Tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19: predictors and clinical features.

Background: Around 20% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 need mechanical ventilation (MV). MV may be prolonged, thus warranting tracheostomy.

Methods: Observational cohort study enrolling patients admitted due to COVID-19.

Penicillin and cephalosporin cross-reactivity: role of side chain and synthetic cefadroxil epitopes.

Background: Analysis of cross-reactivity is necessary for prescribing safe cephalosporins for penicillin allergic patients. Amoxicillin (AX) is the betalactam most often involved in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHRs), and cefadroxil (CX) the most likely cephalosporin to cross-react with AX, since they share the same R1 side chain, unlike cefuroxime (CO), with a structurally different R1. We aimed to analyse cross-reactivity with CX and CO in patients with confirmed IHRs to AX, including sIgE recognition to AX, CX, CO, and novel synthetic determinants of CX.

The HIPARCO-2 study: long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension: a multicenter prospective study.

Introduction: Short-term treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) produces a clinically significant reduction in blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and resistant hypertension. However, it is unknown whether this effect continues over the long-term. Our objective was to assess the effect of long-term CPAP on BP in patients with OSA and resistant hypertension.