Infective endocarditis in a Finnish tertiary care hospital: from etiology to embolic events.

Background: In this study in a tertiary care hospital, we examined the characteristics of the different microbial etiologies of infective endocarditis (IE) and the factors associated with embolic events.

Materials And Methods: We included patients (aged ≥18 years) hospitalized for IE in Turku University Hospital in Finland between 2004-2017. Patient data were derived retrospectively from the mandatory database and patient record system.

Glioma grade and post-neurosurgical meningitis risk.

Background: Post-neurosurgical meningitis (PNM) constitutes a grave complication associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the risk factors predisposing patients to PNM following surgery for low- and high-grade gliomas.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis encompassing all patients who underwent glioma surgery involving craniotomy at Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland, between 2011 and 2018.

Prolonged viral pneumonia and high mortality in COVID-19 patients on anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy.

Purpose: In clinical practice, we observed an apparent overrepresentation of COVID-19 patients on anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical picture of COVID-19 in these patients.

Methods: All adult patients from Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland, with COVID-19 diagnosis and/or positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result up to March 2023, and with anti-CD20 therapy within 12 months before COVID-19 were included.

Rapid implementation of home oxygen treatment and remote monitoring for COVID-19 patients at the verge of the Omicron wave in Turku, Finland.

Background: In Turku, Finland, we introduced a home oxygen treatment and app-based monitoring program for hospitalized COVID-19 patients to facilitate an early discharge during the Omicron wave. In this case series we explore the clinical parameters of patients enrolled in the program and evaluate the cost-benefit and safety issues of the program.

Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with marked hypoxemia but otherwise in stable condition were screened from Turku City Hospital and Turku University Hospital by treating doctors for eligibility in the program.

Presence of in the throat in invasive Group A Streptococcal disease: a prospective two-year study in two health districts, Finland.

Purpose: (Group A , GAS) is an important human pathogen that can cause severe invasive (iGAS) infections. Throat carriage has been assumed to possibly lead to hematogenous seeding. Retrospective studies may estimate the incidence of throat carriage in iGAS patients inaccurately.

Bacterial meningitis in adults: a retrospective study among 148 patients in an 8-year period in a university hospital, Finland.

Background: Bacterial meningitis (BM) causes significant morbidity and mortality. We investigated predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, spectrum of etiological bacteria, and clinical outcome of community-acquired and nosocomial BM.

Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed data of 148 adults (age > 16 years) with BM treated in Turku University Hospital, Southwestern Finland, from 2011 to 2018.

Acute kidney injury in group A streptococcal bacteraemia: incidence, outcome and predictive value of C-reactive protein.

Background: A ubiquitous human pathogen (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) causes infections from mild pharyngitis to severe septic infections. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a condition of prompt decline of renal function. The aim of the present study was to report the incidence and outcome of AKI in GAS bacteraemia and to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum C-reactive protein as an indicator of AKI.

Borrelia burgdorferi specific serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies in Lyme neuroborreliosis.

We used definite Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) adult patient acute and convalescent phase serum (n = 63 and 61, respectively) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; acute n = 63, 3 weeks timepoint n = 41) samples to characterize Borrelia burgdorferi specific antibody responses in patient subgroups categorized by demographics, infection manifestation and phase, infecting B. burgdorferi genospecies, received antibiotic treatments, and treatment outcome. B.

Long-Lasting T Cell Responses in BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccinees and COVID-19 Convalescent Patients.

The emergence of novel variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made it more difficult to prevent the virus from spreading despite available vaccines. Reports of breakthrough infections and decreased capacity of antibodies to neutralize variants raise the question whether current vaccines can still protect against COVID-19 disease. We studied the dynamics and persistence of T cell responses using activation induced marker (AIM) assay and Th1 type cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccinated health care workers and COVID-19 patients.

Early administration of tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with elevated inflammatory markers; COVIDSTORM-a prospective, randomized, single-centre, open-label study.

Objectives: Severe COVID-19 is associated with an imbalanced immune response. We hypothesized that patients with enhanced inflammation, as demonstrated by increased levels of certain inflammatory biomarkers, would benefit from interleukin-6 blockage.

Methods: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19, hypoxemia, and at least two of four markedly elevated markers of inflammation (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and/or D-dimer) were randomized for tocilizumab (TCZ) plus standard of care (SoC) or SoC alone.

Rapid detection of bacterial infection using a novel single-tube, four-colour flow cytometric method: Comparison with PCT and CRP.

Background: A key factor behind the unnecessary use of antibiotics is the lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests. In this study, we developed a novel and fast flow cytometric single-tube method to detect bacterial infections within 30 minutes.

Methods: Quantitative flow cytometric four-colour analysis of host biomarkers CD35, CD64, CD329, and MHC class I expression on neutrophils and lymphocytes was performed on samples taken from 841 febrile patients with suspected infection.

Consumption of healthcare services and antibiotics in patients with presumed disseminated Lyme borreliosis before and after evaluation of an infectious disease specialist.

Our objective was to study the consumption of healthcare services and antibiotics in patients with suspicion of disseminated Lyme borreliosis (LB) before and after consultation of an infectious disease specialist. We evaluated retrospectively all presumed disseminated LB patients (n = 256) with a referral to the Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) in Helsinki University Hospital in 2013. Medical records from all healthcare providers in the area were reviewed and the number of physician contacts because of symptoms leading to LB suspicion and antimicrobial purchases were calculated 1 year before and after consultation or treatment at the DID.

Short- and long-term outcomes of infective endocarditis admission in adults: A population-based registry study in Finland.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high mortality. However, data on factors associated with length of stay (LOS) in hospital due to IE are scarce. In addition, long-term mortality of more than 1 year is inadequately known.

Association Between Administration of IL-6 Antagonists and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Meta-analysis.

Importance: Clinical trials assessing the efficacy of IL-6 antagonists in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 have variously reported benefit, no effect, and harm.

Objective: To estimate the association between administration of IL-6 antagonists compared with usual care or placebo and 28-day all-cause mortality and other outcomes.

Data Sources: Trials were identified through systematic searches of electronic databases between October 2020 and January 2021.

Clinical characteristics and evaluation of the incidence of cryptococcosis in Finland 2004-2018.

Background: Cryptococcosis is one of the major causes of mortality among HIV patients worldwide. Though most often associated with late stage HIV infection/AIDS, a significant number of cases occur in other immunocompromised patients such as solid organ transplant recipients and patients with hematological malignancies. Immunocompromised patients are a heterogeneous group and their number increases constantly.

C6 peptide enzyme immunoassay in Lyme borreliosis serology.

The cut-off values used in C6 peptide-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA), a widely used test in Lyme borreliosis (LB) serology, have not been thoroughly analysed. The objective of the study was to examine the performance of the C6 EIA, and to determine optimal cut-off values for the test. The analysed data contained results of 1368 serum samples.

Suspicion of Lyme borreliosis in patients referred to an infectious diseases clinic: what did the patients really have?

Objective: To evaluate the conditions behind the symptoms in patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis (LB) who were referred to an infectious diseases clinic.

Methods: In this retrospective, population-based study, we collected data from the medical records of all patients referred for infectious disease consultations in 2013 due to presumed LB from a population of 1.58 million.

F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography of cardiac implantable electronic device infections.

Background: The diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is challenging because of its variable presentations. We studied the value of 2-[F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the detection of CIED infection.

Methods And Results: Thirty patients with suspected CIED infection underwent F-FDG-PET/CT.

Baseline Chest Computed Tomography as Standard of Care in High-Risk Hematology Patients.

Baseline chest computed tomography (BCT) in high-risk hematology patients allows for the early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The distribution of BCT implementation in hematology departments and impact on outcome is unknown. A web-based questionnaire was designed.

Oral Doxycycline Compared to Intravenous Ceftriaxone in the Treatment of Lyme Neuroborreliosis: A Multicenter, Equivalence, Randomized, Open-label Trial.

Background: Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is often treated with intravenous ceftriaxone even if doxycycline is suggested to be noninferior to ceftriaxone. We evaluated the efficacy of oral doxycycline in comparison to ceftriaxone in the treatment of LNB.

Methods: Patients with neurological symptoms suggestive of LNB without other obvious reasons were recruited.

Group A streptococcal bacteremias in Southwest Finland 2007-2018: epidemiology and role of infectious diseases consultation in antibiotic treatment selection.

The incidence of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections has shown a fluctuating but increasing trend in Finland. The impact of infectious diseases specialist consultation (IDSC) on the antimicrobial therapy of GAS bacteremia has not been studied earlier. A retrospective study on adult GAS bacteremia in The Hospital District of Southwest Finland (HDSWF) was conducted from 2007 to 2018.

Treatment of infection.

(formerly: ) infection (CDI) is a major cause of diarrhoea for inpatients as well as outpatients. Usually, CDI is healthcare-associated but the number of community-acquired infections is increasing. CDI is generally associated with changes in the normal intestinal microbiota caused by administration of antibiotics.