted linear regression model, stratified by time elapsed since infection.

Changes in Quality of Life Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Jewish and Arab Populations in Israel: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities is under-researched. We investigated changes in health-related inequalities following SARS-CoV-2 infection between the Jewish majority and the Arab/Druze minority in Israel. Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test processed from one of the Northern-Israeli government hospitals between 03/2021 and 05/2022 were invited to participate.

Associations between reported post-COVID-19 symptoms and subjective well-being, Israel, July 2021 - April 2022.

The impact of individual symptoms reported post-COVID-19 on subjective well-being (SWB) is unknown. We described associations between SWB and selected reported symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We analysed reported symptoms and subjective well being from 2295 participants (of which 576 reporting previous infection) in an ongoing longitudinal cohort study taking place in Israel.

Association between BNT162b2 vaccination and reported incidence of post-COVID-19 symptoms: cross-sectional study 2020-21, Israel.

The effectiveness of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against the long-term COVID-19 symptoms expressed by a substantial proportion of patients is not well understood. We determined whether vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was associated with incidence of reporting long-term symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. We invited individuals PCR-tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection at participating hospitals between March 2020 and November 2021 to fill an online questionnaire that included information about demographics, acute COVID-19 episode and symptoms they were currently experiencing.

Assessing the impact of a positive Biofire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel result on clinical management and outcomes.

A rapid and accurate diagnosis of meningitis/encephalitis (ME) is required for early and effective intervention or adjustment of empirical treatment. This study retrospectively analyzed 485 records of patients hospitalized at the Padeh Poriya Medical Center during 2016-2020, due to a suspicion of ME. Pathogen distribution in cerebrospinal fluid samples, as determined using the BioFire® FilmArray ME Panel (MEP), is presented, as well as comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics, clinical management and outcomes of MEP (105) vs MEP (380) patients.

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).

Assessment of dry eye disease in N95 versus surgical face mask wearers during COVID-19.

Purpose: Investigating the effect of different face masks on dry eye disease (DED) among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a comparative, cross-sectional study. Participants were included into two groups: group 1 (n = 30) wore surgical masks, and group 2 (n = 30) wore N95 masks with face shields.

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses in Israel, 2010-2019.

In a multicenter, nationwide, retrospective study of patients hospitalized with spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Israel during 2010-2019, we identified 42 cases, of which 36 were autochthonous. The most prevalent species was the Rickettsia conorii Israeli tick typhus strain (n = 33, 79%); infection with this species necessitated intensive care for 52% of patients and was associated with a 30% fatality rate. A history of tick bite was rare, found for only 5% of patients; eschar was found in 12%; and leukocytosis was more common than leukopenia.

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.

Clinical management of severe infections caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria: a worldwide cross-sectional survey addressing the use of antibiotic combinations.

Objectives: Optimal treatment of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) infections is uncertain because of the lack of good-quality evidence and the limited effectiveness of available antibiotics. The aim of this survey was to investigate clinicians' prescribing strategies for treating CR-GNB infections worldwide.

Methods: A 36-item questionnaire was developed addressing the following aspects of antibiotic prescribing: respondent's background, diagnostic and therapeutic availability, preferred antibiotic strategies and rationale for selecting combination therapy.

Excluded versus included patients in a randomized controlled trial of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: relevance to external validity.

Background: Population external validity is the extent to which an experimental study results can be generalized from a specific sample to a defined population. In order to apply the results of a study, we should be able to assess its population external validity. We performed an investigator-initiated randomized controlled trial (RCT) (AIDA study), which compared colistin-meropenem combination therapy to colistin monotherapy in the treatment of patients infected with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients With a New Diagnosis of Carriage or Clinical Infection With Carbapenemase-Producing : A Retrospective Study.

To examine the clinical, demographic, and microbiologic characteristics of new rectal carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant (CP-CRE) carriers vs. those with a clinical infection, hospitalized at Padeh-Poriya Medical Center between 2014 and 2017 and to examine the susceptibility profiles of isolates from clinical infections. In this retrospective, chart analysis, demographic and clinical data were collected from medical charts of 175 adult patients with either new- onset carbapenemase-producing (CPE) carriage or clinical CPE infection.

New Spotted Fever Group Isolate, Identified by Sequence Analysis of Conserved Genomic Regions.

The clinical features of spotted fever group (SFG) induced disease range from a mild to severe illness. The clinical complexity is even greater due to the fact that the disease can be caused by different species with varying degrees of virulence. Current knowledge asserts that the Israeli SFG (ISF) strain is the only human pathogenic SFG member in Israel.

[ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION ERRORS IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENTS - A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY].

Aims: To examine the prevalence of antibiotic prescription errors in three medical departments.

Background: Prescription errors are common and associated with significant adverse drug events (ADEs), morbidity and mortality, and health care expenditures.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in three medical departments, including consecutive patients with suspected or proven infections, and/or antibiotic prescriptions.

Risk factors for meningitis in neurosurgical patients with cerebrospinal fluid drains: prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage or intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring devices are life-saving devices. We examined the risk factors for infections related to them and assessed the effect of an infection control (IC) intervention.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Neurosurgical Department of our hospital between 2014 and 2017.

Seven Versus 14 Days of Antibiotic Therapy for Uncomplicated Gram-negative Bacteremia: A Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Gram-negative bacteremia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Data to guide the duration of antibiotic therapy are limited.

Methods: This was a randomized, multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial.

Colistin alone versus colistin plus meropenem for treatment of severe infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Colistin-carbapenem combinations are synergistic in vitro against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. We aimed to test whether combination therapy improves clinical outcomes for adults with infections caused by carbapenem-resistant or carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: A randomised controlled superiority trial was done in six hospitals in Israel, Greece, and Italy.

Revival of old antibiotics: needs, the state of evidence and expectations.

The gap between the emergence of antibiotic resistance and new antibiotic development has drawn attention to old antibiotics whose spectrum of coverage frequently comprises highly resistant bacteria. However, these antibiotics have frequently not undergone the structured process of antibiotic development of modern antibiotics, from pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies establishing safe and effective dosing, establishment of susceptibility breakpoints, to clinical trials establishing clinical safety and effectiveness. In this review, we highlight the gaps for which we need old antibiotics in community- and hospital-acquired infections.

Early fibrosis inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma mediated by free radical effects.

We studied the in-vitro/in-vivo interactions between HCC/HSCs in early and advanced fibrosis-models. Hep3B-mono-cultures secreted high levels of αFetoProtein (αFP). Human-HSCs co-cultured with Hep3B-cells significantly decreased αFP and increased their apoptosis.

Significance of the parkin and PINK1 gene in Jordanian families with incidences of young-onset and juvenile parkinsonism.

Background: Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, where most cases are sporadic with a late onset. In rare incidences familial forms of early-onset parkinsonism occur, and when recessively inherited, cases are often explained by mutations in either the parkin (PARK2) or PINK1 (PARK6) gene or on exceptional occasions the DJ-1 (PARK7) or ATP13A2 (PARK9) gene. Recessively inherited deletions/duplications and point mutations in the parkin gene are the most common cause of early-onset parkinsonism known so far, but in an increasing number of studies, genetic variations in the serine/threonine kinase domain of the PINK1 gene are found to explain early-onset parkinsonism.