Gina Gualano, Drieda Zace, Silvia Mosti, Paola Mencarini, Maria Musso, Raffaella Libertone, Carlotta Cerva, Delia Goletti, Alessia Rianda, Franca Del Nonno, Laura Falasca, Fabrizio Palmieri
{"title":"Utility of Liver Biopsy in the Diagnosis and Management of Possible Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Patients Receiving Antituberculosis Therapy: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Gina Gualano, Drieda Zace, Silvia Mosti, Paola Mencarini, Maria Musso, Raffaella Libertone, Carlotta Cerva, Delia Goletti, Alessia Rianda, Franca Del Nonno, Laura Falasca, Fabrizio Palmieri","doi":"10.3390/idr15060066","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) secondary to ATT treatment (TB-DILI) is reported in 2-28% of patients. We present here a series of clinical cases of suspected DILI arising during antituberculosis treatment, studied with the aid of liver biopsy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this was a retrospective descriptive study including 10 tuberculosis patients who underwent liver biopsy for suspected TB-DILI at the \"Lazzaro Spallanzani\" Institute from 2017 to 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten patients who underwent LB were extracted from the database and included in the retrospective study cohort. According to the clinical classification, eight patients had hepatocellular liver injury, one patient had cholestatic injury, and another had mixed-type injury. Histopathological diagnosis revealed liver damage due to DILI in 5/10 (50%) cases. In one case, liver biopsy showed necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Severe and persistent elevation of hepatic transaminases, hepatic cholestasis despite discontinuation of therapy, and other suspected hepatic conditions are indications for liver biopsy, which remains a valuable tool in the evaluation of selected tuberculosis patients with suspected DILI for many reasons. However, the decision to perform a liver biopsy should be based on clinical judgment, considering the benefits and risks of the procedure.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10742487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin W French, Rajat Kaul, Jerrin George, Steven T Haller, David J Kennedy, Deepa Mukundan
{"title":"A Case Series of Potential Pediatric Cyanotoxin Exposures Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms in Northwest Ohio.","authors":"Benjamin W French, Rajat Kaul, Jerrin George, Steven T Haller, David J Kennedy, Deepa Mukundan","doi":"10.3390/idr15060065","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) are increasing in prevalence and severity in the Great Lakes region, as well as both globally and locally. CyanoHABs have the potential to cause adverse effects on human health due to the production of cyanotoxins from cyanobacteria. Common routes of exposure include recreational exposure (swimming, skiing, and boating), ingestion, and aerosolization of contaminated water sources. Cyanotoxins have been shown to adversely affect several major organ systems contributing to hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal distress, and pulmonary inflammation. We present three pediatric case reports that coincided with CyanoHABs exposure with a focus on presentation of illness, diagnostic work-up, and treatment of CyanoHAB-related illnesses. Potential cyanotoxin exposure occurred while swimming in the Maumee River and Maumee Bay of Lake Erie in Ohio during the summer months with confirmed CyanoHAB activity. Primary symptoms included generalized macular rash, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe respiratory distress. Significant labs included leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. All patients ultimately recovered with supportive care. Symptoms following potential cyanotoxin exposure coincide with multiple disease states representing an urgent need to develop specific diagnostic tests of exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10660511/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138176128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandre Ansorge, Michael Betz, Oliver Wetzel, Marco Dimitri Burkhard, Igor Dichovski, Mazda Farshad, Ilker Uçkay
{"title":"Perioperative Urinary Catheter Use and Association to (Gram-Negative) Surgical Site Infection after Spine Surgery","authors":"Alexandre Ansorge, Michael Betz, Oliver Wetzel, Marco Dimitri Burkhard, Igor Dichovski, Mazda Farshad, Ilker Uçkay","doi":"10.3390/idr15060064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr15060064","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluates potential associations between the perioperative urinary catheter (UC) carriage and (Gram-negative) surgical site infections (SSIs) after spine surgery. It is a retrospective, single-center, case-control study stratifying group comparisons, case-mix adjustments using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Around half of the patients (2734/5485 surgeries) carried a UC for 1 day (median duration) (interquartile range, 1–1 days). Patients with perioperative UC carriage were compared to those without regarding SSI, in general, and Gram-negative, exclusively. The SSI rate was 1.2% (67/5485), yielding 67 revision surgeries. Gram-negative pathogens caused 16 SSIs. Seven Gram-negative episodes revealed the same pathogen concomitantly in the urine and the spine. In the multivariate analysis, the UC carriage duration was associated with SSI (OR 1.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.1), albeit less than classical risk factors like diabetes (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.1–4.2), smoking (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.4–4.3), or higher ASA-Scores (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.4–3.6). In the second multivariate analysis targeting Gram-negative SSIs, the female sex (OR 3.8, 95%CI 1.4–10.6) and a UC carriage > 1 day (OR 5.5, 95%CI 1.5–20.3) were associated with Gram-negative SSIs. Gram-negative SSIs after spine surgery seem associated with perioperative UC carriage, especially in women. Other SSI risk factors are diabetes, smoking, and higher ASA scores.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135138401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Murine Typhus: A Review of a Reemerging Flea-Borne Rickettsiosis with Potential for Neurologic Manifestations and Sequalae","authors":"Lucas S. Blanton","doi":"10.3390/idr15060063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr15060063","url":null,"abstract":"Murine typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by Rickettsia typhi, an obligately intracellular Gram-negative coccobacillus. Rats (Rattus species) and their fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) serve as the reservoir and vector of R. typhi, respectively. Humans become infected when R. typhi-infected flea feces are rubbed into flea bite wounds or onto mucous membranes. The disease is endemic throughout much of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical seaboard regions where rats are common. Murine typhus is reemerging as an important cause of febrile illness in Texas and Southern California, where an alternate transmission cycle likely involves opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Although primarily an undifferentiated febrile illness, a range of neurologic manifestations may occur, especially when treatment is delayed. Serology is the mainstay of diagnostic testing, but confirmation usually requires demonstrating seroconversion or a fourfold increase in antibody titer from acute- and convalescent-phase sera (antibodies are seldom detectable in the first week of illness). Thus, early empiric treatment with doxycycline, the drug of choice, is imperative. The purpose of this review is to highlight murine typhus as an important emerging and reemerging infectious disease, review its neurologic manifestations, and discuss areas in need of further study.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134905985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging and Re-Emerging Parasitic Infections of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in Europe","authors":"Varol Tunali, Metin Korkmaz","doi":"10.3390/idr15060062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr15060062","url":null,"abstract":"In a rapidly evolving global landscape characterized by increased international travel, migration, and ecological shifts, this study sheds light on the emergence of protozoal and helminthic infections targeting the central nervous system (CNS) within Europe. Despite being traditionally associated with tropical regions, these infections are progressively becoming more prevalent in non-endemic areas. By scrutinizing the inherent risks, potential outcomes, and attendant challenges, this study underscores the intricate interplay between diagnostic limitations, susceptibility of specific population subsets, and the profound influence of climate fluctuations. The contemporary interconnectedness of societies serves as a conduit for introducing and establishing these infections, warranting comprehensive assessment. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of heightened clinician vigilance, judicious public health interventions, and synergistic research collaborations to mitigate the potential consequences of these infections. Though rare, their profound impact on morbidity and mortality underscores the collective urgency required to safeguard the neurological well-being of the European populace. Through this multifaceted approach, Europe can effectively navigate the complex terrain posed with these emergent infections.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135218181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oral Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Literature Review with a Focus on Real-World Evidence","authors":"Ioannis Karniadakis, Nikolaos Mazonakis, Constantinos Tsioutis, Michail Papadakis, Ioulia Markaki, Nikolaos Spernovasilis","doi":"10.3390/idr15060061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr15060061","url":null,"abstract":"Vaccines remain the cornerstone of medical prevention and are highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and death due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the context of expanding the therapeutic armamentarium against COVID-19, molnupiravir (Lagevrio) and ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) were developed, constituting the first effective oral treatments against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this narrative review, we retrospectively inquired into the clinical trials and real-world studies investigating the efficacy of these agents. Overall, clinical trials and real-world studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both agents in reducing hospitalization and death rates in COVID-19 patients. As per current recommendations, their use is suggested in patients with mild to moderate symptoms who are at high risk of developing severe disease. Nevertheless, limited data exist regarding their efficacy in specific subpopulations, such as immunocompromised patients, those with severe kidney disease, pregnant women, and children.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134973248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Ambient Air Pollution Exposure on Long COVID-19 Symptoms: A Cohort Study within the Saudi Arabian Population.","authors":"Saleh A K Saleh, Heba M Adly","doi":"10.3390/idr15050060","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15050060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence suggests that air pollution, specifically the particulate matters PM2.5 and PM10, plays a key role in exacerbating the risk of prolonged symptoms following COVID-19 infection.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study endeavors to elucidate the potential interaction between chronic air pollution exposure and the manifestation of long COVID symptoms within a cohort based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants included residents from the Makkah region who had recovered from COVID-19 between 2022 and 2023. A comprehensive questionnaire was utilized to gather detailed demographic data and assess the persistent symptoms seen during the post-COVID period. To gauge the environmental exposure to potential risk factors, air sampling for PM10 and PM2.5 was systematically conducted in various locations in Makkah over a year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant positive associations were found between PM2.5 and PM10 exposure and long COVID. Furthermore, specific symptom analysis revealed a significant association between air pollution and shortness of breath (for PM2.5). Only PM2.5 exposure remained statistically significant (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.67). In contrast, the association with PM10 remained on the cusp of significance, with an RR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.61).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the importance of reducing air pollution levels to mitigate the long-term health consequences of COVID-19.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10606867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54228880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ornela Velollari, Christian Malte Reinhardt, Maike Knorr, Katharina Schnitzler, Dirk Graafen, Matthias Miederer, Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben, Thomas Münzel, Kai-Helge Schmidt, Christian Giebels, Hans-Joachim Schäfers, Lukas Hobohm
{"title":"Late-Onset Prosthetic Endocarditis with Paraaortic Abscess Caused by <i>Cutibacterium acnes</i>.","authors":"Ornela Velollari, Christian Malte Reinhardt, Maike Knorr, Katharina Schnitzler, Dirk Graafen, Matthias Miederer, Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben, Thomas Münzel, Kai-Helge Schmidt, Christian Giebels, Hans-Joachim Schäfers, Lukas Hobohm","doi":"10.3390/idr15050059","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15050059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cutibacterium acnes</i>, an integral component of the skin's customary bacterial flora, represents a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium characterized by its low virulence. Despite its low virulence, the pathogen can cause profound-seated infections as well as infections linked to medical devices. We report a case study of a prosthesis endocarditis accompanied by a paraaortic abscess caused by <i>C. acnes</i>, a development occurring five years prior to composite aortic root and valve replacement. At the point of admission, the patient presented with a combination of symptoms hinting at a subacute progression, such as weight loss, chest pain, and limitations of cardiopulmonary functionality. An anaerobic pathogen, namely <i>C. acnes</i>, was detected in a singular blood culture vial. Since first-line imaging modalities such as echocardiography did not reveal any signs of inflammation, and in the case of a suspected diagnosis for IE, did not show high pretest probability, further diagnostic imaging such as 18F-FDG PET CT was put to use. Here, a highly elevated glucose metabolism around the aortic valve ring was detected, pointing to an inflammatory process. The patient received adjusted intravenous antibiotic therapy over a course of six weeks; he then underwent surgical therapy via re-replacement of the aortic root and valve using a composite conduit. Advanced microbiological analyses, including the amplification of PCR and valve sequencing via 16S rDNA, mainly detected one pathogen: <i>C. acnes</i>. Delayed onset with mild symptoms and laboratory findings is characteristic of infective endocarditis by <i>C. acnes</i>. Due to its high rate of complications, mortality, and morbidity, an infection should not be disregarded as contamination. Recommendations from different studies underline a combination of a positive blood culture and microbiological evidence to differentiate between contamination and true infection in the case of an infection involving <i>C. acnes</i>. Serial blood cultures with prolonged incubation, advanced microbiological analyses, and modified Duke criteria including second-line imaging techniques should be utilized for further evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10606402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54228882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"COVID-19-Related Age Profiles for SARS-CoV-2 Variants in England and Wales and States of the USA (2020 to 2022): Impact on All-Cause Mortality.","authors":"Rodney P Jones, Andrey Ponomarenko","doi":"10.3390/idr15050058","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15050058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since 2020, COVID-19 has caused serious mortality around the world. Given the ambiguity in establishing COVID-19 as the direct cause of death, we first investigate the effects of age and sex on all-cause mortality during 2020 and 2021 in England and Wales. Since infectious agents have their own unique age profile for death, we use a 9-year time series and several different methods to adjust single-year-of-age deaths in England and Wales during 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 base year) to a pathogen-neutral single-year-of-age baseline. This adjusted base year is then used to confirm the widely reported higher deaths in males for most ages above 43 in both 2020 and 2021. During 2020 (+COVID-19 but no vaccination), both male and female population-adjusted deaths significantly increased above age 35. A significant reduction in all-cause mortality among both males and females aged 75+ could be demonstrated in 2021 during the widespread COVID-19 vaccination period; however, deaths below age 75 progressively increased. This finding arises from a mix of vaccination coverage and year-of-age profiles of deaths for the different SARS-CoV-2 variants. In addition, specific effects of age around puberty were demonstrated, where females had higher deaths than males. There is evidence that year-of-birth cohorts may also be involved, indicating that immune priming to specific pathogen outbreaks in the past may have led to lower deaths for some birth cohorts. To specifically identify the age profile for the COVID-19 variants from 2020 to 2023, we employ the proportion of total deaths at each age that are potentially due to or 'with' COVID-19. The original Wuhan strain and the Alpha variant show somewhat limited divergence in the age profile, with the Alpha variant shifting to a moderately higher proportion of deaths below age 84. The Delta variant specifically targeted individuals below age 65. The Omicron variants showed a significantly lower proportion of overall mortality, with a markedly higher relative proportion of deaths above age 65, steeply increasing with age to a maximum around 100 years of age. A similar age profile for the variants can be seen in the age-banded deaths in US states, although they are slightly obscured by using age bands rather than single years of age. However, the US data shows that higher male deaths are greatly dependent on age and the COVID variant. Deaths assessed to be 'due to' COVID-19 (as opposed to 'involving' COVID-19) in England and Wales were especially overestimated in 2021 relative to the change in all-cause mortality. This arose as a by-product of an increase in COVID-19 testing capacity in late 2020. Potential structure-function mechanisms for the age-specificity of SARS-CoV-2 variants are discussed, along with potential roles for small noncoding RNAs (miRNAs). Using data from England, it is possible to show that the unvaccinated do indeed have a unique age profile for death from each variant and that vaccination alters t","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10606787/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54228865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elfira Yusri, Syandrez Prima Putra, Liganda Endo Mahata, Andani Eka Putra
{"title":"Investigation of Initial Viral Loads and Patient Characteristics as Predictors of COVID-19 Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Elfira Yusri, Syandrez Prima Putra, Liganda Endo Mahata, Andani Eka Putra","doi":"10.3390/idr15050057","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15050057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Limited evidence exists on whether initial viral load and patient characteristics can predict unfavorable outcomes in future outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This retrospective cohort study examined the relationship between the initial viral load, patient characteristics, and outcomes during the second-wave COVID-19 outbreak in West Sumatra, Indonesia. We analyzed the COVID-19 patients admitted to a secondary hospital between the 1 June 2021 and the 31 August 2021. The initial viral load was determined using the real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) cycle threshold (Ct) value, categorized as low (LIVL, Ct > 20) or high (HIVL, Ct ≤ 20). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the initial viral load, age, sex, vaccination status, comorbidities, and outcomes, including disease severity, hospital stay length, ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the diagnostic performance of the initial Ct values in predicting COVID-19 outcomes. The study included 373 patients (median age [range]: 48 [0-94]; male: 40.21%; HIVL: 34.85%; unvaccinated: 86.06%; comorbidities: 52.01%). The HIVL patients significantly had a lower risk of developing severe/critical outcomes (OR: 0.506; 95% CI: 0.310-0.825; <i>p</i> = 0.006) and needing invasive ventilation (OR: 0.290; CI: 0.098-0.854; <i>p</i> = 0.025). The Ct value used to indicate severe/critical outcomes was 23.57. More severe outcomes were significantly observed in LIVL patients, those aged >60 years, males, unvaccinated individuals, and those with comorbidities. This study emphasizes the importance of primary prevention, early screening, and immediate care for COVID-19 in saving lives.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10606841/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"54228881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}