Healthcare-associated infections on the intensive care unit in 21 Brazilian hospitals during the early months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: An ecological study.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a global health crisis and may have affected healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention strategies. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HAI incidence in Brazilian intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: In this ecological study, we compared adult patients admitted to the ICU from April through June 2020 (pandemic period) with the same period in 2019 (prepandemic period) in 21 Brazilian hospitals.

(1,3)-β-D-glucan is able to predict therapeutic failure of patients with candidemia and not only mortality.

Background: Candidemia is a major cause of bloodstream infection in tertiary hospitals worldwide and fungal biomarkers may provide early diagnosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of (1-3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) in the diagnosis of candidemia and its ability to predict therapeutic failure.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective, multi-centre study conducted in 3 Brazilian hospitals.

Discontinuation of empirical antifungal therapy in ICU patients using 1,3-β-d-glucan.

Background: Empirical antifungal therapy in high-risk ICU patients is an attractive strategy, but overuse of antifungal agents is a potential problem.

Objectives: We evaluated if ICU patients at high risk to develop candidaemia identified by a prediction rule could discontinue empirical antifungal therapy on the basis of repeatedly negative 1-3-β-d-glucan (BDG) tests.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre cohort study in 85 ICU patients receiving antibiotics or with central venous catheter plus two additional factors (dialysis, parenteral nutrition, surgery, pancreatitis or receipt of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents) plus either fever, hypothermia, hypotension, acidosis, elevated C-reactive protein or leucocytosis.

Verbascoside isolated from Lepechinia speciosa has inhibitory activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro.

Verbascoside has been isolated form L. speciosa after several different chromatographic methods. After its purification, the structure has been unequivocally established using modern spectroscopic techniques.

Bony density in adolescents after surgical repair of tetralogy of fallot: a comparative study with healthy adolescents.

Background: Adverse influences arising in fetal life or immediately after birth have a permanent effect on body structure, physiology and metabolism. Evidence is now accumulating that programming of bone growth might be an important contributor to the later risk of osteoporosis. Long-term morbidity and mortality associated with retralogy of Fallot is not completely known.