Publications by authors named "Ji H Baang"

Immunocompromised patients with B-cell deficiencies are at risk for prolonged symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We describe 4 patients treated for B-cell malignancies with B-cell-depleting therapies who developed persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection and had resolution of symptoms following an extended course of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

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Monoclonal antibodies targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein are important outpatient treatment options in coronavirus disease 2019 to mitigate progression of disease and prevent hospitalization. The impact of different RBD mutations on the efficacy of the available monoclonal antibodies and processes for incorporating this impact into treatment algorithms are ill defined. Herein, we synthesize the data surrounding the impact of key RBD mutations on the efficacy of US Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorized monoclonal antibodies and describe our approach at Michigan Medicine at monitoring mutation frequency in circulating virus and developing an algorithm that incorporates these data into outpatient treatment pathways.

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Article Synopsis
  • Klebsiella is a common intestinal bacterium found in hospitalized patients and is a major contributor to health care-associated infections, with a notable risk for those who are colonized.* -
  • A study tracked 1,978 patients who were colonized by Klebsiella for 90 days, revealing a 4.3% infection rate, with a mean infection onset of about 21 days; most infections originated from the same strain that colonized the patients.* -
  • Factors such as overall health, depression, and low albumin levels at swab collection were linked to an increased risk of infection, suggesting that monitoring colonized patients could help prevent illness.*
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species are gram-negative, non-lactose fermenting, aerobic bacilli closely related to genus. () is an emergent human pathogen that is difficult to differentiate from other species by conventional methods. It is known to infect immunocompromised hosts, has the propensity for abscess formation, and is known for its multidrug resistance.

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We describe a case of chronic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a patient with lymphoma and associated B-cell immunodeficiency. Viral cultures and sequence analysis demonstrate ongoing replication of infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for at least 119 days. The patient had 3 admissions related to COVID-19 over a 4-month period and was treated twice with remdesivir and convalescent plasma with resolution of symptoms.

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Background: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can manifest in rapid decompensation and respiratory failure with elevated inflammatory markers, consistent with cytokine release syndrome for which IL-6 blockade is an approved treatment.

Methods: We assessed effectiveness and safety of IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab in a single-center cohort of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. The primary endpoint was survival probability postintubation; secondary analyses included an ordinal illness severity scale integrating superinfections.

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Background: Severe COVID-19 can manifest in rapid decompensation and respiratory failure with elevated inflammatory markers. This presentation is consistent with cytokine release syndrome in chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, for which IL-6 blockade is approved treatment.

Methods: We assessed effectiveness and safety of IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab in a single-center cohort of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation.

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Background: Acinetobacter species are well-known causes of health care-associated infections. The longitudinal epidemiology of this species in the hospital setting is poorly understood. A sudden, persistent increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) A baumannii infections occurred beginning in June 2006 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

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