SARS-CoV-2 Persistent Viral Shedding in the Context of Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin Treatment

SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal shedding contributes to the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Among 3271 COVID-19 patients treated at the Hospital University Institute Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France from 3 March to 27 April 2020, tested at least twice by qRT-PCR, the median SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal shedding duration was 6 days (range 2–54 days). Compared with short shedders (qRT-PCR positivity < 10 days), 34 (1.04%) persistent shedders (qRT-PCR positivity ≥ 17 days; mean ± SD: 23.3 ± 3.8 days) were significantly older, with associated comorbidities, exhibiting lymphopenia, eosinopenia, increased D-dimer and increased troponin (p < 0.05), and were hospitalized in intensive care unit in 17.7% vs. 1.1% of cases (p < 0.0001). Viral culture was positive in six persistent shedders after day 10, including in one patient after day 17, and no viral co-pathogen was detected in 33 tested patients. Persistent shedders received azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine ≥ 3 days in 26/34 (76.5%) patients, a figure significantly lower than in short shedders (86.6%) (p = 0.042). Accordingly, mortality was 14.7% vs. 0.5% (p < 0.0001). Persistent shedding was significantly associated with persistent dyspnea and anosmia/ageusia (p < 0.05). In the context of COVID-19 treatment, including treatment with azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal shedding was a rare event, most frequently encountered in elderly patients with comorbidities and lacking azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine treatment.

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Postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery of elderly patients as an independent risk factor for prolonged length of stay in intensive care unit and in hospital

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1007/s40520-021-01842-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Kirfel ◽

Jan Menzenbach ◽

Vera Guttenthaler ◽

Johanna Feggeler ◽

Andreas Mayr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Postoperative Delirium ◽

Confusion Assessment Method ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Confusion Assessment

Abstract Background Postoperative delirium (POD) is a relevant and underdiagnosed complication after cardiac surgery that is associated with increased intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS). The aim of this subgroup study was to compare the frequency of tested POD versus the coded International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) diagnosis of POD and to evaluate the influence of POD on LOS in ICU and hospital. Methods 254 elective cardiac surgery patients (mean age, 70.5 ± 6.4 years) at the University Hospital Bonn between September 2018 and October 2019 were evaluated. The endpoint tested POD was considered positive, if one of the tests Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU) or Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), 4 'A's Test (4AT) or Delirium Observation Scale (DOS) was positive on one day. Results POD occurred in 127 patients (50.0%). LOS in ICU and hospital were significantly different based on presence (ICU 165.0 ± 362.7 h; Hospital 26.5 ± 26.1 days) or absence (ICU 64.5 ± 79.4 h; Hospital 14.6 ± 6.7 days) of POD (p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression showed POD as an independent predictor for a prolonged LOS in ICU (48%; 95%CI 31–67%) and in hospital (64%; 95%CI 27–110%) (p < 0.001). The frequency of POD in the study participants that was coded with the ICD F05.0 and F05.8 by hospital staff was considerably lower than tests revealed by the study personnel. Conclusion Approximately 50% of elderly patients who underwent cardiac surgery developed POD, which is associated with an increased ICU and hospital LOS. Furthermore, POD is highly underdiagnosed in clinical routine.

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Effect of Aprotinin and Avifavir® Combination Therapy for Moderate COVID-19 Patients

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13071253 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1253

Author(s):

Andrey A. Ivashchenko ◽

Valeria N. Azarova ◽

Alina N. Egorova ◽

Ruben N. Karapetian ◽

Dmitry V. Kravchenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Body Temperature ◽

Combination Therapy ◽

Serine Proteases ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Single Center ◽

Single Center Study ◽

D Dimer ◽

Center Study

COVID-19 is a contagious multisystem inflammatory disease caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We studied the efficacy of Aprotinin (nonspecific serine proteases inhibitor) in combination with Avifavir® or Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drugs, which are recommended by the Russian Ministry of Health for the treatment therapy of moderate COVID-19 patients. This prospective single-center study included participants with moderate COVID-19-related pneumonia, laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2, and admitted to the hospitals. Patients received combinations of intravenous (IV) Aprotinin (1,000,000 KIU daily, 3 days) and HCQ (cohort 1), inhalation (inh) treatment with Aprotinin (625 KIU four times per day, 5 days) and HCQ (cohort 2) or IV Aprotinin (1,000,000 KIU daily for 5 days) and Avifavir (cohort 3). In cohorts 1–3, the combination therapy showed 100% efficacy in preventing the transfer of patients (n = 30) to the intensive care unit (ICU). The effect of the combination therapy in cohort 3 was the most prominent, and the median time to SARS-CoV-2 elimination was 3.5 days (IQR 3.0–4.0), normalization of the CRP concentration was 3.5 days (IQR 3–5), of the D-dimer concentration was 5 days (IQR 4 to 5); body temperature was 1 day (IQR 1–3), improvement in clinical status or discharge from the hospital was 5 days (IQR 5–5), and improvement in lung lesions of patients on 14 day was 100%.

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Access to Intensive Care Unit Care for Elderly Patients with COVID-19 in Portugal

Portuguese Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1159/000511150 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Filipe S. Cardoso ◽

André Borges ◽

Isabel Botelho ◽

André Real ◽

Ana C. Araújo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Intensive Care Unit Care

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ASSISTÊNCIA DE ENFERMAGEM NOS CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS AO PACIENTE IDOSO EM UNIDADE DE TERAPIA INTENSIVA / NURSING CARE IN PALLIATIVE CARE FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Brazilian Journal of Development ◽

10.34117/bjdv6n12-648 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 102261-102281

Author(s):

Airton César Leite ◽

Jaiciane Jorge da Silva ◽

Maria Merciane Medeiros do nascimento Ferreira ◽

Vanessa Bonfim Mendes ◽

Lianna Emanuelli Carvalho Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Nursing Care ◽

Terapia Intensiva

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Never Too Early: Parenteral Nutrition Administration in Elderly Emergency General Surgery Patients

The Journal of Nursing Home Research Sciences ◽

10.14283/jnhrs.2021.8 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

A.K. Gergen ◽

P. Hosokawa ◽

C. Irwin ◽

M.J. Cohen ◽

F.L. Wright ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Enteral Nutrition ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Parenteral Nutrition ◽

Early Initiation ◽

Unplanned Admission ◽

Emergency General Surgery ◽

Early Administration ◽

Late Initiation

Objectives: Elderly patients requiring emergency general surgery (EGS) are at high risk for complications due to preexisting malnutrition. Thus, correcting nutritional deficits perioperatively is essential to improve outcomes. However, even in patients unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, initiation of parenteral nutrition (PN) is often delayed due to concerns of associated complications. In this study, we hypothesized that in elderly EGS patients with relative short-term contraindications to enteral nutrition, early administration of PN is as safe as delayed administration. Furthermore, early PN may improve outcomes by enhancing caloric intake and combatting malnutrition in the immediate perioperative period. Design and Setting: A single-institution, retrospective review was performed at a quaternary academic medical center. Participants: Participants consisted of 58 elderly patients >65 years of age admitted to the EGS service who required PN between July 2017 and July 2020. Measurements: Postoperative outcomes of patients started on PN on hospital day 0-3 (early initiation) were compared to patients started on PN on hospital day 4 or later (late initiation). Bivariate analysis was conducted using the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and F-test for continuous variables. Results: Fifty-eight patients met inclusion criteria, with 27 (46.6%) patients receiving early PN and 31 (53.4%) receiving late PN. Both groups shared similar baseline characteristics, including degree of frailty, body mass index, and nutritional status at time of admission. Complications associated with PN administration were negligible, with no instances of central venous catheter insertion-related complications, catheter-associated bloodstream infection, or factors leading to early termination of PN therapy. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the early administration group met 60% of their caloric goal within 72 hours of admission (62.9% versus 19.5%, p=0.0007). Patients receiving late PN demonstrated a significantly higher rate of unplanned admission to the intensive care unit (38.7% versus 14.8%, p=0.04). Moreover, there was a 21.5% reduction in mortality among patients in the early initiation group compared to patients in the late initiation group (33.3% versus 54.8%, p=0.10). Conclusions: Early initiation of PN in hospitalized elderly EGS patients was not associated with increased adverse events compared to patients undergoing delayed PN administration. Furthermore, patients receiving early PN demonstrated a 2.6-fold decrease in the rate of unplanned admission to the intensive care unit and trended toward improved mortality. Based on these results, further prospective studies are warranted to further explore the safety and potential benefits of early PN administration in elderly surgical patients unable to receive enteral nutrition.

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The effect of vitamin-d levels on prognosis of elderly patients treated in intensive care unit

Journal of Contemporary Medicine ◽

10.16899/jcm.705176 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 13-17

Author(s):

Hülya YİĞİT ÖZAY ◽

İbrahim MUNGAN ◽

Güneş ÇOBANOĞLU ERCAN ◽

Sema TURAN ◽

Banu ELER ÇEVİK

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Vitamin D Levels

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The role of IL-6 receptor inhibitor treatment in critical patient monitoring with COVID-19

10.22514/sv.2021.068 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Group 2 ◽

D Dimer

Objectives: The COVID-19 disease can manifest itself with acute respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure, and septic shock in critically ill patients. There are opinions that there is a correlation between high IL-6 levels and disease severity. In our intensive care unit, we evaluated the changes in the laboratory data and radiological involvement severity of our patients who underwent tocilizumab treatment and examined the appropriate laboratory parameter in the treatment follow-up and its effect on survival. Methods: In the critical patient follow-up of COVID-19, 17 of the 23 patients treated with tocilizumab had a mortal course (Group 1) and the remaining 6 (Group 2) were. The C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, IL-6, D-dimer, procalcitonin, albumin, and ferritin values, which were routinely screened in our clinic on the day of tocilizumab treatment and the 5th day after, were recorded. Both the change between the two groups and the change between days 1 and 5 were analyzed. Results: A total of 23 patients (55.35 ± 13.31 years) were included in the study. The computed tomography severity score assessed at the intensive care unit admission was statistically significantly higher in Group 2. The procalcitonin and lactate dehydrogenase values measured on day 5 after tocilizumab were significantly lower in Group 2. On the 5th day after treatment, the levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, chest X-rays, IL-6 and D-dimer statistically significantly changed compared to the first day of the treatment. In correlation with the decrease in PCT as of the 5th day after tocilizumab administration, an increasing tendency was observed in 28-day survival. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that tocilizumab treatment may positively contribute to the treatment by decreasing cytokine levels. PCT and LDH follow-up before and after treatment in critically ill patients who are receiving tocilizumab treatment can give an idea about survival.

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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Thromboembolism among Patients With Coronavirus Disease-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis ◽

10.1177/1076029620967083 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 107602962096708

Author(s):

Belayneh Kefale ◽

Gobezie T. Tegegne ◽

Amsalu Degu ◽

Melaku Tadege ◽

Desalegn Tesfa

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Intensive Care ◽

English Language ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Thrombotic Event ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

D Dimer

Emerging evidence shows that the recent pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is characterized by coagulation activation and endothelial dysfunction. This increases the risk of morbidity, mortality and economic loss among COVID-19 patients. Therefore, there was an urgent need to investigate the extent and risk factors of thromboembolism among COVID-19 patients. English-language based databases (PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, and Cochrane library) were exhaustively searched to identify studies related to prevalence of thromboembolism among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled prevalence of thromboembolism. The pooled prevalence of thrombotic events was computed using STATA 16.0 software. Heterogeneity analysis was reported using I2. A total of 19 studies with 2,520 patients with COVID-19 were included. The pooled prevalence of thrombotic events of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 33% (95% CI: 25-41%, I2 = 97.30%, p < 0.001) with a high degree of heterogeneity across studies. Elevated D-dimer hospitalized in the intensive care unit and being under mechanical ventilation were the most frequently associated factors for the development of thrombotic events. The pooled prevalence of thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients was 33%. The prevalence of thrombotic event is variables on the basis of study design and study centers. Several risk factors such as, elevated D-dimer, hospitalized in the intensive care unit and being under mechanical ventilation, were the most frequently reported risk factors identified. Therefore, healthcare professionals should consider these risk factors to optimally manage thromboembolism in COVID-19 patients.

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