scholarly journals Testing Practices for Fungal Respiratory Infections and SARS-CoV-2 among Infectious Disease Specialists, United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Benedict ◽  
Samantha Williams ◽  
Susan E. Beekmann ◽  
Philip M. Polgreen ◽  
Brendan R. Jackson ◽  
...  

In an online poll, 174 infectious disease physicians reported that testing frequencies for coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and cryptococcosis were similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that these physicians remain alert for these fungal infections and were generally not concerned about the possibility of under-detection.

2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Richard H. Beigi ◽  
Galen E. Switzer ◽  
Larraine Presley ◽  
David E. Soper

Awareness of the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology is low among United States residents and residency directors.Objective. Given the burden of infectious diseases on women's health, we sought to assess current awareness, interest, and perceived value of the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology among current United States obstetrics and gynecology residents and residency directors.Methods. Two separate surveys addressing awareness, perceived value and interest in the subspecialty were sent to (1) a random20%sample of obstetrics and gynecology residents and (2) all obstetrics and gynecology residency directors.Results. Seventy percent of the residency directors were familiar with the subspecialty and67.0%placed value on infectious disease specialists in an academic department. Thirty percent of the residents reported awareness of the subspecialty. Thirty-six percent of residency directors reported that medical infectious disease specialists deliver formal education to the obstetrics and gynecology residents.Conclusion. United States obstetrics and gynecology residents and residency directors have a low awareness of the subspecialty. An open niche exists for formal education of residents in infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology by department specialists. These findings can be incorporated into ongoing recruitment efforts for the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuru Toda ◽  
Susan E. Beekmann ◽  
Philip M. Polgreen ◽  
Tom M. Chiller ◽  
Brendan R. Jackson ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Reham Almasoud ◽  
Alaaeddin Nwilati ◽  
Saeb Bayazid ◽  
Mamoun Shafaamri

We herein report a rare case of mycotic aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery caused by <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>. A 66-year-old man, a known case of hypertension and aorto-oesophageal fistula with stented aorta in 2010 and 2018, presented to the emergency department multiple times over 2 months with severe postprandial abdominal pain associated with vomiting and fever. On his last presentation, the obtained blood cultures grew ESBL positive <i>K. pneumoniae</i> and a repeated computed tomography (CT) showed a growing aneurysm at the origin of the ileocecal branch of the superior mesenteric artery measuring 17 × 10 mm (the aneurysm was 8 × 7.5 mm in the CT angiography on the previous admission). Extensive workup did not reveal the underlying cause of the mycotic aneurysm, thus we believe the cause to be the infected aortic stent, leading to bacteraemia and vegetations to the mesenteric artery causing the aneurysm. The management plan was placed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of vascular surgeons and infectious disease specialists along with review from a dietician to evaluate the patient’s nutritional status. The patient was started on total parenteral nutrition due to his postprandial pain and on antibiotic therapy according to the infectious disease team’s recommendation. He underwent surgical resection of the mycotic aneurysm, which showed a thrombosed aneurysm in the jejunoileal mesenteric area. The histopathology of the resected tissue demonstrated inflammatory aneurysm of the mesenteric artery. Following the surgery, the patient continued his antibiotic therapy and was discharged on the 13th post-operative day with follow-up appointments in the vascular surgery and infectious disease clinic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 204993612198954
Author(s):  
Isabel Ruiz-Camps ◽  
Juan Aguilar-Company

Higher risks of infection are associated with some targeted drugs used to treat solid organ and hematological malignancies, and an individual patient’s risk of infection is strongly influenced by underlying diseases and concomitant or prior treatments. This review focuses on risk levels and specific suggestions for management, analyzing groups of agents associated with a significant effect on the risk of infection. Due to limited clinical experience and ongoing advances in these therapies, recommendations may be revised in the near future. Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are associated with a higher rate of infections, including invasive fungal infection, especially in the first months of treatment and in patients with advanced, pretreated disease. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of Pneumocystis pneumonia and cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. Venetoclax is associated with cytopenias, respiratory infections, and fever and neutropenia. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors may predispose patients to opportunistic and fungal infections; need for prophylaxis should be assessed on an individual basis. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have been linked to a higher risk of general and opportunistic infections. Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL) inhibitors are associated with neutropenia, especially over the first months of treatment. Anti-CD20 agents may cause defects in the adaptative immune response, hypogammaglobulinemia, neutropenia, and hepatitis B reactivation. Alemtuzumab is associated with profound and long-lasting immunosuppression; screening is recommended for latent infections and prevention strategies against CMV, herpesvirus, and Pneumocystis infections. Checkpoint inhibitors (CIs) may cause immune-related adverse events for which prolonged treatment with corticosteroids is needed: prophylaxis against Pneumocystis is recommended.


2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elie F. Berbari ◽  
Souha S. Kanj ◽  
Todd J. Kowalski ◽  
Rabih O. Darouiche ◽  
Andreas F. Widmer ◽  
...  

Abstract These guidelines are intended for use by infectious disease specialists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, radiologists, and other healthcare professionals who care for patients with native vertebral osteomyelitis (NVO). They include evidence and opinion-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of patients with NVO treated with antimicrobial therapy, with or without surgical intervention.


2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Calderon ◽  
Gunther Craun ◽  
Deborah A. Levy

Author(s):  
Cecilia Johansson ◽  
Freja C. M. Kirsebom

AbstractViral respiratory infections are a common cause of severe disease, especially in infants, people who are immunocompromised, and in the elderly. Neutrophils, an important innate immune cell, infiltrate the lungs rapidly after an inflammatory insult. The most well-characterized effector mechanisms by which neutrophils contribute to host defense are largely extracellular and the involvement of neutrophils in protection from numerous bacterial and fungal infections is well established. However, the role of neutrophils in responses to viruses, which replicate intracellularly, has been less studied. It remains unclear whether and, by which underlying immunological mechanisms, neutrophils contribute to viral control or confer protection against an intracellular pathogen. Furthermore, neutrophils need to be tightly regulated to avoid bystander damage to host tissues. This is especially relevant in the lung where damage to delicate alveolar structures can compromise gas exchange with life-threatening consequences. It is inherently less clear how neutrophils can contribute to host immunity to viruses without causing immunopathology and/or exacerbating disease severity. In this review, we summarize and discuss the current understanding of how neutrophils in the lung direct immune responses to viruses, control viral replication and spread, and cause pathology during respiratory viral infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 40-44
Author(s):  
Khalidjan Kamilov ◽  
◽  
Munirakhon Kasimova ◽  
Gavkhar Khamraeva ◽  
Manzurakhon Rizaeva

Inflammatory complications of the organ of vision in the time of COVID-19 can be manifested as conjunctivitis, scleritis, episcleritis, keratitis, uveitis and optic neuritis. It is essential to collect anamnesis, examine the blood for the presence of COVID 19 and treat these patients with the help of infectious disease specialists. Correct diagnosis of inflammatory ocular complications in the presence of COVID 19 makes it possible to prevent ocular complications, such as: ulcers and corneal penetration; fusion and overgrowth of the pupil,which leadto secondary glaucoma; endoophthalmitis, panophthalmitis and optic nerve atrophy. Timely intensive medical care and adequate treatment of these complications lead to a decrease in disability in this category of patients.Keywords:Ophthalmology, COVID-19,complications, ulcers, endoophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, gastrointestinal tract, cavernous sinus thrombosis


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