Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Jan 2021
Case ReportsCOVID-19 outbreak in Italy: Clinical-radiological presentation and outcome in three oncologic patients.
We present three patients affected by pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic esophageal cancer and advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma, who incurred in coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection during the early phase of epidemic wave in Italy. All patients presented with fever. Social contact with subject positive for COVID-19 was declared in only one of the three cases. ⋯ Chest x-ray and computed tomography showed bilateral ground-glass opacities, shadowing, interstitial abnormalities, and "crazy paving" pattern which evolved with superimposition of consolidations in one patient. All patients received antiviral therapy based on ritonavir and lopinavir, associated with hydroxychloroquine. Despite treatment, two patients with advanced cancers died after 39 and 17 days of hospitalization, while the patient with lung cancer was dismissed at home, in good conditions.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Dec 2020
Case ReportsMonitoring of viral load by RT-PCR caused decision making to continue ECMO therapy for a patient with COVID-19.
Most patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have just only mild symptoms, but about 5% are very severe. Although extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) is sometimes used in critically patients with COVID-19, ECMO is only an adjunct, not the main treatment. If the patient's condition deteriorates and it is determined to be irreversible, it is necessary to decide to stop ECMO. ⋯ We decided to continue ECMO therapy and replaced the circuit. The patient's respiratory status subsequently improved and ECMO was stopped on day 21 of onset. In conclusion, viral load measurement by RT-PCR may be one of the indicators for promoting the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Nov 2020
Observational StudyClinical characteristics of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on a cruise ship.
A large COVID-19 outbreak occurred on the cruise ship Diamond Princess in February 2020. Little information has been reported about the clinical characteristics of the patients. ⋯ Cough and fever, increased blood CRP levels, and CT findings of bilateral ground-glass opacities predominantly in the peripheral lung were characteristic of the COVID-19 cases in this study. These findings were compatible with those of previous reports.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Nov 2020
Case ReportsSerial serum SARS-CoV-2 RNA results in two COVID-19 cases with severe respiratory failure.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide and poses an imminent threat to public health. We encountered 2 cases of COVID-19 with progression resulting in severe respiratory failure and improvement without any specific treatment. ⋯ We, then examined, retrospectively and prospectively, the clinical course during hospitalization by performing serial examinations of serum SARS-CoV-2 RNA status. The findings from our cases suggest that not only is detection of viremia useful as a predictive marker of severity, but also serial serum SARS-CoV-2 RNA results can be helpful for predicting the clinical course.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Aug 2020
Comparative StudyIn vitro neuraminidase inhibitory concentration (IC50) of four neuraminidase inhibitors in the Japanese 2018-19 season: Comparison with the 2010-11 to 2017-18 seasons.
To assess the extent of susceptibility to the four most commonly used neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) of the epidemic viruses in the 2018-19 Japanese influenza season, we measured the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of four NAIs, oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, and laninamivir, for influenza virus isolates from patients and compared them with the results from the 2010-11 to 2017-18 seasons. Viral isolation was done with specimens obtained prior to and after treatment, and the type/subtype was determined by RT-PCR using type- and subtype-specific primers. The IC50 was determined by a neuraminidase inhibition assay using a fluorescent substrate. ⋯ No isolates with highly reduced sensitivity to the four NAIs were found for A(H3N2) or B through the 2010-11 to 2018-19 seasons. Among 18 samples with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus isolated after NAI administration, highly reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir and peramivir was detected from one of the five patients treated with oseltamivir. These results suggest that the sensitivity to the four commonly used NAIs has been maintained, although viruses with highly reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir and peramivir have emerged in some adult patients treated with oseltamivir.