Human plasma protein levels alter the in vitro antifungal activity of caspofungin: An explanation to the effect in critically ill?

Background: Recent studies have shown low caspofungin concentrations in critically ill patients. In some patients, the therapeutic target, area under the total plasma concentration curve in relation to the minimal inhibition concentration (AUC /MIC), seems not to be achieved and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been proposed. Caspofungin is highly protein-bound and the effect of reduced plasma protein levels on pharmacodynamics has not been investigated.

A Rare Case of Cardiac Echinococcosis: The Role of Multimodality Imaging.

• Multimodality imaging plays a crucial role in confirming cardiac echinococcosis. • Speckle-tracking echocardiography gives information about regional myocardial function. • Cyst rupture often causes life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Device infections related to cardiac resynchronization therapy in clinical practice-An analysis of its prevalence, risk factors and routine surveillance at a single center university hospital.

Background: The implantation rates of cardiac implantable electronic devices have steadily increased, accompanied by a steeper rise of device related infections (DRI).

Hypothesis: The prevalence of DRI for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is higher in clinical practice than reported previously, even at a university hospital, and likely higher than reported to the national device registry.

Methods: Electronic medical records of consecutive patients undergoing a CRT procedure between January 2016 and December 2017 were analyzed.

[Rare but potentially life-threatening - Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults - a case description].

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults, MIS-A, is a rare but severe post-covid-19 immunologic complication. The presentation is similar to Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, MIS-C. Both MIS-A/C are life-threatening immunologic syndromes characterized by hypotension, skin rashes, myocardial affection, coagulopathy and GI symptoms.

Comparison of species identification of endocarditis associated viridans streptococci using rnpB genotyping and 2 MALDI-TOF systems.

Streptococcus spp. are important causes of infective endocarditis but challenging in species identification. This study compared identification based on sequence determination of the rnpB gene with 2 systems of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, MALDI Biotyper (Bruker) and VITEK MS IVD (bioMérieux).