Adjustments to maintenance therapy and the reasoning behind them among COPD outpatients in Austria: the STEP study.

Background: Adjustments to COPD maintenance treatment are based on different guidelines. In Austria, there is a lack of real-world data on treatment adjustments of COPD outpatients and their underlying rationale. The STEP study characterised change patterns of pharmacological maintenance therapy in COPD outpatients in predefined categories of step-up, step-down and switch, the underlying reasons, and predictors in clinical routine in Austria.

Evaluation of procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Procalcitonin is a biomarker that may be able to identify patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who do not require antimicrobials for bacterial respiratory tract co-infections.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a procalcitonin-guided algorithm in rationalizing empirical antimicrobial prescriptions in non-critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: Retrospective, single-site, cohort study in adults hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and receiving empirical antimicrobials for potential bacterial respiratory tract co-infection.

SARS-CoV-2 Testing of 11,884 Healthcare Workers at an Acute NHS Hospital Trust in England: A Retrospective Analysis.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are known to be at increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, although whether these risks are equal across all roles is uncertain. Here we report a retrospective analysis of a large real-world dataset obtained from 10 March to 6 July 2020 in an NHS Foundation Trust in England with 17,126 employees. 3,338 HCWs underwent symptomatic PCR testing (14.

Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: Risk Factors for Adverse Clinical Outcome in Routine Clinical Practice.

We aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of pyogenic spondylodiscitis and to identify factors associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome (defined as death, permanent disability, spinal instability or persistent pain). In our tertiary centre, 91 cases were identified prospectively and a retrospective descriptive analysis of clinical records was performed prior to binary regression analysis of factors associated with an unfavourable outcome. A median 26 days elapsed from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis and 51% of patients had neurological impairment at presentation.

Pyogenic brain abscess and subdural empyema: presentation, management, and factors predicting outcome.

Purpose: To describe the presentation and management of bacterial brain abscess and subdural empyema in adults treated at two tertiary centers. In addition, to identify factors that may predict a poor clinical outcome.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data obtained from clinical records was performed, followed by multivariate regression analysis of patient and treatment-related factors.

An unusual erysipelas-like presentation.

A 61-year-old man presented with erysipelas-like cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Efavirenz induced acute liver failure requiring liver transplantation in a slow drug metaboliser.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has revolutionised HIV management. However, many of these drugs are potentially hepatotoxic. Here, we report the first adult case of efavirenz induced acute liver failure successfully treated by liver transplantation.

Case report: severe acute symptomatic hyponatraemia in falciparum malaria.

Hyponatraemia is a common finding in malaria, but rarely appears to be of clinical significance. We describe a case of acute, profound, hyponatraemia with confusion and convulsions developing in the context of seemingly uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We draw attention to this rarely reported and poorly documented life-threatening complication and review the limited literature on the subject.