Highlights Anakinra averted need for mechanical ventilation in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Anakinra accelerated weaning off oxygen therapy and hastened transition to room air. Patients treated with anakinra had significant reduction in biomarkers of inflammation. Study results did not demonstrate significant difference in in-hospital mortality. We provided further evidence for the utility of anakinra in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an uncommon, but important, opportunistic fungal pneumonia which is often diagnosed late. Renal failure as the predominant presenting feature is not common in mucormycosis. Moreover, sudden, massive hemoptysis is not a usual complication. In this report we describe fatal pulmonary mucormycosis in a young patient with a previously undiagnosed chronic renal failure.

Objectives: An elevated peripheral blood eosinophil (PBE) count during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a potential predictor of treatment responsiveness and future exacerbation risk. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of elevated PBE counts in hospitalized patients with AECOPD in Oman. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included all patients with AECOPD who were admitted to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital between January 2017 and July 2019. The patients were classified as having eosinophilic or noneosinophilic AECOPD based on blood eosinophil counts. An elevated eosinophil count was defined as a blood eosinophil count > 0.3 × 109 cells/L on admission. The length of hospital stay, use of oral and inhaled steroids, number of readmissions in a year, and use of mechanical ventilation on admission were compared between the eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic AECOPD groups. Results: Of the 102 patients included in the study, 42.2% had eosinophilic AECOPD. The eosinophilic AECOPD group had a reduced length of hospital stay (P = 0.02) but an increased risk of readmission in a year (P = 0.04). Most patients in both the groups were treated with inhaled and oral steroids. The need for mechanical ventilation did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: Eosinophilia is highly prevalent in patients with AECOPD and is associated with a reduced length of hospital stay but an increased risk of readmission in a year. It can be used as a surrogate marker to predict the health outcomes of patients with AECOPD and select treatment options. Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD); Eosinophils; Steroids; length of stay; hospital readmission.