Prior Usage Research Articles

Corticosteroids and invasive fungal infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients – A single-center cross-sectional study

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, an increase in the incidence of fungal infections was observed. However, the real magnitude of these fungal infections and their risk factors among COVID-19 patients in the Indian population is unknown. Aim: To study the frequency, and spectrum of invasive fungal infections (IFI) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and the risk factors associated with invasive fungal infections. Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study; including all adult patients, admitted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), a tertiary care hospital in Southern India between April 2020 and August 2021, with COVID-19. Based on clinical-radiological features, patients with fungal infections were grouped into three diagnostic categories. Demographics, clinical, and laboratory features of patients with fungal infections were analyzed to identify the risk factors. Results: About 10% (449 out of 4650) of the admitted patients with recent COVID-19, had some form of IFI. Among the patients with IFI, 80% (366 out of 449) were hospitalized for active COVID-19, whereas almost all the patients admitted with post-COVID complications had IFI. Of the 449 patients with IFI, 377 had mold infections and 88 had invasive candidiasis. Mucormycosis was the most common mold infection. Diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis were strong independent predictors of IFI. We also found an association between end-stage renal disease, central venous catheterization, antibiotic usage, prior stroke, and corticosteroid therapy with IFI. Conclusions: The frequency of fungal infections among hospitalized COVID-19 patients was high. Special precautions in COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid therapy, and prior antibiotic usage may help to reduce invasive fungal infections.

Effectiveness of spaced education pedagogy in enhancing Nurses' knowledge on emotional resilience-A quasi-experimental trial.

Building resilience among nurses has been postulated as one of the key strategies to support nurses and retain them in the profession. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, of spaced education pedagogy in enhancing Nurses' knowledge on emotional resilience. Secondary objectives include evaluation of the usability and acceptability of delivery of the training via a mobile application in one's own mobile device. A quasi-experimental study with single group pre-test and post-test trial was conducted. Full-time registered nurses working in an acute care hospital were invited to participate from June 2021 to June 2022. The group used the mobile application daily for 1 month. Pre-test measurement includes socio-demographic data and baseline resilience level before the intervention. Post-test measurement includes resilience level, usability and acceptability of mobile-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy measured upon completion of the training. The mobile application enabled the delivery of resilience educational content in small quantities through a repeating manner, with a concurrent evaluation of learner's understanding. When compared to their baseline (mean = 24.38, SD = 5.50), participants reported significant increase in the Connor-Davison Resilience Scale score (mean = 26.33, SD = 5.57) (t = -4.40, p < 0.001). Upon 1 month usage of the mobile application, a higher percentage of the participants reported intermediate to high level of resilience (57.4%), as compared to prior usage (54.7%). Respondents reported knowledge of most useful strategies for their daily lives including: (i) managing negative emotions (54.1%); (ii) psychoeducation about mental health and the risks of burnout (44.7%); (iii) achieving work and life balance (43.5%); and (iv) depiction of workplace scenarios to demonstrate what can be and cannot be controlled during times of change (43.5%). Participants reported usability of the mobile application with a mean SUS score 70.5 (SD = 13.0), which was considered "acceptable." Overall, 82.3% of the participants found the mobile application appealing, 64.7% reported they were likely to use the mobile application in the future and 72.9% would recommend it to other nurses. The mobile application provided nurses with the availability and convenience to access resilience building learning content integrated with the spaced education pedagogy. The use of mobile-assisted cognitive behavioral training can aid in increasing nurses' resilience level. Nurses provided acceptable usability ratings and satisfactory acceptance of receiving training via the mobile application, showing promising opportunities in the improvement of overall well-being.

A Multilevel Triadic-Experience Model of Travel App-Induced Attitude

ABSTRACT The literature on tourist experience commonly puts the current en-route experience at the center stage through single-level analysis. This research steers away from that tradition to improvise a triple-experience model through multiple inquiries. Data were collected from a survey to assess how prior and current travel app usage experiences could impact app-induced site attitude and revisit intention via the app, based on a multilevel design with survey data collected from 21 sites. The cross-level moderation of others’ experiences was also explored. This research draws on the functional theory of attitude and the theory of normative conduct to acknowledge the knowledge and social functions of attitude change. It contributes to the literature by bridging the divide between the online app and offline travel evaluations. It builds a theoretical synthesis between the aforementioned theoretical lens to demonstrate how the experiences of others through travel apps can impact an individual’s experience, ultimately affecting attitude toward app-induced tourism destinations.

Humans flexibly use visual priors to optimize their haptic exploratory behavior

Humans can use prior information to optimize their haptic exploratory behavior. Here, we investigated the usage of visual priors, which mechanisms enable their usage, and how the usage is affected by information quality. Participants explored different grating textures and discriminated their spatial frequency. Visual priors on texture orientation were given each trial, with qualities randomly varying from high to no informational value. Adjustments of initial exploratory movement direction orthogonal to the textures’ orientation served as an indicator of prior usage. Participants indeed used visual priors; the more so the higher the priors’ quality (Experiment 1). Higher task demands did not increase the direct usage of visual priors (Experiment 2), but possibly fostered the establishment of adjustment behavior. In Experiment 3, we decreased the proportion of high-quality priors presented during the session, hereby reducing the contingency between high-quality priors and haptic information. In consequence, even priors of high quality ceased to evoke movement adjustments. We conclude that the establishment of adjustment behavior results from a rather implicit contingency learning. Overall, it became evident that humans can autonomously learn to use rather abstract visual priors to optimize haptic exploration, with the learning process and direct usage substantially depending on the priors’ quality.

Association between Usage of Prophylactic AYUSH Medicines and Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Prior vaccination is often studied for its impact on individuals' post-infection prognosis. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines, advised by the Government of India as prophylaxis during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, were consumed by the masses in 2020. A study was therefore undertaken to observe any association between the prior usage of AYUSH prophylactic medicines and post-infection severity as reported by recovered COVID-19 individuals. This was a retrospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in 21 cities of India from 5th August to 30th November 2020. Data from recovered COVID-19 patients, of either sex or any age, captured information about AYUSH prophylactic medicines intake prior to infection, disease severity, symptomatology, duration of complaints, etc. The study participants were grouped into AYUSH intake and non-intake. Primary composite outcome was the disease clinical course. Secondary clinical outcomes were the rate of and time to clinical recovery. Data of 5,023 persons were analysed. Ayurveda or homeopathic prophylactic medicines were consumed by more than half of the study participants: that is, 56.85% (n = 1,556) and 56.81% (n = 1,555) respectively. The overall adjusted protective effect (PE) of AYUSH prophylactic intake against moderate/severe forms of COVID-19 disease was 56.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.7 to 63.50; p < 0.001). Adjusted PE for homeopathy and Siddha was 52.9% (95% CI, 42.30 to 61.50; p < 0.001) and 59.8% (95% CI, 37.80 to 74.10; p < 0.001), respectively. A statistically significant association was found between AYUSH prophylactic medicine intake and clinical recovery more frequently by the 3rd day of illness (χ2 = 9.01; p = 0.002). Time to resolution of symptoms in the AYUSH intake group was on average 0.3 days earlier than in the non-intake group (p = 0.002). AYUSH prophylactics were associated with statistically significant levels of protection against COVID-19 disease severity. Amongst these, previous intake of homeopathy or Siddha medicines was associated with some protection against moderate/severe illness and with a somewhat quicker clinical recovery. Prospective studies with experimental research design are needed to validate the findings of this study. Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2020/08/027000).

Minimally invasive techniques in the management of muscular temporomandibular joint disorders: A five-year observational study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of three minimally invasive techniques for managing patients with myofascial pain dysfunction, determine their association with sociodemographic factors, habits, medication usage, comorbidities, treatment history, pain duration, complaint intensity, and diagnosis limitations. This five-year observational study scrutinized 1,000 medical records from individuals treated at the TMD Orofacial Dental Research Center. TMD treatments were organized into Group 1 (thermotherapy, exercises, and CBT), Group 2 (Group 1 plus intramuscular manual therapy), and Group 3 (Group 1 and Group 2 plus occlusal appliances) and correlated with sociodemographic factors, habits, prior medication usage, comorbidities, history of prior treatments, duration of pain, intensity of complaint, and diagnosis limitations or without limitations regarding the symptoms of muscular temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Treatment durability was proportionally higher in Groups II and III (p<0.05). Although no significant differences were found for habits (p= 0.051) and pain duration (p= 0.001), clenching was more prevalent in Groups II n= 77 (57.0%) and III n= 39 (63.9%) and among those with therapy duration equal to or greater than 6 months for n=102 (59.3%). Statistically significant correlations were noted between age and education (rho=-0.198; p<0.001) and between pain duration and treatment durability (rho=0.317; p<0.001). Intraoral devices do not constitute the primary treatment for myofascial pain. For cases of prolonged pain, comorbidities, limited mouth opening, and a history of prior medication or treatments, a splint combined with other therapies is recommended for effective management. Key words:Temporomandibular disorders, myofascial pain, occlusal appliances, clinical diagnosis, thermotherapy, exercise therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy.

Exploring the Strategic Use of TikTok for Clinical Trial Recruitment: How audiences’ Prior Short-Form Video Usage Influences Persuasive Effects

Guided by the elaboration likelihood model and framing theory, this study explores the potential of short-form video platforms (e.g. TikTok), for targeted clinical trial recruitment. An online experiment compared doctor vs. peer-led videos addressing logistical or psychological barriers to participation, mimicking common TikTok communication tactics. Results indicate that high (vs. low) TikTok users are more persuaded by recruitment messages, and they exhibit stronger intentions to participate in clinical trials. Although doctor-sourced messages generate greater credibility and a more favorable message attitude, peer-sourced messages may be more effective in increasing participation intention. Lastly, doctor-sourced videos that address logistical barriers and peer-sourced videos that discuss psychological barriers result in higher self-efficacy for clinical trial participation. This study contributes to the growing body of research on new media’s role in health communication and provides insights into how to strategically utilize TikTok and other short-form video platforms for clinical trial recruitment.

261 Perioperative Complications and Secondary Retethering After Pediatric Tethered Cord Release Surgery

INTRODUCTION: Tethered cord syndrome refers to a constellation of symptoms characterized by neurological, musculoskeletal, and urinary symptoms, caused by traction on the spinal cord. Various surgical techniques have been developed to address tethered cord syndrome depending on a diverse set of etiologies. Understanding perioperative complications and secondary retethering is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and refining surgical techniques. METHODS: Retrospective review of children who underwent TCR surgery from July 2014 to April 2023. Data included demographics, perioperative characteristics, surgical techniques, and follow-up duration. Primary outcomes were 60-day postoperative complications and secondary retethering requiring repeat surgery. RESULTS: We identified 363 TCR surgeries (145 simple, 218 complex, 340 subjects). Mean follow-up was 446 days for simple TCRs and 731 days for complex TCRs. The adjusted 60-day complication rate was 3.8% (95%-CI 1.6-9.1) for simple TCRs and 11.9% (95%-CI 9.0-19.4) for complex TCRs. Lower weight, shorter surgical times, and ICU admission were associated with complications for simple TCRs. Soft tissue drains increased complications for complex TCRs. Secondary retethering rates were 1.4% for simple TCRs and 11.9% for complex TCRs. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival in complex cases were 94.7% (95%-CI 89.1-97.4), 77.7% (95%-CI 67.3-85.3), and 62.6% (95%-CI 46.5-75.1). Multivariate analysis revealed that prior detethering (OR 8.15, 95%-CI 2.33-28.50, p = 0.001) and usage of the operative laser (OR 10.43, 95%-CI 1.36-80.26, p = 0.024) were independently associated with secondary retethering in complex cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest series examining postoperative complications and long-term secondary retethering in TCR surgery. Simple TCR surgeries demonstrated safety, rare complications, and low secondary retethering rates. Complex TCR surgeries presented higher risks for complications and secondary retethering. Modifiable risk factors, such as operative laser usage, influenced secondary retethering in complex cases.

Analysis of Novelty Elements as a Requirement for Patent Registration in Law Number 13 of 2016 Concerning Patents

This study delves into the elements of patent rights and dispute resolution strategies in cases of patent infringement. The background of the research stems from the necessity to understand the legal framework surrounding patent protection and the mechanisms available for resolving disputes in the event of infringement. The primary objective is to identify the crucial components of patent rights and the various methods employed to address disputes arising from alleged patent violations. Employing a normative legal research approach, with both conceptual and statutory analyses, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. The findings underscore the significance of novelty as a fundamental criterion for patent acceptance, as defined by Law Number 13 of 2016 concerning Patents. Novelty, characterized by the absence of prior public disclosure, usage, or inclusion in existing knowledge standards, is essential for patent registration. The study reveals that patent disputes concerning novelty can be addressed through diverse legal avenues, including patent removal suits, trial proceedings, mediation, patent reexamination, out-of-court settlements, and appellate processes. Furthermore, alternative mechanisms such as arbitration offer additional pathways for resolving disputes. The implications of this research highlight the importance of adhering to novelty requirements during patent registration and understanding the array of dispute resolution mechanisms available to safeguard intellectual property rights.

Exploring the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on individual health and fitness routines globally. Resistance training, in particular, has become increasingly popular among men and women looking to maintain or improve their physical fitness during the pandemic. However, using Anabolic Steroids (AS) for performance enhancement in resistance training has known adverse effects. Thus, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of AS use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3,603 resistance training practitioners (1,855 men and 1,748 women) in various geographical locations impacted by COVID-19. The participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, which included questions regarding demographic information, training habits, and current or prior usage of AS. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and the chi-square method, with a significance level of (P < 0.05).ResultsA total of 3603 men and women resistance training practitioners completed the survey. In the study, 53.05% of men and 41.99% of women used anabolic and androgenic steroids. Of those men who used steroids, 29.47% used Testosterone, while 31.20% of women used Winstrol. Additionally, 50.30% of men used steroids via injection, while 49.05% of women used them orally. According to the study, 49.99% of the participants had 6 to 12 months of experience with resistance training, and 64.25% of them underwent three training sessions per week. The analysis using the χ2 test did not reveal any significant difference between men and women in terms of duration of bodybuilding, frequency per week, and engagement in other activities.ConclusionThis study shows that a significant proportion of men and women resistance training practitioners used AS, particularly among young adults with limited training experience. Thus, there is a need for targeted education and awareness campaigns to address the hazards of AS use and promote healthy training habits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

P624 Development and Validation of a Clinical Decision Support Tool to Predict Outcomes of ustekinumab Treatment in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract Background Ustekinumab (UST) has been demonstrated for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) with a high efficacy and safety profile. There is limited data concerning disease progression after UST treatment. This study aims to establish a clinical decision support tool (CDST) to identify Chinese patients with CD who are less likely to experience disease progression under UST treatment. Methods A multicentre, retrospective observational study was conducted among Chinese patients with CD initiating UST between 1 May 2020 and 20 October 2022. Disease progression (including CD-related surgery, hospitalization and complications) was evaluated at week 24 (±4w). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with disease progression. The CDST, established based on these factors, was both internally and externally validated. The performance of this tool was tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) analyses. Results A total of 519 patients were enrolled in this study. In the derivation analysis, four factors including prior biologics usage, prior immunosuppressant usage, baseline faecal calprotectin, and baseline haemoglobin were identified to correlate with progression. A good predictive ability of this model was confirmed by AUC as high as 0.76 for the internal validation cohort and 0.72 for the external validation cohort, respectively. The CDST stratified patients into low, intermediate, or high risk of progression with cut-off values of 6 and 16. Conclusion We developed and validated a scoring system to identify CD patients less likely to experience progression at week 24 with UST therapy. This CDST will facilitate therapy decision-making and precision medicine.

P706 Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis patients naïve to biological therapy: A prospective real world analysis of efficacy and safety

Abstract Background Tofacitinib is an oral non-selective Janus Kinase inhibitor approved for Ulcerative colitis (UC) after the failure of biological therapy. Tofacitinib as first line therapy in biologic naive patients has not been evaluated. Methods We conducted a prospective study to assess the safety and efficacy of Tofacitinib as first line therapy in biologic naive moderate to severe UC. Tofacitinib was given at a dose of 10mg BD for 8 weeks followed by de-escalation to 5mg BD maintenance in responders. Dose escalation was done for relapses. Demographics, disease characteristics, concomitant medication, adverse events, severity and time to relapse were recorded. Clinical response and remission (defined as partial Mayo score: PMS decrease ≥2 and PMS ≤1 respectively) were measured at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 24 weeks and 52 weeks. Endoscopic response (UCEIS score decrease ≥2) and remission (UCEIS 0-1) were assessed at 1 year. Time to event analysis was done to evaluate the cumulative rate of clinical response. Results 176 patients (136 biologic naive, 58% male; median age 40y [IQR:31-48y]) were included. Median baseline PMS and UCEIS score were 5 (IQR: 5-7 and 4-6 respectively) (Table 1). Of the biologic naïve cohort, clinical response was achieved in 68.4% and 79.4% at 4 and 8 weeks respectively. Clinical remission was achieved in 45.6%(4-weeks) and 55% (8-weeks). Maintenance of remission was seen in 44.1% and 32.4% in 24 and 52 weeks respectively (Fig1A). There was a significant reduction in PMS from baseline to end of 8-weeks (p&amp;lt;0.001) (Fig 1B). Corticosteroid-free clinical remission was achieved in 64.8% at 24-weeks. 106 patients (77.9%) maintained response till last follow-up. 11 relapsed after dose de-escalation (median time of 5m [range 3-22m]. 7/11 responded to dose escalation to 10mg. Endoscopic response was noted in 62.5% and remission in 33.9% with significant reduction in UCEIS from baseline to 52-weeks(p&amp;lt;0.001) (Fig 1B). Severe and minor adverse events were noted in 4 and 3 patients respectively (Table 1). Overall 1/3 of patients discontinued therapy at 24-weeks (14%) and 52 weeks (10%). No significant difference in proportion of clinical or endoscopic remission was observed between the biologic naïve and those with history of prior biologic usage (n=31, median time from withdrawal of biologics to Tofacitnib initiation=9 months). Conclusion Tofacitinib was effective in induction of clinical remission in more than half of biologic naive, moderate to severe UC . Three-fourth of these patients continued to be in remission at one year with few serious adverse events. Tofacitinib can be considered as upfront oral therapy after failure of conventional management.

Trusting information systems in everyday work events – effects on cognitive resources, performance, and well-being

In today’s data-intensive work environments, information systems are crucial for supporting workers. However, workers often do not rely on these systems but resort to workarounds. We argue that trust is essential for workers’ reliance on information systems, positively affecting workers’ cognitive resources, performance, and well-being. Moreover, we argue that the organisational context (accountability, distractions) and user-related factors qualify trust-outcome associations by affecting workers’ trust calibration. In a preregistered study, we asked N = 291 employed users of information systems to re-experience prior everyday usage events (event reconstruction method) and assess event-specific trust in the system, work outcomes, and context conditions. Results confirmed the assumed association between trust in the information system and workers’ ratings of both performance and well-being. Moreover, workers’ technology competence and need for cognition – but not contextual conditions – qualified trust-outcome associations. Our results offer specific suggestions for achieving successful use of information systems at work.

184. Implications of Enterococcus faecalis penicillin susceptibility in patients with bacteremia

Abstract Background Enterococcus faecalis isolates with an elevated penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 4 mg/L have decreased in vitro ampicillin plus ceftriaxone bactericidal and synergistic activity, despite ampicillin susceptibility. This phenotype’s implication on patient outcomes and prevalence in the US is unknown due to limited penicillin susceptibility reporting. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with E. faecalis bacteremia between August 20, 2018 and May 13, 2021 from the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Patients were excluded if they were discharged or deceased within 48 hours of index blood culture, did not receive active definitive therapy, or the blood culture was determined to be contamination. The primary outcome was differences in 30-day and 90-day mortality based on the penicillin MIC and the secondary outcome was microbiological relapse. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for 90-day mortality. Corresponding blood isolates were tested for penicillin susceptibility by broth microdilution in accordance with CLSI. Results A total of 124 patients were included, with 27% having an elevated penicillin MIC ≥ 4 mg/L. Differences in baseline characteristics (Table 1) as well as source of infection and treatments received (Table 2) were similar between groups. Endocarditis infected 18.5% of patients and was less common in cases with an elevated penicillin MIC. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality, and microbiological relapse were higher in cases with an elevated penicillin MIC (14.4% vs. 20.6%, p=0.58; 20% vs. 26.5%, p=0.59; and 4.4% vs. 8.8%, p=0.39, respectively). Pitt bacteremia score and prior ceftriaxone usage had a higher odds of 90-day mortality (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.03-1.4], p=0.02; OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.02-7.9], p=0.04, respectively), whereas definitive treatment with an aminopenicillin compared to piperacillin/tazobactam was protective of 90-day mortality (OR 0.21 [95% CI 0.05-0.93], p=0.04). Conclusion E. faecalis with an elevated penicillin MIC ≥ 4 mg/L is present in over a quarter of patients across New York City. Larger studies are warranted to determine the impact on patient outcomes. E. faecalis bacteremia treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam may be associated higher mortality. Disclosures Jaclyn A. Cusumano, PharmD, BCIDP, Shionogi: Advisor/Consultant

Mupirocin resistance patterns in staphylococcus isolates causing cutaneous and soft-tissue infections: An epidemiological study in a tertiary health-care facility, Dhule, Maharashtra, India

Background: Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus remain a significant concern in both community and hospital settings. Mupirocin resistance among these isolates poses challenges for infection management and control strategies. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of mupirocin resistance among staphylococcus isolates responsible for cutaneous and soft-tissue infections in patients attending a tertiary health-care facility. Along with that, the study investigated into mupirocin resistance prevalence and identified risk factors. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted at a medical college, including 256 non-consecutive staphylococcal isolates from SSI. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommended methods. Mupirocin resistance was determined through disk diffusion testing using 5 μg and 200 μg Mupirocin disks for low-level and high-level resistance, respectively. Results: Among the samples, 16.4% were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 9.37% were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. Mupirocin high-level resistance was found in 16.6% of S. aureus isolates, and mupirocin low-level resistance in 19% of MRSA isolates. The prevalence of resistance was lower in inpatient departments compared to outpatient departments. Associations were observed between resistance and patient demographics, history of mupirocin use, surgical site infections, hospitalization history, and diabetes. Conclusion: Mupirocin resistance presents a multifaceted challenge in the context of both patient demographics and clinical settings. The prevalence of resistance was influenced by factors such as patient age, gender, and prior mupirocin usage.

Risk factor and resistance profile of colistin resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiellapneumoniae

PurposeAntimicrobial resistance is one of the major global health concerns, which is relentless despite multipronged measures. Carbapenems and colistin, drug of choice for multi drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter species, have also been rendered of less use. This underlines the need to decipher prevalence of colistin resistance comprehensively for formulation of hospital and country-wise antibiogram. We conducted this study to decipher the prevalence of colistin resistance in our tertiary care centre of North India. Materials and methodsThis was a prospective, case control study conducted over a period of one and half years. All carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter isolates were included. Kirby-Bauer method of disc diffusion was used for all antibiotics, except colistin for which broth microdilution was performed and interpreted using CLSI guidelines. Demographic details, risk factors and outcome details were recorded. Genotypic characterization was performed using representative strains, for blaNDM, blaKPC and blaOXA-48. ResultsOf 103 carbapenem resistant isolates, 7 were found to be colistin resistant. Median age was 43 years, with male:female ratio of 1.1:1. 35% isolates were from pus samples, followed by endotracheal aspirate. Colistin resistance was more in ICUs than wards. Presence of indwelling devices was noted as the most common risk factor, followed by previous antibiotic exposure and use of steroids/immunosuppressants. Indwelling devices, steroids/immunosuppressants usage, length of hospital stay, COPD, prior usage of carbapenems, piperacillin-tazobactam and colistin, usage of ampicillin-sulbactam during hospital stay, were statistically significant. Mortality was noted in 4 cases, with statistical difference between control and case arm. The blaNDM and blaOXA-48 were noted in 3 and 2 isolates respectively, with absence of blaKPC. ConclusionThe present study unravels incidence, risk factors and resistance encoding genes at our centre. This is of immense help in formulation of antibiotic policies and guidance for infection control measures.

Corticosteroids and invasive fungal infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients – A single-center cross-sectional study

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, an increase in the incidence of fungal infections was observed. However, the real magnitude of these fungal infections and their risk factors among COVID-19 patients in the Indian population is unknown. Aim: To study the frequency, and spectrum of invasive fungal infections (IFI) among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and the risk factors associated with invasive fungal infections. Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study; including all adult patients, admitted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), a tertiary care hospital in Southern India between April 2020 and August 2021, with COVID-19. Based on clinical-radiological features, patients with fungal infections were grouped into three diagnostic categories. Demographics, clinical, and laboratory features of patients with fungal infections were analyzed to identify the risk factors. Results: About 10% (449 out of 4650) of the admitted patients with recent COVID-19, had some form of IFI. Among the patients with IFI, 80% (366 out of 449) were hospitalized for active COVID-19, whereas almost all the patients admitted with post-COVID complications had IFI. Of the 449 patients with IFI, 377 had mold infections and 88 had invasive candidiasis. Mucormycosis was the most common mold infection. Diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis were strong independent predictors of IFI. We also found an association between end-stage renal disease, central venous catheterization, antibiotic usage, prior stroke, and corticosteroid therapy with IFI. Conclusions: The frequency of fungal infections among hospitalized COVID-19 patients was high. Special precautions in COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid therapy, and prior antibiotic usage may help to reduce invasive fungal infections.

THU247 Characterizing Inpatient Cases Of DKA Precipitated By SGLT2 Inhibitor Use

Abstract Disclosure: A. Aslamy: None. R. Nazemi: Speaker; Self; Eli Lilly &amp; Company, AstraZeneca. C. Tseng: None. S. Kim: None. R. Gianchandani: None. Background: SGLT2 inhibitors are a unique class of anti-hyperglycemic medications that can increase the risk of DKA in patients with diabetes (1). The overall incidence of DKA precipitated by SGLT2 inhibitor use is estimated to be 0.1%, however, this is likely higher in practice with increasing usage of these medications for treatment of heart failure and renal dysfunction. Herein, we characterize inpatient admissions with SGLT2 inhibitor induced DKA to further understand associated risk factors. Clinical Case: Euglycemic and hyperglycemic DKA cases (n=7) over a four-month period were identified, all of whom had been on SGLT2 inhibitors for an average of 8.5 (± 5.4) months prior to presentation. Six patients had T2D and one patient had known T1D. The average patient age was 69 (±8) years. The average A1c was 9.2% (±1.9%). Patients on dapagliflozin (n=3) had significantly higher A1c on admission compared to those on empagliflozin (n=4) (p=0.017). Average glucose on presentation of the six T2D patients was 206.5 (± 55.61) mg/dL (euglycemic DKA range) while the T1D patient presented with glucose of 605 mg/dL. All seven patients had elevated anion gap (mean 25.5 ± 7.2mEq/L), low bicarbonate (mean 8.9 ± 4.1 mmol/L), pH less than 7.4, and evidence of either ketonemia or ketonuria. Five out of the seven cases had a concurrent infection, and the remaining two cases were readmissions after recent cardiac surgery. All patients were treated with intravenous/subcutaneous insulin and intravenous dextrose with resolution of DKA within 24 hours. SGLT2 inhibitors were immediately discontinued. Average length of stay was 9 (±6) days, and was higher in the postcardiac surgery patients. Notably, the type of SGLT2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin vs. empagliflozin), age, sex, A1c on presentation, number of comorbidities, presence of infection, prior insulin usage, duration of diabetes, and duration of SGLT2 use had no significant effect on length of stay. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics of SGLT2 inhibitor induced DKA cohort were older age, uncontrolled diabetes (A1c &amp;gt;7), and concurrent infections or recent major surgery. Resolution of DKA was quick and length of stay longer for major surgery. When placed on SGLT2 inhibitors, diabetes patients should be warned of these potential clinical scenarios that can increase their risk of DKA. Reference: (1) Blau JE, Tella SH, Taylor SI, Rother KI. Ketoacidosis associated with SGLT2 inhibitor treatment: Analysis of FAERS data. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2017 Nov; 33 Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Paxlovid mouth likely is mediated by activation of the TAS2R1 bitter receptor by nirmatrelvir

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has remained a public health threat since late 2019. Among the strategies rapidly developed to prevent and treat COVID-19, the antiviral medication Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination) has shown remarkable efficacy in reducing viral load and relieving clinical symptoms. Unexpectedly, a persistent bitter/bad taste, referred to as “Paxlovid mouth”, has been frequently noted. Consistent with this, dysgeusia (altered taste) is listed as a main adverse effect of Paxlovid based on clinical trial data. Nirmatrelvir inhibits Mpro, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease, whereas ritonavir prolongs the activity of nirmatrelvir by slowing its metabolism. Prior usage of ritonavir in other conditions has not been linked to a persistent bad taste, despite the fact that ritonavir tastes bitter. Therefore, we hypothesized that nirmatrelvir may account for Paxlovid mouth by activating one or more of the 25 human TAS2R bitter taste receptors. Here, we show that TAS2R1 is the primary bitter receptor activated by nirmatrelvir, at concentrations as low as 15 μM, which overlaps with plasma concentrations of nirmatrelvir in a subset of patients. We also show that saccharin, a non-nutritive sweetener that may block the activity of TAS2R1, has little or no effect on nirmatrelvir-stimulated TAS2R1 activity. Such findings may help identify novel strategies to alleviate Paxlovid mouth and increase treatment compliance.

Effect of chronic antiplatelet therapy on clinical outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy for treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of chronic antiplatelet therapy (APT) usage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Long-term APT may enhance recanalization but may also predispose patients to an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation. Weighted hospitalizations for anterior-circulation AIS treated with EVT were identified in a large United States claims-based registry. Baseline clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients with and without chronic APT usage prior to admission. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess adjusted associations between APT and study endpoints. This analysis identified 36,560 patients, of whom 8170 (22.3%) were on a chronic APT regimen prior to admission. These patients were older and demonstrated a higher burden of comorbid disease, but had similar stroke severity on presentation in comparison with those not on APT. On unadjusted analysis, patients with prior APT demonstrated higher rates of favorable outcomes (24.3% vs 21.5%, p < 0.001), lower rates of mortality (7.0% vs 10.1%, p < 0.001), and lower rates of any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; 20.3% vs 24.2%, p < 0.001), but no difference in rates of symptomatic ICH (sICH). Following multivariable adjustment for baseline clinical characteristics including age, acute stroke severity, and comorbidity burden, prior APT was associated with favorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.17-1.24, p < 0.001) and a lower likelihood of mortality (aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.70-0.77, p < 0.001), without an increased likelihood of ICH (any ICH aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.81-0.87, p < 0.001; sICH aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.82-1.03, p = 0.131). Retrospective evaluation of patients with AIS treated with EVT using registry-based data demonstrated an association of prior APT usage with favorable outcomes, without an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation.