Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is currently a pandemic with a mortality rate of 1%‐6% in the general population. However, the mortality rate seems to be significantly higher in elderly patients, especially those hospitalized with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery diseases. Because viral diseases may have atypical presentations in immunosuppressed patients, the course of the disease in the transplant patient population is unknown. Hence, the management of these patients with COVID‐19 is an area of interest, and a unique approach is warranted. Here, we report the clinical features and our treatment approach for a kidney transplant patient with a diagnosis of COVID‐19. We believe that screening protocols for SARS‐Cov‐2 should be re‐evaluated in patients with solid‐organ transplants.
Highlights
Earlier use of tocilizumab in COVID-19 infection is beneficial for survival, length of hospitalization and duration of oxygen support
Administration of tocilizumab is based on an increase in requirements of oxygen support, progression of thoracic CT, elevation of inflammation IL-6, CRP, ferritin,
d
-dimer, and decrease in % lymphocytes
Among the inflammation parameters, the earliest changes were detected at the levels of CRP, IL-6 and % lymphocytes
Background: Infection with the influenza A virus can cause severe disease and mortality. The effect of the different subtypes of influenza on morbidity and mortality is not yet known in Turkey. The aim of this study was to describe the predictors of fatality related to influenza A infection among hospitalized patients in Istanbul during the 2015-2016 influenza season, and to detail the differences between infections caused by H3N2 and H1N1. Methods: This was a multicenter study performed by the Istanbul Respiratory Infections Study Group of The Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KL _ IM _ IK), among patients hospitalized for influenza in Istanbul during the 2015-2016 influenza season. Results: A total of 222 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2015-2016 season were included in the study, of whom 25 (11.2%) died. The fatality rate was significantly higher among patients older than 65 years of age and those with chronic heart and kidney diseases (p < 0.001), chronic neurological diseases (p = 0.009), and malignancies (p = 0.021). Thrombocyte counts were lower in those who died than in those who survived (p < 0.004). The median alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine phosphokinase, and C-reactive protein levels were higher among fatal cases. In the multivariate analysis for the prediction of fatality, being >65 years old (odds ratio (OR) 6.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.07-23.08, p = 0.002), being infected with influenza A (H3N2) (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.27-14.38, p = 0.019), and a 1-day delay in antiviral use (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.63, p = 0.036) were found to be associated with an increased likelihood of fatality. Conclusions: The case fatality rate of influenza A(H3N2) was significantly higher than that of influenza A (H1N1). Detection of the infection, allowing the opportunity for the early use of antiviral agents, was found to be important for the prevention of fatality. The vaccination should be prioritized for at-risk groups.
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