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Cryptococcal infections are acquired by inhalation of encapsulated yeast cells or basidiospores. While Cryptococcus has a propensity to invade the lungs and central nervous system, other sites can be affected. Laryngeal cryptococcosis is rare with less than 30 previously reported cases, which commonly occurred in apparently immunocompetent hosts on inhaled corticosteroids. We present a case of laryngeal cryptococcosis with a long-term inhaled corticosteroid use, co-infection of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare , and mannose-binding lectin deficiency.

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Few surveys have focused on physician moral distress, burnout, and professional fulfilment. We assessed physician wellness and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using four validated instruments. SETTING:Sixty-two sites in Canada and the United States. SUBJECTS:Attending physicians (adult, pediatric; intensivist, nonintensivist) who worked in North American ICUs. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:We analysed 431 questionnaires (43.3% response rate) from 25 states and eight provinces. Respondents were predominantly male (229 [55.6%]) and in practice for 11.8 ± 9.8 years. Compared with prepandemic, respondents reported significant intrapandemic increases in days worked/mo, ICU bed occupancy, and self-reported moral distress (240 [56.9%]) and burnout (259 [63.8%]). Of the 10 top-ranked items that incited moral distress, most pertained to regulatory/organizational (n = 6) or local/institutional (n = 2) issues or both (n = 2). Average moral distress (95.6 ± 66.9), professional fulfilment (6.5 ± 2.1), and burnout scores (3.6 ± 2.0) were moderate with 227 physicians (54.6%) meeting burnout criteria. A significant dose-response existed between COVID-19 patient volume and moral distress scores. Physicians who worked more days/mo and more scheduled in-house nightshifts, especially combined with more unscheduled in-house nightshifts, experienced significantly more moral distress. One in five physicians used at least one maladaptive coping strategy. We identified four coping profiles (active/social, avoidant, mixed/ ambivalent, infrequent) that were associated with significant differences across all wellness measures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite moderate intrapandemic moral distress and burnout, physicians experienced moderate professional fulfilment. However, one in five physicians used at least one maladaptive coping strategy. We highlight potentially modifiable factors at individual, institutional, and regulatory levels to enhance physician wellness.

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Listeria monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of brain abscesses. Immunocompromised hosts, pregnant women and patients at extremes of age are especially susceptible. We discuss the successful management of a woman with autoimmune hepatitis on prednisone and azathioprine therapy with a L. monocytogenes brain abscess. Previously thought to be a rare cause of central nervous system (CNS) infection, the incidence of CNS listeriosis has increased due to a rise in organ and bone marrow transplantation requiring immunosuppressive medications. L. monocytogenes brain abscesses are now more frequently described and are associated with high rates of concomitant bacteremia suggesting a hematogenous route of infection.

Background Patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have poor outcomes and frequently develop comorbid conditions, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. The implications of CMV reactivation in this setting are unknown. We aimed to investigate if treatment of CMV viremia improved in-hospital mortality in ICU patients with COVID-19. Methods In this single center retrospective study, we analyzed clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and CMV viremia admitted to an ICU from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, who either received treatment (ganciclovir and/or valganciclovir) or no treatment. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were total hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 80 patients were included, 43 patients in the treatment group and 37 in the control. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. CMV-treated patients were more likely to test positive for CMV earlier in their course, more likely to be on ECMO and received higher total steroid doses on average. In-hospital mortality was similar between the two groups (37.2% vs 43.2.0% p-value = 0.749). There was no significant difference in hospital LOS, though CMV-treated patients had a longer ICU LOS. Conclusions Treatment of CMV viremia did not decrease in-hospital mortality in ICU patients with COVID-19, but sample size was limited. CMV viremia was significantly associated with total steroid dose received and longer ICU stay.

Introduction. To restore the knee local cartilage lesions, a large number of alternative surgical techniques are used in clinical practice: isolated debridement of the lesion area, chondrogenesis stimulation, mosaic osteochondral grafting, cell technologies, collagen membranes (matrices), and a combination of the above methods. The purpose of this article was to compare the effectiveness of various surgical methods of treating patients with local cartilage lesions of the femur based on analysis of relevant publications. Materials and Methods. The review included 85 publications of domestic and foreign authors within 2005 to 2020. The search was carried out in electronic scientific databases PubMed and eLIBRARy. Results. The medium and long term outcomes of debridement and/or various options of chondrogenesis stimulating, despite their wide popularity, in terms of clinical, radiological, and histological indicators, are inferior to all other surgical techniques. Mosaic osteochondral auto-and/or allografting, as well as transplantation of autologous chondrocytes culture with a collagen membrane, are characterized by the best 15 to 20-year outcomes, allowing most patients to maintain the same level of activity as before the lesion occurred. The combination of matrices with other cellular products or microfracturing shows similar medium-term results, but it long-term efficacy remains unknown. Conclusion. The use of debridement and/or chondrogenesis stimulation should be limited to minimal defects. From both a clinical and an economic point of view, mosaic osteochondral grafting is the optimal method for the treatment of knee local cartilage lesions with an area up to 4 to 6 cm 2 . The combination of membranes with various cellular products or microfracturing is indicated in case of extensive local cartilage lesions or if mosaic osteochondral grafting is not appropriate.