Background Increasing cases of pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompetent patients with severe influenza have been reported. Howevere, the risk factors for occurence and death are largely unknown.Methods Data of hospitalised patients with influenza A-related pneumonia (FluA-p) obtained from five teaching hospitals from 2031 to 2018, were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistical regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors involved in the acquisition and 60-day mortality in IPA patients. Results Of the 693 FluA-p patients included in the study, 3.0% (21/693) were IPA patients with a 60-day mortality of 42.9% (9/21). Adjusted for confounders, a Cox proportional hazard model showed that IPA was associated with increased risk for 60-day mortality [hazard ratio ( HR) 4.336, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.191-15.784, p = 0.026] in FluA-p patients. A multivariate logistic regression model confirmed that age (odd ratio ( OR) 1.147, 95% CI 1.048-1.225, p = 0.003), systemic corticosteroids use before IPA diagnosis ( OR 33.773, 95% CI 5.681-76.764, p < 0.001), leukocytes > 10×10 9 /L ( OR 1.988, 95% CI 1.028-6.454, p = 0.029) and lymphocytes < 0.8×10 9 /L on admission ( OR 34.813, 95% CI 1.676-73.006, p = 0.022), were related with the acquisition of IPA. Early neuraminidase inhibitor use ( OR 0.290, 95% CI 0.002-0.584, p = 0.021) was associated with a decreased risk for a 60-day mortality in IPA patients. Conclusions Our results showed that IPA worsen the clinical outcomes of FluA-p patients. The risk factors for the acquisition and death were helpful for the clinicians in preventing and treating IPA.

Background and Objectives. The identification of reliable biomarkers is critical to the diagnosis and prevention of progression from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active tuberculosis (ATB). This study was thus developed to identify key hub genes capable of differentiating between LTBI and ATB through a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) approach. Methods. Three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray datasets (GSE19491, GSE98461, and GSE152532) were downloaded, with GSE19491 and GSE98461 then being merged to form a training dataset. Hub genes capable of differentiating between ATB and LTBI were then identified through differential expression analyses and a WGCNA analysis of this training dataset. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then used to gauge to the diagnostic accuracy of these hub genes in the test dataset (GSE152532). Gene expression-based immune cell infiltration and the relationship between such infiltration and hub gene expression were further assessed via a single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Results. In total, 485 differentially expressed genes were analyzed, with the WGCNA approach yielding 8 coexpression models. Of these, the black module was the most closely correlated with ATB. In total, five hub genes (FBXO6, ATF3, GBP1, GBP4, and GBP5) were identified as potential biomarkers associated with LTBI progression to ATB based on a combination of differential expression and LASSO analyses. The area under the ROC curve values for these five genes ranged from 0.8 to 0.9 in the test dataset, and ssGSEA revealed the expression of these genes to be negatively correlated with lymphocyte activity but positively correlated with myeloid and inflammatory cell activity. Conclusion. The five hub genes identified in this study may play a novel role in tuberculosis-related immunopathology and offer value as novel biomarkers differentiating LTBI from ATB.

Background Bloodstream infections (BSIs) attributable to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE-BSIs) are dangerous and a major cause of mortality in clinical settings. This study was therefore designed to define risk factors linked to 30-day mortality in CRE-BSI patients and to examine the relative efficacy of different antimicrobial treatment regimens in affected individuals. Methods Data pertaining to 187 CRE-BSI cases from three teaching hospitals in China collected between January 2018 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results For the 187 analyzed patients in this study, the 30-day mortality of CRE-BSI was 41.7% (78/187). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that Pitt score [odd ratio (OR) 5.313, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.209–8.797, P < 0.001], immunocompromised status (OR 4.605, 95% CI 1.629–13.020, P = 0.004), meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 8 mg/L (OR 3.736, 95% CI 1.091–12.795, P = 0.036), source control of infection (OR 0.316, 95% CI 0.117–0.854, P = 0.023), and appropriate empirical therapy (OR 0.129, 95% CI 0.027–0.625, P = 0.011) were independent predictors of CRE-BSI patient 30-day mortality. After controlling for potential confounding factors, relative to ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) treatment, combination therapies including CAZ-AVI (OR 1.287, 95% CI 0.124–13.403, P = 0.833) were not related to any significant change in patient mortality risk, whereas 30-day mortality risk was higher for patients administered other antimicrobial regimens (OR 12.407, 95% CI 1.684–31.430, P = 0.011). When patients were treated with antimicrobial regimens not containing CAZ-AVI, combination therapy (OR 0.239, 95% CI 0.077–0.741, P = 0.013) was related to a decreased 30-day mortality risk relative to monotherapy treatment. Conclusion The mortality-related risk factors and relative antimicrobial regimen efficacy data demonstrated in this study may guide the management of CRE-BSI patients.

Background Guidelines emphasize prompt antiviral treatment in severe influenza patients. Although nearly a 50% of severe influenza present with pneumonia, the effect of early (≤ 2 days after illness onset) neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) use on the clinical outcomes of influenza A-related pneumonia (FluA-p) has rarely been assessed. Furthermore, data about the administration of NAIs in the real-world management of Flu-p in China are limited.Methods: Data of patients hospitalised with FluA-p from five teaching hospitals in China from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The impact of early NAI therapy on the outcomes in FluA-p patients, and the indications of early NAI administration by clinicians were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.Results: In total, 693 FluA-p patients were included. Of these patients, 33.5% (232/693) were treated early. After adjusting for weighted propensity scores for treatment, systemic corticosteroid and antibiotic use, a multivariate logistic regression model showed that early NAI therapy was associated with decreased risk for invasive ventilation [odds ratio (OR) 0.511, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.312–0.835, p = 0.007) and 30-day mortality (OR 0.533, 95% CI 0.210–0.807, p < 0.001) in FluA-p patients. A multivariate logistic regression model confirmed early NAI use (OR 0.415, 95% CI 0.195–0.858, p = 0.001) was a predictor for 30-day mortality in FluA-p patients and a positive rapid influenza diagnostic test was the only indication (OR 3.586, 95% CI 1.259–10.219, p < 0.001) related to the prescription of early NAI by clinicians.Conclusions: Early NAI therapy is associated with better outcomes in FluA-p patients. Improved education and training of clinicians on the guidelines of influenza are needed.