Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pose a significant threat to hospitalized patients, as therapeutic options are scarse. Alarmingly, rates of carbapenem-resistance in A. baumannii are on the rise and are slowly becoming a routine phenotype for this organism. This review focuses on infection control strategies for identification and control of A. baumannii, as well the available therapeutic options.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is associated with high incidence of venous and arterial thromboembolic events. Currently, there are no markers to guide antithrombotic therapy in Covid-19. Immature platelets represent a population of hyper-reactive platelets associated with arterial events. This prospective study compared consecutive Covid-19 patients (n = 47, median age = 56 years) to patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n = 100, median age = 59 years) and a group of stable patients with cardiovascular risk factors (n = 64, median age = 68 years). Immature platelet fraction (IPF) and immature platelet count (IPC) were determined by the Sysmex XN-3000 auto-analyzer on admission and at subsequent time-points. IPF% on admission was higher in Covid-19 than the stable group and similar to the AMI group (4.8% [IQR 3.4-6.9], 3.5% [2.7-5.1], 4.55% [3.0-6.75], respectively, p = 0.0053). IPC on admission was also higher in Covid-19 than the stable group and similar to the

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The automated VAC algorithm is efficient and accurate and is ready to be used routinely for VAC surveillance. Furthermore, its implementation can optimize the sensitivity and specificity of VAC identification.