Fosfomycin has re-emerged as a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of resistant bacterial pathogens. Its main mechanism of action is the inhibition of the initial step of cell wall synthesis and is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However, its clinical effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria remains largely unknown. This infographic aims at evaluating the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of IV fosfomycin and its safety profile.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that has a mortality rate of up to 41.1%. The urinary tract is the second most common infection site, accounting for approximately 20% to 40% of all severe cases of sepsis. The term urosepsis is usually used to describe sepsis caused by a UTI.
From a local Infection to a Body-Wide Injury
A local infection, such as pneumonia or a severe skin infection, overcomes the body's local defense mechanisms, Invading microorganisms and the toxins they produce induce a powerful body-wide immune response.
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is life-threatening and without prompt treatment, often rapidly leads to tissue damage, organ failure and death.
Superinfection seems to represent a major risk factor for mortality in COVID-19 patients. However, the risk of superinfection in mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID-19 remains poorly described. In this perspective, a monocentric cohort study was conducted.
The impact of superinfections in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome was investigated.
This infographic represents a rare case of mucormycosis associated with rapid progression to orbital apex syndrome with brain infarction in a patient with non-ketotic diabetes and COVID-19. However, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further end-organ damage. Judicial use of immunosuppressive therapy in COVID-19 infection should be considered particularly regarding the treatment of fungal co-infections.
The occurrence of invasive fungal respiratory superinfections in patients with COVID-19 has gained increasing attention in the latest studies. Yet, the description of acute invasive fungal sinusitis with its management in those patients is still scarce. This study aims to describe this recently increasing clinical entity in relation to COVID-19 patients.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems worldwide. There are several concerns regarding nosocomial infections, primarily bacterial, in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Secondary Candida spp. bloodstream infections in COVID-19 patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays have not been documented.
However, a new concern coinciding with the brisk expansion of critical care facilities for COVID-19 patients is the potential for nosocomial spread of Candida auris infections. C. auris is a global health threat because of its ability to colonize skin, persist in environments, cause nosocomial outbreaks, and lead to severe disease with high mortality rates. Therefore, to reduce complications, it is vital to identify and treat C. auris infections.
An area of great interest to the antimicrobial stewardship community is the presence of fungal superinfection in patients with COVID-19. Classically a disease of the immunocompromised, isolated reports indicate a potentially increased risk for invasive fungal infections in patients with COVID-19.
Antifungal stewardship programs (ASPs) have the potential to play a significant role with antifungal stewardship during the pandemic. Programs can help clinicians optimize the work-up for fungal superinfections by identifying patients at high risk and creating local evaluation and empiric treatment protocols.
COVID-19 patients, especially severely ill or immunocompromised, have a higher probability of suffering from Mycoses, Aspergillus, and Candida infections. These infections will require early diagnostic intervention by histopathology, direct microscopic examination, culture, (1,3)-β-d-glucan, galactomannan, and PCR-based assays to ensure effective treatments.
It is prudent to assess the risk factors, the types of invasive mycosis, the strengths and limitations of diagnostic methods, clinical settings, and the need for standard or individualized treatment in COVID-19 patients.
The paper provides a clinical flow diagram to assist the clinicians and laboratory experts in the management of aspergillosis, candidiasis, mucormycosis, or cryptococcosis as co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients.
Critically ill COVID-19 patients are at high risk of developing co-infection with Candida, which is likely to increase mortality rates. The need for early recognition of candidemia and appropriate antifungal therapy are basic requirements to improve the outcome of COVID-19 patients in ICU.
In this regard, nosocomial mortality related to bloodstream infection and their risk factors associated with Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) was studied at a single center in Oman. This report aims to call the attention of clinicians to recognize the nosocomial infections associated with COVID-19 patients.
The latest pandemic is associated with high prevalence and easy transmission with no conventional treatment. Since the disease resists testing and adopting new therapeutics, repositioning pre-existing drugs may present a fast and attractive strategy with known safety, characteristics, and dosage used. Therefore, several drugs have been investigated for their efficacy and safety in the treatment of COVID-19.
This infographic summaries the clinical investigations of potential therapeutic drugs used as COVID-19 therapy. Subsequently, it prepares a pattern of results and therapeutic targets to help further experiment designs.
Against Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida africana, Candida parapsilosis, Candida metapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis
Postantifungal effect (PAFE) describes how long an antifungal drug continues acting after it has been removed.