The significance of monitoring respiratory sample cultures and polymerase chain reaction tests for detecting bacterial pathogens in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Background: Bacterial superinfection is one of the most common and potentially lethal complications in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Objectives: To determine the colonisation time frame and the spectrum of potential bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with severe and critical COVID-19, using routine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed severe and critical COVID-19 who were admitted to or transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).

A Case of Acute Neurologic Deficit and Hypoglycemia in the Setting of Thyroid Storm and Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A New Clinical Scenario.

The simultaneous development of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and thyroid storm (TS) is a rare but potentially lifethreatening condition that requires immediate and targeted treatment. However, their combined diagnosis poses a serious challenge because of the similarities between their clinical manifestations. To date, only a few dozen cases have been described; most of which have been linked to the progression of thyrotoxicosis or uncontrolled hyperglycemia as contributing factors.

[Diagnosis and antibiotic therapy of nosocomial pneumonia in adults: from recommendations to real practice. A review].

Nosocomial pneumonia is a healthcare-associated infection with significant consequences for the patient and the healthcare system. The efficacy of treatment significantly depends on the timeliness and adequacy of the antibiotic therapy regimen. The growth of resistance of gram-negative pathogens of nosocomial pneumonia to antimicrobial agents increases the risk of prescribing inadequate empirical therapy, which worsens the results of patient treatment.