Coexistence of cerebral aneurysm and meningioma: A case report.

The coexistence of a meningioma and an unruptured intracranial aneurysm was considered a rare phenomenon, accidentally detected by radiological assessment. The relationship between these 2 entities is complex and represents a neurosurgical challenge. We share our experience of a case involving a 36-year-old male patient with no prior medical history who consulted for chronic unilateral left periorbital headaches.

Clinical presentation and outcome of enteric fever in adult patients with cancer: a perspective from Pakistan.

Enteric fever is a significant health concern in endemic countries. While extensive research has been conducted to understand its presentation and outcomes in non-cancer patients, limited data exist on its impact on cancer patients. This descriptive study aims to investigate the clinical presentation and outcome in cancer patients.

Horizontal versus vertical strategies for infection prevention: current practices and controversies.

Purpose Of Review: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major burden on healthcare facilities. Effective infection prevention strategies are essential to prevent the spread of HAIs. These can be broadly classified as vertical and horizontal interventions.

The challenges of implementing infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship programs in resource-constrained settings.

The burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is disproportionately high in low and middle-income countries. Barriers to implementing effective antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention programs include the lack of a structural framework, consensus guidelines, educational opportunities, trained personnel, funding, and access to resources such as manpower, information technology, and diagnostics. Socioeconomic instability with supply chain interruptions, poor skilled staff retention, absence of mandates, and inadequate support to enforce existing policies further aggravates the situation.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Cancer Patients From a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Objective To investigate the predisposing factors, disease course, potential complications, role of primary prophylaxis, and overall outcomes of pneumonia (PJP) in cancer patients. Methods The study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan. We analyzed the medical records of cancer patients diagnosed with PJP from January 2018 to December 2022 and collected data about demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, treatment, complications, and mortality rates.

Dermoid cyst, unusual location of the pterion: About a case and review of literature.

Intracranial dermoid cysts are benign tumors of congenital origin. The intradiploic forms are rare, exceptional at the pterional level. We report the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with a cutaneous fistula in the left frontotemporal region.

Volumetric Assessment of Nonfunctional Pituitary Adenoma Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery: An Assessment of Long-Term Response.

Background And Objectives: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is widely used to manage recurrent or residual nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). Studies on the long-term volumetric response of NFPAs to SRS are lacking. Such a post-SRS volumetric study will allow us to set up appropriate radiographic follow-up protocols and predict tumor volumetric response.

Prospective analysis of febrile neutropenia patients with bacteraemia: the results of an international ID-IRI study.

Objectives: Bacteraemia during the course of neutropenia is often fatal. We aimed to identify factors predicting mortality to have an insight into better clinical management.

Methods: The study has a prospective, observational design using pooled data from febrile neutropenia patients with bacteraemia in 41 centres in 16 countries.

Diagnostic challenge: primary leptomeningeal melanoma with melanomatosis, illustrative case report.

Primary leptomeningeal melanoma is an extremely rare type of intracranial melanoma. It cannot be reliably distinguished from metastatic melanoma on neuroimaging and histopathological characteristics alone; its diagnosis is established only after exclusion of secondary metastatic disease from a cutaneous, mucosal or retinal primary. Prognosis is poor, partly due to its high rate of misdiagnosis.

Multifocal hypometabolic correlates to deficits of verbal memory in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background And Objectives: Neuropsychological research on mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) often highlights material-specific memory deficits, but a lesion-focused model may not accurately reflect the underlying networks that support episodic memory in these patients. Our study evaluated the pathophysiology behind verbal learning/memory deficits as revealed by hypometabolism quantified through 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET).

Methods: This retrospective study included thirty presurgical patients with intractable unilateral MTLE who underwent interictal FDG-PET and verbal memory assessment (12 females, mean age: 38.

Developmental venous anomaly thrombosis in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019-associated hypercoagulability: illustrative case.

Background: Spontaneous thrombosis of a developmental venous abnormality (DVA) is a rare complication associated with hypercoagulability. The objective of this case report is to describe an association between DVA thrombosis and mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in a vaccinated patient.

Observations: A 28-year-old male with hypertension presented with severe headache and left-sided hemiparesis.

Assessing the utility of universal preprocedure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at a cancer center.

We implemented preprocedure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing for cancer patients. The overall positivity rate was 0.3%.

Infection control practices and challenges in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic.

Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Frequency of low back pain in young adults and its relationship with different mattresses.

Objective: To find out the frequency of low back pain in young adults and its relationship with the mattresses being used.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised young adults aged 18-35 years who were using the same kind of mattress for more than 3 months. Data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire along with the Modified Oswestry Scale and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.

Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Window of Opportunity.

Purpose Of Review: We describe the similarities between antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and infection prevention programs (IPPs), and we discuss how these similarities lend themselves to synergy between programs. We also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has generated further opportunities for future collaborations that could benefit both programs.

Recent Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic has created new needs, such as real-time data and access to personnel important to both programs, such as information technologists and infectious diseases specialists.

Prevention of Clostridioides difficile in hospitals: A position paper of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Clostridioides difficile infection is an increasing presence worldwide. Prevention is multipronged, reflecting a complex and evolving epidemiology. Multiple guidelines exist regarding the prevention of C.

3D fast low-angle shot (FLASH) technique for 3T contrast-enhanced brain MRI in the inpatient and emergency setting: comparison with 3D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) technique.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of a 1-min contrast-enhanced 3D-FLASH pulse sequence for detecting intracranial enhancing lesions compared to standard contrast-enhanced 3D-MPRAGE pulse sequence.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced 3D-FLASH (acquisition time 49 s) and contrast-enhanced 3D-MPRAGE (4 min 35 s) pulse sequences were performed consecutively in 110 inpatient/emergency department 3T MRI brain examinations and analyzed by two independent neuroradiologist readers. For each sequence, the readers recorded (1) number of enhancing intracranial lesions; (2) intracranial susceptibility artifact (presence or absence; mm depth of intracranial signal loss); and (3) motion artifact (none, mild, moderate, severe).

Stopping the routine use of contact precautions for management of MRSA and VRE at three academic medical centers: An interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Contact precautions (CP) are a widely adopted strategy to prevent cross-transmission of organisms, commonly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Some hospitals have discontinued CP for patients with MRSA or VRE; however, the impact on hospital-acquired infection rates (HAI) has not been assessed systematically.

Methods: Retrospective multicenter interrupted time series between 2002 and 2017 at three academic hospitals.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of bedside nursing staff regarding antibiotic stewardship: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Nursing engagement in antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) remains suboptimal. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing staff members regarding ASPs and identify barriers to their participation in such programs.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, an 860-bed tertiary care academic center located in Richmond, Virginia, where a well-resourced ASP has been in place for 2 decades.

Chlorhexidine gluconate bathing: Patient perceptions, practices, and barriers at a tertiary care center.

Many studies indicate that daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections. In this study, we found that patient perceptions can be a barrier to bathing practice, and many independent-care patients do not use CHG bathing products correctly. Furthermore, electronic medical record documentation may be a reliable tool to assess CHG bathing compliance.

The Role of the Hospital Epidemiologist in Antibiotic Stewardship.

Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) play a crucial role in controlling the emergence of resistant organisms, reducing rates of Clostridium difficile infections and associated hospital length of stay, promoting judicious use of antibiotics, and minimizing associated adverse events. There is a significant overlap between the goals of infection control programs and ASPs, and both programs can benefit from a synergistic relationship. Hospital epidemiologists can support these programs by providing leadership support, sharing surveillance data, bridging gaps between ASPs and departments such as microbiology, integrating educational programs with ASPs, sharing outbreak alerts, and assisting with the development of treatment algorithms.