Introduction: Given the impact of COVID-19 on the world healthcare system, and the efforts of the healthcare community to find prognostic factors for hospitalization, disease progression, and mortality, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impact of transaminases and bilirubin levels at admission to hospital on disease progression and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Using the CoviCamp database, we performed a multicenter, observational, retrospective study involving 17 COVID-19 Units in southern Italy. We included all adult patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection with at least one determination at hospital admission of aminotransaminases and/or total bilirubin. Results: Of the 2054 patients included in the CoviCamp database, 1641 were included in our study; 789 patients (48%) were considered to have mild COVID-19, 347 (21%) moderate COVID-19, 354 (22%) severe COVID-19, and 151 patients (9%) died during hospitalization. Older age (odds ratio (OR): 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.03), higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (OR 1.088; 95%CI 1.005–1.18), presence of dementia (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.30–3.73), higher serum AST (OR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.004), and total bilirubin (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.002–1.19) values were associated with a more severe clinical outcome. Instead, the 151 patients who died during hospitalization showed a higher serum bilirubin value at admission (OR 1.1165; 95% CI: 1.017–1.335); the same did not apply for AST. Discussion: Patients with COVID-19 with higher levels of AST and bilirubin had an increased risk of disease progression.
Wound contaminants are the main cause of healing delay and infection in both chronic and acute wounds; for this reason, the microbial infection management in wound healing is one of the most important components for an effective standard of care. The wound contaminants are most likely to originate from the environment and from the surrounding skin lesion, and to date, the most frequent bacteria isolated are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In order to counteract and control these contaminants, the standard care includes topical antiseptic agents. The most commonly used include iodine-releasing agents (e.g., povidone-iodine), hydrogen peroxide, and polyhexanide. This study aims to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of a novel topical spray (Fitostimoline® Plus spray) based on 0.1% polyhexanide and Rigenase® against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and the combination of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Fitostimoline® Plus spray was evaluated by the agar disk diffusion assay, quantitative suspension test, and quantitative carrier test, demonstrating that Fitostimoline® Plus spray is able to kill 99.9% bacteria. These results support the microbiological characterization of Fitostimoline® Plus spray confirming the antibacterial activity of polyhexanide (PHMB).
(1) Background: direct-acting antivirals (DAA) are the current standard of care for chronic hepatitis C. Oncologic patients remain among the most difficult-to-treat subgroups of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients due to their clinical frailty and complex therapeutic protocols received. (2) Methods: we retrospectively collected and analysed clinical data of 30 consecutive patients treated with DAA, between 2015 and 2022, for chronic HCV infection in the context of oncologic disease. (3) Results: most patients were females (63.3%), median age was 67 years, HCV genotype 1 was prevalent (60%), and median HCV RNA levels were 2.2 × 106 IU/mL. The most common malignancy was breast cancer (37%), and the chief oncologic drugs co-administered with DAAs were platinum derivatives, paclitaxel, cyclophosphamide, taxol, pembrolizumab, rituximab, imatinib, enantone and tamoxifen. Overall, 50% of patients had chronic hepatitis. A total of 76.7% underwent a sofosbuvir-based treatment. Sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR12) was reached in all patients. After SVR12, two patients died. DAA treatment was well tolerated; no patients had to stop DAA treatment or showed any adverse event or drug-drug interaction specifically attributable to DAAs. (4) Conclusions: DAA treatment should be promptly offered to oncologic patients with chronic hepatitis C in order to achieve aminotransferase normalization and viremia control, making antineoplastic therapy feasible and safe.
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