Background There is a paucity of data regarding blood culture utilization and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition, there has been a concern for increasing AMR infections among COVID-19 cases in LMICs. Here, we investigated epidemiology of AMR bloodstream infections (BSI) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indonesian national referral hospital. Methods We evaluated blood culture utilization rate, and proportion and incidence rate of AMR-BSI caused by WHO-defined priority bacteria using routine hospital databases from 2019 to 2020. A patient was classified as a COVID-19 case if their SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was positive. The proportion of resistance was defined as the ratio of the number of patients having a positive blood culture for a WHO global priority resistant pathogen per the total number of patients having a positive blood culture for the given pathogen. Poisson regression models were used to assess changes in rate over time. Results Of 60,228 in-hospital patients, 8,175 had at least one blood culture taken (total 17,819 blood cultures), giving a blood culture utilization rate of 30.6 per 1,000 patient-days. A total of 1,311 patients were COVID-19 cases. Blood culture utilization rate had been increasing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (both p < 0.001), and was higher among COVID-19 cases than non-COVID-19 cases (43.5 vs. 30.2 per 1,000 patient-days, p < 0.001). The most common pathogens identified were K. pneumoniae (23.3%), Acinetobacter spp. (13.9%) and E. coli (13.1%). The proportion of resistance for each bacterial pathogen was similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases (all p > 0.10). Incidence rate of hospital-origin AMR-BSI increased from 130.1 cases per 100,000 patient-days in 2019 to 165.5 in 2020 (incidence rate ratio 1.016 per month, 95%CI:1.016–1.017, p < 0.001), and was not associated with COVID-19 (p = 0.96). Conclusions In our setting, AMR-BSI incidence and etiology were similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases. Incidence rates of hospital-origin AMR-BSI increased in 2020, which was likely due to increased blood culture utilization. We recommend increasing blood culture utilization and generating AMR surveillance reports in LMICs to inform local health care providers and policy makers.

Bone loss is one of the emerging extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-α is the main inflammatory cytokine that can directly increase bone resorption. However, its role in bone formation is still unknown, especially related to secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP-1), an osteoblast inhibitor. This study examines the correlation between TNF-α and SFRP-1, with a bone turn over marker (CTX and P1NP). This is a cross-sectional study with 38 subjects of premenopausal female patients with RA. This study found that 60.6% of the patients were in remission or low disease activity. The median of TNF-α was 10.6 pg/mL, mean of SFRP-1 was 9.29 ng/mL, mean of CTX was 2.74 ng/mL, and the median of P1NP was 34.04 pg/ml. There is positive correlation between TNF-α and P1NP (r = 0:363, p = 0:026), also between SFRP-1 and P1NP (r = 0:341; p = 0:036). A low level of TNF-?, high level of SFRP-1, high level of CTX, and low level of P1NP in this study indicate a high bone turn over process, with dominant resorption activity in premenopausal female patients with RA.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially among health-care workers. One of the most important preventive measures is vaccination. This study examined factors associated with the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection after mRNA-1273 booster vaccination (preceded by the CoronaVac primary vaccination) and the antibody profile of health-care workers at one of the tertiary hospitals in Indonesia. This was a combined retrospective cohort and cross-sectional study. Three hundred health-care workers who were given the mRNA-1273 booster vaccine a minimum of 5 months prior to this study were randomly selected. Participants were then interviewed about their history of COVID-19 vaccination, history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and comorbidities. Blood samples were taken to assess IgG sRBD antibody levels. The median antibody level was found to be 659 BAU/mL (min 37 BAU/mL, max 5680 BAU/mL, QIR 822 BAU/mL) after the booster, and this was not related to age, sex, comorbidities, or adverse events following immunization (AEFI) after the booster. SARS-CoV-2 infection after the booster was correlated with higher antibody levels. In sum, 56 participants (18.6%) experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection after the mRNA-1273 booster vaccination within 5 months. Incidence per person per month was 3.2%. Age, sex, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, obesity, and post-booster AEFI were not related to COVID-19 incidence after the booster. History of SARS-CoV-2 infection before the booster vaccination was significantly associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection after booster vaccination, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.21 (95% CI 0.09–0.45, p < 0.001).

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to bone loss due to an imbalance of the bone turnover process that could be evaluated using bone turnover markers. Inflammation in RA is mainly mediated by Tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]) that will increase osteoclastogenesis. In recent studies, Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is a key regulatory pathway for bone formation that affects osteoblastogenesis. Objective: This study aims to examine the imbalance of the bone turnover process in RA patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 38 subjects of premenopausal women with RA. Serum levels of TNF-[Formula: see text], DKK-1, and bone turnover markers (CTx and P1NP) were investigated. Result: The median duration of RA in this study was 5 years with 60.5% of subjects in remission or with low disease activity. The median value of TNF-[Formula: see text] was 10.6 pg/mL, the mean value of DKK-1 was 4027[Formula: see text]pg/mL, the mean value of CTx was 2.74[Formula: see text]ng/mL, and the mean value of P1NP was 34[Formula: see text]pg/mL. This study revealed a weak positive correlation between TNF-[Formula: see text] and P1NP ([Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]). Conclusion: This study found a low level of TNF-[Formula: see text], a high level of DKK-1, a high level of CTx and a low level of P1NP that indicates an imbalance of bone turnover process in RA patients that is in favor of bone resorption.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, characterized by systemic inflammation, joint destruction and disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is used as the primary treatment for RA patients. However, the response to MTX therapy is highly varied and difficult to predict. This study sought to determine the role of MTX by measuring the MTX polyglutamate 3 (MTX-PG3) levels and the disease activity score 28 based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) of RA patients. Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Rheumatology Polyclinic of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. Thirty-four patients with RA were included and followed up to 12 weeks. The RA patients were treated with MTX 10 mg per week and an increased dose of 5 mg per week every month. DAS28-CRP and MTX-PG3 level were assessed at week 8 and 12. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between MTX-PG3 and DAS28-CRP. Result: A total of 34 RA patients were followed and the MTX was well tolerated in which no increase of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were observed. The mean scores of DAS28-CRP decreased following the MTX-treatment: 3.93, 3.22 and 2.82 at week 0, 8 and 12, respectively. In contrast, the median concentration of MTX-PG3 increased from week 8 to week 12 followed by increasing the dose of MTX. Our analysis suggested there was a moderate positive correlation between MTX-PG3 levels and DAS28-CRP score at week 8 and week 12 post-MTX treatment. Conclusion: The level of MTX-PG3 is correlated with DAS28-CRP score suggesting that MTX-PG3 could be used as an indicator to assess the disease activity in RA patients. Nevertheless, a prospective study with a higher number of patients is needed to confirm this finding.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects health care services. Our aim was to assess health care disruptions, treatment interruptions, and telemedicine reception regarding autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in Indonesia. Method A cross-sectional population online-based questionnaire was conducted in Indonesia from September to December 2021. Results A total of 311 ARD patients were included, of whom 81 (26.0%) underwent consultations via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents showed increased concern about their susceptibility to COVID-19 (score of 3.9/5). Approximately 81 (26.0%) avoided hospital visits, and 76 (24.4%) stopped taking the medication without medical advice. Respondents’ concerns correlated with their social distancing behaviors (p value 0.000, r 0.458). Respondent concerns, behaviors, and blocked access to the hospital during the pandemic were associated with avoiding hospital visits (p value 0.014; 0.001; 0.045; 0.008). Sex was associated with stopping medication (p value 0.005). In multivariate analysis, blocked access and sex remained significant. Approximately 81 (26%) respondents who used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative medical consultation method showed high satisfaction (3.8/5). Conclusion Health care disruptions and treatment interruptions were affected by patients’ internal and external factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine may be the best option to address barriers to health care access in Indonesia’s rheumatology practice during and after the pandemic situation.

Pendahuluan. Artritis Reumatoid (AR) merupakan penyakit autoimun dengan etiologi yang belum jelas, gejala utama dari AR adalah keradangan pada sendi yang ditandai dengan sinovitis simetris dan erosi tulang, walaupun perjalanan penyakit AR sulit diduga dengan sifat kronik-remisi-eksaserbasi namun secara umum hasil akhir dari AR adalah deformitas sendi. Penelitian terakhir pada AR menunjukkan adanya overekspresi dari sejumlah enzim matrix metallopeoteinases (MMPs) yang mempunyai kemampuan degradasi komponen kolagen dam matriks ekstraseluler tulang rawan Beberapa penelitian menemukan keterlibatan MMP-2,MMP-9, MMP-1 ,MMP-8 dan MMP-3 pada penyakit AR. Penelitian di Taiwan oleh Chang Yh menunjukkan peningkatan kadar dan aktifitas MMP-9 pada pasien AR di Taiwan dibandingkan pada populasi normal.Giannelli melaporkan peningkatan kadar MMP-2, MMP- 9, Tissue Inhibitor Matrix proteinase 1 dan Tissue Inhibitor Matrix proteinase 2 pada pasien dengan AR dan artritis psoriasis, Gruber juga melaporkan adanya peningkatan yang bermakna dari kadar MMP-9 atau gelatinase B pada serum pasien AR. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman mengenai peran MMP-9 pada patofisiologi kerusakan sendi AR, serta mencari korelasi antara kadar MMP-9 , laju endap darah (LED), faktor reumatoid dan lama sakit dengan gambaran radiologis pada pasien AR.Metode. Penelitian ini menggunakan studi potong lintang analitik dengan metode sampling konsekutif yang dilakukan di poliklinik Reumatologi/Ilmu Penyakit Dalam RSUPN Cipto Mangunkusumo. Sebagai variabel bebas adalah : kadar matriks metalloproteinase 9, laju endap darah (LED) , faktor reumatoid dan lama sakit sementara variabel tergantung adalah skor radiologis Sharp.Hasil. Dari 46 subjek penelitian didapatkan peningkatan kadar rerata MMP-9 yaitu sebesar 104,82 ng/ml, rerata LED 58,5 mm/jam, rerata kadar faktor reumatoid 57,13 IU/ml dan rerata lama sakit adalah 4,83 tahun. Korelasi antara kadar MMP-9 dengan skor erosi tulang secara radiologis adalah r=0,3 dengan p=0,02 (bermakna), sementara korelasi antara lama sakit dengan gambaran radiologis (skor Sharp) r=0,36 dengan p=0,014 (bermakna). Korelasi antara LED, dan faktor reumatoid dengan gambaran radiologis adalah r=0,10,p=0,24;dan r=0,19,p=0,09.Simpulan. Didapatkan peningkatan kadar MMP-9 pada pasien AR, kadar MMP-9 berkorelasi dengan gambaran erosi tulang secara radiologis, lama sakit berkorelasi dengan gambaran radiologis (skor Sharp), Faktor reumatoid dan LED tidak berkorelasi dengan gambaran radiologis (skor Sharp).