Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Obese patients are at increased risk of exacerbations from viral respiratory infections. During the H1N1 pandemic, obesity was associated with an increased risk of influenza-associated intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and longer duration of ICU and hospital length of stay compared with the non-obese. These observations have raised a concern about the correlation between obesity and the current COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Also, it has been clearly illustrated that obese patients are potentially more vulnerable to COVID-19 and more contagious than lean patients. The comorbidities associated with obesity were found to be correlated with a severe clinical course of COVID-19 and increased mortality and high BMI has been shown to be correlated with hospitalisation, the need for mechanical ventilation and non-survival. The review also sheds light on the challenges that obese patients pose for healthcare providers inside and outside ICUs.
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Blood culture negative endocarditis (BCNE) accounts for up to 20% of infective endocarditis. While the most common cause of BCNE remains the initiation of antibiotics prior to culture, intracellular organisms such as Coxiella and Bartonella spp account for a significant proportion of cases. Identifying the infecting organism remains important to ensure optimal antimicrobial treatment. ⋯ Over half of patients with infective endocarditis now undergo early surgery and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of excised tissue can be vitally important to secure a diagnosis. Molecular testing is likely to become a key tool in improving outcomes from BCNE and contribute to an improved understanding of the aetiology. We advocate modifying the Duke criteria to incorporate organisms identified on molecular testing, including 16S rRNA PCR, in particular from explanted tissue.
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Review
Is immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated diabetes the same as fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Pembrolizumab is an anti-cancer drug that targets programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) receptors on lymphocytes resulting in their activation against tumour cells. PD-1 receptors are also interspersed in endocrine organs and pembrolizumab use has long been associated with hypophysitis and thyroiditis. Since the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), several cases of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM) have been reported. ⋯ Our review showed that ICI-induced diabetes may be a different entity to FT1DM. Furthermore, there is limited evidence for the management of ICI-induced T1DM. Further research into its pathophysiology will improve management and possibly prevent this burdensome complication.
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COVID-19 poses many challenges to healthcare systems and workers. Responding to medical emergencies in patients with suspected COVID-19 will require new guidelines and protocols. Simulation can support their development. ⋯ Low-fidelity simulation can provide relevant and timely information on how prepared health systems and their workforce are to respond to emergencies. We urge NHS trusts nationally to implement simulations to identify problems and develop effective solutions.
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Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease. Symptoms include constitutional symptoms and abdominal/flank pain. Causes of retroperitoneal fibrosis include non-infectious and infectious etiologies. ⋯ We present a case of a 59-year-old man with a retroperitoneal periaortic mass initially diagnosed as tuberculous aortitis. However following biopsy, the diagnosis was later amended to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis with latent tuberculosis. He was successfully treated with prednisone and methotrexate.