No abstract

The mortality rate of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has been reported as 1–6% in most studies. The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia. Nevertheless, it has been noted that cardiovascular failure can also lead to death. Three COVID-19 patients were diagnosed based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal swab test and radiological examinations in our hospital. The patients received medications at the discretion of the treating physician. In this case series, chest computed tomography scans and electrocardiograms, along with other diagnostic tests were used to evaluate these individuals. Sudden cardiac death in COVID-19 patients is not common, but it is a major concern. So, it is recommended to monitor cardiac condition in selected patients with COVID-19.

Background: Sepsis, which is a common inflammatory response to severe infection, is one of the major causes of mortality in hospitalized patients. Sepsis, severe sepsis or sepsis syndrome, and eventually septic shock, may be seen in the development of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in centers with low antibiotic resistance. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, blood culture samples and peripheral blood samples were taken from all patients for para-clinical tests. The severity of severe sepsis and septic shock was assessed by the APACHE II and SOFA clinical criteria. Sepsis risk factors and primary causes of sepsis were recorded. Results: From 100 patients, 55% had severe sepsis and 45% had septic shock. SOFA24h and SOFA96h scores were significantly higher in patients with septic shock. The most common primary cause of sepsis was related to abdominal infections with a frequency of 42%. The frequency of confirmed positive blood culture was 53%. The most commonly isolated pathogen was E.coli with a frequency of 66%. Short-term mortality was 29% and long-term mortality was 28.2%. Conclusion: The main risk factors affecting the mortality of patients were age-related septic shock, cardiovascular disease; hypertension, immunosuppression, and SOFA score.

Background: Interleukin 8 increases in various types of meningitis, specifically acute bacterial meningitis inflammation, and it is important in the distinction between types of meningitis. The present paper aims at evaluation of the level of interleukin 8 in cerebrospinal fluid in acute adult bacterial meningitis. Methods: All adult patients’ with diagnosis of suspected meningitis with symptoms of fever, headache, neck stiffness, and consciousness disorder. Lumbar puncture was taken in between the third and fourth vertebra by a specialist physician for all patients suspected with meningitis. To determine the level of consciousness, the GCS of the patients was determined and the cerebrospinal fluid was cultured and sent to the laboratory for the analyses of cell count, diffraction, CSF fluid glucose, CSF fluid protein, LDH, or lactate dehydrogenase, and the level of interleukin 8. Results: The mean of IL-8 protein was 296.17±48.57Pg/ml in patients with aseptic meningitis and 1088.96±526.55Pg/ml in the group of patients with septic meningitis. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the amount of interleukin 8 (p = 0.009). Cutoff was 297.6 Pg/ml for the detection of positive bacterial meningitis with a sensitivity of 92% and the specificity of 83.1% was 297.6 pg/ml. Conclusion: Interleukin 8 has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis, and along with the measurement of cerebrospinal fluid protein, it can be a good criterion for differentiation of bacterial from aseptic meningitis.

Introduction: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is one of the drugs used to treat COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IVIG in the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Materials and methods:The patients received IVIG before being intubated. The patients' symptoms, disease severity, clinical features, and chest computed tomography findings were compared between before and after the treatment.Results: Out of 62 patients who received IVIG, 35 patients (56.5%) were male, and 27 patients (43.5%) were female. Overall, 13 (21%) patients died, and 49 (79%) recovered and were discharged from the hospital. Conclusion:IVIG can be used as an effective drug to save patients' lives before they enter the intubation phase.