Introduction. COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased rate of intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Intermediate care units (IMCUs) are a useful resource for the management of patients with severe COVID-19 that do not require ICU admission. In this research, we aimed to determine survival outcomes and parameters predicting mortality in patients who have been admitted to IMCU. Materials and Methods. Patients who were admitted to IMCU between April 2019 and January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and blood parameters on admission were compared between the patients who died in IMCU and the others. Blood parameters at discharge were compared between survived and deceased individuals. Survival analysis was performed via Kaplan–Meier analysis. Blood parameters predicting mortality were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results. A total of 140 patients were included within the scope of this study. The median age was 72.5 years, and 77 (55%) of them were male and 63 (45%) of them were female. A total of 37 (26.4%) patients deceased in IMCU, and 40 patients (28.5%) were transferred to ICU. Higher platelet count (HR 3.454; 95% CI 1.383–8.625; p = 0.008 ), procalcitonin levels (HR 3.083; 95% CI 1.158–8.206; p = 0.024 ), and lower oxygen saturation (HR 4.121; 95% CI 2.018–8.414; p < 0.001 ) were associated with an increased risk of mortality in IMCU. At discharge from IMCU, higher procalcitonin levels (HR 2.809; 95% CI 1.216–6.487; p = 0.016 ), lower platelet count (HR 2.269; 95% CI 1.012–5.085; p = 0.047 ), and noninvasive mechanic ventilation requirement (HR 2.363; 95% CI 1.201–4.651; p = 0.013 ) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Median OS was found as 41 days. The overall survival rate was found 40% while the IMCU survival rate was 73.6%. Conclusions. IMCU seems to have a positive effect on survival in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Close monitoring of these parameters and early intervention may improve survival rates and outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate seasonal effects on the mechanisms of burn injuries in patients requiring hospitalization. Material and Methods: A retrospective evaluation was made using the information of 419 hospitalized burns patients, including demographic data, degree and percentage of burn injury, cause and mechanism of burn injury, morbidity and mortality. Burn mechanisms were grouped as thermal burns (flame, boiling liquid, contact), chemical burns and electrical burns. When calculating the percentage of body surface area burned, the rule of nines was applied. Seasonal classification was made appropriate to the northern hemisphere. Results: According to the seasons, the most burns were seen in spring months (n= 130, 31.0%). In the examination of the mechanism of burn injury, the most common type of injury was boiling liquid in 159 patients followed by flame injury in 146 patients. There was an increase in electrical and chemical burns in spring and summer. A statistically significant difference was determined between the types of burns according to the seasons (p= 0.024). The burn injury occurred as a result of a workplace accident in 82 cases, the majority of which were in autumn, and summer, and the difference in the seasons was determined to be statistically significant (p= 0.045). There was a statistically significant increase in the exposure of individuals aged >65 years to boiling liquid burns in winter and summer months (p= 0.014). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a seasonal effect on the types of burn injuries. A higher rate of thermal burns was expected to be found in winter, but this was not the case in patients with indications for hospitalization, as chemical and electrical burns in workplace accidents were seen more frequently in warmer seasons of spring and summer. In this context, burns units should be prepared for patient profiles to vary according to the season.

BACKGROUND: Many predictive factors and scoring systems associated with Fournier’s gangrene have been proposed, including comorbidities, vital signs, biochemical and hematological parameters, and demographic characteristics of the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the strengths of the scoring systems that have been formed by revealing these factors from a wider perspective and in a larger patient population. METHODS: The patient population included 144 patients, 21 of whom died. Age, biochemical and hematological parameters, Uludag Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index (UFGSI), Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI), and Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) scores were analyzed using the Mann Whitney U-test due to their non-parametric distribution. Categorical data such as comorbidities, gender, need for positive inotropes, diversion ostomy status, and UFGSI grading status was analyzed with the Chi-square test, and independent risk factors were determined from the significant data emerging from univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Their strengths were compared using the logistic regression model (Fournier’s Gangrene Mortality Prediction Model: FGMPM) created through ROC analysis of the FGSI, UFGSI, and ACCI scores. RESULTS: The results of the statistical analyses showed that albumin (p<0.001) and need for positive inotropic support (p<0.001) were independent risk factors for mortality and ROC analysis revealed that the created FGMPM regression model (AUC: 0.995) was a stronger model than the FGSI (AUC: 0.874), UFGSI (0.893), and ACCI (0.788) scoring systems. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that albumin and the need for positive inotropic support are independent risk factors for mortality. It is thought that the determination of these two parameters can be used to predict mortality more practically than the parameters used in the UFGSI and FGSI.