Lateral effects of infection prevention measures during COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-acquired infection.

Systematic surveillance of infection (CDI) in our institution showed a reduction in the incidence of healthcare associated CDI (HA-CDI) during COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to search for factors related to this reduction. We retrospectively studied the trend of the incidences of HA-CDI, Multidrug Resistant (MDR) organisms, total antibiotic and chlorine consumptions as well as the influence of the last two on the incidence of HA-CDI.

Acute Abdominal Situations as Presenting or Flaring Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Series.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)is a multisystem autoimmune disease, characterized by clinical heterogeneity, ranging from mild to severe, life-threatening manifestations. Although gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are frequently encountered during disease course (mainly associated with complications of medication or infection), primary GI involvement due to SLE is rare. Among variable presentations, lupus abdominal serositis (defined as peritonitis if accompanied by symptoms and signs of acute abdomen) and lupus enteritis/mesenteric vasculitis are causes of SLE-related acute abdominal pain.

Microbiology of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections in Greece: A proposed clinical prediction score for the causative pathogen.

Although clinical definitions of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infection (ABSSSI) are now well established, guidance of the prediction of likely pathogens based on evidence is missing. This was a large survey of the microbiology of ABSSSIs in Greece. During the period November 2014 to December 2016, all admissions for ABSSSI in 16 departments of internal medicine or surgery in Greece were screened to determine the likely bacterial aetiology.

Activated Protein C has No Effect on Pulmonary Capillary Endothelial Function in Septic Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Association of Endothelial Dysfunction with Mortality.

Introduction: Pulmonary capillary endothelium-bound (PCEB) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity is a direct and quantifiable index of pulmonary endothelial function that decreases early in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and correlates with its severity. Endothelial dysfunction is a major pathophysiology that underlies sepsis-related ARDS. Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC), now withdrawn from the market, has been used in the recent past as an endothelial-protective treatment in patients with septic organ dysfunction.

Increase of circulating endocan over sepsis follow-up is associated with progression into organ dysfunction.

How circulating inflammatory mediators change upon sepsis progression has not been studied. We studied the follow-up changes of circulating vasoactive peptides and cytokines until the improvement or the worsening of a patient and progression into specific organ dysfunctions. In a prospective study, concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFNγ), endocan and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were measured in serum by an enzyme immunoassay in 175 patients at baseline; this was repeated within 24 h upon progression into new organ dysfunction (n = 141) or improvement (n = 34).