Renal Transplant Recipient with Concurrent COVID-19 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Pneumonia Treated with Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Leading to Acute Kidney Injury: A Therapeutic Dilemma

The Menace of Candida auris Epidemic Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has sparked a medical emergency worldwide. With the rise in COVID-19 infections and an eventual increase in hospitalized critically ill patients, a trend of bacterial, fungal, and viral superinfection has been noted. One important agent of co-infection identified is Candida auris. Due to its multidrug-resistant nature and easy transmissibility, C. auris is difficult to manage in COVID-positive patients. Patients with comorbidities, immunosuppressive states, intubated and on ventilators are more likely to contract the fungal infection. Therefore, it is essential to the first screen, diagnose, and isolate patients with C. auris infection and manage and treat them while preventing the spread of the disease. Failure to recognize and prevent its spread may lead to an eventual epidemic or even a pandemic during the current COVID-pandemic, which the exhausted healthcare system can most definitely not handle. This systematic review investigates the prevalence of C. auris, its pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antibacterial, Docking, DFT and ADMET Properties Evaluation of Chalcone-Sulfonamide Derivatives Prepared Using ZnO Nanoparticle Catalysis

INTRODUCTION

In the present work, two novel compounds were synthesized using zinc oxide nanoparticles through green synthesis protocol. The zinc oxide nanoparticles catalyzed reactions were afforded good to excellent yields of the target compounds 76.3-98.6%.

METHODOLOGY

The synthesized compounds were characterized by UV-Vis, IR and NMR. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds was screened against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The synthesized compounds displayed potent activity against the bacterial strains. Among them, compound 8 showed strong activity against Bacillus cereus relative to the standard drug. On the other hand, compound 9 exhibited strong activity against Escherichia coli. The molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds was conducted to investigate their binding pattern with DNA gyrase and E. coli dihydropteroate synthase and all of them were found to have minimum binding energy ranging from -6.0 to -7.3 kcal/mol, and the best result achieved with compound 8 and 9.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the in vitro antibacterial and molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the synthesized compounds have potential of antibacterial activity and can be further optimized to serve as a lead compound.

SARS-CoV-2 in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Structured Review of 2020

BACKGROUND

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is challenging health systems all over the world. Particularly high-risk groups show considerable mortality rates after infection. In 2020, a huge number of case reports, case series, and consecutively various systematic reviews have been published reporting on morbidity and mortality risk connected with SARS-CoV-2 in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, this vast array of publications resulted in an increasing complexity of the field, overwhelming even for the expert reader.

METHODS

We performed a structured literature review comprising electronic databases, transplant journals, and literature from previous systematic reviews covering the entire year 2020. From 164 included articles, we identified 3451 cases of SARS-CoV-2-infected SOT recipients.

RESULTS

Infections resulted in a hospitalization rate of 84% and 24% intensive care unit admissions in the included patients. Whereas 53.6% of patients were reported to have recovered, cross-sectional overall mortality reported after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was at 21.1%. Synoptic data concerning immunosuppressive medication attested to the reduction or withdrawal of antimetabolites (81.9%) and calcineurin inhibitors (48.9%) as a frequent adjustment. In contrast, steroids were reported to be increased in 46.8% of SOT recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 in SOT recipients is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conforming with current guidelines, modifications of immunosuppressive therapies mostly comprised a reduction or withdrawal of antimetabolites and calcineurin inhibitors, while frequently maintaining or even increasing steroids. Here, we provide an accessible overview to the topic and synoptic estimates of expectable outcomes regarding in-hospital mortality of SOT recipients with COVID-19.

Treatment refractory Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia and pneumonia in a COVID-19-positive patient

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen that most often infects patients requiring mechanical ventilation, indwelling central venous catheters and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The reported incidence of S. maltophilia infection has increased over the past two decades, and many of its risk factors are commonly seen in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Our case regards a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, who subsequently developed disseminated S. maltophilia infection, refractory to first-line treatment and optimal medical management. This case highlights the high index of suspicion required for diagnosing secondary complications in patients with COVID-19 infection and highlights the difficulty in treating disseminated S. maltophilia infection in critically ill patients.

COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of current literature

Severe acute respiratory virus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a worldwide pandemic. Early studies in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients suggested a wide variety of presentations, however, there remains a paucity of robust data in this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of SOT recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 1st t October 9th, 2020. Pooled incidence of symptoms, treatments and outcomes were assessed. Two hundred and fifteen studies were included for systematic review and 60 for meta-analysis. We identified 2,772 unique SOT recipients including 1,500 kidney, 505 liver, 141 heart and 97 lung. Most common presenting symptoms were fever and cough in 70.2% and 63.8% respectively. Majority (81%) required hospital admission. Immunosuppressive medications, especially antimetabolites, were decreased in 76.2%. Hydroxychloroquine and interleukin six antagonists were administered in59.5% and 14.9% respectively, while only few patients received remdesivir and convalescent plasma. Intensive care unit admission was 29% from amongst hospitalized patients. Only few studies reported secondary infections. Overall mortality was 18.6%. Our analysis shows a high incidence of hospital admission in SOT recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. As management of SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, long-term outcomes among SOT recipients should be assessed in future studies.