A Retrospective Study Assessing the Effect of Infections in Myocardial Infarction Patients: Mortality and Complications

Background: There is a well-established relationship between myocardial infarction and infection. Multiple articles describe the increased risk of myocardial infarction, both type 1 and 2, following an infectious process. However few articles have described the relation between concomitant myocardial infarction and infections on same admission mortality and complications. Methods: The aim is to assess the effect of an acquired or concomitant infection on complications and mortality during hospitalized cases of myocardial infarction. 1197 patients of different types of myocardial infarction were studied in correlation to infectious processes. Cultures from different sites were collected and isolation of various bacterial agents were studied. Mortality and various complications were compared between infected and non-infected subjects. Pearson's chi squared test was used to compare percentages (or the Fisher exact test when expected values were lower than 5). Moreover, means were compared through ANOVA, after checking data normality and homoscedasticity. A likelihood ratio backward stepwise method was used to conduct dichotomous logistic regressions, taking dichotomous outcomes as dependent variables, and sociodemographic and biological characteristics as independent variables (potential confounders).Results: Wound, sputum, blood and urine infections were associated with increased same admission mortality and complications. Microorganisms were then studied alone regardless of the site of infection and it was shown that Escherichia Coli, Escherichia Coli ESBL, Candida Albicans, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus of any type were significantly associated with same admission complications when associated with myocardial infarction. Length of stay was significantly elevated in patients with concomitant infection and it increased with the addition of positive cultures from different sites. Conclusion: Concomitant infections with myocardial infarction significantly increase the risk of same admission complications, mortality and length of stay regardless of the site of infection and type of microorganisms.

More than Valley Fever: Pulmonary Actinomycosis and Coccidioidomycosis Co-infection in a Patient

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and pulmonary actinomycosis are unheard of as co-pathogens. Infection with these organisms on their own can mimic lung cancer, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with haemoptysis with a chest CT chest finding of a lung mass suggestive of lung cancer. A diagnosis of concomitant infection by Coccidioides posadasii/immitis and Actinomyces odontolyticus was made based on culture and histopathology results. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of antifungal and antibacterial therapy. This is the first reported case of co-infection by these two microorganisms.

COVID-19 WITH RHINO-ORBITO-CEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS : A SUDDEN SURGE

Recently an increase in the incidence of mucormycosis is noticed in COVID-19 cases. The main aim of this study is to present our experience of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients and thereby aid its early diagnosis and treatment. This is a prospective study of 12 cases diagnosed as Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis . Presentation of mucormycosis in COVID-19, their temporal association and outcome of treatment was studied. Pre-existing comorbidities were seen in 91.67% patients, Diabetes Mellitus (83.33%). Previous history of COVID-19 infection and treatment for the same in 41.67% cases, concomitant infection in 16.67% and asymptomatic undiagnosed covid (antibodies positive) was detected in 41.67%. All patients showed improvement in general and nasal condition (100%). Early diagnosis is must.

Scalp and Forehead Injury: Management of Acute and Secondary Defects

The primary challenges in scalp reconstruction are the relative inelasticity of native scalp tissue and the convex shape of the calvarium. All rungs of the reconstructive ladder can be applied to scalp reconstruction, albeit in a nuanced fashion due to the unique anatomy and vascular supply to the scalp. Important defect variables to incorporate into the reconstructive decision include site, potential hairline distortion, size, depth, concomitant infection, prior radiation therapy, planned adjuvant therapy, medical comorbidities, patient desires, and potential calvarium and dura defects.

Concomitant Infection of Helicobacter pylori and Intestinal Parasites in Adults Attending a Referral Centre for Parasitic Infections in North Eastern Italy

Background: Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites are estimated to infect with high burden worldwide. However, their concomitant infections are poorly determined in industrialized countries, such as Italy. In this study we aim at describing the presence of H. pylori as well as the proportion of coinfections with intestinal parasites among subjects who attended a referral center for tropical diseases in Northern Italy. Methods: This was a case-control study. Screening for H. pylori and parasites was performed on stool samples of 93 adults from different geographical origin (Africa, Asia, South-America, East-Europe and Italy). H. pylori infection was examined by CLIA and its cagA positivity was determined by rtPCR. Intestinal parasites (i.e., protozoa and helminths) were examined by microscopy and rtPCR. Results: Sixty-one out of 93 patients (66%) were positive to H. pylori and 31 (33%) were cagA+. Among H. pylori positives, 45 (74%) had a concomitant infection. The coinfection H. pylori–Blastocystis was the most frequent one, followed by H. pylori–E. coli. Multivariable logistic regression showed that positivity to H. pylori was associated with having a coinfection. Conclusion: Our data suggested that H. pylori and intestinal parasitic infections are fairly common in subjects who attended a referral center for tropical diseases in Northern Italy. The high rate of H. pylori infection, and especially the positivity to the virulent cagA+, should be taken into consideration in subjects undergoing screening for parasitic infections.