Purpose To identify the defining lung ultrasound (LUS) findings of COVID-19, and establish its association to the initial severity of the disease and prognostic outcomes. Method Systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We queried PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Database and Scopus using the terms ((coronavirus) OR (covid-19) OR (sars AND cov AND 2) OR (2019-nCoV)) AND ((“lung ultrasound”) OR (LUS)), from 31st of December 2019 to 31st of January 2021. PCR-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, obtained from original studies with at least 10 participants 18 years old or older, were included. Risk of bias and applicability was evaluated with QUADAS-2. Results We found 1333 articles, from which 66 articles were included, with a pooled population of 4687 patients. The most examined findings were at least 3 B-lines, confluent B-lines, subpleural consolidation, pleural effusion and bilateral or unilateral distribution. B-lines, its confluent presentation and pleural abnormalities are the most frequent findings. LUS score was higher in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and emergency department (ED), and it was associated with a higher risk of developing unfavorable outcomes (death, ICU admission or need for mechanical ventilation). LUS findings and/or the LUS score had a good negative predictive value in the diagnosis of COVID-19 compared to RT-PCR. Conclusions The most frequent ultrasound findings of COVID-19 are B-lines and pleural abnormalities. High LUS score is associated with developing unfavorable outcomes. The inclusion of pleural effusion in the LUS score and the standardisation of the imaging protocol in COVID-19 LUS remains to be defined.

HighlightsBrain abscess caused by Nocardia paucivorans is an infrequent infection in humans.Molecular speciation has revolutionized the study of Nocardia spp. infections.N. paucivorans brain abscess has a favourable prognosis with long-term antimicrobial therapy.Antimcirobial susceptibility testing is a useful guide to therapy.

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Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are both complications linked with COVID-19. Lower limb point-of-care clinical ultrasound (POCUS) could detect occult clots, helping decide whom to treat with anticoagulation. Objectives: To determine proximal DVT prevalence with POCUS screening among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients/Methods: Lower limb POCUS was performed in all patients admitted either to the ward or intensive care unit (ICU) between April 22 th and 30 th 2020. Clinical and laboratory features, prescriptions, thrombotic complications and outcomes were assessed. Results: 87 patients were screened, of which 26 (29.8%) either had been discharged from ICU (19.5%) or were still in critical condition (10.3%). DVT was found in 4 patients (3 femoral, 1 popliteal), of which 1 had not received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis. 21 CT pulmonary angiograms were performed, being positive for PE in 5 cases (23.8%); only 2 of these patients suffered DVT. Conclusions: Screening lower extremities with POCUS did not find a high rate of DVT among patients receiving LMWH-prophylaxis. However, there was a noteworthy amount of PE without DVT.

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