Effect of a blood culture collection bundle on decreasing the contamination rate.

In this study, we examined the effect of a bundled approach to blood collection for blood culture on decreasing contamination. Commensal organisms were considered contaminants on the basis of the clinical course if they were recovered from only a single blood draw (set) and if a positive result for two sets was not obtained within 72 hours. The main elements of the bundle were blood collection by venipuncture, skin preparation with a chlorhexidine alcohol swab, disinfection of culture bottles, and use of a sterile blood transfer device instead of the two-needle technique for inoculation.

Utility of the GerdQ questionnaire in detecting gastroesophageal symptoms with RA patients.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects multiple organ systems, including the esophagus. Moreover, one of the major side effects of methotrexate (MTX) is gastrointestinal disorders, which are said to affect medication adherence. We investigated the rate of MTX use, dosage, and the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in relation to gastroesophageal (GE) symptoms, and whether they influence RA disease activity.

Legionella Pneumonia Undetected by Repeated Urinary Antigen Testing With Ribotest® Legionella.

This report presents a patient with pneumonia (LP), initially presented with fever and mild hypoxemia, with subsequent progression to severe pneumonia during hospitalization. Despite multiple negative urinary antigen tests using Ribotest , the diagnosis was confirmed via the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method of lower respiratory tract secretions. This case highlights the diagnostic limitations of Ribotest and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic strategy, incorporating nucleic acid amplification tests or culture in suspected patients with LP.

A case report of a 14-year-old male patient with large vessel vasculitis following COVID-19.

Most reported cases of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have involved adults, with paediatric cases being rare. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy who developed LVV following COVID-19. Initially, he presented with fever and cough, and nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed COVID-19.

Current status and future perspective of coronary artery calcium score in asymptomatic individuals.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of death, and it is important to accurately estimate the cardiovascular events risk stratification even in asymptomatic patients. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS), which is quantitatively evaluated by electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT) imaging, has been reported to be useful for cardiovascular event risk stratification in large studies. In the USA and Europe, guidelines recommend the use of the CACS in borderline or intermediate-risk asymptomatic individuals based on a high level of evidence.